A thin wisp of golden light that streaked out from Hannah's sword struck the Emperor, sending him nearly 20 meters backward in the sky.
Zhou Linfan jumped in like a raging maniac and slammed his sword onto the Emperor as well.
The Emperor lifted his shield to block the attack and then retaliated with a spear attack that created 20 different illusory lightning spears.
Hannah appeared in front of Zhou Linfan, defending him as the attack was too strong for him.
The Emperor glared at the both of them. He hated just how much of a fool he was being made in this battle.
Thanks to the Dragon Array behind him, his power had now grown to become equal to that of the girl before him. He had to add a few more people to the array, but that was worth it.
However, even though he had somehow managed to become equal, he still saw no chance of defeating her.
The naive, inexperienced girl from back then was no more. The girl that stood in front of him now was at least experienced enough to not get taken aback at every instance of battle.
"Is this how you act in front of your Father-in-law?" the Emperor asked.
Hannah scoffed. "Don't kid yourself, Long Tiankong. You are not my father-in-law. Never were, never will. Even after I officially marry your son, you will only remain someone who I can only call by name, never a relation between us."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThe Emperor scoffed as well. "You were better when your mouth was shut," he said and threw out a white-hot bolt of lightning strike.
Hannah's sword glowed golden and she cut through the lightning strike, breaking it apart into motes of energy that dissipated in the air.
Zhou Linfan attacked from the side, taking the Dragon Emperor by surprise. Only, the Dragon Emperor was expecting the attack. He was on the lookout for any attacks from every side.
He ever had his senses on Alex who had approached his son. As long as he wasn't caught off guard, the Emperor would certainly come out of this battle ahead.
'I just have to continue for a while longer' the Emperor told himself. 'My soldiers will all arrive soon.'
When his 100 thousand soldiers were all here, they would easily defeat the army of 10 thousand soldiers from the Southern Continent.
As such, his victory in this war was tied to time as well. It was a battle of attrition for him at this point. Last long enough, and he would win.
* * * * *
Alex stared at the Crown Prince who flew a few distance away from him, a dark look covering his previously handsome face.
"You look like you lost some weight," Alex said. "I wasn't aware that was possible for a cultivator without getting severely wounded. Were you wounded?"
Long Fangyu didn't answer. "Why have you come, King Alex?" he asked.
"To talk to you," Alex answered.
"No, to the Eastern Continent. Why did you return? Why not just spend your time in peace in the Southern Continent?" the Crown Prince asked.
There was barely any emotion in his voice when he asked those questions. If any, there was a hint of curiosity and maybe a pinch of sadness that somehow did not make sense to Alex.
"I have a trade to complete with your father," Alex answered. "You should know about that already."
"That's a lie," Long Fangyu said. "You didn't have to personally come to the Eastern Continent for that. You could've sent someone else. With both the sword and the talisman that you gave father. Why did you come with an army instead and decide to wage war on our Empire?"
"Ah! That's what you're asking," Alex said and looked away for a moment. He looked at the war, and then the Emperor's battle.
He had let Zhou Linfan attack him first because that was what he wanted. He was looking for revenge, and this was one of the conditions for his help.
Hannah had started fighting as well, and her job was to do the best she could. The more she wore down the Emperor, the better it was.
As long as she could force the Emperor to use up all of his Immortal Qi, Alex could join the fight and aid her.
Alex turned back toward the prince and spoke. "Do you believe the words I spoke regarding your father's crime?" he asked. "That he was responsible for every single one of what I said. I can swear an oath if you want to."
The Crown Prince grimaced slightly and shook his head. "No need," he said.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAlex gave a look of surprise. "So you're aware that I'm correct?" he asked. "That's a surprise. I thought I would have to speak an oath and all to make you believe me."
"Why didn't you speak an oath to make the soldiers believe your words?" the Crown Prince asked. "You should know that it would help you tremendously."
"I know," Alex said. "But I decided not to. What good is a handful of soldiers that turn against their own friends just because they can now believe my words? They would only be in a dilemma as to whether to fight or stay out of it."
"I want them to fight, and I want them all to fight your father. I don't know how many will decide to fight on our side, but I want to make a massive turn, instead of just a couple hundred soldiers that could hear me earlier."
The Crown Prince's eyes narrowed. "Are you… are you waiting for more soldiers to gather before speaking your oath?" he asked.
The Crown Prince couldn't believe that it was quite the smart idea.
"Something like that," Alex said. He decided not to mention that he wasn't going to speak the oath at all.
It was not that there was no point in him speaking an oath to confirm the Dragon Emperor's crimes. It was just that there was someone better who could do it.
"If you know all of these things, then may I assume that you are on your father's side through and through?" he asked as he held Midnight in a stance. "I had hoped you would go against your father. If not for me or any of the other crimes. At least for your brother."
The Crown Prince's eyes sharpened at those words. "My brother… where is he? Is he back in the Southern Continent?" he asked.
Alex shook his head. "I can't leave a prince out of the war raging in his empire, can I?" he said.
The Crown Prince looked around the battlefield, searching for his brother. But he saw him nowhere.
"Where is he? Where is my brother? Is he on the ship? Please tell me he is alright," the Crown Prince asked.
"He is alright," Alex said. "And no, he is not on the ship or on the battlefield. I'm afraid he is doing something rather important at this very moment. Please wait a couple of minutes. I'm sure you will hear from him very soon."
"In the meanwhile, will you tell me clearly whose side you are on? I'm afraid you are confusing me a lot."