“The Emperor is resting inside, Your Highness. He does not wish to be disturbed by anyone,” the soldier replied.“Not even me?” asked Princess Lu Lian, her tone laced with disbelief.The soldier bowed his head slightly. “Forgive me, Your Highness. We dare not defy His Majesty’s orders.”Wu Ming, whose senses were as sharp as a tiger’s, caught the faint, metallic scent of blood seeping from behind the chamber door. His instincts screamed that something sinister was happening within.“Very well then. Let’s go, Fang Yun,” said Princess Lu Lian, though unease stirred within her heart. Something about the soldiers’ behavior at that door didn’t sit right with her.“I find it strange, Fang Yun,” she murmured as they walked away. “Since when does Father rest in a guest chamber? Something isn’t right here.”“You’ll have your answer soon enough, Your Highness,” Fang Yun replied calmly. “Once we reach the heavily guarded room.”Unbeknownst to them, Emperor Fu Chen, intoxicated by the power cours

Fang Yun could feel the tremendous surge of energy radiating from Emperor Fu Chen’s technique.The young man crossed his twin short spears and summoned a blazing shield of fire to withstand the overwhelming force that came crashing toward him.The ground trembled violently as the ruler of the Xi Dynasty unleashed a secret art from the ancient manual known as the Word of the Earth.“The impact is incredible,” Fang Yun muttered just before the collision occurred.BOOOM!The explosion hurled Fang Yun backward, slamming him through the brick wall that encircled the open courtyard. His bones felt as though they had shattered—or perhaps shifted from their joints—under the tremendous blow he hadn’t fully anticipated.He was stunned by the sheer force of the impact. Before defending himself, Fang Yun had measured the Emperor’s energy flow carefully, yet the actual power far exceeded his estimation.Emperor Fu Chen burst into a triumphant laugh as he watched the young man’s body buried beneath

The giant tiger raised its massive forepaws and swatted away Prime Minister Qin Zhi’s strike, sending the old man crashing sideways into the crumbled ruins of a wall.Grimacing in pain as his ribs throbbed from the beast’s heavy blow, Qin Zhi forced himself upright, his eyes wide in disbelief.“Maybe I can wound it with my speed,” he thought to himself.Summoning the deepest reserves of his inner energy, Qin Zhi let the power surge through every muscle and vein in his body.With a sharp breath, he dashed in a zigzag pattern, his movements blurring to confuse the creature’s sight.“Die!” Qin Zhi roared as he struck, aiming a devastating blow toward the tiger’s abdomen.But once again, his fists landed on something soft yet unyielding—completely ineffective against the beast’s thick hide.“Grrrhhh!”“Strike me as much as you wish, Qin Zhi!” the tiger snarled.The old prime minister unleashed a flurry of attacks, each connecting solidly, but nothing worked. The creature didn’t even flinc

Fang Yun drew upon the divine flame within him, channeling the blazing energy of the Fire God into his eyes. The divine light ignited, awakening the Eyes of the Deity—granting him vision sharp enough to follow Emperor Fu Chen’s movements, which had grown impossibly fast.“World-Shattering Sword!” Emperor Fu Chen roared, leaping high and bringing down his Word of the Earth blade toward Fang Yun’s head.With lightning speed, Fang Yun raised the Water Core Machete above him, intercepting the strike.When the two ancient relics collided, the impact shook the entire palace of the Xi Dynasty. The thunderous clash sent shockwaves that cracked marble floors and shattered pillars.Emperor Fu Chen was blasted backward, while Fang Yun’s legs sank knee-deep into the earth beneath him.He gritted his teeth. Though he wished to end this fight quickly, patience was now his only ally. Even after channeling half of Qiang Mo’s energy, their battle still stood at a stalemate.Suppressing the tremor in h

Fang Yun pleaded with Manarah to tell him how to defeat the Prince of Darkness.“Even though you refuse to admit that I’m an intelligent spirit, since you’ve asked politely, I’ll tell you,” Manarah replied mockingly.Qiang Mo, hearing the sarcasm in Manarah’s tone, only grunted in annoyance.“Just say it quickly! Mei’s life is in danger—I must defeat the Prince of Darkness right now!” Fang Yun urged.“Listen carefully. After you burn him down to ashes, you must sprinkle his remains with your Holy Water,” said Manarah.“That’s all?”“No. There’s a challenge you must overcome. If you pour the Holy Water on the ashes of his true body, it will actually perfect his power instead,” Manarah explained.“How do I find the real one? They all look identical—in form and strength.”“They can’t be completely the same. The real one will always have a unique difference. That’s what you must find!” Manarah concluded.Fang Yun nodded. Though he already had an idea, a major obstacle still stood in his w