Chapter 539 - The Vermilion Bird’s Blood
“I will treat you the same way you treated my teammates!”
Qin Nan let out a hollow laugh as he thrust his saber at Mu Chengye’s Dantian.
Mu Chengye had broken the rules by unleashing the Ancient Spirit-Consuming Insects. Therefore, there was no need for him to obey the rules either!
It did not matter who you were; those who harmed the people he cared about must pay the price in return!
“Wait!”
Elder Wang’s was shocked. He swiftly reacted by taking a step forward while his hands grabbed Qin Nan’s shoulder like a pair of claws and dragged him backward.
“Elder Wang!” Qin Nan snapped as he tried to resist with his flesh of the Martial Highness Realm.
“Duan Qing, no one is allowed to cripple anyone in the competition! This is the rule. Once you break it, you will be punished by the Vermilion Bird Platoon! You’ve won the competition, be rational!” Elder Wang grabbed Qin Nan’s figure and yelled.
“Rational? You’re asking me to be rational?”
Qin Nan burst out laughing in a hysterical manner, “Mu Chengye damaged their Martial Spirits with the Ancient Spirit-Devouring Insects. Didn’t he break the rules then? Why didn’t you punish him instead? Are you implying that he’s allowed to break the rules, but I’m not?”
The words felt like the roar of thunder.
Initially, with Qin Nan’s full strength, he had been able to end the competition with ease, but he did not use his strongest attack in order to obey the rules.
But what had Mu Chengye done?
He broke the rules just to achieve his goal!
At that instant, the woods were immersed in a dead silence.
“Don’t worry. He has broken the rules. He will be punished! You have my word.”
Elder Wang glanced at Mu Chengye coldly and snapped, “Mu Chengye’s team has broken the rules in the competition by damaging the other team’s Martial Spirits, thus the team is disqualified. The first team has won the competition! As such, I will hand the eight of you to Platoon Leader Zhou. He will deal with you personally!”
The words served as a heavy blow to Mu Chengye and his crew, leaving a blank expression in their eyes.
They’d lost—it was a total defeat!
Elder Wang’s expression coldened as he waved his hand and summoned a few glows landing onto their figures, before taking off toward the Vermilion Bird Platoon.
“Their Martial Spirits suffered severe injuries. The Vermilion Bird Platoon will heal them thoroughly.”
Elder Wang glanced at Qin Nan and spoke calmly.
Qin Nan’s expression finally became calm hearing this.
If Mu Chengye and his crew were not punished, if he could not save Xue Meng and the others, he would not let them go easily!
“Captain... Did we win?”
Xue Meng and her companions could not care less about their injuries. Their eyes were filled with disbelief.
We won?
Did we really win the competition?
At the beginning, Mu Chengye’s team was considered to totally outmatch their team’s strength, thus they had not had high hopes for the competition. However, in the end, their team captain suppressed the entire enemy team on his own and turned the tables around!
“We’ve won.”
Qin Nan let out a gentle smile.
“We’ve...won!”
The team collected their thoughts. Their faces were filled with excitement and joy, as their flesh would be cleansed by the Vermilion Bird’s Blood very soon!
Furthermore, the feeling of defeating their opponents by working together was indescribably pleasant to them.
“Congratulations on winning the competition. Duan Qing, congratulations on becoming the ninety-ninth Platoon Leader of the Vermilion Bird Platoon. The disciples of the ninety-ninth batch will be following your orders from today onward…” Elder Wang gave Qin Nan a deep look.
He had spectated the entire process. The reason he had not interfered when Mu Chengye unleashed the Ancient Spirit-Devouring Insect was to observe Qin Nan’s real strength.
He was not disappointed by the final outcome!
The single slash that could eliminate a third-layer Martial Highness!
How terrifying was it that he was able to defeat a third-layer Martial Highness with a peak Martial Dominator Realm cultivation?
“Come, let’s go back to the Vermilion Bird Platoon! Platoon Leader Zhou is waiting!”
Elder Wang waved his hand and brought the crew back to the Vermilion Bird Platoon.
On the Yellow Soil Dojo, Zhou Bihua wore a mink coat and stood at the front like a giant mountain. Even though no aura could be felt from his body, his figure alone produced a terrifying suppression.
Beside him, Mu Chengye and his team knelt down on the ground. Within a period of a few breaths’ time, their figures were filled with over a hundred wounds, with the ground dyed red.
Painful expressions could be observed from their faces as they continuously cried out in agony, resulting in a shocking scene.
As Xue Meng and the others saw the legendary man standing in front of them, the joy on their faces was replaced with a nervous look. They did not dare to look straight at him while their heartbeats increased rapidly.
One of the top three experts of the Sky-Scorching Ancient Kingdom!
One that was highly respected in the entire upper district’s Eastern Continent!
“Rules are the foundation of everything in this world! This is what they get for not obeying the rules!” Zhou Bihua calmly spoke, but his words were accompanied by a formidable aura, “Congratulations on winning the competition! Here is a drop of the Vermilion Bird’s Blood for each of you!”
Following a flick of his finger, four jade jars landed in front of Qin Nan’s crew.
A fiery liquid floated in the middle of the jar, which was emitting a powerful fiery aura, and a vague cry of the Vermilion Bird.
“Such a powerful force!”
Qin Nan’s eyes flickered with astonishment. If he were to consume the drop of Vermilion Bird’s Blood, his cultivation would level up to the next stage straight away.
“You three should cultivate inside the Cultivation Hall!” Zhou Bihua waved his hand without giving any time for them to react.
Xue Meng and the others swiftly collected their thoughts and entered the Cultivation Hall with the jade jars as they did not dare to disobey the command.
Zhou Bihua glanced at Qin Nan and said smilingly, “Well done, you did not let me down. However, I have to make it clear. I will not kill these people, but don’t you worry, I’ll teach them personally until they repent and completely obey your words!”
Qin Nan nodded his head in reply.
As long as they received the punishment that they deserved, he could not care less about their endings.
Following this, Zhou Bihua explained the responsibilities of a Platoon Leader to Qin Nan. There were three main responsibilities. Firstly, he was not allowed to bring any harm to the Sky-Scorching Ancient Kingdom. Secondly, he should not abuse his authority to bully the others. Thirdly, whenever the Vermilion Bird Platoon required his assistance, he had to be there. That being said, whenever Qin Nan needed any help, the Vermilion Bird Platoon would try their best to aid him as well.
“Got it!”
Qin Nan replied with no objection.
There had been ninety-eight batches of disciples before him, and most of them had been dispatched to other places in the Sky-Scorching Ancient Kingdom, or even the upper district’s Eastern Continent.
Therefore, after joining the platoon, Qin Nan’s wings[1] grew stronger.
“Alright, it’s time for some real business.”
Zhou Bihua switched his tone and glanced at Elder Wang.
Elder Wang immediately brought Mu Chengye and the others—who were still crying in pain—away from the place.
“That old folk Sacred Leader Qinglong told me a few hundred years ago that you could do me a favor, and it’s time to prove that,” Zhou Bihua calmly spoke, “If you’re able to do it, I will teach you the Art of the Immortal Vermilion Bird. If not… I will expose your true identity to the Four Great Factions!”
Upon saying this, Zhou Bihua’s tone turned incredibly cold.
The entire Yellow Soil Dojo was immersed in an icy aura.
Qin Nan’s eyes glistened!
Translator: XephiZ
Editor: DOCuinn
[1] TL Note: This is referring to Qin Nan’s background that became more formidable due to his seniors with great influences at various places.