Lin Xiao stepped out of the Back Mountain, leaving the Azure Light Sect behind.
He sprinted over a hundred miles toward the direction of the Royal Capital of Kingdom Chu, then stopped at a crucial path.
Hidden within the nearby woods, he waited quietly.
After waiting for most of the day, as evening approached, a convoy slowly appeared in the distance.
This convoy consisted of over twenty carriages, guarded by more than two hundred soldiers clad in black armor.
A ten-meter-high Golden Dragon Banner fluttered in the wind.
Lin Xiao's gaze fell upon a luxurious carriage in the center of the convoy.
This carriage was exceptionally large, entirely golden as if crafted from pure gold, drawn by four imposing Scarletblood Dragon Horses, exuding a majestic aura.
"They're here!"
Lin Xiao's eyes narrowed, but he didn't rush to act, instead choosing to follow silently.
After all, he wasn't sure if there were any top-tier experts within the convoy; it would be embarrassing if he ended up failing.
He trailed them for thirty miles as darkness fell, and the convoy halted, setting up a temporary camp in an open area.
Once night fully descended, Lin Xiao donned a mask and used Phantom Step, slipping into the camp like a ghost under the cover of darkness.
...
In the central tent of the camp.
The Ninth Prince sat at the head seat, with Chief Steward Xue Rong on his left and a Black-Armored General on his right.
"Your Highness, do you think Zhang Yunyi will agree to the marriage proposal when we reach the Azure Light Sect?" the Black-Armored General asked.
"He should. Zhang Yunyi appears tough on the surface, but he's actually easy to compromise. We've been suppressing the Azure Light Sect's influence for years, and they've always retreated. I doubt this time will be any different!" the Ninth Prince replied in a deep voice.
"If Zhang Yunyi agrees, will you really marry his daughter, Your Highness?" the Black-Armored General inquired.
"Of course, I will!" The Ninth Prince nodded, chuckling lightly. "His daughter is indeed quite beautiful, a worthy plaything."
"And Zhang Yunyi's second disciple, Ye Qiudie, is also top-notch. A slender waist and full hips, both are toys for me to enjoy!"
The Ninth Prince finished, a lewd smile playing at the corner of his mouth.
He had hundreds of concubines; what did it matter to marry a few more?
The Black-Armored General nodded in agreement.
"Your Highness, although Zhang Yunyi is easy to compromise, this involves his daughter. I've heard he dotes on her greatly, so he might not be so easy to sway this time!" Senior Eunuch Xue Rong shook his head.
"All the better!" The Ninth Prince sneered, "If he refuses, it gives us a reason to destroy the Azure Light Sect. Our Kingdom Chu's most elite Blazing Flame Army, one hundred thousand strong, hasn't shown its fangs in a long time. The warriors of Kingdom Chu have forgotten the might of the Blazing Flame Army."
"Ninth Prince, you are wise!"
"Your Highness is wise!"
Xue Rong and the Black-Armored General flattered him.
"In any case, whether Zhang Yunyi agrees or not, the Azure Light Sect must be destroyed. After that, it's the Star Sword Sect, White Cloud Sect, and True Yang Sect. Within Kingdom Chu, no powerful sects are allowed to disobey orders!"
"Once the Azure Light Sect is destroyed, all male disciples will be killed, and the female disciples will be given to the army officers for their amusement!"
Outside the tent, not far away, Lin Xiao heard every word of the conversation inside.
A surge of anger rose in his heart, and a killing intent slowly emerged.
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Originally, he hadn't planned to kill anyone this time, only to teach the Ninth Prince a lesson.
Once the Ninth Prince was injured, he naturally wouldn't continue to the Azure Light Sect to propose but would rush back to the Imperial Capital.
However, after hearing the conversation inside the tent, Lin Xiao's killing intent was ignited.
The Old Sect Master of the Azure Light Sect had saved his life and raised him.
The Azure Light Sect was like his home.
Anyone who wanted to destroy the Azure Light Sect, he would kill.
Lin Xiao slowly suppressed the killing intent in his heart, hiding in the darkness, waiting silently.
Moments later, Senior Eunuch Xue Rong and the Black-Armored General left the tent.
