We Agreed You’d Just Play the Divine Son, So How Did You Become the Forbidden Zone Emperor?

Chapter 175. The Guilty Party Strikes First?

This ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍time, Yuntian truly felt that he had thrown everything away. His mind could no longer think of anything else. He wanted only to kill Chu Feng with his own hands and avenge Cailin.

So ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍now, as Yuntian stared in the direction where Chu Feng had vanished, his hatred for evil blazed fiercely, and his eyes were filled with icy malice.

As ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍for Shi Ritian, though he had only just been heavily injured, his heart was now completely satisfied. He no longer cared what Yuntian was thinking. He stepped forward and directly draped an arm over Yuntian’s shoulder.

“Brother, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍now that we have made up our minds, there is no need for the two of us to drag things out any longer. If we keep delaying like this, Cailin will only be in even greater danger.

I ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍know you are deeply worried about Cailin right now, so I think we should settle this as quickly as possible. Since we have already decided to form an alliance against Chu Feng, why waste time thinking about pointless matters here?

I’ll ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍take you back to the Ancient Royal Clan right now. Once we return, I’ll have my royal father and the Ten Great Leaders of the clan hear the full story. As long as we lay out the facts, I refuse to believe those Ten Great Leaders will simply stand by and ignore what has happened to us.”

Shi Ritian spoke with absolute confidence, and naturally, there was a reason for that.

He believed that the Ten Great Leaders were, by nature, people who fiercely defended the reputation of the Ancient Royal Clan. If they learned that members of their own race had suffered such a monstrous humiliation, there was no way they would sit by and do nothing.

It was precisely because he had grasped their mindset that Shi Ritian dared make such brazen promises to Yuntian now.

Yuntian simply allowed Shi Ritian to keep his arm around his shoulder without resisting. But after hearing those words, Yuntian turned around and shot Shi Ritian a suspicious glance.

Then, all at once, Yuntian let out a cold laugh. Though brief and abrupt, it was still perfectly clear.

“You really think things will go as smoothly as you say? For the Ancient Royal Clan to have reached its current standing, those Ten Great Leaders are all founding elders. More than that, they are the pillars of our Ancient Royal Clan. If they could be fooled so easily, then what would they still have left to protect the Ancient Royal Clan with? In any case, just listen to me on this matter and you will be fine. I’ll bring you back with me, and as for everything else, you do not need to worry. I will settle it all for you.”

Shi Ritian did not give anyone else a chance to speak. He said everything that should have been said, and everything that should not have been said as well.

Yuntian had truly hesitated at first, feeling that it might be impossible to sway the other leaders. But after hearing Shi Ritian speak with such certainty, his heart began to waver.

Most importantly, Yuntian was desperate to avenge Cailin.

Avenge Cailin. That was an unshakable truth.

But Yuntian also knew very clearly that with his strength alone, avenging Cailin was absolutely impossible.

So if he wanted revenge, he would have to borrow the strength of others, and aside from the Ancient Royal Clan, there seemed to be no other choice.

In the end, Yuntian truly had no alternatives left and no other way forward. He could only agree for the time being.

Turning his head, Yuntian frowned and looked at Shi Ritian with utmost seriousness. “Is everything you said true? Are you certain you can handle this matter?”

Shi Ritian was taken aback for a moment, but then burst into laughter.

“What a joke. Back in the Ancient Royal Clan, it is not as if you did not know what kind of person I am. Now that both you and I have suffered such humiliation, do you really think I cannot even settle a minor matter like this? Do not worry. If I say I will do it, then I will do it. I will definitely persuade the others. What you need to do is persuade your own clansmen.”

Seeing how confident Shi Ritian looked, much of the suspicion in Yuntian’s heart finally dissipated.

He nodded heavily. “Since you have already said this much, then let us proceed exactly as you suggested.”

At long last, he had obtained Yuntian’s agreement, and all of Shi Ritian’s remaining worries vanished.

“In that case, let us stop hesitating. We will return to the Ancient Royal Clan at once. I will gather everyone together directly and tell them everything we have experienced. I refuse to believe those leaders will do nothing.”

Shi Ritian was brimming with confidence, speaking grandly and extravagantly. But to Yuntian, none of that mattered. What he wanted was only the certainty that he could truly avenge Cailin.

After confirming the plan once more, the two of them dragged their injured bodies and began flying back toward the Ancient Royal Clan.

Outside the Nine Netherworld Treasury, at the Ancient Royal Clan’s temporary encampment, Shi Ritian arrived with Yuntian, staggering through the main gate of the encampment. The sight of the two of them covered in blood instantly alarmed everyone.

At the same time, the moment they appeared, they immediately drew every gaze around them.

“Brother Shi? What happened? How did you end up so badly injured?”

“My heavens, what exactly happened? Why are you covered in blood? With your cultivation, you are practically unrivaled among our Ancient Royal Clan. How could you have been wounded like this?”

“This is no small matter, no small matter at all. Did someone actually dare commit violence against our Ancient Royal Clan? If the Dragon King finds out, he will skin that person alive!”

A crowd of young prodigies of the Ancient Royal Clan surged forward, their cries of alarm rising and falling one after another.

But though they appeared deeply concerned on the surface, in truth, they would have been delighted to see Shi Ritian injured.

All of them were rivals, openly or secretly. So although their words were full of concern and urgency, inwardly they were more than happy to enjoy the spectacle.

Ordinarily, Shi Ritian probably would have already started fighting them on the spot.

But at this moment, his face was pale, and he deliberately put on an appearance of extreme frailty. Covering the hideous scorch mark on his chest, he gritted his teeth and said, “Quick... quickly invite the leaders. Tell them... tell them I have an urgent matter to discuss!”

The news spread, and in no more than a few moments, ten terrifying auras soared into the sky from the central hall of the encampment.

The leaders of the Ten Great Ancient Royal Clans had all arrived.

The Dragon King of the True Dragon Clan sat in the seat of honor, dragon might surging around him as his lightning-like gaze swept over Shi Ritian. “Speak. What happened? How did you turn yourself into such a disgraceful state? You have utterly thrown away your dignity.”

With a thud, Shi Ritian dropped to his knees, his voice hoarse. “Dragon King, please judge fairly. This junior... this junior has failed his duty... This time, I exhausted all my strength, yet still failed to seize the treasure.”

As he spoke, Shi Ritian’s face twisted viciously, and he ground his teeth in rage.

“Inside the Nine Netherworld Treasury, a madman appeared... He not only seized the Nine Netherworld Emperor Flame, but also heavily injured Brother Yuntian and me, and even... even...”

At this point, his whole body trembled, as if he had suffered an unbearable grievance, stirring intense agitation and curiosity among everyone present.