173: The curtain falls, Xiao Qing'er disappears.

The sudden pleas for mercy from the master and Disciple instantly pulled everyone on the Martial Arts Stage back to reality, recovering from the shock they had just experienced.

However.

"Let's go."

Lord Shen acted as if he hadn't heard anything, glanced at the various Mountain Chiefs who were appearing on the Martial Arts Stage one after another, as well as Wang Cuihua, spoke softly, and then turned to leave.

These trivial matters that followed were not worth his attention.

After hearing her Senior Brother's words, Xia Youyue first shot a look of disgust at Leng Lingshuang and her Disciple kneeling on the ground, then put away her long spear and headed toward the Ninth Mountain.

Ji Ba followed closely, tracking Shen Nian's Qi. If anyone wasn't surprised by all the changes and the revelation of Shen Nian's strength, it was him.

In his eyes, it seemed as if this was only natural.

After Shen Nian left.

Lin Yuan put away his usual frivolity, leaned down, looked at Xu Wei, and said deeply, "Xu Quan is your father, right..."

As Shen Nian's servant, it was natural for him to handle these aftermath matters.

Shen Nian could ignore these ants, but he couldn't, nor could the Shen Family.

"Replying to Lord, I am Xu Quan's son, I am Xu Quan's son. My Xu Family will soon be under Lord Shen's command, we are all one family, all one family..." Xu Wei grabbed onto this like a life-saving straw, speaking quickly and forcing out an extremely ugly smile.

Elder Wang, however, glanced indifferently at Xu Wei, a hint of mockery on his lips.

Offending the Young Clan Leader of the Shen Family and still dreaming that the Xu Family could be chosen?

What an idiot!

Just as he expected.

Boom!

A terrifying pressure descended.

Pa~!

An invisible slap struck Xu Wei's face, sending him flying and instantly knocking him unconscious. His Primordial Spirit shattered, and he died immediately.

He didn't understand why they were chatting normally one second, and the next second, his life was taken.

Lin Yuan couldn't be bothered to look at Xu Wei's corpse; instead, he looked toward Elder Wang, his expression calm.

Stared at by this Void Return expert, Elder Wang immediately felt his scalp tingle and sweat stream down, but he still raised his head resolutely, without any sign of fear.

At worst, when a man dies, he faces the heavens.

Having followed Xu Wei, he had long since come to terms with the fact that they were both heading down the same path sooner or later.

To his surprise, Lin Yuan gradually withdrew his gaze and stopped looking at him.

"He spared me?" Elder Wang was stunned.

At this moment, Ji Xuqing spoke, "Do you think the Ancient Desolate Families are a Demonic Cult? You didn't do anything, Commander Lin won't do anything to you..."

As soon as these words were spoken, Elder Wang fell silent for a moment, then turned his head to look at Xu Wei's corpse, slowly stood up, silently picked up Xu Wei's body, and left.

Everyone saw his actions, but no one stopped him.

At this moment, after seeing Xu Wei's corpse, which had been slapped to death, Leng Lingshuang couldn't help but shiver. Her gaze toward Lin Yuan became terrified, and she trembled all over, unable even to cry out for mercy.

"Those who insult my Young Lord shall die."

Lin Yuan's voice rang out, like a sentence passed upon the destinies of Leng Lingshuang and Zhao Qi.

"No!!"

"Don't!"

Two miserable screams sounded. No one even saw Lin Yuan make a move, yet the master and Disciple completely collapsed onto the ground, their life force dissipating.

Lin Yuan showed no mercy toward these two.

After dealing with the two women, Lin Yuan finally turned to leave. Ji Xuqing, who had been waiting for him for a long time, immediately followed.

And at this very moment.

On the Martial Arts Stage, two corpses lay silently, and there was complete silence.

Wang Cuihua immediately recovered her senses and said, "Take their two bodies down for burial..."

"Yes!" A Mountain Chief quickly cupped his hands, the terror in his eyes still visible, and a hint of panic showed in his movements. Clearly, he hadn't yet calmed his mind.

Immediately after.

"The Nine Peaks Grand Competition is over. Everyone may return."

After Wang Cuihua said this, her figure vanished directly. She still had one thing to confirm: the situation at Xuan Guang Cave. The destruction had been too swift!

