The moment he was enveloped by the Qi Shield, Zhao Letian's sense of crisis instantly dissipated like smoke, allowing him to sink back into deep enlightenment, with his martial cultivation and Martial Arts Realm rapidly advancing.
"Damn it, just a bit more!"
At the same time, Xu Ye's expression darkened, his eyes revealing an intense unwillingness.
Had the Floating Cloud Monarch not intervened, his roar of fury would definitely have crippled Zhao Letian on the spot.
"How dare you act in my presence, speak, how do you wish to die!"
The Floating Cloud Monarch coldly looked towards Xu Qian and said indifferently, emanating a terrifying aura as vast as the heavens, directly suppressing Xu Qian so he couldn't even move a muscle.
At the same time, this fearsome aura enveloped the entire plaza, ready to annihilate anyone who dared to make a rash move in an instant.
On regular days, the Floating Cloud Monarch always wore a transcendent smile of ease, like a kindly old man.
However, in reality, Martial Artists who reached his level were all incredibly decisive and ruthless, never showing mercy when it was time to strike.
The talents from all major kingdoms were under the Floating Cloud Monarch's protection. Xu Qian daring to make a move against Zhao Letian in front of him was akin to seeking his own death.
At the same time, the crowd on the scene all looked towards Xu Qian, thinking he indeed had been too audacious.
Even though he was an extremely powerful King-level Expert, before a Monarch Level Expert, he was no different from lower-rank Martial Artists, at most just a slightly larger ant.
Angering the Floating Cloud Monarch, even for a King-level Expert, there was only a deathly path.
"Senior, please forgive me, this youngster has killed my son, and we have an irreconcilable enmity. Just now, hatred clouded my mind and I lost control for a moment, crying out without the intent to target him. I realize my mistake now, and I plead for your mercy."
Unexpectedly, Xu Qian knelt down in front of the Floating Cloud Monarch, begging for mercy in front of everyone present.
Although under normal circumstances, it's not improper for a King-level Expert to kneel before a Monarch Level Expert, given the huge difference in strength.
However, for the spectators, King-level Experts are esteemed figures, out of reach and supposed to be revered and worshipped.
But now, Xu Qian, a King-level Expert seen by many as immensely powerful, knelt down like a weakling without any power or resistance, completely disregarding the dignity and status of a King-level Expert.
This scene was too different from what the audience had imagined, making it difficult for them to accept, leaving them extremely surprised and perplexed.
"He killed your son? Fine, considering your hard-earned King-level cultivation, I shall spare your life. But while the death penalty is exemptible, living punishments are not. If you're not disciplined, I'm afraid no one will regard me seriously anymore. Amputate one of your own arms then leave the Imperial City, and it's best you never appear before me again, or even if the Skyfire Country Lord comes, he won't be able to save you!"
The Floating Cloud Monarch frowned slightly, speaking indifferently.
Of course, he knew Xu Qian's words were merely an excuse.
However, since the man had already shown weakness and admitted his mistake, albeit with a barely acceptable reason, the Monarch would appear unkind if he didn't show some leniency.
Naturally, the necessary punishment could not be omitted.
"Amputate one of your own arms?"
The crowd was taken aback.
As everyone knows, although the bodies of King-level Experts are extremely strong and difficult to damage, repairing such damage requires a significant toll and it's not something a couple of ordinary elixirs can heal easily.
This means that amputating an arm is, for a King-level Expert, a very severe punishment.
Xu Qian's eyebrows furrowed slightly, but he did not dare express any objection and quickly bowed in gratitude.
He was very aware that angering a Monarch Level Expert would inevitably come with a heavy price, thus he had mentally prepared himself for it before taking action.
Nevertheless, even so, when he heard the demand put forth by the Floating Cloud Monarch, he still felt extremely unwilling.
After all, losing an arm meant a huge setback in his strength, and that severed arm would be very difficult to reattach.
Of course, no matter how reluctant he was, he had no choice but to do as the Floating Cloud Monarch commanded.
The next moment, Xu Qian drew a long knife burning with crimson flames, clenched his teeth tightly, and without any hesitation, chopped off his own arm.
Immediately, blood spurted from the amputated limb, Xu Qian's face twisted in extreme pain, and large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.
"Senior, may I leave now?"
Gripping his severed limb, Xu Qian threw a resentful glance at Zhao Letian, who was still sitting and cultivating, and asked the Floating Cloud Monarch.
The Floating Cloud Monarch said coldly, while casually waving his hand, unleashing a terrifying True Yuan force, instantly pulverizing Xu Qian's amputated arm into fine powder.
Witnessing this scene, everyone present couldn't help but gasp in horror, commenting internally about the Floating Cloud Monarch's ruthlessness.
With this, Xu Qian could no longer hope to reattach his limb after returning.
Once the severed arm was destroyed, his chances of recovery dwindled even more.
Only after destroying Xu Qian's severed limb did the Floating Cloud Monarch speak indifferently.
He intended to teach Xu Qian a profound lesson and also to make it clear to everyone present that the Floating Cloud Monarch was not someone to be trifled with, and that provoking his wrath would bear severe consequences.
"Tha...thank you, Senior!"
Xu Qian saw the limb vanish into smoke and ashes in his hands, giving him a shudder, freezing in place as anger caused his body to tremble uncontrollably. However, no matter how furious he felt inside, he dared not show it, and could only swallow his anger, bowing in thanks to the Floating Cloud Monarch before transforming into a desolate streak of light, leaving in utter disarray.
Before leaving, he cast another deep look at Zhao Letian, the venom in his eyes growing even more intense.
This grievance over his severed arm, he dared not seek retribution from the Floating Cloud Monarch, so he could only blame Zhao Letian.
If it were not for Zhao Letian, his son Xu Ye would not have died, nor would he have been forced by the Floating Cloud Monarch to self-mutilate under all those watchful eyes.
All these tragic experiences, were thanks to Zhao Letian.
He would not be a man if he did not avenge this vendetta.
Simultaneously, Zhao Letian, who was sitting in meditation, suddenly opened his eyes, with bursts of sharp light emitting from them, radiating a strong True Yuan presence from his body, his cultivation, unexpectedly breaking through to the Ninth Layer of True Martial Realm.