367: I am Qin Wangchuan's concubine (two-in-one)

Myriad Dao Academy, back mountain forest.

When Tan Lingfei opened his eyes again, he had been directly blasted out of the Outer Court by the energy of the crack's annihilation, falling into this forest.

After crawling for a while, he laboriously leaned against the rough trunk of an ancient tree.

His left leg was gone from the knee down, the At the break was bloody and mangled, and the Senbai Bone Stubble gleamed coldly under the moonlight.

It must have been painful, but memories flooded his mind at this moment.

"Is this... the back mountain forest?"

Many years ago, Tan Lingfei was led into the academy by his grandfather right here.

His gaze swept over his severely injured, crippled body, finally returning to this place that symbolized his beginning.

"I started here, and I'll end here," he muttered in a hoarse voice. "It's a fitting beginning and end."

"Grandfather..."

Tan Lingfei's murmur grew softer and softer, his eyelids drooped heavily, and his consciousness was fading along with his life force.

Just before he completely succumbed to darkness—

He suddenly opened his eyes.

Footsteps.

A shadow was slowly approaching from the end of the forest path.

Someone was coming!

His broken body instinctively tensed, then relaxed.

What was there to fear for a dying man?

Though he thought so, the moment he clearly saw the newcomer's face, Tan Lingfei's pupils still constricted, then he pulled up the corners of his mouth, revealing his usual mocking smile:

"I didn't expect the last person I'd see before I die would be you."

Qin Wangchuan didn't respond immediately, his gaze first falling on the stone chisel rolling among the withered leaves not far away, its surface stained with dried blood.

Then, he turned to Tan Lingfei and asked:

"Are you very disappointed?"

Saying that, he walked straight to Tan Lingfei and sat down casually under a tree, as if just stopping to rest.

Looking around, the forest was deep and dense with leaves, and the birdsong was solitary.

"It's a good place," Qin Wangchuan praised first, then turned his head, his gaze calmly falling on Tan Lingfei's face:

"You're going to die."

"But I can save you."

"What is this? Pity, or charity?" Tan Lingfei almost wanted to laugh out loud, but only coughed out a hoarse gasp.

"Not charity."

Qin Wangchuan's voice remained calm.

"You are very valuable and shouldn't die here."

Tan Lingfei's isolated posture in the simulation, not for himself but for others, moved Qin Wangchuan.

He admired such people.

"Value..."

Tan Lingfei shook his head without hesitation, leaning his head back against the rough tree trunk. "I'm just an evil person. I've committed many evils, using unscrupulous means."

"Dying here is what I deserve."

"Besides—I no longer have a reason to live."

"There are still your compatriots in the Lower Realm," Qin Wangchuan interrupted him, his voice clear and calm.

"You can live on and help them."

"No need to flee elsewhere. The Three Thousand Continents are vast; there will always be a place for you."

Tan Lingfei was silent for a long time.

Moonlight pierced through the branches and leaves, cutting alternating light and shadow patterns on his face.

The shell of mockery gradually peeled away, revealing the fatigue accumulated beneath, weathered by wind and frost.

"A place to belong..." he repeated, his voice as soft as a sigh. "My entire life, I've strived for these four words."

His consciousness was slowly being swallowed by a cold tide, each word costing him his dwindling strength:

"I tried again and again, failed again and again."

"I resisted, knelt, bowed, my spine bent again and again, my knees shattered again and again... I even thought, since this land has never treated us kindly, why not completely turn to the foreign lands and become a pure villain."

"—But I couldn't do it."

"The Three Thousand Continents are too small, and the foreign lands are too evil."

"I've tried everything... everything."

He suddenly coughed violently, blood foam spilling from between his teeth, gleaming dark red in the moonlight:

"Scheming against the Human Race, inciting conflict; scheming against the foreign races, seizing resources; even... including those compatriots who shared my plight into the game."

"How could someone like me... be qualified to save others?"

