"Leave? Do you think that you have the power to command us, you old thing?!" The man dressed in long black robes laughed in disdain as he glared at Defender Duanmu with his exposed eyes.

Defender Duanmu frowned as he thought to himself. 'Just who are these people? They're not even afraid even after knowing our identities. I can't even tell the strength of that guy leading them, but those people with him are at least at the 5th-rank Spirit realm with some at the 6th-rank King realm. It will be bad if we have a direct confrontation with them. How troublesome!'

Defender Duanmu glanced at the imperial guards behind him and ordered in an irrefutable tone. "Go bring the fifth princess and the fourth prince back to the imperial palace! I'll hold them off here!"

The imperial guards were surprised at the command but after seeing the determined look of Defender Duanmu, they nodded their heads and saluted with grim expressions.

"You can rest assured, Defender Duanmu! Even if we have to sacrifice our lives, we'll do it as long as the fifth princess and the fourth prince can return to the imperial palace unharmed!" The leader of the imperial guards said with a resolute look.

Defender Duanmu nodded his head gravely at his people after hearing those words. He then turned to look at the enemies while releasing the true essence in his body without constraints.

The imperial guards grabbed the fourth prince and the fifth princess from the carriage and left hastily without looking back.

"Ho? Some of you, go after them! Don't let them escape alive!" The man in long black robes commanded his men.

"I won't allow you people to harm them!" Defender Duanmu shouted as he released a violent punch at the opposing group.

He had to buy as much time as possible for the fifth princess and the fourth prince to arrive safely in the imperial palace.

"You don't have the capabilities to stop them, old thing!" The man in black robes said while blocking Defender Duanmu's attack with a sword.

"Booom!"

A violent eruption resounded after Defender Duanmu's punch hit the man's sword. Dust and fierce gales covered the epicenter of the attack.

When the dust particles subsided, the man in black robes can be seen completely unharmed even after taking the full brunt of Defender Duanmu's attack.

"So the defender of the Silver Wing Empire is this weak? How pitiful!" The man said in a mocking voice.

Defender Duanmu was a peak 7th-rank Emperor realm expert, but his attack didn't even leave any visible injuries on his opponent!

The difference in their strengths was clear to see.

"Enough with the nonsense and kill me if you can!" Defender Duanmu gazed at his opponent grimly.

The man in black robes smiled. "If that's the case, then I shall no longer waste my time here. Receive my strike!"

Following those words, the man in black robes brandished his sword, producing fierce gales that threatened to slice anything in its way.

Facing such an attack, Defender Duanmu had a somber look. He then grabbed a spear from his storage pouch and shouted.

"Sky Shattering Spear Strike!"

Defender Duanmu pointed his spear at the opponent's throat and completely ignored the attack aimed his way.

The fierce gales left dozens of cuts on the old man's arms but he gritted his teeth and continued pushing his spear forward with an indomitable will.

"What a crazy old bastard!" The man in black robes cursed as he parried Defender Duanmu's attack with his sword. He then kicked the latter's abdomen, sending the old man flying towards the ground.

"Baangg!" A huge crater was formed following the fall of the old defender.

Defender Duanmu spat a mouthful of blood as he tried to stand up. 'What a strong kick! That person is at least at the 8th-rank Divine realm! How can such a strong expert be here without us knowing? And who can command such an individual?' He thought as he used his spear to hold himself up.

"You're quite a resilient old thing to survive that kick, but for how long can you stand up? Hahaha!" The man in black robes laughed.

"Just who are... you? What's... your purpose in coming... to our Silver Wing Empire?" Defender Duanmu asked after wiping the trail of blood coming out of his mouth.

The man in black robes smirked and replied with contempt. "A dead man has no right to know anything! Just stand still and accept your death!"

After that, the man lifted his sword with two hands and slashed towards Defender Duanmu's direction.

The latter immediately rolled sideways to evade the attack.

"Bang!"

Countless rock debris flew in the air after the slash hit the solid ground.

Defender Duamu held his spear tightly and prepared himself for the next attack of his opponent. 'Is this where I die? What will happen to our Silver Wing Empire after my death? No... No!! I don't want to die just yet! I still want to see our empire overcome all these troubles and come out as a much stronger force to be reckoned with!'

Defender Duanmu grabbed a pill from his storage pouch and gulped it without hesitation. 'This is an 8th-rank Berserk Pill from the Alchemy Hall. It is capable of forcefully enhancing my strength to the 8th-rank Divine realm for a short period of time. As for the consequences of taking it... It doesn't matter! My death is worth it as long as the fourth prince and the fifth princess can escape safely!'

"Ahhhh!!" Defender Duanmu roared savagely. His strength reached the next realm after consuming the pill.

"Shit! To think that this old man had such a trump card! Now, this is a bit troublesome!" The man in black robes muttered in anger.

Defender Duanmu's eyes reddened as he clutched his head with one hand. 'This strength is still too much for my body. I should not waste too much time and end this before the effects of the pill subside.'

He then grabbed his spear and glared hatefully at the man in black robes. With his spear pointed at the man, Defender Duanmu said fiercely. "Whoever you are, I won't allow your plans to succeed! Even if it means this old man's death!"