NFBE Chapter 413 Protecting My Land
Chapter 413 Protecting My Land
"Sure, but you'll have to pay."
Zheng Qian's words were firm and powerful, each syllable carrying an undeniable force. As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding air seemed to freeze, and everyone's gaze strangely focused on him.
"Brother, the other party is a Demon Saint!" someone exclaimed in a low voice, their tone filled with disbelief. In their eyes, facing such a powerful being, Zheng Qian's request for money instead of asking for those extremely precious natural treasures was simply a joke, a complete waste of the opportunity.
Now that Lie Long is Zheng Qian's spoils of war, Lie Yuchen asked him to make his demands. The next time they meet, they will be mortal enemies.
However, Zheng Qian's expression was unusually serious, without the slightest hint of jest. In this world where strength reigns supreme, power is paramount. But similarly, while money isn't everything, it's indispensable. Especially on the path of cultivation, money can bring countless conveniences and resources.
"Making money, he really only cares about making money." Someone muttered under their breath, their words tinged with amusement, but more so with a sense of helplessness towards Zheng Qian's unique perspective.
Despite the reactions of the crowd, Lie Yuchen remained unusually calm. He narrowed his eyes slightly, scrutinizing Zheng Qian from head to toe, his face displaying an inscrutable expression. Although his heart was filled with sorrow, a complex emotion flickered in his eyes—a contempt for Zheng Qian's unique values, and a disdain for worldly rules.
"Zheng Qian, the Ghost Wind Rift Valley isn't short of money, it's short of rare and precious materials from the Dark Forest," Ma Yi reminded him. Money isn't important in the Ghost Wind Rift Valley; what matters are rare and precious materials and military merits.
There are battles every day in Ghostwind Rift, and no one knows if they will be alive tomorrow, so money doesn't seem that important.
Rare and precious materials can save lives, and military merits are an important criterion for promotion. Therefore, compared to money, the best thing to do when trading with the demon race is to obtain rare and precious materials.
"Tell me, how much do you want?" Lie Yuchen finally spoke, his voice deep and powerful, as if it could penetrate people's hearts.
Zheng Qian held up one finger, his tone calm and confident: "Ten thousand tons of high-grade spirit crystals."
The moment this number was announced, the surroundings fell into a deathly silence once again.
When did spirit crystals start being measured in tons?
Ma Yi touched the back of the knife in his hand, realizing he had been too naive. If Lie Yuchen turned on him and started a fight, he would have to be prepared to fight and protect Zheng Qian.
"Zheng Qian, do you know how many spirit crystals are in 100,000 tons of high-grade spirit crystals?" Lie Yuchen asked coldly. Youfeng Rift Valley is not short of money, but it is not that rich either.
"I know." Zheng Qian looked at Lie Yuchen without fear and said calmly, "Ten thousand tons of high-grade spirit crystals, that's just ten thousand tons of high-grade spirit crystals, how many spirit crystals could it be?"
Lie Yucheng was slightly taken aback, then revealed a cold smile: "Money is important, but strength is fundamental. If you want to establish yourself in this world, you must constantly improve your strength."
"Stop talking nonsense. You don't need to worry about my strength. You told me what conditions I needed, and I could name them. Now that I've stated them, you're bringing up strength again. Just one question: do you have that much money?" Zheng Qian stared directly at Lie Yuchen without backing down, his tone resolute and unwavering. The air around them seemed to freeze due to the tense confrontation between the two, and even breathing became heavy.
Ma Yi gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, ready for battle at any moment.
Lie Yuchen's eyes flickered, as if he was weighing something. After a moment, a cold, murderous smile appeared on his lips: "Zheng Qian, 100,000 tons of high-grade spirit crystals, let alone me, Lie Yuchen, even the entire Youfeng Rift Valley couldn't gather that much. I'll give you 10,000 mid-grade spirit crystals, and I'll take Lie Long's corpse with me."
"Tch, 10,000 mid-grade spirit crystals? Are you begging? My master gives me 30,000 high-grade spirit crystals a year as pocket money. Do you think I need 10,000 mid-grade spirit crystals from you?" Zheng Qian waved his hand, showing no respect for Lie Yuchen. If he couldn't bear to part with the money, he would simply drag Lie Long's corpse back to Dawn Barrier and sell it to the restaurant owner, which would also earn him some money.
