Chapter 652: Chenxi Captured

Chapter 652 -648: Chenxi Captured

Qingfeng Grassland.

Located west of the True Dragon Battlefield’s Central Region, it was a boundless prairie.

The Centaur Tribe, one of the top-tier tribes of the Central Area, resided here.

Legend had it that the Centaur Race was an offshoot of the Celestial Horse Race from the core region. The only difference was that the experts of the Centaur Tribe lacked the pair of wings possessed by the Celestial Horse Race.

Their innate talent was also considerably weaker than that of the Celestial Horse Race.

It was for this very reason that the Centaur Race had been demoted from the core region to the Central Area.

As the leader of the Centaur Tribe, Ma Tengtian’s strength was formidable; he was in no way inferior to even the Xishang King.

However, the Centaur Tribe’s overall strength was not particularly great, so they were unable to challenge the standing of Nanshan Collection in the Central Area.

Ever since Ma Xiao had died in battle, Ma Tengtian’s hair had turned white overnight.

Ma Xiao was his favorite son. He was also the Centaur Tribe’s most talented Celestial Pride Son in the last century, the one with the greatest chance of evolving a pair of Celestial Horse’s Wings.

From a young age, Ma Xiao had been exceptionally brilliant, far surpassing his peers. He was also bellicose and bloodthirsty.

That was why Ma Tengtian had allowed Ma Xiao to go to Nanshan Collection and participate in the War God Arena. His first goal was to temper himself; his second was the hope that Ma Xiao could use the opportunity to achieve a breakthrough, evolve Celestial Horse’s Wings, and enhance the strength of the Centaur Race in the Central Area. After all, if Ma Xiao could evolve Celestial Horse’s Wings, he would surely surpass Ma Tengtian in time.

He might even surpass the Peacock King, Nanshan Collection’s strongest expert.

If that happened, the Centaur Tribe would have a chance to challenge Nanshan Collection for the position of Overlord and dominate the entire Central Area.

But what Ma Tengtian and the entire Centaur Race had never expected was that Ma Xiao would actually die.

Ma Tengtian was furious. He had even gone to Nanshan Collection personally to find Hong Yu, but unfortunately, Hong Yu had already left.

Furthermore, the experts from the Celestial Horse Race in the core region couldn’t find Hong Yu in the Central Area and hoped to use the Centaur Tribe’s power to aid in the search. Thus, these two factions, who were already related, formed an alliance.

“Come, come, everyone have some! This is a Sixth Grade Desolate Beast, a Red Sword Tiger. The meat is delicious—it’s a specialty of the Qingfeng Grassland!” Ma Tengtian called out to the crowd.

Beside him was Ma Lie.

Ma Lie swallowed his saliva, but he remembered that Ma Tengtian had instructed him to take good care of the experts from the Celestial Horse Race in an attempt to form a connection with their strongest member.

He immediately carved off the most delectable thigh from the roasted Red Sword Tiger and respectfully presented it to the expert from the Celestial Horse Race. “Commander Ma Qi, please, have a taste. Of the whole Red Sword Tiger, the meat from this right thigh is the most succulent. It’s an absolute delicacy!”

“Hahaha, alright! Then I shall have a taste!”

Ma Qi laughed heartily and began to devour the meat.

The fragrance of meat filled his mouth, and the golden grease was incredibly tempting.

Ma Qi nodded in satisfaction, a look of intoxication on his face. “Delicious! This is truly delicious!” Ma Qi looked at Ma Tengtian and said, “Heaven-Soaring Leader, this younger son of yours is not bad. If he’s willing, let him return with me to the core region in the future. I’m sure it won’t take more than a few years to cultivate him into a War Emperor!”

“Haha, in that case, many thanks, Commander Ma Qi!” Ma Tengtian laughed.

His eyes revealed a look of wild joy.

Ma Lie was also ecstatic.

‘A War Emperor!’

‘In the Central Area, that’s a truly top-tier expert. If I can become a War Emperor, the leader’s position will definitely be mine for the taking. I might even be able to seize Nanshan Collection.’

