Chapter 1009 - Retreat in Fear

The Warring Nation, Heavenly Goldenrain Nation, and the other forces had left indignantly after Huang Wuji revealed his identity.

They had hoped to fish in troubled waters; instead, they were forced to back down.

Although they failed to get what they wanted, they hadn’t suffered any losses—unlike Lei Dongtian.

Lei Dongtian’s eyes also flickered upon hearing Huang Wuji, surprised by the identity of Chen Fan’s group.

If he had known Zhuge Mingyue had joined the Peerless Peak, he likely would not have made such a decision.

But now, not only had they gained nothing, they had suffered catastrophic losses.

So many Legendary realm experts had fallen. The fallout in the Sun Moon Divine Sect would be immense. And as the Heavenly Lightning Hall’s hall master, the burden of responsibility would fall squarely on his shoulders.

Thinking of this, killing intent flashed in Lei Dongtian’s eyes.

“What about you, Lei Dongtian? Do you still wish to continue?” Zhuge Qingfeng smiled, looking at Lei Dongtian. Although he was heavily injured, he could still fight. His condition was not as bad as Lei Dongtian's.

Furthermore, with Prince Dawu and the others withdrawing, the rebellion led by Prince Jing and his faction had essentially collapsed.

The remaining princes and imperial uncles who had chosen neutrality would now clearly see which side to stand on.

“Uncle, if you can kill them, then just do it! If the Sun Moon Divine Sect pursues this matter, Teacher will personally visit them for an explanation!” said Huang Wuji, making Lei Dongtian’s irises contract violently.

Huang Wuji’s message was unmistakable. Zhuge Qingfeng had nothing to fear. He need not be apprehensive of Lei Dongtian’s status as the Heavenly Lightning Hall’s hall master. If he could kill him, then just do it.

If the Sun Moon Divine Sect blamed him afterward, Zhang Daoling would make an appearance, not to apologize, but to go to the Sun Moon Divine Sect and demand an explanation.

“Hahahaha, good, then... kill!” Zhuge Qingfeng laughed. A terrifying aura swept out from him once more. His arm shot forward, ripping through the air as if to tear heaven and earth apart, reaching straight for Lei Dongtian.

Lei Dongtian’s expression changed drastically. Flashes of lightning shone on him, transforming into a lightning blade, and he destroyed the oncoming attack. However, the sheer impact sent him staggering back with a muffled groan. His gaze turned dark.

“Very well, I, Lei Dongtian, will remember this grudge. Let’s go!”

Lei Dongtian was no idiot. The situation was beyond salvageable—his carefully laid plans had crumbled completely.

If he stayed and fought, Zhuge Qingfeng would not hold back because of his status. He would very likely be killed on the spot.

Had this matter not involved the Peerless Peak, things might have been different.

Lei Dongtian had never received full backing from the Sun Moon Divine Sect for this scheme to begin with. If he were to die here, the sect would likely abandon him without a second thought.

After all, the Sun Moon Divine Sect did not stand on the side of reason in this conflict.

The other two Greater Legendary realm experts from the Sun Moon Divine Sect’s complexion were also ghastly pale. Hearing Lei Dongtian's decision, they secretly breathed a sigh of relief and wasted no time in retreating.

In the blink of an eye, the three of them vanished.

The Sun Moon Divine Sect had orchestrated a ruthless scheme from the shadows—eliminate Zhuge Qingfeng, seize his treasures, and take control of the Holy Spirit Ancient Nation.

A perfect plan.

Two birds with one stone.

The plan was flawless; unfortunately, Chen Fan refined away the blood poison inside Zhuge Qingfeng. If the sovereign hadn’t recovered, Lei Dongtian wouldn’t have cared if they were from the Peerless Peak.

As the dust settled and the enemies retreated, Zhuge Qingfeng suddenly let out a low groan. He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his complexion pale.

“Father.”

“Your Majesty.”

“Uncle.”

The crowd was shocked, having underestimated the severity of Zhuge Qingfeng’s injuries.

Today’s battle was so fierce, with even a hall master joining the siege. Yet, despite overwhelming odds, the Heavenly Lightning Hall had suffered heavy casualties and was ultimately forced into retreat.

