As the Wu family's relationship with the You family grew increasingly strained.
The situation in the entire Meishan Ancient City took a sharp turn for the worse, like a powder keg ready to explode into pieces at any moment.
Within the Wu family.
A tense atmosphere of impending storm.
Ling Fan, however, remained remarkably calm.
It was as if he had come to the Wu family for a vacation.
Several days later.
The crisis erupted without any warning!
Countless You family powerhouses, like dark clouds pressing down on the city, launched a surprise attack, charging towards the Wu family.
If it were only the You family, the Wu family could still resist.
But with the appearance of powerhouses from the Heavenly Court's Artifact Pavilion, the situation immediately changed.
The Wu family's defenses gradually crumbled.
Until they had nowhere left to retreat, falling back to the depths of the Wu family, to the edge of the palace that flickered in and out of existence in a deeper spatial dimension.
On the You family's side.
The You family patriarch, the other Ninth Tier Heavenly Emperor in Meishan Ancient City besides the Wu family ancestor, had a face full of smugness, like old pine bark.
His cloudy old eyes shot out venomous, snake-like glints as he looked at the Wu family ancestor.
He let out a sharp laugh, "Wu Zongwu, Wu Zongwu, we've fought each other for a lifetime, and in the end, you still couldn't defeat me! I've told you long ago, don't be foolishly loyal, don't be rigid. That person is already reduced to dust, what are you afraid of? What are you loyal to? Now that your Wu family is on the brink of death, can he really jump out from the netherworld to save you!"
"If you had cooperated with me earlier, and our Wu and You families had excavated this palace together, we would have likely become Emperor Lords by now!"
Speaking of this, the You family patriarch's voice grew agitated, and he said resentfully, "It was you who ruined my good deeds, you deserve to die, and your Wu family deserves to perish!"
Compared to the You family patriarch's excitement.
The Wu family ancestor was much calmer.
He said, "Old You, Old You, do you think you've won? By luring the people from the Heavenly Court here, you've invited wolves into the house. Your You family's fate may not be any better than ours. Have you forgotten the life-saving grace of that person? One cannot be ungrateful, nor can one repay kindness with enmity. It's not too late for you to turn back now. If our two families join forces, we might be able to drive out the outsiders from Meishan Ancient City!"
"Hmph, utterly foolish! Truly, truly foolish of you!"
The You family patriarch laughed sharply, his laughter like that of an ancient, cunning night owl.
"Are you addicted to being a dog for that person? He's dead, yet you're still so loyal, aren't you pathetic? Don't you want to turn over and become the master! Think about it, if you become an Emperor Lord, what glory, what power, what authority will you attain! Even the Heavenly Court will try to win you over. Isn't that ten thousand times better than guarding this thing until you die in this broken place!"
The Wu family ancestor looked at him with disdain.
"You're insane, your eyes are blinded by greed. Those with different paths cannot walk together. I have said all I can!"
The Wu family ancestor's voice suddenly became impassioned.
"Sons of the Wu family, better to be shattered jade than to retreat in death, guard the palace!"
His weathered words, like war drums, made all the Wu family powerhouses' blood boil.
Countless Wu family powerhouses, with their backs against the palace, roared, "Better to be shattered jade than to retreat in death, guard the palace!"
"Heh heh, a bunch of fools."
Opposite them.
A figure shrouded in divine light, as if an immortal had descended to the mortal realm, walked out slowly.
He wore brocade robes and jade garments, a double dragon snatching a pearl coronet on his head. He was tall, with an eagle's gaze and a wolf's demeanor, like an unparalleled emperor looking down on the world.
With every step he took.
A crisp clanging sound emanated from his body.
Countless people gasped in unison.
Because every ornament on this person, even the pearl on his coronet, was an extremely extraordinary high-grade Emperor Weapon!
A rough estimate showed at least twenty high-grade Emperor Weapons that were visible.
It could be said that this person was armed to the teeth!
Furthermore, the potent Ninth Tier Heavenly Emperor pressure emanating from him was like a tidal wave, overwhelming the Wu family powerhouses and making it difficult for them to breathe.
The identity of this person was obvious.
He was the Crown Prince of the Heavenly Court's Artifact Pavilion!
His status was incomparably noble.
More than ten thousand times more valuable than that of the Heavenly Court's inspectors.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
The You family patriarch's old face displayed a nauseatingly fawning smile.
The Crown Prince of the Artifact Pavilion said, "Since they seek death, let us fulfill their wish. If, as you say, this palace ruin is related to that forbidden individual, then everything related to it must be utterly destroyed!"
"Yes!"
The You family patriarch gave a sinister smile, waved his hand, and said, "Kill!"
Boom!
Countless You family members and the powerhouses recruited by the You family immediately swarmed forward.
A fierce battle spread across billions of spaces.
It was about to erupt!
"Kill!"
On the Wu family's side, all the powerhouses also charged forward with bloodshot eyes.
The Crown Prince of the Artifact Pavilion and the You family patriarch did not engage.
They stood facing the Wu family ancestor and Emperor Song from afar.
It was not yet time for them to act.
Once the cannon fodder had been sufficiently depleted.
The true decisive battle would begin.
The Crown Prince of the Artifact Pavilion raised his chin, his hands behind his back, exuding an imposing aura. "You are that Song Tiandi, known for both sword and literature, aren't you? Do you really intend to wade into this murky water? I can give you a chance; you can still leave now, otherwise, you will be buried with the Wu family."
Emperor Song cupped his hands towards the Crown Prince of the Artifact Pavilion, "Song greets Your Highness the Crown Prince! However, a promise is a promise, how can Song retreat from the battlefield? I must say, today I will have to witness Your Highness's formidable skills!"
"Hmph, relying on your age and overestimating yourself. Do you think I can't see through your true intentions? What good intentions can a cunning villain like you have."
The Crown Prince of the Artifact Pavilion sneered coldly.
While they were speaking.
The clash between the two forces had reached its peak.
Countless powerhouses bled across the sky.
Damaged Emperor Weapons.
Tattered remains.
Flowing blood.
The scene was utterly tragic.
Although both sides suffered casualties.
It was clear that the Wu family had lost far more people.
Initially, only Yuan Emperor level powerhouses were falling.
As both sides became bloodthirsty, Xuan Emperors began to fall one after another.
Later, even a Seventh Tier Heavenly Emperor fell due to carelessness.
The current head of the Wu family, Wu Hengnan, could no longer sit still.
His heart bled with every Wu family powerhouse that fell.
"Xiao Peng, Little Monkey, Old Nine..."
Seeing familiar figures fall one by one, including his descendants, his peers, and even his elders.
Wu Hengnan let out a furious roar, his Eighth Tier Heavenly Emperor aura swept across the sky. He took a step forward, and with a bang!
He raised his palm and blasted a peak Seventh Tier Heavenly Emperor powerhouse of the You family, along with his Emperor Weapon, into pieces!
"Haha, Wu Hengnan, you finally couldn't hold back! Today, I shall fight you to the death!" The current head of the You family also made his move, charging towards Wu Hengnan.
The two Eighth Tier Heavenly Emperor powerhouses collided like two shooting stars.
Seeing the blood-stained sky and earth.
Ling Fan sighed softly.
If this continued.
The Wu family's destruction was only a matter of time.
As the sigh fell.
Ling Fan had already vanished from his original spot.