Chapter 24

The Qin Manor had four gates: east, west, south, and north. Qin Hao was captured, and the Qin Manor was engulfed in flames. People from the Qin Manor continuously streamed out through the four gates to escape. Even the south and north gates, apart from the east gate where Qin Chuan was facing the enemy head-on, had cavalry units rushing out to protect the Qin clan members and break through the encirclement. However, the core figures of the Qin Manor were now gathered at the west gate.

"Quickly." Qin He saw Qin Wentian and Qin Yao approaching and urged them. Qin Wentian and the others stepped on the ground, their bodies simultaneously leaping into the air, and they landed on warhorses.

"Go." Qin He led the cavalry charge. The vanguard was a group of martial guards, each carrying a large ox-horn bow on their back, a spear in their right hand, and a sword hanging from the left saddle. They could fight with different weapons simultaneously.

The thundering hooves shook the air. Qin Wentian looked back at the place where he had lived for over a decade, his resolute face showing a hint of a tear. This would be the last time he shed tears. Today was the annual sacrifice day, and after today, he would truly be sixteen years old. From now on, in the iron-blooded world, there would only be blood, not tears.

The cold wind brushed against his face, carrying a desolate chill. Qin Wentian and the others galloped westward. Suddenly, many figures appeared from both sides of the bustling street ahead. When they saw the leader, the crowd from the Qin Manor all showed signs of anger.

The old man Ye Mo, Ye Lang from the Ye family, and the head of the Bai family, Bai Qingsong, were clearly visible. The Bai family had joined the encirclement of the Qin Manor, and this wolf had been raised by the Qin Manor.

The martial guards showed no intention of stopping. The knights held their spears and instantly drew their ox-horn bows from their backs, each fitting three arrows to the string. Without exception, everyone shot three arrows in rapid succession, especially the few at the front, whose arrows glowed with a brilliant starlight, whistling through the air, causing the space to tremble, showing the terrifying power of the arrows.

"Thud, thud, thud..." The arrows accurately pierced the throats of several people, passing through like lightning and continuing straight ahead.

"Kill!" Qin He coldly shouted. He knew the combat strength of these martial guards; they were all elite, and there was even a powerful existence at the Yuan Mansion realm who could match Ye Mo.

Qin Wentian also spurred his horse forward, drawing the spear from his back and holding it in his hand. The power of the stars flowed through his arm into the spear, making it as if it were an extension of his arm.

Blood bloomed ahead, appearing even more vivid in the sunlight. Qin He and Qin Ye released their star souls and instantly engaged in battle with the guards protecting Ye Lang, while a group of knights charged toward Qin Wentian and the others.

A spear suddenly thrust toward Qin Wentian's throat, fast, fierce, and accurate. The whistling wind turned into a sharp killing intent, striking Qin Wentian. At this moment, he felt no fear, only calm. His eyes shone like stars, and he thrust his spear forward, colliding with the tip of the opponent's spear.

"Boom." The terrifying force shook the opponent's arm, causing the spear to fall, while Qin Wentian's spear, like a bamboo shoot breaking through the earth, pierced the opponent's throat. The warhorse carried Qin Wentian forward, and he released the spear, which emerged from the back of the opponent's throat, dripping with blood.

In front of Qin Wentian, Ye Lang's claws grabbed the head of a martial guard, and with a slight effort, the guard fell from the horse, his head split open, lifeless. Ye Lang's fierce eyes glowed with a wild aura, and his gaze toward Qin Wentian was filled with contempt, his lips curling slightly, as if taunting him.

"Next year on this day will be the memorial day of the Qin Manor. Qin Hao and Qin Chuan will be executed in the imperial city for treason, watched by thousands of people." Ye Lang said coldly, pointing to Qin Yao, who was fighting, and added, "That woman, I want her alive, to enjoy her slowly."

Qin Yao, filled with shame and anger, was distracted and nearly hit by her opponent.

Qin Wentian glanced coldly at Ye Lang, then turned his horse and galloped away.

"Escaping?" The contempt on Ye Lang's lips deepened. Today, they had prepared a net for the Qin Manor, and if these people chose this path, how could they possibly leave alive?

Ye Lang's warhorse also charged forward, pursuing Qin Wentian. "Don't let anyone interfere with me; his life is mine."

On both sides of the road, countless people watched the battle, their hearts trembling.

"Wasn't that Qin Wentian from the Qin Manor? I heard he was a waste, but he surprised everyone during the assessment, showing terrifying talent and already having such strong combat power."

"So what? The one chasing him is Ye Lang, a genius from the Ye family in the imperial city, a disciple of the Asura Commander. Qin Wentian is doomed this time."

Many people sighed. In just a moment, Qin Wentian and Ye Lang had galloped to the other end of the road, where the terrain was open, perfect for battle. Standing on high ground, one could see the entire street. At this moment, to the surprise of the crowd, Qin Wentian reined in his horse and turned to face Ye Lang, who was pursuing him.

