White Tusk Mountains.
As the Lord of the Mountains was alarmed and made a ruthless move, the magical beasts inhabiting this vast land were instantly enraged by the will of the Demigod and went berserk. Countless beasts swept through the land like a torrential downpour, carrying vegetation and dust in all directions.
Dragon roars echoed, and blazing lightning flashed as it weaved through the flock of avian magical beasts, occasionally slaying one or two fools that blocked its path before disappearing without a trace.
The canyon was deep and secluded. Lancelot folded his Thunder Dragon Wings and slowly descended with the bewildered second prince.
At this point, the second prince began to realize that something was amiss.
During the escape, Nulong displayed far too many unknown abilities, far beyond Jiedun scope of known information. This made the Second Prince involuntarily doubt whether the person before him was truly Nulong Jiedun.
Thinking of this, the second prince secretly became more vigilant.
However, he did not conduct any tests. The second prince was not stupid. In the current situation, he was at the mercy of others. If the identity of the Nulong Jiedun was indeed false, exposing it rashly, or even just arousing the other party's suspicion, could bring disaster upon himself.
We'll discuss everything once we return to the capital.
Instead of testing him, Lancelot laid his cards on the table.
Our world is just the two of us, only heaven, earth, you, and I know, so what's there to be cowardly about!
With a thought, the helmet of the True Dragon Mecha deformed and then shrank.
The Steel Feather Cloak also reverted to its original form, and the ' Nulong Jiedun ' skin naturally disappeared as well.
What came into the second prince's view was a young man with light golden skin, sharp features, and Divine Spark.
"Jiedun, what happened to you?" the second prince asked, feigning ignorance in an attempt to fool the situation, though he was already drenched in cold sweat.
Lancelot observed the second prince with interest, then chuckled after a moment, "Alright, Your Highness, stop pretending. Don't worry, I won't kill you."
As soon as he finished speaking, the truth was laid bare, and the second prince's tension vanished completely; the worst that could happen was death.
"Who are you? What is your purpose in impersonating the Nulong Jiedun?" the second prince asked coldly.
"Hehe, I can't answer that question for now, but you'll definitely know in the future. Right now..." Lancelot stroked his chin, his gaze sweeping over the second prince, making the latter feel a chill. Having grown up in the military camp, the second prince instantly imagined certain scenes, thinking that this mysterious young man was about to do something unspeakable to him.
Then the second prince roared, "A scholar can be killed, but not humiliated!"
She then adopted the demeanor of a chaste and virtuous woman.
Lancelot was taken aback at first, then he understood the meaning behind the second prince's words, and his forehead immediately covered with dense black lines.
Bang!!
As the fist landed, the second prince, his expression filled with grief and indignation, collapsed limply like a noodle.
Just before he fainted, only two words remained in his mind. "I'm doomed!"
As the saying goes, there is no greater sorrow than a broken heart; the second prince could already imagine the torment he would suffer next.
"Phew... The royal family is really something else, what are they thinking about!" Lancelot couldn't help but complain as he looked at the second prince lying on the ground.
Is our Zyra not hot enough, or Mona not hydrated enough? What kind of wishful thinking are you, you rough guy?
After calming down from being speechless at the Second Prince's gaze, Lancelot summoned his Steel Feather Cloak and had it "Replication" the Second Prince.
Soon, the Steel Feather Cloak returned to his body, and Lancelot transformed into the image of the second prince.
At the same time, some fragmented memories also appeared in his mind.
These memories contain the emotions corresponding to the original owner's second prince, and the latest fragment is a lecherous face.
The owner of the face is none other than Lancelot himself.
"Damn it!! Is this how you see me?" Lancelot kicked the second prince again in anger.
However, from the second prince's perspective, his expression seemed... well, it was indeed a bit strange.
When this terrifying thought occurred to him, Lancelot quickly shook his head to clear his mind and began to carefully search through his other memories.
These memories became his 'weapons and equipment' for later impersonating the second prince.
A few minutes later, Lancelot let out a long breath, his eyes shining.
"No wonder even in the Astral Realm, Miracle- quality equipment is so rare and hard to come by. Any Miracle ability is practically a bug in the system. If it weren't for the level restriction, with the Steel Feather Cloak, I could do whatever I wanted!"
