My Wife Turns Out to be an Empress of the Dynasty

What Mo Xuan wanted was only the final result. He sought to push Gu Lan to his limits, forcing him to fully reveal the power of the Great Path. Only then would he be able to fully control it. If that wasn't the case, he would have acted long ago and wouldn't have waited until now.

This time, Mo Xuan acted with prudence. Instead of charging forward, he took a cautious step back, instantly retreating thousands of feet away. He understood well that he stood no chance against Gu Lan. Charging in would be futile. It was better to employ a different approach. As long as he could control Gu Lan, he was confident that he could kill him.

At first, Gu Lan had thought they would retreat, but what happened next surprised him. Instead of dodging, the Wizard Clan warriors not only stayed but also braced themselves for the attack. This wasn't what Gu Lan had expected. As he looked closer, he realized that the expressions in their eyes had changed. Though he couldn't tell who was controlling them, it was clear that something was at work. They were fearless of death, and just as Gu Lan had hoped, they came at him head-on, making it easier for him to deal with them.

But Gu Lan wasn't the only one watching the battle. Hidden in the shadows were countless strong warriors from the Lava Clan, led by Chi Yang, all ready to strike. They had purposely concealed their strength, and now Gu Lan, engrossed in his fight, didn't notice them.

The Lava Clan warriors were getting impatient. Waiting was not their style.

"Young Lord, are we just going to wait here?" one of them finally couldn't hold back.

Chi Yang narrowed his eyes, collecting his thoughts. "There's more than one way to deal with him. Let's head to the Jing Nation's palace."

Although they hadn't acted yet, they had learned a lot about Gu Lan during these days. There were only two people he cared about—Gu Simu and Mu Yuyan. Gu Simu might still be out of his reach, but Mu Yuyan... Chi Yang was confident that he could capture her.

Though the Lava Clan warriors didn't fully understand Chi Yang's plan, they followed without hesitation. As they departed, Chi Yang couldn't help but sneer, muttering under his breath, "This time, it's all thanks to you."

These words weren't meant for Gu Lan, but rather for Mo Xuan. However, Mo Xuan didn't hear them, as they were too faint.

...

In just a few moments, the air was filled with the stench of blood. The number of Wizard Clan warriors had dwindled, and now only a handful remained. They had only survived because Gu Lan had been too occupied with the battle to finish them off. If not for that, they would have already perished.

"Useless trash." Gu Lan muttered under his breath, his irritation growing. Dealing with these warriors didn't require all of his strength.

What surprised Gu Lan was that Mo Xuan had vanished. The man who had been so determined to die now seemed to have disappeared completely. Gu Lan was puzzled. Hadn't Mo Xuan just been resigned to death?

Meanwhile, Mo Xuan was already far away, retreating thousands of feet. He had heeded Wizard God's orders to fight to the death, but the gap in strength between him and Gu Lan was too wide. Continuing the fight would only lead to his demise.

Gu Lan was frustrated. He had hoped to use this opportunity to deal with Mo Xuan once and for all. But now, Mo Xuan had fled. He had hesitated when he should have been decisive. Gu Lan knew he couldn't realistically track Mo Xuan down now. While the man was no match for him in a fight, his speed was remarkable.

Inside the dim Wizard Clan hall, Wizard God was not pleased with Mo Xuan's actions. He had ordered Mo Xuan to fight until the end, but instead, the young lord had fled in disgrace.

"Such shameful behavior. How unworthy of the title of young lord of the Wizard Clan." Wizard God's voice echoed, though Mo Xuan had already gone far enough that he couldn't hear it. There was no use in lamenting now; he would accept the consequences when he returned.

With Mo Xuan gone, Gu Lan lost interest in the remaining Wizard Clan warriors. He cast a cold glance at them before speaking dismissively, "Your young lord is already gone, so you don't need to keep fighting, do you?"

With only a few warriors left, it was no longer a challenge for Gu Lan. Besides, most of them were severely injured. Continuing the fight would be pointless—only certain death awaited them.

The remaining warriors, realizing the disparity in strength, decided to withdraw. They turned and fled without a word, fully aware of the inevitable defeat they would face if they continued. Gu Lan didn't bother stopping them.

Though the battle had subsided, Gu Lan still felt a lingering sense of unease. It wasn't over yet, and he was certain more trouble was on the way. But this time, it wouldn't be from the Wizard Clan.

As the skies above returned to their original calm, Gu Lan retracted his energy. However, just as he turned around, several figures suddenly appeared in the distance.

"Master Gu, in such a hurry to leave?" Chi Yang's voice rang out.

As Chi Yang spoke, the figures of the Lava Clan appeared, led by him. His aura had fully recovered, and his strength had increased several times over. He held a golden spear in his hand, his energy radiating unreservedly.

Gu Lan glanced at him for a moment, then injected his energy into the Hongmeng Sword. "What, coming to die again?"

Chi Yang sneered, unperturbed. "Master Gu, don't speak so confidently. You may not be the one who walks away alive."

With a wave of his hand, Chi Yang ordered the Lava Clan warriors to bring Mu Yuyan forward. She was unconscious, her aura weak to the point of almost vanishing.

Gu Lan's expression darkened, his eyes bloodshot with fury. "You!"

"Let her go, or I'll destroy your entire Lava Clan!"

Had anyone else spoken those words, they would have been intimidated by Gu Lan's threat, especially considering his power. However, when it came to the Lava Clan, he was no threat at all.

Chi Yang wasn't fazed. "You can try, but I'm not sure if you can outrun me."

Gu Lan's face twisted with rage, his grip on the Hongmeng Sword tightening as it emitted a harsh ringing sound. But he couldn't act recklessly. He couldn't risk Mu Yuyan's life.

Chi Yang had already predicted Gu Lan's hesitation. He wasn't worried. This time, in front of Gu Lan, he was completely unrestrained.

With a cold smile, Chi Yang produced a slender silver needle from his hand. It exuded a faint gray aura, unlike anything ordinary.

"I see you've been to the Land of Ruin, Master Gu. I'm sure you recognize this item."

Gu Lan's face darkened even further as his killing intent flared. He recognized the energy emanating from the silver needle. It carried the distinctive aura of the Land of Ruin—a place he was all too familiar with.

"This needle was forged by our ancestors. It can send a soul directly to the Land of Ruin," Chi Yang said, his voice mocking.

As he spoke, Chi Yang raised the needle, and in a single swift motion, he drove it into Mu Yuyan's forehead.

Gu Lan's fury exploded. Without hesitation, he acted, but Chi Yang was faster. With a swift toss, he flung Mu Yuyan away, and the Hongmeng Sword that Gu Lan had summoned was quickly recalled.

The battle was far from over.