– Did the first prince… just used a single blow to kill the green ice leopard?!
– But how is that possible? I thought he was a nobody. Where did that power come from?!
All eyes flitted from Xia Yan to the dead green ice leopard.
Shock could be read on their faces. Their breath caught in their throats, preventing the words from escaping.
The name 'scum” had always been a symbol of Xia Yan.
In this world where power and authority were paramount, the profligate Xia Yang was considered 'scum,” if not for his royal origins.
But now Xia Yang had killed a green ice leopard of the 1st stage of the Core Realm in one blow.
How could they not be shocked?
– Protect the second princess!
While they were trying to find the words, the general and the experts of the imperial guard had already run inside the hall and surrounded the emperor and the second princess with a tight ring of protection.
Soon a squad of soldiers swung open the double doors leading into the hall and burst inside with long spears in their hands. Some ran to Emperor Xia, and some ran to the dead leopard, fearing that it might raise its head and attack again. The rest went to check on the ministers, officials, and imperial princes.
Meanwhile, the hundred summoned beauties still in the hall stumbled further back, their faces pale from the horrific scene they had just witnessed. As they slowly came to their senses, the looks they had once cast at Xia Yang changed completely.
Wasn’t everyone saying that the first prince was a “waste of time”?
If he had the strength to kill the spiritual beast of the Core Realm with one blow, didn’t that mean that his strength was far superior to that of the other twelve imperial princes?
– Are you not wounded, the second princess?
Emperor Xia, unable to stay still, rushed over to Tang Dyer. He looked down at her, full of concern.
– Thank you for your concern, Emperor, but there is nothing wrong with me.
It should not be forgotten that she was royalty. So even though she had just faced the threat of death, she was quickly able to regain her composure. She smiled encouragingly at Emperor Xia’s concern.
– Good… Good… It’s good that everything is good…
Emperor Xia’s shoulders relaxed as he let out a long sigh of relief. Only the rivulets of cold sweat running down his back reminded him of how much he was scared.
Tang Dyer was the second Tang princess. If they were to marry into the imperial Xia family, there would be a long-lasting friendly alliance between their two kingdoms. But if she were injured or died, the Xia would not only lose face, they would be forced to confront Tang’s thunderous wrath.
The easy punishment for their mistake would have resulted in their ceding of territory, but the worst would have been their extermination.
It could be said that Xia Yan’s actions inadvertently saved Xia from extinction.
With this terrible thought swirling around in his mind, the cold, scalding gaze of Emperor Xia fell on Xia Yangzi’s body.
– Someone come and detain the thirteenth prince! I want him publicly flogged 500 times and then thrown into an icy prison so he can think about his mistake!
– O-Father! I-it’s not my fault. I’m telling you the truth. I had nothing to do with it!
The blood visibly receded from Xia Yangzi’s face. He was begging and sobbing, his voice breaking off.
He didn’t understand how this could have happened. One moment everything was going according to plan, and the next, the script took a wrong turn. The green ice leopard, who he thought had been completely weaned from his wilder nature, suddenly went wild, almost injuring the second princess.
– Your Highness, we apologize for having to insult you!
The two imperial guards of the Little Extremes of the Kingdom, ignoring the shouts of the thirteenth prince, dragged him to the middle of the main hall and began to flog him. (I just imagined it for a second… creepy._)
Xia Yangzi’s pity cries seemed deafening as they echoed off the walls.
Emperor Xia hoped that this public flogging would calm his anger and appease Tang. Of course, this did not mean that he showed his son no leniency. He would immediately cut off the head of any mere minister for such a mistake.
You can read more just search nitro scans at google.
Some of the other imperial princes enjoyed Xia Yangzi’s sudden misfortune. But although they now had one less rival, they discovered a stronger one. Each of them looked at the serene Xia Yanqi standing beneath the throne.
– I had never heard or seen him practice any cultivation methods. How did he become so strong?
– Maybe he was hiding his strengths so that we would underestimate him.
– But I still don’t feel any spiritual Qi coming from his body. How did he manage to kill that green ice leopard in one blow?
– No matter how, I always thought the second brother was the strongest among us, not the first brother. I guess I was wrong.
The attitude of the twelve imperial princes toward Xia Yan changed.
They could not understand how Xia Yang, who used to be considered space, suddenly became a being who dominated them.
To kill a green ice leopard with a single blow, required a power that exceeded the 4th stage of the Core Realm. And since Xia Yang didn’t use any cultivation techniques or spiritual Qi, they concluded that he was at least at the 7th stage of the Core Realm. And if their conclusion is correct, then the 22-year-old young man had an underlying tendency toward cultivation associated with a King-level physique.
In the world of cultivation, having a Mortal physique meant that the farthest you could reach was the Yuan Realm while having a Yuan physique meant that you could reach the Core Realm. The following cultivation abilities-the Core, the Celestial Kingdom, the King, and the Emperor-worked in roughly the same ways.
The twelve imperial princes themselves possessed the physique of the Celestial Kingdom, which meant that they had a chance to reach the True King. If any of them could become the True King, Xia would finally be able to enter the ranks of the great kingdom. Thus, they realized the significance of the fact that Xia Yang’s physique was at the level of the King.
– First Prince, I want to thank you for saving me!
Tang Dyer gracefully stood in front of Xia Yan. Her beautiful eyes sparkled as she knelt with the deepest courtesy a princess is capable of.
– You need not be so polite, the second princess. As a distinguished guest in our kingdom, it is my duty to ensure your safety.
Xia Yang expressed almost nothing, even as he smiled back. At first, he did not intend to do anything. The plan was to gradually reveal his power over a long period, giving himself time to adjust to his new abilities. He wasn’t sure why he finally decided to take this step, whether it was for humanity or for Xia. The only thing he knew for sure was that he could not sit idly by and watch as the leopard tried to slice Tang Dyer open.
Tang Dyer suddenly turned to face the Xia Emperor.
– I heard that the first prince and I are the same age and that he is still unmarried. If he does not dislike me, then I, Dyer, am ready to marry him. I only ask Your Majesty to approve this union! – She said respectfully, and a smile hung at the corner of her mouth.
As soon as the princess finished her proposal, the whole hall exploded with another burst of shouting and chaos.