Qin Longhan left, and Shangshuyu's expression became unnatural for a moment. What was Qin Longhan doing taking Qin Chu to the Azure Dragon Saint Family? It must be to resolve the engagement issue, and the possibility of canceling the engagement was extremely high.
"Qin Chu, let's see what the Azure Dragon Saint Family says. If the engagement can be resolved, you can marry whoever you want," Qin Lingxi said, looking at her nephew.
Qin Chu nodded at Qin Lingxi. He hadn't wanted to resolve this matter so quickly; he wanted to kill Shang Tang first. But now that Qin Longhan had arranged it this way, he couldn't object.
After glancing at Qin Chu and the others, Qin Lingxi left the small courtyard. With Qin Longhan gone, there was still a standoff at the Alchemist Guild's entrance, and she needed to follow and see.
Indeed, Qin Longhan emerged from the Alchemist Guild, and Shang Tianhua, Lei Tianying, and the head of the Black Tortoise Saint Family all appeared.
Noticing Qin Longhan's state, Shang Tianhua's eye twitched. A Half-Step Venerable—this was no longer someone he could contend with. Lei Tianying was in the same situation.
"If you want to fight, this Venerable is ready anytime," Qin Longhan said, looking at them.
No one responded; there was no way to answer that.
Then Mei Tianling walked out from inside the Alchemist Guild, with Ji Xin and Shi Xun following behind her.
"This Venerable will only say one thing: Qin Chu is indeed in the Alchemist Guild, but he entered the Alchemist Guild before the war broke out. Therefore, the Alchemist Guild will not expel an Alchemist because of some war, nor do you have the right to make the Alchemist Guild change its decision. If you have the ability, don't let him have the chance to enter the Alchemist Guild. If he enters the Alchemist Guild, whoever dares to extend their claws will have them chopped off by this Venerable!" Mei Tianling stated the Alchemist Guild's position to the spokespeople of the major powers, then turned and re-entered the Alchemist Guild, completely ignoring the dark faces of the high-ranking officials from the major powers.
After a glance at Shang Tianhua and the others, Qin Longhan left with Qin Lingxi.
Things had changed!
The news of a Half-Step Venerable appearing in the Vermilion Bird Saint Family spread throughout Saint Martial City. This was not good news for the major powers hostile to the Vermilion Bird Saint Family. If Qin Longhan couldn't be killed, then the Vermilion Bird Saint Family wouldn't fall.
The most distressed were the White Tiger Saint Family and the Blazing Thunder Saint Family. In the past, they had seized the Vermilion Bird Saint Family's properties in Saint Martial City. These properties couldn't escape. Once the Martial Ban was lifted, they would inevitably suffer a blow, and the current Qin Longhan was not easy to contend with.
Inside the Azure Dragon Saint Family's castle, Shangshu Tianye tapped his fingers on the table. "I really didn't expect Qin Longhan to reach the Half-Step Venerable Realm. The situation has changed instantly. During the Martial Ban period, the White Tiger Saint Family, Blazing Thunder Saint Family, and Black Tortoise Saint Family could still hold on, but what about after the Martial Ban is lifted? They must withdraw from Saint Martial City before the Martial Ban is lifted, otherwise, they won't be able to withstand the Vermilion Bird Saint Family's attack."
"Who's to blame for this? If they hadn't acted so maniacally twenty years ago, they wouldn't be in this awkward situation now," Zhen Han said.
"This Venerable is very puzzled. The old, the middle-aged, and the young of the Vermilion Bird Saint Family—none of them are simple!" Shangshu Tianye said.
"My daughter hasn't returned yet. When she does, I'll ask her. Didn't Qin Longhan go to the Alchemist Guild? Yu'er might know some information," Zhen Han said after a moment of thought.
Shangshu Tianye stood up and paced, deep in thought. "A one-armed Qin Longhan might be weaker than an average Half-Step Venerable, but he is definitely stronger than a Peak King Realm. The most important thing is that he has the potential to enter the Seventh-Tier Venerable Realm. Once he enters the Seventh-Tier Venerable Realm, then the three major Saint Families will be no match, and the Black Tortoise Saint Family won't be able to keep Zhen Xueyan confined. The Vermilion Bird Saint Family will be unstoppable."
