The rank 6 'Silver-winged panther king' shot to the sky as it flew above the northern part of the 'City of Sin', shocking the people around Shun Long's shop.
At the same time, inside the 'Violent guardian gang's' castle, the short white-haired middle-stage Dao King, 'senior Huang', turned his eyes towards the sky as he mumbled to himself
''Indeed, it is an early rank 6 magic beast...''
It only took a few minutes for the black panther to fly from the northern part of the 'City of Sin' to the east, until it slowly left the tall 'Mountain of Blood'!
The 'City of Sin' and the 'Mountain of Blood' were situated at the north of the Night star continent, but the Desolate East was very far away.
According to the map that he had purchased in the Heaven's Dome city, Shun Long knew, that he would have to travel all the way to the east of the continent, and pass from the SIlver sword city before returning back to the Desolate East.
Looking at the map in his hands, his eyes were focused on a place called 'Silver Mountain'.
Liu Mei also saw that place on the map and chuckled lightly.
This was the place where the previous guild master of the 'Pale Moon guild', the beautiful blonde woman Xie Rong lived.
She had even given Shun Long a small white token with a 'Xie' character on it, and had asked him to visit when he had time.
Shun Long however wasn't planning on stopping by the 'Silver Mountain'.
Although he was somewhat curious to find out whether everything had worked out for Xie Rong after obtaining the 'Dragon Lord's medallion', this was just a small bout of curiosity.
Seeing the 'Mountain of Blood' behind him turn even smaller in his eyes, Shun Long also wasn't afraid of someone taking over his shop while he was away, as his eyes stared in the distance ahead of him.
Although he and Liu Mei hadn't been in the 'City of Sin' for a long time, he was certain that very few people would dare to occupy his shop after his clash with the 'Blood Pill pavilion'.
As he observed the map in front of him, Shun Long mapped out a route to return to the Desolate East.
After returning back to the Silver sword city, he would continue towards the east of the continent, until he arrived at a big country called 'Snowcloud country'.
''Snowcloud country?''
Shun Long could feel that this name sounded somewhat familiar, but he couldn't remember when he had heard it before.
''Eh? 'Snowcloud country'? That 'prince' in the 'Vermilion realm' said that he was from the 'Snowcloud country'.''
Liu Mei's voice sounded in Shun Long's ears when she saw the place that Shun Long was pointing at.
Although Shun Long didn't care about 'unimportant' places that had nothing to do with him, as the daughter of the 'Floating Cloud sect's' sect master, Liu Mei had learned to pay attention to the name of the places that she had heard of in the past.
Nodding his head, Shun Long seemed to have remembered that 'sixth prince' who had arrived with his attendant in the 'Vermilion realm' and had arrogantly asked for a spot that he then got from Liu Mei's father, Liu Jian.
Shun Long's gaze then focused on the seemingly vast sea that he would have to cross in order to arrive to the Desolate East.
The 'Snowcloud country' was at the far east of the 'Night star continent' and only a vast sea separated it from the Desolate East.
As he continued to stare at the map, Liu Mei's curious voice then sounded in his ears, as she then said in a somewhat uncertain tone
''Long-ge, I also heard from my father, that the waters around the 'Snowcloud country' are filled with powerful magic beasts, some of which are even stronger than Spirit realm experts.
Even the head priest of the 'Golden Buddha Temple' in the Desolate East isn't strong enough to fight against these magic beasts by himself.''
Shun Long's eyes lit up, and he quickly assumed that those must probably be rank 5 magic beasts.
Whether it was for himself, for Little Black or Little Silver, refining the 'Dragonblood grass' into pills was a top priority for Shun Long.
However, parts of certain rank 5 magic beasts, including their beast cores were absolutely necessary during the pill refinement, otherwise, the pills wouldn't be completely pure, and would have powerful pill toxins inside them.
One or two pills wouldn't make a difference, as Shun Long's body would expel them by itself after a few days, but consuming large amounts of pills that were filled with pill toxins would have a negative effect on his cultivation in the future.
That was why, although he had already advanced to the level of a gold grade alchemist, Shun Long hadn't refined the rank 5 'Dragonblood grass' into pills just yet.
Although it was more likely that he would find all the magic beasts and the medicinal herbs that he required in the 'Ten thousand beasts' Mountain range', if there were really suitable rank 5 magic beasts on the way to the 'Desolate East', then he could start concocting some pills before he even arrived in the 'Ten thousand beasts' Mountain range'!
..
Flying on the black panther's back, it only took a single day for Shun Long and Liu Mei to arrive at the familiar-looking city that was shaped like a sword.
Without stopping by the 'Silver sword city' however, Shun Long and Liu Mei continued their journey, and a few hours later, a new scene appeared in their eyes.
A snowy landscape appeared in the distance and covered everything as far as the eye could see.
In the distance ahead was a huge city covered with pure-white snow, and city walls that weren't inferior to the 'Silver sword city's'.
A few moments later, Shun Long and Liu Mei who were sitting on the black panther's back, had already arrived outside of the snow-covered city.
And yet, ignoring the snowy scenery in front of him, Shun Long's expression immediately changed.
A bad premonition had suddenly appeared in his heart as he approached closer to the Desolate East, while for some inexplicable reason, Shun Fang's and Shun An's smiling faces had abruptly appeared in his mind.
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Shun Long didn't know why, but he could feel his heart clench when he saw the faces of his parents, while his heartbeat had started to rise.
Both Little Black and Little Silver whose souls were connected to Shun Long's, could feel his feelings that had turned into turmoil, while Liu Mei who had her hands around Shun Long's chest could also feel his heart that was now beating wildly.
''Master, what happened?''
''Long-ge?''
Both Little Black's, as well as Liu Mei's voice, sounded in Shun Long's head and ears respectively, as soon as they detected this anomaly.
Little Black spread his soul sense but he didn't detect anything untoward around them, which puzzled the black dragon even more.
With a serious look on his face, Shun Long then said
''Something has happened to my parents!''
This wasn't something related to any Dao, but a feeling that stemmed directly from Shun Long's heart.
It was said that once a tragedy befell one of your loved ones, you would start feeling restless and be unable to stand still.
For cultivators, this feeling was even more intense and clear.
