The dull, unassuming eyes of Zhence flickered with a serious light for the first time; the Third Prince’s methods were too ruthless. If he truly became Emperor, it was questionable whether the other brothers would survive, as would his own cohort of future high officials! Yes, high officials!

Mune Zhence corrected the fleeting thought that had almost surfaced—the lives of his cohort of future high officials were also in danger. Another day of hard travel passed, and the sun began its slow descent.

Qian Jin stood on the land outside the frontier fortress, taking a deep breath of air that could almost be called truly free. The mental oppression of the past few days had been indescribably taxing.

Relief was etched onto everyone's faces. They had to remain vigilant constantly within the Demon Race territory, and at the very end, there had been an incident of exposure. That feeling of constantly competing with death was far heavier than a thousand-pound boulder.

The warhorses ceased their gallop, proceeding leisurely through the evocative landscape beyond the wall.

Sunset, outside the frontier, afterglow…

An ineffable harmony, and an ineffable beauty.

Duanfeng Buer murmured softly to the Bokesley in his embrace. While Checkford held Unala without speaking, his face radiated an indescribable happiness and sweetness.

Mune Zhence gently fanned himself, sighing repeatedly, "I must find a consort too! This scene is too dazzling, too provocative of jealousy for this Prince…" Back beyond the frontier, in the relative quiet, Zhence’s self-address had unconsciously shifted to "this Prince."

Freed from pressure, the group advanced slowly and leisurely, having unknowingly traversed nearly ten li into the frontier lands. The sun was already halfway below the horizon, and everything appeared perfectly harmonious and comfortable.

Qian Jin’s brow twitched; a figure appeared in his distant view.

No! To be precise, there were two figures, but only one truly drew the eye!

"Someone?" Duanfeng Buer tilted his chin toward the distance, his gaze stretching to the extreme limit. Indeed, two figures stood there, but only one shadow was truly arresting!

Everyone focused their sharpest vision—they discovered an object near the two figures: several straw mats, which fluttered softly in the wind, exuding an indescribable chill, or perhaps, an aura of foreboding.

Across the vast plain beyond the fortress, the surroundings were empty, yet here stood two people, and their silhouettes felt strangely familiar.

Qian Jin’s pupils contracted sharply, two points of fierce, cold light shooting from them! Duanfeng Buer, Checkford, and Fentukuangge’s expressions shifted almost simultaneously!

This person had come for them!

Under the gathering night, a cold gust of wind swept over them, sending a chill straight to their minds!

In the fading sunset, the most captivating figure stood proudly with hands clasped behind his back, gazing up at the sky, his expression radiating an unspeakable confidence. A dominant, externalized aura emanated from him, as if on this plain beneath the stars, he was the true ruler, instinctively prompting awe.

His short black hair swayed slightly in the breeze. His domineering countenance resembled the most artistic carving master’s life's work, sculpted into such flawless features that a single glance would instill terror and a desire to bow in submission.

His nose bridge was high and straight, like a mountain range, and his eyes held a look of overwhelming arrogance, yet they guarded his true inner emotions, leaving onlookers with an absolute inability to contemplate resistance.

"I have waited for you for a long time."

"Qian Zhanxuan!"

Qian Jin leaped from his horse to the ground, his eyes fixed tightly on the Family Head of the Qian clan who should not have been here but had suddenly appeared: Qian Zhanxuan, the top warrior with the fully awakened Celestial Bloodline of the Elf King!

Unala and Bokesley’s beautiful demonic eyes lit up simultaneously. Qian Zhanxuan—the terrifying bloodline warrior whispered about in Demon territory for eating ten demons per meal, who never even spat out the bones of the demon children he ate! He was actually here!

The group instantly tensed. Qian Zhanxuan, a top-tier bloodline warrior among the most weighty figures, rarely revealed himself casually. His sudden appearance here today certainly wasn't to invite them for a meal because of their excellent performance among the Demon Race.

Knowing that such an outing, almost alone, would surely prompt the Demon Race to dispatch countless mages and Demon Warriors to fight him to the death if discovered, the Qian Family Head bringing Qian Wutian here already signified much. His dominant and confident demeanor made it clear to everyone that this matter was likely to be very troublesome.

The supreme, powerful bloodline warrior of the current era stood relaxed, hands behind his back, watching the group. His deep gaze was like lightning, seeming to illuminate heaven and earth. A hint of approval touched the cold smile on his lips: "Disguising yourselves as the Demon Race, infiltrating the Lucifer Dynasty to produce things like the Rushing Water Mirror—you are very clever! Using such a method to elevate Qian Jin’s status in the Zhence Dynasty."

"Not bad, not bad." Qian Zhanxuan nodded lightly. "This grand strategic maneuver is likely beyond your own devising. It was the Serpent Emperor, Pan Hongji, who thought of this, wasn't it? I truly misjudged you back then; I didn't expect you to possess such capability. But it’s a pity…" Qian Zhanxuan smiled faintly again and shook his head. "The Serpent Emperor's layout is indeed superb. Unfortunately! It's a pity! That premise requires you to successfully return to the Zhence Dynasty for his design to take effect."

