Imperial Scepter

The young man from the Puppet Sect stood still, his arrogant expression, which had previously looked down on everyone, now twisted into a ferocious and ruthless expression due to extreme resentment.

His bloodshot eyes blazed with an almost tangible greed that clung to Gao Chun as if he were eyeing a priceless treasure within easy reach.

In his eyes, Gao Chun and Gao Chengzhi were already his for the taking.

As long as these two are captured alive and brought back to the sect, a huge reward and a high position will follow.

Especially Gao Chun, if he could capture such a genius, he would be able to rise to the top in one step and completely gain recognition among his peers.

With the four-colored Dao Seeds within him, coupled with his Bronze Six-Star cultivation, he swept through the geniuses of his sect without ever suffering a defeat.

He simply couldn't accept that he had been forced into such a wretched and vulnerable state by a seemingly ordinary young man who had deliberately suppressed his cultivation, leaving him with no trump cards to play.

"You possess innate bloodline supernatural powers, but I also have a sect-defining acquired supernatural power!"

"Today I'll show you whether your innate supernatural powers are more powerful, or my acquired supernatural powers are stronger!"

The black-robed youth laughed wildly, his voice like a blade tearing through the air. He suddenly raised his arm and slammed it hard against his own chest.

"puff--"

A mouthful of hot, sweet-smelling blood suddenly spurted out, condensing into a continuously flowing three-colored blood bead in his palm.

The bead was cold and piercing, obscure and eerie, exuding an evil aura. Countless mysterious runes swirled rapidly around its surface, gleaming brightly.

The black-robed youth flicked his wrist, hurling the three-colored blood bead fiercely towards the Gao Chun team.

The blood droplet transformed into a streak of blood and crashed to the ground!

In the instant the light exploded, three stiff yet swift figures stepped out fiercely from the blood-red light.

The three puppets were incredibly lifelike, with skin textures indistinguishable from those of living people. Their large eyes darted around, their liveliness bordering on the eerie. If it weren't for the dense aura of death surrounding them, no one would be able to tell that they were puppets.

What's even more chilling is that the aura emanating from the three puppets is uniformly at the fifth level of the Bronze Realm!

Wielding a stark white bone blade, it charges forward recklessly, domineering and fierce, specializing in breaking through defenses head-on.

He carried a longbow made of black iron, the string drawn as full as a moon, suppressing enemies from afar, his arrows never missing their mark.

His arms transformed into cold blades, his figure elusive, his speed so fast that afterimages appeared one after another, specializing in close-range reaping.

Seeing this desperate scene.

Gao Chun's expression turned completely solemn, a chilling aura emanating from the depths of his eyes, and the air around him seemed to freeze.

Li Daoqiu, covered in wounds and blood, suddenly narrowed his eyes. His usually calm and indifferent face finally cracked with a hint of panic, and his eyes were filled with undisguised fear.

Am I going to die here today?

He was filled with resentment; his great revenge was unavenged, and his path to enlightenment was not yet complete. He absolutely could not die here!

Huang Xiaoming's usually smooth and worldly face was now completely devoid of any smile.

Fear surged through my body like a tidal wave, causing me to tremble uncontrollably and my jaw to chatter.

Gao Chengzhi's face was ashen, and his small body trembled uncontrollably.

No matter how strong or stubborn he was, he was still just a ten-year-old boy. Faced with such a certain death, fear had already crept into his heart.

Wang Hu, however, even when he was spitting blood and his wounds were bursting open, still held his head high and never lowered his proud head to anyone.

Arrogance was a mark etched into his very bones, especially now that he was standing before the captain he respected and trusted most.

He turned his head to look at Gao Chun, his eyes resolute, his mind already made up to die: even if he were to be shattered to pieces and lose his life here today, he would do everything in his power to ensure that Captain Gao Chun left alive.

Gao Chun's face was as solemn as iron, but his eyes showed no sign of panic from beginning to end.

He took in every expression and every emotion of his four brothers, and engraved it in his heart.

In his life, he wanted everything: cultivation, opportunities, fame, and power.

But his own family and brothers are his Achilles' heel, and the four brothers behind him who have shared life and death and entrusted their backs to him are the ones he absolutely cannot harm.

