Gate of God

Chapter 577: Fang Zhengzhi’s True Identity

Alas, the power swiftly draining from his body made the person in black realize that everything has already been set in stone. It was a reality that was impossible to change.

“Cough cough … are you? Who … are you?!” He coughed several times, feeling extremely indignant, making it look slightly pathetic.

“Shan Yu!” The person’s tone was unbelievably cold. At the same time, the black cloak covering her head loosened in the wind, revealing silky black long hair.

Her wheat-colored skin gave off a strange yet wild sense of beauty under the moonlight, and the pitch-black pupils in her eyes were like two restless balls of fire.

“Shan Yu? Shan … You … You are the Princess of the Southern Region!” The person in black wore a hideous expression. He was shocked, unbelievably shocked. He knew that he had fallen into a trap, and that the thousands of people in black in front of him were not the Northern Barbarian army. But he would have never imagined that they would be the Southern Region Army, and that the woman standing before him now would be their Princess!

How is this possible?

Why is the Southern Region Army inside the Imperial Palace?

Didn’t King Duan mention that the four gates of the Imperial Palace were sealed off by the Palace Guards? How could the Southern Region Army have infiltrated the palace from the outside?

He couldn’t grasp the situation, but Shan Yu had no intention of letting him think about it further. She forcefully yanked the dagger out from his heart. Blood splashed everywhere like a fountain.

Then, he saw three figures standing among the countless people in black. The person in the middle still maintained his mocking smile.

“Eh? Looks like you’re about to die, so why don’t you answer my final question? Was my stirring heroic performance acted convincingly?” Fang Zhengzhi probed him in curiosity.

“Act … Act …” The person in black’s chest pumped up and down as blood gushed out uncontrollably. At the same time, a mouthful of fresh blood poured out from his mouth. His feet became weak, no longer able to support his weight.

“Plop!”

He fell to the ground.

In the instant he collapsed, he could see another person in black falling to the ground not far away. He could see the same disbelief in his comrade’s eyes.

The Southern Region … It was the Southern Region!

Why are they in the Imperial Palace?!

His eyes were bursting with vigor and rage but his body fell silent.

Ping Yang subconsciously puffed up her mouth after watching the person in black being literally angered to death by Fang Zhengzhi.

“Where are the Rebirth State warriors you promised? They’re still weaker than me!” Ping Yang cast a look of disdain at the person in black sprawled on the ground, then turned to Fang Zhengzhi and asked, “Did you act as well as I did?”

“You?” Fang Zhengzhi responded with the same expression.

“But honestly speaking, I nearly believed you when you exclaimed that you’d rather die in glory than live in dishonor!” Ping Yang added after she thought about it.

“This is called talent, and talent cannot be learnt.” Fang Zhengzhi smirked and turned his attention to Shan Yu and the two pitch-black daggers in her hands.

After not seeing her for a year, this woman’s improvements have been this drastic?

Fang Zhengzhi only witnessed Shan Yu’s abilities once a year ago outside the Emperor’s chamber of the Southern Region. Her style can be summarized in three words: quick, precise, and brutal.

But now …

Shan Yu has evidently improved a great deal compared to a year ago. Although Shan Yu relied on an ambush strike, her opponent was nonetheless in the Rebirth State, and such a drastic gap in their state levels was not something that can be overcome this easily.

Judging by her close combat abilities alone, Shan Yu’s level of attainment was indeed top-notch.

As the two people in black collapsed, their remaining comrades could not hold on any longer too.

Fang Zhengzhi was not surprised by this at all, because the thousands of soldiers in front of him were the most elite troops of the Southern Region, and furthermore, there were a few great Settlement Chiefs in the Rebirth State hidden within the regular troops.

But with her mastery level skyrocketing, coupled with her unexpected ambush attack, she did not require too much effort to swiftly dispatch these few people in black in the Rebirth State.

Fang Zhengzhi stopped watching the battle between the people in black and the Southern Region soldiers, instead turning around slowly and gazing at the neat files of Palace Guards in the distance as well as the Palace Guards in front of Lin Xinjue.

“Your Sixth Brother seemed to have committed treason …” Fang Zhengzhi whispered.

Ping Yang naturally noticed the changes in the Palace Guards but reserved her opinions, only gritting her teeth as her clear eyes reflected a tinge of dreariness.

Although Lin Xinjue has a different mother, they … share the same father. How could she possibly be happy watching her half-brother suddenly switch his allegiance halfway through the battle?

Shan Yu arrived beside Fang Zhengzhi. Her ink-like pupils were not fixated on Fang Zhengzhi, instead focusing on Lin Tianrong not far away.

She has already waited for this day … for a very long time.

A year ago, the Nobelite Shan Ling was murdered and died in the Southern Region. His corpse was ferried back to their empire by the Silver Horned Wolf Calvary, and he only left a single letter on his body. The letter contained only a single sentence.

“Fang Zhengzhi is the murderer.”

That day, there was heavy snowfall which painted the entire Southern Region landscape silver.

That day, there were howling winds which blasted through the dense forests of the Southern Region.

Shan Yu could still remember the expressions plastered on the faces of the Southern Region soldiers and the emotions in her father’s eyes on that decisive day, and it was also that day when she became the new King of the Southern Region.

“Lin Tianrong …” Shan Yu’s gritted her teeth but her eyes ultimately shifted away from Lin Tianrong and onto Lin Xinjue. “Attack!”

“Attack!”

Following Shan Yu’s command, thousands of Southern Region soldiers brandished their spears in the air at the same time.

“Attack!”

“Attack!”

At a second command, thousands of long spears lunged out menacingly.

For the Southern Region soldiers, hurling long spears was naturally harder than hurling pikes, but the difference in familiarity was not a major issue.

Thousands of long spears shot into the sky but did not fall towards Lin Tianrong, instead preparing to land unmistakably on the Palace Guard formation.

“Ah!”

“What’s going on?”

“Enemies are attacking from behind?!”

All the Palace Guards who were continuously drawing their bows had been focusing their attention on Lin Mubai all this time without paying much attention to the developments unfolding behind them. In fact, they would have never expected that the ‘Northern Barbarian Army’ charging from behind would strike them down so suddenly, and with long-range spear projectiles no less.

Amidst waves of pitiful screams, the neatly filed formation instantly descended into chaos.

And that was not all. After the aerial strike of the spears, the Southern Region Army charged out, brandishing their knives and daggers while charging straight towards the ‘fragmented’ Palace Guards formation broken up by the long spears.

“Kill!”

“Kill!”

Battle cries reverberated through the air, followed by stampeding thunders of footsteps.

This was a sudden turn of events. Too sudden.

It was so quick that the two forces originally engaged in a violent battle were completely taken aback. The Royal Guards, Dragon Protection Squad and the Palace Guards were all flabbergasted.

“The Northern Barbarian Army, how can it be?” The Dragon Protection Squad were left with eyes wide open.

“They actually attacked the Palace Guards. Is this a mistake?” The Royal Guards were suspended in disbelief. After all, they could not see what went on in the distance amidst the chaos.

“Qian Wu, what is going on?” Lin Xinjue was visibly jittery. The reason for his betrayal was obviously the thousands of Northern Barbarian soldiers that suddenly appeared.

But now … the Northern Barbarian Army actually turned on his Palace Guards?

How could he tolerate this any longer?

“They are not the Northern Barbarian soldiers!” Qian Wu squinted, casting his gaze tightly at the people in black charging towards them, clenching his fist.

If these attackers were not Northern Barbarian soldiers, that would mean that the thousands of Northern Barbarian soldiers he stationed in the Imperial Palace would have possibly been wiped out.

How can this be?

What exactly happened in the Imperial Palace?

“Not the Northern Barbarian soldiers?” Lin Xinjue’s heart jumped. He turned his attention to the approaching horde in black and sure enough, his eyes opened wide as well. “That … That’s the Southern Region Army?!”

When he noticed the attire worn beneath the black cloaks of the approaching horde, a single name appeared in his mind that he would have never thought of otherwise.

The Southern Region Army!

They were definitely an existence neglected by everyone.

Because, they were the protection squad that accompanied the Princess of the Southern Region Shan Yu into the Flame Capital City, and most importantly, they were a force that was supposedly stationed in the south hall.

So … how could they possibly be in the Imperial Palace?!

“Your Majesty, is this … your doing?” Chen Feihua was highly suspicious as they shifted her gaze towards the thousands of approaching Southern Region soldiers.

As the head Domain Chief of the Royal Guards, she did not arrange for the Southern Region Army to enter the Imperial Palace, so how could they possibly be appearing here?

“No.” Lin Mubai shook his head.

“No? Then … could it be?” Chen Feihua was stunned. Immediately, a single thought flashed through her mind, the sole plausible scenario in this situation.

The Imperial Palace has four gates, but once the four gates are guarded, coupled with the surveillance of the Royal Guards and the towering palace walls, it was possible for any army to infiltrate the palace from the outside, but there was one place which led straight to the Imperial Palace.

The Ping Yang Residence!

It was not a flaw in the Imperial Palace’s defence because the Ping Yang Residence’s tight security was even stricter than many areas in the Imperial Palace itself.

Hence in other words, it was harder to infiltrate the Ping Yang Residence than the four gates of the Imperial Palace. But …

If the main mastermind behind this was Ping Yang herself, it would be a completely different story.

“The Ping Yang Residence and the Imperial Palace are only separated by a single city!” After listening to Chen Feihua’s comment, Lin Mubai nodded gently.

“I understand.” Chen Feihua nodded too.

She did not need to say anything else because things have already progressed to this stage. The Crown Prince has committed treason, King Duan has switched his allegiance, and the Imperial Palace has been surrounded.

It was already meaningless to fuss over the reason why the Southern Region Army entered the Imperial Palace through the Ping Yang Residence.

…

The Southern Region Army’s unexpected entrance finally upheaved the original imbalance of the battle. Nearly ten thousand Palace Guards were thrown into disarray by the sudden attack by the Southern Region Army from the rear. And the Royal Guards entered the battle, taking advantage of the chaos.

After being mercilessly barraged with attacks from the front and back, the nearly ten thousand Palace Guards finally showed signs of impending defeat. They could no longer go on the offense and can only opt for defense.

Lin Xinjue was extremely frantic, his heart surging with rage. At this point, he inevitably deduced the method the Southern Region Army used to enter the Imperial Palace.

They entered via the Ping Yang Residence?

No one would believe anybody who thinks that this was not Fang Zhengzhi’s idea?

However, Fang Zhengzhi evidently entered the Imperial Palace at the same time as him, and have never once mentioned anything regarding the Southern Region Army.

Furthermore …

Most importantly, Fang Zhengzhi intentionally staged an ‘ambush’ when he first arrived. If he knew in advance that the approaching army was the Southern Region Army, why would he immediately switch his allegiance?

