The freezing gales that perpetually battered the highest peaks of the Frostfall Province seemed to calm, bowing to the supreme density of the spiritual energy radiating from the mountain's core. Deep within his secluded, heavily warded cavern, Zhang Tian slowly opened his icy blue eyes. A faint, swirling mist of pitch-black energy danced across his irises before fading into the depths of his profound spiritual sea.
Several weeks had passed in a blur of intense, unrelenting meditation. He had recently finished the first strenuous round of training, dedicating his brilliant mind entirely to understanding the intricate, vicious depths of the Death Laws he had condensed into his eighth spirit ring. It was a tedious, highly delicate process, but the foundational mastery he had achieved over the necrotic forces was undeniably satisfying.
With his immediate cultivation goals met and stabilized, Zhang Tian stood up, stretching his heavily muscled frame. His thoughts naturally drifted outward, scanning the geopolitical landscape of the Douluo Continent.
Through his expansive, silent network of flora, he knew that the Star Luo Empire's vanguard had retreated. More importantly, he knew that Tang Chen, Tang Hao, Tang Xiao, Tang San, and a large, elite contingent of their younger generation had abandoned the mainland entirely. They were currently navigating the treacherous ocean, destined for the legendary Sea God Island. Given the rigorous, divine nature of the trials awaiting them there, Zhang Tian calculated that Tang San's group would be thoroughly occupied for many months, perhaps even well over a year or so, before they could even think of returning to cause trouble.
This specific, prolonged absence created a flawless, golden window of opportunity.
Zhang Tian walked out of the cavern, the crisp mountain air filling his lungs. It was time to deal with a lingering, hidden danger that he had always considered, but never truly had the proper, secure opportunity to execute.
It was time to deal with the Imperial Family of the Heaven Dou Empire.
His overarching strategy had been in place for years. The current Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe, was nothing more than an imposter. The man wearing the royal face was Liam, an exceptionally loyal operative from the Spirit Hall and one of Qian Renxue's most trusted, deeply embedded servants. Liam possessed the exceedingly rare Mirage Spirit, a unique martial spirit that granted him the terrifying ability to flawlessly alter his physical appearance and perfectly mimic the aura of the Swan Spirit, the hereditary martial spirit of the Heaven Dou imperial bloodline. Through this profound deception, Liam had successfully deceived the Emperor, the court, and the entire continent for years.
To be perfectly clear, the Imperial Family of Heaven Dou hadn't done anything directly against Zhang Tian. Emperor Xue Ye had never opposed his policies, nor had the crown attempted to stifle the meteoric rise of the Frostfall Province. The Emperor had, in fact, treated him with a great deal of respect and favor.
Zhang Tian simply wanted to clear the road. He needed to force the immediate abdication of the old emperor to make the imposter the undisputed, reigning ruler of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Naturally, Zhang Tian himself was not driven by some noble, altruistic desire to improve the governance of the realm. His motivations were entirely, ruthlessly personal. The woman he loved deeply, Qian Renxue, was destined to become the future Angel God. The strength of a deity was intrinsically linked to the sheer volume of faith they could gather from the mortal realm. If the Spirit Hall could securely, quietly take over the Heaven Dou Empire through Liam, they could systematically purge the rampant, deeply entrenched corruption of the bloated noble class. By improving the lives of the common citizens and bringing true, equitable order to the sprawling empire under the banner of the Spirit Hall, Qian Renxue would gain an unimaginably vast, concentrated reservoir of faith. This surge in devotion would directly translate into greater divine strength for her, and it would exponentially increase the Divine Power that her grandfather, Qian Daoliu, would be able to mobilize in case of continental emergencies.
The primary reason Zhang Tian hadn't ruthlessly dealt with this issue earlier was grounded in supreme tactical caution. He had been somewhat worried that if he prematurely assassinated or forced the abdication of the Emperor, it would inevitably spark a period of messy, chaotic internal strife. If the Heaven Dou Empire appeared vulnerable, the Star Luo Empire, bolstered by the Clear Sky Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, would undoubtedly take full advantage of the situation. They would launch a massive, coordinated attack across the borders, leaving the Heaven Dou Empire crippled by both internal rebellion and external invasion simultaneously.
