The Shadow Guard Arrives, The Emperor's Chess Game

Night reclaimed its original silence.

Yet, within this silence, a thick, cloying scent of blood lingered.

The flickering torchlight cast a ghastly glow over the corpses and pools of blood covering the ground.

Lin Hanzhou stood quietly in the center of the plaza, his pristine silk robes a stark contrast to the carnage surrounding him.

Crimson droplets slid from the tip of the longsword in his hand, blooming into tiny, delicate flowers of blood upon the white jade tiles.

The Xiantian expert who had been gravely wounded by the Third Prince's hidden weapon earlier now lay amidst the pile of bodies, not daring to draw a full breath.

He felt immensely fortunate that his severe injuries had kept him from participating in the ambush just moments ago.

Watching this impossibly young Eleventh Prince, a tempest of shock raged within his heart.

Rumors had always claimed the Eleventh Prince was a waste whose meridians were blocked, rendering him incapable of cultivation.

But the man before him was no waste; he slaughtered Xiantian experts as easily as one would kill chickens, his cultivation base unfathomable.

To think such a powerhouse was labeled a good-for-nothing—it was utterly absurd.

He had no idea who had spread such rumors, but if he ever found out, he would surely skin them alive.

Just as these thoughts crossed his mind, a faint, almost imperceptible sound of footsteps drifted from the shadows in every direction.

"Sand... sand... sand..."

The sound was soft, yet carried a unique rhythm, like a venomous snake slithering across the sand.

This movement could not escape Lin Hanzhou's perception; he raised a brow and slowly lifted his head.

Figures clad in black soft armor emerged silently from behind palace pillars, beside rockeries, and out of the shadows like ghosts.

Each of them possessed an aura that was profound and powerful, moving with such stealth that they seemed to have merged with the darkness itself.

There were not many of them, perhaps only a hundred.

Yet the sharp, murderous intent radiating from them far surpassed that of the Tiger Brave Guard or the Green Garment Tower assassins.

These were the legendary Shadow Guard!

They were the most mysterious and elite force within the Great Sui, serving directly under the Emperor himself.

The leader of the Shadow Guard was of average height with an unremarkable face, the type one would lose in a crowd.

However, the aura he exuded was that of a genuine Xiantian Third Layer expert.

It was an aura far more solid and heavy than that of a Xiantian Second Layer.

Ignoring the corpses strewn about, the commander walked straight to Lin Hanzhou, knelt on one knee, and spoke respectfully.

"Shadow Guard commander Xuan Ya, greets Your Highness. Congratulations, Your Highness, on becoming the sole victor of this night."

His posture was humble, devoid of any arrogance typical of a Xiantian Third Layer powerhouse.

As the commander knelt, the rest of the Shadow Guard followed suit, pledging their loyalty.

Seeing this, Lin Hanzhou felt a flicker of surprise.

He was astonished by the depth of the imperial family's reserves; the Shadow Guard actually contained a Xiantian Third Layer expert.

Not only that, but there was also one Xiantian Second Layer and ten Xiantian First Layer experts among them.

This lineup was more formidable than the combined forces of the Third Prince and the Ninth Prince.

After a brief moment of surprise, Lin Hanzhou spoke with a calm, unruffled expression.

"Have you all been watching the entire time?"

"Yes. This was the Emperor's command. We were only responsible for clearing the field and bearing witness. Unless an external force intervened, we were strictly forbidden from interfering in the disputes between the Princes."

Xuan Ya kept his head bowed as he spoke respectfully, hiding nothing.

Hearing this, a thoughtful look crossed Lin Hanzhou's face.

It was exactly as he had suspected; everything was within the calculations of the old Emperor, Lin Batian.

This bloody, cruel struggle for the throne was merely a "final exam" personally orchestrated by him to select an heir!

The Third Prince, the Ninth Prince, and all the other fallen princes were nothing more than sacrifices in this test.

What cunning! What cold-bloodedness!

Thinking of this, a ripple passed through Lin Hanzhou's heart, though he quickly regained his composure.

He had seen plenty of such imperial machinations in the history and novels of his past life.

While surprised, it was not something he couldn't accept.

He was now more curious as to what this convenient father of his intended to achieve by setting up such an elaborate trap.

The Great Sui was currently prosperous and strong; it hardly seemed to need such a "gu-poison" method of selection.

Unfortunately, the original owner of this body had very little understanding of the current political situation, leaving Lin Hanzhou unable to draw any firm conclusions.

All of this would only be revealed once he met that convenient father.

"So that is how it is. Can you take me to see the Emperor?"

Lin Hanzhou pondered for a moment before speaking indifferently.

"Of course, Eleventh Highness, His Majesty has been waiting for you."

"Please follow me, Highness. His Majesty has decreed that the final victor shall be qualified to meet him in the Council Hall."

As Xuan Ya spoke, he rose and respectfully led the way.

"This way, Highness."

Lin Hanzhou did not hesitate and followed.

After the two departed, the remaining Shadow Guard began to clear the battlefield.

Along the way, the Xiantian expert who attempted to play dead was discovered as expected.

The moment he was spotted, the eleven Xiantian-realm Shadow Guard surrounded him completely.

Looking at the uniform group of Xiantian-realm powerhouses surrounding him, the already severely wounded Xiantian expert turned deathly pale.

Wait, brother? How are there eleven Xiantian experts?

On the other side, Lin Hanzhou followed Xuan Ya through a series of deep, winding corridors.

The deeper they ventured into the imperial palace, the more silent the surroundings became, as if even the wind had vanished.

These palace structures featured a unique style and rigorous layout, showcasing the ingenuity of the craftsmen.

Finally, Xuan Ya stopped in front of a building that appeared ordinary yet radiated a sense of supreme majesty.

On the plaque of the hall, three large characters were inscribed in a bold, sweeping calligraphy—Council Hall.

"His Majesty is waiting for you inside; I shall wait out here."

Xuan Ya bowed and stepped aside.

Lin Hanzhou nodded, took a deep breath, and reached out to push open the doors made of century-old agarwood.

"Creak—"

As the doors opened, a unique scent, a mixture of medicinal herbs, sandalwood, and old books, rushed toward him.

The light inside the hall was soft and the furnishings simple; there was no gaudy luxury, but rather an air of solemnity and gravity.

In the deepest part of the hall, behind a wide desk, sat a figure.

It was an old man who looked as if he were nearing the end of his days.

He wore a simple yellow robe, his hair was sparse and gray, his face was covered in deep wrinkles, and his body was hunched, as if a gust of wind could knock him over.

However, his eyes radiated the majesty unique to a supreme ruler.

This temperament, imposing without anger, seemed capable of piercing through the human heart and seeing through all the illusions of the world!

He was the monarch who had completed the unification of the Great Sui, the legendary emperor who had reigned for sixty years—Lin Batian.

The two men, separated by a generation yet both standing at the pinnacle of power and strength in this world, locked eyes.

Inside the hall, for a moment, one could hear a pin drop.