"You've got quite the silver tongue, boy!" The middle-aged man in golden armor snarled, his fists clenching into balls. With a wave of his hand, a golden treasure bow materialized in his grasp.
Martial Heaven narrowed his eyes, remaining vigilant against any sudden attack.
Qin Yang's interference had transformed the atmosphere into one of imminent conflict, swords drawn and crossbows ready to fire.
The middle-aged man in blood-red armor spoke first. "We shouldn't act until we have clear evidence."
"What if Wei Yu also fell to this brat?" the golden-armored man countered coldly.
A flicker of murderous intent crossed the blood-armored man's eyes. "I'd never let him live."
After a pause, he continued, "But if..."
His gaze turned frostier as he stared at the golden-armored man.
"If you could get the Heavenly Secrets Sect to read your fortune, why not have them clarify things properly?" Qin Yang chuckled.
Qu Qingge whispered, "The Heavenly Secrets Sect doesn't read fortunes. They use the Divine Art of Heaven's Evolution..."
Qin Yang fixed his gaze on the golden-armored man. "Are you certain you want to attack me?"
The golden-armored man roared with laughter as if hearing a joke. "You think I'd hesitate?"
Qin Yang shook his head slightly and spread his hands. "Can't you see the bigger picture? The Wei Family doesn't trust you. The Lou Clan and Gongsun Clan are clearly guarding against a clash between your two families. They'd never oppose the Celestial Academy."
"What do you mean to say?" the middle-aged man in golden armor demanded, his voice resonating with authority.
Qin Yang replied slowly, "I wish to ask if you consider yourself a match for Martial Heaven?"
The golden-armored man's expression darkened.
If he attacked now, Martial Heaven would undoubtedly intervene. Moreover, the Wei Family, Gongsun Clan, and Lou Clan would never support him against Qin Yang!
He had originally intended to pressure Celestial Academy through the alliance of three great clans to suppress Martial Heaven, but Qin Yang had exposed his scheme with mere words.
"Truly exceptional," Gongsun the elder nodded repeatedly.
The green-robed man from the Lou Clan also regarded Qin Yang with approval, a faint smile gracing his features.
"You dare cower behind your teacher's back? What a spineless coward!" the golden-armored man spat.
Qin Yang burst into laughter. "Without Martial Heaven's intervention, could you truly kill me?"
"Oh?" The golden-armored man's eyes lit up. "Is that so?"
Gongsun the elder shook his head slowly. Qin Yang remained too inexperienced...
"Young arrogance is indeed natural," the green-robed man from the Lou Clan remarked, his brow furrowing slightly.
Beside him, Lou Qinru whispered, "If the Nangong Clan truly attacks Qin Yang, should we..."
The green-robed man responded through mental communication, "We shall remain neutral."
Lou Qinru blinked in confusion, unable to comprehend his meaning.
Qin Yang stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing calmly at the middle-aged man in golden armor. "Don't blame me for not warning you," he said. "Are you certain you want to attack me?"
The same question, yet this time it demanded deeper consideration.
What was Qin Yang truly after?
The middle-aged man in golden armor scoffed. "Warning me? What exactly are you trying to warn me about?"
Qin Yang replied slowly, "You're a Stellar Realm cultivator, correct?"
"Yes."
"And I am Zongshi Realm."
"Indeed a genius, but geniuses all die young!"
The corner of Qin Yang's mouth twitched upward in a smile. "In that case, I can only offer silent prayers for all members of the Nangong Clan below the Stellar Realm. You'd best truly kill me."
The middle-aged man in golden armor frowned, clearly not following.
The middle-aged man in blood-red armor's eyes glinted. "What a brat!"
Gongsun the elder, observing the still-confused golden-armored man, couldn't help but warn, "You represent the Nangong Clan. If you attack him, you'll be making a mortal enemy. Being one realm higher than him, even Celestial Academy wouldn't stop him from taking revenge later."
"Revenge? A joke! If Martial Heaven doesn't intervene, I could kill him with a single arrow!" The golden-armored man sneered.
Finally comprehending, the golden-armored man exploded in fury. "You bastard! Are you threatening me?"
Qin Yang looked at the middle-aged man in golden armor as if he were a fool, then nodded in silent agreement before grumbling, "Speaking to you... is fucking exhausting."
"You shall die today!" The middle-aged man drew his bow and arrow, locking onto Qin Yang.
But Qin Yang twisted his body, vanishing completely!
Everyone's faces showed shock, except for the Gongsun Clan elder, whose body trembled as he stared in disbelief at the Nangong Clan warship's mast.
