At these words, Liu Qingcheng was stunned.
The several powerful individuals from the Sword King Sect were also taken aback.
Originally, they thought Ji Chen would definitely try to argue his way out, but they never expected him to admit so straightforwardly.
"What?"
"Xia Hui is dead? Killed by Ji Chen?"
All around, many people were clearly drawn to the situation, their eyes fixated, whispering in discussion.
"Is it true or not? Xia Hui seemed to be at the Second Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm, right? How could Ji Chen possibly kill him?"
"Rumor has it that besides Xia Hui, there were three other elite disciples of the Sword King Sect, all with cultivation above the Spirit Transformation Realm..."
"That makes it even more impossible, how could just a mere wastrel wipe out four Spirit Transformation Realm masters?"
Everyone’s minds were filled with puzzlement, their curiosity reaching its peak.
"Since you’ve admitted it yourself, there’s no point in arguing further. Please come with us back to the Sword King Sect. Although you’re an alchemist of the Alchemy Master Alliance, you must give us an account for killing my Sword King Sect’s disciple." The leading elder spoke.
They were all stewards of the Sword King Sect, not elders, and the news of Xia Hui and the others’ deaths was brought to them by someone just now.
Back when Ji Chen and Xia Hui had their conflict, someone was hiding in a nearby dense forest, remaining unseen.
"This matter is unrelated to Ji Chen. At the time, Xia Hui and the others attacked me, trying to seize my possessions. Ji Chen killed them to save me." Qu Luoning stepped forward.
She frowned; this matter indeed started because of her, and she couldn’t just ignore it.
After all, the Sword King Sect was a first-class sect in the Profound Domain. Despite both her and Ji Chen’s significant improvements within these fifteen years at the Saint’s Dojo, they still couldn’t compare to this mammoth entity.
"Regardless, since he killed them, he can’t escape involvement. But since this matter started because of you, please also come with us to the Sword King Sect." The leading black-robed steward spoke, his voice cold.
"Want to take Sister Luoning away?"
At this moment, a cold snort resonated, and Liu Qingcheng stood forward, her gaze sweeping over the Sword King Sect members before her, "You must first ask if I agree or not!"
"Hmm?"
Liu Qingcheng’s words immediately made those powerful individuals from the Sword King Sect frown.
Clearly, they hadn’t previously understood the relationship between Liu Qingcheng and Qu Luoning.
Now it appeared that these two addressed each other as sisters?
Although the Sword King Sect was a first-class sect in the Profound Domain, it still paled in comparison to the Purple Cloud Sect.
Currently, the Purple Cloud Sect was a true overlord-level entity, completely surpassing all other forces in the Profound Domain, standing alone in prominence.
After all, such a sect, which could establish itself as a Sacred Land and truly dominate the Northern Netherworld in the coming years, was not something the Sword King Sect could compare to.
"In that case, my Sword King Sect won’t pursue the Eldest Princess of the Chu Kingdom, but Ji Chen, we must take away!" The leading steward declared.
This was the biggest concession they could make.
"If you wish to take Ji Chen away, go ahead and do so. His matters have nothing to do with me." Liu Qingcheng said.
"Truly heartless..."
"Did they really have an engagement?"
The onlookers whispered among themselves.
Someone mentioned, "Don’t forget, Liu Qingcheng personally went to the Lingyun Sect; such a matter like calling off an engagement usually leaves both parties displeased. How could she still speak for Ji Chen?"
"That seems reasonable."
The crowd nodded, "Furthermore, it’s said that Ji Chen and Liu Qingcheng had a wager..."
Amid the whispers, the Sword King Sect stewards advanced on Ji Chen, saying, "Come obediently with us back to the Sword King Sect. Don’t worry, since you’re affiliated with the Alchemy Master Alliance, we won’t easily harm your life. However, having killed our disciples, you will undoubtedly have to endure some hardship."
"What if I say no?"
Facing their pressure, Ji Chen remained exceptionally calm.
Previously, confronted with such matters, he would likely have only been able to run away.
But not anymore. Over the fifteen years at the Saint’s Dojo, Ji Chen’s cultivation had reached the Ninth Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm!
The stewards of the Sword King Sect before him mostly had cultivation around the fifth or sixth layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm, combined, they posed no threat to him.
"You have no choice."
The leading black-robed elder sneered, named Jiang Shen, known as Steward Jiang, reputedly fair and impartial. It’s said that in the coming years, he has great prospects for promotion to an elder of the Sword King Sect.
Staring at Ji Chen, he said, "I’ve heard you’ve offended Elder Zhou Peng, haven’t you? Such ignorance of life and death, we’ll take you back to the Sword King Sect and let Elder Zhou Peng deal with you personally!"
"Buzz..."
As his words landed, he flashed a cold gleam in his eyes, reaching out directly toward Ji Chen, intending to capture him at once.
"Courting death!"
Ji Chen’s eyes narrowed, and he snorted coldly.
"Swish!"
However, before he could make a move, suddenly, a silhouette swiftly appeared in front of Ji Chen.
This was a disheveled old man, none other than Nangong Ao.
Standing with hands behind his back, he floated in mid-air not far ahead of Ji Chen, speaking coolly, "Today, with me here, none of you can touch him."
"Hmm?"
"A Returning Ruins Realm expert!"
Nangong Ao’s appearance immediately startled everyone present.
Floating in the air was a mark of a Returning Ruins Realm expert!
This Venerable figure appeared, who was he?
And what was his relationship with Ji Chen?
"Who are you? This is the affair of my Sword King Sect, I advise you not to meddle!" Steward Jiang also frowned.
Yet, as a steward of the Sword King Sect, a Returning Ruins Realm expert was not enough to intimidate him.
After all, as a first-class sect in the Profound Domain, the Sword King Sect also had some Returning Ruins Realm experts.
"Noisy!"
But just as he finished speaking, Nangong Ao snorted coldly.
"Buzz..."
Next, Nangong Ao lifted his hand, pointing forward, as an astonishing ray of finger light shone, transforming into a sword light, and in an instant, landed on Steward Jiang.
"Boom!"
Faced with this sudden strike, how could Steward Jiang, with merely a sixth-layer Spirit Transformation cultivation, possibly resist?
Under everyone’s gaze, he was struck by Nangong Ao’s finger into a mist of blood, so rapidly that he couldn’t even let out a scream before perishing completely.