Chapter 500: Imperial Weapon

"How can he be this strong...?" Lu Jun’s face was etched with horror.

"Lu Jun, I’ll help you."

Elder Dong, anxious at the side, let out an angry shout and raised his hand.

WHOOSH!

A ring-shaped Profound Treasure suddenly appeared before him.

CLANG CLANG CLANG.

The Profound Treasure was a Vajra Ring about half a meter in diameter. With a series of clear chimes, the ring split into two, two into four, and four into eight. Finally, the eight rings formed a vajra canopy that descended upon Duan Tianlang.

"Elder Dong, be careful! He’s a Tier Seven Third Layer Martial King."

Lu Jun endured the pain racking his body and yelled anxiously.

"’A Tier Seven Third Layer Martial King, you say?’"

Elder Dong’s expression turned grim. His Peak of Sixth Grade Soul Sense spread out like a dense net, blanketing the vajra Profound Treasure. The Profound Treasure suddenly emitted an even more intense light, so brilliant it seemed to transform the world into a golden ocean.

’Hmm? What kind of Profound Treasure is this?’

When Duan Tianlang saw the vajra Profound Treasure Elder Dong had deployed, a hint of surprise showed on his face. He thrust his sword at one of the Vajra Rings. With a CLANG, the ring was knocked backward, but the other rings around it carried it along, forming a sort of pouch as they enveloped him from above.

’A little interesting.’

Duan Tianlang was slightly astonished. ’Now watch this.’

His gaze sharpened, and the Profound Power in his body erupted. In a flash, he stabbed out eight times. Amidst a series of crisp blasts, each of his strikes accurately hit the edge of one of the eight golden rings, sending them flying.

But they had barely been knocked away when the eight rings began to BUZZ and vibrate. They linked up one after another, forming a long chain that came enveloping Duan Tianlang again from a bizarre angle.

"Eh?"

From a distance, Ye Xuan let out a sound of surprise. He could see that the rings Elder Dong had released were no ordinary items. The eight Vajra Rings seemed separate but were in fact one, connected by a unique method that allowed them to extend, retract, stretch, and spread.

Most importantly, the positions of the eight rings were interconnected, seemingly forming an Array that unleashed an even greater power.

As expected, Duan Tianlang immediately seemed to be outmatched by Elder Dong’s assault.

Although Elder Dong was only a Tier Seven Second Layer Martial King, his status as a Soul Refiner was enough to ensure he didn’t fall behind in the slightest, even when facing a Tier Seven Third Layer Martial King like Duan Tianlang.

’You think you’re the only one with a treasure?’

Retreating rapidly, Duan Tianlang’s face was grim. He gave a cold smile and suddenly produced a large, earth-yellow seal from his person. The seal was engraved with a soaring True Dragon, radiating a vast imperial aura.

"Go!"

Duan Tianlang threw the seal, and with a flick of his hand, the earth-yellow seal grew with the wind, instantly swelling to tens of meters high. A chaotic, earthy-yellow energy swirled on its surface, and images of mountains and rivers appeared, so vivid they seemed ready to leap off the seal. It emanated an extremely terrifying pressure.

BOOM!

The earth-yellow seal, like a great mountain, slammed into the Vajra Rings released by Elder Dong.

CRACKLE.

A series of collisions echoed from Elder Dong’s Vajra Rings. The great seal was hazy, and its powerful aura made everyone present turn pale.

RUMBLE!

Terrifying power spread out. The entire martial arts arena was blasted to smithereens in that instant. The shockwave spread, and many of the surrounding Gale Light Academy buildings also collapsed from the blow.

"Run!"

"Quick, run!"

"This is terrifying."

"What kind of treasure is that?"

From a distance, the large number of students who had taken cover watched this scene in horror. The terrifying force of the shockwave blew them about even from thousands of meters away, making it nearly impossible for them to stand steady.

And the grand aura emanating from the earth-yellow seal terrified them, making their hearts pound with unease, as if they were being stared down by some horrifying creature.

"This is..." Ye Xuan stared at the earth-yellow seal, a trace of shock in his eyes.

’Kill this kid first.’

Duan Tianlang, having landed a successful blow, smirked. He didn’t continue his attack on Elder Dong. Instead, he controlled the earth-yellow seal and sent it hurtling toward Ye Xuan in the distant sky.

HUM!

The earth-yellow seal grew as it flew, seemingly transforming into a hundred-meter-tall mountain as it ruthlessly pressed down on Ye Xuan’s position. The seal had not yet arrived, but its terrifying pressure had already forced everyone present to their knees, spitting blood with terror in their eyes.

’Has Duan Tianlang gone insane?’

Ye Xuan watched this scene with shock and anger. He was currently in the same area as the other Gale Light Academy students. Although Duan Tianlang’s earth-yellow seal was aimed at him, if such a terrifying attack landed, it wouldn’t just be him. All the students present would be heavily injured or killed, a scene of mass casualties.

"Go!"

At the critical moment, Ye Xuan hurriedly activated his flight technique and frantically flew away.

’Trying to run? As if you can escape.’

Duan Tianlang sneered, controlling the earth-yellow seal to avoid the students below and chase after the fleeing Ye Xuan with a RUMBLE.

