...
The rain continued to pour in the capital.
The Ninth Prince stood anxiously in the rain, allowing the rain to fall on his face. However, he did not move an inch.
In front of him was the study. Eunuch Pan, dressed in palace robes, stood guard at the door. This meant that the Emperor was in the study.
The World of the Sage was out of control.
This was an urgent matter. No one knew what was happening in the World of the Sage. Not only did this affect the Imperial Examinations, it also affected the safety of the elites of the Great Xia Dynasty.
Most importantly, Ping Yang was still trapped inside.
She was the Emperor's favorite princess, Ping Yang. Furthermore, she was someone who could not afford to have any mishaps.
Even the current Crown Prince was not as important as Ping Yang in the Great Xia Dynasty. This was because Ping Yang represented protection, a protection that was related to the Great Xia Dynasty.
If this was any other time, the Ninth Prince would not hesitate to charge into the study, even if he had to face the wrath of the Emperor.
But now...
But he stopped.
The reason was that other than Eunuch Pan, there was also a group of soldiers in bright armor standing at the entrance of the Advanced Study. No matter how hard the rain poured down, their armor remained clean.
They could release their territory and maintain it. This meant that they were all in the intermediate stage of the Heavenly Reflection State.
They were all in the intermediate stage of the Heavenly Reflection State.
There was only one in the entire Great Xia Dynasty.
That was the Dragon Protection Squad.
A golden dragon was imprinted on the chest of every soldier, representing their high status. They did not need to bow to the princes and did not dismount when entering the palace. These were the privileges of the Dragon Protection Squad.
Every single Dragon Guard was of noble birth. They were the direct descendants of the 13 Constabularies and all the aristocratic families. However, they only listened to the Emperor.
They were the symbol of royal power. At the same time, they were the link between the Emperor and the 13 Constabularies.
The Dragon Protection Squad had appeared in the palace. This was not a very strange thing.
However, there was only one possibility for dozens of Dragon Guard to appear in the palace. Something big had happened. Furthermore, it concerned the entire Great Xia Dynasty.
Ninth Prince Lin Yun stopped. He was hesitating, but he didn't hesitate for long.
Soon, the Ninth Prince made his move.
Step by step, he walked towards the door of the study room.
Eunuch Pan, who was guarding the door, looked at Ninth Prince Lin Yun. His lips moved, but he didn't say anything. The Dragon Protection Squad also looked at the Ninth Prince.
One of them walked out from the group and blocked the Ninth Prince's path.
His expression was as cold as ice.
He also held a sword in his hand. It was a sword that had already been unsheathed. The blade of the sword had been polished until it was extremely bright. Under the washing of the rain, it emitted a faint silver light.
"Ninth Prince, there seems to be something urgent?" The person speaking wasn't the person holding the sword. Instead, it was someone standing beside Eunuch Wei. He was in his thirties, and his face was equally cold.
"Yes!" The Ninth Prince nodded with a determined expression.
"How urgent?"
"It's urgent!"
"What has the Ninth Prince been doing recently?"
"The Imperial Examination."
"Logically speaking, the Imperial Examination concerns the future of the Great Xia Dynasty. It is urgent, but I think we can wait."
"What if Ping Yang's safety is added into the equation?"
"Ninth Prince, please come in!"
The Dragon Protection Squad member in front of the Ninth Prince sheathed his sword and stepped aside.
He didn't say a word, nor did he apologize. He just quietly stepped aside. He returned to his original position, as though he had never moved.
Eunuch Pan's face was filled with shock. However, he still pushed open the door to the Imperial Study.
Ninth Prince Lin Yun walked in. The moment he stepped through the door of the study, the rainwater on his body froze in mid-air as if a spell had been cast on him. Then, when the Ninth Prince had completely stepped through the door, the rainwater stopped in mid-air.
The rainwater fell to the ground and merged with the torrential rain.
…
In the Imperial Study, a faint fragrance wafted through the air. However, there was a tinge of blood within the fragrance.
Two members of the Dragon Protection Squad stood on the left and right of the Imperial Study. In the middle of the Imperial Study, there was a flag. A flag stained with blood.
Under the flag, there was a person.
This was a form of etiquette that belonged to the Dragon Protection Squad. There was only one situation for this to happen. That was when someone from the Dragon Protection Squad died.
And now, this dead person was carried into the Imperial Study.
