Chapter 834: The Emperor's Trump Card

However, in this situation, shouting "no" was useless and only served to excite the other party further.

Wei Pingyang finally reacted, asking in a trembling voice, "Zu An, you're not dead yet?"

Zu An sneered twice. "How could I bear to die when you're still alive?"

"That's impossible!" Wei Pingyang trembled, a mix of fear and astonishment. "Struck through the heart by Lu Xiao's flying sword, you couldn't possibly have survived." Let alone him, even King Qi or the Emperor would likely not survive if they dropped their guard and allowed Lu Xiao's sword to strike a vital point.

Zu An sighed. "If you have a life-saving artifact, why wouldn't I?" His thoughts drifted back to the academy's back mountain before he entered the secret realm. Jiang Luofu had taken him to Xie Daoyun, who gave him a "Thread of Life Talisman." This talisman could negate twenty percent of the damage from a fatal attack; whether one survived after this reduction depended on their personal fortune, hence its name.

Fortunately, Zu An's body, tempered by the Primordial Chaos Scripture, was incredibly resilient. After the damage reduction, the sword strike did not completely destroy his heart meridian. Even so, if anyone had jumped into the pond and approached him then, he would still have been certain to die. Luckily, Lu Xiao was too eager to pursue the Crown Prince and Princess, taking everyone with him, which gave Zu An a chance to recover.

Other cultivators gain decent recovery abilities after reaching the seventh rank, but such severe injuries would typically take at least half a year to heal. The Primordial Chaos Scripture's recovery power was far superior to that of ordinary cultivators, allowing his injuries to mend significantly in a short time, giving him enough strength to fight again.

Wei Pingyang had not anticipated such a turn of events and was caught off guard, falling prey to the other party's Gluttonous Heaven Devouring Art. Hearing Zu An's words, a wave of despair washed over Wei Pingyang. Seeing his arm shriveling, he knew he couldn't break free and a look of grim determination flashed in his eyes.

"You brat, I won't let you benefit from my death!" With that, he mustered his remaining strength, directly severing his heart meridian to commit suicide. He was, after all, a Grandmaster, a formidable figure in the world, and naturally knew some special techniques. Coupled with Zu An's current severe injuries weakening the Gluttonous Heaven Devouring Art's control, he succeeded in ending his own life.

Zu An released him, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "He's a decisive one." Unlike Daoist Mosquito, who had clung to the hope of survival and tried to break free, only to fail and have his cultivation completely absorbed.

With Blue Duck, Zu An could breathe freely underwater, so he wasn't in a hurry to surface. Instead, he took the opportunity to assess his internal condition. His vital energy was now abundant. Although the chest wound persisted, it was actively healing, and his overall combat strength had returned to its peak. He performed an internal inspection and found that eight of the ninth rank's cultivation arrays were now lit, with only one remaining. Zu An secretly felt it was a pity, as he had only absorbed about half of Wei Pingyang's cultivation. If he had absorbed it all, he might have already broken through to the Grandmaster realm.

"You're dreaming," Mi Li snorted. "Breaking through from the ninth rank to Grandmaster isn't that easy; it's not just about accumulating vital energy."

Zu An chuckled awkwardly. "I was just saying it casually. By the way, why do I feel that absorbing vital energy from others is much less effective than absorbing it from Elder Mi?" Previously, when Mi Li unsealed his power, he had absorbed only a third of Elder Mi's cultivation and directly transcended a major realm. In comparison, the boost from Wei Pingyang's cultivation was significantly smaller.

"That's natural," Mi Li explained. "Elder Mi thought he could possess you, so he willingly poured all his cultivation into your body. Moreover, he also practiced the Phoenix Nirvana Scripture, so his vital energy was of the same origin as yours. Naturally, that's far better than you using the Gluttonous Heaven Devouring Art to absorb others' cultivation."

"I see." Zu An nodded and immediately burst out of the water. A water spou with him. Zu An leaped into the air, feeling vital energy surge through him. With a shake of his arms, the pond behind him erupted with a series of huge splashes.

