You Have Science, I Have Martial Arts

Chapter 887 - 402: I Don’t Like Hearing That

The ice sculpture shattered into countless fragments.

At the same time, the entire castle shook violently, those blood runes twisted like living creatures, rising into the air to form a giant black moon pattern.

"Blood Race Teleportation Gate!"

Calvin leaped off the dragon’s back, looking anxious: "Master Laine, we must..."

His voice abruptly stopped.

Numerous shadowy tendrils extended from the black moon pattern, piercing through the chests of the nearest Flame Dragon Knights in an instant.

Ye Qingzhou saw their blood reverse flow upward, being absorbed into the black moon, and decisively ordered, shouting loudly: "Retreat the entire army!"

Xiaohuo leaped up, its massive body soaring into the sky.

When the last Blazing Flame Flying Dragon withdrew from the castle’s boundaries, the black moon finally fully expanded.

A tall silver-haired figure emerged from the darkness, blood-red pupils meeting Ye Qingzhou’s gaze from miles away for a fleeting moment.

Even with the protection of ice-blue light, Ye Qingzhou still felt a tremor at the soul level—Duke Dracula, the controller of the Eternal Night Council.

Equally powerful as a legendary powerhouse, Dracula’s strength was far above Chaos, having even begun to comprehend the mysteries of fighting spirit and magic power, and mastered forbidden knowledge belonging only to the gods.

......

On the eastern slope of the Frost Mountain Range, Iron Pine Castle burned in the morning light.

Ye Qingzhou—now known throughout the Northern Territory as the "Ice and Fire Sword" Laine Morning Star—stood on the ruins of the castle’s main tower, with the frost on his left hand yet to fade, and the Flaming Sun Fighting Qi still flowing along the blade.

The blood pearls condensed on the "Dawn" sword evaporated into crimson mist, forming an eerie aura around him.

"The last point of resistance is cleared, sir."

Deputy Calvin stepped over the ground covered in ice crystals and charred corpses, his eyes showing undisguised awe, even hesitating to speak: "The Lord of Iron Pine and his two sons died in the main hall, their deaths... very unusual."

Ye Qingzhou knew what Calvin referred to—the old lord pinned to the throne by ice spikes, while the two sons seemed carbonized as if thrown into a furnace. This deliberately executed ruthless punishment was a warning to other nobles in the Northern Territory.

"Check the dungeon."

He flicked away the residual blood on the sword: "Blood Race loves setting altars there."

Distant sounds of Blazing Flame Flying Dragons’ low growls were heard.

Ye Qingzhou’s Xiaohuo was circling above the castle, with sparks falling as its wings flapped.

In the past three weeks, the cavalry regiment composed of fifty Blazing Flame Flying Dragons had swept through seven territories of the Northern Territory, finding evidence of Blood Race activities in the underground of each captured castle.

When Ye Qingzhou entered the dungeon of Iron Pine Castle, the stench was mixed with a certain sweet and greasy scent—the special incense of the Eternal Night Council, used to mask the bloody smell.

The torches on the walls suddenly all turned ghostly green, illuminating the stone chamber covered in runes centered around the blood pool. In the pool floated several adolescent female corpses, each with a similar penetrating wound in their chest.

"Moonlight bloodline..."

Ye Qingzhou’s left hand involuntarily formed frost marks.

Since encountering those black moon runes at Flame Scale Castle, the Frost Moon Magic within him had become increasingly restless.

Upon seeing the Blood Race’s sacrifices, the ice-blue glow in his left eye almost seemed ready to burst through his eye socket.

"Sir!"

A knight rushed over, thumping his chest with his right fist: "A Dragon Rider signal was found thirty miles east, a messenger from Frost Iron City!"

Ye Qingzhou took one last look at the blood pool, letting Ice Sealing Power flow from his palm, freezing the entire stone chamber into an icy cavern.

"Burn it all."

He ordered the accompanying priest, "Purify it with Holy Flame."

When Ye Qingzhou guided Xiaohuo to land in the Central Square of Frost Iron City, he noticed an unusual atmosphere among the family, guards wearing expressions colder than the Northern Territory’s chilling winds.

"What’s going on?"

He grabbed a hurriedly passing servant.

"S-Second Prince suddenly visited..." the servant stammered: "Carrying an imperial edict... the lord is hosting in the Star Hall..."

Ye Qingzhou’s pupils slightly contracted. Second Prince Edmund Saint Clair, Elise’s fiancé, who had secretly received the Eternal Night Council’s "Holy Blood" three months ago. He quickly traversed the corridors of the Inner City, family guards saluting along the way—no one dared underestimate this once inconspicuous second son anymore.

The door to the Star Hall was ajar, Aurelian’s deep voice came from inside: "...Did Your Majesty truly consider the consequences of doing so?"

"Consequences?"

A smooth young voice chuckled lightly, "As strong as the Northern Territory may be, can it resist the entire Empire? My dear father-in-law..."

Ye Qingzhou pushed the door open and the room became instantly silent.

Aurelian sat upright under the star pattern, the heavy sword "Frost Winter Oath" resting across his knees.

On his right stood Kaine with a sullen face, to his left was Elise holding the "Star Orbit Compass." The figure facing away from the door—Second Prince Edmund, wearing an imperial white robe with gold trim—slowly turned around.

"Ah, our triumphant little hero has returned."

Prince Edmund spread his arms, the Holy Sun Emblem embroidered on his sleeve unusually glowing a dark red, "Heard you’ve killed quite a few lately? Even the legendary powerhouse Chaos fell by your hand?"

Ye Qingzhou noticed his father’s gaze—a complex scrutiny mixed with pride, puzzlement, and some indescribable emotion.

Aurelian cleared his throat: "Laine, the Prince has brought Your Majesty’s decree."

"Let me guess."

Ye Qingzhou removed his sword and placed it on the table, deliberately creating a crisp collision sound: "Is Your Majesty asking the Morning Star Family to cease persecution of ’loyal nobles’?"

Edmund’s smile froze for a brief moment: "Smart. But more precisely, requesting you all to accept mediation."