Fate-Defying Demon Emperor

Chapter 50: Chapter 50: The Imperial Capital in Awe

The Autumn Examination had concluded. Because the outcome was so shocking, no first-place winner was declared, and naturally, no one was appointed as Crown Prince. News of the examination instantly swept through the Imperial Capital like a typhoon, shaking the entire city and throwing its people into an uproar.

”The Ninth Prince challenged the Great Crown Prince and actually won? How is that possible!”

”The Great Crown Prince possesses the Dragon Phoenix Saint Body and even broke through to the Heavenly Human Realm! What could the Ninth Prince possibly have used to fight him?”

”What? The Great Crown Prince was publicly slain by the Ninth Prince, leaving only his soul to desperately cling to life?”

One piece of news after another struck the common folk like bolts from the blue, catching them completely off guard. Before the Autumn Examination, the Great Crown Prince’s reputation had reached its peak. Everyone saw him as the future hope of the Tianqing Dynasty, believing he was destined to march triumphantly onward to become a saint, and then an emperor.

Who could have imagined that such a powerful Great Crown Prince would be defeated in a mere Autumn Examination? And it was the kind of defeat where he was publicly executed. Had it not been for a soul jade preserving his soul, the Great Crown Prince would have vanished from this world completely.

The outcome was so inconceivable that no one could accept it at first. As the rumors intensified, the entire Imperial Capital was shaken. However, most people still supported the Great Crown Prince, instead directing their scorn at the victor, Su Han. In their eyes, Su Han must have resorted to some despicable, shameless means to win. The Great Crown Prince was their idol, a god in their hearts.

「Within the Qin Family’s inner residence.」

Qin Xiong received news of the Autumn Examination’s outcome immediately. As his injuries had not yet healed, he had not gone to witness the battle, but the news that reached him struck him like a bolt of lightning, leaving him stunned.

The Great Crown Prince was defeated? How could that be possible! Whether in terms of innate ability, strength, or backing, the Great Crown Prince far surpassed Qin Feng. Half a month ago, in the life-and-death duel between Su Han and Qin Feng, Su Han had only managed a narrow victory. At that time, he was still far inferior to the Great Crown Prince. How could this Su Han have become so formidable in just half a month? Even the Great Crown Prince, who had broken through to the Heavenly Human Realm, died at his hands. Wait!

A flash of insight sparked in his mind as he suddenly remembered something.

In the alley where the Fourth Elder died, a faint trace of Demonic Qi remained. Su Han possesses a Demonic Blade, and this time, he defeated the Great Crown Prince by relying on its power. Su Han... he’s the culprit who has been targeting our Qin Family all along!

Qin Xiong’s eyes glinted sharply as he instantly zeroed in on Su Han.

Previously, when the Qin Family disciples died one after another and even the Fourth Elder met an untimely end, I suspected Su Han. But I later dismissed the idea, thinking he was too weak. It seems I was wrong. Su Han has a Demonic Blade and his cultivation speed is astonishing. It’s not impossible that he was the one who killed the Fourth Elder that day. This Su Han is too terrifying. He must be eliminated as soon as possible! If he isn’t killed, my Qin Family will face the threat of annihilation!

Qin Xiong’s face filled with horror. Su Han’s meteoric rise and decisive, murderous nature filled him with dread, and a murderous intent unlike any he had ever felt before surged in his heart.

「Within the Lu Family residence.」

Lu Yunxian had also heard the news spreading outside. She knew that Su Han had won and had successfully slain the Great Crown Prince. But there was not a trace of joy on her exquisite face; it was instead clouded with deep worry. She had heard that although Su Han had won, he had also sustained extremely severe injuries. Now, he had been taken away by Tongyan, and his condition was unknown.

”I must go to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion!”

Without hesitation, she took a graceful step and headed outside. She had once promised her mother that she would take care of Su Han for the rest of his life.

Outside, the city was in an uproar, but inside the Changchun Palace, the atmosphere was so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

The Empress lay on a soft bed, her face pale and her aura faint. She had been injured in a joint attack by Tongyan and Su Han, nearly slain by a single slash of the blade. Although her life had been saved, her injuries were severe. Even after taking an Elixir and having her wounds treated, she would still need a period of recuperation to fully recover.

”You little wretch, I will personally shred you to pieces and ensure you are damned for eternity!” The Empress’s eyes blazed with intense hatred, her expression twisting with ferocity.

At her bedside stood two figures: Wang Tianqing and Yan Liu.

Wang Tianqing’s expression was grim, his eyes dark and brooding. He still couldn’t accept the Great Crown Prince’s defeat.

Meanwhile, Yan Liu held a soul jade, from which the Great Crown Prince’s soul coalesced. His ethereal face was twisted with savagery and venomous hatred.

”Mother, you must kill him!” The Great Crown Prince was consumed by hatred. His defeat had shattered his ambition to rule the world. To make matters worse, Su Han had taken his corpse upon leaving, causing him to lose his Dragon Phoenix Saint Body forever. The pain of falling from heaven into hell was unbearable, and he thought of nothing but killing Su Han to exact his revenge.

”Tian’er, don’t worry. Leave this matter to your mother,” the Empress said, the hatred in her eyes softening slightly at the sight of her son. ”You just focus on following Senior Brother Yan Liu to the Seven Stars Sect. Your grandfather will help you reconstruct your physical body there.”

There were not enough treasures within the Tianqing Dynasty to help the Great Crown Prince reconstruct his physical body, so the Empress decided to send him to the Seven Stars Sect. Her father was one of the ten Great Elders of the Seven Stars Sect. With his strength and methods, he could surely help the Great Crown Prince be reborn.

Moreover, Yan Liu’s original purpose in coming here was to take the Great Crown Prince away. But now, circumstances had changed. The Great Crown Prince had lost his Dragon Phoenix Saint Body, so even if he were to make a comeback, his future achievements would be severely limited.

”Mother, rest assured. I will successfully be reborn and will not disappoint you or Father!” The Great Crown Prince clenched his fists. His resolve to grow stronger was greater than ever before. He never wanted to experience defeat again.

The Empress nodded, then looked toward Yan Liu. ”Senior Brother Yan Liu, I entrust Tian’er to you!”

Yan Liu’s expression was grave. The situation had developed in a way he had never anticipated. The Great Crown Prince’s defeat meant his own achievements on this trip were completely nullified, which he couldn’t help but regret. But this was his master’s grandson, after all, and with Junior Sister Qin Lan’s plea, he couldn’t possibly refuse.

”Junior Sister, rest assured. I will deliver him safely to our Master. However, that Su Han... he cannot be allowed to live.”

Yan Liu had already learned about Su Han. Two months ago, his cultivation had been crippled. One month ago, he had just awakened. This meant his true rise to power had taken less than a month. Yet he had first killed Lu Mingxuan, then slain Qin Feng, and now, even the Great Crown Prince had been defeated by him. The speed of his rise was terrifying. A person like that must be eliminated quickly to prevent future troubles. This time, if not for the intervention of Tongyan and Elder Kui, he really would have killed Su Han himself.

”You may all go to the Seven Stars Sect without worry. Leave this little wretch to me. I have a way to deal with him, and I will not let him live!” The Empress already had a new plan forming in her mind, her eyes brimming with venomous malice.

You little wretch... If I don’t kill you, I’ll never know a moment’s peace!