Chapter 98

"Clang"

The long sword was drawn, as if a dragon roared, its cold light piercing the nine provinces. A streak of light slashed through the sky, aiming for Hachi.

Hachi swung his fist, about to crush these few young men into a pulp, but suddenly he felt a tightening in his heart. Relying on the intuition of a master, he sensed an immense threat.

Before his move was fully executed, he forcibly changed the direction of his fist and swung it to the right.

"Bang"

A loud explosion, Hachi's fist blocked the sword, but the powerful force from the sword sent him reeling back, greatly shocking him.

He quickly steadied himself and looked closely. He saw a young woman appear before him, wearing a palace gown, her hair tied high, her phoenix eyes filled with authority, her sword blade like water, exuding an indescribable nobility.

"Princess Three?"

Shi Feng and the others exclaimed in surprise. The woman holding the long sword was none other than the empire's Third Princess, Chu Yao.

"Be careful, don't act rashly. We need to buy time until Long Chen returns," Chu Yao said in a low voice to Shi Feng and the others, waving her sword.

Shi Feng and the others nodded slowly. Two of them rushed out to pull back their injured companion from the ground. His right chest had been pierced by a spear, and he was barely alive.

Shi Feng quickly took out a pill and gave it to him. Although it couldn't heal him completely, it could buy him some time and prevent him from dying immediately.

Although everyone was prepared to die, no one wanted to die if they could avoid it. Seeing that Chu Yao could actually force back a Muscle Transformation realm expert, they felt a glimmer of hope.

Chu Yao's appearance shocked the entire scene. Both Xia Youyu and the Fourth Prince looked at her with disbelief.

Xia Youyu immediately thought of something, pointing at Chu Yao with eyes full of incredulity: "You actually broke the Nine Dragon Seal?"

Chu Yao extended her hand, her long sword pointing at Xia Youyu: "You despicable beasts, today you will pay for the sins you committed in the past."

Although she didn't know what the Nine Dragon Seal was, she knew that what Xia Youyu referred to must be the nine different true qi energies in her dantian.

If not for Long Chen, her fate would have become incredibly tragic, becoming a tool for others without even realizing it. Thinking of this, Chu Yao felt a surge of anger.

"Hmph, from your aura, you've just broken through to the Muscle Transformation realm. You probably can't even control your strength well, and you dare to speak such big words? Hachi, take her down," Xia Youyu sneered.

The Fourth Prince looked at Chu Yao with uncertainty. Her appearance had shaken his growing confidence, and he began to feel uneasy.

At the same time, Long Chen's face flashed in his mind. To this day, he still hadn't received any news about Long Chen, which left a thorn in his heart. Now, with Chu Yao's appearance, this thorn became even more prominent.

"Hmph, let this Hachi meet the Princess of Fengming," Hachi laughed, his arms trembling, veins bulging, a terrifying force rising, and he struck with a punch.

Before he arrived, the wind from his punch already made Chu Yao's hair flutter and her clothes rustle, clearly showing that Hachi was now unleashing the true power of a Muscle Transformation realm expert.

"Swish"

Chu Yao, facing Hachi's punch, did not confront it head-on. She slid her foot to the side, avoiding Hachi's punch, and her long sword aimed directly at Hachi's throat.

Hachi sneered, not dodging. A faint yellow glow appeared on his palm, and he struck at Chu Yao's sword.

"Bang"

Chu Yao felt a powerful force, and she was sent flying backward, her tiger's mouth (the base of her thumb and index finger) throbbing in pain.

Xia Youyu was right. Chu Yao had just advanced to the Muscle Transformation realm, and it was a secret advancement, not wanting to draw attention.

More frustratingly, after her advancement, she had no chance to adapt to her suddenly increased strength, and her control over it was limited.

Now, facing a battle-hardened Muscle Transformation realm expert, she immediately suffered a significant disadvantage, especially since Chu Yao had little combat experience.

"Hmph, just a facade. Give me your life," Hachi sneered, showing no mercy, and struck with another punch.

Just as Chu Yao was preparing to resist at the cost of being injured, a dark red light ball suddenly flew in, colliding with Hachi's fist.

"Boom"

A loud explosion, Hachi felt as if his fist was immersed in lava, and he was sent flying backward.

"Attacking a girl so viciously, don't you feel ashamed, sir?"

An elderly voice rang out, and a figure appeared before everyone.

"Master Yun Qi?"

Chu Yao was overjoyed to see the old man, who was none other than Master Yun Qi, finally taking action at this critical moment.

"Yun Qi, as the president of the Alchemist Guild, you should abide by the alchemist's code and not interfere in secular matters. Aren't you afraid of being sanctioned by the guild?" Xia Youyu coldly shouted.

