Chapter 9
“Swish!”
As Tian Jiu drew his blade, all three thousand elite soldiers behind Zhang Zhenhu instantly revealed their weapons. The fighting spirit of three thousand men, united as one, surged upward like a tidal wave!
“You dare lay a hand on me?”
Zhang Zhenhu’s eyes burned with rage, glaring fiercely at Tian Jiu before him. Tian Jiu was merely a personal guard by Chu Tianhe’s side, yet he dared brandish a weapon against him, the commander of a nation. It was outright insolence, bordering on rebellion. More so, Zhang Zhenhu had three thousand elite Dragon Guards at his back, with hundreds of thousands of troops beyond. Where did Tian Jiu find such courage?
“If you take one more step forward, I will kill you.”
Tian Jiu’s words were crisp and decisive—no wasted breath. Even facing a formidable figure like Zhang Zhenhu and his three thousand elite Dragon Guards, he showed not a trace of fear.
“Hahaha…” Zhang Zhenhu, infuriated, burst into laughter; his expression twisted with malice. “I’ve long heard that the people of the Pantheon are arrogant. Today, I finally see it for myself. You, a mere guard, dare utter such audacious words to me!”
As his voice fell, Zhang Zhenhu lifted his hand slightly. He himself did not move, but the three thousand elites behind him stepped forward in unison, provoking Tian Jiu.
In a duel between Zhang Zhenhu and Tian Jiu, the outcome might still be uncertain. But with three thousand elite warriors at Zhang Zhenhu’s back, Tian Jiu’s attempt to stop them single-handedly was nothing short of hubris.
“We of the Pantheon are indeed wild. If you find it unacceptable, so be it!”
Boom!
Just as Zhang Zhenhu was about to step forward and continue provoking Tian Jiu, Chu Tianhe’s voice thundered down like the roar of the heavens, reverberating in everyone’s ears.
“Warning, warning… danger warning!”
Beep, beep, beep…
Suddenly, the ancient martial force electronic monitors affixed to the chests of the three thousand elite Dragon Guards all lit up red. These devices, issued to each soldier, measured the strength of their enemies, enabling them to judge threats more accurately.
Yet, as Chu Tianhe’s voice resounded, every monitor’s readings shot beyond their limits!
“Hail to the Lord of the Pantheon!”
Sensing Chu Tianhe’s presence, Tian Jiu turned and knelt on one knee, displaying utmost reverence.
Amidst stunned gazes, Chu Tianhe appeared before them.
Boom!
Chu Tianhe took a single step forward with his right foot, and a gust of ancient martial energy shot straight toward Zhang Zhenhu’s face.
With a grunt, Zhang Zhenhu’s mouth and nose spattered blood from the sheer force, and he staggered back seven or eight steps before regaining his footing.
“Commander!”
“Commander!”
Seeing Zhang Zhenhu spat blood, the three thousand elite Dragon Guards hurried forward, trying to steady him.
Thud… thud… thud…
But at that moment, Chu Tianhe swept his hand, and powerful ancient martial energy surged forth, the immense pressure crashing down like Mount Tai, forcing the elites to their knees in rapid succession.
Hiss!
Feeling such terrifying pressure, all the elite Dragon Guards gasped in unison.
Chu Tianhe had always been a legendary figure to them—rumored, but never seen. Now, beholding him in person, his aura, powerful as a deity or demon, deeply shook every heart present.
To repel a formidable warrior like Zhang Zhenhu with mere presence—how many in the world could accomplish such a feat?
“All my life, I have marched to battle against foreign foes, slain bandits and traitors, yet I never imagined that one day, my own kin would turn their blades against me!”
Looking at the three thousand elite Dragon Guards suppressed by his aura, Chu Tianhe frowned, his face tinged with sorrow.
“Zhang Zhenhu, you truly think your wings have grown strong.”
“Do you believe, with your three thousand elites and the hundreds of thousands behind you, that you can stand alongside me as an equal?”
Chu Tianhe’s gaze fell upon Zhang Zhenhu, sharp as blades. Suddenly, he shouted, “Zhang Zhenhu, there must be limits to your arrogance!”
“Do not forget—three years ago, when a million enemies pressed upon our borders and the northern Dragon Guards retreated step by step, who turned the tide and defended our homeland?”
“In the battle at Tianhai Peak, without the Pantheon’s intervention, you would be a corpse by now!”
“When tens of thousands of Dragon Guards were besieged at the Chishui frontier, who issued an urgent plea to the Pantheon for aid?”
“Do you really believe that today, with our lands at peace, our nation prosperous and strong, all credit belongs to you, Zhang Zhenhu?”
Chu Tianhe’s words rang out with iron conviction, leaving Zhang Zhenhu speechless.
The Pantheon, though independent from the nation, stood atop the world, yet its roots remained in this land. The aid the Pantheon had given over the years was known to all.
“Now, with my wife and daughter in peril, your war department sits idle, failing to punish traitors, yet you come before me, shouting and threatening?”
“Zhang Zhenhu, do you truly think that, having ascended to the position of commander, I dare not kill you?”
Boom!
As these words fell, a tangible wave of murderous intent swept forth. Zhang Zhenhu’s body shuddered violently, and cold sweat broke out along his spine.