Chapter 197

Chapter 197 Day One · The Emperor’s Wrath

At this moment, everyone focused on Li Tianlan.

It was silent in the venue, but in the silence, there seemed to be a storm brewing and growing, and it was violently surging.

The lights on top were getting brighter and brighter. The giant chandelier was placed in the middle of the ceiling. Circles of small lights were scattered around the chandelier. When all the lights lit up, there wouldn’t be any dark place in the venue.

People’s angry, cold, excited, jealous, mocking, hostile faces could all be seen clearly under the lights, like all living creatures were here in this room.

No one would question the strength of Sigh City. Their strength was strong enough for them to have a place in the center of the venue. But when Sigh City and the successor of the Li family united together, most people were actually suspicious and resentful.

In nearly twenty years, the honor and glory of the Li family had been completely wiped out, but the grievances or even the resentment from the past was still there. For the Special Warfare System of Zhongzhou State, at least for most of the people in the Special Warfare System, they could accept a young Heavenly Son with Wind and Thunder Veins, but not a peerless genius with the legacy from the Li family.

This was not about standpoint or hatred; it was all because of the overall situation.

The name Li Tianlan meant too much right now. If the meaning could be expressed with simple words, they would be conflicts, variables, and chaos.

While the overall situation of Zhongzhou State was stable.

The atmosphere in the venue became dead in silence, then it got cold.

Bone-piercing cold.

Li Tianlan had seated himself in the center, waiting quietly.

Countless gazes gathered on him.

Li Tianlan had no expression on his face, confronting everything calmly.

Confronting, not enduring.

At this moment, no one knew how strong and yet delicate Li Tianlan’s heart was.

He would rather confront the whole world than endure anything.

He didn’t want to and didn’t dare to.

…

“Is he… too flamboyant?”

In the center of the venue, Li Baitian, who was seated a row behind Li Tianlan, slightly frowned and mumbled to himself.

The seats in the venue were round, and the seat Li Baitian took was right across Li Tianlan’s. Looking at Li Tianlan’s face, Li Baitian frowned hard.

“According to his identity right now, he does need to be flamboyant.”

Next to Li Baitian, a middle-aged man looked around forty years old smiled and said. The middle-aged man was shorter than Li Biantian when sitting down, so he wasn’t tall. But his smiling face was handsome and charming. The man wore a bluish-white robe, and his hair was also white like the snow, without any impurity.

He wore white clothes, his hair was white, and his face looked like fine jade. The man’s every move was extremely reserved, without a single bit of sword intent, but he felt like a famous sword that was hidden in the sword sheath. He didn’t show his sharpness, but he had reserved and arrogant manner.

A simple long sword with a wide blade in black and white color was placed next to him. With the sword matching his style, the middle-aged man’s every word and every move were natural and elegant.

Han Chongyang, the Yin and Yang Sword Master of Mount Shu.

As one of the strongest superiors of the Thunder-shocking Realm in Zhongzhou State, he didn’t make it into the list of top ten contemporary superiors of Zhongzhou State. But his strength was enough for the list, he just didn’t have enough popularity.

“Third Senior Brother seems to know something?”

Li Baitian looked at Han Chongyang with confusion.

Mount Shu had sent about thirty swordsmen to Changdao this time. There were less than ten people that were able to attend the meeting, but only Li Baitian could sit in the same row as Han Chongyang.

“What more can I know?”

Han Chongyang kept his smile on his face, and his eyes looked deeper. As he blinked, he hid away all his emotions.

“Shit, there’s something wrong with that.”

In front of his own senior brother, Li Baitian had always been free and careless, even to the extent of being able to say and do anything he wanted. “What’s happening right now? I thought Tianlan would come with people from Samsara, how come he came here with people from Sigh City? Not that people from Sigh City are bad or anything, but wasn’t Tianlan so close to Goddess Qin not too long ago… Why did they suddenly fall out?”

“Fall out?”

Han Chongyang raised his eyebrows, let out a soft laugh and said in a low voice, “What were you looking at just now? If they really fell out with each other, would Li Tianlan dare to get so close to Duke? With that distance, if Duke wanted to, he could kill Li Tianlan no matter how genius Li Tianlan was and no matter Tribulation was next to him or not. And who is Duke? The fourth Super Master of Samsara. If they really fell out, would he give way to Li Tianlan? Little boy, don’t judge a book by its cover.”

Li Baitian froze and was speechless for a long time.

He tried to remember the moment when Li Tianlan and the three Super Masters of Samsara passed each other. After a long while, he said in a soft voice, “Third Senior Brother, are you saying Tianlan and Samsara were acting just now? Were they doing it on purpose?”