Qin Yang now stood at the highest point of the Nangong Clan warship, looking down at all the Nangong Clan members!
"Where are you? Come out, boy!" the middle-aged man shouted, then turned to Martial Heaven. "Did you conceal him in your magical artifact? Is the Celestial Academy so shameless as to protect him?"
Martial Heaven snorted angrily. "Though I don't want to explain, I must say I'm not helping him."
Gongsun Ming asked softly, "Third Grandfather, why is the Nangong Clan so eager to kill Qin Yang? They and the Qin Family..."
The Gongsun Clan elder shook his head. "They bear no old grudge against the Qin Family. But Qin Yang knows the Nangong Clan's secret art. That alone would make them pursue him to the death. Moreover, Nangong Ling was indeed killed by Qin Yang."
"They've been searching for Qin Family descendants across the continent, yet here he comes..."
"But he's not receiving the treatment they imagined, is he?" Old Gongsun laughed heartily. "The search for Qin descendants was only about preserving their bloodline and the Heavenly Realm Secret Key. People have known for a thousand years that the Qin Family's secret key must have been lost. Otherwise, such a powerful artifact would have caused a sensation. They're just keeping a sliver of hope alive."
Old Gongsun added, "Since they want to preserve that sliver of hope, Qin Yang can't die. Don't worry. What matters isn't the Qin descendant—it's the bloodline he carries."
Gongsun Ming rolled his eyes, utterly speechless. What was there to worry about? Qin Yang's death would be preferable!
"Boy, get your ass out here now!" the golden-armored middle-aged man continued searching for Qin Yang.
Qin Yang burst into laughter, suddenly appearing beside one of the soldiers. He swung his blade in a half-moon arc, but the soldier jumped back just in time, disappearing into the shadows.
Though he failed to kill the soldier, the golden-armored man's arrow found its mark, piercing through the fleeing soldier's chest.
"I warned you," Qin Yang's cold voice echoed from afar. A moment later, panic surged as only a headless corpse remained where he had stood.
The severed head rolled across like a deflated ball, coming to rest at the Gold Family middle-aged man's feet.
"Trying to steal my kill? Let's see who gets more heads!" Qin Yang taunted.
The Gold Family man trembled with rage, while on the Nangong Clan's magical warship, death's shadow darkened every heart. It felt as if the reaper might pluck their heads off at any moment.
On the Lou Clan's vessel, the middle-aged man in azure robes swallowed hard. This brat's stronger than we thought? Maybe the clan should reconsider its stance...
"Qin Yang, show some respect to the Lou Clan. Don't push things too far," the azure-robed man called out.
The air hung heavy with tension. Moments later, Qin Yang materialized on the Celestial Academy's magical flying ship, gently holding Lou Mengyu's hand. "Very well."
The azure-robed man's face flushed with triumph, but his expression froze mid-smile.
Qin Yang's pupils contracted as the Gold Family man loosed another arrow - this time aimed squarely at both Qin Yang and Lou Mengyu.
"You're just a clown who can dodge!" the Gold Family man sneered, his face splitting into a cruel grin.
Qin Yang moved without hesitation, throwing himself in front of Lou Mengyu. His palms met the arrow's path with a resounding crack.
In that moment, he summoned every ounce of his strength, determined to block this arrow.
Martial Heaven erupted in fury. The sudden attack had forced him to push his limits, but the distance proved too great—he could only pray he arrived in time.
The Shocking Feather Arrow Technique, wielded by a Stellar Realm expert, unleashed unimaginable power.
Qin Yang felt searing pain in his hands, utterly unable to stop the arrow! The shaft buried itself deep in his chest, yet somehow halted its advance.
Qin Yang's monstrous physique played a crucial role in this. Simultaneously, Martial Heaven's grip on the arrow's nock prevented it from advancing another inch.
"Ah! Qin Yang, are you alright?" Lou Mengyu's eyes reddened as she watched him pull out the bloodied arrowhead, her voice trembling with panic.
"Despicable! Shameless! Every member of your Nangong Clan is cut from the same cloth!" Jin Wanshan leaped onto the railing, pointing at the enemy warship as he roared curses.
The other three clans' members frowned in unison.
The blue-robed man barked, "Have you no shame left?"
"I'm fine," Qin Yang reassured Lou Mengyu, his gaze locked on the golden-armored middle-aged man. "Teacher Wu, keep her safe."
Even without the command, Martial Heaven would have done his duty. With a frown, he glanced at Qin Yang, then the man's figure vanished.
"You... have no chance now."