Tan Lingfei said, then suddenly let out a low laugh.

There was no mockery in that laughter, only an empty weariness.

"...Why am I saying all this?"

He raised his eyes to look at Qin Wangchuan, the last faint glimmer in his eyes silently extinguishing.

"Someone like you would never understand."

Qin Wangchuan did not respond.

He just sat there, quietly watching Tan Lingfei, watching this man whose hands were stained with filth, but whose heart had long been hollowed out by despair.

After a long while, Tan Lingfei used his last strength to raise a trembling finger, pointing to the stone chisel in the distance.

"That's the only thing my father left me... It should be useful to you. Take it."

His voice was already as faint as a sigh.

"Qin Wangchuan... I really envy you..."

Before he could finish, the light in Tan Lingfei's eyes completely extinguished as his hand fell.

The night wind swept through the forest, and the branches and leaves rustled softly.

After a long time, Qin Wangchuan slowly exhaled.

Then, he leaned his head back against the tree trunk behind him and closed his eyes.

"I don't understand... do I?"

In the simulation, the despair in Tan Lingfei's heart almost burst forth.

The Three Thousand Continents truly had no place for these Half-bloods.

Thinking, Qin Wangchuan's gaze fell.

It stopped on the stone chisel that Tan Lingfei had pointed to until his death.

Only the sound of the wind was in the forest, and a sigh so low it was almost inaudible:

"How should I repay this Karma?"

————————————

Middle Thousand Province, Xuanhuang Realm, deep within the Scavenger's secret chamber.

The quiet room was dimly lit, with only a few spirit crystals floating in the center emitting a soft, cold light.

Xuan Ye's figure slowly emerged, surrounded by a group of foreign races with condensed Auras, and walked towards the high seat at the end of the quiet room.

On the seat, a graceful figure sat quietly with downcast eyes.

She was a woman of almost unreal beauty.

Dressed in an ancient-style black long dress, her ink-black hair cascaded like a waterfall.

Without any hairpins, yet it shone more brilliantly than the most luxurious silk and was more beautiful than the night.

Only when Xuan Ye's footsteps stopped several zhang before the high seat did she slightly raise her eyelids.

In an instant, two points of faint golden light quietly illuminated.

On her perfectly ethereal face, the beauty mark at the corner of her right eye was particularly striking.

Though she was a foreign race, her appearance was no different from a Human Race maiden, even more perfect.

Beside the high seat, several foreign races were carefully placing a giant egg about half a person tall, its surface flowing with dark red blood patterns, and a dull sound like a heartbeat faintly emanated from beneath the shell.

Xuan Ye stepped forward, bowing slightly, his posture respectful, yet his tone carried a hint of familiarity:

"Your Highness, Princess, haven't you had enough fun here?"

Lü Yingxin slowly raised her eyes, her golden pupils sweeping over him, her voice clear and cold, without a ripple:

"It's you who hasn't had enough fun, isn't it?"

Xuan Ye straightened up and clapped his hands, laughing, his silver hair shimmering in the dim light:

"Haha, in that case, you're right."

"I merely made a casual move, wanting to see the 'excitement' of these Three Thousand Continents, but unexpectedly... I actually drew out a true monster."

His smile gradually faded, and a strange light flickered in his silver eyes:

"I always thought before that the future was just a predetermined, dull track. But after seeing that person—Qin Wangchuan—I started... to be curious about the future."

"Your Highness, Princess, you know, don't you?"

"My future."

Lü Yingxin's status in the foreign lands was extremely special.

This was not only because her grandfather was the sole "Emperor," a being with the potential to reach the position of Heavenly Emperor.

But also because she herself possessed the ability of "prophecy" to foresee the future.

To win her favor, in a sense, was to grasp the Veins of destiny.

Lü Yingxin sat silently, her faint golden eyes empty and still, reflecting nothing.

