Approaching the general's mansion, Lin Yu saw the First Prince in iron armor, standing proudly at the gate. Zhao Yihu dismounted and knelt: "Greetings, First Prince!"
"Elder Zhao, you've worked hard escorting Third Brother. I've prepared a feast—let's drink till dawn!" The First Prince helped him up, then turned to Lin Yu. "We haven't met for years. I wanted to plead for you, but Father's temper... I hope you don't blame me." This public display aimed to paint him as a caring brother.
"Of course I understand your difficulties, Brother. I've never blamed you." Lin Yu parried.
"难得 (Rarely) we brothers meet. Allow me to play host!" The First Prince laughed, taking Lin Yu's arm. As he did, a wisp of spiritual energy entered Lin Yu's body—probing his cultivation.
Lin Yu let it happen. As a Myriad Manifestations Fourth Grade warrior, he far surpassed the First Prince. The probe found his cultivation indeed "destroyed," and the First Prince withdrew his energy, inviting him to dine.
Lin Yu smiled inwardly. The First Prince claimed Xiantian Third Grade, but was actually Xiantian Fifth Grade.
"Lad, something's wrong with the First Prince!" Cauldron Lord warned.
"I know he hides his strength—he's Xiantian Fifth Grade." Lin Yu planned to kill him with his flying sword after leaving the border.
"No! His spiritual energy hides a Demon Clan aura. His strength far exceeds your imagination—even your current cultivation may not match him!"
Lin Yu was shocked. "Stronger than me? How?"
"Perhaps he fused Demon Clan bloodline with secret arts. He's extremely powerful—do not act rashly!" Cauldron Lord's warning demanded caution. Why hide such strength?
After two days, Lin Yu departed. Entering a valley leading to Great Zhou, the normally busy path was死寂—no birds, no people.
"Lad, an ambush! I sense demonic energy." Cauldron Lord confirmed Lin Yu's suspicion.
"Elder Zhao, this valley is too quiet." Lin Yu warned.
"Third Prince, your time in the mausoleum has cowed you. Who dares ambush a Great Han envoy?" Zhao Yihu scoffed.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Two lights sliced through a dozen vanguard guards. More projectiles followed, decimating the escort. Zhao Yihu blocked attacks on Lin Yu: "Form battle arrays!"
Guards formed ranks, but a black figure landed among them, crushing them with the pressure of a Purple Mansion warrior. The masked figure's aura dismantled the arrays, leaving guards burst into blood mist.
Zhao Yihu fled toward the border, abandoning Lin Yu. Lin Yu faced the masked figure—its aura reeked of death, like the corpse puppets he'd slain. Dozens of black-robed warriors surrounded him, and Elder Wang appeared.
"You're the Third Prince sent to Great Zhou? Defeated in the south, confined, now a hostage—unloved indeed. Will your death provoke war?"
Lin Yu asked calmly: "Why incite war between Great Han and Great Zhou?"
"Hehe! To gather blood and revive the Blood Demon Lord! Once awake, none can oppose him!" a demon cultivator boasted.
"Blood Demon Lord..." Lin Yu frowned. A Myriad Manifestations expert—so some had escaped the ancient purge.
"With the Blood Demon Lord, demons will rule the world!" Elder Wang waved at the masked figure: "Remove your mask and let him die knowing his killer!"