Chapter 2230: Killing both body and mind

Chu Chuyan and the others' expressions changed drastically. They tried to dodge, but the golden hand seemed to envelop them in an invisible force field, making it difficult for them to breathe and move.

They finally understood that the absolute gap in power was too vast; no amount of skill would help.

They also wondered how Zu An had managed to fight against such a being for so long before.

Yun Jianyue and Yan Xuehen wanted to save them, but it was already too late. They could only watch helplessly as the large hands closed in on the women, their hearts filled with despair.

Just then, a cold gleam shot forth like a streaking meteor, striking directly at the golden hand.

The golden hand, which had seemed like a divine punishment, exploded instantly.

Yun Jianyue and Yan Xuehen quickly seized the opportunity to pull the women back several dozen feet.

Zhao Hao didn't pursue them. Instead, he looked on in shock at the other side, where Zu An stood holding a large bow. The bow's body was carved with various mysterious and intricate patterns, subtly emitting an ancient and desolate aura. Even from this distance, he could feel the destructive power the bow contained.

"The Demon Emperor's Sun-Shooting Bow!" Zhao Hao's eyes narrowed, and his expression turned grave. How had this fellow managed to acquire the Demon Emperor's Sun-Shooting Bow?

The Sun-Shooting Bow was a symbol of the Demon Emperor's status throughout generations. His previous ascension to regent had already shocked everyone, but now he had even obtained the Sun-Shooting Bow. What else belonging to the Demon Emperor could he not acquire?

"Your Majesty indeed has sharp eyes. How about we discuss a truce here?" Zu An had been anxiously observing the battle while listening to the High Priest's last words, which allowed him to intervene in time when Chu Chuyan and the others were in danger.

Zhao Hao glanced at the High Priest behind him, seeing that he was truly dead. He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief before saying, "Alright, hand over the *Baopu True Scripture*, and I can spare your lives."

Zu An was taken aback. "Didn't Your Majesty just seize the *Baopu True Scripture*?"

A hint of anger and shame flashed across Zhao Hao's face. "That scripture was a fake! I was tricked!"

He recalled how he had examined the scripture from every angle, believing it contained hidden secrets, and had tried almost every method to decipher it.

But once he calmed down, he gradually realized that it wasn't the *Baopu True Scripture* at all; it was clearly a book on governing a nation.

No wonder Jing Teng had appeared so calm when he snatched it.

"It's not that I don't want to give it to you, but the *Baopu True Scripture* is with Miss Jing. She's now sealed away in the grand tomb, so Your Majesty can go find it there yourself."

The other women exchanged varied looks, thinking to themselves, "This guy's mouth is truly deceptive."

"I wonder if he tricks us like this normally too."

Zhao Hao sneered, "Are you trying to trick me? That grand tomb has clearly vanished."

Although he had been intensely engaged in battle with the High Priest, the commotion from the grand tomb's disappearance was too great to miss.

Zu An sighed. "Since Your Majesty knows the grand tomb has vanished, where am I supposed to find the *Baopu True Scripture*?"

Zhao Hao stared intently at him. "That woman was so close to you before; she must have given you the *Baopu True Scripture*."

"That was just an act she put on to trick the Ghost King," Zu An said with a very sincere expression. "The *Baopu True Scripture* is so precious, how could she possibly give it to me?"

"Heh," Zhao Hao sneered, then his gaze swept over Chu Chuyan and the others. "If it were anyone else, I might actually believe it. But you, with your incredibly skillful ways of charming women, Jing Teng is most likely utterly devoted to you. If not to you, then to whom would she give the *Baopu True Scripture*?"

Under his gaze, even Yan Xuehen couldn't help but blush.

Although they were adversaries, the women couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie, realizing that the 'dog emperor' truly understood Zu An.

Zu An's old face flushed. He had deliberately tried to hide it, but it seemed his excellence simply couldn't be concealed.

Seeing Zu An remain silent, Zhao Hao scoffed, "What? Are you truly willing to sacrifice the lives of so many women for the sake of a mere book?"

If it were him, these women combined would not be as important as that book.

But Zu An was different from other cultivators. He wasn't concerned with achieving the Great Dao; instead, he was obsessed with trivial romantic pursuits, so he surely wouldn't part with these women.

Zu An, however, had a strange expression. "Where does Your Majesty get the confidence to think you can still threaten me with their lives in this situation?"

Zhao Hao raised an eyebrow. "Oh, do you truly believe that just because I'm injured, a few of you combined are qualified to contend with me?"

As he spoke, he opened his palm, and a floating jade seal suddenly appeared. He tossed it above the women's heads, commanding, "Go!"

The jade seal grew larger and larger, finally descending upon the women like a meteor.

Divine artifact — Human Emperor Seal!

Before the seal even reached them, a majestic imperial aura had already spread everywhere.

Under heaven, there is no land that is not the king's; within the empire's borders, there is no one who is not the king's subject.