“Fang Zhengzhi, how dare you trick me?” Lin Xinjue gritted his teeth. He was furious, but he had no other options. Once he made this decision, there was no going back.

Qian Wu’s gaze became extremely sinister. Ever since Fang Zhengzhi appeared, all of his plans have been scrambled.

If not for Fang Zhengzhi, Lin Mubai would have already been dead, and the Crown Prince Lin Tianrong would be jostling with Lin Xinjue in a battle to the death.

That was his plan, his flawless plan. The harder the princes battled, the more he gained, and controlling the situation thereafter would have been much easier.

But everything changed ever since Fang Zhengzhi entered the picture.

Lin Xinjue launched his attack preemptively, causing the situation to go a little out of control. And after he painstakingly reinstated his puppet emperor, Fang Zhengzhi charged in with the Southern Region Army.

Furious.

Now, he was absolutely furious.

“King Xieluo!” Qian Wu yelled again.

The Demonic Man standing beside the Near-Life Gate, King Xieluo, gently lifted his hand again after hearing Qian Wu’s voice. “I only agreed to deliver three attacks. This is the last time.”

“Okay, but I only want you to kill one person – Fang Zhengzhi!” Qian Wu pointed straight at Fang Zhengzhi as he hollered at the Demonic Man.

“Kill him? Haha, what an interesting request!” The Demonic Man gazed at Fang Zhengzhi, His visibly uninterested face cracked a smile once again.

Naturally, Fang Zhengzhi heard Qian Wu’s words, and looked at King Xieluo’s dark-green eyes, the ‘scar’ on his forehead had the two scimitars on his head.

He was speechless.

“Uh … Did you get it wrong? I’m just a passerby! Shouldn’t your target be the Emperor?” Fang Zhengzhi pointed at Lin Mubai who was being surrounded by the Dragon Protection Squad.

Then, he saw Lin Mubai’s face turn dark.

But at such a time, he couldn’t care less about anything else. If his predictions are correct, the Demonic Man standing before him should be the ‘Demon King’ which that old duff mentioned last time.

The Demon King!

This was an endangered species, and most importantly, this species was very, very powerful.

“King Xueluo, don’t stare at me. Why are you coming closer? He told you to kill Fang Zhengzhi, and actually, my name is Fang Zhengzhi. You can ask them if you don’t believe me, they can testify!” Fang Zhengzhi looked at the approaching King Xieluo and had no choice but to reveal his true identity without an ounce of sincerity.

Chapter 578: Is This Considered A New Battle Strategy?

“Fang Zhengzhi?”

“Testify?!”

When the Palace Guards, Dragon Protection Squad and the Palace Guards heard what Fang Zhengzhi said, they appeared completely speechless.

“Ugh, none of us can match the thickness of Lord Fang’s skin!” A Royal Guard shook his head, expressing his resignation at the sheer extremity of Fang Zhengzhi’s shamelessness.

“Precisely, it’s unmatchable!”

“I would really have believed him if I didn’t know the truth.”

And this statement instantly received a unanimous agreement from the rest of the Royal Guards. Even the Dragon Protection Squad standing beside Lin Mubai nodded.

Previously when Fang Zhengzhi trumpeted his appearance and followed Chi Hou of the Divine Constabulary into the Flame Capital City, he also mentioned that his name was Fang Zhengzhi, and even took out his alleged ‘proof’.

Did anyone believe him?

Of course nobody did, and most importantly, when he confronted the Crown Prince Lin Tianrong at the Imperial Palace gate, Fang Zhengzhi even subverted this ‘lame’ explanation himself.

But now? He’s reusing the same tactic!

Who would believe him?

Nobody thought that anyone would believe them. Furthermore, his opponent was a Demon King whose intelligence was in no way poorer than a human’s. How could he possibly believe Fang Zhengzhi’s nonsense?

But then, King Xieluo, who was walking towards Fang Zhengzhi, suddenly stopped and turned around slowly to ask Qian Wu, “He said his name is Fang Zhengzhi?”

“…”

Immediately, everyone was startled, regardless whether it was the Palace Guards, the Royal Guards, the Dragon Protection Squad, or even Lin Tianrong and Lin Xinjue.

He believed it?!

King Xieluo actually believed him!

How could this be?

He was a Demon King with an intelligence far exceeding that of ordinary humans. He actually believed such nonsense?

“King Xieluo, you …” Qian Wu’s eyes were wide open, as his face revealed his disbelief. He had a deal with King Xieluo. Hence in other words …

If King Xieluo really used this ‘reason’ to fulfil their pact, Qian Wu wouldn’t be able to do anything.

“King Xieluo? Hahaha …” Ping Yang chuckled after hearing what King Xieluo said. She turned to Fang Zhengzhi and chimed, “He must be an idiot! He actually believed your name is Fang Zheng …”

Ping Yang’s tone was full of disdain but she did not manage to finish her sentence just yet.

Just before she could finish her sentence, a figure appeared in front of her. His curved antlers radiated with a faint golden glow. He donned scholarly white robes which drifted in the night wind, and his strange pair of eyes flickered with an odd dark green light.

“Zheng …” Ping Yang’s final word was seemingly squeezed from her lips. She looked at King Xieluo inches away from her, her clear eyes wide open.

He was too fast!

She totally did not notice how King Xieluo reached her in such a short amount of time. He was even faster than Canyang during the Battle of the Southern Region.

And most importantly … did he not believe Fang Zhengzhi’s words?

Why did he still come over?

Ping Yang gulped subconsciously and tightened her grip on the Blazing Qilin Spear. She wanted to strike, but another hand held hers down.

It was a slightly warm hand, which was evidently sweaty and shaky too, but that hand still held onto hers, refusing to let go.

“That shameless scoundrel, why …. isn’t he running?” Ping Yang looked at the hand which held hers down, then looked up at Fang Zhengzhi beside her.

She could sense Fang Zhengzhi’s true intentions from the drops of sweat on his palm.

If Fang Zhengzhi abandoned her now, she wouldn’t be surprised. After all, they were faced with a formidable Demon King.

“Are you having fun?” King Xieluo boomed, his flashing green eyes glaring at Fang Zhengzhi as his lips cracked a smirk.

“Are you not having fun?” Fang Zhengzhi’s voice rang just as King Xieluo finished his question. His lips also revealed a faint smile.

“Haha, this is getting interesting!” King Xieluo eyed Fang Zhengzhi closely. Slowly, he took a step forward and his smile widened.

“I feel so too.” Fang Zhengzhi nodded. He took a step out too, appearing very relaxed.

Too close!

In this moment, Fang Zhengzhi and King Xieluo were less than one foot apart.

This was a truly bizarre sight.

Normally, Fang Zhengzhi would be fleeing now. One could only imagine the danger of confronting a Demon King up close, but what about Fang Zhengzhi now?

He took a step forward!

His decision baffled everyone.

And when Ping Yang took in this sight, her palms became as sweaty as Fang Zhengzhi’s. As haughty as Ping Yang was, she was still extremely nervous at this juncture.

She certainly realized that King Xieluo was merely toying with them, just like how Fang Zhengzhi toyed with the people in black previously.

But what she did not undertand was, why isn’t King Xieluo striking them down even after his opponents severely underestimated him and after he has arrived in front of them?

Ping Yang was not the only one with this doubt. Lin Xinjue and Qian Wu were also puzzled.

“Why hasn’t he attacked?” Qian Wu clenched his fist even tighter. He didn’t think that King Xieluo was someone who delayed his actions, and in fact, King Xieluo has always executed his tasks promptly.

But now … not only did King Xieluo not attack Fang Zhengzhi immediately, he even started ‘chatting’ with Fang Zhengzhi out of the blue?

“Are both of you together, or is it just you alone?” King Xieluo seemed to have ignored the gazes of the onlookers, and asked Fang Zhengzhi with a smile.

“Together!”

“Together!”

“Together!”

Three voices chimed simultaneously right as King Xieluo finished his sentence.

One of them belonged to Yan Xiu. His expression was as cold as ever. He eyed King Xieluo closely as the blood-red glow around his arms swirled continuously.

The second voice belonged to Ping Yang. Her palms were still a little sweaty but she clenched her fist tightly. Her crystal-clear eyes radiated with an extraordinarily tenacious glow.

And the third voice belonged to … Shan Yu.

She too stood beside Fang Zhengzhi. She had already raised the pitch-black dagger in her hand, and her hand was illuminated by streams of fiery red patterns.

“Alone!” A fourth voice was heard.

Naturally, it was Fang Zhengzhi’s voice, but his words were not echoed by the other three, because …

Just as he voiced his opinion, Yan Xiu, Ping Yang and Shan Yu attacked – without any hesitation and without their usual confidence in Fang Zhengzhi, seeming as though they have completely ignored Fang Zhengzhi’s existence.

The glistening blood-red light shot towards King Xieluo while a figure appeared before him, her sinister bloodlust going straight for King Xieluo’s throat.

Yan Xiu and Shan Yu were too quick.

Ping Yang subconsciously shielded Fang Zhengzhi, her crystal-clear eyes blinking at Fang Zhengzhi while her other hand held onto him tightly, her expression seemingly provoking him, implying, “You shameless scoundrel, did you see that? I protected you again!”

“Boom!”

A thunderous explosion rumbled.

Shortly afterwards, two people flew up together while locking in an embrace, like the long spears hurled into the air by the Southern Region Army, arching gracefully across the sky.

This baffled Ping Yang. She felt that she should have blocked Fang Zhengzhi from the attack, but she didn’t know why she did not feel anyone strike her back. And yet … she was flying again?

What’s going on?

Could it be that the shameless bastard she was embracing figured out her plan, and forcefully swapped places with her in the instant the attack landed?

That’s not right either!

He did not move a muscle.

As she mulled over it, she discovered a new problem. The direction she was flying towards didn’t seem right. If King Xieluo struck her from behind, shouldn’t she be flying backwards? So why was she thrown forward instead?

“Are you crazy? Why are you holding onto me?”

Just as Ping Yang was completely baffled, Fang Zhengzhi’s voice rang in her ears. It was a angry yet helpless scream.

In fact, Fang Zhengzhi was indeed pretty helpless at this point of time.

Who in the right mind would not pummel their enemies in a battle and instead hug their comrades so tightly instead? Was this some new battle strategy?

A human shield? Fine!

Fang Zhengzhi could understand Ping Yang’s intentions, using her body to block a direct blow at Fang Zhengzhi because she knew that she was wearing the great treasure of the Xia Empire.

But … King Xieluo was no idiot!

At such a close range, he could easily spin behind Fang Zhengzhi without a problem.

And most importantly, did Ping Yang not hear Qian Wu’s condition for King Xieluo to kill Fang Zhengzhi only? So why would King Xieluo possibly waste his time attacking Ping Yang?