Liu Mei didn't question Shun Long's words. and simply nodded her head in response.
Little Black nodded his head as well, while a cold look flashed through his eyes.
He had already met Shun Fang and Shun An in the past, and in the black dragon's head, he had already accepted them as Shun Long's parents. Although it was only one-third of Shun Long's soul that was given birth to and raised by them, for Little Black that was already enough.
Without wasting any more time, Shun Long didn't choose to stop at the 'Snowcloud country' for the night, and instead continued forward.
The black panther flew like a bolt of silver lightning, as it soared in the sky above the royal city of the 'Snowcloud country'.
The guards at the city walls were stunned for a moment and quickly sounded the alarm, alerting the people in the royal palace in the process.
The auras of Spirit realm and even Nascent Soul stage experts exploded from the depths of the palace, along with a middle-rank 1 Dao King realm expert, and an early rank 2 Dao King.
Shun Long however didn't seem to care about the people from the royal palace, and without wasting any time to take a detour he had the black panther continued forward.
''HALT!''
A grey-armored late-stage Nascent Soul expert who was wearing a matching helmet shouted at the black panther, but when he felt the panther's aura his body noticeably trembled before he hurriedly fell back.
The 2 Dao Kings inside the royal palace also paled when they felt the aura of the early rank 6 magic beast flying towards the palace, as they hurriedly activated the palace's formations and braced themselves to fight.
The black panther however completely ignored the royal palace, as he continued flying towards the snowy sea in the distance.
Spreading its bright silver wings that shone brightly under the illumination of the bright stars in the sky, the people in the royal capital of the 'Snowcloud country' saw the silver streak of light flying above their heads as it continued off into the distance.
Flying above the snow-covered sea, Shun Long was originally planning to hide Little Silver and slowly hunt out some rank 5 magic beasts, but this time, his attention was fully focused on getting to the Desolate East as fast as possible.
Half a day later, the sun had already risen in the sky, but aside from a handful of rank 4 magic beasts, no one else attacked them as they traveled above the snowy sea.
In the distance, Shun Long and Liu Mei could see a large mass of land slowly emerging from the horizon, as the black panther quickly approached closer to it.
The Desolate East.
Shun Long had finally returned.
Less than a year had passed since Cui Guoliang's test in the 'Vermilion realm' had ended and he had sent Shun Long and the rest to the 'Night star continent', and yet, Shun Long and Liu Mei had been through so many things that it seemed as if it had already been much longer than this.
Seeing that there was a medium-sized city in the distance, Shun Long had the black panther fly directly towards it, as he intended to purchase a map about the Desolate East.
After all, the last time, he had been directly teleported from Cui Guoliang's palace all the way to the 'Night star continent', and hadn't traveled by himself.
Despite the Desolate East being much smaller than the 'Night star continent', Shun Long knew that without a map, it would be like searching for a needle in the haystacks.
The city was controlled by a small sect, whose sect master was only at the middle rank 1 of the Spirit realm.
The moment that he felt Little Silver's and Liu Mei's auras, the sect master along with the Elders personally came out and welcomed Shun Long and Liu Mei to the city with excited expressions.
Shun Long however was extremely anxious, while the bad premonition in his heart had become even more noticeable as soon as he arrived in the Desolate East, and immediately explained to the sect master the reason that he had stopped in their city.
Despite the sect master's fervent wishes to have Shun Long and Liu Mei be their guests and stay in the city for the night, the sect master still had an Elder fetch a map before handing it to Shun Long.
Although the map wasn't an extremely detailed one, it still pointed directly towards the 'Lightning Wasteland' where the 'Vermilion realm' had opened the last time.
After thanking the sect master, the black panther immediately shot towards the 'Lightning Wasteland's' direction, under the sect master and the Elders envious gazes.
Looking at the black panther's back, one of the Elders of the sect couldn't help mumbling
''Sect master, which powerful sect do you think this person comes from?''
Shaking his head, the sect master's eyes glimmered as he answered
''I don't know, but it's definitely not a sect from our Desolate East!''
Seeing the stunned expressions of the Elders of his sect, the sect master continued with an envious tone
''Didn't you see how young that young woman was? Her cultivation however is even stronger than mine, and has already reached the middle-stages of the Spirit realm!
At the same time, the pressure I got from that black panther is even more terrifying than the pressure I felt from an Elder of the 'Golden Buddha temple'!
No, it can't even be compared! This is certainly a rank 5 magic beast!''
''WHAT?''
The Elders around the sect master were all stunned when they heard his words!
After all, even the head priest of the 'Golden Buddha temple' was rumored to be just an early-stage Nascent Soul expert.
This magic beast was at the same level as him?
Nodding his head, the sect master continued with a serious look in his eyes
''As for that young man, even I couldn't see through him...''
The sect Elders were all speechless, none of them adding another word in the process.
Of course, by the time they had finished their words, the black panther had already disappeared from the sky.
An hour later, Shun Long had already passed through the Lightning Wasteland, and finally, after 3 more hours, the outline of a familiar city appeared in the distance.
The 'Floating Cloud sect'.
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A stifling feeling appeared in Liu Mei's heart when she saw the medium-sized city in the distance.
This was the place where she was born, and yet it was also the place where she had to run away from as well.
As the city in front of her was slowly being enlarged in her eyes as the black panther approached closer and closer to it, the feeling inside Shun Long's heart was becoming even more tangible.
It was like someone had hit his heart with a hammer, making him feel pain from the powerful impact.
Less than 2 minutes later, the black panther flapped its silver wings as it hovered in the sky above the 'Floating cloud city'.
Although Shun Long was anxious to return back, he still stopped for a moment, and looking at Liu Mei he asked
''Mei'er, do you want to go and see your mother first?''
Shun Long didn't have a single doubt, that with Liu Mei's current cultivation at the middle of rank 4 of the Spirit realm, her undead army could completely flatten the whole 'Floating Cloud city'.
No, even without her undead army, the only one who would be able to fight against her head-on, would be the 'Floating Cloud sect's' sect master, Liu Mei's father, Liu Jian.
After thinking seriously for a moment, Liu Mei shook her head in the end.
Although seeing her mother as early as possible was important, she knew that the chances of her mother's life being in danger while she was still inside the 'Floating Cloud city' were practically zero.
