You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 299 Then none of you need to leave the palace.

royal palace.

Outside the Yangxin Hall.

Zhou Chen stood on the steps, with Cao Zhengchun behind him, and eunuchs, imperial guards, and royal experts protecting him all around.

The area from the bottom of the steps to the perimeter of the square was densely packed with Imperial Guards.

Only the central part of the square was empty, with more than fifty menacing figures standing there.

Zhou Chen looked at Zhou Wudao; "Leave?"

"This palace is my palace. What reason do I have to leave the Hall of Mental Cultivation?"

"Do you think you can frighten me into backing down?"

"It's not that I look down on you, but you people are not qualified to make me back down."

"As for you, you finally escaped from the Eastern Depot's prison, but instead of hurrying to save yourselves, you're rushing to the palace to die. Then none of you will leave alive today."

Zhou Chen said calmly.

His tone and expression suggested that he could decide the life or death of these fifty-odd people with a single word.

Zhou Chen's arrogance caused Zhou Wudao, Song Xingyu, and the others to turn pale.

"Humph."

Song Xingyu snorted coldly.

"You, a secular emperor, dare to speak so arrogantly."

"Do you really think that these ants can stand against us?"

Song Xingyu glanced at the Imperial Guards around him, his face full of disdain.

"To tell you the truth, all of us who are involved in worldly affairs joined forces and stormed into this palace. Let alone these ant-like imperial guards, even if Cao Zhengchun and Lü Bu were here, they wouldn't be able to stop us."

"Do it."

As soon as he finished speaking, Song Xingyu's figure soared into the sky, heading straight for Zhou Chen on the steps.

At the same time, Zhou Wudao and the other worldly people did not hesitate and leaped up, rushing towards Zhou Chen on the steps.

Their only goal is to take down Zhou Chen.

Once Emperor Zhou Chen is captured, taking over the imperial palace will be as easy as taking candy from a baby.

"Protect His Majesty."

"kill……"

The imperial guards all around attacked and surrounded them, while the guards at the bottom of the steps also directly confronted Song Xingyu and his group.

Unfortunately, the Imperial Guards were no match for Zhou Wudao and Song Xingyu, who were both half-step Celestial Realm experts.

With a casual strike, Zhou Wudao and his men sent a large number of the Imperial Guards blocking the way down the steps to their deaths.

In an instant, Zhou Wudao, Song Xingyu, and most of the other worldly people broke through the Imperial Guard's defenses and rushed up the steps.

Zhou Chen, standing atop the steps, gazed at everything below without a trace of emotion.

Seeing Zhou Wudao and his men charge forward, the eunuchs, imperial guards, and royal experts surrounding Zhou Chen were about to make a move, but Cao Zhengchun waved his hand to stop them.

For experts like Zhou Wudao and Song Xingyu, the eunuchs, imperial guards, and royal experts would only be cannon fodder.

Therefore, Cao Zhengchun did not let these people go up to deliver the food. Instead, Cao Zhengchun himself stepped out.

A powerful aura emanated from Cao Zhengchun.

Seeing Zhou Wudao and Song Xingyu and their group of more than twenty people charging forward, Cao Zhengchun rapidly activated the Heavenly Gang Child Skill within his body.

"Heavenly Gang Boy Skill".

Clap it with one palm.

The scorching light struck Zhou Wudao and Song Xingyu directly.

boom……

After a collision, Zhou Wudao, Song Xingyu, and more than twenty other figures who had rushed forward were all sent flying backward.

Cao Zhengchun took several steps back before regaining his footing.

After Song Xingyu landed on the ground, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Song Xingyu had not expected that Cao Zhengchun's strength was far more unfathomable than he had imagined. It was only by joining forces with more than twenty worldly people that they were able to barely block Cao Zhengchun's 'Heavenly Gang Child Skill'.

From this perspective, Cao Zhengchun's actions at the Song family were not at all a full-force attack; he was still hiding most of his strength.

Song Xingyu rose into the air once again.

"Cao Zhengchun, I thought I had a high opinion of your strength, but now it seems that your strength is far more unfathomable than I imagined."

"However, even so, you will die today."

Song Xingyu casually tossed something out.

Cao Zhengchun's hair immediately stood on end, and a sense of danger arose in his heart.

"Heavenly Gang Boy Skill".

Sensing danger, Cao Zhengchun immediately activated the Heavenly Gang Boy Skill with all his might.

at this time.

A massive, overwhelming hand slammed down on Cao Zhengchun.