No wonder Lancelot reacted this way; the "Replication" is simply too useful, with functionality that's off the charts.
Of course, there are always gains and losses.
The "Replication" grants Lancelot a wide range of abilities, but its contribution to combat power is likely to be at a lower level among Miracle Equipment.
From the database of the Aslant Civilization, Lancelot learned that some purely offensive Miracle equipment possessed terrifying power.
To give an example, if the Steel Feather Cloak possessed purely offensive Miracle abilities, Lancelot would dare to directly exchange blows with Demigod.
Yes, it's that outrageous.
Otherwise, how could it be called a "Miracle"?
It's important to understand that before this, there wasn't a single piece of equipment of Miracle quality in the entire Elven Plane, which speaks volumes.
Repeating what he had done to the Nulong Jiedun, after administering a powerful sedative, he dug a hole and buried the second prince deep inside, making appropriate arrangements to ensure that the guy wouldn't kick the bucket. Lancelot recalled the second prince's demeanor and actions.
Practice makes perfect.
Lancelot quickly became familiar with the Second Prince's identity and imitated it perfectly.
Donning masks and cloaks, they returned to the royal city as they had come.
Golden Royal City!
The Crown Prince's residence.
Inside the hall, the Demon Toad Tiaodun bowed his head slightly, while his eldest brother, the First Prince Yadunisi, sat on the throne in front of him.
"Three Epic, ten Legendary —not only was the mission unsuccessful, but we also lost a full eight Legendary warriors, and Jiexiuni was severely injured. How exactly did you manage to handle this?"
The eldest prince's chest heaved violently; he was clearly furious.
Demon Toad Tiaodun lowered his head even further, his face filled with remorse, and said, "I am indeed responsible for this matter, and I beg Your Highness to punish me."
Without shirking responsibility, the Demon Toad Tiaodun, who had followed the eldest prince for many years, knew this man's character all too well.
If someone makes a mistake, just accept the beating and let them vent; it will pass. But if they dare to talk back or shirk responsibility, well, even if they don't die, they'll be targeted in various ways afterward.
As expected, seeing the timid and submissive appearance of the Epic expert, Demon Toad, and recalling that the Demon Toad had been by his side since childhood and was an absolute confidant, the eldest prince did not pursue the Tiaodun further.
After calming down, the eldest prince frowned and said, "Tell me the whole story in detail, without omitting anything."
"Yes!"
The Demon Toad Tiaodun nodded respectfully and then began to speak.
"Black Raven, Red-Haired Wanted Criminal, Nulong Jiedun, Lord of the White Tusk Mountains..."
The eldest prince became increasingly confused as he listened.
I sent you out to assassinate the second-in-command, not to participate in a chaotic brawl in the arena.
Why are so many people involved?
However, with the patient explanation of the Demon Toad Tiaodun, the eldest prince gradually cleared away the Mist and understood the whole story.
"So, the main reason you failed was the sudden outburst of the Nulong Jiedun?" The eldest prince grasped the crux of the problem.
"Yes." Demon Toad Tiaodun nodded, still shaken, and said, "Raging Nulong Jiedun is definitely not the level of a hunter ranked by rank. His combat power has already touched the edge of Epic Tier Two. What's even more terrifying is his Combat Skills, and some kind of method that allows him to move through space!"
"Epic Tier Two..." The eldest prince's pupils constricted sharply, "Are you sure?"
Seventy percent of the Epic hunters in the Golden Kingdom are Epic Tier One, with Epic Tier Two and Tier Three being extremely rare, making them the pinnacle of martial prowess.
A powerhouse of this caliber, single-mindedly focused on reaching the next level and advancing to the Demigod realm of the hunter profession, is difficult to recruit. The vast majority simply hold positions in the Hunters' Union, and even if they do choose to join, their first choice is His Majesty the King.
Therefore, whether it's the eldest prince or the second prince, their strongest hunter is only Epic Tier One hunter.
"He must have just reached the Epic Tier Two, otherwise he wouldn't have been held back by Mad Rat and Madam Snake," Demon Toad Tiaodun replied.
Hearing this, the eldest prince felt a little relieved; things weren't too bad after all.
However, with the addition of such a powerful figure under the second-in-command, especially a rare space-type expert, the threat level has skyrocketed.
