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In the center of the city stood the Purple Sun Palace!
Fang Xuan moved casually and leisurely as he passed through the layers of armored soldiers' defenses. With every step he took, large groups of armored soldiers exploded, filling the air with bloody mist.
By the time he reached the top of the jade stairs, the ground behind him was already littered with corpses and severed limbs. Fresh blood had stained the palace floor red!
"Is this guy a monster?!"
The surrounding golden-armored guards trembled with fear. They all stared at Fang Xuan like they were looking at a terrifying primordial beast. They hadn't even seen Fang Xuan attack, yet nearly everyone was dead. It was simply too terrifying.
"Demonic arts! This has to be demonic art! Perhaps he's an evil spirit master!" someone guessed.
Even Illya and Zhang Yunlong, who were on the same side as Fang Xuan, were stunned, let alone the golden-armored guards. They hadn't expected him to be this powerful.
Walking into the heavily guarded Balak Palace as though he were strolling through a park, Fang Xuan's calm demeanor and unparalleled power left them both completely dumbfounded.
"You little brat, don't be too arrogant. The Balak Kingdom isn't a place where trash like you can act so impudently!"
Suddenly, a furious roar rang out, sweeping in all directions like a gust of wind.
Scarlet flames burned wildly, falling from the sky like a meteor, crashing into the ground. With a 'boom,' an enormous crater formed, and a fiery red figure appeared before everyone.
It was a red-haired, red-robed elder, his entire body like a blazing torch. Beneath his feet, yellow, purple, purple, black, black—seven rings of light rose, flashing brilliantly. A wild aura exploded, causing countless people's faces to change!
"Spirit… Spirit Saint!"
Staring at the seven rings of light, Illya's face turned pale. To a commoner prince like him, a Spirit Saint was an existence he could only dream of.
"That's… Duke Baruch!"
Seeing the newcomer, the golden-armored guards were momentarily startled, then overjoyed. The flaming Spirit Saint was none other than Duke Baruch of the Balak Kingdom.
The arrival of a Spirit Saint immediately boosted the soldiers' morale.
At the same time, reinforcements from the Balak Kingdom arrived one after another, surrounding the entire square. There were more than a thousand of them!
"The situation isn't good. Why don't we run away?"
Zhang Yunlong looked worried. From the start, he had disapproved of Fang Xuan's plan to attack the palace. Now that the army surrounded them, escape seemed impossible.
"You want to leave? It's too late. Seventh Spirit Skill: Flaming True Body!"
Duke Baruch let out a cold laugh and instantly activated his Martial Spirit True Body, using the most powerful technique of a Spirit Saint. He transformed into a blazing ball of fire, waves of heat radiating off him as he charged wildly toward Fang Xuan and the others.
"Haha, that's Grand Duke Baruch's flaming true-form. That kid is dead for sure."
Many of the golden-armored guards began to laugh coldly, mocking Fang Xuan. No matter how strong this youth seemed, there was no way he could withstand a full-force attack from a Spirit Saint.
"Oh no, oh no. It's a Martial Spirit True Body. What do we do?" Illya panicked.
He could feel the terrifying waves of heat surging toward him. He quickly hid behind Fang Xuan, awaiting his fate.
Amid countless mocking gazes, Fang Xuan calmly punched out with his right fist toward Duke Baruch. The earth shook when the seemingly ordinary punch connected with the flaming true-form, and an incomparably powerful force exploded.
"Boom!"
With a massive explosion, Fang Xuan's fist shattered Duke Baruch's flaming proper form. His entire body was blown apart, blood spraying everywhere. The mighty Spirit Saint didn't even have time to scream before being instantly killed.
Everyone fell into a deathly silence!
Having easily disposed of Duke Baruch, Fang Xuan crossed his arms with a calm expression. He swept his gaze over the surrounding golden-armored guards and said, "Who's next to die?"
His calm words sent tremors through everyone's hearts. Even a Spirit Saint had been killed instantly by a single punch. The power of this mysterious youth was simply monstrous. The golden-armored guards, terrified, no longer dared to attack.
