Chapter 164: The Imperial City Guards

Anyone from the Myriad Sword Sect who encountered him would instantly have their hostility maxed out. Wu Tian had to admit that this system was becoming increasingly mischievous. Throwing this plot twist at him essentially made him a sworn enemy of the Myriad Sword Sect. He could only imagine that anyone from the sect would hunt him down to the death upon seeing him in the future. It was utterly baffling.

"You... you actually killed an elder of our Myriad Sword Sect! You... you bastard!" Xu Jianren pointed at Wu Tian, trembling with a mix of terror and rage. This was far from the outcome he had anticipated.

Not only Xu Jianren, but everyone present besides Wu Tian failed to foresee this turn of events.

Looking at the corpse of the elderly Myriad Sword Sect elder on the ground, Yue Shishi widened her eyes and murmured, "Brother Tian is truly formidable, actually managing to kill a Myriad Sword Sect elder. To possess such terrifying strength at such a young age!"

"Brother Wu... is so amazing!" Tong Yixin dropped her jaw in utter shock.

Tong Yibing's eyes trembled violently as she said in disbelief, "Just how high is his cultivation?"

While everyone else was stunned, Wu Tian looked at Xu Jianren with keen interest. Although members of the Myriad Sword Sect now held maximum hostility toward him, slaying them yielded double experience points. Xu Jianren and his few disciples might not have had high cultivation bases, but double experience was still experience. Killing them for a reward didn't sound bad at all.

"So what if I killed your elder? Now I'm going to kill you too!" Wu Tian said, looking directly at Xu Jianren.

Xu Jianren's expression changed drastically. He retreated in terror, pointing a trembling finger at Wu Tian, and stammered, "W-Wu Tian, you'd better not do anything rash! I am the Young Master of the Myriad Sword Sect. If you kill me, the entire Myriad Sword Sect will never let you off! Even your Sky Zenith Sect won't be able to protect you!"

"So what? I don't care anymore anyway." Wu Tian shrugged. Since he had already been judged to have maximum hostility from the Myriad Sword Sect, killing or sparing the Young Master made little difference now.

"Y-Y-You've lost your mind!" Xu Jianren pointed a shaking finger at Wu Tian, then leapt into the air and bolted away on the run.

Wu Tian dashed after him, instantly catching up to Xu Jianren, and slammed a heavy punch straight into his back.

Boom!

With a deafening explosion, Wu Tian's fist was blocked by a broadsword.

A burly man clad in full golden armor stood firmly in front of Wu Tian. His boots were sunken deep into the ground, yet he had effortlessly blocked Wu Tian's attack.

"Such audacity! Daring to fight privately in the streets of the Imperial City! You have completely disregarded the laws of the Fierce Martial Empire!" The armored man glared angrily at Wu Tian and spoke in a deep voice.

Immediately after, the sound of rhythmic, numerous footsteps echoed from all around.

"Brother Wu, Teacher, the Imperial Guards have arrived!" Tong Yixin shouted from the rooftop, then leapt down to the ground.

At that moment, countless Imperial Guards surged in from all directions, sealing off the area completely.

"Men, capture this rebel who dares to fight privately within the Imperial City!" the golden-armored man roared furiously.

"Hold on! Commander Duan, today's incident was not provoked by us. It was entirely instigated by Xu Jianren of the Myriad Sword Sect. He led his men to ambush Wu Tian and tried to kill him. Wu Tian was merely acting in self-defense!" Yue Shishi hurriedly stepped forward, cupping her fists at the golden-armored man.

"Ah, it's Teacher Yue of the Seven Stars Academy. Do not meddle in this matter. Anyone who fights privately within the Imperial City violates the imperial laws!" Commander Duan said coldly.

"That's right, that brat wanted to kill me! Hurry up and arrest him!" Xu Jianren was still shaken with lingering fear; thankfully the Imperial Guards had arrived, otherwise his little life would have been over.

