Traitor

Traitor . . .

These people had always been swayed by the winds of change, but they couldn't have predicted the tempest that now raged. When the Star River Association seized control of their world, they did so with such an iron grip that defiance seemed futile. Surrender, on the other hand, promised glory and riches. Why, then, would anyone choose to resist?

Unbeknownst to many, the Medicine Sovereign Valley harbored numerous immortal senses from foundation experts. This remained a well-guarded secret until the arrival of the Star River Association, whose reckless actions triggered these dormant senses. However, the Association paid them no heed, swiftly erasing the immortal senses and warning their owners to stay out of their affairs, before obliterating the Medicine Sovereign Valley itself.

Faced with such overwhelming force, they were left clinging to the last vestiges of hope.

"Senior Sister, just wait until I become an immortal. I'll show you a world of luxury," Fatty Fan Le declared to Luo Huan.

"Are you sure you've got the talent for it?" Luo Huan teased, prompting laughter from their companions.

Suddenly, the earth quaked and thunderous booms resounded through the air. Ouyang Kuangsheng's eyes hardened.

"Even in hiding, they persist. Is there nowhere left for us to find refuge?" Fatty squinted, his expression growing serious.

"It appears we can't escape this calamity," Ouyang Kuangsheng agreed. "But I'm grateful to have met all of you, especially that brat. Sadly, I won't get another chance to see him."

Luo Huan put on a brave face but her eyes betrayed her emotions. Many of their comrades were already wounded, and they faced the daunting prospect of another assault.

With determination, they rose and rushed outside, their cold auras mingling as they steeled themselves for the impending battle.

Beyond the forest, Fairy Qingmei and her allies awaited. These were the original factions of the Azure Emperor Palace, the Mystic Moon Hall, and other loyal comrades. They led their sects' experts, preparing to repel the assailants and creating a raucous uproar. After repelling the initial wave, they saw more foes advancing upon them, many eager to earn rewards and favor from the Star River Association.

"Fairy Qingmei, where do you plan to escape?" Laughter rang through the air as Fairy Qingmei emerged. Surveying the gathering enemy forces, she knew their scouts had been hunted and killed. These scouts, once the cream of Grand Xia's younger generation, had steadily dwindled since the Association publicized its reward list.

"Many of you submitted to Grand Xia, including the ancient transcendent powers. Grand Xia treated you fairly all these years. Yet, you chose to side with our enemies?" Fairy Qingmei's voice dripped with cold disdain.

"Qingmei, wisdom lies in adapting to the circumstances. As long as we live in this world, aligning with a stronger power is only natural," an old man retorted, the head of one of the ancient powers that had submitted in the past.

"Shameless," Fairy Qingmei hissed, her eyes flashing with murderous intent.

"Shameless?" The person let out a mocking laugh. "Fairy Qingmei, for all these years, you've been the epitome of glory. Your unmatched charm made me wonder what it's like to enjoy the company of a female demonic beast in human form."

As his voice trailed off, boisterous laughter erupted, igniting fury among Fairy Qingmei's faction. They were on the brink of charging forward to settle the score.

"Stay calm. They're deliberately trying to provoke us, to throw our hearts into chaos," Fairy Qingmei warned. Her faction's experts nodded and swiftly formed a battle formation. The key to their survival thus far had been these battle formations, which rendered them a unified force. The Star River Association, on the other hand, comprised disparate groups of experts, unable to contend with such coordinated power.

"Haha, while Fairy Qingmei might have a few years under her belt, she still possesses unparalleled grace. I promise that once this is over, I'll let you old folks savor her. And as for the other ladies, the Mystic Moon Hall's girls, Yun Mengyi, Jiang Ting, Luo Huan, and Bailu Yi – all stunning beauties. Spare their lives, just cripple their cultivation so we can enjoy them at our leisure."

An ominous voice resounded, designed to stoke their anger and destabilize their mental state. Predictably, as the words hung in the air, many of the women displayed icy expressions, their murderous intent surging as they yearned to break free from the formation and punish the speaker.

"Everyone, if you want to take them alive, give it your all in this battle. Surround them," ordered a Star River Association expert.

"Fight and seize any chance to escape," Fairy Qingmei murmured.

"Do you really believe you can escape this time?" an emotionless voice inquired. Immediately, a multitude of formidable auras materialized within their own ranks. When Fairy Qingmei turned to look, her complexion paled. They had gathered here to consolidate their strength and avoid dispersal. Regrettably, they had underestimated the treachery that abounded. Back when they ruled over Grand Xia, who would dare defy them? But with the arrival of the Star River Association, countless Grand Xia residents had turned their backs on them, even from within their own ranks.

"No wonder you found us so quickly," Fairy Qingmei remarked, eyeing the figures behind them. Originally, these were their allies, one of the four great powers that joined Qin Wentian when he reunified Grand Xia: The Thousand-Jue Alliance.

