He will return!
These were Lin Ke'er's words, spoken with an unshakeable certainty.
Everyone in the Lin Residence fell silent. They all knew who the 'he' in Lin Ke'er's words referred to—the Battle Saint King!
That peerless Heaven's Pride who had shaken the entire Ancient Divine Continent decades ago, young yet supremely powerful, sweeping aside Saint Lords, meeting the Heavenly Kings of the nine great imperial dynasties one after another, even entering the true Ancient Divine Palace. It was said he had even confronted a Heavenly King without defeat, attaining the position of an Elder, not inferior to a Heavenly King.
No one could deny the Battle Saint King's dazzling brilliance.
However, the Chaotic Sea was perilous beyond measure. Throughout the ages, countless talented individuals had entered it, but over countless years, the only one who had successfully returned was that ancient Great Sage from the Ancient Divine Palace.
Naturally, there were also the powerhouses from the Tianxu Imperial Dynasty now, though it was unclear if they had reached the other side of the Chaotic Sea.
But there were also rumors that after entering the Chaotic Sea, the Battle Saint King had offended the Ancient Divine Palace, completely severing ties, and was being hunted by them. He had since vanished without a trace, and the final outcome was likely grim.
While they all had to admit the Battle Saint King was indeed a peerless Heaven's Pride who had astonished the ages, they didn't believe he could escape the pursuit of the several Heavenly Kings and Elders of the Ancient Divine Palace. Even if he did return alive, they didn't think he alone could stand against the Ancient Divine Palace.
Because within that behemoth, there were still true ancient Great Sages who had not passed away, living into this era.
Who in this world could truly match an ancient Great Sage?
Yet Lin Ke'er's gaze remained unwavering. "I believe he is definitely still alive, and even stronger. He will not die."
This belief came from the depths of her heart, unshakable.
"Very well. This time, I will listen to you, Ke'er, and help the imperial clan fight back." After a moment of silence, Lin Tian made this momentous decision that concerned the fate of the entire family.
"Patriarch, you must not!"
"Absolutely not!"
As expected, almost everyone in the family opposed it. This was too risky, and the enemy they faced was none other than the most powerful force on the Ancient Divine Continent—the Ancient Divine Palace. Its strength was such that sending just one person could annihilate the entire Lin Family a thousand times over.
But Lin Tian disregarded all opposition, resolutely soaring into the sky. Because Lin Ke'er had said one thing to him: "Father, adding flowers to brocade is easy; offering charcoal in snowy weather is hard. At this moment, the imperial dynasty's royal family needs help the most. If our Lin Family steps forward to assist, we might face an extremely dangerous situation, but there is also the possibility of immense benefits. It could allow our entire family to advance further, truly becoming a renowned noble family within the entire empire, an immortal clan, and establishing a sufficiently close relationship with the royal family."
"If we side with the Ancient Divine Palace, perhaps nothing will happen in the short term, but the Ancient Divine Palace won't take us to heart. And if he truly returns, we will also face forceful retaliation. Even if the Lin Residence isn't completely destroyed, it will likely wither away, leaving only a thread of bloodline inheritance."
"As the saying goes, wealth is sought amidst danger. Rather than that, why not gamble once, gamble on that sliver of possibility, to make the Lin Residence eternally prosperous and immortal."
Precisely because of this, Lin Tian chose to gamble once, seeking wealth amidst danger.
The Lin Residence had ultimately been dormant for too long. Restoring its former glory was difficult. But if this opportunity succeeded, it could potentially allow the Lin Residence to surpass its past and stand at the peak of the empire in one fell swoop.
Boom—
Lin Tian soared into the heavens. Although decades had passed and he was still only at the Ancient Saint cultivation level, his active joining of the imperial dynasty's camp drew the attention of the various powerhouses in the imperial capital to a certain degree. His powerful voice spread throughout the Tianxu Imperial Capital: "I, Lin Tian, can confirm here that they are the true Tianxu Imperial Clan, and I am willing to take responsibility for my words. Furthermore, I hereby announce that the Lin Residence is willing to assist the imperial clan in their counterattack to reclaim the imperial dynasty's authority!"
These words caused a shockwave throughout the entire imperial capital.
"He's mad! Lin Tian actually dares to step forward at this time. Isn't he afraid the Ancient Divine Palace will annihilate the Lin Family?"
"Has Lin Tian truly gone insane? Coming out now, does he think the Tianxu Imperial Clan will definitely win, trying to speculate and offer help in desperate times? Isn't he worried the Ancient Divine Palace will annihilate the entire Lin Family in a fit of rage?"
Many factions in the imperial capital were astonished by Lin Tian's audacity, daring to step forward at this time and stand against the Ancient Divine Palace. He was truly insane.
In the eyes of the world, it was like the God of Longevity hanging himself—seeking an early death!
The Lin Residence was considered a first-rate family within the imperial capital, but compared to the Ancient Divine Palace, it was far too weak. To put it bluntly, a single finger was enough to crush and annihilate the entire Lin Residence a thousand times over. Were they really not afraid of death?
