Chapter 1241: Entering the Palace

The Phoenix Soul's reprimand completely shocked all the military commanders within Xuanyuan Imperial City. Everyone was respectful and kept their distance when they saw the Fifth Prince and Xu Yang's team, with no one daring to step forward and question them.

And so, the Fifth Prince led Xu Yang's team from the rear of Vermilion Bird Mountain all the way to the foot of the magnificent main hall within Xuanyuan Imperial City.

It must be admitted that this grand main hall, which only Emperor Yunlong was authorized to enter freely, was magnificent and vast, capable of accommodating nearly ten thousand people.

Yet, this enormous palace was occupied by Emperor Yunlong alone, which couldn't help but make the Eight Gates team sigh with emotion.

"My goodness," exclaimed Big Crab, "are the two most revered words in this world meant only to describe Emperor Yunlong? Living in such a massive house alone—to say it's not lonely is utter nonsense."

Big Crab had the typical sour grapes expression, but the rest of the Eight Gates team also chimed in, agreeing with his outlandish remarks. It was rare for them to reach a consensus with the outspoken Big Crab on this matter. "Honestly, if it were me, even if I were given such a huge palace, I wouldn't be able to stay for more than three days."

Blood Blade couldn't help but cross his arms, curl his lips, and make a sarcastic remark. But Xu Yang, standing beside him, smiled dismissively and shook his head.

"The reason you have such thoughts," Xu Yang began, "is because you are far from reaching the realm of Emperor Yunlong. And precisely for this reason, you will never achieve Emperor Yunlong's power and stature. In this world, although beings are categorized into different ranks, even in the cultivation world, it is the same. Everyone has their own unique position, which is not simply determined by fate. Instead, their position is determined by their various qualities. Enduring what others cannot, achieving what others cannot—that is how Emperor Yunlong became who he is today. Do you think he holds this position merely because he was lucky enough to be born into the royal family? If any of you were given the same starting point as him, you would never reach his current stature. You may not like this supreme emperor, but you must respect him. Because he can stand in this position, he is certainly worthy of all the magnificence here."

Although these words carried a hint of reprimand, because they came from Xu Yang and were perfectly reasonable and insightful, they ultimately failed to stir any resentment among the Eight Gates team. Everyone readily accepted Xu Yang's teaching and lowered their heads.

To everyone's surprise, just then, the Fifth Prince looked at Xu Yang with a smile, seemingly asking a question in a teasing tone. "If you were to take my imperial father's place, would you accept?"

If such a question had been asked under different circumstances, it would certainly have been an insult to Xu Yang. However, the Fifth Prince's cleverness lay in using the Eight Gates team's recent discussion to ask the question in just the right atmosphere, which added a playful tone instead. Naturally, Xu Yang did not get angry with the Fifth Prince. Instead, he responded in a more ingenious way.

"If I truly had such intentions," Xu Yang replied, "then the person who came with me to the foot of Xuanyuan Imperial City today would not have been Your Royal Highness."

"Hahaha!" Everyone burst into laughter at Xu Yang's reply, and the surrounding atmosphere returned to a peaceful state.

Unlike what they had imagined, with guards swarming everywhere, not a single guard could be seen around this majestic main palace. This made the entire magnificent palace appear exceptionally vast and desolate.

"Don't we need to announce ourselves?" Big Crab wondered aloud. "There's not even a single guard in here? I really can't imagine where Emperor Yunlong would go if he needed to relieve himself."

Big Crab once again posed a question that was almost impossible to answer. However, this time no one bothered to respond to his nonsensical remark; in fact, everyone couldn't help but roll their eyes at him.

Led personally by the Fifth Prince, everyone soon arrived at the entrance of the majestic palace. According to the Prince, if Emperor Yunlong did not wish to receive outsiders, then everyone would have felt a powerful pressure from five hundred meters away. All unwanted individuals would be blocked by that powerful imperial aura, and the hidden guards around the majestic palace would appear immediately. The scene was now so calm, indicating that Emperor Yunlong intended to receive them.

The moment they crossed the threshold of the palace, every member of the Eight Gates team behind Xu Yang felt an invisible pressure surge towards them. It was a feeling they had never encountered in all their years of wandering the martial world. It wasn't a physical force colliding with their bodies, but rather an invisible aura covering their very souls. The feeling was like walking alone in an endless desert. Although no danger was visible around them, every step felt like moving closer to despair and demise.

The enormous palace appeared exquisitely luxurious. What caught everyone's attention was that on both sides of the entrance, there were two rows of elaborate dragon-head fountains connected to internal pools at the back. The rushing water created a highly impactful visual effect. The palace was so vast that no one could immediately spot Emperor Yunlong's throne.

"My heavens, this is truly the largest palace I've ever seen, bar none!" Big Crab exclaimed, looking around. "Has anyone seen Emperor Yunlong? Where is his throne? I can't even find it!"

Big Crab was still looking around and talking. Blood Blade, next to him, made a shushing gesture. Everyone then quieted down and silently followed behind Xu Yang and the Fifth Prince, slowly advancing towards the central pathway between the dragon-head fountains. Unexpectedly, just as everyone reached the middle of the fountain pathway, an invisible pressure descended instantly. In that instant, everyone felt an intense aura of killing intent wash over them. It was no longer the soul-intimidating aura from before, but a truly substantial killing intent that rapidly sealed off every corner of the surrounding space.

Every member of Xu Yang's team became the target of this killing intent's lockdown. Xu Yang was unsure what kind of trick Emperor Yunlong was playing. But just as he regained his senses, the Fifth Prince, who had been standing beside him, suddenly flew backward, spitting blood, and landed heavily on the ground over a hundred meters away.