"You're right, members of the Alchemist Guild should not interfere in secular matters," Master Yun Qi smiled slightly, then turned his head: "Sun Mian"

"Here"

In the crowd, a middle-aged man in alchemist attire hurriedly stepped forward, bowing respectfully.

Master Yun Qi raised his hand, and an object flew over. Sun Mian caught it and his face changed when he saw it.

"Sun Mian, I am now passing the guild token to you. You are the new guild president," Master Yun Qi said.

"President...," Sun Mian said, shocked.

Master Yun Qi raised his hand, stopping Sun Mian: "I am no longer the president. Our guild's rules cannot be abandoned. If you still consider me the president, do not stop me."

Sun Mian looked at the guild token in his hand, unsure of what to do, but he knew that something significant was about to happen today.

"Now that I am no longer a member of the Alchemist Guild, I have the right to interfere in secular matters, right?" Master Yun Qi said calmly.

No one expected that Master Yun Qi would leave the guild for the Long family. Without the guild's title, he could be killed without any repercussions.

"Of course, I have been waiting for this day for a long time. Yun Qi, you have not disappointed me," a voice said as the crowd parted, and two figures slowly walked in. Seeing the newcomer, the crowd gasped in surprise:

"Wei Cang"

The person was none other than Master Wei Cang, who was as famous as Master Yun Qi. There seemed to be a deep-seated hatred between them, and they had once fought at the Fengming Lantern Festival.

However, that time both had held back, only engaging in a symbolic fight without showing their true strength.

Now, from Wei Cang's tone, it seemed that Master Yun Qi's actions were all within his expectations, and a fierce battle was likely to ensue today.

"Who is the other old man?" When people shifted their gaze from Wei Cang, they noticed the old man beside him.

"I know, he is Wang Luyang, also an alchemist," someone who had attended the Huayun Auction recognized him.

At that auction, Wang Luyang had been low-key until the Muscle Regeneration Pill appeared, making a stunning impression and leaving a deep impression on everyone.

However, today, Wang Luyang standing beside Wei Cang was quite intriguing.

Seeing Wei Cang come out, Master Yun Qi's face showed no emotion. He glanced at Wang Luyang: "Have you made up your mind?"

Wang Luyang smiled slightly: "Actually, I don't want to be an enemy of Master Yun, but Wei's enthusiasm is hard to refuse, so I have to be an enemy of Master Yun."

"Yun Qi, stop talking nonsense. Hand over that thing, or I'll send you to hell today," Wei Cang said coldly.

"Now that you have left the Alchemist Guild, you have no support. Killing you requires no hesitation,"

Master Yun Qi looked at the Fourth Prince in the distance with a complex expression and praised: "The Fourth Prince is truly a dragon among men. Your calculations are truly impressive."

The Fourth Prince smiled slightly: "Thank you for the compliment, Master. I am flattered."

"Since the Fourth Prince is so skilled in calculation, have you heard a saying?" Master Yun Qi said calmly.

"Oh? Please enlighten me,"

"Human plans cannot surpass the will of heaven," Master Yun Qi smiled slightly and said calmly.

The Fourth Prince's eyes narrowed slightly. For some reason, hearing this, his heart skipped a beat.

"What do you mean?"

"Given the Fourth Prince's intelligence, how can you not understand a saying even a child knows? Or are you afraid to admit that you understand?" Master Yun Qi said.

The Fourth Prince's face changed slightly. His plan was flawless, but unexpected events had occurred.

The first was that Ying Hou failed to kill Long Chen. Although Ying Hou said Long Chen was severely injured and had little chance of survival, he always felt that Long Chen wouldn't die so easily, so he sent Mangan Hou to search for him.

The second was Chu Yao. The Nine Dragon Seal in her body was silently broken, and she had advanced to the Muscle Transformation realm.

Although Chu Yao, who had just entered the Muscle Transformation realm, was not a significant threat, this event began to make him feel uneasy.

Now, seeing Master Yun Qi, who was clearly trapped, remain calm, made him even more uneasy, even feeling a bit panicked.

He himself was a pawn, and now that he had finally jumped out of the chess game to become the player, he did not want his pawns to jump out of the game as well.

"Actually, your plan is quite laughable. To waste so much effort for a little resource is really foolish," Master Yun Qi shook his head and said.

The Fourth Prince's face finally changed, looking at Master Yun Qi with disbelief: "You know too?"

Master Yun Qi smiled slightly but said nothing.

The Fourth Prince's eyes scanned a part of the crowd, then calmed down, sneering: "On the brink of death, you still like to exaggerate. Master Wei Cang, what are you waiting for?"

Wei Cang smiled slightly: "After all, we've been old friends for decades. Seeing an old friend about to depart, we should give him some time to leave a last message. It seems the message is done, so let's send you on your way."

"Whoosh"

Wei Cang was enveloped in flames, a flaming spear in his hand, like a human flame, rushing toward Master Yun Qi with terrifying heat.