Volume Two: The Life of a Bandit Chapter Thirty: Establishing Authority

Pingxiang Valley, one of the sixty-four powers, had its valley master already departed for Tongmu Village, leaving behind only one Divine King and a host of Celestial Deities.

Qin Si’s voice was not loud, yet it carried clearly enough for everyone to hear. In an instant, a Divine King led a group of Celestial Deities to appear above Pingxiang Valley.

“Who dares to cause such a commotion in Pingxiang Valley?” The leading Divine King’s face was filled with rage, yet his divine perception could not detect Qin Si or his companions.

“Haha, Brother Lu Da, don’t be angry. Let me show you a clear path: join the Purple Profound Alliance, and your future will be far brighter than being stuck in this small place.” A ripple in the spatial field, and Zhao Yongkui’s figure appeared opposite, followed by others one after another.

“Divine King Xuanyao?” The Divine King named Lu Da immediately felt a headache. He knew well why the valley master had gone to Tongmu Village. Unexpectedly, Divine King Xuanyao had brought the Purple Profound Alliance’s forces to Pingxiang Valley.

“Exactly, Brother Lu Da. The Purple Profound Alliance is now eager for talent and is searching for ambitious individuals everywhere. You must be tired of staying in Pingxiang Valley. Why not switch allegiances and show your true strength?” Zhao Yongkui smiled, knowing almost every Divine King within the alliance.

“There are six Divine Kings, and an upper-tier Celestial Deity…” Lu Da calculated in his heart, spreading his divine perception in hopes of notifying the valley master or friendly Divine Kings for support.

“No need to bother. Your divine perception won’t get through,” Zhao Yongkui smiled slightly. “Now I’ll give you two choices: first, bring all the Celestial Deities of Pingxiang Valley to join the Purple Profound Alliance; second, have all the people and Pingxiang Valley vanish altogether.”

“You…” Lu Da was infuriated but spoke steadily, “Zhao, looks like you’ve done well in the Purple Profound Alliance. Just a few days since joining, and your tone has completely changed. It seems you’ve long since abandoned old friendships.”

“Nonsense!” Zhao Yongkui snapped angrily. “I came today precisely because I cherish old ties. Hmph! Blaming me for joining the Purple Profound Alliance? Let me tell you, I was forced into it by that kid surnamed Lu.” Recalling this vexed Zhao Yongkui. Although Qin Si was the true instigator, it was the alliance led by Lu Qingtian that first pressured him to hand over Iron Flower City. Later, Wan Peng’s words revealed Lu Qingtian’s scheme, making Zhao realize that the Purple Profound Alliance was merely an opportunity.

“Hmph, in any case, you, Zhao Yongkui, have betrayed the pact. We should have made everyone swear an oath back then,” Lu Da sneered.

“An oath?” Zhao Yongkui smiled faintly. “Do you think alliance powers are as honorable as you imagine? I’ll tell you, the Lu faction is scheming to swallow other factions. Eventually, you’ll just become part of Tongmu Village.”

“Bah! Zhao, enough talk. I know I can’t match your six Divine Kings, but if you want to touch Pingxiang Valley, I guarantee you’ll pay dearly.” Lu Da had already made up his mind. If the Purple Profound Alliance intended to destroy Pingxiang Valley, he would sacrifice himself to make them suffer.

“Heh, you’re not worthy.” Qin Si, who had been silent, stepped forward lazily and smiled. “Not bad, a man of spirit. You’re a worker, so it makes no difference who you work for. Why not set the terms? How can you join the Purple Profound Alliance?”

Lu Da’s anger flared. “Let me tell you, not everyone is so easily bought. Three hundred Heavenly Artifacts bought over Xuanyao Valley. Hmph! Even if you gave me ten times that, my loyalty is to Pingxiang Valley.”

Qin Si was slightly taken aback and grew increasingly interested in Lu Da.

“Fine, refusing to submit? I’ll give you a chance. Among the seven of us here, pick anyone you want. If you can defeat just one, I’ll spare Pingxiang Valley,” Qin Si said.

Lu Da was momentarily stunned, then pointed at Qin Si and laughed heartily. “Haha, so you’re the Purple Profound Alliance’s leader. I’d heard the leader was an upper-tier Celestial Deity, and I didn’t believe it at first. But here you are.” He cast a disdainful glance at the six Divine Kings beside Qin Si. “A pathetic bunch willing to serve an upper-tier Celestial Deity.”

