637 Scattered Royal Clans
Before they could decide their next move, Qin Huai acted. Holding the black dragon pearl, now the size of a boulder, he hurled it upwards.

Soundlessly, darkness shot into the sky, positioning itself before the phoenix demons. A dark wave unfurled, and from the pearl emerged the still Scythe of Hell. This energy halo whizzed through the air, dotted with black flames, a stark contrast to the red phoenix fire. In moments, numerous phoenix clan members fell, their cries echoing as lifeless bodies rained from the sky.

Witnessing this, the other five royal clans were taken aback. Those who once held power in Great You exchanged anxious glances, hesitating to confront him.

“Even ancient kings couldn’t match him. Can we?” someone whispered.

However, no one was in the mood to see who had said such disgraceful words. They recalled a similar occurrence at the King Bone Holy Altar and now here, in Pingwang’s secret realm.

“It’s unwise to fight someone of his caliber,” Third Young Master Qiong remarked, gritting his teeth.

Wu Cheng of the Black Tortoise Race nodded. “His power is strange. We must research its origins.”

“Understanding him is our best strategy,” Bai Shiquan added. “His secret isn’t what we’re after. This is a trap. They lured us here to…”

He trailed off, the realization sinking in. They had become the hunted, a position they’d never imagined for themselves.

The elders intervened, “This isn’t a wise fight. Here, in Pingwang county, we stand no chance.”

The group’s focus shifted back to Qin Huai. They studied his every move, hoping to understand him better.

“We should leave,” another elder suggested. “The three sects still wage their war outside. The phoenix clan’s setback is our chance.”

United in thought, the other clans chose to abandon the phoenix clan.

A popular saying came to mind: “A friend in death is not a friend to me.” The phoenix clan had fallen, and the rest had escaped. It was a silver lining.

The phoenix twins cursed the retreating clans. “Those bastards! If they want to escape, it won’t be that easy.”

“We must leave too,” Huang Shaocong and Feng Tianyang agreed, noting their diminished secret technique and the loss of many kin. Without a second thought, they soared upwards.

The two phoenixes weren’t about to sacrifice themselves just to buy the five royal clans time to escape. Having the advantage of flight, they believed they could make their getaway easily.
But Qin Huai had other plans. As they made their escape, a corpse rose behind them. Its body, a deep, alluring shade of blood, seemed to host vengeful souls that screamed silently. The haunting image of that spear attack lingered in their memories.

“Go ahead, we’ll hold back this puppet,” said the three elders, stepping in to buy the successors of the phoenix clan some time. They couldn’t afford to let these leaders fall, risking the phoenix clan’s dominance over other clans for centuries.

“Thank you, everyone!” Grateful, Huang Shaocong and his companion wasted no time in fleeing. But their escape was not easy. A shadowy figure, swift as a ghost, pursued them. With Kun Peng wings spread wide, it emanated a powerful aura. In a heartbeat, the figure surpassed the elders, aiming directly at the fleeing duo. An overwhelming sense of dread gripped them.

“It’s the legendary emperor!” They both exclaimed. However, within the black dragon world, their voices were muted, swallowed by the dark expanse around them. This otherworldly place seemed cut off, its boundaries unknown to all except those trapped within it.

“It’s useless,” Qin Huai whispered. With a rapid motion, he was right in front of them.

Boom!

Launching two mighty punches, a dragon’s roar echoed. The sight of the black dragon seemed to slow the duo’s movements, and in the crucial split second, it struck them both.

Their cries filled the air, and a gust of wind carried the remains of their shattered bodies. As red feathers descended, marking the demise of the prodigies, blood pooled into Qin Huai’s palm, forming another black dragon pearl.

“Young Master!” Two figures, in anguish, charged into the domain. Fire erupted from them, engulfing the black dragon world, converting it into an unyielding realm of flames.

“Your end is near!” The two elders, arriving from either side, charged at Qin Huai.

Qin Huai remained expressionless. With a slight clench of his fist, the sky full of flames formed a river, converging towards his palm. This fiery river served as a barrier, blocking the path of the advancing phoenix clan elders.

With a powerful force, the two elders burst through the flame barrier, their bodies radiating intense heat that enhanced their speed and power. However, Qin Huai remained confident. Pushing the black dragon pearl aside, he readied himself and thrust out his fists.

Boom!

The sharp claws of the elders crumbled under Qin Huai’s immense power. Even with their formidable demon forms, they seemed frail against him.

As the elders cried out in despair, their hopes waned. Qin Huai’s punches not only shattered their defenses but also their spirits. Their essence began to be siphoned into the black dragon pearl. All Qin Huai had to do was watch the pearl drain the life out of them.

Meanwhile, he directed the king corpse to eliminate the remaining phoenix clan members in the vicinity.

On the ground, a massive conflict unfolded. The three sects and the five royal clans clashed, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction. The mountain soon resembled a bloodbath.

Witnessing the terrifying prowess of Qin Huai, the martial artists of the three sects withdrew. They saw no point in negotiating with such a force. If he had been a prodigious talent like the renowned Xiang Mingfeng, they might have tried to entice him to join their ranks.

However, Qin Huai’s power and skill were far superior. Why would they hope to bring such a person into their fold? They could hardly offer him a position worthy of his capabilities.

Leaving behind a mere visiting card, the sects vanished from the scene. What was once a gathering of thousands became a desolate battleground with only Qin Huai standing. Beside him, the king corpse stood still, resembling a lifeless statue.

“Looks like I won’t face any trouble for a while,” mused Qin Huai. Stretching, he then settled down cross-legged amidst the blood-soaked ground, continuing his quest to absorb experience orbs from scattered spirit stone mines to reach the last stage of the king realm.