Starting with being handed over to the Imperial Concubine, building a family with a thousand-year hi

Xiao Anran drew her longsword, her body transforming into a blur as she leaped several feet into the air, unleashing a sharp sword light that slashed directly at Situ Sheng, who was locked in combat with a royal grandmaster! Although she was only at the mid-stage of the Innate Realm, her swordsmanship was exquisite, and the timing and angle of this strike were perfectly timed, forcing Situ Sheng to be distracted in his attack.

However, how could swordsmanship bridge the gap between a Grandmaster and a Primordial Master? Situ Sheng casually slapped away the sword light with a palm strike, the residual force causing Xiao Anran to stagger backward, a sweet taste rising in his throat, almost spitting out blood.

Consort De did not intervene. It wasn't out of fear, but rather because she was tightly protecting the seven-year-old Sixth Prince, Xiao Jingye, beside her. With the palace in chaos, she dared not entrust her young son to anyone else.

Empress Situ Wan, who also possessed innate cultivation, remained motionless. Holding the Fifth Prince Xiao Jinghuan's hand, her face was pale, her eyes filled with complex emotions—on one side was her husband's royal family, and on the other was her birth mother's family; whom should she help?

After retreating outside the palace, Wei Zhongxian stood guard in front of a group of panicked members of the imperial clan, no longer participating in the battle. He was waiting, waiting for a clearer outcome.

"Brother Duanmu, if you don't act now, when will you?"

High in the sky, Situ Jing, who was still in the upper hand against five opponents, suddenly shouted loudly, his voice carrying for miles!

Brother Duanmu?

who?

Many who were unaware of the details were taken aback by these words. A few who knew the significance of the name "Duanmu" paled in shock!

"Oh no!" Wei Zhongxian exclaimed in a low voice.

Who else could be addressed as "brother" by Situ Jing, and called upon at such a critical moment, but the reclusive patriarch of the Duanmu family in the East Sea for many years—Duanmu Ping? He was also a genuine grandmaster!

Consort De's face instantly turned deathly pale. As a core disciple of the Tianwu Sect, she naturally knew of the Duanmu family's existence and was even more aware of the ancient monster of extremely high seniority living in seclusion deep in the East Sea. But she never expected that the Duanmu family, which had been dormant for over a hundred years, would actually join forces with the Situ family!

One Grandmaster has already caused the Xiao royal family to exhaust all their strength and suffer heavy casualties. If another one were to come... the Xiao family might truly face extinction today!

Although the battle was initially difficult, the Xiao clan was able to hold on thanks to their numerical advantage and their fighting spirit. If the battle dragged on until both sides had exhausted most of their true energy and could no longer remain airborne for long, thus transitioning to a ground melee, the Xiao clan's numerical advantage might become more pronounced.

But if the enemy has another Grandmaster in his prime... all the plans will come to naught!

"Brother Situ, I've arrived!"

A long laugh echoed from outside the palace walls, like muffled thunder rolling across the sky.

The next instant, an old man with fiery red hair and a black robe arrived, his every step creating ripples in the air. Crimson flames blazed around him, his power seemingly three times stronger than Situ Jing's!

Another grandmaster!

Everyone on the Xiao royal family's side felt their hearts sink into an ice cave.

How do we deal with such an enemy?

"Haha, take this punch!"

Before Duanmu Ping's laughter had even subsided, his right fist slammed out. As the fist passed, a massive, fiery fist phantom, over ten feet in diameter, materialized out of thin air and crashed down with overwhelming force towards the five Xiao Clan Grandmasters who were besieging Situ Jing!

"Get out of here!" a royal grandmaster shouted in horror.

The five people tried their best to dodge, but one of them was a fraction of a second too slow and was struck by the edge of the fist. His protective true energy shattered instantly, and the man screamed as he plummeted down like a meteorite, smashing the roof of a side hall below to pieces. His fate was unknown.

"Such domineering fire-attribute true essence... This Duanmu Ping's cultivation is probably even above Situ Jing's." Su Mu's eyes narrowed slightly.

He had somewhat anticipated today's turn of events, but he hadn't expected the Situ family to be able to mobilize a second Grandmaster. Fortunately, he hadn't acted rashly; otherwise, being targeted by two Grandmasters simultaneously, even with his many trump cards, he wouldn't be able to guarantee his safety.

