Chapter 1123

"Is the lord's word truly sincere?"

Hearing Gai Nie could not help but ask in doubt.

"Though I have not yet become the true Emperor of Qin, my word is still binding."

"Since you refuse, then leave."

The lord spoke with domineering authority.

"Fine!"

Though Hearing Gai Nie did not understand what the lord intended, he still took Miss Xiao Li's hand, clasped the unconscious Pixiu in his other arm, and prepared to leave.

"You may go, but Miss Xiao Li and the Pixiu must stay."

The lord spoke again.

At his words, the officials dressed as civil and military ministers immediately surged forward, seizing Miss Xiao Li and the Pixiu from Hearing Gai Nie's side.

Hearing Gai Nie was about to resist, but these people's strength was extraordinary.

Between them, they wielded a coordinated combination technique.

In a single round, they rendered Hearing Gai Nie immobile, forcing him to watch helplessly as Miss Xiao Li and the Pixiu were taken.

Seeing the flicker of hope in Miss Xiao Li's eyes extinguish instantly, Hearing Gai Nie's heart ached.

Ignoring his own immobilization, he spoke to the lord:

"If you can spare me, why can you not spare Miss Xiao Li? Why can you not spare the Lu Li tribe?"

"A summer insect cannot comprehend ice."

The lord's tone grew colder.

"Hearing Gai Nie, I respect you, which is why I call you Mr. Gai."

"But do not mistake my favor for license to act without restraint."

"The Lu Li tribe concerns My eternal Yuwen Baye. No one may obstruct My decision."

"May Your Majesty reign for ten thousand autumns, unifying the Nine Provinces."

All in the hall—including Jiumo Zhi and Gusu Murong Fu—seemed rehearsed, immediately bowing in unison.

Only then did Hearing Gai Nie realize all he could do was refuse to aid the tyrant.

Yet to stop this calamity, he needed greater strength—to defeat the lord, to defeat every soul in Despair Shanzhuang—or it was impossible.

Even without considering Jiumo Zhi, Gusu Murong Fu, and others, the lord himself was profoundly Mo Ce.

How easy would it be to defeat him?

Must he only retreat in gloom from Despair Shanzhuang, return to Jinghu Medical Shanzhuang, and spend his remaining days guarding the comatose Miss Duanmu?

No!

Fury surged within Hearing Gai Nie; suddenly, his Sword Heart ignited, and the realm of the Sword Dao unfolded instantly.

A piercing sword intent shattered the men restraining him.

Before others could advance, he drew the Yuan Hong Sword with a clang.

Pointing at the dantian above, he spoke to the lord:

"Lord, if you demand my service, do you dare accept my challenge?"

"Insolent…"

The Despair Shanzhuang experts in the hall, seeing Hearing Gai Nie draw his sword publicly, turned green with rage.

Yet the rules of Despair Shanzhuang—or rather, the lord's rules—were clearly extremely strict.

No matter how furious they were, none dared move before the lord's command.

"Heh! You challenge me?"

The lord's eyes brimmed with mockery.

"Yes!"

Hearing Gai Nie declared firmly,

"I know you are a man of great vision and unwavering word."

"Hearing Gai Nie, though unworthy, challenges you!"

"If I win, let me take Miss Xiao Li and the Pixiu away from Despair Shanzhuang."

"If I lose, I shall serve you without question."

Hearing Gai Nie's words echoed through this counterfeit Lanchi Hall.

Miss Xiao Li, who had been seized and fallen into silence, could not help but burst into tears.

She never imagined Hearing Gai Nie would make such a decision for her!

905 Is this indulgence and recklessness?

"Very well! I shall grant your wish!"

The lord rose directly from the Long Yi.

He looked down upon Hearing Gai Nie with supreme disdain.

"Come!"

"Master Gai, don't!"

Miss Xiao Li suddenly spoke out,

"I am not worth you doing this."

She misunderstood, thinking Hearing Gai Nie challenged the lord for her sake.

In truth, Hearing Gai Nie acted thus because of his nature.

Since learning at Guiguzi, he had always upheld the righteous Dao.

The people of Despair Shanzhuang act with deceit.

Using the name of the Great Zhou treasure, they lure countless experts into the net.

They pick out the elite among them and absorb them under the Shanzhuang Master's banner.

Moreover, this Shanzhuang Master is arrogant and wildly ambitious.

He not only schemes to usurp the Great Qin Jiangshan, but also wishes to take the place of the Qinglong Society.

A man of such wild ambition, if left unchecked—

Who knows how much bloodshed he would stir up across the realm.

Though Hearing Gai Nie is no man who claims to care for the world, he does harbor a heart to succor all living beings.

Therefore, this challenge must be undertaken!

"Miss Xiao Li, I must fight this battle."

Hearing Gai Nie's gaze was firm. He glanced at Miss Xiao Li, and after saying these words, shifted his eyes toward the Shanzhuang Master on the dais.

"Hearing Gai Nie is unworthy—Qingzhi Sect!"

With that, Hearing Gai Nie was about to urge his true essence forward and charge toward the dais.

Unexpectedly, the Shanzhuang Master raised his hand and said,

"If we are to decide victory and defeat by challenge, then there is no need for such haste.

You still carry the poison of the Despair Grass in your body; your power has not recovered.

To fight in such a state—even if you lose, you would likely not be convinced.

Someone, bring the antidote for Mr. Gai."

In the great hall, a Eunuch immediately appeared, his figure ghost-like, holding a porcelain vase, and arrived at Hearing Gai Nie's side.

"Mr. Gai, please take the medicine."

Hearing Gai Nie grew even more admiring of the Shanzhuang Master's breadth of mind.

He took the porcelain vase, poured out a single antidote pill, and swallowed it on the spot.

If this Shanzhuang Master had wanted to kill him, he would have done so long ago.

After going through so many twists, it was clear he had no intention of killing him.

After taking the antidote, Hearing Gai Nie's true essence indeed flowed unimpeded.

In an instant, it recovered completely.

Once his true essence could be mobilized and his power restored, Hearing Gai Nie's martial Xin Qiji immediately radiated outward.

In the blink of an eye, it filled the entire great hall.

Of the several hundred people in this great hall, there were quite a few experts.