Adjusting his internal energy, Zu An looked at his palms and said with some delight, "Now, if you put me against a Grandmaster, I feel like I could win."

"Such baseless confidence," Mi Li rolled her eyes. "Right now, you only have the power to fight, and won't be as pathetic as before. You'll be fine against newly-advanced Grandmasters, but against veteran Grandmasters, while you might have a chance to win, the probability of losing is greater."

"Haha, that's enough," Zu An laughed. Mi Li didn't refute him. This fellow always excelled at overcoming stronger opponents, finding a sliver of hope even in absolute disadvantage. His combat ability was indeed extraordinary.

Seeing his gaze directed towards the direction Bi Linglong and the others had left, she couldn't help but say, "Are you still going?"

Zu An nodded. "I've come this far; how can I give up now?"

Mi Li's tone became a bit agitated. "You've already done enough for that woman. You nearly lost your life; isn't that enough? Although your cultivation has improved, Lu Xiao is a Grandmaster at the mid-level. You can't beat him." At lower ranks, it wasn't impossible for some geniuses to defeat stronger opponents beyond their level. However, the higher the rank, the greater the gap between each minor realm, let alone major realms. Challenging opponents beyond one's major realm became almost impossible. Only a prodigy like Zu An, possessing various divine martial arts, could even attempt such a challenge, but even he had limits. Clearly, Lu Xiao, a mid-level Grandmaster, exceeded those limits.

Zu An looked at Mi Li. "Honestly, what are my chances of winning against Lu Xiao?"

Mi Li replied, "Two to eight, at most three to seven. No more than that."

A smile appeared on Zu An's face. "That's enough. In a life-and-death struggle, he's definitely the one who will die."

Mi Li wanted to say something, but then she recalled how he had dared to fight her when he was only at the fifth or sixth rank, and a hint of admiration grew in her heart. "Indeed, he truly is the one I chose." Thinking this, she stopped trying to dissuade him and instead said, "Very well, go if you wish. You possess the heart of a strong person who fears no hardship. While this might lead to your early demise, once you truly mature, your future will be limitless."

Zu An chuckled. "It's rare for you to praise me."

Mi Li rolled her eyes. "If you keep jabbering, your Crown Princess might already be dead."

Zu An dared not delay and rushed into the mountains in pursuit. With his current cultivation, he could fly in the air for extended periods, no longer needing to use the Great Wind Teleportation every time.

Before long, he reached a fork in the road and immediately realized it was Bi Linglong's strategy to divide their pursuers. Just as he was agonizing over which direction to follow, bursts of vital energy fluctuations suddenly erupted from the distant mountain forest.

"Lu Xiao?" Having just had his heart pierced by the other party's sword, he was intimately familiar with these energy fluctuations. He swiftly headed in that direction. As he drew closer, he descended from the air, put on the sachet given to him by Concubine Bai, and simultaneously cast the Bright Mirror Empty Stage to conceal his aura.

While he didn't fear strong enemies, charging in recklessly was foolish. The cultivation world was incredibly brutal, and such individuals rarely lived long. To defeat a stronger opponent, strategy was essential. So, he approached stealthily, planning to deliver a decisive blow while the other party was unprepared, aiming to conclude the fight as quickly as possible. A prolonged battle would undoubtedly favor Lu Xiao, a mid-level Grandmaster.

Dozens of yards away, Pu Duandiao and Jiao Sigun were in terrible condition. Both were covered in wounds, barely able to stand upright by leaning on their blades planted in the ground. The other East Palace guards had mostly fallen, either dead or barely clinging to life. They stared intently at a man floating in mid-air. Though he had lost an arm, an inexplicable aura emanated from him, and his gaze upon them was like that of a god observing ants on the ground.

"You think yourselves clever, but unfortunately, with Zhao Ruizhi, that fat pig, among you, your footprints are always deeper than others'. All I had to do was follow them, and finding you became effortless," Lu Xiao said with a laugh, his tone quite relaxed and carefree. Clearly, with years of his mission about to conclude, his mood was exceptionally good.

"How dare you disrespect the Crown Prince!" Pu Duandiao roared.

