Though Feng Yingshan did not lose to Fengming Qishan, it was thoroughly defeated by Ling Xiao.

Now that the Heavenly Dynasty Empire is at its peak, he knows he simply cannot turn the tide.

The only choice is to leave here and head to the White Tiger Continent.

He looked at the string of sandalwood heavenly beads in his hand, something he obtained long ago.

He originally thought he might never have to use this thing.

Unexpectedly, now it is finally coming in handy.

"Members of the Fire Phoenix Clan, listen up. If you wish to come with me, return now to gather your things—no more than half an hour."

Feng Yingshan took a deep breath.

This defeat does not mean a loss forever.

Perhaps he would return someday.

"Aside from the Fire Phoenix Clan, other martial artists under the Divine Phoenix Royal Family, either surrender or die. No third option is available!"

Ling Xiao could let Feng Yingshan leave only because he didn't want to face two powerful enemies—Feng Yingshan and Fengming Qishan—at the same time for now.

He could never see through Feng Yingshan's cultivation level.

Moreover, this guy seemed to have support from other forces behind him.

However, on the Divine Phoenix Continent, the power behind him couldn't fully realize its potential.

Therefore, Ling Xiao did not want to become enemies with him.

Unless absolutely necessary, open confrontation was truly not a good approach.

Ling Xiao could allow him to leave; anyhow, regarding growth, he believed he would never fall behind Feng Yingshan.

Even if Feng Yingshan went out and started anew, so what?

He would only grow faster than Feng Yingshan.

As for others wishing to leave, it was out of the question.

He wasn't that benevolent.

Feng Yingshan had left.

Ling Xiao did not leave.

He merely sat on the Emperor's seat that should have been Fengming Qishan's, eyes closed, seemingly resting.

Fengming Lian had already left for Forest Sea City.

Outside, the army of the Heavenly Dynasty Empire was already at the city's gate.

It was indeed an unusual army, comprising not only the Human Race but also the Sea Race, Shenhuang Clan, and Black Crow Clan.

It was practically a mixed army.

However, the soldiers were dedicated, all hearts united.

This was indeed a rare sight.

In today's Mysterious World, only Ling Xiao could bring these people together and unite them.

They didn't act because they were waiting for Ling Xiao's orders, and they were also resting.

The army, having fought their way from Forest Sea City to here, was somewhat fatigued.

Ling Xiao's one-shichen limit was actually a resting time for these martial artists. Otherwise, a battle would have begun long ago.

During this period, several armies from the Phoenix God Empire had defected to the Heavenly Dynasty Empire.

As before, these defecting armies couldn't be fully trusted initially and were often used as the vanguard.

Placed between the two opposing armies.

Moreover, their ranks were disrupted, and the leading generals had long been replaced.

If these forces fought sincerely, they could gain the support of the Heavenly Dynasty Empire's army.

But if they were just pretending to surrender, they would all be killed in an instant.

This has always been the Heavenly Dynasty Empire's strategy for dealing with surrendered soldiers.

As long as you showed the momentum and battle prowess of the Central City, you'd be treated equally.

Otherwise, it would be a different story.

Ling Xiao still leaned there resting, seemingly having forgotten everything outside.

Inside the Imperial Palace, the soldiers guarding the Emperor all looked grim.

Ling Xiao was brazenly sitting on their Emperor's throne, treating them as if they were nothing.

To the experts of the Phoenix God Empire, he seemed to consider them with indifference.

Ling Xiao didn't kill them but tortured their hearts.

They didn't want to surrender because they were Fengming Qishan's most loyal guards.

But they dared not attack Ling Xiao, as they realized they lacked the strength.

The result of acting would most likely be their total annihilation.

Ling Xiao spared them, intending to show the populace his benevolence and magnanimity, not because he feared them or sympathized with them.

Moreover, this demonstration had a time limit of one shichen.

Afterward, they would still face death.

The sky had turned dark.

Ling Xiao still sat on the throne, eyes closed, meditating.

However, in the next moment, his eyes suddenly opened, icy and frigid, a cold smile appearing on his face.

The guards jumped in fright, thinking their end had come.

But upon looking at the large clock above the throne, they realized there was still half an hour left.

As they were in astonishment, suddenly more than a dozen figures appeared in the hall.

They hadn't sensed any of these people's presence at all.

They all seemed like ghostly shadows, mysterious and powerful.

All of them were martial artists with Yin-Yang Realm cultivation!

Twenty people, ten with Yin-Yang Realm First Layer Cultivation, eight with Yin-Yang Realm Second Layer Cultivation, and the remaining two were martial artists of the Yin-Yang Realm Third Layer.

Which power possessed such a formidable martial artist lineup?

And the weapons in these people's hands were quite peculiar.

Neither swords nor blades, they were all circular, with sharp blades around them.

"Xue Di Zi?"

Such a name flashed through Ling Xiao's mind, knowledge from another world filling his thoughts.

Their weapons were very similar to Xue Di Zi, yet somewhat different.

Their weapons were all inscribed with special marks and were all Mortal Spirit Artifact-level weapons.

In his memory, he had never seen such weapons in the Mysterious World.

He couldn't discern their identities.

Only sensing the aura exuding from each of them, so cold, murderous, indifferent.

As if they didn't treat life as life.

"Heh, twenty Yin-Yang Realm practitioners, quite the grand gesture indeed."

Ling Xiao raised his eyelids slightly, revealing a cold smile.

Though he didn't know who was behind them, someone commanding so many Yin-Yang Realm experts against him could not be ordinary.

And this secret mastermind indeed esteemed him highly, perhaps even knew him very well.

Knowing that ordinary people couldn't defeat him, they sent such an elite force.

"Dark Divine Temple? Water Temple? Righteous Qi Alliance? Or perhaps the Elder Council?"

In Ling Xiao's mind, aside from these entities, no one else could send such a strong team to assassinate him.

He asked, hoping to find some clues from their eyes, though he knew the answer wouldn't come.

Yet, he was disappointed.

These twenty people were evidently cultivated through rigorous and systematic training.

Each had incredibly strong mental resilience.

Ling Xiao's Tai Chi Eye could not discern their thoughts.

"Interesting."

Ling Xiao looked as if he discovered a fascinating toy, his face showing a smile of excitement.

If opponents were too weak, there was no fun.

What he wanted was such powerful adversaries, able to stimulate his potential eruption.

"Who sent you does not matter. What is essential is that you have gone too far, and you can die now!"

The cold voice came from one of the assassins.