Within the imperial palace, a powerhouse from the Ancient Divine Palace immediately turned cold-faced. "What a fine Lin Residence. After we exterminate these people, the next will be the Lin Residence. We will execute the entire clan, leaving not a single one alive!"
The people of the Lin Residence all paled, their hearts filled with the urge to curse the foolishness of Lin Tian and Lin Ke'er, this father-daughter pair. But at this point, not taking action was not an option either, because there was only a dead end.
The Tian Xu Crown Prince came before Lin Tian, his expression serious. "General Lin, thank you for your righteousness in stepping forward. In the future, you will feel honored for everything you did today."
Lin Tian nodded, but without much joy, because the situation was grave. Whether they would succeed was hard to say. Right now, it was merely a gamble on luck.
The Tian Xu Crown Prince smiled slightly. "General Lin, I know what you're worried about, but there's no need. Everything is under His Highness's control. We fear nothing."
"His Highness?" Lin Tian suddenly thought of that peerless Heaven's Pride of majestic greatness. Could he really still be alive?
The Tian Xu Crown Prince nodded to him, with confidence emanating from the depths of his heart. "Indeed, it is His Highness, also the Battle Saint King. If not for His Highness, we wouldn't dare to engage the Ancient Divine Palace so easily."
Lin Tian could fully sense the Tian Xu Crown Prince's absolute confidence, born from the depths of his heart.
Upon learning the news that the Battle Saint King was still alive, Lin Tian slowly took a deep breath, understanding that he had indeed chosen correctly. Suppressing the excitement in his heart, he said, "Crown Prince, may I ask about His Highness, the Saint King—"
"General Lin need not worry. His Highness is not with us, but we have now made contact, and he is rushing here. Even if there are greater dangers, we have nothing to fear and can endure through them," the Tian Xu Crown Prince said.
"Very well. I, Lin, hereby respectfully heed the imperial clan's call. I will now mobilize troops and assist the imperial clan in reclaiming the imperial dynasty's authority." Lin Tian cupped his fists, turned, and left. He also produced a military tally, summoning the numerous guard armies within the imperial capital.
Moreover, having reached this point and learned that the Battle Saint King was still alive and even stronger, he feared nothing, ordering all the family's powerhouses to deploy.
In the battle between the two sides, although Lin Tian wasn't particularly strong—his strength could even be considered at the bottom—at this critical moment, he perfectly displayed the commanding talent of a great general seasoned in countless battles.
He mobilized troops, having the family powerhouses and the imperial capital's guard armies quickly occupy various key points throughout the capital, continuously setting up numerous strategic positions and deploying forces, beginning a large-scale assault on the imperial palace.
Currently, the top powerhouses of the Ancient Divine Palace within the imperial palace were basically pinned down by the imperial clan. Those remaining, no matter how strong, were only at the initial Saint Realm level. He had sufficient strength to deal with them.
With the military tally issued, hundreds of thousands of troops surged forth in the imperial capital—soldiers who followed military orders as steadfast as mountains—quickly appearing, suppressing the enemy soldiers and surrounding the imperial palace layer by layer.
He intended to swiftly capture the imperial palace, sweep away all obstacles, and welcome the true imperial clan's return.
"Lin Tian, you're seeking death! Daring to defy the Ancient Divine Palace, the Lin Family will be exterminated. Surrender now, and we might still leave all members of your Lin Family with intact corpses."
Within the imperial palace, another Ancient Saint-level figure appeared, also a great general. It was none other than Meng Ao, who had once competed with the Lin Family for the spatial gate. He now led the imperial palace's Forbidden Army, confronting the army led by Lin Tian.
When enemies meet, their eyes blaze with hatred. Lin Tian snorted coldly. "Meng Ao, you should know the true imperial dynasty's royal family is them. Now that the imperial palace is occupied by Ancient Divine Palace powerhouses, instead of helping the royal family, you actually resist. This is treason."
Meng Ao, however, sneered. "What royal family? Now I am the Grand Marshal of the imperial dynasty, not just a general. My rank is higher than yours. I order you to surrender immediately. A wise man submits to circumstances. Otherwise, bear the consequences yourself. Do you really think a mere royal family can stand against the Ancient Divine Palace?"
Lin Tian remained silent, knowing further talk was useless. He directly led the army following him in a charge, engaging Meng Ao in battle. The two Ancient Saint-level powerhouses also launched into fierce combat.
Meanwhile, the Tian Xu Crown Prince was locked in a difficult battle with a Saint Lord-level powerhouse from the Ancient Divine Palace. At the same time, his voice boomed across the sky above the Tianxu Imperial Capital, shouting, "Everyone, please lend your aid. Afterwards, we will surely reward you handsomely for your assistance, with promotions and noble titles. My Tianxu Imperial Clan will certainly not treat you poorly."
However, many factions in the shadows were watching and waiting, not daring to act rashly. Perhaps more were simply afraid to openly oppose the Ancient Divine Palace, fearing clan extermination.