"At this point, who still considers him the Crown Prince?" Lu Xiao brushed some dust from his clothes. He had been wounded by Bi Linglong's sword earlier, and after all this time, had long since changed into fresh attire. "I must say, your willpower is strong; you've managed to hold on until now. But now, it's all over."

As soon as he finished speaking, an invisible burst of energy surged forth, striking the two men directly. Pu Duandiao and Jiao Sigun were thrown back like broken kites, crashing against a large tree before collapsing to the ground, spitting blood and lying motionless. It was impossible to tell if they were alive or dead.

Zu An arrived just as this scene unfolded. His gaze instantly turned cold, but he didn't act impulsively. He remained hidden, quietly awaiting the optimal moment to strike. Mi Li nodded subtly, noting his growth; despite his inner fury, he wasn't reckless.

Lu Xiao descended from the air and looked at the Crown Prince, who resembled a mountain of flesh not far away. "Huh, at a time like this, you haven't even tried to escape, nor do you show much fear. You truly are a fool."

"Why should I be afraid?" The Crown Prince looked at him with a strange expression.

Zu An, hidden in the shadows, felt a jolt. All his attention had been on Lu Xiao, searching for an opportunity for a killing blow, but now he couldn't help but glance at the Crown Prince. It was still the same face, but perhaps because the usual dim-witted smile was gone, there was a profound sense of unfamiliarity.

Lu Xiao also frowned, clearly sensing something odd. "Because you're about to die... Oh, I'm trying to reason with a fool."

Seeing his annoyed expression, the Crown Prince said, "Do you think you're very clever?"

"Of course, smarter than you," Lu Xiao subconsciously replied, then frowned. "At this point, stop acting like the Crown Prince. Do you people truly believe you possess the aura of a king?"

The Crown Prince sighed. "Zhao Jing's subordinates are becoming increasingly useless."

Hidden in the shadows, Zu An suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He couldn't quite say why, but all the hairs on his body stood on end. Mi Li's voice also echoed in his mind, "Be careful. There's something wrong with this Crown Prince." Her tone was exceptionally grave; she had clearly sensed something too.

"You scoundrel, how dare you address King Qi by his given name!" Midway through his retort, Lu Xiao suddenly frowned, staring intently at the other man. "You're not a fool?"

The Crown Prince smiled. "Who said I was a fool?"

Hearing his words and seeing his current demeanor, a thousand "grass-mud horses" galloped through Zu An's mind. He had thought he was surrounded by cunning old foxes, but he hadn't expected there was an even deeper, more cunning fox hidden among them! Wait, if he wasn't a fool, then everything between him and Bi Linglong...

Lu Xiao was equally shocked. "I never would have thought it, that you've deceived everyone in the capital for so many years."

The Crown Prince didn't answer, simply observing him with that indifferent gaze. Lu Xiao intensely disliked this look. Theoretically, he should be the one looking at others like ants, not the other way around. "You fat oaf, you certainly hid yourself well; you even fooled King Qi. But it means nothing. You're still on a path to death."

"Are you sure I'm the one who will die?" A mocking smile played on the Crown Prince's chubby face. Normally, it would only seem comical, but now it evoked an inexplicable sense of dread. Lu Xiao didn't know why he felt a chill in his heart. He quickly dismissed the emotion and looked at the other party. "It seems the Crown Prince has been hiding his true capabilities. But it's still meaningless. Given your age, even if you started cultivating in the womb, what level could you possibly reach? Do you think everyone is a prodigy like Zu An?!"

Zu An cursed inwardly, *This son of a bitch, just talk, why drag me into this and attract hatred?* Every cell in his body was blaring alarm bells. He even wanted to warn Lu Xiao, but he dared not make any movement at this moment, desperately trying to conceal his aura.

"Zu An?" the Crown Prince mused. "That fellow is indeed quite a prodigy." Lu Xiao's brow furrowed tightly. He felt something was amiss, yet he couldn't pinpoint it.

However, he quickly relaxed. He was a dignified mid-level Grandmaster, ranking highly even in the capital filled with experts, and yet he had been startled by a foolish fat man. He snorted, "I can't be bothered with your nonsense. After I kill you, I still need to capture the Crown Princess and the others."

