Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 1024 - 1024 0607 The Great Evacuation of the Six

Chapter 1024: Chapter 0607: The Great Evacuation of the Six Palaces_2 Chapter 1024: Chapter 0607: The Great Evacuation of the Six Palaces_2 Huoyang Palace had already sustained tremendous damage, and the Huoyang Emperor did not want to see the strength of Huoyang Palace further weakened. If he couldn’t preserve the remaining power of Huoyang Palace, then there might be no hope of making a comeback.

After two imperial palaces began to retreat their people to the outskirts of the Eastern Capital City, cultivators from the other four palaces also began to realize that something was amiss. At this point, they too wanted to retreat, but without the orders of their princes, no one dared to take the initiative to retreat. If the princes misconstrued their actions as insubordination, the consequences would be severe. Some, to show their loyalty, not only did not retreat but also, at this critical time, resolutely carried out their princes’ orders, still charging towards Jianwu Palace, hoping to snatch the opportunity that their princes desperately desired.

If the situation wasn’t stopped in time, then once the Heavenly Tribulation fell, almost none of the cultivators who hadn’t retreated yet would have a good end. Most would likely be left behind by the Heavenly Tribulation.

At that moment, the princes from Chaoyang Palace, Bahuang Palace, Wenzhi Palace, and Yonghe Palace, amongst the four palaces, all came to their senses. Despite their reluctance, they equally understood that the cultivators currently attacking Jianwu Palace were essentially their elite forces. If all of them perished under the Heavenly Tribulation, their own strength would be greatly reduced, which would be extremely detrimental to their future standing in Zhongdu, especially regarding their current status within the Imperial Family Secret Territory.

Forced by the situation, the four princes almost simultaneously issued orders for their subordinates attacking Jianwu Palace to retreat. At the same time, they also issued orders for everyone in their palaces to retreat outside of the Eastern Capital City. The heavenly and earthly phenomena brought about by Qi Tian were simply too terrifying. From the appearance of the first dark cloud to now, not even a minute had passed, yet the Tribulation Clouds had already enveloped an area of several miles, covering all six imperial palaces without exception. In other words, if anyone did not escape from beneath the Tribulation Clouds before the Heavenly Tribulation commenced, they would, without exception, have to face the trial of the Tribulation, including these princes.

Every palace had hundreds, if not thousands, of cultivators, who usually stayed within their own palaces and rarely left them. Some of them hadn’t even shown their faces outside in decades or even a century. To outsiders, some of them were believed to have passed away. But now, they all emerged from their hiding places, joining the major forces in retreat, avoiding the approaching Heavenly Tribulation.

The speed of the cultivators was extremely fast, especially those from the imperial palaces; it was hard to find especially weak individuals among them. Before the official start of the Heavenly Tribulation, everyone successfully escaped from beneath the Tribulation Clouds. They left the darkness brought by the heavenly phenomena and bathed once again in the sunlight. Yet, looking at the nearby darkness that seemed as indestructible as ink, everyone’s bodies were chillingly cold and shivering; even the bright sunlight could not bring them the slightest warmth.

Jianwu Palace’s people were the first to reach the sunlight. Without needing any orders from Emperor Jianwu, some had already started to cordon off a small area, preparing to set up a Defense Magic Array in that area. They hadn’t forgotten that Jianwu Palace in Zhongdu was currently the enemy of the world; all five other imperial palaces were thinking of destroying Jianwu Palace. Although they hadn’t brought out the scandalous opportunity that could incite the envy of other princes, who could guarantee that the other five palaces wouldn’t take advantage of the situation while they were separated from the protection of Jianwu Palace and launch a joint attack against them?

Emperor Jianwu knew the situation was very unfavorable for him, so he took out two Half-step Nascent Soul level magical artifacts and handed them over to his subordinates to use as the foundation for setting up a Defensive Array. Only an array established like this might be able to withstand a coordinated attack from the other five imperial palaces.

