The hall fell silent. No one had expected Ye Chen to be so brazen, dismissing the princess's demand for an explanation with such arrogance.

Ye Chen was done pretending. Li Feihuang's overconfidence was laughable—she even doubted she could beat Champion King, which meant she definitely couldn't. The Wang Clan? Utterly useless. If Li Feihuang wanted the throne, she'd have to rely on him. So why should he bother with pretense? Who had the right to demand answers from him?

Li Feihuang's phoenix-like eyes grew colder, her phoenix silhouette flaring as if she were about to strike. The Wang Clan members were stunned. They despised Ye Chen—cultivating Wang Ming had cost them dearly, yet he'd been obliterated before their eyes, his head smashed to pieces. Ye Chen deserved death.

But his strength was undeniable. That single punch had outclassed even Wang Lun by far. If he fought, their chances of victory would soar. If Li Feihuang and Ye Chen clashed now, even subduing him would cost them a vital asset. With the contest just three days away, any injury to Li Feihuang could jeopardize her performance.

If she lost the throne, the Wang Clan would suffer most. Champion King had already marked them for slaughter to set an example. Their clansmen couldn't even leave the capital. Ye Chen could return to the Divine Will Sect, and Li Feihuang, as a royal, would face only house arrest or a political marriage at worst. But the Wang Clan? They faced total annihilation.

As tension crackled, with Li Feihuang and Ye Chen on the verge of conflict, the Wang Clan patriarch spoke, his voice thick with humiliation. "Your Highness, please hold back… Fellow Daoist Ye might not have meant it. With the throne contest imminent, we must prioritize the crown. Let this matter pass."

His final words were ground out through clenched teeth, his grief and fury palpable. To defend the killer of their prodigy was a bitter pill.

Li Feihuang's eyes narrowed, shooting Ye Chen a frigid glance. After a moment's thought, she withdrew her aura and said coldly, "Take me to my quarters to rest. We'll discuss this further later."

The patriarch nodded, leading the way. As Li Feihuang moved gracefully, she cast Ye Chen another icy look. "Follow me."

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow but followed without comment. The Wang Clan's resentful glares stabbed at him as they went.

Soon, the patriarch brought them to a meticulously prepared courtyard and bowed out, knowing Li Feihuang likely intended to reprimand Ye Chen. But with Wang Ming dead, what good was a scolding? Once this was over, if the clan survived, he vowed Ye Chen would pay.

…

Li Feihuang dismissed the attendants with a wave, and once the courtyard was empty, her stern expression melted into a smile. She looked at Ye Chen with approval. "That was a bit ruthless, but well done!"

Ye Chen, who'd been contemplating giving Li Feihuang a thrashing if she kept posturing—to show her who the real powerhouse was—blinked in confusion at her sudden shift. Well done? Did she think he'd dropped his act and was now catering to her ego? That didn't seem like her style.

Li Feihuang lounged in a pavilion, reclining gracefully, her alluring curves catching the eye. Her gaze held genuine appreciation, not pretense. She was truly pleased.

Ye Chen's ruthless killing had initially startled her, but she quickly reasoned he wasn't bloodthirsty—his ambush on Wang Lun had only left him heavily injured. For him to suddenly turn lethal, there had to be a reason.

Digging deeper, she pieced it together. Ye Chen was acting on her behalf, asserting dominance. His defiant attitude afterward was to spare her from a difficult position. The Wang Clan had been overstepping, meddling even in her choice of allies, challenging her authority.

Ye Chen had noticed her frustration, seized the chance to teach them a lesson by killing Wang Ming, and then played the untamed rogue to deflect blame. The Wang Clan, cornered by circumstances, couldn't pursue it further, and the matter was dropped.

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Moreover, Ye Chen's feud with the Wang Clan was likely deliberate, to reassure her. In the future court, she'd need forces to counter the noble families. By positioning himself against the Wang Clan, Ye Chen gave her a reliable ally she could elevate. He could handle dirty work she couldn't touch without tarnishing her reputation, even taking the fall if needed.

Li Feihuang marveled at his loyalty. With heartfelt sincerity, she promised, "Ye Chen, I swear, in the future Great Chu Empire, you'll stand second only to me. The Li royal family has several unwed princesses—you may choose one. Any child you have will bear the Li surname."

Ye Chen's mouth twitched. Your kid wouldn't take my surname anyway. But he realized her warmth was genuine—she truly believed he was devoted to her.

