1273: Chapter 1273 Hei Bai is terrified and wants to see His Majesty

"Absurd!"

Inside the Imperial Palace on the main planet of the Black Cloud Empire, Heibai slammed the intelligence report in his hand onto the desk, his face livid, his eyes almost spitting fire.

His chest heaved violently, and the entire great hall trembled slightly from his leaking spiritual energy.

Yet, if one were to look closely, they would discover that beneath that anger, hidden deep within his eyes, was a trace of undeniable terror.

This could not be blamed on him.

The news recorded in that intelligence report was like one thunderclap after another, striking so hard it left one breathless—

Marshal Heiman, one of the Ten Marshals, had not only been defeated and severely injured, but he had also very likely provoked a truly terrifying existence—the Devil King Luo Xiu.

That name had already become a taboo in dozens of surrounding Star Domains.

He had countless powerhouses under his command, could remain undefeated while fighting against ten Peak powerhouses, and was suspected to be a Half-Step Tier 6 Immortal.

Furthermore, a mysterious explosion of unknown origin had occurred at the Empire's border.

Nearly one-tenth of the Empire's Star Domains were directly implicated, with hundreds of millions dead or injured.

Communications on countless colonial planets were cut off in an instant, and prosperous trade routes were reduced to a silent ruin in the Void Realm.

According to the observations and speculations of intelligence personnel, the scale and destructive power of that explosion were very likely caused by the battle of a Tier 6 powerhouse, or... a self-detonation.

Tier 6.

An Immortal-level powerhouse.

Such an existence had actually appeared near the Empire.

If the other party harbored ill intentions, would the Black Cloud Empire... not be very likely to be wiped out of existence because of it?

Heibai closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and dared not think any further.

But there was even worse news in the report.

One of the marshals who went to pursue and capture Wu Zhankong had died in battle yesterday.

The accompanying fleet was completely wiped out, not even having time to send out a distress signal.

Heibai was clear about that marshal's strength: a Late Stage Tier 5, battle-hardened, with soldiers under his command who were the elite of the elite.

Yet, such a force did not even have the chance to escape.

Of the Ten Marshals, two had fallen.

Externally, the Devil King Luo Xiu was watching like a tiger preying on its prey, Wu Zhankong was inciting rebellions everywhere, and that mysterious, untraceable Tier 6 powerhouse was like a sword hanging over their heads.

Internally, undercurrents were surging among various factions, and unknown chaos was spreading and growing.

The Empire's situation could be described as extremely difficult, having even reached the point of life and death.

"I cannot wait any longer."

Heibai opened his eyes abruptly, a cold light flashing in them, having already made a decision in his heart.

"I must report this to the Imperial Brother!"

He put away the intelligence, his figure flashed, and he sped toward the depths of the Imperial Palace.

The atmosphere in the depths of the Imperial Palace was completely different from the outside.

The further in he went, the dimmer the light became, and the air grew heavier and more stagnant, as if even the spiritual energy had become viscous.

Heibai had been unimpeded along the way, but just as he was about to approach that Forbidden Ground—

A figure appeared silently before him.

That person was shrouded in a black cloak, as if a shadow that had grown out of the darkness, and even his features could not be clearly seen.

He stood there quietly, yet he was like an invisible wall, completely sealing off the path ahead.

"Your Highness Heibai."

The person's voice was hoarse and cold, devoid of any emotion, "Your Majesty has decreed that no one is allowed to approach. Please leave."

Heibai's footsteps halted, a slight shock in his heart.

He recognized this person.

Hei Mo.

The supreme commander of the Shadow Guard, who could be said to be Your Majesty's shadow.

No one knew his true strength, because whenever he struck, he never left any survivors.

But Heibai remembered very clearly—a hundred years ago, this man had single-handedly slaughtered a major faction.

Within that faction, there were three Peak Tier 5 Powerhouses presiding, with experts as numerous as clouds under their command, and a deeply entrenched influence.

