Chapter 1421: Have You Eaten?
Who was Meng Youfang? He was the Dusk Dynasty's current imperial teacher, an extremely capable cultivator. In the Dusk Dynasty, he was one of the strongest cultivators below the God Realm. Even a single attack from him was akin to a calamity. How many people could survive an attack from him?
The Dusk Emperor had made such a suggestion for three reasons. Firstly, he felt that Xiang Shaoyun had insulted him. Secondly, Hua Ruren had indeed been killed by Xiang Shaoyun. Thirdly, he hoped that Xiang Shaoyun would concede and agree to his previous offer. The mere feat of ranking first on the Saintly Forest Ranking proved how incredible Xiang Shaoyun was. The Dusk Dynasty was unwilling to give up on such a talent.
Before Xiang Shaoyun could say anything, the second prince said, "Imperial Father, is there a way to handle this differently? The imperial teacher is one of the strongest experts of the dynasty. Brother Xiang might be famous, but he is still young. I'm afraid—"
The first prince interrupted him, "Second brother, are you looking down on Xiang Shaoyun? As someone who can survive the onslaught of numerous experts below the God Realm and slay many Great Saints, Xiang Shaoyun is someone whom I believe won't have any issue resisting an attack from the imperial teacher."
The commander of the imperial guards said, "That's right. Second prince, Lord Hua was killed by him. This crime can't be forgiven easily!"
"I think Commander Gan is more suited to be the one to make that one attack," said the Sacred Martial General. "If the imperial teacher makes a move, it will look like a senior is bullying his junior. The world will know the Dusk Dynasty as a dynasty with no magnanimity."
"That doesn't make any sense, General Huo. Xiang Shaoyun is a slayer of Great Saints. I'm afraid he's not much weaker than the both of us. Cultivators like us shouldn't judge a person based on one's age. Rather, we should judge someone based on one's strength. It is perfectly acceptable for me to be the one making the attack," insisted Meng Youfang.
Even his junior brother had died in Xiang Shaoyun's hands. As for Gan Mingliang, he wasn't much stronger than Hua Ruren. If Gan Mingliang was allowed to make the attack, it would be no different than letting Xiang Shaoyun off scot-free.
"Cut the nonsense. It doesn't matter who's attacking. I, Xiang Shaoyun, will take on anyone," said Xiang Shaoyun impatiently.
"Good. That's decided then. This emperor is looking forward to witnessing your strength, Xiang Shaoyun," finalized the Dusk Emperor.
The second prince could only give Xiang Shaoyun a helpless smile before leaving with the others, making enough space for Xiang Shaoyun and Meng Youfang. The Saintly Forest Courtyard was essentially a sealed space. A single attack from Meng Youfang wouldn't be able to do much to the space. In any case, the Saintly Forest Courtyard was also protected by God Realm experts. Nothing bad would happen to the courtyard.
Meng Youfang felt even more murderous when he saw how indifferent Xiang Shaoyun was. He asked, "Are you ready?"
Hua Ruren was his junior brother. Since his junior had perished in the hands of this kid, he had to avenge his junior.
With one hand on his back, Xiang Shaoyun raised his other hand and beckoned at Meng Youfang as he said, "Come."
Xiang Shaoyun had never felt so confident before. He did not know how strong he was now, but he was confident he could easily take on the attack of a Great Saint.
"Truly courageous," said Meng Youfang. A berserk aura erupted from his body and pressed down at Xiang Shaoyun.
The surrounding Saints instantly felt a massive pressure descend upon them. Apart from the small minority, the rest felt incomparably uncomfortable, as though a massive boulder was pressing down upon them.
If even the onlookers were feeling so much pressure, one could only imagine the kind of pressure Xiang Shaoyun was facing. But upon seeing how calm Xiang Shaoyun was, they were all shocked.
Someone even muttered to himself, "Is Xiang Shaoyun really this strong?"
As a matter of fact, Xiang Shaoyun was indeed very strong. He essentially had a pseudo-god body granting him unimaginable physical strength. A Great Saint might be strong, but they were not strong enough to pressure him.
When Meng Youfang saw the smile hanging on Xiang Shaoyun's face, his eyes turned cold, and his aura grew stronger by 30 percent. In total, he had unleashed 90 percent of his strength. Even a regular Great Saint would be injured by such pressure and forced to kneel down.
"Xiang Shaoyun, do you know your crime?" questioned Meng Youfang.
His voice seemed to carry a certain momentum with it, a momentum he hoped to crush Xiang Shaoyun's confidence with.
Xiang Shaoyun retorted unyieldingly, "What crime has this overlord committed?"
"For killing an important official of the Dusk Dynasty, you should be executed!" shouted Meng Youfang as he finally utilized all his strength. His aura was akin to a disastrous storm that warped even space.
Finally, Xiang Shaoyun felt some sort of pressure around him. A peak Great Saint truly couldn't be underestimated, especially someone like Meng Youfang, who was no ordinary cultivator. If Meng Youfang fought at his full strength, he could even contend against Gods.
Finally, Xiang Shaoyun stopped holding himself back. His meridians stirred as primal inception energy circulated through his body. A dazzling radiance erupted from his astral cosmos sea, and his entire body started radiating a nine-colored light, turning him into a dazzling child of the heavens.
At this moment, not even the emperor, the first prince, and the second prince were as majestic as Xiang Shaoyun. After Xiang Shaoyun had fused all his nine stars, his astral cosmos sea had transformed into an actual star. With a world within his body, he could carry the force of a hundred rivers within him, reverse the sun and the moon, and defy the heavens. Anyone below the God Realm was nothing for him.
"Imperial teacher, have you eaten yet? With this much strength, you won't be able to do anything to me," said Xiang Shaoyun as he took a step forward with a look of contempt on his face.
Everyone was stunned. Nobody in the dynasty had ever spoken like that to the imperial teacher because it was punishable with death. But Xiang Shaoyun did not care. He started throwing insults at the imperial teacher, clearly not even worried that the grudge between them would grow deeper.
"Die!" Meng Youfang roared, as he could no longer suppress his killing intent. Two clumps of terrifying energy appeared around his palms as he slammed both his palms toward Xiang Shaoyun.
Roaming Dragon Trigram Palm, Double Dragon Leaves the Sea!
The two palms were akin to two dragons charging out of the sea, advancing with the strength to crush everything in their path. The overbearing aura of the imperial teacher caused the surrounding onlookers to retreat again and again in fear that a stray attack would kill them.
Meng Youfang's palm attack was not only powerful but also so fast that no ordinary Great Saint could see it. This was the imperial teacher's true strength.
As Xiang Shaoyun faced the palm attack, Xiang Shaoyun's eyes lit up with an indescribable luster, and he instantly saw through the two palms. As primal inception energy covered his entire body, he threw both his fists out.