Chapter 327: I Never Hold Grudges, I'm Very Magnanimous!

Chapter 327: I Never Hold Grudges, I’m Very Magnanimous!

The Eye of the Sky was immensely powerful—this was the common knowledge of every Qin person.

Were nuclear weapons strong?

A single high-yield nuclear warhead could obliterate a mountain and level a city!

Yet, compared to the Eye of the Sky, nuclear weapons seemed a tier lower.

The Eye of the Sky possessed not only precision strikes and long-range point elimination but also the capacity for mass slaughter.

However, no matter how precisely the Eye of the Sky targeted, its attack range was limited.

Even at its smallest, it was still as large as a building.

Thus, if Mu Longxian activated the Eye of the Sky, the casualties would absolutely exceed a thousand, or even ten thousand.

“Hmph, they’re nothing but weeds. Dead is dead.

Back then, when the grandson of the Yang family died, three thousand petty officials across Feng Province were shaken to death.

So what? Is my son worth less than the Yang family’s grandson?”

Mu Longxian’s voice was filled with indignation.

Back then, even public officials were implicated, with more than half dead or injured.

Now, these people in the mall were nothing but common rabble. Dead is dead.

As for public opinion?

Wasn’t that simple?

The Guiran Kingdom, instigated by the Guwu Kingdom, had carried out a terrorist attack.

Such things had been done many times between the Qinyuan Kingdom and the Guwu Kingdom.

They just shifted the blame onto each other.

Back then, when the upper echelons of the Guwu Kingdom got angry, they annihilated one of their own towns, causing mass casualties.

In the end, the blame was pinned on the Qinyuan Kingdom—the Qinyuan Kingdom had done it.

The lowly commoners wouldn’t suspect the higher-ups; instead, they would unite in shared hatred against the enemy nation.

As for suspicion… let them suspect.

The Seven Martial Stars held absolute control and had no fear of rebellion from the bottom.

“My… my brother is still in the mall!” Han Kang said anxiously.

At this moment, he had lost his composure.

“My son is dead. What does it matter if you lose a brother?” Mu Longxian’s voice was resolute.

“Activate Mu-03 Eye of the Sky. Coordinates…” Mu Longxian gave the order.

He had lost his mind.

After his son’s death, his status in the family had plummeted.

Now, only by erasing that Qi Yuan could he quell the hatred in his heart.

More importantly, his mission also included eliminating Qi Yuan.

But before he could finish his words, a voice reached his ears.

“Are you the one my husband spoke of—the one who kills the small, then the medium among the medium?”

The voice came abruptly, ethereal and somewhat seductive.

Mu Longxian was momentarily stunned, and everyone in the hall was shaken by the voice.

They saw that, somehow, a young man and woman had suddenly appeared in the hall.

These two were unmistakably the protagonists of the scene they had just been watching on the screen.

They were… ten kilometers away, weren’t they?

They had only exchanged a few words—how had they suddenly appeared here?

Mu Longxian felt a sense of impending doom and roared, “Guards! Come quickly! Arrest them!”

He was truly terrified.

Han Kang was also dumbfounded, staring at his brother’s friend, a sense of absurdity rising in his heart.

That person back then… could he be a legendary cultivator?

Although he was qualified to be here today, in truth, he still had more confusion than understanding about Qi Yuan’s identity.

So, when faced with Mu Longxian’s plan to use the Eye of the Sky, he felt utterly absurd, bewildered, and unacceptable.

Now, with Ning Tao and Qi Yuan suddenly appearing here, he instantly understood and connected the dots with what had happened at the Guiran military camp.

Qi Yuan’s gaze fell on Mu Longxian, a brilliant smile in his eyes: “It really feels great to have a thigh to cling to.”

As he said this, he deliberately bent down and, through her black dress, hugged Ning Tao’s thigh.

But at that moment, no one noticed these small gestures.

He looked at Mu Longxian and continued, “Kill the small, and the medium villains come in an endless, united stream.

But I… well, I have my wife’s thigh to cling to.

I’m not afraid of you being united; I’m afraid you won’t be united. Otherwise… wouldn’t that mean I can’t wipe out the whole family?”

Clinging to a thigh wasn’t just talk for Qi Yuan—he actually did it. He was a man of action.

At present, in terms of pure physical strength, Qi Yuan was far inferior to Ning Tao.

So naturally, clinging tightly to his wife’s thigh was the best course.

Qi Yuan’s voice was calm, and it sounded particularly flippant.

A faint blush crept onto Ning Tao’s ears: “Kill the medium, and then I’ll accompany my husband… to kill the old.”

As she spoke, she gently raised her palm.

The once arrogant and overbearing Mu Longxian’s face instantly twisted in terror, his eyes like those of a dead dog.