It seemed like Zhuge Qingfeng brought down his enemies with incomparably domineering methods, but how could he get out of it unscathed?

Lei Dongtian, though weaker, was still a peak expert of the Invincible Legendary realm.

If Zhuge Qingfeng had truly been unscathed, with his temperament, he would never have allowed Prince Dawu, Lei Dongtian, or the other Sun Moon Divine Sect experts to escape.

He would have fought valiantly, ensuring none of them left alive.

However, he also understood that if the battle had dragged on any longer, he wouldn’t have lasted.

He would have already fallen if Huang Wuji had not invoked Peerless Peak’s name to intimidate Prince Dawu and the others.

Furthermore, he was the Holy Spirit Ancient Nation’s sovereign. His fall would not merely be his own demise; it would mark the collapse of the entire nation.

As long as he remained, he was the nation's pillar. No matter how fierce the battle had been, as long as he stood, those other ancient nations and great clans could forget about shaking the foundations of his nation.

The empress appeared before Zhuge Qingfeng, took out a bottle of elixirs, and handed it over to him.

Zhuge Qingfeng smiled and received it. Then, he crushed the bottle, retrieved the elixir within and poured it into his mouth.

After consuming the elixir, the fragrance of medicine flowed around Zhuge Qingfeng. His wounds quickly closed, and he shut his eyes to refresh his spirit. The crowd did not disturb him.

Soon, brilliant light burst from Zhuge Qingfeng. Starlight roared around him, his injuries visibly mending. When he finally opened his eyes, they radiated a resplendent brilliance—his vigor had returned.

Zhuge Qingfeng turned to the gathered lords, Shi Xuan, and the others, and said, “Pass down my order. Seize the residences of the princes involved in today’s rebellion, and kill anyone involved in this matter—no mercy! As for the uninvolved and the women and children, spare them and let them leave the Holy Spirit Ancient Nation.”

An elder spoke up, a ruthless light flashing across his eyes, “Your Majesty, given how far things have come, wouldn’t it be best to eliminate the roots entirely?"

“No matter. Since ancient times, the victor reigns, and the defeated are but thieves. I, too, ascended the throne by stepping on a mountain of corpses. Why would I care for revenge? If one day, someone from our royal family can slay me and seize the throne, then so be it. I will have no complaints. I only hope that when the time comes, our people will not slaughter each other to the last in their struggle for power,” Zhuge Qingfeng said calmly.

Though he was ruthless in his decisions, he was unwilling to extend his blade to children.

Furthermore, who could guarantee that he would be alive forever? This was just him leaving a path of retreat for his own descendants.

“We obey Your Majesty’s commands.”

Shi Xuan and the others bowed before swiftly departing to execute the sovereign’s orders.

Zhuge Qingfeng shifted his gaze to his sons and said, “You have all witnessed today’s events with your own eyes, and I’m sure it has stirred something in you. Although your talents are ordinary, if your wills are firm, what does it matter if your cultivation speed lags behind others?"

The princes nodded.

This battle today had indeed stirred their hearts.

They were all well aware that if Zhuge Qingfeng had lost and died in today’s battle, the entire Holy Spirit Ancient Nation would have been overturned. They, along with their wives and children, would have faced certain doom.

Now, they had the sovereign protecting them. But if he were gone, who would protect them then?

“In the Tianwu Continent, ancient nations and great clans stand in great numbers. Sects and cult are too many to count. Yet their rise and fall happen in the blink of an eye. Building a foundation is difficult, but destruction can come overnight. If even one generation of our nation proves weaker than the others, it will inevitably face collapse,” Zhuge Qingfeng murmured in a soft voice. Thinking of this, a trace of sorrow rose in his heart.

There was no successor to the ancient nation’s sovereign.

Chen Fan also secretly lamented in his heart.

How could a ten-thousand-year ancient nation not attract countless covetous eyes? Without its sovereign to act as its bastion, it would crumble overnight. That was the weight of top-tier power.

Take the Peerless Peak, for example. Although they were all dragons amongst men, possessing unrivaled talent, they still hadn’t fully matured.

If not for the mighty figure of Zhang Daoling standing behind them, today’s outcome would have been entirely different.