Chapter 678: Headmaster Pang's Trump Card

Purple smoke curled upward, and around this white jade plaza, countless gazes stared fixedly over.

In this Great Xia, the name Pang Pang Qianyuan of the Holy Mystic Star Academy weighed as heavy as a mountain, inspiring boundless reverence.

Because he was the only King-level expert in all of Great Xia.

Such strength, let alone in Great Xia, even across this Eastern Region Outer Shenzhou, was undoubtedly a peak-level expert, sufficient to subdue a nation with a single word. Fortunately, Pang Pang Qianyuan still bore the identity of the headmaster of the Holy Mystic Star Academy; otherwise, who knew how many factions in Great Xia would have attached themselves to him, and in that case, the Wang Ting of Great Xia would likely have become a mere name long ago.

Over these years, Pang Pang Qianyuan had been stationed deep within the Dark Cave and had not shown himself to the outside world, which had somewhat diminished his fearsome reputation. Some newly risen factions with shallow foundations might have half-forgotten this name, but the top powers of Great Xia present here naturally understood the pressure that a King-level expert brought.

And now, the Eldest Princess had offered up a stick of purple incense, claiming it could summon that Headmaster Pang — this was truly a great killing weapon.

If that headmaster truly appeared here, no matter how imposing the Regent appeared now, having seized every advantage, the moment the former spoke a single word in support of the Little King, the various factions under the Regent's command would have to start reconsidering their stance.

After all, the might of a King-level expert was a true kingly presence capable of shaking the heavens and earth, far beyond what the Regent, this so-called king of the mortal world, could compare to.

The Regent's face was now dark as still water. He stared at the burning purple incense and was already somewhat unable to resist the urge to strike and extinguish it, but in the end, reason stopped him — to act now would make him look guilty, afraid to face the appearance of that Headmaster Pang.

Moreover, if he blocked Pang Pang Qianyuan from appearing, would the Holy Mystic Star Academy, which had been watching from the sidelines, seize the chance to intervene? After all, Pang Pang Qianyuan was the academy's headmaster; if he tried to block the man's appearance, wouldn't that also be targeting the academy?

Most importantly, this move would earn the enmity of Pang Pang Qianyuan.

Although deep within, the Regent's heart was filled with killing intent toward Pang Pang Qianyuan, this sentiment was clearly not suitable to be exposed before the plan was complete.

So in the end, the Regent held himself back, because from the intelligence he had obtained, Pang Pang Qianyuan at this moment likely couldn't get free so easily. Otherwise, if he were going to appear, Pang Pang Qianyuan would have appeared long ago; there was no need to wait until now.

Thinking this way, the Regent gradually calmed down.

So be it. Gong Luan Yu had brought out her final trump card. As long as Pang Pang Qianyuan didn't appear next, then today's situation would be beyond anyone's power to shake.

Deep within the Dark Cave.

World-devastating tides of energy ravaged in all directions with a terrifying posture.

Ancient Dragon Elephants roared, pushing against the heavens and earth, attempting to mend the rift between the two worlds, but deep within the rift, the Heihe of evil intent — as if the most evil malice in the world — churned, and black lotuses rose one after another, drifting out of the world's rift and colliding with the ancient Dragon Elephants.

The contest between the two sides appeared calm, yet was filled with destruction.

Every black lotus, every charge of the Dragon Elephants — if such power were to fall upon the outside world, the destruction it would cause would simply be unimaginable.

Pang Pang Qianyuan frowned slightly as he watched this scene. His Dragon Elephant Strange Formation had indeed been held up, and the changes at the Phase Force Tree also caused him some worry. Without the Phase Force Tree's continuous support, even though he held the Dragon Bone Holy Grail, he still hadn't gained an overwhelming advantage.

He knew this was the Fish Chi King using the power of the Dark World to resist.

However, the world's rift was indeed being slowly pushed and repaired; it just needed more time.

The existence of the Dragon Bone Holy Grail still brought considerable pressure upon the Fish Chi King.

