Chapter 832: Deadly Abyss

"What do you mean, 'borrow him'?" Bi Linglong nearly fainted with rage. Could a wife simply be "borrowed"? While she might not have entirely objected if it were Zu'an, doing so in front of so many people was utterly humiliating. Before she could utter a rebuke, she saw a streak of light shoot towards the Crown Prince's chest and gasped in alarm.

Zu'an reacted faster, instantly moving to shield the Crown Prince, deflecting the luminous streak with his Tai'a Sword. He subtly flexed his fingers; a Grandmaster's flying sword was incredibly difficult to parry, leaving his hand numb from the impact.

The Crown Prince clapped his hands and cheered, "Big Brother Zu is amazing! Kill that bad guy!"

Zu'an gave a wry smile, knowing how difficult it would be to kill a Grandmaster.

Wei Pingyang burst out laughing, "It's truly eye-opening to see the cuckold and the lover on such good terms."

Bi Linglong trembled with anger. "Wei Pingyang, you are a Grandmaster of your generation! Why is your language so crude, like a common street ruffian?"

Wei Pingyang said coldly, "Enough. Engaging with mere juniors like you is beneath me. Kill them all, leave no one alive!" He signaled for his two guest advisors, He Li and Mou Ping, and their subordinates on the flanks to attack. His own flying sword, abandoning the Crown Prince, now targeted the shield formations of the various noble families.

These shields were specially crafted with advanced magical protections. Yet, under the Grandmaster's flying sword, they shattered like paper, creating an instant breach in the Eastern Palace's formation. Prince Qi's elite guards roared as they surged through the opening. Close-quarters combat erupted immediately, with blood and gore filling the air.

Zu'an dared not be careless. He swiftly moved to intercept Wei Pingyang's flying sword, preventing him from further destroying their formation, which would have made the battle unwinnable. Meanwhile, Prince Qi's elite guards, led by the two Ninth-rank masters He Li and Mou Ping, were like tigers among sheep, slaughtering the Crown Prince's forces with ease.

Just then, Zhao Xi roared, "Our Prince Liang's Manor will not be easily bullied!" He crushed a jade pendant, and his aura abruptly surged, skyrocketing to approximately Eighth-rank. His father, Prince Liang, a Grandmaster, had given him a protective artifact before they entered the secret realm, meant to be used only in a dire, life-or-death situation. Clearly, that moment had arrived.

The usually taciturn Gao Ying roared, his eyes glowing red as his aura also began to surge. Pei You smiled faintly. "Burning vital essence? I can do that too!" He clasped the blade of his sword horizontally in front of him, then pulled it, leaving his palm gushing blood. He slammed his hand forward, and countless runes flashed. His already pale face became utterly devoid of color, making him look like a spectral entity from the underworld. Yet, paradoxically, his aura surged to the Eighth-rank as well; though it felt highly unstable, it was undeniably Eighth-rank!

Together, the three of them managed to hold off the two formidable masters, He Li and Mou Ping. From a distance, Zu'an saw this unfold, his heart sinking. He had witnessed Chu Chuyan use similar forbidden techniques in the Brightmoon City Academy secret realm. This must be the hidden power of the great clans, allowing them to rapidly boost their combat strength for a short period. However, the side effects were equally severe; after Chu Chuyan used it, all her meridians had been shattered, leaving her completely crippled. While he didn't know the specific side effects of Zhao Xi's family secret technique, he doubted they would be mild. They hadn't used these techniques against the Ninth-rank Heavenly Jade Moon Dragon earlier, indicating they now realized they were on the verge of life or death.

With the two Ninth-rank masters engaged, the pressure on the Eastern Palace warriors significantly eased. However, Prince Qi's Manor was exceptionally well-prepared this time. Their elite guards were all highly trained, and more importantly, there were even two or three Seventh and Eighth-rank cultivators among them. The Eastern Palace's warriors were overwhelmingly outmatched. If not for Bi Linglong's expert and constant tactical command, directing their formation to leverage strengths and mitigate weaknesses, it would have been a one-sided massacre much earlier. Yet, tactical command could only compensate for the power disparity to a certain extent; it couldn't fundamentally alter the vast difference in strength.

