Chapter Seventy-Five: Taking Away the Little Immortal Art? The Seventeenth Prince Has Ascended!

Since ancient times, it has been rare for the commander of an army to be slain in battle. Yet when it happens, morale is shattered, sometimes utterly destroyed, robbing the troops of their fighting spirit.

Now, in this moment, the Wolf Lord—renowned as a prodigy of his age, the greatest talent the Wolf Clan had seen in tens of thousands of years, revered as the Heavenly Khan, master of the Arrow of Fate, and one who had unlocked the eighth heavenly gate—had died a miserable death at the hands of Lin Qiye. He was annihilated. He was slaughtered. His chest was pierced, his demise ghastly and cruel. In the carnage of his death, Lin Qiye stood out like a god of war.

Thus, even though the Wolf Clan now boasted twenty million cultivators at the Golden Core level, their morale could not muster the strength to assault the Pass of National Destiny. Not only was their morale absent, their hearts were filled with terror. The brutality and dominance with which Lin Qiye slew the Wolf Lord was overwhelming, savage beyond measure. This scene would haunt the Wolf Clan warriors for years, perhaps centuries—a nightmare entwined with their souls. Whenever they thought of humanity, of Lin Qiye, an indelible fear would arise deep within their hearts.

At this moment, that fear had already taken root, affecting their very thoughts. The Wolf Clan's kings roared and demanded an attack, told their warriors to charge the Pass of National Destiny at all costs, to avenge their Lord. But Lin Qiye, hovering above the void, appeared more insurmountable than the pass itself. Twenty million Wolf Clan cultivators gazed up at Lin Qiye, who seemed as a deity; in their hearts, the drums of retreat beat furiously. None dared advance a single step. Their minds were filled with thoughts of withdrawal.

“Retreat! Retreat quickly! Even the Wolf Lord has been killed—how can we break through the pass?”
“The Seventeenth Prince of Qin is invincible!”
“Yes, he is the true prodigy, the Heavenly Khan! Whoever defies the Khan will die!”

Amidst the tumult, mutiny erupted within the Wolf Clan ranks. Some Golden Core cultivators fled without looking back. Then, hundreds of thousands, millions, broke and scattered, their formations once orderly now in utter chaos.

In the end, even the mental defenses of the Wolf Clan kings collapsed. Gnashing their teeth in hatred, they carried the Wolf Lord's corpse and retreated in frenzy.

As the Wolf Clan broke and fled, atop the Pass of National Destiny, a million human warriors erupted in laughter, their jeers rumbling as one:

“Useless Wolf Lord!”
“Useless Wolf Clan!”
“Pathetic—useless!”

The chorus of mockery was ablaze with excitement, boiling over with exhilaration. Some warriors deliberately elongated their shouts, infusing their voices with deep disdain. Their faces shone with conceit, shouting with all their might to humiliate the Wolf Clan. Their words were harsh enough to infuriate anyone with a shred of pride.

But the Wolf Clan’s morale and will had been crushed into dust by Lin Qiye. Not a trace of anger remained in their hearts; neither shame nor humiliation touched them—only endless sorrow, fear, numbness, and despair. With heads bowed, they retreated.

In less than ten minutes, the Wolf Clan army had vanished without a trace. Two million warriors atop the Pass of National Destiny were delirious with joy, their burning, adoring gazes falling upon Lin Qiye.

“Long live the Seventeenth Prince!”
“Long live the Seventeenth Prince!”

At this moment, the mountains and seas of voices, filled with reverence and awe, thundered together, shaking the heavens and echoing through the clouds. The wild shouts seemed to lift Lin Qiye up to the throne of the gods.

But Lin Qiye’s features remained austere; he casually pressed his palm down. A simple gesture, without even a word spoken—yet instantly, two million human warriors fell silent. The pass was so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

The three generals of the Meng family were stunned. The scene was terrifying: just a lift of the hand, and two million warriors obeyed without question—not a single soul dared defy him! What awe-inspiring authority! What iron discipline! They had trained soldiers their whole lives, but had never encountered such military order. To command two million warriors so absolutely with a mere gesture is impossible through training alone. Even countless drills could not achieve this.