"boom……"

Cao Zhengchun was slammed to the ground with a palm strike, creating a large crater.

This scene left the Imperial Guards and royal experts utterly shocked.

They were all aware of Cao Zhengchun's capabilities.

In their eyes, Cao Zhengchun was practically invincible.

Indeed, this is true. No matter what kind of expert he faced, no one had ever been Cao Zhengchun's match.

But what do they see now?
They saw Cao Zhengchun, the head of the Eastern Depot, being slapped to the ground, creating a large crater.

How can this be?

Even Zhou Chen, who was on the steps, had a slight change in expression when he saw this scene.

"These worldly people all have their trump cards up their sleeves."

Zhou Chen frowned as he thought.

On the contrary, Zhou Wudao and his worldly people showed little surprise at this scene; instead, they were overjoyed.

Cao Zhengchun is indeed very powerful, but so what?
In the end, won't they still die at their hands?
Before Zhou Wudao and the other worldly people could even rejoice, Cao Zhengchun's figure shot out of the pit.

Upon seeing that Cao Zhengchun was not dead, Zhou Wudao's gratified expression froze on his face.

Song Xingyu's expression changed immediately.

He didn't expect that even after using his trump card, he still couldn't eliminate Cao Zhengchun.

How can this be?

Song Xingyu looked at Cao Zhengchun in disbelief.

It should be noted that his trump card is equivalent to the full-force attack of a Celestial Realm expert, and not just any Celestial Realm expert's full-force attack, but the full-force attack of a Celestial Realm expert at the Great Perfection stage.

With such a trump card, let alone a half-step Celestial Being, even a true Celestial Being expert would perish on the spot.

Song Xingyu couldn't understand how Cao Zhengchun could withstand a full-force attack from a Celestial-level Great Perfection cultivator.

"I want you all dead."

Although Cao Zhengchun blocked Song Xingyu's trump card, he was also seriously injured and looked quite disheveled.

To be honest, Cao Zhengchun had never suffered such a great loss before.

Filled with boundless killing intent, Cao Zhengchun unleashed his full power as he charged towards Song Xingyu and his group.

"You all deal with Cao Zhengchun first, I'll go and take down the emperor."

Zhou Wudao's figure rushed towards Zhou Chen on the steps once again.

Cao Zhengchun was clearly going to fight to the death. At this point, if they were to confront him head-on, even if they eventually joined forces to suppress Cao Zhengchun, they would pay a heavy price.

Therefore, Zhou Wudao wanted to take advantage of the situation and first seize Emperor Zhou Chen.

"How dare you!"

Seeing Zhou Wudao rushing towards Zhou Chen on the steps again, Cao Zhengchun's expression changed drastically. There were no skilled guards protecting His Majesty at all.

Those experts from the imperial guards and royal family alone cannot stop Zhou Wudao and his worldly people.

If Zhou Wudao and his men manage to get up the steps, His Majesty will be in danger.

Cao Zhengchun saw this and was very anxious.

However, Cao Zhengchun was already engaged in a fierce battle with Song Xingyu and many other worldly people, and had no time to stop Zhou Wudao.

Seeing that Cao Zhengchun was alright, Zhou Chen on the steps breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Zhou Chen was genuinely worried that Cao Zhengchun wouldn't be able to withstand Song Xingyu's trump card.

Seeing Zhou Wudao leading several worldly people rushing up again, Zhou Chen's expression remained calm.

The eunuchs, imperial guards, and royal experts guarding Zhou Chen all stepped forward to meet Zhou Wudao and his companions who were rushing towards them, trying to block them.

Unfortunately, it ultimately failed.

Zhou Wudao rushed up the steps and came to Zhou Chen's side.

"No one can save you now."

Without hesitation, Zhou Wudao reached out and grabbed Zhou Chen.

"is it?"

Zhou Chen glanced at Zhou Wudao indifferently.

That one glance froze Zhou Wudao's hand as he reached out to grab Zhou Chen.

"puff."

A mouthful of blood spurted out.

Zhou Wudao was sent flying backwards, his mind completely blank.

This sudden turn of events left everyone somewhat bewildered.

Nobody knew what was going on. Wasn't it obvious that Zhou Wudao was about to capture the emperor?
How did he get injured and fly backward all at once?
'boom'.

Before anyone could react, a powerful aura emanated from Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen was like a god or demon, his powerful aura overwhelming the entire audience. He took a step and arrived above the square.

