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!