My Wife Turns Out to be an Empress of the Dynasty

Chi Yang's face still bore a darkened expression.

But the sudden surge of this power silenced him entirely.

With a grim look, he swallowed all the words he'd meant to say.

"Without my permission, none of you may act again, or don't blame me."

Others he might not care much about, but Chi Yang was the one he struggled to control.

With the Lava God's words laid out so clearly, how could Chi Yang not understand?

Raising a hand in a salute, Chi Yang fully suppressed his aura.

There was no need for more talk—words were useless.

He had no intention of pressing further; the cost he'd forced Gu Lan to pay this time was already steep enough.

The Lava God had his own plans—Gu Lan's power was still lacking.

He could absorb Gu Lan's strength now, but it would serve him no purpose.

He had to wait—wait until Gu Lan fully mastered the Great Path's qi.

…

Traversing this dim starry expanse, Gu Lan soon arrived at the Land of Ruin.

But just then, an uninvited guest appeared.

Stepping forth was Divine Son Arthur, wielding a sharp sword, his body wreathed in dense true qi.

Arthur's gaze locked onto Gu Lan, his eyes brimming with thick killing intent.

"I didn't expect I'd actually get to wait for you."

"Get lost. I've no time to waste words with you right now."

Gu Lan didn't know why Arthur was here, but he had no patience for him now.

He'd made his stance clear, yet Arthur showed no sign of moving.

Arthur sneered coldly, channeling true qi into his sword.

With a single slash, ten thousand beams of sword light streaked across the sky, bearing down.

"The grudge from before—it's time to settle it today."

Seeing such a formidable aura, Gu Lan swung the Hongmeng Sword in an instant.

Arthur's power had indeed grown, but it was still far inferior to his own.

With one stroke, Gu Lan shattered all that force.

Locking eyes with Arthur, killing intent flared in Gu Lan's gaze.

"I told you, I've no time for nonsense. If you don't leave, I'll kill you."

Yet faced with Gu Lan's icy threat, Divine Son Arthur didn't take it seriously.

"Then let's see who's stronger!"

Arthur held nothing back, unleashing his full true qi, dimming the entire cloudscape.

The Land of Ruin was right before him, yet Gu Lan couldn't enter—how could he not be furious?

Gently setting Mu Yuyan aside, firelight surged from the Hongmeng Sword.

"Within three moves, I'll kill you."

This time, Gu Lan spared nothing—true qi, soul power, and the Great Path's qi all burst forth.

Seeing the aura Gu Lan radiated, Arthur's expression visibly shifted.

But the change was subtle, vanishing in an instant.

Gu Lan had his reasons for this approach.

This foe's strength wasn't weak—though lesser than his own, still troublesome.

Before, Gu Lan wouldn't have minded dragging it out.

But now, he had no time.

He could wait, but Mu Yuyan couldn't.

Miss this chance, and coming here would be a waste.

The Hongmeng Sword flickered relentlessly as ten thousand flames descended from the sky.

In an instant, the four directions plunged into a sea of fire.

These were flames from hell, capable of melting anything.

Though Arthur's summoned power was strong, it vanished in that moment.

Watching the true qi on his body fade, Arthur's face darkened then and there.

But he didn't hesitate, charging upward with his sword.

"Kill me in three moves? Let's see you try!"

The moment he rushed forward, Gu Lan swung his sword downward.

Soon, the two clashed fiercely in the void.

But in mere breaths, Arthur fell behind.

Blood marks marred his body, his aura weakening to its limit.

"Boom!"

With a deafening blast, true qi exploded in the sky, and Arthur retreated a hundred zhang.

Steadying himself, he spat blood, his sword trembling in his grip.

At first, he'd thought Gu Lan hadn't grown much stronger.

He hadn't expected Gu Lan to be this terrifying.

But it was too late to leave now—Gu Lan wouldn't give him the chance.

As he stepped back, Gu Lan advanced, blocking his path.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Arthur barely looked up before a beam of sword light descended.

Though he dodged quickly, he wasn't fast enough.

He evaded a fatal blow, but an arm was severed.

Grimacing in pain, he retreated hundreds of zhang.

Gu Lan had no time to bother with him—after a glance, he turned and lifted Mu Yuyan.

He pressed forward on his own, dismissing Arthur entirely.

He hadn't killed him because Gu Lan sensed someone else lurking nearby.

They weren't far, likely with Arthur.

These troubles could wait for later.

Gu Lan dared to act this way because he was certain Arthur wouldn't dare strike again rashly.

The lesson dealt to Arthur was enough—anyone with sense wouldn't fight him again.

Arthur was furious, but he didn't dare approach Gu Lan easily.

That last strike had clearly aimed to kill him.

And after hundreds of exchanges with Gu Lan, his true qi was heavily depleted.

Yet Gu Lan's aura hadn't diminished much.

One more step, and whether he'd live or die was anyone's guess.

Under his gaze, Gu Lan stepped into the Land of Ruin.

Instinctively, he moved to follow, but an ethereal voice rang in his ears.

"This is the Land of Ruin—entry is forbidden to the living."

The sudden voice made Arthur frown.

Scanning around, he found no trace of another presence.

Ignoring it, he stepped forward.

But as he touched the outer seal of the Land of Ruin,

a fierce wind whipped up, gathering thousands of lightning bolts above him.

This sudden force startled Arthur—he hadn't expected it.

He tried to retreat instinctively, but it was too late.

Thousands of lightning bolts crisscrossed downward, engulfing him in an instant.

His aura was already drained—such terrifying power was beyond his endurance.

Before long, Arthur collapsed heavily.

Though a sliver of life remained, he had no strength left.

Entering the Land of Ruin, Gu Lan also noticed the change outside.

The reason was simple: the Land of Ruin didn't just restrict him.

Its array also barred outsiders from entering.

Regardless of realm, only his permission granted access now.

Of course, that wasn't Gu Lan's ultimate goal.

He'd sealed Wan Hun here out of necessity, as a last resort.

Outside the Land of Ruin, as Arthur fell, a figure flickered in the distance.

Gu Lan recognized the newcomer—

the once-fleeing, renowned Xuanyuan Clan young lord from that day.