However, the situation of Shun Long's parents was a completely different story.
Nodding his head, a warm feeling filled Shun Long's heart, and without another word, the 'SIlver-winged panther king' continued to fly forward, without waiting for Liu Jian and the other Elders of the 'Floating Cloud sect' to come and welcome them.
The barrier that separated the 'Cultivation world' from the 'Mortal world' soon appeared in Shun Long's eyes, before the 'Silver-winged panther king' effortlessly slashed it open with its silver wings and passed through it.
The thin qi from the 'Mortal world' gave Shun Long a nostalgic feeling... that of a person who had returned home after a long time.
After lowering his gaze to stare at the sea below him, Shun Long locked his eyes on a certain island, before he had the black panther fly towards it at full speed.
The panther descended from the sky like a silver-colored meteor, as it tore through the clouds and appeared on that island in less than a minute.
One after another, Shun Long saw the mortal kingdoms around him flash through his eyes, while the feeling of anxiousness in his heart deepened with every passing second.
A few moments later, Shun Long had already arrived at the outskirts of the 'Sky Fortune Kingdom', when a shocking scene appeared in his eyes.
In the cities surrounding the imperial city of the 'Sky Fortune Kingdom', the roads, the houses of people, everything, was bathed with blood.
Soldiers wearing bronze armor seemed to have taken over the cities around the 'Sky Fortune Kingdom', pillaging everything in sight.
Shun Long could see kids crying, while the headless corpses of men and women were lying on the streets.
''How could this happen?''
Shun Long's feeling were getting agitated with every passing moment, and without stopping, the 'Silver-winged panther king' flew like a blur, and soon it arrived in the 'Blue Forest city'.
The sight that greeted Shun Long's and Liu Mei's however, was that of utter devastation!
The 10m(33ft) tall walls were more than halfway destroyed, while the corpses of countless soldiers that were wearing the insignia of the 'Blue Forest city's' army, as well as the city lord's personal army were lying on the fields outside the city.
However, almost no cries could be heard from the city, as if everything had fallen dead silent.
Shun Long's gaze quickly fell on a single head without a body, that was now hanging outside the 'Blue Forest city's' gates.
Shun Long felt shock filling his heart, when he recognized the man that was hanged outside the city.
This was the 'Blue Forest city's' city lord, Zhen Wang!
Although Shun Long's family didn't have an extremely good relationship with this man, Shun Long had already heard from Shun An how the city lord had tried to curry favor with his father, once Shun Fang became a Duke of the 'Sky Fortune Kingdom'!
Even if Shun Fang didn't like this man, there was no way that he would allow him to get hanged outside the city, unless something really terrible had happened.
On top of the 'Blue Forest city's' city walls, Shun Long saw the bronze-armored guards that he had seen before in cities that he had passed through earlier, and an inexplicable chill filled his heart.
''Has the city really fallen?''
Liu Mei seemed to have also understood what had happened to the 'Sky Fortune Kingdom', and quickly fell silent.
Indeed, after seeing the blood that had dyed the soil red, the countless corpses with the insignia of a 'Blue Forest' in their armor as well as the bronze-armored people who had occupied the city walls, a single word appeared in her mind
''War!''
Of course, if Liu Mei could understand this, how could Shun Long not see what was going on.
Deep in his heart however, he refused to accept this.
After all, Shun Fang was already a Heaven grade expert, and in the kingdoms that were in direct proximity to the 'Sky Fortune Kingdom', there weren't any Heaven grade experts aside from him.
Even if a new one had appeared, there is no way for them to destroy the 'Blue Forest city' like this.
Besides, Shun Long had been gone for less than a year, so how could a war really erupt in such a small amount of time?
What was the trigger behind it?
As these questions flashed through Shun Long's mind, he got off the 'Silver-winged panther king' and shot towards the 'Blue Forest city', with Liu Mei and the black panther following behind him.
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306 Lord wei
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''HALT!''
''STATE YOUR NAME!''
The guards on top of the city walls shouted once they saw Shun Long approaching the city, but in just a few moments, Shun Long had already flew past the 2 people who had just spoken.
The 2 guards' cultivation was at the early rank 3 of the earth grade, and were the strongest people stationed in the city walls right now.
Originally, they were going to order for an attack against Shun Long, but when they realized that he was actually hovering above the ground, terror appeared in their hearts.
A few guards hurriedly backed away as they shouted
''Hea-Heaven grade experts!!''
It wasn't just Shun Long who was flying, but Liu Mei who was behind him as well as Little Silver.
Ignoring the guards and the city that was slowly falling into a state of unrest once the words 'Heaven grade experts' sounded in the air, Shun Long headed directly towards the location of the Shun estate.
He didn't pay any attention to the guards who were hurriedly scurrying away from him, and in just a few moments, he had already arrived outside the Shun estate.
The scene that Shun Long saw however made his blood boil!
The gate of the estate was completely destroyed, while corpses of the previous guards were sprawled on the ground everywhere around the estate.
Aside from the main hall, Shun Long saw every building inside the estate, including Shun Fang's and Shun An's courtyard, as well as his own, that were completely destroyed, and finally, his blood was all gathered in his head.
Shun Long felt himself reaching the breaking point, and the last hope that nothing bad had actually happened to his parents was finally extinguished!
From the main hall, a group of earth grade cultivators dressed in bronze armor appeared, after hearing the shouts of the guards at the city walls who were shouting 'Heaven grade experts'.
These people looked at Shun Long who was now standing in front of the estate gates in a trance, with a dumbfounded look in their eyes.
The moment that Shun Long turned his eyes towards them, the bronze-armored earth grade cultivators felt a chill in their hearts, as if they had locked eyes with a terrifying magic beast.
They saw a pair of black eyes staring at them, filled with anger and killing intent that weren't suppressed in the slightest!
A middle-aged man with a cultivation at the peak of rank in 8 earth grade walked out from their midst, and looking at Shun Long, he spoke in a haughty tone
''Brat, who are you? Which group are you from? Don't you know that this area is the-''
Before the peak rank 8 cultivator could finish his words, Shun Long's powerful aura at the middle of rank 4 of the Spirit realm exploded from his body, bringing absolute suffocation and terror to the bronze-armored man.
