Chapter 125: Storms Gather! (1/2)

"Boom!"
"Boom!"
...
Zhao Haiyun, Zhao Hongjun, and two other experts at the Human Sovereign realm unleashed their full aura, their power overwhelming and tyrannical.

"Late-stage Human Sovereign experts!"
Ao Jiuzhong felt the pressure radiating from the four men and his eyes constricted sharply. All four of them were at the late stage of the Human Sovereign realm.

"Hmph!"
"Hmph!"
Ao Wushi, the Heaven Dragon Sovereign, and Zhou Yiheng were struck by the shockwave of that aura, staggering backward as they let out muffled groans.

"One last chance: surrender or die!" Zhao Haiyun’s face was haughty, his gaze filled with disdain as he spoke with arrogance.

"Though your strength is formidable, your appetite is far too large if you think you can swallow the Heaven Dragon Empire," Ao Jiuzhong said, his face solemn and his voice cold.

"Then let me test your methods!" With a long roar, Ao Jiuzhong charged forward, carrying a violent, vast, and majestic power.

"Second Uncle’s strength has grown even greater!" Ao Wushi looked at Ao Jiuzhong with eyes full of admiration and awe. Though he was powerful himself, he was nothing compared to Ao Jiuzhong; the power Ao Jiuzhong was erupting with could easily crush him.

"Such power, truly worthy of Ancestor Jiuzhong."
"So strong!"
The Heaven Dragon Sovereign and Zhou Yiheng felt the immense power radiating from Ao Jiuzhong, and their hearts were filled with shock and reverence.

"Stand back!" Zhao Houyun said in a commanding, solemn voice.

"Understood!"
"As you command, Clan Elder."
"Yes, sir."
Zhao Haiyun, Zhao Hongjun, Zhao Youquan, and Zhao Haitian looked pleased and quickly retreated to the sides.

"Die!" Zhao Houyun shouted, his inner energy circulating wildly as he struck a palm toward Ao Jiuzhong.

"Boom!"
As Zhao Houyun’s palm descended, his true energy left his body and manifested as a giant palm, striking directly at Ao Jiuzhong.

"Boom!"
The giant palm slammed into Ao Jiuzhong. The violent, fierce, and massive force was fully channeled into him, instantly blasting him into nothingness mid-air.

"Boom."
"Boom."
"Boom."
The giant palm of energy swept through everything without pause, continuing on toward Ao Wushi, the Heaven Dragon Sovereign, and Zhou Yiheng.

"Flee!"
Seeing Ao Jiuzhong reduced to a mist of blood by a single blow, Ao Wushi, the Heaven Dragon Sovereign, and Zhou Yiheng turned deathly pale, their spirits trembling. This was not something they could possibly contend with. Their will to fight vanished entirely, and they turned to flee.

However, the giant palm was too fast. Before they could even turn to escape, the palm was already upon them, striking down.

"Boom."
"Boom."
"Boom."
Only when bearing the crushing pressure of the giant palm did Ao Wushi, the Heaven Dragon Sovereign, and Zhou Yiheng understand the terror Ao Jiuzhong had faced. Even before the palm touched them, the shockwave alone was more than they could withstand; their protective energy shields shattered. When the palm finally struck, the violent force shattered every bone in their bodies, causing them to burst into mists of blood.

"Oh no!"
Liu Longxin, the Great General of the North and a mid-stage Human Sovereign of the Heaven Dragon Empire, had rushed over upon hearing the news. He arrived just in time to witness Zhao Houyun annihilate the First and Second Ancestors, the Heaven Dragon Sovereign, and General Zhou in a single strike.

A single attack that the combined might of the First Ancestor, Second Ancestor, the Heaven Dragon Sovereign, and General Zhou could not withstand—the terror of it was unimaginable. Terrified to his core, Liu Longxin turned and fled.

He had run barely a hundred meters when his figure froze. A look of dread and fear crossed his face. He felt a gaze locked onto him; if he continued to run, he would surely perish.

"Liu Longxin pays his respects to these masters." Taking a deep breath, Liu Longxin walked slowly toward Zhao Houyun, Zhao Haiyun, and Zhao Hongjun. When he arrived, he cupped his hands and bowed low.

"Are you willing to submit to the Zhao clan?" Zhao Haiyun looked down at Liu Longxin, asking in a deep voice. Zhao Hongjun, Zhao Youquan, and Zhao Haitian also looked down at him, killing intent flickering in their eyes.

"I am willing."
"Liu Longxin pays respects to my lord." Having witnessed Zhao Houyun’s might, Liu Longxin had no desire to resist. Hearing Zhao Haiyun’s words, he was overjoyed and spoke loudly.

Zhao Haiyun looked satisfied. With the help of the Heaven Dragon Empire’s own experts, the Zhao clan would save a great deal of time in taking control of the empire.

"Take control of the Heaven Dragon Empire as quickly as possible. I need a large quantity of medicinal herbs to heal my injuries," Zhao Houyun instructed Zhao Haiyun, Zhao Hongjun, and the others before flying down toward the Heaven Dragon imperial palace.

"Thump."
"Thump."
"Thump."
As Zhao Houyun’s power erupted, beams of energy manifested as blades, dancing around him and cutting down every martial artist in his path. The generals and guards of the Heaven Dragon Empire were swept away and slaughtered by the blade energy he unleashed.

With Liu Longxin’s submission, the Zhao clan was able to control the Heaven Dragon Empire and expand outward in a very short time. Although the Zhao clan had suffered heavy losses on the Longteng Continent, they still possessed one expert at the Qi-Martial realm, ten late-stage Human Sovereign experts, and five mid-stage Human Sovereign experts. Such strength was enough to sweep across the entire Xuanwu Continent.

After obtaining the medicinal herbs from the Heaven Dragon Empire, Zhao Houyun entered seclusion to recover from his bodily injuries. Meanwhile, Zhao Haiyun, Zhao Hongjun, Zhao Youquan, and the other Human Sovereign experts led their soldiers to conquer surrounding cities and empires.

"The Zhao Dynasty?"
"Where did this dynasty come from?"
"How can they be so fierce?"
"Fifteen Human Sovereign experts!"

The Great Chu Empire had no ability to resist the Zhao Dynasty’s invasion and retreated steadily. The Emperor of Great Chu led the royal disciples and the remnants of his army in a desperate flight toward Yuntian County.

"I have never heard of a Zhao Dynasty."
"Could they have come from the Sea of Death?"
"Like the Xuantian Sect?"
A Human Sovereign expert of the Great Chu Empire, his body radiating a thick aura of death, whispered as he looked back at the captured imperial palace.

It was not only the Great Chu Empire that was under attack; every empire bordering the Zhao Dynasty had been assaulted. The various empires had attempted to fight back, but the Zhao Dynasty possessed fifteen Human Sovereign experts—ten in the late stage and five in the mid-stage. Their strength was so great that it was despair-inducing.

Of the five empires bordering the Zhao Dynasty, three had already been annihilated, and the remaining two were clinging to life—the Great Chu Empire, for instance, was reduced to a single county. The royal family of Great Chu had abandoned their capital and fled to Qin City.

"Has Sovereign Qin not emerged from seclusion yet?" The Chu Emperor paced the great hall anxiously, asking Chu Tianfa as soon as he arrived.

"Father, Sovereign Qin has been in seclusion since the start, and there has been no sign of him emerging," Chu Tianfa said in a low voice.

Their royal family had reached the end of their rope. Now, they could only rely on the protection of Sovereign Qin, but he remained in seclusion. They dared not disturb him, fearing they might incur his wrath.