Nine Star Hegemon Body Arts

Chapter 6717 Bloody Methods

Countless experts of the Starry River Palace were pierced by a chain and lifted into the sky. Even Long Chen’s expression changed at the sight.

Among them were several half-step acquired Divine Sovereigns, along with many elders who held real authority within the palace. There was a certain blind elder amongst them—the hall master of the Starry River Pill Hall.

Even Long Chen was shaken. At this point, Li Canghao’s intent was obvious, yet Long Chen still found it difficult to believe he would go this far.

“Palace Master...!”

The suspended experts cried out in terror.

“Shut your mouths!” Li Canghao roared. His voice was like thunder splitting the heavens, and everyone trembled.

His expression was gloomy, and killing intent roiled within his eyes.

Li Canghao declared, “You pack of fools have been blinded by your greed. You are not fit to be nine star heirs. If it were not for... I would have crushed you with my own hands long ago. You wouldn’t have lived to this day!

“You’ve forgotten why Heavenly Sovereign Yaochen established the Starry River Palace and the will of the Star Master. You used a vote to decide Long Chen’s fate—and in doing so, you chose your own. The vote was yours. The path was yours. Do not blame anyone else.”

Li Canghao sighed softly, finding it difficult to do this. Many familiar faces were among those bound by the chains.

All the hoisted experts were horrified. Their power was sealed by these astral chains. Did Li Canghao really want to kill them all? They couldn’t believe this.

There were trillions of experts in the sky. Many were pillars of the Starry River Palace. If all of them were slain, the palace would suffer irreparable damage. Chaos would descend immediately.

Li Wanci’s face twisted as she screamed. “Patriarch, what are you doing?! Are you trying to destroy the Li family?! Are you willing to become a sinner to our bloodline?! How will you face our ancestors in the afterlife? How will you face Heavenly Sovereign Li Yaochen?!”

Her words caused many to look more closely. They realized that most of the experts in the sky bore the surname Li.

“If I let you off because I was soft-hearted,” Li Canghao said coldly, “then I would no longer be worthy to face my ancestors.”

Li Canghao snorted and slowly made a hand seal.

At that moment, Qu Liushang rushed forward. He dropped to his knees and grasped Li Canghao’s hands.

He pleaded, “Master, a great era is descending. If you kill them all, it will be like severing our own arms. Though they were wrong, not all deserve death. Countless enemies are watching us, and we cannot afford such losses. Please, think of the Starry River Palace’s future!”

“Palace Master, please reconsider!”

One by one, the remaining experts knelt as well. They were badly frightened by what was happening. If Li Canghao really executed all of these people, the Starry River Palace would no longer have any chance of rising within this turbulent time.

Forget competing with emerging races. Once Xiao Yin’s faction learned of this, they would attack immediately.

“What...?”

Qu Yingying was stunned. She did not know whether she should plead as well. Part of her felt that Qu Liushang was right.

If they had to kill people, then only Li Wanci and the true instigators should be executed. For so many to die over a single vote felt unbearably unjust.

“How did I, Li Canghao, raise such a foolish disciple? Get away!” Li Canghao shouted.

With a burst of power, Qu Liushang’s hands shattered, and he was blown back.

At the same time, the starry river quivered, and those figures in the sky disappeared.

Blood rained down.

Trillions of experts died instantaneously.

“How...”

Qu Liushang stared at the rain of blood, his mind empty. His master had truly killed them all.

Blood soaked the Starry River Palace, turning this beautiful place ghastly crimson. Everyone’s heart was cold.

Many of those people had been the Starry River Palace’s strongest experts—the pillars that upheld them. And now, they were dead.

When Qu Liushang said that it was like severing their arms, he was too conservative. It was more like cutting off their hands and feet.

“Li Canghao, you madman! You won’t have a good death!” Li Wanci let out a shrill, crazed scream. She was the only one left alive, and she knew this was no mercy.

In front of her furious curses, Li Canghao slowly raised his hand. An invisible force clutched her.

A strange glint flickered in her eyes. She had succeeded in enraging him. All she wanted now was a swift death.

“The others could die,” Li Canghao declared coldly, “but you cannot. You caused these deaths. You will atone for them for the rest of your life. You will stand as a warning to the Starry River Palace.”

With a wave of his hand, he sent Li Wanci flying back.

She slammed into a stone tablet on the plaza.

The tablet resembled the hilt of a sword, as if a colossal divine blade had been driven into the earth. It was called “Hidden Blade”—a reminder for disciples never to forget the palace’s painful history.

When Li Wanci struck it, eight astral swords stabbed her body, nailing her to the stone tablet.

At the same time, astral energy activated, sealing her body and soul.

“Remain there for the rest of your life,” Li Canghao declared. “Let all see that the Starry River Palace does not belong to the Li family. It belongs to all nine star heirs. If anyone dares to dream of ruling it as an emperor, you will serve as the example.”

Blood still fell from the sky. Li Wanci’s body twitched violently, enduring agony beyond words. Even the starry river itself was stained red.

The sight left everyone stunned.

Qu Liushang felt hollow. His eyes were dim, unfocused. He could not see any future for the Starry River Palace.

So many higher-ups had died. How would the Starry River Palace function? They would be paralyzed for a long time before they could recover. And this was the moment when a great era was about to descend. The blow was fatal.

Worse still, the senior generation’s top experts had been almost entirely wiped out. The same was true for the younger generation’s heavenly geniuses. Qu Liushang felt as if his world were collapsing.

“Long Chen, you fool, it’s time for you to give me an explanation!”

Just then, Li Canghao’s icy face turned in Long Chen’s direction, causing everyone’s hearts to tighten once more.