In a different timeline, the Star Luo Empire had patiently waited, hoping to see the Heaven Dou Empire tear itself apart in a bloody clash against the Spirit Hall's infiltrating forces before making their move. But in this current reality, due to Zhang Tian's heavy, undeniable interventions, the Heaven Dou Empire was already deeply, comfortably aligned with the Spirit Hall. The Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect and Zhang Tian's own Frostfall Province were currently the greatest, most unshakeable major factions within the empire's borders, and both were firmly in his grasp.
The Star Luo Empire definitely wouldn't let go of a prime opportunity to target their northern neighbor if the capital became suddenly embroiled in a messy succession crisis.
However, that threat was only valid if the Clear Sky Sect's top-tier experts like Tang Chen, Tang Hao, and Tang Xiao had remained behind to lead the charge. Without those supreme monsters holding the fort, the Star Luo Empire was effectively toothless. Their ordinary soldiers, their Spirit Saints, their Spirit Douluos, and even their few remaining ordinary Titled Douluos would be entirely, comically useless if the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect decided to intervene. Ning Fengzhi could simply dispatch Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo to the borders to effortlessly slaughter any opportunistic forces sent by the south to cause external troubles.
Zhang Tian had considered all these intersecting variables quite deeply. The board was clear. He decided to take the opportunity to travel to Heaven Dou City immediately.
And he decided to bring only Ah Yin with him.
After all, Ah Yin's cultivation was already standing proudly at the very peak of a Level 97 Super Douluo. In the entire sprawling hierarchy of the Heaven Dou Empire's Imperial Family, including their most powerful, hidden royal guards or their most seasoned military generals, there was not a single soul who could even last three breaths in a fight against her.
In reality, Zhang Tian himself could effortlessly walk into the palace and slaughter the entire Imperial Family alone before his tea went cold. But this journey was designed as a nice, private outing. He deeply wanted to spend more uninterrupted, highly intimate time with his beautiful Empress. It had been quite some time since they had enjoyed genuine, prolonged isolation away from the bustling politics of the manor, and he wanted to give her some of his exclusive, undivided attention.
From the snowy peaks of Crimson Zenith City to the bustling, grand capital of Heaven Dou City, the journey only took a few days. Ah Yin's flying speed as a wind-manipulating Super Douluo was incredibly quick, but they were in no particular rush.
High up in the vast, boundless expanse of the clouds, the world was a canvas of pure white and piercing blue. The freezing, thin air of the high altitude whipped around them, but a subtle, warm barrier of pure Life Energy kept them perfectly comfortable.
Ah Yin flew with peerless grace, her magnificent crimson hair flowing behind her like a river of blood against the sky. She wore a stunning, elegant dress of deep blue and silver, the fabric clinging tightly to her mature, incredibly voluptuous curves.
She was currently being hugged firmly from behind by Zhang Tian. He stood effortlessly upon the condensed platform of wind she generated, his broad chest pressed flush against her back.
He was not merely holding her; he was being intensely, unashamedly intimate with her.
As they soared over the sprawling forests and distant rivers, Zhang Tian's hands were naughtily exploring the bountiful treasures of her body. He had easily slipped his large, calloused hands beneath the silken fabric of her bodice. He was deeply, thoroughly fondling her massive, heavy breasts, his fingers sinking into the incredibly soft, yielding flesh. He squeezed the large mounds strongly, kneading them with a demanding, rhythmic pressure that forced soft, breathy gasps from her lips.
"My Lord... we are so high up," Ah Yin whispered, her voice trembling slightly as she focused on maintaining their altitude.
"The heavens make for a wonderful audience, my Empress," Zhang Tian murmured, his voice a dark, husky rumble directly against her ear.
He lowered his head, his lips brushing against the sensitive, milky skin of her neck. He began kissing her deeply from behind, his tongue trailing wet heat along her pulse point while his teeth gently, playfully bit down on her collarbone.
