# Chapter 1988: Sneer
"You won't succeed!" Helian Lingzhu supported her father, shouting sharply. "My Helian clan has flourished in Linyuan Realm for many years. How could you possibly shake us so easily!"
"Is that so? But it seems your royal father and this man who foolishly dreams of becoming the consort don't think so." Zhai Liancheng chuckled lowly. "But that's fine. With your naivety, you can better enjoy your final days as princess."
"You—"
"No need to say more."
Helian Jue raised his hand, weakly stopping Helian Lingzhu's retort before it could leave her mouth: "I had foreseen this day might come. I just didn't expect it so soon, nor did I expect it would be the Worship Qilin Alliance."
"Say whatever you have to say, and be done with it."
Helian Jue barely straightened himself, but under the intense pain, his face and body kept contorting, appearing both terrifying and pitiful.
"There's no need for your Helian imperial clan to attend this Qilin God Assembly." Zhai Liancheng didn't even bother with preamble this time, speaking very directly: "The four major powers barely managed to divide the Qilin Divine Realm. Now that the Worship Qilin Alliance has joined, why would there be any room left for your Helian imperial clan?"
Mo Cangying's chest nearly exploded with rage. His gaze was vicious as he said: "The Qilin Divine Realm was established by the Abyss Emperor! What qualifications do you people have—"
"Of course we have no qualifications." Zhai Liancheng interrupted him with a grin. "It's always been strength that determines who enters the Qilin Divine Realm. Now that the Worship Qilin Alliance has joined, if you insist on coming, we'd certainly welcome you."
"After all, who wouldn't enjoy watching a good show of self-inflicted humiliation?"
Zhai Liancheng and Ximen Qi exchanged a glance, then both burst into loud laughter at the same time.
"One more thing," Zhai Liancheng continued. "The Abyss Knight witnessing this Qilin God Assembly is none other than Ximen Boyun!"
This was a heavy hammer on an already crushing blow.
Blood slowly seeped through the gaps between Mo Cangying's tightly clenched teeth.
The Qilin Divine Realm was the last place in the Abyss where the Qilin resided, and also the place in the entire Abyss where earth-elemental forces were most pure and active.
Countless bottlenecks in Linyuan Realm had been broken through there. Countless geniuses had been nurtured there.
Helian Lingzhu, who had been stuck at the peak of the Divine Sovereign Realm for many years without progress, had also pinned her hopes on breaking through in the Qilin Divine Realm.
If even this qualification was stripped away, then both the current and future generations of the Helian imperial clan would have little hope of ever rising again.
"My Helian clan... may not surpass your three sects, but that doesn't mean we can't surpass the Worship Qilin Alliance!" Mo Cangying said through gritted teeth.
Even if not for the Helian imperial clan, just for Helian Lingzhu alone, he absolutely refused to give up the qualification to enter the Qilin Divine Realm.
"Well said. The Worship Qilin Alliance has only risen recently, lacking deep foundations. In terms of the younger generation, they indeed might not necessarily surpass your Helian imperial clan."
"But you seem to have forgotten one thing." Zhai Liancheng glanced at him sidelong. "The Worship Qilin Alliance now has the backing of the Abyss Knight! With Ximen Boyun's current status and position, it's easy as pie for the Worship Qilin Alliance to invite powerful external reinforcements!"
"And your Helian clan? I'm afraid you can't even support your own people. How many decent external reinforcements can you possibly scrape together?"
Mo Cangying's mouth twitched, and he could no longer speak.
Ximen Qi also spoke slowly: "If you really want to go and have the last shred of your dignity trampled on for our amusement, then let me give you a small warning first."
He extended a finger and lightly pressed down on its tip with contempt: "The strongest external reinforcement we've invited this time—just one person would be enough to crush you... all!"
"Brother Cangying and the so-called geniuses the Helian imperial clan has raised are welcome to come and learn. But whether you can return in one piece... I certainly can't guarantee that. Hehehe."