The eldest prince was even more agitated.
This time, the second brother will definitely be much more cautious, making another assassination attempt much more difficult.
In addition, he lost a total of eight Legendary combatants, all of whom were Veteran Legendary.
The second-ranked side only lost two Legendary, Eagle of Flowing Clouds and Shadow Tiger. With the sudden addition of Nulong Jiedun, the previously relatively balanced high-level combat power of both sides instantly widened the gap due to the shift in strength between the two sides.
And that red-haired wanted criminal, his head is also in the hands of the second-in-command. If handled well, he can gain a huge amount of political benefits.
All of these will become arrows that the second prince shoots at himself.
Moreover...
In terms of founding achievements, the second prince also completely overshadowed himself.
Throughout history, no one has ever become an emperor without achieving great deeds!
The eldest prince knew all too well what kind of situation would result from falling behind in all aspects.
If I lose the battle for the throne...
The eldest prince's face began to turn pale.
In the struggle for supreme power, the loser never ends well.
This is the cruelty inherent in the sole nature of power; it is inevitable and unchangeable.
A soft-hearted person can never ascend to that throne.
"No, we absolutely cannot let the second prince live any longer! Kill him, we must kill him!" the eldest prince roared hysterically, the immense pressure he was under making it hard for him to breathe.
The Demon Toad Tiaodun simply watched quietly without saying a word.
Tiaodun understood that the eldest prince was simply venting his emotions; this wasn't the first time such a scene had occurred since the second prince rose to power.
A few minutes later, the eldest prince calmed down again. After thinking for a moment, he summoned his chief strategist, Laiangdima, explained the current situation to him, and asked for Laiangdima's opinion.
Laiangdima appeared unusually calm. After a moment's thought, he replied, "Your Highness need not worry. The Second Prince's rapid growth in power may not necessarily be a bad thing."
"What do you mean? Explain in detail..." The eldest prince's eyes lit up, as if he had seen a glimmer of hope, and he looked at Laiangdima.
Laiangdima smiled confidently, "It's simple, just four words: 'His achievements overshadow his master!'"
As if struck by a sudden enlightenment, the eldest prince was deeply shaken.
Yes, I'm wary of my second son, but doesn't my father?
As the king of the Golden Kingdom, my father's greed for power was the deepest. Would he want to see another sun rise in the kingdom during his lifetime, a sun that could rival his own?
No way!
Absolutely not!
Once you sit in that position, while enjoying boundless pleasure, you will also be bound by heavy shackles.
"You mean, the father will intervene to suppress the second son?"
Laiangdima chuckled. "That's obvious."
"Then what should we do?" the eldest prince asked hurriedly.
Laiangdima chuckled, "Naturally, I will be a qualified assistant to His Majesty the King."
The eldest prince leaned forward. "What do you mean?"
"Your Highness would be best to go to the palace immediately and report to His Majesty the King that you have annihilated the wanted criminals who attempted to steal the Hunter Treasure Tree, and lament your losses," Laiangdima said, a cunning glint in his eyes. "When the Second Prince returns, he will surely tell His Majesty the King about your assassination attempt. At that time, you can use the opportunity to claim that the assassination was carried out because you learned of the red-haired wanted criminals' route and laid an ambush, thus easily covering up the matter."
After hearing his words, the eldest prince gradually understood.
This is an attempt to steal credit from the second prince, and incidentally clear his name of the crime of assassinating the second prince.
Under normal circumstances, the second prince, who holds the head of the red-haired wanted criminal, would undoubtedly be the greatest contributor.
But there's a prerequisite.
Referees must make fair and impartial judgments.
The current situation, however, is worth considering.
Faced with a second son whose achievements threaten the king's position, will His Majesty be a fair judge?
Or will they directly step onto the field and collude with another contestant, working together in cahoots?!
The answer seems self-evident.
Laiangdima continued, "Not only that, you can also use the fact that Nulong Dragon Jiedun killed the red-haired wanted criminal to exaggerate Nulong Jiedun's combat power and at the same time, lavish praise on his achievement in killing the wanted criminal."
"If you're going to claim credit, why praise the achievements of the Nulong Jiedun? Isn't that helping the second prince?" The eldest prince didn't understand for a moment.
