58: The battle results were revealed, and the entire hall fell silent!

Long Kui gripped Zhao Qian's neck, forcefully pushing her head down, making her kowtow to Lin Chen repeatedly on the ground!

Her voice was chillingly devoid of emotion, yet filled with 'apology' towards Lin Chen.

"Holy Son Lin."

"My subordinate was poorly disciplined and disturbed you."

"You see..."

"This kind of 'apology,' are you..."

"...satisfied?"

Long Kui's words were full of humility, but her eyes hid monstrous killing intent. She was using this method to show weakness to Lin Chen, while also warning him to know when to stop and not push his luck.

However, Lin Chen's face remained calm. He didn't even glance at Zhao Qian, who was being forced to kowtow like pounding garlic, and completely ignored Long Kui's threatening gaze.

His eyes slowly fell upon Li Hanyue, who had remained standing the entire time.

Then he smiled, a very kind smile.

"It's acceptable," he said indifferently. "But, it seems one is still missing."

As soon as these words were spoken, Long Kui's heart sank instantly. She knew this man had no intention of letting things go. And upon hearing this, Li Hanyue's delicate body trembled violently, her pretty face turning pale. She instinctively wanted to retreat and flee.

But it was already too late.

"Junior Niece Li," a voice full of 'goodwill' and 'regret' wafted from behind her, belonging to Elder Yuheng of the Yaochi Holy Land, "Look, why let things escalate to this point? Kneel down, do it gracefully."

These words completely shattered the last shred of hope in Li Hanyue's heart. She knew she had no way out.

Finally, under the gaze of thousands of eyes filled with pity and mockery, this 'number two figure' of the Myriad Sword Pavilion slowly bent her proud knees, and with a 'thump,' heavily knelt before Lin Chen.

Endless humiliation, like the most venomous snake, frantically gnawed at her heart, making her wish she could self-detonate on the spot.

Lin Chen, however, acted as if he had done something trivial. He slowly walked up to the two women kneeling before him, looking down at them from above.

Then, in a tone full of 'regret,' he softly said:

"See, wouldn't it have been better to do this earlier? You had to force me to use your 'rules' to teach you what the hell 'reason' is."

Long Kui listened and looked at Lin Chen.

"Holy Son Lin, since you are satisfied with this matter, I will consider it settled. Please enter the city first!"

Long Kui was now eager for Lin Chen to leave quickly. She still had to deal with the aftermath of the Myriad Sword Pavilion, which was a big problem.

Everyone knew the Myriad Sword Pavilion was a bunch of Sword Seeds!

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen looked at the group of defeated dogs from the Myriad Sword Pavilion, who had completely lost all their dignity and sharp edge, and Lin Chen lost his last shred of interest.

He slowly turned around, his gaze falling on Elder Yuheng of the Yaochi Holy Land, who stood not far away with a complex expression.

Then he glanced at Long Kui again.

He nodded slightly at them, his face once again adorned with that harmless, kind smile.

"Ladies,"

His voice was calm yet carried an undeniable implication.

"Today's incident, I presume, was merely a misunderstanding."

"Since the misunderstanding has been cleared, we shall not trouble you further."

"We shall meet again in Qianlong City."

Inside the enormous palace of the City Lord's Mansion in Qianlong City, which was even more magnificent than the imperial palace, it was already filled with distinguished guests and powerful cultivators.

Top forces such as the Crimson Sun Divine Palace from the Great Yan Dynasty and the Mystic Water Holy Palace from the Canglan Dynasty had already gathered. They chatted and laughed, the atmosphere lively yet subtly filled with hidden agendas. Only the empty seat belonging to one of the hosts, the Purple Cloud Holy Land, stood out conspicuously.

"This Purple Cloud Holy Land certainly puts on airs, daring to make all of us wait for them?"

In the Crimson Sun Divine Palace's camp, First Princess Ji Ziyue swirled the spiritual wine burning like flames in her cup, her tone laced with playful mockery.

Just then, a belated announcement finally echoed from outside the hall.

"Report—! Holy Son Lin Chen of the Purple Cloud Holy Land, requests an audience—!"

With this announcement, the hall instantly fell silent. Everyone's gaze collectively turned towards the hall entrance, their eyes filled with curiosity, scrutiny, and a hint of undisguised contempt.

"Oh? A male Holy Son?" Ji Ziyue raised an eyebrow, the curve of her lips growing more mocking. "I'm quite curious to what extent this Purple Cloud Holy Land has declined, to actually let a man be their leader?"

Under countless gazes filled with 'disdain,' Lin Chen, accompanied by Luo Bingli and Lin Ziyan, slowly walked into the main hall.

"Lin Chen of the Purple Cloud Holy Land, due to an unexpected setback on the way, has arrived late. I hope City Lord and fellow Daoists will forgive me."

He bowed respectfully, neither servile nor overbearing, to the City Lord of Qianlong City, whose aura was unfathomable and whose body was shrouded in a hazy glow. His attitude was humble, yet he clearly stated the reason for his 'lateness.'

