213: The flammable and explosive giant king!

Gangyan City.

The city lived up to its name; its walls were towering, constructed entirely of massive dark cyan rocks. They stood over a hundred meters high, thick and heavy, exuding a sense of immense power. The perimeter of the entire city resembled the broad arms of a giant—the kind with bulging muscles.

The area outside the city gates was bustling with traffic, and the pedestrians all walked with steady, grounded steps, their breath long and even.

Su Yang and his group entered the city on foot.

Compared to the generally tall and robust Kaiyue Kingdom citizens, their appearances and temperaments seemed somewhat delicate.

This drew sideways glances from many people.

Especially the seven beautiful women, Gu Yue and the others, which made many men look at Su Yang with envy.

However, none of the capital's commoners came up to harass them.

They often saw Cultivators from other countries in the capital and knew that while these people didn't look as tall and formidable as them, the strength of a Cultivator was definitely not something they could easily trifle with.

Better to just watch.

"The manners here are actually quite good."

Luo Luo walked lightly on tiptoes, admiring the exotic customs.

"I reckon it's out of fear. They look strong, but Cultivators aren't people they can afford to provoke."

Crimson Phoenix raised an eyebrow and said.

Su Yang nodded and said, "There are over five thousand Cultivators near the Spiritual Vein, which means Cultivators appear in the capital frequently. Someone must have provoked a Cultivator and gotten beaten up a long time ago. They should know that the strength of a Cultivator is superior to theirs."

The women nodded.

They all saw awe in the eyes of the passing commoners.

Clearly, the situation was much as Su Yang had described.

Under Su Yang's leadership, the group arrived before the palace gates.

The soldiers guarding the palace gates were all over two meters tall, with muscles as solid as if they were forged from iron.

Each was clad in heavy armor, holding giant axes and long halberds, their gazes like lightning. Surprisingly, each possessed the aura of a Foundation Establishment Stage Body Cultivator.

Su Yang stepped forward and said to the guard commander, "We are Cultivators from afar. We have an urgent matter and request to see the Kaiyue Kingdom King. Please pass on the message."

The guard commander looked Su Yang and his group up and down. Seeing their extraordinary temperament, especially Su Yang—who, although not as robust as the locals, possessed a unified, seamless aura—he dared not underestimate them.

Seeing the women, who were so beautiful they didn't seem like Mortals, he knew they were likely formidable Cultivators.

"Please wait a moment, let me report this."

The guard commander dared not delay and ordered someone to rush inside and pass the message.

Before long, a palace attendant hurried over and said respectfully, "His Majesty the King invites the distinguished guests. Please follow me."

Passing through the thick and wide palace corridors, they arrived at a massive and rugged council hall.

The interior lacked excessive ornate decoration. Stone pillars supported the sky, and the walls were carved with murals of past kings at war and hunting; the aesthetics of violence were displayed vividly here.

On the throne sat a person.

This person was nearly three meters tall, like an iron tower. His bare upper body had muscles bulging in chunks, as if carved from granite, and his skin was bronze-colored, gleaming with a metallic luster.

His face was rugged, with thick eyebrows and round eyes, a lion-like nose and wide mouth, and a head of messy hair like a lion's mane.

Just by sitting there, a wild and domineering aura rushed toward them.

It felt less like a human and more like a fierce, ferocious beast sitting there, ready to go berserk at any moment.

This was none other than the current King of the Kaiyue Empire, Kaidun III, known as the Steel Lion.

It was Su Yang's first time seeing a human nearly three meters tall; it was no exaggeration to describe this king as a giant.

What surprised Su Yang even more was that this king had no aura of a Cultivator, but upon closer inspection of his power field, he possessed the astonishing strength of a Soul Transformation Stage Body Cultivator! Substantial power lingered around his body like a fierce meat grinder.

This King was actually this strong!

Coupled with the fact that he ruled over billions of commoners in the entire Kaiyue Empire, and an unknown number of Cultivators relied on him, it was no wonder no Sect dared to covet this Spiritual Vein.

The entire Kaiyue Empire was as impregnable as a Sect in the Mortal world.

Su Yang withdrew his gaze and cupped his hands: "Su Yang, a Disciple of the Profound Heaven Dao Sect, pays respects to the King!"

The others also followed Su Yang and bowed.

Kaidun III's gaze was like a torch as he swept over Su Yang and the others, his voice extremely deep and his tone rugged: "Are you the Cultivators the guards reported? Did you see the notice that I have long been hiring strong Cultivators and come to apply?"

Su Yang: "...???"

Hiring Cultivators?

So that was it!

No wonder so many Cultivators came here!

Before Su Yang could answer, he heard Kaidun III on the throne continue: "You look like you have some skills. These young ladies are truly beautiful! Hahahaha!"

His laughter made the hall buzz, and his tone was direct and bold. His gaze lingered especially long on Cold Moon, Crimson Phoenix, and Wen Yunyao, filled with undisguised appreciation, yet without any lewd intent, more like pure admiration.

Su Yang stepped forward and cupped his hands: "Your Majesty the King, we are not here to apply. We request an audience today to discuss a matter."

"Oh? Not here to apply?"

Kaidun III raised his thick eyebrows and leaned forward slightly, bringing an even greater sense of oppression, "Then what is it for? Could it be that you want to establish a Sect in my Kaiyue Empire? Well, you'll have to see if you have the mettle for it!"

Su Yang's expression remained unchanged, and he said calmly, "Your Majesty has misunderstood. We have come for an item within your territory. This item has a deep connection to me and is something I must obtain. It is hidden deep within a Spiritual Vein in your country."

"Oh?"

Kaidun III's face showed more vigilance.

He probed, "The Spiritual Vein you speak of, is it the Chongyue Mountain Spiritual Vein? And the item you speak of, is it the Spirit Stone in the mountain?"

Su Yang didn't know the name of the mountain, nor did he know if the treasure in the mountain was a Spirit Stone.

But since the King said so, it was likely correct.

"Yes!"

Su Yang nodded.

The smile on Kaidun III's face vanished instantly, replaced by a terrifying calmness.

He slowly stood up, his massive frame blocking almost all the light behind the throne, casting a shadow that covered Su Yang and his group.

"How bold! Do you know what that is?"

"That is the Foundation of my Kaiyue Empire! The source of power! It is the root of my Kaiyue people's strength for generations! A sacred object protected by countless warriors and Cultivators!"

Kaidun III roared the moment he spoke, the sound wave almost overturning the hall roof, "You foreign Cultivators, how dare you covet our country's supreme treasure?! You are simply courting death!!"

"Men!!"

He bellowed.

From the shadows on the side of the hall, fifty figures emerged quietly.

These people were dressed differently—some old, some middle-aged, some young, both men and women—but without exception, powerful spiritual power fluctuations surged around them, and their gazes locked sharply onto Su Yang's group.

These were the guest Cultivators recruited by the Kaiyue Empire, all at the Nascent Soul Mid-Stage!

These people had been nourished by the Chongyue Mountain Spiritual Vein for years and were extremely loyal to the Empire.

"Take these arrogant fools down for me! Dead or alive!"

Kaidun III pointed at Su Yang, his hair bristling with rage.

The fifty Cultivators acted upon the order, various spiritual lights erupted instantly, and Magic Treasures and Spells immediately attacked Su Yang and the others...