At the end of Xu Hour, the night deepened.
Across the entire Divine Capital, only the small stretch of North Imperial Avenue near Black Tortoise Gate shone brightly.
The two men faced off at the Forbidden City's Summit, only fifty zhang apart.
Jiang Huji stared coldly at the Golden Flying Fish Uniform. After a long silence, he spoke, his words brief and chilling:
"This old servant shall judge the traitor to the State and Altars on behalf of Great Qian's Father of the Nation!"
His voice shook the clouds; heaven and earth trembled.
His words became heaven's own decree. As the old man stepped forward, millions upon millions of violet thunderbolts enveloped the Divine Capital.
The soldiers in Golden Armor at Black Tortoise Gate felt their hair stand on end.
Outside the Ancestral Hall, the ministers were horrified beyond measure, their facial muscles trembling faintly.
Having occupied high positions at Court for years, many officials could keenly detect an opponent's hostility, even concealed murderous intent.
Every fist-sized violet thunderbolt that swept past held murderous intent at its richest and most extreme!
And nearly ten thousand hovered above the Imperial City!
What murderous intent could so terrify the universe?!
Emperor Jingde rallied his spirits. Whether Elder Jiang could hear him or not, he waved his arm, displaying imperial majesty before all eyes, and declared fervently:
"Slay the traitor before your sovereign, and wash away our past humiliation!"
Jiang Huji's voice rang like a great bell:
"I obey Your Majesty's sacred command!"
In an instant, heaven and earth became daylight once more. Over ten thousand violet thunderbolts leaped past Jia Huan and struck the white waterfall simultaneously.
Beneath the waterfall of essence, the four thousand-odd Embroidered Uniform Guards turned deathly pale. Unable to open their eyes, they shook like chaff in a