Kong Ling's demonic aura swept in all directions like surging waves.
The imitation eyes on its tail feathers all lit up.
Eerie red light blotted out the sky and covered the earth. Anyone touched by it—whether circulating mana, moving their body, or casting divine abilities—was forcibly suppressed, as though shackled by invisible chains, unable to mount even the slightest resistance.
Such crushing power instantly rewrote the battle.
Li Lingbi pushed his divine abilities with all his might, but the Nascent Soul within him was firmly suppressed by the red light. His mana was like frozen ice, and he did not even have the strength to raise a hand.
The other twenty-odd Nascent Soul Cultivators were no different. Whether they possessed Inferior Nascent Souls or Superior Nascent Souls, whether they excelled in divine abilities or were skilled in dharma forms, all of them became lambs awaiting slaughter beneath Kong Ling's red-light suppression.
"It's over!"
"We're all going to die!"
"So this is the terror of a Demon Emperor?"
At that moment, everyone's faces were deathly pale, their eyes filled with despair.
Just then, Xu Changqing, who had always kept a low profile, finally stopped concealing himself.
His gaze sharpened, and the mana around him surged explosively. The Five-Colored Banners rose into the air, hanging above the imperial city.
The Central Earth-Suppressing Yellow Banner shone with heavy yellow light, as steady as Mount Tai.
The Eastern Wood-Nurturing Green Banner glimmered with flowing azure radiance, brimming with vibrant life.
The Southern Fire-Burning Crimson Flag blazed scarlet, its raging flames soaring to the heavens.
The Western Metal-Sharpening White Flag shone with icy white light, its sharp edge fully revealed.
The Northern Water-Guarding Dark Flag radiated deep black light, its waters surging violently.
All five banners moved at once, and a five-colored barrier instantly spread