Boom!

A massive tremor spread from the sky to the earth, making all of Yanjing tremble!

"Is it an earthquake!?"

"Fire, fire!"

"What happened!?"

Countless awoken residents panicked and fled their homes. Many were only in their deep autumn pajamas, some in disarray, while others even crashed through walls to escape—not because the walls were weak, but because Martial Artists, in extreme panic, could easily crash through walls.

Many others sat bewildered in their beds, unable to comprehend what was happening. Earthquakes were nearly legendary to the people of Yanjing. In the Nine Radiant Domains, Yanjing's environs were the only areas untouched by natural disasters like droughts, floods, earthquakes, snowstorms, heavy rains, and gales, with such occurrences being rare, 'once in several centuries' spectacles.

Many speculated that the Holy Sword Radiance regulates the weather or the Imperial Family possesses a Divine Weapon that ensures favorable conditions in certain areas. Overall, the people of Yanjing had the slowest reaction to natural disasters, having never truly experienced them.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

As that tremor grew nearer, many instinctively searched for the source until someone cried out, "Look up there!"

Countless Yanjing citizens looked up.

From the direction of the Imperial Court, a figure clad in a pure white robe, lined with countless gold foils, even glowing with luminescent dye, walked in the night sky, shimmering all over.

He wore a pair of gilded red boots, every step ignited a flash of golden flames in the air, and the entire sky rippled from his steps, visibly spreading outward—

Lotus blooms with every step!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

This thunderous sound, trembling like a dragon in the earth, was actually the footfall of a single person!

And footsteps marching in the sky!

Countless people stared blankly at the silhouette, with a child tugging their mother's sleeve, "Mommy, is that an immortal?"

"Silly child, that's the headmaster of the Royal Academy," the mother patted the child's head, instinctively educating, "You must study hard and strive to become someone like the headmaster."

The child nodded in bewilderment, imprinting the image of that luminous old man in the night sky deep within, profoundly affecting his budding aesthetics.

Boom! Boom!

Although many, recognizing it was Cha Huan, returned obediently to bed, even more chose to chase after Cha Huan's figure, curious to see what the Royal Academy's headmaster was up to in the dead of night—since his journey was preventing sleep, they might as well be part of the spectacle.

Cha Huan gazed at the masses below in Yanjing, watching streams of people fill every street and alley, flowing beneath his feet like a river. With the eyes of thousands upon him, Cha Huan lifted his feet with even greater vigor, striding confidently and proudly.

He looked at the Royal Academy in the distance, maintaining this leisurely pace, like a walk returning home.

This was his way of doing things.

Previously, when Qin Le Yin and Yan Yi discussed with him, they advised him to return to the academy quietly, stay in the Imperial Court, or take a detour to avoid the assassins' ambush.

Cha Huan also acknowledged their rationale: never engage with enemies at their chosen time and place.

But to sneak around, dodging the enemy at every turn?

Why should he!

How could the master return home and do so furtively!

He wanted to declare to all: Royal Academy, your master has returned!

And when it came to pursuit-revenge, Cha Huan was the true expert—whether chasing others or being pursued, his experience was beyond those two youngsters!

Being hunted by three martial pillars for half a year, surviving countless deadly traps, Cha Huan understood dismantling assassination attempts better than anyone!

He could seek official help, misdirect the danger eastwards—overall, when it comes to hidden attacks, the best strategy is: blow it wide open!

The more involved, the grander the battle, the better; never try to endure alone, attract as much attention as possible!

Creatures of shadows couldn't endure the sun's glare, conspiracies and schemes would melt under the righteous scrutiny of the masses!

And besides singly dealing with assassins, Cha Huan preferred facing challenges in the spotlight. Even if he spectacularly counter-killed the attackers, if no one witnessed it, wouldn't that effort be wasted for Cha Huan?

Moreover, the Imperial Court fortunately had this Illusion Divine Weapon catered to Cha Huan's desire to show off:

"Illusion Divine Weapon · Flying Boots"

"Flight: Just a thought in the holder's mind allows them to stride in mid-air as if it was tangible."

Among the Eight Illusion Divine Weapons, Twelve Extreme Divine Weapons, in terms of combat power, the flying boots are surely in the bottom three; but regarding utility, they are in the top three.

Flight, simple two words, transforms a Martial Artist's combat range from plane to volume. This was beyond the limited 'step of light' of the Peak of Perfection realm, offering unrestricted flight leveraging air as needed!

Back then, before firearms were widespread, flying boots were nearly invincible—a Martial Artist with endless space to maneuver had no need to fear archers or ranged attacks; even with the current prevalence of firearms, without an impenetrable storm of bullets, taking down an airborne Martial Artist was near impossible!

For Martial Artists, typical Divine Weapons might still grapple with suitability; it's like a non-Hidden Sword Assassin wielding the Veil of Strife, or a non-Skyward Blossom Warrior obtaining the Overlord Butterfly—unless they converted to Combat Techniques, an unsuitable Divine Weapon rendered them futile.

However, flying boots were unequivocally beneficial for any Martial Artist: maintain distance in ranged combat, close in during melee skirmishes!

For martial pillars, the enhancement by flying boots was unfathomable, beyond even the phrase 'like adding wings to a tiger.' Cha Huan even worried that seeing him donning the flying boots might cause the attackers to flee outright.

If they truly ran, that'd be fine—Cha Huan wasn't overly fond of killing. This was why he amplified his footsteps with Combative Techniques: not only to rouse the citizens to witness the spectacle but also to subdue armies without battle.

But if the assailants, despite all this, still refused to abandon their plans, willing to risk the glaring eyes of the masses to attack him...

Cha Huan eagerly awaited.

What gave them such confidence to even consider encircling and killing a martial pillar adorned in flying boots?

"Ah...feeling the blood rush,"

Cha Huan crossed his arms behind his head, striding languidly forward with even more resounding steps.

Boom! Boom!

This felt akin to that night thirty years ago when fleeing Yanjing, chased by three martial pillars on his tail. He remembers it rained that night, the roads were muddy, and even encountered sleepless coyotes, every moment on the brink of being caught by those three bastards...

Cha Huan took a deep breath of the crisp Yanjing night air, a refreshing smile spreading, even leisurely waving to the crowd below, causing them to squint at the glare of his attire.

"Indeed, the elderly should engage in younger pursuits to stave off aging. The feeling of being hunted now, rejuvenates me as though I'm thirty years younger... Make sure you don't run away!"

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