The City Lord's voice from the main seat revealed neither gender nor emotion.

"No matter, take a seat."

Lin Chen was arranged in the very last seat. The contempt implied by this arrangement was obvious, but Lin Chen didn't care at all. He simply took his seat calmly and poured himself a cup of wine, as if the mocking and disdainful gazes around him had nothing to do with him.

Just then, Black Dragon Guard Captain Long Kui and Elder Yuheng of the Yaochi Holy Land also walked in from outside the hall. They had evidently come to report to the City Lord. But when they saw the assembly in the main hall, especially Lin Chen leisurely sipping wine at the last seat, their steps unconsciously paused, and hesitant expressions appeared on their faces.

The City Lord on the main seat naturally noticed their unusual behavior.

(Oh? It seems this so-called 'setback' was quite significant.)

Thoughts whirled in her mind, but her face remained as calm as an ancient well.

She slowly stood up and, in a gentle tone full of 'apology,' spoke loudly to all the guests present:

"Everyone, I sincerely apologize."

"It seems some urgent official business outside the city requires my personal attention. I'm afraid I'll have to excuse myself for a moment."

"Someone, please lead all fellow Daoists to their respective courtyards to rest. I will personally host a banquet later to welcome you all."

Flawless!

She didn't ask Lin Chen to leave alone but 'politely' invited everyone out!

This way, it wouldn't seem like she was targeting anyone, and she could naturally keep Long Kui and Yuheng for a private 'interrogation'!

Everyone present was shrewd; how could they not see that the City Lord was issuing a 'request to leave'?

Although curious, no one dared to defy the City Lord of Qianlong City's wishes, and they all rose to bid farewell.

Lin Chen also smiled. He stood up, bowed to the City Lord again, and then, without looking back, led everyone out of the main hall.

And after everyone had left, the massive palace instantly returned to a deathly silence.

The City Lord's calm gaze finally sharpened.

Inside the vast, majestic hall, Long Kui took a deep breath and began to report.

"Reporting to City Lord... We were on patrol when we happened upon a conflict between the Purple Cloud Holy Land and the Myriad Sword Pavilion's flying boats outside the city."

The figure shrouded in light on the main seat nodded slightly, her voice calm: "The mad girls of the Myriad Sword Pavilion have always been overbearing, so this is not surprising."

"Initially... that was indeed the case." Long Kui's voice maintained the steady composure characteristic of a soldier, but it contained an uncontrollable gravity. "Sword Unparalleled of the Myriad Sword Pavilion attacked viciously, instantly killing their leader, Sword Unparalleled, with a single strike and destroying their flying boat."

"Oh?" The City Lord finally showed a flicker of interest. "Able to instantly kill Sword Unparalleled? It seems that old fellow from the Purple Cloud Holy Land was willing to pay a heavy price to give him a decent Dao artifact. It appears he isn't a complete waste after all."

In her opinion, while the peak Golden Core stage was rare, that was all it was.

It was like how people in small places in reality might think high school students are amazing, but in the real world, that's just the beginning.

In this world, the late Golden Core stage was not uncommon in Qianlong City. What truly caught her attention was the terrifying chasm between the Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages—the Half-step Nascent Soul! Those who could take that step were the true prodigies!

"No... Your Excellency, he did not use any magical artifacts." Long Kui's voice became increasingly dry. "Moreover, his cultivation, according to my observation, seems to be... only the late Golden Core stage."

"What?!" This time, the City Lord's voice finally carried a hint of genuine surprise.

A late Golden Core stage cultivator instantly killing a Sword Cultivator, who was also at the peak Golden Core stage and known for their offensive power, head-on? This could no longer be described merely as 'genius.'

"This matter is too bizarre." A trace of lingering fear flashed across Long Kui's face. "Therefore, I humbly dared to invite Elder Yuheng of the Yaochi Holy Land, who was also present at the time, to... testify for you."

"Oh? Yuheng is here too?" The City Lord reined in her surprise and cast her gaze towards the silent, white-clad beautiful woman below the dais.

She knew that what followed would likely be the real 重點.

Elder Yuheng stepped forward and bowed to the City Lord.

Her face showed none of Long Kui's horror, only an endless bitterness and... emotion, as if she had witnessed a miracle.

She slowly began to speak, her voice calm yet seemingly imbued with a magic capable of making heaven and earth tremble.

"Reporting to City Lord."

"Captain Long Kui's words are entirely true."

"That man indeed instantly killed Sword Unparalleled with just one move."

"Afterward, the remnants of the Myriad Sword Pavilion set up the Myriad Swords Returning to Origin Formation, capable of annihilating a Nascent Soul cultivator."

"At the time, this old woman also thought that man was sure to die."

"But..."

A trace of confusion, still incomprehensible to her, flashed in her eyes.

"He merely..."

"...blew...a...breath...at...that...black...greatsword...capable...of...destroying...everything."

"And then..."

"That sword formation, which even a Nascent Soul Prince of the Great Yan Dynasty failed to break..."

"...shattered."

