Chapter 1197: Death's Intent

Sang Hong's face darkened. "Minister Xu, investigations require evidence. You can't just throw out baseless accusations like that. Is it perhaps because you haven't managed to apprehend Yu Yanluo these past few days that you're trying to pin the blame on Minister Zu?"

Xu Yu said sinisterly, "Whether it is true or not, Minister Sang, you should be perfectly clear. I will report this matter to the Emperor and seek his imperial judgment. You claim Minister Zu was sent on a secret mission and that the details are inconvenient for you to disclose to me. We'll see how you manage to prevaricate when the Emperor questions you about it."

"You needn't trouble yourself with that, Minister Xu," Sang Hong replied, looking utterly composed. "Instead, Minister Xu, you should consider how you will explain to the Emperor that you arrested Lady Yu only to let her escape, and now even the Yu family's mine has completely collapsed. The losses to our Great Zhou Dynasty are simply incalculable."

Xu Yu's breath hitched. Overthrowing the Yu family was supposed to be a major accomplishment, but with Yu Yanluo's escape, most of that credit had vanished.

Now, with even the Yu family's mine having collapsed, the Emperor, while intending to deal with the Yu family, still needed that mine.

The Yu family's mine supplied nearly thirty percent of the empire's cultivation resources. How could such a massive void possibly be filled?

Other officials present were also aware of this, which was why they had previously rallied so closely around Xu Yu, cheering him on.

Yet today, uncharacteristically, none of them offered support, choosing instead to silently observe him and Sang Hong exchange verbal jabs.

Xu Yu cursed these opportunists under his breath. The entire meeting dissolved acrimoniously. He then went to resume the search for Yu Yanluo, while also having to manage the disaster relief and aftermath of the Yu family mine accident.

Sang Hong maintained a triumphant facade, but inwardly, he was consumed by worry.

"Ah Zu, where have you gone!"

At this very moment, Zu An was locked in battle with the Golden Crow Crown Prince. Upon seeing the sky filled with the Golden Crow's golden feather-swords, he instinctively recalled Gilgamesh's Gate of Babylon from a certain anime in his previous life.

It had to be said, the visual spectacle was absolutely breathtaking.

It was like playing basketball on the school court in his previous life with girls watching—whether the shot went in or not didn't matter; the key was to look cool.

Fortunately, Zu An possessed the 'Azure Phoenix Sword Array' skill, so he attempted to launch his attacks in a similar fashion.

To his surprise, he actually succeeded!

One by one, azure sword qi deflected the Golden Crow Crown Prince's golden feather-swords.

In the sky, countless azure and golden lights intertwined, erupting in a dazzling display.

Many snake clan experts rushed to the scene, each captivated by the sight. After so many years of cultivation, none had ever witnessed such a magnificent display of countless swords flying simultaneously.

Countless golden feather-swords shattered, as did a significant number of azure sword qi.

The scattered sword qi effortlessly severed large trees several armspans thick in the distance, and even large rocks on the ground were sliced through as easily as tofu.

The ground was left crisscrossed with numerous long, mottled sword marks.

Chills ran down the spines of the onlookers; even from such a distance, they could sense the terrifying killing intent. What immense pressure must those caught in the direct line of fire be enduring?

If they were caught in it, they likely wouldn't last a second before being torn to shreds by the sword qi.

They hastily retreated even further, fearing they might be caught in the crossfire.

At this point, both Zu An and the Golden Crow Crown Prince were struggling. Neither could fully deflect all of the other's sword qi, and streaks of blood soon appeared on their bodies. The piercing pain of the sword qi penetrating their flesh sent a chill down both their spines.

The Golden Crow Crown Prince's eyes were practically bulging out. Why did his opponent seem to have a comparable counter for every one of his killer moves?

Normally, he could quickly gain the upper hand with a single skill and then toy with his enemies like a cat with a mouse.

Today, however, he felt a strange sense of role reversal.

Zu An, however, knew that the Golden Crow Crown Prince's sword qi was forged from his own feathers; unless he was plucked bare, his sword qi would be inexhaustible.

His own Azure Phoenix Sword Array, however, had a limited duration. Continuing to trade blows would be to his disadvantage.

Seizing a moment when the Golden Crow Crown Prince was momentarily distracted, Zu An instantly moved, enveloped by countless azure sword qi, and charged directly at his opponent.

As the distance rapidly closed, the golden sword qi grew increasingly dense and terrifying.

