Chapter 286: Breaking the Peace
Whoosh!
Powerful waves of energy rolled out like a storm over the entire stone-strewn battlefield, kicking up gusts and swirling clouds of dust and debris. It felt like the calm before a raging storm.
At the end of the trail, where the sounds of the approaching wind could be heard, every pair of eyes in the rocky clearing turned sharply in anticipation. In the middle of the area stood several dozen figures, their imposing auras filling the air. The three men at the forefront wore black robes adorned with skull insignias, their eyes darkening as they noticed the arrival.
"These Flame Alliance folks are a real thorn in our side. Our Earth Fiend Alliance never provoked them, but they've wiped out the Blood Seal Dynasty, Bone Jade Dynasty, and even the Great Luo Dynasty in quick succession," sneered Song Que, the second of the three Song brothers, his sunken eyes and hooked nose lending him an unsettling look.
"Indeed. I hear they even have their sights set on our Heaven Demon Dynasty. Thankfully, Big Brother has a connection with Young Master Qin Tian. Without his intervention, this would be a much bigger problem," chimed in Song Ba, the third of the Song brothers, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon.
"We can't be careless," the eldest, Song Zhen, said, his face solemn. "The Flame Alliance has risen from obscurity to power, proving they're no ordinary force to reckon with. Let's not forget they've already bested the Great Zhao Dynasty. I doubt this will be easy to resolve."
"But will Lin Langtian really ignore Young Master Qin Tian's warning and go ahead with an attack?" Song Ba asked, furrowing his brows.
Instead of answering, Song Zhen kept his eyes focused on the path ahead. Soon, the sound of the wind grew louder, and the three brothers, along with everyone else, watched as a group of figures emerged from the forest, landing quietly at the edge of the clearing.
High up on a boulder, Lan Ying and her companion, Qing Feng, looked on. At the front of the group, a few familiar faces stood out—they were none other than Lin Langtian and his companions.
"There they are," Mo Ling, standing next to Lin Langtian, said, his gaze fixed on the three skull-robed figures standing proudly at the forefront. "Those three are the Song Brothers of the Heaven Demon Dynasty."
Lin Langtian looked up, studying the trio cloaked in intense energy. He could sense they were all around the Fifth Nirvana stage—powerful, on par with the elite warriors of the Great Zhao Dynasty. But that was as far as their power went.
Given the Flame Alliance's current strength, even a dynasty as renowned as one of the Ten Super Dynasties had no choice but to take a back seat. Though the Flame Alliance wasn't officially one of the Super Dynasties, it had undoubtedly become a force to be reckoned with.
The surrounding crowd, growing thicker with each passing moment, watched in silence. The typically chaotic energy of the forest seemed to settle in the oppressive presence of these two powerful factions. The spectators knew that this battlefield was beyond their reach and waited eagerly to see how the confrontation would unfold.
With all eyes on him, Song Zhen took a step forward, his expression cool as he called out, "You must be Lin Langtian, the leader of the Flame Alliance's Five Lin Brothers. I've long heard of your reputation. I want to make clear that our Heaven Demon Dynasty has never actively sought conflict with the Flame Alliance. If our possession of the Four Demon Sect's inheritance has caused you to view us as enemies, then I apologize. Inheritances may be fixed, but we as people are not, and I hope you can let us be."
His tone was humble, a surprising contrast to the rumors of his ruthlessness. Word had it that he never spared anyone whose Nirvana Seal he claimed, and those who encountered him typically surrendered on sight, hoping to save their lives. But now, facing Lin Langtian, the notorious "God of Death" himself was humbled—a testament to the Flame Alliance's strength.
"Oh? You think the two of us can peacefully coexist?" Lin Langtian asked coldly, his gaze fixed on Song Zhen.
"Why not?" Song Zhen replied with a smile. "Our Heaven Demon Dynasty has nothing but admiration for the Flame Alliance's talents. If we could become allies, it would be our honor."
"Friends? And what makes you think your Heaven Demon Dynasty is worthy of our friendship?" Lin Diao interjected, his handsome face curling into a mocking smile.
Song Que, the second of the three brothers, narrowed his eyes at Lin Diao. "So, you must be Lin Diao, one of the Flame Alliance's Five Lin Brothers," he sneered. "Your arrogance is impressive, but remember, the Heaven Demon Dynasty is one of the Ten Super Dynasties, far beyond what your measly Great Yan Dynasty can match!"
"Exactly," Xiao Yan scoffed, stepping forward as his overpowering aura filled the air. "A 'Super Dynasty'? You're not even worthy to carry our shoes!" The fierce glint in his eyes was unmistakable.
Seeing Lin Diao and Xiao Yan's unreserved hostility, Song Zhen's face grew darker. Suppressing his anger, he looked straight at Lin Langtian, the Flame Alliance's leader. "What about you, Lin Langtian?" he asked gravely. "Do you really intend to leave our Heaven Demon Dynasty with no path to survival?"
Lin Langtian lifted his gaze indifferently. "The Flame Alliance holds the inheritance of two of the Four Celestial Sects, while your Heaven Demon Dynasty has the inheritance of the Four Demon Sects. Our paths were never going to align. If the roles were reversed, would you spare the Flame Alliance?"
The words hung in the air, leaving Song Zhen visibly shaken. Then, slowly, Lin Langtian's cold voice continued, "So let's skip the small talk. From this day forth, the Heaven Demon Dynasty is no more."
