Douluo Continent: We agreed on a simulation, but they've come to life?

Only Lu Cheng remained standing in place, slowly lowering his right arm that held the fire bow, his expression calm and undisturbed. The crimson flames around him slowly receded into his body, and the scorching aura in the arena dissipated.

Meanwhile, Ji Juechen gritted his teeth, enduring the sharp pain in his shoulder, and used his other hand to grab the arrow's tail. He then pulled it off the wall with gritted teeth. At the same time, he lost his balance and staggered to his knees.

Jing Ziyan ran over, opened her arms to block Ji Juechen, her eyes filled with tears: "If you want to kill him, kill me first!!"

Lu Cheng curled his red lips, his gaze passing over Jing Ziyan and landing directly on Ji Juechen, and slowly spoke.

"Can you feel it?"

"call……"

Ji Juechen exhaled a breath of turbid air. Although his face was pale and even showed a trace of fear, he covered his wound with one hand, but his expression gradually changed to joy: "I felt... despair."

"Completely crushed, that helpless despair."

He shook his head at Jing Ziyan, who was blocking his way, and forced himself to stand up. He looked at Lu Cheng with a complicated expression: "Thank you. I'm sure this will be very useful to me. I'd like to come back a few more times in the future."

"Will do."

Lu Cheng smiled and spoke in a tone that was as pleasant as a spring breeze, completely unlike his previous arrogant and domineering manner.

This sudden change of expression left Jing Ziyan somewhat bewildered. Had everything just happened really occurred?

Watching the two support each other as they walked away into the distance.

Meng Hongchen hesitated, "Acheng, are we really not going to kill them? I always feel that Jing Ziyan is unreliable. What if she betrays us?"

"Hehe, no way..."

Lu Cheng pinched the beauty's cheek and said with a smile, "These two don't seem to have a very strong sense of belonging to the Sun Moon Empire."

The former is a blockhead, a pure martial arts fanatic. Whoever can help him hone his combat skills and improve his strength, he will follow them wholeheartedly. The latter, needless to say, is purely love-struck and follows the former around.

"Then can I..." Meng Hongchen blinked her beautiful eyes, hugged Lu Cheng's arm, licked her red lips, and looked up at Lu Cheng expectantly.

Am I a reward?

Lu Cheng's eyes twitched, and he glanced sideways at Meng Hongchen.

"I guess so for me," the latter said with a grin.

"Wasn't last time enough? You dare to cause trouble again. Looks like I didn't teach you a lesson enough... You little brat." Lu Cheng chuckled. "Tonight, I'll hang you up and whip you mercilessly..."

"Really? Do I need to prepare the props?" Meng Hongchen asked with a grin, her expression showing no fear, but rather a hint of anticipation.

"What if I'm already very angry right now?"

"Then I'll help you relieve your heat." Meng Hongchen touched her red lips with her slender, white fingers, looking thoughtful.

She then leaned down and glanced at Lu Cheng with a somewhat alluring look.

Then he focused on venting his anger.

……

Chapter 197 Execution of Nine Generations: The Grand Show Begins

Mingdu.

The Imperial Palace.

"Your Majesty, I request that the Master of Jingtang be punished."

Among the officials in the court, Xu Jiangliu, dressed in a jet-black python robe, stepped out of the ranks, his solemn voice resounding throughout the vast palace.

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent and looked at each other in bewilderment.

So, it's finally happening?

Many people turned their attention to the person at the very front, Kong Deming, whose hands were hidden in his sleeves, whose face was calm and whose eyes were closed as he rested. This was the personal disciple of the empire's pillar of strength. He was about to be punished, but why did he remain silent?

"After much deliberation, I believe that the punishment of Hall Master Jing a few days ago was perhaps too harsh and cruel. After all, he was a veteran minister from the time of my father and brothers, and he has made great contributions. If we treat him like this, we won't even be able to find out the so-called crime of treason you mentioned. Wouldn't that break his heart?"

The old emperor made a startling statement.

Many ministers secretly grumbled, watching the emperor and his ministers quietly, thinking it was just an act between uncle and nephew.

"No, Your Majesty, I have something important to report!"

Xu Jiangliu hurriedly knelt down and spoke loudly.

"explain."

"The evidence of Master Jing's treason has been found!" Xu Jiangliu took out several letters from his pocket, as well as a storage soul tool containing all the evidence he had "plundered" from Mingde Hall.

"Bring it here!" The old emperor sat up straight, his gaze intense.

"Please take a look..."

Xu Jiangliu presented it personally, then respectfully returned it to its original position.

"How audacious! Truly audacious! Well, no wonder the corruption in my Sun Moon Empire is so rampant, from the Sun Moon military generals to the city garrison commanders. It turns out there are such figures behind the scenes, acting as a protective umbrella. In order to collude with Shrek Academy, they have actually disregarded the very foundation of the Sun Moon Empire!"

The old emperor flew into a rage and slammed the letters onto the table.

Meanwhile, many ministers were dumbfounded.

What are we supposed to do?

Are you trying to kill Jing Hongchen?

The Sun Moon Empire's smuggling of rare metals and embezzlement are historical problems. To pin this huge burden on Jing Hongchen alone is truly giving him too much credit. However…

Many people were secretly shocked. As expected of the old emperor, his mastery of balance was unparalleled.