The entire space seemed to be sealed, making escape impossible. They could only watch helplessly as the Human Emperor Seal descended from above, awaiting the emperor's judgment.

Yan Xuehen's Flying Snow Sword, Yun Jianyue's Crescent Wheel... the women's weapons all let out trembling wails, clearly unable to withstand the power of the divine artifact.

Just then, a sword light flashed, and a majestic aura suddenly descended from mid-air, diluting the pervasive imperial presence.

The women looked up and recognized it as Zu An's Tai'a Sword.

The Tai'a Sword quickly engaged the Human Emperor Seal in battle. The two artifacts clashed back and forth in mid-air, making it difficult to determine which was superior for a while.

Zhao Hao was somewhat surprised. "Hmm, you haven't reached the Grandmaster realm, so how can you control a sword with your spirit?"

*Zu An thought to himself, 'Would I tell you that there's a living person inside my sword?'*

At this moment, Yun Jianyue and Yan Xuehen exchanged a look. While instructing their disciples to stay far away, they attacked Zhao Hao from left and right.

"Zu An, we'll hold him off! You use the Sun-Shooting Bow and seize your chance!"

With the opponent's divine artifact held in check, the two women, having gained significant insights from their last experience in the Xia Dynasty secret realm, had made rapid progress during this time. They were now at the pinnacle of Grandmaster cultivators, just a step away from becoming Earth Immortals. Working together, holding back the heavily injured Zhao Hao was not that difficult.

Zu An kept his bow drawn, ready to fire and deliver a fatal blow to Zhao Hao at any moment.

Even if he didn't fire, simply holding the bow like that would divert a significant amount of Zhao Hao's attention and energy.

Seeing the two women radiating brilliant light, clearly unleashing all their hidden techniques without reservation, a hint of mockery appeared on Zhao Hao's face. "Hold me off?"

No sooner had he spoken than he vanished into thin air, reappearing behind Zu An the next second, his five fingers forming a claw, reaching directly for his opponent's back.

The Sun-Shooting Bow was indeed a divine artifact, but it had the characteristics of a bow: its power increased with distance, and it was not suited for close combat.

He knew his opponent excelled at swordplay and possessed a divine sword, so he had deliberately used the Human Emperor Seal to draw away his weapon.

Sure enough, to save the women, Zu An had used the Tai'a Sword to block the Human Emperor Seal.

Now, Zu An only had a bow unsuited for close combat, and his best sword techniques were useless without a sword.

Seeing his opponent gradually lured into his pre-set trap, Zhao Hao's lips curled into a slight smile. He hadn't been the world's strongest from the start; to have reached his current level, his combat experience and skill were undoubtedly among the best in the world.

However, his smile froze the next second, as Zu An instantly vanished from before him, reappearing several dozen feet away.

"A spatial teleportation skill, then? Pity it's meaningless before me," Zhao Hao snorted, taking a step that brought him before Zu An once more.

Zu An used his Great Wind Teleportation again, and Zhao Hao also traversed space.

The two pursued and evaded each other, appearing evenly matched for a time.

Chu Chuyan and the other women showed worried expressions. They knew about Zu An's Great Wind skill, but also understood that each use had a cooldown and it couldn't be sustained indefinitely. Continuing like this would surely put him at a disadvantage.

Yan Xuehen and Yun Jianyue were even more decisive, rushing forward directly to assist Zu An.

After all, Zhao Hao was injured, and continuously traversing space was not as effortless as usual.

The two women found an opportunity to momentarily stop him. No sooner had he repelled them than Zu An drew his bow in the void, conjuring an ethereal arrow. The moment he released the string, the arrow appeared before Zhao Hao, even locking down the space around him, making it impossible for him to dodge or escape.

This was the power of the divine Sun-Shooting Bow!

Left with no choice, Zhao Hao could only meet it head-on, launching a punch at the arrow's light.

A flash of light erupted, and the void-conjured arrow disappeared, but Zhao Hao's body swayed, and his face turned pale.

He sneered, "You possess the Sun-Shooting Bow, but without its Sun-Shooting Arrows, how can you possibly harm me?"

Although he said this, he knew full well that in his peak condition, he wouldn't fear it. But in his current state, the Sun-Shooting Bow could indeed pose a threat.

If Yan Xuehen and Yun Jianyue were to directly hold him off while Zu An hid and launched surprise attacks, over time, he would indeed be in some trouble.

Thinking this, he moved his thoughts, taking a step that directly bypassed the space to appear beside Chu Chuyan and the other women, reaching out with both hands to seize them.

*You, Zu An, might have a teleportation skill to evade, but I don't believe these women can escape!*

As long as he captured them as hostages, he could restrain Zu An, Yun Jianyue, and Yan Xuehen at every turn.

Yan Xuehen and Yun Jianyue's expressions changed instantly. With Zhao Hao's ability to ignore space, they had no time to save anyone, and they knew Zu An wouldn't either!

Just as Zhao Hao was about to succeed, a voice suddenly rang out from nearby: "Your wife is truly amazing!"