More than an hour later, confirming that the Ninth Prince was asleep, Lin Xiao quietly cut open the tent and slipped inside.
However, even in deep sleep, the Ninth Prince remained highly alert.
As soon as Lin Xiao entered the tent, the Ninth Prince awoke instantly.
"Who?"
A loud shout came from the Ninth Prince's mouth as he sprang up from the bed.
"Die!"
Without a word, Lin Xiao stepped forward, leaving a trail of afterimages, his figure instantly shooting to the Ninth Prince's side.
The long blade in his hand, like a crescent moon, brought a series of blade shadows, slashing toward the Ninth Prince.
This slash, Lin Xiao did not use the Gale Saber Art, worried that it might be recognized later, causing trouble for the Azure Light Sect.
So, it was just a casual slash, but with his Meridian Opening Realm 9th Level cultivation and his own strength of sixteen thousand pounds, the Ninth Prince couldn't possibly withstand it, even if he had trained his physical body.
"What?"
The Ninth Prince was horrified, the terrifying blade light almost freezing his blood, a massive sense of impending death enveloping his heart.
He wanted to dodge, but the overwhelming Blade Force left him paralyzed, unable to move.
In a flash, he could only forcibly raise his arm to block, hoping to rely on his strong physical defense to withstand the blow.
Splat!
But when the blade light fell, blood spurted.
The Ninth Prince's arm, along with his head, was severed in one stroke.
"Gah! Gah!"
The Ninth Prince's head flew off, eyes wide with anger, wanting to scream but only able to make gurgling sounds.
"Who?"
"An assassin!"
Cries of alarm erupted as a large number of soldiers rushed toward the tent.
Xue Rong and the Black-Armored General also dashed over instantly.
Swish!
Lin Xiao's figure flickered, like a ghostly shadow, slipping out just as the encirclement was about to form.
"Your Highness!"
Seeing the Ninth Prince's headless body inside the tent, the Black-Armored General and Xue Rong exclaimed in shock and horror.
The prince was dead?
The Ninth Prince was dead?
The Ninth Prince was killed under their protection?
"Stop, villain!"
"Where do you think you're going?"
Xue Rong and the Black-Armored General, without hesitation, immediately pursued the assassin.
Both of them were at the Spirit Transformation Realm 1st Layer, powerful and incredibly fast.
However, after only half a cup of tea's time, they stopped, their faces ashen.
They had lost him!
The opponent's movement was ghostly, and in the darkness of night, they couldn't lock onto him.
Quickly, they returned to the tent, looking at the lifeless Ninth Prince, silent.
"Chief Steward Xue, what do we do? Under our protection, the Ninth Prince was killed. If the news reaches the palace, we are doomed!" the Black-Armored General asked, his face grim.
They had committed such a grave offense, and without catching the assassin, how could they appease the emperor's wrath? They would only accompany the prince in death.
Xue Rong's face was dark, silent. After a moment, he looked up at the Black-Armored General, speaking in a deep voice, "General Wu, the Azure Light Sect's villain is indeed powerful. Even with the two of us joining forces, we were almost killed. Unfortunately, even risking our lives in a desperate fight, we couldn't capture him!"
The Black-Armored General was stunned for a moment, then instantly understood.
Indeed!
If they couldn't find the assassin, they would designate one. Then the emperor would have a target for his wrath.
And they could redeem themselves, perhaps even receiving some reward.
"Yes, this person's martial arts are from the Azure Light Sect. Judging by his build and aura, he should be the Sect Master Zhang Yunyi," the Black-Armored General said loudly, his voice clear, heard by all the soldiers around.
Then, he ordered in a deep voice, "Someone, quickly send a message to the Imperial Palace. The Ninth Prince was ambushed by someone from the Azure Light Sect and unfortunately killed; General Xue and I pursued the assassin, but the suspect, likely the Sect Master Zhang Yunyi, was incredibly powerful. Despite our efforts, we were defeated, and he escaped!"
"Yes, General!"
The subordinate bowed and accepted the order, knowing that his general might be bluffing, but as the general's confidant, he would say nothing more.
"Prepare the prince's body for transport back to the Imperial Capital!"
Subsequently, the soldiers prepared the Ninth Prince's body, breaking camp and leaving overnight.