118: Fourth Generation: Overlord (14)

At the hour of the Dragon, the morning sun rose, yet it failed to dispel the haze and grim atmosphere over Jiulong City.

The Wang family coalition stretched for hundreds of miles, their armor cold and gleaming, their spiritual light piercing the sky. Like a prehistoric Vicious Beast poised to strike, they had completely surrounded this millennium-old royal capital.

The enormous purple royal flag in the central army fluttered without wind, snapping loudly. The character "Wang" on the flag seemed to come alive, stirring the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and the surging, unseen National Fortune of the Dynasty, pressing down upon Jiulong City.

Above the city walls, nine phantom flood dragons condensed from massive Spiritual Qi swam and circled, emitting low, resonant dragon roars. The light barrier of the "Nine Flood Dragon Sea-Covering Formation" they formed was as thick as reality, exuding a suffocating pressure.

However, within the light barrier, every defending Cultivator wore a look of panic, their morale at an all-time low.

The news of King Xia being severely injured and tyrannical, and of him extracting the Origin of royal descendants to heal himself, had long since spread. Coupled with the Wang family's public opinion offensive of "clearing the ruler's side," many began to waver regarding the purpose of defending this city.

Wang Qingshan and Xu Yuan stood side by side on the central army's observation tower, gazing at the majestic city.

"The Nine Flood Dragon Sea-Covering Formation, relying on the royal capital's core Spiritual Vein and the remnants of the Xia family's National Fortune, is indeed sturdy." Wang Qingshan's gaze was sharp as a blade. "A direct assault would incur too many losses. It is time to let the 'nails' inside the city make their move."

Before his voice had even faded, streams of secret spiritual messages were transmitted into the city through special channels.

Almost at the same time, inside Jiulong City, the deputy commander responsible for maintaining the Formation node in the western region—a seemingly honest and loyal middle-aged general—felt a flash of determination in his eyes. He quietly crushed a Wang family-made "Formation-Breaking Bolt" hidden in his sleeve.

A subtle fluctuation spread out, and the Formation light barrier in the western region instantly rippled abnormally; the circulating spiritual energy stalled for a split second!

"Now!" Wang Qingshan seized this fleeting opportunity. His voice, like thunder, resounded throughout the coalition: "Attack the city! The first to ascend will be rewarded with ten thousand Spirit Stones and one Foundation Establishment Pill!"

Under the promise of heavy rewards, the coalition Cultivators were like men possessed. Countless brilliant lights of Spells and torrents of Magical Artifacts smashed into the fluctuating light barrier in the west like a violent storm!

"Boom! Boom! Boom—!"

The deafening explosions were continuous; spiritual light shattered, and the earth shook.

The nine flood dragon phantoms let out angry roars, frantically converging toward the west in an attempt to patch the breach.

However, the sabotage from the inside was far from limited to just one location.

Almost at the same time the problem occurred in the west, a collateral royal Elder guarding the inner treasury's Spiritual Vein hub suddenly turned traitor, brutally attacking his colleagues in an attempt to forcibly cut off the energy supply of some Spiritual Veins to the city-protecting Formation!

Chaos erupted instantly within the city!

Shouts, explosions, and alarms rang out into the heavens.

"Rebellious subjects! How dare you do this!!"

A roar filled with violence and rage sounded from the depths of the royal palace, like that of an injured Vicious Beast.

Immediately following, a powerful yet clearly blood-tainted aura of Foundation Establishment Perfection soared into the sky, stirring the wind and clouds!

King Xia, Xia Hong, had come out of seclusion!

He had actually barely forced his way to Foundation Establishment Perfection!

His figure appeared above the royal palace. His dragon robes were tattered, his hair disheveled, and his eyes were blood-red. Although his aura was strong, it was like a volcano about to erupt, full of instability and destructiveness.

The backlash of his Dao Foundation and the erosion of his Heart Demon had long since stripped him of his former majesty, leaving behind only the madness of a dead end.

Although extracting the Origin of royal descendants to heal had forcibly restored his injuries in the short term, it had also exacerbated his Heart Demon!

"Wang Qingshan! You traitor! I will have you die!"

Xia Hong's gaze instantly locked onto Wang Qingshan on the central army's observation tower; hatred drowned out his reason.

He disregarded the city-protecting Formation, turning directly into a blood-colored streak of light. Carrying rage that could burn mountains and boil seas, he lunged straight at Wang Qingshan!

Where he passed, the space slightly twisted, demonstrating the terrifying power of a full-force, enraged strike from a Foundation Establishment Perfection Cultivator!

