Marquis Clash, King Intent

Dongfang Baitian instinctively sensed an immense danger bearing down on him. Without a second thought, he turned and fled.

How laughable. This was the Dongfang Family's stronghold.

As the Eldest Young Master of the Dongfang Family, he was fleeing for his life on his own territory. If word got out, the world would mock him.

"You can't escape!"

Divine light flared in Lin Hao's eyes. Throwing caution aside, he struck directly at Dongfang Baitian with his palm.

Rumble!

The power of the Marquis Immortal Realm erupted without restraint.

Space trembled and howled. The entire First Imperial City was enveloped by the crushing pressure.

"Impudent! How dare you run wild in my Dongfang Family! Who gave you the nerve?!"

A terrifying aura rose from deep within the Dongfang Family.

Then, a gray-robed figure appeared behind Dongfang Baitian. His five fingers curled into a claw as he grabbed forward.

Rumble!

"Sixth Grand Uncle!"

Dongfang Baitian was overjoyed when he saw the newcomer.

The Dongfang Family possessed deep foundations. Long before the First Central Empire had been established, they already possessed extraordinary strength.

The Dongfang Family's Sixth Grand Uncle was a genuine Marquis Immortal Realm expert!

Boom!

The claw and palm collided, and the terrifying shockwave flattened everything within a radius of ten thousand meters.

Only the Dongfang Family's main building complex, protected by formations, avoided severe damage.

"Hmph."

A muffled grunt rang out. Sixth Grand Uncle's expression turned grim as he took half a step back.

"What?"

Dongfang Baitian was stunned. Sixth Grand Uncle had actually fallen into a disadvantage in his clash with Lin Hao.

How was that possible?

Lin Hao remained calm. Seeing that his strike had failed, he said nothing and gathered his strength again before throwing another punch at Dongfang Baitian.

At this moment, he had only one thought: he had to kill Dongfang Baitian.

This was one of the future Twelve Thrones, a threat second only to Lu Yuan.

"You insolent brat, how dare you!"

Sixth Grand Uncle's face twisted with fury, rage blazing in his heart.

This was the Dongfang Family, yet this man still dared to attack so recklessly. This could no longer be described as mere boldness. He simply did not take the Dongfang Family seriously at all.

If this man was not killed, once word of today's events spread—

The Dongfang Family's dignity would be utterly destroyed!

With that thought—

Sixth Grand Uncle immediately summoned a long spear. Casting aside all hesitation, he attacked with his full strength.

Rumble!

As two Marquis Realm powerhouses clashed, no one dared approach within a hundred miles.

And that was only because the two had deliberately restrained and balanced their strength.

After all, this was the First Imperial City.

Empress Qingyao was not dead yet.

Dongfang Baitian knew Lin Hao's target was him, so he did not linger. He sprinted madly toward the Dongfang Family's ancestral grounds.

The clash between two Marquis powerhouses also drew the attention of countless experts.

Hundreds and thousands of divine senses silently watched the battle.

In the air—

Lin Hao watched Dongfang Baitian flee farther and farther away, yet he could not shake off Sixth Grand Uncle's entanglement. His irritation grew by the moment.

"I was careless. I underestimated the Dongfang Family."

Lin Hao's gaze darkened.

Blinded by hatred, he had focused solely on killing Dongfang Baitian and forgotten that this was the Dongfang Family's stronghold.

Sensing several terrifying auras rushing toward them from afar, Lin Hao's gaze became even gloomier.

"The Dongfang Family's experts are coming. I can't continue this battle."

Lin Hao made a swift decision and immediately withdrew, intending to leave.

Sixth Grand Uncle laughed in fury. "You want to leave now? Too late!"

Unlike Lin Hao, Sixth Grand Uncle grew fiercer the longer he fought, determined to keep Lin Hao here.

Lin Hao remained incomparably calm and had no intention of getting entangled with him.

His strength was already a notch above Sixth Grand Uncle's. If he wished to flee, Sixth Grand Uncle could not stop him.

Seeing this, Sixth Grand Uncle became anxious and shouted in one direction, "Old Ancestor, help me!"

Buzz—

The instant Sixth Grand Uncle's words fell—

A heaven-supporting will rose from deep within the Dongfang Family's ancestral grounds.

Its intent was so powerful that even the slightest manifestation forcibly and tyrannically repelled everything between heaven and earth.

Across the entire world, only that will remained.

Lin Hao's expression changed drastically. "King Realm!!!"

Around the Dongfang Family, the hundreds and thousands of divine senses spying on the scene all withdrew the instant that will appeared.

Before a King Realm existence, they did not even dare to watch.

"Hahaha!"

Sixth Grand Uncle threw back his head and laughed wildly. His silver hair danced in the wind as he held a silver spear, like a heavenly god patrolling the world.

"Arrogant brat, you dared to run wild in my Dongfang Family. Today shall be your day of death!"

But at that moment—

From a palace in the center of the imperial city, an equally vast and majestic will rose. It was not inferior to the Dongfang Old Ancestor's and was even somewhat stronger.

Sixth Grand Uncle's expression changed. The meaning behind the appearance of that will at this moment could not have been clearer.

"Perfect."

Lin Hao seized the opening and swiftly escaped from the Dongfang Family.

Sixth Grand Uncle stood proudly in the air, his face alternating between green and white as he wanted to curse aloud.

"Qingyao, you have gone too far!"

An ancient, desolate voice came from deep within the Dongfang Family.

"Are you teaching this Empress how to act?"

A voice that was three parts ethereal, four parts domineering, and three parts seductive descended mightily from the heavens.

"Hmph!"

Dongfang Old Ancestor snorted coldly. His will then dissipated from heaven and earth as he took the initiative to yield.

A thousand years ago, when the First Central Empire had been founded, Empress Qingyao had still been a junior. Yet a thousand years later, she had already become an existence capable of standing on equal footing with King Realm powerhouses like Dongfang Old Ancestor.

Sixth Grand Uncle's eyes turned fierce. He cast a cold glance toward the imperial palace, then his figure slowly faded away.

At the edge of the Dongfang Family's ancestral grounds—

Dongfang Baitian waited there uneasily.

Suddenly, a figure flickered. Sixth Grand Uncle appeared before Dongfang Baitian and, without another word, grabbed his ear and demanded:

"You little bastard, tell me honestly. What trouble did you cause outside to provoke a Marquis Realm expert into trying to kill you at all costs?!"

"Ah, it hurts, it hurts." Dongfang Baitian grimaced in pain. "Grand Uncle, if you ask me, who am I supposed to ask? I don't even know who that man is. He tried to kill me the moment we met. I'm confused too."

Sixth Grand Uncle raised a brow. "You really don't know?"

Dongfang Baitian hurriedly nodded. "I really don't know."

Seeing that Dongfang Baitian did not seem to be lying, Sixth Grand Uncle released him.

"Old Six, come in and see me."

At that moment, a voice came from deep within the ancestral grounds.

Sixth Grand Uncle's expression tightened. "Yes, Old Ancestor."

Then, Sixth Grand Uncle warned Dongfang Baitian, "Whether you know or not, don't leave the family for the time being. I don't think that man will give up so easily."

Dongfang Baitian nodded rapidly like a pecking chick. Even without Sixth Grand Uncle's reminder, he understood the gravity of the matter.

A Marquis Immortal Realm expert could kill him as easily as slaughtering a chicken.

After Sixth Grand Uncle left—

Dongfang Baitian returned uneasily to his room. He immediately took out the Void Jade and entered the Void Realm.