Before long, the Eastern Palace's forces began to fall one by one. An Eastern Palace guard, impaled through the chest by a spear, grimly clutched the weapon's shaft. Enduring agonizing pain, he stumbled forward, letting the spear penetrate further into his body, attempting to close the distance and strike his enemy with his sword, intent on dragging them to their grave with him. A flicker of panic crossed the eyes of the opposing Prince Qi's warrior. No matter how he pulled, he couldn't dislodge his spear. However, being a battle-hardened elite guard, he swiftly kicked the approaching Eastern Palace guard in the lower abdomen, sending him reeling back. Severely wounded both front and back, the Eastern Palace guard's life force finally ebbed away. In his dying moments, his eyes remained wide, filled with an unyielding refusal to accept defeat, as if he could not rest in peace without having dragged his enemy down with him.

"Jing Yanbao!" Seeing this, Pu Duandiao's eyes widened in fury. Though Jing Yanbao was his subordinate, they had often drunk, gambled, and visited brothels together, making them more like brothers than mere colleagues. His face was smeared with blood, whether his own or an enemy's, he couldn't tell. Roaring, he charged forward and, with a single strike, severed the head of Prince Qi's elite guard. Simultaneously, several of Prince Qi's warriors attacked him. Had it not been for his high-quality armor as the Eastern Palace Guard Commander, which absorbed much of the damage, he would likely have been hacked to pieces. Jiao Sigun quickly rushed to his side. The two fought back-to-back against their enemies, but there were simply too many. They suffered repeated cuts and stabs, their strength gradually ebbing, until they could barely wield their weapons.

Just then, another of Prince Qi's elite guards leaped from the side, his saber faintly gleaming with an aura, aiming directly for their necks. He clearly sought revenge for his fallen comrade, intending to inflict the same gruesome fate upon them. Pu Duandiao and Jiao Sigun caught sight of the attack from the corner of their eyes, but they were too exhausted to dodge. Resigned, they gathered their last remaining strength and swung their blades at the nearest enemies, hoping to drag someone down with them in death.

At that very moment, a flash of sword light streaked across. The Prince Qi warrior, who had leaped into the air, died before he even touched the ground. Immediately, a wave of biting cold emanated, freezing the dozen or so Prince Qi's elite guards surrounding them into ice sculptures.

"Big Brother Zu!" Both men were shocked and overjoyed, gazing at Zu'an as if he were a divine warrior descended from the heavens. Before entering the secret realm, he had promised to protect them, and he had indeed kept his word. How many times had he saved them since entering this secret realm? Both knew, however, that under the current circumstances, there would be no next time.

The two quickly urged, "Big Brother Zu, don't waste your strength saving us. Go quickly and rescue the Crown Prince and Crown Princess."

Seeing them barely able to stand, Zu'an quickly reached out to support them, then carried them flying to Bi Linglong's side. He then employed "Great Wind" to reach Zhao Xi and the others, helping them force back the two Ninth-rank masters before swiftly bringing all three back to the center of their formation.

"You must escort the Crown Prince and Crown Princess out immediately! I will cover your retreat!"

Pu Duandiao and the other man quickly shook their heads. "Big Brother Zu, you take the Crown Prince and leave; we will cover the retreat!"

"Exactly, I don't want to be a deserter again," Pei You said. He, who was usually so meticulous about his appearance, now simply wiped the blood from his face onto his clothes.

Zhao Xi, panting heavily, chuckled, "I certainly don't want to end up like that coward Meng Pan."

Gao Ying remained silent, but the resolute glint in his eyes spoke volumes.

Zu'an shook his head. "You can barely stand right now. Staying behind to cover the retreat wouldn't last long. I will cover the retreat; I can buy you more time. When the time comes, run as fast and as far as you can. If you can't escape, hide in these mountains. As long as you survive, you'll eventually be found when people come looking."

"A'Zu..." Bi Linglong's face clouded with sorrow. She, of course, understood what it meant to stay behind and cover the retreat.

The others began to protest, but Zu'an cut them off sternly. "Don't waste time, or none of us will make it out alive."

Gao Ying said in a deep voice, "I'll stay with you. You might not be able to hold them off alone, and there are still many family warriors who need command."

Just then, Liu Xian, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke. "Cousin, you should go too. I can handle it here."

"You?" Everyone present was stunned to see it was Liu Xian.

