"Who is he?" The corpses of the Star River Association's experts fell down from the air, and the spectators staring at the Medicine Sovereign Valley from afar felt waves of shock rising in their hearts. The entire world was in chaos ever since the Star River Association had dominated the Sacred Royal Region, this was especially so after the Medicine Sovereign Valley was destroyed. All cities in the Royal Sacred Region had re-established branches of the Star River Association. The association may not concern themselves with external issues, but they were undoubtedly supreme existences—the kings who stood at the peak.
All those who refused to submit were oppressed and killed without mercy.
The Star River Association had long existed in this world. However, everything changed when an extraordinary character appeared more than a decade ago. His appearance allowed the Medicine Sovereign Valley to defeat the hegemon of this world back then: the Royal Sacred Sect. That young man had always looked upon the existence of the Royal Sacred Region with disfavor, and had even exterminated all their branches in this particle world. This was the reason why the Star River Association had made such a violent counter-attack.
It was no longer a secret that this was a particle world. Everyone already knew of this fact even when the immortals descended from the sky and the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor had come to this world to recruit disciples. The Star River Association had always been a foreign power, and after summoning immortals from other particle worlds and the immortal realms, no one in the Royal Sacred Region could resist their forces. If the Medicine Sovereign had not been so quick to flee he would have died long ago.
In this entire world, no one could disobey the Star River Association. No one dared to side with the Medicine Sovereign Valley.
But today, a young man appeared and entered the dead zone that was the Medicine Sovereign Valley. Not only that, he'd even slaughtered the experts from the Star River Association.
"Who is he?"
"He looks familiar… I feel like I've seen him somewhere before," contemplated the crowd. At that moment, a man of advanced years pushed his way through the crowd, his eyes fixated on where that young man had departed. He mumbled, "He has finally returned…"
"Who?" The crowd turned to look at him.
The old man's eyes gleamed, "It's been more than twenty years, and his aura may have changed, but a legend is still a legend. He is none other than…"
As he spoke, the old man slowly turned to face the crowd, and his eyes shone with a dazzling light—"Qin - Wen - Tian!"
—BOOM!— The sound of his voice rang out like a thunderclap, deafening everyone's ears. Those who felt that the young man looked familiar, now had a gleam in their eyes. That's right, his aura had changed and they had actually forgotten such a legendary character. Back then they could only watch him from afar, looking up at this man who stood at the ultimate peak. Memories of his glory and might resurfaced in their minds, playing out countless scenes from the past.
"Qin Wentian." Some of those from the elder generation had heard this name before. Boundless anticipation appeared in their hearts. Was he as dazzling as they said in the legends? Back then, he had single-handedly helped the Medicine Sovereign Valley to topple the previous hegemon of this world—the Royal Sacred Sect.
Now, Qin Wentian might have returned. But the opponent he faced was much more powerful compared to the Royal Sacred Sect of yesteryear.
Qin Wentian had left, the Medicine Sovereign Valley no longer existed, and the most important thing now was to locate the Medicine Sovereign and Qingcheng. There was no doubt that they were in the Chu Country of Grand Xia. The chances were extremely high that Qingcheng would go to their hometown.
However, Qin Wentian had no idea what the situation in Grand Xia was currently like.
Grand Xia was located extremely far away from the Royal Sacred City. Qin Wentian had once needed to spend many months traveling from Grand Xia to reach the Royal Sacred City. Now, this distance was no longer considered anything to him. After some time, Qin Wentian arrived at the Grand Xia Empire.
The Grand Xia's royal palace was as majestic as ever—it had not been destroyed.
But when Qin Wentian stood in the air space above it, his heart couldn't help but sink.
Fairy Qingmei was no longer around, and neither was Old Xing. Those who had accompanied him in uniting Grand Xia had all gone missing. A group of strangers had taken their place. These people not only occupied the Grand Xia Royal Palace, it looked like they were searching for something: the Royal Palace's treasury/ the treasures of the Royal Palace. After briefly listening to their voices using his immortal sense, Qin Wentian instantly knew who these people were. They were none other than the transcendent powers who had sworn fealty to him back then.
"What are you all doing?" Qin Wentian's cold voice blasted out, sweeping across everything and enveloping the entire Grand Xia Royal Palace. In an instant, several figures shot into the air with lightning speed. Many of their countenances changed the moment they saw Qin Wentian. Evidently, they recognized him.
"Qin Wentian." An old man clad in red froze in place.
Qin Wentian stepped out as a surge of sword qi gushed forth from him, instantly disintegrating numerous buildings below his feet and turning them into dust. The surge of sword qi swept over everything as cracks and fissures tore through the ground. The sword qi released an overwhelming sword might that encompassed their surroundings, and they felt like the might of the heavens was boring down on them. All of them couldn't help but tremble in the face of that power.
Qin Wentian had returned.
"Get a few of you to come here and tell me everything that has happened." Qin Wentian's countenance remained free of emotion, controlling the lives of everyone present.
"We will answer whatever you wish to the best of our knowledge." Someone bowed. Qin Wentian was too strong. Back then, Qin Wentian had already been a character they could only look up to. There was no need to mention the great disparity between them today. At this moment, the entirety of Grand Xia's royal palace was enveloped by that towering, domineering sword might. If Qin Wentian willed it, everyone here could be torn into pieces.
