Chapter 430: Coercion and Humiliation

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The mystical core was obviously missing, an occurrence that the Emperor of Ziyou truly had not expected to happen.

The mystical core of a ninth class mystical beast was a rare gem to most of the practitioners all across the world. It was an undeniable fact, and a common truth.

However, the Emperor of Ziyou could not have imagined that there was someone brazen enough to keep the mystical core to themselves even when faced with the threat of a nation's subjugation!

The fact that it had invariably happened made his face burn.

His rage no less fierce than Yun Yang's – it was even more fervent!

Clearly, to some scoundrel, a country's fate and the lives of billions of people were not as important as a mystical core! What kind of a heart must a person possess to think that way?

"Where is the mystical core?" Emperor of Ziyou turned around, his gaze stern as it went through the assembled crowd before settling on the person he was asking.

Yun Yang looked over, following the emperor's gaze to see a man with an aged face, in green robes and a long sword. It was the swordsman who had chased him away with his sword in the sky!

It was also this swordsman's ambush that obstructed Yun Yang's last stage of his escape; first, it had been Whitey Three that was severely injured before Yun Yang himself was wounded, thus causing the situation to turn deadly. Otherwise, how would the little bear have perished in this battle?

This swordsman was undoubtedly a mighty foe.

However, he felt a strange sense of worry as he looked at the murder clearly painted on Supreme Cloud's face.

Yun Yang glared coldly at the man, feeling a murderous intent rage within him.

"Your Majesty, here." The swordsman bowed politely while holding his sword, in reply to the Emperor of Ziyou's question.

"You've taken the Niello Bear's mystical core?" The Emperor of Ziyou did not beat around the bush given that the situation was about to explode at any moment.

The swordsman's expression betrayed a subtle sense of fear, but he still replied with grace, "That is right. According to the martial world's rules, such a treasure belongs to whoever kills the previous owner. It has always been this way."

The Emperor of Ziyou sucked in a deep breath and said, "We are faced with the destruction of the Empire of Ziyou, and all you can think about is this mystical core?"

There was a raging fury blazing in the Emperor of Ziyou's eyes.

Do you dare to speak of the martial world's rules with me when miles of the country was about to turn into a swamp?

What are martial world rules when your world was crumbling around your ears?

The swordsman said in a light-hearted tone, "As long as Lord Supreme Cloud doesn't have any other request, I would be more than happy to hand over the mystical core with both my hands to end this catastrophe."

The emperor frowned lightly and repeated absently, "Other request?"

"After all, I was the one who killed the Niello Bear. Supreme Cloud will definitely want revenge. I am just a man who values his life..." the swordsman's voice trembled slightly with trepidation as he offered his terms.

Realization struck like a bolt of thunder as the Emperor of Ziyou suddenly understood what was going on.

This man was clearly afraid. He was afraid that Supreme Cloud would ask for the killer along with the mystical core. If it came to that, there was no doubt that he would die an extremely painful death.

The Emperor of Ziyou, despite being deeply angered, could not help but feel a pang of pity for the beleaguered man.

Can a saint of the sword be slightly less reserved? We are at a crossroads of the Empire of Ziyou's fate; are you jeopardizing our chances of survival because of your personal decision?

Yun Yang's icy gaze was trained on this swordsman as he said faintly, "There is no need to say more. Give me your name, and I shall promise not to take your life today. The little bear is a mystical beast but since it has accompanied me throughout the massacre in Zilong City, I consider it my comrade! There's nothing wrong for a fighter to fall in the battlefield, but I do not wish it's afterlife to be flawed."

"As for this grudge, well, there will come a time for us to settle it in the future."

Yun Yang's voice was as cold as death. He would want to kill this person, even if it was only in his dreams.

Besides, he was confident that if he insisted on carrying through with the threat to drown the Empire of Ziyou, with this person's life as the only way to circumvent that horrible fate, the Emperor of Ziyou would gladly hand him over as well.

No matter how reluctant the emperor was, he would still sentence a man to death in exchange for Ziyou's safety.

However, Yun Yang felt that such a form of revenge was another layer of insult added to the little bear's sacrifice – a vehement humiliation!

Revenge I shall have, but I shall kill you with my own hands!

Only that will count as true revenge for the little bear.

