Inside the ruined temple.
Li Chengwan stepped into a pool of blood, surveyed the corpses scattered around, and frowned deeply.
A figure in black appeared beside him, dropped to one knee, and said, "Lord Li, we have checked. There are no survivors."
"They're all dead?"
Li Chengwan was utterly astonished.
"Yes, my lord. Furthermore, the killer's methods were extremely cruel. The faces of our men... they are simply too horrific to look at."
The subordinate forced down the churning in his stomach and spoke with anguish.
It was his first time seeing killing techniques so cold and ruthless, as though the executioner were a chilling machine of slaughter entirely devoid of humanity.
"Understood."
Gazing at the corpses on the ground, Li Chengwan sank into a brief silence before waving his hand to lead his men away.
…………
The imperial palace of Shi Country.
Towering and magnificent, the palace was bathed in brilliant light, ablaze with lamps.
Within a tranquil and exquisite pavilion deep in the courtyards, Shi Luoyan clutched a classified letter tightly. The brief yet heavy words upon it—"Mission failed, no survivors"—pierced her heart like shards of ice.
"They're all dead?"
For a moment, Shi Luoyan found it hard to believe.
Are you kidding me? To ensure this assassination plot was foolproof, she had dispatched a Xiantian Realm cultivator alongside several Houtian Realm cultivators. Such a lineup was more than enough to deal with a good-for-nothing heir.
Even another Xiantian Realm cultivator of the same tier would have died harboring bitter resentment if forced to face this squad of assassins trained by the Li Family.
Yet a luxury lineup like this had actually perished inside that ruined temple.
How could Qin Haotian, a mere good-for-nothing heir of War King Manor, possibly possess cultivation surpassing the Xiantian Realm? How could this be possible?
Could someone from War King Manor be secretly intervening to protect Qin Haotian? The moment this possibility crossed her mind, panic gripped Shi Luoyan's heart.
Though the batch of Li Family assassins she sent rarely showed their faces, the weapons and arts they excelled in could still be recognized by experts of War King Manor.
Yet her panic subsided almost immediately.
Impossible.
Given the temperament of War King Qin Langtian, how could anyone from War King Manor possibly be protecting Qin Haotian?
She must have been overthinking it.
After pondering the matter further, Shi Luoyan realized she might have misjudged Qin Haotian all along.
Even the people at War King Manor had likely been deceived by him.
Qin Haotian, Oh Qin Haotian, to think you were hiding so deeply! Possessing the cultivation to slaughter Xiantian Realm experts while putting on the act of a profligate scion—what profound cunning!
Once her composure returned, a surge of anger and unwillingness welled up within her.
As the Third Princess of Shi Country, failing twice to deal with a good-for-nothing was nothing short of humiliation!
Even if that good-for-nothing had hidden his cultivation!
What was even more critical was that if Qin Langtian ever learned Qin Haotian had concealed his true strength, he would undoubtedly summon Qin Haotian back to War King Manor, pour all resources into cultivating him, and groom him to be the next War King.
Faced with a direct blood descendant possessing such deep schemes and the ability to hide his strength without detection, that old fox Qin Langtian would never let him go!
By then, not only would her betrothal to Qin Haotian remain unbreakable, but she would also find herself plunged into an even more passive predicament.
At the mere thought of this, rage flared within Shi Luoyan, making her wish she could tear Qin Haotian limb from limb.
She refused to become the connecting bond between Shi Country and War King Manor.
That was something she could never accept.
"Qin Haotian, you must die!" Shi Luoyan muttered to herself.
Her beautiful eyes flashed with resolute brilliance.
Qin Haotian, a good-for-nothing she once thought she could easily manipulate, had now become a thorn in her side that she had to uproot. She knew full well that once the plot to assassinate Qin Haotian came to light, it might provoke the monstrous wrath of War King Manor; but as far as she was concerned, her destiny as Shi Luoyan could only be decided by herself.
Every single stumbling block attempting to hinder her pursuit of happiness would be eradicated one by one!
As she thought this, a towering, peerless figure clad in purple involuntarily surfaced in Shi Luoyan's mind, and her face softened.
"Only a teenage supreme being like the Ziyang Son of God is worthy of this princess."
At the thought of that purple-clad figure, the corners of Shi Luoyan's mouth curled into a tender smile, which was instantly replaced by a ruthless expression.
The Ziyang Son of God—the Son of God of the immortal Holy Land, Ziyang Holy Land—was universally acknowledged as the number one prodigy of the Desolate Region.
He was the dream lover in the hearts of countless maidens, and the only one in Shi Luoyan's heart.
Looking across the entire Desolate Region, only such a peerless prodigy was worthy of standing shoulder to shoulder with her, ascending together to the supreme peak of the martial path.
Therefore, for the sake of Shi Luoyan's future, and for the happiness of herself and the Ziyang Son of God.
Qin Haotian, please bear the hardship and go die! At this thought, the murderous intent in Shi Luoyan's heart grew even more intense.
"Someone come!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
A figure in black materialized, dropping to one knee in a bow.
"Send word to the Li Family immediately. Have them dispatch a few experts at the Xiantian Realm Late Stage to intercept and kill Qin Haotian the moment he leaves the Imperial City. Remember to sever his head and bring it back to present to this princess."
Shi Luoyan said in a deep voice.
Though beheading was somewhat cruel, only by truly seeing Qin Haotian's corpse could her mind finally rest.
The black-clad figure raised his head in slight surprise, seemingly startled by Shi Luoyan's ruthless methods.
"What, do you have a problem?"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
The black-clad figure bowed respectfully and turned to leave, only to be called back by Shi Luoyan.
"Commander Li, you should go as well. Make sure it's done cleanly."
Hearing this, Li Ying bowed to acknowledge the order and departed swiftly.
Watching Li Ying's retreating figure, Shi Luoyan sighed softly. "I'm sorry, little sister Yue'er, big sister has to break her promise."
With Li Ying's Tiangang Realm cultivation, killing someone like Qin Haotian would be as easy as turning over a hand.
This time, Qin Haotian was bound to die without a doubt.
Meanwhile, outside the Imperial City.
Qin Haotian had already changed into the ordinary attire of a merchant traveler, a trace of hard-to-conceal anticipation resting on his face.
He cast a final backward glance at the Imperial City that had imprisoned him for so many years; within his heart lay both the relief of liberation and an infinite yearning for the future.
Yet Qin Haotian knew clearly that although he had left the Imperial City, his true challenges were only just beginning.
Even so, he felt no fear, for a true expert could only reach that legendary peak of the martial path by constantly challenging the self and breaking through limits.
"From this day onward, the sky is high for birds to fly! Xuanhuang Great World, I, Qin Haotian, have arrived!"
Qin Haotian murmured softly, an unprecedented brilliance flashing in his eyes.
His figure gradually melted into the night.
Not long after Qin Haotian's departure,
an out-of-tune shadow quietly shrouded the area.
A young man draped in luxurious brocade stood not far from the city gate, his gaze locking like a hawk onto the direction Qin Haotian had departed.
"Qin Haotian, Oh Qin Haotian, once you leave the Imperial City and lose the protection of War King Manor, you are merely a wingless fledgling destined for a fate of being smashed to pieces!"
A chilling smile curled the corners of Li Haotian's mouth.
A contest concerning life, death, and destiny thus unfurled its prelude.