622: Chapter 618 What is this thing?

Each of them held a soul-rending halberd (the standard weapon of the Imperial Guard). Their eyes were cold as they stared fixedly at Xuanyuan Yao in the center of the hall, their killing intent surging toward him like a continuous tide.

Zhao Lie walked at the very front, his gaze sweeping across the hall. When he saw Zhao Yue lying unconscious on the ground, covered in blood, his fury instantly exploded like a roaring thunderclap, echoing throughout the hall: "Was it you who humiliated the Third Young Master of my Zhao Family?"

Xuanyuan Yao stood with his hands behind his back, his expression remaining calm and unaffected by Zhao Lie's pressure. Neither submissive nor overbearing, he replied, "It was I."

Those two simple words carried an unquestionable authority, as if he were speaking of an insignificant trifle.

"Arrogance!" Zhao Lie roared. "What an ignorant brat! How dare you run wild in my Cangwu City, on the Zhao Family's territory, and humiliate our Zhao Family's Young Lord? Do you know that the blades of the Zhao Family's Imperial Guard never leave survivors?"

Xuanyuan Yao laughed loudly. "Hahaha! Who says this Cangwu City belongs to your Zhao Family?! It is clearly something you stole!!"

Zhao Lie's face burned with shame as he bellowed, "Even if it was stolen, that is a testament to the Zhao Family's capability!"

Just then, Zhao Yue, who had been unconscious on the ground, seemed to be awakened by the loud noise. He opened his eyes, and upon seeing Zhao Lie standing at the front of the hall with over a hundred Zhao Family Imperial Guards behind him, his eyes filled with wild joy. He cried out loudly to Commander Zhao, "Commander Zhao, save me! Quickly, save me! It was this little bastard who dared to break my fingers and force me to kowtow! Kill him, quickly! I want him hacked into ten thousand pieces! I want him to pay in blood!"

"Third Young Master! Rest assured! Leave this to me!!" Zhao Lie bowed slightly to Zhao Yue, his tone respectful. Then, he turned back to look at Xuanyuan Yao. "Boy, today, I shall cripple your cultivation and scatter your ashes to the wind. I will make you understand the consequences of offending my Zhao Family and the Zhao Family Imperial Guard!"

With those words, Zhao Lie wasted no more time. His figure flashed, instantly turning into a black afterimage as he charged toward Xuanyuan Yao.

His speed was incredibly fast. Operating the Black Evil Art at full power, he was surrounded by Black Evil Qi. The soul-rending halberd in his hand let out a whistling sound as it smashed ruthlessly toward Xuanyuan Yao's chest.

He poured all his strength into this strike, holding nothing back. The air was torn apart, and the surrounding tables and chairs were instantly shattered by the wind from the halberd, sending wood splinters flying.

The Loose Cultivators in the hall were terrified by this sight and retreated repeatedly, hiding in the corners of the hall.

Seeing Zhao Lie take action, the Zhao Family Imperial Guards all wore smug smiles, their eyes full of anticipation. They were convinced that Zhao Lie would surely kill Xuanyuan Yao in one blow, avenging the Third Young Master and upholding the dignity of the Zhao Family Imperial Guard.

"Go, Commander Zhao! Kill this little bastard!"

"Make this ignorant boy pay a bitter price!" the guards shouted one after another.

Facing Zhao Lie's fierce strike, Xuanyuan Yao did not immediately draw his blade. Instead, he operated the Ice Heart Art once more.

Frost Palm!

Xuanyuan Yao raised his hand and struck toward the soul-rending halberd.

Clang! With a crisp sound, the Frost Spiritual Qi collided with the soul-rending halberd. The fierce momentum of the halberd was instantly frozen, its body encased in a thick layer of solid ice. Zhao Lie felt a bone-chilling cold spread through the handle and into his entire body; his arm went stiff instantly, and his strength greatly diminished.

"Eh? You have some skill!" Zhao Lie was startled. He hadn't expected this youth to have mastered such a powerful Frost Cultivation Technique, easily blocking his full-strength strike.

Before Zhao Lie could react, Xuanyuan Yao's fist was covered in three feet of ice spikes. Frost Punch!

As he threw the punch, the ice spikes shattered, and countless ice needles, carrying a fierce chill, shot toward Zhao Lie's wrist.

Zhao Lie hurriedly withdrew the soul-rending halberd and flipped his wrist. A Black Iron Heart-Protecting Mirror instantly emitted a white light, blocking most of the ice needles. However, a few needles still pierced through the light and struck his wrist.

