Only two of the Azure Sword Sect''s disciples who entered the Secret Realm returned safely.

    The slender woman with flowing black hair and the burly man who before entering looked at Lucian arrogantly, now only had respect and fear in their eyes.

    Although they had also entered the outer zone of the lake and successfully broke through to the Golden Core realm, they knew they were not his match.

    So seeing Lucian was talking to the Royal Princess, they didn''t dare disturb him.

    Instead, they went to the Azure Sword Sect''s waiting area and bowed with fists at Elder Feng and Alisa. Their faces showed a mix of excitement and lingering fear from their experiences in the Secret Realm.

    "Greetings, Elder Feng, Vice Leader Alisa," they said in unison.

    Elder Feng nodded, his weathered face showing relief at their safe return. "You two have done well to survive and advance. Tell me, what treasures or insights did you gain?"

    The woman spoke first, her voice soft but filled with excitement, "This disciple discovered an ancient jade slip containing a high-level Cultivation Technique."

    Meanwhile, Lucian was looking at Iris, who stood beside him.

    Her face was flushed, and she was looking nervously at the Royal flying ship hovering in the distance.

    "Sigh! You were right. She has really come!" She turned him and said softly.

    "You go ahead and meet your sect elders. I-" Iris stopped abruptly and sighed again, "Mother asked me to bring you to her."

    Lucian''s brow raised up in surprise. He hadn''t expected the Empress to summon him so soon.

    So Lucian sent a message to Alisa through his Qi Sense, "Wait for me. I''ll come to you soon."

    Alisa''s brows furrowed in confusion. She didn''t understand why Lucian couldn''t come right away. But then she felt the strong aura of Golden Core radiating from him. Her eyes widened in surprise and joy.

    She smiled in anticipation and replied, "I''ll be waiting, husband. And congratulations on your breakthrough!"

    He winked at Alisa, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

    "I want a different type of congratulations later," he said softly, making her blush.

    Turning back to Iris, Lucian nodded, "Let''s not keep my mother-in-law waiting."

    At this very moment, however, a vast pressure like a vast mountain descended upon the area!

    Immediately, everyone felt their knees go weak, and many cultivators collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

    Even Lucian, with his Golden Core Cultivation, felt his body trembling under the immense force.

    The sky darkened as if night had suddenly fallen! Yet, upon closer inspection, one would see that the sun continued to shine brightly.

    In reality, it was the multitude of bizzare ghostly spirits, having the bodies of both human and beast, that had obscured the sky!

    A thunderous roar echoed across the land, shaking the ground beneath their feet.

    A hoarse voice, filled with rage and sorrow, echoed,

    "WHO AMONG YOU KILLED MY DISCIPLE ALDRIC?"

    The voice was so powerful that it caused the weaker cultivators to cough up blood. Elders from various sects looked at each other with worry and fear in their eyes.@@@@

    Alisa tried to move, to rush to Lucian''s aid, but found herself frozen in place!

    All the Golden Core Elders had been immobilized by the Soul Devouring Sect Master''s oppressive aura.

    They could only watch helplessly as the deadly attack bore down on their disciples.

    Just as the ghostly palm was about to crush Lucian, a melodious voice echoed across the heavens,

    "Sigh! Why interfere in the matters of the younger generation?"

    A sharp Qi suddenly sliced through the air, cutting the ghostly palm in two!

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    The severed halves dissipated as the rays of sun pierced through the darkness.

    The oppressive pressure vanished instantly, like mist under the morning light.

    Cultivators gasped for air, their faces pale as the deadly aura faded away.

    The old sect master abruptly turned to the Royal Family''s flying treasure, his withered face twisted in anger and shock.

    "Who?!" he asked.

    Inwardly, he was cursing furiously. He hadn''t expected someone from the Royal Family to interfere. This complicated matters greatly.

    As the last wisps of ghostly energy dispersed, a figure emerged from the flying treasure.

    A beautiful woman walked out, her steps as graceful as a celestial maiden descending from the heavens. Her long purple hair flowed like silk in the breeze.

    Her rosy lips curved into a faint smile as she addressed the old man, "Sect Master Zhao, are you trying to start a war between Demonic Sects and my Royal Family?"

    "Empress!" Many cultivators exclaimed, dropping to their knees in reverence. Fifth and Seventh Princes were also stunned!

    The old man''s eyes narrowed, "What do you mean, Empress?"

    "Didn''t you just try to kill my daughter?" she replied coldly, her milky white finger pointing at Iris who stood beside Lucian.

    The old man''s pupils constricted sharply as he looked at Iris. His withered face twitched slightly as he realized what Empress was trying to do.

    He had been so blinded by rage that he failed to notice the Royal Princess was right next to his target.

    The old man forced himself to calm down and replied, "Empress, I particularly targeted that white-haired bastard. I had no intention of harming the princess."

    The Empress snorted coldly, "You think I''m blind? Even if you didn''t attack her directly, with her distance to that boy, she surely would have been caught in your attack. Are you saying you couldn''t see her there?"

    The old man''s body trembled in rage, but he still calmly said, "Empress, my master is the deputy leader of the Demonic Alliance. Surely you wouldn''t want to offend him over such a small matter, right? Also the Emperor has already–"

    The Empress''s eyes flashed with cold light. She spoke arrogantly, her body emitting mid- stage Nascent Soul aura,

    "It seems breaking through to Nascent Soul just when your life is near its end has made you forget your place, Zhao Ling. If you don''t leave in three breaths, I''ll ensure you never see another sunrise."

    The old man''s face turned ashen. He took a few steps back, his face flushed but he gulped down the fresh blood that threatened to spill from his mouth!

    His withered body trembled slightly as he struggled against the Empress''s overwhelming aura.

    "This old one was mistaken," he said through gritted teeth, "I will take my leave now."