Not long after, numerous armies marched towards the imperial city. Lu Fan's dissuasion, however, proved ineffective.
Within the imperial city, the Nine Heavens Ancestor seemed to have everything prepared.
The various armies of the White Dragon Dynasty entered the imperial city but found no one. Not a single soul, not even a commoner, was present.
"There's no one defending. Could it be that the Nine Heavens Emperor has fled?" Zhao Tianyun asked, looking around in surprise. The other experts were also bewildered.
"All listen to my command, advance directly to the imperial palace!" The Dragon Emperor's order was filled with imposing might. The Nine Heavens Dynasty's fear was their greatest opportunity.
"No defenders means a trap!" Lu Fan spoke, "Dragon Emperor, we should withdraw from the imperial city!"
"Imperial Son-in-law, do not disrupt the morale of the army!" The Dragon Emperor frowned, "This is the most critical moment, not a time for carelessness!"
Lu Fan felt a sense of helplessness. He could sense that things were far from simple, and a single mistake could cost them their lives.
As the armies advanced, they discovered that the Nine Heavens Dynasty's people were gathered within the imperial palace.
"It seems they didn't retreat without a fight, but are defending the imperial palace!" The Dragon Emperor smiled faintly, feeling triumphant. This put his mind at ease.
But in that instant, a wave of killing intent spread throughout the entire imperial city. By the time everyone reacted, they realized the imperial city was rigged with a formation.
"Killing formation!" Lu Fan's expression changed. Such a terrifying killing formation was no trifling matter; a single misstep could lead to their utter annihilation.
"Did you not expect this!" Grand Tutor Wen sneered, his words laced with mockery. "You are now trapped within the killing formation, and you will not be leaving today!"
"Do you think this ordinary killing formation can trap me?" The Dragon Emperor sneered, his expression indifferent, as if the formation was beneath his notice.
"What a joke!" Grand Tutor Wen snorted. "This is a killing formation personally set up by my ancestor. None of you will leave today!"
Lu Fan's face darkened. He had known all along that things were not that simple, and his predictions were now proving true.
"Where are the generals of the White Dragon Dynasty!" The Dragon Emperor declared, "Now is your time to achieve great deeds. Whoever captures the Nine Heavens Emperor will be enfeoffed as a marquis and appointed as a minister!"
The soldiers responded with cheers, their eyes filled with joy. With such an opportunity, their lives could reach glorious heights.
"The Nine Heavens Emperor is not valuable; this old man is." Just then, a white-haired old man appeared, exuding an air of immortal grace. However, the aura radiating from him was enough to destroy all living beings.
Upon seeing this person, the Dragon Emperor felt a surge of panic. He had a premonition that the old man before him was someone he could not contend with, and any misstep could lead to endless turmoil.
"May I know who Senior is!" Lu Fan clasped his fists and said, "This matter does not concern Senior. I hope Senior will not get involved."
"You little fellow, you've spoken out of turn!" The Ancestor chuckled coldly. "The Nine Heavens Dynasty was founded by me. You wish to seize it, how can I let you succeed!"
The Dragon Emperor's face changed abruptly. "Could you be the Nine Heavens Ancestor?"
"Indeed, indeed. After so many years, someone still remembers my name." The Nine Heavens Ancestor laughed heartily. "However, your invasion of the Nine Heavens Dynasty today marks your death day!"
The Dragon Emperor trembled, unable to speak. He could never have imagined that the old man before him was the Nine Heavens Ancestor.
"My Lord, who is the Nine Heavens Ancestor?" Li Guang asked, his brow furrowed. He could sense that this old man was no ordinary person, and any misstep could lead to endless trouble.
"The Nine Heavens Ancestor is the founder of the Nine Heavens Dynasty!" The Dragon Emperor's face was ashen. If the person before them was indeed the Nine Heavens Ancestor, it would be a disaster for the White Dragon Dynasty.
To establish a dynasty, one must be no ordinary person. If they acted rashly, they might not escape today.
"This person's strength is immense!" Lu Fan stated, "If a fight breaks out, no one present will be their match!"
"How could I not know!" The Dragon Emperor's expression was grim. "If I had known this, I shouldn't have let everyone enter the city. Now, getting out will be harder than ascending to heaven!"
"Dragon Emperor, there's no need to panic too much!" Lu Fan waved his hand. "Things are not as dire as they seem. If I'm not mistaken, this Nine Heavens Ancestor may not be able to leave the imperial city. As long as we work together to open a path, we can allow everyone to escape!"
The Dragon Emperor nodded slightly. Now, he could only hope that if this matter could be resolved, they could escape and no longer have to worry.
"Leaving will not be so easy!" The Nine Heavens Emperor said coldly. "With the Ancestor guarding, no one will leave today!"
"You shouldn't speak too soon!" Lu Fan leaped into the air, instantly emitting a powerful aura.
But in that very moment, a terrifying killing intent permeated the entire city, sending shivers down the spines of the Nine Heavens Dynasty's people.
"How can there be such terrifying killing intent!" The White Dragon Dynasty's people were instantly thrown into a panic, their eyes filled with horror. Even the Venerables felt the dread.
"All listen to my command, follow me to break out of the imperial city!" The Dragon Emperor spoke, his body radiating a powerful aura. They knew very well that if they didn't leave soon, their lives would be in peril.
The Nine Heavens Ancestor sneered, his body emitting a terrifying aura. In that instant, the imperial city was filled with deadly intent. Except for the imperial palace, the entire city was permeated with supreme killing energy.
Countless screams echoed all around. Lu Fan's expression also turned grim, as he had not expected things to turn out this way.
The entire imperial city was filled with sword energy, which surged continuously, containing immeasurable power.
"Ancestor is divine!" Grand Tutor Wen and the others shouted, their hearts filled with excitement. The experts of the White Dragon Dynasty were powerless within the formation and would likely perish soon. Thinking of this, they rejoiced. What was once a sign of national destruction had been reversed by the Ancestor's appearance.
"Everyone, do not panic, let's break out together!" The Dragon Emperor shouted, his face grim. Trapped within the imperial city, if they could not escape, this would likely be their burial ground.
The experts of the White Dragon Dynasty nodded in agreement, and a hundred Venerables joined forces, attempting to break the killing formation.
Unfortunately, the killing formation was exceptionally terrifying. Even with their combined might, they could not break it open.
Familiar figures fell one after another, plunging the White Dragon Dynasty's people into despair. They had never imagined things would come to this.
"Lu Fan, I am content to die by your side!" Linglong dodged several sword energies, her body covered in wounds.