She is the person he would protect even at the cost of his life.

Wang Hu, honest and loyal, always the first to rush to the front and shield others from injury.

Li Daoqiu is calm, decisive, adept at finding openings for surprise attacks, and rarely speaks.

Huang Xiaoming is shrewd and righteous, seemingly cowardly, but never backs down when it matters.

There's also Gao Chengzhi, the youngest, who is completely dependent on others but is also stubborn and unyielding.

These four people have been deeply etched into his soul and become part of his blood.

To become his hard armor and warm light on this cruel and cold-blooded path of cultivation.

Anyone who dares to harm them in the slightest will be made to pay a hundredfold, a thousandfold, or even ten thousandfold in agony!

"With my current Bronze IV cultivation level, even if I activate the third-level Thunder Shadow, I absolutely cannot protect my four wounded brothers."

"Retreat is the only option; fight offers a glimmer of hope."

"I can expose the secret, I can be doomed forever, but I can never let these brothers who have entrusted their lives and their backs to me die on this wasteland."

"What does it matter if I expose my cultivation level for my brothers? What does it matter if I give everything? I have no regrets!"

"I must break the seal before I can fight him!"

Gao Chun slowly raised his hands and placed them firmly on his dantian in his abdomen. His fingertips moved rapidly, and the long-sealed Bagua seal was suddenly opened.

boom--!!!

An immense, suppressed power, seemingly dormant for millennia, surged into the sky like a primordial beast breaking free of its shackles, tearing through the air!

A pale purple light swept across the area, and a fierce wind howled wildly around him, stirring up dust and blood.

The aura of a Bronze IV-level expert surged forward, breaking through the barriers of his realm without any hindrance and climbing steadily.

Finally, his aura stabilized at the fifth level of the Bronze Realm!

The true, unreserved, and complete power of the high purity is fully revealed at this moment, without any concealment!

A sharp, domineering, and intimidating aura swept across the entire area, causing the three puppets and the black-robed youth to catch their breath.

The young man from the Puppet Sect suddenly changed his expression, his pupils shrinking to their maximum size, his eyes filled with disbelief and shock.

He never imagined that the boy he had always regarded as an ant, someone he could crush at will, was actually hiding his true abilities so deeply!

Li Daoqiu, Gao Chengzhi, Wang Hu, and Huang Xiaoming froze on the spot, as if struck by lightning.

In their hearts, a monstrous, earth-shattering storm had already erupted!

Li Daoqiu was covered in blood, his wounds were gruesome, but he couldn't stop his fingertips from trembling slightly. His usually calm and icy heart was now boiling with turmoil.

My childhood friend Gao Chun is actually a Bronze 5th Star?

His bloodline supernatural power was terrifyingly powerful? He broke through his realm in such a short time? Thinking of Li Family Village, his heart was filled with shock and disbelief.

But even more so, it was a deeply moving experience.

His childhood friend Gao Chun risked exposing his secret to save everyone. Having such a brother was the greatest fortune and pride of his life.

Gao Chengzhi, his face covered in blood, stared wide-eyed, his small face filled with disbelief.

My uncle is actually a Bronze Level 5 expert? How could he be that strong?

But the next second, he laughed foolishly, his eyes curving into crescents.

"The stronger my uncle is, the more notebooks he can buy for me in the future!"

In an instant, he felt as if all the pain in his body had disappeared, and his strength returned.

Wang Hu's eyes widened in shock, which lasted only a moment before being completely overwhelmed by extreme pride and excitement. The admiration and pride in his eyes were almost overflowing.

This is the elder brother he acknowledges, this is the captain he swears to follow to the death! His judgment is never wrong!

Huang Xiaoming was shocked, then overjoyed, his smile so bright it was almost blinding.

He clenched his fist tightly, his heart filled with joy.

The powerful figure he's clinging to is indeed a hidden dragon in the abyss! Gao Chun is only twelve and a half years old and has already reached the fifth level of the Bronze Realm. Isn't reaching the Silver and Gold Realms just around the corner?

By clinging to such a powerful figure, he too can soar to great heights!

Gao Chun calmly surveyed the battlefield, taking in everyone's reactions.

