Chapter 515: Ambush

“It’s an ambush!” As the cascading Light Patterns descended, the Empress’s eyes flashed, and a valiant spirit emanated from her elegant brows.

“An ambush!” Ling Fei, who had been sitting beside them with his eyes closed, abruptly snapped them open.

Shangguan Wan’Er and Lian Shuang immediately stood on guard.

Emperor Tang, however, simply shifted his weary gaze, appearing remarkably calm.

HUM!

Just as the curtain of light descended, forming an Array that sealed off the surrounding Void, figures flickered into view up ahead. A man in a Flood Dragon robe and a crown appeared out of thin air. Flanking him were two men wearing cyan masks, both of whom exuded a repulsive, malevolent aura.

When the three appeared, Ling Fei’s gaze shifted, and he couldn’t help but size them up.

‘This is…’ His face filled with astonishment as he looked closer.

The man in the crown and Flood Dragon robe bore a strong resemblance to Emperor Tang, which sent a shock through them all.

‘This…’ Even the Eighth Prince and Third Prince were flabbergasted.

“You’re Second Brother!” the Third Prince exclaimed, his eyes flashing with surprise.

“Heh, Third Brother. It’s been so many years. I’m surprised you still remember me,” the man said with a sinister smirk. “You were only fourteen when I left the Great Tang Empire.” He cast a sidelong glance, his eyes filled with a malevolent energy, but if one sensed carefully, they could detect an incredibly obscure ripple of power.

The man before them was clearly a powerhouse, his strength far exceeding that of an ordinary Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator.

‘Second Brother?’ Ling Fei’s brow furrowed slightly. ‘So this man is one of Emperor Tang’s sons.’

“The Second Prince, Li Zhengyang. Legend has it that he harbored rebellious intentions and was banished from the Empire by His Majesty,” Shangguan Wan’Er explained via voice transmission.

As a scion of a great clan, she was privy to some of the Empire’s secrets.

“I see,” Ling Fei murmured, his brow furrowed. “It looks like he’s here to cause trouble.”

“Zhengyang, your Imperial Father is present. Why do you not bow?” the Empress’s gaze sharpened, her voice deep and majestic.

Emperor Tang sat upon his Throne. Though his body was gaunt and his aura weak, an unparalleled majesty still radiated from him.

It was the might of a Celestial Emperor, etched deep into his very soul.

“Haha, Imperial Father?” The Second Prince on the other side threw his head back and laughed. “Imperial Father is about to ascend to the heavens. As his son, I, Zhengyang, should indeed pay my respects!” ℓ.

With that, he gave a deep bow to Emperor Tang.

“You…!” The Empress seethed with rage at his words.

“Second Brother, how could you?” The Third Prince’s brow knitted tightly. “Father gave his all for the Southern Wilderness. For us, his sons, to be unable to share his burdens is already unfilial. How can you be so disrespectful?” He admitted that in his youth, he hadn’t felt much affection for his father.

But after the war in the Southern Wilderness, the Third Prince was filled with reverence for Emperor Tang, hating only that he could not be such an indomitable man himself.

Thus, the Second Prince’s words sent him into a rage.

But as he was only at the Quasi-Nascent Soul Realm, he didn’t dare to voice his rebuke.

The Eighth Prince’s brow was also knitted in a tight frown, deeply displeased with this second brother he had never met.

“Heh, sharing Father’s burdens!” The Second Prince straightened up, his gaze turning sinister as he fixed it on the silent Emperor Tang. “Father, I know your time is short. The situation in the Southern Wilderness is unstable, and our Great Tang Empire cannot be left without a ruler. That is why I have come today—to relieve you of your burdens!”

“Relieve me of my burdens?” Emperor Tang’s eyes glinted. He looked up slightly at the condescending, overbearing Second Prince. “And how do you propose to do that?”

“I request that you pass the True Dragon Seal and the Emperor’s Dragon Platform to me. When that is done, I will personally preside over the Great Tang and ensure our Empire’s foundation endures for ten thousand generations!” the Second Prince said, his gaze fixed on Emperor Tang as he enunciated each word. A vast aura surged from him, sweeping forward.