"Wentian allowed you a significant share of the pie when he united Grand Xia, on par with the Mystic Moon Hall, the Jiang Clan, and us. You enjoyed years of glory, yet you chose to betray him," Fairy Qingmei's voice dripped with icy disdain.

"Qingmei, our alliance's philosophy is to align with the strongest power. In the past, it was Qin Wentian. Now, times have changed. Qin Wentian is history. The Star River Association reigns. I can't let the Thousand-Jue Alliance crumble. Don't blame us," the alliance leader retorted.

"A traitor still dares to speak so pompously after betrayal," the Mystic Moon Hall's sect leader sneered.

"I won't allow the Thousand-Jue Alliance to crumble under my leadership," declared the alliance leader with unwavering resolve.

"Aren't you afraid that Qin Wentian might return one day, discover the state of Grand Xia, and seek revenge for your betrayal?" Yun Mengyi's radiant presence contrasted with her icy gaze fixed on the alliance leader.

"Hope is futile. Look at the world now. No matter how extraordinary Qin Wentian may be, he can't overturn this established order," the alliance leader spoke, his tone brimming with assurance and an utter lack of shame for his treachery.

Despair blanketed the group. They had been facing an uphill battle in terms of strength from the beginning. Now, with one of their own betraying them, their situation seemed irrevocably dire.

"Is there no way out for us this time?" Bailu Yi's beauty remained as enchanting as ever. Her pure attire and graceful figure could make anyone's heart skip a beat. Her face, however, was now etched with both cold determination and a hint of despair.

"Don't give up hope, Little Yi. I'll protect you. I'll carve a path to safety," Bailu Yi's older brother, Bailu Jing, declared, though his own confidence wavered.

"How wonderful it would be if he were here," Bailu Yi mused with a smile. Her brother sighed inwardly. It seemed that his sister had never truly forgotten him. When Qin Wentian left the particle world, Bailu Yi had embraced him and told him that after meeting him, it would be impossible for her to find another man who could leave a lasting mark on her heart.

"Stop thinking that way. There's no chance he'd appear now," Bailu Jing sighed, shaking his head.

"Yeah, we probably won't ever see him again in this lifetime," Bailu Yi replied with a smile, reminiscing about their days at the White Deer Institute, studying divine inscriptions. Though they had no romantic fate, their acquaintance had been a beautiful, if somewhat bittersweet, experience.

"If you all had understood the situation and submitted, your fate wouldn't be as dire as it is now. Are you still holding out hope for Qin Wentian's return? What a preposterous notion," the alliance leader continued, clearly attempting to gain favor with the Star River Association to avoid facing consequences for his past actions. After all, he had once been part of Grand Xia's strength.

"Oh, is that so?"

Suddenly, a voice pierced the air. It wasn't particularly loud, yet it resonated with unmistakable familiarity, causing everyone's hearts to race.

"Who?" The Thousand-Jue Alliance Leader scanned his surroundings but found no one in sight.

"Who do you think I am?" The voice was soft and seemed to emanate from afar, as if carried on the wind. The alliance leader's expression shifted abruptly. He gazed into the air, demanding, "Quit hiding and show yourselves, you pretenders."

As his words echoed, a faint gust of wind rustled from a distance. All eyes turned in that direction, catching sight of a shadowy figure materializing. It moved with such swiftness that it blurred before their eyes.

"BOOM!" A tempestuous wind surged through the space. Amidst the confrontation, the shadowy after-images converged, coalescing into an extraordinarily handsome young man. Draped in pristine white, his long hair danced in the gusts of wind, exuding an unparalleled and transcendent aura.

In his mere presence, it seemed as though he were the solitary being in the entire world, commanding the attention of all.

In that moment, the entire area fell into an eerie silence. The leader of the Thousand-Jue Alliance quaked uncontrollably at the sight of this young man, his legs trembling beneath him. How could this be? Why had he returned?

Fairy Qingmei and the others were frozen in shock as they gazed upon Qin Wentian. Bailu Yi's beautiful eyes blinked, struggling to believe her own vision.

Yun Mengyi entered a dazed stupor, her gaze locked on the familiar silhouette. He had actually returned.

Luo Huan stood stunned, but then her eyes welled with tears, and she scolded in a hushed voice, "You mischievous brat, timing couldn't be more precise."

Her voice shattered the silence, and Fan Le chimed in, "What the heck? Ouyang, did I just imagine that?"

"No, you didn't. That guy has returned," affirmed Ouyang Kuangsheng, grinning from ear to ear. They regarded Qin Wentian as their guiding star, the one whose presence alone could restore their confidence. Among them, he had always been the central figure, and with his appearance, it seemed as though all their problems could be effortlessly resolved. He was a miracle-worker.

"Who is he?" The Star River Association expert inquired coldly, noticing that some of the experts from the former transcendent powers of Grand Xia were trembling in the presence of this young man.

"Qin Wentian," someone replied in a hushed tone, their expression deeply unsightly. In the past, Qin Wentian had already been overwhelmingly powerful. Most likely, none of the individuals present could match his strength.