Chapter 1380: Breaking the City

When Pang Yang, the cold and stern Hall Master of the Golden Saint Hall from the Sacred Palace, roared, his voice reverberating through every corner of Great Zhou City, a chilling wave swept over everyone, causing them to shiver with fear.

Pang Yang had clearly ascended to the Law Domain realm, his oppressive aura completely unrestrained. With every move, he caused the Genesis Qi of the heavens and earth to roar, creating a terrifying and awe-inspiring display.

Behind Pang Yang, within the thick, dark clouds, indistinct figures radiating an intense, malevolent aura could be vaguely seen, a sight that instilled fear in all who beheld them.

On the city walls, the high-ranking officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty were all deathly pale. To be frank, the man before them was likely the first Law Domain expert they had ever witnessed; such individuals had always been so far above them that they never even had the privilege to see one.

With such a formidable figure launching an assault, the Great Zhou Dynasty, which had appeared strong in recent years, was nothing more than an ant in his eyes.

During the Battle of Dragon's End City years ago, Great Zhou at least possessed the strength to contend with Great Wu, but this time... no one harbored any hope.

Even Zhou Qing himself had a somber look in his eyes, and the hand clutching Qin Yu's tightened involuntarily.

Sensing her husband's despair, Qin Yu gently clasped his hand in return, her gaze soft, but the resolve in her eyes was unwavering. It was clear that, in her heart, no matter the threats, she would never allow herself to become a bargaining chip against her son.

At most, it was merely death.

"Hmph, a dignified Hall Master of the Sacred Palace, a Law Domain expert no less, stoops to attack a mere secular dynasty?!" Shen Taiyuan snorted, his voice like thunder reverberating through the heavens and earth. His white beard and hair swayed without a breeze, radiating an inherent majesty.

In this critical moment, only he, a pseudo-Law Domain expert, could barely withstand the opponent's overwhelming power. If he did not step forward, the morale of Great Zhou City would surely plummet.

"Shen Taiyuan... I won't bother discussing how much you exaggerate your standing as Saint Origin Peak Master. Do you truly believe you're worthy of my apprehension?" From his throne, Pang Yang, Hall Master of the Golden Saint Hall, spoke indifferently, a flicker of sarcasm in his eyes.

Shen Taiyuan chuckled, "Though I've cultivated diligently for many years and only just managed to reach the pseudo-Law Domain, at least my progress is a result of my own efforts. Isn't that better than you, Hall Master Pang, who underwent the Divine Blood Altar's baptism, needlessly defiling your bloodline and forfeiting any future advancement?"

The moment these words left his lips, Pang Yang's face instantly darkened, and a cruel glint flashed in his eyes. Indeed, his ability to manifest a Law Domain stemmed from the Sacred Palace's Divine Blood Altar. However, this baptism incurred a severe cost: not only would his temperament be corrupted, rendering him irritable and ruthless, but it also virtually depleted his life's potential, drastically shortening his lifespan and making any future advancement highly improbable.

Shen Taiyuan had undoubtedly struck a raw nerve.

"The Law Domain is already sufficient. Or are you perhaps still aiming to glimpse the Saint realm?"

Pang Yang fixed a chilling gaze on Shen Taiyuan and stated, "Furthermore, do you truly believe you'll leave here alive today? Not only you, but no one in this city will survive."

His words were delivered calmly, yet the inherent savagery and brutality sent shivers down everyone's spines.

Shen Taiyuan's eyes turned sharp as he questioned, "For the past six months, your Saint Demon Army has been relentlessly slaughtering cities and exterminating all life in Cangxuan Heaven. What exactly is the purpose of such horrific cruelty?!"

According to the intelligence he had gathered, wherever the Saint Demon Army marched over the past six months, rivers of blood flowed and corpses lay scattered across the land. In essence, this was no longer a display of brewing power, but an unhinged massacre.

A faint red glow flickered in Pang Yang's eyes, making the smile on his face considerably more twisted. "Those who refuse to submit to my Sacred Palace naturally have no need to live."

