Chapter 1587

His cultivation was unfathomably deep—he was a third-layer Linghai Realm expert, and across the entire Great Xia Dynasty, he ranked among the top-tier powerhouses!

"Little friend! You've come!"

Suddenly, a clamor rose from outside the tent, and then a group of people burst into the camp—it was none other than the bandits of Xuantie Stockade, who had just departed!

Trailing behind them were fifty or sixty Imperial Forest Army guards, every one of them clad in armor, their faces stern!

"Hm? Who are you? How dare you barge into Xuantie Stockade?"

Zhao Wenhua raised an eyebrow at the words and looked toward the group that had rushed in.

"Hehe! This old man is Ximen Wudi, here by imperial decree to annihilate Xuantie Stockade. Awaiting your orders, Laozu Sect!"

Ximen Wudi cupped his hands in a salute, his bearing respectful, yet his tone carried a hint of arrogance!

"Xuantie Stockade? Hasn't Xuantie Stockade vanished long ago? How could it suddenly resurface?" Zhao Wenhua's expression tightened slightly as he asked.

"Heh, the imperial court has issued a secret decree, ordering us to wipe out Xuantie Stockade and capture Princess Zhao, to be handed over to the imperial court for trial!"

Ximen Wudi smiled faintly, his manner proud.

Zhao Wenhua was taken aback, then his face darkened as he looked at Ximen Wudi: "You say the imperial court wants to try my daughter? Do you know what crime she has committed?"

Though Zhao Wenhua's tone was calm, a chilling killing intent flickered in his eyes!

Xuantie Stockade was one of the four great powers of the Great Xia Dynasty—the Xuanwu Gang—and its strength was formidable! The stockade's chief had even reached the peak of Linghai Realm, a genuine Linghai Realm expert!

And although Zhao Wenhua himself was at the peak of Linghai Realm, his lifespan was nearly spent—he likely wouldn't live to see a natural death!

Therefore, he would never allow anyone to harm Zhao Yun!

Zhao Wenhua's killing intent ran deep, and Ximen Wudi could sense the aura emanating from him, but he was unafraid. He snorted coldly: "Princess Zhao secretly consorted with an outsider man, colluded with heretical and unorthodox cultivators—she deserves death a thousand times over. That is why the imperial court must punish her severely. Laozu Sect should understand as well!"

"You bastard! Do you know the relationship between my Xuantie Stockade and the imperial court?"

Zhao Wenhua sprang to his feet, a pair of tiger-like eyes glaring at Ximen Wudi.

"Hahaha…"

Who would have thought Ximen Wudi would burst out laughing, utterly unmoved by the other's threat:

"Old thief Zhao, I advise you not to make a futile move. If you persist in your folly, don't blame me for being discourteous!"

Ximen Wudi said coldly, his tone brimming with an air of absolute certainty!

At this moment, the bandits of Xuantie Stockade filed in one after another, surrounding Ximen Wudi and his men, a fierce killing intent gleaming in their eyes!

"Hmph! Worthy of a noble scion of the Great Xia Dynasty—truly accustomed to arrogance!"

Zhao Wenhua gave a contemptuous snort at the words, then turned to the burly old man and said respectfully:

"Laozu Sect, this man is from the Ximen Clan of the Great Xia Dynasty—the youngest heir of the imperial family. His cultivation has reached the eighth layer of Linghai Realm!"

"Oh? The Ximen Clan?"

The old man's expression sharpened at the words, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes!

One had to know that although Xuantie Stockade's strength was considered decent within the Great Xia Dynasty, it had never risen to the rank of a major power, and simply could not compare with a first-rate noble clan!.

So although the old man had heard of the Ximen Clan, he had never actually met any of its people.

Still, the old man did believe roughly seventy or eighty percent of what Zhao Wenhua had said.

After all, he had personally witnessed Zhao Wenhua's strength with his own eyes!

"The Ximen Clan is an eighth-layer Linghai Realm existence and must not be lightly insulted. Will you not withdraw at once?" The old man swept a cold gaze across Ximen Wudi and his group, then barked coldly.

"Laozu Sect, I know you are formidable, but Zhao Yun has committed such a heinous crime. I am carrying out the imperial decree—under no circumstances can I retreat!" Ximen Wudi said with cupped hands.

"Hmph! You will retreat whether you wish to or not. This old man is the founding ancestor of the Xuantie Gang of Xuanwu Ridge. Do you dare defy the imperial decree?"

The old man's face darkened at the words. Though aged, his strength was terrifying—even against an ordinary eighth-layer Linghai Realm expert, he could emerge victorious!