Outside the royal palace, countless people stared in their direction and all of them felt their hearts trembling. This vast royal palace was completely enveloped by a wave of sword might. It was terrifying to the extreme.
"Who's there?" Countless experts started to slowly make their way to the royal palace, as trepidation filled their hearts. How powerful a person must be to instantly envelop the entire royal palace with such a powerful sword might.
Within the royal palace, Qin Wentian stared at the people here as he coldly asked. "Where are those who were in charge of Grand Xia? What has happened here?"
"Some time ago, experts from the Star River Association arrived and announced to the world that all cities must have a branch of their association. That batch of experts were merely the first batch from the Star River Association, and they immediately destroyed the Medicine Sovereign Valley. Subsequently, even more experts from their association appeared in this world. After those in the royal palace of Grand Xia received the news, they all vanished within a single night. Someone must have given the order to hide from the Star River Association."
One of the people here replied. "Next, the Star River Association issued a kill order that promised great rewards for anyone hunting them. Since then, Grand Xia's royal palace became an empty one. This is the reason we came here—we wanted to see if there were any treasures left behind."
"The Star River Association couldn't find them?" Qin Wentian asked.
"I don't think so. The Star River Association doesn't even intend to act by themselves. After declaring their hegemony to the whole world, they started to recruit disciples to rebuild their association.. Every city in the world had to build a luxurious building that would house a branch of the Star River Association. Simply put… they held no regard for anyone in the royal palace…"
That person stopped short, prompting Qin Wentian to issue a curt command, "Continue."
"Yes. If they had gone all out, they probably could have destroyed all the people in the royal palace of Grand Xia with the same ease as turning their hands. However, they delegated the hunting matter to their subordinates and the powers who wished to seek favor from them. Now, those from the royal clan of the former Grand Xia have already become targets to be hunted by others. There were a few times when their hiding place was discovered, resulting in intense battles."
Just as he spoke, several figures clad in robes of the same color appeared at the empty space above the royal palace that was enveloped by sword might. They frowned as they peered downwards. Other than their Star River Association, there was still such a powerful expert in this world?
"Sir, who are you?" A voice drifted over. Qin Wentian didn't look up. Instead, he merely glanced at the person he was getting information from and asked, "Are these people from the Star River Association?"
"Yes." That person nodded.
Qin Wentian inclined his head, staring at the figures in the sky. The killing intent in his eyes was extremely intense. Soaring upwards, the boundary of the sword might enveloping the Grand Xia's entire royal palace shifted up as well. Countless swords coalesced, akin to a raging tidal wave, their sword qi sweeping across the air. In an instant, the countenances of those experts from the Star River Association drastically changed. They hurriedly called out, "Sir, we are from the Star River Association. May we know of your identity?"
Qin Wentian didn't bother to reply. Beams of sword light flashed through the sky, shooting towards those experts from the Star River Association. Their countenances all turned ashen, their faces painted with terror and shock. In this world, there was still someone who dared to kill those from the Star River Association?
"NO, NO~" Voices of rage screamed. The swords rippled through them, destroying everything, and a moment later, those experts from the Star River Association had all disintegrated into dust by the overwhelming power. This was a truly shocking sight.
"This…?" Everyone in the royal palace felt their hearts trembling violently. Luckily, Qin Wentian hadn't killed them.
Outside the palace, countless gazes turned over to their location. Huge waves arose in their hearts—that scene was burned into their minds, simply too terrifying. Who was this young man?
After that, they saw a handsome silhouette soaring up into the sky. He stood there in the air, and upon looking at his features, several people felt a sense of familiarity with him. It was like they had met him before.
From afar, the sounds of experts rushing over could be heard. These people were all clad in the Star River Association's robes. All of them were frightened out of their wits when they saw the scene ahead. Looking at Qin Wentian from afar, they politely asked, "Senior, may we ask who you are?"
"Qin Wentian."
A voice echoed out from Qin Wentian, and it was akin to a thunderclap, reverberating in the hearts of the people from Grand Xia.
The Monarch of Grand Xia, Qin Wentian.
He had returned.
The countenances of the people from the Star River Association stiffened. They immediately turned, wanting to flee yet, Purgatory instantly reacted, directly appearing behind them. And with a wave of her hand, balls of purgatory fire swept forth, engulfing them all and burning them into nothingness, only leaving behind screams of pain and agony.
"I, Qin Wentian, will not allow the Star River Association to continue existing in Grand Xia, and in this world. It was so in the past, it will be so in the future. From today onwards, if I meet anyone from the Star River Association, I shall kill all with no mercy." A voice rumbled through the heavens and earth, like rolling heavenly thunder, spreading a distance of several hundred miles. Countless people inclined their heads, turning to the direction of the royal palace of Grand Xia. Their hearts suddenly pounded frenziedly.
"I, Qin Wentian, will not allow the existence of the Star River Association in Grand Xia, and in this world. It was so in the past, it will be so in the future. From today onwards, if I meet people from the Star River Association, I shall kill all with no mercy."
Qin Wentian was back.
The Monarch of Grand Xia had returned!
This world, does it belong to the Star River Association, or to Qin Wentian exactly?!