Chapter 183: Is My Son Wrong?
A cold voice echoed throughout the venue.
A group of eager young men suddenly found their hearts calming down.
They turned their heads to glance at Ling Wan on the other side.
But where was Ling Wan? All that remained was a headless corpse.
King Ling’s head rolled slowly, ultimately landing at the feet of the first person who picked up a soul pearl.
Ah—
The boy, who had been sheltered within the sect since childhood, had never witnessed such a bloody scene.
His gaze fixed on Ling Wan’s lifeless head, which still seemed to glare at him.
The boy let out a frightened scream, his body turning icy in an instant, and his back began to sweat.
Ling Wan’s eyes remained wide open in horror, mirroring the boy’s own fear.
As the boy slumped to the ground, the unease spread among the others around him.
They cast anxious looks at Qin Bei, who was coldly observing everyone. Everyone present yearned to flee this place, yet none dared to move.
They dreaded that if they acted too quickly, they would be the next to meet their end.
Mu Zhaoxue and Ji Zhuyue exchanged glances, both directed towards Qin Bei.
Just moments ago, Qin Bei had taken Ling Wan’s life with a spear, all while going unnoticed by anyone else.
Now, Qin Bei’s cold gaze bore down on the crowd.
The reason everyone felt paralyzed wasn’t just the chilling sound of Qin Bei’s voice; it was the Wanmie Gun he clutched in his hand, along with the numerous spears swirling around him.
The intent of the spear locked onto the crowd like a fierce beast. Should anyone dare to move, they would be met with a lethal strike.
Few present would believe they could withstand a single blow from someone capable of taking down a cultivator like Ling Wan.
Qin Bei took slow, steady steps toward Ling Wan’s head.
With a single stride, the Wanmie Gun vanished into Qin Bei’s Qiankun bag.
As the Wanmie Gun disappeared, so did the spear’s ferocity.
In that brief moment, the terror in the air lessened significantly for those present.
Yet the next second, tension surged back into everyone’s hearts.
Ling Wan’s corpse abruptly froze.
Shockingly, after freezing, it slowly transformed into mist and faded from this space.
Everyone recognized that Qin Bei had mastered the Extreme Cold Gaze technique independently, quickly connecting the dots that this was all his doing.
What none anticipated was that a Golden Core-level cultivator like Qin Bei could command such a technique with such finesse, even achieving the level of dispersing ice.
This was mastery of the technique.
The hearts of everyone present soared back into a state of anxiety.
…
The old men in the palace loft understood the situation best.
They were all astounded that Qin Bei, a Golden Core-level cultivator, could unleash such immense power in an instant.
Yet, as they beheld Qin Bei wielding the Wanmie Gun, their gazes shifted unisonly to Emperor Xia.
A prince of the Three Seals getting his hands on such an exquisite weapon as the Wanmie Gun—that was remarkable! Moreover, the spear techniques he employed evoked a sense of déjà vu for everyone present.
Soon enough, they recalled a name: the Ancestor of Desolation.
Wasn’t Qin Bei utilizing the signature skill of this very figure?
Tsk tsk~ They mused, “They’re really putting in all their efforts into training. The royal family must have major plans this time.”
But the most jaw-dropping revelation was still the Extreme Cold Gaze technique that Qin Bei used afterward.
It was astonishing that someone could achieve such mastery over this technique at the Golden Core level and execute it flawlessly.
He seemed utterly in control.
Even though all the spectators were ancient men who had witnessed countless experiences over thousands of years, this was the first time they’d encountered such a thing.
Moreover, they were keenly aware that they were in Great Xia, not in the Snow Nation!
Qin Bei had never learned the true cultivation method behind Extreme Cold Gaze; everything stemmed from his innate understanding.
The terror of such potential had everyone envisioning Qin Bei’s future path to invincibility.
Yet amidst the astonishment, there was an element of relief.
“Thank goodness such a talent is in the royal family. If he were in a rival sect, it would be a different story altogether.”
As for Beast Lion, the stronger Qin Bei appeared, the more uncomfortable he felt.
Now, he was in pure distress.
He had just been played by Qin Bei.
But despite the discomfort, he couldn’t help but smirk inwardly. Wasting time on collecting a first-level soul bead when one possessed such capability? Quite foolish.
Only Emperor Xia seemed indifferent to all this.
Emperor Xia had his mind on another matter: what would Qin Bei do next?
Judging from Qin Bei’s vindictive character, it seemed unlikely that these individuals would come out unscathed.
Just like Ling Wan, a true royal relative, who had been killed without hesitation.
…
“You really like my things, don’t you?”
In the royal mausoleum, Qin Bei looked down at the young man, slumped on the ground, and asked apathetically.
