Chapter 338: Return to the Capital

Chapter 338: Chapter 338: Return to the Capital

Chapter 338: Return to the Capital

The next morning, the sun had barely crested the horizon when Rhain stepped out of his secluded courtyard.

Before leaving Valdris City, there was one last person he needed to see.

Rhain headed directly toward the serene bamboo grove.

When he arrived, the tranquil pond reflected the pale morning light, and sitting quietly on his wooden stump was the Old Dean.

"You are leaving," the Old Dean spoke, his ancient voice resonating directly within Rhain’s mind.

Rhain stopped a few paces away and offered a respectful bow. "Yes, Old Dean."

The ancient Monarch slowly opened his eyes, his profound gaze locking onto Rhain.

"Are you worried?" the Old Dean asked, his voice carrying the calm vicissitudes of time.

Rhain remained silent for a moment before giving a slow nod.

"I am," Rhain admitted, "I do not like placing my life in an uncertain situation where my survival depends on the unpredictable choices of others."

Rhain didn’t try to hide his thoughts behind a facade of false bravado.

"I am certain that Dean Qaylus will stand by my side. To some extent, I am even certain of the Vaelstrum Clan Patriarch; the life of his dying Ancestor is held firmly in the hands of ’Grandmaster Korryn’, so he will not dare to abandon me."

Rhain’s expression turned remarkably solemn.

"But I am not entirely sure about Sect Master Wexian. He is here because of an alliance with Second Prince Arien, but there is no fundamental benefit binding his life to mine. If we stand before the Emperor, and the crushing pressure of the Imperial Court proves too immense... if even a single person out of the three chooses to step back and leave my side, the unified front of Valdris City crumbles."

Rhain’s fists clenched slightly beneath his wide sleeves. "If that happens, it will be almost impossible for me to leave the capital alive. I despise risking my life on such fragile variables."

Old Dean listened to the Rhain cold, pragmatic assessment.

"You are a cautious and rational boy," the Old Dean spoke, "But you underestimate Wexian. He is a sword cultivator. The path of the sword demands an unbending will. He is the type of man who would rather snap in two and die than bow his head to the Imperial Court."

The Old Dean’s ancient eyes suddenly sharpened, radiating a profound, heaven-defying light that made the surrounding bamboo stalks cease their rustling.

The Old Dean’s ancient eyes suddenly sharpened.

"Furthermore, do not forget the vow I made to Seraphine," the Old Dean declared with authority. "My karma binds me to your survival. Should the Emperor dare to ignore the combined weight of Valdris City and attempt to kill you... I assure you, I will personally cross the distance and tear down the Royal Palace myself to bring you back."

Hearing the guarantee from a Monarch Realm powerhouse, Rhain felt a wave of relief.

"I thank you, Old Dean," Rhain bowed deeply, his mind completely settled.

------------------------

A short while later, Rhain arrived at the central plaza of the Academy.

Hovering majestically above the plaza was a massive armored skiff belonging to the Valdris Royal Academy.

Standing on the deck, waiting for him, were the three titans who ruled the independent territory: Dean Qaylus, Sect Master Wexian, and the Vaelstrum Clan Patriarch.

"Are you ready, boy?" Sect Master Wexian asked, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes flashing with a sharp light.

"I am," Rhain replied calmly, stepping onto the deck.

"Then let us go face the Emperor," Vaelstrum Patriarch declared, his own peak Domain Master aura flaring slightly.

BOOM—!!!

The skiff shot into the sky, tearing through the clouds at maximum velocity, leaving Valdris City behind as it headed straight toward the center of the Solathane Dynasty.

The journey only took a few hours with the speed of the skiff.

Slowly, the towering, colossal golden walls of Solathane City pierced through the horizon, gleaming under the afternoon sun.

They had arrived back at the gates of the Royal Capital.

As the massive skiff descended toward the grand entrance plaza...

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

Dozens of elite Imperial guards, clad in gleaming golden armor and riding fierce flying spirit beasts, shot into the sky to intercept the incoming vessel.

"Halt your skiff and state your identities!" the captain of the guard roared, hovering forward with his weapon drawn.

But as the skiff slowed and the captain’s eyes locked onto the dark-robed youth standing casually at the forefront of the deck, his voice abruptly stopped.

Rhain Voss!

The face of the youth was currently plastered on every single bounty board and execution warrant across the entire Solathane Dynasty!

The most wanted fugitive in the empire! The lunatic who had committed regicide by slaughtering the Crown Prince’s clone!

"I-IT’S RHAIN VOSS!" the captain shrieked, his face turning entirely pale. "THE FUGITIVE IS HERE! EXECUTE HIM ON SIGHT!"

