These guards had been stationed here for years, and were not permitted to approach within a hundred zhang of the Sacred Tree themselves. In all that time, apart from the Imperial family, they had never seen a single person come here.
But today, two had appeared at once—and the Human Emperor had personally brought them. That was naturally impossible to ignore.
Ahead lay a dense mass of fog that seemed to cut off divine sense and block sight, making it impossible to discern what lay within.
The Human Emperor halted and pointed forward. "The Sacred Tree is just beyond there. If our guest wishes to see it, he may enter and take a look."
Yang Kai studied the churning mist, smiled faintly, and turned to Zhu Qing. "Wait for me a moment. I'll be right back."
"Be careful!" Zhu Qing urged with a solemn expression. This was, after all, someone else's territory. Though neither she nor Yang Kai were the sort to be pushed around, open spears were easy to dodge but hidden arrows were not—caution never hurt.
"Relax!" Yang Kai smiled again and strode inward. After just two steps, his figure vanished into the fog without a trace.
Zhu Qing's fine brows knitted slightly. She knew this was the work of a formation, but it still put her on guard.
"Are you a Sacred Spirit of the Dragon Clan?" the Human Emperor asked suddenly.
Zhu Qing kept her beautiful eyes fixed on the fog ahead, as though she had not heard him.
The Human Emperor was not offended. He merely smiled mildly. "There are no Sacred Spirits in the Samsara World, but the ancient records contain numerous accounts. Legend holds that the Dragon Clan is the paramount among all spirits, unbearably proud. Why would someone of your station be consorting with a mere mortal? You drag your clan's reputation through the mud—and besides, from what I can see, your relationship with that man appears to be rather more than casual."
"If you were out there in the wider world, you would not even qualify to speak to me," Zhu Qing said, turning her head to look the Human Emperor squarely in the eye.
A shadow of menace flickered through the Human Emperor's gaze, and the gathered princes and princesses flushed with indignation. No one had ever spoken to the Human Emperor like this—it was as if he were beneath her notice entirely.
"Then you had best watch your words and know your place. You know of the Dragon Clan, so you should understand the Dragon Clan's temperament." Having said that, Zhu Qing turned back to stare into the depths of the fog.
The Human Emperor was silent for a long while before letting out a soft chuckle. "The Dragon Clan's pride is well-deserved."
He then raised a hand slightly, and a stream of emerald-green light shot out from the fog ahead, transforming into a rope that lashed around Zhu Qing and bound her tight.
"The Dragon Clan may be formidable, but before me, they are still not quite enough."
Zhu Qing's expression turned glacially cold. She looked down at the restraints coiled around her body, then raised her head. "I hope you understand what you are doing."
The Human Emperor sneered. "I know exactly what I am doing. The Human Emperor's City has stood for over a hundred thousand years. It is my Imperial family that has sheltered the human race and allowed it to flourish and survive in this world. I will not permit any unexpected variables—and that friend of yours is the greatest variable of all. Variables must be erased."
"So you lured us here to make it convenient to strike?"
The Human Emperor sighed. "The methods are somewhat underhanded, I admit. But I must consider the fate of the human race. I hope you can understand. Here, within this place, my Imperial family can bring its full strength to bear. Still, there is no need to worry—you will have company on the road to the Yellow Springs. Surely you won't be lonely."
Zhu Qing said nothing more. Instead, a dragon's roar tore from her throat, her body spinning and transforming in an instant into a crimson dragon thirty zhang long. Dragon might erupted outward, shaking the eight directions.
The emerald rope had not snapped. It seemed extraordinarily tough, able to change size at will. Even though Zhu Qing had revealed her Sacred Spirit true form in the first instant, it still held her in a crushing grip. Against the red of her scales, the green glow was especially conspicuous.
The princes and princesses all changed expression, unleashing their sacred arts at the giant dragon in a barrage. The attacks struck the hard scales and sent showers of sparks flying.
Both the overt and covert guards surged into action simultaneously. There were roughly sixteen Emperor Realm experts in total, and the two leaders were at the third level of the Emperor Realm—just one move from them carried enough force to overturn rivers and capsize seas.
Faced with so many opponents, even with her extraordinary abilities, Zhu Qing was instantly dragged into a frenzied melee. Dragon roars shook the heavens.
Among the princes and princesses, the Second Princess fought with particular viciousness, as though she intended to repay tenfold the humiliation she had suffered at Yang Kai's hands.
The little black dog charged out from the flank with reckless bravery, catching Fu Yu off guard. It sank its teeth into her thigh, baring its fangs and shaking its head furiously, clearly intent on tearing a chunk of flesh free.
"Get off!" Fu Yu roared in fury, slamming her palm down with devastating force. At the second level of the Emperor Realm, bolstered by the power of the Sacred Tree, the strike was terrifying in its might.
Yet the little black dog was extraordinarily nimble. It twisted aside and dodged the blow entirely, tearing away the fabric of Fu Yu's trousers in the process and leaving a generous expanse of pale skin exposed.
Fu Yu was so angry her face nearly twisted crooked. She could no longer be bothered with Zhu Qing, and set off after the little black dog with murderous intent.
The Human Emperor stood with a cold expression. After that initial strike at the beginning, he had not moved again. In his view, the Dragon Clan might be strong, but with the combined might of the entire Imperial family and the guards gathered here, that red dragon could be slain.
What he needed to deal with was the one who could wield sacred arts. He turned his head, and his gaze became freezing to the bone.
He had never seriously considered letting Yang Kai observe the Sacred Tree. Luring him here had simply been a matter of convenience—because the closer to the Sacred Tree, the more power he himself could unleash.