diymy Chapter 114 The Clown Who Jumps Over the Beams
Chapter 114 The Clown Who Jumps Over the Beams
The banquet continued for another fifteen minutes. Lin Chen estimated that it was about time, so he stood up and raised his glass.
"Ladies and gentlemen, today I, Lin, am being honored with my coming-of-age ceremony. I am deeply grateful for your kindness and support. This final toast is to you all!"
"Respectfully addressed to the Duke of Lin!"
Everyone raised their glasses and drank together.
After the wine was finished, it was already three-quarters past Shen time.
According to etiquette, the capping ceremony should end here.
The guests gradually rose to their feet, preparing to take their leave.
Just then—
"boom!"
A loud bang suddenly came from the southeast direction outside the mansion, and seven blood-red figures soared into the sky, like seven blood rainbows shooting straight towards the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion!
The leader, clad in fluttering black robes, exuded a violent aura—he was actually a Grandmaster at the peak of his cultivation.
The six people behind him also possessed formidable auras, the weakest of whom was at the mid-stage of Grandmaster!
Seven people descended from the sky, their killing intent soaring to the heavens, their target aimed directly at the altar!
"Protect His Majesty!"
With a loud shout, Zhao Zilong took a step forward and was already in front of the altar.
He no longer concealed his cultivation level, and the aura of a half-step Celestial Realm expert suddenly erupted, as deep and as imprisoned as a deep abyss!
The eight Vajra Warriors rose simultaneously, their auras as grandmasters merging into a battle formation, protecting the Empress.
(This was arranged by Lin Chen; after all, they were nominally the Empress's soldiers.)
The guests were in a state of chaos, but no one panicked.
Those present were all seasoned veterans; this scene wouldn't cause them to lose their composure.
The Empress and the Princess remained seated, nodding slightly as they watched the Eight Vajra Guardians forming a protective array in front of them.
Just as the seven members of the Seven Killings Hall rushed into the mansion, eight white figures rose up from the depths of the mansion.
There were eight women dressed in white, their faces covered with light veils, holding long swords, their figures ethereal and otherworldly.
Their auras were not violent, but rather cold and sharp—eight Grandmasters at the early stage!
(After his sister-in-law became pregnant, Lin Chen specially bestowed upon her elixirs to help her advance in rank, so that he could protect her.)
"Eight Grandmasters..." someone whispered.
But what happened next left everyone somewhat baffled.
Instead of rushing towards the Seven Kill Hall, the eight sword servants intertwined their figures, their sword lights forming a continuous line, creating a sword net above the mansion.
The sword net is so profound that it envelops all the guests!
"A sword formation?" Xuanjizi opened his eyes for the first time, a hint of surprise flashing in them.
"Eight people in formation, capable of trapping even celestial beings... What an exquisite sword formation."
The seven members of the Seven Killers Hall crashed into the sword net, only to be bounced back!
The leader of the black-robed men's expressions changed: "Sword formation? Break!"
The seven attacked simultaneously, unleashing seven crimson blade beams that slashed towards the sword net.
The blade's power was so fierce that it could split mountains and shatter peaks!
However, the sword net only rippled slightly before completely dissolving the blade's energy.
"This..." The black-robed man's pupils suddenly contracted.
Just then, thirteen figures flew in from outside the mansion and landed around the square—it was the Thirteen Protectors!
The thirteen individuals, all at the peak of the Grandmaster level, formed a battle formation, surrounding the Seven Kill Hall in the center.
"The Thirteen Protectors are back in their positions. Please give your instructions, Your Majesty!" The leader's voice boomed like a bell.
Lin Chen remained seated on the platform, slowly taking a sip of tea before speaking:
"kill!"
"Yes, sir!"
The thirteen bodyguards responded in unison, and the battle formation was activated.
The auras of the thirteen people merged, and a blood-red giant tiger phantom actually condensed above their heads—Battle Formation!
"roar!"
The giant tiger roared and pounced on the Seven Kill Hall.
At the same time, the Eight Great Sword Attendants' sword formation contracted and changed, their sword energy raining down, blocking the seven people's retreat.
