The dragon ship hung high above the ancient totem war fortress, boldly lingering within the firing range of the fortress’s main cannons. Although the fortress cannons had a natural advantage in size, the dense array of ship cannons on the side of the dragon ship were equally impressive, many of them clearly cruiser-class main guns. Especially terrifying was the colossal main cannon protruding from the mouth of the earth dragon.
With its natural height advantage, the range of the dragon ship’s cannons was not at a disadvantage; in fact, it was superior. Most of the secondary cannons could strike the ancient totem war fortress, while only a few of the main towers’ ballistae of the fortress could reach the dragon ship.
No one who saw the faint, shimmering barrier around the dragon ship would think it was mere decoration. It was clearly a defensive force field.
The faces of the werewolves in the ancient totem war fortress were grim. Being bullied right under their noses was indeed humiliating, and the last time they felt this way was after the Wolf King failed to defeat Zhang Buzhou in a challenge.
“I’ll go up there and crush them!” A berserker wolf roared.
A nearby shaman struck him with a wooden staff, interrupting his transformation and calming him down.
The shaman pointed at the dragon ship and said, “You can’t jump that high. If you cause trouble, it will be the Great Chieftain’s face you are disgracing.”
Hearing the shaman’s words, the werewolf quieted down, glaring at the dragon ship above with seething hatred.
Qian Ye appeared at the top of the Hall of Heroes, then descended step by step as if walking down an invisible staircase. Even though he was still far away, a terrifying aura descended from the sky, a true mark of a superior being derived from the ancient traditions of the Evernight.
In the ancient totem war fortress, many young werewolves trembled in fear, even some of the most ferocious ones. This was a primal, instinctual terror that could not be resisted by ordinary willpower.
Several old, nearly immobile shamans had complex expressions. While their strength might not be great, their experience was considerable due to their age. Seeing Qian Ye’s posture and sensing his aura, they understood much.
Qian Ye displayed the purest dark origin power, which in the Evernight Council, was a sign of the noblest bloodline. The Wolf King’s bloodline, in contrast, was much more mixed, with no comparable potential for advancement.
As Qian Ye landed in the ancient totem war fortress, the old shamans approached to pay their respects, showing great deference.
Qian Ye nodded and said calmly, “You honor the dark essence. Where is the Wolf King?”
“The Great Chieftain said to meet him when you arrive,” the old shaman replied, neither repeating the Wolf King’s exact words nor showing too much weakness. Bowing to absolute power was one thing, but groveling like mud was another.
Qian Ye chuckled coldly and said, “Very well, I’ll go see him.”
“This way, please!” The tribal high shaman led the way personally, guiding Qian Ye into the main hall of the ancient totem war fortress.
In the hall, aside from the Wolf King, there was no one else. He stood before the long window, gazing at the distant perilous peaks and the East Sea.
As Qian Ye entered, the Wolf King spun around and shouted, “You dare to come here? Don’t you fear that I might kill you right now?”
Qian Ye responded calmly, “This isn’t my first time here. You didn’t kill me last time, and you won’t manage it this time either.”
The Wolf King stared at Qian Ye, a puff of hot air escaping from his nostrils as he snorted, “It seems your confidence in escaping has grown.”
“Even if I don’t run, you might not be able to kill me. The best outcome would be mutual destruction.”
The Wolf King’s eyes narrowed, and he suddenly extended a large hand, grabbing toward Qian Ye’s chest!
Qian Ye did not dodge but instead met the Wolf King’s hand, gripping it and exerting his strength.
A thunderclap echoed, and the entire main hall of the ancient totem war fortress trembled, plaster and dust raining down. The high tower on the top of the main building groaned and tilted slightly.
The power of an ancient blood nobility viscount and a werewolf sub-duke clashed without any trickery!
The Wolf King grunted and staggered back, retreating several steps before stopping. Qian Ye also retreated. The Wolf King’s eyes locked onto Qian Ye, noticing that he had taken one more step back, and his pupils constricted into thin lines.
Qian Ye’s bloodline was a full rank lower than the Wolf King’s, and the gap between a duke and a viscount was significant. Yet, in the direct clash of power, Qian Ye was only slightly inferior, a difference so small it was shocking.
Although Qian Ye had taken one more step back, the bloodline naturally lagged in raw strength and explosive power compared to the werewolves, which didn’t mean much. However, the bloodline matched the werewolves in speed and agility, and their top-tier abilities far surpassed those of the werewolves.
In the River of Blood, every ignited imprint signified a terrifying ability. Among the werewolves, there were at most three such abilities. This meant that, even in decline, the bloodline’s top-tier abilities could still overwhelm the werewolves.
As a former enemy, the Wolf King knew Qian Ye well, having experienced firsthand the horror of the Primordial Spear. The Void Flash was unsurpassed whether for assault, ambush, or escape. With a host of top-tier abilities, Qian Ye was only slightly inferior in direct power, and the outcome of a life-or-death battle was uncertain.
