"Void Refining... he is a Void Refining expert!"
The sword flashed with a cold light, and the Sword Qi was bone-chilling.
Of the hundreds of Crown Prince's guards, not a single one dared to advance.
The Divinity Transformation cultivator whose chest had been pierced was not yet dead; body and soul trembling, the moment he opened his mouth, he spat out the words "Void Refining."
Spiritual power whipped up a wind.
The cultivator standing atop the sword hilt at the Merchant Li family estate was but one man, yet he outweighed an army of thousands.
This forced the unlucky Divinity Transformation cultivator who had met with disaster to forgo healing his injuries.
Ignoring the Crown Prince's orders, with a pale face and gritted teeth, he cupped his fists toward the other party.
"Thank you, Your Excellency, for sparing my life. Your words will surely be conveyed to His Highness, the Crown Prince."
"Let's go!"
In an instant, the people scattered like birds, yet the area outside the Merchant Li family estate remained far from peaceful.
A sword came, startling the Crown Prince's retinue like frightened sparrows.
Every expert in the Imperial Capital sent their Divine Souls to probe, wanting to see just who this sacred figure was.
The man on the sword hilt merely knitted his sword-like brows. Paying them no mind, he leaped down from the hilt.
"Child Yuanshang, pays respects to the Ancestor¹!"
Upon seeing the newcomer, the dumbstruck Li Yuanshang hurriedly knelt to kowtow.
However, his body was so fat that his head couldn't reach the ground no matter how hard he tried, leaving him kowtowing only to the air.
Su Chen stared blankly at Li Yaozu. It wasn't until Li Yuanshang tugged at him that he dazedly knelt and kowtowed, "Greetings, Great Ancestor!"
Only after kowtowing did he realize what he had done.
Thinking back on his life, this was only the second time he had ever kowtowed to anyone: once to his adoptive father, Li Xinghuo, and now to this Great Ancestor Li Yaozu, whom he was meeting for the first time.
Void Refining!
The family actually possessed a Void Refining expert, and he had been kept completely in the dark.
What he found even more inconceivable was that the family had been established for less than seven hundred years, yet it had already produced a Void Refining expert.
Back in the day, even a genius like him hadn't reached the Void Refining realm with such miraculous speed.
And... he wasn't just an ordinary Void Refining expert.
The ancient soul within Su Chen could sense it: Li Yaozu, standing before him and looking down at him, could even pose a threat to his past self—a threat of irrevocable doom.
How was this possible? How could this be?!!
"Rise." Li Yaozu waved his hand slightly at Li Yuanshang and Su Chen.
He gave Su Chen a lingering glance, then silently turned around to gaze in the direction of the Heavenly Palace.
Li Yuanshang rose to his feet but kept his body bowed low.
The four First Ancestors had always been legendary figures he only heard about from the older generation.
The Old Ancestor had said they would crush the Zhao Clan.
After learning of the Zhao Clan's immense power, he hadn't dared to believe it. But now that he had seen the First Ancestor, he was convinced!
"Thank you, First Ancestor, for saving my life. This child has failed. I never expected the Crown Prince to be so madly infatuated; even after I revealed Lin Wan'er's true face, he still..."
Li Yuanshang's face was filled with apology as he spoke.
Crown Prince Sheng's behavior had completely deviated from the family's original plan.
"Let it be. It merely adds a few more complications." Li Yaozu shook his head.
"Yuanshang, mobilize your forces in the Imperial Capital. The Zhao clansmen in the imperial court and the bustling markets leave none alive.
Send word to the Hall of Heavenly Principle: this single move shall set the whole body in motion. Show no mercy; be decisive."
"Yes, First Ancestor!" A sharp light shone in Li Yuanshang's eyes.
There were currently over a dozen Zhao clansmen in the imperial court, but his Merchant Li family was not to be trifled with either.
"This child will immediately request the Min family and General Wang Jinhu of the Heavenly Light Sect to take action."
"Su Chen."
Hearing Li Yaozu call his name, Su Chen's body jolted. "This child is here!"