His gaze slowly swept over his four bloodied brothers. His voice was not loud, but it was as heavy as Mount Tai, each word striking the hearts of the people.

"With me here today, none of you will die."

In short, calm your mind and suppress all fear to stabilize the entire battle.

The young man from the Puppet Sect laughed in fury, his killing intent surging wildly, almost solidifying into a tangible form.

"So what if you're hiding your cultivation level? A Bronze Level 5 cultivator is still an ant before me!"

"Three puppets, heed my command! Tear them apart! Except for Gao Chun and Gao Chengzhi, kill the rest!"

At a command, the three puppets simultaneously sprang into action, their killing intent soaring to the heavens!

The bone-bladed puppet charged forward, shaking the earth. With its bone blades raised high, it hurtled towards Wang Hu with an aura that seemed capable of shattering everything.

The iron bow puppet nocked an arrow, its tip gleaming with a cold light, and instantly locked onto Li Daoqiu, its killing intent fully revealed.

The bladed puppet transformed into a black shadow, its arms flashing with cold light as it lunged at Huang Xiaoming and Gao Chengzhi, aiming to kill them with a single blow.

The black-robed youth ran to a distance, immediately sat cross-legged, quickly took out a Xuan Dan and swallowed it, then closed his eyes and circulated his cultivation technique to frantically restore the depleted Xuan energy in his body.

Gao Chun's eyes were sharp as knives, and his brain was racing in an instant, the battle situation changing rapidly.

Although he is now at the fifth level of Bronze, and his Xuan power can be replenished through the energy in his bloodline crystal, his physical strength has not been fully recovered. After a series of fierce battles, he is now on the verge of exhaustion.

He could choose to launch a close-quarters attack and kill the black-robed youth directly, but in that case, the four brothers would have to face the siege of three bronze five-star puppets alone, and they would surely die!

He absolutely could not let his brother be put in danger, otherwise even if he killed the black-robed youth, it would be meaningless.

Moreover, the black-robed youth was only depleted of his profound energy, but he still possessed a certain level of combat power.

The best solution at present is to first destroy the three puppets with swift and decisive action, and then deal with the black-robed youth, which will be a piece of cake.

However, he alone could not defeat the three puppets instantly. If he wanted to survive, he had to rely on his team and fight to the death!

The four companions were already covered in wounds and their faces were pale, but at this moment, there was no way out.

The moment he made the decision, Gao Chun didn't hesitate for a second. As the team captain, he issued orders with a cold and sharp voice, clear instructions, and extreme precision.

"Wang Hu, engage the bone-blade puppet head-on, defend without attacking, and relentlessly stall for time!"

"Daoqiu, flank from behind and launch a sneak attack, targeting the joints, eye sockets, and back of the neck—go straight for the vital points!"

"Xiaoming, flank and disrupt them, don't let the Iron Bow Puppet lock onto the backline!"

"Chengzhi, seize the opportunity to attack the puppet's lower body, but remember not to be reckless!"

The instructions were crisp and concise, without a single superfluous word.

Upon hearing the order, the four acted without hesitation, instantly grasping the tactical intent with perfect understanding.

Wang Hu took a deep breath, and his pale blue Xuan power erupted. His body was firmly planted on the ground like an iron tower, neither dodging nor avoiding, and he faced the ferocious charge of the bone blade puppet head-on.

His task was to hold the front line of defense.

Even if it means being shattered to pieces, I will never let a puppet advance a single step!

"Drink!"

Wang Hu roared to the sky, crossing his arms to block in front of him.

clang--!!!

The sound of metal clashing was extremely piercing, causing a painful sensation in the eardrums.

Wang Hu's feet carved two deep gashes into the ground, and his tiger's mouth instantly split open, gushing blood.

But he gritted his teeth, his jaw clicking, and refused to back down an inch!

"If you want to get over there, you'll have to step over my dead body first!"

Li Daoqiu's figure flickered, like a lone wolf in the dark night, swiftly circling along the ground, not engaging in direct combat with the puppet, but seizing fleeting openings and attacking its weakest points.

Just as the bladed-armed puppet lunged forward, he suddenly bent down, gathering pale purple profound energy at his fingertips, and stabbed at the puppet's joints like a sharp blade.

