Chapter 99: First One Falls

Zhao Tianxun never imagined in his wildest dreams that the Eighth Prince, who had always supported him, would betray him at such a crucial moment.

Deep down, he knew that as this battle reached its bitter end, the future of his sect would also vanish into the annals of history.

Whenever he thought of this, a pang of agony would strike Zhao Tianxun's heart.

But what could be done? On a continent where martial strength reigned supreme, a man who had offended Xu Yang was destined for such an outcome.

"Xu Yang, even if it means my death today, I'll make you regret this!"

Zhao Tianxun, his anger flaring, unleashed an incredibly powerful spiritual energy surge from his palm, instantly pulverizing a small mountain in front of him.

"Everyone, get out of the way! Zhao Tianxun has gone mad!" Many cultivators at the Grotto-Heaven Realm present were stunned, realizing the power of Zhao Tianxun's palm strike far exceeded their understanding.

The terrifying, unyielding force slammed towards Xu Yang. Yet, this power, which in the eyes of others was enough to destroy a Grotto-Heaven Realm cultivator, appeared incredibly weak and ineffective before Xu Yang.

"Hehehe, I told you, your fate was sealed the moment you decided to become an enemy of the Heavenly Azure Sect."

This time, Xu Yang didn't hesitate. He unleashed an irresistible force upon Zhao Tianxun's now completely demonized body.

Boom! In an instant, the entire battlefield and its surroundings were enveloped by the surge of this power.

"This is terrifying. Is he really just a Qi Refining Realm cultivator?""No, it's impossible. We must be mistaken. This man is clearly an unparalleled expert capable of crushing Grotto-Heaven Realm cultivators!""The strongest Qi Refining Realm expert in history has finally appeared."

Faced with the explosion of this ultimate power, the Third Prince and Fifth Prince had both made a decision deep within their hearts. Missing out on Zhao Tianxun had allowed the Eighth Prince's status in the palace to rapidly ascend. Now, Xu Yang's appearance marked a new turning point in the current imperial disputes.

Undoubtedly, whichever faction secured Xu Yang's assistance would gain victory in the upcoming power struggle.

Rumble! Zhao Tianxun, battered beyond recognition, lay motionless on the battlefield like a lifeless corpse.

At the same time, Ling Qingshu, who had been imprisoned by him within a magic formation, regained her freedom.

"Thank you, Ancestor!" Ling Qingshu's admiration for Xu Yang was deeply ingrained, and her respect for him never wavered. In her eyes, Xu Yang was her closest kin and her ancestor—a bond that would never change.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

Ling Qingshu smiled faintly and shook her head.

"Excellent, you truly haven't disappointed me. The Heavenly Azure Sect will surely flourish under your leadership!" Xu Yang said with a soft smile. Then, he walked up to Zhao Tianxun, his gaze filled with cold indifference.

"It's not that I didn't give you a chance; it's that you failed to realize the consequences of crossing the Heavenly Azure Sect's bottom line."

Xu Yang never showed mercy to his enemies; not a single person who deserved to die would be spared.

Thud! With a heavy stomp, Xu Yang crushed Zhao Tianxun's body in front of everyone present.

The Eighth Prince gasped sharply, then, bristling with rage, he shouted at the warriors behind him, "Are you all dead?! I told you to go and tear Zhao Tianxun into a thousand pieces!"

At this moment, the most awkward position was undoubtedly held by the top experts of the Sky Martial Sect.

The group of Grotto-Heaven Realm powerhouses exchanged glances, unsure how to decide their future.

As they hesitated, the Third Prince and Fifth Prince made the decision for them.

The Third Prince ascended into the air, a smile on his face, as he looked at the Sky Martial Sect's experts.

"Gentlemen, you are all powerful cultivators of Sky Martial Commandery. Unfortunately, your sect leader has now faced divine wrath and is beyond redemption, having provoked the majesty of the Heavenly Azure Sect and paid the price. Therefore, I want to know your stance! Either disband immediately and choose new sect affiliations, or you will become corpses alongside your sect's nameplate!"

"Indeed, Third Brother is right. You have no other choice!" At the same moment, the Fifth Prince also made his declaration. In truth, both princes were trying to gain Xu Yang's favor.

"We are willing to pledge allegiance to Xu Yang of the Heavenly Azure Sect!" These old figures were not ordinary individuals; they clearly saw the situation. The Third Prince and Fifth Prince would undoubtedly seek to win over Xu Yang, making the Heavenly Azure Sect their best refuge!

The Third Prince smiled contentedly. "You are very wise. You will have a better future!"

With the Third Prince's words, the Sky Martial Sect's experts immediately felt at ease.

With the Sky Martial Sect's issue resolved, the next matter depended on Xu Yang's own attitude.

Xu Yang knew very well that by choosing to intervene, he had to decide at this moment whether to get involved in the internal disputes of the Great Xia Dynasty.

Xu Yang, with a calm expression, walked up to the two princes and nodded to them with a slight smile.

"Your Royal Highnesses, as this matter concerned the future destiny of the Heavenly Azure Sect, I had to act. I apologize for interrupting the normal course of this competition. If there's an opportunity, I hope both of you will allow me to repay this favor."

The two princes had been waiting for these very words from Xu Yang, and they both revealed satisfied smiles.

"Gentlemen, please allow me to publicly announce the winner of this competition: Sect Leader Ling Qingshu of the Heavenly Azure Sect!"

All the powerful figures from the various sects present had no objections to this outcome. The strength of the Heavenly Azure Sect faction had, without a doubt, gained everyone's recognition.

"My heavens, I never imagined that the strongest person in Sky Martial Commandery today would be someone in the Qi Refining Realm!""Heh, haven't you figured it out yet? This guy's realm can't possibly be as simple as Qi Refining.""How can that be? Are my eyes deceiving me?""While I don't know the reason, I'm certain his strength surpasses the Grotto-Heaven Realm!!""Alright, I'm not interested in what realm this guy is in right now. Next, it's our turn to show what we can do!"

The speaker was none other than the leader of one of the Sky Martial Commandery's inherited factions.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Still haven't figured it out? The Sky Martial Sect, formerly the foremost lineage in Sky Martial Commandery, has completely fallen. Now is the time for our various factions to divide their assets!"

Prompted by his words, the leaders of the nearby factions all began to smile.

"Hahaha, you're right. We can't have come here for nothing!"

Everyone understood that a true massacre awaited the Sky Martial Sect.