“No… no… I… I…”
The boy, feeling the pressure of Qin Bei’s gaze, stuttered nervously and struggled to find his words.
He feared that Qin Bei might just take his head off without another word.
Ling Wan had been a clear warning.
“Oh~ So you don’t like it?”
Qin Bei crouched down to scrutinize the young man.
“I was wrong, Prince Bei. I realize my mistake! I shouldn’t have coveted your belongings! I…”
The boy hastily admitted his fault.
He even knelt before Qin Bei, believing this to be the most sincere apology.
In his sect, no one dared to make him do such a thing.
Of course, no one would either!
Hence, the boy naively assumed that if he coveted someone else’s opportunity and ultimately lost, a mere apology would suffice.
But he was wrong. Severely so.
This wasn’t his sect, nor was Qin Bei his senior brother.
If one errs, one faces consequences.
If apologies were fruitfully effective, then why were there so many wars across this continent?
“You are indeed mistaken, but forgiving you is a matter of reincarnation. I am responsible for ensuring you meet reincarnation.”
Qin Bei’s indifferent words plunged the hearts of everyone around into ice-cold despair.
As Qin Bei’s hand touched the boy’s face, panic surged within the boy.
He wished to move away, yet his body refused to obey.
“Dear husband, wait!”
Just as Qin Bei prepared to unleash a bloodbath on those who had taken his soul beads, Ji Zhuyue’s voice echoed.
Qin Bei’s hand paused mid-motion.
“It’s not worth it.”
Ji Zhuyue approached Qin Bei, speaking in a hushed tone.
While she, too, had contempt for these so-called geniuses, she understood that they were ultimately the talents from sects within Great Xia.
Qin Bei could easily make an example of one, building his reputation.
But if he committed an indiscriminate massacre, not only would he fail to establish his reputation, but it could also backfire on him spectacularly.
A reputation for bloodthirst would inevitably be branded onto Qin Bei.
And going against so many sects all at once wasn’t the wisest move.
Ji Zhuyue even hoped for a day when Qin Bei might ascend to a prince’s position.
So, she needed to help Qin Bei manage the situation.
In the current circumstances, Qin Bei couldn’t afford to let his temperament dictate his actions.
She could allow the world to see Qin Bei as arrogant, unreasonable, perhaps even vindictive.
But he couldn’t become known as a bloodthirsty killer!
Once such a label sticks, it’s notoriously tough to shake off.
Moreover, it would be alarmingly easy for people to spin narratives out of it, undeniably impacting Qin Bei’s future.
Of course, Ji Zhuyue’s readiness to be so magnanimous stemmed from the realization that these people were not so extraordinary in the first place.
Their actions hadn’t been excessively outrageous.
Furthermore, it was a big loss to incur unnecessary infamy on their behalf.
Qin Bei regarded Ji Zhuyue thoughtfully.
Truthfully, he hadn’t intended to slaughter everyone; he merely sought to make an example of one to deter the rest.
To establish his prestige.
With Ling Wan already dead, the purpose had essentially been achieved.
Whether these other individuals lived or died mattered little.
“Alright.”
Qin Bei smiled, retracted his hand, and stood up to leave.
Hoo~
The surrounding crowd collectively exhaled, breathing a sigh of relief. The tension moments ago had been excruciatingly chilling.
Fortuitously, the Princess had intervened at the last moment.
Otherwise, the consequences would have been dire.
They vowed that from this moment on, should it involve Qin Bei’s possessions, they wouldn’t dare to touch it, even if it were left unguarded to be taken by a dog!
Coveting Prince Bei’s belongings?
Isn’t that asking for death?
Just as everyone thought the ordeal had concluded and were eager to scurry away, a series of faint whooshing sounds echoed.
Swish~
Swish~
Swish~
Suddenly, a soul bead tossed upon the ground leaped up, racing towards the boy who had just stood.
Ah~~!
The soul bead penetrated through the boy’s body, tearing through flesh and bones, leaving a gaping hole in his arm.
Intense pain forced the boy into a pained scream.
Yet, it wasn’t over; another soul bead then burst through his body.
In the end, five soul beads had punched five holes into the boy before they ceased.
Before others could express sympathy, every person who had just touched a soul bead suffered a similar fate.
The spectators observing the scene had keenly noticed that each individual bore as many blood-red holes as the soul beads they had previously touched.
Ji Zhuyue felt utterly unsurprised witnessing the suffering on the ground.
Her husband had refrained from killing these individuals to maintain his reputation.
If he had decided to do nothing, that would simply not be in her husband’s character.
Revenge isn’t merely a saying!
“Get lost! Leave the imperial mausoleum to recuperate.”
Qin Bei declared coldly, ignoring the howls of the onlookers.
Before messing with his belongings, these people should have prepared for repercussions.