"KILL HIM!"

The elite guards instantly erupted with killing intent, their auras blazing as they raised their weapons, preparing to launch a combined, lethal assault to claim the astronomical bounty on Rhain’s head.

But just as they channeled their essence to strike—

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Three earth-shattering, peak Domain Master auras casually rolled off the deck of the skiff, crashing down upon the Imperial guards like collapsing mountains.

The guards froze mid-air, their breathing completely stifled by the overwhelming pressure.

They looked past the dark-robed youth, and their eyes nearly popped out of their skulls.

Standing directly beside the wanted fugitive were Dean Qaylus of the Valdris Royal Academy, Sect Master Wexian of the Nebula Sword Sect, and the Patriarch of the Vaelstrum Clan.

The three undisputed rulers of the independent territory of Valdris City!

None of the guards dared to do anything stupid.

The weapons in their hands trembled, their bodies paralyzed with fear.

Dean Qaylus stepped forward to the edge of the railing, looking down at the terrified captain with an authoritative gaze.

"Clear the way," Qaylus demanded coldly. "We have come to seek an audience with His Majesty."

The captain swallowed hard, cold sweat pouring down his face.

He didn’t dare to attack, but he also didn’t dare to let the murderer of the Crown Prince casually stroll through the Imperial gates without permission.

"P-Please wait! I must report this to my superiors!" the captain stammered, hastily pulling out a golden transmission talisman and frantically sending an urgent message.

Within minutes, the news that Rhain Voss had dared to step foot into the Royal Capital spread through the upper echelons of the Imperial military like a blazing wildfire.

A short while later, the space above the colossal gates distorted.

Swoosh—!

Six figures materialized in the sky, completely blocking the path of the Valdris skiff.

Every single one of them radiated the tyrannical pressure of a late-stage Domain Master Realm expert.

But the man standing at the very front was on an entirely different level.

The aura rolling off his massive frame was not just late-stage, it was at the peak of the Domain Master Realm, same as Qaylus, Wexian, and the Vaelstrum Patriarch.

This was General Tyrach.

The supreme commander of the Imperial Army, and universally recognized as the strongest person in the dynasty directly below the Emperor and the Monarchs.

General Tyrach’s fierce eyes swept over the deck of the skiff, lingering on Rhain for a second before locking onto the three Valdris leaders.

"What is the meaning of this?" General Tyrach’s voice boomed like the sound of wardrum, "You dare to bring a condemned traitor directly to the gates of our capital?"

Sect Master Wexian stepped forward, his sword-intent casually slicing the air around him.

"We are here to seek an audience with the Emperor," Wexian confronted fearlessly. "And to formally seek pardon for Rhain."

For a moment, General Tyrach stared at Wexian in utter silence.

Then, he threw his head back.

"BWAHAHAHAHA!"

Tyrach burst into a mocking laugh.

"Seeking a pardon?" Tyrach sneered, his face twisting with ferocious disdain. "A pardon for the man who dared to kill the Crown Prince? You three must have lost your damn minds!"

BOOM—!!!

General Tyrach’s peak Domain Master aura erupted with domineering, unbridled hostility, crashing forward like a tidal wave aimed directly at the skiff.

But Qaylus, Wexian, and the Vaelstrum Patriarch were not to be left behind.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The three Valdris titans simultaneously released their own peak Domain Master auras.

Four unimaginable forces collided in the sky above the golden gates, sending the surrounding elite guards tumbling backward through the air in terror.

"Whether Rhain Voss will be pardoned or not is the Emperor’s decision," Vaelstrum Patriarch stated coldly, "It is not up to a mere general to decide."

Dean Qaylus stepped forward, his expression stern and unyielding.

"Stand down, General Tyrach," Qaylus warned strictly. "It would be best for everyone if we do not create a senseless commotion at the gates of the capital. If we are forced to act, half of your city will be reduced to dust."

General Tyrach glared at the three united pillars of Valdris City.

He could not even that what in the world could have brought them together to protect a wanted fugitive so fiercely.

But he knew that fighting three peak Domain Masters simultaneously was an impossible task.

If a battle broke out here, the destruction to the capital would be unimaginable.

Slowly, Tyrach retracted his oppressive aura.

"Fine," General Tyrach spat. "If you three are truly so daring as to bring the boy who struck the Crown Prince right into the capital and place him before the Emperor..."

Tyrach waved his massive, armored hand, signaling his late-stage Domain Masters to part.

"I will let you come. Let’s see exactly how you plan to save him from the Emperor’s wrath."

With a final, chilling glance that lingered venomously on Rhain, General Tyrach ordered the path cleared.