Then …
Things weren't as simple as someone dying.
Ever since the Great Xia Dynasty was founded, the Dragon Protection Squad had maintained a strength of 500 people. 50 people formed a team, and each team had a Dragon Envoy.
"A Dragon Envoy died?!" The Ninth Prince Lin Yun finally understood why the Dragon Protection Squad said that even if it was the Imperial Examinations, they could wait.
Because, there had been no change of Dragon Envoys in the past 10 years.
What had happened?
The Ninth Prince didn't ask. This wasn't a question he should be asking. What he needed to do now was to answer. When the Emperor asked, he had to answer.
"Greetings, Father!"
"Speak." Emperor Lin Mubai's voice came from behind the desk. However, he had no intention of calling the Ninth Prince up.
"Reporting to Father, the World of the Sage is out of control. Those who entered the third round of the combat examinations are all trapped in the World of the Sage. I am powerless, please forgive me!"
"Have you investigated the cause?"
"Reporting to Father, I don't dare to speculate. However, I suspect that it has something to do with the sword in the World of the Sage."
"Suspect? As the supervisor of the Imperial Examinations, you're telling me that you're guessing? Furthermore, you're guessing that the sword doesn't exist? Do you know that Ping Yang entered the combat examinations? "
"I know."
"With her abilities, even with the Blazing Qilin Spear, she should have used up all her energy. She... didn't enter the third round?"
"Ping Yang didn't use the Blazing Qilin Spear. She followed Fang Zhengzhi from the Broken Bridge to the Twin Stone Tablets..."
"Broken Bridge, Twin Stone Tablets? You're saying that Fang Zhengzhi passed the Broken Bridge and Twin Stone Tablets? "
"The stone hut was also destroyed."
"So, Ping Yang is also trapped in the World of the Sage?"
"Yes."
"Then why are you still kneeling?! Follow me to the Imperial Academy! "After Emperor Lin Mubai finished speaking, he stood up from his chair. Ignoring the Ninth Prince, Zhang Xuan charged out.
The two Dragon Protection Squad members saw this but didn't say a word. They just stood there quietly. Their expressions were as calm as ever, just like two statues.
Ninth Prince Lin Yun glanced at the two members of the Dragon Protection Squad, then at the Dragon Envoy with the flag on the ground. Then, he turned and left without saying a word. However, he seemed to be deep in thought.
...
In the World of the Sage.
The crisp sound of a sword reverberated in the air. The golden sword rose from Ying Shan's side, turned into a ray of light and landed in Fang Zhengzhi's hands.
A gust of wind blew past, ruffling Fang Zhengzhi's robe.
He held a spear in his right hand, a sword in his left, and a smile on his face. This made Fang Zhengzhi look rather comical. However... Nobody would laugh at him at this moment.
Because, the sword in Fang Zhengzhi's hand was the sword of the Sagely Battle God Meng Tian.
Ying Shan's expression was frighteningly black.
In his life, he had been praised by countless people. However, behind the praise, he had also experienced countless setbacks. This caused his personality to be cold and determined.
But now...
His firm and unwavering heart had received the greatest challenge.
His twisted expression represented the anger in his heart. This feeling of being toyed around in the palm of someone else's hand caused him to be unable to suppress the anger in his heart.
Most importantly, the person who toyed with him. Furthermore, it was someone who was weaker than him.
This feeling was like an adult who had experienced decades of hardships being toyed around by a three year old child. Humiliation, indignation. Anger, heartbreak...
Ying Shan didn't say another word. He simply swallowed his crushed teeth.
Then, in the next moment, he tore off a layer of skin on his forehead.
A jade-green pearl appeared on his forehead. The faint green glow was like the will-o '-the-wisps of Hell. It caused people to shiver.
The demon eye, the source of the demon's power.
"Green?" Fang Zhengzhi was somewhat confused.
He remembered that in the previous county examination, the demon he defeated had a blue demon eye. However, the demon eye on Ying Shan's forehead was green.
"The demon eye is green. This means that Ying Shan has already entered the Supernatural Intermediate State." Yan Xiu said.
"So the color of the demon eye is related to one's power?" When Fang Zhengzhi heard Yan Xiu's words, his heart skipped a beat. He roughly guessed that the color of the demon eye represented the power of the demon.
The demon in the previous county examination was around the Star Conglomerate State.
This meant that the Star Conglomerate State was blue, the Supernatural State was green. What about the Heavenly Reflection State?
