"Fellow Masters, seize the opportunity!"
At this moment, within the stone chamber, Emperor Jingwu took out a piece of jade talisman.
This was an Inch Talisman given to him by Jingming Daoist, containing the mystical intricacies of space magic.
Emperor Jingwu’s expression was slightly tinged with fondness.
This was the first talisman related to cultivation that he had ever obtained.
He had once imagined that someday he could travel great distances without relying on talismans.
But now it seemed there was no hope for that. Clutching the jade talisman, a hint of spiritual mechanism flowed out, and his figure disappeared from the spot in an instant.
Before leaving, he glanced at the numerous concubines, princes, and princesses around him.
His eyes were filled with affection and reluctance.
"Let’s go too!"
Several elders, all with the character ’Dong’ in their titles, had already prepared. Talismans appeared in their hands, or they used escape techniques and treasures, transforming into streaks of light as they wrapped their disciples and scattered.
Inside the stone chamber, many concubines stared numbly at this scene, their eyes filled with despair and anger.
"Trying to run?"
Above, several True Monarchs watched this scene, their expressions changing, as their vast primordial spirit divine sense first scanned Jingming Daoist and the four who were leaping through space to leave, about to pursue, but then briefly noticed Emperor Jingwu standing alone below the Observatory Platform.
Compared to the three Jingming Daoist took away, it was Emperor Jingwu here who was the primary target for everyone.
After a brief consideration, the True Monarchs made their decision!
"Kill!"
True Monarch Jin Chen’s eyes glowed coldly. He no longer cared about the huge backlash from dragon slaying, as countless cold light swords in his hand rang and reflected in the sky.
A powerful sword intent immediately threatened downward.
The Dong Shen Ancestor also saw this scene and furrowed his eyebrows, understanding Emperor Jingwu’s intentions. Emperor Jingwu wanted to use his life to buy a chance of survival for others.
However, this was something neither he nor Qianhai True Monarch wished to see.
Currently, the National Destiny Dragon Soul was on Emperor Jingwu. If something happened to him, the Dragon Soul would perish too. Losing the Dragon Soul to stabilize the national destiny, countless evils would immediately rebound, significantly affecting his and Qianhai True Monarch’s combat power.
His good disciple surely understood this point. Yet, Jingming Daoist, upon reaching this critical moment, likely felt compassion and wanted to create a survival chance for Dongzhen, Dongxuan, Dong Jue, and other sect members.
Indeed, as long as Emperor Jingwu was dead, the likelihood of the other elders and disciples of Dong Shen Temple facing retribution was considerably reduced.
Moreover, as the State Preceptor, he wouldn’t let Emperor Jingwu be slain so swiftly, and this was where the thread of survival for many disciples inside the stone chamber lay.
"This little brat!"
The Dong Shen Ancestor thought grimly.
With a wave of his hand, a golden light appeared, and a copper mirror stood in front of the startled Emperor Jingwu.
That was the Pure Yang Treasure Mirror, a supreme treasure of Dong Shen Temple.
This Pure Yang level magical treasure appeared above Emperor Jingwu’s head, and the sound of tinkling accompanied it, like rain on banana leaves.
Yet above was a rain of swords.
"Fellow Daoist Dong Shen, facing the four of us, you still dare to divert your attention. Today, you might not escape!"
Seeing this scene, True Monarch Qinghe of the Shangqing Sword Sect coldly remarked. The ancient sword in his hand flowed, and a majestic, vast intent circulated from it as he took out a talisman.
This talisman, placed on the ancient sword, added an imposing marvelous power, as if a grand will was channeling through the talisman into it.
All the Great Dao’s laws in the world slightly resonated, as the light from the ancient sword trembled.
As True Monarch Qinghe wielded the ancient sword, it was as if the sky split open, with the cyan sword aura directly targeting the Dong Shen Ancestor, severing the long river of heaven and earth with one stroke.
Feeling the distinct grand will, unlike anything before, the Dong Shen Ancestor’s face darkened.
This shameless True Monarch from the Shangqing Sword Sect dared to borrow the sect’s ancestral power to descend upon himself.
Such grand power was something he couldn’t confront directly, but just then, the Five-Colored Mountain Peak from Primordial Transformation True Monarch and Houyang Ancestor, along with a Divine Seal, broke through the sky toward him.
This immediately placed him in a dire situation.
The Dong Shen Ancestor could only calm himself, as the Thunder God Dharma Aspect coalesced around him, transforming his true body into a Thunder God, surrounded by countless thunderclouds, with a grand thunderous Celestial Palace manifesting behind him, blocking a mountain peak and a seal, while the thunder mace in his hand transformed into five thunder dragons pressing toward Jin Chen Ancestor.
"The Dao practice of Dong Shen has reached such a state?"
From a distance, a purple-clothed young girl, Xin Ziqing, watched the scene with surprise.
The unity realm of the Primordial Spirit True Monarch indicates a harmony of Dao heart and unity, possessing various divine abilities.