Clearly, these individuals, unfamiliar with consequences, didn’t understand this.
This serves as a valuable lesson for them.
They’d better rest for ten or fifteen days; after that, they’ll have no opportunity left in the royal mausoleum trial.
Qin Bei no longer paid attention to these individuals and stepped towards the array of tombstones.
The scattered first-order soul beads floating around drifted toward Qin Bei and were collected into his Qiankun bag.
Next, another ten beams of light illuminated the tombstones.
Ten second-order soul beads appeared.
They landed in Qin Bei’s hands.
The glimmering was far from over, as ten third-order soul beads materialized in Qin Bei’s grasp amidst the flashes.
Then came another batch of ten fourth-order soul beads—ten fifth-order soul beads—
Before the crowd had a chance to absorb the appearance of the fifth-order soul beads, ten bluish-white lights burst forth.
The new soul beads were clearly larger than the fifth-order variety.
And their color shifted from white to bluish-white.
“Six… six-tier? Could it truly be a six-tier soul bead?”
“The bluish-white hue confirms it’s definitely a six-tier soul bead.”
Hiss~ “Could someone really gather ten six-tier soul beads simultaneously?”
Those who had refrained from fighting for the soul beads only moments ago now felt an itch to join in the contest.
A six-tier soul bead!
That’s the kind that allows cultivators to master their martial techniques flawlessly upon use!
To find ten of them all at once?
That implies Qin Bei could, if he so desired, command ten heavenly-grade martial arts techniques instantaneously!
And all executed flawlessly!
It’s just terrifying!
“How about that? Didn’t I say that third-tier soul beads are just a matter of waving your hands?”
Qin Bei addressed Mu Zhaoxue and Ji Zhuyue while surrounded by ten six-tier soul beads.
At that moment, Mu Zhaoxue and Ji Zhuyue were dumfounded, rendered speechless by shock.
They gazed at the swirling soul beads around them, feeling as if they were in an unreal dream.
Is this really something achievable by cultivators?
Ji Zhuyue prided herself on her top-tier talent—having even gone through a retraining.
Regardless of experience or understanding, none of these young prodigies could compare.
She had once believed Qin Bei was lacking.
She thought he might struggle to keep up with her in the long run.
After all, once she seized control of the Void Sutra, her cultivation was destined to soar rapidly.
It would be impossible for Qin Bei and Mu Zhaoxue to keep pace with her.
But now, Ji Zhuyue felt doubts creeping in.
She didn’t even know how to articulate Qin Bei’s formidable talent.
Can she truly keep up with her husband’s strides?
Mu Zhaoxue was equally ensnared in her doubts.
The scene before them struck strongly at both their psyches.
Meanwhile, back in the palace loft,
many old men were ablaze with indignation upon witnessing Qin Bei’s harmful actions.
“Your Majesty, it has been many years since the Imperial Mausoleum Trial commenced, and there has been almost no bloodshed in its periphery, let alone any murder. Prince Bei’s actions are indeed contrary to the slogan of peacefully competing for opportunities!”
Beast Lion was the first to rise and make a ruckus.
Though none of those hurt by Qin Bei were members of the Beast Taming Sect, it didn’t hinder Beast Lion from stirring trouble.
“The Imperial Mausoleum Trial is one of the safest trials. If it weren’t, we wouldn’t dare let these inexperienced children participate!”
“They only coveted some soul beads; they were not successful and hadn’t committed anything worse. Prince Bei’s actions are rather unreasonable.”
“Exactly! It’s fine to teach them a lesson; after all, these kids did something wrong, but Prince Bei’s methods are certainly excessive.”
While listening to the crowd’s chatter, Emperor Xia shook his head in silence.
Although Great Xia has an excellent training environment, as long as one doesn’t make trouble, they could endure this harsh cultivation world once they turn twenty.
However, these old men were overly protective of their little geniuses in their sects!
Still, Emperor Xia couldn’t be bothered with their squabbles.
Since they were speaking up, he too would voice his opinion.
He had long found this rebellious son distasteful, so why not take this opportunity to berate him?
“Everyone, please remain calm. You all must have heard about my rebellious son. He has been rampaging through the capital, with rumors spreading that he is arrogant and domineering. I had heard as much, but I truly didn’t think he would act so ruthlessly. It’s simply—”
Yet before Emperor Xia could finish belittling Qin Bei, he saw a flurry of lights appear before his eyes.
Dozens of soul beads suddenly materialized in Qin Bei’s hands.
The glimmering six-tier soul beads were particularly blinding, capturing everyone’s attention.
All of them stared in stunned disbelief at the unfolding spectacle.
Just as they stood mesmerized, Emperor Xia slammed his palm against the table, proclaiming fiercely, “My son has done nothing wrong!”
Everyone: ???
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