241: Chapter 241: Conquering Friday

The void heaven-escaping shuttle changed direction and headed north at full speed.

Ling Hao stood before the porthole, watching the golden spiritual light gradually become clear beneath the clouds. It was the glow of the Jinyao Palace's defensive grand array, like an inverted golden bowl enveloping the entire palace within.

“Shadow Seven,” Ling Hao spoke.

“Present.”

“Order Ling Xiao to withdraw from the northern Star Gate ruins and meet me at Jinyao Palace for a direct frontal assault.”

“Yes!”

Shadow Seven took the order and departed.

Ling Hao turned around, his gaze falling upon the already refined Taiyin Star Lord Command. The token floated quietly in his palm, flowing with a nine-colored radiance of Chaos.

“Star Lord Taibai, your token is as good as mine,” he whispered to himself.

---

Star Lord Taibai sat upright in the great hall, a golden round mirror floating before him. In the mirror, a streak of chaotic flowing light was galloping toward them from the south.

“He really came?” He stood up, his expression solemn.

He had only activated this Jinyao Mirror yesterday.

Previously, when rumors spread among the Loose Cultivators that Ling Hao was going to attack Jinyao Palace, he hadn't taken it seriously. Ling Hao had just caused a stir in the West; how could he immediately shift the battle to the North? Moreover, Jinyao Palace was far from the core of the Central Region, meaning the supply lines would be long. Bringing an army north was simply seeking death.

It wasn't until two days ago, when secret scouts discovered that a large number of Loose Cultivators in the Northern Border were indeed moving toward Jinyao Palace—totaling over a thousand—that Star Lord Taibai began to take it seriously, switching the Jinyao Mirror from its daily standby mode to active scanning.

The result of the scan showed a streak of chaotic flowing light flying straight toward them from the southern horizon.

“Activate the Jinyao Grand Array! All Disciples, man the walls and prepare for battle!” Star Lord Taibai ordered in a deep voice. “At the same time, send a message to Star Lord Jidu, stating that a chaotic aura suspected to be Ling Hao has been discovered outside Jinyao Palace, and request his support!”

The communication talisman lit up, and a moment later, Star Lord Jidu's reply arrived.

“The aura is unclear; it cannot be confirmed if it is Ling Hao himself. Furthermore, the army of a thousand you reported previously has yet to appear within a hundred-mile radius of Jinyao Palace. This might be a bluff. Defenses in the West are tight, and I cannot easily leave. Continue to observe and report once confirmed.”

Star Lord Taibai's face darkened.

Star Lord Jidu refused to come.

But he couldn't argue. Those thousand Loose Cultivators indeed hadn't appeared near Jinyao Palace, as if they had vanished into thin air. If this was Ling Hao's plan to lure the tiger away from the mountain, Star Lord Jidu leaving the West would be playing right into the opponent's hands.

“Star Lord, what should we do then?” a nearby deacon asked.

“Defend,” Star Lord Taibai gritted his teeth. “Regardless of whether it's Ling Hao, we hold Jinyao Palace first. If it's just a false alarm, that's for the best. If it's real... then we hold until it's confirmed, then ask for reinforcements again!”

He strode out of the hall and ascended the palace walls.

The golden grand array was already operating at full power. Countless ribbons of metal-element spiritual energy converged, flowing through the array's foundation. Three hundred Jinyao Palace Disciples were in their positions, blades and swords unsheathed, their spiritual light piercing the sky.

Star Lord Taibai narrowed his eyes, staring intently at the approaching streak of chaotic light.

---

The void heaven-escaping shuttle hovered thirty miles outside Jinyao Palace.

Ling Hao stepped out of the cabin door, standing at the bow with his hands behind his back.

Ling Xiao had already arrived with a hundred elites, currently forming ranks on both sides of the void heaven-escaping shuttle. Shadow Seven and Gu Yue were also ready for battle.

“Brother Hao.” Ling Xiao flew to Ling Hao's side. “The Jinyao Grand Array is an ancient Legacy, reputed to be able to block defenses at the Early Integration Stage. Although Star Lord Taibai himself is only at the Peak Void Refining stage, with the enhancement of this grand array, his combat power can briefly rise to the quasi-Integration level. He is not to be underestimated.”