Fang Zhengzhi felt slightly indignant taking this attack. And not just that, the attack he took was considerably powerful. An immense force surged from behind him, barraging his insides.

“Cough!”

Fang Zhengzhi’s face flushed red as he expectorated a mouthful of blood straight onto Ping Yang’s face, staining her astonished face with a blood-red flower.

“Plop!” Both of them crashed into the ground, kicking up the gravel and dust.

Silence.

But it was a fleeting silence.

Following that, Yan Xiu’s eyes swelled.

“Ah!” A hellish voice erupted from Yan Xiu’s mouth. Then, a sinister aura surged violently from his feet, shrouding his entire body.

“Kacha, kacha …”

Moires fissured through the ground speedily beneath his feet as the blood-red glow cloaking his body grew oddly clear and transparent like a crystal.

At the same time, Shan Yu’s skin turned as black as ink.

This was the result of being enveloped by countless red moires. Her ink-like eyes instead blazed into flames, with the fiery embers dancing within her pupils, bizarre and sinister.

“Ow!” A beastly voice burst from Shan Yu’s throat.

“Protect the Lord!”

“Save Lord Fang!”

“Block that monster!”

The Southern Region Army was now tangled up with the Palace Guards, but they immediately turned around and gazed at Shan Yu dressed completely in black after noticing the development of the battle. They changed their direction seemingly subconsciously, and charged towards King Xieluo who was standing on Fang Zhengzhi’s original spot.

“Hahaha, how interesting, but what a pity. I don’t have any obligation to kill you all!” King Xieluo’s eyes scanned Yan Xiu, Shan Yu and the approaching Southern Region Army. His snow-white scholarly robes drifted in the night wind and suddenly, his body vanished.

And in the next instant …

King Xieluo’s body appeared in front of Fang Zhengzhi and Ping Yang. He looked at Fang Zhengzhi quietly with eyes flashing with a dark green glow as his lips cracked a strange smile.

“You should thank my sincerity because I’ll only be killing you!”

…

The night grew darker.

Both the Royal Guards and the Dragon Protection Squad were astounded by the sight that unfolded before their eyes. All of them gasped.

“That’s the Demon King?”

“He’s too fast!”

“It’s impossible to win!”

“Fang Zhengzhi became useless after the Battle of the Southern Region. He should already be dead after that blow right?”

The Royal Guards and the Dragon Protection Squad gazed at the lifeless body of Fang Zhengzhi sprawled on the ground. They felt some pity, but the results of life and death on the battlefield were already determined right from the start.

Now, they were more concerned about Ping Yang’s safety.

Although King Xieluo did declare that he would only kill Fang Zhengzhi, and neither did King Xieluo and Qian Wu’s deal mention anything about capturing Ping Yang, what if something out of the blue happened? And who could ensure that nothing unexpected would happen?

“Ping Yang!” Lin Mubai clenched his fists and prepared to charge out, but he was held back firmly by Chen Feihua and the Dragon Protection Squad.

“Your Majesty, leave the Princess’ safety to us!”

“Quick, save Her Highness!”

“Yes!”

Following a single command, tens of soldiers from the Dragon Protection Squad rushed out from Lin Mubai’s side without hesitation and charged towards Ping Yang.

“Humph, how naive! Intercept them!” Qian Wu sneered as he gazed at the motionless Fang Zhengzhi.

Regardless whether Fang Zhengzhi was alive or dead, the result of the battle was already determined when King Xieluo arrived in front of them. In other words, when Qian Wu made the deal with King Xieluo …

Fang Zhengzhi was already dead!

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Chapter 579: A Profound and Frightening Power

Following Qian Wu’s command, a few people in black quickly blocked the Dragon Protection Squad’s advance. And at the same time, since the Southern Region Army suddenly charged towards King Xieluo, the Palace Guards could finally have enough space to breathe, and began drawing their longbows again.

Lin Xinjue’s eyes lit up. The Southern Region Army’s interference has sent the Palace Guards into a chaotic frenzy again. He couldn’t possibly let this opportunity slip.

“Adopt the Two-Headed Formation, shields in front and bows behind!” Lin Xinjue yelled to the Palace Guards just as the Southern Region Army charged out.

“Yes!” The Palace Guards immediately executed the order, and in an instant, the originally defensive formation immediately transformed into both an offensive and defensive formation.

“Fire!”

Another command sounded.

The Palace Guards fired their arrows into the air but not in the same manner as they previously did. This time, besides aiming for Lin Mubai, they aimed for the Southern Region Army behind them.

“Kill them!”

“Kill them!”

The Dragon Protection Squad and Royal Guards swiftly clashed with the Palace Guards again, startling the Southern Region Army.

“Line up!”

“Charge!”

A few great Settlement Chiefs from the Southern Region Army yelled their orders, as they continued resisting the Palace Guards’ assault while continuing to charge towards them.

The battlefield descended into chaos once again.

Yan Xiu and Shan Yu were evidently astonished when they saw King Xieluo disappear. Now, they were charging at him once again without a single ounce of hesitation.

But … the distance was much further this time.

“Get up, you shameless scoundrel, quickly …” Ping Yang was pinned down by Fang Zhengzhi’s motionless body. She looked up at King Xieluo, her crystal-clear eyes reflecting unparalleled anxiety.

She wanted to push Fang Zhengzhi away, but she realized that his body was incredibly heavy. His eyes were tightly shut, as though he had passed out. And furthermore … his face was extremely pale without a single hint of pink, and his body was completely soaked in sweat.

Sh*t!

He was indeed touting when he said he could protect himself!

“He’s this weak?” King Xieluo gazed upon the motionless Fang Zhengzhi in surprise, but he quickly lifted his right hand, causing a strange ball of dark green light to glow under the night sky. “Then die!”

“Die?! No!” Although Ping Yang felt cheated, she still instinctively flipped over and pushed Fang Zhengzhi’s body beneath her when she noticed King Xieluo raising his hand.

She didn’t know why she did this either.

Fang Zhengzhi was already unconscious, so logically speaking, fleeing was her best option. And most importantly, King Xieluo’s target was not her.

But … she still held onto Fang Zhengzhi only because she vaguely felt that Fang Zhengzhi was their sole key to end this war.

“Eh? Looks like I really do have to kill another person!” King Xieluo looked at Ping Yang shielding Fang Zhengzhi with her body and was slightly taken aback, but then cracked a cold smirk.

And with that, the light radiating from his hand grew brighter and brighter.

“Don’t hurt my Ping Yang!” Lin Mubai couldn’t take it any longer, and immediately charged out from the Dragon Protection Squad’s defensive circle. At the same time, a dense golden light surged from his body and morphed into a bounding golden dragon in the air. Two mystifying red spots of light flickered in the golden dragon’s eyes.

The Green Dragon Eye.

Then, just as Lin Mubai’s Green Dragon Eye appeared …

Chen Feihua acted, churning up a cloud of dense gold mist under the dark night sky which instantly shrouded the entire area above her head.

“Run, Ping Yang!” Chen Feihua screamed anxiously as her body melded into the golden mist.

Making a move before Lin Mubai meant that her actions had become instinctive, triggered subconsciously by an innate instinct deep within her heart. However, King Xieluo ignored the golden mist that appeared on her head.

In fact, he had no intentions of bothering about anyone else, because he only needed to do one thing – to kill Fang Zhengzhi, and anyone else who impeded his mission.

It was very simple … hence, he naturally ignored the golden mist and Lin Mubai. He just slapped her palm down without any reservations on Ping Yang’s back.

“No!” Amidst the golden mist, a voice erupted. Shortly after, a golden silhouette charged out from the golden mist with eyes dyed completely gold as well. And behind her dragged lines of black fissures.

Chen Feihua was admittedly much faster than Lin Mubai, swiftly expanding the range of her golden mist and forcefully boosting her powers to reach King Xieluo.

Watching as King Xieluo was about to strike Ping Yang, Chen Feihua pummeled her fist into King Xieluo’s side, her motion as fluid as water without any interruptions.

“Eh? Overconfident.” King Xieluo’s palm was centimeters away from Ping Yang, and after he noticed her looming fist, he stopped his attack and cracked a cold sneer. At the same time, a dark green light fired out from his eyes and collided with Chen Feihua’s fist.

Chen Feihua was stopped in her tracks. It was as if she was imprisoned in midair. Her body shuddered. The golden mist which populated the air around her quickly dissolved away and then, she flew backwards.

This all happened in the blink of an eye.

From the time Chen Feihua arrived in front of King Xieluo, to the moment she flew backwards, everything happened so unbelievably quick.

“Hm!” King Xieluo grunted, avoiding Chen Feihua and instead focusing his attention on Ping Yang and Fang Zhengzhi, raising his palm once again.

But then, the golden dragon that charged out from Lin Mubai’s body finally reached the airspace above King Xieluo’s head.

“Hua er!” Lin Mubai’s hand reached out to grab Chen Feihua in midair while the airborne golden dragon charged down ferociously towards King Xieluo.

Two strange rays of red light pounced towards King Xieluo like enraged spectres.

“Go and die!” King Xieluo noticed the strange red light and the golden dragon charging down and flexed his palm. As a mighty Demon King, how could he not be angry when his attacks have been interrupted time and time again.

Furthermore … he wasn’t just faced with Lin Mubai. Even Yan Xiu and Shan Yu have rushed over, making it three of them.

One was the current Emperor of the Great Xia Empire, one was the direct descendant of the Yan Family and the chosen heir to inherit the Western Liang throne, and the last one was the current King of the Southern Region.

In other words, all three of them held supreme control over their respective territories. And all three of them have gathered before King Xieluo, combining their forces against him.

The clear blood-red light sliced at the back of King Xieluo’s neck like a sabre, and following that came two waves of chills.

“Scram!”

Just as the golden dragon, blood-red light and the two waves of chills all congregated above King Xieluo, a sinister bellow sounded and shortly after, a pillar of dark green light shot up to the sky and instantly illuminated the entire sky. It was a pillar of light that sprouted from beneath the ground, reaching for the heavens at breakneck speed.

And just as the pillar of light charged out from the ground, the three of them seemed to be restrained by a certain binding spell. Shortly after, their bodies shivered and flew backwards like Chen Feihua.

“Plop!”

“Crash!”

“….”

Lin Mubai rolled on the ground with Chen Feihua in his arms while Yan Xiu and Shan Yu crashed into the Southern Region Army, creating a huge opening among the troops.

“Your Highness! Are you alright?”

“Master Yan!”

“Quick, treat his wounds!”

The Southern Region Army ignored the soldiers crushed to death by Yan Xiu and Shan Yu, and rushed up to heal them. A few Settlement Chiefs took out two elixirs and fed one to each of them.

Not far away, the Dragon Protection Squad were rushing to Lin Mubai’s side and impeded the advance of a few people in black, once again forming a protective circle around Lin Mubai and Chen Feihua.

“Quick, save His Majesty!”

