Nine Dragons Pulling the Coffin: I Set Taboos in the Heavens

Just as Yang Qi killed Yun Hailan's avatar and was about to collect the Thousand Illusion World Pearl, a sudden change occurred!
"boom--!"

An indescribable, terrifying will, seemingly originating from the beginning of time when all things were in chaos, descended upon the arena without warning!
This will is majestic, vast, domineering, and unquestionable, like the embodiment of the Way of Heaven, determined to suppress all rebellion.

The energy barrier surrounding the arena, which was originally incredibly sturdy, began to creak and groan under the impact of this will, with countless fine cracks appearing on its surface.

The raging chaotic energy surged forth from the void like a burst dam, instantly filling the entire arena space, isolating the inside from the outside, as if dragging this area into an independent chaotic space-time.

In the center of the churning chaotic energy, a tall figure stepped out as if traversing layers of spacetime barriers.

The newcomer looked to be in his early twenties, with a handsome, almost perfect face, and sharp, angular features.

He simply stood there, yet he gave people an overwhelming sense of oppression, like a god standing tall, piercing the blue sky.

His spine was as straight as a spear, as if he wanted to pierce a hole in the sky.

His eyes were as deep as the universe, as if stars were rising and falling within them, and time was flowing by. Even the light within his gaze was attracted and swallowed up.

With his hands behind his back, he exuded an aura of overwhelming divine power and supreme authority, as if he were the "son of heaven, patrolling on behalf of heaven."

Prince!

The true ruler of the Crown Prince faction, the supreme legend of the younger generation of the Heavenly Academy, and an almost invincible existence in the legendary realm—the Crown Prince—actually appeared on the arena in such a shocking way, right before everyone's eyes.

The moment he appeared, his gaze, like two tangible bolts of cold lightning, locked onto Yang Qi and the Thousand Illusion World Pearl in Yang Qi's hand.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was like a thunderclap from the heavens, resounding in everyone's hearts, carrying an absolute will that could not be disobeyed.

"How dare you touch my Thousand Illusion World Pearl! Who gave you the audacity? Answer me!"

Each word struck Yang Qi's heart like a heavy hammer, causing the surrounding chaotic energy to vibrate and exerting a terrifying dual pressure on his mind and body.

Ordinary cultivators at the Life-Seizing Realm would likely have already collapsed under this pressure and questioning, their minds broken and trembling on their knees.

Yang Qi's face paled, but the bloodlust and hatred in his eyes intensified. He gritted his teeth, straightened his spine, and frantically circulated the "Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Force" within his body. The phantom of the divine elephant roared silently in his dantian, and an equally ancient, savage, and unyielding suppressive force erupted from his body, forcefully resisting the prince's terrifying pressure.

He raised his head and met the Crown Prince's gaze without flinching.

"The rules of this Four Academies Grand Competition are clear: on the arena, everyone fights with all their might, the winner takes all, and the loser is condemned. I, Yang Qi, defeated Yun Hailan honorably and obtained this Thousand Illusion World Pearl from her. It is a legitimate spoil of war, so what's wrong with that? The Heavenly Academy has its own rules, how dare you..."

"rule?"

The Crown Prince interrupted Yang Qi, a smile of extreme arrogance and mockery curving his lips, as if he had heard the most ridiculous thing in the world.

He slightly raised his chin, his eyes looking down at him as if he were looking down at an insignificant ant.

"I founded the Crown Prince's Faction, gathering the best talents from all over the world. Under the vast sky, my influence is as numerous as stars in the sky, and I will dominate the four seas and conquer the eight wastelands. In this Heavenly Academy, my words are the rules! My will is the law! What right do you, a country bumpkin who has only gotten a lucky encounter and is ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth, have to talk to me about rules?"

His voice suddenly turned fierce, like the wrath of the heavens: "I'll say it again, put down the Thousand Illusion World Pearl, kneel down and admit your mistake! Otherwise..."

"What else?!"

Yang Qi looked at the Crown Prince.

"The Heavenly Academy has a supreme leader! There are also many Grand Elders and Supreme Grand Elders! You are not the supreme leader of the academy, so what right do you have to call yourself the rule? Moreover, there is still the Holy Ancestor Dynasty on the Bountiful Continent. The emperor is still alive, and his son is the real crown prince! You have no title and are not the heir apparent, so what right do you have to call yourself the 'crown prince'? This is usurpation and treason."

