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"I really didn’t expect this..."

Fifth Elder Shen’s eyes became somewhat dull as he witnessed the scene. He remembered that a year ago, when he and the Princess Royale were trapped in the great formation outside Nanyang City, Chen Qing had not demonstrated such formidable power. What had happened in just one short year?

Moreover...

"Your Highness... Chen Qing’s power looks somewhat familiar," Fifth Elder Shen whispered.

"Yes..." the Princess Royale nodded slightly.

Although there was a significant difference in form and power, the force emanating from Chen Qing reminded her of the silver-armored young general who nearly killed Elder Shen!

Such tremendous strength!

Lumings, locked in a struggle, suddenly narrowed his eyes. He had never imagined that Chen Qing, while possessing such terrifying thunderous power, was also a top warrior!

And what was with this strength?

Lumings’ face turned beet red as he found that with all his might, he could not even budge his opponent!

The strength of the other party might already be comparable to that of the old Family Head of the Hong Family, and possibly even stronger...

Chen Qing... a twenty-year-old scholar, how could he possess such power? Just what was his background?

He had no time to think further. Lumings sank his strength into his waist, gearing up to explosively pull away and create some distance!

The fact that his opponent had such strength was completely unexpected.

The key problem was the continuous thunderous power coming from his opponent, constantly numbing his flesh and blood.

Combined with the strange snowflakes beginning to fall from the sky, if this dragged on too long, it might become difficult for him to pull away. ..

A piercing dragon cry sounded, the ground beneath their feet collapsed again, and the entire surface ruptured. Buildings on both sides also started to collapse, but no matter how astonishing the strength, Lumings found that he could not break free from Chen Qing!

His opponent’s hands seemed to possess an infinite suction force, firmly locking him in place, making it impossible to escape!

As the snowflakes drew nearer, Lumings’ eyes turned red, and he lunged forward with a headbutt towards Chen Qing...

Watching everything unfold, a hint of coldness flashed in Chen Qing’s eyes.

He too leaned forward to meet the attack head-on.

When the two collided, blood splattered, but Lumings discovered in horror that his head was also caught in the suction force of the thunder, and he became even more unable to break free!

"It’s too late, Elder!" Chen Qing said softly. "From the moment you charged head-on, there was no way you could escape!"

Of course, he couldn’t allow Lumings to break free because he could not match Lumings in a direct fight.

Even if he had used all his trump cards!

Ghost Doll had already completed the imperial seal, so unlike a year ago, he could directly use Ghost Doll’s abilities. At its peak, Ghost Doll’s power could rival that of King Gui Xiang!

This was the first phase of his plan.

The skies filled with snow and ice served not only to capture Madam Lu but also to force a duel with Lumings, prompting him to desire a swift conclusion. That was the second phase.

The Thunder Department Heavenly General could control lightning, but in the end, it wasn’t a technique.

The summoning of thunder through divine power couldn’t be limitless.

Therefore, the initial bolt of lightning was the limit of what Chen Qing could achieve—he couldn’t unleash a second one.

The Princess Royale and the others’ speculation that he could remotely use a thunder technique to defeat Lumings was off the mark.

If he had that ability, he would have kept his distance long ago—why would he engage a warrior at such close quarters?

He used it at that moment to confuse Lumings, making him believe that Chen Qing was a magician, and to foster the misconception that the thunder magician was his trump card.

It would make him disregard the thunderous power and break through aggressively, closing the distance to overpower Chen Qing using strength!

In this version of events, winning a duel between a warrior and a magician hinged on closing the distance.

This was the third phase of his plan.

Once in close combat, Lumings would surely prioritize capturing Chen Qing alive since what he wanted was information about the Dragon Palace.

So, it was highly likely that he would use pure strength to restrain Chen Qing.

And once Lumings made that choice, Ghost Doll’s power would play a crucial role!

Although he was no longer able to release lightning as powerful as before, he could utilize the inherent suction force of the lightning to strengthen his hold on Lumings. In other words, from the start of their grappling, Lumings... couldn’t escape!!

Chen Qing was acutely aware of his weak spot.

Engaging a top warrior directly was tantamount to seeking death.

Their secret techniques and combat abilities were the result of many years of accumulation, not something an outsider like him, who had only grasped some power, could match.

Especially against a top warrior like Lumings, a direct martial duel would likely result in his quick defeat.

He was a designer and a game enthusiast. In conquering games, Chen Qing was not the type to rely on superior mechanics; he preferred to win by exploiting the rules. Duelling based on mechanics had never been Chen Qing’s style!

"The outcome is decided!"

As the ice crystals once again fell from the sky and Lumings was still unable to free himself from Chen Qing, the Princess Royale immediately concluded the victor.