As the massive seal streaked across the sky, all the students below collapsed to the ground, trembling in terror under the pressure of its aura.

"This Xuan Ye is a total trouble magnet."

"We can’t get involved with him at all, or we’ll definitely die."

"Quick, hide."

The vast majority of students showed expressions of having survived a disaster, then began to curse aloud.

"Young Master Ye."

"Ye Xuan."

Meanwhile, Xia Qixi, Yun Aoxue, Luo Cheng, Zhang Lie, and the others watched the frantically fleeing Ye Xuan in the sky with anxious hearts.

In the sky, a streak of purple light fled madly. Behind it, an immense stream of hazy, earth-yellow light followed closely.

Both beams of light were as fast as lightning.

BANG BANG BANG!

Along the way, large sections of buildings were smashed to dust by the earth-yellow seal’s bombardment.

’Run. Keep running. The harder you run, the better my plan will work.’

A barely perceptible smile touched the corner of Duan Tianlang’s mouth.

"Xuan Ye, get over here!"

From a distance, Lu Jun and Elder Dong, who saw this scene, shouted in shock and anger.

SWISH!

Ye Xuan’s figure, a streak of purple light, fled rapidly, a look of alarm on his face.

’A Tier Eight Imperial Soldier. That earth-yellow seal in Duan Tianlang’s hands is definitely a Tier Eight Imperial Soldier.’

Ye Xuan thought with certainty, his expression grave.

Only a Tier Eight Imperial Soldier could possess such terrifying power. The mere aura it gave off was almost enough to freeze the void.

Ye Xuan knew that, at this moment, he could only flee without stopping. He couldn’t pause for a second. If he did, he would face annihilation.

However, as he flew at top speed, Ye Xuan keenly sensed a strange phenomenon.

’My flight technique is indeed fast, on par with a Tier Seven Martial King, but at most a Tier Seven Second Layer one. With Duan Tianlang’s Tier Seven Third Layer strength and him wielding an Imperial Soldier, if he really wanted to kill me, he could definitely catch me in a short time. So why is this earth-yellow seal still just following close behind, showing no sign of truly exerting its power?’

As he fled, Ye Xuan couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

It wasn’t that he lacked confidence in his speed, but that he clearly understood the power of an Imperial Soldier.

But everything happening now made Ye Xuan feel as though Duan Tianlang was holding back, deliberately not killing him.

’The Profound Mystery Sect came here aggressively with the goal of killing me. He clearly has the chance now, so why is he secretly holding back? Is it because he can’t fully wield the power of the Imperial Soldier?’

Ye Xuan didn’t understand.

Then, he discovered another very strange phenomenon.

When Duan Tianlang was controlling the Imperial Soldier, he seemed to be deliberately trying to destroy the buildings of Gale Light Academy. As the earth-yellow seal passed by, large swaths of buildings collapsed into rubble.

’Just now, he clearly could have maneuvered the seal to make a turn and catch up to me faster, but he deliberately smashed the buildings to the side. Why?’

Ye Xuan pretended not to know. After a few tests, he became even more certain of his theory.

Duan Tianlang seemed to be using the chase as an opportunity to search for, or perhaps probe for, something within Gale Light Academy.

’Since you have another objective, I will not let you succeed.’

With that thought, Ye Xuan shot up, starting to move away from the buildings.

’Quick, get closer to that building, quick.’

At this moment, Duan Tianlang was staring at a building not far from Ye Xuan, his heart filled with anticipation.

The moment Ye Xuan got close, he would immediately smash that building.

But unexpectedly, Ye Xuan’s flight path suddenly changed, and he shot straight up into the sky.

"Damn it."

Duan Tianlang’s face sank. ’Since it’s come to this, you can just die.’

WHOOSH!

The speed of the giant seal suddenly increased, pressing down on him.

"Block it!"

At the critical moment, Elder Dong finally arrived.

BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ...

In an instant, the eight Vajra Rings formed a circular barrier, blocking the path in front of Ye Xuan.

CLANG!

Amidst a violent roar, the Vajra Rings trembled violently, letting out a series of blasts. The earth-yellow seal was as heavy as Mount Tai, unmoving, and it easily sent the Vajra Rings flying.

Ye Xuan and Elder Dong both spat out a mouthful of blood. At the most critical moment, Elder Dong had instantly moved to shield Ye Xuan.

"Ten Thousand Souls Skill—Dominion Over a Region!"

Countless strands of Soul Sense, like fine threads, instantly pulled back the flying Vajra Rings. Elder Dong’s eyes were crimson as he spat a mouthful of essence blood onto the Vajra Rings.

In that instant, the Vajra Rings erupted with a brilliant rainbow light, as if transforming into a golden ocean. The ocean surged, sweeping over the earth-yellow seal like a massive tsunami.

BOOM!

Amidst the massive roar, Elder Dong was sent flying, but he had finally, once again, blocked the earth-yellow seal’s attack.

"Elder Dong!"

Watching the flying figure, Ye Xuan suddenly felt a wave of inexplicable emotion.

He and this Elder Dong were complete strangers; he only knew that he was the head of the academy’s Soul Refining department.

Yet, at the most critical juncture, Elder Dong had not hesitated to shield him. This deeply moved Ye Xuan’s heart.