77: Chapter 77 The Manifestation Before the Palace: The So-Called Real Damage

The air in the main hall felt as if it had been filled with molten lead, heavy enough to be suffocating.

The wine cup in Prime Minister Kesenluo's hand let out a faint, overburdened groan. With a "crack," the exquisite glazed cup wall shattered into a web-like pattern. Scarlet wine flowed through his fingers, dripping onto the marble floor that was polished like a mirror, spreading out into startling blood-like flowers.

He stared intently at Qin Ji, who was right in front of him. His sinister face twitched slightly due to extreme shock and anger. As the Prime Minister who held sway over the court, he had always been able to summon the clouds and rain in Fengling City. When had he ever been provoked to his face by a red-named Adventurer covered in sin?

"Good... Very good!"

Prime Minister Kesenluo laughed out of extreme anger, his withered palm slamming onto the table as he tried to stand up. "In front of Your Majesty, is this a place for a madman like you to run wild? Guards! Take him down!"

"Enough."

Above the throne, a deep and powerful voice slowly rang out.

The voice wasn't loud, yet it boomed in everyone's ears like a great bell, instantly dispersing the bloody Killing Intent that Qin Ji had deliberately released.

King Abra sat on the high throne, clad in intricate Golden Lionheart Armor. He didn't stand up; he merely scanned the room casually with his majestic pale gold pupils, which resembled those of a lion. Instantly, the tense atmosphere in the hall froze.

"Kesenluo, sit down."

Abra's voice left no room for doubt.

Prime Minister Kesenluo's body stiffened, and the rage that was about to explode was forced back into his stomach. He gave Qin Ji a venomous look, but ultimately had to lower his head and sit back in his place respectfully. However, his wine-stained hand gripped the corner of the table tightly, his knuckles turning white.

"So, you are the Snow Emperor who slaughtered thousands of living beings outside the city?"

Abra's gaze fell on Qin Ji, carrying the indifference of one looking at a dead object. "With a Red Name count over ten thousand, your crimes are monstrous. If the Queen hadn't pleaded for mercy, you should be in the City Guard's death cell right now, instead of standing here talking to me."

Qin Ji's expression didn't change. He even took the time to brush off nonexistent dust from his sleeves.

"Since Your Majesty is willing to see me, it means my value far outweighs my sins."

Qin Ji looked up, staring directly at the throne with a faint smile on his lips. "Moreover, I am here to help Her Highness the Second Princess clarify the facts."

"Oh?"

Queen Fiodingyu, elegant and poised, who had been sitting beside the King, suddenly let out a light laugh. She toyed with the feather fan in her hand, her gaze shifting between Qin Ji and Leona with a hint of playfulness, like a cat playing with a mouse.

"What a coincidence. I also heard that Your Excellency Snow Emperor's strength is extraordinary, so I specially asked Mage Klein to invite you here. Since you admit to killing Grelorlinssen yourself, why don't you tell us all about it in front of Your Majesty?"

At this point, Fiodingyu's tone shifted, and her gaze pierced Leona like a sharp blade:

"Leona, now that the main party is here, are you going to continue hiding it? Colluding with a red-named fugitive is a serious crime."

Leona's hands on her knees tightened suddenly, her teeth clenched.

She and Qin Ji did have a "tacit understanding" before, but that didn't mean she could admit it directly. Once the crime of "colluding with a Red Name" was established, she would not only lose her right of succession but might even be exiled.

"Mother, everything must be based on evidence."

Leona took a deep breath, forcing down the panic in her heart, and looked coldly at Qin Ji. "Snow Emperor, one can eat whatever they want, but one cannot say whatever they want. You say you killed Grelorlinssen, what proof do you have? Don't tell me you're just talking nonsense here for the sake of the reward!"

Although these words were a scolding, Leona's eyes were frantically signaling to Qin Ji—don't you dare reveal our deal!

Qin Ji laughed inwardly.

This little lady's acting skills are quite good.

"Proof?"

With a flick of his hand, a deep blue crystal emitting a faint, cold light appeared in Qin Ji's palm.

"The Key of Shattered Stars. This thing can ignore the 'Starlight Extinction Array' outside Grelorlinssen's lair and enter the core area of the Well of Shattered Stars. I assume everyone here should recognize this?"

The moment he saw this crystal, Prime Minister Kesenluo's pupils shrank suddenly.

