The words of rebellion shocked the onlookers.

As members of the City Guard deployed by the Royal Court, they all looked at each other in dismay. Not only did no one dare to interfere, but not a single person even spoke up to stop it.

"..." The West Emperor was also rendered speechless. Instead of intimidation, he felt as if he was pushing the Qingqiu Fox Clan to rebel.

The most unfortunate thing was that two Fox Clan experts had already approached him, both reaching out to grab his arms.

Instinctively, he wanted to cast a spell to break free, but he realized that the cultivation of these two Fox Clan members was not inferior to his. He found himself forcibly held down by the shoulders. After the acupuncture points were identified, one of the Fox Clan members quickly stuck in more than a dozen needles, sealing off his entire cultivation.

On the other side, Ying Gang shook his shoulder with a look of refusal, only to find himself unable to shake off the restraining hands. Finally recognizing his own carelessness, he realized that the cultivation of the followers beside Yin Ning was not inferior to his, and he was subdued on the spot by two Fox Clan members working together.

Xi Quan was somewhat panicked and tried to retreat into the surrounding crowd, but was swiftly pinned by a Fox Clan member, rendering him immobile.

The West Emperor was also panicking, angrily reprimanding, "Do you know the consequences of recklessly attacking officials of the Royal Court?"

Yin Ning coldly glanced over, moving instantly in front of him, swinging a crisp and loud slap across his face.

The bystanders were even more shocked. Slapping the Domain Master of the Royal Court in public?

Blood trickled from the corner of the West Emperor's mouth, and Yin Ning grabbed his ear, pulling his turned head back, questioning, "Do you know the consequences of injuring my Qingqiu Fox Clan member in my presence?"

With a wave of the hand, the West Emperor let out a muffled groan, stifling the sounds of pain.

Blood was already dripping from his ear, and Yin Ning tore one ear off him in full view of the public.

"Ah..." Many spectators gasped in shock.

Yet it wasn't over. Yin Ning tossed the ear aside and directly kicked out.

With a crunch, a thigh bone snapped on the spot, causing the West Emperor to finally let out a scream.

In pain and unable to stand properly, he stumbled, yet was held up by those gripping his arms, only to see Yin Ning lift a leg and kick directly at his outstretched arm, resulting in another crisp cracking sound.

"Ah..." This scream from the West Emperor was particularly harrowing.

The clearer-minded spectators saw clearly that as Yin Xu lost an ear, the West Emperor lost one as well. As Yin Xu broke an arm and a leg, so did the West Emperor. An eye for an eye, blood for blood was clear as day.

What shocked the crowd was not the wounding of the West Emperor, but the Qingqiu Fox Clan's blatant challenge to the West Bull King Court's authority.

A group of City Guards from the West Bull King Court stationed nearby froze as if they hadn't seen anything. Not only did they not step forward to stop it, but they also took a step back in fear.

The West Emperor, panting heavily, no longer dared to maintain his bravado. All semblance of his previous dignity was gone. Facing such brazen methods, he feared that if he continued to show defiance, he might be killed right there in public.

Yin Ning turned her head, casting a cold gaze at the restrained Ying Gang.

The anger on Ying Gang's face vanished when he saw this madwoman from the Qingqiu Fox Clan daring to insult even the Domain Master of the Royal Court and openly oppose the Royal Court. His anger turned to a gut full of anxiety, fearing that this lunatic might do something rash.

For in comparison to the Royal Court, his Extreme Fire Sect seemed insignificant.

If this lunatic were to slap him in public, his face as an elder of the Extreme Fire Sect would have nowhere to hide.

Once angry at being restrained, his bottom line had quickly dropped. Now he only hoped that this lunatic wouldn't make the situation worse.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he said, "Mr. Da, don't misunderstand, this really has nothing to do with me."

His words didn't count; Yin Ning strode toward the kneeling Yin Xu duo, gazing down, and asked, "Who else hit you?"

She wasn't joking; she intended to retaliate in full view of everyone.

The Qingqiu Fox Clan, hiding away in Qingqiu, was not by choice. Their seclusion was somewhat a result of suppression, which also limited their resources for cultivation. This was part of the reason some branch families gradually moved away from Qingqiu.

Unable to sustain themselves, some people had to leave and make their own way.

