Chapter 119: The Curtain Falls

　　Under the attacks from two Martial Kings, the whole platform began to collapse, its structure breaking and falling apart. Seeing that, Yuan Hao’s face flickered, and he cried out lightly, “Su Xiang!”

　　“Understood, Master Yuan Hao!” As he said that, Su Xiang’s lazy eyes gleamed, and he took a step forward, treading gently toward the center of the platform. Suddenly, an invisible force burst out of him, stabilizing the collapsing platform.

　　“A Martial Grandmaster!”

　　Startled, both Xiao Qingwang and the black-clad man stopped their attacks and retreated to either sides of the platform, staring at each other warily and not daring to move again.

　　Meanwhile, Zhou Yushan’s face fell, and he said in a dark voice, “Master Yuan Hao, do you also want to intervene in my business?”

　　Yuan Hao said lightly, “I just don’t want to fall down from the platform.”

　　“I know you want to have a one-on-one fight with me, but do you really have to create such a scene?” Yunxiao sneered. “Since you want it so badly, I’ll give it to you. But, it will be three months later, and you get to pick the location.”

　　“Yunxiao!” Luo Yunshang stared at him in terror, aghast. Just like her, Zhou Yushan was a five-stars Martial Lord, and she did not believe he could advance so fast in just three months.

　　Zhou Yushan was boiling with rage when he saw the look in her eyes. “Fine! Three months later, on the Goldencrow Stage of the Firecrow Empire, I will make you kneel and kowtow to me, begging me to spare your pathetic life!”

　　He gave Luo Yunshang a cold glance, then he said with a sinister smile, “And this woman! If you lose, she will be mine!”

　　Luo Yunshang’s face fell, and she flew into a rage.

　　Yunxiao was a little confused. “What does it have anything to do with me whether Yunshang is yours or not? Not to mention we still don’t know if you can defeat me!”

　　A frivolous look crept up Zhou Yushan’s face as he said, “Stop pretending in front of me! I’ve seen countless girls, and I know from the way she looked at you and the concern in her eyes that she likes you! Hmph! Only a powerful man like me can enjoy such a beautiful girl! A toad like you can stop dreaming!”

　　Taken aback, Yunxiao hurriedly turned to look at Yunshang, who was blushing with embarrassment and rage.

　　No longer able to contain her fury, Luo Yunshang produced her axe and smashed it out with all her might. The weapon shone like a huge sun, making everyone who looked at it feel a stab of pain in the eyes.

　　Zhou Yushan did not expect her strength to be so great. But, since he was also a five-stars Martial Lord, he had no fear of her attack. However, just as he was about to strike, he saw Su Xiang lightly grab the axe and take it in his grip. Then, the entire light vanished. “If you continue to fight, the platform will collapse,” the Martial Grandmaster said in a faint tone.

　　“Haha!” Staring at Luo Yunshang, Zhou Yushan licked his lips and laughed. “What a hot-tempered girl! I like you! Wait for me, I’ll bring you under control three months later! Tsk, tsk… let’s go!”

　　He laughed and turned to leave, but he paused as soon as he stepped on the deck, with his eyes resting on Qin Ruxue, who was standing not too far away. He gave her a few glances and smiled, reaching out a hand and curling his fingers like a claw. Qin Ruxue immediately felt like she was trapped by a great force, which pulled her over to the chariot.

　　“AHHHH! Save me, Father!” Frightened, Qin Ruxue cried out for help.

　　Zhou Yushan laughed and pulled her into his arms before turning and walking up toward the chariot. “Since I can’t get the woman now, I’ll have myself a little girl to quench my thirst. As the princess of a state, you are eligible to be my concubine. When we return, I’ll marry you as my twenty-third concubine. Haha!”

　　“The Song of Blue Lotus Sword!”

　　While everyone was still in shock, Yunxiao had already drawn the sword of Springwater and bolted over.

　　“You are looking for death!” The black-clad man snorted coldly and threw out a palm, but he saw something flash, and he was shocked to find in the next instant that his attack hit only on an afterimage, and not the actual target.

　　“How’s that possible!”

　　Even as the man was stunned, Yunxiao had already rushed in front of Zhou Yushan, making a slash with the sword. A huge blue lotus flower bloomed, smashing down hard at the other.

　　“You are looking for death!”

　　Zhou Yushan was both shocked and furious. He could not believe a mere three-stars Martial Master would attack him so desperately. In a fit of rage, he flicked open his folding fan and swung it, sending out waves of force that transformed into powerful winds, piercing the blue lotus flower.

　　The difference in their cultivation base was, after all, too tremendous. Yunxiao moved quickly in the air and dodged a few attacks, and then slashed out his sword again, ignoring the rest of the force waves. It was clearly an internecine fighting style.

　　“What? Little bast*rd!”

　　With his left hand holding Qin Ruxue and his right hand just having swung out the folding fan, Zhou Yushan could not attack again. So, he hurriedly turned and rushed toward the chariot.

　　Whoosh!

　　A streak of light flashed through the void, and in the next instant, a long gash was cut across Zhou Yushan’s back, with blood oozing out of it. Meanwhile, Yunxiao was also hit by the force waves, which left several bloody holes on his body.

　　Only then did everyone respond. The black-clad man rushed over in rage. It was a great shame to him that he had allowed a mere Martial Master to injure his Young Master right in front of him.