Fang Zhengzhi prepared to ask. However, when the words reached his mouth, they turned into another sentence...
"If the demon eye turns black … what does that mean?"
"Turn black? Oh no! " Yan Xiu didn't reply Fang Zhengzhi. Because, his expression had changed. He had never been so shocked before.
Nangong Mu's expression was also extremely shocked. He gripped the Green and Blue Dual Blade in his hands tightly and subconsciously took two steps towards Fang Zhengzhi.
This was an instinctive action. However, the meaning behind this action was that it caused fear to rise in Nangong Mu's heart.
From exposing Ying Shan's identity.
Then, to facing off against Ying Shan. Finally, to breaking the stone chains on the rock.
Nangong Mu had never revealed a trace of fear.
But now...
He clearly took two steps back.
On the other hand, the other examinees were terrified.
It was as if they had seen the Grim Reaper crawling out from hell. They were extremely terrified.
"Run!"
"Why can't we go out even after the sword has been pulled out?!"
"I don't want to die!"
The examinees shouted. They were hoping for a miracle. However, ever since the sword was pulled out by Fang Zhengzhi, there was still no movement.
The sword …
Was it real or fake?
They were no longer concerned about this question.
What they were more concerned about was how to last for another fifteen minutes.
Fang Zhengzhi didn't know about these things. He only had a look of confusion on his face.
At this moment, Ying Shan's face became extremely twisted. The originally green demon eye on his forehead seemed to have been completely sucked out, turning black like a black hole.
This was an extremely strange scene. At least, Fang Zhengzhi didn't understand. What was Ying Shan trying to do?
"Should we … run?" Ping Yang's clear eyes looked towards Ying Shan. Even someone as arrogant as her started to show signs of hesitation on her face.
Her hand grabbed onto Fang Zhengzhi's arm tightly.
This was also a subconscious action. Even Ping Yang herself couldn't explain why she would always grab onto Fang Zhengzhi subconsciously.
"Run to where?" Fang Zhengzhi asked.
The sea of swords in front of him could be seen with a single glance. There was simply nowhere to run.
"I will ask you one last time. The sword in your hand … is it real or fake?" Ping Yang looked at the sword in Fang Zhengzhi's hand and revealed a trace of anticipation.
"I don't know. Don't we only know after trying?" Fang Zhengzhi explained very innocently. He really didn't know.
"I guess it won't be easy to try." Ping Yang hesitated.
"Why …" Before Fang Zhengzhi could finish his sentence, he instantly shut his mouth. Because, Ying Shan had already charged over.
In reality, it wasn't that Fang Zhengzhi couldn't see Ying Shan's actions.
However, Ying Shan disappeared.
In an instant, he disappeared without a trace. What was different from the shadowless state in the Dark Realm was that this time, Fang Zhengzhi could be sure that this was a form of speed.
Extreme speed.
Almost in an instant, Fang Zhengzhi felt his scalp go numb.
It was as if his face had been cut by a knife.
This was also extreme speed. However, it was the wind that was brought about by extreme speed …
Sneak attack?!
No, it was a frontal attack!
Fang Zhengzhi didn't enter the Hall of Dao. In his previous life, he also didn't practise any fist techniques. However, he understood a principle. This was a principle that he had concluded from his own experiences.
If someone wanted to hit your face …
What should I do?
Should I dodge to the left or the right? Or should I turn and run? Or even fall to the ground in an instant?
Actually, none of them were fast enough.
It was easy to fall to the ground. However, to climb back up, it would probably be more difficult.
Hence, in conclusion.
Squatting was the fastest.
This squat wasn't a simple squat. It had to be a deep squat. Furthermore, it had to be done subconsciously. He didn't have to be afraid of his underwear being torn. After all, his face … was the most important.
Fang Zhengzhi had this awareness. Furthermore, he had always remembered this lesson from his experience.
Hence, he squatted very quickly and very deeply. His butt almost touched the ground …
"Rip!"
Without a doubt, the underwear he wore inside couldn't possibly withstand such a fast squat. With a slightly muffled sound, he bid farewell to his life.
However, as the saying goes, it's my luck to get it, but it's my fate to lose it.
If the old doesn't go, how would the new come?
Most importantly, Fang Zhengzhi felt that his face was saved. It was very thrilling, very exciting. On the top of his head, a fist stopped there …
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