12: The Unparalleled Emperor (Part Six)

Two years had passed since that thrilling assassination in the dark alley.

The undercurrents in the Imperial Capital never ceased. It was said that the identity of one of the two Spirit King experts who attacked that night was finally discovered to be an Old Ancestor from the Chen Family, one of the Four Great Families.

Emperor Shenwu was furious, but he did not publicly punish him. However, not long after, that Old Ancestor “accidentally” suffered a Qi Deviation during a secluded Cultivation session and died.

Anyone with discerning eyes understood that this was a silent warning from the imperial power to the aristocratic Families.

Two years later, fifteen-year-old Wu Yun had quietly achieved a Breakthrough to the Fourth Level of Spirit Transformation Realm.

He was even specially permitted by Emperor Shenwu to become the only personal Disciple of an reclusive Spirit King Old Ancestor from the imperial Family, making him the only Disciple of that old monster.

At this moment, inside the study of Prince Yun's manor, Wu Yun stood silently by the window.

"Brother Wu Yun."

A clear and pleasant voice rang out, the door pushed open, and a young girl skipped in.

The girl was only thirteen or fourteen years old, dressed in a light yellow long dress. Her skin was as fair as snow, and her eyes and brows were as picturesque as a painting, already possessing a beauty capable of toppling cities.

She was none other than the famous Princess Taiping of the Shenwu Empire, Wu Yun's fiancée.

This marriage was personally bestowed by Emperor Shenwu a year ago. Princess Taiping's father was Prince Taiping, who guarded the Southern Border, a genuine Sixth Level Spirit King master and one of the Empire's Eight Great Masters.

Wu Yun knew very well that these so-called Eight Great Masters were merely the Empire's visible cards. Beneath the surface, who knew how many old monsters were hidden.

"Tomorrow is the Academy's Grand Trial, how can Brother Yun not have some treasures to protect himself?"

Princess Taiping, as if presenting a treasure, poured out a pile of shimmering objects from her Storage Ring.

There was the “Profound Turtle Jade Pendant” that could withstand a full-strength attack from a Spirit Transformation Realm expert, the “Nine-Reversion Spring Pill” that could instantly restore fifty percent of one's spiritual power, and even an extremely rare “Minor Teleportation Talisman.”

Each of these items was enough to drive ordinary Cultivators crazy.

Wu Yun looked at her bright eyes and smiled.

He didn't take the treasures, but merely reached out and habitually ruffled her head.

"I appreciate the thought. However, a mere prefectural examination doesn't require these."

His tone was calm, yet it held an undeniable confidence.

On the day the prefectural examination began, the martial arts arena of the Empire's First Academy, Ling Tian Academy, was packed with people.

Wu Yun's opponent was a Genius Disciple from another top aristocratic Family in the capital, whose Cultivation had reached the Fourth Level of Spirit Nurturing Realm, making him a standout among his peers.

However, in front of Wu Yun, this level of Cultivation was simply not enough.

His opponent went all out, unleashing his strongest Martial Skill, spiritual light shining, and his Aura astonishing.

Wu Yun merely extended a single finger.

A wisp of almost imperceptible cold Qi lingered at his fingertip, casually meeting the opponent's attack.

There was no earth-shattering boom.

The violent torrent of spiritual power, the moment it touched Wu Yun's fingertip, silently melted away like spring snow meeting the scorching sun.

The entire venue fell silent.

Everyone was too stunned by this scene to speak.

While his peers were still struggling in the Qi Nurturing and Spirit Nurturing Realms, he had already stepped into a completely different world.

How could they fight this?

It was impossible to fight.

Wu Yun won the championship with an absolutely overwhelming display, entering Ling Tian Academy without any suspense.

This was where Murong Zhaoxue had once Cultivated in his previous life.

Upon entering the inner academy, the academy's head, a highly respected Spirit King expert, personally came forward and announced that he would personally instruct Wu Yun.

Time flew by, and another three years passed.

Eighteen-year-old Wu Yun graduated from Ling Tian Academy with the terrifying Cultivation of the Ninth Level of Spirit Transformation Realm.

On the day of his graduation, he did not return to the princely manor, nor did he enter the palace to meet the Emperor. Instead, he went to a place alone.

The Murong Family.

Although the Murong Family was not among the Four Great Families, it had a profound foundation and was a force not to be underestimated in the Imperial Capital.

"Prince Yun has arrived at the manor."

"Prince Yun is a target of public criticism; countless eyes in the Empire are watching him."

"I hope he doesn't bring trouble to the manor..."

Led by the butler, Wu Yun met a woman who bore a seven-tenths resemblance to Murong Zhaoxue in a secluded courtyard.

She was Murong Zhaoxue's mother, Madam Murong.

However, the woman before him had a face full of weariness and sickness, as if a gust of wind could blow her over.

According to the butler, Murong Zhaoxue's father had died in battle when she was young, and Madam Murong had raised Murong Zhaoxue single-handedly. The news of her daughter's death had completely shattered her spirit.

"Your Highness Prince Yun... cough cough... please sit." Madam Murong struggled to get up and bow.

"Madam, there's no need for such courtesy." Wu Yun stepped forward, offered a gentle support, and a soft spiritual power flowed to her, making her pale complexion look a little better.

The two sat facing each other, silent for a moment.

After a long while, Madam Murong finally spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Your Highness... why have you sought this old woman?"

Wu Yun pondered for a moment, then spoke softly.

"I merely heard of Senior Murong Zhaoxue's great name during my Cultivation days at Ling Tian Academy, so I specially came to the Murong Family to visit."

Upon hearing that name, Madam Murong's eyes instantly reddened, and turbid tears continuously streamed down.

Wu Yun dismissed the butler and servants, and he and Madam Murong began to converse... "That child... had a bitter life... her father died early... and she had a stubborn personality, always preferring to be alone since she was young, with few friends... I never saw her take an interest in any young Genius..."

The woman seemed lost in her memories, rambling on, as if speaking to Wu Yun, yet also to herself.

"Actually... that's not entirely true... in her heart... she always harbored feelings for someone..."

"It's all my fault... if I hadn't told her back then, told her about the rumors of the Luoyun Slope ambush plan I heard from the manor... perhaps she... perhaps she would have gone to Luoyun Slope, and wouldn't have..."

As she spoke, Madam Murong's tears flowed uncontrollably again.

Wu Yun's hand, holding the teacup, stopped in mid-air.

His heart uncontrollably skipped a beat.

He heard himself ask in an extremely dry voice.

"Who... was that person?"

Madam Murong seemed not to hear, merely immersed in her own sorrow, muttering to herself.

"Someone named... Li Yun... the Li Yun who was eventually branded a traitor to the Empire."

"Boom!"

Li Yun!

These two words exploded in Wu Yun's mind!

The entire world seemed to collapse and shatter at this moment.

Scenes from his previous life surged into his mind like a tide.

He and his brothers were surrounded at Luoyun Slope, and his brothers died one after another... He had always thought her appearance was a coincidence.

It wasn't.

Nothing was a coincidence.

She wasn't on a secret mission at all... she was only there for him, Li Yun.

Immense regret and heartache, like an invisible hand, tightly squeezed his heart, making him almost unable to breathe.

Why... an indescribable killing intent wildly surged from the deepest part of his heart, instantly sweeping through his entire body.

That cold hatred was no longer just for his own death, but even more for that wronged, foolish girl.

Blood vessels climbed in Wu Yun's eyes, turning them crimson.

Xiang Tong!

In this life, if I don't exterminate your entire clan, I, Wu Yun... swear I am not human!