The scene that was supposed to be a fierce battle completely froze at this moment.

Everyone's gaze involuntarily turned to Zhou Chen, who stood in mid-air. There was surprise, disbelief, and horror in their eyes.

Zhou Chen ignored the gazes and scanned Zhou Wudao, Song Xingyu, and the other worldly people one by one.

"I just said that none of you will leave the palace alive. Did you think I was joking with you?"

"You dare to trespass into my palace and even try to divide up my empire? You're courting death."

Zhou Chen struck out with his palm.

A colossal hand descended from the sky.

"boom……"

One palm strike.

Of the more than fifty people who had entered the world, apart from Zhou Wudao and a few others like Song Xingyu, the rest were all killed on the ground.

This horrifying scene completely stunned everyone present.

Zhou Wudao, Song Xingyu, and the other survivors all had their pupils constrict. They had never known fear before, but at this moment, they felt a strange sense of dread.

They never expected that the emperor of the Great Zhou was also a powerful figure, and with terrifying strength.

One palm strike.

Nearly fifty people involved in worldly affairs were killed or wounded.

Such terrifying strength is simply astonishing.

Even a typical Celestial Realm expert probably couldn't do that—killing nearly fifty geniuses with a single palm strike.

Not only were Zhou Wudao and Song Xingyu shocked, but Cao Zhengchun's pupils also contracted.

Cao Zhengchun knew that Zhou Chen cultivated every day, but he didn't know how strong Zhou Chen was, nor had he ever seen Zhou Chen make a move.

But now, seeing Zhou Chen wipe out most of the worldly people who had come to the Hall of Mental Cultivation with a single palm strike, Cao Zhengchun's shock was indescribable.

Such strength is something even he, the head of the Eastern Depot, could not match.

"I never imagined that His Majesty's strength would be so terrifying."

Cao Zhengchun thought in horror.

As for the Imperial Guards, eunuchs, and secret police, needless to say, the impact of Zhou Chen's palm strike on them could not be described as shock or horror, but rather as a divine revelation.

"escape."

"Run!"

The few surviving members of Song Xingyu's group realized what was happening and turned to flee.

They had already discerned the current situation; the Great Zhou Emperor's strength was unfathomable, and he was beyond their ability to deal with.

If they didn't escape quickly, they would probably be dead.

Unfortunately, entering the palace is easy, but leaving is difficult.

At this point, escaping would be even more difficult than when they first stormed in.

"You think you can escape from me? How naive!"

Zhou Chen struck out with another palm.

Song Xingyu and his companions, who had already escaped a hundred meters away, were caught off guard when a massive, overwhelming hand descended from above and slammed them to the ground, killing them instantly.

Even in death, Song Xingyu and the others never imagined that they would die like this within the imperial palace.

After killing Song Xingyu and the others, Zhou Chen looked at Zhou Wudao, the only one who hadn't fled; "Why didn't you run away?"

Zhou Wudao had regained his composure and met Zhou Chen's gaze; "I knew I couldn't escape, so I didn't."

"If I'm not mistaken, the fate of the Great Zhou Dynasty is gradually taking shape. You can use the fate of the nation, so even if I escape from the palace, you can still kill me with one palm."

"I didn't expect that I had underestimated you."

Zhou Wudao gave Zhou Chen a deep look.

He truly hadn't expected that Zhou Chen, this secular emperor, could actually gather the nation's destiny and even utilize it; it was truly unbelievable.

It's important to understand that consolidating and utilizing the nation's destiny is not something anyone can do, nor is it something every emperor can do; it requires special conditions.

"You see it clearly."

"However, it's not that you underestimate me, but that I have never taken you so-called worldly people who are detached from worldly affairs seriously."

"In my dictionary, there is no lawless place, and neither are you."

"Dare to disobey me, and there will be only one outcome: death."

Zhou Chen stared coldly at Zhou Wudao, his eyes filled with undisguised killing intent.

"Heh, you think killing me is that easy?"

Zhou Wudao sneered, showing no concern for his own safety whatsoever.

"We'll meet again."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Wudao's figure became illusory.

In the blink of an eye, Zhou Wudao's figure completely disappeared from the spot.

Zhou Chen saw this and immediately rushed over.

Seeing Zhou Wudao, a living person, simply vanish, Zhou Chen's brows furrowed tightly.

Zhou Chen stood in Zhou Wudao's position, trying to sense something, but he felt nothing at all.

It was as if Zhou Wudao had never been here at all.