The Tian Xu Crown Prince's expression remained unchanged. In fact, these people not helping the Ancient Divine Palace side was already the best outcome.
Boom—
Another supremely powerful aura appeared in the sky—a Heavenly King. Another one had appeared.
That astonishing streak of rainbow light directly shot into the starry sky, its saintly might vast and boundless, accompanied by earth-shattering divine radiance exploding, causing the sun, moon, and stars to pale in comparison. It also captured everyone's attention.
Who was it?
But soon, the world discovered that the third Heavenly King's addition was actually to help the Ancient Divine Palace's Heavenly King, jointly attacking the Tianxu Heavenly King.
The previously stalemated battle was instantly thrown off balance. The addition of the third Heavenly King completely shifted the entire situation.
It could be seen that the Heavenly King battle in the starry sky grew even more intense. The divine radiance was immense, flooding the vast heavens, with stars constantly exploding, annihilating, and shattering.
However, at the same time, the battle within the imperial capital also grew more intense.
Within the imperial palace, Lin Tian led the Lin Family powerhouses and the army in a continuous assault on the palace, confronting Meng Ao.
The armies under their command clashed, blood-stained blades and swords colliding, sparks flying. Lives were constantly lost.
It was evident that the powerhouses emerging from the imperial palace held an absolute advantage. The Lin Family side suffered heavy casualties, and imperial capital buildings were severely destroyed, with heavy losses of life.
These were armies that had been taken over by the Ancient Divine Palace after seizing control of the imperial dynasty, including the most terrifying Forbidden Army. They were simply unmatched; a mere Lin Family could not withstand them.
The army mobilized by the Lin Family retreated step by step, suffering truly heavy casualties. Blood stained the entire imperial capital red, the pungent smell of blood spreading throughout the city.
Within the city, many factions watched from the sidelines but also fell into silence, unsure whether they should choose to side with the Ancient Divine Palace at this time, turning against the Lin Family for better prospects.
But seeing the Lin Family retreating step by step, they ultimately sympathized with their plight and were unwilling to act.
The entire Lin Family's members paled. Some even condemned Lin Ke'er. If not for her, the Patriarch would never have made such a foolish move.
Lin Ke'er's pretty face was also pale and bloodless, tears silently falling. But she kept looking up at the sky, always hoping that person would appear.
Boom—
A tremendous explosion suddenly rang out in the starry sky. All eyes in the city looked up to see stars exploding in the starry sky and a figure being sent flying, tearing through the sky, with large meteor belts exploding. It was none other than the Tianxu Heavenly King.
Facing the joint attack of two Heavenly King powerhouses, even someone as powerful as the Tianxu Heavenly King was somewhat unable to withstand it, about to be defeated. Signs of defeat were already apparent.
The Tianxu Heavenly King was blasted back hundreds of li before stabilizing himself, but blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his body was stained with blood, having suffered injuries.
Over these decades, although he had followed the Battle Saint King in cultivation and also studied other paths like faith power, gaining some benefits and making progress in cultivation, it was still difficult for him to fight one against two.
Moreover, the two opposing Heavenly Kings were familiar with each other. Their combined strength wasn't as simple as one plus one. That he could hold out for so long before being forced back was already quite impressive.
"Tianxu, you should stop resisting stubbornly. Although you are strong, either of us alone is slightly inferior to you. But if we join forces, you will only be defeated. Surrender. We won't kill you," one of the Heavenly Kings spoke.
The Tianxu Heavenly King chuckled coldly and directly attacked again.
"Stubborn resistance. Today, we'll send you to your death."
The two Heavenly Kings also became ruthless, sparing no effort to kill the Tianxu Heavenly King.
In the imperial capital, other factions secretly sighed. Even the Tianxu Heavenly King couldn't prevail. The Lin Family members paled further, as did Lin Tian, his expression dimming as he let out a soft sigh. The Lin Family had chosen the wrong side this time and was truly headed for destruction.
"The Tianxu Heavenly King is about to be killed. From now on, the Tianxu Imperial Dynasty will completely fall into the hands of the Ancient Divine Palace, and likely the other nine great imperial dynasties will suffer the same fate."
At this very moment, the two Heavenly Kings attacked furiously, joining forces. They actually displayed a fearsome combined divine ability, layer upon layer appearing, truly earth-shattering, capable of annihilating everything. They pushed it forward, intending to destroy all.
The Tianxu Heavenly King continuously bled from the corner of his mouth, laughing heartily. "Want to kill this old man? You won't get your wish."
"Stubborn resistance!" The two Heavenly Kings snorted coldly, their killing intent growing even more terrifying.
"Indeed, they won't get their wish."
A clear, resonant voice rang out between heaven and earth, echoing across the land and even into the starry sky.
The sudden voice made everyone pause. It sounded vaguely familiar, as if heard before, yet hard to recall immediately.
At this moment, Lin Ke'er suddenly opened her bright eyes, her delicate body trembling, tears of excitement falling. "He's back! It's Big Brother Ye!"