“Yes!”

Waves of anxious voices rippled through the crowd.

Although the Royal Guards were battling the Palace Guards, both sides were slightly petrified after witnessing this scene.

The green pillar of light has yet to dissipate.

King Xieluo’s body was right in the middle of the green pillar of light. His eyes has turned completely green and the two scimitars on his head were radiating with a brilliant golden glow.

“Demon King!”

“Is this the true strength of a Demon King?”

“He’s too powerful, we have no chance of winning!”

The Royal Guards gazed at King Xieluo standing in the middle of the green pillar of light, and chills went down their spines. This was undoubtedly a battle of a different level.

The difference was simply too stark!

His speed and strength were both completely different realms compared to theirs.

Both the Dao of Asura and Shan Yu’s close combat techniques, or even Lin Mubai’s Green Dragon Eye, were no match for King Xieluo. How could they win?

“Scram, don’t bother with me. Quickly save Ping Yang!” Lin Mubai pushed the Dragon Protection Squad soldiers beside him away and stood up again.

But just he stood up, his body swayed. His already pale face began turning purple. And then …

“Blurt!” A mouthful of fresh blood spilled out from his mouth.

“Your Majesty!”

“Quickly, take His Majesty and Lady Hua Fei away!”

“Quickly!”

The Dragon Protection Squad looked at the swaying Lin Mubai and the motionless Chen Feihua, and quickly surrounded them again. They helped them up and prepared to retreat.

“Did you think you could escape?” Qian Wu cracked an unbelievably sinister smirk when he saw Lin Mubai and Chen Feihua injured again.

His deal with King Xieluo was for the latter to kill Fang Zhengzhi. But now?

Not only did he fulfil their original condition, he added Ping Yang in as a bonus, forced the Southern Region Army back to save Shan Yu, and even injured Lin Mubai, Chen Feihua, Yan Xiu and Shan Yu.

He killed four birds with one stone!

Success was right within reach. How could he possibly let Lin Mubai escape? As long as he killed Lin Mubai, victory would be his.

The Great Xia Empire … the empire bearing thousands of years of history, was finally falling into the hands of the Northern Barbarian Empire?

Qian Wu’s eyes flickered with excitement. He charged towards Lin Mubai and Chen Feihua without any reservations.

The six-colored talisman in his hand lit up.

At the same time, the two remaining beasts let out thunderous wild roars as though being beckoned by Qian Wu, and bounded for Lin Mubai and Chen Feihua at top speed.

King Xieluo then raised his hand up again.

No one could possibly interrupt him as he stood in the centre of the green pillar of light. He had no intentions of wasting any more time either. Everything would end once he beat his palm down again.

“Die …” Before he could finish his last word, King Xieluo’s hand was suspended in mid-air. His sinister expression now turned into one of disbelief.

Because … the motionless Fang Zhengzhi sprawled on the ground had disappeared, and so has Ping Yang. Both of them had vanished into thin air.

Of course, they did leave a few marks behind. For instance, there was a tiny flask sitting on the ground at Fang Zhengzhi and Ping Yang’s original spot. It was a white jade flask without any stains.

They’ve escaped?!

King Xieluo’s expression was completely stiff for three whole seconds before loosening up. He has been interrupted three times as a proud Demon King, but now …

The ‘prey’ he secured just slipped away under his nose?

How could he not be enraged?

King Xieluo clenched his fist and scanned his surroundings. At the same time, a faint green light spread out in all directions swiftly, creating a mist-like glow.

“Run? Where could you run …” King Xieluo’s face was evidently scribbled with anger, but strangely, he did not finish his sentence again. And not only that, his furious expression dulled and his body jerked backwards violently, as though sensing a grave danger.

Then … a ray of light appeared from King Xieluo’s original spot. It was a ray of light originating from the green pillar of light, and shortly after, that ray of light arched down onto the ground.

“Crash!” A thunderous collision.

At this moment, the surface of the ground, and even the entire Imperial Palace, began quaking. The brilliant moonlight in the night sky seemed to have been completely engulfed by darkness.

A terrifying aura soared freely through the air, kicking up countless gravel and creating a spreading dust storm.

And suddenly … an enormous pit appeared in the ground. No one could tell the exact depth of this pitch-black pit, like an abyss that extended deep into the ground.

Chapter 580: All This Strength Was Not Wasted!

This was an astounding and unbelievable sight, because everyone could see King Xieluo cloaked in the radiance of the green pillar of light, but this ray of light still lit up within the green pillar of light, and with such frightening power no less.

Everyone looked at the green pillar of light, and inside it, there was now a gigantic black crack.

“Who’s that?” A single doubt flashed through everyone’s minds as they observed the black crack very closely with shocked eyes. Even King Xieluo was no exception.

And then, a figure also appeared from the black crack.

It was a frail-looking old man with clouded eyes. His bony fingers were covered in wrinkles, and he looked as though he could be blown to the ground by a mere gust of wind.

But this old man walked out from the black crack and stepped into the green pillar of light. The night wind ruffled the old man’s snow-white hair which danced freely in the air.

“It’s King Liqin!”

“It’s actually King Liqin?!”

“King Liqin actually came?”

Countless eyes turned towards King Liqin, revealing conflicted expressions. They were astonished by King Liqin’s appearance, and were looking forward to his appearance, but they were still slightly worried because …

King Liqin was already old!

Although everyone knew that King Liqin was the person who previously helmed the military forces, with countless achievements in battle under his belt, he has indeed grown old.

An old man who was near his end, an old man who no longer bothered with national affairs, an old man who has shut himself in his quarters all this while to tend to his flowers and birds – why did he appear here now?

And what could he even do?

“King Liqin?! That old duff still possesses such incredible strength?” Qian Wu noticed the figure emerging from the black crack.

He definitely heard King Liqin’s name before. He was a legend of the previous generation.

However, that was all in the past. Why would he bother with an old man awaiting death?

That was what Qian Wu assumed, as did everyone else. No one expected King Liqin to appear, and no one would have imagined that the attack moments ago was launched by King Liqin himself.

Even Lin Xinjue was shocked.

“How can this be? That attack … why is it this powerful?” Lin Xinjue’s fist was clenched tighter than ever. He didn’t wish for any other unexpected hiccups, especially not a hiccup such as this.

King Xieluo eyed King Liqin closely, staring into the latter’s clouded eyes, then revealing another smirk.

But then … it was not one of contempt, but of excitement.

“King Liqin? This is finally becoming fun!” King Xieluo clenched his fists. He didn’t wait for King Liqin to reach the ground, because he was always an impatient Demon King.

“Crack!”

The ground fissured.

King Xieluo has already arrived in front of King Liqin, his white robes drifting in the green light cloaking his body, his eyes growing more mystifying than before.

Close combat.

This was a battle strategy rarely employed by elites, but King Xieluo was using for a very simple reason. He was not underestimating King Liqin, and on the contrary, he held King Liqin in extremely high regard.

In that case … the best technique to use against a frail old man would be to pit their physical strength against each other, competing to see who had the faster reactions and stronger bursts of power under immense physical exhaustion.

His fist, enveloped by dark-green light, pummeled straight for King Liqin without any hesitation or reservation.

“This is bad!”

“Watch out, Old Master!”

“It’s dangerous, Old Master!”

Both the Royal Guards and the Dragon Protection Squad were riled with anxiety upon witnessing this nerve-wrecking scene. None of them expected King Xieluo to act so promptly and furthermore … to engage in close combat.

“Bang!”

A bony palm pressed on top of the fist. The feeble-looking wrinkled hand looked as though it could not take a single blow, so everyone had the same thought when it pressed on the fist.

Will it break?

But the sound of cracking bones was never heard.

On the contrary, the fist charging for King Liqin stopped, halting steadily before its target without moving a muscle.

“Demon King, you should not be here!” King Liqin stared at King Xieluo. A magnificent might emanated from his frail body.

“Is that so? I’m standing right here, what can you do about it? Hahaha …” A maniacal laughter followed. King Xieluo then thrusted his fist forward again, and at the same time, a layer of vicious black scales oozed from his fist, as though being melded from liquid metal.

King Liqin’s expression finally changed. His hand pressing on King Xieluo’s fist shuddered slightly as a drop of sweat dripped from his forehead.

“The greatest weakness of mankind is mortality!” King Xieluo exclaimed as he moved his other fist at the same time.

“Crash!” A deafening sound.

Both of them were finally separated.

King Xieluo was still standing where he was, but King Liqin was retreating swiftly.

“Crack!” When King Liqin collapsed onto the ground, a few more fissures opened in the ground. King Liqin managed to stand up again after much difficulty.

“Cough cough … you’re truly the Demon King!” King Liqin coughed gently and slowly straightened his body up. His expression was incredibly tense.

And when the Royal Guards and the Dragon Protection Squad watched this scene, they all let out sighs one after another. The difference in strength was presented very clearly with just a single exchange,

Ignoring the question of whether King Liqin’s strength could truly match that of King Xieluo, the difference in age was an inevitable fact.

“Uncle!” Lin Mubai screamed. He then expelled another mouthful of blood, “Don’t bother about me. Take Ping Yang away, quick …”

“Ping Yang?!”

“That’s right, where’s Ping Yang?”

“And where did Fang Zhengzhi go?”

Everyone finally realized that Fang Zhengzhi and Ping Yang had disappeared after hearing Lin Mubai.

This was a peculiar sight indeed.

No one noticed when Fang Zhengzhi and Ping Yang escaped, and most importantly, they were faced with a Demon King.

How did Fang Zhengzhi escape?

Didn’t he become useless after the Battle of the Southern Region?

Everyone had this doubt in their hearts because they all saw Ping Yang holding Fang Zhengzhi tightly in her embrace without any intentions of escaping.

So naturally, it was impossible for Ping Yang to be escaping with Fang Zhengzhi in tow. Instead, it should be Fang Zhengzhi who led Ping Yang away. But this way, it sounded even more absurd.

How could a powerless wastrel who took a direct blow from a Demon King possibly escape with Ping Yang?

“Are you all looking for me?” Then, a voice sounded. It was not too loud, but it certainly shook everyone.

“It’s Fang Zhengzhi?!”

“He … he actually fled!”

“How is that possible, he took a direct blow from the Demon King. He didn’t die?”

Everyone looked in the direction of the distant voice with eyes wide open. No one could believe what they saw.

But … the truth was still the truth.

Fang Zhengzhi was standing there with Ping Yang beside him. Ping Yang’s eyes were wide open in disbelief.

“You … How did you do that?!” Ping Yang glared at Fang Zhengzhi, slightly spellbounded.

Even so, she knew for sure that Fang Zhengzhi had rescued her from King Xieluo’s grasp, but she could not figure out what exactly happened in that instant.

It was too quick!

