124: Having this lifelong friend, I will die without regrets

Just as Luo Wenzhou and Ling Kongzi were both in shock, a thunderous boom echoed.

The Imperial Armament, piercing through the void, instantly shattered the golden giant hand Ling Kongzi had conjured and forcefully struck the Heartless Empress.

Immediately after, the Imperial Armament continued its momentum.

Carrying the Heartless Empress’s body, which it had pierced through, it slammed heavily into the barrier above the Red Dust Grotto-Heaven.

Facing the vast Imperial Might, the Red Dust Grotto-Heaven’s barrier only held for a moment before shattering.

“Boom—”

Finally, the Imperial Armament, along with the Heartless Empress’s broken body, plunged into the Red Dust Grotto-Heaven, unleashing a destructive storm.

Countless onlookers, caught in such terrifying power, suffered heavy casualties.

Due to the suddenness of the event and their underestimation of the enemy, Luo Wenzhou and Ling Kongzi had no time to intervene.

Moreover, this was an Imperial Armament; the person behind it was certainly not simple, and neither dared to act rashly for a while, only able to watch the tragedy unfold.

“No, Yanran!”

Shen Ningshuang also arrived at this moment.

At this point, she no longer had any thoughts for Luo Wenzhou and Ling Kongzi.

She directly bypassed the two and rushed towards where the Heartless Empress had fallen.

Seeing this, Luo Wenzhou and Ling Kongzi’s expressions grew even graver, and they too followed into the Red Dust Grotto-Heaven.

Soon, the three arrived at the ruins.

Gazing at the shocking scene before them, one couldn’t help but gasp.

Murong Yanran was impaled to the ground by a blood-red war halberd emanating terrifying Imperial Might, directly piercing her body.

At this moment, her life force was completely gone; she had died a truly tragic death!

“Yanran, it’s all This Master’s fault; This Master failed to protect you!” Shen Ningshuang’s face was filled with utter grief.

She immediately went to Murong Yanran’s side, unleashing all her Quasi-Emperor cultivation, and forcefully grabbed the Imperial Armament.

The moment she grasped the Imperial Armament, the vast Imperial Might surged like thunder.

In just a breath, it directly seared Shen Ningshuang’s hands, striking deep into her soul and causing her qi and blood to churn.

An Imperial Armament with an owner was not something anyone could touch casually; at best, one’s Dao body would collapse, at worst, one’s soul would be utterly destroyed.

But to let Yanran rest peacefully, Shen Ningshuang ignored her own injuries, forcefully pulled out the Imperial Armament, and threw it far away.

“Yanran, don’t be afraid; This Master will avenge you now!”

Shen Ningshuang held Murong Yanran’s broken body in her arms, her beautiful eyes filled with killing intent and boundless hatred.

Over the years, she had always regarded Yanran as her own daughter; now that Yanran had fallen, she had no more attachments.

Moreover, she had completely offended the Xuan Clan Imperial Son, which was equivalent to offending the entire Xuan Clan.

At this point, there was clearly no room for maneuver.

Even if she was willing to let the matter rest and not pursue today’s events, the Xuan Clan would not spare her or the entire Jueqing Immortal Sect.

Since death was inevitable either way, it was better to stake her old life and avenge Yanran.

No matter the final outcome, being able to confront the Xuan Clan once would be a worthy death.

“Woman, it seems you are quite unyielding!”

Just then, a soul-shaking voice suddenly came from the sky.

The group looked up, only to see a domineering figure had already descended, slowly stepping onto the Imperial Armament in the distance.

“Imperial Son!”

Almost at the same moment, Luo Wenzhou and Ling Kongzi couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise.

Neither of them had expected that the Imperial Son himself would arrive for today’s events, no wonder he could make such a grand gesture as using an Imperial Armament to clear the way.

Had this Jueqing Immortal Sect eaten the heart of a bear and the guts of a leopard?

How dare they provoke such a formidable figure as the Imperial Son? Did they not know that the entire Xuan Clan stood behind the Imperial Son?

Amidst his shock, Luo Wenzhou’s face turned ashen.

After all, Ling Kongzi’s actions just now had undoubtedly provoked the Imperial Son.

