At the moment Zhou Yuan appeared.
Everyone thought that Jiang Shanhe's life was surely saved.
Even Jiang Shanhe himself thought so.
Zhou Yuan had already stepped into the Tao Tribulation Realm, a far more terrifying existence than the previous Golden Elixir Realm Peak.
If the earlier Zhou Yuan still needed to give face to the King of Tianqing Kingdom, now, even if he killed the King, he could easily leave the Tianqing Kingdom. Even the legendary ancestor backing Tianqing Kingdom certainly wouldn't offend a Tao Tribulation Realm powerhouse over a dead King.
But what was the result?
Xiao Yi didn't give Zhou Yuan any face at all.
He beheaded Jiang Shanhe!
"Xiao! Yi! I told you to stop, didn't you hear me?"
Zhou Yuan stood suspended in the air, his face's proud smile shattered, replaced by shock and disbelief.
Xiao Yi had killed Jiang Shanhe right in front of him after he had spoken out to stop him.
This was a slap to his face in public!
At that moment, Zhou Yuan felt a burning pain on his face.
Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, looking up at Zhou Yuan with defiance. Indeed, the aura of a Tao Tribulation Realm powerhouse was robust, and even though he had broken through to the Tenth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm, he still felt a bit of pressure.
Facing Zhou Yuan's questioning.
Xiao Yi shrugged, "Sorry, I don't understand the barking of a dog!"
A series of gasps rose and fell in succession!
Everyone's gaze towards Xiao Yi was as if they were looking at a madman: "How dare he speak to Zhou ? That's a Tao Tribulation Realm powerhouse..."
"With his talent, if he had kept a low profile for a few decades, he might also have had the chance to step into the Tao Tribulation Realm, becoming a dominant overlord. It's a pity that this man doesn't know how to judge the situation, always being so stubborn and reckless; this will only lead to the senseless waste of his life..."
Even Gu Junhe couldn't help but shake his head, whispering to Jiang Tai beside him: "Xiao Yi is no match for Zhou Yuan no matter how strong he is. Once Xiao Yi is in danger, I will intercept Zhou Yuan at the first instant. Then you take the opportunity to take Xiao Yi and escape to the palace and ask for the King's protection…"
"But… Xiao Yi just killed my brother, I'm afraid Father…" Jiang Tai hesitated.
Gu Junhe shook his head, "Now that Jiang Shanhe is dead, you are the most likely successor to the throne. Even if your father is furious, he will still think about building a foundation for you. He wouldn't let go of a talent like Xiao Yi."
"We have no other choice..."
Jiang Tai nodded heavily.
Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes, looking at the bodies scattered across the Heavenly Ladder.
The Stele standing at the end of the Heavenly Ladder.
And the corpses of Jiang Shanhe and the others...
Zhou Yuan took a deep breath and then forcefully exhaled, stirring up a gust of wind with his breath, which actually formed a gale amidst heaven and earth.
The wind howled loudly.
Under the raging wind.
Sand flew and rocks were swept away.
A scene of desolation and silence.
Zhou Yuan stared at Xiao Yi: "I didn't expect that the five-hundred-year prosperity of the Royal Martial Arts Academy would be ruined by your hands. I have to admit, allowing Zhou Xin to chase you away was the most foolish decision I've made since taking charge of the Royal Martial Arts Academy!"
In just one year, from the Physical Body Realm to the Tenth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm!
If such a genius were to be included in the Royal Martial Arts Institute, it would certainly make it even more splendid.
He might even have a chance to leave Tianqing Kingdom and enter the Great Qian Dynasty.
But due to his erroneous decision, he had forced Xiao Yi to the opposing side of the Royal Martial Arts Academy.
Only Zhou Yuan understood the regret in his heart.
Unfortunately, there is no medicine for regret in this world.
The slight remorse on Zhou Yuan's face dissipated like smoke, replaced by a bone-chilling coldness: "Since it is my mistake, I must resolve it with my own hands. After I kill you, the Royal Martial Arts Academy will still be the sacred martial place of Tianqing Kingdom, unshakable by anyone!"
What does it matter if many disciples have died or are injured?
As long as Zhou Yuan is still here, the Royal Martial Arts Academy won't possibly fall.
He had already ascended to the Tao Tribulation Realm, and under his leadership, the Royal Martial Arts Academy would only grow stronger.
