Chapter 566: Chapter 436: Divine Power Realm Experts, Battle to the Death
The sky, winds rising and clouds swirling, black clouds like a raging torrent, churning incessantly in the heavens.
Inside that torrent was powerful Primordial Power, with a person-like giant bat suspended in midair.
It was Hong Qingyun!
Hong Qingyun’s gaze was icy, looking down at the people on the training ground.
Heaven and earth, the strong and the weak, were clearly distinguished.
Just the sight of Hong Qingyun standing there made everyone feel as if they were unable to move.
Seeing Hong Qingyun, Hong Fang was ecstatic, while Hong Mingyue recalled the Nine Revolutions Reincarnation Elixir, filled with mixed emotions, not knowing whether to feel happy or sad, merely staring blankly at her grandfather in the sky.
This was once her dearest relative, yet now, he seemed so unfamiliar.
"Gu Cangtian, what are you supposed to be?"
A thunderous rage echoed between heaven and earth.
Upon seeing Hong Qingyun, Military Marquis Gu Cangtian turned pale.
Gu Cangtian had realized Hong Qingyun’s strength, which he could no longer see clearly.
Hong Qingyun and Military Marquis Gu Cangtian, both lingering in the Reincarnation Fifth Level for decades, had been engaged in both overt and covert conflicts for more than just a day or two.
It was precisely because their existence counterbalanced each other that Daxia had been peaceful for all these years.
Gu Cangtian had never wanted to believe that the Hong Residence would rebel until he saw Hong Qingyun and then he understood.
Hong Qingyun had managed to conceal his vast Primordial Power completely, reaching such a level of cultivation that he had broken through to the Six Paths of Reincarnation!
"Indeed, this old man has stepped into the Divine Power Realm. Gu Cangtian, in recognition of the years you have served in the court alongside me, as long as you turn from darkness to light, I can still spare your life and that of the Gu Family," Hong Qingyun’s presence was lasting and long, seeming to shroud the entire sky.
Divine Power Realm!
Hong Qingyun had actually broken through to the Divine Power Realm with the help of the Nine Revolutions Reincarnation Elixir.
Entering the Divine Power Realm, Reversing Heaven and Earth, discerning life and death.
Originally, Hong Qingyun was over seventy years old, his appearance sustained by Elixir Pills, but his hair was entirely white.
However, upon breaking through to the Divine Power Realm, his hair had turned black again, as if he had returned to his prime.
Gu Cangtian’s expression was solemn, realizing he was not a match for Hong Qingyun who had broken through to the Divine Power Realm.
Now, Hong Qingyun had become the foremost Martial Artist in Daxia.
The nobles and generals who had earlier supported Hong Fang instantly switched from worry to joy, relieved they had chosen the right side.
With Hong Qingyun stepping forward, Daxia Country was certain to be extinguished!
"Father! My elder brother, he... he’s dead," said Hong Fang tragically, stumbling and kneeling before Hong Qingyun.
Upon seeing Hong Qingyun, Hong Fang’s previous worries were completely swept away as he put on an appearance of immense sorrow.
Hong Shisan, watching from the side, couldn’t help but sneer.
This Hong Fang was indeed quite the actor.
Large amounts of Thunder Bombs were buried underneath the Imperial Palace Training Ground, resulting in numerous casualties. Most of the Hong Residence’s descendants, except for the few who were informed earlier, were likely killed in the explosions.
In the ensuing chaos, Hong Fang seized the opportunity to kill Heir Hong. She witnessed the entire process clearly.
Such treacherous behavior of crying "stop the thief" is characteristic of a villain like Hong Fang.
This person could kill the emperor without even batting an eyelid, and just now, he even sacrificed his wife and children for his selfish desires. His sinister intentions prove that he is no longer worthy of being called human.
Hong Qingyun swept his eyes across the crowd, only catching sight of Hong Fang and a few from the third branch, the main branch, and other descendants of the Hong Residence... His heart suddenly jolted with shock.
Hong Qingyun’s gaze narrowed as he looked at the bodies on the ground.
The eldest son, Hong Mu, was decapitated, and no one from the main branch’s descendants survived.
Even for a formidable figure like Hong Qingyun, seeing such heavy casualties within the Hong Residence made him feel unexpectedly suffocated.
"Third brother, what exactly happened here? Didn’t I tell you to hold off on taking action?" After taking the Nine Revolutions Reincarnation Elixir, Hong Qingyun had been actively assimilating its power, aiming to seize the throne at the critical moment of the Imperial Examination.
Before he went into retreat, he had repeatedly instructed his eldest and third son to wait for his return before making a move.
He rushed over immediately after leaving his retreat.
But it was still an hour too late.
Just an hour, yet the scene of death and injury before him, filled with agony, clearly showed that neither the eldest nor the third brother had obeyed his orders, ultimately paying a bloody price.
Despondent despite breaking through to the Divine Power Realm in his old age, losing several sons, Hong Qingyun faced the heart-wrenching pain of a white-haired individual mourning those with black hair, feeling an indescribable sadness.
"Father, wasn’t it you who told Uncle An to inform us to begin our move half an hour ago?" Hong Fang said, feeling that something was amiss, surmising from his father’s tone that he had just left his retreat.
"Nonsense, when did I ever send someone to notify you." Both Hong Qingyun and Hong Fang felt a sudden chill descend upon them as they realized something was wrong.
Looking around the crowd, there was no sign of the family’s old servant, Uncle An.
With a sinister gaze, Hong Fang suddenly realized something and glaring fiercely at Hong Shisan.
The latter just sneered.
That old servant was undoubtedly tampered with by Hong Shisan.
The young yet ruthlessly cunning Ghost Sect Leader Hong Shisan, disguised as Chen Hongru, skillfully set up "stakes" within the Hong Residence without Hong Fang and Hong Qingyun being aware.
"Heh~ Marquis Hong, Grand Tutor Hong, why bother staring at me in this manner? If you have a clear conscience, why fear a midnight knock on the door? Yes, I did bribe your house servant. As for his current whereabouts, you needn’t worry. He has already fled far away with his family. Though, I only admit to bribing your servant. As for why so many in Hong Residence died, you might want to ask Grand Tutor Hong." Hong Shisan’s words made Hong Fang’s face slightly change.
Almost all in the Hong Residence perished, except for those of the third branch who, despite being injured and held hostage, none lost their lives.
Given such a stark contrast, anyone with a slight bit of intelligence, let alone a cunning old fox like Hong Qingyun, would start to question.
Hong Shisan’s composure shifted Hong Qingyun’s gaze.
After his breakthrough to the Divine Power Realm, his presence was formidable, intimidating even Military Marquis Gu Cangtian with his aura.
Yet here was this young man, appearing out of nowhere, responding effortlessly with calm in his presence, suggesting the elder son’s death might be linked to the third son.
Hong Qingyun’s gaze darkened, aware of the longstanding conflict between Hong Fang and his eldest son. Could it be...
"Third brother, is what he says true?" Hong Qingyun asked sternly.
"Father, don’t listen to his nonsense. This person is cunning and ruthless, and had a grudge against your son long ago. He even defeated Ming Yue, disrupting our entire plan," Hong Fang vehemently denied, pinning all blame on Hong Shisan as the main culprit.