This scoundrel is a bit of a swordsman.

Chapter 230 The Palace Comes to Life

Emperor Wu's sudden outburst was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, causing a huge uproar in Yong'an.

Xiao Xingchen, who had already sat down and was engaged in a fierce verbal battle with many experts, stood up abruptly like a startled bird.

He could feel the volcanic rage emanating from Emperor Wu, let alone others.

Everyone present was a chosen one of their respective nations. With Emperor Wu's furious roar, everyone in the imperial palace was stunned into silence, as if struck by lightning.

"Emperor Wu is furious; something earth-shattering must be happening in the imperial palace."

King Chun of Great Yan looked around at the crowd with disbelief, his eyes seeming to question, "What kind of trouble are you all causing now?"

Especially when he looked at the Grand Elder of the Water Area, he revealed a thoughtful expression.

"Don't look at me like that. I have no interest in Emperor Wu's palace. Besides, we people from the Water Region are all here. Do you really think those juniors would dare to go to the palace and provoke Emperor Wu?"

Shangguan Yun snorted coldly, while Yun Xiyao, standing to the side, exuded a chilling aura, furious at the malicious gazes directed at her.

"That's strange. With all of you influential figures like Shuiyu, Dayan, Dali, and Zhan Shuai here, who else would dare to provoke the Martial Emperor? Tsk tsk, you really have some guts."

Xiao Xingchen had a meaningful smile on his lips, and he sighed inwardly, "Strange things happen every year, but this year there seem to be more than usual."

He shook his head helplessly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, only to be met with blank stares in return.

Clearly, no one could figure out who was so bold as to dare to break into the imperial palace.

"How about we go take a look?" Xizhu, skilled and bold, voiced everyone's thoughts.

"Ahem...I'm afraid that's not a good idea. After all, that's the imperial palace, a den of dragons and tigers. If we rashly barge in and incur the wrath of the Martial Emperor, who might wipe us all out, that would be the worst misfortune imaginable."

Li Jinxian of Dali coughed twice in succession, while the elder of the Dali clan in front of him remained silent, head bowed in deep thought, as if pondering something important.

"Are you really not going?"

Xizhu's voice was as alluring as a nightingale's song. She blinked her bright, watery eyes and asked in a sweet voice.

"Uh……"

For a moment, everyone hesitated, as if a voice inside them was shouting: "We really want to go in and see!" However, reason told them that Yong'an was worlds apart from the Imperial Palace.

They can wield great power in Yong'an, but once they step into the imperial palace, it's like a weasel paying respects to a chicken—they have no good intentions, and one wrong move and they'll be mired in a quagmire from which they can't extricate themselves.

"How about I go take a look? After all, I am the Prince of Kao Shan. Please be patient, everyone. I'll be right back."

Xiao Xingchen had no such scruples. Like an arrow released from a bow, he left without hesitation and disappeared from the main hall in an instant.

"Ruoxue, I'll leave this place to you. I'm going to join in the fun."

Huangfu Lingxue whispered, then leaped away like a light swallow, disappearing from everyone's sight in the blink of an eye.

"What superb skill!" Shangguan Yun couldn't help but exclaim. This movement technique was as fluid as flowing water, comparable to Yun Xiyao's. If enhanced by a corresponding level of cultivation, it might even surpass Yun Xiyao.

"This eldest princess of the Great Qian Dynasty is truly a hidden talent. Judging from this, she is definitely not an ordinary person."

Prince Chun sat back down like a steady mountain, awaiting news.

"Aren't any of you going?"

Ruoxue's mischievous, bell-like voice rang out again. This voice was like a sharp sword, piercing through the crowd's cold snorts. They all sat back down, looking as if it were none of their business, like a group of indifferent bystanders.

"Since everyone has chosen to wait, let's not think about anything else. Let's treat you to good wine and food and wait for their news to come back."

"I'm going there. Shan Liang, you stay here."

Xizhu's voice was as clear and crisp as a nightingale's song. She nodded slightly to Ruoxue, and then her figure shattered like a phantom in front of the many big shots. Her aura vanished without a trace, causing everyone's brows to furrow tightly, as if they were shrouded in an invisible pressure.

"This..." Shangguan Yun was even more stunned. This woman's movements were like a ghost, making it impossible to guard against.

"Hmm?" A hint of doubt appeared on Yun Xiyao's face. She remained silent and chased after him like a bolt of lightning, causing Shangguan Yun to shake his head helplessly.

"Gentlemen, you've all kept this well hidden. Why don't we discuss what it is about the Great Qian that attracts so many unknown, reclusive masters?"

His gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, fixed on Shan Liang, and he spoke slowly.

Leaving aside what happened at the Prince of Kao Shan's mansion, the commotion caused by Emperor Wu's anger was like a raging storm, far beyond what people like Yong'an could withstand.

Within the imperial palace, thanks to the astrologer's underhanded machinations, the previously collapsing Small Heavenly Circuit suddenly emerged like a phoenix rising from the ashes, radiating renewed vitality.

The Dragon Pattern Army within the formation had already sensed the Emperor's wrath. Wang Mang was somewhat bewildered. Although the meteors fell like raindrops, the great hall stood proudly amidst the raging flames, like an indestructible fortress.

Just as he was about to remove the Zhou Tian Grand Array, a mysterious and powerful new force poured in from nowhere like a surging torrent. The Dragon Pattern Imperial Guards, who were already exhausted, suddenly became invigorated, as if they had inexhaustible power in their bodies, and rebuilt the indestructible grand array.

"Wang Mang, stop right now! How dare you disobey my decree?"

Emperor Wu was furious. As the Small Heavenly Cycle Formation was revitalized like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the formation became an indestructible wall, separating the outside world from the main hall into two completely different worlds.

