"He's here, Your Majesty! Scouts report the Profound Heaven Immortal Gate elder has appeared outside the capital and is approaching," the imperial guard commander announced Peng Wudi's arrival.
"Prepare for battle!" The Zhou Emperor gripped his Heavenly Sword and gave the order. In an instant, the palace gate bristled with arms, war on the verge.
Moments later, a cyan figure emerged, strolling toward them as if taking a leisurely walk. Though Peng Wudi saw the Zhou emperor and ministers prepared for war, he paid no heed.
"Emperor of Great Zhou, have you considered? Do you truly wish to oppose the Immortal Gate?" he smiled.
"Hehe! The Great Zhou has not provoked the Profound Heaven Gate, yet Elder Peng presses us to hand over a culprit. Isn't this forcing us to war?" the emperor sneered disdainfully.
"Your Majesty, I hear your National Protector is a long-lost Buddhist warrior of great strength. Why not invite him to meet me?" Peng Wudi eyed the emperor. The mysterious protector was the most likely suspect in Feng Yifei, Zhang Ling, and Jiang Xuan's deaths.
The emperor shook his head. "The National Protector is as elusive as a dragon—even I do not know where he is now."
"Elusive indeed. I suspect he murdered Immortal Gate disciples and now hides in fear of me!" Noting the emperor's evasive look, Peng Wudi grew convinced the protector was involved.
"Take those words to the protector, but I truly do not know his whereabouts." The emperor smiled coldly. "Elder Peng, if you insist on forcing me to hand over someone, we have no choice but to fight."
"Fight me? Do you even deserve it?" Peng Wudi scoffed, scanning the group. "Come at me together—lest I be accused of bullying the weak."
"Then we have no choice. Attack!" The emperor drew his sword, pointing at Peng Wudi. Nine imperial cultivators behind him charged, aiming their dark golden crossbows.
Peng Wudi ignored them, regarding even the emperor as an ant. The nine waited for the order to loose their Void-Breaking Arrows.
Seeing Peng Wudi unyielding, the emperor gritted his teeth. "Fire!" Thankful Peng Wudi was only Myriad Manifestations Grade Seven, he relied on the arrows and Blood Fiend Dagger for a fighting chance.
Nine arrows streaked toward Peng Wudi, too fast for even a Myriad Manifestations cultivator to dodge. He drew his sword, sweeping out a dazzling silver thunderbolt. A deafening roar followed as the arrows shattered against the thunder, disintegrating into ash. The silver sword light slashed past the ministers, carving a trench dozens of zhang long.
"Your Majesty, he blocked the arrows..." The chief minister paled. How could a Grade Seven so easily deflect arrows capable of killing a Grade Seven? The Blood Fiend Dagger, at best, could kill a Grade Seven—no match for Peng Wudi.
"Sword cultivator... He's a sword cultivator!" The emperor trembled, uttering the words.
"What? A sword cultivator! No wonder he blocked the arrows so easily!"
"This is bad! Sword cultivators outclass peers. He might rival Grade Eight—even the dagger can't harm him!"
"We're done! Only summoning the 3,000 iron cavalry and using the dagger can we hope to stop him!"
Ministers panicked. None expected the elder to be a sword cultivator.
"Is this the Great Zhou's heritage? Pathetic," Peng Wudi scoffed. Spiritual energy thundered within him, silver lightning coiling around his body like chains. Surrounded by thunder, he appeared a god of lightning, radiating overwhelmingcoercion.
"Order the Black Armor Cavalry to enter the city! Lord Wang, use the Blood Fiend Sword!" the emperor barked.
"As you command!" A firework rose, and the Zhuque Gate opened. Black-armored cavalry charged in, three abreast, lances ready. On the gate tower, the imperial cultivator slashed his wrist, feeding the Blood Fiend Dagger. The blade glowed blood-red, awakening from its slumber. In an instant, it became a scarlet rainbow as the cultivator slashed at Peng Wudi.
"Flies and dogs dare to die!" Peng Wudi snorted, swinging his sword. Thunderous sword intent split the scarlet rainbow, then cleaved the cultivator and half the gate tower, which collapsed in a cloud of dust.
Turning to the charging cavalry, Peng Wudi sneered. A silver sword ripple surged out,腰斩(Execution by cutting in two at the waist)ing the front rows. The aftershock tripped the rest, turning the street into a bloody inferno of screaming men and horses.