"There are few geniuses in this world who can match you. The Zhao Clan has three Divinity Transformation experts here in the Imperial Capital.
You need not worry about anything else—kill them. This Hidden Edge's Sword shall protect you."
A small flying sword landed in Su Chen's hand.
The tone of an elder reprimanding a junior didn't make Su Chen feel the slightest bit out of place.
He straightened his back and held his head high. "Yes, Great Ancestor!"
"First Ancestor, where... where are you going?"
Seeing Li Yaozu silently pull the longsword from the ground and walk step by step toward the Heavenly Palace, Li Yuanshang's expression changed.
"To kill someone."
The Great Ancestor's figure drifted further and further away, his left hand behind his back, his right holding the sword.
Su Chen's eyes grew wider and wider as he gazed at the Heavenly Palace.
He had never seen such an arrogant person in his life.
The Great Ancestor was going to that Heavenly Palace... to kill someone!
...
Walking in open view, heading toward the palace gates.
Amidst the vast mansions of the Imperial Dynasty, with their green tiles and jade bricks, the wind snapped his white robes and brushed against his sword.
In this heavily guarded Imperial Capital, not a single person came to stop Li Yaozu.
After walking for who knows how long, he reached the end of the capital city.
The long street was empty, but in reality, mighty experts were hidden in all directions.
How could Li Yaozu, walking alone, escape the eyes of the many powerful figures in the Imperial Capital?
"Reporting to Your Highness, that... that Li Yaozu has come. His meaning is for you to hand over... hand over..."
At the edge of the Heavenly Palace, Crown Prince Sheng's golden carriage had already descended, and his trusted aide came forward to report.
In the Crown Prince's arms, Lin Wan'er's eyes were vacant, her face pale as paper, seemingly struck dumb and unable to utter a single word.
Once warm and soft as jade, she now felt icy cold to the touch.
As if trying to discard the fleeting hesitation in his eyes, Crown Prince Sheng glared viciously at his trusted guard, spitting as he roared,
"Where are the men? I told you to kill him! In this vast Imperial Capital, is there no one who can stop a single member of the Li family?!!"
Looking up at the Heavenly Palace, the guards who usually patrolled were nowhere to be seen.
The few figures beside his eight-horse celestial carriage seemed so lonely atop this magnificent palace.
The guard hurriedly knelt on the ground, his expression terrified.
"Your Highness, this humble servant has already sent messages to request the City Guard and invited the various lords, but... after the messages were sent, there has been no response. They've rebelled! They have all rebelled!"
"What?!!" Crown Prince Sheng felt his mind go blank.
He staggered a few steps, then the blood rushed to his face.
He threw his head back and roared at the sky, "Min Youguo! And all you old scoundrels of the court! How dare you deceive me?!!"
"Father Emperor! Father Emperor!!!"
Crown Prince Sheng's voice echoed through the Heavenly Palace, but no one answered.
"Sigh." Faintly, he seemed to hear a long, drawn-out sigh.
It was the Human Emperor's sigh—filled with disappointment and helplessness—but eventually, silence returned.
Crown Prince Sheng did not get the Human Emperor; instead, he got Min Youguo's subordinate, the Emberwing Guard.
It was "Ah Hei," who had followed by Min Youguo's side for years.
He revealed a trace of a mocking smile toward Lin Wan'er in Crown Prince Sheng's arms, then knelt on one knee before the Crown Prince.
"Commander of the Emberwing Guard, Ah Hei, reports to Your Highness:
The Demon Clan has suddenly appeared in the Imperial Capital. All the experts of the capital have gone to suppress them, risking their lives to serve Your Highness!"
"The Lord Imperial Preceptor requests that Your Highness issue an order, allowing his old self to serve as a pawn and slay enemies on Your Highness's behalf!"
Upon hearing these words, Crown Prince Sheng's eyes turned bloodshot, his anger solidifying into killing intent.
Where could any Demon Clan have come from? It was nothing more than an excuse for that Min Youguo to secretly withdraw the experts!