31: Chapter 31 Zhuang Yuan's death, slain

At Li Yuan's words, the two Revered Protectors of the Nanhe Kingdom turned pale, but they still stepped forward.

"Ancestors, this man seeks to cut off the future of our Nanhe Kingdom.

We beseech you, Ancestors, to take action and slay..."

"Silence!" Before the Lord of Nanhe Kingdom could finish, one of the ancestors had already snapped.

"Have you no sense of propriety in the presence of the Immortal Deity!"

As soon as this Nanhe ancestor spoke, he surprisingly sided with Li Yuan, even addressing him as Immortal Deity.

Li Yuan turned his head to look at these two Nanhe ancestors.

Their faces bore a very obvious expression of fawning sycophancy.

The Revered Protectors were the Foundation and cornerstone of the kingdom's establishment, yet here they were, currying favor with Li Yuan in every way.

Zhuang Yuan, standing not far away, had an expression on her face that was utterly stiff, her mouth twitching from time to time.

"Ancestor, what do you mean by this..."

Li Yuan looked at Zhuang Yuan and answered on behalf of her ancestors: "What your ancestors mean is that you shouldn't have provoked me.

Their judgment is indeed far better than yours and your father's."

As soon as Li Yuan finished speaking, he turned his gaze back to the two Nanhe Kingdom ancestors.

"Immortal Deity, please take the seat of honor. Their offense and disrespect, their disloyalty and injustice...

The matter of cleaning house, we will handle it ourselves."

The two Nanhe Kingdom ancestors understood Li Yuan's intention perfectly. As they spoke, they were already preparing to take action.

"With the Lord of Nanhe Kingdom and the Princess dead, you won't be left without heirs, will you?"

"Immortal Deity, rest assured. We old relics can still put in the effort to cultivate a few successors.

Moreover, we will absolutely not raise such worthless scoundrels again."

Having said that, one ancestor had already made his move, piercing through the Lord of Nanhe Kingdom's body with a single sword thrust.

They had never imagined that Li Yuan's few words could actually force their ancestors to turn against them.

Today's Winter Solstice Grand Ceremony was indeed extraordinarily lively.

Only, it was quite different from what many had imagined.

With the Lord of Nanhe Kingdom dead, the other Nanhe ancestor's gaze fell upon Zhuang Yuan.

"Your Lordship, didn't you wish to explore the Forbidden Ground?

Currently, within the entire Nanhe Kingdom, I alone know how to deactivate the guarding mechanisms.

I am the sole direct disciple of the Nanhe Kingdom's Great Master of mechanisms.

If I die, even if you can enter the Forbidden Ground, Your Lordship would still have to spend years deciphering it!"

Zhuang Yuan did not want to die. She was still searching for her own value.

She was clever. She knew that survival shouldn't rely on the other's pity.

Instead, she needed to reveal her value—value that could not be replaced, value that made her death a loss.

Hearing this, Li Yuan simply shook his head.

"You should just die. After you're dead, I have my own ways to solve the problem of entering this Forbidden Ground."

As his words fell, the Nanhe ancestor did not hesitate, directly eliminating Zhuang Yuan.

Watching the two of them fall dead, Li Yuan stood where he was and immediately used the Corpse Looting Technique.

[Corpse Looting Technique (Level 4): Acquired Zhuang Yuan's martial arts experience, ten years of martial arts Internal Energy, Cultivation Technique 'Nanhe Mechanism Secret Art']

[Corpse Looting Technique (Level 4): Acquired Zhuang Chou's martial arts experience, thirty years of martial arts Internal Energy, Cultivation Technique 'Nanhe True Scripture', Cultivation Technique 'Southern Blade True Art']

"I have no particular interest in your Nanhe Kingdom. I'm merely passing through.

Nor did I intend for you to overturn heaven and earth, plunging the region into chaos.

For the period to come, as long as you don't cause me any trouble, everything will remain peaceful.

I will leave at the latest within a month. I hope all of you will conduct yourselves appropriately."

Having said this, Li Yuan turned and returned to the Princess Mansion.

