62: Chapter 62: Attempting Thunder Magic, The Abducted Emperor Fenglin

A pillar of lightning as thick as a water bucket twisted down from the rolling thunderclouds, striking directly below!

The target was exactly the mountain peak Xia Jin had just pointed at!

"Boom~ Rumble~!!!"

The terrifying thunder actually caused the ground where Xia Jin and the others stood to shake, and then the pillar of lightning struck the very top of that mountain peak.

In an instant, the snow that had accumulated for countless years, reaching a thickness of several zhang, was disturbed and transformed into a terrifying avalanche that swept across half the mountain, carrying debris and broken wood as it poured down with a roar.

The summit also looked as if a giant chunk had been sliced off, and the entire mountain trembled slightly!

"Huh? What happened?"

At the foot of the mountain on the other side, a child of about seven or eight years old was crouching behind a large rock, his face covered in grease as he gnawed on a roasted chicken he had just "borrowed" from a neighbor's kitchen.

"Why did the sky turn dark all of a sudden?" Sensing something was wrong, he looked up. The bright sun from a moment ago was gone, replaced by a massive, oppressive black cloud. "It's broad daylight, why did it turn dark so fast? Is it going to pour?"

Before he could finish muttering...

"Boom~ Rumble~!!!"

A terrifying clap of thunder rang out, followed by a world-shaking vibration!

The child was startled so badly he fell onto his backside, and the roasted chicken rolled into the mud.

"Mama!!"

He burst into tears from fright, scrambled to his feet, and without even bothering to pick up the chicken, ran desperately toward the village at the foot of the mountain, shouting through his sobs, "I was wrong! I'll never steal Grandpa Wang's roasted chicken again! Wuwuwu... don't strike me!"

...

Xia Jin slowly lowered his hand and looked at the two dazed women.

Leng Yuexi's red lips were slightly parted, remaining in that position for a long time. Her eyes reflected the mountain peak that seemed to have a corner sliced off, and she suddenly felt a sense of trance.

"Thun... Thunder... Controlling lightning?"

"How is this possible... How can human strength wield such heavenly power? Can one truly achieve this upon reaching the end of the Martial Dao?"

According to her understanding of the limits of the Martial Dao, even the legendary Land Immortal Realm shouldn't be able to control the lightning of the Nine Heavens, right?

Beside her, Princess Jiang Rou felt her legs go weak, her hands gripping Leng Yuexi's tightly.

She had only just entered the Great Great Grandmaster Realm, so she had never seen such a miraculous sight. Suddenly, a chill ran through her, and she felt a newfound sense of awe toward the man before her.

"Well? How does it feel? This is the first time this Prince has used the Shenxiao Lightning Technique. My technique is still a bit unrefined, and I didn't control the power very well. I originally only wanted to slice off that eyesore of a sharp rock on the summit, but I didn't expect it to cause such a stir!" Xia Jin shook his head slightly, seemingly dissatisfied with his "mistake."

However, his face was currently full of smugness.

"Hmm? Why aren't you two speaking? You haven't been scared witless, have you?" Seeing that Leng Yuexi and the other were still staring at him, Xia Jin waved his hand in front of their eyes.

Only after a full ten breaths did Leng Yuexi and the other snap out of it.

"You've both seen the power of that lightning. Now, do you still think what this Prince said yesterday was a boast?" Xia Jin asked with a smile, hands behind his back.

Princess Jiang Rou fell silent for a moment before bowing deeply to Xia Jin. "Prince Jin, it was Jiang Rou's lack of insight. Please forgive me for yesterday, Your Highness!"

At this moment, she was finally completely convinced of Xia Jin's power.

"That's enough! I can't blame you. After all, if someone told this Prince that they would make the two great Dynasties of the Central Region kneel at their feet within a year, I would also think they were a madman," Xia Jin said indifferently, though he couldn't stop the smile from tugging at the corners of his eyes.

Leng Yuexi looked at Xia Jin, her beautiful eyes sparkling with wonder, and she couldn't help but tighten her grip on his hand.

Xia Jin patted the back of her hand and was about to say something else.

Suddenly,

"Ugh!" Beside him, Princess Jiang Rou suddenly clutched her chest, her face turning pale in an instant.

"Rou'er! What's wrong?" Leng Yuexi was startled and quickly supported her.

Princess Jiang Rou shook her head, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes. "I... I don't know. Suddenly... my heart is racing, as if something is weighing on it."

She had a faint, ominous premonition.

"Revered Master! Maybe we should head back to the palace first. I'm worried something might have happened there!" Princess Jiang Rou grabbed Leng Yuexi's arm, her expression clearly tinged with anxiety.

Leng Yuexi glanced at Xia Jin, who nodded in agreement.

"Let's go!" Xia Jin said no more. A gentle surge of True Qi lifted Princess Jiang Rou, and the three of them turned into streaks of light, racing toward the capital of the Fenglin Kingdom at top speed.

The closer they got to the palace, the more intense the sense of panic in Princess Jiang Rou's heart became.

"Could something have really happened!?"

Sure enough, when they finally arrived above the palace, the scene below made all three of them change expression.

The once majestic and solemn Fenglin Imperial Palace was now in a state of complete ruin!

Bodies were strewn across the palace grounds! The heavy scent of blood could be faintly smelled even from high in the air.

"Something really happened! No... it can't be... Father!" Upon landing, Princess Jiang Rou felt her whole body go weak, but she gritted her teeth and rushed toward the Imperial Study regardless of everything.

Normally at this time, Jiang Qianjue would be in the Imperial Study handling memorials.

Within the Eastern Region, someone actually dared to attack the Fenglin Imperial Palace!?

Xia Jin and Leng Yuexi exchanged a look, both of their faces turning grim.

A flash of killing intent crossed Xia Jin's eyes.

Fenglin had just surrendered to Great Xia, and in the blink of an eye, the palace was bathed in blood?

This wasn't just an attack on the Fenglin Imperial Family; it was a blatant slap in Xia Jin's face!!

"Let's go! Let's take a look!" Xia Jin took Leng Yuexi's hand, and as they spoke, they had already reached the Imperial Study.

On the open ground in front of the Imperial Study, there were even more bodies, and the signs of battle were more intense.

Princess Jiang Rou stumbled as she pushed open the doors to the Imperial Study.

In the next moment, she froze at the doorway, as if her entire Soul had been sucked out.

Inside the Imperial Study, everything was in disarray. Memorials and books were scattered everywhere, and precious porcelain had been reduced to shards.

However, there was no sign of Jiang Qianjue.

"Father... is not here! Where is he?" Princess Jiang Rou's mind went blank.

"Hmm? That's..." Xia Jin's gaze immediately fell upon the imperial desk.

On the red sandalwood imperial desk, a black short sword was stabbed, its blade piercing through a letter and pinning it firmly to the surface.

"Rou'er, don't panic yet. Your father might still be alive," Leng Yuexi supported the tottering Princess Jiang Rou.

Xia Jin walked to the imperial desk and pulled out the black short sword.

He then took the letter and scanned its contents.

It contained only a few words:

"If you wish to save Jiang Qianjue, meet at Xiguan City of the Great Qian Dynasty in three days!"