Chapter 466: Battle (Second Update)

The color drained from Emperor Jiawen's face instantly, leaving him deathly pale.

He opened his mouth, seemingly using every ounce of his strength just to ask a single question

"She... she truly said that?"

She truly hated him to the bone!

"Since it was my Imperial Mother's dying wish, your son will naturally do his utmost to fulfill it," Rong Xiu said indifferently.

The conversation between the two left almost everyone present utterly bewildered.

In the years past, Emperor Jiawen had doted on Consort Wan immensely, bestowing upon her nearly all of his favor. Yet looking at it now, it seemed Consort Wan harbored a deep resentment toward him?

Furthermore, everything regarding the Sky Curtain Realm was even more perplexing.

Why was Consort Wan's final wish this?

A sudden hypothesis surfaced in Chu Liuyue's mind.

—Could it be that Rong Xiu's biological mother was someone from within the Sky Curtain Realm!?

Only this could explain why Rong Xiu possessed such extraordinary talent and strength, as well as that previous battle outside the Sky Curtain Realm!

Emperor Jiawen's expression shifted many times before he finally seemed to make a decision, saying in a heavy voice

"Rong Xiu, it is I who has failed your mother. But things have come to this, and I am powerless. Originally, I had no intention of heading to the Sky Curtain Realm, but now, I have no choice!"

The Sky Curtain Realm was right before his eyes; as long as he continued to break through, he could successfully enter!

That was an entirely different world!

After Consort Wan's death, he had been filled with regret, even going so far as to hide his strength and live a mediocre life for many years.

He had originally intended to spend the rest of his life in such tranquility, but now, as long as he took one step forward, everything would change!

The scales in his heart had already tipped to one side.

Rong Xiu, however, remained unmoved, merely offering a half-smile

"You may go if you wish, as long as you return that thing to your son."

Emperor Jiawen's expression changed

"You want to snatch this thing away!?"

"That was originally Mother's possession; where is there any talk of snatching?" A trace of faint mockery flashed in the corner of Rong Xiu's eyes. "Besides..."

Besides, Mother had never agreed to leave this thing to him.

Back then, he had used every means possible to obtain it. If one were to call it snatching, it would be that he had snatched it from his mother.

Being exposed so directly by Rong Xiu, Emperor Jiawen felt an immense sense of embarrassment and humiliation, which ultimately turned into rage.

"Rong Xiu! For all these years, I ask myself if I have ever mistreated you! Is this how you treat me!?"

To think he had believed Rong Xiu was born with a weak constitution, even grieving for him for a long time and seeking countless heavenly physicians to treat him!

In the end, it was all just a deception!

Rong Xiu's brow twitched slightly, and he suddenly laughed.

"Imperial Father, if you had known this sooner, would you still have treated your son this way?"

Emperor Jiawen was suddenly choked up, his face flushing red, yet he could not utter a single word.

Rong Xiu's expression grew increasingly cynical.

If Emperor Jiawen had known long ago that his body was perfectly fine and that his talent was exceptional, he likely would have made a move against him long ago.

How could there have been a "today"?

The so-called "kindness" was merely built on the premise that he posed no threat.

Just like how he always claimed to be deeply in love with Mother, yet in the end, the one who hurt her most deeply—even causing her to die in depression—was he, was it not?

To Rong Xiu, Emperor Jiawen's rhetoric was nothing more than a joke.

Seeing Rong Xiu's gaze that saw through everything, Emperor Jiawen swallowed his excuses.

Ultimately, all expression vanished from his face, leaving only a cold hardness.

"If you want to stop me, you'll have to see if you have the ability!"

Having said that, he began to devour the surrounding heaven and earth energy once again!

The seal had already vanished, and all the power within his body was surging out. As long as he broke through the final barrier of a Seventh-Tier Martial Artist, he could smoothly enter the Sky Curtain Realm!

Rong Xiu raised his hand.

*Hum!*

The ring of a sword sounded instantly!

The silver longsword that had previously been thrust into the ground flew rapidly toward him, landing in his hand!

He shifted his feet slightly, gripped the hilt tightly with both hands, and fixed his gaze intently on Emperor Jiawen!

The sword rose!

The sword fell!

An incomparably powerful sword qi swept across the area!

The jade slabs on the ground shattered one after another, flying into the air!

Then, amidst the terrifying sword qi, they were silently annihilated into dust!

Emperor Jiawen had already sensed something was wrong the moment he saw Rong Xiu make his move.

When he saw that sword qi heading straight for him, his heart gave a violent leap!

Rong Xiu's strength had actually reached the level of a Sixth-Tier Martial Artist!

When a practitioner breaks through, they often need to concentrate their mind; the higher the level, the more so.

Emperor Jiawen had originally intended to set up a barrier to block all attacks.

But the moment Rong Xiu struck, he knew that wouldn't work.

Left with no choice, he had to temporarily stop and turn around to meet Rong Xiu's strike!

"Mountain and River Fall!"

A stream of blue primal force surged from his palm!

Immediately after, a second, then a third!

The surging primal force merged rapidly like various streams, transforming into a rushing river!

Vaguely, one could even hear the sound of turbulent waters!

That river-like primal force poured down!

The piercing sword qi arrived in an instant!

The two forces collided violently!

In a flash, the sword qi plunged into the river, sending water splashing everywhere!

Emperor Jiawen secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

However, in the next moment, he saw that the blue river suddenly snapped in the middle! It split completely into two parts!

The expression on Emperor Jiawen's face froze abruptly!

The momentum of that sword qi did not seem to have been weakened in the slightest!

The power contained within this sword qi was actually even stronger than anticipated!

Then, the sword qi surged upward against the current!

The powerful aura made Emperor Jiawen's entire body tense!

*Crash!*

His primal force was completely pierced through!

That streak of sword qi headed straight for his face!

He tapped his toes and retreated rapidly!

But at that exact moment, he suddenly felt a piercing, cold wind attacking his back!

Without thinking, he dodged to the side!

Glancing over in haste, he realized that the one attacking him was actually the Red-Tailed Flood Dragon!

*Roar!*

Having missed its strike, the Red-Tailed Flood Dragon became even more violent.

Its low, majestic roar echoed through half the sky!

The crowd watching on the ground was also affected by this powerful pressure, their expressions changing one after another.

Those with insufficient strength even spat out blood directly.

However, that pressure did not fall upon Chu Liuyue.

Invisibly, it was as if a transparent barrier was blocking the Red-Tailed Flood Dragon's pressure.

Chu Liuyue looked around and blinked.

So many people were affected, so why was she the only one spared?

Then, her gaze fell upon Xue Xue.

"I belong to the Divine Beast clan. What is a mere Red-Tailed Flood Dragon in comparison?"

The voice of the Three-Eyed Divine Eagle suddenly drifted out.

Chu Liuyue realized the truth.

She had actually forgotten about this!

The Three-Eyed Divine Eagle was within her dantian; although unknown to outsiders, magical beasts were very sensitive to such things.

"That Red-Tailed Flood Dragon is the guardian beast of the Yaochen Kingdom's imperial palace. Why is it attacking Emperor Jiawen now..."

Chu Liuyue murmured softly.

Just as she was wondering privately, that streak of sword qi had already landed on Emperor Jiawen!

(End of Chapter)