Strongest War Emperor

"No! Don’t believe a word Xu Daolin says! He’s just a wet-behind-the-ears brat spouting nonsense!"

Ye Xiao Zheng roared furiously, "You say I’m colluding with the Demon Dao, so where is this Demon Martial Artist now? And what proof do you have?"

But for all his bluster, his body was trembling uncontrollably.

Ye Xiao Zheng was currently being held by disciples of the Imperial Dragon Sect. Any one of the three men beside him was stronger than he was.

He couldn’t make a move, nor did he dare to.

He could feel the Divine Thought of the three Xuanwu Realm powerhouses from the Imperial Dragon Sect locked onto him.

If he dared to move an inch, he might be struck dead the very next moment!

Cold sweat dripped down Ye Xiao Zheng’s face...

At this point, all he could do was brazen it out and keep denying everything... Even if Xu Daolin produced evidence, he could not admit to it!

Even if Ji Chengwu were captured, as long as he flatly denied it and there was no other evidence, no one would dare to touch him!

Otherwise, if the charge of colluding with the Demon Dao was confirmed, the Ye Family would face a far worse fate than just losing Celestial Phoenix City.

The entire Ye Family would likely be finished...

Besides, he simply didn’t believe Xu Daolin could have any evidence!

For years, Ji Chengwu had stayed perfectly hidden. Other than him and his daughter, no one else knew. How could the Xu Family possibly have found out?

And even if they did know, where would they get evidence?

Hearing Ye Xiao Zheng’s furious voice, Xu Daolin chuckled slyly and declared, "This disciple would not dare deceive the Martial Uncles. I have ample proof—both witnesses and physical evidence!"

As he spoke, he turned and gave a slight nod toward the back.

From the crowd behind the stands, three figures immediately stepped forward.

The three leaped into the air, faint wings of light appearing behind them. They slid down from the railings at the edge of the stands, each moving with exceptional grace.

PFFT! PFFT! PFFT!

With three soft sounds, the trio flew down to the battle stage, landed nimbly, and came to a stop before Shen Lang.

Only then did the crowd’s attention turn once more to Shen Lang.

This peerless, breathtakingly talented young man had previously stolen the show, but he now stood silently on the stage, so much so that the crowd had almost forgotten his presence for a moment...

But this was hardly the time to focus on Shen Lang. The matter of the City Lord’s Mansion colluding with the Demon Dao was, comparatively, far more serious.

So, after lingering on Shen Lang for a brief moment, the crowd’s gaze shifted away, focusing entirely on the three who had just landed on the stage.

Demonic Cultivators were known to be lawless and bloodthirsty, hated and hunted by all, like rats scurrying across a street.

In most parts of the Purple Chu Country, especially within the territory of the Imperial Dragon Sect, it was almost unheard of for Demonic Cultivators to show their faces.

Even if some were present, they would move in secret, cowering in the shadows.

If discovered, they would immediately be met with a relentless hunt.

In the Western Wilderness Snow Domain, only the Celestial Defying Demon Realm, which stood apart from the Eighteen Snow Countries, was a true haven for those on the demonic and evil paths.

And now...

In Celestial Phoenix City, not far from the Imperial Dragon Sect, a Demon Martial Artist had been hiding for years, constantly harming people, all without being discovered...

The very thought of it was terrifying in hindsight.

The people of Celestial Phoenix City, accustomed to their peaceful lives, now loathed Ye Xiao Zheng. They wished they could uncover the truth immediately and then tear him limb from limb!

And now, the crucial evidence was supposedly with the three men on the stage?

The crowd’s eyes were fixed on the trio, desperate to know the truth of the matter.

All three were dressed in the attire of the Imperial Dragon Sect, each with a dignified and extraordinary bearing.

They were none other than Qiu Tianqi, Hong Dahai, and Yan Congyun—the very three who had once been beaten up by Shen Lang.

Yan Congyun glanced at Shen Lang, who, despite standing right there on the stage, had an aura as still as wood or stone. The corner of Yan Congyun’s eye twitched.

