"A mere Third-Order Dao Source Realm dares to act so brazenly before me?" Yang Kai sneered as he raised his hand and slapped it down toward Fu Shu, showing no mercy whatsoever.
He'd figured it out by now — while the Human Emperor City was indeed safe, insulated from the shifting Laws of the outside world, it was also a murky swamp. If he and Zhu Qing, as two outsiders, wanted to establish a foothold here, they'd inevitably need to demonstrate extraordinary martial prowess and make it clear that they weren't the sort to be bullied.
Survival of the fittest — an unchanging universal truth, applicable everywhere. If it ever changed, it simply meant one wasn't strong enough.
Fu Shu's strength wasn't much to speak of — only Third-Order Dao Source Realm. But Yang Kai's eye was razor-sharp, and he'd long since seen that this guy's cultivation was bloated and inflated, probably forcibly boosted by some miraculous pill or Emperor-grade treasure. There was no way he could wield even a fraction of that power. What's more, this First Prince looked like someone consumed by wine and women — his body was likely hollowed out long ago.
A guy like this, Yang Kai could wipe out dozens of, even a hundred, without breaking a sweat.
Yet Fu Shu had not the slightest self-awareness. With Yang Kai barely three zhang away, once the latter made his move, there was no time for him to react at all.
Imperial Yuan surged. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth roiled. A massive, visible palm print bore down on Fu Shu's head.
The bald man's face changed drastically, and he bellowed, "Stop!"
"Stop your mother!" Yang Kai cursed, his hand not stopping — growing even more violent.
Fu Shu, sure enough, didn't react in time. He'd been craning his neck, trying to get a look at the beauty hiding behind Yang Kai's back. Only when the palm print was nearly upon him did he suddenly let out a shrill cry, his entire body going rigid as he trembled, completely at a loss.
Just as the palm was about to crush Fu Shu into powder, a haze of greenish light suddenly materialized from his body's surface, instantly forming a barrier that enveloped him entirely.
Boom...
The barrier shattered. Fu Shu's hair whipped about wildly, and his figure was a sorry sight — but he was completely unharmed.
"What the hell was that?!" Yang Kai gaped. In that instant, he hadn't seen even a trace of Fu Shu casting any technique, yet that protective shield had appeared as if out of thin air, impossibly eerie.
Looking him over, he didn't seem to be wearing any Artifact either. On the contrary, he was decked out with all manner of useless trinkets — ornaments with no function beyond decoration.
With one attack failed, the bald man had already charged in from the side. Light flashed in his hand, and a massive hammer appeared — half a table in size, its surface blazing with dazzling light that radiated an aura of extreme danger.
The bald man roared, "You dare disrespect the First Prince?! Boy, prepare to die!"
Every muscle in his body bulged as he hefted the hammer and brought it crashing down on Yang Kai's head with all his might. In an instant, the roar of wind and thunder filled the air, enough to terrify anyone's soul.
"Protect me! Protect me!" Yang Kai shouted.
Zhu Qing shot him a glare. As her red hair whipped about, her petite frame flickered and she was at Yang Kai's side. Then she raised a small, delicate, snow-white fist to meet the incoming hammer.
The bald man's expression changed again as he bellowed, "Get out of the way!"
He had no idea why this red-haired woman was seeking her own destruction, but he knew the devastating power behind his own strike. Her cultivation seemed somewhat impressive, but she was still just a fragile woman. If his blow landed, she'd be lucky to survive — and even then, she'd be severely injured.
This was the woman the First Prince had taken a fancy to. How could he dare strike her with lethal force?
But he'd committed fully to the attack, and now even if he wanted to withdraw, it was too late. With Zhu Qing standing in his path, he had no choice but to wrench his body sideways, shifting the hammer's trajectory slightly, hoping the woman might escape the blow.
Zhu Qing's fist smashed into the hammer. The tiny, dainty fist against the colossal weapon created a visually staggering contrast. Not a single soul would have doubted that Zhu Qing's fate was about to be utterly catastrophic.
The result left everyone stunned.
With a tremendous clang, Zhu Qing stood completely still, her hair dancing wildly in the gale, while the bald man gripping the hammer — his eyes bulging as if struck by lightning — froze for a heartbeat before being sent flying like a bolt.
BOOM...
The walls of the teahouse and the adjacent buildings were smashed through in a row of gaping holes. At the far end of the destruction, dust billowed everywhere, and the bald man lay amid a pile of rubble, motionless.
The crowd's eyes were nearly popping out of their skulls. The guards who had accompanied the First Prince stared at Zhu Qing in utter disbelief, never having imagined that such a seemingly boneless, delicate little body could unleash power of that apocalyptic magnitude.
It was even more inconceivable than seeing a Demon Race member cavorting about inside the Human Emperor City.
Zhu Qing shook her hand off, her face a picture of disdain.
Outside the teahouse, the two fox-like women on the palanquin let out terrified screams.
How many years had the Human Emperor City known peace? Never had anyone dared cause trouble within its walls, let alone clash with a prince. Suddenly witnessing such an explosive scene, the two women were naturally terrified — faces pale, delicate bodies trembling.
Their screams snapped the dazed Fu Shu back to his senses.