At this moment, an Azure Ox, looking almost human-like, stepped with its two front hooves onto the chests of Chu Qingming and Lin Yuyuan.
The chests of the two men were nearly caved in, the stone ground beneath their backs shattered to pieces, and blood bubbled and gushed from their mouths.
Lin Yuyuan and Chu Qingming, despite being martial artists of the eighth gate of the Jing Gate Realm, were pinned under the hooves of an Azure Ox, unable to budge. They looked as though they had already lost more than half their lives.
"Xiao Qing, stomp them to death!"
Qin Ning ordered immediately.
"Qin Ning!"
Chu Yuqing screamed with all his might, "If you dare kill us, the Qin family can just wait to be annihilated!"
"Let us go. Perhaps I will consider sparing the young and old of your Qin family," Lin Yuyuan also shrieked.
"Fools!"
Qin Ning sneered mercilessly, "Even at this point, you... still dare to threaten me?"
*Thud, thud...*
Two muffled explosions rang out as their chests were stomped into hollow cavities. Their hearts burst, and fresh blood sprayed all over the ground.
At this moment, Xiao Qing retracted its front legs. With a look of disgust, it walked over to Qin Xinxin's side, pressed its body against his back, and rubbed its hooves back and forth to clean them.
Qin Xinxin's chubby face turned pale, and his entire body went stiff, not daring to move an inch.
Just moments ago, this little Azure Ox had stomped to death two experts of the eighth gate of the Jing Gate Realm.
Meanwhile, the remaining onlookers had been scared out of their wits. They fled the scene, rushing back to their respective families to deliver the news.
Only now did Qin Ning turn back to look at Ling Du.
"Actually, I wanted to spare your life so you could go tell Ling Tian to wait for me. Before long, I will go to the imperial capital... to Tianshen Academy, is it?"
"I will find him and take back what belongs to me, Qin Ning. I will make him kneel and offer it back to me!"
Qin Ning clenched his fists, and with a sudden flick of his palm, a sharp *slash* sounded. A stream of blood spurted from Ling Du's neck, and his breath gradually faded away.
"But, I find your face highly repulsive..."
Clasping his hands behind his back, Qin Ning withdrew the spiritual qi from the surface of his body and let out a soft sigh.
"Brother, have you reached the eighth gate? And how did you tame this little Azure Ox?"
"Yes."
Qin Ning nodded and said, "Don't worry, kid, you will reach the eighth gate very soon too. As for Xiao Qing... it just took a liking to me, that's all..."
Hearing this, Xiao Qing took a few steps forward on its four legs and affectionately rubbed itself against Qin Ning.
Seeing this scene, Qin Xinxin was utterly speechless.
This was clearly an ox, yet no matter how one looked at it, it behaved exactly like a dog, incredibly clingy to its master.
"Let's go, home!"
Qin Ning took a stride forward, preparing to leave.
"Young Master Qin!"
Only now did Du Siyuan speak up respectfully, "Those people just now have surely gone back to report. This time, the four major families will likely lose all patience. When you return, please make preparations early and inform your father in time!"
"I will return to Shengdan Pavilion immediately and mobilize our martial artists..."
"No need!"
Qin Ning waved his hand and said, "After all, this is an internal matter of Lingyun City. It is not convenient for your Shengdan Pavilion to interfere. I can handle it!"
"But..."
"Right, tell that kid Sheng Xinrui that I will be heading to the imperial capital in less than a month. Have him prepare the nine-petaled Lingqing Flower. Otherwise, if the toxin penetrates deeper into his body, it will become much more troublesome."
"Yes, yes!"
Du Siyuan wanted to say more, but Qin Ning had already walked away.
"The sky over Lingyun City is truly about to change..."
Du Siyuan murmured in fear.
Perhaps even the father-son duo of Ling Shicheng and Ling Tian did not expect that stealing Qin Ning's Star Gate and transferring it into Ling Tian's body would cause a mere lion cub to grow into a mighty lion king.
"I must quickly inform Father, otherwise it will be too late and complications will arise."
