Lawan Jiang Yu dalam pertarungan ini adalah Zhong Zhenyue. Tanpa mengangkat sedikit pun, Jiang Yu menggelembungkan tubuhnya di udara, sebuah pedang ilahi kuat-erat dipegangnya antara gigi-gigi, sementara seekor naga keemasan matrahi mengelilingi langit di atas ibu kota kekaisaran, diselimuti cahaya matahari. Kerajaan yang menakjubkan itu melonjak seperti gelombang tsunami, menekan segala arah.
Li Mo menyaksikan Zhong Zhenyue berusaha keras untuk tetap berdiri, seolah paksaan tak terlihat menggebokannya untuk bernaas. Untuk melawan tekanan itu, ia menggigit bibirnya sampai munculnya tetesan darah.
"Kemuliaan Putra Mahkota semakin dalam..."
"Niat ilahi di dalam jiwanya seperti kaisar yang memiliki diri sendiri—mungkin bahkan setara dengan Martial Emperor dari Nenekkota yang agung."
"Di sini di ibu kota, seluruh kota kekaisaran mendukungnya... kota itu seperti ranah batinnya."
Pada saat ini, semua orang yang pertama kali menyaksikan kekuatan Jiang Yu itu gemetar ketakutan, hati penuh ketakutan.
Cultivator sekalipun di dalam Peringkat Naga Tersembunyi yang berharga apa pun yang bisa mengalahkannya?
Tidak hera nanti ada yang pernah mencurigai apakah posisi teratas di Peringkat Naga Tersembunyi pernah bisa berubah tangan...
Keluarga kekaisaran yang telah mengalami kekalahan berturut-turut, sempat terguncang.
Tapi kini, melihat dominasi Jiang Yu, bahkan Putra Keempat—yang tidak pernah mempelajari bela diri, lama tak terjaga karena kesenangan, dan baru saja kehilangan segalanya dalam sebuah taruhan—berdiri teguh dengan penuh bangga.
"Saudaraku Putra Mahkota pasti adalah yang tertinggi di Peringkat Naga Tersembunyi melewati semua dinasti," pengumbarakan Putri Yuyang, menghidupkan kembali bangganya.
Putra Keempat membuka kipasnya, mengamati santai para pengawal dan rakyat biasa di bawahnya.
"Apa kabar aku kehilangan? Aku tidak takut memberi, tapi apakah Si 'Tiran Kecil Palu Ilahi' yang berani mengambil?"
Zhong Zhenyue tadi berkata dengan sombong. Siapa yang tahu dia akan menghadapi Saudara Pertama hari ini? Pantas saja—biarkan ini menjadi pelajaran.
Putra Kedelapan menggundungkan bahu dengan penyesalan.
"Seharusnya ia bisa setidaknya mencoba bertarung. Tapi alasankah, bagaimana seseorang yang hidup dengan lembut dari kekasih raja bisa berani melawan?"
...
Kerumunan di sekitar mereka jatuh ke lutut dalam gelombang, bahkan mereka dari Peringkat Naga Tersembunyi pun merinding dan gemetar.
Bahkan posisi sepuluh teratas di peringkat terlihat tak mampu melawan.
"Kenapa aku tidak merasakan apa-apa?"
Li Mo, sebaliknya, menyadari tekanan yang dia rasakan lebih ringan daripada ketika dia bertemu Jiang Yu di restoran hotpot tadi.
Sebenarnya, bahkan saat itu, ia tidak merasakan yang disebut 'kemuliaan kaisar'—hanya rasa berat yang menindih dari kultivasi Jiang Yu.
Bukan hanya karena dari Great Sage niat ilahinya...
Ia teringat pada patung-patung di Alam Rahasia Phoenix Darah. Salah satunya menggambarkan Martial Emperor dari Nenekkota yang agung, memancarkan kekuatan kemuliaan yang menakjubkan. Sementara orang lain terpaksa berlutut, Li Mo juga tidak merasakan apa pun saat itu.
"Kamu dan Ying Bing memiliki sifat khusus."
Suara itu, diiringi chiming kristal, milik Tian Miao.
"Hah? Kapan kamu tiba di sini?" Li Mo membuka mata butanya dalam kejutan.
Tian Miao berhenti sejenkai sebelum menjawab: "Apa mungkin, aku juga ada di peringkat itu?"
"Aku tidak melihatmu di atas panggung tadi."
"Sekte Yantian ada di luar urusan duniawi. Kita tidak mengikuti pertarungan peringkat."
Tian Miao menatap panggung dan mengangguk.
"Jika Zhong Zhenyue terus-menerus memaksa dirinya seperti ini, dia akan hanya melukai diri sendiri lebih parah lagi."