As soon as this statement came out, the whole place was in an uproar.

Many people looked at Yang Qi with complicated expressions.

Although Yang Qi’s words were indignant, they were all reasonable and hit the nail on the head regarding the Crown Prince’s lack of legitimacy.
"presumptuous!"

The crown prince's face instantly turned ashen, his eyes flashing with a cold light, like tangible swords.

He no longer concealed his killing intent, his gaze fixed on Yang Qi. His gaze was so sharp that it seemed to penetrate all barriers and completely pierce and melt Yang Qi from body to soul!
"You ants, how dare you speak ill of destiny! You're courting death!"

Even with the weakening effect of the arena barrier, and even with Yang Qi fully activating his Divine Elephant True Qi to protect his body, he still felt a stinging pain all over his body, as if he were being shot by thousands of steel needles. His bones groaned under the unbearable pressure, and his soul trembled and burned under this gaze.

The Crown Prince's strength far exceeded his imagination; the mere pressure of his gaze made him feel as if he were standing on the edge of an abyss!

Just as Yang Qi felt he was about to collapse and his internal organs were about to be crushed.

A figure in a green robe appeared as if by teleportation, silently blocking his path.

It is Fang Qing.

Fang Qing's body stood tall and straight like a pine tree. Although he appeared slender, he was like a five-element divine mountain that supported the sky and blocked all the terrifying gazes that were enough to pierce through metal and melt the soul.

Five-colored light flowed around him, and the illusory image of the Five Elements Dao Wheel slowly rotated behind him, exuding a Daoist charm that was as stable as the earth, as vast as the starry sea, and endlessly regenerating.

The prince's gaze fell on Fang Qing, but it was neutralized and dispersed by the ever-flowing power of the Five Elements, preventing it from causing further harm to Yang Qi.

"Ok?"

The Crown Prince's gaze sharpened slightly as he looked directly at Fang Qing for the first time. "So you're Fang Qing? Nine times you've taken his life. Interesting. What, you want to stand up for him?"

Fang Qing remained calm, as if he were facing not the Crown Prince who instilled fear in countless people, but an ordinary fellow disciple. He said indifferently, "The outcome of the arena battle is already decided, and the ownership of the spoils will be determined by public opinion. You are not a good person for using your power to intimidate others."

"Hahahahaha!"

The Crown Prince seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. He threw his head back and burst into wild laughter, which was filled with boundless arrogance and domineering. "How dare you! Fang Qing, do you think that just because you have some talent and have gained some favor from the Five Elements Venerable, you have the right to lecture me? How naive!"

His laughter abruptly ceased, his eyes turning icy cold as he swept over Fang Qing, then past Yang Qi behind him, his voice as frigid as ice. "I'll put my words here today! Fang Qing, it's fine if you want to die, but it's not good if you drag your family, brothers, and sisters down with you. Yang Qi, the same goes for you. I'm in a 'good' mood today, so I'm being exceptionally lenient, giving you a chance to live."

He paused, then spoke each word with the chilling clarity of death.

"Yang Qi, you shall abolish your own cultivation, hand over the Thousand Illusion World Pearl, kneel down and kowtow to admit your mistakes, and swear never to oppose me again. Fang Qing, you shall also seal your cultivation, reflect on your mistakes in seclusion for a hundred years, disband the Holy King Sect, and join my Crown Prince Sect as a slave."

“I can be ‘magnanimous’ and not make things difficult for your families. Otherwise…”

The Crown Prince's eyes flashed with murderous intent. "I have always believed in the principle of eliminating all traces of the weeds! If you do not comply, all your brothers, sisters, family members, and friends will die! And I will not let them die peacefully. I will make them suffer the most painful torment in the world, and their souls will perish in endless despair and wailing! Do you... want to try?"

A blatant threat, an undisguised tyranny, using the lives of family and friends as leverage.

Yang Qi's expression was filled with murderous intent. He laughed in anger, then suddenly turned around, facing all directions from the stands:

"Those who belong to my brother Yang Qi, step forward! The Crown Prince is being aggressive today, trying to kill me! Who—is willing to live and die with me, Yang Qi?!"

The sound echoed on the arena, pierced through the rift in the barrier, and resounded throughout the entire central battlefield!

A brief moment of dead silence.

"Brother, I'll live and die with you!"

A not-so-loud, but exceptionally firm roar first erupted from a corner of the Tianwei Academy stands.

