Capital Heavenly Prison, Evil King Attacks

Fourth Prince, Jiang Yu.

Jiang Changsheng knew of him. Chen Li had told him that Jiang Yu was his full-blooded younger brother, born of the same father and mother, also the Empress's son. It was said that after giving birth to Jiang Yu, Her Majesty the Empress had stopped being crazed and delirious.

Hearing that the emperor had directed Jiang Yu to come, Jiang Changsheng's thoughts ran wild.

Could the emperor have already recognized him? Then why had he not acknowledged him directly?

Jiang Changsheng could not ask about this matter outright, so he asked, "You want to learn martial arts from me?"

Jiang Yu said excitedly, "That's right. Father said you're only two years older than me, yet you've already surpassed the first-rate realm. You must become my master. Whatever you want, I'll satisfy you—gold, silver, treasures, rare curiosities, just name it."

After thinking it over, Jiang Changsheng felt that with an imperial son as a connection, he would at least not be so passive in the future. There was no need for him to hide at all; after all, his enemies already knew he was here.

"Since it is His Majesty's order, I naturally cannot refuse. It is also my honor to teach Your Highness martial arts. But let me make this clear first: the martial arts I teach are all self-created, not Dragon Arising Temple's techniques."

Jiang Changsheng spoke seriously. Jiang Yu was overjoyed and immediately moved to kneel and kowtow. The two guards turned pale with fright, but fortunately Jiang Changsheng promptly supported Jiang Yu.

This kid really was reckless...

Making an imperial son kowtow was a crime punishable by beheading!

Jiang Changsheng said helplessly, "I am not your master. I am merely teaching you martial arts. In the future, you may simply call me by name."

Jiang Yu straightened his back and grinned. "All right, Brother Changsheng!"

He urged impatiently, "Brother Changsheng, teach me quickly! My goal is to master peerless martial arts, expand Great Jing's borders, and sweep away the barbarian wilderness. I only turned twelve a few days ago. Father never allowed me to practice martial arts before I was twelve. You are the first person to teach me martial arts."

After considering it, Jiang Changsheng decided to teach Jiang Yu Shadow Leg.

Shadow Leg was the first martial art he had learned. Its power was fierce and unyielding; one kick could shatter tendons and break bones. He had already reached the formidable realm of releasing True Qi outward and kicking forth phenomena.

Jiang Changsheng began teaching the cultivation method of Shadow Leg. The two guards tactfully withdrew outside the room and pulled the door shut.

Jiang Yu listened with utmost attention.

An hour later, Jiang Yu left in high spirits. He had to return to the imperial palace to practice; imperial sons were not allowed to stay overnight outside.

Qing Ku returned to the room and asked excitedly, "Senior Brother, you're an imperial son's master now?"

Jiang Changsheng shook his head with a laugh. "I'm merely teaching His Highness martial arts. How could I be his master? Don't speak nonsense."

Qing Ku disagreed. "That's still amazing. From now on, the imperial son will be your backer. When I traveled the martial world before, I discovered that this world is a world of connections. The same thing, done by people of different status and relationships, brings entirely different results."

He seemed to have thought of something sad, and his smile vanished with it.

Jiang Changsheng had always been curious about what he had experienced, but Qing Ku had never been willing to speak of it.

The room fell silent.

After quite a while, Qing Ku took his leave. Jiang Changsheng was left alone in the room, and he could finally practice in peace.

After the first assassination attempt had failed, his enemies would surely strike a second time. Jiang Changsheng had to become stronger as quickly as possible.

With merely the third layer of the Dao Follows Nature Skill, Jiang Changsheng was already enough to stand proud above Dragon Arising Temple. For now, he had not encountered anyone with more True Qi than himself. But while one need not fear ten thousand possibilities, one must fear the one eventuality. He could not slacken.

How could an immortal cultivator be killed by a pack of mortal martial men?

Dusk descended. Dark clouds shrouded the bustling capital, and a fine, unbroken rain began to fall.

The vendors along both sides of the streets began packing up their stalls. The rows upon rows of vermilion buildings were draped in a veil of mist, and the entire city became hazy.

In the western district of the capital, before the gates of the Heavenly Prison.

