453: Chapter 453 Unexpected Incident, the First Prince Dies

Looking at the miserable state of the First Prince before him, the Prince Successor showed a hint of pity.

The current First Prince was a far cry from his former high-spirited and heroic self.

In the previous thrilling battle, the First Prince had given his all to avoid being captured alive by the Shadow Kill Squad.

His clothes were in tatters, as if ravaged by a gale, soaked in blood that had turned dark red in places.

Even more shocking was that one of his arms was missing; the empty sleeve fluttered in the wind, evoking pity in all who saw it.

However, despite such heavy injuries, the First Prince gritted his teeth, endured the pain of his missing arm, and continued to fight to the death.

His tenacious spirit and unyielding will were truly admirable.

Di Pingjian gazed at the First Prince and couldn't help but sigh; if he hadn't been so obsessed with the position of Prince Successor, with his courage and ability, he could have been an excellent Great General, leading armies to expand the borders and achieve great military feats.

Unfortunately, the First Prince's obsession with the throne was too deep, making it impossible for the Prince Successor to win him over, ultimately leading to this tragic end.

"Eldest Brother, I truly didn't expect you to be so heartless as to want my life! Why is this?"

The Prince Successor asked with a look of shock, gazing at the First Prince in disbelief, his voice trembling slightly.

He couldn't understand; he had finally succeeded in seizing the position of Prince Successor and thought he could let his eldest brother be a leisurely prince.

Free and unfettered from then on, no longer participating in power struggles.

But he hadn't expected his brother to not only be ungrateful but to even send people to assassinate him; it truly chilled his heart.

Although the Prince Successor looked pained, the questions in his heart drove him to continue questioning:

"Eldest Brother, we are biological brothers! Can't you let go of your obsession with the throne and be a wealthy prince in peace?"

In fact, the Prince Successor hadn't planned to kill any of his brothers at first.

He felt that stripping them of their power and influence so they could no longer compete for the throne was enough.

However, his eldest brother's attempt to assassinate him caused murderous intent toward these brothers to begin brewing in his heart.

"Hmph, don't be naive!" The First Prince snorted coldly, a look of disdain appearing on his face.

"As long as one doesn't become the King, death will come sooner or later. And do you think everyone is like you, willing to live in a daze like a fool? To me, not sitting on the throne is harder to endure than death itself!"

"Come, kill me! After you kill me, no one else will have the ability to compete with you for the throne!"

The First Prince's voice echoed in the vast Bujin Mountains, carrying a hint of resolution and helplessness.

His body trembled slightly, and his face looked somewhat distorted due to the intense pain, but his eyes were exceptionally firm, as if he had long since put life and death aside.

The Prince Successor stood quietly before the First Prince, looking at him expressionlessly, seemingly not reacting much to his words.

After a moment, the Prince Successor spoke slowly: "Mm, Father has no siblings; I should have thought of what you said long ago."

His voice was very soft, yet it already revealed a hint of unspeakable coldness.

Having said that, the Prince Successor turned around, his gaze falling on the group of mysterious people in black behind himself and Di Pingjian.

These people were completely shrouded in black robes, their faces hidden, with only pairs of cold eyes flashing with a chilling light in the darkness.

The Prince Successor's gaze met that of one of the mysterious people in black; the person didn't speak or even react, as if they hadn't seen the Prince Successor at all.

Seeing this, the First Prince was startled and quickly explained:

"You don't need to mind them; these people are the squad called Three-Life by Father's side. Their purpose in coming here is to take both our lives.

It seems their target now should be me; even if you don't kill me, I cannot escape death and will ultimately die at their hands."

Hearing this, the Prince Successor's brow furrowed deeply, and he asked suspiciously: "Father actually wants us to kill each other? Whoever loses will be executed by Father?"

He truly couldn't believe it; this was their biological father, how could he be so cold and heartless?

However, Di Pingjian, hearing the First Prince's words, didn't show much surprise.

She seemed to have expected this situation, as if everything was within her control.

"Indeed, Father sent the Three-Life not just for my life; those other princes who sent people to assassinate you today have likely already met their ends at the hands of other Three-Life members sent by Father, their heads severed!"