It was Dragon Qi, which invisibly coalesced into the form of an Evil Flood Dragon, baring its fangs and claws as if to pounce on Emperor Tang.

BOOM!

The True Dragon Flying Chariot shuddered under the impact of his aura, threatening to capsize.

“How dare you!” Aboard the Flying Chariot, the Empress was enraged. She produced the Empress’ Seal, and a brilliant light erupted from her body, coalescing into a Divine Phoenix that enveloped the chariot.

At once, the pressure from his aura lessened.

“Insolence! I am speaking with my father. A mere woman like you has no place to interfere!” the Second Prince’s gaze turned frigid. With a wave of his hand, Light Patterns flickered and materialized into a three-clawed Dragon Palm, which shot through the air toward the phantom Divine Phoenix.

It was the claw of a Flood Dragon. It erupted with immense Dragon’s Might, shattering the Divine Phoenix and enveloping the Flying Chariot in an astonishing surge of Power.

Instantly, everyone aboard the Flying Chariot felt their breath catch in their throats.

“Such a powerful aura!” Shangguan Wan’Er frowned.

“Judging by his aura, he’s already reached the Divine Wheel Ninth Layer Realm. He’s on the verge of breaking through to the Divine Mansion Realm,” Lian Shuang added, her brow furrowed.

“Second Brother is so strong!” The Third Prince’s face was filled with dread.

‘The Second Prince actually possesses such strength!’ Even the Empress’s heart was in turmoil.

Although she wielded the Empress’ Seal, her Cultivation was only at the Nascent Soul First Stage.

Furthermore, the might of the Empress’ Seal was no match for the True Dragon Divine Seal.

It was merely an auxiliary seal, meant to help the Empress manage the imperial harem; it wasn’t powerful enough for her to fight an expert on the cusp of the Divine Mansion Realm.

But the Empress showed no signs of backing down. She unleashed a powerful aura, poised to fight with all her strength at a moment’s notice.

‘It seems the Second Prince heard that Emperor Tang was gravely injured. Now he’s trying to seize the Celestial Emperor’s Divine Artifact and take over the Great Tang Empire!’ A cold glint flashed in Ling Fei’s eyes. The prince’s actions were despicable. After all, Emperor Tang had sacrificed himself to save the world.

‘Who with any conscience would exploit such a vulnerability?’

‘The fact that the Second Prince set an ambush here already proves he is a man of low character.’

“Your Majesty!” Ling Fei’s gaze shifted to Emperor Tang. He was now resolved to fight with all his might to protect him.

Emperor Tang remained calm. He took the Empress’s hand, seemingly signaling her not to worry.

Then, planting both hands on the arms of his Throne, Emperor Tang slowly rose. His frail appearance was truly that of a man at the end of his rope, his life force all but extinguished.

Seeing Emperor Tang rise, a flicker of awe appeared in the Second Prince’s eyes.

He was now a powerhouse at the Divine Wheel Ninth Layer Perfection Realm.

And he already knew that Emperor Tang’s life was fading.

Yet, his heart was still filled with a deep-seated fear of this Celestial Emperor.

For he had once nearly died at this Celestial Emperor’s hands.

Emperor Tang stood, his gaze imperious as he stared down the Second Prince. “Good. Very good,” he said, enunciating each word. “To reach the Divine Wheel Ninth Layer Realm in just twenty short years… You are truly worthy of being my, Li Shan’s, most gifted son!”

“Hmph! Good? You crippled my Cultivation and banished me from the Empire. Fortunately, the heavens did not abandon me! I found Ancient Flood Dragon Blood in some old ruins, and my Cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds ever since, far surpassing my old self. From that moment on, I swore I would make you pay for what you did!” The Second Prince’s gaze was savage as he spat out each word. “I will make you regret your decision.”

“Hand over the Celestial Emperor’s Divine Artifact. Do that, and I might spare you and allow you to die of old age!”

As his cold voice faded, a tremendous surge of the Flood Dragon’s Qi erupted from the Second Prince’s body, crashing down upon the True Dragon Flying Chariot.