After spending some time in Nanshan Collection, Ma Lie was no longer willing to return to Qingfeng Grassland.

But with his backer, Ma Xiao, dead, and Hong Yu’s power in its ascendance, he didn’t dare stay in Nanshan Collection.

Thinking of Hong Yu, a chilling coldness and venomous hatred filled Ma Lie’s eyes. ‘Hong Yu, you just wait! One day, I’ll tear you to pieces. And you, Xishang Ling! The day I ascend to the rank of War Emperor will be the day you all accompany Hong Yu in death!’

The Hundred Victory War God, Beichen, was Hong Yu.

This news had already spread, so they were naturally aware of Hong Yu’s true identity.

Ma Qi didn’t say much and lowered his head to continue gnawing on the meat.

He was the only grandson of the Celestial Horse Race’s Grand Elder, Ma Yuanfei, and one of the strongest experts of the younger generation. At a young age, he had already become one of the Ten Great Commanders of the Celestial Horse Race!

He commanded over a thousand experts of the Celestial Horse Race. He was a genuine Celestial Pride Son with immense power and influence.

Otherwise, the mission to hunt down Hong Yu and seize the Venerable Golden Bone would not have been entrusted to him!

After finishing the Red Sword Tiger thigh, Ma Qi wiped the grease from his mouth and said, “Heaven-Soaring Leader, I asked you to find Hong Yu’s whereabouts. I wonder how that’s progressing?”

Ma Tengtian gave a bitter smile. “Everything is proceeding in full swing, but Hong Yu is too cunning. Ever since he obtained the title of Hundred Victory War God as Beichen, he has completely vanished from public view. It has been many days, and despite sending out numerous experts, I still have no news of him.”

“This fellow is quite good at hiding!”

Ma Qi stroked his chin, his gaze turning sharp. “Nanshan Collection’s business spans the entire Central Area. They must have an intelligence network. Have you asked them for information on Hong Yu?”

“I’ve already asked, but both the Peacock King and the Xishang King of Nanshan Collection refused to say a word. I’m quite helpless!” Ma Tengtian said with a bitter smile.

“BAM!”

Ma Qi slammed the table and shot to his feet in anger.

He was a full four meters tall. With a WHOOSH, he stood up, unleashing a powerful wave of aura. “Don’t tell me you didn’t tell them that it is *I* who am looking for Hong Yu?”

“I did!”

Ma Tengtian looked aggrieved, but a cunning and sinister light swirled in the depths of his eyes.

He had previously gone to Nanshan Collection to kill his son’s murderer with his own hands, only to be driven out by the Xishang King. This had made him bear a grudge.

So, he came up with a vicious plan: to provoke Ma Qi and kill with a borrowed knife.

Ma Tengtian said with an aggrieved and resentful expression, “Commander Ma Qi, you have no idea how arrogant the people of Nanshan Collection are. When I told them you were looking for Hong Yu, the Xishang King of Nanshan Collection actually said, ‘What does the Celestial Horse Race amount to? This is Nanshan Collection. Don’t talk to me about a mere Ma Qi—even if Ma Yuanfei himself came, I wouldn’t be afraid!'”

“Of course, I couldn’t stand by and listen to them insult the Grand Elder like that, so I clashed with him. Unfortunately, the Xishang King’s strength is a bit greater than mine, and he forcefully drove me out of Nanshan Collection,” Ma Tengtian said with a furious look on his face.

“Bastard!”

Ma Qi flew into a rage, a cold light glinting in his eyes. “A mere faction from the Central Area dares to be so insolent? They don’t even have any respect for my Celestial Horse Race? Fine, fine! Today, I will personally act and eliminate that arrogant Peacock King and Xishang King. When it’s done, I’ll give Nanshan Collection to you, Heaven-Soaring Leader!”

“In that case, many thanks, Commander Ma Qi!”

Ma Tengtian and the other experts of the Centaur Race were all ecstatic, toasting him one after another.

Just as they were feasting with great delight, an expert from the Centaur Race suddenly entered. He was an Elder of the Centaur Tribe.