It was as if they were trying to annihilate the intruder with full force.

The azure sword qi surrounding Zu An visibly eroded away.

By the time the last wisp of azure sword qi vanished, he had successfully breached his opponent's defensive network and landed another punch squarely on the Golden Crow Crown Prince's jaw.

"Again?" The Golden Crow Crown Prince exclaimed, startled and enraged. This move had given him something akin to PTSD.

He absolutely did not want to endure the miserable experience of close-quarters combat with his opponent again, so he hastily flew backward.

But Zu An would not grant his wish. Ultimately, he even mounted the Golden Crow Crown Prince, raining down punches like a flurry. The Crown Prince was beaten so severely that blood, snot, and tears flew, presenting an utterly pathetic sight.

The sight made the onlookers' teeth ache; they instinctively covered their chins, perfectly imagining the Golden Crow Crown Prince's agony.

"This posture... isn't it a bit too 'man on man'?" Yun Jianyue remarked with a strange expression, feeling the scene was rather cringeworthy.

Yan Xuehen paused, "What does 'man on man' mean?"

Hailing from White Jade Capital, with her pure and cold demeanor, she had no exposure to such concepts.

Yun Jianyue, conversely, came from the Demonic Sect, a place of mixed morality where she had witnessed all kinds of things.

Yun Jianyue leaned in, describing it with a mischievous grin, causing Yan Xuehen's face to flush with indignation. "As expected of a demoness," she thought, "she knows all these lewd things."

Just then, a terrifying pressure emanated from the sky, and a crimson sun slowly began to ascend.

No, there were two suns in the sky!

Zu An could no longer restrain the Golden Crow Crown Prince and was flung back by an immense force.

He looked closely, only to see that the Golden Crow Crown Prince had vanished, replaced by a fiery red sun where he had been.

The scorching sun blazed, and the surrounding air seemed to shimmer and ripple like water.

The entire world was bathed in a blood-red hue.

Within the sun, a crow stood with its wings spread at the very center; its aura clearly belonged to the Golden Crow Crown Prince.

Zu An let out a laugh. "So it's just a drab black crow after all, usually pretending to be golden just to show off."

[Rage value from the Golden Crow Crown Prince: 999999999...]

"To be able to push me to this extent, you can die content," the Golden Crow Crown Prince declared, his killing intent chilling. His voice had taken on an odd quality, echoing as if a celestial deity were looking down upon mere mortals.

Yan Xuehen and Yun Jianyue gasped in unison, "How is that possible!"

Yu Yanluo also sensed that something was amiss and said, somewhat incredulously, "Is this a domain?"

Having previously fought Yan Xuehen, she naturally understood the power of a domain.

Yan Xuehen nodded. "Yes, it is indeed a domain, but he clearly hasn't reached the Grandmaster stage. How can he form one?"

Yun Jianyue also spoke gravely, "As expected of the next successor to the Demon Emperor, his secret arts are unfathomable. Ah Zu is in danger."

"Not necessarily," Yan Xuehen said, "he has a method to resist domains." Despite her words, her fists unconsciously clenched in her sleeves, clearly indicating her own worry.

As she spoke, the leaves on the surrounding mountains rapidly curled and charred. Once their moisture evaporated, they spontaneously combusted. Even the stones turned incandescent, gradually showing signs of melting.

Even Zu An, despite his cultivation, felt the singe of burning hair. Pei Mianman's flame pendant offered little protection, as this was the power of a domain, not actual fire.

He hastily drew the Tai'a Sword and unleashed its Domain of Might, temporarily neutralizing the encroaching power of the surrounding Crimson Sun Domain.

To sustain the Domain of Might for a longer duration, he could restrict its range to his immediate surroundings, entirely forgoing its offensive capabilities.

At this moment, the crow's silhouette within the crimson sun had vanished. Zu An's danger instincts flared intensely; he sensed a fatal threat.

Had his opponent already activated the Golden Crow Streamer, intending to attack from a hidden corner?

As he focused intently on defense, a series of bell chimes suddenly echoed.

He looked up towards the center of the crimson sun; the sound was emanating from within.

At that moment, a pure golden war chariot slowly emerged from the heart of the crimson sun, drawn by six Chi Dragons!

As the war chariot emerged, a palpable sense of death firmly locked onto Zu An, chilling him to the bone, as if a single movement would reduce him to dust.