Chapter Seventy-One: I Want You to Be Strong

Ten years!

Boom!

Ke Bei’s eyes were bloodshot, his fists clenched tightly as he forced out icy, biting words through gritted teeth. His body trembled slightly, struggling to suppress the raging fury burning within him, but in the end, the wildfire in his heart could not be contained. With a furious punch, he smashed it down onto the bed frame. The resounding crash echoed as the wooden planks shattered beneath his blow, and he leapt up with explosive force.

Why?

There was only this one thought in Ke Bei’s mind. Hei Qin wanted him dead, yet the Jiujang Base turned a blind eye. Even Hei Qin’s master, a War God–level powerhouse, didn’t hesitate to intervene, disregarding all dignity. What crime had Han Lingyue committed?

Why should he be sealed away for ten years?

“Ke Bei, calm down!”

Luo Han’s burly figure blocked Ke Bei’s path, his deep voice thundering in Ke Bei’s ears. His broad palm pressed down firmly on Ke Bei’s shoulder.

“Ten years of confinement is already the best outcome. If the founder of Jiujang Base hadn’t personally issued the order, killing a War God–rank would have been a capital offense!”

“Why?” Ke Bei’s eyes were rimmed with red as he glared at the imposing man before him.

“Is a War God supposed to watch his family and friends be murdered and do nothing? If that’s so, what’s the point of being a War God? If he can’t protect those he wants to protect, what kind of pillar of humanity is he? If he can’t even safeguard his own family, how can he talk about defending the human race?”

Ke Bei was overwhelmed with emotion. He’d barely set foot in Jiujang Base before running into Hei Qin. If not for Luo Ling’s elder brother’s timely intervention, and Han Lingyue’s arrival at the last moment, he would likely be dead.

Yet no one understood his anguish—no one cared. Han Lingyue was a genius of unparalleled talent, yet he couldn’t escape his fate of being sealed away. And what could Ke Bei do now with his current strength?

“War God–level powerhouses have their own rules…” Luo Han looked at Ke Bei, whose forehead veins bulged with barely suppressed emotion, and spoke in a low, steady voice.

“Jiujang Base has a rule: War Gods cannot attack the direct blood relatives of another War God. If such a situation arises, they must apply for the base to mete out punishment.”

“You and Han Lingyue are not related by blood. Yet for your sake, he killed a War God–level expert outright. If it weren’t for Han Lingyue’s extraordinary talent—the kind that even the rulers of Jiujang Base can’t bear to lose—he’d be dead by now! The rules were already bent for him. Ten years of confinement is already an incredible concession.”

Luo Han patiently explained the rules of War God–level power in Jiujang Base.

“Rules? Hahaha, more damned rules!”

At Luo Han’s explanation, Ke Bei suddenly burst into mad laughter, but his laughter was laced with endless despair.

Back in Lingfeng City, Ke Bei could disregard the rules. When he wiped out the Blood Sword Alliance, it was done and done.

Back then, he could ignore the rules because he had strength—because he had a background even he didn’t understand.

But now, not only was he crushed beneath the so-called rules of Jiujang Base, even his backer, Han Lingyue, was sealed away for ten years because of those same rules.

Ten years—two-fifths of Han Lingyue’s life so far; he was only twenty-five. Ten years was not a short sentence for him. The thought that Han Lingyue, because of him and these damned rules, would have to spend a decade in the dark depths beneath Azure Dragon Lake sent a surge of violent rage coursing uncontrollably through Ke Bei.

“Han left you a message,” Luo Han said gravely, watching Ke Bei, who was on the verge of losing control.

“What?” The news that Han Lingyue had left him words made Ke Bei’s anger subside a fraction, though his voice was still frigid.

“He wants you to become strong.”

Luo Han looked directly into Ke Bei’s bloodshot eyes and enunciated each word.

“To become strong?” Ke Bei shuddered all over. His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles cracked, the sound of bone grinding echoing in the room.

If he wanted to trample all rules beneath his feet, if he wanted to live freely, he needed overwhelming strength—strength that would make even the founder of Jiujang Base hesitate.

If he possessed such power, he could break Han Lingyue out by force. Who would dare object?

At that moment, Ke Bei craved power more than ever before.

“Yes, if you reach the War God level, or rank in the top three of the Azure Dragon List, you’ll have permission to visit Han. Ten years alone at the bottom of the lake—too harsh, too lonely. You must grow strong as soon as possible,” Luo Han said, voice rising with passion as he mentioned the War God realm and the Azure Dragon List.

In the last ranking battle, Luo Han had lost to Han Lingyue and, realizing his gap with the top experts, withdrew from subsequent matches. Had he continued, he was confident he could have made the top five, but breaking into the top three was another challenge entirely.

Number one on the Azure Dragon List had been monopolized by Li Qingfeng for three years, while number three was Mu Duanhun. No one truly knew how strong Mu Duanhun was—he’d never fought Li Qingfeng directly, and the Blade of New Moon he always carried had never left its sheath.

Mu Duanhun looked young, but his entire being exuded an indescribable sense of old sorrow. His hair, draped carelessly, was half jet-black, half snow-white.

“My heart is dead, my grave is built; all that remains is to guard it.
When the New Moon Blade is drawn, a thousand miles are stained with blood!”

Those were the words Mu Duanhun spoke before his match with Li Qingfeng. After saying them, he simply cradled his blade and walked off the stage. He ultimately placed third, yet remained the most mysterious figure on the list.

That was all Luo Han knew of him.

Previously, Han Lingyue had been ranked second.

Li Qingfeng, Han Lingyue, Mu Duanhun—these three occupied the top of the Azure Dragon List and had never crossed blades. Deep down, Luo Han felt an inexplicable fear toward them.

Han Lingyue was the first of them to break through, now a true War God. Next time, perhaps Luo Han could challenge for a spot in the top three.

A fierce fighting spirit flashed in Luo Han’s tiger-like eyes. Aside from Li Qingfeng, Han Lingyue, and Mu Duanhun, he feared no one.

“I will become strong!
I will not let Brother Han wait ten years!
Never!”

Ke Bei gazed at the surging battle spirit in Luo Han’s eyes, his own voice low and resolute.

...

In the days that followed, Ke Bei did not choose a new instructor. Although Han Lingyue had been sealed away, he had already passed the instructor’s assessment, so Ke Bei simply selected Han Lingyue as his instructor.

He didn’t care who instructed him. To everyone’s astonishment, Ke Bei, who chose Han Lingyue, was assigned his own villa.

The villa was located behind Little Jiu’s residence. Since moving in, Ke Bei had not left his room, instead shutting himself away in bitter cultivation—honing his Foundation-Building Arts and practicing the third sabre technique left by the bearded old man.

Time passed swiftly. In the blink of an eye, a month was gone. Ke Bei slowly opened the villa’s door and, for the first time, stepped outside again, strolling to the shore of Azure Dragon Lake.

He stood quietly, gazing at the clear water. The breeze caressed his face as Ke Bei stretched out his arms and greedily inhaled the crisp, fresh air.

“Brother Han, can you hear me?
I’ll come to see you soon—very soon!”

Staring at the lake, Ke Bei drew a deep breath. The Nine Yang Divine Art surged through him as he let out a resounding roar, echoing like a dragon’s cry between heaven and earth.

Ps: Once again, I’m late today. I can’t help wanting to give myself two resounding slaps. My brothers, you’ve waited long. And to those reading on Qidian Mobile, I see your comments, I see your rewards… Thank you for your support. I will do my best to write the world in my heart, to create a story brimming with passion and excitement. Good night, brothers.