To accomplish such a feat, the commander must become the spiritual pillar of the soldiers, their god. Ordinarily, no one could do this. But the Seventeenth Prince had succeeded! He alone slaughtered the Wolf Lord, stood against twenty million enemies, was as formidable as a natural fortress. He had earned the heartfelt, devout submission of his two million troops.

Thus, a miracle of military discipline unfolded before them. The three Meng generals drew deep breaths, shaken to their core, gazing at Lin Qiye with eyes full of awe and excitement. In their eyes, one word appeared: God of War!

They looked up at Lin Qiye, utterly admiring him.

At this moment, Lin Qiye was also startled. He raised an eyebrow and glanced at the orderly ranks of human warriors below.

“My soldiers, as you have seen, the Wolf Lord has fallen—his clan has suffered defeat!” His calm voice echoed to the clouds. “I once said, the Wolf Clan is nothing special! Today, I prove again with facts: the Wolf Lord is nothing special either!”

As he spoke, Lin Qiye’s gaze swept beyond the pass.

“The Wolf Clan outside is but dust. In the future, I will lead you deep into their territory, reclaim the lost capitals of humanity!”

His words were serene, yet each syllable carried unwavering resolve, the spirit to slay gods and Buddha alike. The million warriors were fired up by this spirit, their eyes glittering, their morale soaring to its peak.

Sensing this atmosphere, Lin Qiye nodded slightly, then descended slowly to stand beside Zhu Yuheng.

Zhu Yuheng’s eyes were filled with astonishment and admiration as she stared at Lin Qiye.

“You really crushed that foolish wolf!” she said. “Impressive!”

The proud Zhu Yuheng rarely gave such direct praise, but today her words were candid and unrestrained, a testament to her deep respect for Lin Qiye’s performance.

Lin Qiye smiled calmly. “Crushing him was only natural. If I couldn’t, it would mean something was wrong with me.”

He shook his head, exuding confidence. As someone with innate roots, the Nine-colored Divine Thunder body, the Purple Star True Qi, and Infant Sword Qi—a truly monstrous talent—Lin Qiye was destined to crush all enemies of this world. If he couldn’t overwhelm the Wolf Lord despite all these cards, it would mean he was utterly incompetent.

Of course, the Wolf Lord was also a prodigy, with exceptional comprehension, able to grasp the ancestral minor immortal arts. Even Lin Qiye respected him for that. But so what? In battle, comprehension does not determine victory. Purely in terms of combat strength, Lin Qiye was a dimensional leap above the Wolf Lord.

Knowing this, Lin Qiye was not surprised by his victory. And so, now, his heart was unruffled, calm to the extreme, showing the demeanor of a peerless genius.

Zhu Yuheng cast a sidelong glance at Lin Qiye. “Hmph, still acting cool? You think I don’t know you? You must be overjoyed inside.”

Yet Lin Qiye’s eyes remained steady. “Not at all. Killing the Wolf Lord was just routine for me.”

He maintained his disdainful aura, looking down upon all heroes.

But in that instant, Lin Qiye suddenly froze. A crisp, pleasant notification sounded in his mind:

[Heaven-defying Fate Change Success: At seven, you enacted the New Code, forged a new Great Qin Empire with power and blood. Hundreds of millions of commoners revere you deeply. You have received 50,000 Walking Points, for a total of 650,000 Walking Points.]

[Heaven-defying Fate Change Success: At eight, you marched thousands of miles deep into Wolf Clan territory, burned their palace, and shattered their morale. You have received 50,000 Walking Points, for a total of 700,000 Walking Points.]

[Heaven-defying Fate Change Success: At eight, you used open strategy to force the Wolf Lord to the Pass of National Destiny, and slew him. You have received 100,000 Walking Points, for a total of 800,000 Walking Points.]

[Heaven-defying Fate Change Success: At eight, your actions triggered a special opportunity in the Grand Xia Universe—ancestral lands returned, the Fate Empress was saved. You have received 200,000 Walking Points, for a total of 1,000,000 Walking Points.]

[Life Lamp Gem Reminder: Your current walk is nearly perfect, rated SSS. Do you wish to return?]

