Chapter 417: Where Did Dad Go

Sang Hong answered, his gaze lost in thought on the Xiezhi iron masks worn by the Embroidered Uniform Guards. He wondered what on earth Zu An could have stolen from the Emperor to warrant such a mobilization of forces.

"The Embroidered Uniform Guards are here for Zu An?" Sang Qian's eyes widened in disbelief. He had always looked down on this former street punk and never imagined he could be formidable enough to provoke the Emperor.

However, he immediately added, "But I don't think these Embroidered Uniform Guards have very high cultivation levels. They don't seem as powerful as you described, Father."

Sang Hong shook his head. "You shouldn't be fooled by appearances. Although most Embroidered Uniform Guards are between the fifth and sixth ranks, they are extremely skilled in combined attack formations. The 'Diamond Demon-Subduing Circle' that Prince Liang just mentioned was personally created by the Emperor and is exceptionally good at using the combined strength of multiple people to capture cultivators with much higher cultivation levels."

"Furthermore, the Soul-Reaping Chains they wield are specially made. If they strike a cultivator, those with lower cultivation will have their elemental energy directly dispersed. Even those with higher cultivation will be affected and their strength significantly weakened."

Sang Qian couldn't help but say, "But no matter how powerful, there must be a limit, right? After all, each of them is only around the fifth rank. I refuse to believe they could collectively restrain you, Father!"

Sang Hong gave a bitter smile. "If they really came to restrain me, I wouldn't be able to resist."

Sang Qian was dumbfounded. "That powerful?"

He wondered if he were in Zu An's shoes, he would likely find it very difficult to evade the Diamond Demon-Subduing Circle. But he never expected even his father couldn't stand against it.

How did this good-for-nothing Zu An suddenly become so powerful?

He must have stolen something from the Emperor to make such rapid progress. Yes, that must be it. But unfortunately, taking shortcuts comes at a price!

Sang Hong, standing beside him, let out a soft sigh. "After all, the most formidable aspect of the Embroidered Uniform Guards isn't the Diamond Demon-Subduing Circle; it's their authority to act on behalf of the Emperor."

Sang Qian was about to ask how they acted on behalf of the Emperor when the unfolding events on the battlefield suddenly drew his attention.

Two Embroidered Uniform Guards suddenly moved, their iron chains instantly straightening and thrusting directly towards Zu An's chest like two long spears.

In contrast, the chains of the two Embroidered Uniform Guards behind them became as soft as silk, coiling around his body.

Zu An used his sword to parry one of the approaching chains. His entire body trembled, and his elemental energy surged violently.

Logically, his actual elemental energy strength was already equivalent to a sixth-rank cultivator, and these Embroidered Uniform Guards were only fifth-rank; they should be no match for him in a one-on-one fight. So why was he at a disadvantage in a direct confrontation?

He suddenly noticed faint blue light flowing around their bodies, continuously dispersing to their companions, and then another blue light gathering from their companions onto him.

Zu An suddenly realized it was a combined attack formation. He had personally witnessed the Three Thousand Red-Robed Army's formation unite to completely defeat even a ninth-rank expert. He never expected the tables would turn so quickly, and now it was his turn to experience being ganged up on.

Despite his swirling thoughts, he dared not slow his movements. Knowing that a head-on clash would put him at a disadvantage, he changed his strategy. He used Tai'a to parry another chain in front of him, which happened to entangle with another chain attacking from behind.

Zheng Dan watched from the side, her heart in her throat. Especially after hearing Sang Hong's explanation, her fists, hidden in her sleeves, clenched even tighter.

When she saw this move, she secretly applauded. She never expected Zu An's swordsmanship to reach such a level. He seemed to be using the "deflect" technique from the Thirteen Basic Sword Forms taught at the academy, along with traces of Chu Chuyan's Snowflake Divine Sword.

She mused that she probably couldn't have executed it so well herself. Aside from being a bit lecherous, this guy's cultivation talent was truly terrifying.

However, her heart immediately leaped into her throat, because there was still one chain left!

At this moment, Zu An's previous sword move had reached its limit, and he had no time to defend again.

"Watch out!" she couldn't help but exclaim.

Not far away, Sang Qian suddenly turned to look at her. Seeing his newlywed wife looking at another man with a tense expression, he was instantly filled with rage.

"Zu An, you scoundrel! I will never rest until I have my revenge!"

