Outside the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion, four figures stood ramrod straight, their sleeves fluttering in the wind.
Qin De held a High-Grade Spirit Artifact saber, his early Golden Core aura contained but ready to burst forth. Qin Yu stood tall and dashing, his eyes sharp, riding on Yun Ce's flying sword. Spiritual light shimmered around the High-Grade Spirit Artifact flying sword at Feng Yuzi's fingertips as he stood ready for battle. Yun Ce remained clad in white, hands behind his back. He swept his gaze over the three of them, then six radiant talismans appeared in his palm. He divided them into two sets and sent them floating over.
"These are two sets of thunder talismans. Each of you take one set, and remember to act according to the situation. If Xiang Yang disregards his status and tries to ambush you, don't hesitate—activate the talismans I gave you."
The three accepted the talismans and felt waves of tingling thunderous power in their palms. Inscribed characters flowed across the paper, accompanied by the faint sound of thunder.
Yun Ce's voice was cool as he slowly explained their power. "The first is the Thousand-Fold Thunder Strike Talisman. Once activated, it can summon a thousand bolts of Purple Heaven Divine Thunder to strike in succession, specializing in breaking the protective treasures of Nascent Soul cultivators. Even someone in the late Nascent Soul stage would be badly wounded by it."
He paused, then pointed to the other talisman. "The second is the Nine Heavens Thunder Shield. It can gather the thunder of the nine heavens into a shield, which is extremely effective at nullifying spell attacks from Nascent Soul cultivators. It can even reflect thirty percent of the damage."
Qin De, Qin Yu, and Feng Yuzi were shaken. They quickly tucked the talismans away as if they were priceless treasures, then cupped their hands solemnly. "We'll remember your instructions, Brother Yun!" "Yes, Master!"
With two Nascent Soul-level talismans in hand, and Yun Ce—a late Nascent Soul grand cultivator—providing support, Qin De's last concerns vanished.
"Let's go."
Yun Ce spoke indifferently, then led Qin Yu toward the imperial palace in a streak of light. Qin De and Feng Yuzi followed close behind. The four figures streaked across the sky and landed outside the palace's main gate.
The guards had already lined up at the palace gate. When they saw Qin De and the others arrive, they bowed respectfully, though a hint of wariness showed in their faces. "Prince Qin, Immortal, please follow me."
The banquet had already been set in the Imperial Garden.
Amid its pavilions and towers, beneath its splendid halls, Xiang Guang sat in the place of honor. Beside him sat the Xiang Family's ancestor, Xiang Yang, clad in black robes and radiating an unfathomable aura. Civil and military officials lined both sides, yet every one of them sat in uneasy silence. Not a sound disturbed the vast Imperial Garden.
Qin De and the others entered the garden, and their gazes immediately met Xiang Yang's across the banquet.
What piercing eyes he had! Like a hawk surveying the earth, or thunder lying dormant in the depths. A single glance made Qin De's Golden Core tremble. Qin Yu and Feng Yuzi felt their hearts sink, and without the talismans protecting them, they would have been crushed by the pressure until they could barely breathe.
Xiang Yang sat motionless. He merely raised his eyes slightly, let his gaze linger on Yun Ce for a moment, then looked over Qin De and the others. The corner of his mouth curved into a faintly mocking smile.
Seeing Qin De and the others arrive, Xiang Guang felt his confidence swell. He slapped the table and launched into his attack, his voice stern. "Qin De! Do you know your crimes?"
Qin De frowned slightly and replied in a ringing voice, "Your Majesty, what crime have I committed?"
"What crime?" Xiang Guang sprang to his feet and pointed at Qin De, his voice furious. "You secretly practiced immortal arts and concealed the truth from the imperial court. You achieved Tribulation Transcendence and became an immortal without reporting it to the imperial family. That is a grave offense against the throne!"
"Your Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion has been recruiting soldiers and building up its strength. You even dared to kill an immortal sent by me. That is treason!"