Laiangdima smiled faintly, "Your Highness, as I said before, great achievements can overshadow the emperor. Simply put, our actions this time are a case of using someone else to do our dirty work, exploiting His Majesty's fear of the Second Prince to weaken his power as much as possible. Do you think His Majesty, if he knew of Nulong Jiedun's strength, would he leave him in the Second Prince's hands?"
"Why is it that, apart from His Majesty's own forces, there are almost no experts above the Epic Tier Two in the entire royal city? Is it really because those powerful forces can't offer generous terms? No, no, no, the reason is simple: our His Majesty won't allow it..."
Standing to the side, the Demon Toad Tiaodun watched Laiangdima, who was strategizing and speaking eloquently for the eldest prince, and once again felt a deep fear of this ordinary mortal who was powerless to even kill a chicken.
How exactly is this person's brain structured?
His mind is full of schemes and plots, and he's full of bad intentions.
Compared to Laiangdima, Demon Toad the Tiaodun, who prided himself on his cunning, suddenly felt like a fool.
"Is he going to sell me out and then make me count the money for him?" Demon Toad Tiaodun muttered to himself, deciding to stay as far away from Laiangdima as possible in the future; he was too terrifying.
The Demon Toad was pounding with fear, while the eldest prince was overjoyed.
What seemed like an unsolvable situation was resolved with just a few words from Laiangdima Dima; he hadn't made a mistake in choosing this strategist.
"With Your Excellency here, the throne of Lin is just around the corner!" the eldest prince exclaimed.
Laiangdima Dima smiled, "Your Highness should go to the palace now!"
"Yes, yes, go to the palace immediately! We can't let the second prince get there first!"
The eldest prince slapped his forehead, stood up, and without even changing his clothes, led his men directly towards the palace.
Meanwhile, Lancelot, disguised as the second prince, deliberately took a longer route and thus returned to the royal city later than the Demon Toad Tiaodun and the others.
At the entrance of the mansion, the Dread Bear Anjiela paced back and forth, her face filled with anxiety.
Behind him stood a group of people, all of whom were the second prince's core group.
When the second prince, Lancelot, stepped into the royal city, these people received the news immediately and went to greet him.
Upon meeting him, they surrounded Lancelot, examining him closely and looking him up and down as if afraid something might happen to him.
Only after confirming that the 'Second Prince' was unharmed did everyone finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"Your Highness, what about Jiedun? How is he?" Dread Bear the Anjiela asked, her expression grim.
Since ' Nulong Jiedun ' stood up for him not long ago and firmly expressed his trust in him, Dread Bear Anjiela decided to regard 'Nulong Jiedun' as his best friend.
So, while everyone else was concerned about the second prince, only he and the defeated Platinum Dragon Badger Aweier remembered the Nulong Jiedun. However, before Aweier could even speak, Anjiela beat him to it.
Looking at the giant in front of him with surprise, Lancelot felt a surge of emotion after realizing that the worry on the other man's face was genuine.
What a wonderful person! Worthy of being a close friend.
Lancelot smiled gently and reassured him, "Jiedun is fine. I've sent him on an important mission, and he'll probably be gone for a while. Don't worry, don't you know his strength? If it weren't for Jiedun's protection, I wouldn't be back!"
After he finished speaking, Dread Bear the Anjiela's expression softened, the storm subsided, but he returned to his taciturn self, standing silently to the side.
Lancelot, accompanied by his men, mimicked the Second Prince's mannerisms and interacted with the group without revealing any flaws.
"Your Highness, I heard you killed the red-haired wanted criminal this time? And even took his head?" a close attendant asked.
Before Lancelot could speak, Anjiela the Dread Bear said in a muffled voice, "It was Jiedun who killed the redhead."
The giant didn't want the credit for the Nulong Jiedun to be diluted.
"What a simple and lovable fellow!" Lancelot thought to himself, but on the surface, he imitated the Second Prince's mannerisms and laughed heartily. "Anjiela is right. The greatest contributor to this battle is none other than Jiedun. When he returns, I will appoint him as the head of the royal guards. You are all witnesses here. If I fail to do so, you must remind me or even reprimand me to my face. Do you understand?"
"Yes!" everyone responded in unison.
The position of Chief of the Royal Guard can only be held by the Second Prince's absolute confidants, which will undoubtedly greatly enhance the status of Nulong Jiedun.
