"You can't just leave my territory so easily!"
The man in black chuckled coldly, exuding a powerful aura. In a flash, he lunged towards Bei Chen.
Liu Ruyan, however, did not hesitate. He rushed forward with indifference and engaged the man in black. His priority was to stall the assailant, allowing Bei Chen to escape swiftly and survive. Otherwise, Bei Chen's fate was sealed.
Meanwhile, the onlookers watched with grave expressions. They could clearly sense the terrifying aura of the man in black, realizing that even Liu Ruyan was no match for him.
As Bei Chen departed, the eight thousand Black Armored Guards surged towards the man in black like a tide.
Liu Ruyan was repelled by a palm strike from the man in black, blood trickling from his lips. His face contorted with dismay, clearly surprised by the assailant's immense strength, which had caught him off guard.
Seeing the Black Armored Guards incessantly charging at the man in black like a tide, Liu Ruyan dared not linger. He swiftly retreated, acutely aware that if he continued to engage the man in black, he too would be unable to escape.
With his injuries, Liu Ruyan made his way towards the Northwest Royal City, his brow furrowed with concern. He understood that some actions were permissible, while others were not. His sole recourse now was to relay this information to Lu Fan, thereby saving the Prince of Bei Cheng. If he failed, the Prince of Bei Cheng would surely perish.
Not long after, Liu Ruyan arrived outside the Royal City. However, having sustained severe injuries, his journey had been arduous, and his expression remained grave.
"What has happened?"
Lu Fan seemed to sense Liu Ruyan's presence. In a blink of an eye, he emerged from the royal mansion and approached Liu Ruyan, moving as if he could traverse vast distances in a single step, appearing remarkably dynamic.
"Something has happened! The Prince of Bei Cheng is in trouble!" Liu Ruyan exclaimed repeatedly, "Quickly, quickly go rescue the Prince of Bei Cheng, or it will be too late!"
"How could this be?" Lu Fan's brow furrowed, "Did the Dragon Extermination Hall have an unparalleled master? Otherwise, how could they have injured you?"
"There is a man in black whose strength is immense, beyond my capabilities. The Prince of Bei Cheng is in grave danger!"
With a grave expression, Liu Ruyan quickly added, "Although I fought desperately to stop him, I could only hold him back for a moment!"
Upon receiving this news, Lu Fan did not dare to delay. He promptly summoned all the experts from the Northwest Royal Mansion and began to assemble towards Bei Cheng's location. If anything were to happen to the Prince of Bei Cheng in the Northwest, it would undoubtedly be detrimental to them.
Moreover, he had some rapport with Prince Bei Cheng. If the Prince of Bei Cheng met with misfortune, how could he find peace?
A short while later, Lu Fan arrived at the location of the Dragon Extermination Hall with a contingent of experts. However, around the hall, the corpses of Black Armored Guards lay scattered, presenting a grim spectacle.
Witnessing the scene, Lu Fan's brow immediately knitted. The battle had been ferociously brutal, evident from the state of affairs. He found himself wondering what kind of master could prolong a conflict for so long.
"Save... save the Prince!"
A Black Armored Guard crawled out from amidst the corpses, appearing to be on his last breath, his expression contorted.
"Rest assured, I will not let anything happen to the Prince of Bei Cheng!" Lu Fan nodded solemnly, his eyes filled with gravity. He understood the immense implications of this matter. If the Prince of Bei Cheng were to meet his end, it would undoubtedly be a significant blow to them.
Not long after, Lu Fan entered the Dragon Extermination Hall. Many within the Nine Dragon Pond were recuperating from their injuries. Upon seeing new arrivals, their eyes filled with murderous intent and palpable dissatisfaction.
"Where is the Prince of Bei Cheng?" Lu Fan demanded coldly, his aura intensifying, his gaze sharp.
In response, the members of the Dragon Extermination Hall sneered, "He is likely dead by now. What business do you have with him?"
"Dead by now?"
Lu Fan let out a cold laugh, a chilling glint in his eyes. "You have quite the audacity to speak such words. Are you all fearless of death?"
"What a colossal joke. The Prince of Bei Cheng, with his eight thousand Black Armored Guards, couldn't do anything to us. Do you think you alone can deal with us?"
The members of the Dragon Extermination Hall spoke with unbridled sarcasm, seemingly viewing Lu Fan's inquiry as a futile endeavor.
Simultaneously, a slight curve graced Lu Fan's lips. "Since you don't know the Prince of Bei Cheng's exact whereabouts, I shall send you to the afterlife now, saving you the trouble of wagging your tongues here!"
"What boastful words!"
Exuding a murderous intent, they all rose to their feet, their eyes flashing with cold light. In their estimation, all of this was utterly insignificant.
Boom...
A thunderous roar echoed, and the members of the Dragon Extermination Hall met their demise in an instant. In Lu Fan's eyes, it was all inconsequential.
The Lord of Cloud City, witnessing this, his expression shifted slightly. He looked sharply at Lu Fan, remarking, "The King's strength grows daily, and his power is now extraordinary. To think that a casual strike could possess such influence is truly awe-inspiring!"
"Stop flattering me. With that time, you might as well search for the Prince's whereabouts!"
Lu Fan rolled his eyes, his brow furrowing once more. He understood all too well that failing to locate the Prince of Bei Cheng would be a significant blow to them.
Should the Prince of Bei Cheng perish in the Northwest, it would likely stir endless turmoil in the Heavenly Court. This fact was not lost on them.
"Rest assured, Your Majesty, we will exert our utmost effort and will not disappoint you!"
The Lord of Cloud City clasped his hands, his expression grave. He was acutely aware of this matter.
Meanwhile, in a secluded valley, the Prince of Bei Cheng concealed his aura, appearing extremely tense. He was being pursued by the man in black and was wounded. If discovered by the man in black, he would undoubtedly be forced to fight for his life, with no room for doubt.
Consequently, he was now extremely anxious, daring not to make any sound, lest he attract the man in black's attention. If that were to happen, he would surely meet his end.
At the same time, not far away, the man in black was searching for the Prince of Bei Cheng, a slight smirk on his lips. "I know you are nearby. You might as well come out and face your death. After all, no one can save you. In this wilderness, you are doomed to die. Why didn't you stay in the capital and insist on coming to this desolate place!"