After a long while, her light voice finally fell:

"Your future will be as you wish."

The future cannot be spoken directly; a great Karma descends.

However, it can be conveyed through some hints.

"What I wish, death... ?" Xuan Ye repeated softly, but the corners of his mouth slowly curved into an almost relieved arc. "My future, I will die at Qin Wangchuan's hands?"

Lü Yingxin didn't respond, but this silence itself was an attitude.

"Ha, just as I thought."

Xuan Ye laughed softly, his laughter devoid of any gloom, instead revealing an excitement ignited by destiny. "I saw it clearly at first glance."

"Qin Wangchuan and I are the same kind of people."

"He wants to slay all kings, seize Authority, and make the foreign lands submit."

"I also want to slay all kings, seize Authority, but the difference is—I want to take this opportunity to seek out the legendary Immortal Emperor!"

As he spoke, the smile on his face fully bloomed, almost dazzling:

"The Three-Word Heaven and Earth Law, ah."

"To die at the hands of such a monster, doesn't it prove... that my path will inevitably reach such a height!"

Xuan Ye's laughter echoed in the dim quiet room.

Even the foreign race members, accustomed to his demeanor, instinctively took half a step back, exchanging fearful glances.

Everyone knew that Lord Xuan Ye was an elegant madman.

The laughter finally subsided.

Xuan Ye raised his hand to wipe away the tears of laughter from the corners of his eyes, then gestured behind him.

Several foreign race powerhouses waiting behind immediately stepped forward, their expressions solemn, each slashing their palms.

Various colored blood transformed into several thin streams, falling onto the surface of the blood-colored giant egg.

—blood seed.

A secret contingency left in this realm from ancient times, which, once activated, could open a passage to the foreign lands.

Thousands upon thousands of such seeds had been buried in the Three Thousand Continents.

According to the original plan, the intention was to cause a stir at Myriad Dao Academy to attract attention, while secretly sending people to activate the blood seeds everywhere, preparing for a future invasion.

However, with Qin Wangchuan's hint,

Yun Zexuan not only saw through the scheme but also followed the clues to find most of the blood seeds.

"Qin Wangchuan was right," Xuan Ye observed the slowly "awakening" blood seed, his tone carrying a hint of playful admiration. "His companions are indeed strong, to be able to unearth such a secret... However, that's all there is to it."

He turned sideways, bowing slightly towards the maiden on the throne, making an impeccable gesture of invitation:

"Your Highness, Princess, please."

Lü Yingxin did not move.

She even leaned back lazily, propping her cheek with one hand, her faint golden eyes looking down at Xuan Ye, and her clear, cold voice broke the silence:

"Xuan Ye."

"I am here," Xuan Ye replied with a smile, maintaining his bowed posture.

"Did I ever tell you," her voice was devoid of emotion, yet every word was clear, "that in fact, I never intended to leave?"

Xuan Ye straightened up, the smile on his face deepening: "This is the first I've heard of it."

Just then, a loud crash came from outside the quiet room, rapidly approaching.

A foreign race guard almost burst through the inner chamber door, his face filled with panic: "Lord! Out, outside—"

He couldn't finish his sentence.

Lü Yingxin's gaze had already bypassed Xuan Ye, falling upon the twisted door of the secret chamber.

"Although in your eyes, I am trapped here."

"But in fact, I have been waiting for this moment."

The great door was blasted open directly, and amidst the swirling dust.

Two figures, one after another, stepped inside.

It was Yun Zexuan and Gu Tianye.

The Auras of the foreign races in the room erupted, instantly surrounding the two, their killing intent palpable.

However, Yun Zexuan's gaze swept over this group of powerful foreign races; there was no panic on his face, but rather he arrogantly shouted:

"Good evening, foreign races."

"Kneel now and beg for mercy, and you might be spared death."

Yun Zexuan's arrogant words echoed in the quiet room.