If the Imperial Son were to take his anger out on the Red Dust Grotto-Heaven because of this, he, a lonely old man with little power, would probably be crushed to death by the Xuan Clan.

Old Ling, Old Ling, I’m truly screwed by you. Since it’s come to this, don’t blame This Old Man!

“This Old Man Luo Wenzhou respectfully greets the Imperial Son. Your presence at the Red Dust Grotto-Heaven today truly brings immense glory to this place. This Old Man failed to greet you from afar; please forgive This Imperial Son!”

Luo Wenzhou didn’t hesitate, instantly teleporting in front of Xuan Tianchen and respectfully bowing.

Seeing this, Xuan Tianchen calmly said, “Luo Wenzhou? You are the Grotto-Heaven Master of the Red Dust Grotto-Heaven!”

Hearing that the Imperial Son knew him, Luo Wenzhou’s originally grave face relaxed slightly.

If he performed a little better now, perhaps he could spare the Red Dust Grotto-Heaven and himself from disaster today.

Thinking this, he quickly smiled and said, “To be known by the Imperial Son is truly This Old Man’s honor!”

Xuan Tianchen heard this and couldn’t help but smile faintly; this old fellow in front of him was very perceptive!

Could it be that today, This Imperial Son would cultivate another outstanding talent? It seems things are getting more and more interesting.

“Oh, is that so? This Imperial Son just now destroyed your protective barrier with one strike; do you have no thoughts about it?”

He stood with his hands behind his back on the Imperial Armament, his voice carrying a hint of playfulness.

“The Imperial Son jests. With the Imperial Son’s status, all his actions are righteous. Even if the entire Red Dust Grotto-Heaven were destroyed, it would be the Red Dust Grotto-Heaven’s fortune!”

Luo Wenzhou said, his body bowed very properly, his slightly relaxed nerves tightening again.

What a joke! He, a mere Quasi-Emperor Seventh Layer lonely old man, facing this fiend from the Xuan Clan, how could he dare to have any thoughts? What thoughts could he possibly have?

If he dared to say no at this moment, he might be decapitated in the next second.

In the face of life and death, so-called dignity was nothing. He clearly understood what was important and what was not.

“You are quite good, but your friend…”

Xuan Tianchen looked towards Ling Kongzi in the distance, a cold killing intent flashing in his eyes.

Luo Wenzhou, having cultivated for tens of thousands of years, naturally understood the Imperial Son’s meaning instantly.

Clearly, Old Ling’s actions just now had completely angered the Imperial Son, and today’s matter could certainly not end well.

To hell with it, a dead Daoist friend is better than a dead poor Daoist. Old Ling dying alone is better than both of them dying together.

Moreover, this was trouble Old Ling brought upon himself by showing off; what did it have to do with Luo Wenzhou!

“Imperial Son, this person is not very familiar with This Old Man!”

In front of the Xuan Clan, Luo Wenzhou ultimately abandoned Ling Kongzi, a close friend he had known for tens of thousands of years.

However, Ling Kongzi in the distance, watching this scene, was deeply moved.

Old Luo, Old Luo, This Old Man never expected that you, who were so arrogant in the past…

Today, to save Sect Master Shen and plead for This Old Man, you would actually be willing to humble yourself before this fiend from the Xuan Clan.

It seems that in the face of true righteousness, This Old Man is not as good as you!

Having cultivated for tens of thousands of years, to have such a close friend, even death would be without regret.

Because Luo Wenzhou’s conversation with Xuan Tianchen was isolated, he didn’t hear their exchange, only thinking that Luo Wenzhou was pleading for him and his group.

Little did he know, Luo Wenzhou had already sold him out, completely and thoroughly.

“Old man, just now you said you wanted This Imperial Son to know what the integrity of a scholar is, and what the righteous qi between heaven and earth is? You have quite some guts!”

Saying this, Xuan Tianchen, holding the zhūtiān battle halberd, walked step by step towards Ling Kongzi and Shen Ningshuang.

Seeing this, Ling Kongzi immediately felt a bad premonition.

But when he saw Old Luo’s helpless expression, he knew that Old Luo had already done his best.

Alas, today is merely death.