Fate-Defying Demon Emperor

The Wei Manor, located west of the Imperial Capital, occupied an expansive and magnificent estate.

To carry out his quest for revenge, Su Han needed the backing of a Saint, and the Wei Manor was the most suitable choice. The Nineteenth Prince was of extraordinary birth. His father was the Flying Immortal Great Emperor, his mother was the favored Jade Consort, and her maternal family was the Wei Manor itself. With such vast resources at his disposal, Su Han could not afford to overlook them. Now that he was impersonating the Nineteenth Prince, he had to utilize this identity to its fullest extent.

"The Prince has returned!" As soon as Su Han stepped into the Wei Manor, the entire place erupted with excitement. Although the Nineteenth Prince was not the direct heir of the Wei Manor, he was an even more distinguished royal. He had shown exceptional innate talent since childhood, and his status within the manor was incomparably esteemed.

Su Han was becoming increasingly adept at playing the part of the Nineteenth Prince. Accompanied by servants, he walked toward the main hall.

When Su Han arrived, a dense crowd had already gathered outside to greet him. At the forefront was a middle-aged man with slightly graying temples. Dressed in a purple silk robe and wearing a jade crown, he carried himself with an extraordinary and authoritative demeanor. Though not handsome, he gave off the impression of a sheathed sword—subtle yet formidable, hinting that once unsheathed, its strike would be earthshattering.

Through the Nineteenth Prince’s memories, Su Han knew this was his eldest maternal uncle, Wei Tianzheng, the current head of the Wei Manor. Duke Wei had three sons and two daughters, with the Nineteenth Prince’s mother being the fourth child. Therefore, the prince had three uncles and one younger aunt. However, aside from his eldest uncle, only his younger aunt was present, as the second and third uncles were away on business.

"Xing’er, you’ve grown taller and stronger!" his young aunt, Wei Ying, exclaimed. She had just turned thirty but maintained herself so well that she looked like a beautiful woman in her early twenties. Dressed in palace attire, she had a well-proportioned figure and a captivating presence. She looked at Su Han with doting eyes, just as she had when he was a child.

The Nineteenth Prince’s real name was Yang Xing, and Xing’er was his childhood nickname. After he was formally recognized as a prince, however, few dared to call him by it. Even his eldest uncle, Wei Tianzheng, respectfully addressed him as "Your Highness." Yet Wei Ying, romantic by nature and having played with him since childhood, felt no sense of distance and still used his nickname.

"Auntie, I’m sixteen now, so of course I’ve grown," Su Han replied, playing his part. "Have you spotted any talented man worthy of your discerning eye to become my uncle?" According to the Nineteenth Prince’s memories, he and his aunt Wei Ying were very close, and their conversations were always informal. He would always tease her about finding a husband whenever they met, so Su Han had to make his performance convincing.

"Alas, poor me. I was born with such beauty, yet those good-for-nothings aren’t even worth a glance," Wei Ying sighed, bantering with him.

"Alright, Your Highness has come on urgent business. Let’s go inside to discuss it," Wei Tianzheng interjected. Su Han and Wei Ying stopped their banter, and the group entered the main hall.

Once inside, Wei Tianzheng asked, "Your Highness, we’ve heard about what happened. What assistance do you require from us this time?" The eldest uncle had a steady character; he was a deliberative but decisive man of substance. News from the outside had already spread like wildfire, so he naturally had some inkling as to why Su Han had come.

"Eldest Uncle, I wish to see Grandfather," Su Han said after a moment’s thought. He had indeed come for reinforcements. However, his uncle was a prudent man who prioritized the Emperor and the Imperial Court, and he wasn’t as close to Su Han as his aunt was. For these reasons, Su Han preferred to speak with his grandfather first. The Nineteenth Prince’s grandfather was the renowned Mysterious Great Sword Saint, a formidable existence capable of slaying another Saint with a mere strand of Great Freedom Sword Qi. Su Han’s plans were grand this time; aside from the Flying Immortal Great Emperor, he needed someone else to hold the fort.

Upon hearing Su Han’s request, Wei Tianzheng frowned slightly. "Your Highness, it is not that I am unwilling to let you meet with Father, but he has been in seclusion for a long time. He cannot be disturbed without permission, so it is not my place to take you to him."

The Mysterious Great Sword Saint had been in seclusion for a long time, aiming to break through to the Great Emperor realm. Wei Tianzheng was not unwilling to help, but unable. If he were to disturb his father’s critical breakthrough, he would become an unforgivable sinner.

Su Han’s gaze hardened. He hadn’t anticipated being unable to see the Mysterious Great Sword Saint. It seems my only option is to talk to Wei Tianzheng. However, there aren’t many Saints in the Wei Manor. Given Wei Tianzheng’s prudent nature, even if he agrees to lend me some Saints, there won’t be many, nor will they be particularly powerful. This falls somewhat short of my expectations.

Still, some help was better than none. Just as Su Han was about to state his needs to Wei Tianzheng, an ancient voice suddenly echoed in the minds of everyone present.

"Bring Xing’er to me!"

It was the voice of the Mysterious Great Sword Saint. He had apparently sensed Su Han’s arrival, heard his request, and was now issuing a command via Divine Sense.

"Since Father commands it, Your Highness, please follow me." With his father having spoken directly, Wei Tianzheng had no reason to refuse. He rose and led Su Han toward the forbidden grounds in the rear courtyard.

Before long, Wei Tianzheng led Su Han to an austere little hut. Constructed of wood and topped with thatch, it was devoid of any luxury and looked exceptionally modest compared to the surrounding palatial pavilions. But this was the Wei Manor’s forbidden ground, the place of the Mysterious Great Sword Saint’s seclusion.

"Father is inside. Your Highness, please enter on your own. I shall wait outside." Having brought Su Han to the door, Wei Tianzheng stood his ground, not daring to take another step.

"Thank you, Eldest Uncle." Su Han bowed, then stepped forward and pushed open the wooden door. Inside was another world entirely.

Saint Realm powerhouses could create their own secret realms. The hut’s interior connected to the Freedom Secret Realm, a spatial domain created by the Mysterious Great Sword Saint himself. The cultivation technique he practiced was the Great Freedom Sword Technique. Though not on par with the Sword Scripture of Ages, it was still a high-level Heaven Rank technique of incredible power.

The Freedom Secret Realm was vast, but its interior was an immense emptiness. There were no mountains or rivers, only a vast plain.

At that moment, an old man appeared before Su Han. He wore plain gray cloth, his white hair cascading over his shoulders. His eyes were slightly closed, yet the Holy Might radiating from him made one involuntarily want to kneel in submission. The elder was tall and slender with a weathered face. Despite his overwhelming Holy Might, he could not hide the signs of his advanced age, indicating that he likely did not have much longevity remaining. He sat cross-legged like a great stone, unmoving through the ages, seemingly indestructible.

This was the foremost Sword Saint of the Heavenly Sword Dynasty: the Mysterious Great Sword Saint.

SWISH!

The Mysterious Great Sword Saint’s eyes snapped open. His gaze was as sharp as a sword, making the hair on Su Han’s body stand on end and his back prickle as if pierced by needles. The first words he spoke made Su Han’s scalp crawl with terror.

"I know you are not Xing’er!"