"Dead?"
"He's really dead? This... this is the Phoenix Clan's young master! Now that he's been killed here, there's going to be big trouble!"
"This Bai Shuize is way too reckless! Does his backing really allow him to ignore the Phoenix Clan?"
The crowd trembled with fear.
Even though Bai Shuize came from Taiqing Heaven, Taiqing Heaven wasn't a monolithic force. It was divided into many factions, and Bai Shuize's backing was only one of them. How could he dare do something like this?
"You... went too far, didn't you? Won't this cause trouble?"
Qin Zi stared dumbfounded at Bai Shuize.
He hadn't expected Bai Shuize to help him, nor had he anticipated such a violent approach.
Qin Zi began to worry about him.
After all, Bai Shuize had killed someone to help him.
"Haha, what trouble could possibly come from this? I am the sole candidate for the next Taiqing Heaven Master! Who would dare touch me?"
Bai Shuize crossed his arms arrogantly, his head held high. "It's not arrogance if you can back it up. Who can compare with my background? That guy? No, not him. That other guy from Taixuan Heaven? Nope, not him either."
He pointed toward Qingtian in the distance.
Qingtian's face darkened, but he said nothing, only giving Bai Shuize a cold glare.
Qin Zi looked at Bai Shuize with an odd expression but ultimately felt reassured. With such a powerful background, Bai Shuize would likely be fine.
Hum!
At that moment, a giant ancient gate appeared in the sky. It opened slowly, and a powerful suction force began to sweep through the area.
Simultaneously, the massive plaza they stood on started collapsing, beginning from the edges, with countless fragments falling into the dark void below.
"The World Tree Space is closing!"
Everyone realized what was happening and didn't resist, allowing the suction force to envelop them as they were pulled toward the ancient gate.
Pop!
Qin Zi felt as if he passed through a membrane and entered a cold, dry world—quite the opposite of the warm and humid space he had just left.
It was a very precise contrast.
The colorful starry sky reappeared before everyone, and they collectively breathed a sigh of relief.
They were back in the familiar world.
"Who killed our clan's young master?!"
Suddenly, a thunderous, wrathful voice erupted, like ten thousand bolts of lightning detonating at once. The entire starry sky seemed to tremble in fear.
Hum!
A vast and overwhelming pressure descended, all-encompassing, like the might of heaven itself, instantly suppressing the entire starry expanse.
"This aura... Could it be... a supreme elder?!"
Hiss!!
Many people gasped in shock.
Looking up, they saw a dozen massive crimson beams of light spreading out like a fan across the sky. As the light became clearer, they realized that the beams were actually enormous phoenix feathers!
It was the tail of a phoenix.
Soon, the full form of the phoenix materialized. It was too massive to describe, far beyond the mere phrases of "blocking out the sky and the sun." It spanned the entire cosmos!
Each flap of its fiery wings dimmed the stars, as if the very heavens themselves were breathing in tandem with its movements.
"Who killed the young master of my Phoenix Clan? Step forward!"
The phoenix gazed down at the crowd with regal authority, demanding an answer.
But no one spoke.
Everyone kept their heads down, trembling in fear. None of them wanted to get involved in this mess. Neither the Phoenix Clan nor Taiqing Heaven was something they could afford to offend!
"You, tell me!"
The phoenix's gaze fell on a seemingly ordinary figure. Instantly, the figure was lifted into the air as if an invisible hand had grabbed him by the throat, his legs kicking helplessly.
"Elder, I... I..."
The person, who had no significant background, was terrified out of his wits and could barely speak.
"Speak!!"
The phoenix's voice thundered, and the man screamed in terror. His gaze shifted between Bai Shuize and Qin Zi before he made a decision.
Clenching his teeth, he pointed at Qin Zi, saying, "It was him! The Lord of Xuanyuan Heaven! He had a conflict with the Phoenix Clan's young master in the World Tree Space and then killed him!"
Whoosh!
All eyes turned toward Qin Zi. Some looked at him with pity, while others seemed to relish his misfortune.
But no one spoke up. After all, the less trouble for them, the better. As long as they weren't the ones in danger, they preferred to stay silent.
"Is he lying?"