Four figures shot into the sky without hesitation, landing fiercely behind Yang Qi.

It was Li He, Liang Dong, He Jili, and Hua Yinhu.

Their cultivation levels were at most only at the third or fourth level of the Life-Seizing Realm. Under the Crown Prince's pressure, their faces turned pale and their bodies trembled, but their eyes were incredibly firm as they stared intently at the Crown Prince without flinching!
"Haha! How could I, Huo Qingquan, be absent from such a lively gathering?! Brother, I'm here too!"

A deafening laugh, like a volcanic eruption, rang out. A fiery red figure, as hot as molten lava, soared into the air from the seats of the Fire God Cult. The powerful aura of the Nine Deadly Strikes was released without reservation, instantly dispelling a large area of ​​chaotic energy, before crashing down beside Yang Qi.
It was none other than Huo Qingquan, the young master of the Fire God Cult.

He patted Yang Qi on the shoulder and grinned, "Brother Yang Qi's affairs are my affairs! Crown Prince? What a show of power! I, the Fire God Cult, am not afraid."

"Lu Wangxian of the Spring and Autumn Sect is willing to stand with Brother Yang Qi through thick and thin!"

From the direction of Chunqiu Gate, a young man with a refined demeanor but sharp, sword-like eyes rose to his feet and gracefully descended.

"And I!"

From within the Sun and Moon Academy camp, a figure in moon-white flew out like a startled swan, displaying heroic spirit; it was none other than Hua Fengfeng.

Holding a long sword, she exchanged a glance with her sister Hua Piaomiao and stood on Yang Qi's other side.

"Brother! Jun Tianchou is here!"

A figure in light blue shot out from the Sea God Academy.

Immediately afterwards, powerful auras, filled with righteousness and heroism, rose from all directions, as if responding to an invisible call, breaking through the blockade of chaotic energy and landing around Yang Qi.

"Holy Martial Sect, Zhao Wuhun! How can we stand idly by when our brother is in trouble!"

At the core of the Holy Martial Sect, Zhao Wuhun moved with the stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger, exuding a powerful aura.

"Tengyun Sect, Tengyunxiao, Tengyunjiao, and Tengyunsha! The three brothers are willing to join forces with Brother Yang Qi to fight against the powerful enemy!"

The three Teng brothers arrived together, their auras connected, like mountains.

"The Meng family, Meng Qingshan! Brother Yang Qi is a man of great loyalty and righteousness. Count me in for today's matter!"

Meng Qingshan was dressed in fine clothes and had an elegant demeanor, but his eyes were unusually sharp.

"Poseidon Academy, Yuan Tiankong!"

"True Dragon Academy, Sun Qian! Li Zhengdao!"

"Su Ximing! I belong to no sect or faction, but I consider Yang Qi my brother!"

"Sun Moon Academy, Ji Xiaoman and Ji Xiaorong! We are willing to live and die with Senior Brother Yang Qi!"

One by one!
Almost all of Yang Qi's fifteen sworn brothers and sisters stood up at this moment.

They came from different academies, sects, and families, with cultivation levels ranging from five to nine levels of the Life-Seizing Realm. Yet, driven by brotherhood, they disregarded the Crown Prince's terrifying power and the potential for annihilation, resolutely standing beside Yang Qi to face this almost invincible enemy.

In the blink of an eye, more than twenty young experts gathered behind Yang Qi. Their auras merged into one, and although they still could not withstand the pressure of the Crown Prince, they formed an indomitable torrent of will, a heroic and tragic spirit that dared to draw their swords against any powerful force for the sake of brotherhood.

This sudden and shocking scene stunned everyone present.

Even many elders on the high platform were moved by it.

The members of the Crown Prince's faction, on the other hand, were ashen-faced and incredulous.

The Crown Prince's face remained cold and domineering, showing no emotion whatsoever as he looked at the crowd as if they were nothing more than chickens and dogs.

Looking at the group of passionate and righteous young people behind him, Fang Qing felt a surge of relief and warmth in his eyes. He turned back to face the Crown Prince, his voice still calm, but now imbued with an invisible strength.

"The power of loyalty can sometimes transcend life and death. Crown Prince, you fool! You want to harm my cousin, or my brother's friends? That's wishful thinking! Legendary Realm, break through!"

Fang Qing clicked his tongue in admiration and actually began a breakthrough on the spot. (End of Chapter)