Chapter 220: Chapter 143: Wielding Royal Authority, Uttering Heavenly Edicts, Crushed to Death with 1 Step

"On the march, he was recalled by His Majesty with twelve Gold Medals. The Ninth Prince didn’t just ignore them; he led his army and annihilated the Witchcraft Gu Country in one fell swoop. But now that the battle is over, I’m afraid the Ninth Prince’s fate is sealed."

At this, the storyteller sighed with emotion:

"Sigh, if the Ninth Prince had a Spirit Root, the outcome might have been different. After all, there’s a world of difference between us mortals and Cultivators."

Just as he finished speaking,

a line of prison carts slowly drove in from the entrance of the Ten-Mile Long Street.

All the guests in the tavern crowded by the windows, watching curiously.

In fact,

most of the guests here hadn’t come for the storyteller.

They had come to watch the execution.

In Wenchang Country, death row inmates are first paraded down the Ten-Mile Long Street, then taken to the market square for execution!

And the death row inmate to be executed today was no ordinary person.

He was the Chief Eunuch of the Rituals Department of Wenchang Country, Chen Fang!

This Chen Fang had been by the Emperor’s side since childhood, rising from the Jail Courtyard all the way to Chief Eunuch. He could be said to be second only to one man, holding immense power and authority.

But just because he offended the Third Prince, he was thrown into the Celestial Prison and was about to be executed by a thousand cuts!

However,

those in the know were all aware that this was just a ploy by the Third Prince to force the Ninth Prince to return.

According to rumor, this Chen Fang was on good terms with the Ninth Prince.

The Ninth Prince’s escape from his cage was all thanks to this Eunuch Chen’s staunch support.

Now that Eunuch Chen was about to be executed by a thousand cuts, the Ninth Prince couldn’t possibly remain indifferent.

Today, it seemed there was going to be a good show.

At this moment.

「Within the execution grounds.」

A figure, dressed in a Golden Silk Python Robe and wearing a golden crown, sat cross-legged atop a Dharma Tower, his gaze faintly sweeping over the execution grounds.

Behind him, the Executioner spoke, his respectful tone tinged with a hint of nervousness:

"Your Highness, the hour is almost upon us. Should I notify the headsman to begin the execution?"

He was genuinely terrified of the Third Prince before him.

The Third Prince would kill even a personal eunuch who had been with His Majesty for so long on a whim, and not even the Emperor could stop him.

’This is the difference between Cultivators and mortals.’

’Even if one becomes the Emperor, they are still at the mercy of Cultivators.’

Liu Yongxiao raised his eyes slightly and said flatly:

"He’s just an insignificant character. Do what must be done. Why do you need to ask me?"

"Yes, yes, I’ll see to it at once!"

Cold sweat beaded on the Executioner’s forehead as he hurriedly departed.

A man standing behind Liu Yongxiao then spoke up:

"Senior Brother Liu, he’s just a mere mortal. Why go to such great lengths and lay a trap to kill him? With just a word from you, I can go and capture him myself, and leave him at your mercy."

Liu Yongxiao shook his head:

"This ninth brother of mine is not so simple. In just ten short years, he has subdued all the generals on the border and a million-strong army. Plus, he has a Maid in the True Form Realm who came from who-knows-where."

"He must have had some fortuitous encounter. If you go after him directly, I’m afraid you won’t come out on top."

"Sigh, I miscalculated back then. If I had been ruthless and eliminated him completely, he wouldn’t have become such a force today."

The man behind Liu Yongxiao said:

"Four True Disciples of the True Form Realm have come today, all to deal with a single mortal. We’re truly giving him a great deal of face."

"But, Senior Brother, what if he doesn’t come?"

Liu Yongxiao said flatly:

"Chen Fang saved my ninth brother’s life. Now that Chen Fang is implicated because of him, if he doesn’t show up, he’ll be seen as ungrateful and disloyal. What will those generals on the border who follow him think?"

"Even if he really does hide like a coward, his cohesive power on the border will no longer be the same. When that time comes, capturing him will be much easier and won’t cause turmoil on the frontier."

"Master has always placed great importance on the border wars. Naturally, I can’t make things difficult for him."

’If not for the fear of causing a mutiny among the border generals, I would have acted personally long ago. Why bother setting this trap?’

’This trap, you could say, is an open conspiracy.’

’Whether my ninth brother comes or not, the outcome is already set in stone!’

’A mere mortal should just stay down in the mud where he belongs. I couldn’t even be bothered to step on him, lest I get my feet dirty.’

’However,’

’since he’s decided to pop his head up, he can’t blame me for disregarding our brotherly bond and crushing him underfoot!’

The man behind Liu Yongxiao spoke up:

"I heard that Master is at the Imperial Palace right now?"

Liu Yongxiao said flatly:

"Yes. In three days, the throne will change hands and a new Emperor will be enthroned. Master rarely has the leisure, so he came down the mountain to observe the ceremony and experience these mortal affairs."

Just as he finished speaking,

his gaze suddenly shifted to the end of the long street, a smile gracing the corners of his lips:

"It seems my ninth brother is a man of sentiment and loyalty after all."

After a pause,

he continued:

"It’s just a pity that such people are destined for a short life!"

...

TAP TAP TAP.

「Ten-Mile Long Street.」

Wang Xiao, dressed in a long robe, swept through the crowd and arrived at the execution grounds.

Shangguan Xiyue followed by Wang Xiao’s side, the Spiritual Power around her body already gathering, ready to be unleashed.

She whispered, "Young Master, Liu Yongxiao has really made a grand play. I can already sense the auras of four Cultivators of the True Form Realm."

Her Nether Moon Destruction Technique Record was extremely sensitive to detecting auras.

Even though these True Form Realm Cultivators had deliberately concealed their auras, they could not escape her senses.

Wang Xiao said flatly, "That’s perfect. Opportunities for this kind of training are rare. You have seldom fought anyone these past few years. This time, you can put what you’ve learned to the test."

"Yes, Young Master."

Hearing Wang Xiao’s words, Shangguan Xiyue’s nervousness was instantly swept away.

It was as if, so long as the person beside her was there, it wouldn’t matter even if the sky fell.

Wang Xiao said no more. He walked through the crowd and onto the empty execution grounds.