Those who were pushed out naturally weren't the elites, and they lived difficult lives, so it wasn't uncommon for them to suffer humiliation outside, and the Qingqiu Fox Clan couldn't always intervene.

But this time, Yin Ning happened to encounter it, and as the main representative of the Qingqiu Fox Clan, she couldn't turn a blind eye.

If she ignored it, word would spread, and everyone would know that the Qingqiu Fox Clan would no longer care for those who left, making life even harder for those scattered tribesmen.

This was one reason she acted so forcefully in public.

Of course, whenever a pretext is found, the Qingqiu Fox Clan's habit of acting brashly emerges.

It could be seen as dissatisfaction and venting against the oppression they experienced. Just don't give them even the slightest justification.

So every time they leave their territory, if they don't return with blood on their hands, it feels like a wasted trip.

This is also why the Phoenix Clan Chief curses under his breath, disparages them, yet still reluctantly cooperates.

This is also why when Ying Gang saw Yin Ning appear personally, he immediately stopped playing and turned to leave.

Those with experience, those aware of the situation, all understand. Winning or losing a fight is secondary. The key is one phrase: Don't provoke them!

Getting entangled and dragged into Life Prison would be a grim fate.

The kneeling Yin Xu was already sobbing uncontrollably, shaking his head amidst his tears.

Kneeling beside him, Tian Shen also had tears streaming down his face.

Nobody could understand the feelings of these wanderers, suddenly supported by their family from home. They had suffered far too many grievances.

Seeing Yin Xu shake his head, Yin Ning stopped asking further and shouted back, "Take them away!"

With that said, he flicked his wide sleeve and swept Yin Xu and Tian Shen into the air, flying away.

The captured West Emperor, Ying Gang, and Xi Quan were also taken along.

The scene left behind was filled with commotion, witnessing firsthand the fierce nature of the Qingqiu Fox Clan.

"Why are you all gathered here? Disperse, all of you, disperse..."

The City Guard leader, who had been cowering behind before, stepped forward again, and shouted confidently at the crowd.

Lou Xiu, the Inner Court Captain who had come to investigate, finally let out a sigh of relief, realizing that the Qingqiu Fox Clan was even more brazen than their Demon Path, overly so...

Yin Ning and his group, not having left the protective formation of the city, returned to the Zhu Lang Pavilion upstairs.

As soon as they landed, Tian Shen quickly supported Yin Xu.

Yin Ning immediately turned his head and asked, "Who were those Fox Clan members who died over there, and who killed them?"

Upon mentioning Hu Gongxian, Yin Xu's expression turned complicated, and he struggled to say, "It was a fellow clan member named Yin Gongxian, killed by the West Emperor."

Yin Ning's lips tightened for a moment, and he shot a cold glance at the similarly miserable West Emperor, saying just one sentence, "A life for a life, as it should be..."

Upon hearing these words, the suffering West Emperor immediately broke into a cold sweat, and without outsiders watching, he dispensed with any facade, using his one functioning hand to point at Yin Xu and shouted, "She brought this trouble upon herself. She impersonated a maid of the Qingqiu Ancestor, which led to this mess!"

Faced with such an accusation, Yin Xu did not panic. In her view, Mr. Da and the others wouldn't have come to help without reason, which meant that Shi Chun was indeed a friend of the Qingqiu Ancestor.

"Ancestor's maid?" Yin Ning was momentarily taken aback, puzzled, "What do you mean?"

This reaction caused Yin Xu to subconsciously feel a jolt. Did she guess wrong? She exchanged a glance with Tian Shen.

"The people of the Extreme Fire Sect can testify..." The West Emperor rattled off the sequence of events in a string of loosened words.

Ying Gang nodded after listening and said, "That's right, it's true. She said it to our Martial Hall Master in person, and at that time, considering the face of the Qingqiu Ancestor, we didn't act against her."

The West Emperor added, "Later, after Hu Gongxian told me, I realized that she had never been a maid of the Qingqiu Ancestor. She was using the Ancestor's name to deceive..."

Keen to save himself, he also added that Yin Xu had wronged him first, that he had repeatedly explained not to get involved in matters she shouldn't, yet Yin Xu still got entangled with Shi Chun behind his back.