At first, when she sensed the terrifying aura creeping up behind her, she was prepared for certain death, but Fang Zhengzhi suddenly opened his eyes. And in that moment, she felt an arm holding her.

And after that … there was nothing after that.

Because, she was already at her present location, and Fang Zhengzhi was standing beside her again, albeit with a pretty pale face.

“You’re asking me? I took a direct hit, what were you doing hugging me so tightly?” Fang Zhengzhi blurted without hesitation upon hearing Ping Yang’s question.

What was the feeling of bitterness? This was!

It was obviously impossible to confront King Xieluo directly, and he could only invent unorthodox ways of battle to score a victory. To this end, Fang Zhengzhi racked his brains and waited for King Xieluo to approach.

And to his pleasant surprise, King Xieluo did approach him.

In that instant, Fang Zhengzhi saw the light at the end of the tunnel and prepared to use his greatest ‘secret weapon’. But then, tragedy unfolded.

Although he declared that he should be the only one to face King Xieluo, Yan Xiu and Shan Yu also charged in without any prior notice.

Fine … Yan Xiu and Shan Yu ignored his pleas, but what was that girl Ping Yang thinking? She hugged him in the heat of the moment.

In that moment, Fang Zhengzhi felt like dying. And true enough, he took a direct blow from King Xieluo.

After that, he was prepared to fake his death with much effort and wait for a chance to launch an sneak attack. But then, Ping Yang pressed his down without any hesitation.

Although her petite body was not that heavy, her grip was as tight as an octopus’, pinning him down to the ground.

How could he execute his plan? There was no way to do it!

Watching as King Xieluo was about to strike him to death, he was relieved when Chen Feihua attacked King Xieluo in desperation. Lin Mubai, Yan Xiu and Shan Yu also attracted King Xieluo’s attention.

In that instant … Fang Zhengzhi saw hope again.

It was certainly a miraculous opportunity for a sneak attack. The enemy was above him, and as long as he could land a kick on King Xieluo’s feet … Just thinking about it felt so good!

But just as Fang Zhengzhi prepared to launch his kick, a giant black crack appeared above him. It was a crack that charged down speedily from the heavens, and most importantly, a ray of light leaked out from within that crack.

Fang Zhengzhi was flabbergasted. There was someone else in the ‘sneak attack business’?

In that moment, he was presented with two choices: either to work with his ‘compatriot’ to land a successful sneak attack, or to leave this chance to his ‘compatriot’.

There was nothing much to think about. Fang Zhengzhi immediately opted for the second choice and escaped with Ping Yang.

Everything then flowed into place. His compatriot’s sneak attack failed, and King Xieluo was still standing there unharmed.

There was no other way around it. He couldn’t possibly run up to King Xieluo and say, “Hello, let’s talk about life, shall we? Come closer, just a little closer …”

King Xieluo would have dealt him a deathblow before he even attacked.

Demon King!

Was he of a similar existence to a Sage?

Fang Zhengzhi’s heart shuddered just thinking about that old man’s terrifying strength, He was not that idiotic to confront a Demon King with the strength comparable to a Sage directly.

Fang Zhengzhi felt that it was time to run.

And this time, he was really prepared to run, never to turn back. He didn’t care about claiming the credit for slaying the demon to save the Great Xia Empire from catastrophe. Furthermore, since King Liqin already arrived, how could Fang Zhengzhi be the person to claim the credit?

Just as he prepared to flee … Ping Yang held him again, with both her hands grabbing his wrists in a deadlock. Her small face was red, and her crystal-clear eyes were flickering with excitement.

“You haven’t been wasted, right? You were totally fine after the Battle of the Southern Region, right? Your strength is still there, right? It must be, it must be. That’s great, that’s really great. Quick, quickly kill that Demon King. I believe you!” Ping Yang exclaimed as she shook Fang Zhengzhi’s arms, completely ignoring the fact that her breasts were rubbing against his arms non-stop …

The Royal Guards, Dragon Protection Squad, Palace Guards and the Southern Region Army heard Ping Yang’s words and stared at Fang Zhengzhi in shock.

“Fang Zhengzhi was not wasted?!”

“How is that possible?”

During the Battle of the Southern Region, didn’t he consume all of his Dao Fruits? How can he still possess his strength?”

“Surviving was already a miracle. It’s impossible for him to still retain his mastery levels!”

“But if his strength was really drained, how did he escape from King Xieluo’s grasp just now?”

“Could it be that he still possesses his strength?”

“My god, if that’s true, then … what state is he in now?”

Everyone stared at Fang Zhengzhi with eyes wide open because they knew that, if Fang Zhengzhi really did retain his strength … it was an absolutely terrifying prospect.

Ignoring Fang Zhengzhi’s future accomplishments, someone who crossed swords the Demon Canyang a year ago would certainly be a force to be reckoned with in this battle.

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Chapter 581: Fang Zhengzhi’s State

Everyone had their eyes on Fang Zhengzhi.

But Fang Zhengzhi did not concern himself with the discussion around him. Not with Ping Yang’s breasts rubbing against his arm…

What a soft feeling.

She had grown up indeed!

After being shaken by Ping Yang for some time, he was finally relieved. Forget it. The only reason why this lady would hug him immediately was to protect him while his powers were wasted.

As he was about to forgive her, Fang Zhengzhi snapped back to reality. Ping Yang didn’t have the intention to apologize, and even asked him to fight the Demon King?

And to believe in himself?

“Believe my ass!” Fang Zhengzhi snapped. “Are you blind? It’s the Demon King, can’t you tell?”

“I can tell. But your powers weren’t wasted, right?” Ping Yang was taken aback, then replied as she blinked her eyes and looked at Fang Zhengzhi in anticipation.

“My powers weren’t wasted, but…”

“Your powers really weren’t wasted?! Hahaha, that’s great, that’s great…” Ping Yang was so excited she had cut him off mid-sentence.

And perhaps due to her excitement, she fell in Fang Zhengzhi’s embrace, her pink, supple lips kissed Fang Zhengzhi’s.

In an instant…

Fang Zhengzhi felt her tender, moist lips on his.

And his eyes were wide in surprise.

Even Ping Yang’s eyes, too. She looked as if she had been struck by lightning.

“F*ck!” Fang Zhengzhi felt he was getting taken advantage of. Yet, what’s worse was that Ping Yang had forced a kiss on him, and then pushed him away violently?

What were you doing!

It was you who initiated it!

Fang Zhengzhi really wanted to scold her, as he was well aware who was around him: Emperor Lin Mubai, Consort Hua, and Prince Li of the First Rank.

To scold Ping Yang in the view of so many people?

How would Ping Yang marry in the future!

But he wouldn’t want to make himself marry Ping Yang, right? Well, Ping Yang wasn’t bad, she had grown up and looks feminine…

Yet, Ping Yang was far from his ideal gentle and virtuous lady.

Fang Zhengzhi looked at Lin Mubai from afar and noticed his dazed, pale face staring right at him.

“Your Majesty, it was a misunderstanding! She initiated it!” Fang Zhengzhi really wanted to explain himself.

But apparently, Emperor Lin Mubai did not bother listening to his explanation, his eyes staring straight at Fang Zhengzhi while his body shivered ceaselessly.

“This brat’s powers really weren’t wasted? Not wasted? How could this happen? There was never one whose powers were not wasted after losing his Dao Fruit!”

“Oh? The emperor is talking about my powers?” Fang Zhengzhi listened silently as Emperor Lin Mubai mumbled to himself.

Then he looked at his surroundings once again.

He realized everyone was astounded by that fact. And it seemed as if no one noticed what happened between Ping Yang and him a moment ago.

“Fang Zhengzhi still has his powers? How is this possible?” Lin Xinjue was shocked. He had never expected this.

Whether it was Lin Xinjue, the Dragon Protection Squad, the Royal Guards, or even the Southern Region Army, at that very moment, everyone only had one thing in mind.

Fang Zhengzhi still had his powers!

And he had already admitted it himself.

“Blurgh!” Blood spewed out from Lin Tianrong’s mouth. His clenched his teeth while his body trembled. “Fang Zhengzhi, indeed it was you who burned my study!”

If Lin Tianrong had eliminated the possibility of Fang Zhengzhi being the arsonist due to his wasted powers, then now he could be certain that…

The masked man in the Crown Prince’s residence that day was, in fact, Fang Zhengzhi!

“Your Excellency Fang, bring Ping Yang away!” Prince Li of the First Rank’s voice rang aloud, bringing everyone back to reality.

“Alright!” Fang Zhengzhi agreed without thinking. He had already decided to escape, and now with Prince Li of the First Rank’s words, he had no reason to hesitate.

“No, you kill that Demon King, then save Grandfather and Father!” Ping Yang’s face was blushing but responded quickly upon hearing Prince Li of the First Rank’s words.

“I’m not going.” Fang Zhengzhi rejected as he shook his head.

“Why?” Ping Yang was confused.

“Nonsense, because I can’t defeat him!” Fang Zhengzhi really didn’t want to say this, but he still said it simply because it was the hard truth.

Couldn’t defeat him…

How then shall he fight?

Did he really want to seek death?

“You can’t defeat him? But didn’t you fight Canyang a year ago?” Ping Yang asked in suspicion.

“I fought Canyang?” Fang Zhengzhi felt helpless.

“Uh…” Ping Yang dazed momentarily and quickly snapped back. Indeed, Fang Zhengzhi had such a fight, but Fang Zhengzhi never defeated Canyang. But Ping Yang pouted her lips and reluctantly said: “But… it has been more than a year since?”

“Yes, more than a year had passed.” Fang Zhengzhi nodded.

“So, what is your state now? You have some breakthroughs, right? You’re in the Rebirth State, right? Have you reached the peak of the Rebirth State like Aunt Hua? Or have you reached Half Sage? Yes, you must have reached Half Sage, right? Since you’re Half Sage, what’s there to fear? So what if he is Demon King, you have the power to fight!” Ping Yang showed her anticipation once again.

“Did I say I have reached Half Sage?” Fang Zhengzhi curled his lips.

“It’s not Half Sage? Is it… you’ve reached the Sagely State?!” Ping Yang’s crystal-clear eyes glimmered with joy.

“Sagely State!”

“Fang Zhengzhi reached the Sagely State?!”

“How is this possible? He isn’t even eighteen years old. There had been no one like this in the entire history of Great Xia Dynasty, right?”

The Dragon Protection Squad and the Royal Guards were absolutely stunned.

Fang Zhengzhi was speechless. Reached the Sagely State? He wondered if he would look as pitiful as he was now, had he really reached the Sagely State.

“Do I look like I have reached the Sagely State?” Fang Zhengzhi asked instead of responding to her childish questions.

“Not really…” Ping Yang gave a serious look at Fang Zhengzhi and realized she had thought too much. If he had really reached the Sagely State, he wouldn’t have said he could not defeat King Xieluo. “But… even if you were just at Rebirth State, you could try!”

