"What??"
Princess Bai Lu was utterly confused.
Too exceptional?
Why would being too exceptional be a problem? Could it be that her father felt she wasn't worthy of Jin or had become insecure?
But!
From her perspective, it was clear that she held a more noble status. Her father, as one of the Beast Clan's Ten Kings, was of the highest rank.
In comparison…
Though Senior Brother Jin was of True Dragon lineage, he had no notable background — just a talented grassroots figure.
"Bai Lu, you don't understand."
Qin Zi sighed deeply, speaking with a tone of mystery:
"I think I understand your father a bit. His vision is keen, and he must have noticed things you haven't yet."
"What are you talking about?"
Princess Bai Lu was even more puzzled.
Qin Zi patted her shoulder, pretending to be much wiser as he said with an air of maturity:
"Ah, it's no use telling you now. Let's just say your father has no ill intentions. Everything he does is for your own good."
"But!"
Princess Bai Lu wanted to protest.
Qin Zi continued:
"Actually, it's not that you and Senior Brother Jin have no chance, but the prerequisite is… you must be strong enough. At the very least, your physical strength must surpass his. Your Beast Clan has a natural advantage in terms of physical bodies, so if you work hard, you still have hope of achieving it."
"Is that true?!"
Princess Bai Lu's eyes lit up, her previous gloominess vanishing in an instant, as if the sky had cleared.
"Of course."
Qin Zi smiled warmly.
"But why exactly?"
Princess Bai Lu pressed on.
"This… well, the reasons are too complex. Even your father can't tell you, so how could I dare to?"
Qin Zi feigned difficulty, then said earnestly, "One day, you'll understand."
"Alright then…"
Princess Bai Lu nodded thoughtfully but suddenly asked with delight, "Qin, are you fully recovered?"
"Yes."
Qin Zi nodded, then added gratefully, "I must thank you and your father for saving my life. Without you, I'd surely be dead."
"No need for thanks."
Princess Bai Lu smiled sweetly and teased, "Besides, even if you wanted to thank us properly, you wouldn't have much to offer, right?"
Qin Zi paused, then burst into laughter.
Indeed.
White Crane King, as an extreme realm expert, had vast wealth and power. Anything Qin Zi had would mean nothing to him.
As for the Beast God's Heart, if the king had wanted it, he could have taken it long ago — Qin Zi had no ability to resist.
"Even so, I must show proper respect. I'd like to pay a visit to White Crane King and thank him in person."
After some thought, Qin Zi spoke.
"Well…"
Princess Bai Lu hesitated, then said awkwardly, "My father is currently in seclusion. Even if you wanted to see him, you wouldn't be able to."
"Is he injured?"
Qin Zi asked with concern.
"Yes, my father fought against seven kings of equal rank all by himself. Naturally, he didn't come out unscathed. Although it was a draw, he was actually more seriously injured than the others."
Princess Bai Lu sighed heavily.
Qin Zi fell silent.
In such a situation, anything he said would sound hollow. Besides, White Crane King had been injured while saving him.
It left him feeling truly indebted.
"Boom!"
At that moment, a deafening roar came from outside. It sounded as though countless buildings were collapsing, and even the ice cave they were in began to shake violently.
"White Crane King, hand over that human!"
"You can't protect him!"
"If this boy isn't eliminated, he will become a great threat in the future!"
"Today, he must die!!"
A series of authoritative voices echoed in the sky, like rolling thunder, shaking the hearts of all who heard them.
"This!!"
Both Princess Bai Lu and Qin Zi looked up at the ceiling of the ice cave, their faces filled with panic.
Once again.
The powerful enemies had returned!
For them to shout such words in White Crane King's domain, these were surely extreme realm experts. Judging by the voices, there were quite a few of them.
More than nine.
"Why are there so many? And some of these voices… they sound unfamiliar, not like the Beast Clan's kings."
Princess Bai Lu's face grew grim.
"Perhaps… it's the Demon Clan and the Human Clan."
Qin Zi's face twitched. He guessed that after the battle of kings at the Sacred Academy, his name had spread far and wide. As a result, those from the Human and Demon Clans who hated him had come to hunt him down.
Before, he didn't have such notoriety to warrant extreme realm experts from two clans crossing territories to kill him.
But now, things were different.
Having absorbed the famed Beast God's Heart, the threat he posed in their eyes had soared to the highest level!
