Fate-Defying Demon Emperor

Chapter 38: Chapter 38: The Arrogant and the Useless

”Look, it’s the Great Crown Prince!”

When the Great Crown Prince appeared, all eyes were drawn to him, making him the center of attention. He was already the legitimate eldest son, and the acquisition of the Dragon Phoenix Saint Body had earned him the title of a peerless prodigy. The recent Dragon Phoenix Harmony Phenomenon had pushed his prestige to its peak. Even the envoy from the Seven Stars Sect had come especially for him, a testament to the dazzling radiance he exuded. His appearance was like a blazing sun high in the Nine Heavens, automatically reducing everyone else to a mere backdrop.

”Ninth Layer of the Divine Sea Realm! My heavens, the Great Crown Prince is barely past twenty and has already reached such a height! Forget Qingzhou, he’s a top-tier prodigy even in the entire Eastern Region!”

”I’ve only just broken through to the Divine Sea Realm. I’m nothing compared to him. In this Autumn Examination, we can only be his foils, but it’s an honor to be a foil to the Great Crown Prince.”

”The title of Crown Prince can only belong to the Great Crown Prince! I hope he will lead our Tianqing Dynasty to become even greater and stronger in the future!”

Many of the princes and princesses also adored the Great Crown Prince, unable to muster the slightest desire to compete with him. The noble ministers had long ago chosen their side, wholeheartedly supporting him. It could be said that at this moment, the Great Crown Prince commanded the favor of the heavens and the hearts of the people.

Everyone believed the Great Crown Prince would rightfully claim first place in the Autumn Examination, be instated as the Crown Prince, and then go to the Seven Stars Sect to further his cultivation, destined to one day rule the world. His glorious path was already paved; all he had to do was walk it. His name was destined to leave a bold mark on this era.

Everyone thought so, except for Su Han.

At this moment, Su Han’s face was as still as water, his fingers clenched into fists. The hatred in his heart transformed into a roaring, vengeful dragon, driving him to the brink of madness. A hazy vision appeared before his eyes, taking him back to that dim, cold, silent chamber. He had watched helplessly as the Empress cut open his flesh, ripped out his Dragon Soul, and fused it into the Great Crown Prince’s body. That day, when he had turned his tear-filled eyes toward the Great Crown Prince, he saw him smiling. It was a triumphant smile, a mocking smile, a thoroughly satisfied smile. That smile was like a sharp, cold chisel plunging deep into his heart, engraving itself upon his soul, never to be forgotten.

Su Han closed his eyes, plunging his world into darkness. When he opened them again, his vision had returned to normal. He suppressed all of his killing intent and hatred, his face becoming a mask of indifference. But this was merely the calm before the storm. The more he held back now, the more violent the eruption would be.

As Su Han’s and the Great Crown Prince’s gazes met, the eyes of Wang Tianqing and his two companions also fell upon Su Han. The three of them regarded him with differing thoughts and expressions.

You little bastard. Sparing your life was the biggest mistake I have ever made. If I hadn’t, Qin Feng would not have died, and none of this would have happened. You learn from your mistakes. This time, I will not let you slip through my fingers again. The Empress’s phoenix eyes narrowed, a cold glint flashing within them. Her killing intent was bone-chilling. She had already instructed the Great Crown Prince to act during this Autumn Examination and kill Su Han on the spot, eliminating any future trouble. That way, even the Myriad Treasures Pavilion’s favor would not allow them to intervene. Su Han must die!

Unlike the Empress’s venomous heart, Wang Tianqing’s still contained a trace of fatherly affection. The Su Han of the past, though born to a palace maid, possessed the Heavenly Dragon Battle Body. His innate potential was astonishing, and his combat power was unmatched. I held great expectations for him, even planning to gradually hand over command of the Tianqing Army and nurture him into a great general, a protector of the dynasty. But then his Heavenly Dragon Battle Body was crippled. I was furious, but there was nothing I could do to change it. As the Great Crown Prince’s Dragon Phoenix Saint Body began to show its splendor, my anger gradually faded. In the end, I poured all my hopes into the Great Crown Prince. As long as the Great Crown Prince can rise, what does the loss of one Su Han matter? So, while I still feel a sliver of fatherly affection for Su Han, it’s only because he killed Qin Feng and showed signs of rising again. If he had remained a cripple, I probably wouldn’t have given him a second glance. I hope you’re not foolish enough to challenge Tian!

Wang Tianqing’s heart was as hard as stone. If he truly had to choose between Su Han and Su Tian, he would choose Su Tian without hesitation. After all, the future of the Dragon Phoenix Saint Body was far more brilliant. Truly, the Imperial Family is the most heartless of all.At that moment, Yan Liu was sizing up Su Han with great interest. So that’s how the Great Crown Prince got his Dragon Phoenix Saint Body. Junior Sister Qin Lan is truly the Master’s daughter, possessing the same cunning and ruthlessness. Ten years of careful nurturing, all just to steal a soul and its blood. And this young man before me must be the pitiable Soul Nurturer. Bereft of kinship, his Dragon Soul stolen, and left a cripple... what a tragedy. But what does any of that have to do with me? Junior Sister Qin Lan is the Master’s daughter, which makes the Great Crown Prince my martial nephew. Publicly or privately, I stand with the Qin Family. Still, if you don’t pull out the weed by its roots, it will grow again in the spring. I heard he can cultivate again and even killed the Qin Family’s own Qin Feng. It seems I’ll have to find a chance to get rid of him and eliminate any future trouble! All who oppose the Qin Family must die! Though his smile did not waver, the killing intent in Yan Liu’s heart was almost tangible.

The Empress’s murderous intent, Wang Tianqing’s heartlessness, and Yan Liu’s cold gaze all promised a dark future for Su Han. But he was not the least bit afraid. He simply waited for the Autumn Examination to begin.

「Meanwhile, outside the Autumn Examination hunting grounds.」

Tongyan and Elder Kui stood in a corner, their gazes sweeping over the crowd.

”The Great Crown Prince’s Dragon Phoenix Saint Body may be an acquired physique, but it has already fully formed. He’s guaranteed a spot on the Qingyun List!” Tongyan’s gaze fell upon the Great Crown Prince, her eyes narrowing as she perceived his extraordinary nature. The Qingyun List, named for the idea of a meteoric rise, ranked the top one hundred prodigies in Qingzhou under the age of thirty. Anyone who made it onto the list was destined for a limitless future.

Elder Kui’s brow furrowed. He knew his young mistress saw promise in Su Han, and the talent and strength Su Han had displayed were indeed impressive. But the Great Crown Prince was far stronger. The Great Crown Prince is already at the Ninth Layer of the Divine Sea Realm, while Su Han, despite his breakthrough, is only at the Sixth Layer. The gap in their realm, physique, and innate talent is immense. For Su Han to challenge him now is no different from an egg throwing itself at a stone. It’s utterly foolish.

”The die is not yet cast, and anyone can be a dark horse. With victory still undecided, anything is possible!” Tongyan’s eyes gleamed with an inexplicable confidence in Su Han.

Seeing this, Elder Kui said no more and simply decided to wait and see what would happen.

Standing in the center of the grounds, Wang Tianqing delivered a few opening remarks and then wasted no more time. ”This examination will last for one day,” he announced in a loud voice. ”Your scores will be calculated based on the demonic beasts you hunt. The person who ranks first will be instated as the Crown Prince!”

He then declared, ”The Autumn Examination begins now!”