“Elder Ma Yun is here? Weren’t you out searching for Hong Yu? Don’t tell me you already have news?” Ma Tengtian asked with a loud laugh.

Hearing this, Ma Qi also looked up.

Elder Ma Yun first bowed respectfully to Ma Tengtian and then to Ma Qi before smiling. “Leader, that Hong Yu is simply too cunning. My men couldn’t find him at all. However, I did make an unexpected discovery this time, hehe…” A suggestive smile appeared on Elder Ma Yun’s face.

“What discovery?”

Ma Tengtian asked curiously.

Ma Yun chuckled and waved a hand. “Bring them in!”

“THUD! THUD!”

Two figures were escorted inside.

They were a human woman in her twenties and a little girl of about five or six by her side.

The woman had red lips and white teeth, with a pure and clean face. Her fiery red armor was heavily damaged, and she was covered in wounds, her aura extremely faint.

The little girl was in slightly better condition, but her face was also pale, and she appeared very weak.

If Hong Yu had been there, he would have certainly recognized them.

They were none other than Zhu Ling’Er and Little Chenxi!

“Hm? Human girls? Elder Ma Yun, what is the meaning of this?” Ma Tengtian asked curiously.

Ma Yun smiled. “Leader, both of these females are connected to that Hong Yu. Especially this little girl—she’s Hong Yu’s sister. I heard he treats her exceptionally well. He even clashed with this generation’s number one Unparalleled Genius for her sake, back when he hadn’t even reached the Ultimate True Dragon Level!”

“Oh? This girl holds such an important place in Hong Yu’s heart?”

“Father, why don’t we bind this girl and use her as bait to lure Hong Yu here?” Ma Lie’s eyes lit up as he gave a cunning smile.

“Commander Ma Qi, what are your thoughts?”

Ma Tengtian, however, looked toward Ma Qi.

Ma Qi squinted, sizing up Zhu Ling’Er and Little Chenxi. After a moment, he said slowly, “We’ll follow Ma Lie’s suggestion for the little girl. Use her as bait and spread the word to lure Hong Yu. As for this human woman… tsk tsk, it’s been a long time since I’ve had a human woman. I’ll take her!”

“Haha, that’s excellent.”

Ma Tengtian laughed heartily and waved a hand, shouting, “Men, arrange a fine room for Commander Ma Qi!”

Then, Ma Qi stood up, slung the weakened Zhu Ling’Er over his shoulder, and headed for the rear courtyard.

Zhu Ling’Er had been severely injured while being pursued by the Chrysanthemum King. She had only managed to escape at the cost of nearly crippling her strength, eventually ending up in a wretched state in the Central Area.

But then she had run into Ma Yun, who was searching for Hong Yu.

At that time, Zhu Ling’Er and Little Chenxi were talking about finding Hong Yu. Ma Yun overheard them and naturally captured them.

They had been tortured quite a bit along the way, and she was now so weak she didn’t even have the strength to speak.

Her eyes, filled with regret and shame, were fixed on Little Chenxi. She opened her mouth but was unable to make a sound.

The porcelain-doll-like Little Chenxi was incredibly sensible.

She knew these people would definitely try to pry information about Hong Yu from her, so she kept her mouth shut. Only the glimmer of tears shone in her bright eyes.

Ma Lie sneered, “Men! Take this girl away, strip her naked, and tie her up under the sun to bake for a few days. At the same time, have the others spread the word everywhere. We must let Hong Yu know we have the girl!”

“Understood!”

Ma Tengtian ordered, “Immediately assemble the army and fortify the main camp. We must not let Hong Yu escape.” A savage grin spread across his face. ‘You dared to kill my son? I’ll not only kill you, but I’ll also slaughter everyone you care about!’

As the experts of the Centaur Race sprang into action…

…they had no idea…

…that a figure had already soared through the air and arrived above the Qingfeng Grassland!

“So this is the Qingfeng Grassland? The environment really is quite nice. The Centaur Race really knows how to live, occupying a place like this!”

Hong Yu greedily drank in the fresh air, a faint, cold light in his eyes. “It’s just a pity that soon, this fresh air will be thick with the stench of blood!”