843 Where Is My Imperial Palace?

The success of a general builds on a million bones. Jiang Hongyan had never pursued any lofty ambitions. However, in order to protect Xu Que, she wiped out hundreds of guards and generals without a second of hesitation. Her assault was over within minutes.

Afterwards, she remained as quiet and dignified as ever. It was as if nothing in the world could affect Jiang Hongyan. The only exception was the man up in the air, who was taking over the Imperial Palace for her. He was her everything!

Whiz!

A muffled thud resounded in the air.

Xu Que had successfully taken over the Imperial Palace. The System had compressed the vast Imperial Palace to the size of a hand and stored it next to the Ancient Life and Death Wheel.

Xu Que's figure flashed and descended from the skies. He returned to Jiang Hongyan's side and smiled cheekily, "It's over, my woman. We can go now!"

Jiang Hongyan smiled and stretched out her slim hand. Xu Que returned her smile and held her soft and slender hand. Lightning formed under their feet, and they shot through the sky, sweeping away to the distance.

Only debris was left where the Imperial Palace had once stood. A messy heap of earth remained where Xu Que had uprooted the palace. Many people who were living in the Imperial Palace – the maids, eunuchs, prison guards, and ministers – were struck dumb at the latest development. Their minds had gone completely blank. They could not believe that the Holy Senior, who had disappeared hundreds of years ago, would kill so many guards and generals in front of them. And then she had even left hand in hand with that young man.

What was most frightening was that the young man had been able to dig up the whole Imperial Palace. Moreover, he was only at the Form Synthesis Stage!

What was the meaning of this?

It was much worse than stealing the girl!

He has stolen our Holy Senior and the Imperial Palace. Who on earth was that fellow?

Swish!

All of a sudden, a few streams of light descended over them.

Then, with a metallic sound – ding! – several embroidery needles and a pile of fine thread fell onto the ground around them. Xu Que's voice rang out from afar: "We, the Exploding Heavens Faction, are principled and upright. No matter how deep our hatred runs, we will never steal needle and thread. Take them back. We return the needles and threads of the Imperial Palace!"

He spoke assertively, as if he was declining something in a way neither servile nor overbearing. The audience was beyond angry. They went green in the face, but could not do anything. No one dared to chase after them, and no one dared to face Jiang Hongyan. They knew full well the Holy Senior's prowess!

"It seems that the Holy Senior will never come back again!" Someone shook his head.

"But the Emperor will!" Someone stated with concern. They would be greeted with the Emperor's seething rage when he returned!

"This is bad. We'd better leave as soon as possible. Since the Imperial Palace is gone, we are free!"

"Run!"

After this conversation, countless maids and eunuchs and even some Imperial guards fled without any hesitation.

…

Meanwhile, somewhere thousands of miles away from the Imperial Palace, the two figures were still fighting. Magic spells exploded high into the sky, causing the void to tremble and shatter at places. It was a horrifying scene.

Lord Zeng held good to his word and fought the Emperor with everything he had. The battle lasted three days and three nights. When the sun rose on the fourth morning, the two men had depleted their True Core Strength somewhat, but neither of them had suffered any injuries. At their level of cultivation power, no one could win unless they unleashed their Celestial Artifacts and fought to the death.

"Hmph, Fat Zeng! If you keep biting into me tightly like this, don't blame me for fighting you with my Celestial Artifact!" In the end, the Emperor lost patience and seethed.

Lord Zeng, however, did not back down. He answered coldly, "Your daughter seized my Celestial Concealment Herb, and I will not let the matter go this easily. Unleash your Celestial Artifact if you want! Did you think I don't have one?"

With that, Lord Zeng made a big wave and called out a golden wheel. The golden wheel emitted brilliant rays and scorching temperatures even before its activation.

The Emperor frowned, apparently unwilling to fight Lord Zeng to this extent. He feared that he would be injured. In Xuanzhen Continent, there were other influential powerhouses at his level, eyeing an opportunity to make their moves.

"Forget it. Isn't it just a Celestial Concealment Herb? I'll go back and open the Treasure Cove and return one to you!" The Emperor said in a low voice. He had given in in the end.

Lord Zeng looked slightly pacified, but he shook his head: "I don't care about a mere celestial herb, but your daughter and that kid disrespected me by committing such actions! They took my name and raked it through the mud, as well as the reputation of my Myriad Buddhas Sect! If you don't give me an answer, what face will I have left if it is leaked to the public in the future?"