Qian Ye smiled, revealing a row of white teeth, and said, “It seems mutual destruction is truly the best outcome.”
The Wolf King’s chest heaved, and his breathing was heavy. He glared at Qian Ye, gradually calming himself, and said, “This is my territory, and I have special arrangements to deal with the bloodline. If we fight here, your end won’t be good.”
Qian Ye surveyed the hall, casually kicking aside a fallen rock, and said, “Arrangements against the bloodline? That’s quite a feat. If I’m not mistaken, these arrangements are meant for the Blood Throne. Are you afraid he might visit the ancient totem war fortress?”
A flash of savagery flickered in the Wolf King’s eyes, but he suppressed it. Setting up anti-bloodline measures in his own lair, it was hard to believe he wasn’t wary of the Blood Throne.
Qian Ye noticed the Wolf King seemed to have something to say but ultimately held back. After a moment, Qian Ye spoke, “Whatever arrangements you have, they’re unlikely to work against the Blood Throne, who wields the Shattered Time. At best, you might injure him, but once he recovers, he’ll return. Moreover, this doesn’t seem to be your style, or the traditional style of the werewolves.”
Since Qian Ye had hit the nail on the head, denying it further seemed pointless. The Wolf King sighed, “These aren’t my arrangements.”
“If not you, then Zhang Buzhou. He’s using your place as bait to set a trap for the Blood Throne, right? So, you’re part of the bait as well?”
The Wolf King remained silent, a tacit admission.
Qian Ye said calmly, “The Blood Throne is no fool. Even if he doesn’t know about these arrangements, he won’t rashly enter a dangerous situation without absolute certainty. These arrangements may never be used, or they might be used years from now. Zhang Buzhou is afraid, afraid of the Blood Throne.”
The Wolf King sighed, “For so many years, you’re the first to say such things.”
“I’ve said it before.”
The Wolf King’s eyes gleamed, “According to what you just said, you came alone because you’re confident in escaping?”
Qian Ye smiled but didn’t answer.
The Wolf King thought for a moment, the savagery in his eyes fading, and said, “With your ability to move through space, I can’t do anything to you unless I use some powerful means to restrain you. But even in a direct confrontation, you’re not at a disadvantage. I can’t keep you here.”
Qian Ye said calmly, “I don’t have to run.”
The Wolf King’s pupils contracted, “You have allies? If it’s Song Zining or that girl… No, it can’t be them. They couldn’t match your progress, which only happens in the holy bloodline races with awakened blood. So, it must be Carol in the Hall of Heroes!”
“Smart.”
The Wolf King fell silent, lost in thought.
Carol was powerful in her own right, and she was not the only general in the Frost Lightning Temple. Behind her, there was an even stronger younger brother. Even the Wolf King had no guarantee of defeating him.
The combined forces of the Frost Lightning Temple and Qian Ye were enough to overwhelm the Wolf King. Even with the ancient totem war fortress, it couldn’t compare to the mobile Hall of Heroes.
Thinking of this, the Wolf King forced a smile, “You’ve said all this, so you must want to talk. What do you want to discuss, just say it.”
Qian Ye said, “Good! I will soon lead the main force of Darkflame to Yong Continent. Nanqing City will be relatively empty, and I won’t have time to take over the Tidehearing. However, I cannot abandon the workshops in Nanqing City. So, during my absence, I hope you won’t target Darkflame. If anyone else does, I expect you to discourage them.”
“Discourage?”
“Your methods of persuasion are many, aren’t they?”
“But the most effective is always one.”
“Use whatever is most effective.”
The Wolf King asked, “What if I can’t persuade them?”
Qian Ye said coldly, “I am not a merciful person. When I return, whoever extends a hand will lose it, and whoever extends a foot will lose it. If that doesn’t work, I will annihilate them, wiping out their entire clan!”
The Wolf King said, “I understand. If someone does extend a hand, it’s likely because of Zhang Buzhou.”
Qian Ye said, “Then persuade him. When I return, I will have the means to deal with Zhang Buzhou. Even if I can’t touch him, I will ensure that not a single person close to him remains. Not even his wife and children will be spared.”
The Wolf King’s eyes sharpened, and he asked, “You have such means?”
“If I didn’t, why would he have given me the City Lordship of Tidehearing?”
The Wolf King pondered for a moment and said, “But if I do this, I’ll be betraying Zhang Buzhou and siding with you.”
“Didn’t you want to betray him anyway?”
“Such words! Am I the kind of man who would do that?” The Wolf King laughed and added, “It’s just that I never had a good opportunity.”
Qian Ye smiled and said, “Then it’s settled.”
“I haven’t agreed to anything.”
“Nor did I ask for your agreement. I just want you to know that I will return, and what I will do when I return.”
The Wolf King shrugged, “Some people might take a chance, thinking they can run if things go south.”
Qian Ye said chillingly, “In front of me, failure means death. Who would dare to run?”
The Wolf King’s heart sank, recalling that the Void Flash was not only an escape technique but also an unparalleled pursuit and interception skill.
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