Ye Chen rushed out in a hurry.
As soon as he exited the flaming cave, he realized that Ye Ling had not followed him.
"Huh? What is she up to?"
Ye Chen frowned, looking a bit displeased.
At that moment, a loud shout suddenly rang out.
"Who’s there?!"
It was the patrolling disciples of Cangyun Dao Sect.
Ye Chen’s expression changed. Without hesitation, he knocked a few people aside and bolted away.
Soon, the entire Cangyun Dao Sect was on high alert.
By the time they realized it, the cave was already empty.
The news of Ye Chen’s escape quickly spread throughout the entire Cangyun Dao Sect.
Qin Canghai was furious and immediately dispatched elders and disciples to search everywhere.
However, despite being supposedly crippled, Ye Chen had vanished without a trace.
...
Inside the palace.
"Your Highness, the escape of Ye Chen is my failure in supervision..."
"Rest assured, I have already dispatched all sect members. We will definitely capture him."
Qin Canghai knelt on the ground, his face pale, his voice trembling with fear.
His heart was filled with worry and dread.
After all, Ye Chen had deep ties with Cangyun Dao Sect.
That day, the prince had spared Ye Chen’s life, which was already a great favor to them.
[A/N: I'll be using "Prince" to refer to Su Ming in some places from now on.]
But now, a crippled man had managed to escape?
If the prince began to suspect them, believing that they had secretly let Ye Chen go...
Then Cangyun Dao Sect would be doomed!
Thinking of the tragic fate of the Xuanyin Dao Sect, destroyed in a single night by the prince’s wrath, Qin Canghai trembled even more.
He knelt there, shaking all over.
The elders of Silver Moon and Guicang Dao Sects also looked tense, afraid of incurring Su Ming’s wrath.
"We of Silver Moon Dao Sect have also dispatched people for a full-scale manhunt. Ye Chen will not escape our grasp."
The Silver Moon elder immediately expressed his stance.
"Our Guicang Dao Sect is also doing the same."
Crash! Everyone knelt down.
A great emperor’s wrath was truly terrifying.
However, Su Ming did not seem to care.
Behind him, Qin Yingluo gently placed her small hand on his shoulder.
She knew well that Ye Chen had been intentionally released by the prince...
But she didn’t dare to speak, fearing she would interfere with his plans.
"Rise."
Su Ming spoke indifferently.
"Ye Chen is just a minor figure. I won’t punish you all over something so trivial. Just be more careful in the future."
His tone was calm, and with just a few words, he defused the crisis.
Hearing this, Qin Canghai and the others let out a sigh of relief, their hearts filled with gratitude.
The prince was truly magnanimous!
This event made them even more determined to follow him loyally.
With Ye Chen’s escape and the matters of Cangyun Dao Sect settled, Su Ming prepared to leave.
That day, golden-armored guards lined up in neat formation, their presence overwhelming.
Su Ming sat on the imperial chariot pulled by the Demon Qilin, enjoying Qin Yingluo’s gentle massage.
Below, countless elders and disciples from Cangyun, Silver Moon, and Guicang Dao Sect gathered to bid him farewell with utmost respect.
As the chariot rose into the sky, a resounding chorus filled the air.
"Farewell, Demon Emperor’s Son!"
As Cangyun Dao Sect faded into the distance, Su Ming’s chariot ascended higher.
"Do you have any regrets?"
Su Ming turned to Qin Yingluo beside him.
Today, Qin Yingluo was dressed in a light blue gown, her figure graceful and makeup delicate.
She was the kind of woman who could stir emotions in people with just a glance, even without doing anything.
"Your Highness, what’s the point of asking this now? You know well that I already belong to you."
Qin Yingluo pouted, looking a bit aggrieved.
Su Ming smiled, pulling her into his arms, her fragrance filling the air.
"It doesn’t matter. Once you cultivate the Ice Profound Dao Body, if you wish to return someday, just tell me."
He spoke casually.
"Hmph, no way."
Qin Yingluo whispered, "Your Highness, getting rid of me won’t be that easy now."
Seeing her acting coy, Su Ming also smiled.
*Boom!*
Above the clouds, the chariot rumbled as it tore through the sky.
The massive chariot, escorted by golden-armored guards, was an awe-inspiring sight.
From afar, multicolored lights surged, and runes flickered.
Even without mentioning anything else, just the grandeur of this procession was enough to make onlookers tremble and avoid them.
As they sped forward, both in the sky and on the ground, those who witnessed the procession were left in shock.
"Who is this? Such an extravagant display!"
"Gasp, two Demon Qilins pulling the chariot. Each one alone must be at least at the Myriad Laws Realm!"
"That’s... the imperial chariot of the Infinite Demon Palace!"
"Infinite Demon Palace? Could it be the Demon Emperor’s Son...?"
*Boom!*
The mention of this name sent shockwaves through the crowd.
The very same Demon Emperor’s Son who destroyed the Xuanyin Dao Sect?
Expressions of disbelief spread across their faces.
The destruction of the Xuanyin Dao Sect had already spread throughout the Three Thousand Great Worlds within a day.
Many had personally visited the ruins and vividly described what they saw upon returning.
It was said that on the day of the sect’s annihilation, the sky cracked open, and a terrifying giant hand descended from the clouds.
With just one strike, the entire Xuanyin Dao Sect was reduced to ruins.
The sheer power of that attack left no room for resistance.
All defenses, all mountains, everything was leveled to the ground.
Utterly horrifying!
Later, they learned that the Xuanyin Dao Sect had dared to offend the Demon Emperor’s Son!
"Infinite Demon Palace is simply too powerful. But honestly, the Xuanyin Dao Sect was really asking for it."
"Exactly!"
"Heh, I have inside information..."
"The Xuanyin Dao Sect wouldn’t have dared to provoke the Infinite Demon Palace under normal circumstances."
"It was all because Xuanyin Old Monster was deceived by a junior..."
"He originally wanted to show off at Cangyun Dao Sect, but he ended up offending the Prince of Infinite Demon Palace instead, leading to his downfall."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah... Xuanyin Old Monster was just unlucky. And do you know which junior deceived him?"
"A guy named Ye Chen, who committed a monstrous crime. Now, the three great Dao Sects: Silver Moon, Guicang, and Cangyun, are all hunting him down."
"Whoever finds him will be rewarded with at least one Earth-grade divine technique!"
"Really?! An Earth-grade divine technique? That’s an insane reward!"
"Then what are we waiting for? Do you have his portrait? I want in on this!"
"Me too!"
...
The crowd buzzed with excitement, turning chaotic.