Chapter 2698 To Trade One’s Life for Another

“Is that so?” The old lady smirked coldly when she heard Tian Ji Yu’s reply. “I remember you requested to wait for an hour for Duan Ling Tian’s arrival… If you didn’t know he’d appeared, why would you make such a request? Do you think I’m a fool?!” The old lady’s voice turned icier as she spoke.

Tian Ji Yu felt as though winter had arrived. Blood drained from his face, and he turned pale. He stammered, at a loss for words, “S-senior…”

The old lady scoffed with a glint in her eyes. However, she remained motionless.

In the next moment, Tian Ji Yu shuddered for a brief moment before a b.l.o.o.d.y hole bloomed on his glabella, and just like that, he was dead.

Boom!

Tian Ji Yu’s corpse fell to the ground with a loud boom. The sound echoed through the deathly silent arena.

Tian Ji Yu, the County Governor of Nine Specters County, was dead!

The crowd inhaled sharply as they witnessed Tian Ji Yu’s death. No one expected the County Governor of Nine Specters County would die in the presence of King Qin in King Qin’s Mansion.

“County Governor!” the people from Nine Specters County cried out when they regained their senses.

The inner-estate elders, Pang Bing and Zheng Qiu, glanced at Tian Ji Yu’s corpse before turning to look at the old lady who had continued making her way to Duan Ling Tian in the air. Their expressions were extremely grim at this moment.

Pang Bing asked through Voice Transmission, “Zheng Qiu, it’s impossible even for King Qin to kill Lord County Governor in such a manner, right?”

“This old lady… is stronger than King Qin,” Zheng Qiu replied through Voice Transmission, “Do you recall when King Qin appeared earlier, she did not even greet or pay respect to him?”

“Now that you mentioned it… At that time, the tension was palpable between King Qin and the old lady. However, it seemed that King Qin had let the matter go after w.a.n.g Qi Ling said the old lady was deaf and mute,” Pang Bing said.

“Deaf and mute? Do you think as a subordinate of King Qin, the County Governor of Fair Mountain County, would dare lie to King Qin because of an outsider? In my opinion, he was instructed by King Qin to say the old lady’s deaf and mute,” Zheng Qiu replied.

“Instructed by King Qin?” Pang Bing was puzzled. “Why would he do something like that?”

“It’s likely King Qin knows the old lady is stronger than him or she has an extraordinary background. He ordered w.a.n.g Qi Ling to say the old lady is deaf and mute to save himself the embarra.s.sment. After all, there are so many people present on the scene,” Zheng Qiu said knowingly.

“No wonder King Qin didn’t make a move even after the old lady killed Lord County Governor,” Pang Bing said with a sigh as he glanced at the curtained area.

…

Hidden behind the curtains, Qin Yu’s expression turned grim as he watched the old lady make her way in the air toward Duan Ling Tian. He knew this Celestial Duke from the Compa.s.sionate Celestial Traveler Sect had come for his friend, Duan Ling Tian. Based on his uncle’s words, it seemed like she had come to kill Duan Ling Tian! Every step the old lady took was like a heavy stomp to his heart, and it made him tremble in fear. Not only was Duan Ling Tian his friend, but Duan Ling Tian had even saved his life before. Now that Duan Ling Tian was in danger, all he could do was watch helplessly. It made him feel terrible. He turned to look at King Qin and pleaded, “Eldest uncle… P-please help Duan Ling Tian!”

As soon as Qin Yu finished speaking, the Third Prince forced a smile on his face and said helplessly, “Yu’er! The old lady is a Celestial Duke. You saw how she killed the County Governor of Nine Specters County… If your eldest uncle has two breakthroughs and ascended two levels, he still wouldn’t be able to kill the County Governor in such a manner. The power of a Celestial Duke is beyond your imagination…”

Although the Third Prince was a peak Great Overarching Golden Celestial who was peerless among those below Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestials, in front of a Celestial Duke, he was just like an ant. The old lady could kill him as easily as she had killed Tian Ji Yu.