At the same time, Liu Mei and the black panther had just arrived at the scene, and looked at Shun Long with shock in their eyes.
This was the first time that Shun Long had exhibited so much anger and unrestrained killing intent.
Unlike his usual self, Liu Mei instantly realized, that Shun Long was barely suppressing himself from murdering the people in front of him.
Shun Long's black eyes had now turned golden, and looking at the horrified eyes of the bronze-armored middle rank 8 earth grade cultivator in front of him who was now kneeling on the ground, he asked in a voice so cold that was about to chill the man's soul to death
''Who are you?
...Where are Shun Fang and Shun An?''
The middle-aged man's eyes widened when he heard Shun Long's words, and suppressing his fear, he raised his head to look at Shun Long and asked in a haughty tone
''Who am I? Don't you know that the 'Sky Fortune Kingdom' is now the territory of Lord Wei Tai? As for the Heaven grade expert named Shun of the 'Sky Fortune Kingdom'? His fate was long since dictated by Lord Wei and the 2 Lords Zhu!''
The moment that he heard these words, Shun Long felt his mind short-circuiting for a moment?
The territory of Lord Wei? 2 Lords Zhu?
The bronze-armored man looked at Shun Long with traces of apprehension in his eyes, but the arrogance in his voice when he mentioned the name Lord Wei was unmistakable.
Seeing that Shun Long was speechless, the man was certain that he was afraid after hearing the name of Lord Wei and thought inwardly
''Hehe, as expected! Lord Wei is a true powerhouse that makes even other experts afraid!''
Looking at Shun Long, the confidence in the man's eyes dramatically increased, and despite the fact that he was still kneeling on the ground, his voice was filled with pride as he continued
''As for this mansion, it was given to me by Lord W-''
Before the man could finish his words, his eyes suddenly widened, while a powerful hand that was akin to the hand of death itself was now clutching his throat, as it lifted the bronze-armored man in the air.
The killing intent coming from Shun Long's body could practically be felt by the bronze-armored man, making the hair in his body stand up in fear.
Staring at the man's eyes, Shun Long then asked in a voice so cold that it made the man's heart feel like he was plunged in the deepest part of hell
''Where is Shun Fang, Shun An, as well as this Lord Wei?''
The man seemed to have realized that he would die as soon as he answered this question, and with a mocking look in his eyes he spoke through gritted teeth
''Ha! Won't you kill me as soon as I tell you? But if you swear to let me go, then I -''
Before the man could finish his words, Shun Long clenched his right hand with all his strength, instantly destroying the man's neck.
Droplets of blood were flowing down from his hand, dying the outer edge of his sleeve with a light reddish hue.
With a seemingly absent-minded look on his face, Shun Long then mumbled to himself
''Little Black, where is my father and mother?''
At first, Shun Long hadn't asked Little Black if his parents were in the 'Blue Forest city', because this was the most natural thing to him.
Only after seeing the destruction of the Shun estate did he realize that his parents were no longer here.
Nodding his head, the black dragon spread out his soul sense and covered the entire 'Sky Fortune Kingdom' in an instant.
With a serious look in his eyes, Little Black then said in a somewhat reluctant voice
''Master, there are 3 Heaven grade cultivators in the imperial city's palace... but none of them seem to have Shun Fang's aura!''
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Shun Long was stunned after hearing Little Black's words, while his body even trembled for a moment.
No matter what had happened, he would definitely find out after going to the palace in the imperial city of the 'Sky Fortune Kingdom'.
At the same time, the rest of the bronze-armored cultivators inside the Shun estate were all shocked when they saw Shun Long killing the middle-aged man.
Finally, one of them could no longer suppress his fear, and hurriedly stood up, as he tried to escape back inside the main hall.
He knew that the formations inside the main hall could probably defend even against a Heaven grade expert for a while.
The rest of the men who were kneeling on the ground followed the bronze-armored man, as they all headed back inside the main hall as well.
If the blue-robed young man in front of them had already killed their leader who was a late-stage earth grade expert, then he had no reason to spare the rest of them!
Shun Long's eyes chilled when he saw this, and without any hesitation, he activated the 'Monarch's Domain'.
The invisible figure of an hourglass expanded from his body, covering both himself and the bronze-armored earth grade cultivators who were running deeper inside the Shun estate.
The flow of time inside the Shun estate had been forcefully frozen! It was a stark difference compared to the outside world.
Perhaps a gust of wind or the sounds of crickets chirping on the trees may sound in the streets, but inside the estate itself, complete silence reigned supreme.
It was almost as if the Shun estate had now turned into an entirely different world.
Only the footsteps of a young man echoed, before even sound itself was suppressed inside this world.
An illusionary purple-colored blade had appeared in the blue-robed young man's right hand, as he stepped closer to the frozen bronze-armored men.
Without the slightest shred of hesitation, Shun Long waved his illusionary purple-colored blade a round, as blood spurted in the air.
To Liu Mei who was watching this scene from the distance, the purple blade in Shun Long's hand was like the scythe of death himself.
A hole had appeared on each of these men's chest, as their hearts were crushed before they died one by one inside the 'Monarch's Domain'.
The invisible figure of an hourglass retracted itself back inside his body, as Shun Long stopped the 'Monarch's Domain' and turned his gaze towards the bodies inside his house.
Using his qi flames, he burned the men's bodies as well as their bronze armors until nothing remained, before he turned his eyes towards Liu Mei and Little Silver in the sky.
Shun Long didn't have the slightest sense of guilt when he killed these people.
Not only was it normal for cultivators who didn't have grudges to kill each other if there was a reason, but these people had attacked the 'Blue Forest city' probably killing thousands if not tens of thousands of people in the process, before they occupied the Shun estate.
Although Shun Long didn't know if they had anything to do with his father and mother as well, he wasn't planning on letting any one of them live.
The black panther instantly appeared in front of Shun Long, before Shun Long and Liu Mei both sat on its back.
Spreading its silver wings, the panther shot towards the imperial city like a bolt of silver-colored lightning that was tearing through the sky.
It took less than 20 breaths of time until Shun Long and Liu Mei arrived outside the imperial city of the 'Sky Fortune Kingdom'.
Standing the sky for a moment, Shun Long was stunned.
The situation outside the city was even worse than he had expected.
