That voice was not very loud, but with its penetrative quality, it reached the ears of countless people.
All those who heard this voice shivered. Then, they turned their heads nearly simultaneously to look towards its source: above the Soaring Palace Hall’s plaza. A man in black brocade had suddenly appeared there.
A dust cloud spread out in that man’s surroundings, veiling his figure. However, just that vague silhouette alone excited all the Han Royal Dynasty’s officials and citizens.
“Your official, Chen Tianshan, respectfully welcomes Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years!” Chen Tianshan saluted excitedly.
Chen Tianshan’s salute already said everything. The person in the dissipating dust cloud was none other than the emperor who had vanished five years ago.
“This official, Gao Xianzhi, respectfully welcomes Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years!”
“This official, Mo Yike, respectfully welcomes Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years!”
The two quivered and gave an involuntary jump, then immediately shouted in greeting as a thought flashed through their minds. Although they felt incredibly joyful, they also felt nervous. After all, while the two had not betrayed the Han Royal Dynasty, they had entertained the thought, dissatisfied with Chen Tianshan’s management of the nation. Now, they felt guilty and worried.
“This official, Meng Tai, respectfully welcomes Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years!”
Meng Tai felt the most excited. Like Chen Tianshan, he felt so excited that tears welled up in his eyes. Fortunately, I remained firm in my stance. Hahaha! His Majesty returned! His Majesty returned! I get to keep everything I have. I no longer have to feel wary or worry about anything!
As the dust cloud scattered, it slowly revealed Gu Hai. I was right. It is His Majesty!
His Majesty is really still alive? His Majesty has returned?
“We respectfully welcome Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years!”
All the officials immediately saluted. However, the thoughts of those who saluted varied. Most of them were thrilled, but a small number were afraid. After all, they had dared to support the crown prince in taking the throne earlier; that equated to rebellion.
“We respectfully welcome Your Majesty back!” Gao Xianzhi’s one hundred thousand powerful soldiers shouted excitedly.
The loud voices of one hundred thousand soldiers carried into the distant sky where the five hundred thousand Divine Demon Army soldiers fighting had not clearly heard Gu Hai’s voice. However, the bone mountains rising had caught all the Divine Demon Army soldiers’ attention.
In the next moment, salutes to the emperor rang out all over the Soaring Palace Hall’s plaza.
“His Majesty returned?”
“Look at the Soaring Palace Hall’s plaza! His Majesty has truly returned!”
“Hah! He returned! Brothers, kill! Kill these three renegades and celebrate His Majesty’s return!”
The elated Divine Demon Army soldiers charged headlong into the sky in a frenzy.
In the battlefield above:
The expressions of Ao Sheng, Prime Feng Yue, Sima Changkong, Long Aotian, and Gu Qin changed.
“No! That’s impossible!” Everyone looked down.
They saw Gu Hai standing in the Soaring Palace Hall’s plaza. Even though they were far away, Gu Hai was like a towering figure to them.
When Gu Hai appeared, the Han Royal Dynasty’s air suddenly changed.
——
In the distant forests, the various factions waiting to take advantage gaped. Shock and horror flashed in their eyes.
“That’s impossible! Why is Gu Hai still alive?”
“Gu Hai returned?! He truly returned?!”
“Didn’t he die? It has already been five years. Isn’t he dead?!”
The people from the various factions showed horror on their faces.
Confronted with Gu Hai’s return and six hundred thousand powerful soldiers, the various factions despaired. Heaven must be messing with me. Isn’t Gu Hai dead?
——
When the bone mountains appeared in the plaza, the bone spikes immediately impaled the experts from the three factions. As for the other dragons, zombies, and black tortoises, what could they do even if they charged in?
With one hundred thousand powerful soldiers swarming them, they could forget about fleeing or escaping.
Gu Hai’s appearance had completely overturned the situation.
Ignoring everyone else, Gu Hai carefully helped Chen Tianshan to his feet.
“Chen Tianshan, you have suffered. We have returned. We have returned!” Gu Hai said with a smile, feeling moved.
Chen Tianshan cried as Gu Hai helped him up.
“Your Majesty has returned. Even if this official had died, I would have died with no regrets!” Chen Tianshan said, feeling touched.
“Die? With us here, who would dare kill you? Hahahahaha!” Gu Hai guffawed.
Gu Hai ignored Gao Xianzhi, Mo Yike, Meng Tai, and the other officials for now. Hence, Gao Xianzhi, Mo Yike, and the others maintained their salute. They felt nervous, knowing that the emperor was dissatisfied with them, so none of them dared to rise.
Still ignoring Gao Xianzhi and Mo Yike, Gu Hai raised his head to the sky.
“Go! Go! Go, quickly!” Gu Qin pulled on Prime Feng Yue as he fled in horror.
“My black tortoise race!” Prime Feng Yue was unwilling. After all, his subordinates were below.
“Hurry! Leave quickly! If we do not, we will not be able to escape. Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!” Gu Qin exhorted in horror.
“Hah…”
The conflicted Prime Feng Yue fled into the distance, dragging Gu Qin along.
“Where are you going?” The Divine Demon Army soldiers immediately charged over.
“Get lost!”
Boom!
Prime Feng Yue barreled through a group of Divine Demon Army soldiers as he continued fleeing.
