Chapter 41: Mystic Light Technique

"Is this all that's left?" Zhou Yuan stared blankly at the jade slip Tun Tun spat out, then realized the unlucky fellow had been swallowed whole by Tun Tun.

"What an unfortunate way to die," Zhou Yuan muttered, his lips twitching. He couldn't help but feel deep sympathy; the man's fate was truly miserable. He wondered how much psychological trauma the poor guy endured in his final moments.

Zhou Yuan bent down and picked up the jade slip. He was surprised to see a faint glow emanating from it, with numerous characters vaguely visible within the light.

"It's probably used to record Genesis Arts," Yaoyao said casually.

"Oh?" Zhou Yuan's eyes lit up at her words. Ordinary Genesis Arts weren't usually recorded in such a manner. Could these two villains actually possess something valuable?

Zhou Yuan held the jade slip and channeled his Genesis Qi into it. Immediately, the slip glowed brightly, projecting a stream of clear characters onto the air before him.

Zhou Yuan's gaze swept over the text, then narrowed slightly: "Low-grade Profound Genesis Art, Profound Radiance Art?"

"It's actually a Profound Genesis Art?" Zhou Yuan was slightly moved. Arts of the Profound Genesis level were considered treasures even within their imperial treasury, usually bestowed upon those who had rendered great service.

"This Profound Radiance Art sounds familiar," Zhou Yuan mused, vaguely recalling having heard of it somewhere.

"I remember now, it's the Qi King's Residence! This Profound Radiance Art is a top-tier Genesis Art of the Qi King's Residence, supposedly bestowed upon them by the Great Wu Dynasty." Zhou Yuan's expression shifted. Could these two villains be from the Qi King's Residence? But with their strength, how could they possess such a formidable art?

Zhou Yuan shook his head, puzzled.

Although he couldn't quite figure it out, Zhou Yuan let out a cold laugh and promptly tucked the jade slip into his pocket. He recalled Zhou Qing once telling him that the Qi King's Residence's Profound Radiance Art was exceptionally powerful; despite being a low-grade Profound Genesis Art, its might rivaled that of a mid-grade one.

Now that such a valuable item had fallen into his hands, he had no intention of letting it go.

"But why hasn't Commander Lu arrived yet?" Zhou Yuan looked up, frowning as he gazed into the distance. With the perception of a Heavenly Gate realm expert, he should have noticed the commotion here.

***

Half an hour earlier.

Lu Tieshan had dispatched two guards to protect Zhou Yuan. However, shortly after, he detected some movement in the nearby forest.

"Let's go!"

Lu Tieshan frowned, then suddenly stood up. Without a word to Qi Ling, who was beside him, he surged with Genesis Qi and transformed into a streak of light, rushing towards the source of the disturbance.

A few minutes later, Lu Tieshan appeared. He saw four individuals engaged in combat in the clearing ahead, two of whom were the guards he had sent to protect Zhou Yuan.

"What are you doing?!" Lu Tieshan swung his sleeve, and a torrent of Genesis Qi shot forth, instantly separating the four combatants.

Upon seeing Lu Tieshan, the two imperial guards quickly explained, "Sir, we were on our way to His Highness, but these two fellows jumped out and intercepted us."

"Are you seeking death?!" Lu Tieshan's cold, piercing eyes immediately fixed on the two men upon hearing this.

"Commander Lu, please don't be angry," Qi Ling said, arriving from behind with an apologetic expression. "These are people from our Qi King's Residence. I had instructed them to scout for villains earlier, and perhaps they mistook your men for them." He then sternly reprimanded the two men, "Get out of here, you useless oafs!"

Lu Tieshan watched the scene with icy eyes, then stared intently at Qi Ling. "Qi Ling, what exactly are you trying to do?"

"Roar!"

Qi Ling smiled, about to speak, when suddenly, a tiger's roar echoed from the distant forest.

"Tiger Roar Mark?! Damn it, it's His Highness!" Upon hearing the roar, Lu Tieshan's pupils constricted sharply. He seemed to understand something now, and his face contorted savagely as he glared at Qi Ling. "Qi Ling, you have the audacity!"

"Heh, I don't know what Commander Lu is talking about," Qi Ling chuckled lightly. By this time, he thought, the two villains should have succeeded, right?