Just like the 'Blue Forest city', the corpses of soldiers had littered the imperial city's surroundings, but the situation was even worse than the 'Blue Forest city's'.
The corpses in the imperial city seemed to have numbered in the hundreds of thousands, while blood had dyed the previously brown soil into a reddish-brown color.
The scent of copper filled the air, while the nauseating smell of some rotting corpses had already attracted animals and magic beasts alike.
The citizens inside the imperial city seemed to have been huddled inside their homes, unwilling to come out no matter what they heard, while corpses of the imperial soldiers had also filled the city's streets.
It was a bloodbath filled with the fresh blood from the army of the 'Sky Fortune Kingdom'.
Shun Long however calmly walked towards the imperial palace's direction, despite the corpses around him that had filled the streets.
A few moments later, the outline of the imperial palace had already appeared in the distance, until Shun Long finally heard shouts from the palace walls
''STOP!''
''WHO GOES THERE?''
Turning his eyes, Shun Long was surprised to see a pair of guards wearing the armor of the 'Sky Fortune Kingdom'.
He had already assumed that the imperial palace had already been conquered by the people in the bronze-armors, but it seemed that this wasn't the case.
Despite being surprised, Shun Long didn't stop to question the guards.
He knew that they wouldn't be able to explain anything anyway, and activating the 'Monarch's Domain' once again, he completely froze time around him as he kept walking towards the palace's entrance.
As soon as he arrived in front of the palace gates however, Shun Long finally stopped walking and raised his head.
Right above the palace gates, 2 naked bodies were hanging, obviously having struggled before they were humiliated.
It was the corpse of a middle-aged woman with a good body figure who seemed to have died only recently, as well as a handsome young man's with long black hair who had a terrified expression on his face.
Although Shun Long had never seen the middle-aged woman before, he had seen the young man once in the past, during the 'Floating Cloud sect's' test in the imperial palace 2 years ago, and immediately recognized him.
He was the crown prince of the 'Sky Fortune Kingdom', Dong Lingxin.
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At the same time that Shun Long appeared outside the palace gates with his aura completely retracted, deep inside the palace, a banquet was taking place in the main hall.
In front of a large table that was filled with all kinds of delicacies, including various different types of meat from rank 1 and rank 2 magic beasts, as well as plenty of wine, 7 people were seated and watched the beautiful young girls who were dancing in front of them.
Surprisingly, in the seat of honor at the head of the table wasn't the 'Sky Fortune Kingdom's' king, but an old man seemingly around 70 years old, who was dressed in green robes.
The old man was 1.7m(5.6ft) tall, with long white hair and a thick beard. His black eyes were filled with unconcealable desire as he looked at the young girls who were dancing in front of him, while his hands were filled with the meat of the rank 2 magic beasts in front of him.
On the old man's right were 2 middle-aged men seemingly in their early 50s, who looked very much alike each other.
Despite their similar appearances however, the 2 men had completely different temperaments.
One of them seemed interested in the banquet in front of him, and was happily chatting and laughing with the old man next to him, while his eyes looked at the young girls who were dancing in front of him, and his hands were occasionally rubbing their breasts and butts.
In sharp contrast, the man next to him seemed completely indifferent to the women around him, and was only interested in the food on his plate.
If one paid close attention however, they would see his gaze stealing glances at the guards inside the hall, like a hungry beast that was staring at its prey and was licking its lips.
On the old man's left was a young woman seemingly not a day older than 20 years old.
Her appearance could probably be considered plain if it wasn't for her largely disproportional-placed eyes.
Her bright red dress that was decorated with golden roses was obviously trying to make the young woman the center of attention in the hall.
The woman however, didn't seem to care about the old man who was sitting on her right, and was instead staring gently at the young man who was sitting next to her, while affectionately holding his arm.
The young man who seemed to be around 26 years old, had a bright smile on his face as he looked at the young woman next to him, completely ignoring the enchanting dancers around him.
If one observed carefully, they would see that this young man's sharp nose and high cheekbones greatly resembled the 'Sky Fortune Kingdom's' king's, Dong Weifeng's.
His bright blonde hair and spirited brown eyes, made the young man's identity obvious to anyone who was familiar with the royal family of the 'Sky Fortune Kingdom'.
This was the 'Sky Fortune Kingdom's' third prince, as well as Dong Weifeng's third son, Dong Lingyuan.
Next to Dong Lingyuan was another woman who seemed to be in her early 40s.
She was wearing a bright yellow dress with the crest of the 'Sky Fortune Kingdom's' royal family on it, and was looking at the red-dressed young woman next to Dong Lingyuan in a fawning manner.
This woman was the king's, Dong Weifeng's second concubine, as well as Dong Lingyuan's mother.
As for the middle-aged man next to her who seemed to have a spirited look in his eyes despite sitting at the very edge of the table... it was Dong Weifeng, the 'Sky Fortune Kingdom's' king.
As the third prince, Dong Lingyuan looked at the young woman next to him, he had a bright smile on his face as he asked
''Xiao Yi, are you enjoying this feast? I made sure to personally choose the meat of the best rank 2 magic beasts around the kingdom, including the meat from a rank 2 'Earth-trampling boar'!''
The young woman, Xiao Yi nodded her head happily as soon as she heard Dong Lingyuan's words, before she turned her head to the old man next to her, and with a joyous look on her face she said
''Daddy, big brother Lingyuan really tried hard for this banquet Shouldn't you praise him a little as well?''
The old man who was sitting in the seat of honor nodded his head, and with a smile on his aged face that made him seem more evil than amiable, he answered
''Indeed brat, you really tried hard to find good women today. I am satisfied.''
Dong Lingyuan had a fawning smile, as he nodded his head repeatedly and said
''As long as senior Wei Tai is satisfied, then this all that matters to this humble junior.''
The young woman Xiao Yi pouted as soon as she heard this, and with a look of anger she then interjected
''What 'senior Wei'? Big brother Lingyuan, shouldn't you call daddy your father-in-law?''
The middle-aged man who was sitting next to Wei Tai nodded his head and said laughingly
''Hahaha! Right brat! Now that you are the only one left in this kingdom, are you perhaps trying to go back to your word?
Hehe, perhaps you never cared about little Wei Yi to begin with, and you only wanted Wei Tai and us to help you become the king huh? HAHAHA!''
