Supreme Emptiness

Chapter 1972: Chapter 2016: The Trap

How could Jiang Fan not be anxious?

If the Phoenix Dynasty Great Sage insisted on accepting the Ancient Giants’ surrender, he could still barely stay calm.

But once the Central Earth Army charged into the Imperial Court, he could no longer remain composed.

Because the crucial intelligence Ling Xuzi had delivered to Central Earth clearly stated that ominous rituals were being held in all nine Royal Courts!

Coupled with the sudden surrender of the Ancient Giants, allowing the Central Army to occupy the most important Central Imperial Court.

The sense of a trap was so strong it could be felt even through the screen.

That was why he had urgently sent a warning!

At this moment, Yun Shang quickly presented the Moon Realm to Lianjing Venerable and said, "Grandmother, look."

Lianjing Venerable saw Jiang Fan’s warning and furrowed her brows.

This was the prime merit of taking a city—could they really just throw it away?

But after only a brief hesitation, she decisively dispersed her spatial Domain, preventing the Central Earth Army from Instantaneous Movement into the Imperial Court, and shouted urgently:

"Central Earth Army, retreat at once!"

Hearing this, the Heavenly Craft Sage and several other Central Earth Sages who were about to break into the Imperial Court couldn’t help but hesitate.

Such great merit; if they didn’t take it, it would be snatched by the Phoenix Dynasty Great Sage’s people.

Seeing her shout have no effect, Lianjing Venerable hurriedly added, "It’s Jiang Fan’s warning!"

What?

Jiang Fan warned them not to go in?

If it had been someone else’s reminder, even a Great Wine Sacrifice’s persuasion, they would still weigh the gains and losses.

But since it was Jiang Fan’s warning, they had no choice but to believe it.

Because this kid, whatever else might be said about him, was unmatched at preserving his own life; if he warned them not to enter the Imperial Court, then they absolutely must not go in!

The Heavenly Craft Sage and the others decisively withdrew, and they also blocked the approaching Divinity Transformation cultivators one by one, shouting anxiously:

"Move! Get away from the Imperial Court! The farther the better!"

The surging Central Earth Army braked abruptly, causing a chain of collisions and throwing the scene into chaos.

Fortunately, the nine Great Wine Sacrifices also rushed over quickly and, together with the many Sages, re‑organized the army with swift action, leading a rapid retreat into the distance.

The Ice Realm Sage and the others who had already fought their way into the Imperial Court hesitated when they saw this.

The prime merit was within easy reach—were they really going to give it up just like that?

"What are you still hesitating for? Move!" The Heavenly Poison Sage of the Poison Realm backed away without a second thought.

Who was Jiang Fan?

He was someone who, for the sake of the overall situation of Central Earth, was willing to let all his painstaking efforts become wedding clothes for others.

Would he ever pit the Central Earth Army into missing out on prime merit?

Since he had warned the Central Earth Army to stay away from the Imperial Court, there could only be one possibility.

The Imperial Court harbored immense peril!

The other Outer Heaven Sages quickly came to their senses, their faces changing color as they Instantaneous Movement‑escaped one after another.

The ten Outer Heaven Sages brought by the Phoenix Dynasty Great Sage and Silver Moon Venerable also showed a slight change of expression.

They all cast inquiring looks toward the Phoenix Dynasty Great Sage.

The Phoenix Dynasty Great Sage also felt shock and doubt.

How did Jiang Fan, separated by an entire world, determine that the Imperial Court was dangerous?

But for no reason at all, how could Jiang Fan possibly delay Central Earth from seizing Merit?

Most likely, there really was something wrong with this Imperial Court.

It was just that she had only just seized command of the Central Earth Army, and now she was to heed Jiang Fan’s warning again.

Wouldn’t that make her look utterly incompetent?

Thinking of this, she said in a deep voice, "With this Virtuous one here, what are you afraid of?"

Silver Moon Venerable and the ten Outer Heaven Sages felt their Heart Spirits steady slightly.

Indeed, so what if it was a trap?

Was there anything left in this world that a Three Calamities Realm Sage could not resolve?

The Phoenix Dynasty Great Sage clasped her hands behind her back and said, "Find the throne that symbolizes the authority of the Central Emperor; whoever finds it, the merit of taking the city will belong to them!"

Silver Moon Venerable and the ten Outer Heaven Sages were overjoyed.

