The crowd, seeing Zhang Chen enter the Imperial Capital, quickly followed suit.
However, Zhang Chen was too fast, capable of flashing over a kilometer with a single movement. This was only due to the limitations of the street terrain; otherwise, he would likely have reached the entrance of the Imperial Palace Hall in an instant.
When the group, guided by Zi Yan, arrived at the Imperial Palace Hall, they saw Zhang Chen standing outside the palace gates.
On the city wall stood the five Sect Masters, along with the three captured students.
Qin Yan was of the Telekinesis system, Chen Yan was of the Fire system, and Lei Gang was of the Lightning system. These three systems were considered top-tier among all superpowers.
Yet, at this moment, all three were suppressed by an invisible force, standing obediently on the city wall.
Their consciousness was their own, but their bodies were beyond their control.
"Respected Demon Lord, if we have offended your subordinates in any way before, we hope you will forgive us."
"How about we bury the hatchet from now on? What do you say?"
"His Majesty is also here. The consensus we reach today will be personally approved by His Majesty."
"As for the conditions, you can name them. The greatest sect in the world? A Grand General, second only to the Emperor himself?!"
"Or do you wish for fame? To become a universally revered hero?! All the beauties in the world? Wealth?!"
"The entire world, except for the throne, I can give you anything you desire!"
Lin Wu Yang, the Sect Master of the Huangtian Sect, dressed in a golden brocade robe, said with a smile, as if he were the master of the world.
"Hiss..."
Zhang Chen took a deep breath.
"What do you think? Tempted, aren't you?"
Lin Wu Yang said with his eyes shining.
In his opinion, no one could resist the allure of power, wealth, and beauty.
What else was there to live for in this world if not for these things?!
If one had no desires, what was the difference between living and dying?!
"Hiss... Everything you've mentioned, I can obtain by simply killing you!"
"And not just that, I can even take the throne, and the Wishing Stone you hold!"
"When I can get better things by my own hands, why should I accept your offer and take this garbage that even you look down upon?"
Zhang Chen retorted with a cold laugh.
"Demon Lord, I advise you to seriously consider my proposal. I truly believe there's no need for us to be enemies. Wouldn't it be better to be friends and rule the world together?!"
"Why must we fight to the death?"
"I have three hostages. If you make a move, in my panic, I will surely make a mistake and kill them!"
"Moreover, with the combined might of our five great sects, and... as you know, with the blessing of the Wishing Stone... how can you be so sure you will win?"
"On one side, victory is probabilistic, and defeat means losing everything. On the other, it's cooperation for mutual benefit and shared rule. A choice like this, a smart person like yourself, Demon Lord, should understand what to prioritize!"
Lin Wu Yang tried to persuade him again.
"There's no need to prioritize. If you want to avoid war, I have only one condition!"
"Depose the usurper, enthrone the Empress's descendant, hand over the Wishing Stone to me, and you shall commit suicide on the spot. Then this matter will be considered closed!"
Zhang Chen said calmly.
"Ha, you boy, you're pushing your luck too far. Do you really think I'm a pushover?"
"You refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. This is all your own doing!"
As Lin Wu Yang spoke, he gave a signal to the executioners behind the three students.
"Don't... Don't, we don't know him... We're innocent..."
Chen Yan shouted in panic.
Before his words had even finished, his head was severed by the executioner behind him and fell from the Imperial Palace wall to the ground.
"There are two more. Do you need me to continue chopping?"
Lin Wu Yang looked at Zhang Chen with a playful expression.
However, to his disappointment, Zhang Chen's face showed no trace of emotion.
"Damn it, Chen Yan is dead. Monkey, tell me who the hell this is, ask him to save me! I don't want to die here!"
Lei Gang panicked and shouted for help.
The classmates standing behind Zhang Chen appeared neither rushed nor flustered.
Monkey smiled and said:
"This is our new teaching assistant, Teacher Zhang. Hurry up and greet him. Perhaps if Teacher Zhang is in a good mood, he might spare your life!"
Monkey said with a smile.
Earlier, Lei Gang had often bullied him with his superior strength. Seeing him now on the verge of wetting himself with fear, Monkey had no intention of telling him that Zhang Chen could resurrect people.
The longer he was scared, the more it served as revenge.
"Teaching assistant? What use is someone of this caliber? Bi Feng, Bi Feng, help me!"
Lei Gang looked at Bi Feng as if seeking help.
"Seeking death, quickly cut him down, he's too noisy!"
Bi Feng said, rubbing his ears.
In fact, he was also doing Lei Gang a favor. If this fool continued to speak... Zhang Chen might not even save him.
He might even turn him into a bug.
*Squelch!*
Lei Gang's head also fell from the city wall.
Finally, Qin Yan, saying nothing, was also beheaded.
"You forced me to do all this. Don't blame me!"
Lin Wu Yang said with an innocent expression.
"Mm, can we begin?"
"When dealing with the weak, I generally don't like to launch preemptive strikes."
Zhang Chen urged with some impatience.
"Ha, seeking death! I'll send you to meet your friends right now!"
Lin Wu Yang waved his hand!
The four Sect Masters swiftly charged towards Zhang Chen.
"Soul Devouring Flames!"
"Screaming Wind!"
"Frosty Blade!"
"Endless Burial!"
The four Sect Masters, each employing a different ability, unleashed their full power from the outset.
In an instant, gale-force winds, chilling tides, raging flames, and swirling sand enveloped Zhang Chen.
*Bang!*
After a dull thud.
As the dust gradually dispersed, Zhang Chen was seen standing unharmed in his original position, not even a speck of dust on him.
"Is this what you call skills that can deal with me?"
Zhang Chen shook his head slightly. He had initially thought Lin Wu Yang was some formidable figure.
Now, he appeared to be nothing more than an arrogant young man who didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth.
Zhang Chen slowly opened his five fingers and gently squeezed them in mid-air.
*Thump! Thump!*...
The four Sect Masters, with broken bones and severed tendons, plummeted to the ground from mid-air.
This gentle squeeze, using his field manipulation ability, easily crushed their bodies.
"Don't think I can't see that these four are just your puppets!"
"You should make your move personally. Don't try to fool me with a bunch of wooden dolls, or I'll only look down on you!"
Zhang Chen said, and his figure instantly vanished.
When he reappeared, he was already in front of Lin Wu Yang.
*Bang!*
With a swift swing of his left hand, he smashed Lin Wu Yang's head...
A single blow was fatal.
"The Emperor is a puppet, and Lin Wu Yang is a puppet. The true master behind the scenes, it's time for you to show yourself!"
Zhang Chen lightly tapped the city wall with his finger.
The massive city wall instantly disintegrated into molecules, scattering various materials onto the ground with a clatter.
An old man stood within the city wall, his face bearing a slight resemblance to Lin Qingsong, except that he wore a yellow ring on his hand.