Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 1392 - 1392 0790 There Are Also Old Grudges_2

Chapter 1392: Chapter 0790: There Are Also Old Grudges_2 Chapter 1392: Chapter 0790: There Are Also Old Grudges_2 Emperor Zhi Wu silently kept track of the time, always ready to dispatch a second team into the Grand Ancestor Temple, but before he could issue the second command, a series of agonizing screams emanated from within the temple. The screams were not only loud but also very frequent, occurring one after the other without pause, almost like a flock of ducks being slaughtered, quacking chaotically, utterly without rhythm.

Emperor Zhi Wu’s face changed drastically. There weren’t many people inside the Grand Ancestor Temple. In theory, Qi Tian had already been trapped by the array, and killing him should have been an easy task. The people responsible for the watch these past few days were only two: his own son, whom he had sent to rule as Emperor Tian Rui in the Great Zhao Nation, and his grandson, born to Wang Wenshui—Wang Dongming, who was the young Sect Leader of the Refining God Sect founded by Wang Wenshui.

In comparison to Qi Tian, the strength of these two was certainly lacking. But even if Qi Tian were to kill them, at most they could only let out two screams, not the multitude like now. The only possibility for such a scenario would be the recent entrance of a hundred Gold Core Realm masters brought into the Grand Ancestor Temple by Wang Wenshui, who could only make such sounds if they encountered a surprise attack and suffered heavy casualties.

However, such a situation was simply impossible. Qi Tian had already been trapped, so who else could have caused such grave damage apart from him?

As Emperor Zhi Wu racked his brains unable to solve the puzzle and was about to send out a second team, the screams inside the Grand Ancestor Temple suddenly stopped. In an instant, the temple became eerily quiet, with only the sound of the breeze rustling.

Emperor Zhi Wu’s forehead was unknowingly covered in cold sweat as he shouted towards the inside of the Grand Ancestor Temple, “Wenshui, are you alright? If you’re fine, respond to me.”

No one replied to Emperor Zhi Wu, who then called out again, “My son, Dongming, how are you? Can you report your safety to me?”

Still, no one responded to Emperor Zhi Wu. He muttered to himself, “This is bad,” as the worst possibility he dreaded might have occurred. It was feared that his direct descendants—Wang Wenshui, Wang Dongming, and Emperor Tian Rui—had all met with misfortune, along with the hundred Gold Core Realm masters Wang Wenshui had just brought into the Grand Ancestor Temple.

But how could that be? These were one hundred and three people, one hundred and three Gold Core Realm cultivators, not one hundred and three pigs. Even pigs wouldn’t be so easy to slaughter, certainly not to be annihilated so quickly.

Emperor Zhi Wu, seeing that no one was responding when calling for his own children and grandchildren, then turned to call out, “Qi Tian, are you in there? If you are, could you come out and see me?”

No sooner had his voice faded than a series of heavy footsteps echoed from inside the Grand Ancestor Temple. The sound was very monotonous yet rhythmic, steady and unwavering, with no signs of panic. Soon the footsteps stopped just behind the door of the Grand Ancestor Temple, and a figure emerged. His entire body was spotless, and his slightly youthful face was expressionless, but no one dared to underestimate him, especially not with the string of heads he was casually holding in his hand, silencing everyone.

Seeing those heads in Qi Tian’s hands, Emperor Zhi Wu’s eyes blazed with fury. At the very top of the string of heads, he saw three faces he knew all too well—Wang Wenshui, Wang Dongming, and Emperor Tian Rui— they had all fallen into Qi Tian’s hands.

Emperor Zhi Wu was livid, his eyes bulging with fury as he pointed at Qi Tian and bellowed, “You audacious cur, my son, Emperor Tian Rui, had just abdicated the throne of Great Zhao Nation, he was your sovereign, and yet you dare to murder him? Do you realize the atrocity you’ve committed, one that heaven and earth find abhorrent? This is insubordination, it’s rebellion, it’s a crime that warrants the extermination of your nine familial clans.”

