Volume Two: The Life of a Bandit Chapter Eighteen: Establishing Authority

The Xuanqing Unified Staff was originally crafted by Jiang Lan for Hou Fei using a branch from the ancient Ironwood tree. Later, Qin Yu infused it with primordial spiritual energy and the essence of Xuanhuang, transforming it into a weapon surpassing the finest primordial spiritual treasures.

At the Purple Xuan Mansion, Hou Fei deliberated carefully before entrusting the Xuanqing Unified Staff to Qin Shuang. Now, residing in the Qinmeng Universe, he cared little for weapons.

“Xuanqing Unified Staff?” Qin Si’s eyes lit up. “I didn’t expect Second Uncle to give even his treasured possession, never parted from, to Little Shuang.”

“Primordial spiritual energy?” Cui De and Jiang Zheng exclaimed in surprise. Even Ping Tian gaped in astonishment. Primordial spiritual treasures were exceedingly rare and precious in the Divine Realm.

“This black staff, entwined with Xuanhuang energy flows, must be a second-rank primordial spiritual treasure,” Jiang Zheng calculated inwardly. The thought of it being a first-rank treasure was beyond his imagination.

“The Earth-Shattering Staff!” Qin Shuang said calmly, extending the black staff forward.

A gust of invisible force surged forth, an immense pressure that pinned Jiang Zheng in place. He could do nothing but watch helplessly as spatial rifts created by the staff crept closer to him.

“Stop, stop! We admit defeat…” Though not the target of the attack, Cui De trembled at the overwhelming pressure emitted by the staff.

With a thunderous roar, the staff sliced through space, tearing it apart into patches of pitch-black void. A nearby hill had been leveled to the ground, utterly consumed by the spatial fractures, leaving not even a speck of soil behind.

Qin Shuang’s heart quivered slightly. “Only by harnessing the full power of the Xuanqing Unified Staff can one rival Big Brother’s casual strike…”

Jiang Zheng stood rooted, surrounded by continuously fracturing and healing space. Sweat poured down his forehead; his hand gripping the staff trembled violently, nearly losing hold.

Fortunately, the ground beneath him remained intact. Yet this time, he refused to believe Qin Shuang had lost control. There was only one other explanation: she had held back.

“We concede…” Jiang Zheng, recovering his composure, said dejectedly, “Two battles lost; no need for a third.”

“Very well. From today onward, the Underworld Palace falls under the jurisdiction of the Monster Refinement Cave,” Ping Tian announced, glancing at Qin Si. Upon receiving his nod, he disclosed the name of the cave.

Jiang Zheng was stunned, feeling a mixture of injustice and discouragement. Yet Cui De sensed a deeper truth and immediately sent a mental inquiry to Ping Tian. “Tell me honestly, is that Divine King wielding a primordial spiritual treasure truly your subordinate?”

In terms of combat prowess, Cui De was certain neither he nor Ping Tian could overcome Qin Shuang. Even if Ping Tian had methods to defeat her, he would surely seize the primordial spiritual treasure as spoils. But things were different now.

“Heh, you caught me. Since you’ve sworn already, I’m not afraid to admit it: those two are the real big shots. I’m merely their subordinate,” Ping Tian quickly confessed. Having sworn an oath, he had no intention of going back on his word.

“Lord Ping Tian, we accept our defeat and request to rest briefly in the Underworld Palace,” Cui De was eager to uncover the truth and allowed Ping Tian, Qin Si, and Qin Shuang inside.

“Lord, regarding the earlier matter, I hope for a satisfactory explanation,” Cui De said, eyes fixed on Qin Shuang as he addressed Ping Tian in the main hall.

“I’ll answer on his behalf,” Qin Si grinned and stepped forward.

“You?” Cui De sneered, dismissing him. Turning back to Ping Tian, he said, “Lord, I admit defeat in our recent battle and will submit to the Monster Refinement Cave as per our wager. But if the cave recognizes no hierarchy, I find it hard to accept.”

Ping Tian was speechless. The Monster Refinement Cave indeed had a strict hierarchy, but Cui De had it all backwards.

“Ping Tian, you have no objections, right?” Qin Si remained unperturbed; after all, their original plan was to act under the cave’s name.

“Ah… of course not,” Ping Tian replied awkwardly, his tone tinged with respect.

Cui De was dumbfounded by Ping Tian’s tone. “Ping Tian… what is this?”

