Tianwu City, Junior Mentor's mansion.
At this moment, Li Taian's eyes were red, sparks almost flying from his hands as he constantly deduced karma, while his divine sense frantically searched the entire city.
There was only one goal: find Lu Yang.
However, the result was nothing. But on second thought, Li Taian felt this was normal: after all, that was the World Honored One; how could he be calculated?
Yes, Li Taian had already concluded that Lu Yang was the World Honored One.
"Could there be a problem on the Empress's side?"
Li Taian looked at the Junior Mentor and whispered, "If my guess is correct, the Five Imperial Military Commanders have probably been tainted by the World Honored One. If they taint the Empress..."
"Don't worry."
The Junior Mentor shook his head. "The Tianwu Hall is the place where the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws] are most concentrated. With its protection, even the World Honored One cannot taint the Empress."
Otherwise, how could he sit back and watch Empress Xiao recruit the Five Imperial Military Commanders alone?
"If it really is the World Honored One... Her Majesty the Empress will have her own judgment. The result will be nothing more than burying the Five Imperial Military Commanders alive. There is no need to worry about her personal safety."
"That's good."
Li Taian breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. He immediately overlooked the whole city again but fell into deep confusion: Where exactly did that demon dragon go?
…
"I ask Her Majesty the Empress to grant this subject the Son of Heaven's Seal and authorize the arrest."
Lu Yang stood firmly on the spot, with the Five Imperial Military Commanders behind him. Standing together, the six of them seemed like a single person. Seeing this, Empress Xiao's pupils shrank abruptly:
"World Honored One?"
As soon as this thought arose, Empress Xiao's first reaction was absurdity.
Damn World Honored One, coming to the Dao Court once wasn't enough, you came a second time? Why the hell don't you dare go to Jiangnan or Jiangbei and clash with the Saint Sect or Sword Pavilion?
However, on the other side, Lu Yang's face darkened:
"Don't talk nonsense, Your Majesty. Where do I look like the World Honored One?" Lu Yang turned around and looked at the Five Imperial Military Commanders: "Do you think I look like him?"
The Five Imperial Military Commanders spoke in unison: "You're not!"
Empress Xiao was instantly certain: Definitely is.
With this thought, Empress Xiao regained her composure instead. An incarnation of the World Honored One would never admit to being the World Honored One, so she simply addressed him as a Fellow Daoist:
"Fellow Daoist Du Huan is very busy tonight."
"Your Majesty, this humble subject is terrified." Lu Yang said indifferently, "Although I caused a little disturbance, everything I did was for the sake of the Dao Court."
"That is why I came to see Your Majesty with the Five Imperial Military Commanders."
"I ask Her Majesty the Empress not to hesitate any longer. Otherwise, it is extremely likely to evolve into a large-scale civil war within the Dao Court. I hope Your Majesty considers the myriad people of Jiangdong."
Such remarks stunned Empress Xiao again. So righteous and awe-inspiring... a bit like the Sword Pavilion...
What exactly is this demon dragon's background?
Doubt filled Empress Xiao's heart, but on the surface, her pretty face was tense, as if facing a formidable enemy: "What if I don't agree? What do you intend to do then, Fellow Daoist?"
As soon as her voice fell, Empress Xiao saw the Five Imperial Military Commanders behind Lu Yang suddenly take a step back as if telepathically connected, then walked out of the main hall.
Bang!
As the doors of the main hall opened and closed, only Lu Yang and Empress Xiao remained in the spacious hall. The atmosphere instantly became cold and murderous.
"If Her Majesty the Empress does not approve, I will not leave today."
Hearing this, Empress Xiao's expression abruptly became gloomy. She whispered, "Are you trying to act first and report later, purging all the officials of the Dao Court?"
"A Dragon Clan demon cultivator committing such great treason..."
"Aren't you afraid the Dao Lord will punish you?"
Lu Yang shook his head: "Your Majesty worries too much. How can we, lowly cultivators, speculate on the Dao Lord's will? It is better for the Empress not to pin hope on this."
Empress Xiao fell silent for a moment upon hearing this.
The next second, she suddenly opened her mouth. A heavenly sound burst from her lips, piercing metal and cracking stone, about to rush out of the main hall and instantly resound through the entire Tianwu City:
"Summon the Three Junior Ministers to enter the palace and save the sovereign!"