"Too powerful. Simply too powerful. This Fang Xiaoniu… who on earth is he?!"
Illya was in a daze, staring at Fang Xuan in disbelief. Just as he stood there, stunned, Fang Xuan suddenly turned his head and said,
"Your Highness, don't just stand there. Aren't you here to inherit the throne?!"
"Ah… oh… yes, yes!"
Illya suddenly realized. He quickly addressed the surrounding guards, "I am Illya Balak, the last son of King Balak and the rightful heir to the throne!"
"Prince Illya? Is he His Highness?!"
Everyone was momentarily stunned. Some were happy, while others were worried. Voices of discussion rang out from all directions.
His Majesty the King was critically ill and had urgently summoned Prince Illya, living among the commoners, to return and inherit the throne. Many knew this. But was the handsome youth before them truly Prince Illya? Could it be an impostor? Many were uncertain, casting suspicious glances at Illya.
At that moment, Zhang Yunlong suddenly produced a golden medallion and announced, "This is His Majesty the King's golden medallion. I am the King's guard, tasked with protecting the Prince. I can confirm that the man before you is Prince Illya, the future King of the Balak Kingdom!"
Seeing the golden medallion, everyone's doubts were finally dispelled. Joy spread across their faces as they knelt before Illya, respectfully saying, "Your Highness!"
With the King critically ill and the political situation unstable, the people of the Balak Kingdom were eager for a new king to take charge. Many had been anxiously awaiting Illya's return!
Just then, a cold snort echoed through the hall.
"This man isn't Illya; he's an impostor!"
Before the words had settled, a figure emerged from the Purple Sun Palace. It was none other than Queen Alice.
Her expression was grim, her beautiful face frosty. She pointed coldly at Illya below and declared, "I just received news that Illya was assassinated. This man is a fraud!"
The Queen's accusation caused an uproar in the crowd. For a moment, no one knew whether to believe Illya or the Queen.
"That's right! I can prove this person is not Illya."
Roderick appeared behind Alice, firmly backing her claim. Aside from the King and Queen, the most influential figure in the Balak Kingdom was Roderick, the Imperial Tutor.
His arrival caused many to side with the Queen. After all, it was two against one. Suspicious gazes once again turned to Illya.
"Aunt, we're family. Why do you keep trying to frame me?!" Illya bit his lip and said to the Queen,
"After I inherit the throne, you'll be my mother, and I'll be as filial to you as a son!"
"Heh, stop pretending, you fraud."
Alice sneered. Her eyes were full of disdain as she looked at Illya. She knew the handsome young man before she was the king's illegitimate son. But so what? He was just a lowly commoner. She would never allow Illya to inherit the throne!
"I swear on the honor of the Imperial Tutor that the man before us is not Prince Illya!" Roderick vowed solemnly.
Alice and Roderick, the Queen and the Tutor, colluded, putting on a two-person show, determined to brand Illya as a fake.
Unfortunately, Illya was too naive and kind-hearted to be a match for these political veterans. Anxious and helpless, her eyes filled with tears.
At that moment, Fang Xuan could no longer bear it. He lazily said, "Hey, are you guys done arguing?"
"Hmph, where did this reckless brat come from?!"
Roderick frowned slightly. He disliked being interrupted. His sharp, eagle-like gaze locked onto Fang Xuan. A faint, chilling aura surrounded him, the power of a Spirit Douluo sending a ripple of tension through the crowd.
However, Fang Xuan remained unfazed, a carefree expression on his face. It was as though he didn't even feel Roderick's powerful pressure. He smiled faintly at Illya beside him.
"Illya, there's something I need to tell you. This world… isn't shaped by arguing. It's shaped by power!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Fang Xuan's eyes sharpened. The terrifying killing intent of a Titled Douluo burst forth unchecked, causing the entire hall to tremble violently.
Everyone present was engulfed in boundless fear!