"Father, should we rescue them?"
Qin Zi asked.
After all, these two fellows had some history with them. It might be worth considering a rescue. However, if saving them came at too great a cost, it might be better to pretend they hadn't seen anything.
"Let's go over and take a look first," Qin Chuan replied, leading Qin Zi and Ye Lingshuang toward the plaza, with the golden-winged puppets clearing the way.
The golden halo around Qin Chuan quickly attracted everyone's attention, causing a stir.
"A member of the royal family!"
"A royal has awakened!"
"Make way! Don't block the lord's path!"
The people around, despite possibly being more powerful than Qin Chuan, all displayed expressions of awe and respect. It was as if his cultivation level didn't matter at all.
Qin Chuan found this strange.
When one lacks strength, is an identity alone really that important?
And these people seemed genuinely afraid of him.
"Could it be that this royal identity grants control over some powerful force?" he mused, glancing at the puppets ahead.
These puppets seemed to only recognize his identity.
It was as if they were programmed to follow orders as long as the identity matched.
There might even be many other things like this in the Ancient City of Dusk, only accessible to those of royal blood!
Of course, this was just a guess.
How it all worked didn't concern him too much.
He had already purchased insurance. Regardless of the method, the system was obligated to ensure that he not only survived but maintained his dignity, allowing him to stride confidently through this place!
Meanwhile, Zhou Mo and Master Pang Qi, roasting on the pyre, spotted Qin Chuan. They were momentarily stunned before their faces lit up with joy.
"Uncle Qin!"
"Master Qin, save us!"
They cried out desperately, like drowning men grasping at a lifeline, shouting toward Qin Chuan.
The people around them were equally bewildered.
Soon, a middle-aged man with a stern face approached Qin Chuan and respectfully asked, "My Lord, do you know these two?"
Qin Chuan didn't answer right away but asked, "What did they do?"
It was essential to understand the situation before claiming any relationship with them.
"To report to My Lord, these two somehow managed to sneak up to the Dusk Illusory Sun, attempting to infiltrate the Tomb of the Ancestral King! Luckily, we caught them in time, using the divine punishment power of the Thirty-Six God Islands to knock them down. Otherwise, they might have succeeded!"
The middle-aged man gritted his teeth in anger. "The Tomb of the Ancestral King is sacred. How dare these scoundrels defile it? If they had disturbed the Ancestral King's resurrection, our entire Dusk Tribe would be doomed!"
Dusk Illusory Sun?
Tomb of the Ancestral King?
Ancestral King's resurrection?
Qin Chuan silently took note of these key terms, then, with righteous indignation, shouted, "Outrageous! How dare they commit such blasphemy against the Ancestral King! As a royal, how can I tolerate this?!"
"Hand them over to me! I'll personally deal with them. I won't rest until I've thoroughly punished these scoundrels!"
He guessed that this so-called Ancestral King must be the supreme leader of the Dusk Tribe—the ancestor of the royal family.
Given that he was currently posing as a member of the royal family, expressing such anger was only natural.
"My Lord, according to our tradition as tomb guards, anyone who attempts to defile the Ancestral King's tomb must be publicly executed in the square. If you take them, there's a risk that they might escape and cause further trouble," the middle-aged man said hesitantly.
"You should understand, My Lord, the safety of the Ancestral King's tomb is paramount. If anyone learns the method to enter the Dusk Illusory Sun, they must be executed immediately, without delay."
Qin Chuan frowned and said coldly, "Are you doubting me?"
"No, no, no!"
The middle-aged man shook his head frantically. "I wouldn't dare doubt you, My Lord. It's just that this matter is of utmost importance..."
"Will you hand them over or not?"
Qin Chuan's tone grew harsher, his aura becoming sharp and domineering.
"My Lord, I can comply with you on any other matter, but in this case, the stakes are too high. I'm afraid... I can't obey!"
The middle-aged man gritted his teeth, clearly torn but resolute.
"Are you rebelling?"
Qin Chuan directly accused him, knowing that with his royal identity, he held the upper hand in any confrontation.
"You!!"
The middle-aged man glared at Qin Chuan, outraged. This was beyond infuriating! Even a royal shouldn't be allowed to twist facts like this!
"Seize him."
Qin Chuan waved his hand dismissively.
Clatter!
Immediately, the golden-winged puppets raised their spears, advancing step by step toward the middle-aged man.
"Very well!!"
The middle-aged man laughed in fury, his eyes cold as he said, "If My Lord insists on being unreasonable, I have no choice but to defy you!"
Boom!!
A terrifying aura exploded from the man, surging toward the sky as if it would tear the world apart.
He was powerful.
Eight massive shadows emerged from his body, spinning around his head like planets.
Each of these worlds was vast, sacred, and majestic, exuding an aura that could suppress the heavens.
"The Eight Refinements of the Azure Heaven, a Heaven-Stage God of the Eight Refinements!"
"Commander Mo has reached such heights! If the Xuanyuan Sky hadn't fallen, wouldn't he have completed the Ninth Refinement and broken through to the Heavenly God realm?!"
"What talent! What divine talent!"
"This will be interesting to watch. They say the royals possess great power in the Ancient City of Dusk. Let's see if that can stand up to Commander Mo!"
The crowd murmured in amazement, though they quickly retreated to a safer distance to watch.
"Attack!"
The golden-winged puppets charged at the middle-aged man. However, with a mere cold snort, he unleashed a wave of crushing power.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The puppets were flung back as if struck by lightning, their bodies cracking with fractures, barely hanging on.
"Rebellion must be punished!"
One of the puppets shouted, and the ruby on its forehead began to glow, sending a beam of red light into the sky.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
In an instant, beams of red light shot out from all corners of the Ancient City of Dusk.
Suddenly, thousands of golden-winged puppets took to the air, flying toward the scene like a swarm of locusts, blotting out the sky.
"Kill!!"
The puppets dove in unison, their spears pointing forward, forming an unstoppable torrent aimed at the middle-aged man.
"Ants, no matter how many, cannot move the heavens!"
The middle-aged man sneered, finally finding a justified reason to release his pent-up frustration. The royals' absurd behavior threatened the tribe's survival, and that was all the justification he needed!
"Break!"
He threw a punch, the force of which seemed to fill the entire world, crushing everything in its path with overwhelming might.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The swarm of golden-winged puppets quickly disintegrated, scattered like broken twigs.
"Hahaha! Guardian puppets are nothing! To protect the Ancestral King's tomb, we need real warriors!"
The middle-aged man laughed triumphantly.
"Rebellion must be punished!"
Suddenly, deep, resonant voices echoed, and the entire Ancient City of Dusk trembled.
From the ground, ripples spread like water, and enormous figures began to rise.
They, too, were golden puppets, but unlike the winged ones, these resembled giant apes. Their limbs were thick and muscular, emanating a heavy, oppressive presence.
"Anti-Hulk armor?"
Qin Chuan was stunned by the sight.