"What about our Azure Dragon Saint Family? Will we be dragged into this vortex?" Zhen Han was a little worried.
"My wife's worries are unnecessary. I don't hide my affairs from you, but it's not absolute. There are some things I can't tell you because of rules, the rules of this world. Why did Blood Sea Old Demon die? Why did Butcher Huo Baichuan die? Because the Master of Black Prison enforces the rules," Shangshu Tianye said.
Zhen Han's eyes were full of surprise, because she truly didn't know these things.
"My wife doesn't need to overthink. I, Shangshu Tianye, can protect the Azure Dragon Saint Family," Shangshu Tianye said.
Zhen Han didn't say anything more. She had been married to Shangshu Tianye for quite some years. Shangshu Tianye never spoke boastfully; when he said something, it meant he had the confidence.
Qin Longhan returned to the Vermilion Bird Saint Family's stronghold, and Qin Lingxi also returned with him.
"Father, what do we do next? When do we go to war?" Qin Lingxi asked, looking at Qin Longhan.
Qin Longhan shook his head. "Currently, there's a Martial Ban, and Cultivators above the Sixth Tier cannot fight. We don't have as many people below the Sixth Tier as the other side. Starting a war now would result in heavy losses. It's better to have our people retreat and go into hiding, and start the war after the Martial Ban ends. Additionally, gather more Family members. The real confrontation will begin from Saint Martial City."
After instructing Qin Lingxi, Qin Longhan entered his room to meditate. His cultivation had only recently recovered, and his Realm had just had a Breakthrough, so he needed to Cultivate.
Qin Lingxi sent out spies to begin gathering people and also dispatched people to notify Qin Longxuan. Vermilion Bird Villa no longer needed to be watched; all personnel were to be mobilized towards this side.
Shangshuyu returned to the Azure Dragon Saint Family's castle and told her parents that she had met Qin Longhan, and also relayed what Qin Longhan had said at the time.
"Coming to resolve things? Then let's see how they resolve them. Yu'er, don't worry, Father will stand up for you," Shangshu Tianye said.
Shangshuyu nodded. She felt a bit pressured because she could see that Gan Lingwu was very good to Qin Chu, and Qin Chu also highly regarded Gan Lingwu. Next, Qin Chu was coming to cancel the engagement.
Qin Chu stayed in the Alchemist Guild, no longer going out to fight. Every day, besides refining Medicinal Pills and selling Medicinal Pills, he Cultivated. Gan Lingwu had left; she still had matters to attend to and had to return the Snow Lotus to her Master.
Lang Lang still sold Medicinal Pills with Qin Chu every day. Other times, he was outside helping Qin Chu gather information.
Hei San was elusive, sometimes appearing suddenly, sometimes not seen for days.
Shangshuyu often came to accompany Qin Chu, practicing Sword Intent with him. Her Sword Intent improved very quickly, reaching the Late Stage of Fifth-Tier Sword Intent. Qin Chu's Sixth-Tier Sword Intent, however, hadn't improved much, mainly because he hadn't been Cultivating recently.
Shang Tang was furious because, despite Qin Chu's cultivation being much weaker than his, he couldn't do anything. He often saw Shangshuyu come to the Alchemist Guild to find Qin Chu, which filled him with jealousy. He arranged for spies to monitor the situation at the Alchemist Guild's entrance. As soon as Qin Chu came out, he would lead his people to ambush and kill Qin Chu, not giving him another chance to escape, to utterly eliminate him.
Shang Tianhua was also very annoyed. Now that the White Tiger Saint Family was in a predicament, he contacted the Blazing Thunder Saint Family to meet their Clan Chief, Lei Tianding, because without uniting with other forces, the White Tiger Saint Family would not be able to withstand the Vermilion Bird Saint Family's attack.