The phoenix scanned the crowd. When no one spoke up, it snorted coldly, "You wouldn't dare lie to me!"
It released the ordinary man, then turned its gaze to Qin Zi, coldly saying, "You killed our young master. Do you know your crime?"
Boom!
Qin Zi felt an immense pressure descend upon him, causing his skin to sting, his breathing to become labored, and his body to feel like it was on the verge of exploding!
But he gritted his teeth and remained silent.
How was he supposed to respond in this situation?
Should he claim it wasn't him and say that Bai Shuize did it? While that was true, it wasn't an option for him to say so!
Bai Shuize had killed to help him, even though Qin Zi hadn't needed the help. But Bai Shuize had still acted on his behalf.
Qin Zi believed in paying his debts and distinguishing between kindness and enmity!
"It was me who killed him. If you have an issue, take it up with me. Don't trouble the innocent." Bai Shuize spoke lazily, sounding utterly unconcerned.
"You??"
The phoenix turned its gaze to Bai Shuize, coldly stating, "Young man, it's better not to play the hero recklessly. Be gone."
Whoosh!
The phoenix lightly flapped its wings, and the space around Bai Shuize instantly distorted, warping time and space, and then he disappeared without a trace.
"Brother Bai!"
Several young prodigies from Taiqing Heaven shouted in alarm, but the phoenix glanced at them and said indifferently, "You may leave as well."
In the next moment, they vanished as well.
Seeing this, the crowd shivered in fear!
It was clear that the Phoenix Clan elder had decided to pin everything on Qin Zi. Perhaps the Phoenix Clan didn't want to make an enemy of Taiqing Heaven and had conveniently chosen Qin Zi as the scapegoat. Or maybe the Phoenix Clan had long harbored enmity toward the Lord of Xuanyuan Heaven and was seizing this opportunity to act!
"I can testify that he didn't do it," Taixuan Heaven's young prodigy Qingtian stepped forward, holding his head high as he faced the phoenix.
He knew it wouldn't make a difference. If the Phoenix Clan wanted to punish Qin Zi, they would do so regardless of the truth.
But he still stepped up.
This was a matter of principle.
He had accepted a World Seed from Qin Zi. Having received his kindness, Qingtian couldn't simply stand by and do nothing.
"This has nothing to do with you."
The phoenix flapped its wings again, distorting space once more, and soon, Qingtian and the other young prodigies from Taixuan Heaven vanished as well.
"The truth is clear, and no one shall defend the murderer. Otherwise, don't blame the Phoenix Clan for showing no mercy!"
The phoenix's gaze swept over the crowd with authority, and then, with another flap of its wings, it sent all the other major factions' prodigies away as well.
The lesser figures quickly took the hint, quietly withdrawing and vanishing into the starry sky like birds scattering.
At last, only the vast starry sky remained, along with the towering phoenix and Qin Zi, who seemed like nothing more than a speck of dust in comparison.
"Now speak. How would you like to die?"
The phoenix's voice was cold and merciless.
Qin Zi's face turned pale, his teeth clenched as he asked, "Why is your Phoenix Clan so intent on destroying me? What have I done to wrong you?"
"Killing our young master isn't enough of a reason?"
The phoenix replied icily.
"You know very well whether I did it or not! With your level of power, there's no way you couldn't see the truth!"
Qin Zi roared in anger.
"Stubborn fool. Die!"
The phoenix's eyes flashed with terrifying killing intent, and blood-colored murderous energy surged forth like a crimson rainbow, overwhelming Qin Zi.
This murderous aura was imbued with terrifying energy, ripping through space, distorting time, and reducing stars to dust in an instant!
The sheer force was beyond description, like an unstoppable flood of history. Nothing could stand in its way.
"It's over."
Despair filled Qin Zi's heart.
Whoosh!
But just then, the starry sky trembled. Time itself seemed to halt, and everything around him froze.
"Huh?"
Qin Zi opened his eyes in surprise, only to see a familiar figure standing in front of him, blocking the murderous intent. The figure wore flowing white robes and stood tall like a mountain!
"Father!!"
Qin Zi shouted in joy, feeling as if the dark world around him had suddenly been illuminated by the sun. A bright light filled him with hope!