Chapter 262: Chapter 259: Arrogance and Showing Off

"Zhang Shao, I know about you. You offended the Qian Family, which is why you had no choice but to pledge allegiance to Qin Daye."

Mo Qi’s words made Zhang Shao grow anxious. He hurriedly said, "Lord Qin, please see clearly. Zhang Shao’s submission is genuine. Heaven and Earth can bear witness, as can the sun and moon."

Mo Qi waved his hand, a little impatiently. "That’s between you and Qin Daye. You don’t need to swear your loyalty to me."

"Yes, yes, of course." Zhang Shao nodded repeatedly. "I’ll go have a banquet prepared at once to welcome you, my lord."

"That won’t be necessary!"

Mo Qi shook his head, refusing. "I have no interest in banquets. You are not worthy."

Zhang Shao gave a bitter smile. ’This master is certainly... "frank" in his speech.’

After a pause, Mo Qi added, "I hear your Wolf Fang Sect has a place called a Secret Realm. I’m quite curious. Take me to see it."

"This..." Zhang Shao hesitated.

The Secret Realm was the Sect’s most confidential and important area. It wasn’t even open to all of their own disciples, let alone outsiders. Only the most trusted, core members were qualified to enter.

"What, is there a problem?" Mo Qi’s expression darkened as he shot Zhang Shao a sidelong glance.

"No."

Zhang Shao quickly shook his head. "For Lord Qin to grace our Sect with his presence is our great fortune. This humble one is merely worried that the Secret Realm is not of a high enough caliber and will disappoint you, my lord."

If this had been the old Zhang Shao, he would never have allowed Mo Qi into the Secret Realm, even at the risk of offending Qin Daye.

But that night, after he had personally finished off Yan Hong, he had severed his last remaining attachment.

Furthermore, he believed Mo Qi had died Within the Pass, and that his great revenge had been achieved.

Therefore, besides himself, there was nothing left in this world that he cared about.

So, he couldn’t care less what happened to the Wolf Fang Sect or its Secret Realm.

All he wanted to do now was to satisfy Mo Qi’s every demand and successfully be taken under Qin Daye’s command.

Then, he would use Qin Daye as a springboard to leap out of the Mountain and Sea Empire and into the vaster, more exciting world beyond.

Every man for himself, and the devil take the hindmost!

"I never had any hopes to begin with, so how could I be disappointed? Enough nonsense. Lead the way!"

As he spoke, Mo Qi’s gaze remained fixed on the four old men not far away.

Zhang Shao paused for a moment, then immediately said, "Lord Qin, rest assured. This humble one will certainly give you a satisfactory answer regarding the previous misunderstanding. The Secret Realm is this way. After you, my lord."

Only then did Mo Qi nod in satisfaction. Taking Yan by the hand, he walked in the direction Zhang Shao had indicated.

Mo Xiao and Hu the Eighth retracted their auras and followed behind.

"You’d all best earn my uncle’s forgiveness. Otherwise... Hmph!" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Although Li Yuanhao didn’t finish his sentence, everyone understood his meaning.

He was of the King of Kaosan’s direct line; his attitude was essentially the King of Kaosan’s attitude.

No one would doubt the truth behind his words.

The faces of the four old men turned extremely grim.

Although they all possessed Void Realm Cultivation and stood at the apex of the Empire’s martial power—figures who could found their own sects and dynasties—before Li Yuanhao, they had no choice but to submit. The only other option was death.

The King of Kaosan’s fearsome reputation wasn’t built on his status. It was carved out through his bloody, hard-won battle records!

"What do we do?"

"What else can we do? Apologize and make amends!"

"I’m not talking about that! I’m talking about the Secret Realm! Are we really going to let them just waltz right in? That’s the very foundation of our Wolf Fang Sect!"

"It’s fine. Don’t forget, the entrance to the Secret Realm has a special restriction. One’s talent determines how deep they can go. I observed that the leader, despite being in his late twenties, only has a Refining Essence Cultivation. With talent like that, he’ll only be able to wander around the outermost edge of the Secret Realm. It’s no big deal."

