Of course, Qing Dian's departure was pre-arranged by Mu Qingyan, Qian Pangzi, and Qingfeng.
Qian Pangzi and Qingyu’s commotion was also to cover Qing Dian’s escape.
This was because Qing Dian possessed a special skill: invisibility.
Mei Renxing, who had been toying with his dagger, hadn’t noticed that someone was missing.
He looked at Chu Keren with a chuckle and said, "It seems you aren't well-liked by them!"
His smile sent shivers down one’s spine.
Chu Keren, both angry and terrified, still threatened, "You'd better let me go. I can overlook this, or my father will march his troops upon the Heavenly启 Kingdom!"
Mei Renxing tapped her cheek with his dagger, his voice dripping with blood, "Threaten me? Unfortunately, that's useless. Your death will merely be blamed on Ye Lingyuan's failure to protect you. If Ye Lingyuan is handed over, your father's wrath will naturally subside."
As he spoke, he placed the dagger back on Chu Keren's neck, his killing intent soaring. "Princess Qionghua, you should consider it the highest honor to die for your Emperor! Weren't you planning to marry Ye Lingyuan? Soon, you'll be a pair of ill-fated lovers!"
As his words fell, a murderous glint flashed in his eyes, and the dagger sliced across Chu Keren's neck, drawing a bloody line.
"Ah!"
Chu Keren screamed.
Mei Renxing paid her no mind, instead looking at Mu Qingyan with a cold laugh, "General Mu, if my hand trembles again, her life will be..."
Mu Qingyan's brow furrowed. "What exactly do you want?" Sudanan Novel Network
Mei Renxing sneered, "Didn't I just say? Hand over the Fengxuan Army's tiger tally in your hand..."
Before he could finish the word "exchange," he felt an excruciating pain in his wrist.
He instinctively let go, and the dagger clattered to the ground.
Simultaneously, Chu Keren's derrière was kicked, sending her flying towards Mu Qingyan.
Qingfeng, who had been prepared, darted out and caught Chu Keren in his arms, returning her to their position.
Meanwhile, Qing Dian, taking advantage of Mei Renxing's momentary daze, vanished again and quickly returned to their side.
By the time Mei Renxing recovered, Chu Keren and Qing Dian were already standing behind Mu Qingyan.
Seeing the bloody mark on his wrist, he was enraged. He glared at Mu Qingyan with a chilling gaze and said, "Good! Very good! Don't think you can escape unscathed just because you rescued her."
Mei Renxing waved his hand, and the hidden figures in the surroundings emerged, surrounding Mu Qingyan and his group.
And thus, the scene before Ye Lingyuan and Zi Linling unfolded.
Ye Lingyuan, watching Mu Qingyan and his group encircled by the black-clad figures, felt the temperature around him plummet.
Especially when he heard the words "Fengxuan Army's tiger tally," the very air around him began to ripple with the power of laws.
Zi Linling sensed his change and quickly grasped his clenched fist, smiling. "Let me handle this!"
Ye Lingyuan's icy gaze finally warmed, and he nodded in agreement.
Chu Keren, who was already the focus of everyone's attention, felt utterly embarrassed by Qian Pangzi's scolding.
She weakly mumbled, "It's nothing," and dared not speak again.
Mei Renxing sneered and issued another command to the black-clad figures, "Kill them all! Leave no one alive!"
The encircling net of black-clad figures tightened. Mu Qingyan, Qian Pangzi, Qingfeng, Qingyu, Qinglei, and Qingdian all wore expressions of grave concern.
The sheer number of ants could overwhelm an elephant!
Even though five of the six were already cultivators at the Huayuan realm, facing a force far superior in numbers, no one was entirely confident.
The battle was about to erupt.
Mu Qingyan moved his lips, about to issue an order, when a mocking voice drifted over.
"How can there be so many unsavory things out in broad daylight?"
As the voice faded, a maiden in white appeared, stepping into the sunlight.
Beside her, a man in black was equally radiant.
They gave off the impression of an immortal couple descended from the heavens, exuding an ethereal aura.
Of course, they were unaware that the root of this ethereal aura was something called the power of laws.
Following them was a cute, childlike figure, whose hand was stroking the head of a tiger-like demonic beast.
Who else could this group be but Ye Lingyuan and Zi Linling?
The black-clad figures stared at the duo in shock, as they had no idea how they had appeared.
Zi Linling's words infuriated Mei Renxing.
But as he looked up and saw the approaching pair, a surge of fear coursed through him.
This fear spread uncontrollably.
It was because the man who met his gaze was the very person Ye Mo Yuan had ordered him to kill – Ye Lingyuan.
Yet, the Ye Lingyuan before him now felt like an invincible god!
Damn it!
Who said Ye Lingyuan only had the *potential* to enter the Saint King realm?
Judging by the aura emanating from Ye Lingyuan, though completely restrained, the subtle psychological pressure clearly indicated Saint King realm!
No! Perhaps even beyond Saint King realm!
Had he broken through that legendary realm?
Mei Renxing felt as though he had uncovered a monumental secret.
At the same time, he realized that his beloved Emperor had set him up horribly.
As for ambushes, what ambush was there to speak of!
If Ye Lingyuan were merely Saint King realm, he might have had a chance to fight back, as Ye Mo Yuan had also provided him with a secret weapon – two Saint King realm cultivators.
But now, it was likely those two Saint King realm cultivators would only meet their demise.
Escape?
For the first time, Mei Renxing, a death warrior, entertained this thought.
In stark contrast to Mei Renxing and the other black-clad figures, Mu Qingyan and his group reacted differently.
Their initial astonishment quickly turned into joyous smiles.
The Prince had arrived!
Their faith had arrived!
Their spiritual pillar had arrived!
The dark guards of the Ming King's Mansion were suddenly invigorated, their listless state vanishing, replaced by soaring fighting spirit.
"Greetings, Your Highness! Greetings, Your Highness!"
Mu Qingyan, kneeling first, clasped his fists in salute.
Qian Pangzi and Qingyu, snapping out of their surprise, followed Mu Qingyan's lead and bowed. "Greetings, Your Highness! Greetings, Your Highness!"
Qingfeng and Qinglei were utterly stunned by the words of the other three.
They exchanged glances, their eyes clearly conveying the question: "What exactly did we miss?"
But they quickly regained their senses and knelt. "Greetings, Your Highness! Greetings, Your Highness!"
"Greetings, Your Highness! Greetings, Your Highness!"
The remaining dozen or so dark guards knelt in unison.
Only Qingdian stood there, a bitter feeling welling up in her heart.
Simultaneously, a trace of hostility entered her gaze as she looked at Zi Linling.