The Military God's Martial Arts (continued)

At the entrance of the imperial kitchen, Liang Hao, Spirit Transformation Grandmaster responsible for security, suddenly sensed something amiss and immediately became alert, focusing his attention on all directions.

"Ba Shenhuang went to the back mountain for the appointment. You know I might take the opportunity to launch a sneak attack, so I deliberately set up a substitution scheme, sending someone to impersonate the emperor and stay in the palace, while hiding the real emperor in the most easily overlooked imperial kitchen. I have to admit, this plan was quite good—if there hadn't been a traitor."

A refined figure slowly emerged from the darkness, unconcerned about revealing his appearance to the moonlight.

After seeing the other person's face clearly, Liang Hao's eyes narrowed. "Prince Wu, you really didn't keep your promise. It seems that the so-called War God is nothing more than a despicable person who uses the guise of 'all's fair in war' to do untrustworthy things!"

Huang Yan shook his head and sighed, "You're wrong. I haven't broken my promise. It's true that I Universe-Shaking Divine General to a duel tonight, but I never said I would personally attend. Universe-Shaking Divine General doesn't need to personally accept the challenge either. Of course, if he insists on going, I can't stop him. As for the matter of trust, you don't need to worry. If we lose the duel, I will keep my promise and enter the palace with my hands bound."

Liang Hao was both shocked and furious. "So that's how it is. As long as you kill His Majesty, you can usurp the throne and become emperor. It makes no difference whether you 'bind your own hands' or 'sit on the dragon carriage'."

"This throne was originally mine. If anyone usurped it, it was the tyrant sitting on the throne now. He took advantage of my youth back then..." Huang Yan stopped speaking and shook his head. "What's the use of telling you these old stories? I'm just here to take back what rightfully belongs to me."

"That sounds nice, but what evidence do you have to prove that what you're saying is the truth? Who can guarantee that you're not just making up a plausible excuse?"

"The truth has long been buried in history, and even if there was evidence, it has been destroyed by the usurper. However, what matters now has nothing to do with who is right or wrong; it is simply a matter of the victor taking all. If I win, I will naturally find plenty of evidence to prove that I am the rightful heir. I won't even need to look for it myself; others will offer it to me willingly."

"You..."

Before Liang Hao could speak, Huang Yan interrupted, "Stop wasting time. It's useless. No one will come. Haven't you noticed that all the sounds outside have disappeared?"

Liang Hao's pupils contracted as he looked up at the surroundings. Sure enough, he found the area completely silent, even the annoying croaking of frogs was gone. Normally, he would have noticed this long ago, but as soon as Huang Yan appeared, his attention was completely drawn to him.

"It's a barrier! When did you make your move?"

"Of course, it wasn't me who did it, but my companion... Judging by the timing, it's about time."

"What do you mean, 'almost'?"

Liang Hao staggered, nearly falling to the ground. He quickly channeled his inner energy to dispel the dizziness and exclaimed in horror, "You actually poisoned me!"

"If I weren't waiting for you to get poisoned, why would I waste my breath talking to you here? Knowing my title is 'Hundred-Victory Military God,' why use such a clumsy trick? Who are you underestimating?"

From the darkness, a burly figure charged out, wielding a greatsword. He was clad in jet-black armor that completely concealed his body, leaving no gaps. Only his helmet emitted two terrifying red lights. He was none other than the Black Armor General had been destroyed by Ba Shenhuang during the Battle of the Divine Pillar.

A two-meter-long greatsword came slashing down at him. Liang Hao hurriedly raised his spear, but even when he was in good condition, he couldn't block the One Sword. In his current state of poisoning, the spear bent and he was sent flying.

"Help! Save the Emperor!"

Liang Hao unleashed his inner energy and roared loudly, trying to attract the guards, but his voice was completely blocked by the barrier and did not travel out at all.

Without uttering a word, the Black Armor General caught up with a speed beyond his physique, wielding his greatsword and pressing his advantage. In less than ten moves, he had Liang Hao in dire straits.

Huang Yan paid no attention to the fight between the two and did not join the attack. He pushed open the door of the imperial kitchen and went inside. The room was rather dark. Although a few oil lamps were lit, the light was still very dim compared to the large space of the imperial kitchen.

"There's no one else Spirit Transformation Grandmaster... That makes sense. If they're going to use a substitute to lure me into a trap, they should at least make it look convincing. If the substitute doesn't even have Grandmaster, even a fool would know something's wrong."

