Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 1357 - 1357 0773 Establishing Authority

Chapter 1357: Chapter 0773: Establishing Authority Chapter 1357: Chapter 0773: Establishing Authority Chapter 0773: Establishing Authority

At Xidu’s City Gate Tower, many cultivators had already gathered, all influential figures of Xidu. Although princes from the several great palaces had not taken action, they had dispatched significant authority figures from within their midst to wait here.

The core area was not small, and from City Gate Tower, one could not see much. However, the momentum Qi Tian created not long ago by enveloping most of the core area in a dense fog was enough to intimidate many people. The vast majority had neither experienced nor heard of such a scene before. Their astonishment upon witnessing such a spectacle was beyond imagination.

Originally, many thought to seize this opportunity to rush into the core area. While Qi Tian and Zhao Deyi were fighting, they could watch the battle from a close distance, perhaps gaining some unexpected rewards. But after seeing the commotion Qi Tian had stirred up, those cultivators with such ideas all ceased their ambitions, no longer daring to entertain such thoughts. They calmed their hearts and earnestly waited at City Gate Tower.

When Qi Tian arrived at the base of City Gate Tower holding a box, looking composed, many of the cultivators guarding there changed their expressions dramatically. Deep down, they hoped Zhao Deyi would have the last laugh. After all, Qi Tian was an outsider, and his background was no longer a secret in the entire Imperial Family Secret Territory. Many knew he came from the Great Zhao Imperial Master Mansion, and to some extent, he was regarded as a subordinate of the Great Zhao royal family, or even as a mere servant in the eyes of some. Naturally, they did not wish to see a former servant dominate their master. By contrast, Zhao Deyi was a legitimate son of Emperor Longqing, from a good background. Even if they anticipated that life would become difficult once Zhao Deyi became the foremost person in the Imperial Family Secret Territory, they found it psychologically more acceptable than to see a servant like Qi Tian rise above them.

Qi Tian approached the City Gate Tower, looked up at the cultivators above, and said, “Are you all gathered here to welcome me?”

The many cultivators atop City Gate Tower were unsure how to respond to Qi Tian’s question, as they didn’t yet know the outcome between him and Zhao Deyi. Qi Tian’s appearance before them did not prove anything.

Seeing everyone was silent, Qi Tian’s expression chilled as he spoke, “It seems you’re not here to welcome me. Then I must ask, who gave you the courage to stand above my head? Do you think you can ride on my head and show off?”

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the many cultivators atop City Gate Tower changed greatly. They were so surprised by Qi Tian’s early emergence from the core area that they forgot one thing: Qi Tian possessed the strength to force Zhao Deyi into a pathetic flight. In the world of cultivators, the one with the bigger fist speaks louder, and others, even if resentful, must hold it in. Now, standing on City Gate Tower above him, making Qi Tian pass through the gate below was quite inappropriate.

A quick-witted cultivator promptly said, “Master Qi, we are indeed here to welcome you.”

Qi Tian sneered and replied, “If you’re here to welcome me, where is the sound of gongs and drums? Where is the applause? Where are the flowers? Don’t tell me you’re treating me like a three-year-old child to be fooled?”

The cultivator who had just spoken wished he could slap himself for speaking out of turn, giving Qi Tian a reason to challenge him. Unable to utter any words to refute Qi Tian, he took the lead in clapping, while loudly exclaiming, “We applaud Master Qi’s triumphant return. What are you other fellows waiting for? Join me in welcoming Master Qi with your applause.”

What could the other cultivators say? No matter how reluctantly they felt inside, they could only grudgingly join in the clapping, which sounded half-hearted and insincere.

Qi Tian was uninterested in their applause. He only wanted to use this method to warn the cultivators atop City Gate Tower, reminding them of their respective statuses. He held the box high and declared, “Are there any friends here from the Longqing Palace lineage? I have unfortunate news for you—Zhao Deyi is dead, killed by me, and his severed head is right here. Does anyone wish to verify it?”

As soon as Qi Tian’s words fell, a clamor erupted atop City Gate Tower. They had not ruled out the possibility that Qi Tian could defeat Zhao Deyi, but they never dared believe that Zhao Deyi could die at Qi Tian’s hand in such a short time, let alone have his head chopped off by Qi Tian. The news was too shocking, something they couldn’t possibly imagine.

Qi Tian tossed the box into the air, which exploded, revealing Zhao Deyi’s head floating amid the debris.

Seeing Zhao Deyi’s head, wide-eyed in death, the noise from the City Gate Tower grew even louder. Many cultivators who had thought Qi Tian might be deceiving them turned as pale as death the moment they saw Zhao Deyi’s head.

Qi Tian let out a light cough, which, though soft, struck like thunder upon reaching City Gate Tower, silencing all the cultivators. They immediately shut their mouths, their expressions full of dread as they looked at Qi Tian. With Zhao Deyi dead, who was possibly the only one capable of facing Qi Tian in over a thousand years in the Imperial Family Secret Territory, and even he was no match for Qi Tian, where would these cultivators, inferior to Zhao Deyi, find the courage to belittle Qi Tian?