Chapter 1006: Is Adding This Emperor Enough?
Zhuang Qiang met Yan Hui during the Clan Leader and Great Elder’s birthday celebration, where Yan Hui represented the Royal Family to offer congratulations.
“I am Yan Hui, the Third Prince of the Royal Family, and I greet you all.”
Yan Hui landed beside Yan Feng, smiling as he introduced himself to the surrounding martial artists, appearing polite, in stark contrast to Dongfang Canglang’s domineering presence.
“Gasp, the Third Prince!”
“I didn’t expect even a prince from the Royal Family would come.”
“Jiang Chen of the Thousand Mechanism Sect, along with fellow disciples, greets Your Highness.”
…
…
The martial artists present, shocked, were led by their sect leaders to greet Yan Hui.
“Your Highness.”
Yan Feng saw the presence of the Third Prince and felt relieved. The pressure from Dongfang Canglang was immense, but now with His Highness here, there was nothing to worry about.
“Yan Hui, do you think your mere presence can resolve this matter?” Dongfang Canglang’s gaze grew colder seeing the respect everyone showed Yan Hui.
“I am here to resolve this matter, but is it possible there’s a misunderstanding?”
Yan Hui’s expression remained unchanged, unbothered by Dongfang Canglang’s aggressive demeanor, and instead, he turned to Yan Feng: “Yan Feng, let me ask you, did you really kill Li You?”
Facing his own prince’s gaze, a flicker crossed Yan Feng’s eyes, but he gritted his teeth and said, “It was I who killed him.”
“I understand.”
Yan Hui nodded and looked toward Lin Chen on the other side: “You must be Lin Chen of the Canglan Sect, renowned as the top at Martial Arts Mountain and first in the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda preliminaries. I have heard your name several times, and seeing you now, you truly are a Celestial Pride.”
Lin Chen looked at the Third Prince, and although the prince’s words were full of praise, Lin Chen felt his gaze had an inexplicable nuance.
This he perceived with his Divine Soul, and Lin Chen had utmost trust in his own soul.
“Your Highness praises me too much; I am just an ordinary disciple of the Canglan Sect.”
“No need for such humility.”
Yan Hui shook his head: “I know Yan Feng’s strength, it’s not enough to kill Li You. If you did it, you should own up to it; as a Celestial Pride, are you afraid to admit what you have done?”
“Your Highness?”
Yan Feng’s face shifted dramatically upon hearing his prince speak, but Yan Hui simply gave him a cold look.
The martial artists present were in an uproar at Yan Hui’s words.
That subordinate of Young Master Dongfang, Li You, was killed by Lin Chen?
If Lin Chen killed him, then why did Yan Feng from the Royal Family take the fall for Lin Chen earlier?
“Let’s do this, since it wasn’t you, Lin Chen, swear a Heavenly Path Oath stating that you didn’t kill Li You, and the Royal Family will take responsibility.”
Yan Hui spoke again, and even Dongfang Canglang shifted his gaze to Lin Chen. Indeed, all eyes were on Lin Chen.
“Sister, what should we do, Prince Consort might be in danger.”
“Let’s wait a bit longer.”
Zhuang Qiang’s expression grew tense. She hadn’t expected the Third Prince’s arrival to shift attention to Lin Chen.
This Third Prince of the Royal Family…
Whoosh!
Zhuang Qiang suddenly recalled something; during the Great Elder’s birthday celebration, the little princess was also present, and the Third Prince left immediately after the celebration without any delay.
There were rumors in the clan that the Third Prince wanted to marry the little princess, but she had rejected him.
If that’s true, this behavior of the Third Prince makes sense, especially if he has learned about the little princess and the Prince Consort’s situation.
At this moment, under everyone’s gaze, Lin Chen, after a pause of three breaths, suddenly burst into laughter.
“You ask me to swear a Heavenly Path Oath, but why doesn’t the Third Prince also make one, that Li You wasn’t killed by someone from the Royal Family? If the Third Prince dares to make an oath, I will bear the burden for your Royal Family.”
Lin Chen’s gaze bore into Yan Hui. The so-called Third Prince, the so-called Young Master Dongfang…
Neither are willing to completely break ties just yet, and Young Master Dongfang needed an explanation, thus pushing the blame on him, both sides tacitly understanding.
It’s all because the Canglan Sect is not as powerful as the Royal Family or the Dongfang Clan.
Yan Hui’s face turned extremely unpleasant; he didn’t expect Lin Chen to retaliate in this manner.
“Impudent, who do you think you are, versus who I am!”
“Your status?”
Lin Chen smirked: “I am a Celestial Pride disciple of the Canglan Sect, backed by generations of ancestors, by tens of thousands of disciples, and by hundreds of thousands of martial artists in the Canglan Domain. Just because of your words, you think I should swear a Heavenly Path Oath? Would the Canglan Domain’s martial artists agree?”
Listening to Lin Chen, the disciples like Jiang Chen from various sects showed agreement. The Royal Family’s status was indeed noble, but they too represented their sects, and being forced to swear an oath was an insult.
“Sharp-tongued, if you won’t swear, then kneel before this Young Master!”
Dongfang Canglang saw Yan Hui being rebuked by Lin Chen and felt a sense of pleasure. While he might have liked to recruit Lin Chen at other times, Lin Chen had thwarted his plans against the Moon Soul Race and must die!
“Young Master Dongfang, please calm down; Lin Chen is the Prince Consort of our Flower Race!”
Zhuang Qiang couldn’t stand it any longer and spoke loudly, moving to stand with her sister beside Lin Chen.
With Zhuang Qiang’s words, Yan Hui’s face turned completely dark.
And at the scene, Zhuang Qiang’s words once again caused a stir.
Prince Consort of the Flower Race?
What kind of power is the Flower Race?
Another one they haven’t heard of?
“Prince Consort of the Flower Race?”
Dongfang Canglang showed a hint of surprise; he had heard of the Flower Race princess’s return, and even knew something of the Eldest Princess’s deeds.
“Lin Chen, Young Master Lin, is recognized by our little princess as her husband and is the Prince Consort of the Flower Race. I hope Young Master Dongfang will let this matter go for the Flower Race’s sake.”
Zhuang Qiang spoke calmly, and the expression Lin Chen showed towards the Zhuang sisters was complex; he hadn’t expected them to stand up for him now.
“A Prince Consort not yet recognized by the Flower Race, that’s not enough!”
Dongfang Canglang’s eyes mocked; letting Lin Chen go would damage his prestige.
If the Flower Race publicly recognized Lin Chen as Prince Consort, he might hesitate, but evidently, Lin Chen had not gained the Flower Race Elders’ approval; killing him might make them thankful.
“If Young Master Dongfang finds it lacking, how about adding me?”
A crisp female voice echoed. Everyone saw a bright moon rising on the horizon, arriving above the lake in mere moments, revealing a crown-adorned young girl bathed in moonlight, joining Lin Chen’s side.
Deep within the Ten Thousand Flames Sect.
A red-robed elder placed a chess piece and smiled at the blue-robed elder: “Let the young ones handle their matters. We should focus on our game.”
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