His tiger-like eyes widened, and a surge of overwhelming momentum suddenly erupted, making his towering figure appear as terrifying as if possessed by a Demon God. A yellow-brown light suddenly appeared, instantly spreading from his body, like ripples flashing over his surface, continuously transforming into a mighty and domineering yellow-brown lion!
A deep lion’s roar echoed in the Su Family’s main hall!
Everyone’s expression changed drastically in an instant!
Mu Ben stepped back a few paces, standing behind several generals clad in bronze armor, his gaze heavy, "Lord Su, do you intend to defy orders?"
"No matter what you say, today I will not allow anyone to take my Chen’Er away!"
Su Hutian’s aura surged throughout his body, leaving no room for negotiation, "It was hard-earned for me, Su Hutian, to finally have a son. No matter what he is, I will not allow any harm to come to him—not another word! To take him, you have to kill me first!"
The battle-hardened generals immediately felt as if they were facing a formidable enemy. After all, as a Beast Emperor-level master, Su Hutian’s Earth Attribute skills were extremely powerful. Once he fought with all his might, both sides would likely suffer severe harm, and innocent bystanders would also be affected.
Considering this, Mu Ben couldn’t help but waver. If it were presently in the outskirts, he wouldn’t hesitate at all. But now, in the Su Family residence, the consequences of conflict would be dire. Winning or losing, his reputation as City Lord would be in jeopardy.
However, his extensive considerations didn’t mean the few hot-blooded Iron Stone City generals thought the same way. Seeing Su Hutian so contemptuously disregard their military might, their anger had long been ignited.
"Alright, since Lord Su is so stubborn, we will have no choice but to be impolite!"
One of the strong generals with a dark complexion and shoulder-length brown hair shouted angrily, his arms shook, and a fiery red flame immediately ignited, enveloping him completely! Yet, compared to Su Hutian’s majestic and robust lion, his flame had no Spirit Beast form. This was the distinction between Beast Emperor-level and pre-Beast Emperor-level Beast Cultivators.
Before his comrades could respond, this impulsive general had already charged out; his whole body glowed red, even making the surrounding air become hot!
"Pang Tong, come back!"
Mu Ben sensed trouble and shouted loudly!
But the hall was so small, Pang Tong had already clashed with the enraged Su Hutian! With a muffled lion’s roar, Su Hutian’s fists produced a gale, suddenly manifesting two formidable lions with gaping maws. In his fury, Pang Tong punched the lions, yet the next moment he tasted the bitter outcome!
He was only a Four-star Beast Master; how could he know the might of a Beast Emperor? With a scream, he spewed blood and was blown back, crashing into his comrades!
With wide eyes filled with disbelief, Pang Tong looked at the flame-imbued Su Hutian in shock, only now realizing the vast disparity between them!
"What a formidable Earth Attribute lion skill!"
Another stern-faced general exclaimed in awe. Holding Pang Tong, he naturally saw the extremely hard layer of yellow earth covering him, rendering even the strong Pang Tong immobile, indicating its great power.
"Su Hutian, you are opposing Iron Stone City, opposing the Empire, you must consider the consequences clearly!"
In a fit of rage, Mu Ben could no longer suppress his inner anger and coldly rebuked!
Su Hutian proudly smiled, his black hair fluttering relentlessly with the yellow-brown lion’s aura, "Lord Mu Ben, I, Su Hutian, have always treated others with hospitality and loyalty, and have cared for the cityfolk as brothers and sisters. For decades, I’ve done everything in my power for them. But today, you disregard past kindness and bring people to my residence intending to take away my hard-earned Chen’Er. Should I, Su Hutian, just sit idly by and let you take my son, caring not for his life or death? Impossible! I’d rather die than let anyone separate us father and son!"
Saying this with emotion, his eyes began to redden, and his coarse voice trembled slightly, "The Empire has given the Su Family much glory, for which I am endlessly grateful. Everyone in the Su Family will always be deeply indebted, willing to serve wholeheartedly. But to ask me to abandon my son, I cannot do it. Forgive Hu Tian for this offense. Today, if I don’t die, I will not allow anyone to take my Chen’Er away!"
His voice was deafening, bolstered by the powerful lion’s aura, reverberating in everyone’s ears. Even Su Anyun, the three elders, and several Su Family kin looked at Su Hutian’s proud and unyielding figure in disbelief, stunned.
Mu Ben finally became infuriated, having never been so defied, he could no longer care about the consequences, "Seize him for me and take him to the Cyan Dragon Judgment Institute!"
The three standing generals responded in unison, their flames surging. Instantly, the Su Family’s main hall was filled with three types of elemental flames—green, white, and blue—forcing Su Anyun and the others to stand up, deep worry on their faces.
"Lord Mu Ben, please don’t be angry, Hu Tian is just concerned for his son, I hope you can understand!"
Su Anyun pleaded anxiously from the side.
"No need to say more, he injured my trusted subordinate, intending to defy the Empire’s laws. I absolutely cannot turn a blind eye!"
Mu Ben roared with anger, "Attack!"
Three figures shot forward simultaneously. Su Hutian, fearless, raised his arms high, and a massive wave of force swept out from both sides, accompanied by a terrifying roar towards the three generals!
The hall was instantly engulfed in a yellow-brown world, dust filling the air.
A vast yellow earth aura gradually dissipated, finally revealing the original scene. To everyone’s shock, the three generals were unscathed, yet in the center of the hall appeared a strange, black-robed figure!
Su Hutian’s tiger-like eyes widened, unable to believe as he looked at the black-robed man who effortlessly blocked his furious strike, exclaiming, "Who are you?"
He remembered this man, the unfamiliar guest at the banquet who had predicted danger but failed to prevent it. When the banquet was abruptly halted, the man had left hurriedly, leaving few with a deep impression of him.
"It’s fortunate that Lord Su remembers me..."
The black-robed man laughed, his expression completely unfazed.
To withstand his strongest "Wild Lion Blaze" unscathed, this man, had he already surpassed the Beast Emperor level? Su Hutian didn’t dare to think further, quickly bowing respectfully, "Sir, forgive Hu Tian’s previous rudeness."
The man laughed heartily, shaking his head, "Lord Su, there’s no need for this. Previously, I drank your fine wine all night, and I feel indebted. Seeing you happily gain a son, yet face this calamity, I also find it unfair by heaven. Today, I’m here to repay your hospitality."
Speaking, he took out a red pill the size of a dragon eye from his robe and flicked it toward Su Hutian, "This is a ’Cold-Pressing Pill’ crafted from the heart of a Level-9 Saint Toad Ice Toad from the Spirit Beast Mountain Range. Just one pill can help a weak Beast Cultivator resist the backlash and side effects of Spirit Beast bloodline. Give it to your child to temporarily suppress that strange power."