Chapter 1522: It's Just a Pair of Legs, It's Nothing Much

"Sir Huang?"

Many people were currently searching their minds for any information regarding this name. However, within the capital, there didn't seem to be any high-level experts with the surname Huang, nor did such a clan exist.

An outsider?

The middle-aged man's expression relaxed significantly upon hearing that title. He then began to use his own immortal essence, intending to personally reattach Duan Lingxiao's legs.

"Father, this person dared to strike in a setting like this. We must teach him a lesson, lest others think our clan is easy to bully," hissed Duan Lingxiao through gritted teeth.

"That goes without saying. Never mind our Duan Clan, where are we today? This is the Imperial Palace. Even if I don't act, the royalty of Great Victory will," replied the middle-aged man with a faint smile while working on his son's severed limbs.

The crowd nodded. It was true. In a situation like that, even if the Duan Clan didn't take action, the Royal Family would step in to handle it. Launching a sudden attack to wound someone on an occasion like that wasn't just slapping the face of the Duan Clan—it was slapping the face of the Royal Family.

Watching Duan Lingxiao's pathetic state, Duan Lingkong felt no anger. Instead, he felt a slight sense of relief. He looked toward Fang Xiaotian, his eyes filled with wonder. He hadn't expected that Daoist Fang, who appeared to have no background, would have such a powerhouse standing behind him.

"Brother Xiaotian, this gentleman is...?"

Sheng Wu asked curiously. Huang Wuji had already walked up to the group. He gave a slight nod to Fang Xiaotian and Fang Xiaohua before sizing up Sheng Wu from head to toe.

"Little Sister Five, this is Sir Huang. He is a senior that my elder brother left by our side to be responsible for guiding our cultivation," explained Fang Xiaotian.

"Brother Xiaotian, you really have an elder brother?" asked Sheng Wu, surprised.

Sheng Wu genuinely hadn't expected that to be true. The onlookers were stunned as well.

If this person truly was left behind by Fang Xiaotian's elder brother, then what cultivation was his brother at for him to leave an Immortal Realm expert to protect his younger siblings!

"That's impossible. How old is Fang Xiaotian? Even if he has an elder brother, the brother wouldn't be that old. There's no way he's in the Immortal Realm."

"Regardless of whether he is an immortal or not, Fang Xiaotian acted rashly today. If this were outside the palace, it might not be a big deal, but this is the Royal Palace. Striking the Duan Clan is as good as striking the Sheng Clan."

Just then, the middle-aged man suddenly looked up in a fit of shock and rage, glaring fixedly at Huang Wuji. "You are going too far!"

What happened?

The onlookers were stunned, but then realization dawned on them one by one. They saw that Duan Lingxiao's severed limbs could not be reattached. There seemed to be a terrifying, residual sword intent lingering at the wounds. It was precisely this sword intent that prevented the wounds from healing, making it impossible to reconnect the legs.

"This is merely a small punishment. He insulted a family's honor. Losing a pair of legs is nothing much," said Huang Wuji. "I only held back because he is a junior. If you were the one doing the insulting, it wouldn't just be your legs getting severed."

The middle-aged man laughed out of extreme anger. He was the prestigious Head of the Duan Clan, a third-transformation immortal just half a step away from entering the realm of an Immortal Sovereign. How could this stranger threaten him so boldly? Even putting aside his own cultivation, the Duan Clan was backed by a powerful fifth-transformation immortal. In the capital of Great Victory, they feared no one except the Royal Family!

The middle-aged man said with a sudden, cold chuckle, "This is not our territory. For the rest of this matter, it is not for me to reason with you. You can explain yourself to them,"

The next moment, over a dozen figures tore through the air, all of them dressed in white robes. The eyes of the crowd instantly turned grave.

The white-robed cultivators were the most specialized unit of the Great Victory Royal Family. They held the power of law enforcement within the capital. Even if the heads of the great clans committed a crime, they would not dare to resist when the white-robed cultivators came knocking. If they were found guilty, they would be punished. Otherwise, if they were innocent, they would be sent back without so much as an apology.

