Volume 1, Chapter 8: Losing Both Daughter and Fortune, Facing an Assassination Attempt

Chen Xuanting was led by a servant to the Chongming Hall, where he met with the Prince of Qi.

The moment Yun Yi laid eyes on Chen Xuanting, a murderous intent surged within him, for the woman he loved had been taken by this man. Chen Xuanting sensed this hostility immediately.

*Daring to harbor murderous intent toward me? How tired of life you must be.*

Chen Xuanting held Yun Yi in no regard, viewing him as nothing more than an ant. Seeing that Chen Xuanting refused to bow or pay his respects to the Prince, Yun Yi seized the opportunity to stir up trouble, barking, "Chen Xuanting, you have immense audacity! How dare you stand before the Prince without kneeling in obeisance?"

"A dog dares to bark at me?"

Chen Xuanting’s murderous intent flared. Before the Prince’s very eyes, he invoked the Heaven-Swallowing Devil Technique to consume Yun Yi, using the act as a display of dominance. He knew the Prince was aware of his identity and strength, but that was not enough; he had to show the Prince his ruthless nature to ensure total intimidation.

Staring at the shriveled corpse that was once Yun Yi, the Prince’s majestic yet cold face twisted with rage. "Chen Xuanting, to kill a man in my presence—you show me no respect at all." He had thought that by betrothing Pingyang to Chen Xuanting, he could recruit him, but he now realized that Chen Xuanting was a ferocious wolf who would never submit to anyone. He had lost both his daughter and his leverage.

Chen Xuanting ignored the Prince’s anger entirely. "Prince of Qi, I am not your subordinate. Put away your lofty, condescending posture. I know you are an ambitious man, and I can help you ascend to the throne."

With his hidden thoughts laid bare, the Prince suppressed his fury and, setting aside pretenses, came straight to the point. "And what do you want in return?"

"I want you to help me annihilate the Chen family," Chen Xuanting replied.

The Prince knew Chen Xuanting had broken away from his clan, but he had not expected him to seek their total destruction. He had underestimated the man's cruelty. "Help me take the throne first. Once I am Emperor, eradicating the Chen family will be as easy as turning over one's hand."

Seeing that the Prince would not commit without immediate gain, Chen Xuanting sneered inwardly. He was an ancient monster who had lived for thousands of years; how could the Prince’s petty schemes deceive him? He would not be swayed by empty promises.

"Since the Prince lacks sincerity, then let us drop this," Chen Xuanting said, turning to leave.

A murderous intent rose in the Prince. This youth was too arrogant; if he could not be used, he must be eliminated. "The Prince’s mansion is not a place you can enter and leave as you please. Guards!"

As soon as Chen Xuanting exited the Chongming Hall, he was surrounded by a host of experts. The Prince spoke coldly, "I know you were the one who killed the Prince of Northern Suppression. Though I do not know what methods you employed, it is pure delusion to think you can walk out of here. Be wise and swear allegiance to me, or die."

Chen Xuanting did not spare these men a glance. He had already slaughtered the Black Armored Army under the Prince of Northern Suppression; these men were nothing.

"Heaven-Swallowing Devil Technique!"

A terrifying suction force engulfed them, draining the internal energy and *qi* from their bodies.

"Your Highness, save me!" the men cried in terror, pleading with the Prince.

Seeing this, the Prince realized Chen Xuanting practiced evil arts. He immediately threw a punch, a strike of immense, tyrannical power. Chen Xuanting recoiled and dodged the force, reaching out with his bare hand to snatch a sword from one of the dying guards.

"Chen Xuanting, let me see exactly what you are worth!" The Prince roared, "True Form of the Tyrant!"

A giant shadow, several fathoms tall, manifested. A terrifying, oppressive aura bore down on Chen Xuanting, suppressing the *qi* within his body.

*A mere parlor trick.*

Chen Xuanting’s internal Devil Embryo released an even more formidable demonic pressure, shattering the Tyrant’s aura. He focused the killing intent of his entire being into his blade and unleashed a strike that seemed to sever the world.