Beneath her dress, his thumbs found her swollen, dark pink nipples. He tweaked and rolled the highly sensitive peaks between his fingers, pulling them gently until they were pebble-hard. Ah Yin let out a loud, uninhibited moan, her head falling back against his shoulder. She took deep, shuddering breaths, entirely abandoning her regal composure as she let him freely enjoy her voluptuous body.
"You are so sensitive today," Zhang Tian teased, shifting his grip. He pulled the collar of her dress down slightly, entirely exposing her massive right breast to the freezing air.
He leaned forward over her shoulder and opened his mouth, capturing the heavy, exposed globe. He used his mouth to intensely enjoy her large breast, his tongue swirling wildly around her stiff pink nipple before sucking it deep into his mouth. He latched on firmly, drawing a sharp, high-pitched cry of pure pleasure from the Super Douluo.
"Ahhh! Husband... please," Ah Yin whimpered, her hands gripping his muscular forearms tightly to steady herself.
While his mouth worked magic on her chest, his right hand slid slowly downward, tracing the smooth, flawless curve of her midriff. His fingers played teasingly with her deep navel, swirling around the sensitive indent before continuing their downward journey to firmly, aggressively fondle her curvaceous, swaying buttocks through the thin silk of her skirt. He squeezed the plush, bouncy cheeks with possessive strength, lifting her slightly against his groin.
She could clearly feel the massive, thick ridge of his hard cock pressing heavily against her backside through his dark trousers.
Ah Yin loved it when he was doing this. The thrilling danger of being intimately ravaged thousands of feet in the air sent a rush of liquid heat straight to her core. Deciding to be equally bold, she reached her hand backward. She expertly slipped her slender fingers past the waistband of his trousers, diving directly into his undergarments. She wrapped her warm, soft hand securely around his thick, incredibly hard dick.
Zhang Tian let out a low, deeply satisfied groan into the crook of her neck as she began to slowly, firmly touch and stroke his heavy shaft, her thumb dragging slickly across the blunt, weeping tip.
"You are becoming quite the demanding woman," Zhang Tian chuckled, biting her earlobe playfully.
"I only seek to serve my Lord in all things," Ah Yin replied, a mischievous, sultry smile touching her lips as she tightened her grip on his cock, pumping her hand in a steady, agonizingly pleasurable rhythm.
To cool her own burning arousal and perhaps slow his relentless assault, she decided to change the topic to the political reality awaiting them.
"Husband," Ah Yin began, her breathing slightly ragged. "I must ask. Why are we moving to abruptly change the Emperor now? Xue Ye has always treated you incredibly well. He has granted you titles, lands, and endless funding."
Zhang Tian continued to massage her massive, exposed breast, completely unfazed by the sudden shift to politics. His mischievous actions were becoming even more bold, his fingers slipping beneath the hem of her skirt to trace the inner curve of her thigh.
"It is true that the old Emperor has treated me quite well, my dear," Zhang Tian answered her smoothly, his tone entirely casual despite the intense friction her hand was generating on his dick. "But you must look beneath the surface of his smiling decrees. His favor towards me was mostly, entirely predicated on my close, familial connection with the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect. He needed Ning Fengzhi's support to stabilize his throne. Furthermore, he desperately coveted the advanced Spirit Tool technology that I was creating in the north. He didn't favor me out of genuine love; he favored me because I was a highly valuable, indispensable asset."
Ah Yin nodded slowly, her thumb circling the ridge of his cock. "A transaction of power."
"Exactly," Zhang Tian murmured, kissing a soft trail up her jawline. "Xue Ye is a capable administrator, but his fundamental way of thinking is far too pedantic, too deeply rooted in the stagnant traditions of the past. To maintain his fragile balance of power within the Empire, he continuously turns a blind eye to the profound rot eating his nation. He knowingly keeps those bloated, corrupt nobles in positions of high authority—men who are actively tormenting the common people, hoarding resources, or doing all sorts of vile, evil things in the shadows. He tolerates their poison just to ensure the noble factions don't rebel against his crown."
