Chapter 1242: Deterrence

Emperor Yunlong made his move personally, yet no one had even been able to pinpoint his location until now. This was enough to demonstrate the terrifying extent of his power.

"My heavens! He can injure people with just his killing intent from such a distance? How terrifying must his power be!"

The Eight Gates members had lost even the courage to speak. It seemed that making themselves as inconspicuous as possible was their only way to ensure their safety at that moment.

Everyone instinctively moved closer to Xu Yang. At this point, they gradually realized that while the murderous aura was indeed powerful, the actual destructive wave that caused harm was only directed at the Prince. No one else, including Xu Yang, was harmed in the slightest by this force.

"Rebellious son! For so many years, you never interfered in court affairs. I thought you genuinely wished to roam the martial world, desiring to distance yourself from the power struggles of the imperial court. But it never occurred to me that you were the one hiding the deepest!"

The voice was extremely cold, yet it conveyed a powerful majesty that commanded respect without needing to show anger. There was no doubt it was Emperor Yunlong's voice.

As the sound waves gradually approached their ears, a middle-aged man in a golden robe slowly appeared at the end of the corridor flanked by water dragon fountains.

Contrary to their expectations, the middle-aged man had a beard and long, somewhat disheveled hair draped over his shoulders. His golden dragon robe was not particularly elaborate either.

However, there were few signs of deliberate grooming or ornamentation on his features. He had a tall physique and a robust build, but what was most striking were his eyes.

They shimmered like stars and the bright moon. Just a single glance into them was enough to fill one with dread.

"Father, please calm your anger! Everything your son has done was out of necessity!"

The Fifth Prince was already terrified, frozen with fear, and cowering on the ground. Even as the tumultuous energy within him surged and churned, he had no other choice.

He knew very well that if he truly angered his imperial father, the consequences would be unimaginable. Even his own sons dared not provoke his majesty.

What truly worried the Prince was his father's attitude towards Xu Yang and his team. Along the way, the Prince had gained a full understanding of Xu Yang's strength.

He had every reason to believe that if Xu Yang fought seriously, even his own imperial father might not be able to withstand his might.

But if the two sides truly came to blows, a mutually destructive outcome would be a truly devastating blow for the Prince. Under no circumstances could these two clash directly. This was the Fifth Prince's only hope at that moment. He would rather shoulder all the blame himself than see his imperial father treat Xu Yang as an opponent.

"It is all your son's fault; please punish me, Father. But please, Father, do not punish these people I brought. Without them, my Fourth Brother would probably have perished on Mount Seven Absolutes this time."

As expected, Emperor Yunlong's expression remained unchanged after hearing the Fifth Prince's words. In fact, with Emperor Yunlong's methods, he had long been fully aware of everything that transpired on Mount Seven Absolutes.

Naturally, there was no need for the Fifth Prince to say anything more. He had witnessed all the schemes and actions. How could he not know that the Fourth Prince's failure in the Sword Inquiry on Mount Seven Absolutes was his own doing? What truly shocked Emperor Yunlong, however, was that Xu Yang genuinely possessed the ability to quell the chaos on Mount Seven Absolutes by himself.

"Oh? So, these companions you brought actually possess some strength? Then let me personally see if they truly have the power to subdue the Seven Absolutes Sword Sect by themselves, as you claim, or if these people are merely a pretext for you to harm your brother."

Emperor Yunlong grandly used the Prince's words as a convenient stepping stone, on one hand, concealing the fact that he was already fully aware of the battle on Mount Seven Absolutes, and on the other, finding a seemingly perfect opportunity to test Xu Yang and his group.

The understanding between Xu Yang and Little Flower was profound. Without needing any verbal communication, Little Flower instinctively stepped back a few paces to stand in front of the Eight Gates team members, leaving the main combat area to Xu Yang alone, while he himself stayed to protect the other teammates.

Little Flower knew well that in a confrontation of this magnitude, the stage could only belong to Xu Yang alone. Even if his own strength was not much weaker than Xu Yang's, he was not qualified to intervene.

Undoubtedly, this was to be a duel between kings.

One represented the pinnacle of power and strength on Yingzhou Continent, while the other represented the ultimate end of desolation, an unparalleled deity among external powerhouses. These two men, who had long been elevated to near-mythical status by the inhabitants of Yingzhou Continent, finally clashed for the first time in Emperor Yunlong's palace.

Emperor Yunlong did not hold back with Xu Yang. After all, he already knew very well that Xu Yang's strength had far exceeded his original imagination. Even if it was merely a test, it had to be a full-force effort.

It is worth mentioning that when Xu Yang's team entered Xuanyuan Imperial City, all their weapons had been confiscated.

Although Xu Yang still possessed divine artifacts like the Jade Bone Divine Sword, using weapons in this grand hall would undoubtedly be the greatest blasphemy against Emperor Yunlong's majesty.

The opponent seemed to share this idea, and deliberately employed a corresponding martial art to counter Xu Yang's unarmed state.

In that instant, a golden sword aura materialized before Emperor Yunlong. The outline of this sword was so perfect, almost flawless.

It also contained an incredibly dense Emperor Dragon True Qi, a vital artifact that perfectly matched Emperor Yunlong's current demeanor and aura.

As this sword beam condensed, it exuded a terrifying pressure that profoundly shocked everyone nearby. Even Xu Yang couldn't help but slightly curve his lips into a smile, becoming a bit more serious.

"My heavens!" exclaimed Little Flower. "I have no doubt this power could effortlessly obliterate ninety-nine percent of all cultivators on Yingzhou Continent!"

This voice, surprisingly, came from Little Flower. Hearing him say this, all the members of the Eight Gates team couldn't help but feel a pang of worry for their leader.

They had not expected Emperor Yunlong, under the guise of a mere test, to unleash such terrifying force.

Little did they know, Emperor Yunlong's actions were precisely a sign of his immense regard and respect for Xu Yang, clearly treating him as a top-tier expert on par with himself.

To be met with a full-force strike from Emperor Yunlong was, in itself, an honor for any cultivator on Yingzhou Continent. The problem was, with such power directed at Xu Yang, it undoubtedly presented him with a monumental challenge. He had come to Xuanyuan Imperial City as a guest.