The demon race feeds on the human race, but why don't the human race also turn the demon race into delicious food?
"Who is your master?" Lie Yuchen obviously didn't believe that Zheng Qian was so rich. He was also curious about who Zheng Qian's master was, that he could teach such a prodigy as him, who killed his son in the Dragon Transformation Realm and was the strongest prodigy in the early stage of the Zen Demon Realm.
Faced with Lie Yuchen's questioning and curious gaze, Zheng Qian decided to invoke the great master Yun Youzi, not only to demonstrate his own identity but also to express his pride in his lineage.
A proud and happy smile appeared on Zheng Qian's lips, as if he were referring not just to a master, but to a legend: "My master."
Zheng Qian slowly uttered these three words, each one containing immense power: "It is Space Madness."
These words shocked everyone present! Space Madman, a name resounding throughout both the demon and human races, was not only a powerful figure who dominated the world three hundred years ago, but also a legend who transcended racial boundaries, using extraordinary spatial power to write countless tales that commanded awe. His fall had caused countless people to lament, believing that such brilliance would never be seen again.
"What? Zheng Qian's master is actually the Space Madman?" The crowd was filled with shock and confusion, as if they had heard a legend that could never come true.
"Didn't the Space Madman die three hundred years ago?" The question was tinged with disbelief, as if unwilling to accept the reality that this former overlord had reappeared in the world in another form, through a disciple like Zheng Qian.
"Is it possible that Zheng Qian's master, the Space Madman, is not the Space Madman in the portrait in the Pagoda of Schemes, but a different Space Madman?"
"No need to guess, my master is the Space Madman, Yun Youzi, who led seventy-two Qilin children to block the gate for three days three hundred years ago and defeated no one of the same realm who dared to challenge him."
Zheng Qian's answer was not only a response to Lie Yuchen's doubts, but also a demonstration of the formidable power behind him. In this world where strength reigns supreme, whether one is a demon or a human, power and background are the most solid backing for navigating the world. The title of "Space Madman" undoubtedly cloaked Zheng Qian in an invisible armor, giving him more say and possibilities in this inter-racial struggle.
Information about the Ghost Wind Rift Valley is very restricted. Yun Youzi once went to the Radiant Legion to select apprentices, but unfortunately he didn't take a liking to any of them, which caused the higher-ups of the Radiant Legion to have some dissatisfaction with Yun Youzi, so this news was not spread.
After that, Yun Youzi disappeared again. He traveled all over the country without making any special announcements, so both humans and demons in Youfeng Rift believed that he was dead.
"What? It really is the Space Madman from three hundred years ago?"
"No way, wasn't the Space Madman dead three hundred years ago?"
"If Zheng Qian's master is the Space Madman, then what rare and precious treasures does he still lack?"
Both humans and demons were very familiar with and admired the name of the Space Madman. It was a brilliant era, and the most dazzling star was undoubtedly the Space Madman.
Lie Yuchen fell silent. He looked up at the summit of Dawn Cliff, where a figure dressed in white stood out. It was someone he had known for three hundred years: Yun Youzi, nicknamed Space Madman.
Three hundred years ago, Lie Yuchen was no match for Yun Youzi. Three hundred years later, his carefully nurtured son was killed by Yun Youzi across the border. The gears of fate were not strikingly similar, but each turn seemed to be stuck around his neck, making it hard for him to breathe.
Lie Yuchen gripped his halberd tightly, wishing he could kill Yun Youzi and Zheng Qian. However, for the sake of racial justice and the spirit of the Flaming Leopard Clan, he chose to endure.
"I don't have 100,000 tons, I only have 10,000 high-grade spirit crystals." Lie Yuchen said coldly. Yun Youzi was the patriarch of the laws of space. He could easily obtain all kinds of rare treasures in the world, and even the caves where his ancestors had passed away. Naturally, he would not lack natural treasures and spirit crystals. Therefore, Lie Yuchen believed that what Zheng Qian said was true.
“Okay, cash on delivery.” Zheng Qian readily agreed. Lie Yuchen couldn’t possibly produce 100,000 tons of high-grade spirit crystals; he was just quoting a price for fun.
Before Zheng Qian could finish speaking, a spatial fluctuation suddenly arose deep within Huaxu Cliff. Immediately afterward, a small mountain made of high-grade spirit crystals appeared before everyone's eyes as if it had broken through the shackles of space, landing steadily on Huaxu Cliff and shimmering with dazzling spiritual light.