"Are you done?"
Helian Jue's already pale face was now frighteningly bloodless. The violent surge of profound energy in his heart meridian was making it increasingly difficult for him to hold on: "If you're done, then get lost."
"Lord Helian, you'd better hold on a bit longer." Zhai Liancheng ridiculed without mercy. "I still have a way out for your Helian imperial clan. If you don't hear it now and regret it later, it'll be too late."
"..." Helian Jue wanted nothing more than to make the man before him leave immediately, but the words "way out" still struck a deep chord in his soul. His chest heaved violently, and finally, he clenched his teeth and said: "Speak!"
Zhai Liancheng pressed his lips together and said unhurriedly: "Your Helian clan has at least ruled Linyuan Realm as the imperial family for many years. If conflict arises during a change of dynasty, people get hurt, and the entire Linyuan Realm suffers. If some people are too stubborn, the entire Helian bloodline might be uprooted and cut off forever. Just imagining that scene is enough to make one sigh in regret."
This was the most direct and vicious threat.
Yet the Helian clan all knew that if it truly came to that point, this was exactly the most likely cruel reality.
If the Rock Mystery Sect, Ten Thousand Ren Sect, and Blazing Sand Sect truly united to support the Worship Qilin Alliance, then crushing the Helian imperial clan would be almost effortless.
Helian Jue's heart was filled with endless grief and endless regret... If he hadn't abandoned Mo Beichen's wife and daughter back then, the Helian imperial clan could have relied on this Abyss Knight. How could they have been kicked while down and bullied to this extent?
"To spare the lives of Linyuan from devastation, and to preserve the dignity of your Helian imperial clan, the Worship Qilin Alliance leader graciously offers you another choice."
"Through marriage as a bond, the Helian imperial clan will henceforth be merged into the Worship Qilin Alliance!"
Before Helian Jue could respond, Zhai Liancheng's gaze had already turned to Helian Lingzhu: "To show sincerity, the one for this marriage should naturally be the most favored and most prestigious long princess of your imperial clan."
"As for the Worship Qilin Alliance," he half-turned and made a graceful bow toward Ximen Qi, "We'll have Young Master Qi graciously accept her."
"No trouble at all, no trouble at all." Ximen Qi's gaze swept over Helian Lingzhu, his face full of undisguised—even deliberate—lechery.
Boom!!
Mo Cangying's profound energy exploded outward. His black hair stood on end, and his eagle-like eyes nearly cracked from extreme rage.
"Oh!" Zhai Liancheng mocked. "The lord and the long princess haven't spoken yet, but this man eagerly trying to become the consort can't contain himself first."
"Consort? Hah!" Ximen Qi let out a sneer, full of contempt.
Hum!!
With a dull rumble, Zhai Liancheng's robes billowed, and a layer of rock-like shadow covered his body: "Want to fight? Excellent. Mo Cangying, among all the lackeys of the Helian clan, your face is the one I hate the most. I'd be quite happy... to personally break your wings!"
"No! Don't be impulsive!" Helian Lingzhu reached out and pressed firmly on Mo Cangying's arm.
Three sects united, plus the Worship Qilin Alliance backed by the Abyss Knight.
The Helian imperial clan had no chance of winning. Not a single shred.
Facing an enemy with no hope of victory, the choice between dying with honor or living in disgrace was always the hardest decision.
If they fought to the death, the Helian bloodline might truly be cut off. All that would remain, besides rivers of blood and piles of bones, would be their former imperial might and a reputation for unyielding resolve.
If they surrendered... their dignity would be completely lost, but at least they could preserve their bloodline and save almost everyone.
The three sect masters and the Worship Qilin Alliance had given them a "way out."
But the steps that made up this path were undoubtedly built with heavy humiliation.