He squeezed her curvy buttocks firmly, pulling her hips flush against his groin. "That stagnant, rotting system needs to change immediately. The continent requires a unified, purified foundation. And Liam will provide that under my direction."
Ah Yin let out a soft hum of agreement, entirely captivated by his ruthless, brilliant vision for the world. She continued to stroke his hard cock, the rhythmic friction driving the heat between them higher as they soared across the sky, completely isolated in their own erotic, high-altitude world.
After a few days of leisurely, highly intimate travel, the towering, majestic spires of Heaven Dou City finally appeared on the horizon. They descended smoothly, the wind carrying them directly toward the sprawling, heavily guarded estate of the Crown Prince's Imperial Palace.
They bypassed the outer guards with effortless stealth, materializing directly within the opulent, private central study of the estate.
Xue Qinghe was seated behind a massive desk constructed of rare, fragrant wood, diligently reviewing a stack of military reports. The moment the air rippled, he looked up. Seeing Zhang Tian and the stunning, crimson-haired woman step from the void, Xue Qinghe immediately stood up, his posture stiffening into one of profound, unwavering respect.
Liam naturally knew exactly who Zhang Tian was. He treated the young Marquis as his ultimate, unquestionable lord, because he knew that Zhang Tian was the deeply cherished lover of the Young Miss of their Spirit Hall, Qian Renxue. To Liam, an operative whose entire life was dedicated to the Angelic lineage, Zhang Tian's authority superseded almost everything else. He walked around the desk and offered a very, very deep, formal bow.
"Lord Marquis. Madam," Xue Qinghe greeted them, keeping his tone carefully modulated to ensure no eavesdropping servant could discern the shift in his usual royal demeanor.
Zhang Tian and Ah Yin stared at the disguised operative. The Mirage Spirit was truly a marvel; every microscopic detail of the Crown Prince's face, the precise timbre of his voice, and even the subtle, aristocratic arrogance in his posture was flawlessly replicated.
"Rise, Xue Qinghe," Zhang Tian instructed, stepping forward to comfortably take a seat on a plush velvet sofa, pulling Ah Yin down to sit gracefully beside him.
Zhang Tian looked directly at the imposter. "I have come to the capital today for a very specific purpose. I have come to officially enthrone you as the new, reigning Emperor of this Heaven Dou Empire. Tell me the truth of your position. Are you completely ready? Do you truly have enough secure, unshakeable support from the various dukes, ministers, and the sprawling kingdoms under the Heaven Dou Empire's banner to universally recognize you as the next Emperor without plunging the capital into a civil war?"
Xue Qinghe let out a long, heavy sigh, the pristine royal mask cracking slightly to reveal the deep, genuine exhaustion of the operative beneath.
"It is a remarkably tough path to walk, My Lord," Xue Qinghe explained to Zhang Tian, stepping closer to the sofa. "Attempting to gain the genuine support of these pesky, entitled nobles while simultaneously dealing with the severe infestation of Fallen Spirit Masters has tested my resources to the limit."
He detailed the grueling, bloody reality of his covert operations. "As the Crown Prince, I am expected to uphold the law. However, these vile Fallen Spirit Masters frequently possess deep, highly lucrative financial and political connections with some of the oldest Noble Families in the capital. To effectively hunt and eradicate these Fallen Spirit Masters, I have had to sometimes completely disregard the ancient privileges of these Noble Families, actively stepping on their faces and shattering their pride to authorize the raids."
Xue Qinghe's eyes darkened. "And sometimes, the rot goes too deep. We have found instances where the entire Noble Family was deeply, undeniably involved in the heinous practice of funding or protecting Fallen Spirit Masters. In those specific, irredeemable cases, I did not hesitate. I quietly, ruthlessly removed a few prominent Noble Families from the board entirely, utilizing the hidden blades of the Spirit Hall to erase all traces of their existence in a single night. But secrets rarely stay buried in this city. It cost me my popularity and my political standing with the wider noble factions quite a bit. They view me as a harsh, unpredictable tyrant rather than a compliant prince."
