He glanced at the current five Fengtian Order holders and chuckled low, "Now that these five are already dead, who can stop me?"
All the guests were taken aback at once.
What did he mean by all dead?
Weren't these five Fengtian Order holders standing there just fine, still under the protection of the 'Primordial Heavenly Light Tower,' the Lifebound Treasure of the head of the Divine Pivot Institute?
But the crowd immediately noticed something was off.
—After hearing Duanmu Yan's words, the five Fengtian Order holders seemed to realize something. Their faces turned pale, and their eyes filled with unease and fear.
"Could it be... could it be true? Not a dream?"
"Head! We did indeed dream of being killed by this man, but it was clearly a dream, not real!"
"Don't think you can scare us, it's impossible!"
The five Fengtian Order holders were obviously in a state of fear, disbelief, and losing their cool.
But before they could say more, they suddenly stiffened where they stood.
One person's body erupted with numerous wounds, and as blood gushed out, he disintegrated into countless pieces of flesh and blood.
Another had a pitch-black hole appear at his brow's center, his Primordial Spirit pierced through, devoid of life.
Another's body trembled, then turned to collapsing rubble-like ash, disappearing in smoke.
And all of this happened under the protection of the tower's radiant light!!
The people present were shocked as they watched this scene, hardly believing their own eyes.
The head of the Divine Pivot Institute, he was a true powerhouse akin to a Prince, a transcendent saint!
Such a heaven-sent strong man, employing his strongest Lifebound Treasure for personal protection, and yet he couldn't stop Duanmu Yan from killing the five Fengtian Order holders?
And to kill them right in front of so many people!
The man in the black robe chuckled low, looking at the head of the Divine Pivot Institute and chuckled low, "The Second Prince really has his hands full it seems..."
The head of the Institute's face was ugly, and he said grimly, "You've killed another five Fengtian Orders, five second-rank officials, such heinous crimes, and yet there's no aura of sin entwining you despite lacking the protection of national fate?"
The Heavenly Punishment Envoy was able to see sins clearly with the Heavenly Punishment Eye.
A saint who had reached Harmonization could see sins too, just not as detailed.
Yet, he found no trace of sin entwining Duanmu Yan!
Either Duanmu Yan's merit was great enough to offset these sins, or else...
At that thought, his heart sank.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh—"
Just then, a swishing noise suddenly came from outside the hall, and strands of light intertwined with thunder kept flying into the grand hall.
It turned out to be five Chief Punishment Officers from the Heavenly Punishment Department and over a hundred Execution Masters.
Such a quick arrival clearly meant they had been lying in ambush nearby.
An avatar of thunder, exuding magnificent heavenly might, condensed out of thin air, transforming into a man wearing a high cap of the Heavenly Punishment Department and a black official robe with lightning patterns.
Everyone immediately recognized this as the avatar of Sikong Jing, the head of the Heavenly Punishment Department!
It was said that the Fourteenth Prince practiced the Divine Firmament Thunder, the ultimate goal of which was comparable to real Heavenly Punishment.
The thunder that Sikong Jing had condensed was the legendary Heavenly Punishment Thunder.
Even a saint who had proven the Perfect way, if guilty of great sins, would undoubtedly die facing this Heavenly Punishment Thunder!
Magnificent heavenly authority had already enveloped them.
In an instant, many high-ranking envoys of the Department had Duanmu Yan heavily surrounded, with the Head sitting firmly in control, leaving him no escape to heaven or earth, seemingly trapped like a turtle in a jar.
"Head, it's been a hundred years, and you're still so overbearing?" The man in the black robe remained calm, simply greeting with a chuckle.
As everyone knew, Duanmu Yan was once one of the five venerable members of the Heavenly Punishment Department, under Sikong Jing.
"You traitor dare to show your face?"
The Head Sikong looked at Duanmu Yan indifferently, "Indeed no sins, great merit? Or is it..."
"Sikong Jing," the head of the Divine Pivot Institute shook his head, "I told you it would be useless even if you came. Do you believe me now?"
"Even if there are no sins, this person is still a traitor to the Human Clan. Capture him first," said the Head Sikong calmly.
The head of the Divine Pivot Institute still shook his head, saying, "I'm afraid that's useless."