“Samsara must have done it on purpose. Li Tianlan, he might have noticed something.”

“Notice what?”

“How would I know?”

“You must know.”

“Even if I know, I won’t tell you. Bite me.”

“…”

Li Baitian’s face grew red. He took a deep breath after a while, then he shook his head and said, “It still feels wrong. Are they that bad at acting? How could so many people here ignore the things you can notice? It doesn’t make sense.”

“What do you expect them to notice?”

Han Chongyang said slowly, “It depends on what Samsara is trying to show us. You said it yourself, Li Tianlan and that woman from Samsara were close to each other. I heard that that woman is like a goddess in the Dark World. Their relationship is clear and obvious, who would believe that they fall out with each other? Samsara doesn’t expect others to buy this. That woman from Samsara wants to give Li Tianlan an identity that has nothing to do with Samsara. But this identity needs to be powerful enough, then Sigh City is the best choice.”

“What’s the meaning in this?’

Li Baitian was still confused.

“Meaning?”

Han Chongyang put on a mild smile and said, “Of course it’s meaningful. At least Li Tianlan is with Sigh City right now, and at least Samsara has set its boundary with Li Tianlan on the surface right now. Now anyone who says Li Tianlan has something to do with Samsara will offend Sigh City.”

“But only on the surface?”

Li Baitian looked at Han Chongyang.

Han Chongyang nodded, and his white hair flew up. There seemed to be sword intent circling around his hair.

“It’s enough, on the surface.”

He said slowly.

This time, Li Baitian stopped asking about the meaning. He was deep in thought.

In his heart, he felt that Samsara’s sudden change was too weird and unexpected.

In Samsara, when the Master of Samsara Palace’s willpower was silent, Qin Weibai’s will could represent Samsara Palace.

Without a doubt.

But at the beginning, Qin Weibai got close to Li Tianlan in such a careless way and even devoted herself to Li Tianlan. How long had it been since that happened? Why would Qin Weibai be so eager to cut Li Tianlan off? But only on the surface, what did she really want?

This change happened around the battle between Zhongzhou State and East Island.

But Samsara and Zhongzhou State united together to fight East Island…

Wrong!

United together!?

Li Baitian lifted his head suddenly and looked at Han Chongyang.

His back suddenly got wet by his cold sweat, which even streamed down along his forehead.

So far, Zhongzhou State and Samsara did have pleasant cooperations.

But were they really cooperating?

If Samsara really meant to cooperate, why were they so eager to cut Li Tianlan off right now?

“Samsara…”

Li Baitian opened his mouth, but suddenly, he felt that his words were so powerless. “Third Senior Brother, is Samsara planning on something else?”

“They have their own standpoint.”

Han Chongyang said in a calm tone.

“Standpoint, ha, standpoint…”

Li Baitian felt complicated, and he didn’t even know how he was feeling. “This battle of Zhongzhou State is a scam! A scam in every way, and we just can’t predict anything till the last minute. Hey, Third Senior Brother, what will happen to Zhongzhou State if Samsara is planning on something else? What’s the standpoint of our Mount Shu?”

Han Chongyang turned around in slow motion and looked at Li Baitian with no expression on his face.

Li Baitian’s face turned pale. “There are about three thousand people in total, and people from Northern Europe and North America… Could it be that…”

“Zhongzhou State will win in this.”

Han Chongyang suddenly said in a determined and yet faint tone, “I don’t have to help Samsara. I’m not obliged to, right?”

Li Baitian one hundred percent believed in this sentence, but deep inside he felt that there was still something unsaid.

“You won’t help Samsara, then what about Zhongzhou State?”

He suddenly asked.

In his sight, Han Chongyang had turned around.

There were only Han Chongyang’s cold side face and the long silence in front of Li Baitian.

He looked at Han Chongyang, then looked at Li Tianlan across him, and suddenly thought of Samsara.

At this moment, Li Baitian felt madness.

Extreme madness!

…

“Why are you sitting here?”

Maybe it was the long silence in the venue, this sudden casual voice sounded extra clear and loud in the room.

This question was peaceful and calm, but it seemed to carry heavy power in it.

The voice rang out next to him.

Li Tianlan slightly raised his eyebrows and carelessly turned around.

A gaze fell straight on his face, quiet, calm, without anger or hostility, only confusion.

This person seemed to really just question why was Li Tianlan sitting here, with no other meaning.

This kind of gaze was obviously the most hurtful.

Gu Hanshan, the Young Master of Kunlun City!

Everyone suddenly woke up from something, as if the show they had been waiting for finally started.

The successor of the Li family appeared in such a hyped way on this occasion.