"Tekasarnya lebih dalam?"
Li Mo juga memperhatikannya.
Sepertinya, semakin dalam jalinan seseorang dengan keluarga kekaisaran Great Yu, semakin berat pula tekanan kemuliaan kaisarnya.
Orang-orang yang telah lama tinggal di ibu kota—apakah rakyat biasa atau pengawal—kini semua berserentetan di tanah.
Bahkan wajah Xie Xua pucat, sementara Huang Donglai dan Xiao Qin sedikit lebih baik.
Sedangkan untuk Chu Long...
Putri Little Jiang kesulitan bertahan, bergantung pada teknik 'sentuhan kepala'nya untuk menjaga komposurnya.
Tian Miao mengangguk. "Putera Yang Diwangi menggulingkan subjeknya seperti sapi liar. Jika raja menuntut kematian, maka subjek tidak punya pilihan selain patuh."
"Baiklah, itu nyaman. Niat ilahi Great Sage-ku semakin membara ketika semakin otoriter lawankanku... " bisik Li Mo.
Sekarang, niat ilahi Great Sage-nya hampir meledak, seolah rindu untuk meledak.
Agaknya seperti Hammer Treasure yang selalu ingin menghancurkan sesuatu?
Di panggung.
"Lepas senjatamu."
Suara Jiang Yu lembut, namun nada-nada ia mengandungkan rasa tidak tergoyahkan dari hukum kaisar.
Keluarga Zhong menjaga perbatasan selatan, dan Siapa-apa pun yang terjadi di balik layar, penampilan harus terjaga.
Bukankah lebih baik bagi raja dan subjek untuk saling menghormati?
Jika bukan karena Zhong Zhenyue yang melawan, Jiang Yu tidak perlu merilis niat ilahinya.
"Rasa hormat antara raja dan subjek harus dijaga. Tapi ada pertanyaan dalam hati ini—satu hal yang harus kuhadapi kepada Putra Mahkota secara tatap muha!
Jiang Yu's opponent in this match was Zhong Zhenyue. Without even lifting a finger, Jiang Yu hovered mid-air, a divine sword clenched between his teeth, while a golden dragon coiled above the imperial city, bathed in the sun’s radiance. His overwhelming majesty surged like a tidal wave, pressing down on all sides.
Li Mo watched as Zhong Zhenyue struggled even to stand, as if an invisible force compelled him to kneel. To resist the pressure, he clenched his teeth so hard they drew blood.
"The Crown Prince’s majesty has grown even more profound..."
"The divine intent within his soul is that of an emperor’s bearing—perhaps even rivaling that of the Martial Emperor the Great Ancestor."
"Here in the capital, the entire imperial city is his support... the city itself is like his inner realm."
At this moment, those witnessing Jiang Yu’s power for the first time trembled in fear, their hearts filled with dread.
What cultivator in the Hidden Dragon Ranking could possibly defeat him?
No wonder no one ever questioned whether the top spot on the Hidden Dragon Ranking could ever change hands...
The imperial descendants, who had suffered consecutive defeats, had been crestfallen earlier.
But now, seeing Jiang Yu’s dominance, even the Fourth Prince—who had never practiced martial arts, had long been weakened by indulgence, and had just lost everything in a bet—puffed out his chest with pride.
"Big Brother Crown Prince must be the greatest in the Hidden Dragon Ranking across all dynasties," Princess Yuyang declared, her pride restored.
The Fourth Prince flicked open his fan, leisurely observing the kneeling martial artists and commoners below.
"So what if I lost? I dare to give, but does the 'Divine Hammer Little Tyrant' dare to take?"
"Zhong Zhenyue spoke recklessly earlier. Who knew he’d face Eldest Brother today? Serves him right—let this be a lesson."
The Eighth Prince shook his head regretfully.
"He could’ve at least had a chance to strike. But alas, how can one who has long enjoyed the emperor’s grace dare to rebel?"
......
The crowd around them fell to their knees in waves, even those on the Hidden Dragon Ranking finding their legs weak and unsteady.
Even the top ten on the ranking seemed unable to resist.
"Why don’t I feel anything?"
Li Mo, on the other hand, realized the pressure he felt was weaker than when he had encountered Jiang Yu in the hotpot restaurant.
In truth, even back then, he hadn’t sensed the so-called "imperial majesty"—only the oppressive weight of Jiang Yu’s cultivation.
It wasn’t just because of his Great Sage divine intent...
He recalled the statues in the Blood Phoenix Secret Realm. One of them depicted the Martial Emperor the Great Ancestor, exuding overwhelming imperial might. While others had been forced to their knees, Li Mo had felt nothing then either.
