"Yes, Your Highness. I heard from people in the palace that Lian Lao, under the command of the Eighth Prince, was playing chess with the Human Emperor. The Human Emperor sensed a change in the Yan Yang Dynasty. A mere small dynasty, the Human Emperor naturally paid no mind. However, that old fellow Lian Lao kept praising the Eighth Prince, both openly and subtly."
"Your Highness also knows that the Human Emperor was ambushed while inspecting the four directions. Consort Lian bravely stepped forward and took the fatal blow for the Human Emperor. For this, the Eighth Prince has always received the Human Emperor's care. He could be considered the foremost among the princes, second only to the Fourth Prince. It has always been rumored in court that the next Human Emperor will be chosen between the Fourth Prince and the Eighth Prince!"
"Clang!"
Ying Lang instantly flew into a rage, overturning the table before him: "The throne of the Human Emperor, it's mine, mine, it's mine!!"
"Boom!!"
"This old servant deserves death, this old servant deserves death!!" Elder Zhang's face instantly turned ashen, sweat beading on his brow. He kept kowtowing to Ying Lang.
"Cough, cough!"
"What is the commotion at Old Eighth's place?" Ying Lang weakly lay back down.
"Your Highness, the Ning family, under the Eighth Prince, has been making frequent movements recently," Elder Zhang said in a deep voice.
"What about the others?"
"Your Highness, the Fourth Prince's side is quiet. After all, a mere dynasty can be wiped out with a wave of the hand. He wouldn't bother with such trivial matters!"
"However, the Seventh Prince's side has stirred a bit. Today, his retainers have been returning to his residence one after another!"
"Hmph, Seventh, a brute who has fought on the battlefield, thinks he can meddle? Ridiculous!"
"Go, have the Tiger Roar Sect get ahead of Seventh and Eighth and resolve this matter. The faster the better!"
"Also, go capture a few more women. And make them feisty. Truly, these lowly maids in the mansion have no flavor!"
"Yes!"
Elder Zhang raised his eyes, glanced at Ying Lang, and vanished into the night.
...
The Imperial Palace of the Holy Yuan Dynasty's capital.
"Your Majesty, the Second Prince and the Seventh Prince have made their moves!"
In a grand hall, a man in a black robe spoke in a steady tone.
"What is the commotion at Eighth's place?"
The Human Emperor raised his eyes, then lowered them again to look at the memorial on the table.
"Your Majesty, the Eighth Prince's side is as calm as still water. The Ning family is merely putting on a show."
"You may withdraw!"
The Human Emperor said calmly.
"Yes!"
The black-robed man vanished instantly, leaving no trace of Yuan energy fluctuation.
"Lian'er, I wished for Jia'er to stay away from the struggle for power, but Jia'er has his own aspirations. I cannot interfere."
"Cough! Cough!!"
Suddenly, the Human Emperor's face turned deathly pale, and he coughed violently, spitting out a mouthful of black blood.
In an instant, he was utterly weak.
The Human Emperor gazed at the starry void outside the hall: "Lian'er, wait for me!"
...
In a deep mountain in the western part of the Proud Dragon Dynasty.
"Hurry, don't let it escape!"
A recently adult Purple Gold Flame Lion King, no more than in the Spirit Channeling realm, was rapidly traversing the mountain forest. Flames blazed around its body, and blood continuously flowed from several wounds, its form extremely battered.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
"Screech!"
Several cold glints shot out from behind the Purple Gold Flame Lion King. A group of men and women dressed in opulent clothing appeared, their faces filled with excitement.
"Roar!"
The Purple Gold Flame Lion King roared furiously. Several cold glints whistled, their immense impact tearing through the air, scattering through the dense jungle like a phantom's wail, charging towards the Purple Gold Flame Lion King.
"Clang!"
The Purple Gold Flame Lion King swiped a claw, shattering several iron arrows. It disappeared into the jungle in the blink of an eye with extreme speed.
"Don't let it escape! The beast essence and blood of an adult Purple Gold Flame Lion King are extremely potent. It's only just reached adulthood and its cultivation isn't high. This is our best hunting opportunity. Big brother relies on this beast essence to break through the Spirit Channeling barrier. We absolutely cannot let it get away!"
A middle-aged man's face was cold. Looking around, their cultivation levels were all within the Spirit Channeling realm, their strength not to be underestimated.
"Quick!"
The group swiftly moved towards the direction the Purple Gold Flame Lion King had disappeared.
"Roar!"
The Purple Gold Flame Lion King roared in fury, scaring nearby demonic beasts into fleeing in all directions.
"It's over there, hurry!"
A woman exclaimed. The group quickly adjusted their direction, following the residual sound waves of the Purple Gold Flame Lion King.
"Swish!"
The group stopped at a valley, looking around. The Purple Gold Flame Lion King stared ahead in terror, growling incessantly.
"Senior Brother Zhang Cheng, what is the Purple Gold Flame Lion King afraid of?" a woman holding a dagger asked curiously.
Zhang Cheng frowned: "That's strange. This Purple Gold Flame Lion King was originally captured by Master from elsewhere. This mountain range has always been under the control of our Hidden Sword Pavilion. Apart from this Purple Gold Flame Lion King, when has there ever been a demonic beast in the Spirit Channeling realm!"
"Roar!"
The Purple Gold Flame Lion King retreated continuously.
The group slowly walked forward, seeing a faint blue formation gradually taking shape deep within the valley, emanating extremely dense Yuan energy.
"Buzz!"
Suddenly, waves of terrifying bloody energy erupted from within, firmly locking onto the group and the Purple Gold Flame Lion King.
"Senior Brother, what is that?" a man asked fearfully, looking at the blue formation.
"You ask me, who do I ask? Could it be some secret treasure?" Zhang Cheng's expression was grave. Looking at the overwhelming malevolent energy, his heart suddenly trembled.
"Hah!"
"Hah!"
"Hah!"
Suddenly, three loud shouts echoed through the valley, pressing heavily upon the group.
"Buzz~~"
One!
Two!
...
In the blink of an eye, densely packed Han soldiers clad in armor emerged from the teleportation array. The army split into two sides, one arrayed in green armor, the other in dark black.
The entire spacious valley was instantly filled with Han soldiers.
"Buzz!"
Chen Tang and Ying Bu walked out with stern expressions.
"Boom!"
A pressure like the sky collapsing and the earth caving in descended upon Zhang Cheng and the others, as well as the Purple Gold Flame Lion King, forcing them to the ground, their faces flushed.
"Spirit Sea... a Spirit Sea expert!" Zhang Cheng looked at Chen Tang and Ying Bu in terror.
"Swish!"
A cold glint shot out from Ying Bu's hand. The glint exploded, its light illuminating the entire valley with dazzling brilliance, instantly obliterating the group behind Zhang Cheng and the Purple Gold Flame Lion King.
"Stomp!"
"Stomp!"
Ying Bu's ferocious face terrified Zhang Cheng, who trembled incessantly.
"I ask!"
"You answer!"
"Swish!"
A map was directly spread out, presented before Zhang Cheng.
"Shred!"
Ying Bu directly smashed one of Zhang Cheng's arms. The murderous gaze made Zhang Cheng tremble with fear. Enduring immense pain, he dared not make a sound.
"The shortest route from this place to the capital, draw it for me!"
Ying Bu's voice was extremely cold. Ying Bu was decisive in battle. Among Xiang Yu's great generals, Xiang Shi killed people in the tens of millions, and Bu was often at the forefront of cruelty.