Above the lightning dragon, a tyrannical, destructive aura twisted violently.
Wherever it passed, the air let out an unbearable wail, as if reality itself were being torn apart.
Its target was not the prisoner cart.
Nor was it the Spirit Hall knights.
It was the unarmed commoners who had just exacted their revenge.
The strike was fast.
Decisive.
Absolutely lethal.
If it landed, not even ashes would remain.
"Not good!"
At that critical instant—
The Knight Captain and Vice-Captain, who moments ago had been "dead drunk," snapped their eyes open.
Cold. Sharp. Awake.
Where was even a trace of intoxication?
They moved at the same time, bodies flashing forward to shield the commoners.
"Sixth Spirit Ability — Profound Turtle Barrier!"
"Fifth Spirit Ability — Adamantine Shield!"
Two massive defensive spirit abilities bloomed simultaneously, interlocking into a thick wall of light!
Boom—!!!!
The lightning dragon smashed into the barrier with a deafening roar.
A terrifying shockwave exploded outward, flattening trees and ripping the ground apart!
"Pfft!"
Both captains spat blood at the same time, their bodies forced backward step by step, faces instantly drained of color.
Even together, they had barely blocked a single strike.
Behind them, the hundred Spirit Hall knights had already abandoned all pretense.
Battle formation—complete.
They closed ranks without hesitation, forming a living wall around the civilians.
"Who dares ambush a Spirit Hall convoy?!"
The Captain wiped blood from his mouth, gaze heavy and sharp as steel.
Before the echo faded—
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Dozens of black-clad figures burst from the forest like ghosts, landing squarely before the convoy.
More than thirty people.
Black robes. Masks. Suppressed killing intent.
The three at the front radiated overwhelming pressure.
Spirit Saints.
And the nearly thirty behind them—high-level Spirit Kings.
The Captain's expression sank completely.
The Vice-Captain stepped forward, cupping his fists, voice steady despite the pressure.
"May we know who you are?"
"We are Spirit Hall Enforcement Knights, acting under the Supreme Pontiff's orders to escort the criminal Yu Xiaogang to Blackrock Prison."
"Please do not obstruct the way."
The masked man at the front laughed.
Cold. Disdainful.
He didn't answer.
He simply lifted his hand and waved it casually.
"Leave no one alive."
Two words.
Absolute.
"Roar—!"
Nearly thirty Spirit Kings erupted at once.
Blue lightning exploded across the mountain path as massive Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon phantoms rose behind them!
Thunder shook the forest.
Dragon might crushed the air.
"It's the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect!"
The Captain's pupils contracted sharply.
Yet fear never crossed his face.
"Third squad!" he roared. "Escort the civilians and retreat immediately!"
"The rest—hold them back with me!"
"Yes!"
Ten knights broke formation instantly, shielding the terrified civilians as they retreated at full speed.
The remaining knights surged forward, spirit power flaring, bracing themselves against the storm of lightning.
From afar, the fleeing civilians glanced back.
What they saw was a knight formation of fewer than a hundred, staggering beneath an ocean of lightning dragons.
Knights were blasted into the air, crashing down, coughing blood—only to stagger back into formation.
A small boat.
A raging sea.
On the battlefield, one masked Spirit Saint frowned.
"Big Brother, we're letting witnesses escape. That'll damage the sect's reputation."
The leader sneered, eyes filled with cruelty.
"What reputation?"
"Everyone here is already dead."
"We'll hunt those ants after."
He raised his hand.
"Third Brother. Fourth Brother."
"Together."
"Martial Soul True Body!"
"Roar—!!!"
Three earth-shaking dragon roars tore through the clouds!
In blinding blue light, three enormous dragons—over ten meters long, scales crackling with lightning—materialized!
The pressure alone froze the Spirit Hall knights in place, breath turning heavy.
"Die!"
The three dragons charged in a triangular formation, annihilating power aimed straight at the Captain!
The Captain looked up.
No retreat.
No bravado.
He raised his sword horizontally, poured every drop of spirit power into defense, and braced himself.
The corner of his eye flicked skyward.
About time.
Then—
A massive golden chrysanthemum phantom bloomed into existence before him without warning.
Layer upon layer of petals unfolded—sacred, radiant, each one gleaming like forged gold, edges sharp enough to cut the world.
The three lightning dragons slammed straight into it.
No explosion.
Just—
Dong.
A dull, heavy impact.
The dragons trembled violently—then were blasted backward faster than they'd charged!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three massive bodies smashed into the mountainside, rock exploding outward.
The light faded.
The Spirit Saints were forcibly knocked out of their Martial Soul True Body states, crashing to the ground and coughing up blood, eyes wide with disbelief.
Only then did a soft, languid voice drift across the battlefield.
"Fifth Spirit Ability—Self-Appreciation~"
Silence fell.
Every assassin froze.
They looked up.
Standing before the Knight Captain was a figure in Spirit Hall elder robes, posture relaxed, orchid fingers raised delicately, lips curved in an almost playful smile.
Yue Guan.
Chrysanthemum Douluo.
The realization hit like ice water.
The Captain's rigid body finally relaxed. He exhaled deeply and bowed.
"Elder… you've arrived."
Yue Guan patted his shoulder lightly.
"Well done."
"Take your men back to Spirit City."
"I'll handle the rest."
The Captain's heart tightened.
"Yes! Your subordinate obeys!"
He withdrew immediately, leading his injured knights without hesitation.
The three Spirit Saints struggled to their feet, exchanging looks of pure terror.
Mission forgotten.
They turned and fled, lightning streaking across the forest.
The smile on Chrysanthemum Douluo's lips sharpened.
"Come and go as you please?"
His sixth spirit ring lit up.
"Golden Stamens Flow with Hues."
The Qi Rong Tong Tian Chrysanthemum bloomed behind him.
Countless golden petals—sharp as blades—erupted forward in a storm that covered sky and earth.
Screams rose.
Then stopped.