Could it be that I am the cruel villain?-Chapter 813 - 465: Slaying the Water Ape

"Your Majesty..."

"I have served you for many years... served you for many years, yet why have I ended up like this."

"The Crown Prince is weak and unworthy of his position. Instead of valuing us old ministers after gaining power, he has tried every means to suppress us, even dividing the Water Gate Pass you entrusted to me into two..."

"Though you are aged, it's not that you cannot govern. Why are you in such a hurry to abdicate? Do you also seek that undying… eternity?"

"I too desire it. Though my aptitude is mediocre, I've made no progress in two hundred years. I... long to experience that supreme realm, even if just for a moment."

"In the past, when I followed you in the northern expedition, the battle between you and the Demon General, Ye Shitian, is unforgettable in this lifetime. I... wish to follow in your footsteps..."

Within the pitch-black passageway, the hollow and lonely voice of the Hou Clan Leader echoed.

Loneliness, desolation, unwillingness, resentment — layers of negative emotions stacked together. The sound should have been jarring, yet merely hearing it imparted a sense of tragedy and sadness.

As Qingluan stated, the obsession of this Hou Clan Leader has yet to dissipate. It's likely not just due to mere greed, but surely there is an unfulfilled wish, a reason why he must remain guard here.

Dynasties rise and fall, power shifts; in any dynasty, these are but the norm. For this Hou Clan Leader, his pursuit is not merely a realm; perhaps he cannot accept that the era belonging to his generation has passed.

As the Hou Clan Leader passed through, the lamenting and reflective voice of a young woman could be heard.

"Young Lord, look."

"As I said, this Yuan Clan Chief's loyalty is terrifying, yet his persistence is pitiable."

"During Ape Heart Tribulation's time with the previous Emperor, he participated in many life-threatening campaigns, the most famous being the northern expedition alongside the Emperor, engaging head-on with the army of the Demon General Ye Shitian."

"Ye Shitian is considered one of the top-tier experts in the entire Northern Territory. To call him the top master of the Demon Clan is no exaggeration; only a few Demon Monarchs could barely suppress him. It is said that the Emperor and Ye Shitian battled head-to-head for seven days and nights without a winner, and in the end, being utterly exhausted, it was this Clan Leader who risked his life to save the Emperor."

"For the older generation, the Emperor was not only the ruler of Dongyue but also an idol, their teacher, a figure comparable to a father. Even the ultimate techniques in the hands of these Clan Leaders were probably personally guided by the Emperor."

"So, their loyalty was only to the Emperor."

"For this Hou Clan Leader, perhaps the unwavering determination was to follow in the Emperor's footsteps, to guard the things the Emperor entrusted to them."

"Ladies and gentlemen, if convenient, please escort this Hou Clan Leader along the way. Qingluan has come not only for the scattered treasures of the family but also to lay these elders to rest."

"Qingluan thanks you all in advance."

With a courteous bend of the knee, she gave a bow.

The few hiding in the caverns nodded in agreement. Even if Qingluan hadn't spoken, they would have taken action, while the two young gentlemen at the forefront raised their hands almost simultaneously.

"Scarlet Sun Infinite Heavenly Thunder Art."

"Crimson Sun Infinite Divine Thunder Technique!"

Two blinding Thunder Lights attacked from behind without hesitation!

Bang—

The imagined successful ambush did not occur. The moment the Thunder Technique was unleashed, the Hou Clan Leader immediately erupted in ferocity, grabbing the Spirit Communication Stones on both sides of the passage and swinging them!

Each was two feet long and wide.

"Dodge!"

The nine of them scattered almost instantly.

As the cavern was smashed to pieces and the rocks fell, accompanied by dust all around, the battle commenced.

"Form an array! Do not use too much Spiritual Energy, just restrain it, and I will break its shell!"

"Scatter, Yue Yue, use Li Fire to restrain its Daoist Skill, Xiao Yu, find a way to provoke its fear with poisonous mist, Qingluan, disperse its obsessions with your Divine Soul!"

As soon as the words fell, he turned and wielded a sword to slice the giant stone hurled by the Water Ape, while a palm thunder dragon instantly shot out, coiling around the sword, and with a leap, a thrust was made.

Clang—

It was firmly caught in one hand.

With force, he was flung away, but Jiang Feng stabilized himself by stepping onto the stone wall. The strength he displayed now was incomparably different from the previous days, frightening explosive power paired with the Thunder Technique, swinging an iron wire up, while his left hand launched a palm thunder from behind.

The Hou Clan Leader was forced to retreat three or four steps.

"Remarkable Daoist Skill!"

Couldn't help but exclaim.

Although Lei Chuyu and Jiang Feng were not from the same sect, their martial skills were somewhat similar, the speed of their Daoist Skill execution showed their comparable understanding of the Scarlet Sun Infinite Heavenly Thunder Art. However, the power Lei Chuyu wielded was slightly greater, and even the name he called his Daoist Skill was a bit different.

But next...

"Majestic heavenly might, fall!"

"Thunderbolt Technique."

"Scarlet transformation, return!"

Madness descended.

Even Lei Chuyu couldn't believe his eyes because, in just these few breaths, Jiang Feng had executed four Daoist Skills in succession.

His expression was calm, without any sign of gasping for breath, as if his Spiritual Energy was inexhaustible. Though only at the Middle Grade Core Formation Stage, the rhythm of his attack and the oppressive force surpassed even that of Lei Chuyu, who was a Nascent Soul Stage practitioner. Though Lei Chuyu was not at his peak, he was not someone a Core Formation Stage could toy with.

Yet, Jiang Feng's hard strength now made no one present dare to underestimate him. Even Lei Chuyu was contemplating if he could actually defeat this youth ten years his junior, for the boy hadn't even caught his breath and with a flick of the wrist, a Sword Qi struck.