"Take that one down as well!" Commander Duan ordered with a wave of his hand.

Instantly, the surrounding Imperial Guards closed in, preparing to apprehend both Wu Tian and Xu Jianren.

"Hey, hey, Commander Duan, I am the Young Master of the Myriad Sword Sect. We met recently, and my father even drank wine with you. Have you forgotten?" Xu Jianren shouted at the top of his lungs as several guards subdued him.

"Take him away!" Commander Duan roared. Without further ado, a few guards hauled Xu Jianren away.

Once Xu Jianren was dragged off, a group of guards moved to apprehend Wu Tian. Tong Yixin immediately refused to stand for it and said to Commander Duan, "Commander Duan, this incident was clearly provoked by Xu Jianren. Why are you arresting Brother Wu?"

"I have already said that anyone who violates the laws of the Fierce Martial Empire will be arrested!" Commander Duan replied coldly.

"Indeed, Commander Duan, the fault does not lie with Brother Tian. He is innocent. Could you let him go for the sake of the Seven Stars Academy?" Yue Shishi cupped her fists and pleaded.

"Do not speak to me of such things. I am merely doing my duty. If you wish to plead for mercy, go to the imperial family!" Commander Duan shook his head and waved to several guards. "Cuff him and take him away!"

"Yes, Commander!"

"I won't allow you to take Brother Wu!" Tong Yixin immediately drew her sword, ready to fight.

Wu Tian pressed down on Tong Yixin's arm and said, "Xinxin, you are no match for him, and the Imperial Guards are all around. Resisting is useless!"

"But..."

"Xin'er, Wu Tian is right. Resistance is futile." Yue Shishi pulled Xin'er back. "Leave this matter to your teacher to handle. I will ensure Wu Tian comes to no harm."

Tong Yixin bit her lower lip. Impulsive though she might be, she understood the gravity of the situation. The area was swarming with Imperial Guards, and to raise arms against them was to make an enemy of the imperial family itself.

"Since you refuse to listen to reason, arrest me if you must," Wu Tian said calmly, glancing at Commander Duan.

Several guards immediately pinned Wu Tian's arms and led him away.

"Brother Wu!" Xin'er cried out anxiously.

"Don't worry, I'll be completely fine. A promise is a promise!" Wu Tian replied with a brilliant smile on his face.

Just like that, the formidable procession of Imperial Guards departed with Wu Tian in custody.

"Teacher, what should we do? Wu Tian was taken away by the Imperial Guards; something bad is bound to happen!" Xin'er stamped her feet in anxiety as she looked at Yue Shishi.

Yue Shishi frowned slightly and said, "Commander Duan took Wu Tian away without even asking questions, and as the Commander of the Imperial Guards, he led the troops here personally. This matter is likely not as simple as it seems! But rest assured, I will not let Brother Tian come to harm. The Seven Stars Academy has ties to the royal family; I will return and seek help from the academy's upper management. Meanwhile, I will send someone to notify Brother Tian's sect, and they will certainly intervene."

"Teacher, there is no time to lose. Let's spring into action. I'll go notify Brother Wu's sect!" Deeply worried, Tong Yixin wanted to take action for Wu Tian.

"Xin'er, I'll go with you," Tong Yibing said, preparing to move.

"Good. The two of you go notify Brother Tian's sect, and I will find the academy's leadership. We'll split up!"

Guo Yuemen curled his lip. He couldn't be bothered to help Wu Tian; in fact, it was better that the guy got arrested, saving him the annoyance of laying eyes on him.

...

While Wu Tian was being escorted away, Xu Jianren was likewise taken from the scene.

"I'm telling you the truth, my father knows your commander. If you dare lay a single finger on me, you'll regret it!" Xu Jianren shouted incessantly along the way.

"Young Master Xu, there were outsiders earlier, so it wasn't convenient to release you directly. Now that there are no outsiders, you may leave!" Suddenly, Commander Duan appeared before Xu Jianren and said indifferently.