Gu Tianye, meanwhile, tilted his head slightly, his gaze piercing through layers of killing intent towards the black-robed figure on the high seat, frowning, "Is that... the 'Princess' mentioned in the intelligence?"

"She certainly looks like an important figure."

"Although most foreign races are stubborn, not all of them are fearless of death."

Yun Zexuan took over, his tone casual, "Catch a few and interrogate them; we're bound to get some real information."

Xuan Ye scrutinized the two, who remained composed despite being heavily surrounded, a cold light flickering in his silver eyes:

"Although this Seat appreciates your courage, there should be a limit to recklessness."

"Just two Shen Tong Realm cultivators..." He tilted his head slightly, his voice carrying a hint of genuine bewilderment. "Dare to penetrate so deeply alone, all the way here?"

"Two?"

"No."

Yun Zexuan shook his head, then extended three fingers, correcting him:

"It's three."

He paused, his tone so relaxed it was almost teasing:

"Although the number is a bit small, killing you... should be more than enough."

Before his words finished, a pressure as solid as ancient mountains and as vast as the boundless starry sea, permeated from behind them without warning.

A grey-robed figure, as if separating from the shadows, silently stood behind the two.

The old man possessed an immortal demeanor, his body exuding a harmonious Dao charm, his Aura restrained to the minutest degree, like an old man from the mortal world.

Only when his gaze swept over the foreign races did it seem as if heavenly might had passed through.

"This old man, Yun Qingyang."

No superfluous words, no display of Aura.

Yun Qingyang took a step forward.

The next instant—

Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff!... A series of muffled, explosive sounds, like ripe berries being crushed, rang out almost simultaneously in the quiet room!

Except for Lü Yingxin on the high seat, the bodies of more than ten powerful foreign race experts were, at the same instant, exploded from within by an invisible colossal force!

In the quiet room, a strong smell of blood instantly permeated the air.

Yun Zexuan strolled leisurely among the severed limbs:

"Giving you a little face at the academy made you think too highly of yourselves."

"This is the Three Thousand Continents, and behind me is the Imperial Clan Yun Family."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a sudden change occurred!

From the pile of Xuan Ye's shattered flesh, which could barely be recognized as the outline of a head, the part that was his mouth inexplicably opened and closed twice, emitting a sound:

"Heh... it was within expectations."

Yun Zexuan and Gu Tianye abruptly stopped, their pupils constricting!

Even Yun Qingyang's unruffled face showed a faint trace of surprise.

Shattered like this... and still able to speak?!

The remaining mouth seemed to use its last bit of strength, its voice turning towards the high seat, broken and intermittent:

"Your Highness, Princess..."

"You... can return on your own, right?"

On the high seat, Lü Yingxin's posture remained unchanged; she simply replied faintly from afar, her voice still cold and unruffled:

"Of course."

Receiving this brief response, the pile of shattered flesh let out a final, smiling gasp:

"Then... I can report back..."

"And you all, give Qin Wangchuan a message, tell him... I will help him spread the Divine Ability Method throughout the foreign lands..."

Immediately, the last trace of vitality was completely annihilated, and he truly died.

This scene of dialogue was so bizarre that even the experienced Yun Qingyang couldn't help but frown.

"Return?"

He stepped forward, and although his full Aura was not unleashed, it already pressed down like an invisible mountain, sealing off the entire space.

"The blood seed is destroyed, the passage not yet open."

"You may use all your abilities, and see if you can escape under my very nose."

Lü Yingxin did not answer immediately.

She slowly stood up, her black skirt flowing like the night.

Her faint golden eyes turned to Yun Zexuan, who stood at the very front.

Then, her red lips parted, and she clearly uttered three words:

"Qin Wangchuan."

This name made Yun Zexuan raise his hand to stop the old man behind him, signaling him not to move yet.

Immediately after, Lü Yingxin said something that made them even more dumbfounded:

"I am Qin Wangchuan's concubine."