"If anything happens to His Highness, I will not let you off!" Lu Tieshan snarled. Immediately, his Genesis Qi erupted, and he stomped his foot, cracking the ground. His figure shot up like a rainbow, soaring straight towards the valley.

Qi Ling watched Lu Tieshan's hurried departure, a cold smirk playing on his lips. Then, with a wave of his hand, he led his men and quickly followed.

***

The group rushed on and arrived at the valley shortly after.

Qi Ling emerged from the forest, grinning, and looked towards the valley. He imagined the place would be in ruins by now, and Zhou Yuan half-dead.

As he thought this, the smile on his face grew wider.

However, the next moment, his sweeping gaze suddenly fell upon a slender, lean young man not far away, who was also smiling and staring back at him.

The smile on Qi Ling's face froze.

"Zhou Yuan? How is he unharmed?!" Qi Ling's eye twitched slightly, and an incredulous roar of anger erupted in his heart.

"My apologies, Your Highness, I am late!" Lu Tieshan, seeing Zhou Yuan safe and sound, let out a sigh of relief. He knelt on one knee and said in a deep voice.

"Commander Lu, please rise, I'm fine," Zhou Yuan replied with a smile.

Lu Tieshan stood up, his gaze, full of menace, falling upon the unconscious Luo Tong beside them. He asked chillingly, "Is this the one who attacked His Highness?"

"It truly is this villain!"

Before Zhou Yuan could speak, an angry voice came from behind Lu Tieshan. Qi Ling strode forward, grabbed Luo Tong, and slapped him across the face.

"Tell me, where did you throw the things you stole from my Qi King's Residence?!"

The unconscious Luo Tong was slapped awake. Seeing Qi Ling's ferocious face, he struggled to speak, "Qi..."

"Stubborn fool, then die!" Before he could finish, Qi Ling's eyes turned cold, and with a burst of force from his palm, he shattered Luo Tong's throat.

Luo Tong's eyes widened, staring fixedly at Qi Ling, seemingly unable to believe what had happened.

Qi Ling, however, ignored the dead man's gaze. Instead, he tore Luo Tong's clothes apart, searching frantically, but after a moment, he stopped, his expression grim.

"Qi Ling, are you trying to silence him?" Lu Tieshan's eyes were sinister. With a wave of his hand, the ten imperial guards silently surrounded them.

Qi Ling's expression remained unchanged. He said blandly, "Commander Lu, what are you implying? This villain dared to attack His Highness, he deserved to die. Furthermore, they stole our Qi King's Residence's 'Profound Radiance Art'."

"Profound Radiance Art?" Lu Tieshan was taken aback. The Qi King's Residence's 'Profound Radiance Art' was stolen?

Qi Ling turned to Zhou Yuan, clasping his hands. "Your Highness, there were two villains. Do you know where the other one is? Our Qi King's Residence's 'Profound Radiance Art' should be on him."

Zhou Yuan smiled at this. "I wouldn't know. I only saw one person. The other one probably ran off with the treasure."

Qi Ling's face twitched. He stated emphatically, "Impossible!"

"Steward Qi, are you so certain he wouldn't run?" Zhou Yuan said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

Qi Ling's heart skipped a beat, and his expression became uncertain.

"I truly haven't seen the other person. Steward Qi, you should continue sending people to search," Zhou Yuan said blandly, waving his hand. "This place is quite chaotic, so I won't keep you any longer, Steward Qi."

Seeing Zhou Yuan dismissing him, Qi Ling's expression became exceedingly grim. His original intention today was to deal with Zhou Yuan, but not only was the latter unharmed, their "Profound Radiance Art" had vanished. It was a complete loss, like losing both the wife and the army. When the King returned, he would undoubtedly be furious.

Although Qi Ling didn't know exactly what had transpired, he had a premonition that the Profound Radiance Art had likely fallen into Zhou Yuan's hands. But what could he do with a mere suspicion? Could he forcibly search Zhou Yuan? Hadn't he seen how Lu Tieshan was looking at him, as if he wanted to devour him?

His mind raced, and in the end, Qi Ling could only grit his teeth, clasp his hands in a salute, and then, without another word, waved his hand and led his men away in a dejected manner.

He knew that this time, their Qi King's Residence had truly suffered a massive loss.