Chapter 808: Things getting out of hand

The members of the Void Soul Tower and the Bright Buddha Palace descended from their magnificent void shuttles and came to stand before the swirling purple portal, the two forces emerging like night and day.

For the experts of the Bright Buddha Palace stepped forth in calm, measured movements, their expressions tranquil and composed as though no turbulence in the mortal world could ever disturb the serene seas of their minds, while an aura of golden radiance shimmered faintly around them, giving them an almost holy presence.

Whereas, in stark contrast, the members of the Void Soul Tower arrived with sharp, prideful eyes and a haughty bearing, their figures clad in dark, flowing robes marked with eerie silver runes that seemed to pulse with a ghostly glow, and the air around them rippled as if disturbed by unseen spirits, their gazes sweeping over the crowd with a barely concealed arrogance that made other experts instinctively tense up.

Max, standing amidst the ranks of the Great Ruler Empire, felt his heart sink the moment he saw the familiar crest of the Void Soul Tower emblazoned across the robes of the new arrivals, and his expression darkened considerably as he clenched his jaw, because he knew deep down that the storm he’d been dreading was about to break open for all to see.
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And, as though the universe had decided to confirm his fears in the very next instant, a furious, roaring voice split the air, echoing across the entire expanse in a blast of wrath so powerful it seemed to vibrate the swirling mists themselves, as a woman stepped forward from among the Void Soul Tower ranks, her eyes bloodshot and her face twisted in grief and murderous rage, screaming, "Hermes, where is that bastard Max? How dare he kill my June?! I want to skin him alive!"

It was the Third Elder of the Void Soul Tower whose voice thundered forth, her aura exploding outward in a stormy wave of dark light, causing some of the nearer experts to stagger back from the pressure, while gasps and murmurs rippled through the masses as the gravity of the accusation sank in once again.

Emperor Hermes’ face grew truly dark at that moment, his normally regal features tightening into hard, unforgiving lines, his eyes burning with barely restrained fury, though he said nothing for a long, taut second as the weight of political consequence hung heavy in the air.

Tower Lord Mathew, the supreme leader of the Void Soul Tower, stepped forward with slow, deliberate steps, his robe flowing around him like shadows given form, and spoke in a voice that was solemn yet edged with icy threat, "Hermes, you should know that my Void Soul Tower is a neutral force most of the time, and we would prefer to remain neutral even now... if only you would hand over the boy Max who killed June Andrews, a Heaven Rank genius of my tower. Otherwise, do not blame me if a war erupts between our two forces."

His eyes were as cold as frozen void, locking onto Emperor Hermes with a deadly calm that promised destruction.

Thunder Lord, leader of the Thunder Monarch Hall, seized the moment to pile on, his voice low and sinister, his face twisted with malicious delight as he added, "Humph, that kid Max also killed a 3-star genius of our Thunder Monarch Hall, but Hermes is acting as though we, the people of the Thunder Monarch Hall, are simply fabricating lies against him."

The crowd, already buzzing with anxious murmurs, fell almost completely silent as Tower Lord Mathew nodded gravely and declared in an authoritative tone, his words carrying a chilling finality, "I heard that too. This kid Max should be punished by death. Killing a Heaven Grade genius is the same as declaring war between great forces, and he did it without the slightest hesitation. I believe his true intention is to sow chaos and conflict within the Middle Domain. He should be killed without mercy."

His pronouncement fell like a blade through the air, slicing away the last remnants of uncertainty, as countless eyes swung toward Max, many filled with fear, curiosity, or silent pity, while the tense atmosphere thickened to the point that it felt like even a single spark could ignite a devastating war among the gathered overlord forces.

"You two...!" Emperor Hermes’ voice thundered out, his face contorting into an expression of barely contained fury, the lines of his jaw tightening as if he were grinding his teeth to dust, and the veins stood out on his temples as he glared at both the Thunder Lord and Tower Lord Mathew, his regal aura flaring around him like a blazing inferno that made even the surrounding air ripple with heat.

Yet even in his fury, he understood the precariousness of the situation, because despite his overwhelming desire to protect every member of his Great Ruler Empire, he also knew that the political reality was cruel—when accusations this severe were leveled, especially involving the death of a Heaven Grade genius, the only way conflicts were usually resolved was by handing over the accused, because refusing to do so would risk plunging their forces into a brutal war that could shatter entire regions.

And beside him, Guild Master Orion, who normally exuded easy confidence and laughter, stood silent, his brow deeply furrowed as he found himself struggling for words, recognizing that this was one of those rare situations where things was out of his hands at the moment.

Thunder Lord let out a dark, humorless laugh as he leaned forward slightly, his lips curling into a sneer, and said in a voice dripping with menace, "Hand over Max and everything will be fine—otherwise, you know what comes next... Humph!"

While beside him, the Third Elder of the Void Soul Tower, still trembling with barely restrained rage, hissed out between clenched teeth, "Yeah, hand him over. Let me skin him alive. Let me break every bone in his body!"

The words hung in the air like blades, the tension pressing so thick around the purple portal that it felt as though the very mists were holding their breath, and among the ranks of the Great Ruler Empire, worried glances shot toward Max, many of the younger disciples looking torn between fear and loyalty, unsure of what would happen next.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay