37: Chapter 37 The Royal Family Takes Action

"Hum!"

Three streaks of azure light descended from the sky, transforming into an old man with a white beard, a middle-aged scholar, and a beautiful woman in a red dress.

They were the three great retainers of the Third Prince's estate—Daoist Qingsong, the Iron-Pen Scholar, and Fairy Chilian.

Daoist Qingsong slowly said to the demons and evil cultivators.

"Since you have already escaped, leave now!"

"We will not stop you."

"Otherwise, once reinforcements arrive,"

"You won't be able to leave even if you want to."

The Wolf Demon watched the three appear, its wolf eyes filled with disdain.

"A mere three eighth-layer Heaven Realm cultivators dare to stop us?"

"Are you even worthy of speaking to us?"

The Wolf Demon bared its fangs, and dark green Demonic Qi soared into the sky.

It slammed its right claw onto the ground, and three fissures struck toward Daoist Qingsong like lightning.

"Azure Wood Imprisons the Heavens!"

Daoist Qingsong's white beard fluttered, and nine azure wood nails flew out from his sleeves.

The wood nails landed and formed a forest, instantly transforming into towering ancient trees that surrounded the Wolf Demon.

The wolf claws struck the tree trunks, emitting the sound of metal clashing.

"The old guy has some tricks!"

The Wolf Demon roared and slammed into them frantically, causing the entire forest to tremble.

On the other side, the Iron-Pen Scholar wrote in the air with his Judge's Pen, and the character "Suppress" transformed into a mountain, pressing down toward the Blood Demon Elder.

"Mountain and River Pen?"

"Are you from the Wenyuan Pavilion?"

The Blood Demon Elder's blood-colored robe billowed, and the blood shadow behind him expanded violently.

"It's a pity your cultivation is too shallow."

"If it were those pedantic scholars from the Wenyuan Pavilion, I might be wary."

"You are not qualified enough."

The giant palm of the blood shadow shattered the mountain, and the shockwave sent the Iron-Pen Scholar stumbling back seven steps.

Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, but he sneered.

"Blood Demon Elder, you have been imprisoned for twenty years; your cultivation surely cannot have much left."

The Blood Demon Elder's expression darkened.

His strength was indeed greatly diminished.

Otherwise, that one palm strike just now would have taken the scholar's life.

"Cackle, cackle..."

Fairy Chilian giggled and flung out seven red silk ribbons.

"Why must you all fight and kill?"

"Why not try my 'Seven Emotions Soul-Severing Incense' instead..."

As the red ribbons fluttered, pink toxic mist spread, and several demons with weaker cultivation immediately became dazed.

A Bear Demon even began tearing at its own fur, looking like a madman.

At the same time, the Bear Demon roared and charged toward the disheveled old man.

"Bitch, you are courting death."

The disheveled Daoist swept his horsetail whisk, and a cold wind dispersed the toxic mist.

He was about to strike when his expression suddenly changed, and he looked toward the imperial palace.

An aura as vast as an abyss was awakening.

...

Imperial Palace, Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Emperor Yuanwu, Chu Shanhe, stood before the window with his hands behind his back, his bright yellow dragon robe fluttering without wind.

He appeared to be around forty, but his brows held the weight of a century of vicissitudes.

"Your Majesty, the Third Prince requests an audience."

The old eunuch reported softly.

"Let him in."

Chu Shanhe's gaze was deep.

The sounds of battle faintly coming from outside the palace seemed to not reach his ears at all.

At this moment, if the disheveled old man and the others saw Emperor Yuanwu, their jaws would surely drop.

They never expected that Emperor Yuanwu's cultivation was actually quite high.

It was completely different from the rumors in the outside world.

Chu Xuan walked quickly into the hall.

Upon seeing Emperor Yuanwu, Chu Xuan hurriedly knelt.

"Reporting to Father Emperor,"

"The Blood God Cult has colluded with rebel forces to stir up chaos in the capital, and the demons and evil cultivators in the prison have broken free from their confinement. Your son requests permission to lead the Imperial Guard to quell the rebellion."

"Oh?"

Chu Shanhe turned around, a hint of playfulness flashing in his eyes.

"I recall that the prison is under the responsibility of the Zhenwu Division; when did it become the Imperial Guard's turn to intervene?"

Fine beads of sweat seeped from Chu Xuan's forehead.

"The Zhenwu Division sent out a distress signal, and Commander Yang is unable to hold them off alone..."

"Is that so?"

Chu Shanhe suddenly raised his hand, and a golden light struck Chu Xuan's forehead.

The Third Prince trembled violently, and the scene in the prison flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.