"But what about his subordinates and the Young Prince?"

"What’s there to be afraid of? Are you worried they’ll abandon their leader and act on their own? Besides, a mere Refining Essence Cultivator who has two Void Realm Guards... do you really think someone of his status would be interested in the trifles inside our Secret Realm? The most important thing now is to figure out how to apologize in a way that satisfies him."

"This is all that damned traitor’s fault!"

Unlike the Void Sect’s Secret Realm, the Wolf Fang Sect’s was more direct.

The Void Sect’s Secret Realm Soul existed within the Void Road, while the Wolf Fang Sect’s Secret Realm Soul was located right at the entrance.

Therefore, passing through the entrance of the Wolf Fang Sect’s Secret Realm was equivalent to traversing the Void Road once.

"Lord Qin, the entrance to our Wolf Fang Sect’s Secret Realm has the ability to choose on its own. It automatically assigns an area of activity based on an entrant’s talent. This is an innate function and cannot be turned off. Please forgive us if this causes any inconvenience," Zhang Shao said apologetically.

"Once you are inside the Secret Realm, please feel free to do as you wish. I have already given the order that no one is to disturb you."

’Autonomous selection? Interesting.’

Mo Qi looked at Zhang Shao. The once-arrogant Sect Leader of the Wolf Fang Sect could now only offer fawning smiles in the face of oppression and injustice.

He couldn’t help but think to himself: ’No wonder there are so many arrogant young masters. To be honest, this feeling of being overbearing is pretty great!’

At this thought, an image of Qian Duoduo automatically surfaced in Mo Qi’s mind.

’Maybe... I should try putting on airs a bit more?’

He clapped Zhang Shao on the shoulder and chuckled. "I am very satisfied with what you’ve done. As for Qin Daye, I’ll make the decision for him: he’ll take you in. And as for that Qian Family, once I’ve finished my business here, I’ll make a trip with you and help you get your revenge!"

Seeing that Mo Qi not only didn’t blame him but also promised him many benefits, Zhang Shao was both relieved and thrilled.

Although he didn’t know Mo Qi’s identity or what his exact relationship with Qin Daye was, the mere fact that he had two Void Realm Guards was telling enough.

’Could the surname "Qin" belong to some great hidden clan?’

’Or perhaps Qin Daye and this Lord Qin before me come from outside the Empire? Are they heirs of some major power, out gaining experience in the world?’

’How else could one explain Qin Daye ringing the Dragon Vein Imperial Bell?’

’And how could one explain the Void Realm Guards?’

"While I’m in a good mood, go ahead and tell me any other wishes or thoughts you have!" Mo Qi said, looking as if he was determined to back Zhang Shao to the very end.

This left Zhang Shao overwhelmed by the favor, and he lowered his head, not daring to speak.

"I told you to speak, so speak. What are you afraid of?" Mo Qi feigned displeasure.

Zhang Shao had no choice but to say, "I have never been on good terms with the Void Sect. I’ve suffered great losses at their hands."

Zhang Shao recalled the time the Pig Emperor’s glare had made him pregnant with quintuplets, and his heart still fluttered with fear.

"Is that so." Mo Qi stroked his chin and said nonchalantly, "Then in a little while, we’ll go and destroy the Void Sect."

Zhang Shao was shocked. ’Destroy the Void Sect?!’

In terms of foundation and heritage, the Void Sect was in no way inferior to his Wolf Fang Sect.

Moreover, with the Mountain and Sea Empire ruling over them, the Royal Family would never allow a major sect to be wiped out for no clear reason.

"You... your vision is still too shortsighted. What’s the big deal about destroying the Void Sect? With me and Qin Daye around, in the future, the Six Great Clans of the Imperial City, the Imperial Family of the Empire... they’ll all be nothing but a piece of meat for the taking. When that time comes, this entire territory will be yours!"

"This..." Zhang Shao was dumbfounded. He glanced at Mo Qi, then at Li Yuanhao.

’Lord Qin, there’s nothing wrong with what you’re saying, but is it really a good idea to say it right in front of the Young Prince?’