Chapter 19: Betrayal

Jiang Kaitai’s words were half-truths and half-lies.

If Qin Yuancheng and Chen Yuan had truly followed Jiang Kaitai’s instructions—killing for the Blood Sacrifice and then activating the Formations in the courtyards of the South and North Cities—they too would have been devoured by the Blood Sacrifice Grand Formation.

The two Formations in the South and North Cities were the real trump cards Jiang Kaitai had reserved for himself.

The Formations in these two locations were not Blood Sacrifice Formations, but Blood Slaughter Formations.

Once activated, all living beings within several miles would be devoured by blood energy and fused into the seven killing stele beneath Lianshan City.

These two areas were the most densely populated places in Lianshan City. Once the Formations were successfully activated, a vast amount of blood energy could be harvested.

As the ones who activated the Formations, they naturally could not escape the speed of the Formations’ activation and would also be sacrificed.

This was also the fate of Chu Ziping and Qin Yuancheng in the original plot.

The reason Jiang Kaitai hesitated earlier was because he was somewhat reluctant to sacrifice Chen Yuan as well.

In his heart, Chen Yuan was still very ‘obedient’ and very ‘loyal’.

Not only was he obedient and loyal, but Chen Yuan’s talent was also excellent.

Even cultivating a trash technique like the Azure Wood Heart Method, he had reached the Peak of the Quti Realm. In the future, if he could obtain a Profound-Grade or Earth-Grade technique for him, his achievements might not be inferior to those of the young elites from major factions.

When the time came for him to fuse with the Divine Artifact, he would need some capable talents under his command.

However, Jiang Kaitai only hesitated for a moment before hardening his heart, deciding to sacrifice Chen Yuan as well.

He didn’t trust the other hall masters of the Heaven Wolf Gang with this matter.

Those old foxes were too cunning and might not be fooled by his deception; they might even go to Murong Qing to inform on him.

His two adopted sons were young and easier to deceive.

Although he felt some heartache at losing a loyal, obedient, and talented adopted son.

As long as he succeeded in one fell swoop this time, what kind of adopted sons and subordinates couldn’t he find in the future?

“Rest assured, Father. My elder brother and I will definitely help you fuse with the Divine Artifact and reach the pinnacle of the Jianghu!”

Chen Yuan’s face was filled with fanaticism, which made Jiang Kaitai feel a slight pang of guilt.

Of course, it was only a slight pang.

“Good, good, good. I will now go to fuse with the Divine Artifact. Pay attention to the timing—not too early, not too late.”

After saying this, Jiang Kaitai left.

Qin Yuancheng paced back and forth in the room, feeling both excited and nervous, occasionally glancing at Chen Yuan.

Originally, he felt that the position of the Heaven Wolf Gang leader was definitely his. The third brother didn’t want to compete with him, nor could he compete.

Now, with this Opportunity from his adoptive father, the future power would be even greater, yet he said he would leave it to both of them.

Now that the third brother didn’t want to compete, would he suddenly change his mind in the future?

Chen Yuan didn’t know what was going through Qin Yuancheng’s mind, nor was he interested in knowing.

As soon as Jiang Kaitai left, he closed his eyes to rest and calculate the time.

After pacing in the room for a while, Qin Yuancheng couldn’t hold back and asked, “Third Brother, shouldn’t we take action now? Let’s prepare in advance and start the Blood Sacrifice as soon as the time comes.”

“Are you that eager to die?”

Qin Yuancheng was stunned and frowned. “Third Brother, what nonsense are you talking? I don’t understand.”

Chen Yuan gently shook his head. “Forget it. Being a confused ghost is also quite good.”

Qin Yuancheng’s face darkened.

How dare the third brother speak to him like this?

What confused ghost? On the eve of a major event, he’s spouting such inauspicious words!

He was just about to open his mouth to reprimand him when he saw Chen Yuan flip his wrist, and the yanling blade was already unsheathed.

In an instant, it was like autumn water skimming across a lake, bringing with it a dazzling flash of blade light.

