This scoundrel is a bit of a swordsman.

Chapter 195 Self-defeating

"Supreme One?" Xiao Xingchen was struck dumb. The two words exploded in his ears like thunder, and at the same time aroused the suspicion of the others.

This was the first time they had ever heard the name "Supreme One".

Yan Yi muttered to herself, "It seems this matter of bestowing a title of king has caused quite a stir!"

Although we know nothing about this Venerable One, just hearing his name is enough to tell us that he must be extraordinary.

After all, how could someone who is respectfully addressed as "Supreme One" be an ordinary person?

The fact that Wang Zhao was snatched away by that mysterious ghost sword cannot be concealed by a mere understatement of a shock.

Numerous experts appeared outside the Flower Language Building like a swarm of locusts crossing a river.

Wang Mang downstairs was furious, his anger seemingly about to burst forth.

Ghost Sword's actions this time were not only a blatant provocation against the Dragon Pattern Army, but also a great humiliation to Emperor Wu.

He could hardly imagine the uproar this news would cause once it reached the imperial palace.

"Guards! Immediately mobilize the Dragon Pattern Army and seal off Yong'an! Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find the imperial edict for me! Anyone who discovers even the slightest trace of the Ghost Sword is to be killed without mercy!"

After issuing the order, Wang Mang pondered to himself. He knew that this place was crowded and full of eyes, making it the perfect hiding place for Ghost Sword. Finding him was beyond his capabilities.

However, if they return empty-handed, the reputation of the Dragon Pattern Army will surely be ruined.

He didn't actually have high hopes for finding the imperial edict, but the presence of many experts outside the Flower Language Pavilion still made him suspicious.

Could it be that the Ghost Sword is hiding in this Flower Language Pavilion?

After all, this was an imperial edict conferring a title of king! His gaze swept over Xiao Xingchen's figure, but he never imagined that someone would dare to stir up trouble like this during the conferment of a title of king.

Therefore, his doubts directly excluded Xiao Xingchen and the others.

After all, they had been standing on the Flower Language Tower the whole time, under the watchful eyes of everyone, and had no chance to make a move.

Finally, his gaze fell on the newly appeared unknown experts, especially the blue figure; these people's appearance was the most suspicious.

He lowered his voice and whispered to his adjutant beside him, "Go and report to Emperor Wu immediately. A mysterious expert has suddenly appeared and is suspected of stealing the royal edict. We urgently need a real expert to come and put up a show of force."

Only after seeing his men rushing towards the imperial palace did he slowly ascend into the air, arriving as lightly as a bird in front of Yun Xiyao, who was confronting Ruoxue. His voice booming as he questioned, "Who are you? How dare you brazenly seize the royal edict in Yong'an City? Do you intend to challenge the Great Qian Dynasty to a duel?"

Wang Mang's arrival did not cause the slightest ripple. Ruoxue stood as focused as a statue, confronting Yun Xiyao, as if possessed by a war god, guarding Huayu Tower with all her might.

On the other side of Yun Xiyao, the senior sister from Tianling was surrounded by clouds and mist, like a fairy hidden in the clouds, making it difficult to see her true face.

Nan Jian, Wu Xie, and even people from the War Marshal's Mansion arrived one after another. After all, the matter of bestowing a king is related to the overall situation of the world, so how could the War Marshal not pay close attention?

Moreover, at this moment, the War Marshal's Mansion erupted with unprecedented rage like a volcanic eruption. Even if he was a king, who in the world could be above the War Marshal?

Therefore, when the news of the conferment of the title of king spread like wildfire, the entire War Marshal's Mansion mobilized to find out who was so audacious as to step over the War Marshal to ascend to the throne.

Yun Xiyao was also astonished. She had always been proud and arrogant, and had never taken anyone in the world seriously. In her eyes, the only people in the sky could be her rivals.

But today, her brows were tightly furrowed, not because of the Ghost Sword. Although Ghost Sword Immortals were rare, she could completely ignore them in the face of an absolute difference in realm.

Even in the instant the ghost sword appeared, she reacted quickly and even injured the instigator.

That's why she showed herself directly, because she firmly believed that no one in the Great Qian Dynasty could keep her here.

However, as the figure hidden in the clouds gradually emerged, a strong sense of hostility spread through the air like a surging tide. This was a fighting spirit that only a worthy opponent could ignite. She couldn't help but wonder, could the Great Qian Dynasty truly nurture such an extraordinary talent?

This made her stop in her tracks; otherwise, she probably would have already entered the Flower Language Pavilion to look for him.

"Wang Mang, as the commander of the Dragon Pattern Army, you allowed the imperial edict to be seized. How dare foreign enemies cause trouble in the heart of our Great Qian? Why don't you take these people down immediately?"

Huangfu Lingxue stood motionless, like a statue, until Wang Mang strode forward. Only then did she suddenly speak, angrily rebuking him as the eldest princess of the Great Qian Dynasty.

At this moment, Princess Huangfu Lingxue's imposing presence pressed down like Mount Tai, and the people below suddenly realized that their usually unassuming princess actually possessed such a domineering and arrogant demeanor.

Those soaring in the sky are all rare masters in the world, yet after the princess's words, they were like defeated roosters, losing the upper hand.