King Qin sighed and said, “Yu’er, it’s not that I don’t want to help him, but I can’t…” There was no doubt that it was humiliating to him that the Celestial Duke from the Compa.s.sionate Celestial Traveler Sect had killed his subordinate, the County Governor of Nine Specters County, in front of so many people. However, he could not even muster up any anger because he knew it was pointless. Not only was he not a match for the Celestial Duke, but the sect she was from, the Compa.s.sionate Celestial Traveler Sect, was not a force he could afford to offend either. That sect was even stronger than a high-rank Celestial Kingdom!

Swoos.h.!.+

As soon as King Qin finished speaking, Qin Yu had left the area like a gust of wind, appearing in front of Duan Ling Tian to s.h.i.+eld him. Unlike Duan Ling Tian who was bound by the old lady’s energy, he could move freely since he was not bound.

“Qin Yu?” Duan Ling Tian exclaimed in surprise. Then, he quickly said through Voice Transmission, “Qin Yu, leave at once before she vents her anger on you… Don’t worry, I’ll be fine…” Although he knew Qin Yu would not be able to help him out of his predicament, he was still touched by QIn Yu’s actions. He knew Qin Yu must have pleaded with his eldest uncle, King Qin, to help him. However, seeing that Qin Yu had appeared alone, it meant that King Qin refused to help. However, it was more likely that King Qin could not help because he knew he was no match for the old lady.

Qin Yu, naturally, did not believe Duan Ling Tian when he said he was fine. He had seen the killing intent in the old lady’s eyes. It was clear she could not wait to kill Duan Ling Tian, grind his bones into ashes, and scatter them in the air. He was certain the old lady would not grant Duan Ling Tian an easy death like how she had killed Tian Ji Yu. He was, naturally, trembling inwardly in fear when faced with the old woman. He said haltingly, “S-senior, in… in what way did Duan Ling Tian offend you? If you’re willing to let him go, I’d promise you anything that’s within my capability. Even if you want my life, I won’t have any complaints.” How could he not be afraid? He was just an ordinary Golden Celestial. Let alone a Celestial Duke, even an ordinary Great Overarching Golden Celestial or Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestial could crush him like an ant. The old lady probably needed to blow at him with her Celestial Origin Energy, and he would die. Despite all that, he steeled himself and spoke up for Duan Ling Tian.

The old lady was prepared to kill Qin Yu for obstructing her way. However, she paused when she heard Qin Yu was willing to trade his life for Duan Ling Tian. She temporarily dismissed the idea of killing Qin Yu. She asked, perplexed, “You’re willing to trade your life for his?” The Devata Realms were places where the strong was revered and the weak were prey. It was a dog eat dog world. It was extremely rare for someone to sacrifice themselves for another person. Moreover, humans were inherently selfish.

“As long as you promise me that you won’t kill him, I’m willing to die in his place!” Qin Yu replied solemnly.

As soon as Qin Yu finished speaking, the old lady’s eyes turned ice-cold. “Since you wish to trade your life for his, then, so be it!”

Whoos.h.!.+

A powerful energy surged out of her body and violently swept toward Qin Yu before it shrouded him. As a Celestial Duke, just her plain energy was enough to severely injure or kill an ordinary Great Overarching Golden Celestial, let alone an ordinary Golden Celestial!

“Senior, please show mercy!”

“Please show mercy!”

As soon as the old lady’s energy shrouded Qin Yu, two voices cried out in unison from behind the curtains.

Swoos.h.!.+ Swoos.h.!.+

Two figures flew out from behind the curtains. They were none other than King Qin and the Third Prince from King Qin’s Mansion. Both men had swiftly come out to rescue Qin Yu. After all, Qin Yu’s father was their fourth brother. Moreover, Qin Yu’s father had saved their lives more than once. Now that their fourth brother’s son was facing death, how could they stand aside and do nothing?