"That settles it, then!" Li Feihuang said with a confident smile.

Ye Chen was once a genius who could rival her, and Wang Lun was the Wang Clan's most outstanding prodigy of this generation. With herself in the mix, the throne was practically guaranteed.

Before leaving, Wang Lun tilted his chin slightly and spoke, "Fellow Daoist Ye, you'd best think it over carefully. Champion King's subordinates are ruthless killers. In the arena, there'll be no holding back. You might not die, but a severe injury could ruin your immortal path. Coming from a small sect to where you are now clearly wasn't easy. Some decisions warrant careful consideration."

Li Feihuang frowned at his words. Wang Lun was sent by the Wang Clan, and she still needed their support, so she held her tongue. But his meddling irritated her, strengthening her resolve to back Ye Chen and counter the Wang Clan's influence in the future.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, I need to return to my cultivation," she said. "I'll escort you out of the sect. You can rest well in Divine Will City."

As an outsider, Wang Lun wasn't permitted to stay overnight in the Divine Will Sect, so he'd been staying in Divine Will City. He nodded, casting a calm glance at Ye Chen before departing gracefully.

This visit was just the beginning. He'd wait until they returned to the Great Chu Empire together, giving him plenty of time to make Ye Chen see reason and step back willingly.

…

Ye Chen wasn't angered by the disdain in Wang Lun's words. He'd already cast a tracking spell on him.

Staying in Divine Will City, huh? Just wait for tonight.

It was the perfect chance to test the Kunpeng Wings' ability to pierce arrays.

Dismissing the insignificant Wang Lun, Ye Chen turned his thoughts to more pressing matters. The Great Chu Empire was definitely worth a visit. Whether it was the imperial aura infusion slot or treasures like the Nether King's Gall, gifting them could bring him immense benefits, perhaps hastening his path to the peak of Golden Core and the Nascent Soul stage.

As for Li Feihuang, since she no longer triggered critical hits, they could part ways after this. She could be her empress, and he'd pursue his goal of becoming a Holy Son in the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, cutting ties for good.

The only variable was whether he'd encounter Su Yuxuan in the Great Chu Empire and secure a critical hit from the old granny, Manjusaka. The Great Chu Empire, no weaker than the Divine Will Sect, likely had plenty of high-multiplier female cultivators, so it wasn't a big concern.

Still, gifting to Su Yuxuan was ideal. Manjusaka, being an old demonic cultivator, might have a secret technique for plundering others' Golden Cores. If he could gift his core and get a nine-colored one, he'd soar to new heights.

…

In Divine Will City, Wang Lun stood in the secluded courtyard he'd rented for a year, his expression dark. His clan had sent him to win Li Feihuang's favor and secure both subordinate slots for himself and his cousin, allowing them to break through to late Golden Core with the imperial aura infusion.

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Beyond that, the clan had tasked him with capturing Li Feihuang's heart. If he could marry her and become the imperial consort, the Wang Clan would gain immense benefits, potentially even integrating the Moon Phoenix Body into their bloodline—a boon beyond imagination.

But he hadn't anticipated Li Feihuang's high regard for Ye Chen, a nobody from a small sect reduced to a guest elder. Not only was she giving him a slot, but it was clear she trusted him far more than she did Wang Lun. This was unacceptable. Ye Chen was blocking his path—and the Wang Clan's ambitions.

"He has to die."

In the ten months leading up to their departure, Wang Lun planned to make Ye Chen feel the gap between them. If Ye Chen willingly gave up the slot and backed off, that would be ideal. But if he stubbornly clung to Li Feihuang's coattails, then once they left the Divine Will Sect, Wang Lun would notify his clan to act. They'd find an opportunity to eliminate Ye Chen completely.

A mere ant daring to compete for the glory of aiding the dragon's rise? Utterly laughable!

"Young Master, your bathwater is ready…"

"Young Master, shall I serve you tonight?"

Two enthusiastic maidservants sat on either side of Wang Lun, fawning over him. They were from the Great Chu Empire, fully aware of his lofty status and formidable strength. In the empire, aside from Champion King and a few veteran powerhouses, Wang Lun was virtually unmatched among the younger generation, sweeping through his peers without a single defeat. He was destined to become one of the empire's most prominent figures. Serving such a man set their hearts aflutter.

Their flirtations brought a smirk to Wang Lun's lips. As he gazed at the two alluring maids, his mind drifted to Li Feihuang's proud, beautiful face and her near-perfect figure. That woman was destined to be his.

But his ambitions went beyond merely becoming an imperial consort. The Li Clan's ancestor was over nine hundred years old, with only twenty or thirty years left. Once the ancestor passed, it was uncertain whether the Li Clan would still hold sway over the Great Chu Empire.

Imagining a glorious future, Wang Lun couldn't help but laugh heartily, his voice brimming with confidence.

But at that moment, a cold sneer cut through the air. "Laughing your head off in the middle of the night? What's so funny?"

Wang Lun's expression sharpened as he turned to look. A black shadow with wings barreled toward him.

Though he didn't know how the figure had bypassed the courtyard's array, Wang Lun sneered, white light blooming in his hand. He wasn't fazed in the slightest. Even an ordinary late Golden Core cultivator was no match for him. Whoever this was, they were as good as dead. He was eager to see which Great Chu clan had sent an assassin.

In the next moment, the sneer on Wang Lun's face froze.

The incoming enemy was too fast. Before he could even muster a defensive spell, the figure was already upon him. A fist slammed into his abdomen, sending him flying backward.

It felt as if his organs had been shattered, his dantian violently shaken, his spiritual energy scattered. A spray of blood mist erupted from his mouth as he crashed through the courtyard wall, the impact reverberating for miles around.

Divine Will City reacted swiftly. The city's sealing array activated instantly, a white glow illuminating the dark sky.

Struggling to lift his head, Wang Lun glared at the mysterious winged figure escaping into the distance, his eyes filled with fear and hatred. That punch was terrifying, like the strike of a demon beast. His formidable physique was utterly defenseless against it, his Golden Core nearly shattered.

But it was a sneak attack. In a fair fight, with preparation, he might not lose. As the eldest young master of the Wang Clan of the Great Chu Empire, being assaulted in Divine Will City demanded an explanation from the Divine Will Sect. The array was active—the attacker couldn't possibly escape. Once he caught this winged freak, Wang Lun would ensure his death.

The two maidservants, snapping out of their shock, rushed to his side. "Young Master, are you alright?"

Determined not to lose face, Wang Lun swallowed the blood surging in his throat, about to speak. But then, his eyes widened in terror once more.

The fleeing figure in the sky had doubled back, charging toward him at an incomprehensible speed. Before he could react, a foot slammed into his face with such force it nearly took his head off. The sheer power sent him flying again.

As he hit the ground, his mind a muddled haze, he faintly heard the attacker's disdainful sneer. "You dare call yourself a young master?"

To strike the face was the ultimate humiliation. Unable to bear it, Wang Lun spat out a mouthful of blood and passed out.

…

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