Chaotic World Book

Tang Wanju did not reply to Wang Daoning's words, as the sword light from her trapped longsword suddenly surged and charged straight for Wang Daoning's throat.

Wang Daoning shifted to the side to avoid it, his protective True Qi had already been cut through, just barely not wounding his throat.

He touched his throat, somewhat surprised, "I'm used to seeing Head Tang's sickly appearance and always thought her strength was limited, even a breakthrough would be just so... Who knew she would be this powerful, the Chaotic World List truly did not deceive me."

Anyone would think that in Tang Wanju's state, even if she had a breakthrough, she might be weaker than the normal Third Layer Secret Treasure, but it turned out she seemed to be much stronger than Wang Daoning when he had first entered this realm...

To put it bluntly, her situation was similar to a fall from the Third Layer Secret Treasure, where her experience, insights in martial arts, and understanding remained at the Third Layer standard; one could say she had been honing her skills in this realm for some years now, not newly entered.

Once the sealing was released and the surging power flowed in, her body indeed could not withstand it and might explode within an hour, but at this moment of power expansion, she was at her most vigorous.

Unfortunately, facing an Imperial Realm fighter, there was still a distinct gap.

Wang Daoning continued speaking while dodging as though strolling leisurely, the rippling Spring Water Sword Technique merely cast shadows around him, unable to achieve any effect.

"Although I would really like to observe Head Tang's exquisite swordsmanship further, feeling it might benefit our Wang Family's techniques... but unfortunately, I really don't have the time," Wang Daoning dodged a sword strike and suddenly slapped Tang Wanju's lower abdomen sideways.

Once struck solidly, no need for an hour, she could die right now.

Yet Tang Wanju did not dodge or evade, her sword continuing to sweep toward Wang Daoning's throat.

Wang Daoning withdrew his hand and avoided the attack, his brows slightly furrowed.

Tang Wanju's plan was clear, all-out attack without defense, totally indifferent to her own life, only seeking to make him suffer a bit of injury... For the battle situation with Xia Longyuan, as long as Wang Daoning, an Imperial Realm main force, suffered a slight injury, that would be enough to affect the balance.

For someone who didn't care about defense at all, her aggressiveness could indeed double, as long as you're afraid of even the slightest injury, it would be difficult to quickly resolve the fight.

But if it drags on just a little longer, others might not be able to hold up against Xia Longyuan, and that would be the end!

Wang Daoning gently snapped his fingers.

Tang Wanju suddenly felt as if there were walls all around, the unseen Qi waves pressing down heavily upon her, making it hard to breathe, her movements becoming slower, and even her body feeling like it would be crushed.

Was this Wang Daoning's Imperial Realm secret technique?

Suppressing the sea without causing waves, is it due to Qi pressure?

No wonder it's said that the Wang Family means to suppress the sea rather than water manipulation... So, if Wang Daoning's breakthrough to the Imperial Realm relied on the Sea Race's methods, it shouldn't be so stable, since their meanings are not completely aligned, a bit like an approximation...

This thought flashed through Tang Wanju's mind, but in that moment of restriction, Wang Daoning's hand had already cleaved towards her neck.

Tang Wanju did not have time to consider much, abruptly arching backward, the hand chop grazing past the tip of her nose.

In Wang Daoning's eyes, her whole being seemed to have transformed into flowing water, formless and incessant.

Even if the sea is calmed without waves, the stream still flows through the mountains, much like how an elephant would struggle to squish an ant.

Then, all around, speckled with dots of light, was the water-like Sword Qi, also limiting Wang Daoning's surroundings. Originally, Wang Daoning had thrown a kick but then abruptly retracted it.

This kick would certainly land on Tang Wanju's lower half, but he would also definitely get hit with a streak of sword light.

Was it worth it?

Just half a moment ago, Wang Daoning had never thought this woman could be so troublesome—she seemed to have touched upon the feeling of the Imperial Realm, far from a novice at the Third Layer!

"You... how can you govern [imperial]?" Wang Daoning looked at Tang Wanju, pressed by the Qi Wall; she clearly hadn't broken through the Qi Wall, yet still caused him such difficulty.

Tang Wanju spoke softly, "The drizzle of spring can moisten all life, the trickling stream permeates mountains and rivers, transforming mud into water. With my heart remaining, that is it."

Troublesome.

Wang Daoning was in a hurry to return and join the encirclement on Xia Longyuan, really didn't have the mind to waste more time here, and also knew that it would be hard to decide quickly without being willing to take some injuries, so he nodded, "Head Tang is commendable. It was my mistake to end this without injury. Watch out."

With the words, another palm struck with the force of a landslide and tsunami.

As the palm was unleashed, the flowers and grass by the palace pathways were crushed, and the dark clouds above dispersed, revealing the beautiful moonlight.

