East Commandery was a place well-suited for recuperating and building strength.
Large numbers of pirates roamed those waters.
To others it might be a perilous land, yet to him it was the perfect training ground for troops.
“No need to thank me. You earned this with your own achievements, not because I bestowed it upon you.”
Feng Yin Shan’s words were gracefully spoken.
In truth, everyone knew that without someone in court to speak for you, even the most legendary military exploits were useless.
Take the earlier case of Ji Ning. He had already accumulated dazzling battle honours, yet he was exiled to a desolate wasteland like Northern Desert where even birds refused to shit.
This time he had nearly lost his life as well.
With the rewards concluded, the next step was naturally punishment.
Feng Yin Shan looked coolly at Sikong Zun and asked, “Sikong Zun, do you acknowledge your crimes?”
“Hmph. This marshal has acted openly and upright. What crime have I committed!”
Sikong Zun snorted coldly.
“The facts are clear as day, yet you still dare to be stubborn. Very well, it seems there is no need for this prince to question you further. Men, bind Sikong Zun and execute him on the spot!”
Feng Yin Shan wanted to cut through the mess quickly. No matter the method, as long as Sikong Zun died, the whole world would be at peace.
“Let me see who dares touch me!”
Sikong Zun stood there, electric light crackling all over his body like a thunder god. No one dared approach him.
This was the reality of strength.
When you possessed absolute power, even if you truly committed a crime, nobody could carry out the sentence.
Sikong Zun no longer intended to argue.
In fact, from the moment Feng Ming Wu Liang departed, he had known there was no point in defending himself. No defence would help.
He believed instead that Feng Ming Wu Liang would never stand by and watch him die. Someone would come to rescue him.
As long as one person of comparable strength appeared, he could escape easily. Even the Moon Goddess beside Ling Xiao would not be able to stop him.
“Your Highness the Prince, may this subject be permitted to kill Sikong Zun with my own hands?”
Ji Ning stepped forward.
He wanted to avenge his sworn brother Lü Chenglong.
He wanted to kill Sikong Zun personally.
Moreover, among those present, very few could kill Sikong Zun. Apart from the Moon Goddess, he was probably the only one.
If he did not act, who would?
“Permission granted!”
Feng Yin Shan declared firmly.
“Thank you!”
Ji Ning drew a deep breath. Fine rain began drifting from the sky, as though the heavens themselves were weeping for the dead Lü Chenglong.
“Brother, your elder brother will avenge you right now!”
Ji Ning charged at Sikong Zun with his spear, launching into fierce combat without another word.
The rain grew heavier, yet everyone in the square remained motionless, silently watching the battle.
Originally, Ji Ning’s strength slightly surpassed Sikong Zun’s.
But because he was injured, he was now at a disadvantage.
After only a few exchanges, he had completely lost the upper hand.
Even so, Ji Ning refused to give up.
Suddenly, a Taiji pupil appeared in Ling Xiao’s left eye.
Powerful soul force enveloped the entire high platform.
From Ling Xiao’s mouth burst forth a battle song:
Pride, proud laughter, defying ten thousand waves.
Hot blood, burning brighter than the blazing sun.
Courage forged like iron, bones tempered like fine steel.
A heart vast enough for a hundred thousand zhang.
Vision that stretches ten thousand li.
Vowing to strive and grow stronger.
To be a true hero.
Be a real man.
Strengthen yourself every day.
A hot-blooded man.
Burning hotter than the sun’s rays.
Let sea and sky gather energy for me.
To split heaven and earth.
To charge forward for my ideals.
Behold the mighty green waves.
Behold the vast blue sky, heroic spirit soaring!
A true man must be strong!
Stride proudly, chest high, become pillars of the state.
Be true heroes!
With my hundred points of heat,
Radiate a thousand times the light.
Be a real man.
Hot blood, hot heart, hot passion.
Burning hotter than the sun’s rays!
