Su Luo's eyes sharpened, and she instinctively prepared to unleash the Fengshen Jue.
Suddenly, a figure appeared like a phantom, blocking Su Luo and flicking a hand.
Spiritual light surged, forming a transparent wall in mid-air. Countless blue, needle-thin hairs were unable to penetrate and fell to the ground, stunning everyone.
Li Tianjue looked at Shangguan Hanyu, exuding a terrifying aura, and said coldly, "You lost, so you resorted to a sneak attack. Qingxu Heaven does not accept disciples as despicable and shameless as you."
Shangguan Hanyu then seemed to snap back to reality, falling to his knees with a thud. He pleaded, "No, Young Master Li, I know I was wrong! Please forgive me this time..."
"Senior Brother, thank you so much."
Su Luo smiled radiantly and whispered in his ear, "You look so handsome saving me!"
Li Tianjue's heart skipped a beat, but he maintained a stern expression. "Someone broke the rules, and it was only right for me to intervene. It has nothing to do with you."
"Alright, whatever you say."
In front of so many people, Su Luo shrugged and didn't tease him further. She walked forward, kicked over the kneeling Shangguan Hanyu, swiftly searched his person for the jade token, and returned with a smile.
"Thank you for the indulgence! Everyone saw that I won the match just now. Should Qingxu Heaven accept me?"
"Accept, accept, accept!"
The common people, stirred by the scene, couldn't help but echo her. Emperor Yun Cang and the others were flustered.
Emperor Yun Cang hurried over, a look of panic on his face. "Young Master Li, Hanyu didn't do it on purpose. It's all this woman's fault. If she hadn't broken the rules first and attacked so viciously, Hanyu wouldn't have been impulsive."
"Yes, Young Master Li, you mustn't be deceived by this woman."
Su Fengnian also chimed in, "This is my daughter, Su Luo. She has a venomous heart; not only did she kill the Fourth Prince and her own sister, but she also crippled my second son, Su Hao Cheng, and injured Young Master Gu. This woman is a menace. I beg Young Master Li to hand her over to me, so I can take her back and severely punish her according to family law, showing no leniency."
Su Luo's gaze flickered towards Su Fengnian, all traces of familial affection gone.
She had thought the original owner was merely unfavored all these years, but she never expected that when trouble arose, her scummy father would, without asking for reasons or discerning right from wrong, want to sacrifice her life to protect the family.
Tang Xiaoguo indignantly chided Su Fengnian, "You're talking nonsense! Sister Su is not venomous-hearted at all. To think you're Sister Su's father and you want to kill her, how wicked!"
"This young lady..."
Su Fengnian's expression faltered, and he dared not retort.
Although he didn't know Tang Xiaoguo's name, he knew she was Li Tianjue's junior sister. How could he dare to be disrespectful to her?
Seeing that Li Tianjue remained silent and seemed unwilling to intervene, Emperor Yun Cang finally mustered his courage and waved his hand, "Guards, seize Su Luo and kill her on the spot!"
A group of imperial guards surged forward. Su Fengnian, eager to show his loyalty, rushed even faster, soaring onto the martial arts platform like a roc in flight. He shouted sternly, "You little beast! Today, I, your father, will clean house in public. Die!"
He gathered spiritual power in his palm, which blazed like a dazzling little sun, and fiercely struck towards Su Luo.
Su Luo dodged with lightning speed. With a deafening roar, the martial arts platform was blasted with a gap, sending debris flying. The startled onlookers scattered.
Since Su Fengnian was intent on killing her despite their kinship, Su Luo would not hold back.
With a flick of her sword, Su Luo unleashed a continuous sword technique. Although she occasionally fell into a disadvantage, she fought Su Fengnian to a draw. The other members of the Su family watched from below, wishing she would die sooner so as not to implicate the entire Su family.
"You dare fight back, you unfilial daughter..."
After more than twenty moves, Su Fengnian still couldn't subdue Su Luo, and only then did he realize he had underestimated her all these years.
With a roar, his entire palm turned fiery red, radiating a layer of crimson flame. Like an eagle's claw, it fiercely grasped towards Su Luo's shoulder.
If this move landed squarely, Su Luo would be crippled, if not killed.
The crowd watched with excitement, and Emperor Yun Cang was even more thrilled, a cruel smile appearing on his face.
Who would have thought that the next moment would be a twist of fate? Su Luo evaded with a strange movement technique, a glint of light flashing in her eyes. Willing to sacrifice half a month of her lifespan, she unleashed the 'Fengshen Jue' again, piercing Su Fengnian's chest with her sword.
As agonizing pain surged, Su Fengnian looked at the sword lodged in his chest, stunned.
Su Luo had actually managed to defeat him...
As soon as this thought crossed his mind, Su Luo swiftly drew her sword and cursed, "Even a tiger doesn't eat its cubs, yet you are worse than a beast!"
She kicked him. Su Fengnian felt as if he were bound by invisible ropes, unable to move. His head spun, and he was sent flying, crashing heavily onto the ground.
Pfft—
Su Fengnian spat out a mouthful of blood, his face instantly withered.
"Father! Uncle! How are you?" Several young men and women rushed forward.
"Patriarch—" The Su family members' faces changed drastically. They quickly helped him up, their faces ashen.
Su Hao Cheng glared at Su Luo, "You wretched girl, you are so heartless. Uncle is your biological father, and you actually laid hands on him!"
Su Luo stood on the stage, her bloodied sword in hand, her face icy cold. "He wanted to kill me, shouldn't I retaliate? I was missing for three months, my life or death unknown, and none of you looked for me. Instead, you let Su Feiyan snatch everything from me. And what about all these years, how did you treat me? Is this what he, as a father, and you, as relatives, should have done?"
Her several cousins shrieked, "Su Luo, stop making excuses. You murdered the Fourth Prince and publicly killed your father, your sins are unforgivable. If you don't kneel down today..."
"Anyone who spouts more nonsense, you'll be the next one I kill!"
Su Luo swept a cold glance over the Su family members, frightening them into swallowing their unfinished words.
"Rebellious! Absolutely rebellious!"
Emperor Yun Cang was so enraged he almost jumped, his hair bristling. He roared, "I am here, Su Luo, how dare you be so presumptuous! Feng, Yu, Lei, Dian, the Four Dark Guards, kill her for me, and tear her into ten thousand pieces—!"
Instantly, four figures appeared faintly in the air, silently emerging like phantoms.
These four were expressionless, exuding a chilling killing intent. As soon as they appeared, Su Luo's heart tightened. So powerful!
At least Venerable cultivation, far surpassing hers. If she didn't fight desperately, she would surely die.
At some unknown time, the sky had changed.
Dark clouds churned in the sky, lightning flickered, thunder rumbled, and a wave of moisture mixed with fierce wind attacked.
The Four Dark Guards, Feng, Yun, Lei, and Dian, simultaneously flashed. The next moment, they were on the stage, surrounding Su Luo in the center. They suddenly struck her with their palms, causing Tang Xiaoguo to exclaim, "Sister Su, be careful!"
Boom boom boom!
Spiritual light erupted like tons of explosives, and a violent shockwave swept out, engulfing Su Luo in the center.
The others were blinded by the glare, their eyes tearing up, and they dared not look further, closing their eyes.
Just as Su Luo was about to use the Fengshen Jue again at all costs, a cold yet familiar voice reached her ears, "Ganging up on someone, hehe..."