Chapter 1603

The middle-aged cultivator with an immortal aura looked coldly at Ximen Wudi and spoke.

"The Gongsun family," Ximen Wudi's brows twitched—he had not expected this old man to have such a powerful backer.

The Gongsun family is a supporter of the Holy Dragon Empire, one of the Four Holy Sovereigns of the Sacred Realm.

Therefore.

Even the Holy Dragon Empire's imperial family cannot fully suppress the Gongsun family—only ensure the Gongsun family dares not act recklessly.

Gongsun Badao and Gongsun Hengyuan.

They are twin brothers, yet their personalities are utterly opposite—one is tyrannical, the other brooding.

Gongsun Hengyuan's disposition is more extreme, his methods ruthless.

Gongsun Badao is more cautious and better at enduring, and their grievances have deepened over time, destined to erupt one day.

But the Gongsun family clearly wants to court Gongsun Badao to seize control of the family.

Ximen Wudi recalled a saying: clan power struggles.

Clan power struggles are often accompanied by blood and wind.

The Gongsun family and the imperial clan of the Holy Dragon Empire will inevitably engage in a struggle.

Perhaps, not long from now.

A dragon-versus-tiger battle will unfold.

At that time, Ximen Wudi could simply reap the benefits of their conflict.

Thinking this, Ximen Wudi decided to watch and wait—he did not wish to be drawn into such strife.

……

Ximen Wudi said, "Since it's your Gongsun family's people who want to kill me, I have no objection to killing you in turn. Do either of you care to state your names?"

Ximen Wudi smiled and said, "You may choose not to!"

As Ximen Wudi finished speaking, he immediately summoned Shi Jian.

Shhh.

A brilliant, dazzling sword light slashed forth, striking toward the lead immortal-aura middle-aged cultivator.

The immortal-aura middle-aged cultivator's expression turned grim—he had not expected Ximen Wudi to strike first.

And he did not dodge Ximen Wudi's razor-sharp sword strike.

He simply swung his right hand.

Keng.

Sparks flew everywhere.

His iron mace blocked Ximen Wudi's sword.

That iron mace was a Sacred Artifact.

Its power was indeed formidable—no wonder it was bestowed upon him by Gongsun Hengyang.

Ximen Wudi spoke coldly, "Just a Sacred Artifact? You think it can block my attack? Pure delusion! Today, you are dead!"

Ximen Wudi's eyes flashed with deadly intent; he activated the Fivefold Long Xiang Arm technique and slammed his right fist toward the lead immortal-aura cultivator.

Bam.

The two clashed— the immortal-aura middle-aged cultivator was blasted backward, grievously wounded.

He spat out a mouthful of blood.

His face was filled with horrified disbelief—he simply could not believe he had been defeated by Ximen Wudi, this Huang Maoxiaozi.

"You… how is this possible."

The immortal-aura middle-aged cultivator stared at Ximen Wudi in disbelief.

He simply could not comprehend.

Why could a boy who had not even broken through to the Pretender Emperor realm be so extraordinarily powerful?

"I said you're dead—you must die!"

Ximen Wudi stepped forward toward the immortal-aura middle-aged cultivator.

At that moment, another group of cultivators lunged at Ximen Wudi.

They were all local hermit cultivators of the Holy Dragon Empire.

They had originally planned to seize the treasure amid the chaos and flee—but Ximen Wudi's combat power was too terrifying; they could not get close, so they had no choice but to unite and surround him.

Ximen Wudi activated the Heaven-Mending Technique.

Then he became a streak of light, dashing toward the hermits, and—

He reached out and grasped the void.

Puchī.

A tearing sound suddenly rang out.

The tearing sound echoed as the cultivator who had attempted to ambush Ximen Wudi had his skull crushed in Ximen Wudi's grip.

Ximen Wudi continued charging toward the remaining hermits.

Ximen Wudi's speed was too fast—he swiftly eliminated the remaining hermits.

Ximen Wudi looted the storage rings from the hermits' bodies, then departed.

……

Just as Ximen Wudi left the city, a cavalry unit arrived.

Their leader was a middle-aged officer.

"Your Excellency, Young Master Gongsun!"

Those cavalrymen dropped to one knee and saluted the cultivator at their head, a middle-aged man.

The middle-aged cultivator at their head was called Gongsun Henghe, the cousin of Gongsun Hengyuan.

Gongsun Henghe asked, "What about those loose cultivators I sent out?"

"Reporting to Young Master Gongsun! They… were all killed!" the middle-aged officer answered.

"Useless trash!"

Gongsun Henghe roared in fury.

Immediately, he said, "Pass the order down at once! Have those guard squads track down the murderer! I want him taken alive!"

"Yes, sir…."

The middle-aged cultivator replied, then withdrew.

And Gongsun Henghe led his men into the City Lord's residence.

The defensive forces inside this city were extremely powerful.

Therefore, the guards of the City Lord's residence were extraordinarily strong.

Ximen Wudi pressed forward all the way, sensing many powerful auras lurking in the shadows.

"Worthy of the Longmen Inn — experts abound, and there are many formation Gu Jinzhi here. Even if a quasi-Emperor level powerhouse descended, they'd probably have a hard time breaking through these formations. My strength hasn't returned to its peak yet, but even without being at peak condition, it's more than enough to slaughter all of you!"

A savage grin crept across the corner of Ximen Wudi's mouth.

Whoosh.

The next instant, he pierced straight through the void and vanished on the spot.

When he reappeared, Ximen Wudi had reached the depths of the City Lord's residence, then activated a Great Teleportation Talisman.

Hum.

The Great Teleportation Talisman trembled faintly.

Then light surged forth.

A ball of white light enveloped Ximen Wudi's body.

Flash.

The light flickered, and Ximen Wudi's body vanished without a trace.

When he reappeared, he was already ten thousand miles away.

Back then.