This is why the second prince enjoys widespread support.
Undoubtedly, the second prince, like other leaders, is adept at making empty promises.
The problem is that the second prince always gave out cakes without hesitation, never half-heartedly, and he never broke a single promise he made.
On the battlefield, the second prince risked his life more than once to charge into enemy lines to rescue his generals, and even risked his own safety to cover the rear for his men. Who wouldn't love such a leader?
For politicians, political credibility is of paramount importance.
Only with this can you build up your prestige.
With prestige, one can win the respect of the masses and gather their strength to accomplish great things.
The saying "one should not entrust one's reputation or achievements to others" expresses this idea.
You need to build and maintain your team yourself to gain their unwavering loyalty; otherwise, why would they risk their lives for you?
Not long after returning to the palace, Lancelot received a summons from the royal court.
"The Golden King wants to see me? What is the matter?"
Filled with doubt and surprise, Lancelot followed a royal guard straight into the palace.
Inside the magnificent palace, the throne rises twelve meters above the ground, adorned with jewels and carved with maple tree patterns. On this towering throne, the Golden King, dressed in a splendid crown, sits like a god, exuding the unique majesty of a king.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Lancelot knelt on one knee, his eyes subtly glancing at the eldest prince standing beside him.
"Haha, get up, Adelia." The Golden King laughed heartily, asking in a casual, fatherly tone, "I heard from Yadunisi that you led a group to assist him in killing the red-haired wanted criminal and his gang? Well done, you two are both good kids!"
One word sums it up!
Just as Laiangdima had predicted, the referee, the Golden King, chose to personally intervene, joining forces with the eldest prince to suppress the second son, who was showing off his talents and whose achievements threatened the king.
His words seemed reasonable, but in reality, they completely blocked Lancelot's path.
refute?
Going head-on against the Golden King is tantamount to a foolproof choice.
The words echoed in his ears, and Lancelot's mind raced.
He was in disguise, so he didn't experience much negative emotion. If the real Second Prince were here, being attacked by his father and brother, one can only imagine how terrible his inner emotions would be.
The second prince is clearly the victim!
But in those few words, the eldest prince was completely absolved of responsibility and gained enormous benefits, while the second prince, who had been the main contributor, became an accomplice. Where could he possibly seek justice?
The referee is on their side!
In a state of extreme frustration, one might do something impulsive.
And this is precisely what the Golden King and the eldest prince crave.
If the second prince were to roar in the palace, or even worse, take physical action on the spot, they would have an excuse to suppress him relentlessly.
However, Lancelot, with an outsider's perspective, instantly saw through everything.
Therefore, he was not angry, but said in a low voice, "It is all thanks to Your Majesty's teachings. I only did what I should have done, it's nothing to mention."
This means they've chosen to suffer in silence.
The eldest prince's face stiffened, and he looked at his younger brother kneeling on one knee in disbelief. Instead of being pleasantly surprised, he felt a sense of horror.
Such humiliation would not have been so calm for me, let alone for the second prince who grew up in the military.
His deep cunning is evident.
His Majesty the King, seated on the high throne, narrowed his eyes, a hint of displeasure and apprehension flashing deep within them. He smiled and said, "I've heard you have a man under your command named Nulong Jiedun has rendered great service this time. How about this, as a reward, I'll promote him to commander of the Royal Guard? What do you say?"
I want to smash your head in, you old idiot!!
Lancelot thought to himself.
This so-called "Golden King" is utterly shameless! Not only did he try to transfer one of his top generals, but he did it as a reward—isn't that like getting something for nothing twice?
Bah!
You dare call yourself a father?!
Like father, like son; there's no escaping it!
However, given the current situation, Lancelot seemed to have no choice but to comply, but the Nulong Jiedun was currently buried underground, and he couldn't retrieve it.
So he had no choice but to lower his head and say in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, after the battle, Nulong Jiedun was severely injured by the Lord of the White Tusk Mountains and is currently in seclusion to heal his wounds. Could we wait until he has fully recovered before he rejoins the Imperial Guard?"
