son, don't mess around

Just as this muffled snort rang out, another terrifying aura instantly erupted within the hall.

It spread rapidly in all directions!

"Boom!"

It overturned the rivers and seas, and blotted out the sky and the sun.

Dust filled the air, and a terrifying aura spread outwards in layers, roaring in all directions.

The first to be stopped was Lin Jiangnian, who was standing at the very front.

The final move of the Nine Sword Techniques almost drained his internal energy, and when faced with the counterattack of this terrifying aura, he was instantly knocked away.

This terrifying aura was overwhelming, and the oppressive internal force permeating the heavens and earth caught him completely off guard. He was sent flying backwards for more than ten meters before crashing heavily into the crowd.

Fortunately, there were many imperial guards behind him who were quick-witted and nimble-fingered, and they immediately stepped forward to lift him up, using their own bodies to protect Lin Jiangnian.

Even so, the terrifying force of the impact still caused a large number of imperial guards behind him to fall to the ground, screaming in pain, and many of them were seriously injured on the spot.

Even with so many 'meat shields' protecting him, Lin Jiangnian's face still turned pale, his body churned, and a sweet, metallic taste filled his throat.

"puff!"

He coughed up a mouthful of blood that had been building up in his chest.

Almost!
If it weren't for the imperial guards blocking his way, he would probably have been crippled or rendered incapable of fighting on the spot.

Chen Zhao's martial arts skills are even stronger than that of the sect leader!

The first-grade Grandmaster realm already represents an extremely rare group of top experts in the world. Moreover, there are differences even within this first-grade realm.

Lin Jiangnian was not the only one who was repelled by this sudden burst of power; the surrounding buildings were destroyed, and the eaves of the main hall were also torn open by this terrifying internal force.

Those imperial guards who were nearby were directly killed on the spot by the crushing internal force, their internal organs shattered.

Even those lucky enough to have strong internal energy were still blasted away, coughing up blood and fainting.

Thick smoke filled the hall, and the two beautiful figures were also forced back by this oppressive force.

The two were thrown back seven or eight steps before barely managing to regain their footing. Their delicate features now bore the marks of their disheveled state, and their breathing was erratic, clearly indicating that they too had been injured.

However, their gazes grew increasingly solemn.

The two looked down at the swords in their hands; the blades reeked of blood.

However, the two men's expressions became increasingly wary!

Failed!
Despite their best efforts and skillful teamwork, the three of them were unable to kill Chen Zhao!
This is the only chance!
Once it fails, there will be no more possibilities.

Sure enough, another low growl came from within the thick smoke.

"The Nine Techniques of the Sword?!"

The low growl clearly carried a hint of shock and anger.

Clearly, Chen Zhao had not anticipated that Lin Jiangnian had such a powerful move up his sleeve.

Throughout the entire night, he didn't take Lin Jiangnian seriously. A prince who hadn't even reached the second rank was no threat to him.

But ironically, this Prince Lin, who posed no threat to him, almost caused him a great loss!
The final move of the Nine Sword Techniques, the way of the sword has been lost for decades.

Unexpectedly, this has now been repeated in the case of the Crown Prince of Lin.

"Too bad, you're too weak!"

A muffled voice came from within the thick smoke.

The Nine Sword Techniques are indeed among the top martial arts of our time, especially the last one, which is said to have the power to destroy the heavens and the earth.

Unfortunately, Lin Jiangnian's current strength cannot be fully utilized!
Otherwise, that last move would have definitely given us a chance!

"kill!"

Thick smoke billowed, and General Wu's cold, chilling voice rang out from the crowd.

He knew the situation better than anyone, having witnessed firsthand how the Crown Prince of Lin and the two stunningly beautiful women beside him, whose martial arts were unfathomable, still failed to kill Chen Zhao despite their combined efforts.

He was horrified, but he also realized the intense danger.

No matter how high one's martial arts skills are, it is ultimately nothing more than the bravery of a brute. In the eyes of the imperial court and General Wu, no matter how skilled a martial artist is, they pose little threat when faced with a well-trained, especially elite, siege.

But, exceptionally, the Grandmaster level experts are an exception!
Such a master has transcended the realm of ordinary masters. General Wu has never had the chance to face a first-rank master in his entire life.

Such a master has the ability to easily take the head of an enemy general amidst a vast army.

Even at the very least, they possess the ability to trade one for one!
If a Grandmaster of the First Rank were truly determined to kill someone, not only would his Imperial Guards be unable to stop him, but even the elite troops dispatched by the imperial court would likely be unable to stop him.

Therefore, General Wu did not hesitate at all and immediately issued the order to take action.

Take advantage of his illness and kill him!
Before the other party could catch their breath, strike first!
The next second, the imperial guards from all directions rushed forward again.

They charged into the thick smoke in an organized and disciplined manner, their swords flashing.

But soon, as they stepped into the thick smoke, and as the smoke dissipated, Chen Zhao's figure disappeared from their sight.

What about people?

Upon seeing this scene, everyone present felt a sudden chill in their hearts.

An ominous thought arose in my mind.

not good!

"what!"