"After today, Great Zhou City will be transformed into a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood!"

Shen Taiyuan took a deep breath. The opponent's bloodlust was so immense it bordered on mental distortion. Was this a lingering effect of the Divine Blood Altar baptism, or did the Sacred Palace harbor some deeper agenda?

"If you wish to slaughter this city, first break through its protective barrier!" Shen Taiyuan declared, flicking his sleeve. This barrier, after all, had been personally set by Sect Master Qing Yang. Though Pang Yang was a Law Domain expert, he was only in the first stage of that realm, so breaking it would not be simple for him.

Hearing this, Pang Yang's smile grew even more grotesque. "Shen Taiyuan, do you truly believe I've merely been waiting for your answer these past three days?"

The moment he finished speaking, he swept his hand, and the dense black clouds blanketing the heavens began to dissipate. As they receded, hundreds of Saint Demon Army warriors appeared, suspended in mid-air. Above each of them, a continuous stream of blood-red energy rose, resembling crimson wolf smoke.

Where the blood energy converged, a massive blood-red vortex had formed. Within this vortex, a dark-crimson scroll slowly rotated, pulsating with immense blood energy.

Shen Taiyuan gazed at the dark-crimson scroll, his expression involuntarily shifting. He sensed an incredibly potent and vast aura emanating from it—an aura that was not unfamiliar, unmistakably belonging to the Sacred Palace Master, Saint Yuan!

"This is the 'Profound Light Annihilation Art,' personally inscribed by the Palace Master to shatter all barriers in this world. Tell me, can your barrier truly withstand it?" Pang Yang threw his head back and laughed, his voice brimming with mockery.

"It simply requires some preparation time to activate this art, which is why I permitted you to cling to life for three more days."

"Now, the auspicious moment has arrived... you can all prepare to die."

As his final word dropped, a vast, pillar-like surge of blood energy erupted from his body and plunged into the dark-crimson scroll. Moments later, the scroll trembled, then slowly unfurled amidst the terrified and desperate gazes of countless people in Great Zhou City.

As the scroll unfurled, countless blood-red patterns writhed within it, faintly coalescing into a crimson eye. This eye, brimming with terrifying malevolent energy, erupted in the very next instant.

A blood-red beam of light tore through the sky like a cataclysmic harbinger, hurtling towards Great Zhou City's barrier at an unimaginable speed.

A few breaths later, the two forces collided with a thunderous impact, like a destructive fireworks display detonating in the sky. A massive shockwave swept forth, violently tearing apart the surging river outside the city.

Within the city, it was as if an earth dragon churned beneath the ground; countless buildings collapsed, and a cacophony of screams and cries erupted, plunging the entire city into chaos.

On the city walls, Zhou Qing and his officials were also deathly pale, fear creeping into their eyes. They understood that, under an assault of this magnitude, they had no chance of escape.

So-called Divine Dwelling and Heavenly Sun experts were as vulnerable as common folk under this onslaught.

Their sole hope rested on the city's protective barrier.

Boom! Boom!

Wave after wave of terrifying impacts erupted relentlessly. Under the terrified gazes of countless city dwellers, the ripples on the barrier grew increasingly violent. After more than ten breaths, a faint cracking sound echoed.

The sound was not loud, yet to the ears of countless people within Great Zhou City, it resonated like Death's scythe cleaving through the air.

In an instant, piercing wails erupted from the city. Driven by the fear of death, countless people scattered in panicked flight.

Zhou Qing heard the chaos within the city. At this moment, the King of the Great Zhou Dynasty couldn't help but feel his eyes well up. For years, he had poured his heart and soul into developing the Great Zhou Dynasty to its current state, but now, all that tireless effort was about to be utterly annihilated.

Qin Yu's face was also pale, yet she merely gripped Zhou Qing's hand tightly. Her eyes showed no fear, only a trace of longing.

That child who had left home so many years ago, she wondered how he was faring now...