“No…”

With the threat of death upon him, he seemed to finally understand the rule that all are equal in death.

He wanted to beg for mercy, but he couldn’t utter a single word.

His body shattered at that moment.

All the modern technological defenses seemed like nothing.

He shattered, yet he didn’t shatter—he simply collapsed to the ground.

All breath had left him.

The high-ranking officials and dignitaries present all trembled.

For the first time, they felt so utterly powerless.

Since becoming men above men, their mindsets had shifted.

It was as if all the world were a chessboard, and they the players moving the pieces.

Everything had to follow the rules they laid down.

All the common folk were nothing but pawns.

As for—the wrath of a common man?

That was merely a joke.

For rulers like them, who didn’t have nanobot protective suits, even security details? There was no such thing as a common man’s fury staining the ground with blood five paces away.

Aside from other players, the only thing they needed to worry about and fear was the question of which side to choose.

But now, their very guts had turned to jelly; for the first time, they realized there were things in this world beyond their control.

At that moment, Ning Tao’s gaze swept over the assembled dignitaries, her expression bright as starlight: “You… and you… you… I see murder in your eyes, all of you in league with the dead… so go and die, then.”

Ning Tao was like Yama himself, crossing names off the Book of Life and Death—whom she pointed at, fell.

In just a few breaths, seven high officials lay dead in the room.

The remaining officials stood frozen, holding their breath, daring not utter a word.

Han Kang stood rooted to the spot, his head buzzing.

Among the seven dead officials, three were from the Provincial Council.

One of them was his direct superior, a man he had to look up to with utmost care.

And now, that man had fallen like a dead dog.

How could his heart not tremble with shock and fear?

Qi Yuan and that enchanting young girl—they were terrifying to such a degree.

“I suddenly feel like reciting a poem,” Qi Yuan said then, seized by poetic inspiration, lost in thought. “The inner treasury burns to brocade ash; on the royal streets, the bones of nobles are trampled.”

The officials present had never heard this poem, but their faces all changed drastically.

They were cultured men; they understood the meaning of those lines.

“A fine poem… a fine poem…”

The head of the Provincial Council stepped forward shakily, trembling as he praised.

To be honest, even when facing members of the Seven Martial Star families, he had never groveled like this.

Han Kang quickly stepped forward too, saying, “This poem is excellent, rich in both scene and sentiment. Master Qi… is a genius.”

Seeing this, three or four other officials rose to offer their praise.

As if by praising Qi Yuan’s poem, Qi Yuan might spare them.

Their flattery made Qi Yuan rather embarrassed.

“I didn’t write that poem.”

Qi Yuan was honest; he never liked taking credit for others’ work.

Blue Star hadn’t been destroyed yet—if he were caught plagiarizing a poem, wouldn’t that be social death?

“The recitation rises and falls, every word weighty, bearing the style of a sage!” another official chimed in with flattery.

Hearing this, Qi Yuan laughed.

“No wonder ancient emperors loved sycophants.”

Then Qi Yuan’s gaze fell on the secretary beside Han Kang.

“How about you throw in a line of flattery too, to amuse me?”

The secretary’s face turned uglier than tears, and his body couldn’t stop trembling.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m a very positive person; I never hold grudges.

Though last time you said Wu Yunting belonged to your family, you were speaking the truth—that can’t be changed. The fault is mine… I’m poor, couldn’t afford to buy Gongxing.

Otherwise, I’d have snapped back at you then.”

Hearing Qi Yuan’s words, the secretary’s face went pale, his expression more wretched than tears.

“Master Qi… this humble one was wrong.” The secretary wished he could go back a few days and tear his own mouth apart—how could he have been so brainless as to say such a thing?

“Don’t make that face. You weren’t wrong; you spoke the truth. I’m the one without ability… Sigh, acting like this makes me seem petty, a brute who resorts to violence when he can’t win an argument, doesn’t it?” Qi Yuan couldn’t help saying.

He had always been reasonable.

When reason could prevail, he never resorted to force.

He convinced people with logic!

But in this secretary’s imagination, was he some god of slaughter who wiped out entire families?

Seeing this, the secretary collapsed to the ground, too terrified to speak.

“Sigh.” Qi Yuan couldn’t help sighing again. “I still prefer the way you were when we first met—that arrogant, untamed look. But in just a few days, society has worn away your edges. You’ve worked hard.”

The crowd wanted to laugh but dared not.

The secretary looked like he’d lost his mother.

“Everyone, bye-bye. Now that I’ve killed the middle ones, I have to go with my wife to kill the old ones.”

Qi Yuan wrapped his arm around Ning Tao’s soft waist.

Because Ning Tao was about to take him to the capital.

