Someone with only a Supernatural State had single-handedly raised the Near-Life Gate, then swiftly crushed a beast with it.
Who would believe this?
No one could believe their eyes.
Yet, the beast really lay dead on the floor. And Fang Zhengzhi was right in front of them, with a smirk on his face.
"Supernatural State?"
"This fellow is really only at the Supernatural State?!"
"Are you kidding me?"
Everyone stared at the one who had raised the Near-Life Gate in disbelief, with the urge to slap themselves awake.
A dream, this must be a dream!
That was the Near-Life Gate…
Wait a moment!
Fang Zhengzhi lifted the Near-Life Gate?!
When this thought floated in their minds, everyone was stunned. No, how could Fang Zhengzhi lift the Near-Life Gate?
"How is this possible?"
"To control the Near-Life Gate, one has to master the Near-Life Dao, right?"
"Could it be that this Near-Life Gate is a fake?"
"That's impossible. The beasts and the Demon King walked out from it, how can it be a fake?"
Their ideas were dismissed quickly because the Near-Life Gate was obviously not a fake.
But it was also due to this fact that made the scene even more unbelievable. Questions about the weight of the Near-Life Gate aside, the crux of the issue was: how did Fang Zhengzhi even move it?
It was utterly shocking.
No one could grasp the situation. Because Fang Zhengzhi was only of Supernatural State. How could he master the Near-Life Dao, one of the Six Rebirth Dao Techniques, and raise the Near-Life Gate?
But the matter of fact was Fang Zhengzhi had indeed raised it, and more importantly, the bronze door that was previously open was slowly closing.
Closing!
It really was closing!
Everyone looked with much bewilderment as the Near-Life Gate shut with a boom.
And Qian Wu's eyes were wide with shock. As the chief of the Holy Barbarian Empire, he always had a clear line of thought and calm judgment.
But now…
He really couldn't calm down.
What kind of monster was this guy? With only Supernatural State, he could kill a beast so effortlessly, and he could even move the Near-Life Gate!
"Gate… My Near-Life Gate!" Qian Wu didn't know how Fang Zhengzhi did it. But it wasn't about how he did it. The Gate was now in Fang Zhengzhi's hands, and it was shutting. "Return my Near-Life Gate!"
"Return it to you? Why would I hand you my Near-Life Gate? Silly!" Fang Zhengzhi laughed nonchalantly while shaking the Near-Life Gate.
In a trip to the palace, not only did he not attain the credit he wished for, but he had to suffer a strike for no reason. Now that he had chanced upon a Near-Life Gate, why would he return it?
Fang Zhengzhi was not stupid.
"What are you talking about? Your Near-Life Gate?!" Qian Wu shot an icy glare.
"Of course it's mine. Who else could it belong to, you?" Fang Zhengzhi replied disdainfully. He felt Qian Wu's question was really naïve, perhaps a little childish. How could Qian Wu not understand the simple logic that an item in one's hands belongs to him?
"Ah… just return my Near-Life Gate!" Qian Wu finally realized Fang Zhengzhi wanted to snatch his Near-Life Gate.
The Near-Life Gate's status as the most treasured possession of the Holy Barbarian Empire aside, how could its mighty emperor tolerate such an insult…
It was snatched right from his hands!
How could anyone tolerate this?
Qian Wu clenched his fists, his body lit up in six colors. He took a big step forward, then suddenly, he stopped.
Because he saw the Dragon Protection Squad's icy stares and the First Dragon Envoy Yan Qing gloating over his misery.
"No!" Countless thoughts flashed through Qian Wu's mind.
Of course, he could snatch his Near-Life Gate back from Fang Zhengzhi this very moment, but he was the leader, the highest in command of the Holy Barbarian Empire.
If he were to fail, even just by a small error…
This campaign would be said to have failed.
Anger!
Qian Wu would never have thought he'd experience anger at such intensity.
Even on the day that he returned to the Holy Barbarian Empire.
But he also understood that he had to remain calm because this was war, not just a simple quarrel between two people.