He took a step forward, looked up toward the Imperial Dragon Sect’s Xuanwu Realm powerhouses, and announced, "I am Yan Congyun, a disciple of the Imperial Dragon Sect’s Heaven-Piercing Peak. Beside me are my junior brothers, Hong Dahai and Qiu Tianqi... We three can testify to everything regarding Ye Xiao Zheng’s collusion with the Demon Dao and the harm he has brought upon the people."

"Kill him! Kill Ye Xiao Zheng!" The crowd erupted into a clamor once more.

No one dared to disbelieve the testimony of Imperial Dragon Sect disciples.

Moreover, there was clearly no reason for them to lie in front of their sect Elders.

For a Demon Martial Artist to hide in Celestial Phoenix City for over three years without being discovered... indeed, no one could have managed that except the City Lord’s Mansion...

The people had already been inclined to believe it; they just wanted further confirmation.

The furious crowd grew agitated and began to move toward the Ye Family’s section, looking as if they were about to lose control.

If that mob were to charge over, it went without saying that not a single member of the Ye Family would survive...

’Xu Daolin certainly reacts fast,’ Shen Lang thought, ’but it’s a shame he doesn’t know the saying about the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Go ahead, make your big scene. I’ll just rest up and wait for the people from Evil Wind Valley... The timing should be about right. Given the distance, they should be arriving in Celestial Phoenix City any minute now. Still, you can never be sure. If they don’t show up, or if they’re delayed because of some bickering between their Elders, I’ll need to make some preparations.’

Shen Lang watched it all with a mocking gaze, remaining silent as if he were a complete outsider to the whole affair.

At that moment, one of the Xuanwu Realm powerhouses from the Imperial Dragon Sect on the stands swept a sharp gaze over Yan Congyun and said, "Where is the proof? And where is this Demon Martial Artist? Continue. You should be well aware of the Imperial Dragon Sect’s rules. This is no small matter. If you dare to forge evidence and frame someone, the three of you will not escape death!"

Yan Congyun wiped away a bead of sweat and said, "Qiu Tianqi, Hong Dahai, and I received intelligence that the Celestial Phoenix City Lord, Ye Xiao Zheng, was colluding with the Demon Dao and had harmed countless people. So today, taking advantage of the battle between the Xu and Ye families, the three of us snuck into the City Lord’s Mansion and discovered the Demon Martial Artist’s whereabouts in the mansion’s basement."

"That Demon Martial Artist’s cultivation was very high, and his Demon Cultivation Method was both vicious and tyrannical. He also had several powerful Demon Corpses with him. The three of us fought for our lives but were still outmatched. However, remembering our duty as Imperial Dragon Sect disciples to uphold justice, we knew we absolutely could not let this Demon who had harmed so many people escape. We blocked his path at all costs and managed to gravely injure him. In the end, at a critical moment, he used a Secret Technique to flee... and we pursued him relentlessly."

The scoundrel recited the story he had concocted with the other two, line by line. He spoke with an air of righteous fury, adding plenty of gestures. With his animated expressions and wild gesticulations, he put on a truly moving performance.

Even Shen Lang, standing behind him, couldn’t help but almost laugh out loud.

He looked around smugly and continued, "But that Demon was incredibly formidable, his cultivation at the Spirit Martial Realm Sixth Heaven or higher. After injuring us, he nearly escaped over the South City Wall. At the critical moment, the person who sent us the information arrived just in time and, with our assistance, killed the Demon Martial Artist on the spot."

As he spoke, he suppressed his revulsion and placed Ji Chengwu’s bloody, shredded clothes on the ground, along with the Black Dragon Halberd.

Clinging to the fabric were numerous small chunks of flesh, a sight that made one want to retch.

On the stands, Xu Daolin was taken aback for a moment. ’What are these guys playing at? This is a little different from the story we agreed on. Oh, well. It doesn’t matter. As long as the three of them prove everything and testify that I joined forces with them to kill the Demon Martial Artist, that’s all that matters.’

