Fate-Defying Demon Emperor

Silence!

At this moment, the entire Arena of Sword Discourse was as still as death. Countless pairs of eyes widened, staring at the decapitated sinister youth, their faces frozen in astonishment.

No one had anticipated this. Even after the Eighth Prince and the Thirteenth Princess had stepped forward to speak, the Nineteenth Prince still chose to act, beheading the sinister youth right in front of them. It was simply inconceivable! After all, the sinister youth was no ordinary Martial Artist. His father was the Marquis of Zhenyuan, a fierce general of the Heavenly Sword Dynasty. Although the Nineteenth Prince was of noble birth, killing the marquis’s son was by no means a trivial matter. Furthermore, to do this after the Eighth Prince and Thirteenth Princess had already intervened was not just a matter of disrespect—it was an open tearing of all pretenses. Rumor had it that the Nineteenth Prince was extremely arrogant. Seeing him today, he seemed even more haughty than the legends suggested.

Not far away, the Saint Heir of Juque and the Yun Jun Holy Maiden also cast their gazes over, a trace of surprise in their eyes as they looked at Su Han. Evidently, they hadn’t expected such an outcome either.

At this moment, the Eighth Prince’s expression turned rigid, his feigned gentleness vanishing completely. A hint of anger flickered in his piercing eyes.

”Nineteenth Brother, aren’t you being too outrageous!” the Eighth Prince hissed through clenched teeth, his expression venomous as he glared at Su Han. If not for the sake of the Imperial Family’s dignity, he would have already attacked and taught this insufferably arrogant brother of his a lesson.

”Nineteenth Brother, although Zhao Qing was a good-for-nothing, he was still a subject of our Heavenly Sword Dynasty,” the Thirteenth Princess added in a scolding tone. ”Your actions have not only chilled the heart of the Marquis of Zhenyuan but also the hearts of countless subjects. As a prince, you have erred in this matter.” Now that they occupied the moral high ground, they naturally seized the opportunity to suppress Su Han. Even if they couldn’t cause him any real harm, tarnishing his reputation was still a victory.

”My people shall not be bullied. I will kill anyone who bullies them!” Su Han snorted coldly, his indifferent tone a perfect, even more striking display of the Nineteenth Prince’s famed arrogance.

If it were the real Nineteenth Prince, perhaps he would not have been able to discern the Eighth Prince’s veiled threats, but Su Han perceived them clearly. He had once been the Ninth Prince of the Tianqing Dynasty. Although the Tianqing Dynasty was a pale imitation of the Heavenly Sword Dynasty, the nature of princely rivalry was universal. He knew firsthand how brutal the royal struggles could be, having been plotted against by the Empress and even had his Dragon Soul War Blood stolen from him. Besides, he had come to the Mount Hua Sword Discourse precisely to make a name for himself and gain more resources and power, so he naturally could not back down when facing the Eighth Prince and Thirteenth Princess. If he backed down today, they would surely press their advantage, putting him in an even more passive position.

Moreover, by killing the sinister young man, he would make others wary and unwilling to target Li Mingliang and Li Qingyue any longer. It would also publicly brand the two of them as followers of the Nineteenth Prince, allowing them to appear openly from now on. It was a perfect way to kill two birds with one stone. In the process, however, the Eighth Prince not only lost face, but his prestige also suffered a blow. With all pretenses torn away, a direct confrontation was now inevitable.

”Nineteenth Brother, what a grandiose claim! Not even our father, the Great Emperor, would dare to utter such words!” The rage in the Eighth Prince’s eyes blazed as he stared intently at Su Han. His hand, hidden in his sleeve, clenched into a fist, itching to punch Su Han in the face. However, he dared not act. As a prince, he had to maintain the Imperial Family’s dignity in public. If he were to strike Su Han now, it would certainly tarnish the family’s reputation. When word reached their father, his standing in the emperor’s eyes would inevitably be affected.

Alas, while the Eighth Prince dared not make a move, Su Han did.

”Sun, Moon, and Stars Triple Forms—Piercing Star!” Su Han reached out, grabbed the Seven Stars Holy Sword, and immediately slashed out, executing the Nineteenth Prince’s signature swordsmanship.

SWISH!

A torrent of Sword Radiance surged, coalescing into a vast, dazzling star-phantom. Wielding a piercing blade of light, it shot across the sky directly toward the Eighth Prince.

”How audacious!” The Eighth Prince had never expected Su Han to dare strike him in public. His pupils shrank as he bellowed with rage. But Su Han’s attack was too fast, leaving him no time to react. In his haste, he couldn’t even draw his Holy Artifact and was forced to expand his Domain in an attempt to block the strike.

The Piercing Star Sword Technique was indomitable. The large star-phantom crashed directly into the Eighth Prince’s Domain, causing it to shake violently, on the verge of collapse. At the same time, the star-phantom shattered. A beam of Sword Qi burst forth from within. It moved like an assassin’s world-shaking strike, faster than lightning, aiming straight for the space between the Eighth Prince’s eyebrows.

The Eighth Prince’s expression fell. He rapidly retreated but couldn’t avoid it. As a last resort, he had to use Spatial Force to shift his position, narrowly dodging the fatal blow.

SQUELCH!

The Eighth Prince’s shoulder was pierced through, and blood gushed out unstoppably. His body was sent flying backward, crashing through the crowd before he finally collapsed to the ground.

With a single sword strike, the Eighth Prince was injured.

At this moment, the entire venue went deathly silent, the onlookers utterly aghast. Nobody could have imagined the Nineteenth Prince would suddenly attack and injure the Eighth Prince with one move. Had the two princes started a fratricidal battle before the Mount Hua Sword Discourse had even officially begun?

”Who do you think you are, daring to use our father to pressure me?” Su Han stood with his sword drawn, his expression cold as he looked down on the Eighth Prince, his arrogance practically overflowing.

Today, I will establish my authority and make my name as the Nineteenth Prince ring even louder! If the Eighth Prince wants to be my stepping stone, I certainly won’t let this chance pass.

WHOOSH!

With a single step, Su Han soared into the air and landed on the Arena of Sword Discourse. The Arena had been flattened by a single stroke from the Great Emperor of Cutting Void; only those intending to duel were permitted to set foot upon it. Since the Mount Hua Sword Discourse had not officially started, everyone was merely gathered around its perimeter. However, Su Han had now stepped onto the Arena, indicating his intention to fight.

”You called me arrogant. Fine. Get up here and fight, and let’s see if I have the right to be!” Su Han challenged, pointing his sword at the Eighth Prince, his voice ringing out in all directions.

Since the Mount Hua Sword Discourse hasn’t begun, let me be the one to kick things off!

”What? The Nineteenth Prince is challenging the Eighth Prince?”

”Is this year’s Mount Hua Sword Discourse this thrilling? It’s starting with a blockbuster! No matter which prince wins or loses, this fight will be spectacular.”

”It was originally just a conflict between the remnants of the Myriad Swords Sect and the young marquis, but it’s escalated into a duel between two princes. His Highness the Nineteenth truly is audacious!”

Su Han’s words sent a shockwave through the crowd, and everyone stared at him in utter disbelief. The Eighth Prince’s expression had become so gloomy it could drip water. He, too, had never expected Su Han to challenge him so publicly.

”Since you want a fight, I will grant your wish!” Unable to suppress the rage in his heart any longer, the Eighth Prince resolved to defeat Su Han and teach him a harsh lesson.

WHOOSH!

The Eighth Prince staunched his bleeding, soared into the air, and landed on the Arena of Sword Discourse.

At this moment, Su Han and the Eighth Prince stood opposite each other, a confrontation imminent.