This Brag Backfired

Lin Yan's mouth curled up slightly, taking in everyone's reactions.

As expected, showing off in front of others was the way to go!

Then, he looked up at the tightly closed stone door.

The runes on the stone door were still slowly flowing, emitting a faint azure light.

The crack that Li Tianxing had opened earlier had closed up at some point, sealing tightly as if it had never been opened.

He stared at the nine-story azure pagoda in the sky.

The surrounding people held their breath, not even daring to gasp.

The nine great Soul Formation experts didn't even dare to move, terrified of disturbing Lin Yan.

Zhao Lin was still kneeling on the ground, not daring to get up. He maintained his posture of kneeling on one knee, secretly observing Lin Yan's movements.

Right at this crucial moment of absolute silence, where even a pin dropping could be heard.

A chubby figure carefully squeezed out from the crowd.

Qian Sihai rubbed his chubby hands together, his face full of a flattering smile. His small eyes darted around as he bowed to Lin Yan:

"S-Senior!"

Everyone's gazes instantly focused on him.

The nine great Soul Formation experts were all dumbfounded.

This Fatty Qian was too bold!

Daring to speak up at a time like this, wasn't he afraid of annoying the senior and getting slapped to death?

Qian Sihai was also so scared that his calves were trembling, but he still braced himself and said with an apologetic smile:

"S-Senior, this junior is somewhat familiar with ancient texts. The ancient texts record that the Emperor's ruins require seven days before they can fully emerge!"

"It has only been five days so far, so it is still two days short."

"So that's how it is." Lin Yan suddenly understood.

No wonder Li Tianxing couldn't open it despite trying everything; it turned out they had to wait two more days.

He gave Fatty Qian an appreciative look; this guy was quite attentive.

"Senior..."

Qian Sihai rubbed his hands, seemingly wanting to say something else, but in the next second, he was completely dumbfounded.

"He... he went in?"

Everyone followed his gaze and instantly turned to stone.

They saw Lin Yan casually raise his right hand and gently tap the center of Li Tianxing's back.

There was no earth-shattering boom, no dazzling light of magical abilities.

There wasn't even a trace of spiritual energy fluctuation.

Li Tianxing only felt a warm power surge in from his back, instantly flowing through his entire body.

Immediately after, his body became light and airy, as if it had lost its weight. He subconsciously took a step forward.

And then, just like that... he walked directly through that azure-black stone door.

The ancient runes that had flowed on the stone door for ten thousand years flickered slightly the moment his body passed through, and then returned to normal, as if nothing had ever happened.

The entire venue fell dead silent.

You could hear a pin drop.

After a full three breaths of time, someone finally gasped, the sound exceptionally piercing in the silent arena.

"My god! He went in!"

"Didn't they say we had to wait seven days? How did he just go straight in?"

"Is this the strength of an Emperor? He can even alter the rules of heaven and earth at will!"

The rogue cultivators went completely crazy, pointing at the stone door and exclaiming incoherently.

Just a moment ago, they had been fighting tooth and nail over whether they could grab even a scrap, yet this person simply raised his hand and sent his disciple straight into the core of the ruins.

The nine great Soul Formation experts looked at each other, their faces written with shock and awe.

Jiang Xuan stroked his gray beard, his hands trembling slightly. "This old man has lived for nine hundred years and has never seen such a terrifying divine ability! With a wave of his hand, he broke an Emperor's seal from ten thousand years ago."

Han Pojun smiled bitterly and shook his head. "Even Emperor Cangwu himself back in the day probably couldn't have done it so effortlessly."

"So that's how it is... So that's how it is."

Qian Tongshen muttered to himself, finally understanding something.

"No wonder the senior was completely dismissive of the ruins from beginning to end. He never cared about some Emperor's inheritance at all; he merely wanted to let his disciple go in to gain experience."

Indeed.

If he really wanted the inheritance, couldn't he have just gone in himself just now?

Why wait until now?

His descent from the mountain was never about snatching any treasures.

It was simply because these people were too noisy at his doorstep and disturbed his sleep.

And conveniently, he sent his disciple into the ruins.

Thinking of this, everyone felt their faces burning.

They had fought bloody battles and almost lost their lives for something another person didn't even care about.

Thinking about it now, it was simply a joke.

Zhao Lin's face had completely turned a deathly gray.

He had still harbored a sliver of hope, thinking that once the ruins opened, he might be able to fish in troubled waters and reap some benefits.

But looking at it now, let alone reaping benefits.

This ruin, from the inside out, was already the Tianyan Sect's possession.

Whoever Lin Yan wanted to let in, could go in.

Whoever he didn't want to let in, even a peak Soul Formation expert, could only stare blankly from the outside.

His previous promises of making him a co-ruler and sharing the world now seemed absolutely ridiculous.

Zhao Lin took a deep breath, suppressing the despair and bitterness in his heart.

He wasn't going to get any benefits.

The most important thing now was that there could be no more bad news.

The Grand Emperor Sword was already shattered, and the royal family's foundation was completely lost.

If they offended Lin Yan again, the Great Qian Zhao Family would truly be exterminated.

"S-Senior."

"Every word this junior said earlier was sincere!

"Please consider it, Senior. As long as Senior is willing to make peace with the royal family, this junior is willing to petition His Majesty to allocate all five southwestern commanderies to the Tianyan Sect, and annually offer ten thousand low-grade spirit stones as tribute to the Sect Master, along with all kinds of heavenly materials and earthly treasures."

Lin Yan finally turned his head and gave him a faint glance.

That gaze was very calm, devoid of any emotion, yet it made Zhao Lin feel as if he had been stripped naked, all his thoughts seen through with absolute clarity.

"I do not care what you say."

Lin Yan's voice was very light, yet carried an unquestionable authority.

"I only care what you do."

Zhao Lin was suddenly stunned.

Immediately after, his eyes lit up.

He understood!

Although the other party did not explicitly accept those conditions, he also did not reject the royal family's goodwill.

As long as he obediently listened in the future and didn't pull any little tricks, the royal family could continue to exist.

This was already the best possible outcome!

"This junior understands!"

Zhao Lin was so excited that his voice trembled, and he bowed deeply to Lin Yan.

"This junior will return to the capital right now and immediately order the withdrawal of all stationed troops in Cangwu Commandery. From now on, all affairs in Cangwu Commandery will be entirely decided by the Tianyan Sect! The royal family will absolutely not intervene in the slightest!"

"In the future, if Senior has any orders, Zhao Lin will not hesitate even if it means dying ten thousand times!"

Lin Yan waved his hand, too lazy to waste any more words with him.

"Get lost."

"Yes! This junior takes his leave!"

Zhao Lin felt as if he had been granted a great amnesty. He hastily turned around and waved toward the direction of the Nine-Dragon Flying Skiff.

The massive golden flying skiff slowly rose, taking Zhao Lin and the remaining royal forces with it as they left Qingyun Mountain with their tails between their legs.

They were just as wretched when leaving as they were domineering when they arrived.

Watching the Nine-Dragon Flying Skiff disappear into the horizon, Lin Yan's mouth curled up slightly.

"This Nine-Dragon Flying Skiff isn't bad..."

"Did I... act a bit too grandly this time..."