Chapter 45: The Prince’s Strategy

Some time had passed since the events within the heart of the Southern Domain’s Hundred Thousand Mountains, at the Tomb of the Demon Emperor.

Within the Southern Domain’s command city, Duke Bing Changtian was seething with fury. He had already learned that Lady Bing Miaoguo and Elder Hua, both high-ranking nobles, had been forced to their deaths by the younger princess, Bing Muer.

But Bing Muer’s hands were stained with more than just their blood; she had also driven Zuo Xiangyu, a formidable figure of the Qianlong Sect, to his end.

Now, upon hearing the latest reports, Bing Changtian’s anger reached its zenith. “Muer’s Profound Ice Art has already broken through to the ninth level. Wasn’t there a Heavenly Fire Curse sealed within her body? How could this happen?”

A middle-aged woman dressed in sumptuous robes, her face twisted with malice, retorted sharply, “Isn’t there a rumor that the wretched girl has a Mr. Chen supporting her from the shadows? It must be that Mr. Chen who helped her break the curse!”

This was Bai Linglong, Duchess of the Southern Domain, mother of Bing Miaoguo.

“The latest intelligence suggests that this Mr. Chen is truly a man of extraordinary means. Who would have thought such a figure could exist in the Southern Domain?”

“I don’t care who this Mr. Chen is,” Bai Linglong spat, her voice trembling with hatred. “All I know is that Miaoguo and Elder Hua were driven to death by that wretch. No matter what, you must kill her!”

Her hatred was boundless, nearly consuming her. If she could, she would fly to Bing Muer that very instant and tear her to pieces.

Bing Changtian stood silent, his face ashen, his body trembling uncontrollably.

“Changtian, you can’t hesitate just because she’s your daughter. When she forced Miaoguo to her death, did she ever consider that Miaoguo was her sister?” Bai Linglong’s rage only deepened. “Now the matter of the Demon Emperor’s tomb is long past, yet she hasn’t returned. That alone proves she has abandoned the Southern Domain’s command city! The resentment in her heart has long since festered; she’s never forgotten her mother’s death. And now, with this Mr. Chen at her back, if she’s not eliminated, she’ll become a great calamity!”

Bing Changtian remained silent.

“If you can’t make up your mind, I’ll go to White Emperor City myself and kill that wretch,” Bai Linglong declared coldly, turning to leave the great hall.

“Linglong, come back here!” Bing Changtian thundered. “How do you expect to accomplish anything, rushing about so recklessly?”

Bai Linglong halted her steps.

Gritting his teeth, Bing Changtian conceded, “You’re right; Muer must be eliminated. If not, she will indeed become a disaster for us. But don’t forget, she now has Mr. Chen behind her. We still don’t know how powerful he truly is…”

Bai Linglong cut him off, her tone fierce. “No matter how powerful the man behind her is, that wretch must die—at any cost!”

“That’s precisely why I won’t let you act rashly,” Bing Changtian replied gravely. “We need a proper plan, a scheme that will make it look as if Muer’s death has nothing to do with us. It would be best if we could lure Mr. Chen into the trap as well.”

“Exactly,” Bai Linglong nodded in agreement.

“I will go to the Qianlong Sect at once to discuss this matter. Their young master Zuo Xiangyu was also forced to his death by Muer. Surely, they must hate her as much as we do,” Bing Changtian said, striding out of the great hall.

Qianlong Sect, one of the two supreme sects of the Southern Domain, was imposing in every respect. Its majestic halls were as grand as any imperial palace.

As soon as Bing Changtian arrived, a colossal eastern dragon’s shadow erupted from the sect, its claws lashing out toward him.

The dragon’s claw instantly grew to hundreds of meters wide, stirring a violent gale as it crashed down.

The oppressive force was as if a massive, invisible mountain descended from the sky.

“Nie Long, don’t be angry! Please, let me explain!” Bing Changtian exclaimed in terror, hastily drawing his battle sword.

In an instant, the sword expanded to a hundred meters, cleaving ferociously at the descending dragon claw.

A deafening boom resounded as sword met claw, the resulting shockwave as overwhelming as a tidal wave.

Nearby, one of the sect’s halls collapsed under the force.

“Bing Changtian, you old cur! How dare you strike my claw and destroy our halls! Today, I will settle this with you once and for all!” roared the enormous dragon, diving from the sky to engage Bing Changtian in fierce combat.

As two of the Southern Domain’s mightiest clashed, the resulting waves of energy shattered the heavens and the earth. Many of Qianlong Sect’s buildings were demolished, and even a nearby mountain peak was obliterated.

“Southern Domain Duke, you have gone too far! Your daughter forced our young master to his death, and we were just about to settle accounts with you. Now you come here yourself!”

“Today, you will not leave alive. After this, the Southern Domain will have no duke!”

One after another, the experts of the Qianlong Sect soared into the air.

As one of only two supreme sects in the region, their strength rivaled that of the command city.

Bing Changtian, overwhelmed and desperate, shouted, “You’re mistaken! I’ve come to discuss with you how to put my daughter to death!”

“Bing Changtian, that’s nonsense! Bing Muer is your daughter—would you really kill her with your own hands?” Nie Long roared in disbelief.

Nie Long, the Sect Master of Qianlong, was Zuo Xiangyu’s father, and his hatred knew no bounds.

“Enough talk! Since you’ve come to us, we’ll kill you now!” the Qianlong experts bellowed, launching a frenzied assault on Bing Changtian.

Outnumbered and outmatched, Bing Changtian felt the shadow of death looming over him.

“Nie Long! You must have heard of the troubles in the command city. And this time, Muer not only forced your son to his death, but also my daughter Miaoguo and Elder Hua. But that’s not all—she has completely betrayed the command city, and now has the support of a fearsome Mr. Chen. If she is not killed, disaster will befall us all!”

Nie Long was taken aback. “Stop!” he shouted.

The Qianlong experts immediately ceased their attacks. Nie Long assumed the form of a tall, imposing middle-aged man, though the murderous intent still radiated from him. Green dragon scales on his neck slowly faded away; he was not a true dragon, but bore its bloodline.

Bing Changtian, battered and bloodied, presented a pitiful sight.