The formation in the Imperial Palace immediately reacted. Countless lines descended, shining with starlight, like an illusory palace bearing down on Xin Haichen.
Xin Haichen was the most important figure in the Imperial Court's military, and naturally knew how formidable this formation was. With a muffled grunt, the soft armor hidden beneath his clothes abruptly expanded into a gigantic puppet, blocking the illusory palace.
Amid countless closely packed crashes, the puppet instantly collapsed, but bought Xin Haichen some time.
The blade intent that had left his arm was about to cut Jing Yao in two.
Standing in the side hall, Consort Hu watched the scene, her face pale. Throwing all else aside, she was about to reveal her tail, but a hand stopped her.
A soft scraping sound rang out.
The blade strike Xin Haichen had been gathering strength for finally fell, but it landed not on Jing Yao, but on a white robe.
The strike cut a shallow slit in that white robe.
Jing Jiu had appeared among them at some point.
He seized Xin Haichen by the throat and lifted him into the air.
Xin Haichen let out a frustrated, furious howl. His aura surged, and his hands swept together like fans, about to smash his opponent's head to pieces-tempered for years on the northern frontier of the Snow Nation, he possessed an unimaginably sturdy body and strength as vast as a mountain. How could he allow someone to hold him up like a little chicken!
Jing Jiu did not dodge, letting his opponent's hands fall.
A thunderous boom reverberated through the hall.
Xin Haichen's hands struck Jing Jiu's face without leaving a mark.
Yet a spark burst between Jing Jiu's right hand and the man's neck.
There was a crack.
Xin Haichen's hands dropped limply.
Then his