"And now you've brought two immortals into the palace, showing contempt for your sovereign and treating the court as nothing. That is the conduct of a rebel!"
The charges came pelting down like hail. Xiang Guang did everything he could to embellish them, painting Qin De as an utterly irredeemable traitor.
The officials sat in terrified silence, not daring to utter a word. They could all see that something about this banquet was unusual.
Qin De's expression remained calm as he listened to Xiang Guang's slander, though anger gradually rose within him. He stepped forward, his gaze blazing as he stared straight at Xiang Guang. "Your Majesty, I've guarded the eastern frontier and devoted myself to my duty. I've never harbored the slightest intention of rebellion. The two immortals, Wu De and Wu Xing, ambushed me while I was undergoing Tribulation Transcendence and tried to kill me. I fought back to protect myself. What did I do wrong?"
"As for becoming an immortal through Tribulation Transcendence, there has never been a rule on the Hidden Dragon Continent requiring cultivators to report such a thing to the imperial family! Did you arrange this banquet to settle accounts with me, or to help the Xiang Family eliminate its rivals?"
"How dare you!" Xiang Guang roared. "Qin De! You dare defy me? It seems you're determined to be a rebel today!"
"A rebel?" Qin De threw his head back and laughed, his voice full of disdain. "Xiang Guang, you're narrow-minded and jealous of the capable. For your own selfish ends, you conspired with outsiders to murder me. Now that Xiang Yang has come out of seclusion, you think you can do whatever you please?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiang Yang finally spoke.
The old man's voice was hoarse yet imposing, like the tolling of an ancient bell. "Qin De, since you've only just formed your Golden Core and your foundation is unstable, I was willing to give you a chance. Submit to the Xiang Family, and I'd spare your Qin clan."
"But you don't know what's good for you. You dare act so brazenly in front of me! Now you've put me in a difficult position."
Xiang Yang lightly tapped the table.
Bam!
A muffled boom shook the entire Imperial Garden. Terrifying Nascent Soul pressure surged out like a tsunami, bearing down on Qin De and the others!
Feng Yuzi's expression changed sharply. Qin Yu tensed from head to toe, while Qin De's Golden Core trembled violently in his dantian under the pressure, his blood and qi churning.
Qin De's anger flared, and he lost his temper. He immediately flipped the table. "If it's so difficult, then don't do it!"
Just then, Yun Ce moved.
Standing with his hands behind his back, he simply said one word. "Back."
The word sounded light, yet exploded like thunder, directly forcing Xiang Yang's pressure back.
A flicker of deep caution crossed Xiang Yang's eyes. "Nascent Soul?"
Yun Ce gave him a cool glance and said nothing, merely giving Qin De a look.
Qin De's heart stirred, and he understood at once.
With Yun Ce backing him up, what did he have to fear?
Seeing that the ancestor had made his move, yet Qin De remained defiant, Xiang Guang immediately shouted, "Qin De! You rebel! If you don't submit today, I'll leave you without a body to bury!"
"Submit?"
A cold gleam blazed in Qin De's eyes. A High-Grade Spirit Artifact saber appeared in his hand, its golden blade-light soaring as he pointed it at Xiang Guang. "Xiang Guang, you think you're worthy of using the word 'submit'?"
"Since this banquet is a Hongmen feast, then I'll play along and give you all a proper fight!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Qin De struck first!
He swung his saber. Golden light blazed, and an unmatched blade aura slashed toward Xiang Guang!
Feng Yuzi followed right behind him. His High-Grade Spirit Artifact flying sword became a streak of light and shot toward Xiang Yang, drawing his attention.
Qin Yu gripped his sword and fixed his gaze on the imperial guards beside them, who were itching to move, ready to fight at any moment.
A great battle was about to erupt!
The atmosphere in the Imperial Garden plunged to freezing point. Blades flashed, thunder rumbled in the distance, and the final struggle between the Qin and Xiang Families finally began with a blood-soaked battle at this imperial banquet!
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