After listening to this slapdash explanation, Yin Ning's expression also darkened, casting a cold gaze at Yin Xu, "Impersonating the Ancestor's maid and conning others outside, is there such a matter?"

To the Qingqiu Fox Clan, the Ancestor is like the heavens, not to be desecrated.

Seeing such a reaction, the West Emperor and Ying Gang at least confirmed one thing. This old fox spirit wasn't specifically here to stand up for the Zhu Lang Pavilion; it corroborated Hu Gongxian's words that Yin Xu indeed was impersonating.

The West Emperor quickly emphasized, "There is absolutely no mistake in this matter."

Yin Xu's heart tightened but she wasn't afraid. She hurriedly pleaded, "Mr. Da, there are other reasons for this matter. Please, Mr. Da, I request a private word."

Yin Ning originally came to investigate the situation, especially since it involved the Ancestor, so there was no problem. He immediately turned and went to Yin Xu's room, with Tian Shen supporting Yin Xu as they followed.

With no one else in the room, Yin Ning turned and said, "Speak."

Yin Xu bowed and said, "Mr. Da, Shi Chun said it himself that he and the Ancestor are friends."

Yin Ning waited for her to continue, but that was all. He couldn't help but ask, "You believed him simply based on his word? When the Golden-haired Rat Clan went to Qingqiu, the Clan Leader personally communicated with the Ancestor, and the Ancestor didn't recognize any Shi Chun."

"..." Yin Xu and Tian Shen both froze simultaneously, somewhat bewildered.

Yin Xu immediately said with disbelief, "That's impossible. I sensed the aura left by the Ancestor on him. I confirmed it repeatedly, there can be no mistake. If not planted by the Ancestor personally, it wouldn't form such magical aura."

Upon hearing this, Yin Ning was also surprised and then asked, "How do you know the Ancestor's aura?"

Yin Xu replied, "Back in Qingqiu, I once had the fortunate duty of cleaning the Ancestor's old residence and detected it on the hair he had shed. If Mr. Da doesn't believe it, find Shi Chun and take a sniff."

As Yin Ning paced and thought, she glanced sideways at Yin Xu. Based on the limited clues she had, she roughly understood why this youngster would take the risk, as the West Emperor said, to get involved with Shi Chun, and why she dared to point the Golden-haired Rat Clan towards Qingqiu.

Of course, details still needed confirmation. She couldn't return with a hazy guess to report back.

Thus, she continued pacing and said, "Coming here, I've also learned something about Shi Chun. Haven't you considered that if the Ancestor really was Shi Chun's friend, and if Shi Chun wielded the Ancestor's name, why is he in such dire straits as he is now?"

Yin Xu shook her head and said, "I had doubted as well, but I do not know."

Yin Ning said, "Weren't they trying to use you to catch Shi Chun? Then capture him, and let's see. I must find out if he truly carries the Ancestor's aura."

"Yes," Yin Xu responded.

Afterward, Yin Ning inquired about other related incidents, and Yin Xu did not hide anything from her, recounting all the events in detail that had happened during this period.

Afterward, the two left the room, and Yin Xu retrieved the Mother-child Talisman meant for contacting Shi Chun from the West Emperor and reported back to Yin Ning.

After a slight nod, Yin Ning swept her gaze over the West Emperor, Ying Gang, and Xi Quan, "A life for a life; there's no need to keep them around. If there's a grudge, settle it. Kill them all."

She directed these words at Yin Xu.

Upon hearing this, Ying Gang was the first to panic, angrily shouting, "Yin Ning, I didn't kill anyone, nor did I attack your Qingqiu people. Are you crazy?"

Yin Xu's heart tightened at this as well. Even if killing the West Emperor was justified, killing an elder from the Extreme Fire Sect might be going too far.

Yin Ning said, "This matter arose because of your Extreme Fire Sect. Your sect came looking for trouble. You admitted earlier that your Martial Hall Master had come knocking. Daring to do so means your sect relies on its might. Now you tell me you didn't attack anyone? Rest assured, that Hall Master won't escape, and I will have the Phoenix Clan hand him over. As for you, who gave you the authority to break into the Zhu Lang Pavilion and seize people? Want justice? This won't end until your Extreme Fire Sect gives a satisfactory explanation!"

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