That was the backup plan he had secretly arranged at the Well of Shattered Stars. How could it have fallen into this person's hands?!

A strange light flashed in King Abra's eyes, and he nodded slightly. "It is indeed the key item for entering the Well of Shattered Stars. However..."

His tone shifted, and a majestic pressure instantly locked onto Qin Ji. "Even if you can get in, with Grelorlinssen's near-Epic Grade defense, what can you, an Adventurer who hasn't even completed his Second Class Advancement, use to kill him?"

"With this."

Without any nonsense, Qin Ji pulled a ferocious-looking greatsword from the Void Realm.

It wasn't a Divine Artifact, just a piece of ordinary Advanced Gold Equipment. But the moment Qin Ji gripped the hilt, a heart-palpitating data torrent instantly wrapped around the blade.

That was attributes.

A terrifying power attribute, pure to the extreme and massive enough to distort rules!

"If Your Majesty doesn't believe it, feel free to find someone to test it." Qin Ji held the sword in one hand, the tip pointing diagonally at the ground, his tone incredibly arrogant. "In this world, there is only one kind of damage that cannot be defended against."

Abra narrowed his eyes, his finger lightly tapping the armrest.

"Golden Guard."

"Present!"

A burly general over two meters tall, completely covered in heavy Runic Plate Armor, strode out. With every step, the ground let out a dull tremor.

[Golden Guard Commander Barton (LV.60 Lord-tier NPC)]

This was a true iron plate! Even current first-line raid groups would have to take a detour when facing an NPC of this level.

"Stand still and let him strike you once," Abra ordered calmly.

Barton didn't hesitate. His feet slammed into the ground, and the Runic Plate Armor on his body instantly burst with a dazzling earthy yellow light. A Rock Shield half a meter thick appeared out of thin air, wrapping him tightly.

"Kid, use some strength. Don't embarrass yourself in front of His Majesty!" Barton mocked in a muffled voice.

Qin Ji looked at the turtle-shell-like defense, a cruel curve forming at the corner of his mouth.

Defense?

In front of his Infinite Plunder, the so-called defense value was nothing more than a joke. When the power attribute was stacked to a certain critical point, a normal attack was a forbidden spell, and a swing of the sword was a rule!

"As you wish."

Qin Ji moved.

No fancy skill effects, no long chanting.

He simply and unadornedly took a step forward and swung the greatsword down.

This strike was extremely fast, even leaving a black vacuum fault in the air.

Boom—!!!

A deafening explosion rang out in the hall.

Following that was a series of tooth-aching metal-tearing sounds.

Under everyone's horrified gazes, the thick Rock Shield around Barton was like it was made of tofu dregs; it couldn't even last for 0.1 seconds before instantly disintegrating into a cloud of dust.

The greatsword's momentum didn't decrease as it slammed heavily into the Runic Plate Armor Barton was so proud of.

"Crack!"

The indestructible plate armor split down the middle. Barton was like he had been hit by a high-speed train; he didn't even have time to scream before he was sent flying back like a golden cannonball!

Rumble!

Barton's massive body smashed through three thick stone pillars in succession before finally crashing into the wall at the far end of the hall. He was embedded deep in the wall in a sprawled-out shape, his life or death unknown.

And where he had originally stood, a terrifying sword mark ten meters long and bottomless appeared on the hard obsidian floor. The cut was as smooth as a mirror, even emitting wisps of green smoke.

-99999! (Critical Hit! Lethal Strike!)

A terrifying damage number, so red it was almost black, slowly rose from above the ruins.

Silence.

Absolute silence.

The broken half of the wine cup in Prime Minister Kesenluo's hand fell to the ground with a "clatter," shattering into pieces. His mouth was wide open, his jaw seemingly dislocated, and his eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

One strike... killed a level 60 Lord-tier NPC?!

Is this the kind of damage a player can deal at this stage?!

Even Abra on the throne lost his indifferent expression. His hand gripping the armrest suddenly exerted force, actually leaving five clear finger marks on the solid gold armrest.

"This is my True Damage."

Qin Ji casually performed a sword flower and put the greatsword back into his backpack, as if he had just swatted a fly. "No matter how high the defense, no matter how thick the shield, in front of me, all beings are equal."

Leona stared blankly at Qin Ji's back, all the prepared excuses stuck in her throat.

She knew Qin Ji was strong, but she never imagined in her wildest dreams that this man would be strong to such a degree that it defied common sense!