The Black Robe elder suddenly burst into laughter, "As expected of the Head of the Divine Pivot Institute, your insight is indeed stronger than Sikong Jing who self-proclaims to act on Heaven's behalf. My purpose today has been achieved, I should leave now."
Many guests couldn't help but be taken aback.
You think you can leave?
The Heavenly Punishment Department's array had already been set up, the Head of the Divine Pivot Institute was personally in charge, and the Array was also activated, but within this Heaven and Earth Net, you want to escape?
Amidst the laughter, right before everyone's eyes, the Black Robe elder's body suddenly vanished like a dreamy bubble, leaving no trace behind.
For a moment, everyone present was almost stunned.
"That's impossible... Could it be... just an Avatar?"
"Yes, the aura and state during his disappearance were clearly that of an Avatar!"
"Is this even possible? An Avatar typically has just a fraction of the original strength, yet he managed to easily defeat three grand elders of the Divine Pivot Institute?"
"Then, wouldn't his True Body be an invincible Saint-level powerhouse?"
"Moreover, just one Avatar managed to kill five Fengtian Order officials under the protection of the Head..."
"What kind of strength is this, it's horrifyingly powerful..."
"Could it possibly be that he has already perfected his Proving?"
For a moment, the grand hall erupted into chaos, as if a pot had exploded.
Lin Yue slightly furrowed his brows.
He also knew about Duanmu Yan.
A hundred years ago, when Duanmu still existed, Duanmu Yan was considered quite strong among ordinary Saint powerhouses and even held the position of Head of the Five Honored Envoys of the Heavenly Punishment Department. However, compared to truly invincible Saint powerhouses, there was a significant gap.
How could he have improved so much in just a hundred years?
Moreover, to be able to kill someone so openly in the Divine Pivot Institute, one of the three major institutions of Di Hong City?
"Indeed he is a traitor."
The Head of the Divine Pivot Institute slightly shook his head and then looked towards the Avatar of the Head of Sikong, saying, "Head of Sikong, you saw it too. This time I have exerted my full effort, but truly couldn't stop this Duanmu Yan. I am helpless now. If Duanmu Yan continues to stir up trouble in the future, your Heavenly Punishment Department can't come looking for me, since Duanmu Yan is indeed your traitor."
The Avatar of the Head of Sikong looked at him, indifferently said, "That's your real objective, isn't it? Crafty old fox…"
Then, without another word, he also vanished.
The inauguration ceremony thus ended.
The just-appointed five Fengtian Order officials, who hadn't even had time to gradually adjust and restore the climate of Great Yong, were already assassinated.
And it happened in front of the two supreme powerhouses, the Head of the Divine Pivot Institute and the Head of the Heavenly Punishment Department!
This horrifying news quickly unsettled everyone in Di Hong City.
Such a bold and defiant traitor, possessing such terrifying means, was unstoppable even by the Head of the Divine Pivot Institute. If he went on a killing spree, could they possibly request the protection of a Proving powerhouse?
Even more unsettling—
Why did the Crown Prince not take action to kill Duanmu Yan?
Back when Yun Country had a rebellion, that supreme Proving powerhouse seemed invincible, but the Crown Prince, from thousands of miles away, merely sent down a thought and infinite heavenly might descended. That supreme powerhouse of Yun Country also directly perished!
It was like a divine punishment, irresistible.
Even if Duanmu Yan had indeed become a Proving-completed supreme powerhouse, the Crown Prince should be able to kill him.
But, the Crown Prince did not take action?
Was it because the Crown Prince thought Duanmu Yan unworthy, or had he not yet touched the Crown Prince's bottom line?
Regardless, countless people in Di Hong City were somewhat panicked because of Duanmu Yan.
At the Divine Pivot Institute, in front of Tianshu Hall.
"Seventeenth Prince, would you like to come in for a chat?"
The Head of the Divine Pivot Institute stood at the entrance of Tianshu Hall and turned to Lin Yue.
"Alright," Lin Yue nodded slightly.
The two entered the spacious and bright Tianshu Hall, walking up along the hall's steps, and the Head of the Divine Pivot Institute spoke, "What do you make of today's events, Your Highness?"
Lin Yue pondered for a moment and said, "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"