Jared searched the fallen soldiers’ bodies but found nothing of value. It was clear they weren’t particularly strong, and their resources were limited, too.
“Let’s go. We should take our chance and slip out while the chaos lasts,” Jared said, then turned to lead Madman and the others toward the outskirts of the city.
Just as they leapt into the air, ready to leave, a squad of soldiers suddenly appeared, blocking their path.
“Well, well… Finally found you,” came a furious voice.
Thorley stood at the front, face twisted in anger, teeth clenched.
Seeing it was Thorley, and that he’d brought only a few soldiers, Jared let out a laugh.
“This is all you brought to catch us?” said, amused.
“Forget them,” Thorley snapped, snorting. “Even if I came alone, taking you down would be child’s play. I don’t care who you think you are. Surrender now and save yourself the pain.”
“Hey, is it some kind of celestial tradition to act all high and mighty? Would it kill you to show a little humility?” Jared scoffed, genuinely at a loss for words.
What’s so special about these so-called celestials anyway?
They boast about their noble bloodlines, yet every one of them is arrogant, completely convinced they’re better than everyone else…
Thorley faltered for a moment, a slight frown tugging at his brow. “Do you even know who I am?”
“I know more than just your name,” Jared replied with a faint smile.
“Your father is Braxton, overlord of the Celestial Palace’s Eighth Hall, isn’t he? Funny enough, I’ve already defeated once. So your odds are even worse.”
Thorley stared at him, stunned. Disbelief flickered across his face. He simply couldn’t understand how Jared had learned such a tightly guarded secret.
The Celestial Palace’s Eighth Hall was the true power behind Winged Tiger City, a fact known to almost no one. Publicly, it was the city lord Jovan who held authority.
Hmm… How could this guy possibly know that?
“Who exactly are you? How do you know my father? How could you, a cultivator barely in the Wandering Immortal Realm, possibly defeat him?” Thorley demanded, his disbelief evident.
“When I defeated your father, I was still in the Manifestor Realm. If it were now, I could make beg for mercy with just one hand…” Jared said confidently, without a hint of exaggeration.
He was telling the truth, but what didn’t mention was that had only defeated Braxton because the Vermilion Demon Lord had taken control of his body at the time.
“How dare you insult our lord!” A soldier suddenly stepped forward, his aura flaring as advanced on Jared. “You deserve to die!”
The soldiers accompanying Thorley were clearly no ordinary troops. Their auras were far more powerful and distinct than the regular guards in the city, likely members of the Celestial Palace in disguise.
“How dare you speak to Jared like that?” Madman roared, his fury erupting as launched a swift palm strike.
The soldier never had a chance. He was sent flying, his body bursting apart mid-air, reduced to a mangled heap of flesh.
Madman’s power far outstripped these small fries from the Eighth Hall. After enduring centuries in purgatory, was a force to be reckoned with.
Thorley’s face turned pale. His mind raced back to the time spell Jared had just demonstrated, a surge of fear creeping into his chest.
Thorley had brought only a handful of soldiers, relying on the Teleportation Array. With most of the city’s forces stationed at the border, knew his meager forces were no match for Jared and his companions.
“Kid, since you already know I’m from the Celestial Palace, you still dare to defy us? Are you really not afraid of death?” Thorley growled, trying to cow Jared with the palace’s reputation.
Jared burst out laughing, his tone arrogant. “Hah! You’re just the prince of the Eighth Hall. Even if you were the hall’s overlord, I’d still kill you if I felt like it. I’ve already taken down the Tenth Hall. Its overlord now answers to me. As for the Ninth Hall, their lord died the moment appeared. And you think I’d be scared of some petty prince from the Eighth?”