"Can't I?" Liu Xian's face flushed crimson. Clearly, being underestimated in such a situation stung him. His usual frivolity vanished as he spoke with a serious expression, "This disaster was caused by me, so it's my responsibility to resolve it." He then looked at Gao Ying. "I know that every young master in the capital's noble families mocks me, even using me as a cautionary tale for their children. I also know I'm useless. But Cousin, you're different. Our Liu family lacks talent among the younger generation; the future of our clan rests on you. You cannot die here. Cousin, you've always looked out for me, but this time, it's my turn to look out for you."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and plunged back into the fray. "As a Liu family disciple, I can burn vital essence too!" he declared. As he spoke, his eyes reddened, his hair stood on end, and his aura began to climb, only to suddenly halt halfway through its ascent. Unlike those who had directly ascended to Eighth-rank with forbidden techniques, his aura peaked at Sixth-rank, not even reaching Seventh-rank. Yet, no one present laughed at him. Instead, they watched his retreating back with tear-filled eyes. The playboy scion whom everyone usually disdained now appeared remarkably tall and imposing in that moment.

From not far away, Wei Pingyang's sneer echoed. "There's no need to argue amongst yourselves. No one is leaving here today!"

Zu'an's expression changed. With a powerful push, he sent Bi Linglong and the others flying dozens of feet away, while he remained to block Wei Pingyang and his cohort.

Wei Pingyang scoffed, "Zu, you can't even defeat me alone, yet you intend to stop all of us? Who gave you such audacity?"

"How would I know I can't stop you if I don't try?" Facing Wei Pingyang, He Li, and Mou Ping—the three Prince Qi's guest masters arrayed against him—Zu'an stood alone with his sword, radiating the aura of a single man capable of holding off an army.

Bi Linglong looked back, her gaze lingering, her fingernails digging into her flesh. *If anything happens to you, I will fight to survive and avenge you, leaving no one in Prince Qi's Manor alive!* Her eyes burned with fierce resolve and hatred, even though Prince Qi's Consort was her half-sister... Yet, her deepest prayer was: *A'Zu, please survive!*

At that moment, Mi Li was scolding Zu'an. "Why are you playing the hero? Lu Xiao, the strongest among you, is temporarily incapacitated. With your cultivation, you could barely manage to escape. Why stay here to die?"

He looked at the various clan warriors who were still fighting bravely, even the playboy scion Liu Xian, who was now exceptionally ferocious, cutting through Prince Qi's ranks multiple times. Zu'an sighed. "Empress sister, what do you think cultivation is for?"

"To become stronger, of course," Mi Li replied, puzzled by his sudden question.

Zu'an shook his head. "No. To me, cultivation is about being able to exact revenge, defeat those who need defeating, and protect those who need protecting. These warriors from the noble families know they face certain death, yet they're willing to stay and cover the retreat. If I were to think only of fleeing when danger arises, making me inferior even to these warriors whose cultivation is far below mine, then what purpose does my cultivation serve?"

"But if you stay, you are very likely to die," Mi Li said, her voice heavy with understanding.

Zu'an laughed heartily. "Death comes to all, whether it's heavier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather... Besides, I'm a lucky man with a strong fate; I might not die." Sensing his formidable fighting spirit and will to survive, Mi Li was somewhat surprised. She had initially thought he was making a rash, heroic sacrifice, but realized he was remarkably clear-headed at heart. This fellow wanted to play the hero, to look cool, yet avoid sacrificing himself. Such a perfect scenario simply didn't exist.

By then, Zu'an was already clashing with the two guest advisors, He Li and Mou Ping. One was at the peak of the Ninth-rank, the other mid-Ninth-rank. They had initially dismissed Zu'an entirely. They believed either of them could easily suppress him. However, Zu'an's movements were unusually deceptive, and his array of unexpected moves and skills left them scrambling, forcing them to cooperate just to barely hold their ground. Both were inwardly aghast. How old could this person possibly be, and why was his cultivation so profound? It seemed impossible, even if he had been cultivating since birth!

Wei Pingyang had initially planned to pursue Bi Linglong and the others, but after a few glances, he noticed his two comrades were struggling against Zu'an. Stunned, he halted. "You two go after the Crown Prince and his party. This fellow is mine." He feared unforeseen complications if he left the two to handle Zu'an, so he decided to confront him personally. The Crown Prince's group was already severely injured; two Ninth-rank masters would be more than enough to pursue them. The two guest advisors' faces flushed with embarrassment. Failing to subdue a young junior even when combining their strengths for so long was truly humiliating. However, the stakes of this situation were too high for them to cause further complications. Besides, capturing and killing the Crown Prince and Crown Princess would be an immense achievement. Thus, after a brief hesitation, they agreed to Wei Pingyang's plan and set off in pursuit of the Crown Prince's group.