If he didn’t hold tight, the journey would be very slow.

Seeing this, the head of the Provincial Council quickly said, “Master Qi, please wait a moment.”

“Oh, what’s the matter? Are you going to flatter him for him?” Qi Yuan glanced again at the secretary sprawled on the floor.

The secretary immediately felt everyone’s eyes on him, a chill running through his heart.

Then Qi Yuan continued, “I’m a reasonable man. Don’t demote him just because he’s too upright to flatter me.

Though we’ve had some quarrels and grudges, I’ll personally slap him back for those. Don’t you interfere!”

Qi Yuan had already planned when he’d save up enough money to buy Gongxing.

Then he’d take out the “star property deed,” slap it on the secretary’s face, and say harshly,

“See this? Gongxing is all mine. Wu Yunting is yours… so what?”

Qi Yuan was still lost in his future fantasy, the more he thought, the happier he grew.

Of course, such a fantasy was delightful—like a loser dreaming of finally hugging a goddess.

Then the head of the Provincial Council said, “Master Qi, the royal family of the Qinyuan Kingdom bears you goodwill. It’s just that there are bad people above in the empire. This whole affair targeting you is entirely the Mu family’s own doing.”

The Qinyuan Kingdom was ruled by the royal family; the Seven Martial Stars, to some extent, held more power than the royals.

This head of the Provincial Council was of the royalist faction.

The royalist faction’s attitude toward Qi Yuan was one of co-option.

"Oh, I understand all this.

Am I some bloodthirsty man, to go and slaughter every last person of the Seven Martial Stars?

No, I am a kind man, who believes in repaying kindness with kindness and vengeance with vengeance—at most, I will kill the entire Mu family."

The officials present lowered their heads, some even unable to suppress a sharp intake of breath.

The Mu family in the capital numbered several thousand.

Adding the other branches, the count exceeded ten thousand.

Thus, on the great tree that was the Qin Yuan Kingdom, there were all sorts of bloodsuckers.

Killing the entire Mu family—that was not called bloodthirsty.

"You are too ignorant. I once knew a man who was truly bloodthirsty.

If it were him, he would probably have killed everyone surnamed Mu on the entire Arch Star," Qi Yuan said. "I am kind—I only kill the chief culprit... and those who harbor hostility toward me."

As Qi Yuan finished speaking, his figure vanished into thin air.

In his ear came Ning Tao's charming voice.

"Husband, I heard the Sky Eye is formidable. Shall your concubine take you up and tear apart the Mu family's Sky Eye?"

"Mm... all right." Qi Yuan nodded, tightening his grip on Ning Tao's hand.

After all, he was afraid of falling.

At that moment, in the great hall, after Qi Yuan left, the remaining officials all took a deep breath and slumped to the ground.

When Qi Yuan was present, they had been so tense that their heads felt not their own.

Then, the head of the provincial office looked at Han Kang and demanded, "What exactly happened?"

He was referring, of course, to Qi Yuan's interrogation of the secretary.

The secretary was now slumped on the ground, eyes vacant, still not recovered.

Han Kang quickly explained, "This matter..."

He reported truthfully what had happened back then.

He could not help but complain inwardly.

Why did his secretary have to be so loose-tongued, saying that one unnecessary sentence?

But the head of the provincial office's eyes lit up: "Your younger brother... is he very familiar with him?"

Han Kang also thought of something and grew excited, then said, "A few days ago, the Mu family was about to make a move on Mr. Qi. I don't know where my brother got the wind, but he told Mr. Qi about it."

"Good!" The head of the provincial office slapped his thigh, a joyful expression on his face. "This was well done. Come, tell me about your brother and Mr. Qi."

Seeing this, Han Kang knew this was his opportunity.

Since he had already offended the Mu family, he might as well board this big ship before him.

"My brother and Mr. Qi are both martial artists..." Han Kang told the head of the provincial office everything he knew.

The head of the provincial office's eyes grew even brighter: "With such a connection, it's good... but..."

Thinking of something, he became worried again.

"The Sky Eye... the Sky Eye controlled by the Seven Martial Stars families... is too powerful.

No, I must immediately report to the King and stop the Mu family from using the Sky Eye!"

...

The capital.

The most prosperous place in the Qin Yuan Kingdom.

Inside the Mu family estate.

The old patriarch sat in the main seat, his expression dark and grim.

Beside the old patriarch stood many middle-aged men, their expressions also far from good.

He looked at the Seventh Prince and Gongyi Cai, a look of displeasure on his face.

"Are the royal family and the Gongyi family going to meddle in our Mu family's affairs?"

The old patriarch's voice carried anger.

The royal family had declined, now inferior to any one of the Seven Martial Stars families.

