Chapter 128 Surrendering Authority
Chapter 128 Surrendering Authority
Heng He watched the severed arms thrown aside, his eyes quickly becoming blood red.
His body trembled violently, but it was uncertain whether it was due to the pain of having his arms severed, or the agony of losing them.
"You... how dare you treat me like this!"
"My territory is right at the southernmost edge of the Southern Border, and if I wish, people can step into it at any time!"
Heng He, enduring the intense pain, said through gritted teeth.
Hearing this, Ye Ling raised an eyebrow and said in a deep voice, "Southern Border King, within the laws and disciplines of the Southern Border."
"What should be the punishment for those who conspire with foreign enemies to harm our interests?"
The Southern Border King's expression also darkened as he said coldly, "For such a crime, execution is warranted!"
As the words fell, Heng He realized he had misspoken.
His original intention was merely to threaten Ye Ling and the Southern Border King with the advantage of his own territory.
But he never expected both of them to be so decisive, seeking his life at the slightest disagreement!
The other four fake kings at the scene also hesitated to speak at this time, as the greatly changed Southern Border King and the enigmatic Northern Liao King, Ye Ling, imposed an unprecedented pressure on them.
Looking at Heng He's current miserable fate, not only were his arms severed, but now, due to his own slip of the tongue, he faced mortal danger.
The other four fake kings naturally hung back, silent, watching Heng He who kept casting pleading glances at them. Your next journey awaits at empire
"Didn't hear what the Southern Border King said?"
Ye Ling said indifferently.
Chen Dao, who had just returned to his side, understood immediately and stepped forward, once again approaching Heng He.
Chen Dao looked down at Heng He, who was slumped on the ground, a glint of murderous intent in his eyes.
"You seek your own death, you can't blame anyone else."
Chen Dao said contemptuously.
As his words ended, in the despair-filled eyes of Heng He, Chen Dao's fist struck his head without delay.
"Bang!"
A head, which once held a person's life, shattered like a watermelon in an instant, scattering a mess of red and white.
Thus, Heng He died by Chen Dao's hand, a spectacle that left the other four fake kings utterly shaken.
They looked at Chen Dao with terror in their eyes, trembling uncontrollably.
All three of them secretly congratulated themselves for not acting as arrogantly as Heng He had, lest they meet the same fate as him!
"Bring someone!"
The Southern Border King immediately called out.
Several soldiers of the Southern Border marched in and knelt on one knee before the Southern Border King.
"Clean this place up."
The Southern Border King gestured dismissively and ordered.
The soldiers quickly set to work, soon sweeping away the red and white remnants as well as Heng He's corpse.
If it weren't for the faint smell of blood still lingering in the air, one wouldn't have guessed that a fake king had just died in the hall!
Though a fake king, he was a person who once covered the sky with one hand in the Southern Border, but now he died quietly in this hall of the Southern Border's military.
"Let's now discuss serious matters; you four have no objections, do you?"
Ye Ling looked toward the remaining four fake kings and said with a light chuckle.
The four of them nodded hurriedly, Heng He's end still vivid in their minds. None dared to show the slightest arrogance. Each one wished only to lower their stance as much as possible, fearing angering the Northern Liao King and courting a fatal disaster.
Watching the four men behave in such a manner, Ye Ling's lips curled into a smile.
The effect of killing a chicken to warn the monkeys was quite good indeed.
Originally, Ye Ling had been considering finding an opportunity to kill a chicken to warn the monkeys, to frighten these pseudo-kings.
He had not expected that Heng He would be so cooperative, voluntarily becoming the chicken that was killed.
The Southern Border King glanced at Ye Ling, and Ye Ling gave a slight nod in return.
Seeing Ye Ling's nod, the Southern Border King also spoke up, "As you all are aware of the current situation in Southern Border."
"From without, there are those coveting Southern Border, ready at any moment to enter my land, to step foot on my territory."
"From within, there are pseudo-kings all over the land rising in rebellion, and then there's the Witch Sect, an evil faction entrenched within the vast mountains, constantly plotting to throw Southern Border into chaos, even to the extent of..."
At these words, all four pseudo-kings' pupils shrank.
Weren't the pseudo-kings rising in rebellion across Southern Border exactly what they were?
Fearing that the Southern Border King and Ye Ling might misunderstand, the Hidden Qi King immediately spoke up, "Please rest assured, Southern Border King and Northern Liao King, I am utterly loyal to Southern Border!"
"The only reason I seized territory and appointed myself king was because the Southern Border King suddenly disappeared years ago, and it was a desperate measure to stabilize the local situation!"
"Now that the Southern Border King has returned, and with the Northern Liao King personally overseeing Southern Border, I am willing to surrender all my powers to the Southern Border King, to follow his command!"
Once the Hidden Qi King had spoken, the other three pseudo-kings' expressions changed drastically.
The Southern Border King had made a powerful return, and there was Ye Ling, the enigmatic Northern Liao King, who had personally come to Southern Border.
If the two joined forces, they would be sufficient to sweep away all the pseudo-kings in Southern Border!
The Hidden Qi King's action appeared to be a move of desperation, but in reality, it was for self-preservation.
Compared to the power in their hands, their own lives were naturally more important.
Seeing that the Hidden Qi King had spoken thus, the other three pseudo-kings naturally did not dare to remain silent any longer. They each spoke out, echoing the words of the Hidden Qi King.
The Southern Border King was also taken aback, clearly not expecting these four would so readily give up the power they held.
Heaven knows the serious psychological shadow the scene of Heng He's head being exploded with a punch had left on these four pseudo-kings.
"You have done well, and I can assure you, as long as you cooperate with me wholeheartedly, I will not revisit those old matters!" the Southern Border King said with satisfaction, smiling.
Upon hearing this, the four pseudo-kings all breathed a sigh of relief.
With the Southern Border King speaking thus, it meant they would no longer be subject to retribution from him and the Northern Liao King.
They might have lost power, but at least their lives were spared.
Moreover, with the Southern Border King so formidable now and the Northern Liao King on hand, perhaps by submitting to the Southern Border King they might come to hold power that was no weaker than what they held now!
"I wonder, Southern Border King, why you had us all gather today at the main camp of the Southern Border army?" the Hidden Qi King asked.
The four pseudo-kings no longer felt the fear they did before, given that the Southern Border King had already promised not to bother with them again.
The Southern Border King pondered for a moment before turning to Ye Ling.
Ye Ling took up the conversation, "Today, I have summoned you all for one thing only!"
"To exterminate the Witch Sect, to restore peace to Southern Border and the Dragon Country!"
At these words, all four pseudo-kings' expressions changed.
The Witch Sect had been entrenched in the vast mountains of Southern Border for perhaps a hundred years, and no one knew when it had appeared, nor the extent of its formidable power.
Even the Southern Border King, when he personally went to campaign against the Witch Sect, had returned seriously injured and had no choice but to announce his retreat to closed-door cultivation, disappearing thereafter.