It meant so much to the whole Special Warfare System of Zhongzhou State.

Other people might be discontent, hostile, but they could hide it. At least they wouldn’t show any negative emotion on this occasion.

But Kunlun City was different.

To put aside the inside story of Li Kuangtu’s treason, it was a fact that Gu Xingyun rose and turned over the Li family.

When the Li family came out again, anyone could stay silent, but not Kunlun City.

Other people’s silence could be considered observation.

But the silence of Kunlun City would mean retreat and fear to others.

The appearance of Li Tianlan was definitely the variable that could influence the status of Kunlun City the most. He was the most direct threat. And once he grew up, he could be the most deadly threat.

A sworn enemy!

This kind of relationship couldn’t be hidden even if they tried.

Kunlun City had to say something today. No matter if their words would make a difference or not, at least they needed to express their basic attitude.

“Who are you?”

Li Tianlan’s face didn’t change much, and he asked calmly. His expression and words were also very sincere. Apart from confusion, there wasn’t any emotion.

But this short conversation was suddenly full of conflict and hostility.

Gu Hanshan must notice the Sigh City next to Li Tianlan.

And Li Tianlan must know about Gu Hanshan.

He was provoking him on purpose, and he was obviously despising him.

Gu Hanshan’s eyes flashed without anyone noticing. This Young Master of Kunlun City had an average face, but there were absolute sharpness and power in his eyes. He sat quietly on his seat, but he made people feel inexpressibly weird and dangerous.

His eyes, which could leave a deep impression on anyone anytime, took a glance around. Some staff from the special warfare agencies in the rear area of the venue seemed to want to step out, then they sat back after seeing Gu Hanshan shake his head slightly.

Gu Hanshan was still glancing, then laid his eyes on the few seats in the core area of the venue.

There were limited seats in the center of the venue. Thinking about it, they were actually the same superpowers.

The Wang family of Beihai, Kunlun City, Sigh City, the three superpowers that had experts of the Invincible Realm, naturally deserved to be seated in the center.

Apart from that, Samsara had to have a seat here.

Gongsun Qi, the Azure Dragon of Zhongzhou State and his Terracotta Army were the nominal supreme leader in this operation. Of course, they needed to be seated in the center.

Apart from that, there was originally Mount Shu.

But it was Han Chongyang, the Yin and Yang Sword Master, who came to Changdao instead of the Nirvana Sword Master Wei Kunlun, so the seat for Mount Shu was a row further back.

So now the situation seemed clear.

The five power groups that deserved to sit at the very center each had to offer one top-notch superior of the Half-step Invincible Realm at least.

The Wang family of Beihai sent Firmament, and the Enchantress also seemed to have the combat capability of the Half-step Invincible Realm.

Sigh City sent Tribulation. Moreover, Deep Dream and Sunset Shadow were also the best assassins in Sigh City in recent years.

Samsara sent Saint. And in the meeting today, they were currently waiting for another important person from Samsara.

As for his own side, Ice Crystal and Ice Frost could be a duo of Half-step Invincible Realm together. Apart from that, he also had his uncle Gu Zhendong here with him.

The light of wildness seemed to appear in Gu Hanshan’s eyes. He took a peek at the direction of the Wang family of Beihai without anyone noticing.

Wang Shengxiao yawned out of boredom, then said something with Firmament and the Enchantress next to him in a small voice, ignoring the intense situation completely.

Terracotta Army was meant to keep neutrality.

As for Samsara, from their attitude in front of Li Tianlan just now, it seemed that they wouldn’t make a move today.

Therefore, there was only Sigh City left.

Gu Hanshan suddenly smiled, and his eyes grew sharper and sharper. The smile froze on his average face, looking indescribably high-spirited.

“I’m the Young Governor of Kunlun City. Who are you to sit next to me? Eh? The offspring of a traitor wants to enter the room where there are so many important people. What a joke.”

Gu Hanshan’s tone got colder and colder. “Sitting here with you is a disgrace of my generation. Now I have a suggestion.”

He pointed his finger and said blandly, “Get out. When you want to rush forward again in the future, ask yourself first, are you qualified?”

His voice echoed in the venue clearly. His voice was soft and calm, but with heavy mockery and humiliation.

Tribulation moved his body. When he was about to stand up, Li Tianlan reached out and pressed him on the shoulder rapidly.

“What if I don’t?”

He asked in reply with a calm tone.

“The offspring of a traitor, do you deserve to be here?”

Gu Hanshan took a faint look at Li Tianlan and asked.

“I’m right here. Do you want to find out if I deserve it or not?”

Li Tianlan’s eyes grew colder and more gruesome.

