261: The royal family practiced in seclusion for decades, and their actions shocked the world!

Hangzhou before dawn should have been the calmest time of the day.

But today, an invisible undercurrent was quietly surging.

Li Shengyuan did not deliberately conceal his whereabouts. He emerged from the Lake Heart Island, his steps unhurried, yet each one seemed to tread on the heartstrings of all who watched.

When Li Shengyuan returned from overseas, the various powerhouses in Hangzhou had felt a strange atmosphere, and now Li Shengyuan was finally taking action again.

He wore a simple robe, his face stern, attracting countless gazes, both overt and covert.

“It’s Li Shengyuan! He’s going to make a move again!”

“This direction… it’s Prince Wei’s Residence!”

“Indeed! The Shen Family massacre, years ago I felt there was something fishy, and it truly is connected to Prince Wei! Lord Li is going to personally demand an explanation!”

“Hiss… directly going to a Prince’s Residence to demand an explanation, this is a truly earth-shattering event!”

“Quick, follow him and see!”

On both sides of the long street, under eaves, behind window lattices, and in the shadows of alleys, figures quietly emerged.

There were martial arts heroes from the city, spies from various factions, and also some well-informed ordinary martial artists.

Everyone held their breath, following closely behind Li Shengyuan, daring not to get too close, yet unwilling to miss this historic moment.

The crowd grew larger, yet maintained an eerie silence, with only Li Shengyuan’s steady footsteps echoing on the empty street, striking at everyone’s heart.

Finally, the magnificent, vermilion-lacquered, copper-studded gate of Prince Wei’s Residence was visible in the distance.

Two ferocious and mighty stone lions guarded the entrance, and the three gilded characters “Prince Wei’s Residence” on the plaque gleamed with majesty in the faint morning light.

Li Shengyuan stopped ten zhang in front of the gate, his gaze calmly sweeping over the tightly closed entrance and the faint tension emanating from behind it.

All those observing in secret widened their eyes, wondering how this young titan, now immensely powerful and unfathomably strong in Great Qian, would announce his arrival.

Would he present a name card? Or announce himself loudly?

However, Li Shengyuan provided the answer with his actions.

“Clang—!”

A clear sword cry, like a dragon’s roar, suddenly rang out, piercing the dawn’s silence!

He merely pointed his fingers like a sword, not even truly drawing the sword at his waist, but simply slashed through the air!

A highly condensed, dazzling sword qi burst forth. Initially as thin as a hair, it then rapidly expanded with the wind, transforming into a streak of light that spanned the sky, fiercely striking the vermilion-lacquered gate that symbolized a Prince’s prestige!

“Boom!!!”

An deafening roar ensued!

The moment the sword qi met the gate, the heavy solid wood gate exploded like paper!

Countless splinters mixed with shattered copper nails flew everywhere, and dust billowed!

The scene behind the gate was exposed—dozens of fully armed Prince’s Residence guards, weapons in hand, their battle formation overturned by the aftermath of that single sword strike, each face pale with terror, staring at the god-like, demon-like figure outside the gate.

One sword!

With just a single finger of sword qi, he brazenly shattered the gate of a Prince’s Residence!

This act was tantamount to trampling the imperial family’s dignity underfoot, and it was the most direct, most blatant provocation and declaration of war against Prince Wei Mu Weiran!

The entire scene was silent!

You could hear a pin drop!

Everyone hiding in the shadows was utterly shocked by this earth-shattering sword strike.

They had guessed that Li Shengyuan would be very firm, but they had not expected him to be so overbearing, so uncompromising!

As the dust slowly settled, Li Shengyuan’s clear voice rang out, not loud, yet it clearly echoed throughout the long street, reaching every corner of Prince Wei’s Residence, and into the ears of every bystander:

“Prince Wei Mu Weiran, repeatedly colluded with the Demonic Cult and leaked secrets, leading to the annihilation of the loyal Shen Family. The evidence is conclusive!”

“His actions are treason! His heart deserves execution!”

“Today, Li Shengyuan is here, on behalf of the wronged souls of the Shen Family, to exact a blood debt!”

His voice was like arctic ice, each word ringing with unquestionable power and killing intent.

Just then, a voice, calm yet suppressing monstrous rage, came from deep within the Prince’s Residence:

“Li Shengyuan, you go too far!”

Before his words finished, a figure, like a ghost, silently appeared behind the shattered gate, in the center of the ruined courtyard.

It was Prince Wei Mu Weiran!

He was still wearing his usual Prince’s attire, his face seemingly calm, but his eyes were like an abyss, burning with humiliation, anger, and a hint of madness that was hard to detect.

However… unlike the Prince in everyone’s impression, who was accustomed to a life of luxury and whose cultivation had remained at the third rank for many years, the aura emanating from Mu Weiran at this moment was like a mountain, vast and boundless!

That pressure spread without reservation, instantly enveloping the entire area, making everyone observing from afar gasp for breath!

“This… this is…”

“Second rank! It’s the aura of a Second Rank powerhouse!”

“My heavens! Prince Wei… when did Prince Wei break through to the second rank?!”

“How is that possible?! He clearly…”

“…”

Gasps of surprise rose like a tide from the hidden crowd. Everyone was stunned by this sudden turn of events, their faces filled with disbelief!

All along, Prince Wei Mu Weiran, among the imperial relatives, was considered to have decent talent and was highly regarded, but his cultivation was always believed to be only at the third rank.

But who would have thought that he had, unknowingly and silently, crossed that chasm that countless martial artists dreamed of, becoming a true Second Rank Grandmaster!

This concealment was truly too deep!

Another question arose in everyone’s minds: when and where did he pass the Second Rank Heavenly Tribulation?

Hiding so deeply, could it be that Prince Wei truly had something unspeakable?

Mu Weiran felt the countless shocked and horrified gazes around him, a cold arc curving at the corner of his mouth. He looked directly at Li Shengyuan, his voice carrying the unique majesty of a Second Rank titan:

“Li Shengyuan, do you truly think this Prince will let you slaughter him as you please?”

What was originally seen as an unquestionable confrontation, because of Prince Wei’s hidden Second Rank cultivation, suddenly became shrouded in mystery!

The standoff between two Second Rank titans—no one dared to easily predict its outcome anymore!

But almost everyone still leaned towards Li Shengyuan, after all, he had three Second Rank powerhouses’ lives in his hands!

However, as an imperial relative, would Prince Wei also have some special means?

Everyone’s hearts were in their throats, their gazes fixed on the two figures in front of the ruins, awaiting an earth-shattering clash!

Facing this sudden turn of events, Li Shengyuan showed no surprise on his face, as if he had already seen through everything.

His gaze remained icy, even carrying a hint of faint mockery:

“You’ve been playing dead for so long, finally… willing to expose your cultivation?”