This sudden turn of events sent shockwaves through everyone present.
Three lives that had been full of life moments ago had perished in an instant.
"Ahhh!"
"Your Highness, spare us!"
"This servant doesn't know what she did to anger Your Highness..."
The seven remaining courtesans all fell to their knees, trembling with fear, terrified they would be next.
The other girls present were shaking as well.
Only the Blood Wolf Guard commanders remained unfazed, still eating and drinking heartily. They were clearly used to scenes like this.
"Third Brother, what do you mean by this?!"
Xiao Yang furrowed his brows, anger flashing in his eyes.
At that moment, Third Prince Xiao Li still held his saber, looking completely at ease.
"Since they're no longer useful, naturally they should be disposed of like trash!"
"Ninth Brother, when you think about it, those three courtesans died because of you!"
"I'll have them keep pouring you drinks. If you don't drink, I'll kill one!"
"If every girl in Tianxiang Pavilion is dead, I'll just have them capture more from outside! Hahaha..."
His brazen laughter echoed throughout the great hall.
The courtesans looked utterly hopeless.
Xiao Li was not only the heir of King Zhenbei's Mansion; he also commanded three thousand Blood Wolf Guards and held military power.
Even if he killed someone in broad daylight, no one would dare hold him accountable.
"Third Brother, it's only a cup of wine. You didn't have to poison me. I'll drink it."
Xiao Yang picked up his cup and drained it.
Though he despised associating with such a vicious man, now was not the time to fall out with him.
"That's more like it... Keep the music playing, keep the dancing going!"
Xiao Li finally revealed a cruel smile and waved for the girls to continue dancing.
The three bodies and severed heads on the floor were quickly cleared away, as if the slaughter had never happened.
In the eyes of a man like Xiao Li, human life was worthless.
Forget killing three courtesans—even if he slaughtered everyone in Tianxiang Pavilion, its owner wouldn't dare utter a peep.
"Third Brother, you went to such trouble to invite me to this banquet. What is it you want?" Xiao Yang asked bluntly.
Xiao Li didn't answer directly. Instead, he smiled mysteriously and asked, "Ninth Brother, Great Xia is powerful these days, with talented people emerging everywhere. Do you know how many prodigies there are in the Four Prefectures of the Northern Territory—or across the whole realm?"
"I've heard that Yang Xuance, son of the Grand Marshal of Zhongzhou, became a Sixth-grade Martial Artist before turning thirty and was made Imperial Forest Army Commander. Doesn't he count as a prodigy?" Xiao Yang asked.
Xiao Li shook his head.
"I've met that Yang Xuance. He's nothing but a fraud!"
"His cultivation may be high, but it was all spoon-fed to him with spirit pills and medicines. He's never seen a real battlefield or spilled blood. He's like a flower grown in a greenhouse!"
"A man like that will never amount to much. He doesn't count as a prodigy!"
Xiao Yang thought for a moment, then spoke again. "I've heard there's a talented scholar in the capital named Fang Mengru. He's exceptionally learned, versed in the past and present, and was taken as a disciple by the Second Sage of the Confucian Temple, who praised him as having the makings of a Prime Minister! Does he count as a prodigy?"
"No!"
Xiao Li shook his head again, his voice firm.
"They say Fang Mengru is terribly arrogant. His Majesty sent a eunuch to invite him to serve as an official, but he not only refused the offer—he even made the chief eunuch take off his boots!"
"He's just a poor scholar, yet he's so brazen. He'll come to a bad end sooner or later!"
After being contradicted twice, Xiao Yang fell silent for a long while before suddenly asking, "Third Brother, what about our Eldest Brother? Do you think he counts as a prodigy? He has extraordinary talent and the Supreme Bone. His future is limitless!"
At those words, a sharp light flashed in Xiao Li's eyes.
"Eldest Brother is indeed extraordinary. I heard that when he broke through some time ago, he summoned the Nine Types of Heaven and Earth Phenomena. But the Supreme Bone is both his greatest strength and his greatest weakness."
"He relies too heavily on that bone and neglects to temper his own character."
"Fierce in appearance but timid at heart, full of schemes yet indecisive—not a prodigy!"
Xiao Yang raised his brows at this assessment.
It seemed this Third Brother was more formidable than he'd thought—not only ruthless, but also remarkably perceptive.
At least, his assessment of Xiao Junlin was spot-on.
"Third Brother, your standards are awfully high! Then tell me, who in Great Xia does count as a prodigy?" Xiao Yang couldn't help asking.
At this, Third Prince Xiao Li suddenly rose to his feet, unleashing a startling aura.
He stared straight at Xiao Yang and declared something utterly shocking—
"Of all Great Xia's prodigies, only you and I count!"
What?!
Xiao Yang kept his expression calm, but a storm surged within him.
Could Third Brother have a system too? Had he seen through how extraordinary I was?
"I'm the least accomplished heir in the mansion. How could I possibly be called a prodigy?" Xiao Yang immediately shook his head.
"Too much modesty is just another form of pride!"
Xiao Li continued, "Ninth Brother, I never thought much of you before. But your recent performances have truly exceeded everyone's expectations."
"First, you killed Fourth Brother's Guard Kato with a single strike. Then you stunned everyone at the Lanting Poetry Gathering!"
"I hear your poems have even reached the capital!"
Xiao Yang shook his head and modestly replied, "Third Brother, poetry is a trivial pursuit. It's not worth mentioning!"
"Poetry may be a trivial pursuit! But you've kept a low profile and endured in silence for years, hiding your true abilities all along. You must have something big planned, don't you?"
Xiao Li gave him a knowing smile.
Xiao Yang couldn't help cursing inwardly.
A misunderstanding—what a misunderstanding...
The original Xiao Yang had been an utterly ordinary nobody. But after Xiao Yang transmigrated into his body and gained the system's help, his strength had naturally improved by leaps and bounds.
He hadn't expected others to think he'd been pretending to be weak all along, secretly plotting some grand scheme.
"Third Brother, stop beating around the bush. Why did you invite me here and say all this?" Xiao Yang couldn't help asking.
"Someone, bring me the Cloud Piercing Bow!" Xiao Li called out.
As soon as he spoke, a Blood Wolf Guard commander entered, carrying a massive bow.
The bow was about five feet long.
It had been forged from Meteorite Iron from Beyond the Heavens, its surface covered in fine cloud patterns.
Its bowstring was made from the sinew of an ancient exotic beast, and whenever it was drawn, it let out a deafening hum.
Xiao Li introduced it. "Ninth Brother, this is the Spirit Grade High Rank divine weapon I promised you—the Cloud Piercing Bow! It has a range of a thousand zhang and has killed dozens of enemy generals. Only someone with three thousand jin of strength can draw it."
Xiao Yang was secretly astonished.
He was a Third-grade Martial Artist, and his strength was only a thousand jin. Even with all his physical strength, he couldn't draw this mighty bow. He'd have to use the Great Desolation Prison Heaven Finger.
Then Xiao Li added, "Ninth Brother, this bow is just a gift to mark our meeting! Today, I'm offering you a chance to rise to greatness and soar to the top!"
"Are you willing to help me contend against Eldest Brother?"
"Once I've won the succession and taken the throne of King Zhenbei, I certainly won't treat you unfairly!"
"You may choose any one of the Four Prefectures of the Northern Territory as your fief!"
Before you continue