206: Those who obey me will prosper, those who defy me will perish.

The Man in Black was shocked when he heard Prince Duan accurately state his identity.

Although he was known as Iron Palm Skimming Water, he had always acted discreetly, and few people in the Jianghu knew of him.

Prince Duan was far away in the Kingdom, so how could he know so much about him? Could he guess his identity just based on his palm technique?

"Prince Duan is truly knowledgeable. To be able to guess this old man's identity based solely on his palm technique is truly admirable," Qiu Qianren said, a hint of mockery in his tone.

"Heh, this Prince doesn't need your flattery."

"It truly surprises this Prince that you could wait until now to act. This Prince thought you would strike during the initial chaos."

"Unexpectedly, you chose to strike when everyone thought the battle was over and their guard was down, catching them completely off guard."

"If it were anyone else, you probably would have succeeded."

"However, since you met this Prince, you are destined to fail."

"Furthermore, do you really think that by stealing the heavenly demon zither, you can become invincible?"

"You are too naive. If the heavenly demon zither truly granted invincibility, would this Prince leave it here for you all to snatch?" Prince Duan looked at Qiu Qianren with a half-smile.

Prince Duan's words stunned Qiu Qianren. He suddenly realized the crucial point: the matter of the heavenly demon zither was orchestrated by Prince Duan.

The purpose was to make them fight over it. This way, he could avoid having to act personally and resolve those ill-intentioned Martial Forest practitioners without shedding blood.

This was killing two birds with one stone.

At this moment, Xiao Yuanshan and Li Xunhuan also understood why Prince Duan had previously brought out the heavenly demon zither. That was the true objective.

This wasn't killing two birds with one stone; it was killing three birds with one stone.

He both resolved the trouble and gained a good reputation.

"Haha... So everyone was fooled, and everyone was used as a weapon."

"The funny thing is, they actually thought they had a chance to seize the heavenly demon zither."

"Indeed, greed causes people to lose their composure, especially when the temptation is to become the number one under heaven. Tell me, which Martial Forest practitioner could resist such a temptation?"

"This old man has lost, and I admit defeat wholeheartedly. Prince Duan, please proceed with whatever punishment you deem fit." Qiu Qianren wore a look of relief.

If he hadn't been greedy, living a carefree life with his current strength as a Great Grandmaster would have been no problem at all.

Unfortunately, for the sake of the so-called number one under heaven, he ended up in this state.

One can only say he brought it upon himself.

"Since that is the case, then you may die!"

"Xiaodie, he's yours," Prince Duan called softly to Xiaodie.

Now that Xiaodie had learned the Northern Darkness Divine Art, and he himself had absorbed Dragon City's Internal Energy, his strength had already reached the Late Stage of the Land Immortal Realm.

A Great Grandmaster's Internal Energy wouldn't significantly boost him, so it was better to let Xiaodie absorb it, allowing her to rapidly increase her strength.

Hearing Prince Duan's words, Xiaodie's eyes immediately lit up.

Of course, she knew what Prince Duan meant by doing this, and the look she gave him was filled with intense affection, practically dripping with love.

"Thank you, Your Highness..."

Xiaodie walked up to Qiu Qianren, raised her slender palm, and placed it on the crown of his head.

As the Northern Darkness Divine Art activated, Qiu Qianren instantly felt his Internal Energy gushing out uncontrollably.

Qiu Qianren trembled all over, his eyes filled with terror.

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Qiu Qianren's Internal Energy was completely drained. He was reduced to a cripple. Prince Duan waved his hand, instructing Xiao Yuanshan to take him away and dispose of him.

After absorbing Qiu Qianren's Internal Energy, Xiaodie's strength soared rapidly.

It shot up all the way to the Grandmaster Realm before slowly stabilizing.

After all, when absorbing someone else's Internal Energy, it couldn't all be utilized. There was a certain amount of loss when converting it into Northern Darkness True Qi.

Achieving the Grandmaster Realm was already quite good.

"Wow, Your Highness, I—I reached the Grandmaster Realm?" Xiaodie, her eyes shining, hugged Prince Duan's arm, trembling with excitement.

Feeling the softness transmitted from his arm, Prince Duan felt a surge of private delight.

"This is just the beginning. You'll have plenty of opportunities to improve your strength in the future," Prince Duan said, pinching Xiaodie's nose with a doting expression.

"Hehe, I knew Your Highness treats me the best." Xiaodie smiled blissfully, hugging Prince Duan's arm, unaware that the fullness of her chest was being squeezed out of shape.

At this moment, Xiaodie wished she could melt into Prince Duan's body, allowing the two of them to become one, never to be separated.

Seeing how Prince Duan treated even a Maidservant by his side, Li Xunhuan thought of his childhood sweetheart Cousin and felt a wave of self-mockery.

Li Xunhuan, oh Li Xunhuan, what kind of man are you? You can't even protect the woman you love; you are truly unworthy of being a man.

"Your Highness, this subordinate has an presumptuous request, and I hope Your Highness will approve it." Li Xunhuan hesitated, but then made up his mind. Some matters needed to be resolved.

"Oh? You want to settle the score with Long Xiaoyun?" Prince Duan looked at Li Xunhuan with a calm expression.

"Yes. I have already wronged my Cousin greatly over the years, and I cannot let her continue to suffer."

"Furthermore, the matter between the Li Family and the Long Family must be settled," Li Xunhuan nodded in admission.

He wasn't surprised that Prince Duan knew his thoughts.

Since Prince Duan knew the truth about the events of that year, he would naturally anticipate that he would seek revenge against Long Xiaoyun.

"You may. This Prince grants you the opportunity. Also, regarding the matter of the Plum Blossom Thief, you should have suspected it long ago—the Plum Blossom Thief has been dead for a long time."

"The reason you were framed as the Plum Blossom Thief was all orchestrated behind the scenes by Long Xiaoyun, Lin Xianer, and Hundred Knowledgeable."

"You had already suspected Lin Xianer, but because of your brother Ah Fei, you never exposed her. Moreover, you didn't have enough evidence to prove it."

"However, you have evidence now, because this Prince's word is evidence."

"If anyone disagrees, let them come find this Prince."

"This Prince dislikes indecisive people. Do you understand what you need to do?" Prince Duan looked at Li Xunhuan, his tone calm yet full of dominance.

Or rather, he exuded a bandit-like arrogance: Those Who Obey Me Prosper, Those Who Defy Me Perish.

My rules are the rules.

If anyone else had said such words, Li Xunhuan would have dismissed them, but coming from Prince Duan, he didn't doubt them at all.

Li Xunhuan's expression changed completely. He had indeed suspected Lin Xianer before, but having it confirmed by Prince Duan still left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Why? Were all these people he trusted plotting against him?

What exactly did Li Xunhuan do wrong? Why was everyone targeting him?

"Your Highness, may I know why Long Xiaoyun targeted me?"

"I, Li Xunhuan, believe I have never done anything to wrong him. Why target me like this? It caused the ruin of my Li Family." Li Xunhuan looked at Prince Duan, his face pale.

"Long Xiaoyun is the remnant of the Long Family from back then..."