—A grandmaster might not be able to kill him instantly, but if they combine their secret techniques to imprison him and then deliver a thunderous blow, he would still be in danger of perishing.

"It's over..." Xiao Anran's face turned ashen, and the longsword almost slipped from his hand.

Situ Jing alone has already exhausted the royal family's resources, and now with the addition of the even more ferocious Duanmu Ping... there is no room for luck in this battle.

She had just been pinning her hopes on the mysterious Eunuch Su in the library. To be able to easily kill a Grandmaster, Eunuch Su's strength must be unfathomable. But even if Eunuch Su was a Grandmaster himself, what could he do against two equally powerful individuals?

Is the Xiao family's thousand-year-old legacy truly destined to perish today?

Just then, three figures emerged from the Tianwu Sect's camp and landed beside Consort De and the Sixth Prince.

"Your Majesty," the leading elder of the Tianwu Sect bowed to Xiao Anxun, his expression apologetic yet resolute, "the situation has reached a point where it is beyond our control. Please forgive the Tianwu Sect... we can no longer fight."

Xiao Anxun remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded, a bitter smile appearing on his lips: "The three elders have done their best, I... thank you."

There was no resentment, no blame. He understood that the Tianwu Sect had already done more than enough by sending three Grandmasters to assist them. To make them die with the Xiao family was neither realistic nor moral.

Now the Xiao family is facing two Grandmasters in perfect condition, while their side... has lost nearly half of its Grandmasters.

The three members of the Tianwu Sect retreated, and the Situ family did not stop them—forcing them to retreat was enough; there was no need to forge a deadly feud with this sect with such a profound foundation.

"You tyrant, abdicate now and yield the throne to a worthy successor, and perhaps the Xiao family ancestral hall can be preserved." Situ Jing stood in mid-air, his voice booming and full of confidence.

Xiao Yuanhou has not yet appeared, so he is undoubtedly dead! The Situ family replacing the Xiao family and taking control of the capital is a foregone conclusion!

"Royal sons, only to fight to the death!" Xiao Anxun suddenly drew his sword, its blade pointing straight to the sky, unleashing his Grandmaster-level cultivation without reservation—this young emperor had actually stepped into the Grandmaster realm!

"Fight to the death! Fight to the death!" The remaining Xiao Clan Grandmasters and Innate Martial Artists roared in unison, their voices filled with tragic grandeur.

There was no way out. Surrender was also a dead end, and how could the new dynasty tolerate the bloodline of the old ruler? Since death was inevitable anyway, why not die a valiant death for the country!

Consort De hugged her infant son tightly, closed her eyes, and sighed deeply. She had repeatedly advised the Emperor to take advantage of the Situ family's still-developing power, unite with the Tianwu Sect, and eliminate the threat with swift and decisive action. But the Emperor had too many concerns, always wanting to stabilize the situation and proceed gradually…

Now, it's too late for regrets.

"Stubborn to the end!" Situ Jing sneered, his true fire surging three times higher. "Then—exterminate them all!"

Duanmu Ping shook his head, seemingly regretful, but his attack was ruthless. Crimson flames surged like a tide, engulfing the already exhausted Xiao clan members.

It seemed that the remnants of the Xiao clan were about to be consumed by the wrath of the two grandmasters—

In that life-or-death moment, a sudden change occurred!

A dazzling golden light shot into the sky from the crowd in the square below, heading towards Duanmu Ping at an incredible speed!

With a casual wave of his hand, Duanmu Ping sent a streak of crimson flames swirling toward the golden light.

When the two touched, the golden light exploded, but instead of dissipating, it transformed into countless tough, golden vines, each as thick as a thumb, which coiled around Duanmu Ping like serpents, instantly binding his limbs and torso layer by layer!

Su Mu made his move.

First, a high-grade Xuan-level enemy-trapping talisman—"Golden Vine Xuan Talisman"!

Immediately afterward, with a thought, the silver puppet that had been standing quietly beside him shot into the sky!

The puppet, disguised as "Xiao Yuanhou," wearing a gray robe and cloak, stepped through the air and rushed straight at Situ Jing!

Now that we've made our move, we need to hold back both grandmasters at the same time!