Chapter 1717: Sneak Attack

The Welcome Hall on the mountainside was in chaos, and the Golden Summit was even more chaotic. Zhu Xie Chixin and others, ignoring their injuries, rushed towards the central high platform, shouting, “Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”

Wang Wuxie, who was nearby, also looked aghast and ran with them.

Thick smoke billowed everywhere. Heat waves assailed them, singeing everyone's hair and beards yellow almost instantly. If not for their vital energy protecting them, they would probably have been scalded to death by the extreme heat.

The surviving Embroidered Uniform Guards and Imperial Bodyguards tried to rush in to save the Emperor, but the heat waves forced them back repeatedly.

Seeing this, Wang Wuxie waved his sleeve. A surge of powerful vital energy immediately dispersed the thick smoke in the center. The onlookers were filled with admiration, thinking, "The Imperial Advisor truly lives up to his name; his cultivation is impressive."

As the thick smoke gradually cleared, everyone was stunned to find that the high platform used for the heaven worship ceremony had vanished, replaced by a deep pit. One could only imagine the immense power of the explosion.

Everyone's hearts sank. If even that high platform was obliterated like this, the Emperor's chances were surely slim...

Wang Wuxie continued to wave his sleeve. The smoke thinned further, gradually revealing the scene within.

It was then that everyone noticed a yellow orb of light inside, with a figure appearing within it.

“Your Majesty!” Zhu Xie Chixin and Eunuch Wen exclaimed with joy. Who else could the person inside be but Zhao Hao?

Inside the orb, Zhao Hao slowly opened his eyes, slowly lowered his hands, and the orb of light around him gradually dissipated.

He stepped out, his face ashen. “What exactly happened?”

At this moment, his crown had fallen off, leaving his hair disheveled. Furthermore, his dragon robe was scorched and torn in many places, clearly indicating that the terrifying explosion had not left him entirely unscathed.

In all these years, he had never been in such a pathetic state. His heart was filled with intense fury. At this moment, all he wanted was to kill.

Zhu Xie Chixin and Eunuch Wen exchanged glances. They knew countless heads would roll because of this incident.

Especially that Zu An fellow, who had brought the Imperial Feathered Forest Guards here in advance to eliminate potential dangers. It seems he achieved absolutely nothing! Could it be that he truly colluded with the demon race and wanted to eliminate the Emperor with them?

At this moment, Wang Wuxie knelt abruptly on the ground and said with extreme trepidation, “Your Majesty, please forgive me. It must be due to this humble one's lax governance, that a traitor emerged among our sect's high ranks, allowing such a large quantity of gunpowder to be transported to the Golden Summit.”

Seeing the Imperial Advisor, usually so proud, now trembling like a sieve, Eunuch Wen and Zhu Xie Chixin could understand. After all, with such a massive incident, their Zhengyang Sect certainly couldn't escape responsibility.

However, they didn't suspect Wang Wuxie himself. After all, as Imperial Advisor, he was already highly revered and honored. Moreover, he had stood by the Emperor during his lowest point years ago. The Emperor even considered him a friend. How could such a person betray the Emperor?

Zhao Hao also had no suspicions. He hurried to help him up, saying, “Wuxie, there’s no need for this. This isn’t your fault.”

For others, he would usually just offer a perfunctory gesture of support to help them up. But with Wang Wuxie, it was truly different. He personally went to help him stand, to show his favor towards him.

Just then, a sudden change occurred. A strange glint flashed in Wang Wuxie's eyes, and as the Emperor helped him up, he suddenly struck Zhao Hao's chest with both hands.

As the foremost figure in the Daoist sect, his cultivation was extraordinary. The ethereal purple energy emanating from his hands was a profound skill cultivated over many years.

The speed was incredible. At such close range, even Zhao Hao couldn't react in time and was struck squarely by both palms.

However, Zhao Hao's reaction was also swift. His body erupted in brilliant golden light. The rich purple energy was instantly swallowed by the golden light. Immediately after, with a strike as unpredictable as a hanging antelope's horn, he directly breached Wang Wuxie's defenses and struck him.

Wang Wuxie's Daoist robe on his back burst open, and his chest instantly caved in several inches. He fell heavily to the ground like a tattered sandbag.

Wang Wuxie coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood, filled with dark red fragments of internal organs. It was clear he wouldn't survive.

Zhu Xie Chixin and Eunuch Wen were greatly alarmed. They instinctively lunged to attack Wang Wuxie, seeing that he was about to be obliterated. However, Zhao Hao stopped them: “Stop!”

An unnatural flush appeared on Zhao Hao's face, clearly indicating that Wang Wuxie's previous attack had caused him significant harm.

However, his eyes were now like lightning as he gazed at Wang Wuxie: “Why?”

This was something he couldn't comprehend. Neither their long-standing friendship nor the current status of the Zhengyang Sect gave Wang Wuxie any reason to betray him.

Wang Wuxie's eyes were somewhat dazed. Perhaps it was a final burst of clarity before death, but the dark aura in his eyes dissipated, and he regained a measure of lucidity. “The Witch Sect!”

His tone was filled with anger and helplessness.

“Enchantment Soul-Decay Art?” Zhao Hao frowned, immediately understanding what had just happened to Wang Wuxie.

However, his instinctive counter-attack had been incredibly powerful. Only because of Wang Wuxie's superior cultivation was his body still intact. He was now on the verge of death and could barely hear what Zhao Hao was saying.

At this moment, countless regrets and remorse flashed through Wang Wuxie's mind. He had prided himself on his extraordinary talent, and his cultivation had steadily deepened. He had even glimpsed the threshold of an Earth Immortal. Who would have thought that due to a matter of affection, he would fall prey to a scheme and meet such a humiliating end.

“Xue Hen, you're here…” He raised his hand, reaching out towards an empty space, as if trying to grasp something.

In his final moments, he seemed to see the celestial maiden dwelling among the clouds, approaching him with a compassionate expression. She even extended her hand, as if to save him. Alas, no matter how he reached out, their hands ultimately failed to meet.

Finally, filled with profound regret, he passed away.

“Your Majesty, how do you feel now?” Eunuch Wen and Zhu Xie Chixin clustered around Zhao Hao with concern.

However, Zhao Hao suddenly looked up, his eyes like those of a tiger ready to devour its prey. The two men shuddered in fright and dared not advance another step.

They immediately understood. Having just experienced Wang Wuxie's betrayal, Zhao Hao no longer trusted anyone at this moment, not even them.

Just then, a ripple in the air suddenly appeared not far away, and runes shimmered into view. Clearly, someone was teleporting to their location.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards and Imperial Bodyguards drew their weapons and surrounded the area. Anyone teleporting here under these circumstances was clearly ill-intentioned.

“Hahaha, truly worthy of the Emperor! The foremost figure of the Daoist sect ambushed you, yet you instantly killed him and seem perfectly fine.” A handsome middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed beard strode out. The guards tried to stop him, but with a casual wave of his hand, they were all severely injured and sent sprawling backwards, collapsing in a wide arc.

Zhu Xie Chixin's pupils contracted. The aura of this person was clearly that of a Grandmaster—and not like himself, who had just entered the Grandmaster realm, but a seasoned Grandmaster.

“Guan Chouhai?” Zhao Hao frowned, clearly recognizing him.

“I didn't expect Your Majesty to still remember me,” Guan Chouhai sighed. “Nor did I expect to be your enemy today.”

“You?” Zhao Hao sneered. “You're not worthy.”