Screams erupted from behind the crowd.

Only then did they notice that several of the imperial guards who had been protecting Li Cining had fallen dead.

Chen Zhao, who was originally in the thick smoke, appeared silently in it at some unknown time.

At this moment, Chen Zhao was in a sorry state, his hair disheveled like that of a mad old man, and his clothes were tattered. More noticeable were the two sword wounds on his back.

Blood was still flowing down from the sword wound.

Clearly, Lin Jiangnian, Zhiyuan, and Liu Su's previous encirclement and suppression had worked; Zhiyuan and Liu Su's sneak attack had injured Chen Zhao.

But this damage seemed to pose no threat to Chen Zhao. His aura remained unchanged, even stronger than before.

The moment he made his move, three or four elite Imperial Guards died at his hands.

These martial arts skills are not weak; they are at least elites at the fourth or fifth rank, and can be considered top experts in the imperial court.

But in Chen Zhao's hands, they were like ants, easily crushed.

They had no power to resist whatsoever.

In the blink of an eye, most of the imperial guards who were blocking Li Cining's way were killed or wounded.

"Protect Your Majesty!"

General Wu cried out in alarm, drew his sword, and turned around abruptly, trying to protect His Majesty.

But it was clearly too late.

Chen Zhao was determined to kill them all and didn't take anyone else seriously.

In his eyes, there was only Li Cining.

The overwhelming killing intent locked onto Li Cining and rapidly approached.

Protected by the Imperial Guards, Li Cining trembled slightly, his face deathly pale. Yet, his gaze was more resolute than ever before. Facing Chen Zhao's approach, he showed no fear, standing rooted to the spot, his eyes meeting Chen Zhao's.

Until another terrifying aura spread throughout the hall.

An invisible barrier of airflow formed in front of Li Cining, preventing the crazed Chen Zhao from getting closer.

"Boom!"

The internal forces collided, and the squeezing explosion sounded again.

However, this invisible current still failed to completely stop Chen Zhao's steps.

Chen Zhao was briefly blocked by this airflow, preventing a fatal blow from Li Cining. However, as Chen Zhao's aura rose to another level, the air barrier shattered instantly.

The moment the airflow barrier shattered, a gray-robed figure silently appeared in front of Chen Zhao.

When Chen Zhao's gaze fell on this person's face, his pupils suddenly contracted: "It's you?!"

"it's me."

The old man in the gray robe stood with his hands behind his back, looking calmly at Chen Zhao.

He had no aura whatsoever, yet he exuded an imposing and authoritative presence.

"You're not dead yet?"

A cold glint flashed in Chen Zhao's eyes, as if he was extremely surprised by the appearance of the old man in front of him.

The old man calmly said, "I should have died, but I haven't. It must be that God is not letting me die."

"You want to stop me?" Chen Zhao's tone was icy: "You are no match for me!"

The old man shook his head: "I am indeed no match for you. You are a prodigy whose martial arts talent ranks among the top five in the past hundred years. I knew you were extraordinary from the moment you entered the palace twenty years ago!"

"Your achievements are far more impressive than I imagined!"

Chen Zhao abruptly flicked his sleeve: "Considering we've known each other, I won't kill you. Get out of my way!"

The old man didn't move. He calmly asked, "Why did you kill him?"

Chen Zhao did not answer the question.

"Killing him won't change anything!"

The old man said, "Although I am no match for you, you cannot kill him today either."

"You can't stop me." Chen Zhao's gaze turned icy.

The old man's gaze fell on him: "You're injured!"

Chen Zhao was disheveled and reeked of blood, a truly shocking sight.

But Chen Zhao was not afraid at all; a minor external injury would not have much of an impact on him.

"I alone cannot stop you."

The old man spoke.

He knew Chen Zhao's martial arts prowess well; a martial arts genius of the past century, if he hadn't taken an unorthodox approach, his strength would probably be far greater than it is now.

He was no match for him, nor could he stop him.

"But I am not alone!"

The old man's gaze calmly swept around the main hall.

At this moment, the imperial guards surrounding the main hall had suffered heavy casualties, but a force of elite guards still remained, and under General Wu's command, they continued to approach and surround Chen Zhao.

The violent commotion outside the palace meant that other imperial guards would soon be rushing to the scene.

What's more, there is...

The old man raised his eyes and his gaze fell on the three figures in the main hall.

Zhiyuan took the lead, dressed in white and carrying a sword, and approached. Lin Jiangnian followed closely behind.

Finally, it was Liu Su's turn. Her gaze lingered on the old man in front of the hall for a long time before she also approached, once again forming an encirclement around Chen Zhao.

At this moment, Chen Zhao's face finally darkened.

If tonight's attack was merely a siege, he would be utterly unafraid. A first-grade grandmaster like Li Cining would be an easy target for him.

However, he had wasted too much time when he made his move, and had also consumed a lot of his internal energy in order to withstand Lin Jiangnian's Nine Sword Techniques.

With the old man's appearance and the Imperial Guards gradually arriving to provide support, he has gradually found himself in a passive position.

Now that he's surrounded by four people, killing Li Cining won't be so easy for him anymore!

