Chapter 1230: Competition Before the Military Formation

The White Tiger Youth still maintained a stern expression. His very sternness, however, exerted an invisible pressure on his opponents. Clearly, he possessed a resolute and calm demeanor, rather than the boisterous arrogance of someone who would laugh loudly upon gaining a slight advantage.

“As expected, heroes emerge from youth. The Little General's temperament already rivals that of the super-elite masters on Yingzhou Continent.”

Xu Yang praised the youth unhesitatingly, but then shifted his tone and took a few more steps forward.

“While I acknowledge your strength and talent, no one can stop us on this path.”

“In other words, even if you can stand here unmoving, the divine beasts you brought cannot do the same.”

Xu Yang had ceased to be polite. The moment his words faded, a red aura erupted from his body – a true Slaughter Domain. An incredibly ferocious aura of slaughter, radiating a cherry-red glow, rapidly enveloped the surroundings.

As time passed, this aura accumulated, gradually expanding and strengthening from a relatively weak state to a point that was almost irreversible.

As the terrifying killing intent manifested, all the surrounding White Tiger divine beasts simultaneously let out hysterical roars. Red gazes of killing intent also gathered in their pupils, an undeniable display of the raw ferocity only divine beasts could unleash. Even at this moment, Xu Yang realized that if the White Tiger Youth gave the command, these divine beasts would attack relentlessly, fighting to the death.

Yet, they ultimately flinched! After sensing Xu Yang's strength, the White Tiger Youth did not insist on engaging him. He clearly understood that if he forcefully deployed the White Tiger Divine Beast Legion to attack, the side that would suffer heavy losses would undoubtedly be his own. “Enough,” he stated. “There is no imperial decree forbidding anyone from entering Xuanyuan Imperial City. But neither has the Emperor issued a command for me to defend this place to the death.”

“If I were here alone today, even if it meant fighting to the death, I would absolutely not allow you to take another step.”

“However, my companions must not perish here. They have a much higher mission!”

The White Tiger Youth's words seemed to carry a deeper meaning, but he offered no further explanation. Under everyone's gaze, he soon led his White Tiger Divine Beast Legion, gradually disappearing from sight.

When the path returned to silence, Xu Yang was not in a hurry to advance further. He stood there, his gaze deep, looking into the distance, seemingly contemplating some unknown question.

Little Hua had quietly approached Xu Yang at some point, gently raising her gaze to look at him.

“Are you thinking about something? Is there something unusual about that child?”

Xu Yang's smile deepened. “If my judgment is correct, that child must have been raised by the White Tiger Divine Beast clan! He possesses the purest White Tiger divine essence within him. Not only did he grow up on White Tiger milk and blood, but he must have also devoured the life essence of the previous White Tiger King, which accounts for his current strength and status.”

“With such a foundation and talent, he must be directly commanded by the Cloud Dragon Heavenly Emperor, and certainly not a figure that the other lords can control.”

“After all, when have you ever seen an entire clan of divine White Tigers following one person's lead? That is almost impossible!”

“The White Tiger clan is inherently solitary. Even seeing one or two divine White Tigers on this entire continent is considered a rare opportunity. Now, with nearly a hundred divine beasts appearing all at once, who do you think could command such a youth? As far as Yingzhou Continent is concerned, perhaps only the current Cloud Dragon Heavenly Emperor could, apart from Yun Wangji, who has never appeared and bears the name of a god.”

Hearing Xu Yang's words, the Fifth Prince's expression grew a little more serious.

“Your Excellency, do you mean that Father Emperor already knows of our arrival and deliberately dispatched this young fellow and the previous dragon-aura possessor hidden in Hufeng Xia to test us?”

Xu Yang nodded gently. “No, to be precise, he is testing me.”

“You are the Cloud Dragon Heavenly Emperor's son. Even if he dislikes or distrusts you, there's no need for such a grand display. He is likely testing me to determine his attitude towards you.”

“However, just as the youth said, your Father Emperor did not give him explicit orders to do anything. Therefore, for now, your Father Emperor seems quite friendly towards us.”

“Even if he does have any intentions, they must be directed at me.”

“After all, the only thing on the entire Yingzhou Continent that could threaten your Father Emperor's status is a supreme cultivation realm, not an all-powerful lord.”

Hearing Xu Yang's assessment, Little Hua nodded repeatedly in agreement and praise.

“Indeed, 'all under heaven is the Emperor's land.' An emperor would never view his own son as a threat within his domain. This, however, indirectly reveals another truth.”

“This time, your Father Emperor will certainly meet us.”

“If he intended to stop us from entering Xuanyuan Imperial City, he would have only two best methods: either completely eradicate us, or set up traps and ambushes on all sides. Instead, he chose to meet us in advance using a method akin to 'beating the grass to startle the snake.' This can only mean his attitude towards us is quite friendly. Prince, you don't need to feel any more psychological pressure.”

Little Hua spoke to reassure the Fifth Prince. With her clever and compassionate nature, she naturally discerned that the Prince had become uneasy due to some of his Father Emperor's seemingly nonsensical actions.

This also revealed what the four characters "Cloud Dragon Heavenly Emperor" truly meant to the Seven Lords.

Even the Fifth Prince, who was the most outstanding in intellect among all the lords, still displayed such an attitude upon arriving at the foot of Xuanyuan Imperial City.

In Xu Yang's mind, he also gained a new perspective and view of the true master within Xuanyuan Imperial City. At the very least, it confirmed that the Fifth Prince's previous assessment of his Father Emperor was not far off.

This individual was indeed a proud and solitary king, allowing himself to stand only at the peak. Even if it meant enduring endless solitude, he remained the Emperor at the pinnacle of the continent.

“Alright, let's continue forward and aim to enter the Imperial City soon. However, judging by the current situation, even upon entering the Imperial City, there should still be similar stages awaiting us.”

“Of course, besides the testers dispatched by your Father Emperor, there will likely be some 'small fry' coming to cause us trouble.”

Xu Yang stated this fact almost in a teasing tone.

Fortunately, perhaps because of the recent appearance of the White Tiger divine beast aura in the forest, the team encountered no further resistance until they reached the end of the forest, approximately three hundred *li* outside Xuanyuan Imperial City.