41: The resentful Old Nine actually fell into the path of evil?

Deep within the Eastern Palace of the Great Chu Imperial Capital, inside a magnificent and grand hall.

A domineering young figure sat leisurely and comfortably in the supremely noble position above the hall.

Before him, an old man with a weathered face was bowed.

At this moment, the two were discussing in hushed tones the matter of Chu Lingyun's return to the Great Chu Imperial Capital.

Their voices were filled with coldness and hostility towards this Ninth Prince.

"You said Ninth Brother brought back a group of fierce generals whose aura even you, an Immortal Lord Realm expert, couldn't fathom?"

"Yes, Crown Prince. Those few individuals were all incredibly robust in vital energy and blood. Just the killing intent honed on brutal battlefields made this old man feel an almost suffocating pressure!"

"How strange! Where did these people come from?"

"Oh, and the Ninth Prince not only recovered his cultivation but also seems to have successfully stepped into the True Immortal Realm!"

"What? Such a thing actually happened!"

"Ten years ago, the Ninth Prince's cultivation was crippled by His Majesty's palm, and he was exiled to the extreme northern lands. He not only recovered his cultivation and survived but also achieved illustrious military feats. Clearly, there was an expert secretly guiding him!"

"If that's truly the case, Ninth Brother's return this time is clearly with ill intentions!"

"Crown Prince, should we... make preparations in advance?"

"Mhm, you secretly pass down my command to those who firmly stand with me to make full preparations.

If Ninth Brother seeks revenge for what happened back then, we will fight him to the death. I was able to firmly deal with Ninth Brother back then, and I won't fear him now either!"

"This old man obeys!" With that, the old man's figure instantly vanished from the hall.

Only the young man remained, sitting alone in the high position.

And this person was precisely the Crown Prince of the Great Chu Dynasty—Chu Aoran.

A short while later, a cold, icy glint flickered in Chu Aoran's deep, pool-like eyes, and his expression became extremely grim.

Ten years ago, he and his birth mother conspired to frame Ninth Brother, leading to his cultivation being ruthlessly crippled by his Imperial Father.

Now, Ninth Brother has returned victorious, full of momentum!

He not only entered the True Immortal Realm but also brought back a group of mysterious and unfathomable experts.

For a time, it actually put him, the Crown Prince of the Great Chu Dynasty, at a disadvantage.

Although he had also secretly and meticulously cultivated his own faction and followers, the strongest among them were only at the Immortal Lord Realm.

If the experts behind Ninth Brother were truly as powerful as just described, then they must be terrifying existences in the Immortal King Realm.

Thinking of this, a cold, murderous light immediately shone in Chu Aoran's eyes.

"Ninth Brother, with such powerful experts supporting you, no wonder you thrived in those extreme northern lands!"

Ten years ago, Ninth Brother, while in the Imperial Capital, overshadowed him, the Crown Prince of the Great Chu Dynasty, with his astonishing cultivation talent.

Now, returning to the Imperial Capital again, he still outshines him in all aspects.

Even Chu Aoran, as the Crown Prince, couldn't help but sigh at how fortunate his younger brother's fate truly was.

At this moment, just as Chu Aoran was racking his brain, pondering how to deal with Ninth Brother next.

A voice, imbued with supreme majesty and seemingly capable of penetrating the soul, suddenly echoed through the hall without warning.

"Chu Aoran, do you want to completely eliminate Chu Lingyun, ascend to the throne of the Great Chu Dynasty, and from then on reach the peak of your life?"

Chu Aoran was startled by this silently appearing voice, his body trembling violently, and he stood up from his seat in a panic.

"Who? Who is speaking!" Chu Aoran's voice carried an undisguised tremor.

After all, this person was able to enter his Eastern Palace so silently. If he wanted to take his life right now, he would certainly have no way to escape!

"This old man is a supreme expert from the heavens above. Passing through this place, I saw that you possess great ambition and the bearing of a Human Emperor, so I specifically came to take you as my closed-door disciple!"

As he spoke, a figure radiating dazzling immortal light, making it impossible to look directly at him, slowly materialized within the hall.

And this figure was none other than Xuan Tianchen!

He stood high above, in a posture that overlooked all beings.

He coldly gazed down at Chu Aoran, fully displaying the majestic demeanor of a powerful expert!

"The Crown Prince of the Great Chu Dynasty greets the Immortal!"

Chu Aoran didn't hesitate for a moment, immediately falling to his knees with a thud.

This was because the terrifying aura emanating from the expert before him was even more chilling than that of his Imperial Father, who was at the Ninth Level of Immortal King Realm.

"Chu Aoran, I ask you, has your Ninth Brother regained his cultivation, and has a group of powerful experts mysteriously appeared by his side?"

Inside the hall, Xuan Tianchen stood suspended with his hands behind his back, slowly speaking with a feigned air of profound mystery.

Upon hearing this, Chu Aoran's pupils suddenly constricted, "The Immortal even knows about this!"

After a brief moment of shock, he spoke again with utmost respect, "My Ninth Brother is indeed as the Immortal says. Does the Immortal know the reason behind this?"

"This old man naturally knows. Your Ninth Brother's ability to regain his cultivation is because he has fallen into the Demonic Path.

Those few people by his side are also all vicious Demonic Path experts.

With your current power, directly confronting him would be like striking a stone with an egg.

Even the entire Great Chu Dynasty could be completely annihilated in his hands!"

"What!" Chu Aoran's face was filled with disbelief.

On the Spiritual Martial Continent, cultivating the Demonic Path was a capital crime that would lead to extermination by all the continent's powerful experts.

However, he never expected that his Ninth Brother had actually fallen into the Demonic Path!

Could it be that because of that incident years ago, resentment grew in his heart, causing him to ultimately abandon the righteous path!

Thinking of this, Chu Aoran immediately said with utmost respect, "Please accept me as your disciple, Immortal!"

"You are indeed teachable. As my disciple, I will naturally help you ascend to the throne of the Great Chu Dynasty and help you elevate the Great Chu Dynasty to a glorious height never before achieved by any previous emperor!"

"Thank you, Master!" Chu Aoran was overjoyed.

Just then, a voice suddenly came from outside the hall.

"Crown Prince, the Ninth Prince has returned victorious and has already arrived at the Golden Throne Hall. His Majesty has sent this old servant to inform you to come and see him."

Seeing this, Chu Aoran calmly replied, "Mhm, I understand. You go ahead, I will be right there!"

As soon as his voice fell, Chu Aoran looked at Xuan Tianchen before him, cautiously asking for his opinion.

"Master, Imperial Father has summoned me. This disciple will go for a moment!"

"Mhm, I have now taken you as my disciple, which makes me your Imperial Tutor. I will also accompany you to meet your Ninth Brother!"

"Yes, Master!"

At this moment, Chu Aoran's heart was filled with an uncontrollable excitement.

With a Master from the heavens above as his powerful backer, even if Ninth Brother possessed extraordinary abilities, he would absolutely not escape his grasp!

No matter who it was, anyone who dared to threaten his throne would only face death!

After all, at this moment, he...

Let alone Ninth Brother, he wouldn't even flinch if he had to make his Imperial Father step down from that position in the Golden Throne Hall.

PS: In response to some fellow Daoists' questions, different planes and continents in the lower realms have varying strengths, and thus the upper limits of cultivation realms also differ!