"Princess, so many, so many powerful figures have entered the Imperial City!"
Xiao Qing's face was filled with horror, her eyes carrying a solemnity she had never imagined, the Nine Heavens Dynasty would employ such a scheme.
"Pass down the order, defend the Imperial City to the death!"
Princess Linglong's voice was icy, carrying a resolve to die. At this point, they could only do so.
"It's useless!"
Prince Shangguan sneered, "To assault the Imperial City, I have brought tens of thousands of experts this time, far stronger than the Imperial City's guards. Making them defend it is sending them to their deaths!"
Saying this, Prince Shangguan added, "If you are willing to surrender, I might spare your life, and then they won't have to die!"
"Never!"
Princess Linglong's expression was indifferent, "I promised my father that I would defend the Imperial City and would never let you succeed!"
"Since that is the case, do not blame me for being merciless!"
Prince Shangguan spoke coldly, his imposing aura surging. He had initially intended to avoid bloodshed, but it seemed now he would have to unleash a massacre.
"Xiao Qing, you must leave quickly!"
Linglong transmitted her voice secretly, "His aura is very strong, I am no match for him. If I meet an untimely end, you must take the Golden Armored Guards and protect the Imperial City. Never let the Imperial City fall!"
"Princess!"
Xiao Qing's expression changed, and she was deeply touched. She hadn't expected Princess Linglong to be prepared for death.
Prince Shangguan said no more. He gathered powerful spiritual energy in his palm and surged towards Princess Linglong.
Princess Linglong swung her long sword, intending to kill Prince Shangguan, but alas, in the face of overwhelming power, she was no match.
*Boom...*
With a resounding crash, Princess Linglong was sent flying, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
"Princess!"
Several Golden Armored Guards rushed forward, attempting to block Prince Shangguan, but they were instantly annihilated by him, proving no match for his might.
"Accept your fate!"
Prince Shangguan sneered, "The White Dragon Dynasty's destiny is at its end!"
"Even if I die, the White Dragon Dynasty still has many generals, and they will never surrender!"
Princess Linglong sneered. She was already at her limit, and the Golden Armored Guards had suffered heavy casualties. In such a situation, it was impossible to turn the tide.
"Facing death, yet still so arrogant!"
Prince Shangguan chuckled, walking step by step towards Linglong, like an emissary of judgment.
"I'll fight you!"
Xiao Qing, gripping her long sword, charged forward, only to be sent flying by a palm strike from Prince Shangguan, unable to withstand even a single blow.
Princess Linglong slowly closed her eyes, recalling her childhood, her heart filled with emotion.
The fighting Golden Armored Guards also fell into despair. With Princess Linglong dead, they would be leaderless, and the Imperial City would be theirs for the taking.
"She is not someone you can touch!"
Just then, a cold voice echoed throughout the Imperial City. Prince Shangguan abruptly stopped, looking around.
He saw Lu Fan walking out from the palace, his expression indifferent but his aura imposing.
"Lu Fan!" Princess Linglong exclaimed in surprise. She had thought Lu Fan had already left, unwilling to be involved in the royal struggle, but she never expected him to appear here.
"Who are you? You have quite the nerve to interfere with the Nine Heavens Dynasty?" Prince Shangguan spoke coldly.
"I already said, she is not someone you can touch!"
Lu Fan said sternly, "Take your people and get out of the Imperial City, or die!"
"Such arrogance, what ability do you have to utter such presumptuous words?"
Prince Shangguan was displeased. Lu Fan was of similar age, but his words irked him greatly.
"Lu Fan, be careful!"
Princess Linglong said with concern, "He is not weak!"
"Don't worry!"
Lu Fan smiled and lunged forward, becoming a blur.
Before Prince Shangguan could react, he was sent flying by a powerful aura, with no power to resist.
"Impossible, this is absolutely impossible!"
Prince Shangguan cried out in disbelief. He could never have imagined that Lu Fan, so young, would possess such strength.
"Nothing is impossible!"
Lu Fan narrowed his eyes, his expression growing colder. "The Nine Heavens Dynasty harbors wicked intentions. You will not leave the Imperial City today!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Prince Shangguan was immobilized by Lu Fan, unable to move.
At this moment, numerous black-clothed figures from the Nine Heavens Dynasty surged forward, advancing towards Lu Fan.
The Nine Heavens Dynasty had brought tens of thousands of experts this time, their objective being to capture the Imperial City. How could they allow Lu Fan to disrupt their plans?
"Be careful, Imperial Son-in-law!"
The Golden Armored Guards shouted, their hearts filled with worry. These black-clothed figures from the Nine Heavens Dynasty were powerful, and any lapse in Lu Fan's attention could spell great danger.
"Hmph!"
Gazing at the approaching experts, Lu Fan snorted. A massive flame suddenly appeared around him, a flame that seemed to burn the very air, causing the experts of the Nine Heavens Dynasty to tremble.
*Boom...*
A colossal sound erupted, and the entire Imperial City was engulfed in a sea of fire. Everywhere the eye could see, flames soared into the sky.
In the blink of an eye, numerous black-clothed experts met their demise.
The other members of the Nine Heavens Dynasty, witnessing this, dared not move rashly. Lu Fan's formidable fiery power was enough to awe them.
"You are an enemy of the Nine Heavens Dynasty, and you will surely die a terrible death in the future!"
Prince Shangguan spoke coldly, his words laced with threat. His mission this time was to seize the Imperial City, and failure would impact the entire war effort.
"Ridiculous, you are already my prisoner, yet you dare to be so audacious!"
Lu Fan's expression was cold, carrying a murderous intent.
"Lu Fan, spare his life!"
Linglong spoke, "After all, he is still useful!"
Lu Fan nodded slightly, then turned his gaze to the black-clothed figures, exuding an unparalleled deterrence.
"Take the Prince and leave!"
Seeing the dire situation, a black-clothed figure commanded. The other black-clothed figures immediately moved, attempting to rescue Prince Shangguan.
However, with Lu Fan guarding him, anyone who approached Prince Shangguan met their death.
Witnessing this, the people within the Imperial City finally breathed a sigh of relief. They had thought the Imperial City was about to fall, but now, with the Imperial Son-in-law's intervention, all was secure.
Knowing rescue was impossible, the black-clothed figures directly fled, not daring to linger in the Imperial City.
They had already suffered heavy casualties, and if they didn't leave now, they risked complete annihilation.
"Imperial Son-in-law, we owe you greatly today!"
Xiao Qing said, "If not for you, it would have been dire!"
"I have been in seclusion, and fortunately, I emerged early!"
Lu Fan said softly, "Imprison this Prince Shangguan, and we will head to the front lines immediately!"
"That is precisely my intention!"
Princess Linglong nodded, "Using Prince Shangguan as a hostage, we will demand the Nine Heavens Dynasty retreat!"
"Retreat?"
Lu Fan narrowed his eyes. "The Nine Heavens Dynasty has attacked repeatedly. This time, they must pay the price!"
Princess Linglong was startled. She could sense the killing intent and ferocity emanating from Lu Fan.
"Don't waste your efforts. The Nine Heavens Dynasty is determined this time, and no one can stop them!" Prince Shangguan spoke coldly.