175: Fourth Generation: Overlord (Seventy-one)

"What is it?"

Xu Yuan's voice came out calmly; it was not loud, yet it clearly overpowered the other party's thundering sound, carrying a majesty that brooked no violation.

Seeing that Xu Yuan did not come out to greet him according to etiquette, but instead stood calmly in the palace with a flat tone, the messenger from the Lihuo Imperial Dynasty felt a flash of displeasure in his eyes. However, when his gaze fell upon Xu Yuan, his arrogance was instantly replaced by an unhideable look of shock and suspicion!

With his discernment, he could naturally tell that the young Shang King below had not only attained Foundation Establishment Perfection in his cultivation, but the Aura around him was flawless and harmonious, faintly resonating with the entire royal capital and even this world itself. The perfection of his Dao Foundation and the depth of his Foundation were simply shocking!

"Purple Qi faintly emerging, blending with the National Fortune... Could this, could this be a 'Perfect Dao Foundation'?!"

A storm raged in the messenger's heart.

A Dao Foundation of this level was something rarely seen in a hundred years, even within Golden Core powers like the Lihuo Imperial Dynasty!

How could it appear on the ruler of a small Dynasty now?

How could the monarch of a tiny Dynasty possess such a Heaven-Defying Dao Foundation?!

In an instant, the messenger's initial contempt and arrogance subsided by more than half. Although his tone still carried the scrutiny of a superior, it had gained a touch of gravity and inquiry: "Your Majesty Wang Yuan, you are truly extraordinary. To have forged such a Perfect Dao Foundation, it is no wonder you could sweep across the various nations and rise in the Eastern Region."

He changed the subject and stated his purpose directly: "I have come under the orders of the Flame Dragon True Person. The Immortal Master is very interested in you. He has specifically ordered you to accompany me to the Lihuo Imperial Capital to have an audience with the Immortal Master, to explain the reasons for your rise, and... the origin of this cultivation of yours."

His gaze was sharp as a knife, as if he wanted to see through Xu Yuan: "The Immortal Master wants to know if you obtained the Legacy of some ancient mighty figure, or... if there is some expert guiding you from behind the scenes?"

Xu Yuan sneered inwardly. Just as expected!

The Lihuo Imperial Dynasty had been hiding behind the scenes all along, only sending vassals to test him. It wasn't because they were afraid of him, but because they were probing his background!

A Dynasty monarch who had suddenly risen and condensed a Perfect Dao Foundation was too abnormal.

What they feared was not Great Shang itself, but the even more terrifying power that might be hidden behind Xu Yuan!

Now that they had likely determined that Xu Yuan had no powerful backing, they had officially appeared, using the name of an "audience" to conduct an investigation, and perhaps even wanting to seize his Cultivation Technique and Legacy!

"I am obliged to the Flame Dragon True Person for his concern." Xu Yuan's tone remained flat, revealing no joy or anger. "However, I am the ruler of a nation, and with government affairs being busy, it is not easy for me to leave. Furthermore, Great Shang and the Lihuo Imperial Dynasty have never had any dealings; let us discuss the matter of an audience later."

A direct refusal!

The messenger's Face sank. He had not expected Xu Yuan to show so little Face. His voice immediately turned cold: "Wang Yuan! Do not lead yourself astray!"

"How can you refuse the Immortal Master's decree? This is a tremendous Opportunity; do not ruin your future, or even... this vast Foundation of yours, due to a moment of confusion!"

Before he had finished speaking, a surge of Spiritual Pressure, far more terrifying and condensed than that of the likes of Boljin, erupted like a dormant volcano and soared into the sky from the messenger's body!

Boom—!

The sky seemed to dim suddenly, and the invisible pressure, like a tangible tsunami, pressed down upon the entire royal capital!

The royal capital's defensive light barrier fluctuated violently, emitting a groan of being overwhelmed. The Cultivators and commoners in the city felt their breathing stop, their Divine Souls trembling, and those with weaker cultivation even collapsed directly to the ground!

Foundation Establishment Perfection!

And it was a Foundation Establishment Perfection with an incredibly solid Foundation, pure spiritual power, far surpassing ordinary peers!

