Fear enveloped Shen Yi completely. Once so arrogant and invincible, he now lay trembling on the ground before Lin Qian.
The thirty bodyguards at the life-and-death realm, who had always protected him, had vanished in an instant, their power shattered by the enormous soul power arrows. Shen Yi didn't even see where the attack came from before he met his end.
Unbeknownst to him, in the distant dense forest, a figure in light armor was slowly lowering a massive bow, silently waiting for Lin Qian's next command.
"Damn it, how could a life-and-death realm human appear here!" Unable to assess the opponent's realm, Shen Yi could only infer that Lin Qian's power surpassed his, and only someone at the life-and-death realm could achieve this.
"Wait, that's not right!"
Shen Yi suddenly realized that even if humans were typically weak, a life-and-death realm's combat power would still be comparable to his own at the void realm. Given how close he was to Lin Qian, he thought that if he could subdue him, there might still be hope for escape.
Moreover, he noticed that the opponent's aura was extremely unstable, fluctuating as if on the verge of a breakthrough. Shen Yi thought, "Heaven helps me!"
While Shen Yi was mentally shouting for help, he suddenly sprang up from the ground, soul power circulating through his body, preparing to attack Lin Qian.
Slap!
Just as Shen Yi leapt up, he saw a hand coming straight at his face. The impact made his cheeks tingle and his world spin, sending him flying backward and crashing through several spirit wood trees before hitting the ground.
"Puh!" When Shen Yi hit the ground, blood spurted from his mouth, mixed with shattered teeth.
Staring blankly at the ground, Shen Yi was disoriented, unable to grasp what had just happened. He had clearly gathered soul power and was confident of his victory, so why was he thrown out? His cheeks still burned with pain.
The other members of the four clans were also wide-eyed, watching in disbelief. The events had unfolded far beyond their expectations. The Black Horn Clan's strongman, who had been hovering in the air, had been completely shot down, and the prince who enjoyed tormenting their children had fallen from the sky.
Then, this Black Horn prince attempted to resist but was slapped away by the Sovereign.
Seeing the purple-red handprint on Shen Yi's face as he struggled to rise, the four clans felt a sense of relief and satisfaction, delighted with the Sovereign's actions.
At this moment, Shen Yi no longer had his previous arrogance and dignity. He was in a pitiable state, with blood on his lips and covered in splinters from the shattered spirit wood.
As he stood up, a powerful soul force enveloped him, pulling him forcefully towards Lin Qian.
The dominant and irresistible aura emanated from Lin Qian, lifting Shen Yi with no resistance, bringing him closer.
Shen Yi, unable to escape the crimson lightning soul power enveloping him, could only watch as he was drawn towards Lin Qian.
The crimson lightning soul power from Lin Qian's body coalesced into a massive hand, gripping Shen Yi firmly.
"You... what do you want?" Shen Yi, now terrified, stared at Lin Qian, shouting, "My father is the Thirteenth Prince of the Black Horn Kingdom. I am his most beloved son. If you dare kill me, my father will never let you go."
Shen Yi's desperate cries amused Lin Qian, who curiously asked, "What is your father to me?"
Lin Qian then abruptly punched Shen Yi in the dantian area. The crimson lightning soul power surged into Shen Yi's body, ruthlessly destroying his dantian and meridians while sparing the rest of his body.
Shen Yi's eyes widened in disbelief, his mouth agape as he stared at Lin Qian, unable to believe his cultivation had been destroyed.
As a member of the Black Horn Clan, soul power was everything to him. Destroying his dantian and meridians meant obliterating his pride, leaving him a broken man. The cost of restoring them with pills was exorbitant, and his father might not be able to afford it, let alone be willing to pay such a price.
"Why?" Enduring the excruciating pain of his destroyed dantian and meridians, Shen Yi asked Lin Qian, "Why not just kill me? Why only cripple my cultivation?"
The Black Horn Clan's survival depended on their soul power. Destroying his meridians and dantian meant destroying his pride. How could he not be devastated?
Facing Shen Yi's question, Lin Qian remained calm and replied slowly, "Because I like it!"
Shen Yi was stunned by Lin Qian's response. These were the very words he had used to answer others in the past when they questioned him in tears. He enjoyed their hatred and helplessness, which had given him immense pleasure.
Now, reaping what he had sown, it was his turn to hear these words.
However, he suddenly noticed Lin Qian tossing many crystal vials filled with red liquid toward the four clans.
Shen Yi remembered that the severed-limb human children had recovered after using this red potion. Now, Lin Qian was giving this miraculous healing substance to the other four races. What was he planning?
Before Shen Yi could understand, he was thrown into the midst of the four clans, crashing down heavily.
"That potion can quickly heal wounds. This Black Horn prince is now in your hands," Lin Qian said, pointing at the potions and then at Shen Yi. "Torture him however you like!"
Hearing Lin Qian's words, Shen Yi's eyes were filled with terror as he imagined the horrific fate awaiting him.
Lin Qian, however, was not concerned about Shen Yi's fate. He turned his attention to the direction of the Black Horn Kingdom, preparing to commence the national extermination war.
"Do not offend me, or I will not offend you. If you offend me, I will retaliate." Lin Qian thought that this rule needed to be changed…
"I think you want to offend me, so I will deal with you first!"