Chapter 476: What Have I Done to Provoke You?
Though it takes long to describe, all this happened in a fleeting instant. Before anyone could react, a torrential crimson light had already illuminated heaven and earth.
“Stop!!”
A dozen figures flew from all directions of the Imperial Palace. Some attacked without a word, while others shouted frantically, trying to intervene. Xu Sanyan ignored them all, focusing solely on manipulating the crimson light to corrupt the National Jade Seal.
Among the dozen attackers, even the weakest had reached the Peak Stage of the Soul Refining Realm. Five or six were at the void harmony realm, including two Perfected Void Harmony cultivators.
Emperor Qian, abandoning all imperial dignity, materialized above the great hall, his eyes burning with fury as he glared at Xu Sanyan, who was bathed in the eerie crimson glow. His teeth ground together with a grating sound.
Yet despite his rage, he made no move to attack. A Sage Monarch never risks himself in danger or treads perilous paths. Emperor Qian was meticulous about his personal safety.
Xu Sanyan surveyed the approaching figures with disdain, his eyes brimming with arrogance. “Come on, let’s see if I fear you!”
He had never feared battle. Even when he retreated, it was always a strategic withdrawal based on comprehensive assessment.
Boom!
A crimson storm erupted from Xu Sanyan’s body, instantly tearing apart his black and blue robe. His bare, muscular physique was revealed, radiating raw power and primal beauty.
He was accustomed to his clothes being ripped apart in battle; fighting shirtless felt more natural, free from any restraint.
“Die, you villain!”
A razor-sharp sword beam flashed from the side, while a colossal palm strike descended from above. Simultaneously, a cyan energy spear pierced from behind, trapping Xu Sanyan in a three-dimensional cage with no escape.
But he had no intention of evading!
His Qi Sea churned violently, spiritual power surging around him like a tempestuous vortex. The Heavenly Dao Mark on his back blazed with blinding intensity, its radiant light solidifying into a tangible barrier that shielded him completely, forcing onlookers to shield their eyes.
BOOM!!
The combined attacks crashed into him like thunderclaps, unleashing shockwaves that tore through the sky. Crimson clouds dissipated, startled birds scattered into the distance, and the pavilion beneath his feet crumbled. Even the Golden Luan Hall trembled violently.
Emperor Qian stared at the ravaged Imperial Palace, his eyes wide with disbelief.
What kind of power is this?!
“Hahahaha…”
A wild laughter echoed across the heavens and earth. Before the shockwaves could subside, dozens of crimson energy beams shot forth from the crimson aura—perfectly replicating the attacks launched moments earlier, now hurled back at their originators with undiminished force!
“Ah!”
Someone was momentarily careless and suffered an injury, but most managed to barely withstand the returned attacks, though their hearts trembled. The returned strikes felt several times more powerful than the originals!
The National Jade Seal, spinning wildly, was now half-stained crimson. In contrast, the Golden Dragon Phantom, enveloped in the luminous barrier, appeared withered and listless.
Prime Minister Yuan Zongtong, who had been observing from afar, was the first to regain his composure. He urgently shouted at Emperor Qian, “Your Majesty, activate the Great Formation now!”
Emperor Qian snapped out of his daze. Yes, he still had the Great Formation!
Since its completion, the formation had never been fully activated, serving only as a passive defense mechanism to protect the Imperial Palace. But it also possessed formidable offensive capabilities!
The turbulent air around Xu Sanyan calmed, revealing a pair of demonic crimson eyes that had replaced his pupils. His myriad strands of hair whipped wildly in the wind, making him resemble a Demon Lord descended upon the world, his ferocious aura unmatched.
Among the thousands of cultivators in the Imperial Palace, not a single one dared to attack!
This scene unfolded before the eyes of countless residents of the Capital City. Everyone abandoned their tasks, staring intently at the spectacle.
The commotion within the Imperial Palace was simply too overwhelming to ignore.
Tang Huanhuan stood on a rooftop, gazing into the distance. Her grip tightened unconsciously on the wine gourd in her hand. She had already recognized Xu Sanyan.
She recognized that figure instantly; there was no mistaking it.
“Xu… Sanyan!”
Tang Huanhuan spat out the name through gritted teeth. Her hatred for Xu Sanyan burned no less fiercely than Emperor Qian’s.
During the Qian Kingdom’s capital examination, she had exhausted her resources to achieve a hard-won success. But Xu Sanyan’s blood sacrifice of five cities had enraged the court, causing Emperor Qian to lose interest in the examination and diminishing her rewards accordingly.
Now, just when she had finally secured a promising position, Xu Sanyan was causing trouble again. This time, his actions were even more extreme—judging by his appearance, it seemed he intended to destroy the entire kingdom.
Was he trying to sever her path to advancement at its very root?
Crack!
Tang Huanhuan crushed the wine gourd in her hand, snarling, “What have I ever done to you?!”
On the long street, inside the tavern,
Fang Qingge gripped the wooden railing before him, his expression solemn as he stared intently at the figure.
It was him!
Fang Qingge would never forget. They had crossed paths frequently in the Hundred Saints Secret Realm years ago. He never imagined they would meet again here, under such circumstances.
“Xu Sanyan!”
He knew that figure all too well.
Fang Qingge knew him well, but someone else knew him even better.
Yang Qiyuan’s face flickered with excitement, her eyes filled with both joy and confusion.
Yang Qiyuan’s joy stemmed from recognizing Xu Sanyan as her missing husband.
Her confusion arose from the fact that her husband seemed different, radiating an intense unfamiliarity that made her hesitate to acknowledge him.
Mo Xianxian stood beside Yang Qiyuan, her expressionless gaze fixed on the distant figure, her thoughts unreadable.
Yang Qiyuan remained unaware that Mo Xianxian, hailed as the most beautiful woman in the world, was also her half-sister, sharing the same father but different mothers, much like Tang Huanhuan.
In truth, Yang Qiyuan had only been in the Central Region for a short time. Had she stayed longer, she might have discovered even more sisters.
Huan Xi’er stood beside Mo Xianxian, glancing sideways at the Madam beside him before turning his gaze to the solitary, arrogant figure in the distance. A complex mix of emotions stirred within him.
“He’s too reckless, daring to storm the Imperial Palace alone,” Fang Qingge murmured, his voice tinged with deep regret and a hint of satisfaction. “Today, he’s as good as dead.”
The feeling of being utterly suppressed by another was unbearable, a truth Fang Qingge had only fully grasped since Xu Sanyan’s sudden rise to prominence.
Meanwhile,
Lin Fan had been traveling since descending the mountain, and today he finally arrived at the Capital City. Before he could even catch his breath, he noticed something amiss at the Imperial Palace. Peering closely, he faintly discerned a figure hovering in mid-air, shrouded in a golden-red aura.
“That’s… the holy son?” Lin Fan murmured in disbelief. Why does he keep showing up wherever I go?
What’s he planning now? Is he going to blood sacrifice the Capital City?
Perhaps driven by guilt over the Qian Prefecture incident, Lin Fan secretly vowed to stop him at all costs today. He couldn’t allow the holy son to continue wreaking havoc on the world, even if it meant his own death.
With this resolve, Lin Fan approached the Imperial Palace, only to realize he had overestimated his capabilities. Once the palace’s formation activated, he couldn’t even breach its defenses, let alone intervene. He could only watch helplessly as the Great Formation erupted with ten thousand golden rays, like a torrent of sword qi, piercing toward Xu Sanyan.
Everyone who witnessed this scene shared the same thought:
Certain death!
An attack of such magnitude could only be withstood by a sage!
(End of the Chapter)