You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 298 I originally intended to spare your life
Upon hearing Cao Zhengchun's words, Zhou Chen's expression immediately turned cold.

"You want me to leave the Hall of Mental Cultivation?"

Zhou Chen stared sharply at Cao Zhengchun.

Cao Zhengchun immediately bowed slightly and lowered his head, not daring to look directly into Zhou Chen's piercing gaze.

"I am the Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the supreme ruler of the land. Do you think some lowly bandits and assassins are worthy of making me retreat?"

Zhou Chen said coldly.

"Not only will I not leave the Hall of Mental Cultivation, I will also wait for them in the square outside the hall."

"I'd like to see just how much trouble those worldly people can stir up."

Zhou Chen stood up and walked directly out of the hall.

Zhou Chen understood what Cao Zhengchun meant.

But Zhou Chen is the emperor of the Great Zhou, the supreme ruler of the world. If he is frightened into hiding by a bunch of worthless worldly people, where is the majesty of the Great Zhou? Where is the majesty of Emperor Zhou Chen?
Zhou Chen not only refused to retreat, but also went outside the hall to wait for those who had entered the world to come over.

It wasn't that Zhou Chen was reckless or unafraid of death.

Rather, Zhou Chen was absolutely certain that those worldly people could not threaten him.

Putting aside the presence of outstanding figures like Dian Wei and Cao Zhengchun, Zhou Chen's own strength had already reached an unexpected level.

With Zhou Chen's current strength, even outstanding figures like Cao Zhengchun and Dian Wei could be easily suppressed by Zhou Chen using the power of the nation's destiny.

This is Zhou Chen's greatest source of confidence.

Without such confidence, Zhou Chen might actually have listened to Cao Zhengchun's advice and left the Hall of Mental Cultivation to avoid his sharp edge.

After all, Zhou Chen wasn't a simpleton. Knowing there was danger, he still tried to emulate the spirit of the ancients and insisted on charging into it.

Zhou Chen was most concerned about his own safety.

Seeing Zhou Chen walk out of the hall, Cao Zhengchun opened his mouth as if to offer some advice, but in the end he swallowed his words back.

Cao Zhengchun was clear about his position; he was just a servant. The emperor's will could not be easily changed by a servant like him through persuasion.

All he could do was to do everything in his power to ensure the emperor's safety.

……

Shangyang Gate.

Squads of imperial guards converged on Shangyang Gate from all directions.

This is the last gate leading into the inner palace, and also the last barrier of the palace.

Once you pass through Shangyang Gate, you are completely inside the imperial palace.

At this moment, the battle at Shangyang Gate was deafening.

Zhou Wudao, Song Xingyu, and the other worldly people swept through the nine gates of the imperial palace.

In one breath, Zhou Wudao and his men fought their way from the palace gates directly to Shangyang Gate, leaving behind a trail of imperial guard corpses.

In the hands of worldly people like Zhou Wudao, the imperial guards in the palace were simply no match for them.

of course.

Although the Imperial Guards could not stop Zhou Wudao and his group of worldly people, they still left dozens of corpses behind and paid a price in their fight from the palace gates to Shangyang Gate.

"kill……"

"We must not allow these thieves to break into the palace."

The Imperial Guards' duty is to guard the palace; if assassins were to break into the palace, it would be a dereliction of duty.

A deputy commander of the Imperial Guards shouted and leaped into the air, charging towards Zhou Wudao.

With the deputy commander's shout, figures leaped from the Imperial Guards, heading towards those who had entered the world.

These leaping figures are all elites from the Imperial Guard.

The Imperial Guards are able to guard the palace, so naturally there are many strong soldiers in the army.

Zhou Wudao struck out with his palm.

The deputy commander of the Imperial Guard was sent flying by Zhou Wudao's palm strike.

At the same time, most of the other Imperial Guard warriors who jumped up were also dealt with in one move.

Compared to these worldly people, the Imperial Guard's powerful warriors were utterly insignificant.

Zhou Wudao, Song Xingyu, and most of the other worldly people leaped directly onto the palace wall of Shangyang Gate.

at this time.

A loud shout came.

"You audacious scoundrel, how dare you act so recklessly in the palace!"

A figure rushed out of the palace at high speed.

Who else could it be but Dian Wei, the commander of the Imperial Guards?

In an instant, Dian Wei's figure appeared at Shangyang Gate.

Without saying a word, Dian Wei drew his two short halberds, and before those worldly people who had just leaped onto the palace wall could react, more than ten of them were sent flying and fell off the wall.

"This man is Dian Wei. Leave some men to deal with him."

Upon seeing Dian Wei appear, Zhou Wudao said something with a solemn expression.

