Xue Beng Beheaded

The soldier's words, "Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast," exploded beside Prince Xue Xing's ears like a thunderclap.

"W-what?!" The composure on his face was instantly replaced by utter shock and disbelief. His body swayed uncontrollably, and his face turned deathly pale.

"Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast? It's holding Xue Beng hostage? It wants to see me?" Xue Xing's mind buzzed. Every word struck his heart like a heavy hammer.

"What Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast? I can't remember ever offending one!" Bewilderment and icy fear seized him.

But the soldiers didn't dare take Xue Xing's word for it in a matter like this.

"Your Highness, hurry! That Soul Beast is right above Fourth Prince's residence. It specifically demanded that you come! It... it said Fourth Prince has already confessed!"

The soldier captain's voice was choked with tears, full of fear and urgency.

They were only ordinary soldiers, caught between a prince and a terrifying Soul Beast that could speak. They were already scared out of their wits.

"C-confessed..." Xue Xing's vision went black, and he nearly fainted.

He understood. He understood everything. The Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was most likely an elder of the Soul Beast Xue Beng had mentioned. At any rate, the two were certainly connected.

"Xue Beng! You've ruined me!" How could Xue Xing accept that he'd offended a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast because of Xue Beng?

But he knew there was no time to hesitate.

If he didn't go, the furious Soul Beast would kill Xue Beng. The entire palace, perhaps even Heaven Dou City, could face annihilation. And he, Xue Xing, would become the sinner who doomed the Heaven Dou Empire!

If he went... perhaps there would still be a chance to turn things around. After all, this was the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, the heart of the human empire! The emperor, the crown prince, the palace elders... Could they really stand by and let a Soul Beast run rampant here?

"L-lead the way!" Xue Xing forced down his churning blood and fear, his voice hoarse as he gave the order.

He tried to straighten his back, striving to preserve the last vestige of his princely dignity. But his slightly trembling hands and deathly pale face had already betrayed the turmoil within him.

The soldiers were relieved. They immediately escorted Prince Xue Xing toward the palace, half supporting and half hustling him along.

On the way, Xue Xing watched the chaos in the palace and heard the distant commotion and the Soul Beast's oppressive presence. His heart sank with every step.

The air above Xue Beng's residence was as heavy as frozen ice.

The four Soul Saints still hovered in a ring around them. Their Soul Rings glimmered, and their powerful Soul Power was held in reserve, like four volcanoes on the verge of eruption.

Their eyes remained fixed on Xiao Yu and the Xue Beng held in Yu Yi's claws. Their gazes were filled with wariness, fury, and a profound sense of helplessness.

The pressure of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast weighed on everyone like tangible shackles, making it difficult even to breathe.

Xue Beng's screams had faded to faint, broken whimpers and pleas. Fear and pain had nearly robbed him of consciousness, leaving him dangling from Yu Yi's grip like a rag doll.

Hovering in the center, Xiao Yu swept his deep gaze over the cowed crowd below and the Soul Saints in the air, who stood ready for battle.

At the same time, he remained on guard against a sneak attack.

Just then, hurried footsteps and the clatter of armor drew closer.

"Make way! His Highness the Prince is here!"

The crowd parted like a tide, opening a path.

Surrounded by soldiers, Prince Xue Xing finally arrived at the center of the storm.

When Xue Xing looked up and saw the colossal figure suspended in midair, as if a god had descended, all his forced composure crumbled instantly!

The moment their eyes met, Xue Xing felt his very soul tremble. The pressure of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast far surpassed anything he'd imagined!

"Xue Xing." Xiao Yu's mental voice pierced into Xue Xing's mind like an icy blade, clear as day. "Do you know your crime?"

The voice that rang directly through his soul shattered the last of Xue Xing's hope.

His legs gave way. Had the soldiers behind him not instinctively caught him, he would have collapsed to his knees on the spot.

"Soul Beast, His Highness the Prince is here. What exactly do you want?" one of the four Soul Saints asked Xiao Yu.

"What do I want?" Xiao Yu let out a cold laugh. "Nothing in particular. If you humans are allowed to come after us with the intent to kill, why shouldn't I be allowed to retaliate? There's no such rule in this world."

"What?!" The four Soul Saints were startled by his words, and immediately realized what he meant.

One of the Soul Saints rushed toward Yu Yi, shouting as he charged, "Attack! Protect Fourth Prince!"

Soul Power surged around him, and his Seventh Soul Ring blazed with light. He seemed about to unleash his Martial Soul Avatar!

"Silence."

Xiao Yu didn't even look at him. He casually swept his enormous right wing toward the Soul Saint.

"Vmm—!"

There was no earth-shattering explosion. Only a transparent wind blade, honed to the utmost and edged with flickering icy blue light, tore through the air in an instant!

The Soul Saint felt an irresistible force crash into him. His proud defenses crumbled like paper, and the process of forming his Martial Soul Avatar was forcibly interrupted!

He spat out a mouthful of blood. Struck as if by a giant hammer, he screamed as he flew hundreds of meters before crashing through the roof of a distant palace. No one knew whether he was alive or dead!

Silence!

A deathly silence!

Just one strike! One casual sweep of a wing! A powerful Soul Saint had been grievously wounded and sent flying without the slightest ability to fight back!

The remaining three Soul Saints' pupils contracted. Cold sweat instantly soaked their backs.

They had been about to attack, but after seeing this, they stopped instinctively. That moment's hesitation cost them their only chance to save Xue Beng.

"Yu Yi, take your revenge."

Xiao Yu made no effort to hide his voice. He wanted them to understand: they could attack, but they had to be ready to bear the consequences. As long as they failed to kill him in one blow and he managed to escape, this was what awaited them.

"No—!" Xue Xing let out a despairing scream.

"Stop!" A group of soldiers suddenly pushed through the crowd, and Emperor Xue Ye rushed out, shouting toward Xiao Yu.

But it was too late. Yu Yi had always obeyed only Xiao Yu. The moment Xiao Yu spoke, a glint of vengeful satisfaction flashed in its sharp eyes. Its claws tightened around Xue Beng.

"Crack!"

The grating sound of bones breaking rang through the silent night.

Xue Beng's terrified, despairing scream cut off abruptly.

His head, once held high and full of malicious schemes, burst like a crushed watermelon, spraying blood and brains everywhere!

The headless body hung limply from Yu Yi's claws, lifeless.

Fourth Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Beng, was dead!

Thud!

Xue Beng's body hit the ground with a heavy thump. In that instant, silence!