Yet before Hei Mo, everything was nothing but clay chickens and pottery dogs.

Overnight, that faction was completely wiped off the star map.

"Hei Mo."

Heibai suppressed the apprehension in his heart and said in a deep voice, "The Empire's situation is currently at stake, and I must see Your Majesty.

If the affairs of the state are delayed, can you bear the responsibility?"

As he spoke, the spiritual energy within his body was already secretly circulating, ready to strike at any moment.

Hei Mo, however, seemed completely indifferent, not even moving an inch.

"Your Highness, please leave."

His tone was still flat, as if stating a trivial matter, "Right now, no one can disturb Your Majesty."

"You—"

Heibai simply could not believe his ears.

He stared fixedly at Hei Mo, attempting to find a flaw on that face hidden in the shadows.

But there was nothing.

Hei Mo was like an emotionless statue; the survival of the Empire and the life and death of hundreds of millions of living beings seemed not worth mentioning in his eyes.

"Hei Mo, do you know what the situation is like outside right now?!"

Heibai's voice already carried a hint of anxiety, "That guy Wu Zhankong, his strength is now unfathomable, and his followers are countless—even Tier 5 Powerhouses are willing to be at his beck and call.

They use the liberation of slaves and the pursuit of freedom as their banner, their influence spreading across dozens of surrounding Star Domains; the Lieyang Star Domain and the Chaotic Star Domain have both been turned upside down by them, and my Black Cloud Empire is their primary target!"

He paused, his voice sinking further: "The Empire has already lost two marshals, hundreds of millions of citizens have died unjustly, and we could face the disaster of national destruction at any moment—and you want me to leave?"

Hei Mo was silent for a moment.

But it was only for a moment.

"Your Highness, please leave."

He repeated it for the third time, his tone still as cold as before, "This is Your Majesty's decree."

Heibai's heart sank completely.

He dared not imagine that Hei Mo would actually say such things.

He dared not imagine even more what the Imperial Brother was doing, to actually not be willing to show his face even at this moment of the Empire's life and death.

But he absolutely could not watch the Empire perish just like this.

"Get lost!"

Heibai roared angrily, wasting no more words, and struck a palm fiercely toward Hei Mo.

The palm wind was like thunder, carrying the immense spiritual energy of a Peak Tier 5, instantly tearing through the surrounding silence.

The entire corridor trembled violently under this palm, and the air emitted a piercing screech, as if it were about to collapse from the force of this palm.

"Today, I must see Your Majesty!"

A sharp light flashed in Heibai's eyes, his palm force undiminished, striking straight for Hei Mo's face.

Hei Mo did not move his body, only slightly raising his hand.

His bony, withered fingers flicked lightly, and a pitch-black energy tore through the palm wind like a venomous snake, piercing straight through Heibai's right shoulder.

Fresh blood splattered.

Heibai let out a muffled groan, his figure retreating violently, but before he could steady himself, Hei Mo had already appeared before him.

That figure shrouded in darkness was like a ghost, pressing down with a palm, causing the heavens and earth to lose their color.

Heibai gritted his teeth, channeling all his spiritual energy, striking out with both palms, using all his strength to meet this blow head-on.

Boom—

Only three moves.

First move: Heibai's right shoulder was pierced.

Second move: Heibai's protective spiritual energy was shattered.

Third move: Hei Mo's palm imprinted on his chest, Heibai's entire body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, smashing heavily against the palace wall, blood gushing wildly from his mouth.

Hei Mo walked over slowly, darkness surging like a tide behind him, and a pitch-black short blade slid out from his sleeve, the tip of the blade gleaming with a cold, eerie light.

"Your Highness, my apologies."

The short blade descended.

Just at this critical moment—

"Enough."

A voice suddenly rang out, not loud, yet it seemed to come from all directions simultaneously, carrying an unquestionable pressure.

Hei Mo's short blade stopped in mid-air, a mere three inches from Heibai's brow.