Amidst the battle song, red light blazed from Ji Ning’s body, and his fighting spirit surged like a raging river.
He actually reversed the declining momentum, seized the initiative, and forced Sikong Zun into steady retreat.
Tears filled Ji Ning’s eyes.
The battle song now echoed throughout the entire imperial capital.
What was happening?
Sikong Zun could not understand where this sudden explosive power inside Ji Ning had come from.
It was simply terrifying.
It was as if something had detonated within him.
He turned to glance at Ling Xiao and discovered the youth was still singing the battle song.
That was it. It was him!
Sikong Zun’s heart sank completely.
Ling Xiao! Ling Xiao again!
This Ling Xiao was clearly weaker than him, yet he was like a nightmare that always appeared at the most critical moments to ruin his plans.
If Ling Xiao had not come, he could have executed Ji Ning and the others smoothly and seized complete control!
If not for Ling Xiao, the blood mirror would never have appeared here, Jiumo Zhiyan’s memories would never have been released, and he would not be in such a passive position.
What infuriated him even more was that Ji Ning had not only regained his position but had been made King of the Northern Border.
Ling Xiao, a mere sixteen-year-old youth, had become King of Tianlong and gained his own territory.
And now, he himself was being beaten back by the injured Ji Ning.
Everything, absolutely everything, stemmed from this sixteen-year-old boy.
This fellow was a monster far more terrifying than any prodigy.
If another chance arose in the future, he would never again resort to schemes. The moment he encountered Ling Xiao, he would kill him outright.
“Damn it!”
Sikong Zun was pierced by Ji Ning’s spear, then blasted backwards, crashing heavily onto the ground. For a moment his eyes lost focus.
That strike from Ji Ning had truly been heavy, wounding Sikong Zun gravely on the spot.
But it was still not enough!
With only that, Sikong Zun would not die.
Ji Ning raised his spear and attacked again.
He knew today was the best opportunity to kill Sikong Zun. If he missed it, such a perfect chance might never come again.
Yet at that very moment, a ferocious gust of wind swept down from the sky, blocking Ji Ning’s path.
“Look over there!”
Five figures had appeared in the sky at once.
All five wore masks over their faces.
Clearly they did not wish to reveal their identities.
Anyone capable of stopping Ji Ning with a single blow had to be at least at the Yin-Yang Realm.
Through his Taiji Eye, Ling Xiao had already seen through the newcomers’ identities.
The State Preceptor, Feng Ming Wanzhong, ******, Feng Ming Dahai, and one stranger Ling Xiao had never met. That stranger felt more terrifying than the other four, yet his cultivation was still within the Yin-Yang Realm, not beyond it.
“Who are you? How dare you interfere with the execution of justice?” The very thing Feng Yin Shan had feared most had finally happened.
Five such experts had suddenly appeared in the imperial capital. Did this mean Sikong Zun truly could not be killed?
“Feng Yin Shan, will you choose to let Sikong Zun die, or shall we destroy the imperial capital?”
The speaker was the stranger.
His tone made it clear he was the sort who could turn the world upside down with a wave of his hand.
“Destroy the imperial capital!”
Feng Yin Shan was stunned.
He could tell the man was not joking.
These people were actually willing to raze the capital of the Divine Phoenix Empire for the sake of one Sikong Zun!
Sikong Zun truly had a charmed life.
“He must die!”
Ji Ning wanted vengeance for his brother. He would not yield to their threats.
“Courting death!”
One of the masked figures intercepted Ji Ning.
Ling Xiao recognised him as Feng Ming Dahai, commander of the Mirror Division and the Emperor’s most trusted confidant.
The imperial family was truly complicated beyond measure.
“The Great General must kill Sikong Zun to avenge Lü Chenglong. Leave this one to me.”
Feng Qingyan stepped in, blocking the masked Feng Ming Dahai.
His strength was no less than that of Feng Ming Dahai.