As he was thinking this, Pang Pang Qianyuan's expression suddenly shifted; at this moment, he sensed something.

"Today is already the coronation ceremony?"

"As I expected, some unforeseen incident has occurred. Gong Zhu Xuan, your scheme of deceiving the heavens and crossing the sea ultimately went awry."

Pang Pang Qianyuan sighed softly. He and that old King of Great Xia were old acquaintances; back then he had owed the man a favor, and on his deathbed, the man had exchanged that favor for certain things — such as that stick of purple incense.

This was clearly a hope that Pang Pang Qianyuan would protect Gong Zhu Xuan's little daughter and help her ascend to the throne.

Originally, Pang Pang Qianyuan felt this should be a trivial matter. Although he bore the identity of the headmaster of the Holy Mystic Star Academy — an identity that required him to remain neutral — for a King-level expert, these things were not too great a constraint.

"But you picked quite a good time."

Pang Pang Qianyuan mused. Right now, he happened to be in a moment when he could not easily get free, yet the purple incense had coincidentally been lit at this very time.

This timing was truly clever.

This made him ponder further. If he couldn't get free, then the biggest beneficiary should be that Gong Yuan... but how would Gong Yuan know about the movements deep within the Dark Cave? Could Gong Yuan actually control this place? That was clearly impossible.

Then, was there an even greater secret upon Gong Yuan's person?

A cold glint flashed through Pang Pang Qianyuan's eyes. He felt that perhaps he really did need to go out and meet that Gong Yuan. This man's schemes ran deep, and during these years while he was tied down by the Dark Cave, who knew what that person had been up to.

"It seems everyone thinks I can't get out, so they're being quite fearless." Pang Pang Qianyuan murmured to himself.

Whoosh!

And at this moment, within the world's rift, the Heihe of evil intent churned, and a sky-obscuring, seemingly infinitely vast black fish tail slapped out. As the tail struck, black smoke billowed forth, and wherever that black smoke passed, everything in the heavens and earth was dissolved.

Pang Pang Qianyuan flicked a finger, and the Dragon Bone Holy Grail tilted, as if dark-golden liquid poured forth from within, transforming into a rain of gold.

The golden rain fell, completely dispelling the eerie black mist.

"Fish Chi King, you don't want me to leave?"

Pang Pang Qianyuan narrowed his eyes slightly, and deep within his gaze flashed a gloomy killing intent: "Originally it was only some suspicion, but now it seems Gong Yuan really does have some entanglement with you all."

"Hehe, Pang Pang Qianyuan, leave the matters of the outside world to the outside world. Aren't we having quite a pleasant time playing here?" From within the Heihe of evil intent came a hollow and eerie laughter.

Pang Pang Qianyuan shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, but the more you don't want me to leave, the more I really want to go out and take a look."

"You can't get out!" the Fish Chi King said.

"That may not be so certain. You have your schemes, and I have my trump card."

Pang Pang Qianyuan smiled. He extended his palm, and from within the Dragon Bone Holy Grail, another wisp of flowing light darted out and landed in his palm — it was a drop of essence blood.

"There's only one last drop left..."

Flame rose in his palm, wrapping around the essence blood as it flowed, gradually transforming into a dark-red sigil in his palm.

This dark-red sigil was vivid, as if it were a little person. Upon closer inspection, this little figure actually bore some resemblance to Li Luo.

Using this dark-red essence blood sigil as a medium, Pang Pang Qianyuan formed a seal with one hand while simultaneously summoning the saber that had accompanied him for many years.

Clang!

A hum of the blade seemed to ring out in Pang Pang Qianyuan's heart at this moment.

And at this very same moment.

On the white jade viewing platform, Li Luo's heart suddenly jolted. He looked in surprise at the spatial orb on his wrist, where a wisp of flowing light flashed.

Then an ancient, mottled straight blade appeared uncontrollably before Li Luo, emitting a faint tremor.