Chapter 97

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As Hao Qi stood facing off against the two Inner Strength Realm cultivators, he slowly gathered the power of the Prajna Palm, constantly moving and positioning himself to find an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow to Lan Xingchen.

The Double Prajna Palm, combined with the Arhat Demon Subduing Power, was the highest burst of power Hao Qi could currently unleash. Once used, this power would explode instantly, almost reaching the peak of the Inner Strength Realm, and even showing some characteristics of the Inner Qi Realm. Hao Qi didn't believe that Lan Xingchen could withstand it.

But at that moment, applause broke out, and the two Inner Strength Realm cultivators who were facing off against Hao Qi reluctantly stepped back. Hao Qi couldn't pursue them because they retreated in the direction where Lan Xingchen and two other Inner Strength Realm cultivators were standing. With five Inner Strength Realm cultivators, including the supposedly very strong Lan Xingchen, Hao Qi couldn't attack.

After clapping, Lan Xingchen smiled and said, "Sir, you have such great strength and such a fiery temper. Why can't we stop and have a good talk?"

To be honest, Lan Xingchen looked very good. He appeared to be around thirty years old, with a handsome face and sincere eyes. His purple imperial robe accentuated his dignity, and his neatly groomed mustache and hair made people feel good at first sight. His speech was polite, neither arrogant nor humble, and he didn't make people feel like he was looking down on them, but there was a subtle sense of authority. He was a born hero.

However, because of the Pirate Island incident, Hao Qi's heart was filled with the desire to kill, and there was no possibility of negotiation with Lan Xingchen. Moreover, when Hao Qi saw Lan Ling'er crying behind Lan Xingchen, his killing intent couldn't be suppressed.

Thus, Hao Qi walked step by step towards Lan Xingchen and the others without a word. With each step, his inner strength became more and more surging, and his aura grew stronger. This time, he held nothing back. His surging inner strength erupted almost without reserve. With each step, the stone path beneath his feet crumbled, leaving footprints. After about ten steps, the aura was so strong that the four people beside Lan Xingchen involuntarily took a step back.

Lan Xingchen, however, remained unmoved. He said admiringly and sighing, "Sir, you are an outsider and have no grudges with us. But you have such a strong killing intent towards me... Is it because of my junior? Little Ling'er, it seems you found a companion during your previous outing. Sir, I think there might be some misunderstanding. Why don't we sit down and talk it out? Misunderstandings can always be resolved."

"Misunderstanding? No, there is no misunderstanding..."

Hao Qi muttered softly. Not only because of the concrete evidence from Pirate Island, but also because of Lan Ling'er... She was crying, not smiling...

Lan Ling'er was a naturally kind and cheerful girl. After the battle at the ancient sect ruins, Hao Qi deeply understood the nature of this little girl. She often smiled before speaking, burying her pain inside and never letting her negative emotions affect others. She always greeted others with a radiant smile. But now...

She was crying. She saw Hao Qi and Zhang Heng but didn't smile...

Wasn't this her home? Why wasn't she smiling...

So!

There was no misunderstanding!

Hao Qi had already reached the limit of his aura. He roared and lunged at Lan Xingchen. Although his previous assassination attempt failed, he didn't plan to retreat. If he couldn't assassinate, he would kill head-on!

The four Inner Strength Realm cultivators shouted and prepared to intercept Hao Qi, but they were fast, and Lan Xingchen was even faster. The previously gentle and courteous Lan Xingchen suddenly rushed forward as soon as Hao Qi made his move, not avoiding or dodging, but facing Hao Qi's punch and palm head-on. His palm struck Hao Qi's fist.

A loud explosion echoed, and a strong wind blew from the point of impact. The ground at the point of impact cracked, and after one strike, Hao Qi retreated three steps, while Lan Xingchen remained standing in place. The strength disparity was clear, and the four Inner Strength Realm cultivators who were about to block Hao Qi stopped, looking at him with a mocking expression.

Lan Xingchen sighed and said, "Sir, can you not listen to a word? I have shown great goodwill. If you insist on this, I have no choice but to oppose you. What a pity for your great martial arts..."

Hao Qi said nothing and immediately engaged in combat with Lan Xingchen. However, after a few exchanges, Lan Xingchen struck beside Hao Qi. This palm seemed to hit empty space, but under the influence of the aura, Hao Qi instinctively punched at Lan Xingchen, his body turning to the side, and his chest was directly hit by the palm. He was thrown more than ten meters away.

Strange, truly strange...

Hao Qi wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and jumped up from the ground. He didn't immediately attack but carefully thought about the previous exchange. It was really strange, as if the opponent could predict his moves. Not only Lan Xingchen, but also the Míngzhēn in the ancient sect ruins, the two quasi-Inner Strength Realm cultivators on Pirate Island, and the two Inner Strength Realm cultivators he faced earlier, all seemed to easily detect the gaps and weaknesses in his martial arts. However, this wasn't obvious, and with rich combat experience, it could be achieved. Only Lan Xingchen's attacks were so obvious, and he was hit as if the opponent could predict his moves. This was too strange.

"Sir, are you wondering why your moves are always caught in the gaps? This is the wonder of Inner Qi Realm martial arts, some secrets that cannot be easily explained. I cannot give you a detailed explanation, but I can share some of my insights. This is the application of the divine. Seeing that you are only in your twenties but have such great strength, I truly admire your talent. If you can sit down and talk, I will share the secrets of the divine with you. What do you think?" Lan Xingchen remained courteous and sincere in his demeanor and speech.