Yun Yang could achieve the same goal by leveraging on another person's power and utilizing threats, but he was contemptuous about doing so.

Furthermore, Yun Yang understood that the swordsman had no other choice. As Ziyou's citizen, there was no ground to blame him for attacking the nation's enemy to protect his homeland. Even though it would have led to irreconcilable resentment and the possibility of being challenged by the enemy face to face, it was a simple truth that the swordsman was just valuing his life. it would be uncouth to threaten a man who was just trying to protect his country.

Therefore, Yun Yang would rather find another opportunity for revenge in the future, instead of insisting on killing this person now.

The swordsman lifted his head to look at Yun Yang with a clear gaze as he answered softly, "People call me the Albasword Saint. I, however, would change nothing about my name. I am Lv Lingyun."

"Lv Lingyun!"

A meaningful smile hung on Yun Yang's lips as he said faintly, "What an Albasword Saint! I certainly will not forget you!"

Those few words made Lv Lingyun's pupils contract abruptly; his heart skipped a beat as he felt a chill run through his bones.

He had wanted to reply brusquely to save himself some dignity, but once he met Yun Yang's icy gaze, he had nothing to say. He suddenly realized that he was facing the possibility of revenge from not just anyone, but from the Nine Supremes!

Supreme Cloud, who was initially handicapped and unable to execute his manifestation power had already caused an upheaval in Zilong City. If the spiritual restraint was removed, his act of vengeance must really be a piece of cake with a thousand types of recipes!

Even now, even when the spiritual restraining formation was still in place, could it fight the wild fury of the Lunar River's water?

"Hand me the mystical core." Yun Yang ordered softly.

Lv Lingyun sucked in a deep breath and said, "Lord Supreme Cloud, to each their fate on the battlefield! We are of opposing stances and polar views; it is an undeniable fact, no matter how we decide to kill each other. If Lord Supreme Cloud wishes to retrieve your subordinate's belongings, your words should be more polite!"

Yun Yang smirked, "You said yourself that our stances oppose each other and our views differ. Why should I be courteous to you? Let me repeat myself, hand over the mystical core! Otherwise, the Empire of Zyou will only exist as a part of history today."

The harsh tone was unsettling to the saint of the sword. His eyes showed how humiliated he felt.

"Immediately. Right now, and I want you to hand it to me personally." Yun Yang whispered softly, his gaze oozing with a mad bloodlust that could normally be found in the eyes of a madman.

His tone had grown colder.

Everyone was aware that Supreme Cloud was intentionally humiliating Lv Lingyun.

More importantly, he looked like he did not even care if his opponent would pass the mystical core over. It was only an excuse, to assert his dominance over the situation.

Ziyou shall be drowned today, and there would be no more Empire of Ziyou in this world!

He would see if Lv Lingyun would opt to surrender with shame or reject his request vehemently – whether Lv Lingyun would swallow his pride and reveal his basic humanity or foolishly become Ziyou's most hated man.

The vibes of danger, the coercion that came from a powerful practitioner, the public assault on a man's pride – everyone felt them clearly.

Lv Lingyun was shivering; his heart was about to explode from shame. How could he accept such blatant humiliation?

Even if he were not an accomplished cultivator or a peak expert and was just an ordinary man, it was only right for one to fight when faced with such a humiliating experience.

However, Lv Lingyun could distinctly tell the piercing looks that were directed at him from all around, like sharp arrows. Each and every soul surrounding him was urging him to quickly hand the Niello Bear's core over to end the potential calamity that was about to occur.

If it were not for the fact that everyone else had a weaker cultivation base, someone would have already charged over and snatched it away.

Lv Lingyun was filled with indescribable regret and resentment – why had he even joined the battle?

If he had become a coward like everyone else, he would have been safe, unlike what he was stuck in now. Perhaps, he would even have taken Supreme Cloud down long ago if he had struck out earlier. Even if he could not win, it would have been a less painful death if Supreme Cloud had quickly killed him.

How had he brought himself to this state? Not only did he have to endure such disgrace, he had provoked an enemy so almighty that he had no chance of escaping his wrath.

He had to live in fear every day from now on, his heart would beat in terror for every waking and sleeping moment.

Lv Lingyun was so regretful that he actually wished that Supreme Cloud would mete out his punishment right now!

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