Thus, he had to look at the bigger picture. Now was not the time to get injured, or lose, even if such risks were very minimal.
Qian Wu ground his teeth in rage, his fists grew white from clenching them so tightly. The Near-Life Gate must be returned; it was key to the success of the campaign.
But…
He couldn't fight for it.
Qian Wu was trying his very best to control the urge to fight.
No, if he were to go, Yan Qing and the Dragon Protection Squad would counter immediately. If that happened, not only could he not take back his Near-Life Gate, he could even be sent right through it.
Qian Wu understood this perfectly. As the commander, he must remain calm always, for he could not afford a single misstep.
But at this moment, a figure appeared in front of him, his black the imperial attire waving in the nightly breeze.
"Fang Zhengzhi!" Qian Wu looked at the figure in front of him with disbelief. He could not believe that fact that Fang Zhengzhi was presenting him the Near-Life Gate although he had contained his urge to snatch it back.
A person of Supernatural State would initiate an attack?
"Look at my Near-Life Gate, I'm smashing it!" Of course, Fang Zhengzhi couldn't guess what Qian Wu was thinking. Upon flashing a smirk at Qian Wu, Fang Zhengzhi lifted the Near-Life Gate and immediately smashed it toward Qian Wu.
"You're warning me?" Qian Wu said to himself coldly, silently mocking Fang Zhengzhi's actions. Most importantly, didn't this fellow know that the Near-Life Gate was Qian Wu's?
And to smash Qian Wu with his Near-Life Gate?
How ridiculous.
As he prepared to shrink the Near-Life Gate for keeping, he noticed Fang Zhengzhi's expression. Smiling in anticipation.
What was he smiling at?
Qian Wu froze for a moment, then he realized a possibility. Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine.
"Boom!"
With a loud crash, the Near-Life Gate was smashed to the ground as countless debris ricocheted among the columns of dust clouds.
Qian Wu managed to take a few quick steps backward when the Gate was smashed. His forehead and back were dripping cold sweat.
It wasn't because the speed of the smash was too fast. Conversely, Fang Zhengzhi hurled the Gate slowly.
But it was exactly due to this…
Which made Qian Wu broke out in cold sweat.
What a close call.
If he had not noticed Fang Zhengzhi's expression, then the Holy Barbarian Empire's most valuable treasure, the Near-Life Gate, would indeed have been in Fang Zhengzhi's hands.
Of course, he could shrink the Gate.
Then, what would happen?
It was without a shred of doubt that the Near-Life Gate wouldn't magically fly back into his hands, but it would land in Fang Zhengzhi's. If that had happened, the Near-Life Gate would really have belonged to Fang Zhengzhi.
But to intentionally rush here and warn him of it? And accomplishing all of these while Qian Wu was at the peak of his fury. This careful strategic planning was scarily precise!
"Oh? Weren't you hit? I'll have to smash again!" Fang Zhengzhi looked at Qian Wu who had taken a few steps back, then glanced disappointingly at the giant Near-Life Gate.
Was that so predictable?
How could it be!
He lifted the Near-Life Gate once again.
"I dare you!" Qian Wu stared sternly. Watching the most valuable treasure of the Holy Barbarian Empire smashed repeatedly like a hammer made him miserable.
"Boom!"
Fang Zhengzhi responded to Qian Wu with his actions. Qian Wu had no choice but to take a few steps back, his fists cracked as he clenched tightly.
"I'll smash again!" Fang Zhengzhi didn't believe Qian Wu could continue tolerating this. He would smash the Near-Life Gate until Qian Wu decided to shrink it.
"Boom!"
"I don't believe I can't hit you with this!"
"Boom!"
"Once more!"
"Boom!"
"…"
Massive dents appeared on the ground while the Near-Life Gate was repeatedly raised and smashed.
Qian Wu's was heartbroken.
But he had no other choice. He was sure that Fang Zhengzhi could control the Near-Life Gate, though he had no idea how. The Near-Life Gate could weigh no less than ten tons, yet it was light as a feather to Fang Zhengzhi.
