Chapter 104: Will They Also Be as Decisive as Me?

Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Will They Also Be as Decisive as Me?

The dishonorable nature of his victory left Yu Haenze with a twinge of regret, but this was reality. In a life-or-death situation, no one cared about fairness. That was the nature of the trial.

Bathed in crimson Spiritual Power, Yu Haenze slowly broke into a smile. He saw the fleeting despair in Nangong Ye’s eyes, followed by a calm acceptance of his fate.

Just as both sides accepted this outcome, a Spirit Arrow shot out from a bend in the cave, shattering Yu Haenze’s Body Protection Spiritual Power and piercing straight through his chest.

A torrent of blood erupted from Yu Haenze, spraying across Nangong Ye’s face, which was a mask of shock and confusion.

Yu Haenze stared in shock at the slowly fading Spirit Arrow in his chest. He had considered the possibility that the senior cultivator from before might be tailing him and would arrange for him to die at Nangong Ye’s hands. He had even made certain preparations for it.

But what struck him wasn’t a Spirit Sword, but a Spirit Arrow Technique. This was a Basic Magic Technique that only Guards of the Black Feather Dynasty were qualified to practice, and all who mastered it were fanatically loyal to the Royal Family. Even if that senior cultivator had obtained the Cultivation Technique from his Storage Ring, he couldn’t have mastered it for combat so quickly.

This was the work of his own people. A Spirit Arrow Technique this powerful could only have been cast by a Guard at the Meridian Passage Realm. And the only ones who could command such a Guard were his brothers.

Celestial Thunder descended, extinguishing the last spark of Yu Haenze’s life.

Yu Haenze slowly collapsed. The shock in his eyes gave way to confusion, which in turn faded into lifeless emptiness. His right hand reached out as if to grasp something, but ultimately fell heavily to the ground.

A dense, bloody light coalesced over Yu Haenze’s corpse, forming a blood-red Cyan Eagle. The Cyan Eagle Blood Mark settled onto the back of Nangong Ye’s hand. He would now be hunted by every Cultivator of the Black Feather Dynasty.

Nangong Ye struggled to his feet and saw a figure in black flash past in the distance. It was a Guard from the Black Feather Dynasty. In that instant, everything became clear.

’They could have killed me, but not right now. Perhaps soon, one of the Black Feather Dynasty’s Princes will appear before me and finish the job.’

’Not only would it be a blow to Qingxu Hall, but it would also serve as revenge for the Third Prince—killing two birds with one stone. If the mastermind behind the Third Prince’s murder is even more cunning, they won’t act themselves. Instead, they’ll let someone else take the credit for my death.’

"They certainly have their methods."

Liu Chen, who had witnessed everything with his Spiritual Sense, narrowed his eyes. ’It’s a good thing I didn’t act directly. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to conceal my identity.’

Liu Chen purified and released Yu Haenze’s newly formed Ghost Soul. He ignored Nangong Ye and followed the black-clad figure, who was departing quickly. ’The Black Feather Dynasty is quite wealthy,’ Liu Chen thought. ’I should pay them a visit.’

The place where Yu Haenze died would have been a good spot for secluded cultivation if not for the pillar of light. ’Hopefully, this other Prince will lead me to a better location.’

After following the black-clad figure for half an hour, Liu Chen arrived at a ravine. There, he saw two tents flying the Blood Eagle flag. The sight left him stunned for a moment.

The figure entered one of the tents. Clearly, this was the outpost of a Prince from the Black Feather Dynasty in Fire Dragon Valley.

Liu Chen didn’t charge in. Instead, he slowly retreated, found a rock face sheltered from the wind, and carved out a small cave.

Inside the cave, Liu Chen first restored his Spiritual Power before beginning to practice the Purification Technique. His Body Protection Technique had already evolved into his own unique version, and he felt no pressing need to practice the Spirit Arrow Technique. After witnessing the formation of the Cyan Eagle Blood Mark, Liu Chen suspected that his unique Purification Technique might be able to remove such a mark.