And at this moment, he could no longer spare a thought for his own dignity—his only concern was saving Zhao Yun's life!

"What Xuantie Gang of Xuanwu Ridge? You old fool, stop playing dumb. If you obediently cooperate with me in capturing Zhao Yun, this old man might spare your life. But if you don't cooperate…"

Ximen Wudi's gaze suddenly turned vicious, killing intent bursting forth!

"And if I don't cooperate?"

The old man let out a cold laugh at the words!

"Then don't blame this old man for being ruthless!"

As soon as Ximen Wudi finished speaking, his figure shot forward explosively. A sharp sword, its cold gleam radiating in all directions, instantly flew from his hand, hurtling toward the old man's throat with a whistling gale!

"Petty tricks—get lost!"

The old man snorted angrily, swept his right hand, and a flash of Jin Guang erupted, forming a barrier before him, which he then slammed forward!

Boom!

Ximen Wudi's figure was sent flying, smashing into a stone wall nearby!

Puchi!

Ximen Wudi spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his body crashing to the ground. His eyes, filled with venomous hatred, fixed on the old man:

"You old dog, how dare you strike me so viciously? I think you've grown tired of living!"

"Hahaha…"

The old man threw his head back in wild laughter, his mirth dripping with mockery:

"A wretch like you, who can't even brush the edges of my Xuantie Stockade, dares to spout such brazen nonsense! Today this old man will make you understand that within the Great Xia Dynasty, your Ximen Clan cannot do as it pleases!"

As his words fell, the old man reached out again, snatching at the air. A burst of Jin Guang shot forth, transforming into a gigantic claw that lunged straight at Ximen Wudi's head!

"You old mangy dog! Don't push people too far!"

Ximen Wudi roared in fury, raising his ancient bronze sword to meet it, producing a crisp clash.

"Hmph! Overestimating yourself!"

The old man snorted coldly. The claw clenched tight, and an overwhelming, irresistible force bore down at once!

GLOSSARY:

【Zhao Lao, Zhao Wenhua, Ximen Wudi, Zhao Yun, Yang Huxiao, Princess, Ximen, Chaozhexi Sect, Laozu Sect, Liaoxi Sect, Shizhexi Sect, Jin Guang】

Pfft!

Ximen Wudi vomited blood once more, then suddenly slapped the ancient bronze sword flying with one palm, his body crashing into two other ruins.

"Old dog! You…"

Ximen Wudi struggled to crawl up, but the old man stomped down with one foot, pinning him flat to the ground!

"Little beast, today this old man will teach you a proper lesson, you thing that doesn't know life from death, so you'll remember it well!"

Having said that, the old man's hand exerted force—Ximen Wudi's ribs snapped instantly, then were crushed, emitting a crackling sound of shattering!

Ximen Wudi's face went deathly pale, bean-sized beads of sweat seeped from his forehead, his lips trembled as if wanting to say something, yet not a single sound could come out!

"Zhao Lao, you step back first, leave the rest to this old man!"

At that moment, an aged voice drifted over from behind.

Hearing this voice, a flash of joy immediately rose on the old man's face:

"Many thanks, Laozu Sect!"

"Alright, since Zhao Lao you step back, this matter I will settle for you!"

The old man cupped his fist in salute, then looked toward Ximen Wudi: "Mo Xiaobei of the Ximen clan, you dare defy the holy decree—today I'll let you taste this old man's wrath!"

As he spoke, the old man swept his hand—a surge of tremendous true essence erupted, enveloping Ximen Wudi within it!

Then, with a slight flick of his finger, streams of golden true essence surged from his palm, transforming into sharp blades that sliced down toward Ximen Wudi!

"Ah!"

Ximen Wudi let out a wail of agony, his skin beginning to crack all over, the muscles on his body twitching—clearly enduring tremendous pain!

Then, bursts of fresh blood spurted out from Ximen Wudi's body, dyeing the entire patch of land red!

At this moment, Ximen Wudi seemed to have transformed into a man of blood, wretched beyond compare!

"Ah! Old thing, I'll make sure you don't die a good death!"

Ximen Wudi howled, his voice utterly mournful.

He had not expected this old man to be so brutally vicious, actually beating him into such a state—it was terrifying!

"Hehe… little one, before you die, this old man will send you on your way!"

Hearing this, the old man gave a cold laugh, then took a single step forward and was already right before Ximen Wudi!

"Old thing, my Ximen clan will not let you off—I'll definitely make you pay the price!"