Zhang Tianren, clad in armor, frowned up at the sky, his brows filled with worry.

A middle-aged general beside him patted his shoulder and smiled. "Young man, don't always look so burdened. The chief has already submitted your name. Next year, you'll be able to take the Martial Arts Imperial Examination."

Zhang Tianren had just turned eighteen this year. His mother had already been pregnant with him when she was imprisoned, and after giving birth to him, she had been beheaded. He had been raised by the Heavenly Prison's guards. The older generation of prison guards had all treated him as their own son, teaching him all kinds of martial arts. He had also lived up to their expectations, repeatedly earning merit.

Zhang Tianren withdrew his gaze and shook his head. "I just have a feeling that something is going to happen at the Heavenly Prison."

"Bullshit. Beneath the Son of Heaven's feet, could anyone really dare break into a prison?"

The middle-aged general laughed and cursed, and the other nearby guards all burst into laughter.

In the capital, the Heavenly Prison was the safest place. Their duties were simple, and they greatly enjoyed their current lives—not tiring, yet with high pay.

Zhang Tianren smiled helplessly. He also felt that perhaps he was overthinking things.

Since Great Jing had been founded, there had been several rebellions in the capital, but the Heavenly Prison had always remained the most secure.

Night gradually fell, and the rain stopped. The trees beside the Heavenly Prison dripped with rainwater, sending ripples across the puddles on the ground.

Zhang Tianren was discussing what to eat that evening with his brothers when he suddenly heard a melodious flute melody drifting over.

He looked up. The pavilions on both sides of the street before the Heavenly Prison's gates were tightly shut, with not a soul in sight.

"What's that sound?"

"I don't see anyone."

"Why can't I hear it?"

"Two years ago, your vicious wife caught you visiting Fragrant Tower and slapped your ears deaf. Of course you can't hear it."

The guards discussed it among themselves. The middle-aged general's expression changed drastically as he cried, "Not good! Cover your ears!"

At his words, though startled, the guards instinctively covered their ears, Zhang Tianren included.

Zhang Tianren suddenly saw a thick fog rolling in from the end of the street. A figure flickered in and out of sight within the mist. From his silhouette, Zhang Tianren could tell that he was playing a flute.

Someone is going to break into the prison?

The thought had just surfaced in Zhang Tianren's mind when the ground began to shake violently.

Rumble—

Everyone struggled to keep their footing. Zhang Tianren sensed something and instinctively turned his head.

With a deafening crash, the Heavenly Prison's gates exploded. The heavy prison doors were blasted into countless wooden splinters. Zhang Tianren's cheek was sliced open, and his eyes widened.

A figure stepped out from within the Heavenly Prison. He wore tattered prison clothes, iron chains wrapped around his hands and feet, his hair hanging loose and wild. His back was hunched, and he panted heavily.

He raised his head, revealing beneath his tangled black hair a pair of pupil-less white eyes that glinted with cold light in the night.

"Ghost Eye... Evil King..."

One guard trembled as he spoke, then collapsed onto the ground.

Ghost Eye Evil King stepped forward. The chains around his feet were still looped around a prison guard's neck, dragging the man's body out of the darkness. The guard was still alive, his eyes bulging and face flushed red. Both hands clawed at the chains as he desperately tried to break free.

At the sight, Zhang Tianren's eyes turned red. He immediately drew his sword and charged at Ghost Eye Evil King.

Ghost Eye Evil King suddenly lunged before him, locked a hand around his throat, and smashed him furiously into the ground, sending shattered stones flying everywhere.

Zhang Tianren nearly passed out. His internal organs suffered grave damage, and he could not help spraying blood from his mouth.

Ghost Eye Evil King grinned, his smile incomparably savage, like an evil ghost walking among men.

Just as he was about to finish Zhang Tianren off, the flute abruptly stopped, and a voice drifted over. "Don't forget the main business."

Hearing this, Ghost Eye Evil King stopped. With a leap, he soared several yards into the air, dragging the prison guard tangled in his chains into the woods, where he quickly vanished.

A large number of prison guards ran out from the prison gates, most of them injured. The middle-aged general rushed to Zhang Tianren's side and examined his wounds.