Upon hearing this, the Golden King's eyes flickered. He glanced at his second son, whose head was almost touching the ground, and realized that he couldn't push him too hard. He had to take it slow, like boiling a frog in lukewarm water. Besides, he couldn't let his eldest son get too cocky. Both sons were just tools to him, and he had to maintain a balance so that he could sit securely on the throne.
Therefore, after careful consideration, the Golden King said, "In that case, let him report to the palace in three months. These healing potions are the latest miraculous medicines developed by the court apothecaries. Take them back and give them to Nulong Jiedun."
A servant stepped forward, carrying a tray with a row of neatly arranged turquoise potions.
Lancelot respectfully accepted the potion, expressed his gratitude repeatedly, and then took his leave.
The eldest prince followed closely behind, and after leaving the palace, he deliberately walked side by side with Lancelot.
"Ah, second son, I really owe you a lot for your help this time. Otherwise, I wouldn't have received Father's reward and gained such a large and rich territory under my command," the eldest prince said sincerely.
Lancelot smiled and said, "Brother, what are you saying? As the eldest brother, you naturally have an easier time. Even without me, you would still gain His Majesty's favor. After all, you are the eldest son, aren't you?"
The two brothers looked at each other.
If you didn't know the inside story, you would really be moved by this scene of brotherly love and respect.
In fact, a careful consideration of the meaning behind their words will make it clear.
The eldest prince came deliberately to show off his power and try to break his younger brother's spirit, aiming to destroy his very soul.
What about the 'second prince'? He seems to be flattering his elder brother, but he's actually mocking him. Everything he has gained is only because of his age advantage. If he weren't the eldest son, he would be nothing! You worthless bastard!
The eldest prince understood, but showed no shame or anger. Instead, he cheerfully continued chatting with Lancelot, the two exchanging words until they parted ways at the palace gates.
The two brothers, back to back, simultaneously wiped the smiles from their faces, their expressions turning gloomy and menacing. Centered on them, the world seemed to be divided into two opposing zones, one black and one white, locked in conflict.
Back at the palace, Lancelot summoned his men and recounted in detail the words and actions of the Golden King and the First Prince in the main hall.
The crowd immediately became agitated, and some hot-tempered individuals even uttered outrageous and treasonous words.
Lancelot, however, did not stop him.
Wasn't the reason he revealed the grievances he suffered in the palace simply to incite anger among his subordinates?
Since the Golden King doesn't want to be dignified, then I'll give him dignity.
You're being shameless, looking at this stuff!
The second prince has a stubborn and filial heart, but I, Lancelot, do not.
You won't give it to me? Fine, I'll go get it myself!
night.
After venting their frustrations, the people from the Prince's mansion dispersed.
Lancelot leaned back in his seat with a deep gaze, but his attention was drawn to a certain room.
A slender figure was reflected in the dark pupils.
Wind Leopard Polieka!
Through his Eye of Secrecy, Lancelot could precisely grasp his every move.
Half an hour later.
Lancelot smiled knowingly. "So, you're not just the First Prince's man; your deeper identity is that of a spy for the Golden King. Heh, no wonder..."
"The biggest mastermind behind it all, the Golden King, using his two sons to keep each other in check, you're something else..."
Upon learning of Wind Leopard Polieka's identity, Lancelot's resolve to take action grew even stronger.
Meanwhile, at the royal palace.
Having just received a message from Wind Leopard Polieka, the Golden King looked at the intelligence report in his hand and sneered, "Heh, the second brother is indeed disloyal. His subordinates are full of treacherous villains. They deserve to die!"
"Your Majesty, you mustn't! The Second Prince's influence in the military is unparalleled. Without evidence, we cannot touch him!" A hoarse voice came from the shadows.
Evidence of hidden clues should not be made public, otherwise it will backfire.
"Of course I know." The Golden King stood up, the accessories on his magnificent crown jingling. "The eldest brother is truly useless. If he had succeeded in the assassination, I could have used the pretext of avenging the second brother to take him down as well."
"This way, we can both give the military an explanation, seize the opportunity to inherit the second son's political legacy, and eliminate another major threat. It's a pity that the eldest son is such a useless piece of trash; he couldn't be of any use even when given the chance!"
The Golden King sighed, his tone carrying a hint of disappointment and frustration.
If his words were to get out, they would undoubtedly cause a huge uproar, but in this imposing royal palace, all secrets were destined to be kept hidden...