When Gu Qin saw Gu Hai, he knew his operation had failed. No one understood Gu Hai as well as he did. Only he understood how incredible Gu Hai was.
Gu Hai has just reappeared? No, Gu Hai must have returned for some time already. If he were to make a move, who could escape? No one can escape.
Prime Feng Yue is an Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivator? So what? Gu Qin felt an innate fear for Gu Hai, blind worship, and adoration. Even an Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivator could not surpass it.
Flee! Flee! Flee!
Gu Qin and Prime Feng Yue immediately shot into the distance.
Gu Hai frowned as he watched Gu Qin and Prime Feng Yue fly far away, but he did not stop them.
Buzz!
The Life Trapper Saber in Gu Qin’s hand trembled, trying to struggle free.
“Hold on to it. Hold this saber down! Gu Hai made this saber using the Heavenly Go Stone fragments. Bring it to the Heavenly Go Pavilion! Hurry!” Gu Qin proffered the Life Trapper Saber to Prime Feng Yue.
Boom!
The Life Trapper Saber was too strong. It escaped Gu Qin’s grip and turned into a beam of light shooting toward Gu Hai.
“The Heavenly Go Stone?” Prime Feng Yue’s expression changed; he wanted to give chase.
“Don’t go after it! Don’t! Let’s leave quickly!” Gu Qin’s expression changed as he tugged on Prime Feng Yue. They immediately turned into two beams shooting in the distance.
Bang!
The Life Trapper Saber flew over to Gu Hai. He grabbed its handle.
Buzz!
Then, he held the Life Trapper Saber horizontally and operated the ritual array.
Whoosh!
Dongfang Bubai, Zhang Sanfeng, Ximen Chuixue, and Dugu Qiubai suddenly trembled in the sky, recovering their consciousnesses.
“Emperor Gu? You have returned?” Zhang Sanfeng immediately said with a smile.
“Greetings, Emperor Gu,” the four said politely as they bowed.
Gu Hai nodded.
On the other side:
Sima Changkong’s and Ao Sheng’s expressions changed when they heard the loud cries below.
“Gu…Gu Hai returned? He is still alive?” Ao Sheng’s face sank.
“Quickly, leave! Hurry! Leave quickly!” Sima Changkong suddenly cried out.
“My dragon race!” Ao Sheng said unwillingly.
“Leave quickly! I have His Reverence’s authority token! Quickly bring me away. Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!” Sima Changkong practically roared as he took out a medallion.
Ao Sheng’s face sank with reluctance.
“Roar!”
Turning into a large black dragon, Ao Sheng roared and carried Sima Changkong away.
Rumble…!
The dragon’s body was huge. It flung off the Divine Demon Army soldiers and immediately flew to the horizon.
“Mister Sima, is there a need to fear Gu Hai that much? What about my dragon race?” Ao Sheng asked, still reluctant.
“Gu Hai has returned. Something major is going to happen. It is already pretty good to survive! Leave quickly!” Sima Changkong called out.
Boom!
Ao Sheng accelerated, flying into the distance.
Only Long Aotian did not flee when he saw Gu Hai.
Long Aotian’s face sank when he saw Gu Hai return. After all, he had seen Gu Hai’s abilities back in Divine Farmer City. However, he still felt that Gu Hai was only good at using tricks.
“So what if Gu Hai returned? My imperial father’s orders are to bring away Mo Yike and Gao Xianzhi. I have to bring them away. Gu Hai? You might have saved me in Divine Farmer City. However, I do not intend to kill anyone from your Han Royal Dynasty. I just want Mo Yike and Gao Xianzhi. Ignore these Divine Demon Army soldiers. Take me down and capture Gao Xianzhi and Mo Yike!” Long Aotian roared while glaring.
“Roar!”
The zombie sovereign roared.
Then, the zombie sovereign struggled free from the Divine Demon Army soldiers, carrying Long Aotian toward the Soaring Palace Hall’s plaza.
Whoosh!
The zombie sovereign moved exceptionally quickly, looking like it would reach the Soaring Palace Hall’s plaza in the blink of an eye.
Long Aotian did not believe Gu Hai could match an Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivator, no matter how strong Gu Hai was. His jiangchen zombie sovereign was absolutely the strongest here.
“How dare you?!”
“How audacious!”
“Fire arrows!”
Gao Xianzhi’s one hundred thousand powerful soldiers roared as they charged forward, raining arrows at the zombie sovereign.
However, the zombie sovereign was invulnerable. It ignored all attacks as it charged down and would arrive before Mo Yike and Gao Xianzhi shortly.
An intense sense of threat overwhelmed Mo Yike’s and Gao Xianzhi’s hearts. They knew that Long Aotian was coming for them. However, the two did not dodge, maintaining their salute, as the emperor had not told them to rise yet.
“Hurry! Hurry!” Long Aotian looked at the two excitedly.
This is truly silly. To think that they are not dodging? This will save me a lot of time.
“Capture them! Capture them, and let’s leave!” Long Aotian roared excitedly.
Just then, Gu Hai narrowed his eyes slightly at the sky. Chen Tianshan stood behind him, feeling confident in him.
“Long Aotian? The other two groups have already fled. You are the only one who does not fear death? Since you delivered yourself to me, then don’t bother leaving. Humph!” Gu Hai snorted coldly.
