Ch. 1429 - The Battle Begins

Watching the guard being dragged away, Steward Huang smiled and turned to Xu Zimo. “Are you satisfied now, gentlemen?”

“This is an internal matter of the Prince’s Manor,” Shangguan Xian said with a wave of her hand. “Steward Huang can handle it as he sees fit. No need to consult us.”

“Then may I ask what business brings you all to the Prince’s Manor?” Huang asked.

“We’re pursuing a fugitive,” Shangguan Xian replied. “He should be hiding somewhere inside the manor. If it’s convenient, Steward Huang, please hand him over.”

“What do you mean by that?” Huang asked in puzzlement. “When has the Prince’s Manor ever offended you? As far as I know, we haven’t had any other guests recently.”

“Let’s not waste words,” Shangguan Xian said. “The man we’re after is the City Lord of Stone Flame City, goes by the name of Blade Tyrant. You should’ve heard of him.”

“Never,” Huang said firmly, shaking his head. “You must be mistaken.”

Hearing that, Shangguan Xian turned and glanced at Xu Zimo. Huang’s expression was one of genuine confusion, no trace of deceit could be seen. Either he truly didn’t know, or his acting was extraordinary.

Xu Zimo smiled slightly and gestured for her to step back. Above them, the Traceless Compass resumed spinning, the thin blue line connecting to Blade Tyrant growing clearer by the moment.

“Whether he’s in the manor or not,” Xu Zimo said, “we’ll know once we go inside and see for ourselves.”

“I’m afraid that won’t do,” Steward Huang said, his smile fading. “The Prince’s Manor is a sacred and restricted place. Outsiders cannot simply barge in and search as they please. What would that say of our dignity and reputation?”

“We’re doing this for your sake,” Shangguan Xian said quickly. “If you truly haven’t had any visitors lately, then the fugitive must be hiding here. That’s dangerous for your manor as well. Who knows what he might do? Allowing us to search is for your own safety, no one would criticize you for it.”

“The safety of the manor is protected by our own guards,” Huang said, irritation creeping into his tone. “We don’t need your concern. Why don’t you let us conduct our own search? If we find anything, we’ll inform you.”

“It seems talking nicely is a waste of breath,” Xu Zimo said, shaking his head. “Since you insist, whatever happens next will be on your head.”

“What are you trying to do?” Huang stepped back, his guards immediately closing ranks before him. With them at his back, he regained a bit of confidence.

“Young Master Xu,” he said, “I know of your reputation, your strength is formidable, no doubt. But this is the Prince’s Manor. You should know the roots we have here. Ask yourself honestly, do you really dare make an enemy of us?”

“Enough noise,” Xu Zimo said coldly.

His voice cracked through the air like thunder, reverberating through the void. Huang and the dozen guards around him crumpled as if struck by an invisible hammer. Each coughed blood as they were hurled backward, their internal organs shattered by the sheer force.

“You’re ruthless,” Huang gasped, clutching his chest.

“City Lord Bian,” Xu Zimo said calmly, “call them out.”

Bian Wenzhou nodded slightly. He hadn’t wanted things to escalate this far, surely it would’ve been better to talk things through peacefully. Once the masks came off, no one benefited.

“This Prince’s Manor truly is strange,” Zhang Hengzhi muttered. “It’s just one Blade Tyrant. Why hide him instead of handing him over?”

“Who knows what secrets lie behind it,” Liu Huohuo replied.

What they called “calling them out” was essentially a formal challenge to battle.

Bian Wenzhou looked up at the black plaque above the manor gate. With a flick of his wrist, there was a resounding boom as the plaque flew from the wall into his hand.

Then he rose into the air, his voice surging with spirit power.

“Would the master of the Prince’s Manor please come out and face me!”

His voice echoed across the entire estate, not just within the manor, but throughout the surrounding streets as well.

The Prince’s Manor was located in one of the most bustling districts of the main avenue, so it didn’t take long before a crowd began gathering.

“Isn’t that Xu Zimo, the number one of the Chaos Fire God Realm’s younger generation?” someone exclaimed.

“The competition just ended, what’s he doing at the Prince’s Manor?”

“Maybe he’s here to join them?”

“Are you blind? Can’t you see the way they came storming in? They even tore down the manor’s plaque!”

“This looks like the start of a war!”

“He’s insane! Truly insane! Does he think defeating Xiao Anshan makes him invincible? Does he even realize what kind of power the Prince’s Manor represents?”

“The Chaos Fire God Realm won’t stay silent. The manor stands for the honor of the Sacred Flame Trinity. The God Realm won’t tolerate this.”

The crowd erupted into chatter, thrilled rather than alarmed. After all, spectators never minded chaos, the bigger the spectacle, the better the show.

As Bian Wenzhou’s voice faded, the entire Prince’s Manor seemed to erupt. Several overwhelming auras surged skyward, and two elderly figures stepped out, walking on air.

“Who dares cause trouble in the Prince’s Manor?” one of them barked.

“It’s the guest elders, the Two Elders of Hollow Cave!” someone in the crowd recognized them.

Their presence radiated immense power, shaking the air itself. The sky cracked with booming sounds as they moved.

Without a word wasted, the two joined forces, forming a Hollow Cave Seal between their palms and launching it toward Bian Wenzhou.

A pitch-black crow appeared in Bian Wenzhou’s hands, screeching as it soared forward. As the Lord of Fire Bane City and master of the Black Raven Hall, he naturally cultivated the techniques left behind by the Black Raven Emperor.

The crow shrieked as it collided with the glowing Hollow Cave Seal.

When the forces met, the Two Elders of Hollow Cave clearly held the upper hand. Explosions roared through the air, shockwaves rippling outward. Bian Wenzhou was forced back several steps, his face paling slightly.

“You dare attack the Prince’s Manor?” one of the elders barked coldly. “As a member of the Fire God Race of the Chaos Fire God Realm, are you rebelling?”

“How is this rebellion?” Bian Wenzhou replied, his expression tight. “The Sacred Flame Trinity’s contribution to this domain is known to all. Without them, the Chaos Fire God Realm would not exist. The Prince’s Manor represents their legacy.”

“Then speak clearly,” one of the Hollow Cave Elders said icily. “Otherwise, I’ll drag you to the Chaos Fire God Realm myself.”

“I never intended disrespect,” Bian Wenzhou said. “But your manor is harboring a fugitive we seek. How do you explain that?”

“To accuse us without proof, how convenient,” one elder sneered.

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