Although they did not favor the Seventh Prince, if he were to die, they, as his guards, would undoubtedly be punished.
Moreover, their own survival was uncertain.
After all, the man earlier had said that if the royal family failed to satisfy him, he would erase their entire clan.
Whether he could truly do so was beside the point. Eliminating just a few of them would be effortless for him.
One guard sighed and took out a medicine bottle from his robes.
Walking forward, he said, “Your Highness, you are gravely injured. You should tend to your wounds first.”
“Young master, do you truly wish for this so-called ‘Yan Kingdom’ to cede the Hundred Thousand Mountains to you?”
Inside the spiritual artifact, Yan spoke to Lu Qing.
“In my view, why bother with such complications? With your current cultivation level, Young Master, claiming the Hundred Thousand Mountains is as simple as making a proclamation. Why would you need anyone’s consent?”
Yan seemed perplexed.
To it, with Lu Qing’s cultivation and realm, even declaring dominance over the entire world and becoming its sovereign was an easily achievable feat.
Why then would he need the Yan Kingdom’s approval to take over something as minor as the Hundred Thousand Mountains?
“It’s just a pretense,” Lu Qing said with a faint smile.
In truth, this was merely a spur-of-the-moment idea.
The main reason he wanted to occupy the Hundred Thousand Mountains was the existence of the Jade Transformation Chamber.
Additionally, he was curious about how the Yan Kingdom would respond.
Of course, if the Yan family proved overly obstinate, he wouldn’t mind wiping them out.
Now, it was up to the Yan family to recognize the reality of the situation.
“Bring me ink and paper!”
Meanwhile, in the county, Yan Canghai returned to the county magistrate’s residence and immediately shouted.
However, once the servants had prepared the ink and paper, he sat at the desk but hesitated to write.
“How can I make the family realize the gravity of this matter?”
Yan Canghai pondered with great difficulty.
After witnessing the various mysterious and unfathomable techniques and abilities Lu Qing had displayed, he immediately understood the terror of the man.
Lu Qing had reached a realm beyond his comprehension—a level that defied logic and invoked the fear of gods and ghosts.
To oppose someone like that would likely leave the Yan family devastated, even if they survived.
Thus, he had to persuade the family to agree to Lu Qing’s terms.
But he also knew it would be challenging to convince them.
As the royal family that had ruled the Yan Kingdom for centuries, the Yan family’s pride was something he understood all too well.
To so easily cede a vast territory like the Hundred Thousand Mountains was unthinkable for the family elders.
It might even provoke intense backlash.
Yan Canghai wrestled with this dilemma for a long time, unable to decide how to phrase his letter.
“Master, Master Lin Zhirui seeks an audience.”
While Yan Canghai was still fretting, a servant entered to report.
“What? Lin Zhirui is here? Quickly, invite him in!”
Yan Canghai was overjoyed and immediately stood to greet him at the door.
When Lin Zhirui entered and saw Yan Canghai, he was momentarily taken aback.
“Your brows are furrowed with worry, and it lingers. What’s troubling you?”
“Nothing escapes your insight, Zhirui. You must save me this time—save the Yan Kingdom!” Yan Canghai pleaded.
“What could be so urgent?” Lin Zhirui’s expression changed slightly. Could it be that a neighboring kingdom was about to invade? He hadn’t received any such news.
“It’s about that Lu Xiaolangjun...”
The moment Yan Canghai began speaking, Lin Zhirui grew extremely solemn.
He interrupted, “Did you say it’s about Lu Xiaolangjun?”
“...That’s right,” Yan Canghai faltered.
“Go on,” Lin Zhirui urged.
“...Yesterday, Yan Cangshan came to me with a few guards, asking for my help...
Lu Xiaolangjun demanded that our family escort the descendants of Li Weitian to him.
He also asked for the cession of the Hundred Thousand Mountains. But as you know, many of the family elders are extremely stubborn.
They won’t easily agree to Lu Xiaolangjun’s conditions.
I’m currently at a loss about how to petition the royal court.
So, Zhirui, what should I do now?”
Yan Canghai recounted the entire situation to Lin Zhirui in detail.
Lin Zhirui listened with growing seriousness.
Finally, he gazed at Yan Canghai with a look of speechless resignation.
“What else can you do? You only have one choice now: use all your abilities to persuade the Yan family to accept Lu Xiaolangjun’s conditions.
Otherwise, calamity will undoubtedly befall the Yan family.”
Lin Zhirui spoke without hesitation.
Hearing his firm tone, Yan Canghai, who had already leaned toward this conclusion, still couldn’t help but ask, “Zhirui, is Lu Xiaolangjun truly so terrifying? Has he surpassed the Precelestial Realm?”
To Yan Canghai, only someone who had broken through to the Precelestial Realm could wield such divine and mystical powers, capable of instantly capturing several living people.
“Don’t ask such questions. I know that one of your family’s ancestors recently broke through to the Precelestial Realm.
But don’t harbor any illusions. Lu Xiaolangjun’s strength is beyond your imagination.
Let me put it this way: even your newly advanced ancestor would be nothing more than a candle in the wind before Lu Xiaolangjun.”
Lin Zhirui spoke with utmost seriousness.
“Blown out like a candle? Zhirui, are you sure you’re not exaggerating?”
Yan Canghai stared blankly at his friend.
“Do you think I’m joking? I mean it literally. With Lu Xiaolangjun’s current strength, he could extinguish your ancestor with a single breath.”
Seeing Yan Canghai’s incredulous expression, Lin Zhirui sighed.
He understood that such a claim was hard to believe.
But he wasn’t exaggerating in the slightest.
The Precelestial Realm was merely the Foundation Establishment stage.
While it was considered a peak level in the current world, with few equals, Lu Qing’s realm was the Golden Core Realm.
Moreover, he was so powerful that even Nascent Soul Realm cultivators or otherworldly beings could be easily vanquished by him.
A mere Foundation Establishment cultivator was indeed nothing more than a puff of air to him.
If the Yan family truly angered Lu Qing, annihilation would be their only fate.