Fate-Defying Demon Emperor

The Sword Dao Conference had come to an end, but the stir it caused was just beginning.

Almost as soon as the Sword Dao Conference ended, the news spread at lightning speed. The entirety of Sword Province, the entire Heavenly Sword Dynasty, and even many regions beyond learned of the results almost instantly. Within this news, the Nineteenth Prince, as embodied by Su Han, was undoubtedly the center of attention.

Although the name of the Nineteenth Prince had already resonated throughout Jiuzhou before the Sword Dao Conference, at that time he had only been seen as a dark horse. There was a substantial gap between him and veteran powerhouses like the Demon Swordsman. People considered him a second-rate contender at best, a potential challenger but with little chance of winning.

However, no one could have imagined that this dark horse would not only kill the Second Prince but also slay the Demon Swordsman and defeat the combined forces of the Sword Lunatic and the Sword Maniac, ultimately seizing first place. When this news first broke, no one could believe it and thought it was a prank. But as the reports continued to spread, everyone was left in shock.

"The Nineteenth Prince is too strong! He even managed to slay the Demon Swordsman and defeat the combined forces of the Sword Lunatic and Sword Maniac. How on earth did he cultivate?"

"I heard that the Nineteenth Prince has always been lying low. If it weren’t for this Sword Dao Conference, he might never have revealed his true strength. I never expected him to be so formidable! He was only at the Supreme Realm Seventh Layer, yet he managed to slay the Demon Swordsman, who was at the Supreme Realm Ninth Layer."

"It looks like the Nineteenth Prince’s ranking on the Hidden Dragon List is bound to rise significantly with the next update. He might even have a chance to break into the top hundred."

"Don’t forget, the winner of this Sword Dao Conference gets to cultivate in the Myriad Virtual Realm for three months. The Nineteenth Prince is already so strong; if he goes to cultivate in the Myriad Virtual Realm, he will surely become even more powerful."

"Indeed, the Heavenly Sword Dynasty is truly a land blessed by the heavens. Not only did it produce the Heavenly Sword Crown Prince, but now it has also produced this Nineteenth Prince. It’s truly enviable!"

Countless people were buzzing with conversation, all discussing Su Han. Some were shocked by his achievements, while others eagerly anticipated the results of his cultivation in the Myriad Virtual Realm. The discussion was not limited to the Heavenly Sword Dynasty; among the powers outside its borders, many were also talking about Su Han.

「Within the Dugu Imperial Clan.」

In a splendid great hall, an emergency meeting was underway, convened for the sole purpose of discussing the Sword Dao Conference.

"Everyone, I’m sure you have all heard the news about the Sword Dao Conference. What are your thoughts?" the Great Elder, frail with age, asked as he oversaw the meeting. His stature was short, his skin was wrinkled, and the Death Qi surrounding him seemed to overwhelm his vitality. He looked as though he was at the end of his life and could pass away at any moment, yet no one dared to underestimate him.

"The death of the Demon Swordsman is a significant blow to us, but we still have the Imperial Son, so we can bear this loss," a Sage spoke up. "However, he foolishly exposed the secret of the Demon Bloodline, which is absolutely not good news for our Imperial Clan."

The death of the Demon Swordsman was a fact. Furthermore, with the Flying Immortal Great Emperor being so powerful, no one would dare demand justice for the Demon Swordsman. The real problem was that he had revealed his Demon Bloodline during the Sword Dao Conference, exposing the Dugu Imperial Clan’s secret. This was the true reason they had convened this urgent meeting.

Evil Demons were rejected by the world. Even if they no longer existed, their legends persisted. Now that the clan, possessors of the Demon Bloodline, had their secret exposed, they would face numerous targeted actions even if they weren’t besieged by all sides. This was decidedly disadvantageous for them.

"At this point, discussing responsibility is unnecessary, especially since the Demon Swordsman is already dead," the Great Elder said, tapping the table to bring the topic back on track. "What we need to discuss now is how to minimize the losses."

The Dugu Imperial Clan was not isolated from the world; it had many allies and some enemies. The exposure of the Demon Bloodline meant their foreign policy had to change, and the specifics of that change required careful deliberation. For a time, everyone expressed their views and suggestions. The Great Elder took note of them, preparing to adopt the good ideas and avoid the bad ones.

"Alright, I have recorded your suggestions and will pass them on to the Clan Leader for review. This meeting is now adjourned." The Great Elder stood up, ready to leave.

However, the Sage who had spoken earlier still had a question. "Great Elder, the Demon Swordsman was killed by the Nineteenth Prince. How should we deal with that prince from the Heavenly Sword Dynasty?"

Although they could not seek open vengeance because of the Flying Immortal Great Emperor, simply swallowing this insult was not their style.

After a moment of contemplation, the Great Elder made his decision. "If there is a chance, kill him. If he cannot be killed, then suppressing him is also fine. White Phoenix Sage, I entrust this matter to you."

Kill him if the opportunity arises. If not, suppress him. In any case, we can’t let that Nineteenth Prince live too comfortably, lest the world truly underestimates our Dugu Imperial Clan!

White Phoenix Sage nodded. "Very well. I know what to do."

Although they could not seek revenge openly, it did not mean they could not retaliate in secret. The Central Plains were home to many dark organizations willing to do anything for money.

Once the meeting concluded and everyone dispersed, White Phoenix Sage discreetly left the Imperial Clan. He went to secretly contact the number one dark organization in the Central Plains: King Yama’s Palace!

"When Yama decides your time is up, who dares to keep you till dawn?"

The notorious reputation of King Yama’s Palace was enough to strike terror into anyone’s heart in the Central Plains. They wouldn’t hesitate to accept a mission against an Imperial Son or an Emperor’s Daughter, let alone a mere Nineteenth Prince.

Soon, White Phoenix Sage issued the assassination mission for the Nineteenth Prince through a secret stronghold of King Yama’s Palace.

He let out a cold laugh as he looked toward the Heavenly Sword Dynasty, a trace of icy murderous intent flashing in his eyes. The Heavenly Sword Dynasty has one Crown Prince; that is enough. There is no need for another prince. The mission has been issued. Now, I just have to wait for King Yama’s Palace to send an assassin! Nineteenth Prince, you must die!

While the outside world was in an uproar, Tianxing Hall remained as tranquil as still water. Su Han was completely unaware of the Dugu Imperial Clan’s machinations or the assassination mission issued by King Yama’s Palace. His visit to the Myriad Virtual Realm was still three days away, so he took Li Qingyue and Li Mingliang back to Tianxing Hall.

Li Qingyue had gained a lot this time. She not only experienced a series of tough battles but also acquired a Heaven Rank Low-Level swordsmanship scroll. After providing her with ample Cultivation Resources, Su Han let her enter secluded cultivation.

Besides Li Qingyue and Li Mingliang, Su Han had brought back one other person.

Sitting opposite Su Han, Liu Xu warned with a solemn expression, "Your Highness, you’re in trouble!"