Zhang Tianren stared fixedly in the direction Ghost Eye Evil King had disappeared, his heart filled with frustration. He had thought himself strong enough, yet he had been crushed in a single exchange.

Inside the room, the oil lamp flickered.

Jiang Changsheng was seated in meditation, practicing his cultivation, when he suddenly felt restless. He had the persistent feeling that something was about to happen.

He opened his eyes and thought, No frogs cry tonight—there must be killing intent in the air.

Feeling the surging True Qi within him, his heart settled somewhat.

The enemy should not be much stronger than Taoist Priest Qingxu. Otherwise, they would have long since killed him by force.

One incense stick time later.

Jiang Changsheng suddenly heard shouting from the foot of the mountain, but it was too far away. Even as an immortal cultivator, he could not make out the words.

They wouldn't dare force their way in, would they?

Jiang Changsheng frowned. No matter what, this was the capital, and this was a Taoist temple personally designated by the emperor. If things grew too large, the emperor would surely investigate.

At the same time.

On the mountain path halfway up the mountain, Ghost Eye Evil King walked up the stone steps, gripping the neck of a Taoist priest in each hand. Behind him, the prison guard dragged by iron chains was covered in blood and no longer looked human.

Under the moonlit night, thunderclouds suddenly gathered. A bolt of lightning tore through the sky, turning the capital bright as day. For an instant, Ghost Eye Evil King's face was illuminated, so savage and terrifying.

"Bold villain! You dare force your way into Dragon Arising Temple!"

An angry shout from a Taoist priest rang out from above. A Taoist priest came charging down with a sword in hand. He leaped into the air and thrust his sword forward. The blade tore through the night sky, bursting with a cold gleam.

Ghost Eye Evil King snapped the neck of the Taoist priest in his right hand, then struck out with his palm. True Qi erupted, transforming into a gale of blood that slammed head-on into the sword-wielding Taoist priest.

Pfft—

The sword-wielding Taoist priest was struck by the bloody gale and vomited blood as he flew backward like a kite with its string cut, crashing onto the steps. He clutched his chest and tried to rise, but his blood and Qi surged into his heart. His head tilted aside, and he fainted.

"Dragon Arising Temple? Nothing more than this. It has merely won the favor of a true dragon."

Ghost Eye Evil King snorted, his hoarse voice brimming with disdain.

He quickened his pace and rushed up the mountain like a ghostly specter.

The door opened, and Qing Ku ran inside in terror. "Senior Brother, a villain is slaughtering his way up the mountain. Senior Brother ordered you to go provide support."

The moment Jiang Changsheng heard this, he rose to his feet and walked out with Qing Ku.

Upon reaching the courtyard, Jiang Changsheng leaped up and vanished directly into the night. Qing Ku stood frozen in place for a moment. Gritting his teeth, he hurried after him.

Before Dragon Arising Temple's gates, Ghost Eye Evil King halted. He released his hands, and two corpses dropped to the ground.

Thunder streaked through the night sky, illuminating the stone steps behind him. They were strewn with corpses, blood flowing down the steps and spreading into the darkness.

Inside the gates, Meng Qiuhe stood on a small bridge with sword in hand, glaring furiously at Ghost Eye Evil King. He shouted in a deep voice, "Who are you? Why are you massacring my Dragon Arising Temple?"

Ghost Eye Evil King grinned. "A man about to die wants to drag a few others down with him. Since that old Qingxu isn't here, you'll die first!"

He suddenly charged toward Meng Qiuhe, moving like thunder. Meng Qiuhe's expression changed. He rapidly swung his sword, sending streak after streak of Sword Qi slashing toward his opponent.

Ghost Eye Evil King struck out with one palm. His palm wind was tyrannical, shattering the Sword Qi and blasting Meng Qiuhe away. Meng Qiuhe smashed through the wall of the pavilion behind him, kicking up billowing dust.

"A bunch of trash. Who would have thought that my final battle would be spent slaughtering a pack of chickens and dogs?"

Ghost Eye Evil King withdrew his palm and snorted disdainfully. He walked toward Meng Qiuhe, but after only a few steps, he suddenly stopped.