But before they could act, a wisp of extremely negative aura—condensed from brutality, pain, resentment, and rage—suddenly rose from beneath the Imperial Court without any warning.

The aura was so terrifying that Silver Moon Venerable merely inhaled a breath of it, and his eyes immediately turned blood‑red as bestial howls burst from his mouth.

A Great Venerate at the stage of the Heavenly Human Five Declines was turned into a beast, with no power to resist!

But it did not end there.

From beneath the Imperial Court came breathing sounds that grew stronger and stronger.

With each breath, the negative emotions between heaven and earth doubled.

By the third breath, the surrounding negative emotion had thickened into tangible black mist!

At the same time, a ferocious aura that made even Sages’ hair stand on end burst forth.

The hands the Phoenix Dynasty Great Sage had been carrying behind her back had somehow already come forward, and her phoenix eyes shrank sharply: "A Three Calamities Realm Fierce Beast!"

"Move!"

Her expression changed abruptly, and she shouted at once.

At a time like this, how could she still care about losing face?

If they didn’t leave now, both she and those she had brought might all be buried here!

The ten Sages’ faces changed drastically, and they all rushed toward the outside of the Imperial Court.

However, when they charged toward the edge of the Imperial Court, an invisible Array actually bounced them back.

With the Fierce Beast’s awakening, the invisible Array was also activated!

"Phoenix Dynasty Great Sage, act quickly!" A Sage whose eyes were beginning to redden shouted anxiously.

The negative aura here had already grown thick enough to affect even them, the Sages.

If they did not escape now, they would end up like Silver Moon Venerable!

Only now did the Phoenix Dynasty Great Sage realize the severity of the situation. She decisively drew the flame‑red long blade at her waist and slashed down on the invisible Array before her.

There was a loud crack.

Fragments of Law Chains and Array light motes burst out like a waterfall, blasting the nearby Sages away.

The Array had actually blocked a strike from the Phoenix Dynasty Great Sage.

"A Saint Realm Array?" The Phoenix Dynasty Great Sage’s pupils shrank; the confidence on her face had long vanished, replaced by a trace of panic spreading through her eyes.

A Saint Realm Array was something she could not possibly break.

Things had already spiraled out of her control!

Even worse, that peerless Fierce Beast underground had already awakened!

Outside.

The Central Earth Army and the ten Outer Heaven Sages watched the Phoenix Dynasty Great Sage trapped inside the Imperial Court and the Sages who were in the process of turning into beasts, and they all sucked in a cold breath!

It was actually just as Jiang Fan had said—the Imperial Court was perilous!

They secretly rejoiced that they had heeded Jiang Fan’s warning; otherwise, Central Earth would have been annihilated on the spot!

The Jiangshan First-class Building Owner glared at the trapped Phoenix Dynasty Great Sage, eyes full of rage: "Without the ability, yet you insisted on commanding the Central Earth Army!"

"Thankfully we had Jiang Fan to scheme on our behalf; if we had really listened to you, Central Earth would have been completely wiped out!"

The Nine Nether Demon Venerable snorted coldly. "Those who bring ruin upon themselves deserve no life!"

Many people wore gloating expressions. They had watched the Phoenix Dynasty Great Sage strut about arrogantly—how did it feel now?

She had led all her own people straight into a fiery pit!

However, the Great Wine Sacrifices all wore extremely solemn expressions and said, "Everyone, prepare to face a bitter battle!"

Since the Imperial Court was a trap, then the Ancient Giants’ withdrawal was clearly a feint.

Now that the trap had been sprung, as Hunters, they would naturally strike back with a return shot.

As though to validate his words—

The sky curtain overhead tore open with a ripping sound, revealing the figures of the Central Emperor, the Asura Emperor, and the Inferior Sages.

They watched the scene within the Imperial Court with cold smiles.

The Central Emperor clasped his hands behind his back and smiled faintly. "The counteroffensive plan Jiang Fan racked his brains to construct has been ruined single‑handedly by this conceited woman."

"Isn’t this exactly what they say: a villain exhausting all his wits can’t match a fool’s sudden inspiration?"

Then he looked toward the Central Earth Army, whose Sages and Divinity Transformation Realm cultivators lagged far behind their own.

A ferocious gleam flickered in his eyes.

"I’m very sorry, but all of you will die here."