My Wife Turns Out to be an Empress of the Dynasty
Chapter 712 - 712: The Hidden Strongman

As the voice fell, the Dark Master stirred his energy, and immediately, his aura spread outwards, enveloping the surroundings in an eerie silence. The two individuals standing beside him immediately ceased their resistance, sensing the powerful aura emanating from him. They began to channel their own energies, and black mist started to surge from all directions.

At that moment, the stone doors before them slowly creaked open. Seeing this, the Dark Master transformed into a blur and rushed forward. However, as soon as he stepped inside, he suddenly froze. His face became more serious, his gaze narrowing. Inside, there were hundreds of statues, each with a profound cultivation level. As he scanned the room, his brows furrowed deeper, and a grave expression spread across his face. He knew that reviving these individuals would require an enormous amount of effort.

After a moment, he retracted his gaze and turned to the two guardians beside him. Though their cultivation levels were lower than his own, their strength surpassed his in certain areas, and he needed their help to carry out his plan. The Dark Master, always focused on the Dark Clan's interests, was uninterested in anything else. Without wasting another word, he bowed deeply to the two.

"I humbly request that the two seniors assist me in this endeavor!"

The two guardians, maintaining their cold expressions, didn't refuse. They simply nodded, and their own auras flared as they prepared to join the fight. The black mist surged around them, and with their combined might, the Dark Master also released his full energy.

Meanwhile, within the Lanyan Royal School, Gu Lan was no longer concerned with minor matters. He knew the various factions and clans were always scheming, each attempting to find a way to strike at him. Though he wasn't worried—his strength was sufficient to handle these threats effortlessly—he was wary of attacks from the shadows. Should the enemies decide to strike covertly, only a handful within the Royal School would be able to resist them.

The Dark Clan had been relatively quiet of late, not making any significant moves. But it was the Blood Clan that worried him. When Xue Lengyi fought him earlier, he had been thoroughly beaten and forced to flee. Given Xue Lengyi's arrogant nature, there was no doubt the young lord would seek revenge, likely resorting to any means necessary to retaliate against the Lanyan Royal School.

Lost in thought, Gu Lan's expression grew darker. Just as he was contemplating the situation, Ding True Man suddenly entered the room, not speaking a word, and immediately bowed deeply in front of him.

"Master, I have arrived."

Gu Lan was somewhat surprised, as he hadn't expected Ding True Man to come, and didn't know what brought him here.

Glancing at him with a hint of confusion, Gu Lan asked, "What brings you here?"

Ding True Man spoke respectfully, "There are intruders from other factions. How would you like to handle them, Master?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Lan's face darkened further. Since the intruders had arrived, they couldn't be allowed to act recklessly. They needed to be dealt with swiftly.

"Since you discovered them, you handle it. Don't let them be too audacious here at Lanyan Royal School."

Ding True Man paused, then a smile crept across his face. His aura surged as golden light enveloped his body, and he dashed toward the exit, his Heaven-Fixing Realm cultivation erupting in full force.

"Master, rest assured, I won't disappoint you!"

Gu Lan could tell Ding True Man's true intentions—he had come seeking a chance to fight. Gu Lan smiled faintly and didn't pay much attention to him. His eyes, however, were already focused on something in the sky above, beyond the horizon.

But before Ding True Man could approach the intruders, a figure suddenly flashed out from the distance. It was Gu Simu, holding the Hammer of Evergreen Pine.

Upon seeing her, Ding True Man was momentarily stunned. He had not expected her to show up. His aura remained unfazed, though a confused expression crossed his face as he asked, "Young Master, what are you doing here?"

Gu Simu gave a casual smile and waved her hand nonchalantly. "Of course, I'm here to deal with these guys. Just leave it to me. You stay back and watch."

Ding True Man's face immediately darkened. He didn't dare to argue, especially when it came to Gu Simu. After all, everyone in Lanyan Royal School knew that Gu Simu was the most beloved of Gu Lan.

"Since you wish to take action, Young Master, I'll stay back and watch."

Ding True Man retreated to the side with great respect, but Gu Simu paid him no attention. Without even a glance in his direction, she turned her gaze toward a man dressed in black who stood before her.

The man, who had been emitting a powerful aura, was met with Gu Simu's cold and disdainful look.

"Someone like you dares to cause trouble at Lanyan Royal School? You're dead today."

With those words, Gu Simu's expression hardened. She swung the Hammer of Evergreen Pine with a force that shook the air.

The impact of the strike resonated across the surroundings, causing the very heavens and earth to tremble. The loud sound of thunder echoed through the skies. The man in black was sent flying backward for thousands of feet.

Looking at the scene, a cold smile appeared on Gu Simu's face. However, within the palace, Gu Lan's expression grew solemn. His brows furrowed deeply as he watched.

When the two had fought earlier, Gu Lan hadn't seen the fluctuation of the enemy's energy. The most concerning part was that the man wasn't forced back by the strike—he had used teleportation. His speed was so fast that only Gu Lan had caught it. Neither Gu Simu nor Ding True Man had noticed it.

In the skies above, Gu Simu smiled coldly, preparing to strike again. But just then, Gu Lan's voice rang out in her ears, sharp and urgent.

"Don't act recklessly!"

Surprised, Gu Simu hesitated for a moment. But before she could react further, the man in black appeared before her with lightning speed, throwing a punch directly at her face.

Gu Simu didn't care at first, but as the punch neared, she suddenly frowned. The speed of the punch was far faster than she expected. What seemed like a single strike was actually a barrage of hundreds of punches coming at her.

She quickly gripped the Hammer of Evergreen Pine in both hands and mobilized her energy to defend.

"Boom!"

A deafening crash echoed, shaking the world around them. Under the continuous assault, Gu Simu was forced to retreat several steps, her face growing darker and more serious with each passing moment.

Just moments ago, she hadn't taken this opponent seriously, but now she realized how formidable he truly was. His strength was terrifying, and his attacks weren't something to be underestimated.

Gu Lan's expression darkened as well. His brows knitted tightly together, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes. He knew that if this continued, Gu Simu would lose her advantage, and it was entirely possible that she could be defeated by this man.

The man in black, still expressionless, allowed his body to be enveloped in a surge of blood energy. Seeing the power radiating from him, Gu Lan's face grew darker still. He had no choice but to take this man seriously now. His methods were too strange and unpredictable.

Just as Gu Simu was about to move forward again, the man took one step and blocked her path.

"Father?"