"You and Ying Bing have special constitutions."
The voice, accompanied by a crisp chime, belonged to Tian Miao.
"Huh? When did you get here?" Li Mo blinked in surprise.
Tian Miao paused before replying, "Is it possible that I’m also on the ranking?"
"I didn’t see you on stage earlier."
"The Yantian Sect exists beyond worldly affairs. We don’t participate in ranking battles."
Tian Miao gazed at the stage and shook her head.
"If Zhong Zhenyue keeps pushing himself like this, he’ll only injure himself further."
"He’s under even greater pressure?"
Li Mo noticed it too.
It seemed the deeper one’s ties to the Great Yu imperial family, the heavier the weight of the imperial majesty.
Those long residing in the capital—whether commoners or martial artists—were now prostrate on the ground.
Even Xie Xuan’s face had paled, while Huang Donglai and Xiao Qin fared slightly better.
As for Chu Long...
Princess Little Jiang was barely holding on, relying on her "head-patting divine technique" to maintain her composure.
Tian Miao nodded. "The Son of Heaven herds his subjects like cattle in the wild. If the ruler demands death, the subject has no choice but to obey."
"Well, that’s convenient. My Great Sage divine intent thrives the more authoritative my opponent is..." Li Mo mused silently.
Right now, his Great Sage divine intent was practically burning, as if eager to burst forth.
Kinda like how Hammer Treasure always wanted to smash something?
On the stage.
"Drop your weapon."
Jiang Yu’s voice was soft, yet his tone carried the unyielding weight of an imperial decree.
The Zhong family guarded the southern borders, and the Southern Suppressing King was watching from above. Whatever happened behind the scenes, appearances had to be maintained.
Wouldn’t it be better for ruler and subject to show mutual respect?
If not for Zhong Zhenyue’s defiance, Jiang Yu wouldn’t have even needed to unleash his divine intent.
"Respect between ruler and subject must be upheld. But this subject has a question—one I must ask the Crown Prince to his face!"
Zhong Zhenyue gritted his teeth, his gaze fixed on Jiang Yu.
The southern border affair had left him seething, but he had no right to question the Crown Prince or the Emperor in court.
But Brother Li was watching from below. If even Brother Li hadn’t retreated in the southern border, how could he back down now without a fight?
Noticing Zhong Zhenyue’s blazing stare, Jiang Yu maintained his faint smile. He saw no need to explain further.
With his hands clasped behind his back, the weight of imperial authority suddenly intensified.
What had been a mountain suspended in the sky now came crashing down.
If you have a question, ask it after you’ve reached me.
Rip—
Zhong Zhenyue’s armor shattered, blood vessels rupturing under the pressure.
His knees buckled, but the divine intent behind him refused to fade—as if someone had awakened within, pushing him forward.
With each step, fresh blood seeped from his body. In moments, he was drenched, leaving a trail of crimson footprints behind.
"......"
Jiang Yu watched coldly but did not strike. He couldn’t.
He had set the tone—this was about propriety between ruler and subject. To attack would undermine his own majesty.
Step—
Leaving a path of bloody footprints, Zhong Zhenyue, now covered in his own blood, finally stood before Jiang Yu.
Yet just as the crowd held their breath in stunned silence—
Thud.
He collapsed face-first onto the ground.
"Tell Brother Li... I wasn’t a coward."
Zhong Zhenyue lost consciousness.
"Heh..."
After the judges declared his victory, Jiang Yu glanced down at the audience—only to freeze in surprise.
Someone had completely ignored his imperial majesty, rushing onto the stage at lightning speed.
"I saw it. I saw everything."
Li Mo swiftly pulled out medicinal supplies.
"Ouch... Brother Li, be gentler! It hurts! Where’s my halberd?"
"Halberd’s right here. Here, the hilt... There, there, it won’t hurt."
"......"
Zhong Zhenyue passed out.
As Li Mo carried him off the stage, he noticed Jiang Yu staring at him in shock.
Well, it wasn’t just Jiang Yu—everyone in front of the stage was dumbfounded.
Seriously? The Crown Prince was busy flaunting his dominance, and everyone else could barely stand straight—yet here you were, casually hauling someone off the stage?
Did Jiang Yu’s dignity mean nothing?
Li Mo jumped down with Zhong Zhenyue on his back, muttering under his breath:
"Tsk... Those double pupils look like cataracts. Since when do disabled people act so high and mighty?"
"???"
The spectators and nobles collectively recoiled.
What kind of nonsense was this? What absolute nonsense!
Double pupils were the mark of a born emperor, a path to invincibility—even the Martial Emperor had been born with them!
Don’t spout nonsense if you don’t understand!
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