"Ten thousand high-grade spirit crystals? Lie Yuchen actually offered ten thousand high-grade spirit crystals in exchange?"
"The Flame Leopard Clan values loyalty the most. Do you think they're like those cold-blooded animals, the Shadow Serpent Clan?"
"Lie Yuchen truly lives up to his title as the Demon Saint General; he actually managed to produce ten thousand high-grade spirit crystals."
The human soldiers looked at Zheng Qian with envy. That was ten thousand high-grade spirit crystals! Even if they worked hard for ten lifetimes, they couldn't earn ten thousand high-grade spirit crystals.
"General Lie is indeed wealthy and powerful." Zheng Qian said this against his will, but his hands did not slow down at all. He enveloped the high-grade spirit crystal with spiritual energy and put it all into his spatial ring.
"Hmph." Lie Yuchen snorted coldly, his voice filled with endless anger and resentment. Then, his eyes instantly turned to grief, as if the whole world had lost its color at that moment. He used his Illusionary Step, his figure flashing like a ghost to the side of Lie Long's corpse in an instant, his trembling hand slowly lifting the white cloth covering Lie Long's body.
The sight before him made the once-powerful Demon Saint General appear five hundred years older in an instant. The corpse of Lie Long was riddled with wounds, each one a testament to his bravery and indomitable spirit in life, yet now, it bore no trace of life. Lie Yuchen's eyes reddened, his fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms, yet he felt no pain, for the grief in his heart had far surpassed any physical sensation. He took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil within him, and slowly lifted Lie Long's body, his movements filled with boundless tenderness and reluctance.
"Long'er, your father is coming to welcome you home!" Lie Yuchen's steps were heavy and firm as he walked towards the Huaxu Cliff Fortress. Every step felt like stepping on his own heart, causing him so much pain that he could hardly breathe.
The demon army behind him followed silently, each member's face filled with sorrow and respect. They knew that Lie Long was not only Lie Yuchen's son, but also the pride of the Flaming Leopard Clan; his sacrifice moved the entire demon race.
Before the gates of Huaxu Cliff Fortress, Lie Yuchen stopped. He looked up at the towering walls, his eyes gleaming with unwavering resolve. He would bury Lie Long's remains here, so that his son could forever protect this land and his people that he loved so dearly.
"Lielong, my son, though you have departed, your spirit will forever illuminate our path forward." Lie Yuchen murmured in his heart. He turned to look at the demon army behind him, his eyes filled with determination and hope, his voice deep and powerful: "From today onward, we must unite even more. For the glory of the Flaming Leopard Clan, for all the fallen warriors, we will fight to the very end, until the day of victory!"
"Fight to the end! Fight to the end!"
The demon army roared in unison, their voices echoing through the heavens, as if proclaiming their determination and courage to the entire world. Meanwhile, Lie Yuchen, filled with endless longing and pride for his son, resolutely stepped into the Huaxu Cliff Fortress, ready to face every battle to come—for protection, for revenge, and for the eternally burning flame of his soul.
The Flame Leopard Clan is a race worthy of everyone's respect. Their bravery, strength, fearlessness, and trustworthiness are qualities that Zheng Qian has never seen in any other race, and that the entire clan adheres to the same lofty moral qualities.
Unfortunately, the Flame Leopard Clan and the Human Clan are natural enemies; whenever they meet, swords will inevitably be drawn.
"Zhao Minghang, Deputy Director of the Wise and Brave Judgment Division, pays his respects to Lieutenant General Ma!" Zhao Minghang jogged over to greet Ma Yi, the second-in-command of the Dawn Barrier.
"Yes, you did a great job." Ma Yi smiled and nodded to Zhao Minghang. He had been by Zheng Qian's side the whole time, silently protecting Zheng Qian during the 24-hour blockade. This sense of responsibility alone was enough to earn Ma Yi's approval.
“Zheng Qian is a treasure of our human race. He fought his way here from the Dragon Shaping Void Cliff and has been participating in the gate-blocking battle all along. If he can’t go back safely, I won’t have the face to go back either,” Zhao Minghang said with a smile. In front of Ma Yi, the second-in-command, he had respect, but more importantly, he could speak naturally without any sense of restraint or awkwardness.