The Heavenly Opening Cloud Clearing Palm! It was an utterly unreasonable barbaric force. Within several dozens of feet, everything was enveloped by the power of this palm. No matter how soft and boneless it seemed, no matter how many sword spikes and thorns covered the path, everything was ground into dust under this palm!

Tang Wanju struggled to erect multiple layers of Sword Qi. The Sword Qi pierced through the Qi Wall, revealing several cuts on Wang Daoning's palm. But it did nothing to stop him for even a moment, his palm wind already reaching her face.

Tang Wanju desperately held her sword horizontally in front of her, knowing there was no way out this time... She was trapped by the Qi Wall and couldn't make any large movements to dodge; she really did try her best... Was she only able to buy His Majesty this brief moment?

Just as Wang Daoning's palm was about to connect with the Spring Water Sword, he suddenly felt an alarm surge within him. He didn't fully commit to the strike and swiftly retracted his hand.

Tang Wanju spat out a mouthful of blood and staggered backward.

"Boom!" A pale golden arrow descended from the sky, as if the palm had swept the clouds away, allowing the moonlight to transform into a rain of deadly arrows!

The palm wind clashed with the arrow light, setting off a thunderous explosion, with dust and debris swirling around. The surrounding palaces shook violently from the residual energy of the attack, and a wooden arrow was cast aside.

Wang Daoning's heart skipped a beat, astounded by the power of the arrow!

From the heavens, a warhorse's neigh pierced the air, and Tang Wanju looked up.

In the moonlit sky, someone rode a horse from the north, the Half Moon Saber Gang cleaving through the air. A Flying Horse followed behind the sword light, with the Knight atop brandishing his Longsword and charging forward as if a Heavenly God had descended to the mortal realm.

Zhao Changhe...

Tang Wanju watched, nearly delirious with shock.

Wang Daoning picked up a Longsword and deflected the saber light. Wuzhui left the scene, and Zhao Changhe leaped off the horse—Dragon Sparrow had arrived in physical form!

"Clang!" Swords clashed. Zhao Changhe couldn't absorb the force and tumbled backward. At the same time, his left hand shot out a sword light, sneak attacking Wang Daoning's ribs.

Wang Daoning dodged, but a chill rose behind him as the Spring Water Sword light neared his neck—Tang Wanju attacked despite her injuries. It was almost possible to feel her change from heartbroken despair to surging fighting spirit in an instant—she only needed a moment!

Wang Daoning was angry and flustered. How had Zhao Changhe appeared out of nowhere? What was this Flying Horse, and since when could horses fly? I've only just learned to fly in the Imperial Realm, and now you've got a flying horse?

It was no longer just about killing Tang Wanju; even if he could kill Zhao Changhe too, how much time would it take, and what about the battle with Xia Longyuan?

It had already been the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea; any further delay and that side would undoubtedly collapse! If that side fell, it would be a total disaster—if Xia Longyuan got out, my entire family would be doomed!

Wang Daoning made a split-second decision, suddenly expanding the Qi Wall to trap Zhao Changhe, who was trying to assist Tang Wanju, and then vanished in a flash.

They hadn't reached the Imperial Realm, and it would take at least the time to burn half an incense stick to break through the Qi Wall's encirclement. Plus, Tang Wanju was already living on borrowed time, having only an hour left and having suffered injuries, so she couldn't last more than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea. Why entangle here, when the battle elsewhere was more crucial!

"Bang!" Zhao Changhe kicked viciously, but the Qi Wall didn't budge—he couldn't get out.

He turned to look at Tang Wanju, who was leaning weakly against the Qi Wall behind her, her beautiful eyes steady as she gazed at him without uttering a word.

Zhao Changhe took a deep breath, his eyes a mix of respect, pity, and anger. He couldn't truly express his emotions, nor did he know what to say. He simply stepped forward and took Tang Wanju's wrist to check her pulse.

"Congratulations, you still have half a cup of tea left to live," Zhao Changhe finally spoke with annoyance. "Are you willing to die for him and not willing to live for me?"

Tang Wanju replied straightforwardly, "I'm sorry."

Seeing her apologize so bluntly, Zhao Changhe had a belly full of resentments that he couldn't express and after a long while, he managed to squeeze out, "Do you have any last words to say?"

Tang Wanju smiled weakly, her eyes shining brightly. "You said I was going to die for him, which isn't quite right... I should say I lived only for Great Xia my entire life. Thank you for your anger, I'm sorry... If there is an afterlife, I would be willing to live for you."

Zhao Changhe looked at her steadily and whispered, "There's no need for an afterlife; the second half of this life will do."

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PS: Throughout history, insurgents or rebels have never first considered who among the Hu people would take up the cause. If someone in a book actually considers this, it's unique to the fairy tale nature of wuxia. To say that everyone should think this way or else they are traitors to the people, our comment section would have to be counted, and even Chong Zhen wouldn't dare to hope for that. When you think about it, there's really nothing worth arguing over; the starting point is actually very positive...

That's it for today, I've wasted a lot of time, and I'm very sorry.