"Overestimating yourself, how ridiculous!"
The Ice Lord coldly snorted, and the terrifying pressure descended like a vast river from the heavens, drowning the mortal world.
"Boom, boom, boom!"
The eight Divine Kings couldn't withstand this immense pressure. One by one, they fell to their knees, their legs sinking into the ground, their bodies hunched over.
Even Qin Zi, though supported by the mysterious power of Xuanhuang Heaven, felt extreme pressure. While he didn't kneel, his bones creaked and cracked under the strain, his skin splitting to reveal grotesque, bloody fissures!
The Ice Lord looked down at Qin Zi, his gaze icy as he spoke, "Xuanhuang Mountain's choice of you does not mean you are worthy."
"If you were both virtuous and capable, I wouldn't mind supporting you. But as you stand now, unworthy of your position, I can only cast you down from the divine throne."
"So... step down."
His voice was calm, authoritative, as if the decision was already made. His words were as unshakable as the will of heaven itself.
Qin Zi staggered, his breathing labored under the pressure, but a sneer appeared on his pale face.
"My position as the Heaven Master was decreed by Xuanhuang Mountain. I, Qin Zi, have received the mandate of heaven. Who are you to meddle in my affairs?!"
The Ice Lord narrowed his eyes, his voice growing colder. "Foolish to the end. If that's the case, return to the dust from whence you came."
With those words, he raised his right hand.
"Buzz!"
As his hand rose, the world trembled, as if the heavens and earth were under his control. Endless cosmic power converged around him, and it seemed like all the energy in the world was at his disposal.
Then, with a casual motion, he slapped downward.
It was as simple as swatting a fly.
But the scene it created was terrifying. Wherever his palm passed, space shattered, mountains crumbled, and rivers dried up. Everything was reduced to chaos, swept up in a swirling, gray torrent of destruction, interspersed with fragments of space.
"I'm not afraid of you!"
Qin Zi's face was pale, his body trembling violently, but he did not retreat. He believed that his father would never let him die.
At that moment.
What Qin Zi didn't know was that, hidden in the shadows, his father, Qin Chuan, was wiping cold sweat from his brow. Damn it, there's no killing intent here!
Perhaps in the Ice Lord's eyes, Qin Zi was too insignificant, just a casual swat, not even enough to stir his emotions.
Like stepping on an ant—there's no need for hatred or malice; it's simply something one does without thought or reason.
"Buzz!"
Finally, Qin Chuan pulled out an ancient mirror, the very one belonging to the Flame-Heaven Ancestral King Zhao Ri—his life-bound treasure, the Flame-Heaven Mirror.
He had decided.
If nothing changed in the final moment, he would rush out and use the mirror's power to save Qin Zi.
"Roar!"
Just then, a majestic dragon's roar resounded, and from the east, a vast golden light erupted!
Endless golden clouds surged from the east like a tide, and wherever they passed, time seemed to stop.
Time froze!!
The Ice Lord's palm, which was descending upon Qin Zi, slowed dramatically, as if it had become trapped in a quagmire.
"The Golden Dragon King!"
The Ice Lord's pupils shrank slightly as he peered into the distance, his gaze piercing through the void, landing on a distant Forbidden Divine Mountain.
At the center of that world, a colossal dragon corpse lay coiled. The once-mighty creature had decayed, leaving only golden bones behind.
The dragon's skeleton spiraled in a massive circle, and at the center of that circle sat a young man clad in golden robes.
At that moment.
The golden-robed youth also looked across the vast distance toward the Ice Lord, smiling warmly as their gazes met.
"Golden Dragon King, are you planning to protect him?"
The Ice Lord frowned slightly, his voice heavy.
"Please show mercy, Ice Lord."
The golden-robed youth smiled as he replied.
"And if I refuse?"
The Ice Lord's voice grew colder.
The Golden Dragon King remained unperturbed, his smile unwavering. "If you insist on taking action, I likely can't stop you at the moment. However, Ice Lord, do you realize... this person is my brother, my kin, my dearest friend?"
The Ice Lord's expression changed.
He didn't want to provoke the Golden Dragon King, as their power was evenly matched, and the Golden Dragon King had a violent and bloodthirsty temperament.
But!
He glanced at his daughter standing beside him, and his face hardened with authority as he coldly replied, "He may be your brother, but he is no kin of mine! He insulted my daughter and showed disrespect to me. Shouldn't he be punished?"
In front of his daughter, he could not afford to show weakness!
A daughter is a father's little darling, and a father must always stand tall before her. Even if his spine were broken, he would grit his teeth and remain upright, for even a great figure must uphold this standard.
The Golden Dragon King noticed Ice Lord's daughter, Princess Xue Ning, and smiled knowingly.
Then, his gaze shifted toward Princess Xue Ning.
"Buzz!"
A beam of light pierced through the space between them, linking their eyes. In an instant, Princess Xue Ning found herself looking directly at him.
"Little Xue Ning, for the sake of Uncle Jin, would you let Qin Zi go?" The Golden Dragon King spoke gently, as if coaxing a young girl.
"This..."
Princess Xue Ning hesitated for a moment but quickly nodded, replying, "Y-Yes, alright!"
She wasn't foolish.
She knew her father was holding up appearances, and the Golden Dragon King had just offered him a way out. Essentially, the Golden Dragon King had already shown leniency. If she didn't take the hint now, the situation could escalate dangerously.
After all, the Golden Dragon King wasn't known for being merciful!
"Good, thank you."
The Golden Dragon King smiled with satisfaction, then closed his eyes, his figure vanishing from Princess Xue Ning's sight.
Not only that, when the Ice Lord looked again toward the Forbidden Divine Mountain, the Golden Dragon King was no longer visible, replaced by a thick, impenetrable mist.
It was as though a friend had asked for a favor, and before you could refuse, they had already hung up the phone!
At this moment, Princess Xue Ning wisely interjected:
"Father, he's already gravely injured. I think he's received his due punishment. Let's leave it at that."
"Besides, as a great giant, with a heart for the people, there's no need to make things difficult for a mere junior over such a trivial matter."
"Please, let him go!"
The Ice Lord's face twitched slightly as he struggled internally. But in the end, he didn't want to provoke the Golden Dragon King further. With a sigh, he relented, "Since you plead for him, I'll spare him this time."
Turning to Qin Zi, he coldly said:
"My daughter is kind-hearted and cannot bear to see me kill you, so I will spare your life today. Take care of yourself."
With a sweep of his sleeve, the surrounding space distorted, and both he and Princess Xue Ning disappeared into thin air.
Whoosh!
The suffocating pressure vanished like a receding tide, and the world returned to peace.
"Thud!"
Qin Zi collapsed to the ground, completely drained. His clothes were soaked through as he lay spread out on the shattered plaza like a rag doll.
He stared at the sky, his mind racing with thoughts.
"Who is this Golden Dragon King?"
"And that Princess Xue Ning... Did she plead for me because she's attracted to me?"
"Could it be that my impressive display the other day overwhelmed her, leaving her so captivated that she couldn't forget me, and now harbors feelings for me?"