Chapter 655: Annihilation of the Nine Clans? Let Him Try.

"Aaaargh..."

With another hoarse cry, an aura erupted from Sang Zhi’s body, surging toward the heavens.

CRASH!

The secret chamber was instantly blown apart. The aura scattered in all directions, immediately drawing the attention of the nearby Hidden Guards.

"Cough, cough, cough... Dammit..." the old man cursed under his breath. He dragged his body out of the ruined secret chamber. Before leaving, he glanced back at Sang Zhi, who was convulsing ceaselessly on the ground. It looked like he wouldn’t last another hour.

’What a pity...’

"Over here!"

A clamor of voices came from the distance.

The old man averted his gaze and fled the scene.

"It’s the Eighth Prince!"

"No, wait. This aura... There’s a powerful surge of Inner Strength rampaging through the Eighth Prince’s body."

"Quick, get him back to the Imperial Palace! If the Eighth Prince dies here, we’ll all pay with our lives!"

The Hidden Guards rushed in and carried him back to the Imperial Palace.

——

「Three days passed in the blink of an eye.」 The sealed gates of the Capital City were opened once more.

A search involving over a thousand people had yielded no results, and many were beginning to feel that all hope was lost.

"Sigh, they’re sealing the city every other day. How is anyone supposed to do business?"

"The last lockdown lasted over half a month and a lot of people died. This time it was only three days before they reopened the gates. You should be grateful."

"It’s been three days, and they still haven’t found the body of the General’s eldest daughter. I doubt they ever will."

"Exactly. It’s so hot these days, after three days, the body would have started to stink. Even if they found it, it’d be unrecognizable. Better not to even look... Ouch!"

The man didn’t even finish his sentence before a horsewhip cracked against him, making him clutch his back and jump in pain.

The crowd of gossips scattered in terror.

A swift horse galloped through their midst like a gust of wind.

"That... the person on the horse looks like General Xiang."

"It is him! General Xiang is back in the Capital City! From the looks of it, he’s heading straight for the Imperial Palace..."

"Whoa, looks like something big is about to happen."

The crowd watched the distant horse, clicking their tongues and murmuring. Xiang Minghou was a notorious god of slaughter who feared neither heaven nor earth. Charging straight into the Imperial Palace like this meant trouble was guaranteed.

Xiang Minghou’s face was grim, his dark eyes bloodshot. His hands, gripping the reins, were bleeding, and the leather straps had cut so deeply into the horse’s neck that it was also covered in blood.

"Giddy-up!"

The horse, in pain, whinnied and galloped even faster.

At the palace gates, the guards on duty watched as a swift horse charged toward them like a mad beast.

"Who goes there?"

"Dismount..."

"Men, someone is forcing their way into the palace... Aaargh!"

A guard’s panicked voice rose, but just as the others rushed over, a horsewhip lashed out and sent him flying.

Xiang Minghou yanked the reins, his speed not decreasing in the slightest.

"Men, stop him!"

With a kick of his foot, Xiang Minghou sent the greatsword hanging from his horse flying into the air. He raised a hand to catch it and swept it out horizontally.

The gleaming greatsword weighed over a hundred pounds. Infused with Inner Strength, it made the longswords before it seem utterly insignificant.

The guards swarmed forward, only to be cut down and killed on the spot in the blink of an eye. Those further back were sent flying by the shockwave of his Inner Strength.

"Fall back! Everyone, fall back!" Seeing they were no match for him, the men no longer dared to charge forward recklessly.

"General Xiang, do you realize that storming the palace without permission is a crime punishable by the execution of your entire clan?" the commander of the palace gate guards shouted, having recognized the intruder at a glance.

"Execution of my clan? Let him try," Xiang Minghou said coldly, one hand gripping the reins, the other holding his greatsword.

The horse let out a sharp whinny and charged through the palace gates.

The commander staggered. If he hadn’t dodged in time, the tall warhorse would have surely sent him flying.

"Quick, report to the Emperor! Xiang Minghou is storming the palace with a blade!"

The Brocade-Clad Guards, the soldiers, and the palace’s own Hidden Guards all sprang into action at that moment.

Xiang Minghou was wreathed in killing intent. A lone man, a lone horse, and a two-meter-long greatsword, leaving a trail of blood-red carnage wherever they went.