Free Web NovelChapter 226: Chapter 224: So Shameless
As everyone stared, utterly dumbfounded, Qin Li declared with righteous indignation, "This has gone too far! Someone is clearly trying to frame my Qin Family, to sling mud at our name!"
Qin Li’s voice was filled with indignation. "It’s true that I’ve had some unpleasant run-ins with the Cui Family before. In fact, I had a bit of a disagreement with their people just today. To be perfectly honest, I don’t like them; they’re far too arrogant! But today, in the presence of the fourth young master of the Lin Family and Shen of the Thousand Mechanism Sect, I, Qin Li, on behalf of the Qin Family of Fengsha City, swear that I will swiftly apprehend these murderers and give the Cui Family an accounting! Because... this happened in Fengsha City, and my Qin Family, as the foremost family of Fengsha City, has a responsibility and a duty to see this through! I also hope that all of you here will bear witness to our innocence. Alas, the Cui Family is vast and powerful; they are not an existence we can afford to provoke. If they truly take their anger out on us, we... alas!"
Silence.
Within the reception hall, countless dust motes danced brazenly in the shafts of sunlight. Qin Li’s voice echoed through the massive chamber, hammering into the hearts of everyone present.
Everyone was dumbfounded. If they had been petrified before, then now they were utterly fossilized.
’How can anyone be so shameless?’ In that instant, many people felt the urge to vomit blood.
Nearly everyone stared blankly at the handsome young man on the stage, at his face twisted in a mask of fury. Had they not known how the recent bloodbath came to be, almost no one would have believed this young man was the one who had started it all.
’So shameless!’
’So despicable!’
’I can’t take it anymore. I need to go bang my head against a wall. Can someone this shameless really exist in the world?’
Even Shen Le and Lin Heng were staring dumbfounded at Qin Li as he spoke so passionately on the stage. The two couldn’t help but exchange a glance, and Shen Le couldn’t resist muttering under his breath.
"What a monster!"
"A true monster!" Lin Heng corrected.
There were plenty of people who could tell a bald-faced lie. But to do so in front of countless influential figures from Profound Island, to tell such a monstrous lie with an expression of pure righteousness—from the dawn of time until now, he was likely the only one!
’Just how much courage and how thick a skin does it take to spout such nonsense?’ That was the question on everyone’s mind.
The Qin Family had openly slaughtered the Cui Family’s Martial Artists. Regardless of what caused the conflict, the fact was laid bare: the Qin Family had completely and utterly wiped out all of the Cui Family’s people. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
And the Qin Family’s goal of using this opportunity to rise in power was painfully obvious. After all, when Qin Li had just declared the Qin Family to be the foremost family of Fengsha City, not a single representative from Fengsha City’s other major families showed even a hint of surprise.
In reality, this outcome had been sealed from the very beginning of the battle.
At least, until the Cui Family managed to annihilate the Qin Family, the Qin Family was, without a doubt, the foremost family of Fengsha City!
But could something like this really be hidden from the Cui Family? So brazen, so swift, so ruthless... how could the Cui Family possibly not know? And how could they possibly not retaliate?
Thinking of this, they all looked back at Qin Li on the stage. ’Is he an idiot?’ they wondered.
However, there are always unexpected things in this world. Otherwise, the word "surprise" would have no reason to exist.
After a moment of astonishment, Lin Heng and Shen Le exchanged a resolute glance. As core scions of great families, once they made a decision, they rarely went back on it. freёwebnovel.com
They almost always gave the impression that their word was their bond, but what people didn’t know was that every decision they made was the result of careful deliberation.
Just now, the two of them had spotted their respective family representatives in the crowd, and those representatives had quickly passed on some new information.
So, Shen Le was the first to stand up, speaking nonchalantly, "Qin is right. Fengsha City has indeed been a bit chaotic lately. Alas, even I was attacked by a group of unidentified individuals a couple of days ago. And guess what? Those people were even wearing Cui Family clothes! But I’m sure it wasn’t the Cui Family. Who would go on a killing spree wearing their own uniform? Wouldn’t that be foolish?"
Lin Heng also stood up then, sighed lightly, and said, "I can testify to that, because Shen and I have been together these past few days. Some of the families and Sects on Profound Island have been acting too unscrupulously, and they’ve even been impersonating people from the Cui Family. In my opinion, someone must have dressed in the Qin family’s clothes to carry out the assassination today in order to frame the Qin Family. I am willing to give this testimony for Qin!"
"I am willing, too!" Shen Le stood up and said. "Although the Cui Family is powerful, and their methods have been quite brutal in recent years, leading to much friction with major families and Sects like ours... on this matter, I am still willing to stand with the Cui Family, help them see the truth, and clear the Qin Family’s name!"
’Damn it, you call that standing with the Cui Family? You call that speaking up for the Cui Family?’
The representatives of families on good terms with the Cui Family immediately began cursing wildly in their hearts.
Qin Li cupped his fists toward the two of them, his face filled with emotion. "On behalf of the Qin Family, I thank the Lin Family and the Thousand Mechanism Sect for their support and trust!"