By pressuring numerous leaders of the Soul Guidance Corps and high-ranking military officers, he not only secured the extremely lucrative rare metal sales channel for himself but also completely cut off Jing Hongchen's path to survival.

After all, the smuggling of rare metals in the Sun Moon Empire has always been a huge problem. Compared with the countries of the original continent, the Sun Moon Empire also has a complex and intertwined royal family power structure. Even the previous emperor did not sort it out and was unable to bring it under his control, let alone the old emperor who murdered his brother to seize the throne and whose position was illegitimate.

This is a thorn.

The smuggling of rare metals has long been a mess, so messy that no one can sort it out. If it were to be investigated, the entire military of the Sun Moon Empire would suffer. To put it bluntly, it could even lead to a rebellion.

Either someone takes the blame and completely wipes out this mess, then everyone's happy.

The person who takes the blame cannot be of too low a status or position, otherwise no one will believe them.

It can't be too high either. If it's as high as Kong Deming, would you dare to let him carry it?

Jing Hongchen happened to be at this juncture and made a huge mistake, practically offering himself up to take the blame.

All the ministers remained silent. Among them, a minister who was on good terms with Jing Hongchen swallowed hard, wanting to speak, but was quickly stopped by the people around him.

The tide is rolling, and no one can stop it.

The old emperor had almost the entire military under his control, intending to pin this mess on Jing Hongchen. Meanwhile, a sharp sword of Damocles hung over the military's heads, ready to fall at any moment and leave them bleeding profusely. Now that someone had "voluntarily" taken the blame, they were naturally happy to see it happen, even if it meant being completely controlled by the old emperor in the future...

To stand up now to vindicate Jing Hongchen is to be an enemy of the Sun Moon Army.

Of course, there are solutions.

Many people cast hopeful glances at the tall, imposing figure at the very front. This man held terrifying prestige in both the Mingde Hall and the military. If he could step forward to clear Jing Hongchen's name, everything would fall apart without a fight.

Even though those people were eagerly waiting, Kong Deming stood quietly in place, closing his eyes to rest.

He didn't say a single word in defense of his chief disciple.

The old emperor sighed softly, "It's a pity that my father and brother trusted Jing Hongchen so much, yet he committed such a foolish act of treason. Well, since the evidence is conclusive, I have nothing more to say..."

The old emperor's eyes were icy cold, looking down at his ministers like a venomous snake.

"Beheading at Imperial Square!"

"Exterminate their entire family!"

The officials below the stage were all terrified. This was the old emperor whom the people called cowardly, indecisive, and soft-hearted. Which word could describe him?

It's a pity that Jing Hongchen died so mysteriously, and even implicated his family.

……

Royal Academy of the Sun and Moon Empire

playground.

Lu Cheng, somewhat bored, chewed on a blade of grass, gazing into the distance. Dark clouds gradually rolled in, obscuring the sky and bringing a chill. Beside him, Meng Hongchen frowned slightly, "Acheng, I feel..."

Before Meng Hongchen could finish speaking, a group of female guards clad in bright red heavy armor and fully armed with soul tools appeared from afar in the sky. The flying soul tools emitted a series of buzzing sounds that echoed through the sky.

The once bustling playground instantly fell silent.

"Fire Phoenix Soul Guidance Regiment, First Battalion, Third Squad Leader, Fire Feather."

The woman at the head of the group landed in front of Lu Cheng first and said calmly, turning her gaze to Meng Hongchen beside her: "Come with us."

After saying that, the Phoenix Guards on both sides rushed up, grabbed Meng Hongchen, and were about to take her away.

"My grandfather is Jing Hongchen, the head of Mingde Hall. How dare you treat me like this?!" Meng Hongchen roared.

"Hmph, we only found you because your grandfather is the head of Mingde Hall. Don't you understand? Your grandfather... committed treason, which resulted in the extermination of nine generations of your family. You used to be the eldest daughter of Mingde Hall, but now... you're nothing but a prisoner."

The captain chuckled and waved his hand dismissively: "Take him away!"

“Grandpa is innocent, Grandpa…” Meng Hongchen panicked and subconsciously glanced at Lu Cheng. Beheading and the extermination of nine generations of relatives were completely beyond her expectations. Now she felt like a drowning person, desperately trying to grab onto anything she could.

"stop!!"

A cold glint flashed.

"boom!"

One of the men escorting Meng Hongchen cried out in alarm, narrowly dodging the sword energy. Ji Juechen and Jing Ziyan arrived at the scene and stood in front of Meng Hongchen. Jing Ziyan coldly said, "Your Sun Moon Empire military has no right to run wild in the academy!"

Ji Juechen held the black meteorite iron sword in his hand, his eyes fixed on the person opposite him.

Chapter 198 The Storm Is Coming

A few teachers from the Sun Moon Empire's Royal Soul Guidance Academy and disciples from the Mingde Hall also rushed over, eyeing Fire Phoenix and the others with predatory intent.

"Heh heh, the head of Mingde Hall is a traitor. His Majesty ordered the arrest and execution of his entire clan. Do you all still intend to oppose the Empire?" The captain sneered, took out a crimson token, and coldly scrutinized everyone.

"..."

Upon hearing this, the room fell silent instantly.