My Brother's the Protagonist? Good Thing I Awakened My System!

Chapter 196 Flames of Vengeance, Winds of Deceit

Chapter 196  Flames of Vengeance, Winds of Deceit

While the Dragon and Phoenix Competition was underway, another breathtaking event unfolded on the other side of the Azure Sky Empire.

The night sky was painted with streaks of crimson and gold as Xue Hongxia, the Sect Master of the Mystic Flame Sect, pursued her target relentlessly.

Her fiery aura illuminated the dense forest, setting the shadows ablaze with every step. Each flicker of her robes radiated searing heat, scorching the foliage she passed.

Ahead of her, Qian Zheng, the Sect Leader of the Spirit Wind Palace, fled with all his might. His once-composed demeanor was now marred by panic, his eyes darting frantically for an escape route.

The howling winds he summoned lashed against the trees, creating barriers of air and illusion in a desperate attempt to slow his pursuer.

"Xue Hongxia!" Qian Zheng's voice rang out, tinged with desperation as he glanced over his shoulder. "Are you truly so blinded by rage that you'd risk making an entire Spirit Wind Palace your enemy? Stop this madness!"

His plea was met with silence, save for the crackling roar of flames. Xue Hongxia's expression was cold, her gaze sharp and unyielding.

"Xue Hongxia, just let go of the past and think about the future. Nothing will come out of your revenge!"

Qian Zheng tried to persuade Xue Hongxia again.

"Haha… Qian Zheng, did you ever think this day would come?" She said, her voice filled with anger. "Today, I am not only taking revenge for my family but also for the friend who sacrificed his life for me."

With a wave of her hand, a torrent of fire surged forward, consuming the wind barriers in an instant. The sheer heat warped the air, and the ground beneath them turned black as ash.

"Crazy B*tch!" Qian Zheng cursed under his breath, his voice quivering as he desperately tried to shake her off.

But no matter what he did, his speed wasn't enough to escape Xue Hongxia's relentless pursuit.

( Why did I have to leave the sect? If not for Ancestor's order… )

Qian Zheng regretted leaving the sect immensely. He had assumed Xue Hongxia would be preoccupied with the Dragon and Phoenix Competition in the capital and thought he could slip out unnoticed.

But the moment he let his guard down, Xue Hongxia struck. She had been trailing him all along, waiting for the perfect opportunity.

Turning to face her, his chest heaving, Qian Zheng raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

"Xue Hongxia, listen to me!" He shouted. "You've been deceived! Whatever you think I've done, it's not what it seems. If you kill me here, you'll only be playing into someone else's hands!"

Xue Hongxia halted a few paces away, her crimson robes billowing in the fiery winds she conjured. Her eyes narrowed, glowing like molten gold.

"Enough of your lies, Qian Zheng!" She said furiously. "Do you think I don't know what you did? You targeted my family because of their discovery of the Spirit Vein! Your greed destroyed everything I had!"

A Spirit Vein was a naturally occurring reservoir of spiritual energy beneath the earth, often stretching for miles. These veins produce Spirit Stones, crystalline formations brimming with pure qi.

Spirit Stones could be absorbed by cultivators, accelerating their cultivation speed several fold depending on the stone's quality.

A Low-Grade Spirit Stone was worth 10,000 gold coins, enough to support a mortal family for generations.

However, even if one was willing to pay that much, it would be quite difficult to get their hand on because of how rare they were.

In the Azure Sky Empire, Spirit Veins were rare, with only two known sources. One was controlled by the Royal Family, ensuring their dominance over powerful sects and clans. The other was the one discovered by Xue Hongxia's family within their territory.

But news of the discovery had leaked to the Spirit Wind Palace. Qian Zheng was sent to wipe out the Xue Clan, silencing them and claiming the Spirit Vein for his sect.

What they hadn't accounted for was Xue Hongxia's survival.

To avenge her family, Xue Hongxia made a pact with the Mystic Flame Sect, offering them the Spirit Vein in exchange for power and protection. The sect agreed and nurtured her, sparing no resources.

While at first this was all to get their hands on Spirit Vein, Xue Hongxia's extraordinary talent and compatibility with the sect's techniques made them never regret their decision.

The Spirit Vein was soon handed over to Mystic Flame Sect to mine and they got started as soon as they got the ownership.

Though the Mystic Flame Sect only retained 30% of the Spirit Stones mined, as the rest went to the Imperial Family, it was enough to triple their income and solidify their status as one of the empire's powerhouses.

Qian Zheng's face twisted as the memories of his failure flooded back.

He was just on verge of completing his task and perhaps Spirit Wind Palace might have Azure Sky Empire under their thumb if he did.

Moreover, he was punished severely by the previous Sect Leader though he already took his revenge.

"You don't understand! Everything I've done was for the balance of power! If you strike me down, you'll destabilize the entire Azure Sky Empire!"

Xian Zheng still tried to sway Xue Hongxia's decision to kill him.

"Balance?" Xue Hongxia's voice dripped with disdain. "You call your greed for power balance? Save your excuses for the afterlife."

Qian Zheng's eyes hardened. Realizing there was no reasoning with her, he unleashed his ultimate technique.

["Heaven's Gale Annihilation!"]

The winds screamed as they coalesced into a massive vortex, sharp blades of air swirling within. The sheer force of the technique uprooted trees and sent rocks hurtling skyward.

The power was nothing like Gao Mingrui and he was in a league of his own.

Xue Hongxia remained unfazed.

["Eternal Flame Lotus."]

A lotus-shaped flame bloomed in her palm, its fiery petals spreading outward in a wave of destruction. The cyclone faltered as the flames consumed it, reducing the winds to harmless breezes.

Qian Zheng staggered back, his defenses crumbling.

Just as Xue Hongxia prepared to deliver the final blow, a shadowy figure appeared between them.

The air grew heavy, and an oppressive aura descended upon the battlefield.

"Sorry, but I can't let you kill him just yet."

Xue Hongxia's flames flickered as she instinctively took a step back, her instincts warning her of the newcomer's power.

"Who dares interfere?" She demanded, her tone sharp but cautious.

The figure turned to her, their face obscured by a hood.

"You'll know soon enough. Well then, Farewell!"

Before she could react, the shadowy figure disappeared with Qian Zheng.

"Stop!" Xue Hongxia shouted, her flames roaring to life, but it was too late.

Clenching her fists, she muttered, "Just who was he?"

Xue Hongxia was certain that no one in the Nascent Soul Realm and below could evade her grasp.

Yet, not only had she failed to sense the hooded man's presence before he appeared, but she was also powerless to prevent him from escaping with Qian Zheng.

"Could he be in the Spirit Severing Realm?"

Xue Hongxia murmured, her voice tinged with disbelief.