　　But, Xiao Qingwang and Li Chunyang struck out at the same time, throwing attacks at the man and forcing him to save himself first.

　　Yunxiao landed lightly on the bronze deck, his eyes shining with fierce killing intent. Paying no mind to his injury, he made a dash again. His sword turned into a bolt of lightning as it went straight for Zhou Yushan’s throat.

　　Frightened by his aggressive look, Zhou Yushan retreated in a hurry. Suddenly, a red figure flashed out of the chariot; a slender hand stretched out of it and pinched the sword with two fingers, and then a force trapped Yunxiao instantly, locking him in place.

　　“Zhou Yushan, if you dare to touch even a hair of Ruxue, I swear I will make your whole Zhou Family vanish from the Heavenly Martial Continent!”

　　Yunxiao’s eyes burned with rage, and his towering murderous air condensed into plumes of dark purple smoke in the sky. “I will kill everyone in your family, old and young and newborn!” he screamed at the top of his lungs.

　　Upon hearing that, Zhou Yushan’s heart skipped a beat, and he bellowed, “Kill him! Hong Ling, kill him right now!”

　　The owner of the slender arm only revealed half of her face in the chariot. She sighed faintly and let loose of the sword, then flicked it with a finger, which knocked the sword out of Yunxiao’s grip and threw him back to the platform.

　　The black-clad man was relieved when he saw Yunxiao fail to further injure his Young Master. He ignored Xiao Qingwang and Li Chunyang as he lightly kicked his foot on the ground and flew back into the chariot.

　　Meanwhile, beams of blue light shot out of all three chariots and wrapped them around. “Why didn’t you kill him? Why didn’t you kill him!” Zhou Yushan’s furious roars could still be faintly heard.

　　“Are you all right, Yunxiao?”

　　Several people gathered over. Looking at the few wounds on his body that kept gushing blood, they turned pale with shock.

　　Yunxiao’s face was dark with rage, and he did not feel any pain. He just gave Su Xiang, who was standing in the middle of the platform, a cold glance. The Martial Grandmaster felt his heart tremble, and his eyes were filled with astonishment. He could not understand why the glance of a mere Martial Master could affect his mood.

　　He knew Yunxiao was blaming him for not helping. Among all the people present, he was the only person who could save Qin Ruxue just now. But, he did not think a princess of a small state was important enough for him to offend someone from the Zhou Family. However, after Yunxiao glanced at him, he felt a little regret for some reason, as if he had just missed some tremendous opportunity.

　　“Wang Chen, I have a chance to get Yang Di to do something for me, right?” Yunxiao asked in a deep voice.

　　Wang Chen paused, and then answered hurriedly, “Yes!”

　　Yunxiao’s face was extremely pale. “Good. I will transfer the chance to you, but the condition is that you have to ensure Qin Ruxue’s safety for the next three months. Are you willing to accept it?”

　　Everyone was shocked. He was willing to give up such a tremendous opportunity for something as small as this?

　　Su Xiang truly regretted it now. Had Yunxiao told him this earlier, he would have taken Qin Ruxue back even if he had to kill Zhou Yushan! Yang Di was a seventh-tier alchemist, and he could use the chance to ask him to refine a few medicinal pills, which could help him make the breakthrough and become a Martial Emperor!

　　“Yes! I am willing to accept it!” Wang Chen narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice, “Can I trust your words?”

　　With a wan smile, Yunxiao said, “Yes, I will honor my words!”

　　Wang Chen’s eyes flashed with excitement as he said, “Great! I’ll now send a letter to my family and ask them to bring Princess Ruxue back no matter what.” Then, he turned to Yuan Hao and others as he said, “Before it’s too late, Master Yuan Hao, I’m leaving for the Firecrow Empire first.”

　　Yuan Hao nodded with envy in his eyes and sighed in his heart, thinking why such a fortune never came to him.

　　After Wang Chen left, the platform was shrouded in a gloomy mood. Although Qin Ruxue had little place in their hearts, Yunxiao’s forbidding face depressed everyone.

　　Qin Zheng smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Yunxiao. Since Wang Chen has agreed to help, Ruxue will be fine. Zhou, Wang, Mo, Cheng, the strength of each of the four super families in the Firecrow Empire is greater than a state. The Zhou Family will never fall out with the Wang Family over Ruxue, and the Wang Family will also do their best to save her, so that they can ask Yang Di to do something for them.”

　　Yunxiao made no answer. Jia Rong had already come over and tended the few wounds on his body. He just stood there blankly, with the killing intent in his eyes growing stronger and stronger. All the people around him felt discomfort, as if the door to hell had been opened.

　　Most of the courtiers had fallen off the platform and were caught by the soldiers, and they were now looking up at them.

　　“Don’t think too much…There will always be a solution,” said Qin Zheng. “I’ve abdicated, and Qin Yue, you are now the crown prince of Tianshui. The enthronement ceremony will be held in three days!” Then, he turned to look at Qin Yang, whose face was bloodless, and growled, “Bring him away and lock him up!”

　　Qin Yue was extremely excited and he could hardly contain his joy. After all the ups and downs, the dust had finally settled.

　　All the military officers, soldiers, and courtiers beneath the platform immediately cried out, “Long live Your Majesty! Long live the Crown Prince!”