Bai Aotu slowly rose and stepped out of the tent. By then, the entire camp was in an uproar, with Bai clan warriors and generals rushing out of their tents to see who dared to challenge them on their own turf.
To their astonishment, a young girl hovered in the air outside the camp, her exquisite face exuding an ethereal grace that tugged at their hearts. She wore a long dress common among noble maidens, adorned with only a few unobtrusive trinkets. The true highlight of her attire was the masterful tailoring.
For a moment, many fierce warriors couldn’t believe their eyes. This maiden, who appeared to have no trace of primordial force, not even a node or vortex, had come to challenge them?
But how could someone without primordial force float in the air? Many speculated that she might be from the dark races, such as the Blood Clan or the Demon Kin, who had methods to regain their youth, like the Night Queen who often appeared in the form of a young girl. Perhaps this one was similar?
However, most of the Bai clan’s seasoned generals were well-traveled and knowledgeable. Two of them recognized Zhao Ruoxi and greeted her, “It is an honor to have Miss Cheng En Gong visit us.”
Zhao Ruoxi, wielding the Manjushaka, held a special status in the Empire, receiving courtesy and respect no less than a duke. Even the Bai clan’s generals had to show her due respect.
Ignoring the two generals, Zhao Ruoxi fixed her gaze on Bai Aotu, her eyes gleaming brighter.
Bai Aotu knew it was Zhao Ruoxi coming, but seeing her like this, she felt a sinking feeling in her heart, sensing that things were not good.
Indeed, Zhao Ruoxi didn’t even speak; she raised the Manjushaka and aimed it at Bai Aotu. Immediately, a flower of the other shore bloomed before Bai Aotu, binding her in a mystical connection. No matter how Bai Aotu dodged or fled, she could not avoid the Manjushaka’s attack, and had to face it head-on.
Bai Aotu hadn’t expected Zhao Ruoxi to act so abruptly, without a word. Though she was arrogant and wild, she was not a true madwoman. Her face changed, and she began to flash and dodge, trying to escape the lock of the Manjushaka.
But as soon as she moved, her expression changed again, and she stopped. She realized that she could not evade the lock. Even the former Evernight Council member Gesetu had been severely injured by the Manjushaka, let alone Bai Aotu, who had yet to cross the threshold of becoming a divine general.
Moreover, Bai Aotu saw that the flowers of the other shore bloomed throughout the camp, transforming it into a dreamlike scene. However, this beautiful scenery was also a deadly trap. If Bai Aotu dodged, the Manjushaka’s power would fall upon the Bai clan warriors in the camp. Although the Manjushaka was not designed for mass attacks, the camp lacked any truly formidable figures. One shot from the Manjushaka could kill all the hundreds of warriors in the camp.
Bai Aotu’s face flushed with anger, and she shouted, “You are so young, yet so venomous!”
Zhao Ruoxi’s lips curled into a sweet smile, and she said, “Anyone can say what they want, but you cannot. Go ahead and dodge, see if you can. If you do, I will still eliminate your minions and then finish you off.”
Bai Aotu sneered, “I doubt you dare to really fire…”
Before she finished speaking, Bai Aotu’s face changed drastically. The flower of the other shore before her began to wither, and her life force surged out like a flood, flowing into the void and being devoured by the violent primordial force within.
In a flash, Bai Aotu was both shocked and angry, realizing that Zhao Ruoxi had actually fired.
Even someone as strong and defiant as her felt helpless against the withering of the flower of the other shore. The Manjushaka’s attack was too mysterious and unpredictable, leaving no room for defense. Even the Evernight Council members had suffered greatly, and Bai Aotu was no exception.
As the flower of the other shore was about to wither, a loud shout echoed through the air, “No!”
A large hand descended from the sky, grasping Bai Aotu and the entire camp. In this primordial force hand, the withering of the flowers slowed, but they continued to wilt, each causing a piece of the hand to collapse.
When the flowers were still mostly intact, the hand was already in tatters, on the verge of breaking. As the Bai clan was about to suffer heavy losses, another person in the air snorted, and countless arrows of primordial force rained down, extinguishing the flowers one by one.
The Manjushaka’s attack was finally over.
But many Bai clan warriors were affected, their faces pale and breaths weak. Some couldn’t even stand, collapsing to the ground. Even Bai Aotu’s primordial force was unstable.
An elderly, plump man appeared in the air, his usually kind face now visibly agitated. He descended and floated opposite Zhao Ruoxi, fuming, “The Manjushaka is a national treasure, how could you use it against your own people? You… you…”
He was so angry that he couldn’t find the right words.
Zhao Ruoxi’s hands trembled, holding the Manjushaka. The attack had drained her, but she bit her lip hard, drawing blood, determined not to faint.