“The Monster Refinement Cave is merely a branch of our Purple Xuan Alliance. Ping Tian counts as one of our subordinates. By submitting to the cave, you are, in truth, submitting to the Purple Xuan Alliance. Does that answer satisfy you?” Qin Si explained with a smile, clarifying the relationship among the three parties.

“Purple Xuan Alliance?” Cui De frowned. “I’ve never heard of this organization. When did it emerge?”

Qin Shuang stepped forward coolly. “It didn’t exist before, but we will make the name Purple Xuan Alliance resonate throughout the Divine Realm as swiftly as possible.”

“Hmph.” Cui De scoffed. “Sometimes ideals matter, but realizing them is nearly impossible. The Divine Realm’s structure is fixed: eight divine clans, nine ascended powers, ten outlaw factions. Even Lin Meng from over two more cycles ago failed to change this.”

“That’s because Lin Meng never intended to change it. With his strength, wiping out all those factions would be effortless,” Qin Si retorted mockingly.

The power wielded by a primordial master could easily annihilate the entire Divine Realm.

“You… know Lin Meng?” Jiang Zheng suddenly interrupted after a long silence.

“Let’s first discuss your affairs,” Qin Si ignored Jiang Zheng’s question and continued. “Our Purple Xuan Alliance holds its subordinates to strict standards. Those who join must swear everlasting loyalty, never to betray.”

“You… are outrageous!” Cui De roared, arguing, “According to our prior agreement, we lost only to the Monster Refinement Cave. While we submit to them, no oaths were required.”

At this, Ping Tian approached Cui De and said, “Cui De, don’t be shameless. You’re joining the Purple Xuan Alliance because they favor you. Otherwise, if the alliance leaders were angered, I couldn’t protect you.”

“Alliance leaders?” Cui De suddenly calmed, eyes wide, pointing at Qin Si and Qin Shuang in disbelief. “You mean… they are the alliance leaders?”

Ping Tian nodded silently.

“What? Still not convinced?” Qin Si stood with hands on hips, amused and slightly exasperated.

Cui De dismissed Qin Si’s status. “Nonsense! Would you accept a god as your leader?”

“If this god is stronger than me, I have no reason to resist,” Qin Si shrugged indifferently.

“Hmph! What a joke! A god stronger than a High Celestial God?” Cui De sneered. “If you can beat me, I’ll swear the oath.”

“You’re on!” Qin Si’s eyes flashed coldly.

Startled by Qin Si’s icy gaze, Cui De shuddered inexplicably. Still, he refused to believe a High Celestial God posed a real threat. He sneered, “I won’t go back on my word. Let’s settle this with a duel now.”

“Outside? Hmph, no need,” Qin Si smiled, then with a casual gesture, flicked his hands effortlessly.

Boom!

Behind Cui De, a low-grade divine artifact—a stone table—shattered explosively. Beside the debris, a rift in space appeared.

Cui De was horrified, about to react, but found himself trapped inside a sphere of pitch-black space. The dark orb completely enclosed him, with space twisting relentlessly both inside and outside.

“Big Brother, your control over power is truly exquisite…” Even Qin Shuang, mentally prepared, admired Qin Si’s mastery. His control over energy was flawless to the extreme.

Ping Tian wiped sweat from his brow, silently relieved he had chosen to ally with the Purple Xuan Alliance rather than oppose it. These two leaders were terrifying beyond measure.

Cui De was stunned. The space around him trembled continuously. Even if the surrounding space stabilized, he couldn’t escape the fractured spatial circle imprisoning him. Worse, the black sphere repaired itself sluggishly, unlike the usual rapid tears caused by Divine Kings. Even more terrifying, the orb was steadily shrinking.

“Concede or not?” Qin Si’s voice carried a teasing tone.

“I… I concede,” Cui De sighed helplessly. Letting the black orb continue shrinking would mean eventual annihilation by the spatial rifts. He realized Qin Si had held back earlier; had he unleashed full force, tearing him apart would have been easy.

With a whoosh, the slowly repairing space instantly restored to normal. Qin Si still stood with hands on hips, grinning at him.

“I, Cui De, pledge eternal loyalty to the Purple Xuan Alliance. If I break this oath, may heaven and earth forsake me,” Cui De swore solemnly, then tugged at a still-shocked Jiang Zheng.

Jiang Zheng voiced no objection and also swore to the heavens, “I, Jiang Zheng, pledge eternal loyalty to the Purple Xuan Alliance. If I break this oath, may heaven and earth forsake me.”

(To be continued)