"I want to personally enter the palace to see His Majesty!"
Zhu Yuan's hands trembled, not daring to accept the imperial decree before him.
The golden scroll seemed heavier than a mountain, its weight pressing not only on his hands but on his very soul. Once he accepted it, there would be no turning back—no appeal, no redemption. Everything the Zhu clan had built over generations would collapse in an instant.
He had considered His Majesty's furious wrath, possibly demoting the Zhu family's title because of this matter, but he couldn't have imagined that the entire Zhu clan would have to pay such a heavy price.
The thought of his clansmen—children, elders, loyal retainers—being dragged into punishment because of one incident filled him with anguish. This was no longer justice; it was eradication in all but name.
"This is His Majesty's will."
"Receive the decree, Zhu Yuan. If you receive it now, at least most of your Zhu family can still live."
Dai Chengfeng said indifferently, but with a wave of his large hand, the main Knight Corps behind him let out a deep shout, Spirit attaching to their bodies, and seven spirit rings appeared on each of them, exuding a very strong deterrent force.
The synchronized eruption of spirit power shook the air. One after another, luminous spirit rings rose beneath the knights' feet, forming a terrifying display of strength. Their auras merged into a single oppressive force that bore down on the Zhu Residence like a storm.
And behind the main Imperial Knights, there were dozens of Spirit King and Spirit Emperor Knight teams of levels fifty and sixty.
Their armor gleamed coldly under the light, weapons at the ready, eyes unwavering. This was not merely a show of force—it was a declaration. Resistance would be crushed instantly.
Such a lineup was simply not something the Zhu family could contend with alone.
This was also the cleverness of the Royal Family. If they were to exterminate nine generations, then the Zhu clan, from top to bottom, would fight to the death. But by only severely punishing a small portion of the direct descendants, most of the Zhu clan's Spirit Masters would not choose to fight to the bitter end.
Zhu Yuan clearly understood this point, and his heart was filled with immense sorrow. Considering his clansmen, he, with his spirit power of over eighty ranks, dared not resist. How tragic was that?
His pride as a patriarch, his dignity as a Spirit Douluo—none of it mattered in the face of imperial authority. All he could do was weigh survival against honor, knowing that either choice would cost him dearly.
But it was at this moment, outside the Zhu Residence, that a woman holding a black cannon slowly appeared, holding a middle-aged man dressed in a white tiger imperial robe hostage. Accompanied by the chilling aura of Nine Yin, she actually forced back more than ten Spirit Emperor-ranked knights, and in full view of everyone, walked up to Dai Chengfeng:
The sudden disturbance shattered the tense stalemate.
A cold wind seemed to sweep through the courtyard as her figure emerged, step by step, calm yet unstoppable. The oppressive aura of darkness around her caused even seasoned knights to hesitate, their instincts screaming danger.
Her presence was like a blade drawn in silence—deadly, precise, and impossible to ignore.
"The Star Luo Emperor is here, who dares to be presumptuous?"
Her voice was not loud, yet it cut through the air with chilling clarity.
Upon seeing the appearance of the man in the yellow robe, Dai Chengfeng rubbed his eyes in disbelief and called out in shock:
"Your Majesty!"
The entire formation wavered.
No one had expected such a scene—the Emperor himself, appearing in such a humiliating and precarious position, held hostage in front of his own army.
"Audacious! How dare you hold His Majesty hostage? Men!"
"Wait! Dai Chengfeng, are you trying to rebel?"
The middle-aged man in the yellow robe felt the pitch-black Sky Shattering Cannon at his waist prod him. Cold sweat streamed down the Star Luo Emperor's forehead, and he quickly took out a new imperial decree, ordering:
His voice trembled slightly, the usual imperial authority replaced by urgency. The cold touch of the weapon against him was a constant reminder that his life hung by a thread.
"This Emperor has wronged the Zhu clan. The Zhu family has committed no crime. The Zhu clan and the Royal Family are, after all, allies of a hundred years. Let us reconcile. This Emperor has just drafted a decree to proclaim it to the world. Not only is the Zhu family innocent, but this Emperor shall also bestow rewards! This is this Emperor's new decree."
The words fell like thunder.
Moments ago, the Zhu clan stood on the brink of ruin. Now, with a single statement, everything was overturned.
Shock spread across the courtyard. The Zhu family members who had been wailing moments earlier froze in place, their tear-streaked faces filled with disbelief. Even the Imperial Knights hesitated, uncertain whether to advance or retreat.
Dai Chengfeng's expression stiffened, his mind racing. He understood immediately—this was no ordinary situation. For the Emperor to reverse his own decree so abruptly, and under such circumstances, could only mean one thing:
The woman before him was not someone he could afford to provoke.
And at that moment, many in the Zhu Residence finally recognized her.
The cold aura. The black-and-gold attire. The overwhelming presence.
Zhu Zhuqing had returned.