"Your opponent is me!" Zu'an declared, using "Great Wind" to directly block their path.

Wei Pingyang's expression darkened. "Your opponent is me!" The flying sword before him transformed into a blur of light, its shadow almost imperceptible, relentlessly attacking Zu'an from every conceivable angle. Zu'an swiftly employed Sunflower Phantom to dodge, but he was a fraction too slow. Lines of blood bloomed on his body as he was struck by several sword blows.

Wei Pingyang stated calmly, "A mere firefly's light dares to challenge the bright moon. You clearly don't grasp the concept of a Grandmaster. With your meager cultivation, you foolishly imagine you can contend with me." While Zu'an's cultivation was indeed impressive, it was meaningless. Without reaching the Grandmaster realm, he posed no threat, merely a slightly stronger ant.

Zu'an's heart remained calm. "A Grandmaster with such big talk? I've even crossed swords with Great Grandmasters, and none of them were as arrogant as you." Both Mi Li and Yun Jianyue possessed cultivation far superior to Wei Pingyang's. Though for various reasons they couldn't display their true power at the time, they were genuine Great Grandmasters. Zu'an even suspected Mi Li's realm was higher.

"Great Grandmaster?" Wei Pingyang sounded as if he'd heard something utterly ludicrous. "You can't even defeat me, yet you claim to have fought Great Grandmasters? Indeed, a greenhorn like you knows nothing of the world's vastness." As he finished speaking, a streak of light shot forth. Zu'an swiftly brought his sword horizontally across his chest. With a resounding clang, his hand went numb, and his Tai'a sword almost slipped from his grasp.

Mi Li sighed. "The further cultivators advance, the more a single realm's difference becomes an insurmountable chasm. If you were at mid to late Ninth-rank, with your profound vital energy, you might stand a chance against him. Unfortunately, you are only at early Ninth-rank now."

"While there's a gap, it's not hopeless," Zu'an muttered, gritting his teeth. He then actively charged towards his opponent. The flying sword's attack power was immense, and pure defense felt too passive. He considered engaging in close combat to find an opportunity to use "Dagger with Poison" on him.

Wei Pingyang stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his demeanor completely relaxed. His flying sword returned, weaving an impenetrable net around him. No matter how Zu'an attacked, he remained unmoving. He even had time to glance at his two companions. "What are you two standing around for? Go quickly and pursue the Crown Prince!"

The two seemed to snap out of a trance. Just as they were about to depart, a fragrant breeze suddenly wafted past, and a breathtaking beauty appeared before them. The fierce battle paused briefly at her arrival. She was stunningly beautiful, embodying both a pure, ethereal grace and a captivating, seductive allure. When her gaze swept across the battlefield, every man present felt a profound tingling sensation course through half their bodies.

"What an exquisite beauty!" Lu Xiao, who was recovering from his injuries in the distance, couldn't help but exclaim. Though he was well past the age of being captivated by women, his normally unperturbed heart suddenly felt a ripple of emotion.

Wei Pingyang reacted similarly; his controlled flying sword briefly faltered. Zu'an seized this fleeting opportunity to lunge to his side, immediately summoning "Dagger with Poison" and slashing it across Wei Pingyang's body. Even a small wound would be enough to turn the tide. He had deliberately summoned Daji at this moment, primarily to distract the other two enforcers, but also to create this precise opportunity. His plan succeeded: "Dagger with Poison" managed to open a cut on Wei Pingyang's body.

Yet, Zu'an showed no smile, for he had heard a crisp 'clang'. Wei Pingyang pulled a shattered jade pendant from his robes, his face slowly contorting into a ferocious snarl. "You dared destroy my life-saving artifact! I will cut you into a thousand pieces to sate my hatred!" Zu'an inwardly cursed his luck. As expected, a Grandmaster possessed hidden life-saving measures. With his first attempt thwarted, he likely wouldn't get another chance to ambush him with the dagger.

As expected, Wei Pingyang's gaze fixed on the dagger in Zu'an's hand. "This dark dagger actually pierced my defenses in an instant, making me feel the threat of death. It must be a divine artifact. It will serve perfectly to compensate for the loss of my jade pendant." As he finished speaking, a terrifying aura enveloped Zu'an, making him feel as though he were trapped in a swamp, every movement incredibly difficult.