[Life Lamp Gem Reminder: By chance, you have encountered a minor immortal art. Will you burn your Life Lamp, consume all energy and lifespan of this world, and imprint the art in your memory? (Note: Upon success, the minor immortal art will condense into a memory orb, consuming Walking Points, with a chance to comprehend the art.)]

[Please make your choice; you have three minutes to decide. If your lifespan is insufficient, you will miss the art.]

“Again, I must burn all my lifespan to take it with me? I’ve suffered through three lives—can I not enjoy myself for once?” Lin Qiye’s eyes showed a hint of bewilderment. He hadn’t even had a taste of what it was like to be emperor, and now the Life Lamp Gem was stirring things up?

But Lin Qiye only grumbled inwardly. He was utterly unable to resist the allure of the minor immortal art. Though it wouldn’t help much in direct combat, if used properly in critical moments, it could be a world-changing move.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Qiye made his decision.

“I’ve already got the SSS rating. I choose to return!”

As soon as he spoke, the countdown began—three minutes left.

Lin Qiye exhaled slowly, looking seriously at Zhu Yuheng.

“Come with me. There are some things I wish to entrust to you.”

Seeing Lin Qiye’s unusually solemn expression, Zhu Yuheng was struck by a sense of foreboding.

“What is it?”

“Please, come with me.”

Lin Qiye led Zhu Yuheng into the palace within the city, his back to her.

“The Great Qin Empire is entrusted to you and Qin Xingtong. Xingtong’s research lab can continuously produce Golden Core cultivators; please support him fully in manufacturing the mass-production pills. With him, the Wolf Clan can be utterly destroyed. He doesn’t care for governance—once the Wolf Clan is gone, he will wander. You, too, are devoted to cultivation; focus on refining your innate divine body. Leave statecraft to the old emperor.”

“Remember to cultivate well… don’t let ambition get the better of you. Such competitiveness is unnecessary…”

“And, thank the old emperor and Consort Ning for me—they are good parents, but… I am merely a guest in this life. My time has come to an end.”

Lin Qiye’s gaze was deep.

“Cultivate well. Don’t rush into reckless battles; if you cannot win, retreat and cultivate until you can crush your enemies.”

He gave a few final words of advice.

Zhu Yuheng was stunned. For the first time, her heroic face showed panic.

“What are you saying? You…”

Suddenly, Zhu Yuheng realized something. Without hesitation, she rushed toward Lin Qiye, holding him tightly.

The months of torment under the old emperor had left her with no hesitation or indecision at this moment.

“So you really have been burning your life to save humanity?! Don’t do this, please. It’s all my fault—because of my pointless pride, I was trapped for a hundred years. If I had spent that century cultivating, I could have helped you slay the Wolf Lord. You wouldn’t have… I…”

“Don’t do this, please… I finally admitted I like you, it took all my effort. I truly meant it!”

Lin Qiye was frozen; but the Life Lamp Gem had already begun its countdown.

“Sorry. I cannot change this…”

Hearing this, Zhu Yuheng held him tighter, burying her face in his chest, as if afraid he would vanish.

But then, countless thunderbolts erupted from the void, plunging into Lin Qiye’s body, blasting him into a shower of radiant feathers. The feathers drifted away, disappearing into the air…

Only a single phrase remained, echoing in Zhu Yuheng’s ear: Take care.

Zhu Yuheng embraced nothingness. Her expression was dazed, her dragon-like brows furrowed, her phoenix eyes shrouded in shadow.

She stood lost, not knowing what to do. Two hearts beat in alternation, as if pulling her back to a year ago.

At that time, in her battle with the Wolf Lord, her heart had shattered. Endless darkness and cold flooded her body. Afraid of the chill, she instinctively prayed for Lin Qiye to hold her tight. Not only did he do so, he infused her with burning innate true qi, even reconstructing her heart.

Then, as she opened her eyes, her heart pounding, she was enveloped in warmth, Lin Qiye’s handsome features overlapping with that beautiful memory.

Lin Qiye was warmth. Lin Qiye was beauty.

