With the appearance of the Patrol Angel, everyone immediately ceased fighting, not daring to continue.
“Why is a Patrol Angel here?”
Xing Yuan’s brows furrowed deeply.
To destroy Saint Ming City and Peacock Manor, they had already cleared their plans with higher authorities. Even if blood flowed like rivers, the Patrol Angel shouldn’t have intervened.
Yet now, a Patrol Angel appeared, and conveniently right after Zhang Ruochen killed Shang Ziqi—too coincidental.
Kunlun Realm was vast, with more than one or two Patrol Angels, each with different origins. The four dominant realms all had Great Saints serving as Kunlun’s Patrol Angels.
This silver-armored Patrol Angel, without a doubt, likely hailed from one of the four dominant realms—Demon God Realm.
“Greetings, Patrol Angel.”
The cultivators on the ground saluted the silver-armored Patrol Angel.
The Patrol Angel looked down, his grand voice carrying the weight of a Great Saint’s pressure, resonating across the ground: “Merit Wars forbid internal strife. You’ve ignored Heavenly Palace’s divine laws by fighting here. What is your crime?”
Zhang Ruochen stood tall, neither servile nor overbearing. “This conflict was instigated by the Paradise Realm faction. We acted in self-defense. I ask the Patrol Angel to judge fairly.”
“Patrol Angel, the truth isn’t as Zhang Ruochen claims. The real situation is…” Xing Yuan began to explain.
Before he could finish, the silver-armored Patrol Angel cut him off. “No need for words. Regardless of the cause, your internal strife is a fact. Violating Heavenly Palace’s divine laws demands punishment.”
Xing Yuan swallowed his unspoken words, lacking the courage to challenge a Patrol Angel.
Angering a Patrol Angel could lead to merciless execution, with no recourse for justice.
“Punishment? Shouldn’t there be evidence? Actually… this maiden was never here,” said Thousand-Star Maiden, disguised as a handsome man, with a laugh.
With that, she crushed a talisman, transforming into a streak of light and vanishing instantly.
Her speed was so great that even the Patrol Angel couldn’t intercept her.
Since Thousand-Star Maiden hadn’t revealed her true face, she wasn’t worried about being tracked.
“Hm? One escaped, and quite swiftly,” the silver-armored Patrol Angel remarked, mildly surprised.
He unleashed an even more terrifying Great Saint pressure, the sky flashing with lightning and thunder, his aura locking onto everyone on the battlefield below.
Anyone else attempting to flee would face severe consequences.
Others noticed someone had escaped but had no idea who it was.
Zhang Ruochen, however, had a guess. A stranger had aided him, even killing the illusion-master Huan Ji at a critical moment. He had a hunch about their identity.
He was puzzled, though, wondering why they’d risk helping him when they shared no such bond.
“You’ve violated divine laws, deserving severe punishment. Heavenly retribution, wiping you all out, wouldn’t be excessive.”
“But with the war between Celestial Court and Hell Realm raging, we need warriors. Thus, I’ll spare your lives.”
“However, while death is spared, punishment is not. All who engaged in this strife must endure ten heavenly thunderbolts and remain on Kunlun Realm’s Merit Battlefield for one year.”
The Patrol Angel’s authoritative voice brooked no argument.
Xing Yuan’s eyes flashed with cold light. By now, he could tell this Patrol Angel was blatantly favoring Zhang Ruochen’s side, deliberately targeting the Paradise Realm faction.
After all, in this battle outside Peacock Manor, though Zhang Ruochen’s side was on the defensive, the Paradise Realm faction suffered greater losses.
Zhang Ruochen had killed five top powerhouses—Shang Ziqi, Feng Gudao, Zi Linglong, Chi Sheng, and Gu Tianyin—each with formidable backgrounds.
Additionally, Huan Ji and two other top powerhouses fell to the mysterious figure who escaped.
By Heavenly Palace’s divine laws, Zhang Ruochen’s actions warranted death.
Yet now, the punishment was merely ten thunderbolts and a year’s confinement—a slap on the wrist, practically an excuse for Zhang Ruochen.
Considering the Patrol Angel appeared only after Shang Ziqi’s death, Xing Yuan suspected he had been watching from beyond, waiting for Zhang Ruochen to kill Shang Ziqi.
The four dominant realms were never truly harmonious, always in competition.
This time, the Paradise Realm faction had clearly been outmaneuvered by the Demon God Realm faction.
“It was clearly them…” Bao Lie began, indignant, wanting to argue with the Patrol Angel.
In his view, the Paradise Realm faction started this, making them the victims. Only the Paradise Realm faction should be punished.
Zhang Ruochen flashed to Bao Lie’s side, placing a hand on his shoulder to stop him from continuing.
He wasn’t foolish. He could see the Patrol Angel was at odds with the Paradise Realm faction, intentionally curbing their arrogance.
If they challenged the Patrol Angel now, they’d be overstepping.
Zhang Ruochen was grateful for the Patrol Angel’s intervention. Continued fighting would likely disadvantage his side.
Though Xiao Hei boasted confidence in wiping out the Paradise Realm faction, Zhang Ruochen remained cautious. One misstep could lead to their annihilation.
With minimal losses and Shang Ziqi slain, ending the battle now was ideal.
As for the remaining Paradise Realm powerhouses, there’d be plenty of time to settle scores later.
“Since there are no objections, prepare to receive your punishment.”
The silver-armored Patrol Angel spoke calmly.
“Boom.”
Hundreds of terrifying thunderbolts descended, like thunder dragons unleashed.
Each bolt targeted a figure on the battlefield, sparing no one.
As punishment, resistance was forbidden; they could only endure.
The thunderbolts were immensely powerful, each capable of shattering stars.
Those uninjured could withstand them with ease.
But the wounded struggled, each bolt exacerbating their injuries.
After ten consecutive thunderbolts, even Zhang Ruochen spat blood.
Already gravely injured, enduring ten powerful thunderbolts while standing upright was no small feat.
“This is but a minor reprimand. Learn your lesson and do not violate divine laws again.”
With those words, the towering figure in the heavens vanished, the terrifying Great Saint pressure dissipating swiftly.
“Phew.”
The cultivators on the ground exhaled in relief.
Facing a Patrol Angel was deeply unsettling, oppressive for all.