A chilling, lethal aura enveloped the Prince. He felt a sudden jolt of danger and began to regret provoking Chen Xuanting; surely, a youth capable of killing the Prince of Northern Suppression possessed a profound and powerful cultivation. But the arrow was on the string; it had to be fired.

The Tyrant’s shadow slammed a fist into the ground, sending shockwaves of terrifying force in all directions. The stone floor shattered, sending debris flying like shrapnel. Chen Xuanting swung his blade, the terrifying sword energy clashing with the fist pressure. The energy was sliced apart, and the sword aura struck the Tyrant’s shadow, shattering it. The Prince was sent flying by the impact, vomiting a mouthful of blood, his face deathly pale.

"Kill him! Kill him now!" the Prince roared. He knew that strike must have drained Chen Xuanting, making this the best time to finish him.

Chen Xuanting cast a cold, sharp gaze upon the guards, and they were so intimidated they dared not move. He walked toward the Prince, sword in hand. The Prince’s heart jumped to his throat; no man is truly without fear of death.

"If you kill me, there will be no place for you to hide in the entire Great Xia," the Prince stammered.

"You still have value. I will not kill you just yet."

Chen Xuanting cast a Soul-Seizing Art upon the Prince. Severely wounded and unable to resist, the Prince was brought under his control. With a mere thought from Chen Xuanting, the Prince let out a shriek, clutching his head in agony.

"That is a small lesson. Be obedient from now on, or I will make you wish for death. Issue the order to invade the State of Chu tomorrow."

"Understood," the Prince replied, his voice weak. He regretted bringing a wolf into his home; he had intended to use Chen Xuanting to seize the throne, only to end up a puppet himself.

The witnesses were stunned by Chen Xuanting’s power; the Prince had actually been subdued. Chen Xuanting returned to the Luanfeng Hall to continue his dual cultivation with Pingyang.

Night fell, and dark clouds obscured the moon.

A shadow slipped into the Prince’s mansion. The heavily guarded estate was like an empty space to this intruder. As the shadow approached the Luanfeng Hall, Chen Xuanting sensed him and ceased his activities.

"My Lord, I want more," Pingyang whispered, her seductive nature insatiable, a desire few men could satisfy.

"Shut up. We have a visitor."

*Bang!*

The hall doors shattered into pieces. A black-clad figure lunged at Chen Xuanting with blinding speed. Chen Xuanting snatched the sword from the headboard and blocked the strike.

"Illusion Sword Technique!"

The assassin unleashed a flurry of strikes, creating countless sword shadows. Only one was real, making it nearly impossible to defend against. Using his Sword Pupil, Chen Xuanting identified the true blade. He dodged the strike and countered, causing the assassin’s expression to change drastically. *How could someone see through his technique?* The assassin dodged, but was still clipped by the sword energy.

Seeing the assassination had failed, the assassin immediately turned to flee. The commotion had already alerted the mansion’s masters. The assassin was a Spirit-Connection Realm expert, and even wounded, he was not someone these guards could handle. With a sweep of his blade, he sent the masters flying, leaving a trail of death and injury.

Suddenly, a suction force gripped the assassin, draining his energy and vitality. He exerted all his remaining strength to break free. A tyrannical fist print smashed toward him, and though he tried to block with his sword, the impact sent him flying, coughing up blood.

The one who had struck was the Prince of Qi. Chen Xuanting followed up, swallowing the assassin and feeling his own internal power surge.

"Do you know who this is?"

"If I am not mistaken, he is An Ye, the commander of the secret guards under the Emperor of Chu."

"Sent by the Emperor of Chu, then." A cold light flickered in Chen Xuanting’s eyes. He realized that because he had killed the Prince of Northern Suppression, the Emperor of Chu had sent assassins after him. He had originally intended only to deal with the Chen family, not destroy the State of Chu. But since the Emperor wished to provoke him, he would simply wipe that nation out.