Zhou Wudao had witnessed Dian Wei's strength firsthand.

In a one-on-one fight, none of them could match Dian Wei.

But they outnumbered them this time, so they were sure they could handle Dian Wei.

However, Zhou Wudao did not directly engage Dian Wei in combat.

Zhou Wudao knew who their primary target was; only by capturing that emperor could their operation be considered a success.

Therefore, Zhou Wudao bypassed Dian Wei and continued running towards the palace.

As for Dian Wei, he was left to be dealt with by the other worldly people.

In this way, we can avoid powerful figures like Dian Wei and also weaken the other worldly people. Why not do it?

Seeing that Zhou Wudao did not make a move but continued to run towards the palace, Song Xingyu and the other leaders did not hesitate and followed closely behind Zhou Wudao, running towards the palace.

Dian Wei saw this and wanted to stop Zhou Wudao and his group, but he was surrounded by many worldly people and couldn't free up his hands at all.

"Die."

Watching Zhou Wudao and his men storm into the palace, Dian Wei's ferocity was fully unleashed.

Dian Wei's fierce aura overshadowed the entire Shangyang Gate. The short halberd in his hand was like the Grim Reaper from hell. With each swing, a figure was sent flying.

Dian Wei's terrifying power exceeded the expectations of these worldly people.

Although these worldly people were somewhat afraid, they did not hesitate at all when attacking Dian Wei, and all of them went all out.

……

Zongren Mansion.

After the court session, the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian returned to the Imperial Clan Court.

After finishing his breakfast, Prince Zhou Xian, the Eighth Prince, had just sat down in the main hall when he sensed a slight fluctuation coming from the direction of the palace.

"what happened?"

The Eighth Prince, Zhou Xian, frowned and stood up abruptly.

Although the palace was not very close to the Imperial Clan Court, Zhou Xian, the Eighth Prince, was still able to sense the movements coming from the direction of the palace, thanks to his strength as a first-rank Grandmaster.

The commotion was huge and intense, clearly indicating a battle taking place in the palace.

"Oh no, something's happened at the palace?"

The face of the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian changed instantly.

What is a royal palace?
That was the residence of the emperor, the most majestic place in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Normally, no one would dare to cause such a commotion in the palace.

Now, such a commotion is coming from the direction of the palace; something has clearly happened.

But who exactly is it that dares to make a move in the palace?

The eyes of the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian flickered.

at this time.

A guard from the Imperial Clan Court quickly entered the main hall and reported, "Lord, news has just arrived that something has happened in the Eastern Depot's Imperial Prison. All the worldly people imprisoned there have escaped and are heading towards the Imperial Palace."

what?
Upon hearing this, Prince Zhou Xian's expression changed drastically. He had initially wondered who dared to make a move in the palace.

Those who were involved in worldly affairs were basically all taken down, and even powerful and wealthy families shouldn't have had the audacity to do so.

Unexpectedly, something happened in the Eastern Depot prison; those who had entered the world actually escaped from the Eastern Depot prison and went to the palace.

Zhou Xian was well aware that there were quite a few worldly people imprisoned in the Eastern Depot's prison. With so many worldly people rushing towards the Empress, even with Dian Wei and Cao Zhengchun in the palace, it was not certain that they could stop them.

"Your Majesty is in danger."

The Eighth Prince, Zhou Xian, took a step forward and instantly rushed out of the Imperial Clan Court, heading towards the Imperial Palace.

……

The Prince's Mansion.

King Zhou Zhan, who was in charge of the mountain, also sensed the commotion coming from the direction of the palace.

"Someone is coming."

"Go and see what's going on outside. Why is there such a commotion coming from the direction of the palace?"

King Zhou Zhan summoned his personal guards and said.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The guard turned and left.

A few minutes later.

The guard returned and reported, "Your Highness, something has happened at the Eastern Depot's prison."

“The prisoners held in the Eastern Depot’s prison broke out and rushed toward the palace. The palace guards were unable to stop them, and they had already stormed into the palace.”

what?
King Zhou Zhan's expression changed, and he got up and rushed out of the King Zhou's mansion.

Although Prince Zhou Zhan, who had been assassinated, was still recovering from his injuries.

At this moment, Prince Zhou Zhan, the Prince of Kao Shan, no longer cared about his injuries. He knew who the prisoners held by the Eastern Depot were.

So many worldly people have stormed into the palace; the palace is in danger.

Therefore, Prince Zhou Zhan had to rush to the palace immediately to provide support.

More than 20 years ago, the palace experienced a similar upheaval.

King Zhou Zhan must not allow such a thing to happen again.

……

Zuo Xiangfu.

Xiao He stood outside the hall, gazing in the direction of the palace, his expression solemn.