’Once I’m done, I’ll test it out,’ he thought. ’If it works, I won’t have to worry about enemies with troublesome identities in the future.’

Meanwhile, in one of the tents, the black-clad Guard was reporting everything to the Second Prince, Yu Haoxi, who sat in the seat of honor.

"What a pity. That brother provided us with intelligence, only to fall on the eve of victory..."

A look of sorrow crossed Yu Haoxi’s face. The few others in the tent silently bowed their heads, some in apparent grief, others in silence.

"Fratricide is a despicable act. All of you, leave me. I need to be alone."

Yu Haoxi spoke slowly from his simple chair. Soon, he was the only one left in the tent. The moment the last person departed, his expression shifted. The sorrow vanished, replaced by nothing but cold indifference.

"Father Emperor," Yu Haoxi murmured to himself, "when you did this, were you as decisive as I am now?"

He leaned back in his chair, lost in thought. Two clear tear tracks streamed from the corners of his eyes, but he quickly wiped them away.

Night deepened, but Fire Dragon Valley was only just coming alive. Pillars of light shot up one after another, illuminating scenes of slaughter under the cover of Nightfall.

Five hours had passed since Liu Chen had carved out his cave. A current of Spiritual Power washed over his body, thoroughly expelling all its impurities. Even the purple substance that had nearly fused with his Cyan Lotus Bamboo Leaf Spirit Pattern was forced out.

Liu Chen flicked the purple substance—a remnant from the Purple Bamboo Grass he had consumed long ago—into a corner of the cave.

A refreshing sensation washed over him, and Liu Chen felt he could circulate his Spiritual Power slightly faster.

[Purification Technique: Unique]

’So taking Purple Bamboo Grass does have side effects after all. I wonder if Purple Bamboo Peak has a way to deal with them.’

Liu Chen exhaled a breath of impure air and stepped out of the cave to survey his surroundings. In a place like Fire Dragon Valley, it was impossible to tell the time, but the first day of the trial must have passed.

But the darkness brought not peace, but more brutal slaughter. Looking around, Liu Chen could see nearly twenty pillars of light. Most of the trial-takers had chosen to activate their pillars late at night, which made him seem like an outlier.

’There’s no sleeping during this trial. I’ll have to rest for a good few days after I get back.’

He didn’t even need to look; he could feel the intensity of the competition just from the pillars of light shooting into the sky. In any case, Liu Chen couldn’t sleep without first ensuring his safety, so he might as well use the time to improve his strength.

The Third Prince of the Black Feather Dynasty was dead. The other Princes would surely hunt down Nangong Ye. Whether Nangong Ye lived or died, the Nangong Family would be targeted. Now, Liu Chen could just sit back and watch the show unfold.

’It would be best if someone else killed the Second Young Master Nangong. If not, I can always land the final blow myself.’

This situation needed time to develop. Until then, Liu Chen just had to quietly focus on improving his own strength.

As he planned his strategy for the remainder of the trial, Liu Chen recalled two Magic he had previously obtained: the Escape Shadow Technique and the Divine Movement Technique.

The first, from the Purple Cloud Valley Sect Leader, was perfectly suited for the darkness of Fire Dragon Valley. The second increased his speed. Openly using Sword Flight in a trial that followed the law of the jungle was no different from seeking death.

’First, I’ll cultivate for a few days to ensure my own safety.’

Liu Chen narrowed his eyes, a plan gradually forming. If he dealt with the Black Feather Prince now, the truth about the Third Prince’s death might be buried, and the scheme to kill with a borrowed knife would fall apart.

’Although this scheme has nothing to do with me, as long as the Second Young Master of the Nangong Family dies, that’s all that matters. I don’t have to be the one to do it.’

On the second day of the ninth month, Liu Chen divided his day—twelve hours—into three parts: four hours for his Cultivation Technique, four hours for the Escape Shadow Technique, and four hours for the Divine Movement Technique.