The middle-aged man erupted in laughter, but both Wei Tai's and the young woman's Wei Yi's faces instantly darkened as they looked at him.
Cold sweat started to drip from Dong Lingyuan's head, and shaking his head without any hesitation, he hurriedly held Wei Yi's hand with both hands before he answered
''Senior Zhu Zan, your words are mistaken. How could I not care about Xiao Yi? I was just reluctant to call senior Wei Tai 'father-in-law', since me and Xiao Yi aren't married yet.
However, if Xiao Yi is so insistent and doesn't want to wait for our marriage, then of course I will comply with her wishes.''
Wei Tai nodded his head, and looking at Dong Lingyuan with a smiling face he then spoke in a seemingly casual tone
''Of course you care about Xiao Yi brat! After all, there was no way that you would have simply seduced her, just to have me help you acquire this small kingdom, right? I am sure that you would clearly understand the consequences in such that case...''
Seeing the cold look deep inside Wei Tai's eyes despite his smiling face, Dong Lingyuan felt like he had fallen into the deepest depths of hell, before he hurriedly nodded his head in acknowledgment.
At the same time, Dong Weifeng took a deep breath, and looking at the old man, Wei Tai, he couldn't help saying in a weak voice
''However... senior Wei... you shouldn't have dealt with Shun Fang and Shun An like that...
After all, I even told you that their son was a member of the 'Floating Cloud sect', and that he even has a black dragon...''
Everyone in the hall turned their attention to the king, Dong Weifeng, but contrary to the king's expectations, both Wei Tai, Zhu Zan, and the other middle-aged man next to him had mocking looks on their faces when they heard his words.
With a smile on his face, Wei Tai rubbed the butt of the young woman who was dancing in front of him, and looking at Dong Weifeng he said in a casual tone
''A member of the 'Floating Cloud sect'? Hehehe... Dong Weifeng, you don't seem to understand, so let me explain this to you.
Even if one is a member of the 'Floating Cloud sect', unless they are an inner disciple or an Elder, they wouldn't have reached the Heaven grade just yet.
From all the disciples that enter the sect, how many people actually reach the earth grade?''
Seeing the look in Dong Weifeng's eyes that was still filled with worry, the old man Wei Tai continued
''Additionally, even if he manages to reach the Heaven grade eventually, aren't there 3 Heaven grade experts here today? How do you think a 3 against 1 fight with a newly advanced Heaven grade cultivator would go in the future?
Hehehe, didn't we already handle his father as well?
If you are worried about the 'Floating Cloud sect' sending reinforcements, I can assure you that as long as someone chooses to meddle in the matters of the 'Mortal world', they will have no assistance from a huge sect.
As for that so-called black dragon... hehe, don't make me laugh-''
BOOOM!
The door of the palace's main hall was suddenly sent flying from the outside by a powerful punch, attracting everyone's attention.
The music in the hall had suddenly stopped, and the young women stopped dancing, as everyone's eyes were suddenly focused on the hall's entrance.
A handsome young man dressed in blue robes slowly walked inside the hall, one step at a time, as his eyes finally fell on the people who were sitting on the table.
In his right hand, there was an illusionary purple-colored blade, and despite the fresh blood that had stained his robes' sleeves with a reddish hue, not a single drop of blood seemed to have tainted the purple blade itself.
Behind the handsome young man was a peerlessly beautiful young woman, who slowly followed him inside the hall. The cold look on her face didn't diminish her beauty in the slightest, while her bright white robes that were in sharp contrast with her bewitching black eyes, only served to accentuate her beauty even further.
Her face that seemed to have come out of a picture itself only stared at the people inside the hall for a moment, before it once again focused on the young man in front of her. The coldness in her look finally melted, giving rise to an even more beautiful scene for the people inside the hall, who were all stunned for a moment.
The king's, Dong Weifeng's eyes, only stared at the gorgeous young woman for a single moment, before his eyes were once again focused on the blue-robed young man.
An aura of majesty was coming from the young man's body, like a king who was looking at a group of unimportant commoners, whose life and death had no meaning to him.
And yet, at the same time, inside the young man's black eyes was a cold look that could freeze anyone's soul in an instant.
Dong Weifeng's mind seemed to have frozen when his eyes landed on the young man's face.
His voice, despite being lower than a whisper, resounded in everyone's ears as he stuttered and spoke fearfully
''Shu- Shun Long!''
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309 spatial ring
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Shun Long's eyes landed on the trembling king of the 'Sky Fortune Kingdom', who had now stood up and was slowly backing away, before Shun Long suddenly disappeared on the spot.
Wei Tai, Zhu Zan and the other middle-aged man next to him, all hurriedly stood up, before they turned their eyes towards their left, where Shun Long was now standing in front of the trembling Weifeng with an ice-cold look in his eyes.
Looking at the 'Sky Fortune Kingdom's' king in front of him, Shun Long then spoke in a voice that barely suppressed his killing intent from exploding out of his body
''Where is my father and mother?''
Dong Weifeng's face visibly paled, but when he tried to take a step back, he suddenly felt that his neck was being grabbed by an iron grip.
Shun Long's left hand that was still fresh with the blood of the bronze-armored guards that he had killed on the way to the main hall, was now holding the king's neck and was just a step away from snapping it.
Looking at Shun Long's ice-cold eyes, Dong Weifeng felt like he was looking at the abyss of death itself, as a feeling of terror had already permeated his heart.
Shun Long saw that Dong Weifeng wanted to speak, but Dong Lingyuan's voice from his left sounded first, a voice filled with endless fury and indignation
''HOW DARE YOU??''
Seeing that Shun Long didn't even turn his head to the side to look at him, but was instead still staring at his father with his left hand still on the king's neck, anger, as well as the feeling of being ignored made the third prince, Dong Lingyuan take a step forward, and as he pointed Shun Long at his face the young man said arrogantly
''Your name is Shun Long right? Shun Fang's previously crippled son... hehe!
I have already heard about you. You think that being a member of the 'Floating Cloud sect' allows you to treat my father with such disrespect? Who do you think you are?''
Shun Long tried to suppress the annoyance he was feeling, and turned his head to the side to look at the young man with blonde hair who had a mocking look in his eyes as he looked at him.