Some of these white-robed cultivators were among those who had just tried to help the middle-aged man block Huang Wuji's attack. However, their techniques had similarly been shattered by a single strike of his sword.

"Please come with us," one of the white-robed cultivators said in a deep voice.

His eyes, fixed on Huang Wuji, were full of gravity and wariness. That sword strike just now had been truly shocking, making it difficult to gauge the man's true cultivation. He could be at the fourth or perhaps fifth transformation.

Huang Wuji, however, ignored the man. He continued to size up Sheng Wu until her face turned bright red. She instinctively grabbed Fang Xiaotian's sleeve to hide behind him.

Huang Wuji suddenly asked, "Do you truly like Xiaotian?"

Everyone was stunned.

The white-robed cultivators looked at each other in bewilderment.

Fang Xiaotian said instinctively, "Sir Huang, you—"

"I didn't ask you," Huang Wuji said with a wave of his hand.

He looked at Sheng Wu and smiled. "Xiaotian's status is special. If you truly like him, speak plainly. I want to see just how much you like him. If it is merely a passing whim, then let us drop the matter today."

"It is not a passing whim!" countered Sheng Wu reflexively.

She then summoned her courage and said, "I truly like Brother Xiaotian. I want to become his Dao Companion and bear his children!"

Hearing that, the middle-aged man could not help but let out a cold snort. He had been the first to take an interest in her, intending for her to become Duan Lingkong's Dao Companion and marry into the Duan Clan. He never imagined that she would publicly confess her love to another man on an occasion like this!

"Mhm, it seems you truly do like him." Huang Wuji nodded slightly, then smiled at Fang Xiaotian. "Don't be in a hurry to state your position. Wait until your brother arrives."

Fang Xiaotian's eyes lit up with excitement. "My brother!? He's back?"

Xiaohua immediately stepped forward, her face full of anticipation as well. "Sir Huang, is Big Brother really back?"

Huang Wuji nodded. "Yes, he's back."

As a True God of the Underworld, he shared a unique and special connection with Fang Chen.

"That's wonderful," cheered Fang Xiaohua.

She was excited, yet also a bit nervous.

The onlookers grew increasingly curious about this "Big Brother" they spoke of.

The middle-aged man's brow furrowed slightly. He felt that something was amiss, but today's matter had to be settled first to prevent the Duan Clan from losing face. He looked toward the group of white-robed cultivators and said, "Gentlemen, this person has severed my son's legs without cause. According to the rules of the capital, how should this be handled?"

One of the white-robed cultivators nodded. "Rest assured, we will handle it according to the rules."

A faint, cold glint flashed in his eyes as he prepared to speak, but he was interrupted by a loud announcement:

"The Sixth Prince has arrived!"

The crowd was startled.

The Sixth Prince is here?

The middle-aged man turned around and saw the prominent figures who had been chatting in the gazebo earlier. They were all walking over with two other figures. One was dressed in white, radiating the aura of a fifth-transformation immortal. He was the head of the white-robed cultivators. The other wore a robe patterned with serpents. While his aura was not as sharp as the fifth-transformation expert, it was no weaker than any of the other high-ranking figures present. He was the sixth prince of the Great Victorious Dynasty.

Everyone hurriedly bowed and cupped their fists.

"Sixth Prince."

The sixth prince was all smiles. The middle-aged man stepped forward, intending to report the current incident, only to have the prince pat him on the shoulder and say with profound earnestness, "Old Duan, I was only a little late, and yet you've already stirred up trouble for me. If the Duan Clan continues under your leadership like this, won't you soon face the calamity of total extermination?"

A collective gasp filled the air as the crowd stood in total confusion.

The middle-aged man was shocked. He looked at the Sixth Prince warily. "Sixth Prince, this is..."