Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 1070 - 1070 0630 Stealth Attack and Counter-Stealth

Chapter 1070: Chapter 0630 Stealth Attack and Counter-Stealth Attack_2 Chapter 1070: Chapter 0630 Stealth Attack and Counter-Stealth Attack_2 Several Gold Core Realm experts immediately stepped forward, wanting to slay the Huoyang Emperor. Their thoughts echoed those of Emperor Yonghe; they believed the Huoyang Emperor to be vulnerable and merely strong in appearance. If they fell for the Huoyang Emperor’s ploy, wouldn’t they have missed a great opportunity for merit?

“You really are stubborn and refuse to see the truth until you’re forced to,” the Huoyang Emperor said indifferently. “Very well, let me show you what I am capable of. Come out, there’s no need to hide any longer. Stand before me and let Emperor Yonghe admire your prowess.”

At the Huoyang Emperor’s command, hundreds of cultivators who had been lying in wait around the palaces of Jianwu and Huoyang all stood up. They were the elite picked from both palaces by Emperor Jianwu and the Huoyang Emperor, and nearly a hundred of them were powerhouses in the Gold Core Realm. The collective power of so many cultivators was extremely formidable.

“Impossible, how could you have assembled so many people? How could I have walked into your ambush?”

By this time, Emperor Yonghe was somewhat disoriented. He had clearly felt the self-destruction of the war soldier he had gifted to Qi Tian, a force so great he could sense it clearly from Yonghe Palace without using his Divine Sense. Afterwards, he had sent scouts through the Teleportation Gate to investigate and had confirmed that both Emperor Jianwu and the Huoyang Emperor were seriously injured, with significant casualties. How could everything have changed in the blink of an eye?

“Nothing is impossible.” Now Emperor Jianwu also stood up, his gaze cold as he looked at Emperor Yonghe and said, “Emperor Yonghe, we had no grudge in the past and no animosity recently. However, you were the first to break the ancestral teachings, rallying the other four palaces to besiege my Jianwu Palace, leading to massive casualties among the six palaces. You show no remorse and even dared to send a flawed war soldier to my Jianwu Palace under the guise of congratulating Qi Tian. I almost fell for your ruse. Thankfully, Master Qi discovered your plot in time and set a trap to lure you here. Emperor Yonghe, I won’t waste words. I’ll give you two options: first, you can surrender and I will spare your life; or second, if you wish not to surrender, then don’t blame me for being merciless. My time is limited, I won’t waste it on you. I will count to three, and if you do not surrender, I will immediately order that you and your men be executed without mercy.”

Emperor Jianwu, filled with hatred for Emperor Yonghe, issued his ultimatum without any hesitation and began to count swiftly. Barely finishing “one,” he immediately followed with “two,” and then “three,” clearly not intending to give Emperor Yonghe any chance to survive.

Emperor Yonghe, one of the six princes of the Eastern Capital City and once an emperor of the Great Zhao Nation, was highly esteemed. How could he possibly kneel and surrender to Emperor Jianwu? As Emperor Jianwu counted, Emperor Yonghe called out, “My generals, heed my command! Retreat to the Teleportation Gate and withdraw for now. We will find another opportunity to settle accounts with Jianwu Palace later.”

Turning around, Emperor Yonghe and his men intended to take back control of the Teleportation Gate. This task was not too challenging for them – the distance between them and the gate was no more than twenty meters, which was very close. Moreover, the troops Emperor Yonghe brought from Yonghe Palace were all elite cultivators of the Gold Core Realm, and though they were not numerous, numbering just over thirty, their combined strength was remarkably formidable.

Emperor Yonghe thought that if they managed to control the Teleportation Gate and retreat through it back to Yonghe Palace, he would regain the home-field advantage. Even if he gave Emperor Jianwu tenfold courage, Jianwu wouldn’t dare to lead his men through the gate into his Yonghe Palace. Then, a new standoff would ensue, and Emperor Jianwu would be unable to harm his Yonghe Palace. Emperor Jianwu could not possibly focus all his resources against Yonghe Palace as Chaoyang Palace was staunchly keeping them in check. Unless Emperor Jianwu no longer cared for his future, he had to proceed cautiously and swallow his grievance from today’s events, no matter how unbearable. Such was the current reality in the Eastern Capital City.

As Emperor Yonghe and his men turned to rush towards the Teleportation Gate, the short distance—less than twenty meters—seemed negligible to them. However, at that moment, they discovered that many troops deployed by Emperor Jianwu and the Huoyang Emperor were also present, blocking their path and encircling them.

Being obstructed was the least of their worries; at worst, it would mean a fierce battle to slaughter a way out. What they least expected was that the Teleportation Gate had inexplicably vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed in the first place.

The sight greatly alarmed Emperor Yonghe, the disappearance of the Teleportation Gate, which was not meant to be permanent, took him by surprise. He had earlier conducted multiple assessments; the Array Masters he consulted had assured him that the Teleportation Gate would last at least two to three hours. How long had it been? Merely a few minutes had passed, and now the gate was gone? Its disappearance was too abrupt.

With the vanishing of the Teleportation Gate, all of Emperor Yonghe’s plans were thrown into chaos, and the Gold Core Realm experts he had brought with him were plunged into a state of panic.

Having reigned as emperor and stood unchallenged in the Eastern Capital City for hundreds of years, Emperor Yonghe himself did not show the slightest sign of panic. Instead, he commanded loudly, “All generals, follow me and fight your way out! As long as we break out of Jianwu Palace, we’ll be safe.”

Emperor Yonghe’s rallying cry was extremely effective. His order acted like a shot of adrenaline, quickly stabilizing the hearts of the Gold Core Realm experts he had with him and boosting their morale.

A fierce battle seemed inevitable. Although Jianwu Palace and Huoyang Palace had made preparations and lay in ambush, holding the home field advantage, it was not certain that they could detain Emperor Yonghe if a fight ensued.

As the ruler of Yonghe Palace, Emperor Yonghe had many life-preserving tricks up his sleeve. Furthermore, he was accompanied by more than thirty Gold Core Realm experts. If they were to fully commit to ensuring Emperor Yonghe’s escape from Jianwu Palace, despite the difficulties, they should ultimately be able to break out.

This was the strength of Yonghe Palace’s foundation. Just like when the five palaces jointly attacked Jianwu Palace, and the situation for Emperor Jianwu was precarious, he still activated the Killing Array, forcing Huoyang Palace and Yonghe Palace to pay a steep price. This, too, was a testament to the foundation of Jianwu Palace.

The six great palaces had managed to survive through the long history of the Eastern Capital City – none could have done so without substantial groundwork.

At that moment, a bright light suddenly shot forth. With the speed of lightning, it pierced through the crowd and layers of cultivators, and in the blink of an eye, it arrived in front of Emperor Yonghe.

Emperor Yonghe had not even grasped what was happening when his body suddenly burst into endless radiance, with numerous runes circulating within the light. This was his armor and other accessories providing an airtight defense.

Emperor Yonghe was also equipped with several defensive artifacts of Half-step Nascent Soul level, including armor and accessories. As a prince, he was extremely fearful of death. Emperor Yonghe thought these defensive artifacts would provide him ample protection, but he quickly realized that he might have been overconfident. While the defenses they offered were strong, their effectiveness depended on the circumstances and the type of offensive force being faced.

Now, Emperor Yonghe was facing the same peril that had once befallen Emperor Jianwu. When the runes and radiance shielding Emperor Yonghe encountered that unexpected bright light, they were pierced through as effortlessly as a spike through tofu. In an instant, the bright light reached the right side of Emperor Yonghe’s chest.