This has nothing to do with personal ability, but rather with a powerful aura, the bearing of a ruler who has long held a high position. She simply stood there quietly, and people felt that these were the words she was meant to say, and that everyone should obey her words as if they were sacred decrees.

"Your subordinate obeys! Dragon Pattern Army, listen to my command!"

"Yes!"

The Dragon Pattern Army's response resounded like thunder from all directions. As the sound exploded, spiderweb-like lines began to flicker in the void above.

"Form a celestial network and seal the heavens!"

Sealing the heavens—this is the true meaning of the Dragon Pattern Imperial Guard's existence.

With Yong'an City of the Great Qian Dynasty as the foundation, each of them is a barrier node. As long as they gather together, they can instantly form a Heaven-Sealing Array, suppressing the experts of the Ninth Heaven as if Mount Tai were crushing an egg.

Under this powerful suppression, the people in the formation seemed to have their souls ripped out, and their cultivation levels instantly dropped by several levels. This was the Great Qian's hidden trump card.

With Huangfu Lingxue's command, the once clear sky seemed to be quickly covered by an invisible hand, turning dark and gloomy in an instant.

Specks of starlight appeared in the sky above Yong'an City like dazzling gems. From a distance, the entire city looked as if it were tightly covered by a giant eggshell.

The sunlight was replaced by starlight, and the starlight, like a net, tightly bound Yong'an City within it.

"This is Yong'an of the Great Qian Dynasty. How dare you run wild here!"

Huangfu Lingxue lightly lifted her jade-like foot and floated away like a fairy, slowly walking towards the outside of Huayu Tower.

However, the moment she took that step, Xiao Xingchen's eyes suddenly narrowed, becoming as sharp as a hawk's.

Where Huangfu Lingxue had just stood, the still-visible bloodstains resembled a blooming crimson flower, stinging his eyes and causing his heart to tremble.

She was already seriously injured from just a brief exchange.

Looking at the women in front of him, his expression instantly turned ugly, as if he had been slapped hard in the face.

"Black Robe, could you do me a small favor?"

"What can I do for you? If it's within my power, I will help you. But if it involves violence, I'm afraid I can't help you. If the Supreme One finds out, I'm afraid I'll die without a burial place."

The man in black robes was quite frank, stating that his help was not unpaid.

"Help me this time, and I will offer you the secret of Xiaojianxian with both hands."

"What? What did you say? The secret of Xiao Jianxian?" Yan Yi was astonished. What she had encountered today was truly beyond her imagination.

"Didn't you already tell me? Is there some other secret?"

The man in the black robe shook his head slightly, a look of confusion on his face.

"Last time I was just trying to fool you, but I never expected you to be so lucky and not fall into my trap."

"Damn it!" The man in black robes was furious and started cursing.

"Don't get angry yet. You know how our relationship was in the past. If you help me now, I will tell you all the secrets of Xiao Jianxian without hiding anything."

Xiao Xingchen reiterated that he had not hesitated because Yan Yi was present. "I really find it hard to believe you," the man in black robes said worriedly, his brows furrowed.

"Believe it or not, what you're really thinking about is breaking free from the shackles of the ritual's power. I can lend you a hand. You should also be able to sense that the ritual you bestowed upon me has already been suppressed, which undoubtedly demonstrates that I possess the ability to suppress it."

Xiao Xingchen had no intention of revealing his trump card, but today's situation had backfired. He never expected that a simple title of king would cause such a huge uproar and attract so many experts.

Thinking back to when Xiao Jianren was crowned king in his previous life, there had never been such a grand display. This was an extremely high regard for him, beyond being described as flattered; it was simply astonishing.

What do you need me to do for you?

A flicker of interest flashed in the black-robed man's eyes; he was clearly tempted. After all, the ritual he had implanted into Xiao Xingchen's body had indeed been suppressed, and wasn't the very purpose of searching for the secret of Xiao Jianxian to suppress the power of the ritual?

"Lead the Venerable One!"

This was Xiao Xingchen's only demand of the black-robed figure. The Supreme Lord's killing intent towards him felt as heavy as Mount Tai pressing down on an egg. This indescribable killing intent, although Consort Xian claimed to have made a conditional exchange, left him skeptical of the Supreme Lord's words. Given the chance, the Supreme Lord would surely take his life. He had only ever seen such killing intent when he was executed by the Martial Emperor; it was a relentless, all-or-nothing intent. Surprisingly, in this second life, he saw it again in the Supreme Lord's eyes. Therefore, he dared not take the risk. He could once again stand at the forefront of the storm, but he absolutely did not want to be directly eliminated by the Supreme Lord.

"You're practically trying to kill me!" the black-robed man replied gravely, not directly refusing, but his tone revealing his deep reluctance.

“I believe you have the ability to escape. Your sacrifice was a stroke of genius, the ultimate escape technique. As long as you are determined to escape, the Supreme One will definitely not be able to catch you.”

"I thank you, and I hope that when I return, you will keep your word."

Before the man in black could finish speaking, he exploded like a dazzling firework, his body shattering into pieces with a loud bang, leaving Yan Yi with a look of utter astonishment.