"Good... What a 'True Damage'!"

Queen Fiodingyu was the first to snap back to her senses. The playfulness in her eyes had vanished, replaced by a light called "greed."

Such a sharp blade, if it could be held in her own hands...

"Your Majesty, facts speak louder than words."

Fiodingyu stood up and walked gracefully to the center of the hall, her gaze pressing upon Leona. "With such terrifying destructive power, killing Grelorlinssen is more than easy. Leona, if your partner wasn't the Snow Emperor, then tell me, in the entire Star Kingdom, who else could have done this?"

Leona's face turned pale.

This was a dead end.

Admitting the cooperation meant colluding with a Red Name; denying it meant she couldn't explain Grelorlinssen's death.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on Leona, waiting for the Second Princess to break down.

However, after a long silence, Leona slowly raised her head, a flash of determination in her eyes.

"Father, I did indeed find a helper. But I promised that warrior that I would never reveal his identity."

Although Leona's voice trembled, it was exceptionally firm. "As a member of the royal family, integrity comes first. Even if I lose all rewards, I will never break my promise!"

These words were powerful and echoed through the hall.

Many nobles who had been waiting to see a joke couldn't help but be moved. In this court where interests were paramount, giving up control of the Star Chamber of Commerce for the sake of a promise—this kind of spirit was indeed remarkable.

Even Qin Ji couldn't help but take another look at her.

This woman is quite interesting. This move of retreating to advance not only preserved her reputation but also won over some people's hearts.

"Good, very good."

Abra looked deeply at Leona, his tone unreadable. "Since you insist, I will withdraw all the rewards I previously promised you. The management rights of the Star Chamber of Commerce will be temporarily handled by the Prime Minister."

Leona's body swayed, her face as pale as paper, yet she still bit her lip and bowed. "Thank you, Father."

After dealing with Leona, Abra's gaze turned back to Qin Ji.

This time, there was a hint of undisguised Killing Intent in his eyes.

"Snow Emperor, you have proven your strength, but you have also proven your danger."

Abra slowly stood up, the terrifying pressure of a King crashing down towards Qin Ji like a landslide or a tsunami. "An uncontrollable powerhouse is more terrifying than a Demonic Beast. You are a person of sin. As King, I have the right to imprison you in the Abyssal Dungeon until your sin value is cleared."

"Imprison?"

Facing that overwhelming pressure, Qin Ji seemed to not feel it at all. Instead, he chuckled. "Your Majesty is welcome to try. But I must remind you, the growth rate of Adventurers is astonishing. If you imprison me today, I'll be able to tear down the dungeon tomorrow, and while I'm at it... I'll tear down this palace too."

Arrogant!

Simply arrogant beyond belief!

The guards in the hall all drew their swords, their Killing Intent soaring.

Just as both sides were about to completely tear each other apart, Queen Fiodingyu's voice rang out again.

"Your Majesty, wait."

Fiodingyu moved gracefully, standing between Qin Ji and Abra.

"Although the Snow Emperor acts extreme, he is after all a talent. Now that the monsters at the border are stirring, it is exactly the time when we need people."

She turned around and looked at Qin Ji, her beautiful eyes shimmering with calculation. "Your Majesty, why not give him a chance to redeem himself? I heard that the 'Footprints of the Snow Corpse' dungeon has been having frequent abnormalities lately, and it just happens to lack someone strong enough to investigate."

"If he can clear that dungeon, it will not only prove his loyalty but also wash away part of his sin value. What do you think?"

Abra was silent for a moment, and the pressure on his body slowly retracted.

He naturally knew that the Queen was trying to win people over, but he also needed a way out. After all, if they really started a war in the palace with a lunatic who could one-shot a Lord-tier NPC, the losses would be incalculable.

"Granted."

Abra coldly spat out a single word, then flicked his cloak and turned to leave.

...

A moment later.

Qin Ji stood at the entrance of the hall, holding a Black Scroll that emitted a chilling aura.

The setting sun was as red as blood, casting his slender shadow very long.

He wasn't in a hurry to leave. Instead, he turned around and looked past the layers of palace eaves toward the far north. There, a pale moon was slowly rising, like a giant dead fish eye, coldly watching the land.

Qin Ji casually tossed the scroll up and caught it, a meaningful curve appearing at the corner of his mouth. His pitch-black eyes reflected the sunset glow, like two lumps of burning black flame, filled with desire and greed for the upcoming hunting time.