225: tyrannical

Inside the library, there was a suffocating air of "trembling fear."

Kuta, Saras, and a group of Suradi Continent High-ranking Officials remained deeply bowed, their heads lowered as if awaiting a supreme judgment.

The air was filled with the aura of reverence they deliberately released, mixed with the dusty scent of ancient scrolls and... a faint, lingering bitterness called fear.

However, the anticipated rebukes or interrogations did not immediately descend.

"Lord Fannojia," or rather, Xiang Yan, seemed to have no reaction to their explanation about the "One Hundred Thousand Year Celebration" or their almost comical, humble posturing.

He did not even look at Kuta and Saras, who were bowing at the very front.

Those indifferent gazes that had previously fallen upon the doorway were slowly withdrawn after everyone entered, once again turning toward the floating memory crystals and metal plates before him.

It was as if this group of High-ranking Officials, who could make the Suradi Continent tremble with a mere stomp of their feet, were truly just... dust not worth noticing.

Time ticked away, second by second.

Each second felt like a heavy hammer striking the strained nerves of the High-ranking Officials.

Beneath Saras's lava-like carapace, a dark red light surged violently, and he could barely suppress the irritability and humiliation in his heart.

Kuta maintained the posture, but the slightly tightened tips of his limbs betrayed his inner unrest.

Hivedi kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, as if truly transformed into a boulder in the shadows.

Just as this oppressive silence was about to reach a breaking point, and even Kuta began to doubt whether the other party had heard them speak at all—

"Oh?"

A very light, faint, and slightly nonchalant nasal sound came from the direction of Xiang Yan.

Everyone's hearts jumped violently! It was coming!

They subconsciously lowered their heads further, preparing to meet a potential thunderous rage, or... some kind of unpredictable interrogation.

However, Xiang Yan's next words were completely unexpected.

"I remember," his voice remained low and hoarse, devoid of any emotion, as if he were merely recalling a trivial matter, "not long ago, I sent an... um, an Attendant responsible for serving me, to go out and see for me what exactly was... 'bustling' outside."

"You... should know about this, right?"

As his voice fell, the library fell into an even more bizarre silence.

The High-ranking Officials: "..."

They jerked their heads up, looking at each other, their faces filled with astonishment and... a trace of unbelievable absurdity.

What did that mean?

This lord had completely ignored their carefully prepared "celebration" explanation? Ignored their humble "plea for forgiveness"? Instead... brought up that injured, insignificant Attendant?

What on earth was he trying to do?!

For a moment, all sorts of speculations grew wildly in their hearts like weeds.

Could it be... that there was a problem with the Attendant?

Or... was this in itself a form of reprimand? A deeper level of contempt and testing toward them?

Kuta's heart sank, and a sense of foreboding spread rapidly. He forced himself to calm down and exchanged a look with the other core members, seeing deep confusion and... vigilance in each other's eyes.

"Ye... yes, Lord." Kuta steadied himself and took another step forward, his voice even more respectful than before, even carrying a trace of imperceptible sycophancy, "We... are aware of this matter."

He paused, trying to steer the conversation back on track: "That Attendant was incompetent, failing to investigate the situation in time, and instead disturbed you. It is truly our fault for failing to discipline them properly! We have already administered a slight punishment, and..."

"Please calm your anger, Lord!" Saras also hurriedly chimed in, his voice booming as he tried to cover his inner anxiety with volume, "This is all our fault! It was our celebration that was too noisy, affecting your cultivation! It has nothing to do with that lowly Attendant! We once again plead for your forgiveness!"

As they spoke, the two bowed deeply again, and the other High-ranking Officials hurriedly followed suit, repeating their pleas for forgiveness, their postures even humbler than before.

However—the moment they bowed!

Whoosh!!!

An indescribable, overwhelming, and terrifying force, like an invisible surging wave, suddenly erupted from the direction of Xiang Yan!

This force was not aimed at any one person, but like a hurricane sweeping across everything, it instantly filled the entire library!

There was no earth-shattering roar, only a terrifying hum that made even the Soul tremble, as space was forcibly compressed and distorted!

"Argh—!" "Pfft—!"

Kuta, Saras, Hivedi, Zanbuluo... all the High-ranking Officials who had entered the library, no matter who they were or how strong, were like fallen leaves in a gale at this moment!

They didn't even see Xiang Yan make any movement; that force had already brutally shattered their protective energy and slammed heavily into their bodies!

Crack! The sound of bones shattering! Splat! The sound of bodily fluids spraying!

Screams and muffled groans rose one after another!

Over a dozen figures, like trash discarded at will, were blasted away by this force without any power to resist!

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang...

They crashed through the heavy metal door, falling and rolling like tumbling gourds, landing in a wretched heap on the cold corridor outside, piled together and emitting painful groans.

For a moment, the corridor was filled with wails.

These top-tier existences of the Suradi Continent, who were usually high above and controlled the fates of countless living beings, were now like stray dogs, all injured and in an extremely wretched state.

Inside the library, silence returned.

Only the newly arrived Attendant, perhaps because he was standing at the very edge of the doorway, or because Xiang Yan simply didn't care about him, luckily avoided being affected by the force.

But he was currently trembling like a sieve, as if frightened out of his wits. The things he had been carrying fell all over the floor, but he seemed completely unaware, only staring with wide eyes, looking in absolute terror at the indifferent figure still floating in place inside the room.

Xiang Yan slowly retracted the limb that seemed not to have moved at all.

Then, his low, hoarse voice, carrying a cold and natural indifference, clearly reached the ears of every High-ranking Official struggling and groaning in the corridor:

"I asked about that ant."

"What I wanted to hear was the report he brought back."

"You..."

His voice paused, as if considering what word would be appropriate to describe this pile of "trash" before him.

"...what are you running over here for now?"

"Only when his report fails to satisfy me..."

"...would it be your turn to come here and... make such noise!"