"I say, Qian Zhanxuan, can't we discuss things?" Mune Zhence swayed his folding fan, frowning slightly. "As long as Qian Jin returns to the Qian family…"

"Doesn't that suggest my judgment as Family Head was flawed?" Qian Zhanxuan let out a cold laugh. "Moreover… Ask him, will he return to the Qian family? What kind of conditions would I offer him? Wouldn't that be mocking me? Esteemed Sixth Prince."

"Today, everyone except the Sixth Prince must die." Qian Zhanxuan swept his gaze over Duanfeng Buer. "The Serpent Emperor values you, so I shall kill you too! Trying to consolidate the guilds of Blacksmiths, Apothecaries, Alchemists, and Inscribers to oppose me? You… you have no chance."

Qian Jin stared at Qian Zhanxuan and Qian Wutian, murmuring low, "You two, head towards the Demon Race territory…"

The previous incident at the Qian family entrance had not only severely wounded several young bloodline warriors of the Qian clan but had also resulted in the deaths of several Elf King bloodline warriors in separate confrontations. The only way to resolve the conflict between the two sides was through force.

"Trying to leave? I came personally today precisely to prevent any of you from escaping! Sending opponents slightly above your strength might stimulate your fighting prowess, turning you into stepping stones for your growth. I, Qian Zhanxuan, would never do such a thing! Since I have decided to kill you, I will do it myself."

As his words fell, Qian Zhanxuan bent his knees and took a step forward. This step was thousands of times more miraculous than teleportation; the distance between the two sides vanished instantly, erased. He appeared a hundred meters from Qian Jin, his right hand opening into five fingers and pressing down on the empty air!

As expected by no one, when Qian Zhanxuan struck, the very air changed its color. All the surrounding atmosphere seemed to twist and warp, accompanied by continuous roars of violent thunder. Everyone felt as if they were frogs locked onto by a predator, a transparent massive hand descending from nowhere, accompanied by a twenty-fold gravity that completely locked down their momentum, suffocating their fighting spirit.

The group erupted with internal power, forcing themselves to move toward Qian Jin’s rear, forming a defensive wedge formation, only to find this ostensibly perfect offensive and defensive posture felt hollow.

Instead, they felt impossibly heavy weights instantly added to their shoulders, their spines threatening to bend, their legs nearly buckling. The Qian family’s Kun Dou Ji technique, casually deployed by the Family Head, possessed an astonishing, indescribable might.

The unavoidable palm swept down, causing the entire earth to tremble violently. Countless blades of grass flew into the air, instantly pulverized into a slurry by the impact of the palm pressure.

Duanfeng Buer’s face turned pale, sweat pouring from his cheeks, his pores wide open, releasing moisture as if he had just been fished out of water.

Executing five instantaneous movements at maximum speed in rapid succession, the nascent form of his Soul Domain consumed an enormous amount of his Dou Qi. Waves of drilling pain made it impossible for him to remain standing. If Bokesley hadn't supported him, he would have already collapsed to his knees.

"Soul Domain before reaching Saint?" Qian Zhanxuan raised an eyebrow, and a third eye burst forth on his forehead! The Elf King Bloodline power suddenly activated. He stepped half a pace forward, stomping the ground forcefully, and the immense Elf King Dou Soul permeated the heaven and earth, causing all surrounding grass to bend flat. He pointed a finger toward Duanfeng Buer in the air, and the air before his fingertip violently shattered, releasing a visible streak of Dou Qi that tore through the void: "You cannot be spared!" Kun Dou Ji!

Qian Jin’s scalp tingled; Qian Zhanxuan was genuinely enraged this time. Against a young warrior he could surely kill even without activating his Bloodline Battle Form, he directly activated the Elf King Bloodline Battle Form, unleashing his Dou Soul and erupting with terrifying power, applying the Kun Dou Ji to the incoming Dou Qi. This single strike’s gravity was likely a thousand times more, if not more!

If struck by such an attack, nothing would remain but dust!

"Little…" Qian Jin’s Violent Soul Domain instantly erupted beneath his feet. His body shot across at high speed to block in front of Duanfeng Buer. His right hand grasped half a shield from the air. In a state of double 'Ultra-Void Soul Infusion,' he channeled the Violent Domain to activate the Eighteen Hammers of Ascending Peak, meeting the incoming strike.

Bang!

The Eighteen Hammers of Ascending Peak hadn't even fully unfurled before the ferocious attack slammed onto the half-shield in Qian Jin’s hand. The half-shield, which had never sustained any damage before, instantly shattered into countless particles of dust. Mixed with the residual power of the Kun Dou Ji, this matter rushed into Qian Jin's palm.

Crack… Crack…

A series of bone-snapping sounds erupted from Qian Jin’s palm, quickly reaching his shoulder. The overwhelming force did not cease even after shattering his arm; it directly hurled him high into the sky. Blood sprayed incessantly from his mouth as he crashed onto the grass, skidding nearly a hundred meters before finally coming to a halt.