Shen Taiyuan's expression turned grim. He could sense the barrier wouldn't hold much longer. The situation had deteriorated to its worst, and he knew he could no longer protect Great Zhou City. Soon, he would have to forcibly shield Zhou Qing and Qin Yu, then seize an opportunity to flee.

But could they truly escape?

Shen Taiyuan held little confidence in their chances. After all, Pang Yang was a bona fide Law Domain expert.

"Has the Sacred Palace truly grown to such an extent? This is indeed a misfortune for my Cangxuan Heaven," Shen Taiyuan sighed to himself, his expression filled with sorrow.

Just as Shen Taiyuan sighed, terrifying power erupted high in the sky. The city's protective barrier finally reached its limit at that moment and burst apart directly, witnessed by countless horrified and desperate eyes.

Destructive energy cascaded downwards like a torrent, annihilating everything in its path.

Countless faces were etched with despair.

Both Zhou Qing and Qin Yu closed their eyes, awaiting their final moment.

Shen Taiyuan sighed inwardly, preparing to act and forcefully whisk away Zhou Qing and Qin Yu.

However, just as he was about to make his move, his expression abruptly froze. He realized that the destructive force, as it swept towards the city walls, suddenly seemed to gentle, then whooshed past above them like a soft breeze.

It merely ruffled the clothes of those present.

This unexpected turn of events stunned even Shen Taiyuan, leaving his mind momentarily muddled and unable to comprehend.

On the city walls, the others exchanged bewildered glances. Zhou Qing and Qin Yu also opened their eyes, a mix of shock and confusion flashing within them.

Great Zhou City hadn't been destroyed?

As they stared at the destructive fireworks blossoming in the mid-air, they were all momentarily at a loss, unsure of what had just transpired.

It wasn't until several breaths later that a laugh finally broke the silence on the city wall. "What beautiful fireworks. That old dog Saint Yuan is truly becoming more and more ostentatious."

Shen Taiyuan nodded in agreement.

However, a moment later, he sensed something was amiss. He sharply turned his head and saw a tall, slender young figure standing by the city wall's bastion, having appeared at some unknown time. The figure was currently looking up, observing the destructive fireworks in the sky as if watching a performance.

Who was this person?! When did he appear?! How could he be here?

These thoughts flashed like lightning through Shen Taiyuan's mind.

Concurrently, the other people on the city wall also sensed something was amiss, and bewildered gazes fixed upon the figure before them.

Zhou Qing and Qin Yu also turned their heads, somewhat startled, to gaze at the figure, who seemed vaguely familiar.

Shen Taiyuan, however, was the quickest to react. He immediately cupped his fists and asked, "May I inquire if it was you who lent us aid? Your profound kindness will forever be etched in the memory of my Cangxuan Sect!"

On the city wall, everyone suddenly understood with a jolt of shock. A mysterious, powerful figure had unexpectedly intervened, which explained why Great Zhou City had not been obliterated by that immense force!

Instantly, everyone bowed repeatedly.

Even Zhou Qing and Qin Yu were overcome with emotion, about to kneel in direct gratitude. The individual had saved countless lives in Great Zhou City, making them worthy of such reverence.

"Zhou Qing, on behalf of the citizens of Great Zhou City, thanks senior for your timely intervention!"

Yet, neither he nor Qin Yu could ultimately kneel; a gentle yet powerful force supported them, preventing their legs from bending.

"Senior..." Zhou Qing uttered, somewhat flustered.

"Ahem..."

The mysterious figure cleared his throat, then turned around, speaking somewhat awkwardly: "My apologies, I might have overdone the act. Father, Mother, please don't do that; I fear it might shorten my lifespan..."

As the figure turned, everyone saw that familiar young face.

A profound, stunned silence instantly fell upon the city wall.

The silence persisted for several breaths. Only then did Shen Taiyuan, Zhou Qing, Qin Yu, and the others stare at the young man before them with incredulous eyes, and exclamations finally broke the stillness.

"Zhou Yuan?!"

"His Highness Zhou Yuan?!"

"Yuan'er?!"