Chapter 404: Chapter 251: Successively Defeating the Imperial Experts of the Three Academies, Awing the Three Deities, the Emperor Orange Fate Grid "Martial Saint

Atop the Imperial City.

A torrential rain of arrows, fired from the Dragon Arm Crossbows of the Great Yan Imperial Guard, turned to foam and vanished at a wave of Lu Mingyuan’s hand.

Thick, heavy black shields were arrayed neatly before the Imperial Palace, ready to repel Lu Mingyuan’s assault.

The Great Yan Soldiers were fully armed, their cold gazes fixed on the Crown Prince leading this coup from behind the visors of their sealed helmets.

They obeyed only the Court’s commands and would not be swayed by Lu Mingyuan’s words.

Leading them was an imposing, powerfully built man in armor. His face was fierce, and his exposed arms revealed ferocious tattoos: a dragon on one, a tiger on the other.

He held a Red Tassel Spirit Spear that echoed with the phantom roars of a dragon and a tiger. He stood before the Imperial City like a Divine Nail, guarding the Inner Court.

This man was Wu Feng, one of the ten greatest masters of the Inner Court, nicknamed the Crossing River Dragon and Tiger.

He came from a poor family but possessed remarkable talent for the Martial Dao. He trained at the Martial Arts Academy on Taibai Sacred Mountain, becoming a True Disciple of the Spear God, Pei Wujiu. After descending from the mountain, he earned the title of Martial Champion Scholar two hundred years ago, in the twenty-first year of the Longyi era. Emperor Wu selected him as a Personal Guard for the expedition to the Northern Country, but he was later sent back to the Capital City in custody for violating military discipline.

However, some felt it was a waste of his Martial Arts Cultivation, so he was recruited by the Inner Court. His Unparalleled Gun Skill, honed on the battlefield, was unmatched. For a century, he knew no equal, and with his supreme martial prowess, he eventually became one of the ten leaders of the Inner Court.

He had now ascended to the Eleventh Realm, a Martial Artist at the Feather Transformation Realm.

"And which master of the Capital City might you be? Why are you here, guarding the gate? Do they pay you well?"

Lu Mingyuan sized him up and asked slowly.

Wu Feng snorted. "Vulgar words, unfit for my ears!"

"This general is one of the Imperial Experts, Wu Feng. By order of the Holy Emperor, I am here to apprehend Your Highness and take you to the Imperial Prison!"

Wu Feng’s expression was grave, his gaze sharp as he looked at the Crown Prince of Great Yan before him. He then demanded, "The Crown Prince’s triumphant return to court should have been a great merit. Why have you rebelled?"

Hearing this, Lu Mingyuan’s expression turned solemn. Standing on the city wall, he faced the magnificent, resplendent Imperial Palace, and announced to the entire Imperial Capital City:

"I, Lu Mingyuan, Crown Prince of Great Yan, cannot bear to see the Grand Ancestor’s legacy fall into the hands of a muddle-headed ruler and his treacherous sycophants. Today, on behalf of Elder Mr. Qi, I demand justice from the current Holy Emperor, before all the world."

"I call upon all Cultivators under heaven to help me purge Great Yan of its disloyal traitors!"

"Martial Tributor, why not ask why my father, the Emperor, has rebelled?"

Lu Mingyuan’s calm words ignited the fury of the man before him.

Wu Feng roared, "Insolence! How dare you disrespect the Holy Emperor!"

Spear in hand, he moved like a shooting star, his strike lunging like a dragon.

In an instant, a dragon and tiger roared in unison. The spearhead let out a fierce shriek, and a vast Dragon and Tiger Martial Dao Body materialized.

Fist Intent radiated from Lu Mingyuan as he weaved through Tai Chi Steps. Facing the Dragon and Tiger Dharma Body, he slowly threw a Great Wilderness Mountain-Shaking Fist.

The heads of the dragon and the tiger shattered.

The phantom images vanished in an instant.

Wu Feng was sent flying backward, plowing through several Great Yan Imperial Guards with their black shields. With a thunderous CRASH, he slammed against the main gate of the Imperial City and spat out a mouthful of blood!

He staggered, barely managing to get to his feet. It felt as if his internal organs had been shattered and rearranged.

He looked as if he wanted to keep fighting.

Lu Mingyuan walked forward with steady steps, his expression indifferent. He spoke as he approached.

"How much is your salary, Martial Tributor? Is it worth selling your life for my father, the Emperor?"

With the sweet, metallic taste of blood in his throat, Wu Feng rasped, "You are traitors to the nation. I fight for the country and its people. What more is there to say?"

"For the country and its people? Good. I will ask you one question. If you can answer it, I will spare your life."

Lu Mingyuan gestured, and an unseen force lifted Wu Feng’s burly body. His voice resonated with power as he asked, "If tomorrow, the ones who storm the Imperial Palace to kill the Emperor are the people of Great Yan... will you stop them?"

His voice was like a great bell, shaking one’s very Heart Spirit! 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Wu Feng found the question impossibly difficult to answer. He was instantly trapped in a dilemma.

The Royal Family had shown him great favor, and guarding the Imperial Palace was his duty, but the people of Great Yan were also who he had sworn to protect.

KOFF!

Unable to answer, another mouthful of hot blood surged up from Wu Feng’s chest.

Lu Mingyuan casually tossed him to the ground. His gaze swept indifferently over the other Imperial Experts standing atop the Imperial Palace. Dusting off his hands, he said,

"All of you, come at once."

Figures flashed, and shadows stirred.

One by one, the Court’s masters arrayed themselves before Lu Mingyuan.

Just then, however, a muscular man with a buzz cut stepped out from the crowd behind Lu Mingyuan. He was rubbing his fists together, an excited grin on his face.

"No need for Your Highness to lift a finger! Leave them to me. Your Highness should hurry on to the Imperial Palace."

One of the Inner Court Cultivators recognized the man and frowned. "Luo Shengmiao of Luoshui Cave Heaven, the Golden Court Mountain Master? Wielder of the Luo River Divine Fist? The prodigy who proved his Dao with his fists a century ago."

"Since Master Luo is making a move, this humble Daoist can’t very well fall behind."

A Daoist with the mark of a Nether Moon between his brows stepped forward, holding a duster and smiling cheerfully.

Just Master Bai Yue and Luo Shengmiao alone could hold off four of the top Imperial Experts.

Lu Mingyuan glanced at them, and not seeing Luo Ying among them, asked, "Where is Cyan Shadow?"

Master Bai Yue sent a voice transmission: "Lord Qingying has already taken people to the Eastern Palace Mansion. They will soon rescue the trapped Princess Consort and the others."

Lu Mingyuan stretched his limbs and nodded. "Good. In that case, I’ll leave them to you."

"Rest assured, Your Highness!"

Fist Venerable Luo Shengmiao was the first to charge, his voice a powerful, resonant hum:

"With a single punch, waves crash the shore, Flood Dragons bow their heads, and the Luo River’s waters become boundless!"

As he spoke, space itself rippled like water for a fleeting moment. The profound technique of his fist arts manifested like the descent of the Celestial River, and a massive phantom Flood Dragon shot forth, slamming into the walls of the Imperial City.