Watching Emperor Zhi Wu’s frantic state, a sneer curled up the corner of Qi Tian’s mouth as he said, “So, you’re Emperor Zhi Wu, aren’t you? Didn’t Emperor Tian Rui tell you that not long ago, in consideration of the Master of Imperial Master Mansion, I spared his life? I had warned him never to appear before me again, to stop causing me trouble. Clearly, he took my warning lightly, for after I released him, he turned around to find you, his dear father, and you two conspired to set up a trap in the Grand Ancestor Temple to harm me, to kill me. Should I have just resigned myself to death? If that’s what you thought, then you have gravely underestimated me; I am no blindly loyal fool. If anyone in this world wishes to kill me, they’ll have to ask my stick here for permission first, won’t they?”

The previously silent Emperor Liuyong spoke up at this point, “Then why did you kill Wang Wenshui and his son, Wang Dongming?”

Qi Tian replied, “Wang Dongming and I had old grudges. When I was in Great Zhao Nation, Wang Dongming was implicated in the succession to the throne and had always been at odds with me. Although we didn’t clash directly at the time, the shadow of Refining God Sect lingered, barely concealed. Later, when I was about to enter the Imperial Family Secret Territory, it was Wang Dongming who tried to stop me at the entrance. He wanted to kill me but, unfortunately, failed. From that time, Wang Dongming’s determination to kill me solidified. He must have relayed our past encounters to his father and grandfather upon returning to the Secret Territory. With Emperor Zhi Wu resolved to kill me, it wouldn’t have been without the instigation of his precious son and grandson. Is that not right, Emperor Zhi Wu?”

Without responding to Qi Tian, Emperor Zhi Wu clenched his teeth and said, “Qi Tian, don’t delude yourself into thinking you can absolve yourself of guilt. There’s not a ruler under heaven who could tolerate your actions. Time and again, you’ve crossed the royal family’s bottom line, and you must be killed. If you had just been bound by the array in the Grand Ancestor Temple just now, we would have dispatched you swiftly, decapitating you quickly to spare you the agony. But now, I’ve changed my mind. I want to witness you being torn limb from limb, I want to draw out your soul separately and detain it, making your existence worse than death. Guards, relay my command, slay Qi Tian, bestow him the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households.”

Upon hearing Emperor Zhi Wu’s words, many cultivators at the Gold Core Realm were exceedingly tempted. In the Imperial Family Secret Territory, apart from the Princes, it was rare to see civil and military officials of any rank or any nobles, dukes, generals, or ministers. However, within the Secret Territory, there remained a King of Different Surnames, whose presence always kept others hopeful that perhaps one day the royal family would break from its custom of not bestowing noble titles and reward them with one. They had not expected that today their wishes would come true. Although the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households didn’t sound as prestigious as that of a King of Different Surnames, the actual authority was not much less. Why hesitate? Of course, they would kill for it.

In an instant, dozens of cultivators at the Gold Core Realm charged toward Qi Tian. Among them, not all had been previously swayed by Emperor Zhi Wu; several were simply covetous of the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households that Emperor Zhi Wu had promised.

As he watched the dozens of Gold Core Realm cultivators rush toward him, Qi Tian remained calm and composed; he shook his head slightly and said, “Since you insist on courting death, I won’t hesitate to oblige.”

Qi Tian immediately tossed aside the severed head he was holding, gripped his Yonghe Stick, and charged into the fray, engaging in bloody close-quarters combat with the attacking cultivators.

Dozens of cultivators at the Gold Core Realm surrounded and attacked Qi Tian; he fought back fiercely, his struggle both arduous and perilous. There were several close calls where Qi Tian almost fell victim to the enemy’s attacks.

Facing such a dire situation, Qi Tian didn’t panic. Instead, he calmed his mind and fought with composure. He knew that it wasn’t often one encountered the chance to spar with so many Gold Core cultivators simultaneously. Since the opportunity had arisen, he should make good use of it to hone his abilities and stimulate his potential, so that perhaps in not too long, he might achieve another promotion and breakthrough.