The puppet, in pain, suddenly stopped moving and its attack abruptly ended.

Huang Xiaoming immediately stepped forward, constantly feinting and jumping while shouting loudly, using the most direct, clumsy, yet most effective method to try and disrupt the Iron Bow Puppet's aim.

"Come on! Shoot me! You can't aim properly!"

The Iron Bow Puppet was thrown into disarray, its arrows frequently missing their mark, and it completely lost its ability to suppress enemies from a distance.

Gao Chengzhi followed closely beside Huang Xiaoming, his small body lowering its center of gravity, his eyes resolute.

He seized an opening, his fists wrapped in a light red aura, and slammed them hard against the back of the puppet's knees.

Although not particularly strong, it can precisely slow down the opponent's speed, creating opportunities for teammates.

The four worked together seamlessly, their teamwork as seamless as a single person. They were fearless and even willing to use their own bodies to shield their teammates from fatal blows and create deadly opportunities.

The contempt, arrogance, and confidence on the young man's face from the Puppet Sect vanished completely at this moment, and a trace of barely concealed panic finally crept into the depths of his eyes.

He never expected that, in addition to their incredible combat prowess, the other four members of this team also possessed such terrifying willpower and a strong sense of unity that bound them together through thick and thin.

However, his profound energy was exhausted at the moment, so he could only frantically circulate his cultivation technique to refine the profound pill as soon as possible to restore his profound energy.

While Gao Chun was launching a frontal assault on the puppet, his eyes never left his four brothers, and he kept a firm grasp on every change on the battlefield.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed sharply, and his killing intent surged!

Om-! ! !

A purple afterimage flashed by, and his figure disappeared from the spot, so fast that only a pale purple streak remained, which was impossible to catch with the naked eye!

With a flash of lightning, Gao Chun instantly appeared beside Wang Hu, forcefully pulling him away with one hand.

The bone-blade puppet's deadly slash landed just short of the air, narrowly avoiding the killing blow.

"Wang Hu, keep the pace!"

"Yes, Captain!"

With another flash of lightning, Gao Chun appeared beside Li Daoqiu like a ghost, and with a surge of Xuan power, forcibly pulled him away.

The iron-bowed puppet's cold arrow pierced the air, narrowly missing his heart, a truly perilous moment.

"Daoqiu, continue the sneak attack!"

"Understood, Captain!"

With a lightning flash, Gao Chun bravely stood in front of Huang Xiaoming and Gao Chengzhi, his arms erupting with pale yellow Xuan power, forcefully withstanding the full force of the bladed-armed puppet's attack.

boom--! ! !

A pale yellow aura exploded, sending shockwaves surging and sweeping across the area.

Gao Chun swayed slightly, but stood as steady as Mount Tai, protecting the two boys behind him without a scratch.

Gao Chun is like the absolute axis of the entire battlefield. Lei Ying traverses the battlefield, always appearing in the most dangerous place at the first moment to block all deadly attacks.

He single-handedly shouldered all the pressure for the entire team!

The four brothers also repaid this trust and protection with their lives.

The battle had only been going on for a few dozen breaths when it reached its peak in ferocity.

The bone-bladed puppet possessed terrifying power. Wang Hu withstood several heavy blows, causing multiple wounds on his body to reopen and his profound energy to be completely depleted.

His face was ashen, and his breathing was rapid and labored, like a broken bellows; he was only holding on through sheer willpower and physical strength.

But he still didn't back down an inch.

Behind him were the brothers he was willing to protect with his life.

Just as the bone-blade puppet raised its bone blade once more, intending to deliver a fatal blow to Wang Hu...

Huang Xiaoming lunged forward and, without hesitation, shielded Wang Hu with his body.

"Wang Hu, get out of the way!"

He didn't even have time to think; his body reacted before his consciousness could.

He knew perfectly well how terrifying this attack was, yet he still went forward without hesitation, using his body as a shield.

Wang Hu's pupils constricted sharply, his eyes widened in horror, and he roared, "Xiao Ming!"

At the critical moment, a purple streak of light pierced through the sky.

The high-purity Raikage unleashed his power to the extreme, instantly pulling the two apart.

The bone blade grazed the clothes as it slashed down, carving a deep, bottomless trench in the ground.