With this cry for help, Empress Xiao held nothing back. Even if it couldn't travel out of the Imperial Harem, if Crown Prince Longxing heard it and rushed over, it would be at least some help.
However, immediately after, brilliant light bloomed behind Lu Yang, unfurling like a beautiful scroll painting. Vast and mighty, mountains and rivers rose from the ground, sun, moon, and stars ascended to the vault of heaven. They intertwined to form a vast region, swallowing Empress Xiao's cry for help completely.
[Dual-Radiance Sovereign Decree Mountain-and-Sea Diagram]!
Once this Life-Bound Divine Ability was spread out, it was like changing heaven and earth, instantly cutting Empress Xiao off from the outside world. What made Empress Xiao pale even more was—
"Blessed Land!?"
For a moment, Empress Xiao was stunned: Blessed Land... Only an Orthodox Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator can condense one. But this person clearly cultivates the Incense Offering Divine Dao...
With this thought, Empress Xiao hurriedly formed hand seals.
"Disperse for me!"
[Seven Luminaries Heaven] emerged in her hand, and a ray of brilliant light instantly fell on Lu Yang. However, Lu Yang's Foundation Establishment Perfection stature didn't fluctuate at all.
Seeing this scene, Empress Xiao finally realized the truth:
This demon dragon... didn't achieve Foundation Establishment Perfection relying on the Incense Offering Divine Dao. He cultivated his own nature. He has long completed his divine abilities!
But how is this possible?
Thinking of this, Empress Xiao was horrified: This demon dragon... according to the dossier records, he was clearly only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment when he entered Jiangdong!
How long has passed since then?
One year? Two years?
Even with the blessing of an official position, a True Dragon background, and the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws] to quickly improve Dao comprehension, breaking through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment would already be an exaggerated achievement.
But Foundation Establishment Perfection? Not even an ordinary one—he has visibly condensed a Blessed Land! This cultivation speed is either a Perfected Lord reincarnation or the World Honored One smurfing. As for Perfected Lord reincarnation... the only one in the last five thousand years is Daoist Hong Yun, ruling out this possibility directly.
Then it can only be the World Honored One!
Empress Xiao took a deep breath. Brilliant light gradually emerged on her body too, setting off her already peerless appearance to be even more holy and unattainable.
The brilliant light condensed behind her head, finally forming a round moon precious light, pure and flawless. Seeing this, Lu Yang instantly revealed a look of surprise. In his previous life, he had achieved Foundation Establishment Perfection relying on [Seven Luminaries Heaven]. At this moment, he naturally saw clearly that Empress Xiao was just like him in his previous life!
That round moon precious light was unmistakably formed by divine abilities.
[Exquisite Heart], [Great Unity Embodying True Qi], [Convergence Origin Art], [Upholding Heaven's Principle], [One with the World]... all five Unortodox Dao Divine Abilities are the same as mine.
Even more than that.
Because Empress Xiao also possessed the [Wayside Earth] official position, the sky above her head shone brightly at this moment, and [Empress Cisheng Lingsi] also manifested divine abilities.
"...Interesting."
A smile appeared in the depths of Lu Yang's eyes. Although the cultivation strength displayed by Empress Xiao was surprising, the current him was just lacking a good grindstone!
The next second, the entire Kunning Palace trembled slightly.
Imperial Harem, outside the Kunning Palace.
The Five Imperial Military Commanders guarded the front door with solemn expressions. Crown Prince Longxing, who had been driven out by Empress Xiao earlier, paced back and forth somewhat nervously:
"Five Generals, is my mother alright? I still need her to preside over the overall situation..."
"Please rest assured, Your Highness."
The Five Imperial Military Commanders said in unison:
"Her Majesty the Empress only said she wanted to go into seclusion for a period. She ordered the five of us to guard the door; no one is allowed to enter without permission. Please wait a moment, Your Highness."
Crown Prince Longxing was somewhat irritable upon hearing this.
However, Empress Xiao's authority weighed heavily in his heart, so he dared not refute. Looking back, he discovered that tremors and muffled sounds were actually coming from the Kunning Palace.
"What's going on?"
Hearing this, the Five Imperial Military Commanders glanced over, then said calmly, "It seems Her Majesty the Empress has made a breakthrough. Do not worry, Your Highness; it will be fine in a while."