Holy Yuan Immortal Dynasty's Kings with Different Surnames

"This damn turtle..."

"What's that kid doing? It's just a small pond—how hasn't he come up yet?"

Da Huang had originally wanted to curse him as a "bastard," but then it struck him—wasn't this guy literally a turtle now? So he quickly changed his phrasing.

"The pond might look small, but it's deep. Let’s wait a little longer."

Chen Chang'an had already observed the pond—though unassuming in size, its depth was extraordinary. Yi Tuo had been submerged for the time it takes two incense sticks to burn, yet he still hadn’t reached the bottom.

"Brother, this is way too deep, isn’t it?"

"He still hasn’t surfaced?"

"Maybe you should go down and check—what if the kid drowned?" Da Huang asked, sounding concerned.

"Why don’t you go down yourself?"

"Do you really think it’s possible for him to drown?"

"He’s a damn energy entity, not a living being."

"If you’re so restless, go down and keep him company."

Hearing Chen Chang'an’s words, Da Huang chuckled awkwardly and obediently sat down to the side. What a joke—if there really were fragments of the Law of Death down there, wouldn’t he be in danger if he went in?

The principle of "better you than me" was one Da Huang understood all too well.

While Chen Chang'an and Da Huang waited for Yi Tuo, an unexpected group of visitors arrived at Qifeng Valley.

The ancestors of the four great families sensed their presence, their hearts tightening in alarm. The four quickly gathered once more.

"How did we get exposed?"

"How did they find this place?"

"Could it be..."

"No, absolutely not—it couldn’t have been the Divine Physician."

"Then how were we discovered?"

"Unclear. But now that we’ve been found, there’s no hiding anymore."

"Ah… After all these years, they still refuse to let go."

Without further discussion, the four figures flashed away, heading straight for the intruders.

At the valley’s entrance, a young man stood hunched over, his face plastered with an ingratiating smile as he addressed another youth.

"Lord, this is the place."

"They’ve been living here all along."

The leading youth nodded, then asked, "You betrayed your own kin. Do you regret it?"

"Lord, I stopped being one of them long ago. They were the ones who said that leaving meant no longer being family."

"So I have no regrets. Besides, serving you is an honor."

"I’m overjoyed—how could I possibly regret it?"

The leading youth smirked, then abruptly struck, killing the traitor on the spot.

"A coward who betrays his own is worthless."

After disposing of the turncoat, the young man didn’t immediately lead his forces into Qifeng Valley. Instead, he waited calmly.

Before long, the four ancestors appeared. The young man’s lips curled into a faint smile.

"This junior, Qin Yuxuan, pays his respects to the four esteemed elders." He bowed respectfully.

Qin Yuxuan?

The name was unfamiliar, but the surname was not.

"They sent a junior like you?"

"Do they look down on the four of us?"

"Or do they think we’re so weak now that even a whelp like you can handle us?" The He Family's Ancestor chuckled.

Qin Yuxuan remained unruffled, but a black-robed figure behind him stepped forward.

"Long time no see, old friends. Have you forgotten me?"

At the sound of that voice, the four ancestors stiffened. Qin Huang? He came too?

"You, a senior of the Qin Family, let a junior take the lead?"

"Just what status does this brat hold?" The Zheng Family's Ancestor frowned.

"Hahahaha!"

"Each generation brings forth new talent; the old must make way for the young."

"We’re relics of the past. This is their era now."

"Qin Yuxuan—ranked thirtieth on the Heavenly Pride Rankings."

"What do you think? Not bad for a descendant of my Qin Family, eh?" Qin Huang declared proudly.

Thirtieth on the Heavenly Pride Rankings?

So this kid wasn’t even thirty thousand years old?

It seemed the Qin Family had produced an extraordinary genius—no wonder his status was so high.

Not yet thirty thousand, yet already at the Half-Step Immortal King realm. Truly remarkable.

"You didn’t come here just to boast, did you?"

"Speak plainly. What do you want?" The Feng Family's Ancestor demanded coldly.

"Good!"

"Then I’ll be blunt."

"In honor of our past ties, hand over that thing, and we’ll let bygones be bygones. Your positions in the Sacred Yuan Immortal Dynasty will even be restored."

"How about it?" Qin Huang smiled.

The four ancestors of Qifeng Valley only sneered in response.

"Pretty words. What happened back then—you may have forgotten, but we haven’t."

"Our four families fell to ruin because of you."

"That treasure was rightfully ours, yet you turned on us to seize it."

"Since when did you ever care about 'ties'? What ties did we ever have?"

Just as Qin Huang was about to retort, Qin Yuxuan raised a hand to stop him, then smiled.

"Esteemed elders, I know nothing of the past."

"But this time, the Qin Family comes with sincere intentions. We hope you’ll return to the Sacred Yuan Immortal Dynasty."

"The titles of Honorary Kings have been kept vacant for you all this time."

"You’re wise men. You know the right choice."

"Refuse, and don’t blame the Qin Family for showing no mercy."

The four families of Qifeng Valley had once been Honorary Kings of the Sacred Yuan Immortal Dynasty, their status lofty, their relationship with the imperial Qin Family harmonious.

After all, their ancestors had been sworn brothers—fellow disciples under the same master, fighting side by side with the Qin ancestor to establish the mighty Sacred Yuan Immortal Dynasty. Their contributions were undeniable.

But over time, their prominence made them targets of envy. Even the Qin Family grew wary.

Still, out of respect for their shared history, the Qin Family refrained from outright hostility, merely keeping them in check.

Then came the day the four families’ ancestors stumbled upon a supreme treasure—one that drew the imperial family’s greed.

In the ensuing battle, the ancestors sacrificed themselves to buy their descendants time to flee. Since then, the survivors had hidden in Qifeng Valley.

Yet after all these years, the Qin Family still hadn’t given up.

"The blood debt from back then is still fresh in our minds."

"We may lack the strength to avenge our ancestors, but we will never yield!"

"Kill us all if you must—you’ll never get that treasure."

The four ancestors stood firm. Death was preferable to surrender.

"Fine, fine."

"If you’re so eager to die, then watch as we slaughter every last one of your kin."