Song Zhen's laughter filled the clearing, though its undertone was dark and chilling. "I'll admit, it's been a while since anyone dared speak of destroying the Heaven Demon Dynasty so confidently."
A chilling silence filled the clearing as Lin Langtian's steady gaze locked onto Song Zhen, his voice unshaken and unyielding. "Yes, I'll be the first to threaten the Heaven Demon Dynasty this way," he said, extending a finger to point directly at Song Zhen. "Call out whoever is backing you now, or you won't get another chance."
Whoosh!
The crowd erupted in shock. Even Lan Ying and Qing Feng, standing on a high boulder, exchanged a stunned glance before Qing Feng raised a thumb at Lan Ying. "This Lin Langtian is bold. He already knows who's behind Song Zhen and still dares to be so arrogant. He must have come prepared, but…could this be a bit reckless?"
Lan Ying's lips curled in a smile. "A man who's fought his way here from a low-ranking kingdom isn't going to risk recklessness for bravado," she replied.
Qing Feng shrugged but still looked doubtful. "Maybe, but even if he's skilled, I doubt Lin Langtian can take down Qin Tian."
Lan Ying said nothing more, but her eyes remained locked on the scene below with intense curiosity.
Song Zhen chuckled softly, an unsettling glint rising in his eyes. "So, you've seen through our Heaven Demon Dynasty's plans…" He raised his voice, calling, "Young Master Qin Tian, it seems you'll need to step in after all!"
The air stilled as tension radiated through the clearing, and every observer held their breath, straining to see what would happen next.
A moment later, all eyes turned toward a towering tree in the distance, where three figures slowly emerged. Leading them was a tall, white-robed man whose clothes seemed to shimmer with the sun itself. Handsome and poised, he moved with an unshakable aura of authority, exuding a noble presence. Behind him stood two men, their robes adorned with emblems of the sun, confirming them as members of the same kingdom.
"Is that…Qin Tian of the Heavenly Origin Dynasty?"
A wave of hushed awe rippled through the crowd as the name sank in. Lin Langtian could feel the crowd's reverent astonishment in their voices.
"So, that's Qin Tian?" Lin Dong muttered, watching as Qin Tian approached, his gaze steady.
Jin Wu stood with his arms crossed and shrugged. "He's nowhere close to Big Brother's caliber."
Standing on a nearby boulder, Lan Ying's expression grew wary, her brows furrowing as she watched Qin Tian's approach. "His aura has only grown stronger since I last saw him…"
Qin Tian looked down at Lin Langtian and, with a faint smile, called out, "My friend, the Song brothers here have already conceded to your strength. Perhaps showing some restraint would be wiser, wouldn't you agree?"
Qin Tian's tone was charismatic, carrying an air of someone used to respect, but his words lacked any hint of true negotiation. In fact, his words felt more like a command disguised as advice.
Lin Langtian's lips twisted into a slight, disdainful smile. Jin Wu scoffed. "This is an issue between the Celestial Alliance and Earth Fiend Alliance," he said coldly. "Don't interfere."
Qin Tian's face remained impassive, but his companions looked furious, their faces darkening. Members of the Heavenly Origin Dynasty were not used to being spoken to in such a manner.
Before the two men could speak, Qin Tian raised his hand to silence them and then turned to Lin Langtian, his gaze shrewd. "The Heaven Demon Dynasty has been allied with us for generations, and Song Zhen and his brothers are my friends," he said, his voice smooth but firm. "While you may have defeated Zhao Wuji, I should inform you that I've bested him in every encounter we've had."
Pausing, he continued, "So, for my sake, I hope the Flame Alliance will let the Heaven Demon Dynasty be."
The crowd exchanged glances, murmuring. This wasn't just any request but a direct appeal from the leader of the Heavenly Origin Dynasty, the strongest dynasty in the Ancient Battlefield. Few dared to defy Qin Tian's word.
But Lin Langtian's expression didn't shift. His gaze remained fixed on Qin Tian. Calmly, he replied, "Your request, Qin Tian, I'll consider."
A faint smile appeared on Qin Tian's face, and he seemed satisfied. Without lifting a finger, he had managed to suppress a rising star like Lin Langtian, leaving the crowd disappointed that this clash had ended without fireworks.
Lan Ying frowned, clearly surprised by Lin Langtian's "compliance." Qing Feng, watching from the side, gave a smirk of disdain.
Seeing Qin Tian's backing, the Song brothers allowed themselves a smirk of triumph, knowing they had found a powerful shield against the Flame Alliance.
"But…" Lin Langtian's voice interrupted the silence, his eyes gleaming as he added, "the Flame Alliance can respect the Heavenly Origin Dynasty by sparing the Song brothers' lives. However…every single Nirvana Seal held by the Heaven Demon Dynasty will now belong to us!"
His words sent shockwaves through the crowd.
Everyone knew that the Nirvana Seals were the key to being chosen by the Super Sects at the end of the Hundred Dynasty Battle. Forcing the Heaven Demon Dynasty to give up their seals was practically worse than killing them, robbing them of their last hope of success.
Song Zhen's face twisted in fury, and he nearly spat out in rage. Forcing them to surrender their Nirvana Seals was a death sentence, a push to the edge of a cliff, leaving no room for retreat.
Lin Langtian had made his intentions crystal clear—he had no regard for Qin Tian's "face."
Standing atop the great tree, Qin Tian's expression darkened. His calm smile faltered, replaced with a cold smirk. With a slight shake of his head, he exhaled and said, "I suppose, then, I'll have to test the strength of this so-called 'Super Black Horse' myself."
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