The Law Enforcer, holding the Seven Kill Blade, walked confidently toward Wu Tian.
The Golden Monkey King’s heart hammered in his chest. At this point, all he could do was shout, "Don’t be careless! Stay on guard! He’s really not as simple as he looks!"
Annoyed, the Law Enforcer turned back and snapped, "Are you done shouting? I ignored you the first time, so you should have known when to stop! Your constant yelling is just irritating me."
The Golden Monkey King froze, too frightened to speak.
"The rest of you, shut up too. Who is this Wu Tian? He’s nothing. Let me kill this wretch, and we can move on."
The Law Enforcer snorted and advanced on Wu Tian. Finally, the Blood Glow locked onto the Law Enforcer.
In that instant, the Law Enforcer’s steps faltered. He hadn’t felt anything before, but the moment the Blood Glow targeted him, a sudden terror gripped his heart.
How can this be?
The Law Enforcer wanted to soften his tone, to find a way out of fighting Wu Tian. But what had he just said to the Golden Monkey King and the others?
"Since you’ve come seeking death, I can only oblige you," Wu Tian said, pointing a single finger.
The crimson light of the Blood Glow flared, growing even more magnificent. In the next moment, its power triggered a celestial phenomenon. Thunder rumbled across The Firmament as dark clouds surged, threatening an immediate downpour.
"Heavens, what kind of Martial Arts Technique is this? What Martial Skills could possibly cause a phenomenon?"
"Can the Law Enforcer really handle such a terrifying Wu Tian?"
"He must be able to."
"Right. The Law Enforcer was so self-assured just now. He must have a plan to deal with Wu Tian."
"Exactly. So what if Wu Tian’s Martial Arts Technique can trigger a phenomenon? The Law Enforcer looked completely calm. He must be certain of victory."
Even the Golden Monkey King nodded. He had warned the Law Enforcer to be careful, but the man’s disdainful expression suggested he had victory firmly in hand. They didn’t need to help; the Law Enforcer could handle it alone.
Unbeknownst to them, the Law Enforcer’s heart was filled with panic. He realized he had greatly underestimated this Wu Tian and might now be in mortal danger. I wish the Golden Monkey King and the others would come up and help me. But they’re just standing there! It’s infuriating! Damn it! Didn’t they see me falter? What does that imply? It means I’m not confident I can beat him and I need help! How could that bunch of monkeys not have figured that out?
But now, he had to press forward. He was too proud to admit he couldn’t win. With a roar, he fiercely raised the Seven Kill Blade and charged viciously at Wu Tian.
"To charge ahead, knowing you’re no match..." Wu Tian shook his head slightly.
The little one in his arms giggled. "He thinks he’s the protagonist, a child of destiny."
As father and daughter finished speaking, the Blood Glow slashed downward. It descended upon the Law Enforcer with a heart-stopping, destructive might that seemed to pierce through space, split the air, and penetrate everything in its path.
Finally...
CLANG!
The Law Enforcer raised the Seven Kill Blade to block, but the blade shattered. The Blood Glow decapitated him instantly.
SPLURT! A head flew through the air as blood erupted from the neck. With a final THUMP, the Law Enforcer’s body collapsed to the ground, now just a corpse.
He had arrived with such an impressive act, only to die so simply and so quickly.
"He... he’s dead?" the Golden Monkey King stammered.
The others who witnessed the scene were also stupefied, unable to process what had just happened. When they finally snapped out of it, their expressions turned strange, their hearts a swirl of complex emotions. This was especially true for the Golden Monkey King.
What a joke. You put on such a good act, I actually thought you could win. If I had known you couldn’t, I would’ve run away ages ago. You’ve doomed me.
The other ministers felt the same. Seeing the Law Enforcer’s confidence, they had believed in his strength, never imagining he would be killed in an instant. He died without even using the elemental power that only those at the Heavenly King Realm could wield.
At that moment, Wu Tian started walking toward the Golden Monkey King and his retinue. Terrified, they all dropped to their knees without a moment’s hesitation. The thought of their impending deaths filled them with a dread that made their bodies tremble uncontrollably.
"Spare us, please! A country cannot be without its Monarch for a single day!" the Golden Monkey King cried out, grasping at straws. "Without a ruler, the nation will fall into chaos, and the people will suffer endlessly! Can you live with that on your conscience?"
"Yes, I manage the Ministry of Revenue! If I die, what will become of the people?"
"I’m from the Ministry of War! I can’t die either!"
One after another, they prostrated themselves before Wu Tian, unwilling to die and each pleading a reason why they should be spared.
Wu Tian shook his head. "The people of Qian Zhong Country said the same thing."
The Golden Monkey King and the others were dumbfounded.
Qian Zhong Country also appealed to the greater good? But Qian Zhong Country was still destroyed? Oh, heavens! How can this be?
They were utterly terrified.
With a flick of his finger, Wu Tian summoned countless more streaks of the Blood Glow, which shot toward the Golden Monkey King and the others.
"No!"
A bloody massacre unfolded. One by one, the humanoid monkeys were slaughtered.
GULP! Dao Feng swallowed hard. It was the first time he had seen Wu Tian’s ferocity, and he was so scared he nearly swallowed his own tongue. Lan Niang and Hong Ji covered their mouths, their faces etched with disbelief.
Only after having its fill did the Blood Glow finally disappear. As for the Golden Monkey King and his ministers, they were dead beyond dead, minced into an unrecognizable paste.
Wu Tian pondered for a moment, then turned to Lan Niang and Hong Ji. "The servants in the mansion should know about the Divine Monkey Great General’s schemes. As for his intentions toward you two, go and find out for yourselves. Whether you come back or not is up to you."
With that, Wu Tian left, carrying the little one in his arms.
"Sect Leader, wait for me!" Dao Feng called out, hurrying after him.
Hong Ji gritted her teeth and followed immediately. Lan Niang, however, remained rooted to the spot, completely at a loss.
「The surrounding domains were once again shaken.」
No one had expected that, so soon after Qian Zhong Country, another leading power would fall. In contrast to their bleak situation, Xiuyuan Country was thriving. With Qian Zhong Country gone, the Artifact Domain was in chaos, allowing Xiuyuan Country to seize some of its territories. The Domain of Myriad Demons was also in turmoil, presenting another opportunity for Xiuyuan Country to get a slice of the pie.
Gradually, Xiuyuan Country was acquiring the strength of a Four Stars nation. The mystery surrounding Wu Tian once again drew attention, particularly from the Zhang family—Dao Feng’s family.
The family’s clan elder, who had been living a carefree, philandering life elsewhere, had finally been summoned back by the Second Mistress. The clan elder was aware of what had transpired: Dao Feng, the one who had been cast out and became a mad monk, had found a renowned master. Furthermore, his martial sister was the ruler of the Xiuyuan Realm, the Queen of Xiuyuan Country.
"Clan elder, what should we do?" the Second Mistress asked. In the Zhang family, the clan elder held the highest seniority.
"Heh, it’s simple," the clan elder said slowly. Lounging in an armchair with his legs crossed, the man of nearly eighty years took a leisurely puff from his pipe. "Dao Feng has the blood of our Zhang family in his veins. It’s time for him to return to his roots. As a child of the family, it is his duty to contribute to its benefit."