Chapter 70: Retribution Finally Arrives

Bang.

Li Wei’s mother exploded like a bomb, blood splattering in every direction, her body torn and mangled, covered in wounds until she was a figure of living gore. Yet she did not die instantly—agony wracked her body with endless convulsions.

Everyone present was horrified, screaming and trembling in fear.

Li Wei scrambled to his mother’s side, crying out, “Mother, are you alright? Please, don’t let anything happen to you. Quickly—call the imperial physician!”

He turned on those around him, voice hoarse with rage. “And you all—how dare you hurt my mother! I’ll see you all dead for this! Lin Manyu, this is what you wanted, isn’t it? You harmed my mother—I’ll kill you!”

With a furious roar, he charged at Lin Manyu, fists swinging.

Over the years, Lin Manyu had spared no effort in cultivating Li Wei. With her help, he had already reached the tenth level of Qi Refinement, his strength rivaling her own. She had even given him the only Foundation Establishment artifact she possessed, all to aid his progress.

Comparing the two, Li Wei was indeed stronger than Lin Manyu at this moment.

The reason he had not divorced or killed her was simply because he had yet to squeeze every ounce of value from her. First, he would marry Liu Ruyan, reclaim his children, and only then would he torment Lin Manyu to the utmost, drain her completely, and finally kill her.

In her past life, Lin Manyu had endured all of this. That was why, in this life, she returned to the Supreme Profound Dao Sect, hoping for their help.

But alas, when one chooses the wrong path, one must pay the price. Our roads are ours alone to walk.

How could she have known that the Supreme Profound Dao Sect would not stand up for her? If not for encountering Chu Feng, she would have remained crushed under Li Wei’s heel, no matter how many lifetimes she relived.

Ten years ago, she left the sect to devote herself to her husband and children, handing all her resources to Li Wei. To raise his potential, she had even damaged her own. By now, there was no turning back.

Even granted another life, she found herself repeating the same fate.

However, the appearance of Chu Feng changed everything.

As Li Wei attacked, Ji Ling’er would not indulge him.

Scum like him deserved to die.

She did not know why, but a fire of anger still burned deep within her, and Li Wei had become the perfect vessel for her wrath.

Ji Ling’er was already at the late Foundation Establishment stage. Crushing Li Wei was as effortless as killing an ant.

She slapped him hard across the face.

Li Wei flew like a rag doll, landing heavily on the ground, blood spurting from his mouth, terror written across his face. A vivid five-finger mark burned red and swollen on his cheek.

One must know—Li Wei’s title of Marquis Weiwu was not just due to his military merit, but also his cultivation: the tenth level of Qi Refinement, with the prospect of reaching Foundation Establishment. In the Grand Qian Dynasty, even the Imperial Ancestors numbered only a few at Foundation Establishment.

Li Wei was not yet thirty years old. At his level, few present could match him.

Yet in Ji Ling’er’s hands, he was no more than an ant.

Everyone was stunned.

Among those present were the Left and Right Prime Ministers, dukes, marquises, and even princes, all assembled to celebrate Li Wei’s wedding.

Speculation swirled over Ji Ling’er’s identity.

To conceal her beauty, she had cast a small spell; to others, she seemed shrouded in mist, her features and form entirely obscured.

Li Wei climbed to his feet in terror, glaring at Ji Ling’er. “Who are you? Why are you helping that wretch? I am the Marquis Weiwu of the Grand Qian Dynasty! Think carefully about the consequences of opposing me!”

“Marquis Weiwu? Not for much longer,” Ji Ling’er replied with disdain.

Li Wei frowned. “What do you mean by that?”

Ji Ling’er snorted coldly.

She turned and commanded, “What are you all standing around for? Get in here!”

Immediately, a squad of fully armored soldiers in golden mail stormed in, each exuding a chilling, murderous aura.

The crowd was shaken to the core.

The Crown Prince gasped in disbelief. “Aren’t these the Grand Qian Immortal Guards, only mobilized by my royal father? Why are they here?”

“Eunuch Wei is here too.”

“Eunuch Wei serves at the Emperor’s side,” someone murmured.

“Could they be here to congratulate the Marquis Weiwu on his wedding? But that doesn’t seem right—they were summoned by the one who just struck the Marquis.”

Seeing Eunuch Wei and the Immortal Guards arrive, Li Wei immediately pointed at Lin Manyu, Chu Feng, and the others. “Eunuch Wei, you’re just in time! They disrupted my wedding, harmed my mother, and assaulted me, the Marquis Weiwu! Order the Immortal Guards to seize them at once!”

“How dare you!” Eunuch Wei snapped coldly.

Li Wei nodded hastily, turning to Lin Manyu and Chu Feng. “Lin Manyu, you see? These are the Immortal Guards—the Empire’s strongest force, all cultivators of Qi Refinement, masters of battle formations. With over a hundred men, even a Foundation Establishment expert would fall before them.”

“You’re all as good as dead today!”

But as Li Wei gloated, Eunuch Wei’s icy voice sounded again.

“Li Wei, it is you who are insolent. How dare you speak to the Immortal Lady in such a manner! Immortal Guards—seize Li Wei!”

The Immortal Guards moved at once—swift as thunder, unstoppable as a storm.

Still injured from Ji Ling’er’s blow and never expecting the Immortal Guards to turn on him, Li Wei was instantly subdued. They pinned him to the ground, shackled him with Binding Immortal Chains, and left him helpless.

Li Wei panicked.

“Eunuch Wei, there must be some mistake! Why have you seized me?”

Liu Ruyan, still veiled and awaiting her wedding, could no longer remain calm. She threw off her red veil and rushed to Li Wei, shouting at the Immortal Guards, “Release the Marquis! What are you doing? How dare you lay hands on him?”

The Immortal Guards showed her no mercy and knocked her to the ground.

This time, Liu Ruyan was cowed completely, trembling in terror, not daring to utter another sound.

She had thought the Immortal Guards had come to support Marquis Weiwu, but now realized, this was not the case at all.

The Crown Prince stepped before Eunuch Wei. “Eunuch Wei, what is the meaning of this?”

Eunuch Wei cast him a cool glance. “By imperial decree—Li Wei is guilty of heinous crimes, his offenses warrant death. His title of Marquis Weiwu is revoked.”

“Li Wei, Liu Ruyan, his mother, his son, and his daughter are to be executed by dismemberment and their souls destroyed, their spirits bound to the Soul-Binding Banner, never to know rebirth.”

“Any and all connected to Marquis Weiwu are to be put to death, without exception.”

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, as you personally came to congratulate Marquis Weiwu, by imperial command, your title is revoked as well. The other princes are to be confined to the Imperial Clan’s House to await further punishment.”

“All you officials present, you should go to the Emperor at once to plead for mercy and receive his judgment.”