Chapter 278: Apostle Follower Yang Qianyuan: Elimination Complete!

“Anything can be discussed—I’m just a follower!” Yang Qianyuan barely dodged four flying swords aimed at vital points, yet still bore four gruesome sword wounds across his body.

As for Hui Huifeng, it was crushed by the Dragon’s Breath of Ink Shadow Dragon.

At this moment, Yang Qianyuan understood: the opponent’s trial task was tied to Yang Qianzheng or Li Wanwu.

Their interests clashed, hence the fight began immediately.

“So your boss is strong? Hmph,” Chu Danqing said, deliberately provoking him.

For instance, forcing him to reveal some Paradise intel would send him straight back.

The good news was Yang Qianyuan was merely a follower of some Apostle, not an ally.

He must have returned to his native world via some means.

As for why he returned, Chu Danqing didn’t need to guess—it was to evolve Ink Shadow Dragon.

“I’ll compensate you for your losses,” Yang Qianyuan said, dodging Guo Ming’s flying sword again, sounding disheveled.

He felt helpless: his team was already 3rd-rank, and he’d paid a heavy price just to return to his native world alone.

In his team, he handled reconnaissance and intelligence gathering, so his combat power was naturally weak.

Moreover, team-based followers each had specialized roles and needed teammates’ support to unleash full strength—leaving Yang Qianyuan without critical buffs.

If he couldn’t negotiate peace within ten minutes facing Guo Ming’s assault, he’d be dead.

Fortunately, as a key member of his team, he still had considerable wealth.

“Oh? What compensation can you offer?” Chu Danqing said, but Guo Ming’s sword never paused.

Guo Ming and Chu Danqing had partnered so many times they knew this was merely Chu Danqing’s tactic to distract Yang Qianyuan.

“Make your follower stop first,” Yang Qianyuan couldn’t help saying.

Chu Danqing felt regret—he’d seen Ink Shadow Dragon crush Yang Qianzheng and Li Wanwu into unconsciousness.

The good news was both retained normal vital signs; Yang Qianyuan feared saying the wrong thing would trigger forced return.

The Paradise inherently discouraged high-rankers entering low-rank trial worlds.

Even after paying a heavy price, multiple restrictions still applied.

As for Guo Ming being 3rd-rank? The Paradise didn’t judge Guo Ming—it judged Chu Danqing.

Chu Danqing securing a 3rd-rank native ally at 1st-rank was his own skill; the Paradise wouldn’t restrict it.

“Fine, but return Yang Qianzheng and Li Wanwu to me first,” Chu Danqing said bluntly.

These two were key—once rescued, Guo Ming planned to use them as expendables to clear the ground.

Yang Qianyuan wasn’t surprised by Chu Danqing’s demand; otherwise, why had he chased him across such distances?

“My boss is famous among 3rd-rankers,” Yang Qianyuan began, ready to name-drop.

“But can he protect you in a trial world?” Chu Danqing cut him off.

“I’m not threatening you,” Yang Qianyuan hurried to say. “I mean—I’m rich. Name your price. I won’t bargain.”

He’d be insane to threaten with his background.

Someone with 3rd-rank power at 1st-rank level? They’d likely meet Chu Danqing before even breaking into 4th-rank—his strength then would be unpredictable.

But Yang Qianyuan was certain: Chu Danqing had the power to annihilate his entire team.

So his choice was to bleed heavily to make Chu Danqing leave voluntarily.

“Also, killing me isn’t worth it—I’m a vital intelligence officer, and our team carries a Revenge Mark.”

“I reiterate: this isn’t a threat. It’s just a factual statement.”

“If you kill me, my boss’s investment in me is wasted—he won’t swallow that anger.”

“Then you’ll face trouble, and my team will suffer losses too. So just name your price—save us both the hassle and waste,” Yang Qianyuan said, narrowly dodging Guo Ming’s sword qi.

He’d spoken so much, yet Chu Danqing remained unmoved.

The man’s words were half-truths; his biggest flaw was the Revenge Mark.

If Yang Qianyuan were 1st-rank, Chu Danqing might’ve believed him—the Revenge Mark would’ve been unavoidable.

But a 3rd-rank team retaliating against a 1st-rank Apostle? Even if the Revenge Mark branded Chu Danqing, the Paradise would first cripple that team with severe penalties.

Any further action would likely send them straight into a War Mission.

And if you got killed in return, what right do you have to retaliate?

High-rank Apostles entering low-rank trial worlds are already unwelcome—you disrupt the growth of local Apostles. Isn’t that suicide?

Most Apostles avoid trial worlds below their rank, unless, like Yang Qianyuan, they require a specific world to proceed.

Seeing Chu Danqing’s expression, Yang Qianyuan’s heart sank—he wouldn’t back down.

He’d lowered himself completely—even let Chu Danqing name the price. He couldn’t understand why Chu Danqing refused.

“Wanna know why?” Chu Danqing saw his confusion and said softly: “Evaluation.”