When he saw Wei Jia appearing with three hundred elite soldiers, Chu Shanhe sneered.

"My good son, such a huge change in the prison, yet the Zhenwu Division did not send anyone to report it to me."

"Yet you, you moved so quickly."

"I presume quite a few people in the Zhenwu Division have already secretly defected to you!"

Chu Xuan hurriedly kowtowed.

"Your son is guilty."

"But currently the demons are running rampant..."

"Go!"

Before Chu Xuan could finish, Chu Shanhe interrupted, then suddenly changed the subject.

"Take your Golden Feather Guards to quell the rebellion."

"I will send retainers to accompany you."

"Remember, I want to see the heads of all the demons before dawn."

Chu Xuan looked up in shock, his expression full of surprise.

He did not expect that the guards he had secretly assembled...

Were all under Emperor Yuanwu's control in every move.

Thinking of this, a trickle of cold sweat broke out on Chu Xuan's back.

He did not expect that Emperor Yuanwu, whom the world called a foolish emperor...

Was, at this moment, a completely different person.

Recovering, Chu Xuan saw golden light swirling in Emperor Yuanwu's eyes, as if he could see through everything.

He immediately understood that this was a test, and also an opportunity.

"Your son accepts the order."

Chu Xuan kowtowed heavily, and as he turned, a cold sneer curled the corner of his lips.

After he left, Chu Shanhe said softly.

"Elder Ying, follow him."

"If those old immortals try to make a move against the Third Prince, kill them all."

"It is time to let these people know that Great Chu still belongs to the Chu family."

A hoarse response came from the shadows.

"This old servant understands."

After the person in the shadows left.

Emperor Yuanwu said to the old eunuch.

"Old friend, tell me, how many people do you think are involved this time?"

"Why can't those bastards of mine give me some peace of mind!"

...

Chu Xuan stepped out of the palace gates, the night wind lifting his black cloak embroidered with gold thread.

His right hand pressed against the dragon-patterned sword hilt at his waist, his fingertips turning slightly white.

"Your Highness,"

A soldier covered in blood staggered over.

"Your Highness, the military advisor's side cannot hold on much longer."

"The retainers are also injured."

"The military advisor asks Your Highness to intervene."

"Otherwise, the retainers and the elite soldiers brought by the military advisor will all become food for the demons and evil cultivators."

Chu Xuan narrowed his eyes, the killing intent in his eyes unstoppable.

Cold light surged in Chu Xuan's eyes, and the dragon-patterned sword at his waist unsheathed three inches with a "clang," its sword light like frost, turning the messenger soldier's face pale.

"Useless!"

He kicked the soldier over and shouted sternly.

"Order the Golden Feather Guards to reinforce the prison at full speed."

"Also, bring three sets of 'Black Armor Array-Breaking Crossbows'; I want those demons to be left without even bones."

"Yes!"

The soldier scrambled away.

Chu Xuan mounted his horse and galloped rapidly toward the prison.

Meanwhile, blood mist churned outside the prison.

"Boom!"

The Blood Demon Elder shattered Daoist Qingsong's azure wood barrier with one palm, his withered hand like a hook, striking directly at his throat.

"Old thing, I will take your life!"

Daoist Qingsong retreated violently, flinging three purple Talismans from his sleeves, which transformed into thunder and struck down.

"Trifling tricks!"

The Blood Demon Elder sneered, and the blood shadow dharma image opened its mouth and inhaled, actually swallowing the thunder into its belly.

On the other side, Fairy Chilian's red silk ribbons broke, and her shoulder was torn open by the Wolf Demon, her delicate body stumbling backward.

"Fairy!"

The Iron-Pen Scholar's eyes split in anger; he swung his Judge's Pen to execute the "Slash" character technique, but it was swept away by the disheveled Daoist's horsetail whisk and shattered on the spot.

"Hahaha!"

"Tonight, we will wash the capital in blood, starting with you."

The Wolf Demon laughed wildly at the sky, its sharp claws reaching directly for Fairy Chilian's heart.

At the critical moment.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

Three streaks of black light arrived, piercing through the Wolf Demon's right claw with precision and exploding into a mist of blood.

"Ah!"

The Wolf Demon roared in pain and retreated, looking into the distance with shock and rage.

Three giant crossbows, each over a zhang tall, were slowly set up. Dark blue runes flickered on the bolts; they were none other than the "Black Armor Array-Breaking Crossbows" designed specifically to break demons and evil spirits.

At this moment, the Third Prince was also blocked by a group of people.

If Gu Han were here, he would definitely recognize the people.

The people blocking the Third Prince were none other than a servant from Tianbao Pavilion—one of the Saints of the Blood God Cult, Li Tianxing.