He quickly bowed his head, showing his unwavering loyalty. "But since it was the Young Miss's explicit, direct order for me to actively clear any and all Fallen Spirit Masters hiding in the Heaven Dou Empire using my royal authority and influence, I didn't dare to skimp on that duty for a single second, regardless of the political cost."
"As for the broader territory," Xue Qinghe continued, his tone turning grim. "The various duchies and the subordinate kingdoms, such as the Barak Kingdom, are incredibly restless. They have been secretly building their military strength, wanting to violently split themselves from the Heaven Dou Empire's Imperial Family's control. They desperately want to independently establish their own sovereign nations. They simply haven't found a sufficiently grand, justifiable reason or excuse to launch an open rebellion yet. But there is a very high, dangerous chance that if the Emperor steps down suddenly, they will fiercely refuse to support my ascension to the Emperor position, using the transition as their excuse to secede."
Zhang Tian smiled, a cold, approving light shining in his icy blue eyes. He genuinely appreciated the operative's ruthless efficiency.
"You did exceedingly well to faithfully follow Renxue's orders," Zhang Tian praised Liam, using her intimate first name naturally in his dialogue, a subtle reminder of the supreme authority backing him. "The eradication of that filth is a priority that far outweighs the hurt feelings of a few powdered aristocrats."
Zhang Tian stood up, smoothing the dark fabric of his robes. "Do not worry about the backlash from the duchies or the whining of the nobility. I will personally, permanently deal with this matter of your succession."
He turned toward the grand double doors of the study. "Come. We are going directly to the central Imperial Palace to meet with Emperor Xue Ye right now. I will force him to abdicate his throne today."
Leaving the Crown Prince's estate, the trio boarded an ornate, unmarked imperial carriage, smoothly navigating the sprawling, bustling avenues of the capital until they reached the towering, heavily fortified gates of the main Imperial Palace.
Because he was walking alongside the recognized Crown Prince, the elite imperial guards parted like water, offering crisp salutes as they traversed the labyrinthine, opulently decorated corridors of the palace interior.
Well, along the way to the Emperor's private sanctum, destiny provided a highly entertaining, entirely unexpected encounter.
Walking toward them down the expansive, marble-floored hallway was an individual who could arguably be said to have won the ultimate prize in the original, unaltered timeline simply by lying down and playing the fool.
It was naturally the Fourth Prince, Xue Beng.
Xue Beng was accompanied by a boisterous, swaggering entourage of young, richly dressed noblemen. There was Ge Hao, the arrogant, broad-shouldered son of Marshal Ge Long; Liu Feng, the sniveling heir of the Minister of Finance; and several other highly reputed scions of powerful families. They were laughing loudly, projecting the image of untouchable, spoiled youths who owned the city.
However, beneath the obnoxious, playboy exterior, Xue Beng was absolutely not a fool. His survival instincts were incredibly sharp.
The moment his eyes landed on the approaching trio, Xue Beng instantly recognized Zhang Tian and the breathtaking woman walking beside him. He felt a sudden, icy chill run down his spine. He knew exactly who Zhang Tian was, and he knew the terrifying stories of the monster who ruled the north. He absolutely wouldn't dare to openly offend the two.
Xue Beng immediately halted his entourage, quickly pasting a respectful, harmless smile onto his face as he bowed deeply.
"I greet you, Royal Brother," Xue Beng said to Liam, before turning his bow toward the Marquis. He didn't dare to put on any royal airs. "I greet you, Lord Marquis. And my utmost respects to you, Madam."
He addressed Ah Yin politely, having absolutely no idea that the woman standing before him was a terrifying, city-leveling Super Douluo.
But the problem was deeply rooted in Xue Beng's inherent, irredeemable nature. As he straightened up, he stared at Ah Yin. His gaze lingered for a fraction of a second too long. He looked at her with far more than just polite appreciation for her staggering, mature beauty. There was a dark, filthy emotion swirling in his eyes that he absolutely shouldn't have had directed toward the Marquis's woman.
Lust. Pure, degrading, unadulterated lust.