"Well come!" Wang Qingshan's eyes flashed with brilliant light, showing no fear. "Let me see how much strength you still have left!"

He took a step forward, his figure already in mid-air. His thick, Foundation Establishment Perfection spiritual power erupted without reservation. Cyan spiritual light illuminated half the sky, colliding violently with Xia Hong's violent blood-colored spiritual light!

"Boom—!!!"

The collision between the two Foundation Establishment Perfection true Cultivators was like two meteors crashing into each other, erupting in an unimaginable energy storm!

The shockwave swept in all directions, and some low-level Cultivators nearby were even blown away directly!

Wang Qingshan was as steady as a mountain. His Cyan Wood Spiritual Qi was endless, transforming into countless giant wooden vines that entangled and wore down Xia Hong's attacks.

Xia Hong acted like a madman. Although his attacks were fierce and unparalleled, his tactics were becoming chaotic, relying more on his Realm to brute-force his way. With every collision, his face grew a shade paler, and blood even trickled from the corners of his mouth.

"Xia Hong, your Luck has run out. Why persist in this futile resistance!"

Wang Qingshan's voice was steady, prioritizing a psychological attack.

"Shut up! I am King Xia! I hold the Mandate of Heaven! You are all rebels!"

Xia Hong roared, his attacks becoming more urgent. He even began to burn his already scarce Origin Essence Blood. His aura climbed once more, actually suppressing Wang Qingshan for the moment!

Just as the two top experts were locked in fierce battle, attracting the attention of the entire field—

The Jiulong City city-protecting Formation, due to multiple internal nodes being destroyed, unstable energy supply, and the loss of precise control from its master, Xia Hong, caused the nine flood dragon phantoms to let out a mournful cry. The massive light barrier flickered violently, its radiance dimming rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye!

"The Formation is about to break!"

A heaven-shaking cheer erupted from the coalition.

Xu Yuan stood on the observation tower, his gaze calmly sweeping over the crumbling Formation and finally landing on Xia Hong, who was locked in fierce battle with his father.

He could clearly "see" that the golden Luck around Xia Hong, which originally represented royal power, was now filthy, covered in cracks, and rapidly flowing away.

And above the entire Jiulong City, the once glorious Xia family Dragon Qi was now fragmented, darting about like headless flies.

"The National Fortune has dispersed, the Dragon Qi is without a master..."

The Purple Zenith Imperial Fate Art inside Xu Yuan's body operated on its own at an unprecedented speed. His Purple Star Emperor Body sent out a strong craving, as if a hungry giant had seen endless delicacies.

He did not join the siege against Xia Hong; that was a battlefield for Foundation Establishment Perfection true Cultivators.

His mission was to accept this collapsing National Fortune of the old Dynasty!

He closed his eyes slightly, his consciousness sinking into the phantom of the "Purple Star Imperial Court" that had already begun to take shape within him.

In the center of the Imperial Court, the purple Talisman seed shone brightly, emitting an invisible suction force.

The next moment, a shocking scene occurred—

Those scattered and fleeing Xia family Dragon Qi, as if summoned by something, no longer drifted about in disorder. Instead, they transformed into streams of golden torrents invisible to the naked eye. Like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, they gathered from all directions of Jiulong City and surged madly into Xu Yuan's body!

"Hum—!"

Purple Qi flourished around Xu Yuan. At this moment, his cultivation level seemed to have boarded a Flying Sword, soaring at an unprecedented speed!

The Bottleneck of the Eighth Level of Qi Condensation was broken at a touch, and he stepped directly into the 9th Layer of Qi Refining!

This sudden turn of events instantly attracted the attention of all the experts on the battlefield!

"That is... Wang Yuan?!"

"He is devouring the Dynasty's Luck?!"

"This child... is actually this terrifying!"

"..."

Even Xia Hong, who was fighting to the death with Wang Qingshan, turned his head abruptly to look at Xu Yuan, who was wrapped in massive golden Luck. A rare moment of clarity returned to his eyes, flashing with a trace of realization.

"Purple Star Emperor..."

"So that's it. This is your Wang family's scheme?"

"Those who steal National Fortune... must be killed!!"

The next moment, Xia Hong actually abandoned Wang Qingshan and turned his direction, disregarding everything. He burned all his Essence Blood and Divine Soul, transforming into a destructive blood-colored rainbow, swearing to strangle Xu Yuan, who was in the midst of absorbing the Luck!