"Sky Opening."
The reflection of an expanding arc of sword qi appeared simultaneously in the monk's three eyes, while behind him, the "Unmovable Ming King" was being shredded into pieces by red threads, collapsing and vanishing.
"No—"
The dark cyan hue on his skin faded quickly, reverting to its original color.
As the sword qi swept through, blood seeped from his pores, turning him into a bloody figure in the blink of an eye, flying out like a cannonball, crashing through the barrier, and falling hard onto the ground.
As the sword light vanished and the red threads disappeared, only scorched marks remained on the ground, along with Zhao Douan standing at the entrance of the courtyard, holding the sword.
His clothes returned to their blue color, his silver pupils reverted to normal, yet his black hair remained disheveled and scattered.
Silence.
An eerie silence.
Heavily wounded, Tianhai lay staring blankly, three eyes devoid of spirit, as if his spirit and faith were crushed.
"Did you really think I needed a Divine Weapon to beat you? Even without the Taia Sword, you're still a mutt." Zhao Douan spoke lightly.
The head of the Precepts Hall, magicians from the Magic God Sect, and guards from Mu Prince Manor fell silent, hearts tumultuous.
At this moment, the suspended Purple Gold Bowl could no longer withstand the repeated assaults, with a 'crack,' fissures spread, and it fell from the sky.
The barrier enveloping the entire manor dissipated without a trace.
"Everyone, move!"
The guards of Mu Prince Manor's eyes lit up, shouting loudly.
In numbers, Zhao Douan was likely not a match.
However, monks from Divine Dragon Temple and magicians from the Magic God Sect didn't move, only stared blankly upwards, witnessing pure energy shooting up into the sky.
Simultaneously, all living beings within dozens of miles, regardless of status, raised their heads in shock.
High above, clouds gathered into a vortex of black and white energies, a massive pillar of energy connecting heaven and earth.
...
Yu Xiu and magicians from White Clothes Sect simultaneously stepped back, turning to look towards Baihua Village.
The Second Senior Sister, surrounded by green jade flying swords, appeared dazed, her eyes peculiar.
...
"Clang—"
As the Crimson Tide Giant Sword and the iron Zen Stick clashed, separating, Zhong Pan and Long Shu Bodhisattva distanced themselves, turning towards Baihua Village, one surprised, the other fearful.
...
"What is that!?"
Gongshu Tianyuan, fully armed, hid within a human-shaped puppet covered with talisman paper, playing the role of a mechanized mage, momentarily retracting the "cannon mouth" from his chest, his chubby face full of astonishment.
In mid-air, with dark circles under his eyes, clutching a magic wand, Jin Jian hanging behind him hesitated, instinctively adjusting his glasses.
Opposite, leading the Magic God Sect to hold them off, the unkempt Taoist trembled, with nearly depleted talisman papers in his robe, looked towards Baihua Village, face shrouded in desolation:
"It's over."
...
The massive pillar connecting heaven and earth lasted only a few breaths before vanishing, as if it never existed.
"Go!"
The head of Precepts Hall reacted quickest, shouting as he turned to flee.
Body refining mage Xiong Ba and Little Fatty carrying the Ghost Banner followed closely.
As magicians, they were more attuned to sensing danger.
"Did I permit you to leave?"
Suddenly, a calm female voice echoed in everyone's ears.
Several magicians fleeing almost simultaneously fell to their knees, eyes filled with terror!
Not due to their will, but the voice seemed infused with the power of a "Decree."
As if when a King's word is spoken, none in the world dare defy!
This was a capability the Empress had never possessed before.
Not only them, but others who had not yet escaped, all knelt, suppressed by the mysterious power.
Only Zhao Douan remained unaffected, but the Taia Sword in his hand detached by itself, flying towards the tightly shut courtyard gate.
"Creak."
In the silence, the gate opened from the inside, and dressed all in white, with cascading black hair, the Empress calmly walked out.
No grand illusions, quiet and mundane, as if she were an ordinary mortal.
Back to basics!
Zhao Douan suddenly thought of this term, thinking that the Heavenly Human Realm must be about imprisoning all powers within the body, not wasting a speck.
Xu Zhenguan's face was frosty, phoenix eyes severe and indifferent, though her feet touched the mortal dust, it seemed the next breath would reach the heavens above.
As if a mere sentence was the will of the entire world.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty, for turning ill luck into good fortune, advancing to the Heavenly Human Realm." Zhao Douan congratulated with a salute.
Heavenly Human!
The gathered assassins felt their hearts tremble violently, unwilling to believe, but the effortless, invisible power suppressing them seemed to affirm this truth.
"Your... Majesty... this humble monk..." the head of Precepts Hall twisted his head with all his might, attempting to plead.
Xu Zhenguan's eyes flashed with a thin ray of sword light.
The world was bright.
In an instant, the hundred assassins belonging to various forces kneeling outside had their heads sliced cleanly, like harvesting wheat in autumn with a sickle, simple and easy.
A ground filled with corpses, this was the might of a Heavenly Martial God.
Gasp... Zhao Douan gently took a breath: "Your Majesty, you..."
Xu Zhenguan turned her head back, looking at him, and in that moment, the icy frost on her face melted, the Empress's brows held affection, smiling like the spring breeze:
"They dared to harm you, so they deserve to die."
Gasp... What's with this overbearing empress taking care of her little husband sort of tone... The ascension is different, the dignified and noble demeanor earlier seemed like it wasn't her stopping every moment these past few days, as if she wasn't the one crying for a break...
Zhao Douan exhaled quietly, raising his brows: "Then next..."
Xu Zhenguan gathered her smile, gazing beyond the sea of flowers, her vast divine sense sweeping the area:
"I'm going to kill some people; stand right here, don't move."