“quasi-Integration?” The corners of Ling Hao's mouth curled slightly. “In the end, it's not a true Integration.”

He raised his hand, and the Spear of Fate Reversal condensed in his palm.

The shaft was as black as ink, and the spear tip faintly flowed with the power of chaotic nothingness. Wisps of nine-colored radiance wrapped around the spear's handle—a Fusion of Primordial Chaos Force and the Space-Time Rules.

“Cousin, take the men and hold the line to prevent any flank attacks,” Ling Hao said. “Leave Star Lord Taibai to me alone.”

“Alone?” Ling Xiao frowned. “Isn't that too risky?”

“Risky?” Ling Hao shook his head. “He's just at the Peak Void Refining stage.”

Ling Xiao was stunned, then gave a bitter smile.

True, Ling Hao was already at the Early Integration Stage. In the entire Central Region, there weren't many Integration Stage Cultivators. No matter how strong Star Lord Taibai was, he was still only at the Peak Void Refining stage.

This was a crushing difference in Realm.

“Fine.” Ling Xiao stepped back. “I'll hold the line for you.”

Ling Hao stepped onto the void, walking toward Jinyao Palace step by step.

He did not accelerate or hide; he simply walked over openly. With every step he took, the void trembled slightly, and the Chaos Dragon Domain silently expanded, enveloping dozens of miles around him.

The Jinyao Palace Disciples only felt the spiritual energy within their bodies become sluggish, as if suppressed by some higher law. Some Disciples with lower cultivation even felt their legs go weak, almost unable to hold their weapons.

Star Lord Taibai's pupils constricted.

This was the pressure of the Integration Stage.

“Don't panic!” he shouted sharply. “Activate the grand array, full output!”

The golden grand array erupted, and a blinding pillar of golden light shot into the sky, transforming into a massive golden barrier blocking the front of Jinyao Palace.

Ling Hao stopped, standing outside the golden barrier.

He examined the grand array, his eyes showing no wariness, only scrutiny.

“An ancient Legacy, indeed not bad,” he said indifferently. “Unfortunately, the person manning the array is too weak.”

Before his voice had even faded, he raised the Spear of Fate Reversal and thrust it forward gently.

This strike seemed completely devoid of intensity.

There were no world-shaking spiritual energy fluctuations, no deafening sounds of breaking air. The spear tip merely tapped lightly against the golden barrier, like a dragonfly touching the water.

However,

*Crack.*

Starting from the spear tip, countless cracks spread across the golden barrier like a spiderweb.

Star Lord Taibai's expression changed drastically.

“Impossible! The Jinyao Grand Array is said to be able to withstand a full-power strike from the Early Integration Stage!”

“That's a full-power strike from other Early Integration Stages.” Ling Hao withdrew his spear, his tone flat. “Not mine.”

He thrust out again.

This time, the spear tip carried the power of chaotic nothingness, directly piercing through the already crack-riddled golden barrier.

“BOOM—”

The golden grand array completely collapsed. Violent spiritual energy poured out in all directions, blowing several gaps into the palace walls of Jinyao Palace. Dozens of Disciples were sent flying by the shockwave, falling to the ground with screams of pain.

Star Lord Taibai let out a muffled groan, a trace of blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. The grand array was connected to his Divine Soul; the moment the array broke, he also suffered a backlash.

But he had no time to regulate his breathing.

Ling Hao had already passed through the shattered barrier and was standing before him.

“Star Lord Taibai.” Ling Hao looked at him, his voice calm. “Hand over the taibai token, and I may spare your life.”

Conflict flashed in Star Lord Taibai's eyes.

The token was bestowed by the Heavenly Dao Palace; if he lost it, the Heavenly Dao Palace would not let him off. But if he didn't hand it over, Ling Hao would kill him right now.

“In your dreams!” He finally gritted his teeth and activated the Jinyao Sword. A golden Sword Qi, like a bolt of silk, slashed toward Ling Hao!

Ling Hao stepped aside, dodging the Sword Qi.

“Stubborn and foolish.”

The Spear of Fate Reversal swept across, the shaft slamming into Star Lord Taibai's golden armor.

*Clang—*

The sound of metal clashing was deafening. Star Lord Taibai was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, smashing through the walls of the Jinyao Palace's main hall and rolling several times in the ruins before coming to a stop.