"This time’s reward is not bad!" A trace of a smile touched Qin Wudao’s face. This time’s reward was much better than the last, especially the Earth-level Alchemy.
On the path of cultivation, elixirs are essential resources, used for cultivation, healing injuries, and various other purposes. Only Alchemists can refine these elixirs, granting them high status across the continent. To become an Alchemist, one must first possess a powerful divine soul—a requirement ninety-nine percent of Martial Artists do not meet. Additionally, they must cultivate Fire and Wood attribute Cultivation Techniques. Given these stringent requirements, the number of Alchemists was exceedingly scarce. In the East Ancient Domain, for example, among its billions of inhabitants, there were only a few Yellow-level Alchemists, and their success rate in refining elixirs was low.
The Qin Dynasty’s imperial family had two Alchemists, whose status was comparable to that of a king. And these were merely Yellow-level Alchemists! Above them were Profound-level Alchemists; in the surrounding several Domains, only one such individual stood peerless. Not to mention Earth-level Alchemists—they were as elusive as Divine Dragons, mythical figures found only in true Holy Lands.
I won’t have to worry about elixirs in the future! Qin Wudao thought, a joyful mood accompanying him as he entered the sect’s main hall. Seeing it undamaged, he quietly sighed in relief. The six major sects possessed complete legacies distinct from the empire. If utilized properly, they could continuously nurture new powerhouses. For the war-torn Qin Empire, these were invaluable assets, a fortune one might only encounter by chance.
"Protect these legacies well. As for their disposition, leave it to the imperial court!" Qin Wudao ordered with a smile after surveying the area. He was only responsible for leading troops into battle; he didn’t need to trouble himself with the aftermath.
Bai Qi nodded with a smile, offering no objection.
In the following days, after the army had inventoried the wealth of the six major sects, they began their march back to the imperial capital. This war that had swept across the East Ancient Domain seemed to have ended. However, in the shadows, bloodshed continued, and more dangerous challenges loomed in the near future.
Heaven’s Gate, located at the southernmost tip of the East Ancient Domain, was built amidst majestic peaks, rising thousands of feet from the ground. A single, winding stone path connected to the pass itself. Ten miles further lay the Purple Lightning Domain, a vast region with resources far exceeding those of the East Ancient Domain.
"Once we cross Heaven’s Gate, we’ll be safe!" a prince leading a group of a dozen or so individuals said with a smile. They were rushing through the mountain forest, dressed in simple clothes, their faces etched with exhaustion. These were the prodigies of the Great Jin Empire.
Like the East Ancient Domain, the Purple Lightning Domain was also plagued by internal strife, lacking the strength for outward expansion. Consequently, neither Domain stationed troops at their borders, which made it easier for the group to cross covertly.
"Excellent!" The young prodigies’ spirits lifted, and they quickened their pace. Once they passed the gate, they would no longer need to fear pursuit from the Qin Empire. Then, they could enact their plan for revenge.
"Aren’t you celebrating a bit too soon?" Suddenly, an icy voice echoed in their ears. The forest ahead stirred, and a dozen black-robed figures flew out. Their faces were veiled with black cloth, obscuring their features, revealing only cold eyes that radiated a chilling killing intent.
"Who are you?" The Great Jin Prince shielded the young prodigies behind him and drew his Longsword. His peak Transcendent Realm strength erupted, unleashing countless streams of Sword Qi that shimmered and roiled like a violent ocean. The hum of the sword was deep and powerful, like waves crashing against stone cliffs. He stared intently at the black-robed figures, utterly puzzled. Since leaving the Great Jin capital, they had been extremely cautious, avoiding all contact with outsiders. How had their whereabouts been exposed? They were about to pass through the gate! Only a few miles remained!
"Die!" A low voice sounded from behind the Great Jin Prince, accompanied by the shriek of the Crown Prince of Great Jin. When the Prince looked back, he saw a youth plunging a sword into the Crown Prince’s body. The youth then flickered, appearing beside the black-robed figures and kneeling before their leader. "Greetings, Helmsman!"
This rapid series of events dumbfounded the Great Jin Prince. He finally understood how their route had been discovered: there was a spy among them, and this traitor was a member of the imperial family.
"Eighth Prince, you... They are your father’s murderers! Why are you doing this?" the Great Jin Prince demanded, his voice sharp with an incandescent rage that blazed in his heart.
"Kill!" The black-robed man in the lead, the Helmsman, bellowed, giving the Eighth Prince no chance to speak. More than ten Transcendent Realm auras erupted, blanketing the area and sealing the surrounding Void.
"All of you, run! I’ll hold them off!" The Great Jin Prince’s pupils contracted violently as he yelled to the prodigies behind him. His Longsword thrust forward, stirring countless vortexes of Sword Qi that tore an opening in the black-robed figures’ blockade. Aware of the critical danger, the Great Jin prodigies streamed out, circulating their Spiritual Energy to the maximum as they scattered in all directions.
"I’ll deal with him. The rest of you, pursue them! Don’t let a single one escape!" the Helmsman declared. With a flick of his right hand, he shattered the Great Jin Prince’s attack. The other black-robed figures immediately began hunting down the Great Jin prodigies. They were powerful and proficient in the art of killing. Soon, bodies littered the mountain forest.
All the Great Jin prodigies were dead!
"No!" The Great Jin Prince howled in despair. These prodigies were Great Jin’s last hope. With all of them dead, didn’t this mean Great Jin was utterly finished? "It’s all your fault! I’ll kill you!" His eyes turned bloodshot. Ignoring the Helmsman he was battling, he charged towards the Eighth Prince at the side.
"Suits me perfectly!" the Helmsman murmured, surprisingly making no move to intervene. He allowed the Great Jin Prince to kill the Eighth Prince. In truth, they had received orders upon their arrival to completely eradicate the Great Jin imperial bloodline. This complete eradication naturally included the Eighth Prince, who had served as an undercover agent for several years.
"Helmsman, save me, quickly—" the Eighth Prince cried out in alarm, only to see the black-robed Helmsman halt his assault. The Eighth Prince’s face turned deathly pale; he knew he had been abandoned. A flicker of venomous resentment appeared in his eyes, but in the next instant, the Great Jin Prince struck him down. Blood sprayed many feet as he died, unreconciled to his fate.
After killing the traitor, the Great Jin Prince let out a wild, sorrowful laugh. His disheveled hair danced in the Void, an image of boundless desolation. Great Jin had fallen, all his kinsmen were dead. What meaning was there left in his life? He was in utter despair. He did not flee but charged once more at the leader of the black-robed men.
A minute later, the Sword Qi around him shattered!
Two minutes later, his battle sword snapped!
Three minutes later, his body suddenly exploded, body and soul extinguished!
Such scenes were unfolding in many parts of the East Ancient Domain. Ghostly black-robed figures moved through the shadows, crushing the "Seed of Fire" plans of the Five Nations and Six Sects, thoroughly eliminating all potential threats. This force was the Hidden Guard established by Jia Xu. Having developed to its current state, it had become the premier intelligence organization in the East Ancient Domain and was greedily extending its reach into the surrounding Domains. They lurked in the darkness, serving as Qin Wudao’s eyes and also as his sharp dagger.
"Your Highness, the mission is complete. All the prodigies of the Five Nations and Six Sects are dead!" Jia Xu reported, riding his white horse with a devious smile as he approached Qin Wudao on the march.
"It’s good that they’re dead." Qin Wudao was not surprised. He glanced up at the blazing sun and murmured faintly.
The Six Sects and Five Nations were all vanquished. The East Ancient Domain now belonged entirely to Qin. The sun overhead seemed to have brightened considerably...