C22 Surviving a Disaster

After the central assassin finished speaking, his two companions swiftly drew their swords to cut off Chen Dutian's escape route. The prowess of a ninth-level Spirit Convergence martial artist was not to be taken lightly. Over ten beams of sword light streaked through the air, encircling Chen Dutian tightly.

"Shua!"

Confronted by three ninth-level Spirit Convergence warriors, Chen Dutian couldn't afford to be careless. He threw a powerful punch forward, and as the shadow of his fist mingled with the gleam of the swords, a thunderous boom echoed.

Simultaneously, Chen Dutian surged forward, snatching a sword from one of his attackers. With a light tap of his toes on the ground, he soared into the air, his body's spirit energy rushing through his meridians and infusing the sword.

"Sword Sweeping the Wind and Clouds!"

With a forceful cry, Chen Dutian flicked his wrist, and the sword shimmered with a chilling light. A majestic surge of spirit energy conjured dozens of spinning sword shadows...

The martial techniques practiced by the two assassins paled in comparison to the Heavenly Dipper Sword Technique. The sword shadows collided with brutal force, the clanging of metal resounding incessantly.

The assassin who had lost his sword watched in panic as multiple sword shadows lunged directly at him. He hastily retreated, but Chen Dutian merely smirked. With a slight lift of his wrist, he sealed off the assassin's retreat with several sword shadows. In a blur, Chen Dutian advanced, sword in hand, confronting the man.

"Ninth level of the Spirit Convergence Realm, is that all you've got?"

The assassin hadn't anticipated Chen Dutian's astonishing speed and was instantly alarmed. He conjured a burst of spirit energy, hoping to push Chen Dutian back.

The other two assassins charged at Chen Dutian, swords at the ready. If their companions could intervene in time, he was sure he could get away without a scratch.

But as this thought flickered through his mind, Chen Dutian's lips twisted into a slight smirk. He thrust his sword at an angle, its radiant light piercing the assassin's chest in an instant.

The spiritual energy the man had released didn't even graze Chen Dutian's clothes. In the moonlight, the spectral figure thrust his sword and vanished from the spot in the blink of an eye.

As they watched their comrades fall to Chen Dutian's sword, the remaining two assassins at the ninth level of the Spirit Convergence Realm involuntarily gasped in shock, their eyes ablaze with fury.

Despite their combined strength, the three ninth-level Spirit Convergence experts were no match for Chen Dutian. With one of their own slain before their eyes, the two were overwhelmed with shock. Yet, driven by a desire for vengeance, they resolutely lunged at Chen Dutian with their swords.

The sound of clashing metal rang out as sword lights, forged from spiritual energy, collided in the night sky. Chen Dutian fought while retreating. The Heavenly Astral Sword Technique he wielded was indeed formidable, but it was a challenge to contend with three Spirit Convergence ninth-level cultivators.

The spiritual energy required to perform the Tiangang Sword Technique was immense. It was a feat to have already slain one ninth-level Spirit Convergence cultivator, and Chen Dutian feared that if the battle dragged on and his spiritual energy depleted, he might fall to the assassins' blades.

Luckily, the Lord Protector's Mansion was not far off. Chen Dutian retreated, occasionally swinging his longsword to release bursts of sword light. The two ninth-level Spirit Convergence assassins pursued him relentlessly, their murderous intent peaking as they neared the Lord Protector's Mansion. The two experts leaped forward, shattering the sword shadows and cutting off Chen Dutian's escape.

"Chen Dutian, you won't leave here alive today!"

"Hmph, with just you lot?" Chen Dutian steadied himself and concentrated the last of his spiritual energy into his longsword.

With swift strokes, he directed his sword at the two ninth-level Spirit Convergence martial artists. Dozens of sword lights streaked through the air, their brilliance dazzling. Incredibly, the lights merged into a massive sword shadow, over ten feet in length.

"What kind of martial skill is this? How can Chen Dutian, a mere sixth-level Spirit Convergence cultivator, wield such immense power?"

The two black-clad assassins blocking Chen Dutian's way exchanged a tense glance. With determination, they channeled their spiritual energy and unleashed their own flurry of sword lights.

"Don't harm my prince!"

The sword shadow plummeted from the sky, shattering the sword lights below with ease, as if slicing through vegetables. Simultaneously, several figures swiftly emerged from the Lord Protector's Mansion.

Clad in blood-red robes and black armor, wielding silver spears with the courage of tigers, it was the Red Banner Army, whose very name sent shivers down the spines of everyone in the imperial city!

Close behind them, more than a dozen figures moved like specters, their speed astonishing, each armed with a crescent blade and a blood-red jade belt at their waist. They were the Blood Shadow Guards, left in the capital by the Lord Protector, Chen Dou.

Even the least skilled among them had reached the Astral Wandering Realm. The sight made the black-clad assassins gasp in fear. The Red Banner Army was formidable enough to instill terror, but the Blood Shadow Guards, tasked with protecting Chen Dou, were known as the Gods of Slaughter!

Chen Dutian breathed a sigh of relief, gently wiping the fine sweat from his forehead, feeling as though he had narrowly escaped death's clutches.

Having executed the second form of the Heavenly Dipper Sword Technique, his spiritual energy was nearly depleted. The fact that he remained standing was an accomplishment in itself.

The black-clad assassins, witnessing the emergence of the Red Banner Army and the Blood Shadow Guards from the Lord Protector's Mansion, felt their bodies tremble, and their rage subsided significantly.

"Your Highness, are you unharmed?" The Blood Shadow Guards approached Chen Dutian, examining him with concern as they quietly inquired.

"We greet the Crown Prince with respect!" Two Red Banner Army commanders also knelt, and the Lord Protector's Mansion continued to buzz with activity as more soldiers in blood-red robes and silver spears rushed out, their presence filling the air with an aura of menace.

"Capture those fleeing assassins!" Chen Dutian commanded, his voice weak as he discarded his long sword and walked slowly toward the Lord Protector's Mansion.

The two Red Banner Army commanders respectfully acknowledged the order and led three hundred soldiers in pursuit of the fleeing assassins. Under the protection of the Blood Shadow Guards, Chen Dutian safely returned to the Lord Protector's Mansion.

Without visiting his mother, Chen Dutian instructed his servants to fetch him ten Spiritual Recovery Pills, and then secluded himself in his private courtyard.

After nearly half an hour, Chen Dutian, with the aid of ten Spiritual Recovery Pills, had replenished a significant amount of his spiritual energy. Feeling revitalized, he left the small courtyard and entered the front hall of the Lord Protector's Mansion.

"Tian, are you all right? What exactly happened? Weren't you appointed as the Prince's study companion and residing in the Imperial City?" Upon seeing Chen Dutian, now in fresh attire, enter the main hall, Zhao Danna quickly rose to her feet, accompanied by several maidservants, and approached him with concern.

"Mother, rest assured, I am unharmed! At today's Golden Autumn Banquet's martial competition, I secured first place. His Majesty has graciously granted me the privilege to return to the Lord Protector's Mansion whenever I wish!" Chen Dutian gently guided Zhao Danna to a chair, where she sat down, and he proceeded to recount in detail the events that had transpired within the Imperial City over the past couple of days.