"Hmph! Who would dare to laugh at the Myriad Buddhas Sect when you, Fat Zeng, are in charge? I advise you to accept what I offer. Otherwise, it will only end in a lose-lose situation!" The Emperor laughed coldly.

Then Lord Zeng frowned and, after a little moment of silence, he said, "Old Ji, no need to say anything further. I know you won't hand over your daughter, but you can't protect the boy who was with her. I will kill him!"

With that, Lord Zeng turned around and flew away.

The Emperor looked at him darkly as he walked away. Once certain that Lord Zeng had left, he smiled disdainfully. He shook his head and sneered, "To think that you are as foolish as I had always!said you were. Such arrogance. Even if you don't kill that kid, I will when I see him!"

Then he headed back to the Imperial Palace.

However, after a few moments, he arrived at where the Imperial Palace was supposed to be and saw the barren ground. Shocked, he thought that he must have gone down the wrong road and looked around unbelievingly. Then, all of a sudden, reality hit him, and he was utterly beside himself.

Imperial Palace! Where is my Imperial Palace!" He screamed in shock and anger. He became so furious that his hair was standing on end, and he was consumed by rage.

"Who did this?"

A world-shaking roar rang throughout the area.

…

Much later, Xu Que and Jiang Hongyan quietly returned to the Myriad Buddhas Sect. They arrived roughly around the same time as Lord Zeng. When Lord Zeng saw that Xu Que and Jiang Hongyan had returned earlier than he did, he was stunned.

"Young friends, have you...failed?" Lord Zeng asked in astonishment.

According to their plans, Xu Que and Jiang Hongyan should not be back this soon or maybe would not even return at all.

"You worry too much, Lord Zeng. When I strike, I never miss!" Xu Que immediately laughed.

Lord Zheng nodded his head and smiled at the two. "Congratulations then, to you and the Holy Senior!"

Lord Zeng showed a trace of curiosity and looked at Xu Que. "Young friend, I wonder if you could show me the legendary God-realization Fruit? I've heard about the Emperor's success, but nobody has seen it. I'm curious!"

"I'm afraid that that is impossible. Your place is too small to accommodate it!" Xu Que answered, apparently in a dilemma. It was not that he didn't want to take it out. The God-realization Tree was in the Imperial Palace, and the Imperial Palace lay in the Holy-Weapon Keeping Pavilion. To take it out, he would need first to move the whole Imperial Palace out.

"Too...too small? My friend, you must be joking. This Myriad Buddhas Sect of mine is vast. How could it be too small to accommodate such a small God-realization Tree?" Lord Zeng asked in confusion.

Xu Que smiled and said, "I'm not talking about the God-realization Tree. I'm talking about the Imperial Palace!"

"The Imperial Palace?" Lord Zeng asked, bewildered and more confused than ever, unable to know how to react.

"Well, you might not believe it, but I uprooted the entire Imperial Palace!" Xu Que said with a smile.

Lord Zeng was shocked and stunned for a moment, then he almost fell off his chair as he trembled at the realization.

"You...you mean you seized the entire Imperial Palace? H-how is that even possible?" Shock filled his face. He couldn't believe what he had just heard, but at the same time he felt that Xu Que wasn't joking.

"Haha, Lord Zeng, don't get so agitated! The Imperial Palace, when taken back to the Exploding Heavens Faction, will be nothing more than a dog's kennel! Ah, right, Buttface can use it!" Xu Que sang boastfully.

Lord Zeng quickly went pale and lost the ability to respond. After some time, he looked at Xu Que solemnly and said, "Young friend, I know not of the impressive means you used to seize the Imperial Palace. However, it's a done deed. I can only advise you to leave the Xuanzhen Continent immediately. The farther you go, the better!"

"All right. Farewell!"

Once Xu Que had heard those words, he took up Jiang Hongyan's hand and left right away.

Uh? Lord Zeng was taken aback and watched them leave with a blank expression.

What just happened?

That's not how the plot is supposed to go! Don't people normally ask why when they hear such words?

How is it that this guy always plays his cards so eccentrically?

Tell him to leave, and he leaves at once.

Crap, wait a minute! You haven't given me that Orleans Chicken Burger you promised!