Zhao Minghang is a master of rhetoric when it comes to communicating with his superiors. He was ostensibly praising Zheng Qian, but the unspoken message was that he had been watching over and protecting Zheng Qian. If Zheng Qian didn't return, neither would he; the greatest military credit would belong to Zhao Minghang.
Looking at Lie Yuchen's back, Zheng Qian sighed inwardly: These old monsters are all so rich.
"Zheng Qian, why don't you go back and get some rest? Wait until you're back to your peak before coming out to block the door again?" Ma Yi looked at Zheng Qian, hoping that Zheng Qian could go back and get some rest.
Zheng Qian wiped the blood from his mouth, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said in a calm yet powerful tone, "Thank you for your concern, Lieutenant General. In this battle that concerns the fate of humanity, fatigue and danger have been constant companions. They are like whetstones, only making my will more resilient. I know that every step forward is accompanied by unknown challenges, but this is by no means an excuse for me to retreat. For the peace and future of humanity, I, Zheng Qian, swear to do everything in my power, at all costs, to kill more demons, to build an unbreakable defense with my own flesh and blood, and to contribute all my strength to the protection of humanity."
Ma Yi took a deep breath. Zheng Qian's bravery, perseverance, and fearlessness were worthy of everyone's learning. No wonder he was able to fight his way here alone and engage in a gate-blocking battle.
Standing to the side, Zhao Minghang's eyes were filled with admiration and understanding for Zheng Qian. He chimed in, "Lieutenant General, you know Zheng Qian best. This kid has had an indomitable stubbornness in his bones since he was a child; it's a tenacity etched deep in his soul. If we let him go back to rest now, the self-blame and resentment in his heart would probably be more unbearable than the physical pain. For him, fighting on the front lines and resisting the demon race to the end is his true destiny and glory. Every one of us is willing to fight alongside him until the dawn of victory illuminates this land ravaged by war."
Their words, filled with loyalty to their mission and deep expectations for the future of humanity, seemed to inspire everyone present with an invisible force.
Okay, so you two are good at talking, so righteous, so the greatest heroes.
Ma Yi laughed heartily: "Haha, with young people like you, how can the human race not prosper?"
"Alright, I will accompany you in this battle to block the gate. Give it your all!" Inspired by Zheng Qian and Zhao Minghang's emotions, Ma Yi also decided to stay and ensure their safety.
Zhao Minghang saluted Ma Yi and hurriedly said, "The Lieutenant General loves his soldiers like his own children. It is our greatest honor to have the Lieutenant General's protection."
Woo...woo...woo...Just then, the sound of horns came from the Huaxu Cliff Fortress. The three races of demons were stunned at first, and then retreated back into the fortress with unwilling expressions.
Demon Saint General Lie Yuchen is to hold a funeral for his beloved son Lie Long and the demons who died in battle, and then withdraw his troops back to the fortress.
Everyone knows that Lie Long was the most powerful prodigy in the early stages of the Zen Demon Realm in the Ghost Wind Rift Valley, and even he died under Zheng Qian's sword. So, anyone who comes out to fight will also die. Since they know they will die, there's no need to continue the fight and send this young prodigy to his death.
Lie Yuchen was well aware of this cruel reality, so he withdrew his troops and returned to the fortress.
"Do not pursue a desperate enemy, nor stop a retreating army." Ma Yi understood this military strategy, which is why he looked at Zheng Qian and Zhao Minghang with a strange expression. Zhao Minghang also understood this strategy, so he stiffened his neck, enduring Ma Yi's interrogative gaze, and looked at Zheng Qian.
Brother, the demons have all withdrawn their troops. Are we still going to continue our charade here and complete the gate-blocking battle?
Zheng Qian slowly took out a bed from his spatial ring, his movements relaxed and at ease, as if the tension and fatigue of the battlefield were irrelevant to him. He lay down, but his eyes revealed an undeniable sincerity.
“Lieutenant General, I am indeed exhausted after a day of fighting and my body needs rest. But please rest assured, if the demon race dares to step out of the fortress again, I, Zheng Qian, will be the first to rise up and kill them with overwhelming force to protect our land.”
Ma Yi and Zhao Minghang exchanged a glance, the same thought popping into their minds.
When it comes to showing off and talking nonsense, we two are completely outmatched.