“Since you said that, I won’t hold back. It’s said that the leader of the Purple Profound Alliance can easily defeat Divine Kings at the upper-tier Celestial Deity level. Let me test your strength,” Lu Da said boldly. His figure flickered, and in a flash, he was in front of Qin Si, wielding a short, thick club from nowhere, swinging it toward Qin Si’s head.

“Hmph, mocking us…” The others secretly despised Lu Da. His words sounded grand, but everyone knew he was cheating. Against Divine Kings, the Purple Profound Alliance possessed the best equipment. No matter who Lu Da faced, he would lose. Choosing to fight Qin Si was different—an upper-tier Celestial Deity lacked the powers of a Divine King, such as instantaneous movement. The tales of easily defeating Divine Kings were just legends; few believed them without witnessing.

Facing Lu Da’s strike, Qin Si merely smiled faintly and shifted his body aside. Lu Da had not accelerated time, so Qin Si dodged effortlessly.

Yet as Qin Si moved, a faint trace of triumph appeared at Lu Da’s lips.

Suddenly alert, Qin Si sensed a subtle ripple in the space behind him. Though faint, it did not escape his divine perception. After honing his skills with Primordial Chaos Water, Qin Si was highly sensitive to spatial tremors and fluctuations. Lu Da’s supposedly foolproof trick had been effortlessly uncovered.

“Trying to use this trick on me? Too naive!”

Qin Si laughed heartily as a golden staff appeared in his hand. Like Lu Da, he swung it downward, but as the staff fell, the surrounding space turned into black rifts, tearing reality apart. Nearby, Divine King Xuanyao’s heart tightened. He clearly remembered how the mysterious Divine King was nearly killed by Qin Si using this very move.

“Impossible!”

Lu Da screamed. The black spatial rifts seemed to want to devour him. Their immense pull made him helplessly fly toward them. Since his breakthrough to Divine King, Lu Da had never encountered such a force.

Space froze for a moment, the enormous gravitational rifts seemingly paused. Lu Da felt a strange sensation, as if a Divine King who had mastered time stilled it to cast a spell on him.

“How can this be?”

Lu Da gasped again, his eyes now filled with terror. An upper-tier Celestial Deity could render a Divine King utterly defenseless—something Lu Da would have never believed before.

“Nothing is impossible. I’m giving you one last chance to join the Purple Profound Alliance. I will treat you exceptionally well!” Qin Si smiled, shaking his head. Recently, his spatial control had grown ever more exquisite, unlike mere understanding of spatial laws—it felt like a wholly new spatial principle.

“Kill me then. I will never surrender!” Lu Da’s eyes dimmed, but he lifted his head bravely. He now realized that this Purple Profound Alliance leader, an upper-tier Celestial Deity, held immeasurable potential. Yet, betraying the elder who had always treated him kindly was beyond Lu Da’s capacity.

“A pity!” Qin Si lightly shook his head. The golden staff slowly thrust forward. Without a scream, Lu Da was swallowed by the black spatial rift and instantly turned to ashes. The Divine King Lu Da had fallen.

Everyone around was stunned, especially the Divine Kings Qin Si had recently recruited. Each regarded Qin Si with complicated eyes. Qin Si’s earlier actions clearly showed his desire to recruit Lu Da, but after a single refusal, Qin Si killed him outright. This served as a stark warning.

This seemingly benevolent leader possessed a ruthless side. If one obeyed, all was well; but betrayal would be met with merciless consequences.

This was the consensus among all Divine Kings, including Pingtian. Though they had sworn allegiance, not all were wholly devoted to Qin Si. Like Pingtian, everyone sought to secure personal benefits. Qin Si’s move severely curtailed their secret ambitions.

Qin Si’s killing of Lu Da was deliberate. Though he pitied Lu Da’s loyalty, he understood that such a loyal man could never be truly tamed. If he could be tamed, he would no longer be the Lu Da Qin Si wanted. Better to kill and establish authority.

“My elder brother’s power has improved again!” Qin Shuang thought silently. These people did not understand Qin Si’s true strength; only Qin Shuang knew he was rapidly ascending in cultivation.

At Tongmu Village, the valley master of Pingxiang Valley, the ‘Remote Divine King,’ suddenly changed expression, then looked sorrowfully into the distance—toward Pingxiang Valley.

“Brother Remote, what’s happening?” Lu Qingshan, who was close to the Remote Divine King, stepped forward and whispered.

“Lu Da has fallen!” The Remote Divine King’s face darkened as he slowly spoke those six words.

(To be continued)