I knew you were overconfident, but this is next-level.

He hesitated but decided against correcting her. As long as he got his rewards, her misconceptions saved him trouble. He'd been ready to ditch her and join Champion King if things soured—emperor or not, he just needed the prize. Her overactive imagination made things easier.

With a calm nod, he said, "Thank you, Your Highness. I plan to explore the capital and take in its sights."

Having come all this way, he intended to shop and scout for high-multiplier female cultivators. Li Feihuang nearly cautioned him to be careful but, recalling his strength—only she and Champion King could reliably overpower him in the city—she held back.

Ye Chen, eager to avoid lingering with the delusional princess, drifted off into the capital.

…

Half an hour later, Li Feihuang summoned the Wang Clan patriarch. "Submit the list."

For the throne contest, each side could field three participants, and the roster had to be reported before the ceremony. The patriarch nodded, dispatching someone to handle it while presenting Champion King's lineup.

Li Feihuang raised an eyebrow at the names. Besides Champion King himself, there was his subordinate, the Flying Tiger General, and an unfamiliar female cultivator named Su Yuxuan. She'd expected the Flying Dragon General alongside Flying Tiger, so who was this Su Yuxuan?

She voiced her confusion, but the patriarch shook his head. "We haven't uncovered much. The Flying Dragon General was suddenly gravely injured and sent to the Bloodspring for healing, likely why they swapped in this woman. She's mid-Golden Core—probably just a placeholder, not worth much attention. Focus on the Flying Tiger General; he broke through to late Golden Core a month ago, and his strength has surely soared."

Li Feihuang nodded, unconcerned. Su Yuxuan, Flying Tiger General—neither mattered to her. Ye Chen could handle them. Her only true rival was Champion King. Recalling the recording stone's incomplete footage of him commanding his ancient war chariot against a Nascent Soul, she narrowed her eyes. He'd hidden too much. She only hoped Ye Chen could force out enough of his tricks or trump cards for her to prepare.

…

In Champion King's mansion, Su Yuxuan lounged by a window, her bare feet dangling as she calculated the days until the throne contest. Once she secured the Nether King's Gall, she'd enhance her spiritual root, use the imperial aura infusion to reach Golden Core peak, and then seek Nascent Soul opportunities with her master.

A servant entered, head bowed to avoid her alluring feet, and spoke respectfully. "Fairy Su, the steward sent me with the opponent's roster and details."

Su Yuxuan yawned, using spiritual energy to grab the jade slip and scanning it lazily. Initially uninterested, her eyes lit up with delight upon seeing a name. Senior Brother is here with the Great Chu princess! As expected, he hadn't failed to get the phoenix blood—he'd likely gifted it to Li Feihuang, just as he'd done for her, because he had something better.

The jade slip had sparse details on Ye Chen: Divine Will Sect guest elder, recently killed Wang Ming. Su Yuxuan's lips curved.

Killing a clan's prodigy in their own home? Senior Brother, you still claim you're not a demonic cultivator?

Manjusaka's voice echoed in her mind. "I didn't expect Ye Chen to show up. Perfect. Defeat him easily in the arena, and you'll see he's no longer worthy of you."

Su Yuxuan ignored her. She rose, activated a secret technique to sense her surroundings, and glided out of the mansion. Manjusaka frowned. "What are you doing?"

Su Yuxuan grinned slyly. "I'm going to tell Senior Brother how vital the Nether King's Gall is—without it, I'll die. Then I'll pamper him with my feet; he loves that. Once he's pleased, I'll beg him to go easy on me in the arena."

Manjusaka flared with anger. "Are you joking? You ascended to a ninth-grade Golden Core with the last essence of the Cleansing Core Pool, inherited the true teachings of the Boundless Demon Sect, and mastered spells from the Immortal Scripture. I even refined that heart for you, fully integrating it. Ye Chen's no match for you. Why beg him—and in such a humiliating way?"

Su Yuxuan pouted. Knowing Ye Chen, she'd be lucky to beat him. His arsenal was endless—back in Foundation Establishment, he'd killed Golden Cores, absurdly strong. Her current heart and eyes, top-tier treasures, were castoffs he didn't want. Whatever he had now must be terrifying. She doubted even Champion King, at the peak of Golden Core prowess, could match him.

To get the Nether King's Gall, she had to appeal to Ye Chen. Her only worry was whether he'd found a new favorite and forgotten her. After all, her senior brother wasn't exactly a saint.

…

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