“Are you so sure I’m at Rebirth State?” Fang Zhengzhi opened his hands in helplessness. He seemed to understand why Emperor Lin Mubai and the others were so surprised when they heard his powers were not wasted.

It seemed it wasn’t just Ping Yang.

Everyone thought he had a breakthrough.

More than a year ago, when Fang Zhengzhi reached Heavenly Reflection State from Star Conglomerate State, the Great Xia Dynasty was astounded. Then, when he had attained the Supernatural State at the Southern Region…

He still remembered everyone’s expressions.

How was it possible!

How could he reach the Supernatural State!

It was utter disbelief. No one could fathom how he could achieve continuous breakthroughs in such a short span of time.

But now…

It was the opposite. Everyone thought he had a breakthrough, yet, who said it was a rule to achieve a breakthrough after a year?

“You’re not at Rebirth State? Then what state have you reached?” Ping Yang froze briefly.

“Supernatural State!” Fang Zhengzhi replied nonchalantly.

“Supernatural State?! How are you at Supernatural State!” Ping Yang was flabbergasted. When she knew Fang Zhengzhi had not achieved a breakthrough, she was elated.

But…

What did Supernatural State mean?!

His powers had not increased. Why was he still at Supernatural State after more than a year? Wasn’t he supposed to achieve breakthrough after breakthrough?

It was just Ping Yang who was surprised.

When the Dragon Protection Squad and Royal Guards heard “Supernatural State” from Fang Zhengzhi, they were floored.

“Supernatural State?”

“How is Fang Zhengzhi still at Supernatural State?”

“What is going on? Didn’t he reach Supernatural State more than a year ago? Have his powers remained as it was since then?”

“Oh, I get it. Fang Zhengzhi had lost his Dao Fruit. Though his powers were not wasted, he can never the increase his powers!”

“I see. It seems Fang Zhengzhi is stuck at Supernatural State. What a pity!”

The Dragon Protection Squad and Royal Guards exchanged looks and finally understood the situation. But when they looked at Fang Zhengzhi again, they seemed a little odd.

Because they knew clearly that, no matter how mighty a genius might be, when his powers could not advance, he would eventually be mediocre.

“Hahaha…” Qian Wu’s laughter arose, apparently mocking him. “I thought he was some talented genius, but now his powers are unable to advance? Hahaha… such a waste of time. Never mind, I’ll do you some good. I’ll let you reincarnate and achieve your Rebirth State!”

As he finished his sentence, a gold cylinder appeared on his hand.

“Whoosh!”

A ray of red light emerged from the gold cylinder, beaming into the sky.

“Signal?!” The Dragon Protection Squad and Royal Guards were stunned upon seeing this. They wanted to stop it but it was too late.

Because after the ray of red light beamed upwards, a dark green ray lit up in the sky. A fusion of four hues of green rays.

“Bang!”

The dark green ray cascaded from the heavens, transforming into a pillar of light, crashing onto the giant Near-Life Gate erected on the ground.

And at the same time, characters of six colors lit up on Qian Wu’s hand, threads of light joined the characters together.

“Near-Life Gate, open!” Qian Wu bellowed as he forced his palm on the ground.

“Boom!”

The ground was shaking. The Near-Life Gate which was previously shut started moving again. The giant bronze door slowly opened, revealing a pitch darkness inside.

But shortly, rays of red, blue, green, and other colors of light shone in the darkness. They grew, they proliferated, until it was like a dazzling array of countless stars.

Yet the rays of light seemed completely mysterious. Strangely cold and threatening.

“How is this possible? Qian Wu can reopen the Near-Life Gate!”

“It’s the Four Ancient Formations. As long as the Four Ancient Formations isn’t broken, it can continue to amass power, and the Near-Life Gate can be opened again!”

“Then, what will happen? Will there be another Demon King?”

“No. Even if the Holy Barbarian Empire was filled with sages, there would never appear another Demon King. If I have guessed correctly, it is the Commander of the Beasts!”

“Commander of the Beasts? No, we have to stop him!”

“It’s too late. The Near-Life Gate can only be controlled by the one who masters the Near-Life Path, and once it is open, it can no longer be closed!”

But upon witnessing the reopening of the Near-Life Gate, everyone was stunned. The Dragon Protection Squad, the Royal Guards, and even the Palace Guards and the Southern Region Army stopped whatever they were doing.

It was at this moment…

They finally knew Qian Wu’s true motives.

They knew why Qian Wu had to enter the palace, and why he planned for Lin Xinjue to rush here for a rescue.

One reason was the quest for the throne between the crown prince and Lin Xinjue. But more importantly, Qian Wu wanted the palace to be separated from the outside world. As long as he was in the palace and the Four Ancient Formations was not broken, this battle would never end.

“In a moment, just a moment, the Near-Life Gate would open once again. Your Highness, King Duan, do you now regret your choice?” Qian Wu looked the bewildered Lin Xinjue from far away and asked, revealing a smirk.

“I… I have never regretted it!” Lin Xinjue paled slightly, then clenched his teeth and answered.

“Hahaha, that’s great!” Qian Wu smiled again, then he turned towards Fang Zhengzhi. “Fang Zhengzhi, you dare to spoil my plans, today you must…”

Qian Wu did not finish with “die”.

Because Fang Zhengzhi was gone. He had disappeared from his position. But more peculiarly, Ping Yang was still there.

“He escaped?! Alone?” Qian Wu froze. Then he smirked once again: “Good, that’s what that shameless person would do!”

Qian Wu’s eyes were filled with contempt. But soon enough, he noticed something was off. Ping Yang’s eyes were fixed on something.

And it wasn’t just Ping Yang…

Everyone was staring in a single direction.

“What are they looking at?” Qian Wu thought to himself and looked in that direction. Then, just like everyone else, he was completely puzzled.

They were all looking at the Near-Life Gate.

There was a figure standing at the Gate, one who was wearing a fresh new set of imperial attire.

“Fang Zhengzhi hasn’t escaped?” Qian Wu was baffled. Then he saw Fang Zhengzhi gesturing in front of the Near-Life Gate with both hands. “What is he trying to do? Blocking the Gate with his own body? Hahaha…”

Qian Wu laughed out loud upon seeing this.

Of course, he was able to guess what Fang Zhengzhi was doing: trying to destroy the Near-Life Gate. But it was utterly foolish of him. Childish even.

The Near-Life Gate!

The most precious treasure of the Holy Barbarian Empire.

How could it be destroyed so easily?

Not to mention Fang Zhengzhi with his Supernatural State, even the Emperor himself could not leave a scratch on the Near-Life Gate.

“Indeed, he’s so silly and gull-” Qian Wu didn’t manage to finish his remark, and his eyes stared so wide they could almost pop out, his mouth opened the largest it could stretch.

It was shocking beyond words.

Not only Qian Wu…

At this very moment, everyone shared the same expression. Even Prince Li of the First Rank and King Xieluo.

“Crack!” It was a deafening noise.

The Near-Life Gate that was originally slowly opening rose up in the air. Or rather, it was lifted up in the air.

Lifted!

Someone lifted the Near-Life Gate?!

How was this possible!

Total silence.

It was as though the world had stood still. The night breeze blew past countless wide eyes and stunned faces.

“Dong!”

“Dong, dong…”

These were the sounds of the bronze that shook the hearts of everyone present, resounding through the night sky…

“What a surprise, it’s actually this light?” Fang Zhengzhi stopped after a few knocks, grumbling amusedly.

“Roar!”

At this moment, a giant beast roared loudly. Though it was shocked like the others, it didn’t just stand still like Qian Wu.

Upon hearing Fang Zhengzhi knock on the Near-Life Gate, it responded as it could.

And after that loud roar…

The giant beast lunged toward Fang Zhengzhi, opening its mouth fiercely. It was not difficult to imagine it swallowing him whole.

“Ah, you little one. Dare to sneak an attack on me?” Fang Zhengzhi looked at the beast charging towards him, his lips curled in a smile. Then he raised the Near-Life Gate and hurled it at the beast.

The giant beast would never have expected Fang Zhengzhi to smash the Near-Life Gate at it. How could it ever dodge it during a mid-thrust in the air?

“Boom!”

The ground shook with the deafening crash.

Without any resistance, the beast was hit by the Near-Life Gate. Its body sunk with its claws lying on the ground, its head smashed into bits.

It did not even moan in pain. Utterly lifeless.

“It’s dead?!”

Everyone looked at the bloody mess on the ground, the unmoving giant beast. Then they turned to Fang Zhengzhi who had lifted the Near-Life Gate above his height.

Only a thought appeared in their minds.

“This is the Supernatural State?!”

Chapter 582: A Rising Wave ##

Someone with only a Supernatural State had single-handedly raised the Near-Life Gate, then swiftly crushed a beast with it.

Who would believe this?

No one could believe their eyes.

Yet, the beast really lay dead on the floor. And Fang Zhengzhi was right in front of them, with a smirk on his face.

“Supernatural State?”

“This fellow is really only at the Supernatural State?!”

“Are you kidding me?”

Everyone stared at the one who had raised the Near-Life Gate in disbelief, with the urge to slap themselves awake.

A dream, this must be a dream!

That was the Near-Life Gate…

Wait a moment!

Fang Zhengzhi lifted the Near-Life Gate?!

When this thought floated in their minds, everyone was stunned. No, how could Fang Zhengzhi lift the Near-Life Gate?

“How is this possible?”

“To control the Near-Life Gate, one has to master the Near-Life Dao, right?”

“Could it be that this Near-Life Gate is a fake?”

“That’s impossible. The beasts and the Demon King walked out from it, how can it be a fake?”

Their ideas were dismissed quickly because the Near-Life Gate was obviously not a fake.

But it was also due to this fact that made the scene even more unbelievable. Questions about the weight of the Near-Life Gate aside, the crux of the issue was: how did Fang Zhengzhi even move it?

It was utterly shocking.

No one could grasp the situation. Because Fang Zhengzhi was only of Supernatural State. How could he master the Near-Life Dao, one of the Six Rebirth Dao Techniques, and raise the Near-Life Gate?

But the matter of fact was Fang Zhengzhi had indeed raised it, and more importantly, the bronze door that was previously open was slowly closing.

Closing!

It really was closing!

Everyone looked with much bewilderment as the Near-Life Gate shut with a boom.

And Qian Wu’s eyes were wide with shock. As the chief of the Holy Barbarian Empire, he always had a clear line of thought and calm judgment.

But now…

He really couldn’t calm down.

What kind of monster was this guy? With only Supernatural State, he could kill a beast so effortlessly, and he could even move the Near-Life Gate!

“Gate… My Near-Life Gate!” Qian Wu didn’t know how Fang Zhengzhi did it. But it wasn’t about how he did it. The Gate was now in Fang Zhengzhi’s hands, and it was shutting. “Return my Near-Life Gate!”

