300: The Ninth Prince Enters

Consort Shu was the first to react. She approached the Martial Saint Emperor and said softly, "Your Majesty, guests have arrived. Since the Chang Sheng Lin Family has come and even spoken of forming a marriage alliance with Ming'er, I ask that Your Majesty please suppress your anger."

"..."

Hearing Consort Shu's words, the Martial Saint Emperor turned to look at her, his eyes filled with hidden meaning. "Consort Shu, this is your doing, isn't it?"

Consort Shu was startled. The Martial Saint Emperor's gaze made her scalp tingle, and she quickly put on a fearful expression. "Your Majesty, I truly know nothing of this!"

"It is fine. I was just asking."

The Martial Saint Emperor withdrew his Aura, sat back down on the dragon throne, and turned his dragon-like gaze back toward Lin Huaizhong.

"Let me state this in advance: if any harm befalls my worthy son-in-law, I guarantee that not a single one of you from the Lin Family present here will return to the Upper Domain."

Upon hearing this, the members of the Lin Family present were all shaken.

This was different from what they had previously understood. Consort Shu had said that the Martial Saint Emperor wanted to support the Ninth Prince in ascending to the throne, and that Lin Ye was the greatest threat.

As long as they could eliminate him without bringing a bad reputation upon the Wu Dynasty, they could do whatever they pleased.

Yet now, the Martial Saint Emperor had stated in front of so many people that if anything happened to Lin Ye, he would make the entire Lin Family pay with their lives.

This was an entirely naked threat.

Could it be… Lin Huaizhong's pupils constricted. He suddenly thought of a possibility.

As expected of the Martial Saint Emperor. If Lin Ye truly met with an accident within his Wu Dynasty, even if others knew it was the Lin Family's doing, the Wu Dynasty would still bear responsibility.

After all, Lin Ye had a marriage engagement with the Princess, Wu Mingyue.

By threatening the Lin Family in front of everyone, even if something were to happen, the Martial Saint Emperor could completely distance the Wu Dynasty from it.

What a brilliant move! Lin Huaizhong marveled at the Martial Saint Emperor's cunning.

He did not realize that the other party was genuinely threatening him. After all, in the Martial Saint Emperor's view, he had already struck a deal with Lin Ye.

Seeing that the Ninth Prince and Consort Shu had brought the Lin Family over and had arranged a marriage engagement between Lin Yueer and the Ninth Prince, they were clearly trying to take control of the entire Wu Dynasty while he was in seclusion.

Now it seemed that making a deal with Lin Ye was more reliable.

"Very well, everyone. Since the matter has been discussed, let us prepare to begin."

Hearing the Martial Saint Emperor's approval, a minister nearby hurriedly stepped forward.

"Today's martial competition is a contest between the princes and princesses. Of course, you may also have close members of the younger generation fight on your behalf."

"The first match is between the Fifteenth Prince and the Thirteenth Princess. I ask that both Your Highnesses take the stage."

Since Wu Mingyue had set the precedent, the other princes and princesses would naturally utilize this rule.

Sure enough, not a single one of them went up themselves; instead, they all had the Prodigies they had sought out step onto the arena stage in their place.

Boom! Boom! Boom! As young Prodigies, they went all out the moment they started. On the arena stage, the sounds of explosions were constant, and various dazzling Bao techniques interwove, causing the onlookers to gasp repeatedly.

At this moment, Lin Ye and Lin Yu both turned their gazes toward the Chang Sheng Lin Family's side, especially toward that little girl, Lin Yueer.

Seemingly feeling their gazes, the usually arrogant and domineering Lin Yueer now wore a look of fear on her small face.

Back on the Lingxu Battlefield, her Dao Heart had been completely shattered by Lin Ye. If she could not deal with Lin Ye this time, her future path of the Dao would end here. Lin Ye would become her Heart Demon!

The gazes of those Lin Family members directed at Lin Ye and Lin Yu were filled with Killing Intent. Now was not the time, but as long as they were within this Wu Dynasty, they would find an opportunity sooner or later. Furthermore, to be safe, Lin Huaizhong had already used a token to notify the Lin Family in the Upper Domain. Apart from them, core Elders might also descend.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! The sounds of explosions on the arena stage were constant. After some time, the battle finally concluded. One of the Prodigies was heavily injured and defeated, while the other looked panting and breathless, with large patches of blood on their body, evidently having also used their full strength.

"This battle is won by the Thirteenth Princess!" Hearing the minister's announcement, the Fifteenth Prince's expression turned gloomy; he clearly had not expected that the person he had sought out would lose in the first match.

But defeat was defeat. Previously, the Martial Saint Emperor's words had been refuted by everyone using ancestral teachings, so saying anything now would be meaningless. The second match officially began.

It was still two Prodigies invited from the outside standing on the arena stage. It was not that the princes and princesses themselves lacked talent or strength, but when external help could be invited, one would naturally invite someone stronger than oneself. A new round of bombardment began.

When both sides were Prodigies, especially when their combat power was evenly matched, a battle would take a long time to conclude. As one battle after another ended, some rejoiced while others worried. Finally, it was the Ninth Prince's turn.

This prince, who had once been designated as the crown prince, was viewed with great resentment by the many princes and princesses. Especially when they heard the minister announce his opponent, those people almost laughed out loud.

"In this match, the Ninth Prince versus the Princess. Both of you, please ascend the arena stage." The Princess? Didn't that mean Lin Ye would be the one appearing?!

Moreover, the most important point was that the Ninth Prince believed he would definitely win; after all, the Martial Saint Emperor had long ago stated that he was the next Martial Emperor. Therefore, apart from contacting the Chang Sheng Lin Family, he had not sought out any other Prodigies at all. In other words, he had to fight this battle himself.

Earlier, when the members of the Chang Sheng Lin Family and Lin Ye had locked gazes, the Ninth Prince had felt that terrifying Killing Intent. Now, facing Lin Ye...

"Ninth Prince! Please take the stage!!!" Just as the Ninth Prince was deep in thought, the minister over there urged him again, telling him to go up to the stage.

Hearing the voice, he finally snapped back to reality, but it was clear that he had already become a laughingstock. Not to mention the other princes and princesses, even the civil and military officials were whispering among themselves. Their gazes were clearly all fixed on him, the Ninth Prince.

"Damn it!" The Ninth Prince cursed angrily, then strode toward the arena stage. So what if he is a peerless Prodigy? I am more than a dozen years older than Lin Ye; after all, we are not of the same generation. My cultivation must be stronger than his! A mere Lin Ye, wouldn't that be…

The Ninth Prince, who had been constantly trying to bolster his own courage internally, panicked the instant he stepped onto the arena stage, especially when he saw Lin Ye watching him with a smile.

Besides his terrifying talent, what made people fear Lin Ye the most were his ruthless methods. The reputation of the Peerless Fiend did not come from nothing. Therefore, while staring directly at Lin Ye, the Ninth Prince almost shouted out that he surrendered. But with so many people present, if he surrendered without a fight, how could he ever control the entire Wu Dynasty in the future?!