From King Duan's impression, Fang Zhengzhi indeed had the habit of watching a troublesome issue unfold. However, he did not like endangering himself in these situations. In other words, while Fang Zhengzhi liked some conflict, he did not wish to be inside them.
However, what was happening in the palace now was…
"There is something wrong!" King Duan quickly came to a conclusion that Fang Zhengzhi and Ping Yang's appearance was definitely not one of coincidence.
Although…
What was their purpose of coming?
Accompanying him into the palace? If it was only Fang Zhengzhi alone, this would be possible. However, Ping Yang could easily bring him into the palace. Entering the palace would not be a problem in the first place.
Why then would he want to deliberately follow him?
King Duan could not understand his actions. Subconsciously, he heard a voice telling him that he should not allow Fang Zhengzhi to follow behind him.
However, another voice was telling him that if Fang Zhengzhi truly wished to be involved in this situation, it would be better to keep an eye on him.
This was a troublesome decision.
One on hand, King Duan wanted to see what Fang Zhengzhi wanted to do. On the other hand, he was afraid of Fang Zhengzhi's special purpose of following him.
Just when he was struggling with the two decisions, the battle at the palace entrance had come to an end.
A huge group of royal guards lay in a pool of blood while the surviving guards had already retreated into the palace. The city guards had successfully occupied the entrance to the palace.
"Charge!" King Duan did not hesitate upon seeing this scene. He immediately issued an order. As for Fang Zhengzhi…
He had too much to attend to right now.
He would let Fang Zhengzhi follow him. Why would he be afraid?
This was King Duan's exact thought.
Following King Duan's command, the city guards charged into the palace, their war cries echoing through the palace.
King Duan also entered the palace immediately.
"We enter as well right?" Ping Yang blinked her eyes as she stared at Fang Zhengzhi.
"Alright, but you must first promise me a few things," Fang Zhengzhi stared at the city guards and Lin Xinjue as they stormed into the palace as he wore an unusually serious expression on his face.
"Speak!" Ping Yang was stunned as she looked at Fang Zhengzhi's expression. She then bit her pink lips in apprehension.
"Firstly, after entering the palace, you must stay by Yan Xiu and my side. You must be less than five steps away from us!" Fang Zhengzhi said.
"Okay!" Ping Yang answered and nodded her head.
"Secondly, you can only watch. Do not try to fight while you are inside!" Fang Zhengzhi then said.
"But what if something is happening to father…"
"If it is something the Emperor cannot solve, do you think you will be able to?" Fang Zhengzhi interrupted before Ping Yang could complete her sentence.
"I… I think I can do it!" Ping Yang bit her lip and said after a moment of hesitation. Her final answer was filled with conviction.
"You can?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at Ping Yang quizzically.
"Yes, I am strong!" Ping Yang nodded as she affirmed.
"Who are you trying to fool… have you reached Heavenly Reflection State?" Fang Zhengzhi stared at Ping Yang's confident face and could not help but comment.
"No, but I am strong!" Ping Yang seemed extremely determined.
"Alright then, but, without my permission, you cannot do anything." Fang Zhengzhi fell speechless. Following which, he then looked at the huge wave of city guards entering the palace and shook his head before saying, "Alright, I mean to tell me before you act rashly."
"Alright!" Ping Yang nodded upon hearing those words.
"Yan Xiu, let's go!" Fang Zhengzhi cast his glance at Yan Xiu, who kept silent all this time.
"Alright," Yan Xiu nodded.
The three of them quickly entered the palace.
However…
After just a few steps, they stopped. This was because King Duan Lin Xinjue and the guards had stopped as well.
In front of the city guards were thousand over black figures.
Under the concealment of the night sky, thousand over black figures blocked the way. Each of them held a shiny weapon in their hands, reflecting the moonlight and giving off a chilling presence.
Beside those black figures were royal guards clad in golden armor laying weak on the floor and drenched in perspiration.
"It seems like… we will need to engage in one more battle. Let's find a safe place to watch this show." Fang Zhengzhi pouted as he said to Ping Yang.
"Alright then," Ping Yang agreed as well.
This conversation was naturally heard by King Duan Lin Xinjue. In an instant, he subconsciously tightened his grip on his weapon.
Outside the palace, on top of a building
Su Qing stood on the rooftop clad in a neat court attire. The black figures behind him stood motionless as well.
At that moment, a black figure once again landed behind Su Qing.
"Reporting my lord. King Duan has entered the palace. However, apart from King Duan…" The black figure hesitated and stopped speaking.
"What else is there?" Su Qing frowned as he said.
The plan was crucial. He did not wish for any accidents to happen. Naturally, he did not like to hear something that he did not expect.
"Apart from King Duan, Fang Zhengzhi had also entered the palace together." The black figure quickly answered upon hearing Su Qing's words.
"Fang Zhengzhi?" Su Qing was startled as he subconsciously clenched his fist. "You are saying Fang Zhengzhi and King Duan appeared at the entrance of the palace, and entered the palace together?"
"No, Fang Zhengzhi appeared after King Duan. Fang Zhengzhi was accompanied by Ping Yang and Yan Xiu as well.
"Can you be sure that Fang Zhengzhi did not plan this together with King Duan?" Su Qing asked while he pondered the consequences.
He did not believe that Fang Zhengzhi and King Duan planned something beforehand.
However…
He was not going to take chances.
After all, if Fang Zhengzhi was indeed an accomplice of King Duan. His current plan might be heavily disrupted.
"I don't think so. From what I observed, Fang Zhengzhi even accused King Duan of treason and revolt upon his arrival, shouting at the top of his lungs. In order to not attract attention, King Duan then allowed Fang Zhengzhi to accompany him into the palace!" The black figure recalled as he shook his head.