"Buzz!" Qin Wentian threw his spear, which whistled through the air, not targeting Ye Lang but his warhorse. With the horse's speed and momentum, it was impossible to avoid.

A piercing sound rang out as the spear pierced the horse's head, and the horse let out a mournful cry. Ye Lang's body shot into the air, like a great bird, diving toward Qin Wentian. Although he was only at the Body Refinement realm, he could not fly, but with his powerful strength, he could leap and move through the air without any problem.

Moreover, Ye Lang's star soul was a wolf, known for its incredible leaping ability. At this moment, Ye Lang was like a demonic wolf, his claws glowing with terrifying power as they reached for Qin Wentian.

Qin Wentian, unable to exert full force on the horse, stepped on the saddle and leaped backward. Ye Lang's claws dug into the horse's head, the terrifying force instantly killing the horse. Qin Wentian's body also landed on the ground, and both of them, having lost their mounts, faced each other.

Ye Lang licked the blood from the corner of his mouth, looking at Qin Wentian as if he were already dead.

"Ordinary people at the ninth level of Body Refinement have the strength of eighty-one oxen, but Ye Lang, a peak Body Refinement realm martial destiny cultivator, with the enhancement of his star soul and techniques, can easily exert the terrifying strength of over a hundred oxen." Qin Wentian was calm, knowing that he must not give Ye Lang any chance this time.

Nine silver needles appeared in Qin Wentian's hand, and without hesitation, he accurately inserted them into nine acupoints on his body. In a moment, he felt his potential being continuously unleashed, the feeling of being filled with power making him want to roar.

Qin Wentian was well-versed in the acupuncture techniques taught by Black Uncle, but he had never used this method to unleash his potential because it had side effects. But this time, he was determined to kill the person in front of him.

"Unfortunately, you won't be able to see the destruction of the Qin Manor and your sister Qin Yao becoming my plaything." Ye Lang sneered, his demonic wolf star soul glowing. He held nothing back, intending to crush and kill Qin Wentian with the most brutal and tyrannical force, giving him no chance.

During their last confrontation, Qin Wentian's desperate attack was very powerful, but even so, he would not give the other party any chance. This was confidence, confidence in his own strength.

Qin Wentian watched Ye Lang step forward, and his Heavenly Hammer star soul also glowed, the pale golden light so dazzling that many people in the distance couldn't help but exclaim. It was a battle between two genius martial destiny cultivators.

"Buzz!" Ye Lang's body left a trail of afterimages, and the crowd seemed to see a terrifying black demonic wolf pouncing on Qin Wentian, so fast it was suffocating.

At this moment, Qin Wentian was calm to the point of being frightening. His sharp senses felt Ye Lang rapidly approaching, the terrifying cold air rushing toward him, as if it would tear him apart. He spun his feet, and his body finally moved, his star soul flickering, his arm striking out like a heavenly hammer, transforming into a terrifying dragon shadow. The tyrannical power of the Heavenly Hammer star soul and the Dragon Subduing Fist technique intertwined, exuding a terrifying pressure.

"Heavenly Wolf Claw!"

The terrifying attack Ye Lang unleashed, with his sharp claws capable of tearing through boulders and shattering small hills, was impossible for a human body to withstand.

"Nine Heavens Dragon Roar!"

This was their second collision, almost their strongest attacks. With a loud boom, Qin Wentian felt his fist being torn apart, while Ye Lang felt an incredibly tyrannical force travel from his palm to his arm, almost shattering it and even entering his body.

"Thud!"

A terrifying force directly shook Ye Lang's body, sending him flying and crashing to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

After breaking through, Qin Wentian's strength had increased by a level. The seventh level of Body Refinement was the strength of forty-nine oxen, and he was at the fifth level of star cultivation. With the enhancement of his star soul and techniques, and the help of the potential-unleashing method, the power of this strike was terrifying.

This strike also drained half of Qin Wentian's strength, but he did not use his full power as he did last time, as that would have left him unable to fight. Even so, this one strike severely injured Ye Lang.

After all, like most martial cultivators, Ye Lang had started cultivating the elemental energy of the world and refining his body before forming his star soul. His body could not compare to Qin Wentian's, and the enhancement from his star soul was naturally much weaker.

Of course, Qin Wentian was not in good shape either, taking many steps back before stabilizing. He did not pause for a moment, charging forward like a beast, heading toward Ye Lang.

Ye Lang's face stiffened, his expression colder. He instantly jumped up, Qin Wentian's fierce punch like a massive mountain crushing down, leaving him no time to dodge. He could only brace himself and clash with Qin Wentian again.

"Boom!" Ye Lang, hastily gathering his strength, was once again thrown back. After being severely injured twice, his blood and qi could not stabilize, and he continued to spit blood, his face pale. But when he looked up, he saw a pair of eyes filled with killing intent staring at him. For the first time, Ye Lang felt the fear of death, his body shivering with a cold, chilling sensation.