“Losing Paradise Points and Attribute Points from a failed trial? That means nothing to me.”

“The real loss is the Evaluation.”

“S-rank Evaluation,” Chu Danqing said.

In that instant, Yang Qianyuan understood.

This was the difference between him and Chu Danqing’s team.

His team’s average evaluation hovered around B to A-rank.

That was for 3rd-rank; at 1st or 2nd-rank, it’d drop to D or C-rank.

The reason it rose so high was simply because his team was well-rounded.

So Yang Qianyuan knew well the benefits of high-evaluation training rooms.

Now he knew: he was dead.

“Hope you’re just as bold when you meet my boss!” Yang Qianyuan, seeing this, unhesitatingly ordered Ink Shadow Dragon to kill Yang Qianzheng and Li Wanwu.

But he was too slow.

Chu Danqing’s words had two purposes: first, to distract him; second, to buy time.

Under Guo Ming’s cover, Da Gu’s Hui Huifeng had reached Ink Shadow Dragon’s claw.

It exploded instantly, blowing the dragon’s claw open and bloody, while Su Nü Sword arrived simultaneously, severing the claw in one stroke.

The unconscious Yang Qianzheng and Li Wanwu tumbled down.

Ink Shadow Dragon’s mournful cry abruptly ceased.

Guo Ming’s four flying swords pierced straight through the dragon’s eyes, mouth, and reverse scales.

Ink Shadow Dragon’s life force collapsed instantly; its massive body plummeted from the sky.

Standing atop Ink Shadow Dragon’s head, Yang Qianyuan’s face showed no emotion—he’d performed celestial divination before coming.

This journey carried nine deaths and one chance.

He believed it, so he planned meticulously: first, he incited Prince Ning to rebel early; fearing his subordinates might botch it, he came himself.

Not guaranteed, but it increased his odds.

He never expected to meet a 3rd-rank swordsman—and instantly lost all chance of survival.

“You don’t think you’ve won, do you?” Yang Qianyuan’s gaze fixed on Chu Danqing: “With the empire in chaos, how much will you gain?”

Knowing this was nine deaths and one chance, Yang Qianyuan had prepared.

But his preparation wasn’t aimed solely at Chu Danqing—it was indiscriminate, meant to widen the chaos already sparked by Prince Ning’s rebellion.

As Yang Qianyuan finished speaking, Guo Ming’s sword severed his head, and a blossoming Revenge Mark appeared.

It first landed on Guo Ming, then swiftly transferred to Chu Danqing.

[Detected cross-rank Revenge Mark. Faction origin confirmed: 3rd-rank solo adventurer team. Not approved.]

The Paradise’s notification appeared—the Revenge Mark on Chu Danqing shattered instantly.

Revenge Marks weren’t unusable—they had to follow the rules.

Large factions like Long Hu Alliance or Tiance Prefecture could use them because they had members at the corresponding rank; even if seeking revenge, only members of that rank could act.

Yang Qianyuan’s team was a solo adventurer group—all members 3rd-rank—so it couldn’t succeed.

Only if they possessed an Apostle of Chu Danqing’s own rank, and sent only that one Apostle to retaliate, would the Paradise remain silent.

Clearly, this solo team had none.

Just like the Free Will executive who killed the Holy Empress Dowager—he could only send an Apostle of equal rank to retaliate against Chu Danqing.

Not because he didn’t want to strike back himself—he simply couldn’t.

From Yang Qianyuan’s corpse, a bloody treasure chest appeared; Guo Ming casually snatched it up.

Normally, in Peace Mode, combat between Apostles didn’t drop bloody treasure chests.

But Yang Qianyuan wasn’t a legitimate entrant—he didn’t qualify for Peace Mode’s protection.

Moreover, his actions were disfavored by the Paradise; any Apostle who killed him would trigger a bloody treasure chest drop.

What the chest contained? Chu Danqing didn’t know—it had no quality rating; it depended entirely on what Yang Qianyuan possessed.

“3rd-rank should yield good loot,” Chu Danqing took the bloody treasure chest and shoved it straight into his storage space.

On the other side, Su Nü Sword Spirit clamped Yang Qianzheng and Li Wanwu, one on each side.

Both were in deep unconsciousness.

Li Wanwu was fine—no serious injuries.

But Yang Qianzheng had already been severely wounded by backlash, then subjected to restrictions by Yang Qianyuan during transit, and now this ordeal—his life hung by a thread.

Chu Danqing immediately ordered Bai Long to heal him, but the results were poor.

Bai Long’s Nine-Headed Spirit Scripture was too low-level to heal injuries to the root.

Previously, it could at least stabilize and restore most of his condition.

But now even the symptomatic effects have dropped to a low point.

Fortunately, the effects still held—Yang Qianyuan and Li Wanwu, after being bombarded by Bai Long’s Spirit Art: Spirit Healing, slowly regained consciousness.

Their expressions, however, were filled with confusion and bewilderment.

(End of Chapter)