Well, Zhang Tian's perception was flawless. He saw directly through that fleeting, disgusting look, which Xue Beng frantically tried to hide almost instantly by turning his gaze back toward Zhang Tian with a pleasant smile.
But Zhang Tian saw something far more interesting hiding beneath the playboy's smile.
Directed entirely toward Zhang Tian, buried deep within Xue Beng's shifting eyes, was a profoundly deep, heavily concealed killing intent.
The reason for this hidden, murderous hatred was actually not very tough to figure out. It was simple political mathematics.
First and foremost, Zhang Tian's presence within the Heaven Dou Empire, and his overall, overarching influence, was simply too massive. Because of his highly publicized, incredibly close relationship with the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect—having legally married Ning Rongrong, the undisputed Sect Heiress—Zhang Tian wielded terrifying political power. As the highly favored son-in-law of Ning Fengzhi, Zhang Tian could actually, effortlessly mobilize the entire military and economic might of the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect without any issues. Ning Fengzhi seemed to listen to Zhang Tian's counsel quite a bit, and they shared a very close, impenetrable relationship.
Secondly, Zhang Tian had cultivated a very close, highly visible public relationship with Xue Qinghe. To the observing court, they could easily be said to be the core pillars of the exact same, dominating political faction. And as long as Zhang Tian existed to unconditionally back his older brother... no matter what clever, desperate schemes Xue Beng or his cunning uncle, Prince Xue Xing, tried to deploy in the shadows, there was absolutely zero chance of ever beating Xue Qinghe for the throne. Xue Beng had no idea that the brother he was plotting against was actually a loyal imposter; he only knew that Zhang Tian was the ultimate, immovable roadblock to his own survival and ascension.
Thus, in the dark corners of his mind, Xue Beng desperately wanted to deal with Zhang Tian. He wanted to kill him somehow, to sever the Crown Prince's greatest support.
But unfortunately for the ambitious prince, the reality of the power disparity was crushing. The elite experts employed by the Heaven Dou Empire, the hidden enforcers of the royal court, or the private, highly trained soldiers kept by his uncle were simply not strong enough to even scratch the Lord of the North.
However, Xue Beng wasn't entirely without a glimmer of hope. He had been quietly nurturing a highly desperate, incredibly foolish plan.
He firmly planned to go and beg his Uncle Xue Xing to formally request their greatest, most lethal asset to take action. He wanted Poison Douluo Dugu Bo to secretly, cleanly assassinate Zhang Tian using an untraceable, deadly poison.
It was a hilariously tragic, doomed fantasy. Xue Beng and Xue Xing had absolutely no idea that Dugu Bo actually considered Zhang Tian to be his greatest, most revered benefactor. Zhang Tian had flawlessly cured the agonizing, hereditary poison that Dugu Bo and his precious granddaughter had been innately, torturously affected with due to the inherent flaws of their Jade Phosphor Serpent spirit. Furthermore, Zhang Tian had generously helped them evolve their spirits, curing their pain and strengthening their potential and raw combat strength greatly. Dugu Bo would rather swallow his own venom than ever take action against the boy. Moreover, Dugu Bo intimately knew exactly how terrifying Zhang Tian truly was in reality, so the old snake would never, ever take such a suicidal, foolish action against him just to return an old political favor to Xue Xing.
Anyway, this was all just Xue Beng's pathetic, wishful thinking. He genuinely believed that only by utilizing Dugu Bo's lethal poison could he ever have a realistic chance of beating Xue Qinghe, utilizing the broad, hidden influence he had been secretly building over the years by interacting with the foolish children of reputed families while acting the part of a harmless playboy.
But Xue Beng's internal fantasies didn't stop at mere political assassination.
As he bowed before them, his mind wandered down a truly vile, depraved path. He deeply, viscerally wanted to take this beautiful, incredibly voluptuous crimson-haired woman standing beside the Marquis and forcefully enjoy her body after having successfully killed Zhang Tian. He looked at Ah Yin's massive breasts and curvy hips, his imagination running wild, because he didn't know or have any realistic idea that Ah Yin was a terrifying, mountain-shattering Super Douluo. She had not taken public action all that much, and to the ignorant nobility, Ah Yin would usually just appear standing quietly beside Zhang Tian, acting carefully and tending to him like a beautiful, highly favored maid.