"Don't try to block it!" Gao Chun's voice was low, with a hint of heartache that he couldn't hide.

Just as the two regained their footing, the iron bow puppet's deadly arrow shot straight at Gao Chengzhi.

The child was a little slow to react and was about to be pierced through the heart by an arrow.

Without a second thought, Li Daoqiu turned around abruptly and used his shoulder to block Gao Chengzhi.

puff--

The arrow pierced his shoulder, and blood gushed out instantly, staining his clothes red.

"Brother Daoqiu!" Gao Chengzhi screamed, his eyes instantly turning red and tears streaming down his face.

Li Daoqiu gritted his teeth and forcefully pulled out the arrow, his face deathly pale, yet he still spoke in a deep voice, his tone as steady as a rock.

"I'm fine, Chengzhi, step back!"

For his brothers, he was willing to use his body as a shield, without any regrets.

Gao Chun witnessed all of this, feeling both heartbroken and deeply warmed.

This is his team, these are his brothers.

We share happiness and hardship, support each other through thick and thin, and stand together through life and death.

Without further hesitation, his mind instantly sank into the bloodline origin crystal in his heart.

Within the crystal, a few strands of pure energy lay dormant, his last reserves, his final trump card.

For brothers, what does it matter if everything is burned out!

Amidst the flashing lightning, Gao Chun silently approached Wang Hu, raised his hand to his abdomen, and quietly transferred two strands of primordial energy into his brother's body.

There was no light, no sound, no earth-shattering phenomenon.

Wang Hu's depleted dantian was instantly filled with profound energy. He felt a warmth in his body, and his power surged out. He straightened his chest again and stood firmly at the forefront.

Gao Chun then came to Li Daoqiu's side and, following the same procedure, transferred two strands of primordial energy into him.

Li Daoqiu's depleted Xuan power instantly replenished, his pupils shrank dramatically, and he was utterly shocked. His fingertips once again condensed a sharp edge, and he continued to harass the enemy.

"We have only two slivers of energy left. This is our trump card, and we must not use it until the very last moment."

In this bloody battle, Gao Chun held nothing back and did not hesitate.

He gave all his life, all his strength, and all his options to the brothers around him.

He is the captain, the eldest brother, and the uncle.

He had to shoulder everything and protect everyone.

The battle grew increasingly fierce, with a murderous aura filling the air.

The five men were covered in blood, their clothes soaked through, but their fighting spirit grew stronger and hotter!

Wang Hu was severely injured and exhausted several times, collapsing to the ground, but he always managed to get back up with a fierce determination, using his flesh and blood to block one deadly attack after another.

Li Daoqiu's old wounds had not yet healed when new ones appeared, leaving him covered in wounds. Yet, he continued to move across the battlefield, launching sneak attacks, restraining, and disrupting the enemy without ever stopping.

Huang Xiaoming was hit by the aftershocks several times and fell down, suffering excruciating pain all over his body, but he always gritted his teeth and got up, continuing to fight for a chance of survival for his team in his own way.

Despite being the youngest, Gao Chengzhi never backed down, using his most naive attacks to relentlessly entangle the enemy's lower body, never betraying his teammates.

They shielded each other from harm, covered for each other, and rescued each other; you took the wound for me, and I risked my life for you.

The burning brotherhood was vividly displayed in the bloody battle, a momentous and moving display of camaraderie.

Gao Chun's face grew paler and paler, his breath became increasingly weak, and even Lei Ying's speed gradually slowed down.

No one knew that he had only two strands of his original energy left, which he dared not and could not easily use.

He gave everything to his brother.

The young man from the Puppet Sect grew increasingly terrified and fearful as the battle progressed, until his mind completely collapsed.

Despite having an absolute advantage and holding the trump card, he was unable to defeat the five seemingly weak teenagers.

What drove him to the brink of despair was that these five people seemed to be invincible, inexhaustible in their profound energy, and inexhaustible in their fighting spirit!

"Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!" the young man roared, his face contorted in anger, his mind in turmoil.

He will never know that what sustains all of this is a heart of pure dedication, burning everything to the very end, a heart that will never give up until death.