But how could Hao Qi fall for it? Coming from an era of information explosion, he had long known the ugliness, darkness, kindness, and light of human nature from countless movies, TV shows, animations, and comics. He had preconceived notions and didn't say much, immediately attacking again.

Seeing Hao Qi's reaction, Lan Xingchen's face showed obvious regret. After all, he was an Inner Strength Realm cultivator, and with family experience, he could see Hao Qi's bone age. Being an Inner Strength Realm cultivator before the age of thirty, with such strength, even if his techniques were a bit rough, his inner strength couldn't be faked. This was the key, the essence. As for techniques, were the Lan family's martial arts techniques lacking? Except for the most ancestral and direct lineage techniques, which were said to contain the secrets of the True Qi Realm and could not be passed on, if this person submitted, there were plenty of Inner Qi Realm techniques. But it was a pity... Who knew how Lan Ling'er had such a great connection, even recognizing such a talented person in the outside world. Was it an old man's backup plan for Lan Ling'er? Or connections outside the revolutionary army? If so, this person could not be left alive...

In the instant Hao Qi charged, Lan Xingchen thought a lot. A hero-like figure always had many thoughts, especially after waiting for nearly a hundred years for this opportunity. He would not allow anyone to ruin it. With this thought, his killing intent arose, and he no longer held back.

Under the influence of the aura, Hao Qi felt a wave of killing intent, and his body naturally burst with inner strength to the highest degree. His inner strength activated the Arhat Demon Subduing Power, and with both palms together, two golden Buddha seals merged into one. Hao Qi jumped high and pressed down on Lan Xingchen from above, the immense force already cracking the ground beneath Lan Xingchen's feet before he even landed.

"Double Prajna Palm!"

"Arhat Demon Subduing Power!"

"Oh? Good martial arts, I really underestimated you..."

Lan Xingchen muttered, his palms surging with a deep blue aura visible to the naked eye, quickly enveloping a few meters around him. At the same time, he raised his palms to meet Hao Qi's golden Buddha seal.

"Indigo Blue!"

"Endless Blue Wave Palm!"

The deep blue aura around Lan Xingchen, as he raised his palms, seemed to transform into waves. The visible deep blue aura, which was only a few meters in range, gave the impression of being endless. As the waves surged, Hao Qi's golden Buddha seal collided with Lan Xingchen's deep blue waves.

A deafening explosion echoed, and the immense force stirred up a storm, sending sand and stones flying. The four Inner Strength Realm cultivators had to close their eyes and brace themselves, and for a moment, they were all shocked. After the storm, the scene was in ruins, and the palace they stood in was riddled with holes, as if it had been hit by machine gun fire.

In the center of the scene, in a large, deep pit, Hao Qi lay covered in blood. The deep blue aura of the Lan family's highest martial arts was internal, and once hit, it would penetrate the body, causing continuous damage like waves. The blood on his body came from the destruction of his capillaries, both inside and out, making him look very frightening, but he was not dead, just unable to move, having lost his fighting ability.

"What a pity, you are a talented person, why must you be so stubborn?"

Lan Xingchen stood by the pit, expressing regret. Apart from some minor damage to his clothes, he seemed unharmed. No, his hands were trembling slightly, and blood seemed to be seeping through his gloves, but with his back to the four Inner Strength Realm cultivators, no one could see. After speaking, Lan Xingchen raised his hand, and the deep blue aura reappeared. This palm would surely kill Hao Qi.

"No, don't!"

Lan Ling'er shouted loudly, crying and trying to rush out of the palace, but the four Inner Strength Realm cultivators blocked her, preventing her from moving. She shouted, "Uncle, spare his life! He saved my life! Uncle, please spare him, I beg you!"

Lan Xingchen turned to look at her, half-smiling. The deep blue aura on his hand did not dissipate. He said to Lan Ling'er, "Little Ling'er, why do you still speak like a child? How can I spare him? He attacked the emperor of Mòbié Mòbié, which is treason. Even though he is an outsider, he must be killed to be legal. Moreover, if he doesn't serve me, do you think I can tolerate such a talented person?" As he spoke, he raised his hand to strike the pit.

Lan Ling'er bit her lip and pulled a golden hairpin from her head, pointing it at her neck. "Uncle, I know what you want. If I die, your plan will fail. Spare Brother Hao Qi. He is an outsider, just arrived in Mòbié Mòbié, and doesn't know what's here or who you are. Give him some time, and he will understand. Spare him, or I will die now. You can try to take the hairpin from me before I react, but I have many ways to die, and you can't stop me. If you spare him, I won't die. I beg you, Uncle."

Lan Xingchen looked deeply at Lan Ling'er and then at Hao Qi in the pit. He suddenly smiled and said, "That's fine. I do admire this gentleman. If you can ensure his obedience, sparing him is not difficult. Time... after your sacrificial ceremony, there will be no one to plead for him. If he still doesn't surrender, I will have to regretfully kill him."

As he spoke, Lan Xingchen walked into the pit and kicked Hao Qi in the waist, sending him into the palace. He said to Lan Ling'er, "I will leave him with you. Persuade him, and it will also serve as a warning to you. If you escape, are kidnapped, or die, he will not live either. He will be buried with you... Guards, arrange for attendants to take care of the princess and this hero from the outside world."

"Seven days until the sacrificial ceremony, during this time..."

"Take good care of the princess." (To be continued.)

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