The cracks in the dome of the great array began to repair and heal as if stitched together by a skilled hand, completely obscuring the view of everyone outside.

"Astrologer, are you tired of living?" Emperor Wu glared at the observatory with eyes wide open, like an enraged lion.

However, at first glance, the astrologer looked as listless as a candle in the wind, lying motionless on the ground, and even faint breathing could be heard from the observatory, as if the astrologer was struggling to survive after suffering a severe injury.

"How could this be? Is there a powerful enemy in the shadows?"

At this moment, Emperor Wu soared into the air like a roc spreading its wings and began to survey the entire imperial palace.

He could hardly believe that the astrologer had orchestrated a dramatic scene of being attacked and seriously injured, while secretly channeling the power of the Great Circulation into him.

He was confident that this attack would expose the greatest secret in the imperial palace.

If that mysterious figure from the Great Zhou Dynasty doesn't show up, then he can only accept his fate.

As the Emperor's power spread like a tidal wave, the people in the imperial palace felt as if Mount Tai were pressing down on them, looking up at the sky in disbelief, as if the heavens and earth were collapsing and the end of the world was coming.

Consort Xian had no time to pay attention to Emperor Wu's amazing performance. Taking advantage of the moment when the formation cracked, she swiftly slipped into the formation like a cunning rabbit.

When she finally entered the palace, she suddenly realized why Emperor Wu was so furious.

It turned out that the Immortal Lord had already been killed or injured by the rain of falling meteorites. The area outside the main hall was a mess, with meteorite craters scattered everywhere, as if telling the story of the horrific attack that had taken place here.

Under such a terrifying attack, even she was not confident of surviving, yet the great hall remained completely unscathed. How could this not be astonishing?

Wang Mang and the Dragon-Patterned Imperial Guards were all like madmen, desperately drawing upon their own power. A mighty force, as powerful as a sea of ​​hell, descended from the sky, like divine punishment descending upon the world, surging towards the palace like a tidal wave.

With a deafening roar, it seemed as if the entire world had been torn apart by the sound. The great formation fell into complete silence. The virtuous concubine was struck dumb, her eyes becoming dazed and confused, as if the collision had distorted even spacetime.

Whether it was an illusion or reality, she saw several enormous tentacles, like the arms of demons, fly out of the palace and collide violently with Tianwei.

The earth trembled, and the entire palace, under the oppressive force of the heavens, sank into the ground like a giant unable to bear the weight, as if pressed into the earth by an invisible giant hand. The Lesser Heavenly Cycle Formation also cracked like a fragile spider web under this terrifying power, utterly unable to withstand the arrival of this majestic heavenly might.

However, what is shocking is that although the palace was sunk, it still retains its original appearance, as if it were an indestructible fortress.

This scene left Consort Xian and the imperial guards with dragon patterns completely dumbfounded, frozen in place like clay sculptures.

What terrifying power that is! It couldn't even destroy a palace. What kind of mysterious entity is this?

Countless questions flooded their minds. Wang Mang stared in disbelief at everything beneath his feet; from his vantage point, everything appeared so clear.

This palace is alive! Yes, it's alive!

The instant the heavenly might descended, he saw with his own eyes countless tentacles extending from the palace, as hard as steel, stubbornly resisting the terrifying attack of the heavenly might.

Even more strikingly, within the palace stood a pair of enormous blue eyes, like a deep ocean, glaring fiercely at him. That single glance sent chills down his spine, filling him with fear and bewilderment.

At this moment, he finally understood why Emperor Wu was so furious.

What is hidden here would likely captivate even someone from the Ninth Heaven.

This creature does not exist in the annals of history; it is a living being never before discovered by humankind. Its enormous body is like a moving mountain; its blue eyes, like the deep starry sky, inspire awe; its writhing tentacles, like the fangs of a demon, bring endless terror and fear.

This was a kind of terror that Wang Mang had never experienced in his entire life, as if evil spirits from the deepest hell had descended upon him. Even if ghosts and gods actually appeared before him, he probably wouldn't be trembling like this now.

"Men! Seize all the Dragon-Patterned Imperial Guards!"

As the great formation collapsed, shadowy figures appeared behind Emperor Wu like ghosts. They instantly sealed off the outer perimeter of the palace like hungry wolves pouncing on their prey. Then, in pairs, they pounced on Wang Mang like hungry tigers. In the blink of an eye, the Dragon Pattern Imperial Guards, including Wang Mang, were subdued.

Lou Yi looked at the charred palace that looked like it had been burned by flames, and felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, as if the world was spinning, and he almost fell to the ground.

Apart from the main hall, all that could be seen was a desolate wasteland, with no sign of human life.

He also noticed the unscathed palace, but he dared not ask a single question. Clearly, Emperor Wu was furious, and all the imperial guards, including Wang Mang, were silenced.

"Martial law is in effect at the Imperial Palace. No one is allowed to enter or leave!"

Emperor Wu's voice boomed through the air like thunder, and a series of orders came from his mouth. People hidden in the shadows appeared and disappeared like ghosts.

Consort Xian, who was in hiding, took in everything. Then, without looking back, she ran out. She saw that the moment Emperor Wu broke through the formation and rushed in, the palace actually twitched as if it were alive, and a blood-red liquid seeped out from the outer wall of the palace.

The fact that this great hall was actually inhabited by a living being made her too afraid to think about it any further, and she vanished from the place like a frightened bird.

Only after Emperor Wu was certain that everyone around him had been captured did his icy, chilling voice ring out, as cold as the wind on a freezing night.

"Within a radius of five miles, not a single soldier was spared. The Dragon-Patterned Imperial Guards, who plotted rebellion, were all thrown into the ancestral temple."