"Kill me? With your strength from the first layer of the Tao Tribulation Realm, which you broke through using the Martial Dao Divine Fruit, I'm afraid it's not enough!" Xiao Yi said with a playful laugh.
So what if it's the Tao Tribulation Realm?
With his current strength, he could even fight against the Tao Tribulation!
Yue Cang shook his head and said, "It seems that the previous victory has gone to Xiao Yi's head... This is a warrior of the Tao Tribulation Realm we're talking about, among the young generation in the ten countries of Nanhuang, I'm afraid only that one person could compete with a Tao Tribulation Realm warrior. But even he could only remain undefeated in the face of the Tao Tribulation, as for defeating a Tao Tribulation Realm warrior, it's absolutely impossible!"
There are over a hundred subordinate countries under the Great Qian Dynasty.
Among them, there are ten major kingdoms surrounding Nanhuang, but throughout their history, there has never been one who could defeat a Tao Tribulation Realm existence with only the power of the Golden Core Realm.
Gu Junhe also shook his head and sighed, "After all, he is still too young, but it's good for him to suffer a little setback! Only by witnessing the strength of a Tao Tribulation Realm warrior firsthand will he understand that there are always greater powers out there..."
Jiang Tai also nodded in agreement with his view, "However, speaking of which... If it were me, I'm afraid I wouldn't even have the courage to face a Tao Tribulation Realm warrior!"
After returning from the secret realm.
With the treasures he obtained, Jiang Tai had stepped into the Eighth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm, with his talent and martial skills, he could fight even against someone at the Tenth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm.
But the Tao Tribulation Realm?
Even if one day he reached the peak of the Golden Elixir Realm, he wouldn't have the courage to challenge it.
A Tao Tribulation Realm warrior is a legendary existence in the ten countries of Nanhuang.
The position of the king could be challenged, but the might of the Tao Tribulation should not be disrespected!
"Hahaha, this is the first time I've heard of a little Golden Core Realm daring to challenge the existence of the Tao Tribulation..."
Zhou Yuan sneered and shook his head, looking at Xiao Yi as if he were looking at a cold corpse, and drew a circle beneath his feet with the tip of his foot, "In light of your commendable courage, I will let you make three moves. Within these three moves, I will only defend and not attack. If you can force me out of this circle, I will acknowledge that you have the power to match the Tao Tribulation!"
Xiao Yi gently shook his head.
Zhou Yuan was stunned and mocked, "What? Are three moves not enough? How about I let you make ten moves instead?"
Xiao Yi waved his hand and said, "No no no, what I mean is three moves are too many. If you're still within the circle after one move, I will surrender myself!"
Zhou Yuan's pupils suddenly constricted, feeling an unprecedented insult, and he scoffed repeatedly, "Very well, very well, a single move it is... If you can really force me out of this circle within one move, I will kneel before you, and all grievances between you and the Royal Martial Arts Academy will be wiped clean! But if you fail, before I kill you, I will execute your wife and friends right before your eyes!"
Xiao Yi grasped his sword hilt with both hands.
The sword edge trembled, emitting a whooshing sound.
"Nine Swords as One!"
Xiao Yi leaped into the air, his figure suddenly turned into nine shadows, stacking and merging into each other.
When he arrived in front of Zhou Yuan, the nine shadows merged into one.
The cold light cleaved through the air, a dazzling cold star.
A ten-foot-long Sword Qi surged violently, tearing up the ground wherever it passed, creating a fierce gale.
This one sword made Zhou Yuan's composed and smug face dissipate into nothingness in an instant, and shock flashed across his pupils, "This sword..."
From that Sword Qi, he felt the threat of death.
Even if he didn't want to admit it.
Zhou Yuan did not dare to be careless, crossing his hands in front of him, conjuring a series of elemental shields.
The shields blocked before him, but the nine layers of elemental shields were continuously shattered by the Sword Qi, the invisible sword light nearly reaching his body.
In a critical moment.
Zhou Yuan had to leap back.
Just as he leaped away...
The Sword Qi furiously descended.
The entire Royal Martial Arts Academy trembled violently, cracks spread out in all directions on the ground, and a ten-foot-long fearsome sword mark almost tore the earth apart.
Xiao Yi stood with his sword, mocking expression on his face, looking at Zhou Yuan whose complexion alternated between green and white, "You lost!"