Fate-Defying Demon Emperor

Chapter 39: Chapter 39: The Battle of Fate

The imperial hunting grounds for the Autumn Hunt were stocked with many monster beasts, raised for this very purpose. At Wang Tianqing’s command, the numerous princes and princesses swiftly charged out.

The position of Crown Prince was a foregone conclusion, destined for the Great Crown Prince. However, the second and third places also came with considerable rewards, so no one wanted to be left behind.

In the blink of an eye, the crowd rushed into the hunting grounds to hunt the monster beasts. Only two individuals remained still.

Su Han raised his head to look at the Great Crown Prince and, ignoring the onlookers’ gazes, spoke in a deep voice.

”A battle to the death. Do you dare to accept?”

After a moment of silence, the entire venue erupted.

”What? Did I hear that right? The Ninth Prince is challenging the Great Crown Prince to a life-and-death duel? Has he gone mad?”

”The Great Crown Prince is so wise and powerful, a veritable Nine Heavens Divine Dragon! What is the Ninth Prince? A mere ant on the ground. This ignorant challenge is simply courting death.”

”The Ninth Prince’s brain must have been kicked by a donkey! The Great Crown Prince could crush him with a single finger. Does he really think he can act so arrogant just because he killed Qin Feng? I can’t wait to see how he gets crushed!”

The nobles and ministers clamored, each one criticizing Su Han for overestimating his own abilities. In their eyes, the Great Crown Prince was a young dragon, unrivaled among his peers. As for Su Han, with his Heavenly Dragon Battle Body destroyed, he was nothing but a cripple. Even if he was lucky enough to cultivate again, how could he possibly compare to the Great Crown Prince? The gap between them was like that of the clouds and the mud.

This challenge was no different from a mantis trying to stop a chariot or a mayfly trying to shake a tree.

Su Han seemed deaf to the crowd’s ridicule and scorn, his eyes fixed solely on the Great Crown Prince. He had no interest in the Autumn Hunt assessment, nor did he care for the title of Crown Prince. All he wanted was to kill the Great Crown Prince in front of everyone and take back everything he had lost.

Even if scorned by thousands! Even if reviled by tens of thousands! Even if it’s like striking a rock with an egg! So what? I will become a demon to avenge myself and settle this grudge.

”You little bastard, what audacious nerve!”

The Empress’s beautiful eyes flashed with killing intent, her heart seething with fury. In her mind, Su Han was already a dead man, but he was supposed to be captured without a fight and await his end from the Great Crown Prince’s Thunderbolt Strike. This would not only eliminate Su Han but also highlight the Great Crown Prince’s might. But Su Han actually dared to provoke him. This audacity caused a fire of rage to swell in the Empress’s heart, making her wish she could kill him on the spot.

Wang Tianqing and Yan Liu were slightly surprised, not having expected Su Han to dare issue a challenge. However, neither intervened, leaving the matter for the Great Crown Prince to handle.

After receiving the Dragon Phoenix Saint Body, the Great Crown Prince had only shown the Phenomenon of Dragon Phoenix Harmony once. He had yet to display his true power in public.

Since Su Han is overestimating himself, let him become the Great Crown Prince’s stepping stone!

”My dear younger brother, I never expected you to be in such a hurry to die. Since that’s the case, I can only oblige you!”

The Great Crown Prince’s voice was indifferent, devoid of any emotion. He strode into the hunting grounds and stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his bearing proud and imposing.

Su Han walked in to face him. The crowd held its breath in anticipation. The assessment was now irrelevant; this life-and-death duel was far more compelling. Of course, everyone believed the Great Crown Prince’s victory was assured and that Su Han would be killed with ease.

”Ninth Brother, do you know why I was never jealous of you sharing Mother’s love?

”It’s because I knew all along that Mother never truly liked you. She was only cultivating the Dragon Soul in your body. From the day you were born with the Heavenly Dragon Battle Body, she had her eyes on you. Killing your mother, adopting you—it was all for my sake.

”Ancient records state that the Heavenly Dragon Battle Body and the Heavenly Phoenix Battle Body can fuse and ascend into the Dragon Phoenix Saint Body. I can absorb you, and you can absorb me. Unfortunately, you were born with an ill fate, destined only to pave the way for me.

”You see? I took your Dragon Soul and achieved the Dragon Phoenix Saint Body. I am the Child of Destiny! In the future, I will reign supreme over the world, peerless throughout the ages. And you are fated to die by my hand.”

The Great Crown Prince grinned, his every word a dagger stabbing into Su Han. He had endured for many years, his heart heavy with resentment. Now that he had power, he would naturally let his arrogance run wild. To shatter Su Han’s illusions, crush his dignity, and then personally slay him—only then could he vent the frustration in his heart.

”The Dragon Soul is mine. You may have it only if I give it to you. If I refuse, you cannot take it!” Su Han laughed, baring his teeth in a cold grin. His killing intent was completely undisguised.

”Just you?” The Great Crown Prince scoffed, looking down on Su Han as if he were an insignificant ant.

”I heard you can cultivate again and that you even killed our cousin, Qin Feng. You must be hiding some secret. But no matter what it is, you are no match for me. After I kill you, that secret will become mine. I will grow even stronger, while you will just be a corpse.”

The Great Crown Prince had grown arrogant, looking down on everyone. He didn’t consider Su Han his opponent in the slightest, even with his resurgence. The Dragon Phoenix Saint Body and the Ninth Layer of the Divine Sea Realm—these two things alone were enough to justify his pride, not to mention his other trump cards.

Su Han is nothing but a pitiful worm!

”Su Tian, you and your mother preyed on my trust, stole my Dragon Soul, and deceived Fairy Sister Yun Xian. For these blood debts, I will make you pay, one by one.

”And now, I will start by collecting the first payment from you!”

Su Han reached out, grasping the Black Blade. Demonic Qi swirled as his aura turned ice-cold. His gaze toward the Great Crown Prince was equally frigid.

”Haha! That’s the most ridiculous joke I’ve ever heard!” The Great Crown Prince threw his head back and laughed, mocking Su Han’s presumption.

”Ninth Brother, you are destined to be nothing but the green leaves that accentuate my brilliance. Since you are so eager to die, I will personally grant your wish! I will let you witness just how powerful the Dragon Phoenix Saint Body truly is!”

BOOM!

An immense pressure erupted like a volcano, shaking the very Void.

”Ninth Brother, watch how I stomp you to death!”

The Great Crown Prince’s eyes gleamed with scorn as he raised his right foot and stomped down viciously toward Su Han. His right foot blazed with crimson light as if enveloped in flames, and the terrifying heat distorted the air around it. His foot was not only as heavy as a mountain but also radiated a sharp gleam, like a Divine Dragon extending its claw, exuding an immense pressure.

RUMBLE!

The Great Crown Prince attacked from above, stomping down with a look of contempt and confidence, as if he were casually crushing an ant. This was the air of invincibility, of being the one and only sovereign between heaven and earth.

Witnessing the staggering power of this stomp, the onlookers were all shocked. Su Han, however, merely narrowed his eyes, his face devoid of fear.

He gripped his Black Blade and slashed upward to meet the attack.

”Today, I will surely kill you!”