A hint of anger finally surfaced in Chen Zhao's eyes.

"Anyone who stands in my way will die!"

He let out a low growl, then leaped forward, lunging at the old man before him.

The next second, Zhiyuan and Liu Su moved.

Lin Jiangnian was severely depleted of his internal energy and could only barely hold on, with no intention of making a move.

The violent upheaval resumed. Although Zhiyuan and Liu Su were unable to stop Chen Zhao by working together, they created an opportunity for the old man to make a move.

The old man stepped forward and stood in front of Chen Zhao, showing no fear in the face of Chen Zhao's attack.

"boom!"

"Humph!"

A muffled explosion rang out, raising clouds of dust, and a terrifying aura of oppression spread out once more.

Lin Jiangnian used the little internal energy he had left to resist the oppressive force. When the aura dissipated, the surroundings suddenly became quiet.

Lin Jiangnian suddenly looked up into the smoke. When the smoke cleared, Zhiyuan and Liu Su appeared in the same spot. Both women were extremely pale, clearly indicating that their internal energy had been severely depleted tonight.

Both of them had sustained serious injuries, but their gazes were also fixed on the smoke.

At this moment, Chen Zhao was nowhere to be seen.

"What about people?"

Chen Zhao was nowhere to be seen in the surrounding halls; he had vanished as if he had disappeared from the spot.

"He ran away!"

The old man's eyes were sharp as he looked towards the direction outside the hall.

"Chase!"

Meanwhile, General Wu, inside the main hall, upon hearing that Chen Zhao had fled, immediately summoned the imperial guards to pursue him.

At this moment, the main hall was in chaos, almost reduced to ruins.

General Wu ordered his elite guards to stay behind to protect His Majesty, while he led the remaining Imperial Guards to pursue Chen Zhao. The rest of the guards began cleaning up the scene.

The surrounding area was littered with ruins and corpses of the wounded, and the air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and blood.

A terrible scene!
The final result was a Pyrrhic victory.

However, Chen Zhao still managed to escape!
Lin Jiangnian was somewhat disappointed; he had used all his strength, but the man still managed to escape!

I was unwilling to accept it, but for now I had no choice but to give up.

At this moment, Lin Jiang's internal energy was completely exhausted, and he was powerless to continue the pursuit. He turned his gaze to Zhiyuan and Liu Su beside him; the two women were in no better condition than he was.

Just now, during the "Three Heroes Battle Lü Bu" battle, the two of them exerted their utmost efforts, and now they are nearing their limit.

Before the hall, Zhiyuan took a deep breath, slowly sheathed her sword, stepped forward to the old man, lowered her eyes slightly, and spoke respectfully in a soft voice: "Master."

"Paper kites!"

The old man sighed and looked at his beloved disciple, asking, "Are you alright?"

Zhiyuan shook her head slightly and glanced back at Lin Jiangnian not far away.

At this moment, Lin Jiangnian, who had regained some strength, also stepped forward and came to the old man: "Senior, if you had come any later, we would probably all have died here today."

The old man's gaze fell on Lin Jiangnian, and he exclaimed, "Your Highness has truly impressed me. In less than two years, you have achieved such strength. Given time, it is not impossible for you to surpass your father."

"That's all thanks to the guidance and instruction I received from my predecessors!"

At this point, Lin Jiangnian suddenly remembered something, looked the old man up and down, and exclaimed, "Senior is indeed a man of great hidden talent!"

When Lin Jiangnian first met Senior Li, he suspected that he was no ordinary person. Especially after Senior Li instructed him in martial arts and even taught him the Nine Sword Techniques, Lin Jiangnian became even more convinced that Senior Li's strength was unfathomable.

But for so long, he had never seen Elder Li make a move.

I finally witnessed it tonight!
The imposing aura that Elder Li displayed when he stopped Chen Zhao earlier was definitely not simple!
That aura was in no way inferior to Chen Hao's.

Faced with Lin Jiangnian's questioning, the elder Li sighed and said, "A new generation has replaced the old. From now on, this world will belong to you."

As he spoke, Elder Li's gaze swept over the three people present.

He then turned away and walked to Li Cining, who was being protected by the Imperial Guards in front of the main hall.

At this moment, Li Cining, who had regained some strength, stepped out from among the imperial guards and came to stand before Elder Li, his eyes filled with surprise and delight: "Uncle, you've come?!"

……

Meanwhile, Lin Jiangnian looked at Zhiyuan's slightly pale face and felt a pang of heartache. He stepped forward, took her hand, and asked with concern, "How are you? Are you badly injured?"

The kite seemed a little uncomfortable and shook off Lin Jiangnian's hand.

"I'm fine!"

Lin Jiangnian was feeling a bit strange when he noticed a strange aura in the air.

Only then did he suddenly realize something, and turning his head, he saw a stunningly beautiful woman in red standing not far away.

She crossed her arms and looked at him with a cold smile.

His gaze was indifferent.

They were observing his every move.

Having just experienced a major battle, Lin Jiangnian felt a chill run down his spine.

broken!

...(End of chapter)