The exchange of eye contact, like a real substance, seemed to be shooting out cl.u.s.ters of sparks in the void.

King Zhenyuan made no disguise of his killing intent.

Even if the others did not say anything, he could guess that the middle-aged man that came alone was the [Military Judge of the Nine Swords] Zhang Longcheng who had caused turmoil in the Royal City during this period of time.

For King Zhenyuan, the appearance of Zhang Longcheng was a good thing. At least it gave him a reason to withdraw his troops from the Fire Province and not have to risk his army being completely wiped out. However, Zhang Longcheng should not have insulted the dignity of the King of Zhenyuan's residence. Therefore, he must die.

On the small airs.h.i.+p, Ye Qingyu was standing quietly.

He quietly looked at King Zhenyuan, and did not pay respect nor showed any intention to open his mouth to speak. He remained silent. It was as if the burly middle-aged man on the opposite s.h.i.+p was not a peerless expert but just a pa.s.serby.

But this silence, in the eyes of most people, was more like a provocation.

At the city gate, many aristocrats felt the tension that permeated the air, which was almost suffocating.

Kill him.

The Crown Prince's eyes were blazing with anger.

He didn't expect the country b.u.mpkin to show up at this time.

After a while.

“Are you Zhang Longcheng?” King Zhenyuan was the first to speak, breaking this suffocating silence. After a period of observation, he had come to the conclusion that this person was indeed an outstanding person among the Quasi-emperors. It was no wonder that he could stir up a storm in Royal City.

“[Military Judge of the Nine Swords] Zhang Longcheng pays respect to King Zhengyuan,” Ye Qinyu said indifferently.

He said 'pays respect', but he did not seem respectful at all, nor did he kneel down and bow.

“Ridiculous!”

“At the sight of the King, why don't you kneel down and bow!”

The several experts behind King Zhenyuan were all furious.

These experts, who were all under the direct command of King Zhenyuan, were all arrogant and unyielding people with extremely high status. In Royal City they were all considered as fierce and ruthless characters. Before returning to the city, they had vaguely learned of the news in Royal City, and had long wanted to immediately crush to death the madman who humiliated the King of Zhenyuan's residence.

Ye Qingyu gave a faint smile, but paid no attention to these generals.

King Zhenyuan spoke again, “When I heard that there was a storm in Royal City, I thought that a divine dragon was being born. I wondered what powerful character the camp has given birth to. However I am very disappointed. It is just a little snake that has grown a horn, yet dares to stir up a storm in Royal City?”

Some people burst into laughter.

Ye Qingyu's expression remained unchanged. “I also heard that King Zhenyuan has divine powers and is a formidable person in Royal City. Unfortunately, although he indeed has some power and influence, he only knows to show off his military strength and bluff. The King of Zhenyuan's residence has become a place to conceal corruption and shelter evil people. I am also very disappointed.”

As these words came out, everybody at the east main gate fell silent.

Everyone gasped in astonishment.

What a Zhang Longcheng.

What a [Military Judge of the Nine Swords].

Back when King Zhenyuan was not in the city, he was arrogant and conceited, and even broke into the King of Zhenyuan's residence with the excuse to capture Yu Wanlou. But today, in the presence of King Zhenyuan, he still dared to say such words? Does he not know how to write the word 'afraid'?

“Hahahaha,” King Zhenyuan laughed. “It's just a madman, I won't argue with you, who wants to kill this madman with me?”

“Subordinate is willing to kill this little snake for Your Highness.” A slender figure in a silver dragon armour came forward from behind King Zhenyuan.

A commotion broke out at the city gate.

Because the silver dragon-armoured figure was slender and tall, handsome and fair, and his long silver hair hung down his back like a waterfall, and although the aura he exuded may not seem strong, he was in fact one of the four pillars of the Zhenyuan army, [Moon Swallower]. He was said to be a descendant of the Dragon clan and had reached the Quasi-emperor realm long ago. Not only was he well-known in the Zhenyuan army, in the entire Dark Realm, he was ranked in the top one hundred generals.

The subjugation of the Fire Province was an important a.s.signment, thus King Zhenyuan had almost brought the entire Zhenyuan army with him, including the four battle pillars [Moon Swallower], [Wave Suppressor], [Sun Shooter] and [Fractured Land]. This was the reason why the King of Zhenyuan's residence lacked top experts when facing the [Military Judge of the Nine Swords] Zhang Longcheng.

When one of the four pillars [Moon Swallower] requested to battle on his own initiative, the Crown Prince, Second Prince Yuan Wenguo and the Poison Flower Princess were all beaming with joy.

“Good.” King Zhenyuan nodded with a smile. “Sooner begun, sooner done. End the battle quickly, do not let such a small thing waste my time.”

“Yes.”

[Moon Swallower] wore a confident smile on his handsome face.

He turned around and crossed the void, approaching Ye Qingyu step by step with tremendous battle intent and imposing manner.

In mid-air, the air current was in disarray.

It was as though there was a sacred silver dragon sticking out its head from the void in an attempt to swallow Ye Qingyu and his airs.h.i.+p.

……

“What?”

Nie Tiankong slammed his hand on the table in disbelief.