Qin Yuancheng had no time to react before the blade arrived at his throat.

“What a fast blade…”

Only this thought flashed through Qin Yuancheng’s mind. Accompanied by a flash of blood, his head instantly fell to the ground.

“Speaking of which, you should thank me.

If you had helped Jiang Kaitai complete all this only to find out he was deceiving you, and even you were to be sacrificed, everything would come to nothing. That feeling wouldn’t be pleasant.”

Chen Yuan gently shook his head, picked up Qin Yuancheng’s head, and headed straight for Murong Qing’s residence.

At least he had made Qin Yuancheng’s death less painful. Borrowing his head shouldn’t be too much to ask, right?

Murong Qing lived in Jiang Kaitai’s former room, which had been completely renovated with all the furniture replaced with new items.

At this moment, Murong Qing was drinking tea while complaining about how poor the tea in Lianshan City was.

In Dragon City, he drank only the finest spiritual tea, brewed with several rare herbs, rich in aroma, and capable of promoting the circulation of Internal Energy when consumed.

Just then, a knock sounded from outside.

“Young Master Murong, Chen Yuan requests an audience.”

Murong Qing waved his hand, and a burst of True Qi shot out, directly pushing the door open.

“Come in.”

Murong Qing’s impression of Chen Yuan was quite good.

At the very least, he was sensible and articulate, much better than his elder brother.

In the future, if that old dog Jiang Kaitai died, he felt he could mention to the Family that Chen Yuan should take over the Heaven Wolf Gang.

Being a dog also had its thresholds; at the very least, one had to know how to read people and get things done.

Someone like Qin Yuancheng wasn’t even qualified to be a dog.

Chen Yuan walked into the room carrying Qin Yuancheng’s head, and Murong Qing frowned.

“Chen Yuan, what is the meaning of this?”

“Young Master Murong, I have discovered who is behind the Blood Sacrifice in Lianshan City!”

Murong Qing pointed at the head in Chen Yuan’s hand, looking utterly bewildered. “Don’t tell me the mastermind behind this is Qin Yuancheng.”

From their interactions over the past few days, Murong Qing already knew what kind of person Qin Yuancheng was.

He was a fool with not much going on in his head.

Coming from a small Gang, his vision and mindset were narrow, and he was neither articulate nor efficient in handling matters.

Yet, he was full of petty schemes, always trying to flatter and please him, but his attempts at flattery always backfired.

Could someone like this have cultivated so many loyal death warriors? Could he have fooled him for so many days?

“It’s not Qin Yuancheng, but my adoptive father, Jiang Kaitai!”

Chen Yuan raised the head in his hand and said, “Just now, Jiang Kaitai came to see Qin Yuancheng and me and personally admitted that he is the mastermind behind the Blood Sacrifice in Lianshan City.

The reason is that when he was a bandit, he obtained a treasure map. It recorded that there is a secret place beneath Lianshan City, and what is buried there is the Divine Artifact, the seven killing stele!

From that moment on, Jiang Kaitai secretly cultivated death warriors and set up Formations, all for the day when he could carry out the Blood Sacrifice to fuse with the Divine Artifact!

However, now that Young Master Murong is involved, Jiang Kaitai can no longer carry out the Blood Sacrifice steadily and can only launch it ahead of schedule.

That’s why he revealed the truth to Qin Yuancheng and me, asking us to help him kill for the Blood Sacrifice while he prepares to fuse with the Divine Artifact ahead of time.

Qin Yuancheng was tempted, but I pretended to agree. After Jiang Kaitai left, I killed Qin Yuancheng and came to report to you, Young Master Murong.”

What was buried beneath Lianshan City was actually just a fragment of the Divine Artifact, the seven killing stele.

But whether Jiang Kaitai truly didn’t know it was just a fragment or deliberately told them this to make them more tempted, no one knew.

Of course, this wasn’t important, and he didn’t bother to correct it.

A Divine Artifact was far more attractive than a mere fragment.