After an unknown period of bloody battle, two of the three human puppets had been killed by Gao Chun and his group of five.

Only one body remained, its form broken and mangled, yet it continued to put up a stubborn resistance.

"Now is the time for the final battle!"

Gao Chun gritted his teeth, holding nothing back, and recklessly used the last two strands of his original energy.

At this moment, all thirty strands of profound energy within his body were completely burned away, leaving not a trace!

All his trump cards, all his resources, all his strength, were transformed into protection, poured into the person he cared about most.

Gao Chun's eyes suddenly sharpened, his gaze blazing, his voice hoarse yet resolute, echoing across the battlefield.

"Now! Everyone, surround them!"

"Wang Hu, lock his legs tightly, don't let him move an inch!"

"Li Daoqiu, attack his vital point in the back, and defeat him in one strike!"

"Huang Xiaoming, do everything you can to distract him and unsettle him!"

"Chengzhi, grab his ankles and cut off his escape route!"

"yes!"

The four brothers roared in unison, using the last bit of strength in their bodies to launch their final all-out attack!

Wang Hu lunged forward fiercely, his arms like iron chains, tightly gripping the legs of the last puppet. His muscles were taut, his veins bulging, locking the puppet firmly in place, refusing to budge.

Despite the pain all over his body, Li Daoqiu leaped up, gathered all his profound energy in his fist, and thrust it straight at the puppet's vital point in the back of its body.

Huang Xiaoming leaped up and shouted at the top of his lungs, using his last bit of strength to distract the other person and disrupt their focus.

Gao Chengzhi's small body burst forth with astonishing strength, clinging tightly to the puppet's ankles, giving it no way to retreat.

The four of them used their bodies, wills, and lives to pave a deadly path for Gao Chun.

Gao Chun took a deep breath, gathering all his beliefs, his protection, and his burning affection into one.

He had very little Xuan power left, and the blood crystal in his heart was empty, with no energy left.

But in his heart, only a burning passion remained.

The purple lightning was pushed to its limit, transforming into a stream of light that pierced through the heavens and earth, incredibly fast and unstoppable!

There were no fancy moves, and not a single thing was held back.

"Defeat him!"

The gleaming dagger sliced ​​through the puppet's throat like lightning.

The last puppet froze instantly, its body still for a moment, before collapsing with a crash, completely destroyed and lifeless.

The victory was completely secured by a single, powerful lightning strike!

next second.

Gao Chun's body swayed violently, unable to hold on any longer, and all his strength was completely drained.

He knelt heavily on one knee, panting heavily, his face as pale as paper. His dantian energy was completely depleted, and his physical strength was exhausted to the limit. He was weak and powerless, and almost collapsed to the ground.

He used up everything, burned everything.

But when he looked up, he saw four brothers who had fought valiantly but were still alive, rushing toward him.

A faint, yet extremely calm and relieved smile slowly appeared on his lips.

Wang Hu, Li Daoqiu, Huang Xiaoming, and Gao Chengzhi rushed to his side, kneeling down on the ground, their eyes red and tears streaming uncontrollably, wetting their blood-stained cheeks.

They were unaware of the secrets of the bloodline supernatural power, unaware that Gao Chun had burned through the bloodline crystal energy, and unaware of the terrible price he had paid.

All they know is...

This man, for their sake, broke the seal on his cultivation and revealed his full strength.

For them, they were willing to risk their lives, facing near-death experiences without complaint or regret.

"Dude..."

"team leader……"

"uncle……"

Her voice choked with sobs, filled with burning gratitude and heartache.

Gao Chun nodded slightly, his voice barely audible, yet still heavy as a mountain, each word carrying immense weight.

"I told you... with me here, you won't die."

As the setting sun pierced through the thick clouds, its golden rays poured down, gently enveloping five blood-stained, disheveled yet upright figures.

There were no cheers, no applause, and no earth-shattering phenomena.

Only when brothers are of one mind can they fight to the death without retreating.

Only by sharing life and death, never abandoning each other.

There was only one boy who burned everything and gave his all to protect his family and friends.

(Nearly 7000 words in this chapter, wishing everyone a Happy New Year!)

Wishing everyone a prosperous and successful Year of the Horse, with continuous good fortune and great wealth!