“Zhang Longcheng went to the east gate?”

He looked at Linghu Buxiu who anxiously came to report back, and all of a sudden there was both a mentally and physically exhausted feeling coming, like an old father who could not control his bratty child.

He couldn't understand Zhang Longcheng's behaviour.

What was this about? Does he want to die?

Originally, he was already prepared to secretly send Zhang Longcheng to leave Royal City until King Zhenyuan's anger has subsided, and then with some compromise and exchange of benefits, this matter can be resolved. At that time, Zhang Longcheng can also return to Royal City.

But now, Zhang Longcheng had gone to stroke the tiger's whiskers. Does he really want to die?

“Commander Nie Tiankong, Brother Zhang Longcheng most likely has already confronted King Zhenyuan now, what should we do?” Linghu Buxiu, who has ties of friends.h.i.+p with Zhang Longcheng, was quite concerned.

“Why didn't you stop him?” Nie Tiankong complained.

“Subordinate went over right away when I got the news, but it was already too late,” Linghu Buxiu explained regretfully.

Nie Tiankong did not speak again, but lowered his head deep in thought.

If Zhang Longcheng really went to the east main gate, then given the way that King Zhenyuan handles things, there will certainly be a fierce battle. Now that things have developed to this stage it was already irreversible. All of the preparation beforehand was wasted, and it was no longer possible to resolve this matter peacefully. If he were to go there at this time, even if the Nie clan were to completely break off relations with the Yuan clan of the King of Zhenyuan's residence, there was still no room to turn the situation around.

But was it worth it like this?

He asked himself.

Go?

Or don't go?

The decision was hard to make.

There was a good chance that the fate of the Nie clan will change with his decision.

……

……

Ye Qingyu indifferently watched [Moon Swallower] as he neared, shook his head, and said, “You can't, you better retreat... Today, I came to the east main gate just to see the graceful bearing of the Zhenyuan army, the camp's strongest battle division. I don't want to attack, don't force me.”

“Force you? who do you think you are?”

[Moon Swallower] leaned his head back and burst into laughter, his handsome face filled with disdain.

When he made a name for himself, the name Zhang Longcheng did not even exist in the world.

Luoshen Ridge was just a remote and desolate place. The people from this sort of place might have a bit of skill, but were still ignorant and foolishly conceited. He understood this type of people too well, because he had seen too many of such people. By defeating them with the strongest and most domineering means was enough to make them collapse completely.

“Die, use your blood to wash away your sins.”

[Moon Swallower] did not say anything more and directly made a move.

The roar of the divine dragon of the Ninth Heaven reverberated across the sky.

One of the four battle pillars of the Zhenyuan army had made a move. Heaven and earth changed colour and the Dao laws were surging. It was like the resounding roar at the beginning of Heaven and earth. All of the aristocrats and experts at the east main gate felt that vast and unquestionable magnificent power.

“Yes, [Moon Swallower's] strength has improved once again.”

King Zhenyuan's eyes flickered with a glimmer of admiration.

Next to him, [Shooting Sun], [Wave Suppressor], and [Fractured Land], the three other pillars, all wore a calm smile on their faces.

……

……

“Commander Nie Tiankong, please quickly make a decision.” Linghu Buxiu couldn't help but urge, “I fear Zhang Longcheng cannot support for too long.”

Nie Tiankong was pacing back and forth with a solemn expression.

He was not an indecisive man, but this matter involved the fate of his family. Adding to this, the incident happened so abruptly, that he felt Zhang Longcheng had forced him to a corner. Even if he did not want to face it, he still had to make a decision.

What he was certain was that the Nie clan was not prepared to break off relations with the Yuan clan. After all, the time was too short, it had been only a few years since the Nie clan began to flourish. Nie Tiankong had only been in the chief military division for a short period of time, and was still a distance away from a real imperial family. In another fifty years, then perhaps...

Now was it worth it to completely break off relations with the King of Zhenyuan's residence in advance just because of a Zhang Longcheng?

Even if this Zhang Longcheng may have a possibility of becoming Emperor.

Was it worth it?

“Commander Nie iankong, the arrow that left the bow never returns, some of your previous actions have already angered the King of Zhenyuan's residence.” Linghu Buxui couldn't help but add, “Once King Zhenyuan goes berserk, he is not much different to Zhang Longcheng.”

Nie Tiankong suddenly stopped pacing back and forth.

……

……

There was a deathly silence at the east main gate.

The aristocrats were no longer able to say how many times they had been shocked in this short period of time, but it was clear that this time, it was definitely the most shocking of them all——to the extent that they had collectively lost their verbal ability.

Because, on that little airs.h.i.+p, Ye Qingyu was still standing there quietly and leisurely.

And one of the four pillars of the Zhenyuan army [Moon Swallower] had already spewed out blood and retreated. His arm had been severed off, and he was riddled with wounds, like he has been stabbed by tens of thousands of swords. He was propelled back thousands of meters and had lost the power to fight. His face was twisted with shocked disbelief, like he had seen a ghost.

“How could it be, you...” He could not describe the horror of that moment, like the shadow of death was shrouding him.

He was defeated in just one move.

How could he not withstand a single blow?

Who was this Zhang Longcheng? ——