“You're smart but also dumb,” said Ling Lan as she walked beside him while staring him down.

Ji Ming endured the pain as he struggled to raise his head. He had a look of innocence on his face before managing to squeeze a sentence out of his lips. “Lord Gen, please trust me. I didn't know they would do that.”

Ling Lan smirked. “Do I look like someone that's so easy to be fooled?”

“Yu Shangfei said he misspoke when he got drunk, but I already knew it was done on purpose. On top of that, I knew it was all arranged by you.” Ling Lan formed a three p.r.o.ng ice spear on top of her right palm. “You really think you had a chance because I took down Lord Gen and 13 Lords accepted me as the new Lord Gen? Are you an idiot?”

Ling Lan's words turned Ji Ming's originally pale face even more pale and defeated. He didn't think that his little plot had been known by Ling Lan long before this. He didn't know why Ling Lan didn't make a move earlier and just let him play it all out.

Ling Lan smiled mockingly. “It just so happens I need to do something to show the unruly people in this territory who's boss. But, luckily you came and helped me with this.”

Ji Ming now knew that Ling Lan was trying to use him to frighten all of those who reside in the rainbow palace.

“But now, you are no longer of use to me.” Ling Lan slightly raised the three p.r.o.nged ice spear and slowly stabbed it towards Ji Ming's forehead.

This spear came extremely slowly. Ji Ming watched as the spear came closer and closer towards him. He wanted to move away, but it was like his body had been sealed, stopping him from moving an inch.

No, he didn't want to die! Ji Ming shouted in terror, “Don't kill me. I'm also from the Huaxia Federation.”

The ice spear suddenly stopped before Ji Ming's forehead. Ji Ming could completely feel the chilliness of the ice spear. He could feel the coldness seeping into his head, as though it was slowing his mind.

“Oh?” Ling Lan raised her eyebrows.

The voice floated into his ears. Ji Ming couldn't piece together what the voice was trying to say. His consciousness slowed down to a snail pace. The only thing he knew was the fact that he was still alive.

“Lord Gen, you are from the Huaxia Federation as well, right? Even if you aren't from the Huaxia Federation, you still have some relations with it. Lord Gen, seeing that we come from the same birthplace, please let me go,” pleaded Ji Ming.

Ling Lan frowned and thought for a moment. The hand that held the ice spear suddenly loosened, causing the ice spear to fall to the ground.

Ji Ming closed his eyes in despair, yet the expected pain didn't come. When he opened them again, he saw the ice spear slowly dissolve before his eyes.

Without there being a threat to his life in front of him, Ji Ming loosed up and fell to the floor. He then realized that even in such an icy cold place, his inner s.h.i.+rt was actually soaked by his sweat.

“I will give you three minutes to convince me to let you live…” Before Ji Ming had time to make head or tails of the situation, Ling Lan's icy cold voice rang in his ears.

Ji Ming immediately calmed his nerves and sat up. He knew that whether he could live or not would depend on those three minutes. He would need to find a reason to convince Ling Lan.

Ji Ming thought for a moment and then said, “Lord Gen, I am a citizen of the Huaxia Federation. It was because of my good innate talent that I was provided the opportunity to get into a military academy, and I graduated with flying colours. However, after entering the military, I mistakenly offended a descendant of a powerful family, which I didn't think was a big deal at that time.” Ji Ming smiled bitterly after saying all this. “But, what I didn't know was that after offending him, not only was my future destroyed, they also painted me as a criminal. In the end, I was convicted before they sent me to the Lawless Lands.”

Ling Lan sat on her icy throne and looked at him indifferently, “You still have two more minutes. You can think of a better reason.”

Her words meant that she didn't believe that story.

Ji Ming shouted frustratingly, “Lord Gen, what I have said was all true. If that wasn't the case, why would I be here?”

“That's the answer you're giving me?” Ling Lan leaned against the armrest with her right hand holding her head. She knowingly looked at Ji Ming with a half-smile. The look froze the frustration on Ji Ming's face and in the next second, his expression slowly returned to normal.

“What do you want to hear, Lord Gen? That way I can make up a story up to your liking.” Ji Ming suddenly became neither haughty nor humble. It was completely different from his behavior of being a scaredy cat who hid behind others and plotted against people.

“This is your actual personality,” said Ling Lan. “How could someone who dares to plot against the position of lord be afraid of dying? Don't take your acting too far.”

“Thank you for pointing that out.” Ji Ming knelt on his knees. Despite having heavy injuries on his body, he still straightened his back as he endured the immense pain. He completely got rid of his sleazy behavior from before.

“If you want to die, I'd be happy to give you that. If you don't want to die, then you should understand what you need to do in order to live.” Ling Lan caressed Little White, who had jumped up onto her knees asking for comfort. She had a look of indifference. “If you want to get something, you must pay something of similar value… I'm not someone that's so generous.”

Ji Ming clenched his fists and a struggling expression flashed between his yes. However, he had already reached this point. He didn't want to just give up and die.

“I'm from the Huaxia Federation.” Finally, Ji Ming made his choice. He raised his head and stared at Ling Lan with fire in his eyes, “That's the truth.”

“Okay,” Ling Lan replied. She didn't raise her head, still focused on rubbing Little White's soft hairs. Rubbing these hairs was like an addiction of sorts. Little White's soft hairs felt more comfortable the more she rubbed them. She really wanted to rub these little hairs on her face, but she had to maintain her cold and unmoving impression.

“What I said before wasn't made up. I did indeed graduate from the military academy with flying colors. Then I entered the military…” Ji Ming's expression was complicated. If he was given the choice again, would he still choose the same path he chose in the past? Probably not.

“There we go,” Ling Lan said calmly. “When you entered the domain stage, you probably weren't even past 35 years old. In the Huaxia Federation, being a domain realm master at such a young age, you would be considered a prodigy. Even if you had offended a descendant of a powerful faction in the military academy, with your qualifications, there would still be organizations who would be willing to protect you.”

Ji Ming's eyes brightened. The hesitation he had originally instantly disappeared. He nodded and said, “Yes. Although I had some problems with a descendant of a powerful family, there were still organizations who protected me. After entering the military, my development was smooth. I became an ace operator, domain realm master and team leader of a certain ace mecha clan”

After saying all that, Ji Ming had a look of pride in his eyes. This was the achievement he acquired on his own. The position he held was 100% acquired through his own abilities.