But the Dong Shen Ancestor seemed not only to have achieved Primordial Spirit Perfection, but his flesh body had also been refined to an extremely formidable state, accomplishing a leakless Dharma Body through their combination, making him so powerful.
Nonetheless, no matter how strong the Dong Shen Ancestor’s dharma body, it couldn’t replace Emperor Jingwu.
The Emperor was merely a frail mortal, already tottering from the aftershocks of such a great battle, let alone the fact that he seemed to have been gravely wounded.
Xing Ziqing cast a glance at the distant Jingming Daoist, and with the many disciples of Dong Shen Temple scattering in escape, her gaze flickered but ultimately did not make a move. Her vast Divine Sense locked onto some of the remaining members of the Imperial Family in the stone chamber, especially a certain frail Prince.
With a movement of her body, she vanished from the spot.
...
Elsewhere within the Imperial Palace, two figures were gazing in the direction of the Observatory Platform.
In front of the two, a Cyan Mirror was manifesting the chaotic scene atop the Observatory Platform.
The Golden Radiance Saint Mother had already rescued Liu Rui from the Celestial Prison. At this moment, Liu Rui’s eyes were cold and icy.
She watched as Jingming Daoist, Empress Qi, and two other adult Princes disappeared into the void and then spoke to the Golden Radiance Saint Mother.
"Master, in the past, Former Shu was nearly exterminated by Wei Yuanyang. Today, I must return tooth for tooth, blood for blood!"
"I beseech you, Master, to help me avenge this blood feud!"
The Golden Radiance Saint Mother’s expression shifted slightly upon hearing this. She looked at Liu Rui and said.
"Very well. Eliminating the obsession in your heart might just be the moment you achieve your Primordial Spirit!"
With a wave of her hand, the Cyan Mirror dissipated, and the two figures turned into an invisible ripple, heading into the void.
...
Outside of Haojing City, Jingming Daoist hurriedly fled towards the depths of the void with three others, like a shooting star, as he sought a secluded location far from here to settle temporarily.
But in an instant, Jingming Daoist’s expression changed as he saw a stream of golden light rushing from behind, slicing through the thick spherical void runes that surrounded him.
"Not good!"
Startled beyond measure, Jingming Daoist used the Cave God Seal to fend off the brunt of the attack. His Magical Power swept up the three others, who were shocked and horrified, turning them into a shooting star plummeting towards the ground.
But the golden light from behind did not relent.
"Jingming traitor, prepare to die!"
At this moment, Jingming Daoist protected the other three with his Magical Power. As the golden light broke through the sky, his expression changed dramatically, and he could only muster the Protective Spell to try to resist.
At this moment, an invisible figure stepped out from the void, countless earthen-yellow lights swirling and instantly enveloping the four of them.
The earthy Magical Power flowed like an earthen yellow waterfall connecting with the Earth, and despite the various streams of golden light slashing down, it could not penetrate an inch.
"Mr. Zhang?"
Seeing this figure, Jingming Daoist’s eyes lit up. Empress Qi suppressed her inner turmoil, gazing at the tall figure with a solemn expression, a hint of joy in her eyes.
"Brother-in-law!"
"Scholar Zhang!"
The two Princes couldn’t help but call out. At this moment, Zhang Jian’s arrival was like grasping at a life-saving straw for everyone.
Zhang Jian’s expression was calm. He merely glanced at the sky above, and with a wave of his hand, enveloped everyone in a layer of earthen-yellow Magical Power and lowered them gently to the ground.
"Are you all unharmed!"
Zhang Jian quickly scanned the four of them, seeing that Empress Qi and the two Princes appeared to be in good spirits, a faint smile graced his face.
At this moment, he glanced skyward again, where two domineering female cultivators emerged from a distant golden light, a slight frown creasing his brow.
Jingming Daoist also noticed the two female cultivators, his gaze settling on Liu Rui and the unfamiliar Golden-Robed Female cultivator. His expression changed as he seemed to recall something.
"Golden Radiance Saint Mother!"
"Golden Radiance Saint Mother?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian’s expression subtly changed, turning stern. He remembered subjugating a protector of the Golden Maiden Sect and hearing of the prowess of this Golden Maiden Sect Ancestor.
Nevertheless, he resolved to protect the people with him today.
Regardless of whether it was Empress Qi or the two Princes, they could not be harmed.
Rescuing Empress Qi was more than merely a personal matter; it was of utmost importance due to the righteous status of Empress Qi and her unborn child.
With righteous status in hand, it would allow them to raise an army openly and recruit Daqian’s forces.
With such legitimacy, he could even draw over the Dong Shen Temple and most of the Court.
In these times, without legitimate claim, it was challenging to rally the people’s support.
Without the legitimate claim of Daqian, while others held it, he was bound to be labeled a treacherous rebel.
This would lead to being ’cloud-stormed’ by countless people!
Yet with this legitimacy, it could instead ’cloud-storm’ others.
Morally, there would be no blemishes at all.