"Pfft!"
The Flood Dragon, nearing the Dragon transformation, opened its mouth in a ferocious bite, swallowing the twelfth-realm demon immortal clad in the Great Shang Dynasty's Imperial Forest Guard armor. In the next moment, its throat bulged. The twelfth-realm demon sword immortal, unwilling to die, desperately pushed his sword intent, and faint traces of sword Qi began to seep out from the gaps between the Flood Dragon's scales.
"Wuwuwu!!!"
The Flood Dragon tightly shut its mouth, its body emanating a boundless demonic energy. Innumerable innate markings pulsed, reinforcing its physical body. Simultaneously, malevolent energy surged from within, engulfing the struggling twelfth-realm demon immortal. This Flood Dragon was, after all, a thirteenth-realm being. In the demon realm, the disparity in cultivation was as vast as the heavens. Thus, the twelfth-realm demon immortal was naturally suppressed. After a dozen strands of sword Qi seeped through the scale gaps, the twelfth-realm demon immortal's aura was completely subdued, overwhelmed by the overflowing demonic energy within the Flood Dragon. In an instant, he lost consciousness and was promptly swallowed by the Flood Dragon.
Amidst a colossal splash, the Flood Dragon flipped and plunged back into the river.
"..."
The sudden turn of events stunned everyone. Zhao Shutong, standing before Zhao Jingheng, had already unleashed her strongest sword intent, her face ashen. She had considered many possibilities, but never that a twelfth-realm demon immortal would be hidden among the Imperial Forest Guards personally protecting Zhao Jingheng. These Guards were all meticulously chosen by her!
"That is..."
Zhao Jingheng's expression was one of horror.
"A twelfth-realm demon sword cultivator, attempting to assassinate Lin Zhao," Zhao Shutong gritted her teeth and said. "Then, it was swallowed in one gulp by a thirteenth-realm Flood Dragon. Currently... I don't know what happened or why."
Zhao Jingheng looked up at Lin Zhao, only to see the young, white-robed Nascent Soul sword cultivator standing on his flying sword. His snow-white cloak fluttered in the evening breeze. He remained unperturbed, showing no sign of panic, as if everything was within his control. After all, the assassin was a twelfth-realm demon sword cultivator!
For a moment, Zhao Jingheng's respect for Lin Baiyi of the Snow Region Heavenly Pool deepened.
In reality, Lin Zhao, standing on his flying sword, frowned. He had noticed the twelfth-realm demon sword cultivator when he stepped out from the Imperial Forest Guard. However, Lin Zhao felt assured, with Gu Lingyu guarding him, what threat could a twelfth-realm demon sword cultivator pose? At this moment, he inexplicably felt that Gu Lingyu was capable of defeating a twelfth-realm demon sword cultivator!
In other words, if Gu Lingyu were in Gu Zixi's position during those five great battles, she would likely win, perhaps even capable of beheading the twelfth-realm great demon Lu Hai back then!
...
"..."
From afar, Lin Yan's expression became complex, a mixture of shock and guilt. He was shocked by the sudden appearance of the twelfth-realm demon sword cultivator, something he had never anticipated or detected. A twelfth-realm demon sword cultivator hidden within the Imperial Forest Guard protecting the Human Emperor – if his target had been Zhao Jingheng, the Great Shang Dynasty would undoubtedly have a new ruler.
However, it seemed that for this twelfth-realm demon sword cultivator, killing Lin Zhao held far greater significance than killing a Human Emperor. And in fact, it appeared to be so. If Zhao Jingheng were killed, the Great Shang Dynasty would merely select another successor from among the princes. After all, as long as Zhao Qiyang, Lin Yan, and Zhao Shutong remained, the court would not fall into chaos. But if Lin Zhao were killed, the Mountain Peak Villa would immediately become leaderless. The reason this group of people gathered at the Mountain Peak Villa, to put it plainly, was because of Lin Zhao. Therefore, despite Lin Zhao's low cultivation of merely ninth-realm, he might be more important to the entire human race than a Human Emperor.
As for why Lin Yan felt guilty, it was even simpler. His current alliance with Prince JInan, Zhao Qiyang, to enshrine the new River God was, in essence, to consolidate the Great Shang Dynasty's control over the land and to weaken the influence of the independent powers in the north, such as the Snow Region Heavenly Pool, the Xi Jian River, and the Fusang Great Wall. Yet, he never would have imagined that the demon race would secretly send someone to participate in this scheme, and a twelfth-realm sword immortal would be hidden within the Imperial Forest Guard. What if this twelfth-realm great demon had killed Zhao Jingheng with a single sword?
After all, Lin Yan was a veteran of the previous dynasty. If such a thing had happened, how could he face the late Emperor in the afterlife?
...
Even further away, Zhao Qiyang, protected by a host of Shan Hai Si cultivators, had a cold expression. He had never anticipated such a turn of events. A twelfth-realm demon immortal was so vulnerable, instantly swallowed by a Flood Dragon that surged from the water? For a moment, Zhao Qiyang's mind was in disarray, but he could not afford to lose composure. He immediately shouted, "What are you all waiting for? Protect His Majesty and retreat! Quickly, all soldiers on both banks prepare for battle! Aerial spirit vessels, prepare to deal with any changes in the Xi Jian River!"
At this moment, the thirteenth-realm Flood Dragon in the river seemed to have become the target of everyone's attention.
