"Hmph!! Ning Tiance, this is Yunruo Palace. Do you think you and this... youth can escape my grasp? Stop struggling. For the sake of our past relationship, I'll give you a quick death."
Zhou Minruo let out a light sigh, a radiant smile suddenly appearing on her face. "Come out."
From the house behind her, a figure entirely shrouded in a black robe slowly stepped out.
His aura had actually reached the Emperor Realm, at the first grade of Divine Emperor.
He had been hidden in the shadows, concealing his aura, so Ning Tiance hadn't detected his presence.
But no matter how skilled he was at hiding, how could he escape Ling Xiao's divine sense perception?
A mere first-grade Divine Emperor.
But, the act still had to be played out; otherwise, how could Ning Tiance be made to submit?
"You are... the former Imperial Guard Commander, Zhang Yu!! Weren't you dead?" Ning Tiance frowned slightly, his eyes already dimming.
He could now sense that Ling Xiao's cultivation was actually only at the Divine General level. He had probably used some method earlier to emit the Emperor aura.
Indeed, how could a seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth possibly achieve the Divine Emperor realm?
"Thanks to the Princess saving my life!" Zhang Yu spoke coldly, standing quietly behind Zhou Minruo.
Hearing this, Ning Tiance's expression suddenly became calm.
"Young master, I have a request!"
"Is the General asking me to take care of Ning'er?" Ling Xiao nodded calmly. "Ning'er cannot be without a father, and the Northern Frontier cannot be without its War God! I am no saint, but... I cannot bear to see the world's living beings suffer. Even if I die alongside the General today, I would do so willingly and without regret."
"Young master... your righteousness is great! But..."
"General, rest assured. As you've seen, I am proficient in some unorthodox methods. Can you fight that fourth-grade Divine Emperor?"
"I can fight!"
"Good! Today, I will accompany the General through this life-and-death struggle!" Ling Xiao smiled calmly, his posture free and easy. He lightly clenched his hand, and the Si Xie Ancient Sword instantly left its sheath, radiating overwhelming brilliance.
Faint rays of light shimmered around him, truly giving him an aura of being transcendent and peerless.
"Huh?" Ning Tiance looked deeply moved, remaining silent for a long time, a hint of tears visible in his eyes.
"If we live today, I wish to become sworn brothers with you, young master. We may not seek to be born together, but we seek to die together!"
Holy... crap? Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow slightly, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.
I, your father, am destined to live as long as the heavens in this life.
Aren't you just praying for blessings for yourself?
"Elder Brother!!"
"Xiao Di!!" (Younger Brother Xiao)
"Kill!!"
Finally, Ning Tiance charged out first, pouncing towards Shang Xiang.
A terrifying momentum of Dao Principles began surging like tidal waves.
The entire great array emitted a heart-palpitating hum.
In Ning Tiance's hand was a horizontal blue war blade, coiled with dragon patterns, containing peerless power.
A single slash carried the force of a thousand troops, transforming into ten thousand charging horses, neighing and roaring.
Heaven and earth turned gloomy.
It was like a bloody battlefield, with a faint, terrifying bloody aura spreading for a hundred li.
Shang Xiang's old face twitched. She couldn't care less about the young girl beside her now. Spiritual light soared around her, transforming into a giant palm that met Ning Tiance head-on.
Boom!!
The two great forces collided in the sky.
Above everyone, the dazzling golden array dimmed for an instant.
But!!
What horrified Shang Xiang and Zhou Minruo was that Ning Tiance's figure only paused for a moment before completely shattering the sky-rending spiritual palm. His eyes held a sharp, unstoppable determination!
Truly worthy of being the Northern Frontier's War God. Once he strikes, even gods and buddhas cannot block him; he stands supreme between heaven and earth!
Truly worthy of the Dao Principle of War Formations. With one man and one blade, he possesses the momentum of a million-strong iron army, slaughtering both immortals and demons!