Ignoring the old man, she stared at Bai Aotu, raising the Manjushaka again with trembling hands. Her last bit of color drained from her face, and her life force became as weak as a flickering candle. Around her, more flowers of the other shore began to appear.
She was about to fire again!
A sigh came from behind Zhao Ruoxi, and a large hand reached out, pressing down the Manjushaka. Wang Bo appeared behind her, saying, “Miss, you cannot use the Manjushaka again today.”
With Wang Bo’s touch, the Manjushaka’s light faded, and the flowers of the other shore dispersed.
But Zhao Ruoxi struggled fiercely, shouting, “Don’t stop me! I must kill that Bai family slut! Whoever stops me, I’ll kill them too!”
Wang Bo looked at her with pity, saying, “Miss, you cannot use the Manjushaka today. If you must kill, you can come back tomorrow.”
The old man from the Bai clan was at a loss for words, saying, “Old Wang, even though you are now with the Zhao clan, you should still consider our past ties.”
Wang Bo ignored him, taking the Manjushaka from Zhao Ruoxi and putting it in its case. Then, he wrapped her in a thick blanket. Without the Manjushaka, Zhao Ruoxi was just a normal girl, unable to escape Wang Bo’s grasp.
Full of resentment, Zhao Ruoxi glared at the old man, shouting, “I know you are an elder of the Bai clan…”
The old man’s face showed embarrassment, saying, “I am not just an elder, I am…”
Before he could finish, Zhao Ruoxi cut him off, looking up at the sky, “He cannot stop my Manjushaka! Prince Qingyang, are you planning to ally with the Bai clan to suppress the Zhao clan?”
At her words, the whole world seemed to freeze. Zhang Boqian’s voice, with its metallic resonance, rang out, “The Manjushaka is not yours, nor is it to be used this way.”
Many Bai clan warriors then realized that it was Prince Qingyang who had defused the Manjushaka’s attack effortlessly.
“In my hands, it is mine!” Zhao Ruoxi declared stubbornly.
Zhang Boqian did not appear, but said, “If you continue to cause trouble, I will have Wei Huang take you back to the Western Continent.”
Zhao Ruoxi’s resolve weakened. She was in the floating land, but she refused to go back. Moreover, while she feared nothing, she was wary of her father.
Her eyes gleamed, and she said, “Prince, you want to protect the Bai clan, don’t you?”
Zhang Boqian snorted, “You little rascal, thinking you can trick me. This matter ends here. In the future, handle it yourselves. But remember, this is a battle for the nation’s fate, and I am in charge. Anyone who interferes will not be spared, no matter who they are.”
With those words, the world unfroze. Everyone knew Prince Qingyang had left.
The old man from the Bai clan looked at Zhao Ruoxi and Wang Bo, his expression complex, and sighed, “Thankfully, nothing serious happened. Let’s end this here, shall we?”
“Agreed,” Wang Bo nodded, preparing to leave with Zhao Ruoxi.
“Wait!” Zhao Ruoxi called out. The Bai clan warriors tensed, unsure of her next move. Her earlier actions had already shocked them. Now, everyone knew Zhao Ruoxi was capable of anything.
Ignoring the Bai clan, Zhao Ruoxi said to Wang Bo, “This floating land is boring. Tomorrow, I will hunt in the wilderness!”
Wang Bo asked, “What do you wish to hunt, Miss?”
Zhao Ruoxi spat out a name, “Of course, that Bai Kongzhao slut!”
“Understood, Miss.”
Zhao Ruoxi added, “My mood is terrible, and when my mood is bad, my aim is off. Anyone around my prey might get hurt by accident!”
With that, she left with Wang Bo. The Bai clan warriors exchanged glances, unsure of what to say.
Accidental injury? Among the ten most powerful guns, only the Manjushaka with its flowers of the other shore would never harm by accident.
The old man watched Zhao Ruoxi and Wang Bo leave, sighing, and said to Bai Aotu, “Come with me, I have questions for you.”
This slightly plump old man was actually Bai Songhe, the younger brother of the current Bai clan patriarch and the hereditary Duke Ning. His status and cultivation were on par with the two dukes of the Zhao clan. At his words, Bai Aotu could not refuse and followed him into the main tent.
Bai Songhe sat in the central seat, not inviting Bai Aotu to sit, and said sternly, “Tell me, for Bai Kongzhao, how far are you willing to go?”
Bai Aotu frowned, saying, “It’s just a minor injury to Qian Ye. Even if he has a relationship with Zhao Ruoxi, what does it matter?”
“Nonsense!” Bai Songhe slammed a document on the table, furious, “Qian Ye’s identity is not as simple as it seems! I’ve had information that he might be the illegitimate son of Cheng En Gong. These reports have been circulated, have you not read them?”
Bai Aotu was taken aback, then said, “He is still just a bastard. Besides, I’ve never cared much for the petty affairs of the noble clans.”
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