But now, Lin Qiye had been blasted to dust by thunder from the void. That beautiful memory had vanished like smoke…

Once, when Lin Qiye was by her side, Zhu Yuheng had refused to admit her feelings. But now, her two hearts throbbed uncontrollably, as if about to shatter again.

Zhu Yuheng took a deep breath. She had once looked down on Ji Qinghuan’s “love-struck brain,” even mocking her in front of “Brother Ye” himself. But now, she understood.

Some pursue greatness, some wealth, some knowledge, some peerless power—all valid pursuits. Likewise, seeking love should not be shameful.

“If only I’d understood this from the start. Alas… I learned too late!”

She sighed deeply. But then her gaze brightened.

“Perhaps it’s not too late… He isn’t dead, just reincarnated! I have a chance to find him! Next time, I’ll tie him to my side, so he can never escape!”

Zhu Yuheng snorted coldly, her eyes burning.

…

Two days later, news of the Seventeenth Prince slaying the Wolf Lord spread throughout the Great Qin Empire. Sixty million citizens burned with fighting spirit; the entire nation celebrated.

Every city was adorned with lanterns, as if it were New Year. Amidst the jubilation, Zhu Yuheng sought out Qin Xingtong, recounting the entire story of Lin Qiye being struck by thunder and transformed into radiant feathers.

Qin Xingtong stood frozen, breathless, stunned.

“Again! Again the Lord did this! Leading humanity to victory, while burning his own life.”

“And his lifespan is ever shorter! This time, only eight years!”

Qin Xingtong was overwhelmed with grief, tears streaming down his face.

Zhu Yuheng’s eyes were red as well, but she did not show her sorrow, only turned quietly away.

“I will finish your unfinished work! I will perfect it!”

She clenched her fists.

On the third day, Zhu Yuheng announced to the public: “The Seventeenth Prince is in seclusion, preparing to break through to the true Nascent Soul, becoming the first in a million years!”

With this announcement, humanity fell into frenzy; sixty million citizens cheered in unison. The Great Qin Empire’s thousands of cities celebrated New Year for a full month—lanterns, drums, dragon dances, lion dances, everywhere was lively.

Alas, the celebration belonged to others. Zhu Yuheng endured her sorrow alone, quietly following the policies Lin Qiye had left behind, step by step completing his unfinished legacy.

Five years later, Qin Xingtong had cultivated a new generation of scientists; the mass-production pills entered large-scale manufacture. The results astonished Zhu Yuheng: in a single year, humanity produced three million Golden Core warriors.

They stormed into Wolf Clan territory, launching suicidal invasions. Three million Golden Core warriors toppled sixty Wolf Clan cities, sacrificing 1.8 million Wolf Clan Golden Core fighters.

Fifteen years passed in a flash. Each year, three million new Golden Core cultivators arose, surging into Wolf Clan lands, exacting vengeance.

The Wolf Clan suffered defeat after defeat. At last, humanity pressed forward, annihilating the Wolf Clan completely.

By then, twenty years had passed since Lin Qiye left.

In the twentieth year of the New Qin Era, humanity reclaimed all its lost lands, regained dominion over the Great Qin Universe, and the golden dragon of fortune awoke, ushering in a flourishing age.

Yet people wondered why the Seventeenth Prince had yet to emerge from seclusion. Zhu Yuheng could only declare, “The Seventeenth Prince is at a critical breakthrough. Humanity’s victory over the Wolf Clan is due to his guidance behind the scenes.”

The commoners were puzzled. Grateful to Lin Qiye, but unable to express it, they painted his portrait, honoring him as the God of War.

The old emperor and Consort Ning were skeptical and asked Zhu Yuheng many times. Each time, she smiled and reassured them.

In the three hundredth year of the New Qin Era, the old emperor and Consort Ning passed away together. The new emperor ascended the throne, lacking the Seventeenth Prince’s talent but steady in governance.

After three years of mourning, Zhu Yuheng quietly returned to the snowy plateau, cultivating alone.

In the three hundred and fortieth year of the New Qin Era, a demon-hunting squad from the Grand Xia Universe descended upon the Great Qin Universe…

Lewen