Rage value from Sang Qian +740!

At this moment, the other six Embroidered Uniform Guards, who had been waiting for the opportune moment, also moved. They too had seen that Zu An could not avoid the last chain.

As long as he was entangled for a moment, the remaining six chains would completely bind him, leaving him no chance to turn the tables.

Just as the chain was about to coil around his waist, two fingers suddenly appeared in front of Zu An.

The fingers were crystal-clear and slender, making many women present feel ashamed of their own hands.

Seeing such delicate fingers confront the thick, dark chain, Xie Daoyun and Zheng Dan couldn't help but bite their lips tightly.

A hint of audacious amusement appeared on Sang Qian's face. "This guy's hand will probably be crippled," he thought. "The chain, imbued with the combined power of ten Embroidered Uniform Guards, is too much even for two hands. Two mere fingers will surely be crushed instantly."

However, his smile quickly froze on his face, because he saw those two fingers, which he thought would be instantly crushed, firmly gripping the chain that contained terrifying power.

"Huh? That finger technique..." Prince Liang felt as if he had seen a similar finger technique somewhere before, but he couldn't recall where.

Sang Hong, on the other hand, watched in amazement. He truly hadn't misjudged this fellow; he was indeed a talent. It would have been great if he had recruited him earlier.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but glare at his gloating son beside him. He should have brought Qian'er to Brightmoon City if he had known this. But who could have foreseen that Zu An would turn out to be far more useful than an entire Zheng clan?

Zu An used his "One Finger of Empathy" to grab the chain. However, he immediately sensed the immense stored power within the chain. He quickly flicked his wrist, and a wave of force surged back along the chain.

He then swung the chain towards the chains attacking from the other six guards.

The guards had not anticipated this sudden turn of events, and caught off guard, several chains instantly entangled. With a loud bang, the seven Embroidered Uniform Guards trembled, letting out muffled groans, clearly suffering a significant hidden setback.

It turned out that with that flick, Zu An didn't expect his individual elemental energy strength to equal that of ten Embroidered Uniform Guards. He merely used his own elemental energy to prematurely detonate the energy coming from their attack. In that instant, by making the seven chains entangle, it was as if the seven guards were injured by the combined power of their own ten comrades.

From the beginning, it was not difficult for Zu An to evade those four attacks. His greatest concern was the other six Embroidered Uniform Guards waiting in ambush. So he deliberately exposed a weakness, making it seem like he had no escape, thereby creating this opportunity.

There were many discerning people present. Connecting the events, they immediately understood his intentions and secretly praised his brilliant combat awareness. Was he really the good-for-nothing who relied on women, as everyone had believed?

Zu An seized this opportunity to directly summon the Great Wind (Dafeng), teleporting hundreds of meters away. Fearing Prince Liang, a grandmaster, he didn't stop once he reached the limit, immediately summoning the next Great Wind without regard for the remaining uses. His only thought now was to get out of their sight as quickly as possible.

"What kind of movement technique is that!"

Exclamations of surprise rang out across the venue. People like Zheng Dan, who knew Zu An's true strength, weren't surprised, but even friends like Xie Daoyun rubbed their eyes in disbelief, let alone the members of other clans.

Sang Qian's face was also pale. "How could this be? How could this guy be so formidable?"

He quickly turned his head. "Father, what on earth is he... Huh, where's Father?"

Witnessing Zu An's speed, a flicker of surprise appeared in Prince Liang's eyes. However, he still sneered, "Trying to run?"

One must know that Grandmasters can fly. No matter how fast you are on the ground, before a Grandmaster, it's child's play.

He soared into the sky. Suddenly, he found someone in front of him—it was Sang Hong!

His expression darkened, and he directly sent a palm strike forward.

Sang Hong also met him with both palms, his face solemn.

Their palms met with a loud bang, and an incredibly powerful wave of energy spread out. All the guests present were thrown off balance. The ceremonial table, various incense candles, red lanterns, and windows adorned with red '囍' characters in the wedding hall were all dislodged and fell to the ground by the force of the blast.

Prince Liang returned to his original spot, standing with his hands behind his back. Sang Hong, however, fell heavily to the ground like a broken sandbag, creating a large hole in the meticulously chosen marble floor of the Sang residence.

Prince Liang looked over coldly. "Sang Hong, do you know what you are doing? How dare you assist an imperial criminal in escaping!"