Chapter 0686: Principal Pang's Backup

As the purple incense swirled into the sky, everyone in the white jade square was fully focused upon it.

Pang Qianyuan of the Astral Sage College was a lofty presence akin to a mountain, attracting the attention of all in the Xia Kingdom.

Why? He was the only King Stage expert in the kingdom after all.

Such strength didn't just put him amongst the strongest in the Xia Kingdom, but rather the entire East Divine Continent! This was an expert at the peak of power who could control a kingdom with but a word. It was a good thing that he was the Principal of the Astral Sage College; otherwise, every power in the Xia Kingdom would have tried to court him and the royal court might have long been destroyed.

Pang Qianyuan had spent years in the depths of the Umbra Cave and had not appeared in the outside world. As a result, his influence had waned and some newer powers might not have even heard of him. However, all those who attended today's ceremony understood the absolute suppression a King possessed.

A stick of incense that could supposedly summon the Principal was the ultimate trump card.

Even though the Regent seemed majestic and imposing right now with the momentum of the people swaying his way, if the Principal appeared in person and directly supported the Little Emperor, the forces rallied under the Regent would be forced to retreat.

A King Stage expert reigned supreme here. A King far from being comparable to the Regent.

The Regent's expression fell as though it had sunken into the deep depths of the sea. He continued to stare at the stick of burning incense, almost reaching out to extinguish it. However, logic dictated that this was something he could not stop, and the moment he did so, it would demonstrate his guilt and unwillingness to see Principal Pang in person.

Additionally, if he were to prevent Pang Qianyuan from being summoned, would the Astral Sage College continue to idly sit by and not interfere? Wouldn't this act be seen as targeting the college instead?

Most importantly, it would also offend Pang Qianyuan.

Even though the Regent was filled with loathing and killing intent towards him, it was not appropriate to open hostilities with him before their plan was complete.

As a result, the Regent forced himself to remain patient as he knew that Pang Qianyuan could not easily extricate himself from his current situation. Otherwise, he would have already been here and there would be no need for all of this.

Thinking this way allowed him to slowly regain a sense of level headedness.

Perhaps it was a good thing. Gong Luanyu had utilized her final trump card, and if Pang Qianyuan truly did not appear, then there would be no one who could prevent his plans from succeeding.

……

Within the depths of the Umbra Cave.

Apocalyptic energy tides continued to rage in every direction with frightening force.

The ancient dragon elephants continued to bellow as they slowly pulled the fabric of the void, steadily causing the void tear between the two worlds to shrink. The sinister river made of evil thoughts could be seen flowing within the void tear. Numerous black lotuses began to arise from it, continually bombarding the ancient dragon elephants that were attempting to mend the tear.

As the two struggled on, the scene seemed relatively calm, but the truth was that every strike contained enough force to obliterate all matter.

Whenever a black lotus collided with an ancient dragon elephant, the resulting explosion was sufficient to cause unimaginable damage to the outside world.

Pang Qianyuan frowned as he watched this scene. His dragon elephant formation had been stalled due to the changes arising from the Tree of Resonant Power. It caused him to feel a little worried as without the Tree of Resonant Power's constant support, he could not eke out an advantage over the opponent even with the Dragon Bone Holy Grail.

He knew that the Ichythian King was borrowing the aid of the shadow world to challenge him.

At the same time, the void tear was constantly being repaired, he simply needed more time.

The Dragon Bone Holy Grail was exerting no small amount of pressure on the Ichythian King.

As he continued to ponder over the situation, his expression changed as he felt something calling out to him.

"Is today the coronation ceremony? It was as I expected. Gong Xuan, it looks like your plan to hide the truth has gone wrong."

Pang Qianyuan sighed lightly. He and the previous Emperor were old acquaintances, and he had owed him a favor. As a result, he had exchanged this favor for that stick of purple incense before the Emperor passed away.

The Emperor had hoped that Pang Qianyuan would protect his children. Originally, Pang Qianyuan had thought that this would just be a minor matter. With his position as the Astral Sage College's Principal, he had to remain neutral, but the truth was that these boundaries didn't really constrain him, considering his strength.

"What great timing," Pang Qianyuan thought to himself. The stick of purple incense just had to be lit when he was tied down in a sticky situation.

The timing seemed a little too coincidental.

Mulling over the situation, if he was unable to leave, the one who would benefit the most was Gong Yuan... But what did the issue within the Umbra Cave have to do with Gong Yuan? Could it be that Gong Yuan could control the happenings within the Umbra Cave? That didn't seem too likely.

That would mean that he had an even larger secret behind him. Pang Qianyuan's gaze turned cold. He had to go and pay a visit to that fellow. That man was full of mysteries, and he had spent too many years being held back in this cave. He no longer knew what was going on outside.

"It looks like everyone thinks that I'm out of solutions and have started to act brazenly," Pang Qianyuan said to himself.

At this point in time, the river of evil churned and a titanic, black fish tail that could blot out the sun smashed out. Stygian smoke wafted out, and whatever it passed through melted into nothingness.

Pang Qianyuan counted briefly with his fingers, and the Dragon Bone Holy Grail then tipped over. A dark-golden liquid poured out of it, forming a golden rain.

When the golden rain descended, all of the stygian smoke vanished.

"Ichythian King, you don't want me to leave?" Pang Qianyuan's eyes squinted as they turned forlorn with a hint of killing intent. "I originally had some small suspicions, but this confirms it. It looks like Gong Yuan does have some connection with you guys."

"Ah... Pang Qianyuan, you should leave the affairs of the outside world for them to handle. Isn't spending time with me much more satisfying?" A cackling laugh accompanied these words.

Pang Qianyuan shook his head. "I'm sorry, but the more you don't want me to leave, the more I have to do so."

"You can't!" the Ichythian King demanded. "You can't stop me. You have your plans, but I have my own methods as well." Pang Qianyuan grinned as he raised a palm. One could see a speck of light fly out of the Dragon Bone Holy Grail into his palm. It was actually a drop of blood essence.

"There's one drop remaining."

A flame blazed within his palm, and the drop of blood essence was gradually molded into a dark-red rune.

When the rune was created, it looked almost like a miniature man. If one looked more closely, it resembled Li Luo.

Using the dark-red rune as a medium, Pang Qianyuan formed a seal with one hand before moving the blade that had accompanied him for many years.

Shing! The sound of a blade seemed to echo out from the depths of Pang Qianyuan's heart.

……

On the white jade viewing platform, Li Luo's heart trembled as he curiously looked at his pocket sphere, which was leaking rays of light.

At the same time, a mottled, ancient blade uncontrollably appeared before Li Luo, subtly vibrating before him.