"You?!" Sensing familiar spiritual energy and hearing Yuan Ye's laugh, Lin Yu恍然大悟 (suddenly realized), his eyes reddening.
During the Southern Wasteland battle, Yuan Ye's sneak attack had left him gravely wounded. He watched his iron cavalry charge Yuan Ye in formations, dying wave after wave until nearly all perished, forcing Yuan Ye back and saving his life.
Images of those cavalrymen who died charging now flooded Lin Yu's mind. For years, he'd searched for this assassin to avenge his brothers.
Now, Yuan Ye had confessed, appearing before him. Lin Yu wanted to howl to the heavens—justice had prevailed!
Murderous intent flared in his eyes, his pressure crashing down like an ocean, shattering Yuan Ye's Military pressure and freezing the surrounding space. The five cyan blades were annihilated in the激荡 (churning) pressure.
"How... how can you be so strong?" Yuan Ye stared at Lin Yu in shock. He'd guessed Lin Yu's cultivation had recovered but never imagined this strength, far surpassing Xiantian Realm.
"Die!" Lin Yu's eyes blazed with showed clear murderous intent, his pressure slamming into Yuan Ye like a hammer.
"Lin Yu, you can't kill me!" Sensing death, Yuan Ye's eyes turned blood-red. The cyan flames on him surged, his aura rising as his body swelled under the flames, transforming from a skinny ape into a giant over ten feet tall.
Boom!
Lin Yu's pressure fell, making Yuan Ye's body shudder twice as he withstood the冲击 (assault).
"You're a Demon Clan!" Only now did Lin Yu see Yuan Ye's true form—mountainous, covered in dark golden fur, with bloody lights in his eyes: a demonic ape.
"没想到 (Unexpectedly) you forced my true form out, Lin Yu. You've hidden well! Fortunately, I tested you, or His Highness's plan might have failed because of you." Yuan Ye laughed wildly, his aura climbing from Xiantian to Purple Mansion Seventh Grade.
"You haven't hidden poorly either." Lin Yu eyed Yuan Ye in surprise. Was Yuan Ye a remnant of the Demon Clan in the Divine Continent, or did the First Prince collude with them? Why else would a Demon Clan warrior serve him?
Thinking this, he raised his right hand and pressed down on Yuan Ye. Spiritual energy swirled from his palm like a vortex.
"Again?" Yuan Ye, now at Purple Mansion Seventh Grade, felt confident. He threw a punch at the descending vortex, unleashing surging cyan flames that vanished into the vortex without a ripple.
The vortex then fell,撕扯 (tearing) at Yuan Ye's limbs and binding him tightly.
"Lin Yu, what... what cultivation are you?" Yuan Ye was shocked—even at Purple Mansion Seventh Grade, he couldn't block Lin Yu's casual strike.
Lin Yu looked down coldly. "Speak: what's the relationship between the First Prince and your Demon Clan? What do you plan?"
"Hehe! Lin Yu, don't think you've won!" Yuan Ye grinned. "Even if I die, I'll kill you for the First Prince today!"
His skin turned fiery red, a blood cloud rising above his head as his vital energy surged backward. The binding vortex trembled, on the verge of dissipating.
"Lad, he bears the aura of a Demon Clan Void Transformation Realm expert!" Cauldron Lord suddenly exclaimed in Lin Yu's mind.
"Demon Clan Void Transformation Realm?" Lin Yu was stunned.
"Right. At Void Transformation, one can seal spiritual energy in others. In danger, activating all vital energy can unleash a blow beyond one's rank using that energy. Though this Demon Clan is only Purple Mansion, this blow will surpass Purple Mansion—never underestimate it!" Cauldron Lord warned gravely, fearing Lin Yu would be overconfident.
"Thank you, Cauldron Lord." Lin Yu nodded, and the Wind Controlling Sword spun around him as a cyan stream.
"Kill!" Yuan Ye's face contorted, eyes ablaze. He broke free of the vortex and punched Lin Yu,青色火焰 (cyan flames) roaring like a torrent. This strike rivaled a Myriad Manifestations Fourth Grade expert.
Lin Yu pointed like a sword, and the Wind Controlling Sword shot toward Yuan Ye as a cyan rainbow, instantly slicing through his desperate punch. Cyan lights scattered and vanished into the night.
Before Yuan Ye could react, the sword circled him, severing his tendons. He collapsed with a thud, the sword hovering above his brow, ready to obliterate his soul at Lin Yu's will.
"Speak: what's the First Prince's plan?" Lin Yu stood over Yuan Ye.
"Lin Yu, you're a Myriad Manifestations warrior... The Demon Ancestor won't spare you!" Yuan Ye laughed wildly, his body erupting in flames that reduced him to ashes.
At that moment, Lin Yu sensed a warning in his mind—a gaze filled with infinite malice swept over him, vanishing when it found nothing.
"Lad, a gaze pierced space to lock onto you. I shielded you." Cauldron Lord's voice sounded.
"Thank you, Cauldron Lord." Lin Yu thanked him, then looked toward the border,杀意 (murderous intent) in his eyes.
After killing Yuan Ye, Lin Yu returned to meditate. At noon, the Han Emperor arrived at the mausoleum.
"Third Prince, receive the edict: His Majesty will inspect the imperial mausoleum. Attend once!" Before the horse stopped, a eunuch proclaimed.
"Father is coming here?" Lin Yu frowned. Royal ancestor worship had shifted to the ancestral temple, and the mausoleum was nearly deserted. The Han Emperor hadn't set foot here in years. His sudden visit felt aimed at Lin Yu.
When Lin Yu reached the mausoleum gate, the Emperor's procession had arrived, transforming the desolate mausoleum into a scene of flags and officials.
Surrounded by ministers and royal experts like Elder Xu, the Han Emperor appeared in Lin Yu's view.
"Your son Lin Yu greets Father..." Lin Yu quickly bowed.
The Han Emperor looked at Lin Yu. Though confined for years, Lin Yu's temperament was gentle, his edge内敛 (restrained), more composed than in youth.
"What do you think of the Third Prince?" The Han Emperor turned to the Chief Minister.
"Your Majesty, the Third Prince is composed and reserved—truly the best choice to envoy to Great Zhou." The Chief Minister smiled, and other ministers nodded.