Boom—CRASH—!!!

"Blew...blew a breath?!"

This time, the City Lord could no longer maintain her composure!

She suddenly sprang up from her throne!

The divine light enveloping her instantly scattered!

Revealing a face of extreme beauty, yet filled with endless shock and disbelief!

Blew a breath and broke a sword formation capable of slaying a Half-step Nascent Soul cultivator?!

With a late Golden Core stage cultivation?!

This... this wasn't just transcending realms anymore!

This was... divine punishment!

"Is this... true?!" Her voice fluctuated violently for the first time!

And Elder Yuheng merely nodded again, bitterly.

In a dreamlike, despairing voice, she gave the final and most devastating... confirmation.

"Absolutely true."

"Before that single 'breath,' the so-called 'chasm,' the so-called 'Half-step Nascent Soul'...

"...was nothing but a joke."

When Elder Yuheng uttered these words in a despairing tone, almost like a 'verdict'.

The Queen who governed Qianlong City on the main seat abruptly rose from her throne!

The divine light that enveloped her instantly scattered!

Revealing a face of ultimate beauty, yet filled with endless shock and disbelief!

Blew a breath and broke a sword formation capable of slaying a Half-step Nascent Soul cultivator?!

With a late Golden Core stage cultivation?!

No!

Impossible!

There must be a trick involved!

Her sharp, phoenix-like eyes, filled with majesty and wisdom, instantly turned icy cold!

Her first reaction was not 'fear' but... suspicion!

(Fake! This must be fake!)

Countless thoughts spun wildly in her mind!

(Either Long Kui, this useless person, exaggerated to shirk responsibility for her 'ineffective work'!)

(Or this Elder Yuheng of the Yaochi Holy Land deliberately spread alarmist rumors to raise that man's value and strike some unspeakable deal with him!)

(Or perhaps...)

An even more infuriating thought emerged.

(They both colluded! Conspired! Put on a show to deceive me!)

Thinking this, a cold killing intent slowly rose from her body!

She looked at the two women below the dais, one kneeling and one standing, both with expressions full of 'awe.'

Watching their 'seamless' performance.

She was almost certain of her suspicions.

However.

After she rapidly reviewed the identities, backgrounds, and the 'almost impossible' connection between these two in her mind.

Her Dao Heart, which had already been firm in its 'conspiracy theory,' began to... waver uncontrollably.

(No...)

(Long Kui was personally promoted by me and is absolutely loyal; it's impossible for her to betray me.)

(And although Yuheng is an old fox, the Yaochi Holy Land has always been detached from worldly affairs and even has a long-standing rift with the Purple Cloud Holy Land. She has no reason to risk offending me and the entire Qianlong City to tell such an enormous lie for a man she just met!)

These two... simply couldn't have colluded!

Then... that means... a terrifying conclusion that made her scalp tingle and her soul tremble.

Like the sharpest dagger, it plunged fiercely into her mind!

Everything they said... was... true?!

When Elder Yuheng uttered these words in a despairing tone, almost like a 'verdict'.

The Queen who governed Qianlong City on the main seat abruptly rose from her throne!

The divine light that enveloped her instantly scattered!

Revealing a face of ultimate beauty, yet filled with endless shock and disbelief!

Blew a breath and broke a sword formation capable of slaying a Half-step Nascent Soul cultivator?!

With a late Golden Core stage cultivation?!

No!

Impossible!

There must be a trick involved!

Her sharp, phoenix-like eyes, filled with majesty and wisdom, instantly turned icy cold!

Her first reaction was not 'fear' but... suspicion!

(Fake! This must be fake!)

Countless thoughts spun wildly in her mind!

(Either Long Kui, this useless person, exaggerated to shirk responsibility for her 'ineffective work'!)

(Or this Elder Yuheng of the Yaochi Holy Land deliberately spread alarmist rumors to raise that man's value and strike some unspeakable deal with him!)

(Or perhaps...)

An even more infuriating thought emerged.

(They both colluded! Conspired! Put on a show to deceive me!)

Thinking this, a cold killing intent slowly rose from her body!

She looked at the two women below the dais, one kneeling and one standing, both with expressions full of 'awe.'

Watching their 'seamless' performance.

She was almost certain of her suspicions.

However.

After she rapidly reviewed the identities, backgrounds, and the 'almost impossible' connection between these two in her mind.

Her Dao Heart, which had already been firm in its 'conspiracy theory,' began to... waver uncontrollably.

(No...)

(Long Kui was personally promoted by me and is absolutely loyal; it's impossible for her to betray me.)

(And although Yuheng is an old fox, the Yaochi Holy Land has always been detached from worldly affairs and even has a long-standing rift with the Purple Cloud Holy Land. She has no reason to risk offending me and the entire Qianlong City to tell such an enormous lie for a man she just met!)

These two... simply couldn't have colluded!

That... that means... a terrifying conclusion that made her scalp tingle and her soul tremble.

Like the sharpest dagger, it plunged fiercely into her mind!

Everything they said... was... true?!