"Alright, I understand. Continue to keep an eye on them. If anything happens, report immediately!" Su Qing nodded as he waved to the black figure.
"Yes!" The black figure immediately left to fulfill his mission.
A black figure standing behind Su Qing then stepped forward. He then bowed respectfully to Su Qing before whispering, "My lord, do we have to report this situation to Young Master. After all, this wasn't part of our plan!"
"Accidents are bound to happen. Young Master will be able to take care of it!" Su Qing frowned as he replied the black figure.
"I understand," The black figure nodded as he retreated to his original position.
Su Qing then cast his glance back at the palace as he frowned. His eyes exuded a chilling presence as he thought, to think that you would choose to appear at this time… Fang Zhengzhi, what is your aim?
Simply watching a show?
That's not right!
Su Qing shook his head as he thought. In his plan, he expected Fang Zhengzhi to show up. However, he did not expect that Fang Zhengzhi would show up in this manner.
There was no advantage to showing up at this moment.
"Fang Zhengzhi, don't you know that only people who can withstand pressure and hardship will achieve the final victory? I thought you have improved over the years, however… you are still as reckless as you were a year ago! You thought that you would know the entire plan simply by following King Duan? How naïve!"
Su Qing snickered as he thought. However, he still felt that something was amiss. It seemed like a bad premonition.
This was because he could not understand. If Fang Zhengzhi appeared with King Duan at the palace entrance…
What could he accomplish?
"Even if you know that King Duan played an important role in my plan, what can the three of you do to an entire army of city guards? What ruckus can you wreck on my beautiful plan?"
Within the throne room.
The bronze gate stood righteously within the throne room. It exuded a desolate presence as a giant claw slowly emerged from the gate.
A green metallic scale covered the claw.
Roar!
The sound of a giant beast echoed through the room.
The gravels within the throne room began to move about from the shockwaves of the roar. Following which, another claw emerged.
A spiral-shaped horn then appeared from the gate.
Lin Mubai immediately squinted his eyes at this moment. He stared at the huge figure emerging from the bronze gate. However, he did not show any signs of retreating.
Finally…
The beast completely revealed itself.
A beast completely covered in green scales appeared in the throne room. It had a sharp spiral horn on its head and a thick mane. It looked similar to a green colored lion and was 25-foot-tall.
It appeared out of nowhere from the bronze door.
Clearly, this was a ferocious beast.
However, this was not just any ferocious beast.
"Beast, Green Scaled Suanni!" Eunuch Wei's voice rose at this moment. His eyes were glued to the humongous beast emerging from the gate.
The Law of Dao had its records.
The dragon had nine offsprings, each of them starkly different. The Suanni was one of the nine offsprings. Although the Suanni in front of their eyes was not a true Suanni, it possessed all the characteristics of it. It possessed at least 70% of the true Suanni bloodline.
However, this was not the end. After the Suanni appeared, the bronze gate did not close. It continued to shine with a sinister brilliance.
Quickly…
The roar of another beast appeared from within the gate.
A back figure then dashed out of the bronze gate, the heatwaves generated from its body engulfing the throne room. A pair of blinding red wings then appeared in the air.
Screech!
The piercing scream penetrated through dark skies into the horizon.
A crimson flame enveloped its body and vaporized a small part of the clouds floating on the ceiling of the throne room. It then looked downwards with its eyes constructed purely from flames.
"Beast, Flaming Phoenix!" Eunuch Wei once again stared at the soaring beast in the air as beads of perspiration appeared on his forehead.
However, this did not seem to be the end.
After the appearance of the phoenix, the bronze gate once again shone with the familiar sinister brilliance. Huge ferocious beasts then emerged from it consecutively.
In an instant…
The spacious throne room was filled up.
"Five of them!" Eunuch Wei stared at the five huge figures and the bronze gate, which had finally returned to its normal state, in awe. He felt a shiver down his spine.
Roar! The ferocious beasts growled in unison.
The Green Scaled Suanni was already impatient as it was the first one to emerge from the gate. It swung its claws around and immediately made a huge crack on a huge pillar holding up the throne room.
Creak! The cracks continued spreading through the pillar.
Boom!
The entire pillar was smashed to smithereens.
The moment Lin Mubai saw this scene, he clenched his fist subconsciously. The throne room was passed and protected from generation to generation. Although the destruction of a single pillar would not destroy the entire throne room…
If the five beasts continued to have their way within the throne room, it would no longer exist after this fight.
"Emperor of the Great Xia, please comment on my control over the Near-Life Gate?" Qian Wu stared at Lin Mubai's clenched fist as he snickered coldly.
"Worthy of someone being called the top prodigy of the Northern Barbarians. Your King has an eye for talent!" Lin Mubai said as he stared at the five beasts, igniting the golden brilliance that surrounded him yet again.
The dragon above his head seemed to have felt his will as well. Its demonic eyes seemed to shine with an even more sinister blood-red glow.
As for Crown Prince Lin Tianrong, he could merely stare at the scene with widened eyes.
"Five ferocious beasts! Qian Wu can summon five beasts from the Near-Life gate at once! Is this his true power? How did he do it?" Lin Tianrong was slightly horrified.
In fact, he had always known that Qian Wu was strong. However, he did not know that Qian Wu was this powerful.
The Near-Life Dao one of the Six Daos of Rebirth.
If the Heavenly Dao was said to be the balance amongst the Six Daos, and the Dao of Asura the most offensive Dao, the Near-Life Dao was probably the one most suited for battle!
This was because the Near-Life Dao was a rite of seals. The moment the Near-Life Dao was combined with the Near-Life gate, it would strike fear even into the hearts of the bravest warriors.