Watching the cavalry collapse, the Zhou Emperor despaired. Sword cultivators were too terrifying—they gave the cavalry no chance to muster spiritual energy. The capital's terrain had hindered them; on open ground, perhaps the cavalry could have struck.
"Emperor of Great Zhou, show me all your tricks! I, Peng Wudi, will accept them," he said, eyeing the emperor with mockery.
The emperor fell silent, out of options.
"It seems you have no more tricks. Let me send you on your way! Today, I will exterminate the Zhou royal family as a warning—so all know the Profound Heaven Immortal Gate cannot be disrespected!" Peng Wudi laughed wildly, advancing on the ministers.
"Your Majesty, let's fight him!"
"Yes, fight! Even in death, we'll make him pay!"
"Together, we might force him back!"
Ministers raised their weapons as Peng Wudi approached.
"Hehe! A swarm of ants—no matter how many, I can crush them with a finger," he scoffed. These Xiantian and Purple Mansion cultivators were no match.
"Is that so? Then try to crush me," a voice sounded behind Peng Wudi. He whirled to see a figure in a bamboo hat and black veil standing on the blood-soaked street.
"Is this... the National Protector?" the emperor gasped in disbelief.
"It must be! Who else would appear now?" The chief minister teared up, overjoyed. Other ministers gaped, seeing their savior.
"You are the Great Zhou's National Protector?" Peng Wudi eyed Lin Yu coldly, but his gaze turned grave.
"National Protector? I've merely eliminated demons and evil in Zhou," Lin Yu shrugged.
"Perfect! You've saved me the trouble," Peng Wudi chuckled, unleashing his Grade Sevencoercion in visible ripples, like crashing waves meant to grind Lin Yu to dust.
Lin Yu snorted, releasing his own Grade Sevencoercion as a solid wall, colliding with the waves in a thunderous roar.
"Myriad Manifestations Grade Seven..." Peng Wudi gasped, stunned. "Which hidden sect do you belong to?" Only hidden sects had such experts.
"Myriad Manifestations Grade Seven..." The Zhou court froze. The emperor never expected the protector to be so powerful.
"Great! He's also Grade Seven! The protector can match him, if not win!" The chief minister sighed in relief.
"But he's a sword cultivator—peerless in his realm. Can the protector stand against him?" The emperor frowned, the term "sword cultivator" weighing on his mind. The chief minister could only hope Lin Yu had the strength.
Lin Yu shook his head. "Enough talk. Attack."
"If you seek death, I'll grant it." Peng Wudi erupted with hundreds of thunderbolts, vanishing and reappearing before Lin Yu in an instant, slashing a fearsome thunderous sword intent.
Rumbling thunder accompanied a silver rainbow striking Lin Yu, shattering the imperial street's jade bricks. Lin Yu summoned the Wind Controlling Sword, unleashing fire intent. A scarlet rainbow clashed with the thunder.
Bang! The street trembled, nearby buildings collapsed. Silver ripples formed a thunder net, vaporizing the cavalry's blood into mist. Peng Wudi staggered back, shocked to see Lin Yu standing firm. "You're not a Buddhist expert—you're a sword cultivator too!"
"What? The protector is a sword cultivator, not Buddhist?"
"Impossible! I visited Lanruo Temple—there were Buddhist auras after the demons were exterminated!"
"Forgot? The protector never revealed himself—Buddhist was just our guess!"
Ministers were stunned.
"Sword cultivator is good! Peng is peerless, but only a sword cultivator can match him!" The emperor laughed.
"Wait! The killer of Elder Feng also used fire intent!" Peng Wudi glared at Lin Yu. "Did you kill Elder Feng, Brother Zhang, and Nephew Jiang?"
"The Profound Heaven Gate is rotten to the core. I cleansed your sect of trash—you should thank me," Lin Yu admitted freely. As the protector, the gate would blame Zhou. Helping Zhou while leaving them a headache was a fair trade for the chance to kill Peng Wudi and advance to Grade Eight.
"Good, very good! So the Great Zhou did this!" Peng Wudi snarled, sweeping his gaze. "Those who harm Profound Heaven disciples shall die! Today, all of you will join Elder Feng in death!"