Of course, there was also the matter that the Great Cave Master of Xuan Guang Cave had long colluded with the Yao Race. If there was one possibility, there might be a second. She needed to seize this chance to remove all the Yao Race minions planted in Great Xia.

Guo Dewu immediately organized the Heavenly Sword Sect Disciples to lead the viewing Cultivators down the mountain.

"Kid, did you know about this all along?" Guo Dewu asked softly.

Lin Qingyue nodded.

"Then why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"You didn't ask!"

Guo Dewu twitched the corner of his mouth, finding himself speechless. The horror in his pupils turned into a sigh of admiration as he looked back in the direction of the Ninth Mountain.

"As expected of someone from the Ancient Desolate Shen Family, truly a Prodigy!"

The Nine Mountains Grand Competition thus concluded. No one had expected today's events. Only after descending the mountain did countless people dare to openly discuss it. The entire Nine Provinces of Great Xia were struck by thunder today. After Shen Nian's identity and terrifying strength were exposed, every corner of the Nine Provinces of Great Xia was talking about him.

"Holy crap, that's beyond ridiculous! You know the Dragon Clan, the Royal Clan of the Monster Realm? I blinked my eyes, and hey, the Azure Dragon was gone!"

"Lord Shen's strength is too terrifying. I fear he'd be hard-pressed to find a match even in the Upper Realm!"

"Isn't that obvious!"

"I actually noticed it before. Lord Shen's background is extraordinary; his every move showed the demeanor of a Great Clan. I just didn't say it."

"Get lost and stop spouting nonsense!"

Sunset Valley.

Murong Lan, who was researching Mechanical Devices, froze in place, dumbfounded after hearing the report next to him.

"You're saying he destroyed the Xuan Guang Cave alone with a single sword strike?"

"Yes, Valley Master. After Lord Shen's sword strike, Xuan Guang Cave sank several meters. The surviving Cave Master said so himself..."

"Lord Shen's identity has also spread. He is the Overlord of the Eastern Profound in the Upper Realm, a member of the Ancient Desolate Families, the Shen Family..."

Crack!

Murong Lan leaned back, endless regret surging in his heart, and he suddenly crushed the mechanical device in his hand.

I've truly messed up!

If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have stopped Chen'er! This is an incredibly powerful backer!!!

I wonder if it's still not too late!

"Valley Master, the Second Valley Master sent another message asking if we should hurry and pay our respects to Lord Shen..."

The next second, Murong Lan suddenly stood up.

"Pay respects? We definitely must!"

"Quickly notify everyone in the Valley, prepare heavy gifts, and follow me to the Heavenly Sword Sect!"

"Yes, Valley Master!"

At the same time.

Great Xia, Yunzhou.

Xiao Family.

"Senior Brother, Qinger has an urgent matter and must leave for a period. I was unable to personally ask for your permission, and I hope Senior Brother will forgive me. Senior Brother can also rest assured that Qinger is no longer a powerless Mortal; I now possess the ability to protect myself. The next time we meet, I will certainly have completed Senior Brother's mission: to bring back the head of a Nascent Soul Great Demon..."

Shen Nian looked at the Letter in his hand, his eyes narrowed slightly. He had just sensed that Xiao Qinger's aura had vanished.

After all, she was his Junior Sister, and Shen Nian had long ago left a wisp of Qi on her body.

Although the other party was the Daughter of Destiny, protected by destiny, nothing major could happen to her. But he disliked having to perform last-minute rescues.

It was too tiring.

So, upon discovery, he immediately crossed space to reach the Xiao Family. Now that he had touched upon the true meaning of space, breaking open small spatial barriers was no longer an issue.

"You're saying an old man who claimed to be the Xiao Family Old Ancestor took both Xiao Qinger and her father?" Shen Nian sat in the main seat of the Xiao Family's Deliberation Hall, put away the Letter, and raised an eyebrow while looking at Butler Fu.

Immediately, Shen Nian showed a thoughtful expression.

It was undoubtedly someone from the Upper Realm, but the fact that they could evade his Divine Thought, and that he only discovered Xiao Qinger's disappearance after such a long time, meant their Realm must be far higher than Shen Nian's!

He wasn't surprised that the Daughter of Destiny encountered some noble person or Old Ancestor, but he couldn't quite figure out how someone of such a high Realm managed to enter the territory of Great Xia.

Could it be that the Seal left by the Human Emperor of yesteryear had a problem?