Chapter 484: Chapter 483: The Value of the National Guardian Medal: Who Dares to Be Insolent

A blood-red curtain of light shot into the sky, enveloping the entire Meridian Gate Square in a massive, crimson prison.

Even from hundreds of miles away, the residents of Kyoto could look up and see the blood-red pillar of light that stretched from heaven to earth, emanating an ominous and murderous aura.

In that moment, countless eyes across all of Great Xia were focused on this very spot.

Within the Blood Prison Grand Array, the atmosphere was oppressive to the extreme.

The hearts of Shen Yixuan and Luo Qingyu sank to rock bottom. But at this point, they had no other recourse.

’If this is it, then we’ll face death!’

However,

Chu Sheng and Gu Yuexi, the pair at the center of it all, were ironically the calmest ones there.

’Escape?’

Chu Sheng glanced at the Little Empress on his shoulder. Her face was pale from her injuries, but her eyes were still filled with immense pride.

He knew full well that even if this Blood Prison Grand Array could seal off Space, the fundamental nature of the Boundless Wings was to ignore all boundaries.

If he was willing to pay the price—exhausting all his Mental Power—and coordinate with Gu Yuexi to use her Soul-Devouring Spikes to destroy the Array’s key nodes from within, an escape wasn’t entirely impossible.

’But so what if we did?’

’We escape, and then what?’

They had already fled once before, back at Jing University.

This time, having made the decision to return, they had no intention of running away again.

This matter had to be settled here, today, once and for all.

Otherwise, forget about entering Secret Realm Zero at Jing University; they wouldn’t even be able to spend a single peaceful day in Kyoto.

Gu Yuexi felt the same way.

She was an Empress in her past life. In her entire existence, when had the word "flee" ever been an option?

No one—and nothing—would stand in the way of her plan for rebirth!

...

Inside the Grand Array, Liu Canglan looked at the calm expressions on the faces of the human and the mosquito, and he felt an inexplicable surge of irritation.

’Death is at their doorstep. What are they pretending for?’

He knew very well that the longer this dragged on, the more attention it would attract and the more variables would come into play.

’This must be a swift battle!’

All he had to do was obliterate this human and mosquito with lightning speed and seize whatever secrets they might be hiding.

Even if the Military Department decided to pursue the matter later, the Ten Great Clans, united, could surely weather the storm.

This was the source of their confidence.

"Strike!"

Liu Canglan no longer hesitated, letting out a furious roar.

The other six Patriarchs were already poised to strike. At the command, their Qi Blood erupted, and they were instantly ready to unleash all manner of terrifying killing blows!

However, just at that critical, hair-trigger moment, something unexpected happened.

The tiny mosquito that had been resting on Gu Yuexi’s shoulder unhurriedly used one of its legs—thinner than a strand of hair—to pull something out of thin air.

It was a medal.

A plain-looking bronze medal, neither shiny nor ornate.

But the medal emanated a special, indescribable fluctuation—one that was profound and majestic.

The tiny mosquito, slowly and deliberately, pinned the medal gently onto Gu Yuexi’s shoulder.

...Even Gu Yuexi was somewhat baffled by Chu Sheng’s sudden move.

But when her gaze fell upon the medal, her cool eyes constricted violently in an instant.

’This is...’

’A military service medal?’

’No, it’s not the bronze Five Stars Medal Chu Sheng had before.’

’The style and aura of this medal... it’s...’

’A National Guardian Medal!’

At that moment, even Gu Yuexi’s heart was profoundly shaken.

She knew the sheer weight this medal carried!

Within the Grand Array.

If Gu Yuexi could recognize it, then so could the others present—men of high station and broad experience like Liu Canglan, Zhao Li, and Xuanyuan Qing!

"Halt!"

The cry was almost instinctual as Liu Canglan let out a piercing shout.

The six Patriarchs, who had already launched their attacks and were about to strike Gu Yuexi, stopped dead in their tracks as if they had seen a ghost, forcibly halting their own assaults!

The rampaging Energy came to an abrupt halt in midair. The resulting backlash made each of them turn deathly pale, their Qi Blood churning violently, but they paid it no mind.

All eyes were fixed in utter disbelief on the small medal on Gu Yuexi’s shoulder.

"A... A National Guardian Medal?"

The voice of the Zhao Family’s Patriarch grew shrill with shock.

