"Indeed, even if I have to perish with you today, I will ensure they return!" Emperor Long declared resolutely, his voice filled with a death-defying determination.
He was already burning his vital blood, and there was no turning back. His sole aim now was to send this old ancestor to the heavens.
"Do you know that I have already stepped into the Saint Realm!"
The ancestor's voice was calm, yet it carried an immense authority, as if no one in this vast world could match him. He was undeniably arrogant.
"The Saint Realm?"
Emperor Long was shocked. This was the truth he least wanted to accept. He had long suspected that the Nine Heavens Ancestor had entered the Saint Realm, otherwise, how could he possess such power?
"A Saint!"
Emperor Jiutian stood stunned nearby, his heart filled with excitement. He had never imagined that the Nine Heavens Dynasty would produce a Saint. This was incredibly joyous news for the entire dynasty.
Ancient legends spoke of how all below a Saint were but ants. Now that Old Zhu was a Saint, no one could do anything to him. It was likely that in no time, the entire Nine Heavens Dynasty would ascend to the status of a super dynasty, reaching its zenith.
And the one who would lead the Nine Heavens Dynasty to its peak was the ancestor before him.
"Impossible, you cannot possibly be in the Saint Realm!"
Emperor Long shook his head. "If you truly reached the Saint Realm, why can't you leave the Imperial City?"
"You talk too much!"
The Ninth Elder Ancestor sneered, his powerful aura surging towards Emperor Long with an unstoppable momentum. Now that everyone was under his control, they were mere playthings in his hands if he wished.
Despite burning his vital blood, Emperor Long could still not resist. He was sent flying by a palm strike from the ancestor, spitting blood. Even his magic dispersed, and he crashed heavily onto the city wall.
"Father Emperor!"
Princess Linglong cried out, her heart filled with despair. She had never imagined that the dignified Emperor Long would be so vulnerable before the Nine Heavens Ancestor.
"Ants before Saints, none of you will escape!"
The Nine Heavens Ancestor laughed, his gaze sharpening. In his eyes, everything was under his control. No one could escape his grasp, and no one could stop him.
"You old bastard, I'll kill you!"
Linglong shouted, leaping into the air and charging towards the Nine Heavens Ancestor. Her father emperor was severely wounded and had burned his vital blood, likely nearing the end of his life. This was what she dreaded most, yet it had happened.
"Insolent fool, how dare you bluster here!"
The Nine Heavens Ancestor sneered coldly, not taking her seriously at all. With a mere wave of his hand, he struck towards Linglong. If this blow landed, Linglong's life would be forfeit.
*Boom...*
At that very moment, the Divine Emperor Cauldron appeared, blocking in front of Linglong. Simultaneously, Lu Fan, controlling the Divine Emperor Cauldron, spat out a mouthful of blood. He was no match for a Saint realm expert, and even with the Divine Emperor Cauldron, it was of no use.
Under absolute power suppression, all talent was futile.
"Imperial Son-in-law!"
Princess Linglong cried out, her heart filled with grief and indignation. Her father emperor had already left her. If Lu Fan were to meet with misfortune, how could she bear it?
"Leave quickly!"
Lu Fan shouted, "If you don't leave now, you'll be caught in the crossfire."
Princess Linglong was filled with helplessness. At this moment, the soldiers of the White Dragon Dynasty were also filled with grief and anger. Emperor Long had been shaken to death, and many other experts of the White Dragon Dynasty had also perished. This was unbearable for them.
"Where are the generals of the Nine Heavens Dynasty!"
The ancestor commanded, "Execute everyone, leave no one behind!"
"We obey!"
The generals responded in unison, soaring into the sky with powerful battle intent. At this point, they would show no restraint.
After all, the people of the White Dragon Dynasty were already at their last gasp, like startled birds, utterly devoid of fighting capacity. They were like hungry wolves entering a flock of sheep, ready to tear them apart.
"Steward Li, take them away!"
Lu Fan said, and then his figure shot into the sky, his powerful fiery energy blocking the army of the Nine Heavens Dynasty. The pervasive flames caused the Imperial City's temperature to change drastically. Even Emperor Jiutian was slightly surprised that Lu Fan, at such a young age, possessed such capability.
Steward Li dared not delay. He led a large contingent of troops and charged towards the outside of the Imperial City. As long as they could leave the Imperial City, they would have a glimmer of hope. Within the Imperial City, there was no survival.
A Saint realm expert was simply not someone they could contend with.
"Little fellow, you truly court death. With your abilities, you could have left the Imperial City alone. Why must you accompany them to the grave!" the ancestor sneered coldly, looking at Lu Fan as if he were already dead.
"They entered the Imperial City with us, how can I abandon them!" Lu Fan said coldly. "If you, this old thief, have the ability today, then kill me here. If you let me leave, I will overturn the Nine Heavens Dynasty one day!"
"A joke, and you think you can do it?"
The Nine Heavens Ancestor sneered coldly, completely unconcerned. In his eyes, Lu Fan's words were utterly ridiculous.
With him guarding the Nine Heavens Dynasty, no one could shake it. Let alone Lu Fan, even the Emperor Long from before was not worth mentioning.
"I have a cauldron that can suppress all things!"
Lu Fan's figure shot into the sky, muttering to himself. Whether it was Lu Fan's incantation manifesting or not, the Divine Emperor Cauldron began to radiate divine might, gradually hovering above Lu Fan's head. This immense divine power was terrifying, even making the Nine Heavens Ancestor wary.
"What is happening?"
Emperor Jiutian was startled. "Ancestor, this cauldron seems extraordinary."
"This must be an ultimate divine artifact."
The Nine Heavens Ancestor revealed joy, becoming somewhat excited. He had never imagined that he would encounter a divine artifact just after emerging from seclusion. Such divine objects could destroy the heavens and earth. If obtained by a powerful individual, they could destroy a dynasty in an instant.
*Boom...*
A massive collision sound echoed, and the Imperial City trembled incessantly. The Divine Emperor Cauldron radiated an unparalleled aura. Even the ancestor personally attacking could not stop it. However, in that instant, the Divine Emperor Cauldron's aura dimmed, and it slowly descended.
Lu Fan was also physically and mentally exhausted, his face pale. He could barely stand.
The Nine Heavens Ancestor rejoiced. He had felt danger just now and was filled with fear, worried that the divine might of the Divine Emperor Cauldron would be unleashed. But Lu Fan's strength was ultimately insufficient to truly activate the Divine Emperor Cauldron, nor could he fully unleash its world-destroying power.
It was precisely because of this that Lu Fan's surrounding spiritual energy was also completely absorbed, leaving him with no aura whatsoever, even approaching collapse.
"Such a divine object is wasted in your hands!" The Nine Heavens Ancestor shook his head and reached out towards the Divine Emperor Cauldron.