As he spoke, he flicked his foot, and a blade that had fallen from one of the East Palace guards shot out like a cannonball. The force was enough to shatter the target's meridians, then pin him to a tree, attracting fierce beasts from the mountains to devour him without a trace. Even if the Emperor sent people to investigate afterward, they would find no clues.

The Crown Prince, from a distance, didn't dodge or even make the slightest movement. In Lu Xiao's eyes, he simply looked like he had been scared silly. However, the smile on Lu Xiao's face suddenly froze, because the blade abruptly stopped in front of the Crown Prince, hovering three feet away.

Lu Xiao instinctively recoiled a step. "What is your cultivation level?" He hadn't even perceived how the other party had acted, yet his fierce attack had been neutralized.

A strange expression appeared on the Crown Prince's chubby face. "It's been many years since anyone dared to attack me. This feeling is truly nostalgic."

Lu Xiao's face changed. Alarm bells were now blaring throughout his body; as a mid-level Grandmaster, he could instinctively sense danger. Without a moment's hesitation, he shot directly into the sky, wanting to fly as fast as possible and leave that place at once.

However, as soon as he ascended, he felt a lightness beneath him, then lost his balance and fell heavily to the ground. Confused, he looked down and discovered that both his legs had been severed at the knees. The agonizing pain only then registered, and he clutched his legs, wailing in agony, rolling in the dust, completely devoid of his former majesty when he had been pursuing everyone.

A chill ran down Zu An's spine. He stared intently at the ordinary guard's saber floating three feet in front of the Crown Prince. It seemed to have not moved, yet a slow drop of blood falling from its tip indicated that this very blade had just severed Lu Xiao's legs.

"How was it so fast?" Zu An was aghast. He hadn't even seen how that strike was delivered. If that blow had been aimed at him, he probably wouldn't have been able to dodge it either.

"Who exactly are you?" Lu Xiao looked at the distant Crown Prince with immense terror. The fat man, who had seemed utterly ridiculous to him before, now appeared so horrifying.

"Guess?" The Crown Prince grinned at him.

Lu Xiao gritted his teeth and formed a sword-chant with his hand. The iron sword he had refined years ago suddenly appeared by his side. He was, after all, a mid-level Grandmaster; though his legs were severed, he could still control a flying sword without using his hands. The iron sword hummed with the sound of a dragon's roar, then he extended his hand and pointed in the Crown Prince's direction: "Strike!"

The flying sword instantly transformed into a shooting star, its speed even twice as fast as Wei Pingyang's flying sword had been earlier! This was Lu Xiao's strongest attack, his lifelong pride and effort. Whether he could turn the tide depended on this one strike.

This time, the Crown Prince finally moved. He slowly raised his hand. In Lu Xiao's and Zu An's eyes, his movement seemed incredibly slow, yet it arrived first. Two chubby fingers clamped down on the flying sword that was as swift as lightning.

"What?!!!" Zu An and Lu Xiao's eyes nearly popped out. This scene was utterly beyond comprehension.

Lu Xiao began to tremble uncontrollably. He already felt the threat of death and desperately clutched his sword-chant, trying to regain control of his flying sword. If an ordinary person dared to clamp his flying sword like that, even a Grandmaster, he could simply twist the sword and shatter their fingers to dust. Sensing his attempt at control, the flying sword buzzed loudly, trembling violently, trying to break free from the Crown Prince's fingers.

The Crown Prince glanced at it, then squeezed his two fingers. The flying sword shattered into pieces, then a gentle breeze blew, and it instantly turned into dust!

"Pfft!" Lu Xiao spat out a mouthful of blood, his entire body instantly withered and his hair turned white. The other party had not only shattered his flying sword but also pressed the attack, directly dispersing his divine soul! This was a technique only possessed by those above the Grandmaster realm—no, even Grandmasters couldn't do it so effortlessly.

He recalled the aura he felt from the other party and suddenly understood. Looking at the fat man with profound dread, he called out with a strained throat, "Your Majesty, so you are the Emperor..."