Of course, such persistence also had its time limits. If the time was too long, Emperor Jianwu was not very confident, but at this point, there wasn’t much he could do. To a certain extent, he could only do his best and leave the rest to fate. If things really went south, Emperor Jianwu was ready to abandon everyone else in Jianwu Palace at any moment and flee alone. He was rather confident he could escape by himself, but he had not yet decided how to proceed after becoming a commander with no troops.

Following Emperor Jianwu, the Huoyang Emperor also arrived outside of the Eastern Capital City with his people. From afar, he saw that Emperor Jianwu had already started to have his people set up a Defense Magic Array. His heart stirred, and he quickly transmitted a message to his Chief Guard, Li Mijia, instructing him to lead people to another location to set up a Defense Magic Array. After that, the Huoyang Emperor flew towards where the people of Jianwu Palace were located, alone.

At a certain distance from Jianwu Palace, the Huoyang Emperor stopped and, facing the direction of Emperor Jianwu, clasped his hands together and said loudly, “Jianwu, I have come to visit, might I have the honor of an audience?”

Emperor Jianwu had long noticed the Huoyang Emperor and wondered what he was up to—was he there to show his might, or was he seeking reconciliation? Emperor Jianwu couldn’t tell. Regardless of the Huoyang Emperor’s choice, though, Emperor Jianwu would not be intimidated; he wouldn’t even lack the courage to meet the Huoyang Emperor face to face and engage in conversation.

With a flicker of his form, Emperor Jianwu had already stepped outside the defensive array that was being set up. He nodded towards the Huoyang Emperor and asked, “Huoyang, you wish to see me, what is your purpose? Could it be that I did not treat you harshly enough just now, and you wish to challenge me again?”

The Huoyang Emperor gave a wry smile and said, “Jianwu, I have not come here to quarrel with you this time. Speaking of which, our Huoyang Palace and your Jianwu Palace have been neighbors for hundreds of years. I never imagined that you and I would end up at this point today.”

Emperor Jianwu snorted coldly and said, “The trouble that has arisen today is not my fault. I have done nothing to offend you or the other four princes. It was you who provoked us first, who launched the first attack on our Jianwu Palace, who made the first move. No matter where this issue leads, I stand without guilt.”

The Huoyang Emperor said, “Jianwu, I am not here to debate right and wrong with you. Things have escalated to where they are now, and without speaking about the other princes, just speaking for myself, I indeed have done things that were not right. If you feel aggrieved, it’s fine. I can apologize to you in front of everyone.”

The Huoyang Emperor was not just talking idly; while he spoke of apologizing to Emperor Jianwu, he crossed his arms in front of his chest, bent his waist, and gave a deep, prolonged bow to Emperor Jianwu, showing utmost sincerity, as if he truly recognized his own wrongdoing.

Emperor Jianwu furrowed his brow, not expecting the Huoyang Emperor to go to such lengths. Knowing the Huoyang Emperor well, he understood his fiery temper, as intense as the blazing sun. Never had he heard of the Huoyang Emperor bowing his head or admitting fault to anyone. No matter what situation the Huoyang Emperor faced, he would see it through to the end, always standing firm, never bending.

After the Huoyang Emperor performed his deep bow, lowering his head and bending his waist, he remained so for quite some time, seemingly determined to keep apologizing in this manner until Emperor Jianwu forgave him.

Emperor Jianwu was irritated, but with the Huoyang Emperor having made such an abject apology, if he clung to the issue and refused to let it go, it would make him seem petty. Not to mention, killing someone overstepping the bounds is excessive, and he shared the same ancestry with the Huoyang Emperor, carrying the same blood in their veins. Furthermore, if Emperor Jianwu rejected Huoyang Emperor’s overture of peace, then he would truly stand alone in the Eastern Capital City—an emperor without friends or allies. Fighting the five other imperial houses on his own would be an immense burden, certainly not something to endure lightly.