The First Prince said with a solemn expression.

He paused for a moment and then continued: "However, I do not resent Father, because this is the ancestral decree of our Chaotian Dynasty. Legend has it that this decree was established by the Founding King."

"It is precisely because of this Ancestral Kings Decree that our Chaotian Dynasty has stood firm from ancient times to the present, enduring for thousands of years without decline, and continuously growing to become one of the few powerful Dynasties."

The First Prince's voice was low and firm, as if recounting a heavy piece of history.

As he spoke, the First Prince slowly shook his head, a look of helplessness and regret appearing on his face.

He sighed deeply: "What a pity, what a pity! Originally, Father had high hopes for me, believing I would be more outstanding than you and win this struggle."

"However, things didn't go as planned, and I ultimately let Father down. Since I have failed, I have naturally prepared myself for death."

"Come, my good brother, I hope you can take our Chaotian Dynasty a step further."

Listening to the First Prince's words, a complex surge of emotions welled up in the Prince Successor's heart.

This eldest brother of his was indeed extraordinary; it was truly a pity to kill him.

If he could have him expand the borders and fight on the battlefield, he might have been a great help.

However, the Ancestral Kings Decree suddenly flashed through the Prince Successor's mind.

This command was like a tightening spell, making him not dare to disobey in the slightest.

After all, he was still only the Prince Successor and had not yet ascended the throne, and there were hundreds of overseers from the Three-Life Squad sent by his father watching him like hawks.

As usual, the Prince Successor naturally turned his gaze toward Di Pingjian, as if it had become a habit.

Whenever he encountered something that required thinking or making a decision, he would habitually look at Di Pingjian to hear her views and opinions.

And at this moment, Di Pingjian also felt somewhat surprised and caught off guard.

She had originally thought the First Prince's obsession with the throne was heartfelt, but now it seemed he didn't entirely want to fight for that position out of his own will, but rather out of a certain helplessness or compulsion.

Di Pingjian thought to herself that the other princes probably weren't even qualified to know about these things.

After all, only the First Prince had received the King's special favor and was able to know these secrets in advance.

After a brief hesitation, Di Pingjian finally nodded firmly, indicating her agreement with the Prince Successor's decision to kill the First Prince.

The First Prince indeed had to be eliminated because they currently didn't have enough strength to disobey the King's command.

More importantly, this was not just the King's personal instruction but the Ancestral King's will, which absolutely could not be easily defied.

Moreover, in Di Pingjian's eyes, a person with the potential of a king like the First Prince was truly difficult to control.

If they really defied the Ancestral Kings Decree to save the First Prince, he would very likely break free from the Prince Successor's control in the future and establish himself as king.

At that time, they would not only have gained a powerful opponent for no reason but also brought great trouble upon themselves.

Seeing Di Pingjian nod slightly and understanding her meaning, the Prince Successor turned his gaze back to the leader of the mysterious people in black.

He said in a deep voice: "Since you bear the heavy responsibility entrusted by Father, then the First Prince shall be left to your disposal."

However, the leader of the shadowy figures didn't respond to the Prince Successor's words; he just nodded silently and then waved his arm, and a shadowy figure behind him dashed out as swiftly as a ghost.

In an instant, the shadowy figure sped past like a bolt of lightning, his speed so fast it was staggering.

In the blink of an eye, the First Prince behind the Prince Successor didn't even have time to scream before his head was severed and blood splattered everywhere.

Immediately after, the men in black nimbly picked up the First Prince's body and head and left as quickly as a gust of wind, vanishing without a trace in an instant.

Witnessing this scene, the Prince Successor was both shocked and enraged; he widened his eyes and roared with a face full of fury:

"What kind of people has Father trained? Couldn't they wait until this Prince Successor left before acting?"

He had originally wanted to avoid seeing his eldest brother die a tragic death before his eyes, which was why he specifically ordered the Three-Life Squad in black by his father's side to do the deed.

But he never expected these black-clad Three-Life Squad members to be so ignorant of etiquette, completely disregarding his feelings.

Looking at the shocking pool of blood on the ground and the spot where the First Prince's miserable corpse had been, the Prince Successor's face grew increasingly unsightly, as if water could drip from it.

