An Hai, seeing this, rejoiced inwardly. This is your own carelessness, he thought, you must be injured now, even if you don't die.

However, something unexpected occurred. Not only was the man in black not injured as An Hai had imagined, but he actually spoke with utter contempt, saying, "I already told you, attacks of your caliber are nothing more than a tickle to me. Truly idiotic. Let me teach you fools what true martial skill is."

No sooner had the man in black finished speaking than a black light erupted from his body, and his figure vanished from the spot. All the Imperial Guards who had attacked him were sent screaming through the air, falling to the ground without another sound; they were presumably dead. The man in black had reappeared in his original location as if he had never moved at all. The remaining guards, witnessing this, turned ashen-faced; not a single one had seen how the man in black had struck.

Yet, not one of them showed fear; they remained fixedly watching the man in black as he slowly walked toward them.

Seeing this spectacle, An Hai understood immediately: relying on just his current group, they were no match for the man in black. When did such a monstrous anomaly appear on this continent? I've never heard of it. Judging by his skill, he is surely no less than Sword Saint Yu Jian.

Thinking this, An Hai exclaimed in shock, "Are you the Sword Saint?" Hearing An Hai’s voice, the man in black laughed arrogantly, "What is a Sword Saint? In the eyes of you humble humans, is the Sword Saint the limit of power?" Hearing this, An Hai’s mind raced. Could this person be the legendary Sword God? It seemed impossible, yet the man in black was already before him. Though he knew they couldn't win, he could not allow this figure to harm the Emperor. If I can just hold on a little longer, when the reinforcements from other parts of the palace arrive, no matter how skilled this man in black is, he cannot stand against several thousand well-trained Imperial Guards! With this thought, An Hai steadied himself and shouted, "Raise the alarm, deploy the barrier, the rest of you, follow me!"

Having commanded this, An Hai led the charge, attacking the man in black first. The other Imperial Guards, seeing their commander act, followed without hesitation, plunging forward behind An Hai.

The last remaining guard, having heard An Hai's orders, quickly pulled a round bamboo tube from his robes. He yanked the thin cord at the tube's tail, and a streak of fire accompanied by a piercing shriek shot toward the sky, exploding in a burst of golden sparks that formed a massive dragon pattern mid-air.

This was the highest alert signal of the Tianlong Empire, reserved only for moments when the Emperor faced extreme danger. Upon seeing this signal, all Imperial Guards and civil/military officials in Tianlong City were required to converge toward the source of the alarm to protect the Emperor’s safety, including the Tianlong Legion stationed outside the city walls.

Around the Emperor’s chambers, a screen of white light illuminated—the strongest protective magic of the Church of Light, the Holy Light Barrier. This barrier had been personally established by the Pope of Light at the request of the Tianlong Empire. Compared to the Holy Light Barrier established by Shui Ling'er relying on a divine artifact, this one was in a completely different league; even a Sword Saint would struggle to break it. Hopefully, by the time that happened, the arriving reinforcement guards would have reached them, and the Emperor’s danger would naturally be averted.

Seeing this, the man in black spoke with a cold sneer, "You court death. Do you think the Holy Light Barrier can stop me?" Saying this, the figure in black blurred into a streak, rushing into the midst of the Imperial Guards, striking rapidly. Guards were sent screaming backward continuously, yet they couldn't even touch the hem of the man in black’s robe. An Hai was shocked and furious. He roared suddenly, channeling his battle aura to its absolute limit. The weapon in his hand emitted a faint blue glow as he swung it toward the shadow of the man in black.

The man in black scoffed at An Hai’s attack, saying, "You think an attack of your level can even strike me?" After speaking, the man in black uttered a low cry.

He raised his hand, unleashing a bolt of black light toward An Hai. Upon impact with the black light, An Hai’s weapon caused his entire body to feel as if struck by lightning. He felt an immense force surge along his weapon into his body. Startled, he immediately dropped his weapon, but still, a small portion of that force hit him. With a miserable cry, he was thrown backward, feeling as if his entire being was being corroded by the power—the pain was agonizing.

He thought mournfully, To think that with my skill as a High Swordsman, I couldn't even withstand one move. Even a Sword Saint probably couldn't. This man in black's power has clearly reached a superhuman realm.

Seeing An Hai sent flying, the man in black sneered coldly, "You were quick to realize your mistake and dodge fast. But even a fraction of my Netherworld Light striking you is enough for you to suffer through."

The remaining guards were all struck and sent flying, one by one, by the man in black, possessing absolutely no ability to resist.

Lying on the ground, An Hai felt overwhelming anxiety, but his body seemed detached from his control, utterly unresponsive, unable to move. He could only watch helplessly as the man in black approached the Holy Light Barrier.

The man in black slowly walked to the barrier’s edge and unleashed several streaks of black light against it. However, when the black light struck the Holy Light Barrier, it swiftly reflected back toward the attacker. Though the reflected black light didn't inflict serious damage on the man in black—he merely swayed slightly before regaining his composure—he was somewhat surprised.

Witnessing this, the man in black said with a hint of astonishment, "I didn't expect someone among humans could erect a Holy Light Barrier of this intensity. It seems genuinely formidable. I suppose I must use my full strength now."

With those words, the man in black slowly drew from his back a strange weapon covered entirely in jagged teeth. The weapon itself shimmered with a dark, blackish light.

The man in black then spoke slowly, "You are not simple either, managing to force me to use the Black Water. That is quite an accomplishment."

These words seemed to be spoken more to himself than to anyone else.

Leaping toward