Chapter 184: Probing
Chapter 184: Probing
The crowd fell silent.
The expression on Ji Lengxing's face turned deathly pale, and the Ji Family members stood there like wooden statues. Even though the nearby Nightmare Knights were anxious, Ji Junhua was already in the grasp of the enemy, and he could be killed at any moment. They didn't dare to make any reckless moves!
It was then that a majestic voice suddenly resounded in the imperial capital. "I wonder which expert in the Longevity Qi has come? Please, spare my son! If he has offended you, I'll apologize on his behalf!"
The people were astonished; that was the voice of the current head of the Ji Family, Ji Congyun!
Did he just say Longevity Qi?
Everyone stiffly turned their heads back, slowly gazing at Zhao Yan. Their eyes held nothing but shock!
That young man turned out to be a martial artist in the Longevity Qi Stage! That was the peak of the Earth Profound Stage! Having such a person as a bodyguard meant...
Everyone’s eyes left Zhao Yan and turned toward Fang Chen, their hearts pounding.
What kind of background does he have?
Song Yi was trembling with fear, filled with regret. If he had known that Zhao Yan was a Longevity Qi Stage martial artist, a martial artist which Ji Junhua could never match up to, he wouldn't have let Elder Qin deliver the message!
The face of the maid beside Song Yi turned deathly pale. Her gaze toward Fang Chen and the others was filled with fear and trepidation!
"Longevity Qi.... How could he be at the Longevity Qi...? Could he be from a seventh-tier empire?" Ji Lengxing stared blankly at Fang Chen. The sense of superiority he had fizzled out instantly. His status wasn’t enough to warrant him a bodyguard in the Longevity Qi Stage, but he had seen people who could enjoy such treatment before... and they all hailed from seventh-tier empires!
When Ji Lengxing saw them for the first time, he felt deep envy bubble up within him, and from that day forth, he silently swore to himself that one day he’d make the Ji Family just as powerful. Yet, all of that was still too distant for the Ji Family. Until now, they had not produced a martial artist at the Heavenly Profound Stage!
The martial artists, passengers, and the ship's owner who had accompanied Fang Chen and others were already trembling, their teeth clattering. They realized that Fang Chen and the others weren't the unlucky ones here, Song Yi was!
Ji Family's blockade of Frost Empire Port seemed more like a joke now. It all depended on how the head of the Ji Family would resolve this misunderstanding!
Zhao Yan, carrying Ji Junhua, swiftly returned to Fang Chen's side. "My lord, there's a Longevity Qi martial artist rushing over, and a few others in the Returning Essence Qi Stage."
Fang Chen, with his eyes still closed, moved his nose slightly, a faint smile appearing on his lips. "I sense a familiar aura.... It's the aura of that Yingcang Swordsman."
It was only now that everyone noticed a weird detail. "Huh?" It seemed that Fang Chen hadn’t opened his eyes even once since the very beginning!
Xu Ge gritted his teeth. "Should we let him live, my lord?"
"Of course not." Fang Chen chuckled. "Today, we’re collecting a bit of interest. And in a day to come, we'll flatten Yingcang entirely."
This was music to Xu Ge’s ears; he couldn't wait!
Ancestor Xia Yu and the others had slightly strange expressions. As cultivators, meddling in these worldly matters of karma was highly detrimental to their future cultivation. While it might not be evident during the Qi Refining Realm, once they reached the Foundation Building Realm, there was an introspection at every stage. The less karma they had, the easier it would be to succeed.
Conversely, the risk of falling into demonic practices would significantly increase if they accumulated more karma. Failing in introspection meant the end of one’s cultivation journey. That was why Ancestor Xia Yu rarely bothered with mortal affairs. Even if Grand Xia were to fall one day, he would consider it the will of the heavens.
Just like the founding emperor of the former Grand Xia who coincidentally witnessed an immortal playing chess and was bestowed with a bit of immortal fate, transforming from an ordinary mortal into the emperor. Everything was predetermined by the will of Heaven!
In the time it took to finish a cup of tea, Ji Congyun had already arrived at the Frost Empire Port with a group of people. The people around him were dressed differently; one of them had two swords hanging from their waist, one long and one short, exuding the powerful aura of a Returning Essence Qi expert.
"Ancestor!" Ji Lengxing and the others breathed a sigh of relief, respectfully bowing as Ji Congyun arrived. With Ji Congyun present, the matter would likely be resolved.
Ji Congyun snorted coldly, then turned to Zhao Yan. "Release the youngster. We can clarify this misunderstanding."
Zhao Yan smiled. "It’s not up to me to decide to let him go. You should ask my lord."
Lord? Ji Congyun and the others' brows scrunched up. They then turned their gaze toward Fang Chen's group, and immediately, two people reacted.
One was Ji Congyun himself.
The other was the swordsman surrounded by Vajra Qi Stage martial artists.
"It's you..." Ji Congyun stared fixedly at Fang Chen, finding it hard to believe he would encounter him here.
Ji Junhua and the others were slightly surprised.
"You know him?"
Fang Chen smiled. "We meet again, Senior Ji. Ji Lengyue is doing well with me. You should visit him whenever you have the time."
Ji Lengyue!?
Hearing Fang Chen mention the name ‘Ji Lengyue,’ Ji Congyun and the others couldn't help but feel doubtful. But soon, they all reacted and took a sharp intake of breath.
"You are Fang Chen, the Divine General of Grand Xia!" exclaimed Ji Lengxing.
Grand Xia... Divine General?
The expressions of everyone changed repeatedly. They hadn't expected that the person in front of them would turn out to be Fang Chen from the former vassal state of the Frost Water Empire, Grand Xia, which had now declared itself as an eighth-tier empire!
This matter had caused considerable controversy within the Frost Water Empire. The pro-war factions were clamoring to send troops for retaliation!
"To think that this guy dares to come to our Frost Water Empire!"
"He's truly audacious!"
"No wonder Grand Xia acted so boldly all of a sudden. It turns out they have a Longevity Qi martial artist. But we have several of them in our empire. How can they compare with us!"
"This Longevity Qi martial artist couldn’t be allowed to leave here alive! That way, Grand Xia’s fate will be completely severed!"
People whispered among themselves. They weren’t mere spectators on the sidelines anymore, they were people standing firmly on the side of their empire.
Ji Congyun's gaze subtly shifted, and the three distinctly dressed Longevity Qi martial artists beside him, along with their followers, found themselves caught off guard, and they scrutinized Fang Chen intently.
"Fang Chen, even if you are capable, we are in the Frost Water Empire. We have two Longevity Qi Stage martial artists in the imperial capital who have not yet made a move. Aren't you afraid... That I'll join forces with them to keep all of you here?" jabbed Ji Congyun.
It was then that Ancestor Xia Yu butted into the conversation with a slight smile. "Daoist Fang, it seems that a single Longevity Qi martial artist is not enough to intimidate them." With a thought, he condensed a fireball in his hand and threw it toward the vast sea behind them.
Boom!
The flames soared into the sky. Everyone saw that the sea within dozens of yards evaporated instantly, and white vapor billowed out into the air and sky. It was a scene right out of a dream.
What if that fireball had landed on them?
The thought sent shivers down everyone's spines.
Ji Congyun's expression kept changing, and he finally began to seriously appraise Ancestor Xia Yu and the others. Afterward, he reached a conclusion that even made him feel terrified.
These guys... were all immortals!
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