"Your Highness, you are too kind; you will surely become a wise monarch who is beloved by the people and loves them like his own children in the future."

Di Pingjian looked at the Prince Successor, the corners of her mouth curling slightly as she spoke softly.

However, deep within her heart, Di Pingjian felt an indescribable sensation.

She thought to herself that the Prince Successor being so soft-hearted might not be a good thing for the goals she pursued.

But for some reason, she inexplicably hoped the Prince Successor could always maintain such a character.

Hearing Di Pingjian's words, the Prince Successor's expression softened slightly, and he corrected her solemnly: "It's not that this Prince Successor is kind, but rather that I simply value old ties and sentiment."

Di Pingjian quickly nodded in response: "Yes, yes, Your Highness is absolutely right; you are indeed a person who values old ties and sentiment. However, should we not speed up our return to the capital now?

After all, Your Highness's succession to the throne is already a certainty; your subordinate is quite eager to see Your Highness dressed in magnificent royal robes, ruling over the world!"

"Pingjian, oh Pingjian, after so long, you are still so impatient. Let's go, all of you follow this Prince Successor back to the court to inherit the throne!"

Speaking of inheriting the throne, the Prince Successor's mood immediately improved, and his previous displeasure vanished without a trace.

Di Pingjian and the Prince Successor led the remaining forty-thousand-plus members of the Shadow Kill Squad, rushing toward the Chaotian Dynasty without stopping.

In the fierce battle that had just ended with the First Prince's main army, although the Shadow Kill Squad had successfully killed the enemy, they had also paid a heavy price, with over a thousand members unfortunately killed in action.

However, thinking that the First Prince's elite army of ten thousand had been left in the Bujin Mountains forever, Di Pingjian felt these sacrifices were worth it.

At this moment, sitting on the Flying Horse, Di Pingjian's heart could not be calm.

In the battle just now, others might have failed to see clearly because they were Mortals, but she had seen everything.

She was surprised to find that those members of the King's mysterious Three-Life Squad actually each possessed a cultivation base equivalent to the first or second level of Qi Refining!

And the strength of that leader was likely even more unfathomable, with a cultivation base that absolutely exceeded imagination.

This discovery shocked Di Pingjian; she had originally thought her Shadow Kill Squad was strong enough, but now it seemed there was still a significant gap compared to the King's mysterious forces.

This realization caused a strong surge of unease in Di Pingjian's heart, and she began to re-examine her and the Prince Successor's strength and plans.

Because other Dynasties might not lack squads like the Three-Life.

Although they were not cultivators, their strength had truly reached the level of the Early Stage of Qi Refining.

This was truly surprising, as it was usually not easy for a Mortal to possess such strength.

Recalling the movements of the black-clad man just now, Di Pingjian discovered that they seemed to have cultivated a rather peculiar low-level martial Dao.

Although this martial Dao was very low-level, it was able to fully tap into the potential of a Mortal's Physical Body.

Not only that, they also knew how to skillfully use natural forces like the air currents in the surrounding environment to further enhance their movement speed.

This discovery was like finding a treasure to Di Pingjian; she realized she was fully capable of comprehending a low-level martial Dao suitable for the people of this world to Cultivate.

Although this martial Dao might not be able to extend people's lifespans like Immortal cultivation, it was enough to enhance their strength, making them capable of competing with those powerful Vicious Beasts.

Before this, she had never thought of starting from this aspect, one key factor being that the energy level of this world was truly too low.

For an existence like her, this energy was simply insignificant, completely unable to pique her interest in utilizing it.

Not only that, there was another quite important reason she looked down on this energy.

For some reason, she often felt that her mind was not as sharp as before, and her thinking had become somewhat sluggish.

Although her comprehension ability barely maintained the level of a quasi-Immortal, there was still an indescribable gap compared to the comprehension ability corresponding to her original cultivation base.

Moreover, after living in this world for decades, a subtle change had occurred in her heart.

She didn't know when it started, but she had developed an indescribable sense of identification with this world.

This feeling grew stronger and stronger, to the point where she would often inadvertently view herself as Di Pingjian rather than Cao Yang's Undergoing Tribulation body.

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