In the sky, the Great Shang Dynasty's war spirit vessels hovered, their dark cannons aimed at the river. Soldiers on both banks rushed out of the jungle. On the north bank, dense ranks of Cang Nan Iron Cavalry and Rock Army arrived at the river's edge, their steel swords and spears pointed at the water. On the south bank, the Lin Lu Legion and others also drew their blades. The atmosphere of impending conflict around the River God Shrine became incredibly intense.
In the sky, Lin Zhao frowned.
The sudden appearance of a thirteenth-realm Flood Dragon that instantly killed the twelfth-realm demon sword cultivator attempting to assassinate him happened too quickly. But as he looked towards the riverbed, his heart suddenly stirred, and a smile appeared. His long-lost spiritual connection with Lin Xingchu had reappeared. He could once again sense Lin Xingchu's aura!
...
"There's something happening in the river!"
Lin Yan shouted, "Prepare to intercept the enemy! Lin Fu, guard His Majesty!"
Instantly, a扈从 cultivator from Prince JInan's estate soared into the sky. He was an old man in a deep red robe, radiating potent spiritual energy. A twelfth-realm cultivator, such a person was considered a top figure even in Baidi City. Even Cao Ying and Huang Qingning would have to treat him with respect. And such a person was willing to serve as Lin Yan's retainer, showcasing Lin Yan's exceptional skill in managing people.
"..."
After ascending, Lin Fu's first action was not to attend to the situation in the river, but to cast a chilling gaze at Lin Zhao. It was this brat who had ruined his master's plans. In fact, Lin Fu harbored murderous intent towards Lin Zhao. It didn't matter if they were of the same clan; he had to be killed. This was the so-called ruthless Great Dao.
Lin Zhao frowned, not bothering to acknowledge such a person.
At this moment, a vortex slowly opened within the river. Da Feng Novel Network.
"Hmm?"
Lin Fu frowned and said, "This place is full of human cultivators. Do you still dare to rampage?"
Saying so, Lin Fu spread his sleeves, unleashing a sea of fire that covered a radius of several hundred meters, even reaching Lin Zhao's location. This was a malicious act; if he could take down Lin Zhao along the way, why not?
Gu Lingyu lightly raised a finger, piercing through the fiery wave. A Confucian True Intent directly enveloped himself and Lin Zhao, shielding them from the spiritual energy and flames. He frowned and looked at Lin Zhao, "Junior Uncle?"
Though he was asking, if Lin Zhao nodded, Gu Lingyu would undoubtedly fight with all his might against this person. Such a malicious individual deserved to die.
Lin Zhao merely shook his head. There was a change in the riverbed, and this Lin Fu was too arrogant. Gu Lingyu did not need to act; someone would kill him naturally.
...
"Go!"
Lin Fu unleashed a torrent of spiritual energy flames, suddenly sending them towards the river with both hands, and roared, "Boil away this river!"
Endless flames swept across the great river. As a mid-twelfth-realm cultivator, Lin Fu's methods were indeed extraordinary, and he was not a rogue cultivator but a renowned great cultivator listed in the Great Shang Dynasty's register of mountains and waters. With a single strike, the surface of the river began to recede at a visible speed, not because the water was pushed down, but because it was directly evaporated and ascended!
The onlookers on both banks stared in astonishment. Cao Ying, Huang Qingning, and others were slightly surprised, not expecting Lin Yan's retainer to possess such power. No wonder the Lin family remained unshakable in Baidi City; such a foundation was beyond the reach of ordinary noble families.
"Sir."
Ni Zhi, Chu Yu, and Mu Zha had already floated back to Lin Zhao's side. Protecting Lin Zhao's safety was the utmost priority for everyone at Mountain Peak Villa. Gu Lingyu also retracted his divine abilities, his hands clasped behind his back. His eyes quietly gazed at the river, as if trying to see through the mystery beneath the water, but he couldn't. The cultivation of the two beneath the river was too high, directly repelling Gu Lingyu's probe, giving him a sense of being pressured by sheer power.
Above the river, Lin Fu's face was flushed crimson, almost fully exerting his spiritual energy to evaporate all the river water near the River God Shrine. However, the Xi Jian River was no ordinary river; it was the largest waterway in the human realm, with abundant water transport. How could it be easily evaporated?
"Cao Ying, Huang Qingning!"
Lin Yan roared from afar, "Guard Lin Fu! The beast beneath the river is very likely a thirteenth-realm great demon!"
"..."
Cao Ying and Huang Qingning's brows furrowed, and they looked at Zhao Qiyang. After all, they were Zhao Qiyang's subordinates. What did Lin Yan mean by trying to command them through Zhao Qiyang?
However, at this very moment, a series of water-imbued vines suddenly surged from the river with astonishing speed, binding Lin Fu in the air. Following this, the river water surged, and the thirteenth-realm Flood Dragon reappeared. The Flood Dragon's head was impossibly large. As it broke the surface, it arrogantly shouted, "This humble one is acting under the Empress's command, here to feast!"
"Pfft!"
With another lightning-fast bite, the bound twelfth-realm Lin Fu was swallowed by the thirteenth-realm Flood Dragon before he could even utter a sound. What astonished everyone on both banks even more was that this Flood Dragon had only one horn. Standing on its head was a woman clad in golden armor, tall in stature. She held a great golden sword in one hand and supported the remaining horn with the other. Behind her, a cape trailed, embodying the entire river's transport of the Xi Jian River.
Fourteenth-realm Lin Xingchu, returned to the mortal world!