Shen Le and Lin Heng also returned the gesture with serious expressions, cupping their fists and saying in unison, "Our families will certainly voice our support for the Qin Family!"
At this point, if anyone in the reception hall still couldn’t see that the Lin Family and the Thousand Mechanism Sect were supporting the Qin Family, they’d have to be an idiot.
Immediately, the expressions of many people changed.
At this moment, Qin Li continued, "To express our gratitude to everyone, my Qin Family has specially prepared some newly refined Elixirs. Yes, these Elixirs were all refined from medicinal herbs I collected from the forbidden grounds of Profound Island!"
WHOOSH!
The people below couldn’t help but cry out in astonishment. "Profound Island’s forbidden grounds? New Elixirs?"
These two phrases were like a pair of bombshells dropped into the crowd, instantly throwing everyone into a state of excitement!
Lin Heng and Shen Le exchanged a look, thinking, ’That Qin Li... he really did have a trump card. It seems we bet on the right horse today!’
Qin Li’s expression turned serious. He looked at the crowd and said in a deep voice, "Since we’ve come this far, I’ll say one more thing. Those who wish to become allies of the Qin Family, stay. You will be our honored guests! Those who don’t want to wade into these muddy waters, please leave now. If we cannot be friends, I hope we do not become enemies. When these Elixirs are publicly sold in the future, you will all be invited! However, for now, they will not be provided to non-allied families!"
The hall immediately fell silent. Those sent as representatives mostly held some status within their families, but today’s matter was simply too significant! Many of them simply could not make such a decision on their own.
Thus, some people immediately stood up and silently began to walk out. Others cupped their fists toward Qin Li and said, "Young Master Qin, this matter is truly too significant. We are of humble status and cannot make such a decision. We must report back to our Patriarch for a final say. Is that acceptable?"
Many others voiced their agreement. Qin Li nodded with a smile and said, "To friends, the Qin Family’s doors are always open!"
"Very well, we will take our leave for now!"
In an instant, the reception hall, which had held over a hundred people, was more than half empty.
Only a small portion remained. Many among them were already allies of the Lin Family and the Thousand Mechanism Sect. With the fourth son of the Lin Family and the legitimate son of the Thousand Mechanism Sect’s leader present, what was there for them to hesitate about?
"Good! Those who have remained here are now allies of the Qin Family!" Qin Li said, his smile vanishing, his expression turning serious.
At that moment, several Qin Family ancestors walked in from outside. They had likely just been through a great battle, and a sharp, imposing aura still clung to them, making it difficult for anyone to meet their gaze.
It wasn’t until this moment that many people truly began to take this family, which they had never paid much mind to, seriously. To think they possessed such a profound foundation!
After all, even among Martial Artists at the Celestial Embracing Realm, there were differences. Some were at the peak of the realm, with one foot already stepping into the Venerable Realm!
Others, however, had only just comprehended this level of the Celestial Embracing Realm.
The gap between the two was actually enormous!
And from the performance of the Qin Family ancestors today, they were clearly the type of experts who already had one foot in the Venerable Realm!
With their level of strength, even if a true Venerable Realm master were to appear, they might not necessarily gain much of an advantage!
In reality, the immense confidence of Qinling Mountain and the other Qin Family ancestors came from the fact that their Spiritual Power had skyrocketed after consuming the Essence Pills!
Martial Artists below the Celestial Embracing Realm were completely unable to resist the aura emitted by Spiritual Power that had reached the Venerable Level! Otherwise, how could they have so easily insta-killed those three Cui Family Martial Artists at the Celestial Integration Realm?
It was a classic case of overwhelming the enemy with sheer presence. The four Qin Family ancestors, all at the Celestial Embracing Realm, had immediately suppressed their opponents with their aura, turning the three Celestial Integration Realm Martial Artists into lambs for the slaughter.
At this moment, the way Qinling Mountain and the other ancestors looked at Qin Li was with more affection than if they were gazing upon a peerless treasure. This junior of the Qin Family had given them an unimaginable, wonderful surprise!
Who didn’t want their own family to grow stronger? Who didn’t want to create a better future for their descendants?
Over on the side, Lin Heng and Shen Le both wore solemn expressions as they cupped their fists and bowed to the Qin Family ancestors.
"Shen Le, son of the Thousand Mechanism Sect’s Sect Leader, greets the seniors of the Qin Family!"
"Lin Heng, fourth son of the Lin Family, greets the seniors of the Qin Family!"
"We juniors... greet the seniors of the Qin Family!" The remaining people all stood up and paid their respects to the Qin Family ancestors.
Even though Qin Haiyang, his two brothers, Qinling Mountain, and the others had lived for many, many years, this was the first time they had ever enjoyed such a special honor! Even their steady Martial Artist hearts couldn’t help but stir with emotion.
"My friends, please, don’t be so formal. We’ll let my young grandson keep you company. We shall not disturb you further!" Qinling Mountain said, giving a look to his father and the other two Supreme Elders. The old men understood tacitly and departed with a smile.
Their appearance here was for no other reason than to tell Qin Li one thing.
The Cui Family’s people in Fengsha City were finished—completely and utterly.