But Gu Hanshan laughed and repeated himself again. “The offspring of a traitor, do you deserve to be here?”

He laughed softly, and his eyes were full of disdain and scorn.

“Well-said. The son of a traitor, do you deserve to sit here? Get the fuck out!”

At a corner in the central area of the venue, a bald man stood up rapidly and screamed.

“Today, I finally know what a shameless person looks like. How did you even dare to show up here? Think about all the innocent people that your father killed in that year. Li Tianlan, do you really deserve to sit on this seat?”

Another middle-aged woman stood up and sneered with her malicious face.

“Hahaha, a peerless genius with Wind and Thunder Veins? What a joke. Do you think you can be compared with the Wang family of Beihai and the Young Master of Kunlun City? Bullshit! They can grow into Heavenly Sons. You? You are just a curse. Get out! Do you even deserve to be here?!”

“Get out!”

“Traitor!”

“Do you deserve it?”

A wave of loud voices suddenly surged in the venue, and the storm that had been waiting for so long finally broke out completely. All the people from the special warfare agencies that were related to Kunlun City stood up, and their blustering voices hit him like a wave.

The era of the Li family had passed.

Right now Zhongzhou State only had Kunlun City. They didn’t need the Li family. Similarly, they didn’t welcome the one-time War God family.

The waves of voices were still surging and spreading.

All of a sudden, “do you deserve it” became the only sentence in the world, and it kept ringing in Li Tianlan’s ears.

But Gu Hanshan’s voice was the clearest.

He was still smiling gently, looked at Li Tianlan in a calm but mocking way, and said, “Do you deserve it?”

Li Tianlan also laughed.

Hearing all the mockery and curses, he put on a joyful and relaxed smile.

Under the gazes of everyone, he stood up.

A ray of bright, sharp sword light lit up as he stood up!

The sword light broke out like a waterfall.

It instantly rose up from the ground to the ceiling.

All the lights went dim, and the whole conference room seemed to be cut in halves by a sword.

After the sword light swept through the venue, it condensed together instead of disappearing.

No high temperature, no direction, just the purest sword intent rose up to the peak in an instant, with the sharpness that could tear down everything.

The Thirteenth Blade—The Emperor’s Wrath!

Under the bright sword light, there seemed to be darkness spreading and circling around Li Tianlan’s body.

His body disappeared for a moment.

Gu Hanshan already flew up in the air. The burning flames suddenly burst out of his body and lit up everything. But the flames couldn’t reach the darkness around Li Tianlan.

The sword light flashed with heavy killing intent and burning rage, from top to bottom.

The light and the fire mixed up together.

At the moment the sword light disappeared, countless flames exploded around Gu Hanshan and splashed outwards. The sword light instantly filled up the whole venue. Countless seats were blown into pieces. The clothes of the elites of Kunlun City that sat behind Gu Hanshan were all shattered, and they all looked like they were in a fluster.

In the flames, Gu Hanshan, who rose up in the air, fell down at a higher speed. His body fell on the ground steadily, but blood already burst out from his nostrils.

“I…”

Gu Hanshan took a look at Li Tianlan. Before he could say anything, he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

The crowd burst into an uproar.

Did the Young Master of Kunlun City just lose?!

Gu Hanshan took a look at Li Tianlan with no expression on his face. He kept his mouth shut and sat down with the support of Ice Crystal and Ice Frost.

Before he arrived in Changdao, he had been hunted by the left advisor Heavenly Hound from Wuji Palace for days. He successfully arrived in Changdao under the cover of Ice Crystal and Ice Frost, but he still hadn’t recovered from his injury. Getting hit by Li Tianlan’s powerful sword strike in haste, he suffered a great loss when he couldn’t use his peak strength.

Li Tianlan’s body was still floating in the air.

The sword light and the flames were all gone.

But the air around him was twisting heavily. At the spot closest to the chandelier, a dark void almost covered his whole body.

In the dark, everyone could feel there was a pair of icy cold eyes staring at them. That pair of eyes were steady and creepy, with inviolable pride and dignity.

At this moment, no one in the room dared to face that pair of eyes.

A clear, arrogant, calm and yet crazy voice echoed in everyone’s ears, word by word, loud like thunder.

“My grandfather is Li Honghe.”

“My father is Li Kuangtu.”

“I’m Li Tianlan.”

In the dark, his voice stopped for a second, then he said in a low voice, “Who… the hell are you?!”

Some people looked dizzy.

Some people looked furious.

Some people looked somber.

But what most people felt, was fear.

In the whole room, only one person looked sad, self-deprecating and helpless.

It was Thunder God.

Thunder God from the Dongcheng Clan.