Under the intense pain, Helian Jue even bit the tip of his tongue. He stared at Ximen Qi and spoke with bloody words full of deep humiliation: "Marriage is acceptable, but it won't be you! It must be the legitimate son of Ximen Borong, the young alliance leader of the Worship Qilin Alliance—Ximen Hong!"
Ximen Qi was definitely not the legitimate son of Worship Qilin Alliance leader Ximen Borong, otherwise Helian Jue would have recognized him.
To have the long princess of his Helian imperial clan marry a concubine's son of the Worship Qilin Alliance leader—how could he possibly accept that!
"Lord... Lord?" Mo Cangying turned his head, unable to believe his ears as he looked at Helian Jue. His voice suddenly became hoarse.
The anger and profound energy around him seemed to be cruelly pierced by something, twisting chaotically.
Helian Jue's words stunned Zhai Liancheng and Ximen Qi for a moment, then both burst into piercing, manic laughter.
"Hahaha, hahahahaha!" Zhai Liancheng laughed so hard he doubled over, completely lacking any decorum, as if he had heard the most absurd joke in the world: "Helian Jue, what kind of pipe dream are you having!"
"Do you think the Helian imperial clan still in this imperial city is the same one that once held sway over all of Linyuan Realm?"
"The way out the Worship Qilin Alliance leader left for you... oh no, let me correct myself—the grace he bestowed—was only out of respect for your Helian clan's guardian patriarch. Otherwise, do you really think your long princess is worthy of becoming Young Master Qi's concubine!?"
Concubine!?
A concubine's son...
And not even a wife, but a concubine!
"You... go... too... far!"
How could Mo Cangying bear to see the one he cherished being humiliated like this? His entire body trembled, the veins on his arms bulging to the point of nearly bursting.
If not for Helian Jue and Helian Lingzhu being by his side, his fury would have long since completely drowned whatever little rationality remained.
"Don't be unconvinced." Zhai Liancheng stepped up beside Ximen Qi, his lazy expression taking on a hint of flattery: "After Ximen Boyun returned from the Pure Land, he personally said that Young Master Qi is the best genius among the younger generation of the Worship Qilin Alliance... oh no no no, of the entire Linyuan Realm!"
"Now, at less than sixty Jiazi of age, he's already at the peak of the Divine Sovereign Realm. What's more, Young Master Qi could have broken through long ago to become a Divine Lord. It's Alliance Leader Ximen and Ximen Boyun who deliberately suppressed him to deepen his foundation, hoping he can reach even higher realms in the future."
Ximen Qi smiled faintly, accepting the praise calmly.
Zhai Liancheng continued: "Both at the peak of the Divine Sovereign Realm, even two Helian long princesses wouldn't be a match for Young Master Qi."
"Hehe!" Ximen Qi let out a low laugh and spoke arrogantly: "Let me declare this: Within Linyuan Realm, no one below the Divine Lord realm is my match! Lord Helian, tell me—is it that I'm unworthy, or is it your long princess who is unworthy?"
As blood surged upward, Helian Jue's face began to turn from pale to a livid purple.
The Helian imperial clan had been isolated for too long. The world outside the imperial clan had long since changed colors completely.
Even a concubine's son of a newly rising power could bring them such shock and pressure.
"Heh~~"
Just as the Helian father and daughter's hearts were sinking into the abyss and Mo Cangying's rage was consuming his very soul, a very untimely sneer sounded.
It was very soft, so soft it seemed to have just unconsciously escaped from the corner of someone's mouth, yet in the extremely oppressive atmosphere of the imperial hall, it was exceptionally clear and jarring.
A person whose presence had been so low as to be nearly invisible suddenly drew the gazes of Zhai Liancheng and Ximen Qi.
"What are you laughing at?" Ximen Qi narrowed his eyes.
As a junior, he had forced the dignified Helian lord into complete loss of composure—humiliated to the extreme yet not daring to truly erupt. How satisfying and majestic.
And then some oblivious idiot had to come and spoil the mood.