A born divine physique.
And he had absorbed the Beast God's Heart!
Who knew what kind of invincible monster he might grow into if left alive? So, he had to be killed while still in the cradle!
It wasn't vanity.
This was just the truth.
He was that powerful, and staying low-profile wouldn't help.
"Hmph! Are you all trying to force my hand?"
At this moment, White Crane King's authoritative and icy voice rang out, accompanied by an overwhelming pressure.
This pressure permeated everything — even the insects and ants hiding underground were trembling in their burrows.
"White Crane King, stop being stubborn."
"If you don't hand him over today, don't blame us for wiping out your White Crane Palace!"
"I have traveled millions of miles from the Demon Clan's territory for this. Today, that boy must die. Don't make this difficult."
"White Crane King, this person is a spy of the Tianheng Clan, an enemy of the Nine Skies' Three Great Clans. It's best if you don't harbor him."
These intruders tried to persuade him, their voices filled with righteousness. The last speaker was even a human expert — a lord from the Human Clan's Sacred Hall!
"Perhaps what you say makes sense. Under different circumstances, I might have handed over this human."
White Crane King's voice was cold and unyielding:
"But today, you've gathered here in force, pressuring me at my own palace. If I hand him over now, how will I ever lift my head again?"
"I, White Crane, have lived proudly my whole life and have never bowed to anyone. If you insist on pushing me, I am more than willing to fight to the end!"
His stance was firm.
"Fine! Since you refuse to see reason, today we will simply subdue you!"
Black Dragon King's cold voice followed.
Although he and White Crane King were both Beast Clan kings, no clan was ever truly united as one. There was always internal strife.
"Kill!!"
An ancient elder from the Demon Clan was the first to strike. With a simple motion, the heavens and earth trembled, filled with terror.
"Suppress!"
The Human Clan's lord struck next, his force so immense that it made the very fabric of reality tremble.
"Do you think I'm afraid of you?"
White Crane King's voice rang out, filled with a battle spirit that surged to the heavens. The air was soon filled with the sounds of collisions so intense they nearly shattered the ears of those nearby.
"Don't hold back, everyone attack together!"
"Kill!!"
The remaining experts joined in, turning the battlefield into chaos. Divine abilities as vast as the sea were unleashed, overturning heaven and earth.
"Imperial Butterfly Splitting the Sky!"
"Realm of Darkness!"
"Honghu Swallows the Heavens!"
"Demon God Descends!"
"White Crane Suppression Technique!"
One terrifying technique after another exploded in the sky, reshaping the land as they rained down destruction.
"Boom——"
A shockwave from the battle swept over, and Qin Zi and Princess Bai Lu felt a cold breeze on their heads. Looking up, they realized the top of the ice cave had been blown off.
It was as if the roof of a house had vanished, and now, standing inside, they could gaze up at the starry sky above.
"Boom——"
Another loud crash sounded, and space shattered as energy surged. A figure in white was sent flying, blood spraying from their mouth.
It was White Crane King!
"Father!"
Princess Bai Lu's face turned pale, and she rushed forward to help, but Qin Zi quickly pulled her back and covered her mouth.
"Don't! If you go out there, you'll only make things harder for your father."
Qin Zi's voice was stern.
Princess Bai Lu was jolted, snapping back to her senses. She no longer rushed out, but tears began streaming down her face.
"Kill!!!"
White Crane King steadied himself, his white robes stained with blood. A fierce, murderous aura erupted from him as he charged back toward the enemy.
But he was vastly outnumbered.
"Ugh!"
Soon, he was sent flying again, blood spurting, his condition even worse than before.
Yet, he refused to back down.
"If this continues, my father will die! What should I do? What can I do?"
Princess Bai Lu was in tears, shaking her head in agony. She could do nothing but watch helplessly, knowing she would only be a burden if she rushed out.
"Pat."
At that moment, a hand rested on her shoulder, pulling her out of her despair and confusion.
"Let me handle this."
Qin Zi looked at her and said firmly, "Youand your father have already done so much for me. I can't let you keep suffering because of me."
After speaking, Qin Zi resolutely leapt into the air, like a beam of light shooting toward the sky. He then shouted with all his strength:
"Hey! I'm right here!!"
Silence fell over the battlefield for a brief moment.
Then, countless piercing gazes locked onto him, each more terrifying than the last!