"Princess, be careful!!" A slight tremble passed through the corner of Shang Xiang's eye, and a trace of fear arose in her heart.
In the end, she had still underestimated this battle-hardened Divine Emperor.
Although Ning Tiance was only at the third grade, the combat power he erupted with now instilled fear in her, a fourth-grade Divine Emperor.
"Hmph! Zhang Yu, make your move. Quickly deal with that youth." Zhou Minruo snorted coldly, her pretty face icy.
Although she had always known Ning Tiance was strong, she never imagined he was this powerful.
Granny Shang was her biggest trump card. Once she died, she would lose this game completely.
Luckily!!
She had previously shown kindness to this Zhang Yu; he could be considered her trusted follower.
Otherwise, today, she might not have been able to kill Ning Tiance!
A youth with some tricks up his sleeve—how could he possibly be Zhang Yu's match?
Once he was dealt with, with Zhang Yu and Granny Shang joining forces, Ning Tiance would have no escape!
"Yes! Princess!" Zhang Yu bowed slightly, then looked up at Ling Xiao, a fierce cruelty suddenly surging onto his face.
Buzz!
A spear in hand, like a dragon setting forth.
Zhang Yu's figure suddenly vanished, reappearing just a few meters in front of Ling Xiao.
The black spear in his hand carried a terrifying, heavy force. Space shattered around it, faint wind marks following in its wake.
But Ling Xiao seemed unable to react in time, standing still quietly, even a hint of a smile in his eyes?
"Hmph, a mere youth, indeed not worth mentioning. Zhang Yu can kill him with a single spear thrust." Zhou Minruo shook her head with a laugh. A fool who didn't even know how to dodge—how could he possibly withstand the full-force strike of a Divine Emperor?
She turned her head to look into the distance, where Ning Tiance and Granny Shang were already battling in the sky.
Ancient blades slashed down, spiritual seals shattered, and the entire small courtyard instantly turned into ruins.
But!!
Although Shang Xiang was at the fourth-grade Emperor Realm, she was clearly at a disadvantage now.
As Ning Tiance's war blade continuously fell upon her, Shang Xiang's face gradually paled, and even the spiritual light around her showed signs of dispersing.
"Granny, hold on a little longer!!" Zhou Minruo gritted her silver teeth. But just then, a strange collision sound suddenly came from in front of her.
Clang.
"Huh?" Zhou Minruo frowned slightly, turning her head in confusion.
She saw that the youth in front of Zhang Yu had suddenly transformed into... an Armored Warrior?!
That dazzling, golden brilliance nearly blinded Zhou Minruo.
But!!
His aura... it had completely disappeared?
No!!
This was simply an inanimate object!!!
Could it be... a puppet?
Zhou Minruo's beautiful eyes narrowed, looking in astonishment at the white-robed youth who had walked out from the side. A chill suddenly ran down her spine.
No way...
He's not going to attack me, is he?
Ling Xiao stood beside the Golden Demon War Puppet, his expression always calm.
But deep in his eyes, a cold light flickered.
Of course, he wouldn't attack Zhou Minruo himself. After all, this kind of hatred needed to be fully realized by Ning Tiance's own hands.
Only then would he stand completely opposed to the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, without a shred of leniency.
And...
Generally speaking, according to common plot tropes, a woman like Zhou Minruo, born into the imperial family with her fate controlled by others, would inevitably have many reflections when facing death.
When facing death, one puts down all pretenses and concerns.
The Northern Frontier War God was deeply affectionate and powerful.
Moreover, Ning Tiance didn't have the bearing of a brute; he was more like a carefree scholar.
Ling Xiao didn't believe that Zhou Minruo hadn't been moved at all over these ten years.
If!!
She could say some stirring words on her deathbed, it would certainly become a heart demon for Ning Tiance.
When the time came, the Great Zhou imperial clan would be doomed.
Of course, if she didn't say anything...
Heh.
I! Ling- Good Samaritan! Who loves helping others! -Xiao! Would help her say them.