Ssh, ssh, ssh! With several soft sounds, deep wounds instantly appeared on Zhao Lie's wrist. Blood spurted out, freezing into ice crystals the moment it hit the ground. The Black Evil Qi surrounding him also dissipated slightly.

Xuanyuan Yao pressed his advantage. Countless ice spikes rose from the ground, shooting toward Zhao Lie like sharp swords. One Frost Spell after another was unleashed; Frost Palms and Frost Blades attacked in alternation, forcing Zhao Lie to retreat repeatedly and putting him at a disadvantage.

For a time, the hall was filled with a pervasive chill and flying ice chips. Zhao Lie's Black Evil Qi was firmly suppressed by the Frost Power—he could never have imagined that he, an Imperial Guard Commander at the Early Spirit Transformation Stage, would be suppressed by a youth's Frost Cultivation Technique to the point of being unable to fight back.

Zhao Lie roared ferociously, "Boy, you forced my hand!" He abruptly pulled a pitch-black bead from his robes—it was his trump card, the Magic Treasure "Black Evil Soul-Devouring Bead."

This Black Evil Soul-Devouring Bead was an ancestral treasure of the Zhao Family. It could absorb Evil Qi, resentment, and hostility. When the Murong Family was destroyed years ago, it had absorbed the Evil Qi of over a hundred thousand members of the Murong Family.

It could instantly unleash power far exceeding one's own cultivation, suppressing an enemy's Spiritual Qi and Divine Soul, and could even briefly devour an enemy's cultivation.

Zhao Lie normally never used it lightly, but today, in order to defeat Xuanyuan Yao, he had no choice but to reveal this trump card.

"Black Evil Soul-Devouring, Suppress!" Zhao Lie threw the Black Evil Soul-Devouring Bead into the air. The bead instantly erupted with a blinding black light, and thick Black Evil Qi poured out from it like a tide, instantly enveloping the entire hall.

This Black Evil Qi was far more powerful than Zhao Lie's own Black Evil Qi, carrying a Soul-Devouring Power as it pressed down on Xuanyuan Yao.

Xuanyuan Yao's expression changed slightly. He felt his entire body suddenly suppressed; the operation of the Ice Heart Art became sluggish, and the Frost Chill began to slowly melt away.

He could sense that the power of this Black Evil Soul-Devouring Bead was extremely formidable. If he continued to face it head-on, it might be difficult to escape.

Seeing this, a smug smile appeared on Zhao Lie's face. "Boy, do you know fear now? This Black Evil Soul-Devouring Bead once devoured the Divine Souls of the Murong Family Elders. Today, I'll let you taste the sensation of having your soul and bones devoured!"

The Loose Cultivators in the hall felt this terrifying Black Evil Qi; their bodies convulsed, and their eyes were filled with despair.

The Zhao Family Imperial Guards, on the other hand, were all ecstatic, shouting loudly in support.

Watching from a distance, Murong Gu remained calm, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes—he knew that Xuanyuan Yao's true combat power was about to erupt.

Sure enough, a mocking smile curled on Xuanyuan Yao's lips as he stopped hiding his strength.

He slowly raised his hands and drew the Sun and Moon Twin Blades from his back, holding the Sun Blade, the "crimson blood blade," in his left hand, and the Moon Blade, the "frost condensing blade," in his right.

The crimson blood blade was entirely crimson. As soon as it was drawn, it emitted a thick scent of blood. It contained the Blood Realm Law from Murong Gu's Legacy, capable of devouring Evil Qi and hostility, and amplifying combat power.

The frost condensing blade was translucent white like ice, emitting a bone-chilling cold. It contained the Frost Law of the Falling Snow Pavilion, which complemented the Ice Heart Art and multiplied its power.

With the twin blades in hand, Xuanyuan Yao's aura surged instantly. The Blood Realm Law and the Frost Law erupted simultaneously, the crimson blood light and the translucent white ice light intertwining to form a strange and powerful field that instantly broke through the suppression of the Black Evil Soul-Devouring Bead.

When the Black Evil Qi encountered the Blood Realm Law, it was like a mouse seeing a cat, attempting to flee instantly. However, there was no escape; it was immediately swallowed by the Blood Realm Law, which had transformed into a giant mouth.

"What... what on earth is this?" Zhao Lie's face changed drastically, his eyes filled with terror.