You're not running away, but waiting for me here instead?

The flying blade, wrapped in spiritual power, chased down the sprinting Night Owl like a bolt of lightning.

"Pfft!"

The blade pierced Night Owl's back with precision, exiting through his chest and bringing with it a spray of blood.

Night Owl's eyes widened in disbelief as he slowly collapsed, his life force vanishing in an instant.

Even in death, he could never have imagined that the Eleventh Prince, whom everyone dismissed as trash, was hiding such profound depths.

After confirming Night Owl was dead, Lin Hanzhou continued to urge his horse forward.

To him, that had been nothing more than a minor interlude.

As someone at the Meridian Opening Realm, killing a Houtian martial artist was as simple as drinking water.

What surprised him, however, was that this so-called Houtian martial artist was unexpectedly weak.

Although the Houtian Realm of this world corresponded to the Body Tempering Realm of Blue Star, the Houtian Realm was clearly inferior to the Body Tempering Realm.

Lin Hanzhou could tell this from the strength of Lin Yuan's guards and this assassin.

They were all experts at the ninth level of the Houtian Realm, yet the power and speed they displayed were completely incomparable to the ninth level of the Body Tempering Realm.

If it were Lin Hanzhou back when he was at the ninth level of the Body Tempering Realm, he would have absolutely crushed these ninth-level Houtian experts.

"It seems the martial arts system of this world is more than just a little backward."

Lin Hanzhou muttered to himself, analyzing the martial arts system of this world.

In his view, the cause of this disparity was nothing more than the quality of the cultivation techniques.

The strongest in this world were only at the Xiantian Realm, so naturally, they lacked any superior cultivation techniques.

The Blue Star world he came from was different; there, existences at the ninth rank and even beyond existed.

The Luo Heaven Art he practiced was created by a ninth-rank grandmaster.

Comparing the two, there was simply no contest.

Soon, Lin Hanzhou rode through the alleyway that still lingered with the scent of blood.

Behind him, the assassin codenamed Night Owl had already turned into a cold corpse, lying silently in the shadows where no one would ever know.

Reappearing on the wide Imperial Way, Lin Hanzhou cast his gaze toward the palace in the distance.

In his perception, several Xiantian Realm auras were entrenched within, faintly confronting one another.

"At least five Xiantian experts? Third Brother and Ninth Brother have really gone all out this time."

Lin Hanzhou curled his lips, his heart clear regarding the situation inside the palace.

At this moment, that was the main battlefield for tonight.

The massive white jade square directly in front of the palace was now completely deserted.

The Imperial Guards, who usually stood watch every three steps and patrolled every five, had vanished without a trace.

Clearly, the area had been cleared to serve as the exclusive stage for the princes to settle their disputes.

However, outside the palace gate leading to the square, the atmosphere was entirely different.

Dozens of martial artists wielding sharp blades stood on either side, clearly divided, blocking the main road to the palace gate tightly.

The group on the left wore armor imprinted with ferocious tiger totems, exuding a heavy Sha Qi.

These were the renowned Tiger Brave Guard under the command of the Third Prince, Lin Tai.

The group on the right wore cyan soft armor, armed with daggers and powerful crossbows.

These were the assassins of the Green Garment Tower, secretly cultivated by the Ninth Prince, Lin Hao.

These dozens of men were all experts within the Houtian Realm, with the lowest cultivation being the seventh level of the Houtian Realm.

Even experts at the ninth level of the Houtian Realm were not in short supply.

The reason they were ordered to stand by here was simple.

Because the battle inside the palace belonged to the domain of Xiantian experts.

Even if there were over a hundred Houtian martial artists, it would be difficult for them to pose a substantial threat to a Xiantian expert.

If they rushed in rashly, they would only become cannon fodder, wasting their vital strength for nothing.

Therefore, their mission was to blockade this area.

They were to prevent any reinforcements or unrelated parties from intruding and interfering with the final duel inside the palace.

Both sides wore solemn expressions, staring daggers at one another; the atmosphere was tense and ready to snap.

Although they had not yet made a move, the air was so thick with the scent of gunpowder that a single spark seemed enough to ignite it.

Just as this suffocating standoff reached its peak, the crisp sound of horse hooves broke the silence of the area.

"Clack... clack... clack..."

Both groups turned their heads in curiosity to follow the sound.

In the darkness at the end of the imperial path, a figure on a black horse approached the palace gate at a leisurely pace.

The rider was thin, dressed in fine brocade, his face appearing somewhat youthful under the flickering torchlight.

Yet, his demeanor was exceptionally calm, as if he were strolling through his own back garden rather than walking toward a battlefield about to be drenched in blood.

"Who... who is that?"

A minor leader among the Tiger Brave Guard asked in a low voice.

"Judging by that build and attire... it seems to be... the Eleventh Prince?"

Another man beside him said uncertainly.

As soon as that name was spoken, the scene fell into a deathly silence.

Immediately, a light mixed with greed and wild joy erupted simultaneously in the eyes of both factions.

The Eleventh Prince, Lin Hanzhou!?

That laughingstock known to everyone in the royal family!

That joke who was born with blocked meridians and couldn't even step into the first stage of the Houtian realm!

Every leader present had heard the intelligence regarding him being sent out of the city by the Seventh Prince to avoid disaster.

But who could have imagined that this waste would actually run back on his own?

And at such a critical moment, returning all by himself.

What was this?

This was a merit delivered right to their doorstep!

One had to know that after tonight, a new emperor would inevitably be decided between the Third Prince and the Ninth Prince.

By then, all those who participated could potentially become the new emperor's favored subjects.

And slaying a prince, even a useless one, was a monumental achievement.

It would be enough to secure them a place in the future imperial court.

In an instant, the hostility between the two sides, previously at daggers drawn, quietly dissipated.

Replacing it was a covetous desire for the "prey" before them.

The commander of the Tiger Brave Guard, a burly man as sturdy as an iron tower with a face full of whiskers, licked his cracked lips, a fierce light flaring in his eyes.

The master of the Green Garment Tower, a man with a feminine face and eyes like a viper, also quietly tightened his grip on his dagger.

They were both calculating how to snatch this massive merit before the other could.

Lin Hanzhou, on horseback, naturally took all of this in.

Watching the undisguised greed and contempt on their faces, he found it laughable.

A group of mere Houtian realm ants dared to block his path?

Instead of choosing to flee, they actually waited here for me?

He did not stop, continuing to ride the black horse as he closed the distance rapidly.

The closer Lin Hanzhou drew, the more intense the joy in the eyes of those Houtian experts became.

In their view, this useless prince was already theirs for the taking.