A calm yet mocking voice suddenly echoed from behind Zhao Gao.
"Before you? How about this?"
Everyone turned in shock.
Gai Nie and the others stared wide-eyed — Goku now stood silently behind Zhao Gao, his movement so fast that none of them had even noticed.
"Lord Goku's speed is still beyond comprehension…" murmured Mo Ya, folding his arms with visible admiration.
"For over ten years, Baifeng and I have trained relentlessly, striving to match even a fraction of his speed. But compared to him, our efforts seem laughable."
Even Zhao Gao's pupils constricted. His body flickered backward in alarm, and the twin assassins, Zhuan Po and Mie Hun, immediately appeared at his side.
Zhao Gao's heart grew cold. He had always prided himself on his ghost-like movement — silent, traceless, and unseen — yet in front of Goku, his technique seemed like that of a child.
He hadn't even realized when Goku had appeared behind him. If Goku had truly wished to kill him, Zhao Gao would already be dead.
"To be honest," Goku said with a faint, disinterested smile, "I can't even muster the motivation to fight trash like you."
He vanished in an instant — and reappeared before Zhao Gao. With an almost casual motion, he raised his right hand and flicked Zhao Gao lightly on the forehead.
"Wh-What…? I can't move… What's happening?!"
Zhao Gao's eyes widened in disbelief. His body was completely paralyzed — his limbs frozen, his energy locked.
Fear surged from the depths of his soul. For the first time, the calm and confident Prime Minister of Qin was stripped bare of his composure.
Snap!
A crisp sound echoed through the hall.
Under everyone's astonished gaze, Zhao Gao's body was flung backward as though struck by a mountain.
Boom!
He crashed into a stone wall, shattering it and spitting blood as he fell to the ground in a heap.
The entire hall went silent.
Every member of the Mo Family gasped sharply.
The twin assassins, Zhuan Po and Mie Hun, reacted instantly, abandoning Wei Zhuang and lunging toward Goku like phantoms.
Yet Goku didn't even move.
He simply stood there — arms crossed, eyes indifferent — and glanced at them.
Just one look.
And both assassins froze in mid-air. Their killing intent vanished as terror flooded their souls.
"Wh-What a terrifying man…"
Their bodies trembled uncontrollably. Their minds screamed to move — but their limbs no longer obeyed. Goku's gaze alone had crushed their will.
Even Meng Tian, who had been fighting Shao Yu, paled. He pushed Shao Yu back and rushed to shield Zhao Gao, while Qin soldiers surrounded them in tight formation.
Shao Yu let out an angry snort but withdrew, unwillingly returning to the Mo Family's side.
Meanwhile, Da Tiechui and the others could only stare, dumbfounded.
They knew all too well who Zhao Gao was — the head of Luo Wang, one of the most dangerous men in the Empire. Even among the Mo Family, only Xiao Gao or their leader could match him. Yet Goku had defeated him with a single flick of his finger.
"Incredible…" murmured Xiao Gao with awe. "I once thought the rumors were exaggerated — but they're true. To think such a man exists in this world…"
Even Yue Shen, ever calm and composed, was visibly shaken.
"So powerful… even Lord Dong Huang might not be his equal," she whispered.
"No way!" Tianming exclaimed. "That sneaky guy looked so strong, and brother Goku just flicked him away like a bug! He's so weak!"
"Idiot," Shaoyu retorted, glaring at him. "That man is Zhao Gao, the leader of Luo Wang — a top-tier expert on the same level as Gai Nie."
"Seriously? That strong?" Tianming blinked in disbelief.
"You think the title 'Number One Under Heaven' is just for show?" Shaoyu snorted, looking at Goku with reverence.
Zhao Gao staggered to his feet, clutching his chest, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
His arrogance was gone — replaced by fear.
"So this… is the power of the one called Number One Under Heaven… Goku, you truly deserve the title," Zhao Gao said hoarsely. "In this world, perhaps no one can defeat you. But this isn't a duel between men — it's a war. And in war, even the strongest will fall."
As he finished, two Luo Wang assassins emerged from the crowd, dragging a black-robed man forward.
"The Juzi!"
Cries of shock erupted among the Mo Family disciples.
"Damn you! What have you done to our Juzi?!" roared Da Tiechui, veins bulging with rage.
Xue nu glanced toward the unconscious man in black, her expression tightening.
"Goku… that man is…"
She trailed off and turned toward Yue'er in shock.
Goku merely waved his hand, signaling her to stay silent.
The captured Juzi — the Mo Family's leader — remained unconscious. Zhao Gao was far too cautious to let him awaken; it was the only way to ensure absolute safety.
Zhao Gao's smirk returned, sly and confident as ever.
"How about we make a deal?" he said, voice dripping with arrogance.
"A deal?" Xiao Gao's tone was cold, his hand resting on the hilt of his Shui Han Sword, which shimmered with icy light. The aura alone made Tianming shiver.
"His Majesty has issued a death order," Zhao Gao explained calmly, examining his razor-sharp fingernails. "We are to destroy the Mo Family's Mechanical City at any cost. But judging from the current situation… that seems unlikely — unless, of course, you no longer care for your Juzi's life."
"You mean to have us abandon the Mechanical City so that you can take it without a single loss?"
Ban Dashi glared, his voice thundering.
"Exactly." Zhao Gao's tone remained faintly amused. "This way, we can report victory to His Majesty, and you can have your Juzi back alive. A fair trade, isn't it?"
The hall fell silent.
The Mechanical City represented centuries of the Mo Family's labor and ingenuity. Abandoning it would mean erasing their legacy — yet risking their leader's life was unthinkable.
"Sir Goku," Ban Dashi finally turned toward him. "What do you think we should do?"
"Yes!" Da Tiechui added urgently. "Whatever you decide, we'll follow!"
Even Xiao Gao and Duanmu Rong turned toward Goku unconsciously.
Without realizing it, everyone had begun to regard him as their pillar — the true center of the Mo Family's strength.
Goku's voice was calm and steady.
"The Mechanical City's location is already known to Ying Zheng. Even if we defend it today, he'll send more troops tomorrow. This place is no longer safe. We should withdraw while we can — and save your Juzi at the same time."
Ban Dashi's eyes dimmed with pain, but he nodded slowly.
"You're right. Though it pains me deeply… the City must be abandoned."
After a moment of silence, the others followed his lead, one by one nodding in reluctant agreement.
"Very well," Ban Dashi said sternly, turning back to Zhao Gao. "We accept your terms. Now release our Juzi."
"Naturally," Zhao Gao said smoothly, "once you retreat back into the City — then we'll hand him over."
It was clear he didn't intend to release the hostage yet. With Goku and the other masters present, handing over the Juzi now would be suicide.
Goku's tone turned icy.
"You seem to misunderstand. You don't have a choice."
Zhao Gao's eyes twitched. He could feel the killing intent behind those words — yet pride kept him rooted.
"You think having a hostage keeps you safe?" Goku sneered. "Foolish."
With a wave of his hand, a sudden gust of force exploded outward.
Bang!
The two assassins holding the Juzi were blasted through the air, slamming into the rock wall and falling unconscious.
In the same instant, Xiao Gao's figure blurred — a flash of motion — and the Juzi was safely back within the Mo Family's ranks.
"Juzi!" Ban Dashi and the others rushed forward in relief.
"Miss Rong, how is he?" someone asked anxiously.
Duanmu Rong knelt beside the unconscious leader, her hands glowing faintly with inner energy as she began her examination.
....
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