Du Siyuan strode away, hurrying back to the Sacred Elixir Pavilion.
"Xiao Qing..."
"Snort..."
Walking along the street, Qin Xinxin enthusiastically greeted Xiao Qing, but the beast merely stuck out its tongue with a look of disdain.
Qin Xinxin did not dare to provoke this ox, turning back to look at Qin Ning. "Brother Ning, where on earth have you been these past ten-odd days?"
"Didn't I already tell you?"
Qin Ning smiled faintly and said, "To retrieve what belongs to me."
"Brother Ning is truly Brother Ning!" Qin Xinxin laughed heartily. "This time, having reached the eighth gate of the Kinhmen Realm, Father and the Patriarch will surely be astonished when they emerge from seclusion!"
"Seclusion?"
Qin Ning was taken aback and said, "Father and Second Uncle are both in seclusion?"
"Yes, they emerged once before. This is the second time!"
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Qin Ning smiled faintly.
"It seems that this time, the Qin family has nothing to worry about. Instead, it is the Ling, Lin, Chu, and Shen families who should be worried."
Looking at Qin Ning's smile, Qin Xinxin felt his scalp go numb.
He already knew that Qin Ning had killed Lin Yusheng and Lin Qiaoni.
This time, they had thoroughly offended the entire lineup of the four great families.
But seeing Qin Ning's strength, Qin Xinxin was no longer afraid.
This time, Qin Ning had turned a disaster into a blessing, reaching the eighth gate of the Kinhmen Realm. Qin Xinxin felt that Qin Ning was like a deity controlling everything, capable of anything.
"This entire Lingyun City will soon belong to the Qin family. And our Qin family will soon have more than just one powerhouse of the Linghai Realm!"
Qin Ning smiled, filled with confidence.
Seeing Qin Ning like this, Qin Xinxin only felt more and more excited.
The Qin family was about to rise!
Arriving outside the main gates of the Qin family, more than a dozen martial artists were already lined up, waiting in formation.
Ever since the incident with the Great Elder, the Qin family's elite forces stationed outside had all been recalled.
When the dozen or so guards saw Qin Ning return, they were instantly overjoyed.
"Third Young Master!"
"Mhm. Has my father emerged from seclusion yet?"
"Not yet, sir!"
Hearing this, Qin Ning nodded slightly and said, "Inform the clan members to return to the estate immediately. It is not safe outside."
"Yes, sir!"
"Oh, right. Also, tell the Third Elder and Fourth Elder to prepare for battle. The Ling family, in alliance with the other three great families, could attack at any moment!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Yes, sir? Wait, what?"
The guard was suddenly stunned, freezing in his tracks.
The Ling family, allied with the other great families, could attack at any moment?
Qin Xinxin patted his shoulder and laughed, "Don't worry. Just do as you're told."
"Yes, yes, yes! This subordinate obeys!"
The guards at the gate immediately began to make preparations.
At this moment, Qin Ning turned to walk inside.
"Brother Ning, the Patriarch left instructions. Once you return, we are to wake him!"
"No need."
Qin Ning waved his hand and said, "I will go find Second Brother first. Xinxin, tell everyone in the family not to run around. Just stay quietly inside the estate!"
"Understood!"
Qin Xinxin quickly busied himself.
Letting out a breath, Qin Ning smiled as he looked at a small courtyard.
With a creak, the courtyard door was pushed open.
Inside the small courtyard, Qin Hai was still sitting in his wheelchair, writing something on a scroll with a serious expression.
"Tsk tsk, Second Brother, you are truly leisurely. People are about to beat down our door, you know!" Qin Ning said with a smile.
"You brat, talking nonsense again!"
Qin Hai laughed and scolded, "Knocking on our front door? Don't I still have you? Besides, Father is still in secluded cultivation. Do you really think your second brother, staying in this small courtyard day in and day out, knows nothing of what's happening?"
"Besides... there's nothing I can do anyway!"
"Who said that?"
Qin Ning retorted immediately, "You just want to slack off, but I'm not going to let you!"
Hearing this, a spark flashed in Qin Hai's eyes.