This was the strength of an Imperial Dynasty messenger!

The Cultivation Technique he practiced, the Magic Treasure he used, and the tempering he had experienced were far beyond what the rulers of those small Dynasties could compare to!

The depth of the Imperial Dynasty was revealed without doubt!

If it were the Xu Yuan of before, he might have needed to treat such might with seriousness.

But now...

Xu Yuan's eyes remained calm, even carrying a trace of faint coldness.

Facing the terrifying Spiritual Pressure that was crushing down and covering the sky, he only gave a soft hum.

"Hmph."

A soft hum, yet it seemed to contain a supreme decree!

Hum—!

The pale gold canopy of National Fortune shrouding the royal capital suddenly lit up. The vast and boundless power of imperial luck, as if summoned by its monarch, instantly gathered around Xu Yuan's body, resonating with the flawless Purple Extremity Vast Heaven Foundation within him!

A more magnificent, heavier imperial Aura, carrying the implication of ruling the mountains and rivers and being immune to all laws, erupted from within Xu Yuan. It was not deliberately released, but like a needle pinning the sea, it steadily anchored the surging and crushing tide of Spiritual Pressure!

Two invisible Auras collided violently in the air!

There was no earth-shattering roar, only a suffocating sense of dullness. Space slightly twisted, and even light seemed to be swallowed.

The messenger's Spiritual Pressure was wild and domineering, like raging waves.

Xu Yuan's imperial Aura was heavy and dense, like an eternal sacred mountain.

The waves crashed against the sacred mountain; though the momentum was terrifying, it could not shake it in the slightest, and instead, the waves themselves were shattered!

The messenger's Face changed slightly, and a trace of unbelievable shock flashed in his eyes!

He felt that his own invincible Spiritual Pressure appeared so... pale and powerless before the opponent's magnificent imperial Aura, which was connected to the entire world and the beliefs of hundreds of millions of living beings!

It was as if an ant were attempting to shake a giant tree!

He could even clearly feel that every inch of land, every Formation, and even the breath of every subject in this royal capital beneath his feet were closely connected to the young monarch before him, continuously providing him with power!

Fighting the opponent here, he had no chance of winning!

"You..."

"What a Perfect Dao Foundation, what a monarch of Great Shang!"

The messenger stared fixedly at Xu Yuan, his eyes shifting uncertainly, filled with shock and anger, yet in the end, he dared not truly make a move.

He did not doubt for a moment that if he dared to make the first move, this seemingly calm royal capital would instantly erupt with terrifying power sufficient to grind him into powder!

Xu Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, his sleeves fluttering slightly in the invisible clash of Auras, looking at him with an indifferent gaze.

"Messenger," Xu Yuan spoke slowly, breaking the silence. His voice remained calm but carried an unquestionable decisiveness. "I do not say my words a second time."

"Please return."

The messenger's Face turned from blue to white, his chest heaving violently; he was clearly angered to the extreme, but in the end, he forcibly suppressed the urge to attack and the desire to hurl insults.

He knew that staying any longer would only be inviting humiliation.

"Good! What a Shang King Wang Yuan!" The messenger squeezed these words out through his teeth, his voice ice-cold and bone-chilling, filled with resentment. "I will remember today's humiliation! You... take care of yourself!"

"One day when the Immortal Master arrives in person, I hope you... can still be this tough!"

After dropping this pale yet threatening harsh remark, the messenger no longer had the Face to stay. With a fierce flick of his sleeves, he turned into a blinding red stream of light, vanishing into the horizon in the blink of an eye, moving even faster than when he had arrived.

The suffocating Spiritual Pressure also dissipated, and the sky above the royal capital returned to peace, as if nothing had ever happened.

But everyone within the royal capital let out a long sigh of relief, their backs soaked with cold sweat.

The brief clash of Auras just now, though invisible, was more heart-stopping than the slaughter of a thousand armies.

At the same time, an indescribable sense of excitement and pride rose in everyone's hearts.

His Majesty... was actually this powerful!

Even an Imperial Dynasty messenger, a powerhouse at Foundation Establishment Perfection, was forced to the point of not daring to make a move and fleeing in a sorry state!