Huang Yan walked inside and soon saw a person dressed in a black imperial robe, lying unconscious in front of the kitchen counter. He had obviously also been poisoned, but because he did not have the power of Spirit Transformation, he could not suppress the poison like Liang Hao.

"Sigh, even at a time like this, you still can't let go of your status, wearing such conspicuous imperial robes. Do you really think you're the Son of Heaven, protected by dragon aura?" Huang Yan sneered, raising his hand. "Putting you in this position is irresponsible to this country."

A palm was about to strike his head, and it seemed his brains were about to splatter, but the unconscious man suddenly raised a hand and blocked the falling palm.

Sensing something was wrong, Huang Yan's gaze sharpened, and he quickly activated his inner energy, unleashing a powerful palm strike to kill his opponent. However, the opponent also unleashed a tremendous force.

The two forces collided, unleashing a powerful surge of energy that swept away all the surrounding kitchen counters and tables. Various kitchen utensils collided with each other, making clanging sounds. Accompanied by the sound of tearing silk, the magnificent and noble imperial robes were reduced to fragments and scattered, revealing a burly figure.

You didn't show up for our appointment!

Huang Yan looked at Ba Shenhuang standing in front of him with a look of surprise on his face.

"It's clearly a feint attack, why would I go?"

Ba Shenhuang exerted his strength again, his arm swaying forward, unleashing divine power that sent Huang Yan flying back three zhang.

"So, the person who went over there was a stand-in?"

Huang Yan quickly suppressed his surprise and said, "Whether you go or not makes no difference. When you accepted my challenge... no, when you stormed into my central camp, you had already lost. I challenged you in front of everyone; you couldn't possibly refuse. If you went, you fell into a trap, and I could take advantage of the situation to replace that person. Conversely, if you didn't go, then I'll make it real, defeat your substitute, and force you to abide by the agreement and withdraw from the battle."

As for the possibility that Ba Shenhuang might not keep his promise, Huang Yan did not consider it, because he knew very well that the other party was different from him. He had started the civil war for the throne and was the leader of the rebel army, not a chivalrous knight. Ba Shenhuang, on the other hand, had been doing it for himself from beginning to end, and also to put an end to the controversy over the Military God of War God. Therefore, he would never break his promise.

In short, it's a difference in status: Huang Yan is a strategist, Ba Shenhuang is a martial artist. The former can use any means necessary in war, but the latter must keep his word.

Moreover, Huang Yan did not break the contract; he merely played a word game. At this moment, he also has a stand-in in the back mountain. Unlike Ba Shenhuang, he has enough subordinates on his side, so he does not need to personally go into battle and therefore does not need to worry about being exposed.

Upon hearing this, Ba Shenhuang sneered, "The delusions of a fool are always particularly laughable."

"Indeed, you still have a chance to turn the tables. As long as they win the battle and I return empty-handed, they can naturally put me in a disadvantageous position." Huang Yan remained calm as always, unperturbed by the sarcasm. "But just in case, I didn't bring Ruo Si. You've seen her strength; an ordinary Spirit Transformation is no match for her. If you think you can win the battle by simply sending a substitute, you're underestimating me."

You're wrong.

"Where did we go wrong? Did we underestimate Ruo Si's strength?"

"Your failure to achieve your goal is hardly a comeback. Your subsequent breach of faith and reneging on the agreement only resulted in a slight loss of personal reputation, which is hardly a disadvantage."

Ba Shenhuang stepped forward, his powerful martial aura concealed, yet his unified presence exerted immense pressure on his opponent. He arrogantly declared, "True victory will only come when I kill you here, bringing this battle to a close!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a surge of powerful Devil Essence resonated within his body. He unleashed a single punch, the immense force of which, accompanied by the roar of a tiger and the cry of a dragon, pushed aside the airflow in front of him, creating a vacuum.

"Sigh, you're too arrogant and you underestimate me."

Huang Yan moved his hands with a deft, cloud-like motion, his strength shifting like wind and clouds, without any hesitation. As he received Ba Shenhuang strike, he simultaneously extended his arms backward, releasing his energy to steadily catch the punch.

"Oh."

A startled exclamation revealed the War God of War's surprise. Simply relying on softness to overcome hardness and deflecting force wouldn't have been enough to withstand his punch. Even with the added skill, it still proved that the opponent's cultivation had reached the Peak Spirit Transformation.

"I rarely fight, but that doesn't mean I'm not skilled in martial arts. It's just that for me, if I can solve a problem by using my brain and issuing an order, why bother to personally go into battle and fight?"