"How is this possible!"

Liu Canglan was also completely stunned. He felt as if his brain had turned to mush.

The National Guardian Medal!

In the entire history of Great Xia, fewer than twenty of these medals had ever been issued!

Behind every single medal was a peerless hero who had rendered unparalleled service to Great Xia, a hero who had spent a lifetime on the battlefield, even to the point of sacrificing their own life!

The significance of this medal far transcended military achievement alone. It represented the highest respect of the entire Great Xia Military Department, and by extension, all of Great Xia!

Of course, Liu Canglan and the others knew that this mosquito had accomplished great things in the Northern Domain.

But they never dreamed that its merits were so great as to be awarded a National Guardian Medal!

How was that possible?!

Even Luo Zhan, who had defended the first line of the Northern Domain for decades, wasn’t qualified to receive one; he was only a Five-Star War God.

How many days had this mosquito even been in the Northern Domain?

’What in the world did it do?’

’Did it single-handedly wipe out the Alien Race’s nest? Or did it sleep with their empress?’

’It’s completely illogical!’

Everyone’s mind was reeling with questions and disbelief.

But what followed was an even deeper sense of trepidation.

The moment the National Guardian Medal appeared, their overwhelming killing intent was extinguished as if doused by a bucket of ice water.

Their expressions shifted again and again, and they found themselves trapped in an unprecedented dilemma.

’What now?’

’Do we still kill her or not?’

’After going to all this trouble to lay an inescapable trap, we were so close to getting revenge and obtaining whatever earth-shattering secrets this human and mosquito possess.’

’Are we supposed to just give up? Who would be willing to let this go?’

’But if we don’t...’

’That’s a National Guardian Medal!’

’Attacking the holder of a National Guardian Medal isn’t a simple act of revenge.’

’It’s a blatant challenge to the authority of the entire Great Xia Military Department! It’s a desecration of every soldier who fights for the nation!’

’Taken a step further, it could even be classified as treason!’

’Even they couldn’t bear the weight of such an accusation!’

The seven Patriarchs looked from one to another, all of them suddenly caught in a dilemma.

...

「Outside the Blood Prison Grand Array, in midair.」

The expressions on the faces of Xuanyuan Qing and Zhao Li were equally grim.

The National Guardian Medal.

Even a family like their Xuanyuan Family had to show it sufficient respect.

Had they encountered it under any other circumstances, any holder of a National Guardian Medal would be qualified to be an honored guest of their Xuanyuan Family. Even the family’s Elders, or the Patriarch himself, would have come out to personally greet them.

But of all things, the medal had to appear at this exact moment, in this exact way.

It put them in a similar dilemma.

Xuanyuan Qing, seething with frustration, looked at Zhao Li beside him and asked in a low voice:

"Elder Zhao, what do we do now?"

Zhao Li’s cloudy old eyes were also filled with solemnity. He shook his head, his voice low.

"Young Master, it would be best... not to pursue this matter any further."

"No!"

Xuanyuan Qing rejected the idea without a moment’s thought.

He gritted his teeth, his eyes glinting with resentment and ferocity.

"I’ve already made my pronouncement! If we just let this go today, where will I, Xuanyuan Qing, put my face? Where will the Xuanyuan Family put its face?"

"This is my first official public appearance, the very first matter I’ve handled! If it ends with a strong start but a weak finish, how will I be able to compete with my older brother when I get back?"

His voice carried a trace of suppressed madness.

"Besides, that medal belongs to the mosquito! At the end of the day, it’s just a Demon Beast!"

"Would the Military Department really fall out completely with my Xuanyuan Family over a mosquito? I don’t believe it!"

"Hmph, and even if they do, so what?!"

Zhao Li looked at his Young Master’s obstinate expression and sighed inwardly, offering no more words of persuasion.

He knew that Xuanyuan Qing had grown up in the shadow of his genius older brother. He was incredibly proud and fiercely competitive. This public debut was a perfect opportunity for him to prove himself, and he would not allow it to end in failure.

Zhao Li pondered for a moment before speaking slowly, "Then, Young Master, your intention is...?"

Xuanyuan Qing’s gaze fell once more upon the girl within the array, his eyes ice-cold.

"This Gu Yuexi... today, she either kneels, kowtows to my Xuanyuan Family in apology, and begs me to spare her!"

"Or she dies!"

...