Xiao He also sensed the commotion coming from the direction of the palace.

Xiao He glanced at the guard beside him and said, "Issue my order: the entire city is under martial law, all four gates are closed, and all officials of the third rank and above are to immediately proceed to the palace."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao He's figure soared into the sky and disappeared from the Left Prime Minister's residence.

Despite being a civil official, Xiao He was extremely capable.

As the Left Chancellor, in charge of all officials, second only to the emperor, Xiao He had the authority to issue these orders.

……

at the same time.

Minister of War Li Yuan and Minister of Justice Wang Yangming also sensed the commotion coming from the direction of the palace.

It can be said that not only Minister of War Li Yuan and his entourage, but also half of Luoyang City, which is close to the palace, felt the commotion at the palace.

Because a battle between such powerful beings as those at the half-step Celestial Realm would cause such a huge commotion.

Even from a certain distance, you can feel it.

No one knew what had happened in the palace, so they all sent people out to investigate.

But one thing everyone knew was that such a commotion in the palace meant something serious had happened.

……

royal palace.

After Zhou Wudao and Song Xingyu crossed the Shangyang Gate, they headed straight for the Yangxin Hall.

Because Zhou Wudao had visited the Hall of Mental Cultivation before.

Therefore, in this vast palace, with similar buildings everywhere, Zhou Wudao and his companions would not get lost.

Faced with the Imperial Guards' relentless interception, Zhou Wudao and his men could leave behind corpses with a single casual strike.

soon.

Zhou Wudao and his group arrived at the square outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation as if it were empty.

Of the hundreds of people who have entered the world, only a little over fifty are able to come to the Yangxin Hall Square.

These fifty-odd people are all outstanding individuals among those who have entered the world.

The fact that these fifty-odd people could fight their way from the Eastern Depot prison all the way to the square of the Hall of Mental Cultivation in the Imperial Palace is enough to demonstrate their strength.

Squads of imperial guards surrounded them.

In the blink of an eye, the surrounding area was completely blocked.

Do you know what kind of place the Hall of Mental Cultivation is?
This was where the emperor rested and handled state affairs, and the force guarding this place was considerable.

Besides the Imperial Guards, there were also many eunuchs and secret police, as well as some experts from the royal family.

However, after Zhou Wudao and Song Xingyu landed on the square, they didn't pay attention to the guards. Instead, they looked directly at the two figures on the steps outside the hall, who were surrounded by dozens of experts.

Zhou Wudao never expected that the emperor of the Great Zhou would be so audacious.

Instead of leaving the Hall of Mental Cultivation to hide, it seems they were already waiting for them outside the hall.

Zhou Chen kept his back to the square, looking up at the three large carved characters "Hall of Mental Cultivation" on the gate tower.

Sensing that the person he was waiting for had arrived, Zhou Chen turned around and looked at Zhou Wudao and the others in the square below the steps.

"what……"

When Zhou Chen turned around and saw his face, Song Xingyu and the other worldly people all showed a hint of surprise.

Just like before, when Zhou Qian and the others saw Zhou Chen's appearance.

They all looked on incredulously.

Song Xingyu and the others glanced at Zhou Wudao, then looked up at the emperor in a dragon robe on the steps.

They never expected that the emperor of the Great Zhou would look exactly like Zhou Wudao, as if they were carved from the same mold.

What is this scenario?
How could there be two people in the world who look so alike?

Previously, there were rumors about Zhou Wudao's background. Could these rumors be true?

Song Xingyu and the others couldn't help but think this.

Not only Song Xingyu and the others, but even Zhou Wudao, who had already met Zhou Chen once, still felt somewhat puzzled when he saw Zhou Chen's face again.

Zhou Wudao felt as if he were seeing another version of himself, which made him feel somewhat dazed.

Similarly, Zhou Chen on the steps was also in the same situation.

However, Zhou Chen regained his composure in an instant.

Zhou Chen glanced at the fifty-odd worldly people in the square, his gaze finally settling on Zhou Wudao; "Since you have escaped from the imperial prison, you should immediately flee back to Tianshan, and you should not enter the palace again."

Zhou Chen's voice was calm, and his eyes were indifferent.

"I originally intended to spare your life, but unfortunately..."

Zhou Chen shook his head.

Although Zhou Chen didn't finish his sentence, his meaning was crystal clear.

Upon hearing Zhou Chen's words, Zhou Wudao sneered, "You're quite confident, but perhaps you're speaking a bit too soon!"

"The situation now is different from last time, you should know that."

"I didn't expect you to stay. It seems you've been waiting for us all along."

"You're not afraid of dying, are you?!"

Zhou Wudao looked at Zhou Chen and said.

(End of this chapter)