Chapter 261: North Jin Imperial Capital Battle

With a single poke of his finger, Xu Yang sealed the rapidly draining life energy of Qianyun Liefeng, forcing him into a soul-deep slumber. This effectively preserved his last breath for the time being.

Returning to the outer hall, everyone had been waiting for a long time, their faces etched with worry.

"How is Sect Master Qianyun?"

Xu Yang gently shook his head at the Empress. "He's barely clinging to life," he said. "The only thing we can do is help him fulfill his final regret. Those from Northern Jin have discovered the whereabouts of another dragon treasure, located at Qilin Mountain on the border of the Three Thousand Dao States."

"What?! Qilin Mountain?" someone exclaimed. "It's said that place is even harder to find than the East Sea, because only those in the Tribulation Crossing Realm can break through Qilin Mountain's unique spatial power. Therefore, ordinary people simply cannot find it!"

Ling Qingshu spoke up. This girl didn't have much experience, but she had heard of the legends of Qilin Mountain.

"Qingshu is right," Bai Lianxue added. "That place is truly strange. I once wanted to visit it myself, but my cultivation level was too low; I had no chance to even approach it."

Bai Lianxue also spoke similarly, indicating just how special Qilin Mountain was.

"No, others can't, but now, with the power of the True Dragon Domain, we can find and enter it," Xu Yang explained. "I suspect that Northern Jin and Feng Xiu's people massacred the Qianyun Sect precisely to lure us into a trap. I just never imagined they would be so ruthless."

As he spoke, Xu Yang's expression grew a few shades heavier, even feeling that he bore some responsibility.

"Don't think too much," the Empress said. "Let's leave immediately. We'll head straight for the Northern Jin Imperial Palace and demand an explanation directly from them."

"Ahahaha! Empress Sister is right!" Long Kun chimed in. "Let's go on a rampage! I want to see just how arrogant those people can get!"

Long Kun also got excited. In fact, everyone had just broken through and had nowhere to unleash their newfound power, eager for an opportunity to display their might.

Xu Yang nodded solemnly. With a wave of his hand, he summoned the spirit ship again. Together, they sped towards the Northern Jin Imperial Palace.

After dusk, the sky gradually dimmed. But for the entire Northern Jin Imperial Palace, the true darkness had only just begun to descend.

"Tuobayun, get out here!"

Xu Yang roared, and his voice echoed throughout the entire Northern Jin Imperial City!

Such a formidable true dragon's might caused all beings across Northern Jin to tremble.

Soon, large numbers of golden-armored guards rushed out of the palace, looking up at the sky with tension and fear.

"Xu Yang, you've finally arrived," a voice boomed. "Our Emperor has been waiting for a long time, but unfortunately, you won't find him in this palace."

A crimson light shot into the sky, with a giant serpent wreathed in scorching flames coiled around the figure. This was none other than Xie Huo, the peak Nascent Soul Realm expert who had personally slain Qianyun Liefeng.

"It's you! The Old Sect Master died by your hand, didn't he?"

"Hahaha! You're absolutely right," Xie Huo scoffed. "But unfortunately, you can't do anything to me now! Because His Majesty the Emperor has left an order: if you dare harm anyone in this palace, then the swordsmen of the Northern Jin Sword Alliance, hidden in the Yuanyang Empire and the Cold Moon Empire, will slaughter the entire Imperial Palace overnight! You have to believe, they have that power."

Xu Yang couldn't help but reveal a cold smile. For some reason, Xie Huo, who had been so confident, felt shivers of dread after meeting Xu Yang's gaze.

"Are you... threatening me?"

With a flick of his palm, a golden light swiftly vanished into the distant sky. Few people could discern what that light was.

At the same time, Xu Yang, using his unique communication method with the Empress, had already conveyed his plans and arrangements to her.

It turned out that the golden light was the Dragon Python, evolved after bathing in dragon blood. Its strength had further improved and was now not much weaker than the Taotie's soul body. Its destination was the Cold Moon Empire; with it there, those mere trash from the Sword Alliance wouldn't be able to make any moves.

With this confidence, the Empress finally shed her only worry and looked at Xie Huo with a smile.

"You don't seem to understand us," the Empress said. "Today, A'Yang intends to kill you. Never mind the Cold Moon Empire and the Yuanyang Empire; even if the entire Three Thousand Dao States were to be overturned, you still wouldn't escape your fate of being judged! Killing Sect Master Qianyun was the biggest mistake you've ever made in your life. Accept your judgment!"

As the Empress's words fell, the enormous Cold Moon totem behind her slowly ascended into the sky. For a moment, it seemed as if another moonlight appeared in the sky, gradually merging with the light of the true moon.

When only a moon silhouette remained in Xie Huo's vision, he knew he had fallen victim to a sudden, powerful illusion.

"How is this possible! Your spiritual power has reached such a terrifying level?"

Xie Huo had some understanding of the Empress's situation. But how much commotion could a mere Great Perfection of Nascent Soul Realm create? It was a world of difference compared to himself.

But he didn't know that the current Empress was already at the same cultivation level as him, and her spiritual power far surpassed his. The special effects of his fire-attributed elemental spiritual energy were suppressed by more than half their scorching power within the Empress's illusion. The surroundings were filled with the outlines of a frozen world, making Xie Huo feel despair for the first time.

"Xu Yang! Do you really dare to attack me?" Xie Huo shouted. "Aren't you afraid that the two empires will be destroyed overnight because of this?"

Xu Yang smiled faintly. "Brother, I actually pity you. If you think carefully, you'll understand why Feng Xiu and Tuobayun massacred the Qianyun Sect lineage, yet left only you behind. Was it merely to have you guard the palace? They knew we would pursue them, and they set this up for that very purpose. Yet they still left you, the one who killed Sect Master Qianyun. It's because they want to use your life to appease our desire for revenge! You are nothing more than a pawn they've abandoned."

Xie Huo finally lost his composure!

In truth, this man was exactly as his name suggested: a figure obsessed with cultivation. The name "Xie Huo" (Evil Fire) perfectly encapsulated his entire character. His cultivation method involved wicked flames, and accumulating their power through slaughter was his sole path to cultivation.

However, this man was not well-versed in worldly affairs and human nature. How could he possibly outmaneuver Tuobayun's imperial schemes? It was truly tragic that he had been sold out and was still counting money for Tuobayun.

"Hmph, Xu Yang," Xie Huo sneered, "I didn't expect you'd need to resort to such mind games. Are you afraid of my strength? It's useless. I will kill all of you to strengthen my Evil Fire's origin!"

The giant fire serpent soared into the sky. However, when Xu Yang completely released his Tribulation Crossing Realm pressure, Xie Huo was utterly dumbfounded.

"Wh-what? Tribulation Crossing Realm!" Xie Huo gasped. "You've actually broken through to the peak level? How is this possible? Before, you were still..."

"At the Nascent Soul Realm, right?" Xu Yang finished for him. "Heh, you'll probably never get the answer to that question, because I promised the Old Sect Master that I would bring the heads of you guys back to him. It's over!"