After hearing Chen Yuan’s account, Murong Qing’s expression changed drastically.

He came from the Murong Clan of Dragon City, which itself possessed the Divine Artifact, Shifting Stars. This was the lifeblood of his Murong Clan.

Because of this, Murong Qing understood the value of Divine Artifacts even better than Qin Yuancheng.

The Murong Clan’s Divine Artifact, Shifting Stars, was actually Leaning towards defense in nature. It could transfer any force and send it back.

In other words, Shifting Stars couldn’t be used for active attacks. As long as the enemy didn’t strike, the Murong Clan’s Shifting Stars was just a decorations.

But he had also heard the legend of the seven killing stele—it was formed from the Origin of killing intent and was a top-tier, supreme Divine Artifact and a treasure of attack even in ancient times.

If they could seize the seven killing stele, the Murong Clan would possess both an offensive and a defensive Divine Artifact. Then, the talk of restoring the kingdom would no longer be an empty dream!

Didn’t the Zhao Clan of Great Xia hold Great Xia Longque and the Human Emperor’s Sword to secure their rule for so many years?

With the Murong Clan holding Shifting Stars and the seven killing stele, how were they inferior to the Zhao Clan?

However, after the excitement, Murong Qing calmed down again and stared at Chen Yuan.

“Jiang Kaitai is your adoptive father. If he fuses with the Divine Artifact, he will surely soar to great heights in the future. As his adopted son, the benefits you could gain are countless. Why aren’t you tempted? Instead, why betray him?”

Chen Yuan lowered his head and said solemnly, “Because Jiang Kaitai is harsh and ungrateful, not worthy of my trust!

Over the years, Jiang Kaitai has always been wary of us, his adopted sons. Otherwise, why would he only tell us about the Blood Sacrifice for the Divine Artifact at the last moment?

What if, after the Blood Sacrifice for the Divine Artifact, he kicks us aside? What would I do then?

Rather than being kicked aside afterward, it’s better to sell him for a good price.

The Murong Clan, descendants of the imperial Family, have a Legacy of a thousand years. In Youzhou, they are highly respected and have the support of the people.

Instead of believing Jiang Kaitai’s lies, I’d rather trust the Murong Clan’s credibility and sell Jiang Kaitai for a good price.

I believe the Murong Clan will not mistreat those who contribute, and I believe you, Young Master Murong, will not mistreat me.”

“Hahaha! Good! Well said!”

Murong Qing looked at Chen Yuan with admiration. “The Murong Clan isn’t afraid of greedy subordinates, but we are afraid of those who are insatiably greedy!

Chen Yuan, you are very good.

Greedy but with limits, knowing the times and understanding when to advance or retreat.

Rest assured, the Murong Clan will not mistreat you, and I, this Young Master, will certainly not mistreat you!

In the future, not only will the Heaven Wolf Gang be yours, but the Murong Clan will personally negotiate with the Yiqi Guanhri Alliance to hand over the entire Lianshan City to you!”

If Chen Yuan had said earlier that he betrayed Jiang Kaitai out of loyalty to the Murong Clan or similar nonsense, Murong Qing would have directly given him a Mystic Dragon Finger, bursting his head.

Trying to fool a ghost?

But Chen Yuan was so straightforward—he simply wanted benefits. This, instead, made Murong Qing appreciate him.

Greed wasn’t horrible; what was horrible was being insatiably greedy and not knowing one’s own limits.

That Jiang Kaitai was the kind of person who was insatiably greedy and didn’t know his own limits.

If he had handed over the information about the Divine Artifact to the Murong Clan back then, the Murong Clan certainly wouldn’t have mistreated him.

But he was insatiably greedy, Delusion to possess the Divine Artifact. He truly deserved to die!

Divine Artifacts and Demonic Weapons, existences passed down from ancient demonic gods and powerful beings—how could an old dog like Jiang Kaitai be qualified to possess them?

Only the Murong Clan, descendants of the imperial Family, born noble, were qualified to wield Divine Artifacts and Demonic Weapons!”