What a terrifying junior!

Among everyone present, she knew Chen Qing’s capabilities the best. After all, she personally verified a year ago that Chen Qing was not a formidable warrior. No matter what he had experienced during the year, she did not believe Chen Qing could win a close-range fight against Lumings.

Yet, he was highly crafty. She did not know where the power that suppressed Lumings came from, but Chen Qing’s entire strategy had accurately cornered Lumings, not miscalculating a single step!

Boom!

Several breaths later, as the ice crystal fell, blood vessels obstructed, and thunder paralyzed, Lumings, suddenly at a disadvantage, was suppressed by Chen Qing and knelt to the ground, his face turning a choked shade of red!

Clearly, everyone could see that Lumings... was showing signs of defeat!

The Princess Royale stood up and turned to leave immediately.

Duke of Wei was stunned, "Where are you going?"

"What is there to see after the winner is decided?" the Princess Royale said without looking back, "The hot pot is still warm..."

The crowd: "....."

Duke of Wei was stunned. Though at a disadvantage, was it really already clear who had won?

Just as he was about to speak, a dragon-like mournful howl came from below. He turned his head and saw that both of Lumings’ arms had been brutally crushed and deformed by Chen Qing, completely forcing him to kneel to the ground!

At that moment, he understood why the Princess Royale had lost interest.

"Interesting..." Elder Shen looked at Chen Qing with a hint of wariness in his eyes. This guy, just like that woman from years ago, was good at devising schemes; such people were troublesome!

"Senior... are you convinced?" Chen Qing asked coldly as he looked at Lumings.

Lumings, gasping for breath, looked up blankly at Chen Qing.

This line was not the first one someone had said to him. The last time someone had spoken to him like this was forty years ago.

He had never thought that in this world, aside from the King of Qin, there would come a day... when someone else would speak to him in the same tone...

"Who... exactly are you?"

"That’s for you to guess, Senior!" replied Chen Qing, a cold glint in his eyes as he increased his grip. In the next moment, amidst Lumings’ screams, he brutally tore off both of his arms!

He disliked Lumings, but not because of what happened to that little girl, nor because Chen Ying often spoke ill of Lumings. He thought that a strong person like Lumings having some character flaws wasn’t a big deal and at least wouldn’t cause him to feel repulsed.

His revulsion stemmed from within. From the moment he first saw Lumings, he felt an extreme loathing, the violent urge to tear the other apart welled up from the depths of his heart.

He was certain at this moment that this was not the first time he had encountered this guy!

This guy must have done something to him in a memory he was unaware of!!

--------------------------------

"The Dragon Jade is shattered?"

In the Capital City, since Madam Lu personally led her assassination team out of the capital, a group of elders from the Lu Family had been sitting together, having gone many days without sleep.

In fact, since the news arrived a year ago about the Imperial Court’s three hundred thousand troops suffering defeat, they had hardly slept a wink!

With the West Sea troubled by mysterious mists and Lumings’ own army being completely annihilated when he had led them, every piece of news shook their frail nerves.

Yet, despite the constant stream of bad news, they had never despaired, because the Dragon Jade was intact.

Since Lumings’ birth, the family’s Dragon Jade had awakened, tied to Lumings’ fate.

Shortly after his birth, the younger generation’s bloodlines were awoken one after another.

The birth of heirs in the Lu Family had been difficult, with half a year passing without a single awakening, but in the years of Lumings’ birth, it was like a gushing wellspring!

Back then they knew, Lumings... was the seed destined to rise, bestowed by heaven upon the Lu Family!

After Lumings grew up, rumors of the Lu Family’s Dragon Clan spread across the world. At the peak of their influence, they could stand toe-to-toe with the Siao Family in both North and South. Lumings even became known as the strongest amongst the noble houses under the command of the King of Qin!

If Lumings lived, there was still hope. Even if the direct grandson in the West Sea had likely perished, as long as Lumings was alive, there would be a continuous line of excellent descendants.

And indeed, it was so. The sorceress from Earth Dragon Cave, though a jealous and poisonous woman, was able to bear one exceptional child after another for Lumings.

But this time... the foundation of the Lu Family was severed!!!

All the elders finally erupted at this moment, and the grand hall of the Lu Family nearly instantly shattered under the mighty surge of their energy, as draconic might soared to the heavens.

Who was it?

Who was so malicious to cut off the roots of their Lu Family?

"We will not rest until death is met!" The oldest and leading elder spoke with a voice suppressing volcanic fury, "Be it the Siao Family or any other noble house, whoever has crossed this line shall not blame us for breaking the rules.

Send out the word. Have the descendants of the Lu Family prepare the offerings, and open Poison Dragon Valley! "