Well, Xue Beng's filthy fantasies continued to spiral. He didn't just want this crimson-haired woman; he hungered for the entire collection. He wanted to claim the other legendary beauties rumored to be in the harem of Zhang Tian. He fantasized about breaking the haughty, untouchable heiress of the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect, Ning Rongrong. He imagined forcing the legendary, lethal beauty known as Zhu Zhuqing to kneel before him once her lord was dead.
Xue Beng was still deeply lost in these depraved, triumphant fantasies, maintaining his polite, subservient smile in the physical world, when Zhang Tian suddenly stopped walking.
The silence in the grand, marble hallway became incredibly, suffocatingly heavy.
Zhang Tian looked down at the bowing prince. His icy blue eyes were devoid of any anger, displaying only the cold, detached curiosity of a man observing an insect.
"Next time, Fourth Prince," Zhang Tian whispered softly, his voice barely carrying over the ambient noise of the corridor. "You really should learn to hide your filthy emotions better."
Xue Beng blinked, a sudden, paralyzing spike of terror piercing his heart. He opened his mouth to ask what the Marquis meant.
He never got the chance.
With absolutely no prior warning, no flash of spirit power, and no incantation, the earth itself seemed to obey a silent, violent command.
A single, incredibly thick, razor-sharp crimson vine erupted directly from the polished marble floor tiles at Xue Beng's feet. It moved with a speed that completely defied mortal comprehension.
SHLUCK!
The sharp, thorny tip of the Blood Silver Grass vine stabbed violently, directly into Xue Beng's face. It pierced straight into both of his eyeballs simultaneously. With a sickening, wet tearing sound, the vine brutally, mercilessly pulled backward, forcefully ripping both of the prince's eyes entirely out of their bloody sockets in a single, devastating motion.
"AGGGHHHHHHHHH!"
Xue Beng let out an agonizing, blood-curdling scream that tore through the serene quiet of the Imperial Palace. He collapsed backward onto the marble floor, his hands flying to his ruined, profusely bleeding face, his body thrashing in blinding, unimaginable agony.
It was so incredibly quick, so unbelievably, viscerally shocking, that for a long, agonizing second, nobody else moved.
The elite Imperial Guards stationed at the ends of the hallway froze, their spears slipping in their hands. The other individuals standing right beside the screaming prince—Xue Beng's swaggering companions, the arrogant sons of highly reputed generals and ministers—were entirely paralyzed. Ge Hao's jaw dropped in sheer, unadulterated horror, while Liu Feng let out a pathetic whimper, stumbling backward away from the blood pooling on the floor.
They were all completely, utterly terrified to the very core of their souls by what Zhang Tian had just casually done. He had violently, permanently blinded a direct prince of the royal bloodline, right in the middle of the Imperial Palace, in broad daylight.
And the most terrifying aspect of it all was that he had done it so openly, with such casual, effortless grace, showing absolutely zero fear or hesitation regarding the immense, overarching power of Imperial Authority or the sweeping influence of the royal court.
Zhang Tian didn't even look at the screaming, thrashing prince on the floor. He simply stepped gracefully over the spreading pool of blood, offering his arm to Ah Yin.
"Let us not keep the Emperor waiting," Zhang Tian remarked smoothly, continuing his walk down the hallway as if he had merely brushed a speck of dust from his sleeve.
Xue Qinghe swallowed heavily, shooting a brief, entirely unsympathetic glance down at his ruined 'brother', before hurrying to follow his supreme Lord toward the throne room, leaving the terrified nobles to scream for the royal physicians.
~~
A/N: Check out my other novels [Villain: Manipulating The Heroines Into Hating The Protagonist] and [Harem Master: Seduction System].
Also, check out 20 Chapters Ahead for this fanfic on my P.atreon. [Check Out Art Of Characters On My Patreon. It's Free To View btw.]
Patreon link: https://www.patreon.com/c/evildragon04