Seeing that he had finally attracted Shun Long's attention, Dong Lingyuan turned around to look at the old man behind him, before he said in a proud tone
''This is senior Wei Tai, a powerful Heaven grade expert! Even in your 'Floating Cloud sect', Heaven grade experts are inner disciples or Elders, aren't they? Quickly pay your respects to senior and apologize!''
The third prince, Dong Lingyuan who was already an early earth grade expert had already noticed that Shun Long was much stronger than him by how easily he held the king, Dong Weifeng in the air by his neck.
By introducing both Wei Tai, as well as asking Shun Long to pay his respects to him, he was trying to have the old man deal with Shun Long personally.
After all, this was the 'Way of the King'. If you can't do something by yourself, have others do it for you!
Shun Long barely spared an indifferent glance at Wei Tai and the 2 middle-aged men next to him, before his eyes were once again focused on Dong Weifeng in front of him.
With a look that was about to kill him if he didn't answer truthfully, Shun Long tightened the grip on the king's neck before he spoke in a voice that no longer suppressed his anger and impatience
''DONG WEIFENG, WHERE ARE MY PARENTS?''
Shun Long's voice boomed throughout the main hall of the palace, causing everyone inside to immediately step away from him.
Even Wei Tai, Zhu Zan and the other middle-aged man next to him were shocked to realize that they were forced to step back as well!
This wasn't caused by Shun Long's cultivation, but by the natural aura that was coming from his body.
Blood slowly trickled from Dong Weifeng's nose, and with a look of fear on his face, he trembled a few times, but he didn't dare to answer Shun Long's question.
Instead, his eyes fell on the old man Wei Tai behind Shun Long.
Dong Weifeng knew, that as long as he answered Shun Long's question, Shun Long wouldn't hesitate to clench his hand and snap his neck in an instant, robbing him of his life.
Seeing Dong Weifeng's line of sight, Shun Long's eyes finally fell on the old man Wei Tai who was looking at him with a smile on his face.
Wei Tai didn't seem angry that Shun Long hadn't let go of Dong Weifeng yet, as if the king's life had nothing to do with him.
Instead, Wei Tai looked back at the blue-robed young man who seemed to be anxious to know what had happened to his parents, and with a light-hearted tone he then spoke in a seemingly amiable tone
''Young man, it's always good to be humble when you talk to your seniors.
Hmm... as for that Heaven grade expert called Shun Fang and his wife, although they were my enemies, I can still compensate you personally for what has happened.''
As soon as Wei Tai finished speaking, his daughter, the red-dressed young woman named Wei Yi, Dong Weifeng, Dong Lingyuan, as well as Dong Lingyuan's mother, were all stunned when they heard his words.
Wei Tai was looking to compromise with Shun Long instead of killing him? The arrogant tyrant who had over 6 kingdoms under his rule was trying to compromise?
However, Zhu Zan and the other middle-aged man who were next to Wei Tai both had serious looks on their faces as they stared at Shun Long.
Although they didn't know how strong the young man in front of them was, since they couldn't feel the slightest bit of aura coming from his body, since they had already seen Shun Long's speed when he entered inside the hall and lifted up Dong Weifeng, solemn looks had appeared inside their eyes.
They knew that if they had to fight, even with Wei Tai and themselves teaming up against Shun Long, it was certainly going to be a difficult fight.
Additionally, there was also a gorgeous young woman at the entrance of the hall, whose aura was unfathomable as well.
Indeed, Wei Tai's decision to compensate Shun Long was the best choice.
As soon as he finished his words, Wei Tai didn't wait for Shun Long's answer, and waving his right hand, 1000 low-grade spirit stones appeared from the spatial ring in his hand before they landed on the floor in front of him.
Wei Tai looked at Shun Long and with a serious look he said
''1000 spirit stones! This is my compensation to let bygones be bygones!''
Shun Long's eyes however didn't even look at the 1000 low-grade spirit stones on the floor in front of the old man.
Instead, his eyes were staring intently at the brown spatial ring on Wei Tai's hand while an explosion seemed to have sounded inside his head.
Little Black and Little Silver inside the 'Stone of Time' could all feel Shun Long's emotions turning turbulent, before a powerful aura erupted from his body.
Shun Long's aura was so dense and powerful, and yet filled with so much killing intent, that it suffocated everyone inside the main hall of the palace.
Even Liu Mei felt the pressure inside the hall, and she was a powerful middle rank 4 Spirit realm necromancer.
Shun Long's eyes had now turned golden, while his cultivation at the middle of rank 4 of the Spirit realm exploded from his body.
His left hand allowed Dong Weifeng to fall on the floor, before he immediately disappeared on the spot.
Not even a moment had passed, when everyone's eyes inside the hall were filled with incredulity and shock.
In Shun Long's left hand was now an old, wrinkled hand that was dripping with fresh blood, while a brown spatial ring adorned its ring finger.
Shun Long destroyed the old hand, before his aura that was filled with killing intent, made everyone inside the hall tremble.
This was the spatial ring that Shun Long had filled with top-grade rank 2 'minor advancement pills', with his own barrels of wine, as well as a few low-grade spirit stones, before he had personally given to Shun Fang when he had returned home.
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310 Realisation
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Everyone inside the hall turned their eyes towards Wei Tai's right arm, and noticed that his hand from the wrist and below was now missing.
''Daddy!!''
A scream suddenly filled the main hall of the palace, but surprisingly, it didn't come from Wei Tai, but from the red-dressed young woman next to Dong Lingyuan, Wei Yi.
Wei Tai himself was still staring at his own hand, with a look of disbelief in his eyes.
It seemed like the pain hadn't registered just yet, since it took him 3 breaths of time to finally react and scream in pain, while he tightly held his bleeding right hand.
Zhu Zan and the other middle-aged man next to Wei Tai, wanted to slowly back away from Shun Long, with fear obvious in their eyes, but Shun Long's terrifying aura of a middle-stage Spirit realm expert, was like a boulder that was heavily pressuring their hearts, filling them with boundless terror.
Wei Tai's screams were suddenly cut short, as under everyone's terrified gazes, Shun Long lifted the Heaven grade expert up from his neck and stared at his eyes that were filled with fear.
