Chapter 2645: Shadow Group Revealed

Loud exclamations rippled through the battlefield. The abrupt twist in the situation had shocked everyone. Ordinary soldiers wouldn't understand the difference in the cultivation levels of both sides, but they could still feel the immense pressure the four dukes had exerted in that instant. Even the strongest expert in their respective armies wouldn’t stand a chance against entities of that level. It would take an army on an open field to subdue such an opponent.

And yet, the regent had crushed all four of them at once?

The imperial soldiers weren't too surprised, as they had previously witnessed Zu An’s prowess in the capital. They cheered in delight at his feat.

The rebel soldiers, however, were mostly from other provinces. They had heard rumors, but they'd thought they were exaggerated, especially with the kings downplaying Zu An’s strength. This sight crushed their morale. How were they supposed to fight someone so unbelievably powerful?

Even Bi Linglong was dumbstruck. She'd been worried when the four dukes emanated auras surpassing even Zhao Han’s. While she had always known her lover was formidable, the latter appeared to have gotten far stronger in the past few years.

But Yu Rui is from the Yu clan. Won’t this put Madam Yu in a tough spot?

King Yan was flabbergasted. When he saw how strong the four dukes were, he felt both envy and relief. He'd thought that if they combined their prowess, the four would perhaps able to take down Zu An. He hadn’t expected such an outcome.

At that instant, he doubted the decades he had spent cultivating.

What’s the point of cultivating when people like Zu An can just crush us at a whim?

But when he recalled how he had ruled with unquestioned authority in his fief, he realized he wasn't the incompetent one. It was this Zu fellow who was inhuman!

Zhao Han had been the dominant power of his era, but now, Zu An was proving to be far stronger than that.

“It’s a misunderstanding, regent.” King Yan, with his high stature, was accustomed to others fawning over him. He hadn’t expected a day would come when he would be fawning over others, let alone that he would be such a natural at it too.

“Misunderstanding? Your rebellion has cost the lives of countless civilians and soldiers, but you’re shrugging it off as a misunderstanding?” Zu An didn’t even raise his hand, but King Yan floated up from his tight encirclement of guards. He kicked his legs frantically while clawing at his neck, as if an invisible hand was strangling him.

King Yan finally experienced the terror the four dukes had experienced earlier. The other party gave off such intense pressure that despite his cultivation, he felt like an infant. A warm stream flowed from his crotch, and an awful stench wafted. Yet due to the overwhelming terror paralyzing his head, he didn’t feel the slightest shame.

He frantically racked his brain for an excuse. Fortunately, his brain seemed to function better when his life was at stake, and he found a scapegoat to blame everything on. “Zhao Yuan instigated me!”

“Oh?” Zu An loosened the restraint on King Yan. “Where is he?”

King Yan gasped for air like a drowning person who had just been brought to shore. “He stayed outside the city, to receive incoming troops. He told me to join the battle here to build my name.”

He secretly cursed Zhao Yuan and his ancestors as he spoke.

That fellow is a schemer! Now that I think about it, he was digging a pit for me!

Worried that this wouldn’t be enough to convince Zu An to spare him, he added, “Regent, I thought you met with a mishap in the other world, which was why I foolishly fell for Zhao Yuan’s tricks. I have always been worried... No, I have always thought that you would overcome the hurdles in your way and return safely! But Zhao Yuan said that he had ways to deal with you even if you returned alive.”

The more King Yan spoke, the angrier he felt.

That fellow said he had a way to deal with Zu An, but I don’t see him doing anything at all. Why did I foolishly fall for his nonsense?

A sigh suddenly echoed and a voice said, “King Yan, that’s behavior unworthy of a ruler.”

A figure slowly walked over from the distance. It was King Guangling, Zhao Yuan.

King Yan retorted, “Talk is cheap. Why don’t you go deal with him?” He had just witnessed the deaths of four powerful dukes before being lifted like a little chick. Only someone who had been in the same position would understand the despair he felt.

Zhao Yuan looked at Zu An with conflicted eyes. “Regent, you have grown more imposing over the last few years.”

Zu An was surprised by Zhao Yuan’s composed attitude. “You don’t seem flustered.”

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

“Why did you think I would be flustered?” Zhao Yuan calmly replied with a smile.

“I was wondering how the four dukes could have grown so quickly. I can now see it's due to your credit,” Zu An replied. When he saw the calm Zhao Yuan, the doubt he had been harboring was answered.

“The regent is as sharp as ever.” Zhao Yuan smiled.

King Yan was horrified.

This fellow helped the four dukes surpass Zhao Han? Why didn’t he help me too? Hold on... If he could help others make a breakthrough, he must be even stronger himself!

He thought back about the times he had put on airs before Zhao Yuan, and the latter had played along with him. He suddenly felt incredibly embarrassed.

Damn it! I must have looked like a clown to him!

Suddenly, a shadow on the side wall came to life and attacked Zhao Yuan. Even its sword was dyed black, reflecting not the slightest light.

This sight shocked many. Zhao Yuan was currently alone without his guards. This assassin had truly found the best opportunity to take him down. It was a wonder how the assassin had known Zhao Yuan would appear here in the first place.

Could the regent have arranged for this? No, there’s no reason for someone as powerful as the regent to resort to such tactics.

While the crowd was making sense of the situation, a dull thud echoed. The assassin had been sent flying, with fresh blood spurting from his mouth.

Many of the experts present rubbed their eyes in bewilderment. They didn’t even see how Zhao Yuan made a move. But what they were more concerned about was the assassin—who would dare assassinate Zhao Yuan under such a setting?

The black cloth veiling the assassin’s appearance had been knocked off, revealing a pale face mired in regret and indignation. It was an unfamiliar youth, but he commanded the disposition of a top-notch assassin.

But Zu An recognized the youth. It was the person he had spared at the Lake of Hatred during the Devil Sect’s infighting—Jing Li, the son of the Skysplitting School’s sect master.

What is he doing here? Could it be...

“You’re courting death!” Infuriated, Zhao Yuan thrust his palm at the other party.

As if knowing he wouldn’t survive this ordeal, Jing Li turned to Zu An and shouted, “Zhao Yuan is the Shadow Group Master!”