The Gongyi family had also fallen; if not for still controlling a Sky Eye, they would have been removed from the Seven Martial Stars long ago.

Facing the Seventh Prince and Gongyi Cai, the Mu family patriarch showed no courtesy at all.

The Seventh Prince rose, his voice refined and graceful, showing no displeasure at the old patriarch's attitude: "Elder Mu, we can sit down and discuss matters together. To rashly use a great weapon like the Sky Eye is detrimental to the kingdom and easily provokes conflict."

The old patriarch snorted coldly: "I think it's the royal family that has taken a liking to him and wants to win him over?

Hmph, he killed my grandson, and we just let him go like that? How can our Mu family maintain its standing among the Seven Martial Stars?

Want to sit down and talk? Very simple: let him kneel, hand over everything he has, and cut off his own arms—then this matter is over.

Otherwise... the Sky Eye will surely descend upon him."

The old patriarch was furious.

If they did not truly make a move against Qi Yuan this time, what face would the Mu family have left?

How would the other Seven Martial Stars families view them—as a soft persimmon to be squeezed?

The Seventh Prince said unhurriedly, "Patriarch Mu, according to the treaty signed between the Seven Martial Stars and the royal family, using a weapon of the Sky Eye's level requires an application upward and the royal family's consent.

If the old patriarch intends to move against Mr. Qi, please follow the treaty."

In the past, before the royal family had completely declined and still held some authority, they had signed a similar treaty with the Seven Martial Stars families.

But now, with the royal family in decline, many of the Seven Martial Stars families did not take this treaty seriously.

Or rather, some would follow the treaty and submit an application, and the royal family would usually just go through the motions and not refuse.

At this moment, the Seventh Prince invoked this treaty to show the royal family's determination to win over Qi Yuan.

It was also meant to make the Mu family wary of the royal family, thus refraining from using the Sky Eye and ending the conflict.

"Heh." The old patriarch sneered. "Treaty? Royal family? If we Seven Martial Stars families regard you as the royal family, then you are the royal family.

If we do not regard you as such, what difference is there between you and a dog on the roadside?

Without your own Sky Eye, the royal family... is fit to be called the royal family?"

The old patriarch tore off all pretense, no longer even pretending.

Decades ago, a man married a princess of the royal family. That man was young and promising, regarded as a rising star of the royal family, which supported him vigorously, hoping to restore the royal family's prestige.

But who would have thought that in the end, that man would seize control of the royal family's last three Sky Eyes?

It sounded ridiculous, unbelievable, but it was true.

Ever since losing control of the Sky Eyes, the royal family had truly declined.

At this moment, the old patriarch showed no respect for the Seventh Prince, directly tearing off all masks.

What he said was the truth, too.

The royal family exists in name only.

Their power extends only to a few provinces.

As for the military?

They haven't even gained control over a single military district.

Nor do they possess the Sky Eye.

This royal family... what else are they but mascots?

Hearing Patriarch Mu's insulting words, the Seventh Prince, despite his excellent upbringing, let a flicker of resentment flash in his eyes. He clenched his fists, nails digging into his flesh, then raised his head, still wearing a smile: "Patriarch Mu, the world has changed greatly now, with the revival of the immortal path. Mr. Qi is considered a pioneer on that path. If he lives, it benefits us all.

And, the Sky Eye cannot be used indefinitely; once its energy is depleted, it will be very difficult to replenish, so..."

"Hmph, the authority over the Sky Eye is in my hands. I can use it however I please!

Oh, I forgot, it seems some royal family even managed to have its Sky Eye authority tricked away, haha." Patriarch Mu laughed heartily, showing no respect for the royal family or the Gongyi family. "And you, Gongyi Cai, if your Gongyi family doesn't work harder, in less than a hundred years, you might end up like the royal family, losing even the last of the Sky Eye authority."

Patriarch Mu then attacked Gongyi Cai, a look of disdain in his eyes, and sneered: "Weak rats... only huddle together."

As one of the top three families among the Seven Martial Star families, Patriarch Mu had the right to say such things.

Even the daughters of the great families on Canxing would choose to marry into the Mu family.

It could be said that among the ten most powerful people on Gongxing, he held a place.

"Mu-series Sky Eyes 01 to 13, hear my command. Full power operation, initiate war mode..." Patriarch Mu directly spoke.

His body was equipped with various nanobots.

The password lock controlling the Sky Eye was his voice, specially modulated, impossible to replicate or impersonate.

The network was also independent of the shared internet.

"Order One: Activate the Sky Eye, search for Qi Yuan's location!"

Patriarch Mu continued issuing commands.

Today, he would show the world the Mu family's authority, which could not be challenged.

But just then, a mechanical voice came.

"Command issuance failed. Unknown error encountered."

(End of this chapter)