Cracking sounds resounded in the palace's main hall, as Shun Long slowly pressured the old man's neck.
Crack
Hearing the cracking sounds, the young woman in the red dress, Wei Yi hurriedly turned her gaze towards Zhu Zan and the middle-aged Heaven grade expert next to him and shouted anxiously
''Uncle Zhu Zan, uncle Zhu Heng, you have to help father!''
Zhu Zan and Zhu Heng both took a look at the young woman who had shouted in fear, before they turned their heads to look at each other.
Although their relationship with Wei Tai wasn't too good, they knew that if the old man died in Shun Long's hands, it was very likely that they would follow right after.
And yet, the terrifying aura coming from Shun Long's body made it obvious that he was far stronger than the 2 of them together.
The 2 Heaven grade experts knew, that even if they joined hands with Wei Tai, it was unlikely that they would be able to injure the young man in front of them before they died by his hands.
Nodding his head, Zhu Zan looked around the main hall, before his eyes landed on the window next to him.
Suddenly, both he and Zhu Heng exploded with their auras at the same time, as they turned to fly towards the window on the wall of the palace hall, in an attempt to leave the palace.
Since they couldn't win, it was pointless for them to risk their lives for Wei Tai!
The best thing they could do was to turn and flee as far away as possible.
And yet, the moment that they tried to escape, Shun Long merely turned his eyes to glance towards them, before the 2 peak rank 1 Heaven grade cultivators felt like a terrifying mountain had suddenly fallen on their backs, slamming them both into the palace floor at the same time.
The aura of a Spirit realm expert wasn't something that peak rank 1 Heaven grade cultivators could fight against. Even Shun Long would be completely unable to fight against a Spirit realm cultivator when he was still at the peak rank 1 of the Heaven grade, let alone Zhu Zan and Zhu Heng.
Shun Long snorted before his golden eyes were once again focused on the old man in front of him.
Seeing that Wei Tai had no intention to speak, Shun Long was about to completely crush his neck and kill him before he turned to ask the others inside the hall, when suddenly, a woman's voice sounded in his ears as she said
''Wait! I know where your parents are!''
Shun Long, Liu Mei, as well as everyone else in the hall, including the king, Dong Weifeng, and Wei Tai, turned their heads to look at the woman in the yellow dress who seemed to be in her early 40s.
It was Dong Lingyuan's mother, as well as Dong Weifeng's second concubine, Zeng Cui.
Before Zeng Fen could speak however, Dong Lingyuan's berating voice sounded in the hall, as he looked at her and said fearfully
''Mother, stop!''
Zeng Cui shook her head, and without looking at her son she said
''Your parents are locked in the dungeon of the palace. Everything that happened to them was my choice! If you have to kill someone, kill me, but let Yuan'er go!'' (Author's note: This is an endearing tone to call Dong Lingyuan)
Shun Long had a cold look on his face as he looked at the woman in the yellow dress who didn't seem to have any special facial features, aside from her spirited eyes.
Shaking his head, he then released his grip from Wei Tai and allowed him to slump on the floor gasping for breath violently, before he grabbed Zeng Cui's neck.
Shun Long wasn't surprised that Zeng Cui was the first one to come out and 'reveal' what had happened to his parents. After all, he was certain, that either Dong Weifeng or someone else would eventually reveal the truth once their life was threatened.
Instead, he was relieved inwardly when he heard that his parents were held in the dungeon.
This meant that Shun Fang and Shun An should most likely still be alive.
Judging from the solemn expression of everyone inside the palace hall however, things didn't seem to be that simple.
Looking at the woman in front of him, Shun Long shook his head before he spoke in a voice that seemed to have come from the deepest depths of hell
''You are not in a position to negotiate with me. Lead the way or die!''
Zeng Cui felt as if she had suddenly led herself into a trap.
Originally, she wanted to blackmail Shun Long, by revealing his parents' location in exchange for her son's safety, but it was only now that she seemed to have realized, that the young man in front of her seemed to be a cold-hearted devil.
She clearly felt that if she didn't lead the way, it was very likely that Shun Long would kill her before he forced Dong Lingyuan to personally lead him in the dungeon instead.
Once Shun Long saw his parents then... wouldn't her son die?
Nodding her head, Zeng Cui threw a meaningful glance at Dong Lingyuan, before she looked at Shun Long and said
''Then let's go to the dungeon together! Unless you want to wait for me to bring your parents here, hehe...''
Zeng Cui had already prepared herself to die, but when she saw the cold look in Shun Long's eyes, she felt her soul freezing in fear.
Holding the yellow-dressed woman from her neck, Shun Long first looked at Liu Mei and said seriously
''Mei'er, don't let any one of them escape. If anyone tries to leave, kill them without mercy!''
As soon as she heard Shun Long's words, Liu Mei nodded her head, before a black ball appeared between her hands before it fell on the ground. More than a dozen jade-white skeletons with green flames glowing in their eyes appeared in the palace hall, under Zeng Cui's and everyone else's terrified eyes.
Skeletons! Moving skeletons!
This was the first thought that flashed through everyone's mind, as they stared at the gorgeous young woman in white robes who stood at the entrance of the main hall.
Without paying any attention to anyone's reaction, Shun Long looked at Zeng Cui before he said in a commanding tone
''Lead the way!''
Zeng Cui's eyes were filled with fear, but remembering the strength of Wei T Zhu Zan and Zhu Heng, she was confident that they would be able to escape as long as the devil-like young man was drawn away from the palace hall.
Without any more hesitation, the woman in the yellow dress led the way, as she and Shun Long headed towards the palace dungeons.
At the same time, inside the 'Stone of Time', Little Black's eyes constricted as he once again spread out his soul sense and covered the entire palace.
Before they had arrived at the imperial city, Little Black had already told Shun Long that there were only 3 Heaven grade cultivators inside the palace.
And all 3 of them seemed to have been gathered in the palace hall.
The look in Little Black's bright blue eyes turned cold as he stared at the woman in front of Shun Long who slowly led the way.
After walking through a few complicated corridors, Shun Long arrived in front of 2 guards who were stunned when they saw the king's second concubine being held hostage.
Before they could move, Shun Long immobilized them with the 'Monarch's Domain', before he finally entered the palace dungeons.