Chapter 466: Chapter 466: Echoes of the Fading Thunder

Scorching Barbarian Monarch, Wandering Barbarian Monarch, Inclining Barbarian Monarch, Falling Barbarian Monarch.

These four Barbarian Monarchs have been guarding near the Royal Court for years and rarely leave. They are considered close to the Barbarian Emperor, but now they have occupied the main hall of the Imperial Palace.

"Daoist, who are you?"

The Scorching Barbarian Monarch, who was radiating heat, asked.

These higher-ranking barbaric beasts are different from ordinary barbaric beasts; they are more rational. When they encounter intruders, their first reaction is not to attack blindly but to ask questions first. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"I am the Daoist Chongxu, here to seek answers to some questions," the elder Daoist calmly said with a flick of his duster.

When several Barbarian Monarchs heard the name Chongxu, they all reacted differently. However, they all held a deep respect for this name.

"This is an internal affair of the Golden Scale Royal Court and has nothing to do with the Shenxiao Palace."

Chongxu said, "If this matter involves Zuo Qiutian, then it concerns me."

"Daoist, isn’t that too meddlesome of you?"

The Scorching Barbarian Monarch, unflinching, clenched his hand, gathering the scorching steam around him into a bead floating in his palm.

Chongxu flicked the duster again: "I have my reasons."

"If it’s for the people of the world, Daoist, you are hypocritically benevolent. Why don’t you handle all the injustices in the world?" The Scorching Barbarian Monarch sneered.

Chongxu remained unmoved: "Even without considering the people’s welfare, I have my reasons. If your esteemed self doesn’t believe me, you are welcome to return with me to the Shenxiao Palace to meet my master, where everything will be explained."

Li Rui’s eyelid twitched; this was the second time the old Daoist mentioned his master.

Of course, the Scorching Barbarian Monarch would not agree.

"Is there no hope for reconciliation today?"

"I have important matters to discuss with the Saint King. If you let me pass, there may not necessarily be a need for bloodshed," Chongxu replied unhurriedly but firmly.

Thrum—

The first attack didn’t come from the Scorching Barbarian Monarch. The waiting Wandering Barbarian Monarch next to him raised his hand, casting a sword move with unmatched sharpness, aiming not at Chongxu but at his trembling apprentice hiding behind him, Jingming.

These Barbarian Monarchs had no sense of martial honor and targeted the weakest.

Among all present, Chongxu was the most composed. Although Li Rui and the others were cautious, they did not falter, while the young Daoist looked as if he would cry and flee at any moment.

However, when that sword was unleashed, the Wandering Barbarian Monarch realized his mistake.

Jingming frantically threw several talismans from his bosom. Then, there was a clattering sound as the talismans formed an array, reflecting the sword strike as though light bouncing off a mirror.

Scrape.

The returning attack was even more ferocious than before.

But the Wandering Barbarian Monarch only found it surprising, sneering internally.

When the move was executed, everyone instinctively scattered, avoiding being caught in the crossfire, even Chongxu sidestepped a few paces.

At this moment, the Falling Barbarian Monarch, with iron-armored arms, suddenly appeared behind Jingming, unleashing a powerful double punch toward the young Daoist who had just parried a move from the Wandering Barbarian Monarch.

Li Rui watched closely and found that these higher-level world NPCs had a defining feature in their moves: they were extraordinarily restrained in their display of power. Whether it was the sword of the Wandering Barbarian Monarch or the two punches of the Falling Barbarian Monarch, they contained immense strength yet appeared ordinary, unlike his spells, which were flamboyant.

However, when that double punch landed, there was a loud boom, and an invisible ripple spread out.

Li Rui and the others found ways to block it, discovering that even the residual waves held impressive power. Though they were unharmed, the walls around the hall cracked inch by inch and then collapsed.

The first pavilion in the Imperial Palace withstood only one move.

"Jingming, he..."

Cheng Mingyue was somewhat worried.

Li Rui, however, was unconcerned: "The Daoist already said the disciple is not far behind him in skill; nothing will happen."

Indeed, he was right. From the ruins of the collapsed hall, amid billowing dust, a figure stood up, one not inferior to the several Barbarian Monarchs present.

Three heads, six arms, skin tinged with blue.

Li Rui squinted.

Is the ultimate point of Daoist spells the Upper Realm’s deities?

Jingming had evidently used a method to invite a deity to possess him, transforming into a form akin to a Divine General.

This form was familiar not only to Li Rui but also surprised Cheng Mingyue, who covered her mouth in shock. However, now was not the time to watch the spectacle, as after the Divine General appeared, the Barbarian Monarchs let out long howls and transformed into their true forms, towering several to over ten yards tall.

The Wandering and Inclining Barbarian Monarchs surrounded Chongxu, while the others attacked Jingming.

As for Li Rui and his companions, they faced a host of elite barbaric beasts and three Thunder Generals.

"Leave the three to me; you handle the others."

Li Rui gave simple instructions, raising the Yin Yang Umbrella, and charged towards the three Thunder Generals alone.

Guan Gui stomped, summoning countless coffins from the ground, while Cheng Mingyue assisted with her supportive and control abilities.

A grand battle erupted within the Barbarian Emperor’s palace city.

Meanwhile, the area surrounding the Royal Court was not calm.

The barbaric beasts guarding outside saw the three great Monarchs reveal their true forms, realized something unusual was happening today, and howled into the sky,

"Awoo—"

Soon after, the beasts at the Royal Court’s borders also heard this call.

"Awoo—"

Like an unbroken chain of signal fires, the beasts communicated some kind of information across all regions surrounding the Royal Court.

Soon, a massive horde of beasts began surging towards the royal city from all directions, from a high vantage point looking like ants discovering an apple.

Though unsure of what exactly was happening outside, Li Rui’s intuition alerted him to be extremely vigilant.

Their strategy was to prevent the Barbarian Monarchs from dividing the Barbarian Emperor and to release the detained Emperor of Da Ze. With him in place, no barbaric beast would dare act recklessly.

Now, regardless of the external situation, this mission needed to be completed swiftly.

Li Rui secretly thanked his foresight in using all those Legendary Level items outside; now, after just a single confrontation, two of the three Thunder Generals already lay with shattered armor on the ground.

The experience of wielding the Thunder Shocking Earth was not easily borne.

Whoosh—

He unleashed a Great Fire Bell Spell, engulfing the barbaric beasts that Guan Gui had missed in flames, then used a Thunderbolt Flash to block the fleeing Thunder General.

"Get out!"

The last Thunder General, though not highly skilled, had quite a temper. Even as he was fleeing, his shout was full of bravado.

In Li Rui’s understanding, this outburst was less a furious reprimand than a hysterical scream before a mental breakdown.

Indeed, the Barbarian Emperor’s personal Thunder Generals were not pushovers in the Golden Scale Marsh, but facing off for just one move, with two comrades already down, the last one was clearly not keen to continue.

However, Li Rui naturally wouldn’t give him a chance. In the other’s hopeless gaze, another Thunder Shocking Earth ended the battle, faster than expected.

He glanced at the master and apprentice battling the four Barbarian Monarchs, seeing they were temporarily out of danger, then quickly synthesized another six Dragon Thunder fragments from the inventory.

[Thunder’s Aftermath.]

[Description: Consumable, used to complete the Golden Scale White Dragon Amulet.]