The joy of victory had only just begun to fill Lin Hao's heart when, in an instant, it was washed away completely.
Lin Hanzhou!
His Eleventh Brother, whom he had never once taken seriously, had appeared here like a ghost.
The more composed the other man seemed, the more panicked Lin Hao became.
"Y-you... who are you?"
Ninth Prince Lin Hao narrowed his eyes, a note of wariness in his voice.
The Innate experts under his command, who had just fought a bloody battle, all turned to look at this uninvited guest, their expressions guarded.
They could sense that the other man was also an Innate expert—and an exceptionally powerful one.
No wonder he had been able to come in alone. He had this kind of strength to rely on.
Who would have thought? The Eleventh Prince, a martial arts good-for-nothing in everyone's eyes, was actually an Innate expert.
This bizarre sense of incongruity cast a shadow over everyone's hearts.
Lin Hanzhou did not answer. He simply started walking slowly toward the center of the courtyard.
He still wore that carefree expression, as if he hadn't even noticed Lin Hao and the others.
"Stop! Take another step and you'll be killed without mercy!"
One of the Innate experts under Lin Hao shouted fiercely.
Lin Hanzhou acted as if he hadn't heard. He kept walking.
When the other man completely ignored him, Lin Hao's expression darkened.
As a noble prince, when had he ever been treated like this?
Even Innate experts had to show him the utmost respect. And now someone was ignoring him?
"All of you, attack together! Kill him!"
Lin Hao no longer hesitated and issued a cold command.
As far as he was concerned, whatever the other man's advantage might be, facing the siege of several Innate experts would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
After all, he had a full eight Innate experts under his command.
Though the battle just now had worn them down to some degree, only one had been gravely wounded by a hidden weapon. The other seven had suffered nothing more than minor injuries.
With a lineup like this, even a third-level Innate expert would meet his end here.
Seven Innate experts—the advantage was mine!
At the command, the seven Innate experts wasted no time. They simultaneously roused the true energy within them.
From seven different directions, they closed in on Lin Hanzhou like a pack of wolves pouncing on a rabbit.
Their attacks wove together into a net from heaven and earth, sealing off every avenue of escape.
Yet faced with a siege that would have driven any Innate expert to despair, Lin Hanzhou merely gave a scornful smile.
It was the smile of a hunter watching his prey fall into a trap.
Lin Hanzhou moved. Like a specter, he vanished from where he stood.
The next instant, he had evaded every attack and appeared behind one of the Innate martial artists. The long sword in his hand flashed from its sheath!
"Whoosh!"
A streak of cold light flashed by. The Innate martial artist didn't even have time to scream before Lin Hanzhou's sword severed his head.
Blood gushed like a fountain, and his body crashed to the ground.
The other six Innate experts were taken aback. Their attacks faltered involuntarily.
They couldn't believe their eyes. An Innate expert had died just like that, with such effortless ease?
Even a third-level Innate expert couldn't kill someone in a single instant like that, could they?
What level was the other man? Could he be a legendary fifth-level Innate expert?
At once, the six Innate experts felt as if they were facing a formidable enemy. They huddled together and retreated.
Seeing this, Lin Hanzhou did not hesitate. He charged straight at them with his sword.
From watching the battle just now, he had already figured out the level of this world's Innate martial artists.
All he could say was: weak. They were far too weak.
In his eyes, their methods of using spiritual energy were crude beyond belief.
Their cultivation techniques and martial skills were riddled with flaws, too. They probably didn't even meet the standard for an entry-grade technique.
Under these conditions, killing them was as easy as turning over his hand.
His figure slipped freely among the six, as if he were strolling leisurely through a garden.
Whenever he appeared, a flash of sword light followed, and then another Innate expert's head fell.
In just a few moments, all six Innate experts had been slain.
Ninth Prince Lin Hao, who had witnessed the entire fight, stared in disbelief at the corpses strewn across the ground.
He couldn't bring himself to believe that the other man possessed such terrifying strength. Seven Innate experts hadn't even lasted a single exchange?!
"N-no... impossible! How can you be this strong?"
Lin Hao stared at Lin Hanzhou in terror, his voice trembling uncontrollably.
All his usual confidence and composure vanished in that moment, replaced by boundless shock and despair.
He had never dreamed that the seven Innate experts fighting together on his side would suffer such a crushing defeat.
"Nothing is impossible. Now it's time for me to send you on your way."
Lin Hanzhou's voice was calm, as if he were stating something utterly ordinary.
Yet to Ninth Prince Lin Hao, those calm words were more terrifying than the most vicious curse in the world.
"N-no... don't come any closer!"
Lin Hao let out a terrified scream and stumbled backward, trying to escape.
But he tripped over a corpse and fell awkwardly to the ground.
Cold blood soaked through his python robe. The pungent stench of blood nearly made him throw up on the spot.
He was afraid.
He was truly afraid.
He had spent his whole life biding his time and plotting, secretly building up his forces and even accepting the infamy of murdering his own brothers.
The supreme throne had been right within his reach. How could he bear to die now? How could he possibly be willing?
"Eleventh Brother, I was wrong. I really was wrong!"
"Please, don't kill me! If you spare my life, I'll serve you with all my strength!"
Lin Hao scrambled over on his hands and knees, knelt before Lin Hanzhou, and cast aside every last shred of dignity as he begged desperately.
"The throne is yours. All of Great Sui is yours! I'll guard your kingdom for you! I..."
Before Lin Hao could finish, a streak of cold light, swift as the wind, flashed across his neck.
Time itself seemed to stand still in that moment.
Ninth Prince Lin Hao's head slowly separated from his body and soared into the air.
The last trace of flattery and pleading remained on his face as he died, as if he hadn't even realized death was coming.
Lin Hanzhou watched coldly, his heart unmoved.
He knew how treacherous his Ninth Brother was. How could he possibly believe his lies?
With a thud, the headless body collapsed to the ground.
This Ninth Prince, so calculating and patient, who had been on the verge of reaching the pinnacle of power, had met the same end as the Third Prince.
The night wind swept through the palace plaza, carrying the heavy stench of blood.
Lin Hanzhou stood with his sword in hand, warm blood still clinging to its blade.
At his feet lay two princes and the corpses of numerous Innate experts.
The battle for the throne had reached its final victor. At last, the dust had settled.
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