’The Ye Family is finished, and I can use this momentum to raise my prestige to its peak! Hmph, Shen Lang, you want to compete with me? Come back after you’ve studied for a few more years! I think three steps ahead for every move I make, my backup plans are endless and intertwined. How could someone of your caliber possibly compare? So what if your cultivation is astounding? Aren’t you still at a complete loss, just standing there like a block of wood, not knowing what to do?’

A smug look appeared in Xu Daolin’s eyes as he greatly admired his own masterminding of the whole situation.

The feeling of having everything under control was something he thoroughly enjoyed, leaving him feeling ecstatic.

On the stage, Yan Congyun continued, "Right now, the basement of the City Lord’s Mansion is filled with a gloomy and terrifying Corpse Qi. There are also several bodies of recently deceased servants that haven’t been disposed of yet, all of them drained of their blood... The sight is too horrible to bear. We disciples didn’t have time to deal with it, so we had someone seal the basement. The three Martial Uncles can send men to investigate in detail."

"Mm, you’ve done well."

The Xuanwu Realm powerhouse on the stands made a hand gesture, and two people behind him immediately sprinted toward the City Lord’s Mansion.

The expert’s figure flickered. A pair of wings suddenly unfurled as he drifted down to land in front of Yan Congyun. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

He said nothing, merely crouching down to carefully inspect the clothes on the ground, as well as the Black Dragon Halberd.

The aura of a Demon Martial Artist was not easily faked, especially the dark energy slowly flowing from the Black Dragon Halberd—a result that could only be achieved after being refined by a Demon Martial Artist for more than a decade.

Thus, with just a brief probe of his Divine Thought, the Xuanwu Realm powerhouse had already learned a great deal.

"You three have done an excellent job! Excellent!" The man looked at Yan Congyun and his companions with considerable approval, nodding his head.

The three of them beamed and said in unison, "Slaying demons is the duty of every Imperial Dragon Sect disciple. You flatter us, Martial Uncle."

The Xuanwu Realm powerhouse raised his eyebrows and asked, "The person you mentioned, the one who passed you the information and then killed the Demon Martial Artist—who is it? And where are they now?"

Up in the stands, Xu Daolin proudly puffed out his chest, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.

’Even though my plan to defeat all the experts at the martial competition was on the verge of success before it failed, and even though I was suppressed by Shen Lang’s immense cultivation, my moment to shine—Xu Daolin’s moment of infinite glory—has finally arrived.’

’In this world, the strong are revered. While power is something everyone pursues, a mind that can devise strategies and decide battles from a thousand miles away is sometimes even better, for it can control great power! For instance, my cultivation is inferior to Shen Lang’s, but the entire atmosphere he built up through his long battle was shattered by a single sentence from me! His moment of unparalleled glory is now gone without a trace!’

’I, Xu Daolin, am destined for greatness! Celestial Phoenix City is just the first step to becoming a Profound Iron Level Influence! HAHAHAHA...’

Xu Daolin was laughing maniacally in his heart, but his face remained perfectly calm.

Beside him, Long Fong and Yun Qing’s worries were also swept away, and they too became high-spirited.

All the concerns they had when Shen Lang disrupted the status quo were now thrown to the winds.

Now, with a single sentence from Yan Congyun, Xu Daolin would become the young hero who saved Celestial Phoenix City!

Everything was about to come to a close.

The Ye Family would vanish from Celestial Phoenix City, and from then on, the city would belong to the Xu Family!

In a little while, after seizing the huge mineral vein that the Evil Wind Valley had discovered on the Tala Prairie, a Cyan Wood Level influence would develop at an incredible pace.

A Profound Iron Level Influence would slowly rise!

Besides Long Fong and the others, the rest of the Xu Family also showed expressions of wild joy. Although they weren’t clear on Xu Daolin’s exact plan, they could guess a great deal from the various signs and the changing expressions on Long Fong’s group.

Just as everyone’s eyes were locked on Yan Congyun on the stage, waiting for him to name the person who had killed the Demon Martial Artist...

Yan Congyun gave a firm nod, then suddenly turned to look at Shen Lang, who had been silent all this time!

Author’s Note: The next Chapter is scheduled and will be released in 15 minutes.