“Return it to you? Why would I hand you my Near-Life Gate? Silly!” Fang Zhengzhi laughed nonchalantly while shaking the Near-Life Gate.

In a trip to the palace, not only did he not attain the credit he wished for, but he had to suffer a strike for no reason. Now that he had chanced upon a Near-Life Gate, why would he return it?

Fang Zhengzhi was not stupid.

“What are you talking about? Your Near-Life Gate?!” Qian Wu shot an icy glare.

“Of course it’s mine. Who else could it belong to, you?” Fang Zhengzhi replied disdainfully. He felt Qian Wu’s question was really naïve, perhaps a little childish. How could Qian Wu not understand the simple logic that an item in one’s hands belongs to him?

“Ah… just return my Near-Life Gate!” Qian Wu finally realized Fang Zhengzhi wanted to snatch his Near-Life Gate.

The Near-Life Gate’s status as the most treasured possession of the Holy Barbarian Empire aside, how could its mighty emperor tolerate such an insult…

It was snatched right from his hands!

How could anyone tolerate this?

Qian Wu clenched his fists, his body lit up in six colors. He took a big step forward, then suddenly, he stopped.

Because he saw the Dragon Protection Squad’s icy stares and the First Dragon Envoy Yan Qing gloating over his misery.

“No!” Countless thoughts flashed through Qian Wu’s mind.

Of course, he could snatch his Near-Life Gate back from Fang Zhengzhi this very moment, but he was the leader, the highest in command of the Holy Barbarian Empire.

If he were to fail, even just by a small error…

This campaign would be said to have failed.

Anger!

Qian Wu would never have thought he’d experience anger at such intensity.

Even on the day that he returned to the Holy Barbarian Empire.

But he also understood that he had to remain calm because this was war, not just a simple quarrel between two people.

Thus, he had to look at the bigger picture. Now was not the time to get injured, or lose, even if such risks were very minimal.

Qian Wu ground his teeth in rage, his fists grew white from clenching them so tightly. The Near-Life Gate must be returned; it was key to the success of the campaign.

But…

He couldn’t fight for it.

Qian Wu was trying his very best to control the urge to fight.

No, if he were to go, Yan Qing and the Dragon Protection Squad would counter immediately. If that happened, not only could he not take back his Near-Life Gate, he could even be sent right through it.

Qian Wu understood this perfectly. As the commander, he must remain calm always, for he could not afford a single misstep.

But at this moment, a figure appeared in front of him, his black the imperial attire waving in the nightly breeze.

“Fang Zhengzhi!” Qian Wu looked at the figure in front of him with disbelief. He could not believe that fact that Fang Zhengzhi was presenting him the Near-Life Gate although he had contained his urge to snatch it back.

A person of Supernatural State would initiate an attack?

“Look at my Near-Life Gate, I’m smashing it!” Of course, Fang Zhengzhi couldn’t guess what Qian Wu was thinking. Upon flashing a smirk at Qian Wu, Fang Zhengzhi lifted the Near-Life Gate and immediately smashed it toward Qian Wu.

“You’re warning me?” Qian Wu said to himself coldly, silently mocking Fang Zhengzhi’s actions. Most importantly, didn’t this fellow know that the Near-Life Gate was Qian Wu’s?

And to smash Qian Wu with his Near-Life Gate?

How ridiculous.

As he prepared to shrink the Near-Life Gate for keeping, he noticed Fang Zhengzhi’s expression. Smiling in anticipation.

What was he smiling at?

Qian Wu froze for a moment, then he realized a possibility. Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine.

“Boom!”

With a loud crash, the Near-Life Gate was smashed to the ground as countless debris ricocheted among the columns of dust clouds.

Qian Wu managed to take a few quick steps backward when the Gate was smashed. His forehead and back were dripping cold sweat.

It wasn’t because the speed of the smash was too fast. Conversely, Fang Zhengzhi hurled the Gate slowly.

But it was exactly due to this…

Which made Qian Wu broke out in cold sweat.

What a close call.

If he had not noticed Fang Zhengzhi’s expression, then the Holy Barbarian Empire’s most valuable treasure, the Near-Life Gate, would indeed have been in Fang Zhengzhi’s hands.

Of course, he could shrink the Gate.

Then, what would happen?

It was without a shred of doubt that the Near-Life Gate wouldn’t magically fly back into his hands, but it would land in Fang Zhengzhi’s. If that had happened, the Near-Life Gate would really have belonged to Fang Zhengzhi.

But to intentionally rush here and warn him of it? And accomplishing all of these while Qian Wu was at the peak of his fury. This careful strategic planning was scarily precise!

“Oh? Weren’t you hit? I’ll have to smash again!” Fang Zhengzhi looked at Qian Wu who had taken a few steps back, then glanced disappointingly at the giant Near-Life Gate.

Was that so predictable?

How could it be!

He lifted the Near-Life Gate once again.

“I dare you!” Qian Wu stared sternly. Watching the most valuable treasure of the Holy Barbarian Empire smashed repeatedly like a hammer made him miserable.

“Boom!”

Fang Zhengzhi responded to Qian Wu with his actions. Qian Wu had no choice but to take a few steps back, his fists cracked as he clenched tightly.

“I’ll smash again!” Fang Zhengzhi didn’t believe Qian Wu could continue tolerating this. He would smash the Near-Life Gate until Qian Wu decided to shrink it.

“Boom!”

“I don’t believe I can’t hit you with this!”

“Boom!”

“Once more!”

“Boom!”

“…”

Massive dents appeared on the ground while the Near-Life Gate was repeatedly raised and smashed.

Qian Wu’s was heartbroken.

But he had no other choice. He was sure that Fang Zhengzhi could control the Near-Life Gate, though he had no idea how. The Near-Life Gate could weigh no less than ten tons, yet it was light as a feather to Fang Zhengzhi.

“Despicable!” Qian Wu was shaking with rage.

Fang Zhengzhi, with his actions, showed him a ‘truth’: the Near-Life Gate was not only a treasure, it was also a powerful ‘weapon’.

But who would use a treasure as a weapon? And to even use it as a hammer! In the whole world, only Fang Zhengzhi could do this.

The Dragon Protection Squad, the Royal Guards, the Palace Guards and the Southern Region Army were all stunned.

“One could use the Near-Life Gate like this?”

“Doesn’t he fear of destroying the Near-Life Gate?”

“I doubt so!”

Everyone was speechless.

A person of Supernatural State smashing the Near-Life Gate around someone who was at least at the advanced stages of Rebirth State, or perhaps even reached the peak of Rebirth State, ‘running’ around the palace.

If they had not witnessed it themselves, how would they ever believe such a thing happened?

Supernatural State!

Was this guy really at the Supernatural State?

Everyone had the same question in their minds.

Supernatural State? This shameless fellow was definitely fooling her. He obviously had the power of the Rebirth State. Could he be faking a low profile?

That’s impossible. With his arrogant personality, how would Fang Zhengzhi fake a low profile? As Ping Yang recalled the previous time she asked for his state, she grew more certain.

Yes, Fang Zhengzhi should still be at the Supernatural State.

This could be the only reason why Fang Zhengzhi was so reluctant in revealing his state. Because Yan Xiu was already very close to or had even reached the Rebirth State.

How, then, could Fang Zhengzhi proudly declare that he’s still at the Supernatural State after a year?

“Hey shameless guy, smash him now! We’ll be winners if you just smash him to bits!” Ping Yang shouted out loud without a care.

From a distance away, Yan Xiu and Shan Yu stood up again. They saw the mess damage that Fang Zhengzhi had done.

Both exchanged looks and nodded.

Then, two figures broke through the Southern Army’s protection and charged at Qian Wu. Yan Xiu’s body emitted a bright red glow, while Shan Yu’s eyes were filled with raging flames.

Qian Wu’s expression finally changed.

Now he didn’t have many cards in his hand. Among the twenty-plus Rebirth State warriors who were brought into the palace, nearly half of them belonged to Crown Prince Lin Tianrong.

A few Rebirth State masked figures were killed by Fang Zhengzhi, and some were knocked out by Lin Tianrong’s men.

Initially, with the Near-Life Gate in his possession, these weren’t an issue to him. Because as long as the Near-Life Gate was in the palace, he could have any number of fighters.

But now…

Qian Wu was brimming with hatred. Since Fang Zhengzhi had appeared, every one of his plans was spoiled by him, and now, even the Near-Life Gate was in Fang Zhengzhi’s hands.

The Near-Life Gate!

Yes, the crux of this issue was the Near-Life Gate!

If he could kill Fang Zhengzhi and seize back his Near-Life Gate, every problem could be easily solved.

Suddenly, an idea popped up in Qian Wu’s mind. He would need some time if he were to kill Fang Zhengzhi, but it would be very easy for King Xieluo.

And killing Fang Zhengzhi was also their third agreement.

At this moment, Qian Wu felt a little relieved. Luckily his last agreement with King Xieluo was to kill Fang Zhengzhi, instead of Emperor Lin Mubai.

“King Xieluo, as the Demon King, would you need a few hours to kill a person with Supernatural State?” Qian Wu stared at King Xieluo from a distance away.

Of course, he also noticed Prince Li of the First Rank who was standing in front of King Xieluo, but he didn’t think Prince Li, who was on the verge of death, could stop a Demon King.

“Boom!”

Immediately after Qian Wu finished his sentence, the ground beneath King Xieluo’s feet sank while surrounding stones turned into powder.

Then, a figure charged towards the sky at breakneck speed, and with a speed not much slower than teleportation, it descended towards Fang Zhengzhi.

King Xieluo did not answer Qian Wu with words…

But with action.

Chapter 583: Let’s Fight the Demon King Together! ##

“That’s really fast!” Everyone had the same thought. And at this time, Prince Li of the First Rank, who was standing in front of King Xieluo, moved too.

His appeared much weaker compared to King Xieluo, but his speed wasn’t slow at all. He reached behind King Xieluo an instant after he moved.

But he didn’t overtake King Xieluo.

This made things a little awkward. Because someone who was truly powerful didn’t need much time to attack. And Prince Li of the First Rank couldn’t stop him in time.

So…

What’s the point?

Fang Zhengzhi saw them both charging towards him. And at this moment, he was impressed by Prince Li of the First Rank.

He’s old but still very powerful!

Fang Zhengzhi wasn’t stupid. Prince Li of the First Rank was initially in front of King Xieluo, and even if King Xieluo was any faster, Prince Li of the First Rank could hold him back if he tried hard enough.

Just like that time when Chen Feihua saved Ping Yang.

If one tried hard enough…

Everything was possible!

But apparently, Prince Li of the First Rank wasn’t about to risk his life for this. He followed behind King Xieluo intentionally.