"Despicable!" Qian Wu was shaking with rage.
Fang Zhengzhi, with his actions, showed him a 'truth': the Near-Life Gate was not only a treasure, it was also a powerful 'weapon'.
But who would use a treasure as a weapon? And to even use it as a hammer! In the whole world, only Fang Zhengzhi could do this.
The Dragon Protection Squad, the Royal Guards, the Palace Guards and the Southern Region Army were all stunned.
"One could use the Near-Life Gate like this?"
"Doesn't he fear of destroying the Near-Life Gate?"
"I doubt so!"
Everyone was speechless.
A person of Supernatural State smashing the Near-Life Gate around someone who was at least at the advanced stages of Rebirth State, or perhaps even reached the peak of Rebirth State, 'running' around the palace.
If they had not witnessed it themselves, how would they ever believe such a thing happened?
Supernatural State!
Was this guy really at the Supernatural State?
Everyone had the same question in their minds.
Supernatural State? This shameless fellow was definitely fooling her. He obviously had the power of the Rebirth State. Could he be faking a low profile?
That's impossible. With his arrogant personality, how would Fang Zhengzhi fake a low profile? As Ping Yang recalled the previous time she asked for his state, she grew more certain.
Yes, Fang Zhengzhi should still be at the Supernatural State.
This could be the only reason why Fang Zhengzhi was so reluctant in revealing his state. Because Yan Xiu was already very close to or had even reached the Rebirth State.
How, then, could Fang Zhengzhi proudly declare that he's still at the Supernatural State after a year?
"Hey shameless guy, smash him now! We'll be winners if you just smash him to bits!" Ping Yang shouted out loud without a care.
From a distance away, Yan Xiu and Shan Yu stood up again. They saw the mess damage that Fang Zhengzhi had done.
Both exchanged looks and nodded.
Then, two figures broke through the Southern Army's protection and charged at Qian Wu. Yan Xiu's body emitted a bright red glow, while Shan Yu's eyes were filled with raging flames.
Qian Wu's expression finally changed.
Now he didn't have many cards in his hand. Among the twenty-plus Rebirth State warriors who were brought into the palace, nearly half of them belonged to Crown Prince Lin Tianrong.
A few Rebirth State masked figures were killed by Fang Zhengzhi, and some were knocked out by Lin Tianrong's men.
Initially, with the Near-Life Gate in his possession, these weren't an issue to him. Because as long as the Near-Life Gate was in the palace, he could have any number of fighters.
But now…
Qian Wu was brimming with hatred. Since Fang Zhengzhi had appeared, every one of his plans was spoiled by him, and now, even the Near-Life Gate was in Fang Zhengzhi's hands.
The Near-Life Gate!
Yes, the crux of this issue was the Near-Life Gate!
If he could kill Fang Zhengzhi and seize back his Near-Life Gate, every problem could be easily solved.
Suddenly, an idea popped up in Qian Wu's mind. He would need some time if he were to kill Fang Zhengzhi, but it would be very easy for King Xieluo.
And killing Fang Zhengzhi was also their third agreement.
At this moment, Qian Wu felt a little relieved. Luckily his last agreement with King Xieluo was to kill Fang Zhengzhi, instead of Emperor Lin Mubai.
"King Xieluo, as the Demon King, would you need a few hours to kill a person with Supernatural State?" Qian Wu stared at King Xieluo from a distance away.
Of course, he also noticed Prince Li of the First Rank who was standing in front of King Xieluo, but he didn't think Prince Li, who was on the verge of death, could stop a Demon King.
"Boom!"
Immediately after Qian Wu finished his sentence, the ground beneath King Xieluo's feet sank while surrounding stones turned into powder.
Then, a figure charged towards the sky at breakneck speed, and with a speed not much slower than teleportation, it descended towards Fang Zhengzhi.
King Xieluo did not answer Qian Wu with words…
But with action.