He intended to continue staying in that guest room, too lazy to change.

The so-called Winter Solstice Grand Ceremony had lost all meaning to continue at this point.

As the dead were dragged away, the court ministers couldn't help but gravitate towards the two Nanhe ancestors.

They were unclear about what should be done now.

Furthermore, there was one most critical question remaining.

Just how strong was this person?

Strong enough to force the two ancestors to compromise and sacrifice so completely, with no regard for face, in front of so many people.

"Two Ancestors, what level of strength does this Immortal Deity possess..."

"Transcending the seventh grade, a Realm we cannot perceive at all.

When he made his move, not just you, even we couldn't see it clearly.

His movement techniques and evasion arts have already reached a level attainable only by Immortals.

There was simply no possibility of resistance..."

This Nanhe ancestor didn't bother preserving any face, simply stating all his feelings.

Had they continued to stubbornly oppose him, the Nanhe Kingdom would merely have changed rulers.

For this Immortal, it would have been no great matter at all.

"That child Zhuang Yuan, heaven favored her so greatly, even sending such an Immortal-level expert to aid her.

Yet she herself squandered heaven's help. She can only blame her own injustice..."

The two Nanhe ancestors sighed with emotion.

Hiding in the shadows, they had already pieced together the entire chain of events.

To be honest, they truly didn't harbor much hatred towards Li Yuan.

Zhuang Yuan had been saved by Li Yuan once, owing him a life-saving debt.

Not only did she not seek to repay it, she schemed against him in such a manner.

Receiving this outcome was only right and proper.

Returning to the Princess Mansion, some from the mansion still came to confront Li Yuan. Li Yuan ignored them and returned to the guest room he had previously occupied.

Soon, the royal family's higher-ups had already sent people to take over the Princess Mansion.

The plaque at the entrance was directly replaced with 'Li Residence'.

In half a day, the entire Princess Mansion had changed owners.

Returning to his room, Li Yuan immediately began reviewing the Cultivation Techniques he had acquired.

Zhuang Yuan did indeed know some secret mechanism arts, specifically targeting the Forbidden Ground's mechanisms.

Combining the experience gained from her, Li Yuan began to quickly and skillfully master techniques related to mechanisms.

Judging from their martial arts Foundation here, Li Yuan felt that their mechanisms posed no threat to him, an Eighth-Grade Expert.

However, he feared these mechanisms might threaten the Tai Xuan Divine Art.

If he forcefully destroyed the mechanisms and there was some self-destruct device, that would be a true loss.

Li Yuan spent two days studying that mechanism secret art.

The maids and servants who brought his meals now addressed him as 'Master' instead of 'Your Lordship'.

This indicated that Li Yuan was now the master of this mansion.

Li Yuan did not bother to correct it, simply accepting it with equanimity.

Intelligent people could see that Li Yuan had already shown the Nanhe royal family the utmost benevolence and duty.

At present, honestly accepting the outcome was the best course.

Two days later, Li Yuan had almost completely mastered the mechanism secret art.

With the experience left by Zhuang Yuan, learning it himself wasn't too much of an obstacle.

At noon, after the midday meal, Li Yuan set off for that Forbidden Ground.

The terrain of that Forbidden Ground was indeed somewhat special, very much resembling a volcanic crater.

Only, at its center, it was still densely forested, not barren.

Relying on the mechanism secret arts he had learned, Li Yuan had already deactivated several mechanisms along the way.

As the Forbidden Ground of the Nanhe Kingdom, this place was also a treasure trove for cultivation.

After stepping inside, Li Yuan could also feel a very distinct sensation, as if his body had become lighter.

Every movement and gesture seemed to require several times less effort.

Practicing martial arts and cultivating in such a place was indeed easier than elsewhere.

The time one could spend on daily cultivation and tempering could increase by several hours.

However, for Li Yuan, it held little significance.

He didn't need to spend much effort practicing Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills.

With the martial arts experience of so many experts, why would he need to practice himself?

A lack of practical combat experience was still somewhat understandable.