“This old man wants me to be his ‘shield’?” Fang Zhengzhi instantly recognized Prince Li of the First Rank’s plans. With Prince Li of the First Rank’s power, defeating a Demon King by himself would seem a little difficult.

In that case, dragging Fang Zhengzhi into this would be the best way.

For someone like Prince Li of the First Rank…

He couldn’t trust any personal relationship. And most importantly, there wasn’t much of a close relationship between them, to begin with.

They never dined, drank, or played cards together. Not to even mention visiting brothels, fighting in battles, or suffering together like brothers in arms.

They had only met once in the Throne Room.

Prince Li of the First Rank obviously would not risk his life for Fang Zhengzhi. Instead, he would be concerned with the bigger picture and try to save the Great Xia Dynasty.

Hence, he would use Fang Zhengzhi to block an attack, then in the heat of the fight, sneak a powerful attack on King Xieluo.

Fang Zhengzhi stared at the approaching King Xieluo, and Prince Li of the First Rank who was following tightly behind him. He sighed to himself: this old man had such confidence in him!

Prince Li of the First Rank didn’t fear that King Xieluo would kill him in a strike. But upon seeing Fang Zhengzhi smashing repeatedly at a desperate Qian Wu, he had reason to trust Fang Zhengzhi.

It was a pity that…

Fang Zhengzhi wasn’t stupid.

Neither did he had any noble ideas of sacrificing himself for the bigger picture.

Without any further hesitation, Fang Zhengzhi turned and ran away. Obviously, he didn’t just run in any random direction. He ran towards Emperor Lin Mubai.

Crying for help while running.

“Your Majesty, please save me!”

“…”

At this moment, everyone, including the Dragon Protection Squad, Royal Guards, Palace Guards and Southern Region Army, was shocked.

Because Fang Zhengzhi ran at a speed no slower than the both of them.

And more importantly, King Xieluo who was charging at him turned suddenly toward a different direction.

“Don’t come here!”

“Quick, run out of the palace!”

With Fang Zhengzhi approaching the emperor, the Dragon Protection Squad began to panic. Emperor Lin Mubai couldn’t even stand straight, and Imperial Concubine Hua Fei suffered injuries too.

And now Fang Zhengzhi would lead the Demon King to them. Didn’t he understand any idea of guarding the emperor? Hadn’t he thought of sacrificing himself to protect the emperor?

With a Demon King chasing behind him, he had decided to run toward the emperor.

And to ask the emperor to save him?

It was the Demon King!

But how could the Dragon Protection Squad even sustain a devastating blow from the Demon King?

“Run out of the palace?” Fang Zhengzhi curled his lips. King Xieluo was in the way of the palace gate. To run out of the palace was to seek an instant death.

That didn’t help.

Fang Zhengzhi was determined to run toward Emperor Lin Mubai, as if he hadn’t heard the Dragon Protection Squad’s advice, screaming as he ran.

“Save me! The Demon King is coming!”

“Oh no! Protect His and Her Majesty! Now!”

The Dragon Protection Squad was shocked. Due to Fang Zhengzhi’s “panic” and his loss of ability to think clearly, they had no choice but to fight their death to resist the attack.

They couldn’t just kill Fang Zhengzhi like that, right?

And even if they had such a thought, now was not the time to do so.

The Royal Guards, who were attacking the Palace Guards, snapped back to reality but they were unable to help.

After all…

Regardless of King Xieluo or Prince Li of the First Rank, or even Fang Zhengzhi, these people were moving much faster than what the Royal Guards were capable of. They were unable to stop them.

It all happened in an instant.

And it so sudden that no one could stop Fang Zhengzhi from running toward Emperor Lin Mubai, not even Yan Xiu or Shan Yu.

He’s reaching!

Everyone was watching closely as Fang Zhengzhi almost reached beside Emperor Lin Mubai when King Xieluo was only meters away from him.

But if King Xieluo were to change his target at this moment…

Then Emperor Lin Mubai would most likely lose his life. Well, it was clear that King Xieluo’s was chasing Fang Zhengzhi, but what if that happened?

When the Emperor’s safety was hanging by a thread, no one would allow for such a possibility.

Crown Prince Lin Tianrong and King Duan Lin Xinjue were also flabbergasted. Even Qian Wu clenched his fists.

“Don’t…” Ping Yang screamed. She wanted to scream “don’t hurt my father”, but neither did she wish for Fang Zhengzhi to be hurt.

It was a dilemma which stopped her words.

“Don’t hurt the Emperor!” At this moment, Prince Li of the First Rank’s voice thundered aloud. It resonated like a giant bell from the heavens, shaking the souls of everyone present.

At the same time…

The thin and frail Prince Li of the First Rank, who was following closely behind King Xieluo, closed on him with a sudden burst of speed.

His bony fingers pressed on King Xieluo’s shoulder and rays of light in rainbow colors glowed brilliantly.

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, indigo…

As these rays lit up, King Xieluo was stopped mid-air, his demonic, ashen face look somewhat surprised.

“Oh? It seemed I have underestimated you!” King Xieluo turned behind, looking at the rainbow rays wrapped around Prince Li of the First Rank’s skinny frame and the dark green rays flowing in his eyes.

Prince Li of the First Rank looked extremely stern. While the dark green flow rays had disappeared, the rainbow rays now concentrated in his eyes.

This scene was incredibly shocking to the surrounding onlookers.

“Those rainbow rays were…”

“That should be correct!”

As they set their eyes on the rainbow rays surrounding Prince Li of the First Rank, they all thought of one thing. Something that everyone knew but only a handful had really witnessed it.

It was rumored that there were thirty-six Sacred Rocks in the world, and upon each of them was an inscription of a divine Dao which allowed one to instantly reach the Sagely State.

But only a few knew how exactly one reached the Sagely State or how the Sacred Rocks looked like.

But everyone knew it was a fact that there was a Sage Land in the Great Xia Dynasty in which thirteen Sacred Rocks were hidden.

A staggering number.

Very staggering indeed, because even the Heavenly Dao Pavilion had only nine Sacred Rocks.

For an empire like the Holy Barbarian Empire, which was comparable in power to the Great Xia Dynasty, its share of Sacred Rocks could be described as pitiful.

In fact…

The Holy Barbarian Empire only had one Sacred Rock!

Of course, this was not to say that the Holy Barbarian Empire was not powerful enough. But because a very long time ago, the entire world only had one country: Great Xia.

But as time passed, Great Xia was separated into many countries and the concept of a united Great Xia was lost.

Until a few thousand years ago…

The Great Xia Dynasty emerged once again. Five Sacred Rocks were exchanged for five hundred thousand troops, and together with the combined strength thirteen residences, they conquered the world and rebuilt the empire on this very piece of land, forming the Great Xia of today.

It was another glorious period of the empire. Although it was not comparable to the glory of ancient past, they still stood proudly on their original land. Only it was a pity that in a few thousand years, the number of Sacred Rocks declined, till the thirteen Rocks of today.

What had caused this to happen? It’s too complicated to explain.

But even so, the Great Xia Dynasty now had thirteen Sacred Rocks. But the Sage Land no longer existed.

Then, where would the thirteen Sacred Rocks be?

Of course, no one had the answer.

Someone had guessed that the thirteen Sacred Rocks were hidden in the thirteen residences because each residence had a world of its own.

For example, the Divine Constabulary had the Heavenly Treasure Hall, the Stabilization Constabulary had the Blue Jade Terrace. If the Sacred Rocks were hidden in these worlds, no one would be able to find them.

It was a safe choice to do so.

As for the accuracy of this guess, no one dared to verify.

It was a hidden secret, but when everyone saw the rainbow glow in Prince Li of the First Rank’s eyes, that was what they thought of.

“So, the Great Xia Dynasty’s Sacred Rocks were in Prince Li of the First Rank’s residence!” Qian Wu looked at Prince Li of the First Rank, his eyes lit up while he smiled coldly.

Because he was also aware that it was only when one had mastered the inscription on the Sacred Rock, then he would shine with such brilliance.

Prince Li of the First Rank, Sage Land, Prince Li of the First Rank’s residence, gardening, bird-keeping…

Instantly Qian Wu understood why Prince Li of the First Rank always remained shut in his residence and the location of the thirteen Sacred Rocks.

Prince Li of the First Rank’s residence.

Yan Capital City, the capital of the Great Xia Dynasty, the home of the emperor. In such an open place with free flow of human activity, who would have thought to obtain them? Who would have even thought of it?

“When I conquer Great Xia, the thirteen Sacred Rock will belong to my Holy Barbarian Empire!” Qian Wu thought excitedly. This made him impatient. “King Xieluo, kill them now!”

“King Xieluo, as the Demon King, your actions have already crossed the line. Do you know the consequences if you dare to hurt the Emperor?” Prince Li of the First Rank asked, staring at King Xieluo as he pressed firmly on his shoulder.

“Consequence? Hehe… Let’s talk about this after you defeat me!” King Xieluo laughed, then continued: “And talking about consequences, do you know the consequences of stopping me? Can’t you tell that the one I’m killing is Fang Zhengzhi?”

Of course, Prince Li of the First Rank knew that King Xieluo was after Fang Zhengzhi. But as Fang Zhengzhi led him closer to Emperor Lin Mubai…

How could he tolerate this?

And more importantly, he wasn’t certain that after killing Fang Zhengzhi, King Xieluo would keep his promise and return to the Near-Life Gate.

Qian Wu’s words and the Demon King’s words…

Were they trustable?

With Prince Li of the First Rank’s age and experience, he wasn’t so naïve as to gamble a dynasty’s fate on a single “promise”.

Now, the best solution wasn’t for King Xieluo to kill Fang Zhengzhi.

But…

Stopping him from continuing to kill.

Initially, Prince Li of the First Rank’s plan was for Fang Zhengzhi to take a blow from King Xieluo, and when King Xieluo was striking Fang Zhengzhi, he would sneak an attack of his true powers from behind when King Xieluo let his guard down.

But he never expected Fang Zhengzhi to run, and even without any hesitation, toward Emperor Lin Mubai.

Wait!

Where’s Fang Zhengzhi?!

Prince Li of the First Rank looked around for Fang Zhengzhi, but he was gone.

Turning back, Prince Li of the First Rank’s rainbow rays flickered a little as he saw a black figure dashing away in the distance.

And without question…

This figure was Fang Zhengzhi.

Prince Li of the First Rank was stunned briefly.

He wanted to call out to Fang Zhengzhi and say “Hey, let’s fight the Demon King together!”

But obviously, Fang Zhengzhi would never return. He ran so quickly, never once turning back. In the blink of an eye, there was only a tiny silhouette of him left.

“He ran away while I held King Xieluo back? This brat… he did that intentionally!” King Xieluo suddenly came to this realization.

“Move, move away, are you blind? Can’t you see the Near-Life Gate in my hand? Let me pass or I’ll smash this!” Fang Zhengzhi could be heard shouting from afar.