Although the seven members of the Seven Killers Hall were strong, they were immediately caught in a fierce battle under the combined attack of the two battle formations.
The sword formation, in particular, not only trapped the enemy but also slowly eroded their true energy.
"The intelligence is wrong!" the man in black gritted his teeth.
"The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is three times stronger than estimated! Retreat!"
He tried to escape, but it was too late.
A green shadow flashed by.
Li Bai appeared outside the battle circle at some point, holding a wine cup in his hand.
He looked at it for a while, then shook his head.
"Seven Kill Hall... The name sounds intimidating, but its strength is just so-so."
He flicked his wrist, and a drop of wine flew out.
The drop of wine transformed into seven sword lights in mid-air, moving with astonishing speed, instantly piercing through the gaps in the sword formation and battle array, and accurately striking the dantian of the seven members of the Seven Kill Hall.
"Puff puff puff puff puff puff—"
Seven soft sounds.
The seven people froze simultaneously, their auras plummeting—their cultivation had been sealed!
The entire room fell silent.
One drop of wine, and seven grandmasters are ruined?
What level of cultivation is this?
The Empress's imperial advisor suddenly appeared, his eyes filled with shock:
"Wine transforms into sword energy, intent follows the mind... This is the realm of divine swordsmanship! This person is at least at the peak of the Celestial Realm, perhaps even..."
He didn't finish speaking, but the Empress already understood.
Li Bai, this seemingly drunken scholar in a blue robe, was actually an unparalleled master of swordsmanship!
Xuanjizi muttered to himself, "Sword intent takes form, all things become swords... This person's swordsmanship has reached a state of perfection."
Among the guests, all parties were shocked.
The sword formation of the Eight Great Sword Attendants and the battle formation of the Thirteen Protectors were already astonishing enough, but Li Bai's methods were simply unbelievable!
Lin Chen then stood up and walked to the seven members of the Seven Killings Hall who had been subdued.
"The Seven Killings Hall has mobilized its entire force; the Cui family has truly gone all out this time." He leaned down to look at the man in black robes.
"Tell me, what did Choi Young-seong promise you?"
The man in black gritted his teeth and remained silent.
Lin Chen didn't mind and waved his hand: "Take him away and treat him well."
"Yes!" Jing Ke appeared like a ghost, and with a wave of his hand, the Heavenly Guards stepped forward and dragged the seven people away.
Throughout the entire process, Lin Chen remained calm and composed, as if he had only dealt with a few annoying flies.
He turned to face the guests and smiled:
"Sorry for the spectacle, everyone. The few rats have been dealt with. Oh, by the way—"
He looked at the Cui family's seats, which were now empty.
"Where's Master Cui? He was just here a moment ago."
Yuan Tiangang appeared at the opportune moment, bowed, and said:
"My lord, Cui Yongsheng, seeing that his plan had been exposed, tried to escape in the chaos, but has been captured."
These are the blood-killing warrants and secret letters exchanged with the Underworld that were found on him.
He presented a blood-red token and a stack of letters.
Lin Chen took it, glanced at it, and said loudly:
"Cui Yongsheng colluded with the Underworld, hiring assassins to kill a high-ranking official, intending to incite internal strife. The evidence is irrefutable. We beseech Your Majesty to make a judgment!"
The Empress's face was ashen. She took the evidence, examined it for a moment, and said coldly:
"Cui Yongsheng has committed heinous crimes and has been imprisoned in the dungeon for severe interrogation!"
All members of the Cui family involved in the case have been apprehended! The Cui family's properties have been temporarily seized!
"Your Majesty is wise!"
The Imperial Guards stepped forward and took away the Cui family members who had already been subdued.
Cui Yongsheng's face was ashen. He knew that the Cui family was finished, at least his branch was finished.
A thousand-year-old family will not be completely destroyed by a single defeat, but it will inevitably suffer a severe blow and fall from its position as the top family among the five.
After dealing with the Cui family, Lin Chen took a deep breath.
Because the banquet wasn't over yet—there was one last piece of good news to announce.