Chapter 76: Storming the Crown Prince’s Residence

When Xia Jiuxuan returned, Li Luoyan, her face pale, struggled to stand.
"Young master, I am so sorry..." she said, her voice bitter with regret.
"What happened? With your strength, how could you be so gravely injured? Did Jiang Qingyang have some hidden techniques?" Xia Jiuxuan asked urgently.
"Jiang Qingyang had no hidden moves. I killed those academy heads, and wounded Jiang Qingyang as well. But just as I was about to finish him, another expert appeared and struck me down," Li Luoyan replied.
"Who was it? Was it someone from the Alchemist Hall?"
Xia Jiuxuan frowned. Besides the Liang and Yang families, the Alchemist Hall hated him most.
"No," Li Luoyan shook her head. "It was the Imperial Capital Guards, likely under the Third Prince."
The Third Prince!
Xia Jiuxuan understood immediately. He had beaten the Third Prince to a pulp that day; how could he not seek revenge?
"I see."
Xia Jiuxuan responded calmly, then lifted Li Luoyan and carried her into the pill chamber.
"Young master..."
The moment Xia Jiuxuan picked her up, Li Luoyan felt as if struck by lightning. Were it not for her severe injuries, she would have lost control and started squirming.
"Don't speak. I have something good for you."
Upon reaching the pill chamber, Xia Jiuxuan set Li Luoyan down, and the two sat facing one another.
"Look at this."
Xia Jiuxuan took out a Soul Bead and handed it to Li Luoyan.
Li Luoyan released a strand of her consciousness to sense it, and immediately froze.
"What pure soul energy! Young master, this can heal my Sword Soul!"
"Indeed," Xia Jiuxuan nodded.
"Thank you, young master!"
Li Luoyan was overjoyed. Today she had been defeated by the Imperial Guards because her Sword Soul was wounded. Otherwise, with one strike, she could have destroyed the entire Immortal Martial Dynasty.
Afterward, Xia Jiuxuan gave her a healing pill and said, "I'll teach you a method to nourish your soul. When your injuries lessen, absorb the soul energy to heal your Sword Soul."
Li Luoyan gazed at the handsome, cool youth before her, warmth blossoming in her heart. She nodded gently, "Young master, you are so kind. Meeting you is the blessing of countless lifetimes."
Xia Jiuxuan cast her a sidelong glance, "Enough. I heal you so you'll work for me—a fair trade."
Li Luoyan was not disappointed by his words. She already understood the young master's temperament: cold on the outside, soft within.
Suddenly—
A strange noise rang out.
A jade token at Xia Jiuxuan's waist emitted a sound.
"Not good!"
Xia Jiuxuan sprang to his feet. From the jade token came the sound of crying.
"Waa waa, I want my second uncle! Bad uncles, don't hurt my teacher, boo hoo."
Xia Jiuxuan felt thunderstruck, his mood plummeting to the depths.
"Damn it!"
He gritted his teeth, his eyes dark with rage.
Something had happened to Xia Ran!
"Xia Jiuxuan, you have one hour to come to the Crown Prince’s manor, or I’ll crush your niece!"
The voice of the Third Prince came through the jade token.
As expected!
Xia Jiuxuan was furious, murderous intent pouring from him like a tangible force.
"If you dare harm a single hair of my niece, I will wipe out your ancestors for eighteen generations! Mark my words!"
His voice, thick with murderous resolve, transmitted through the jade token.
"Enough talk. Get over here now. I'll take a little interest first and cut off your niece’s arm, hahaha!"
With a snap, the jade token shattered. Xia Jiuxuan was nearly driven mad.
"Courting death!"
Enraged and anxious, Xia Jiuxuan's back shimmered with the apparition of a blood-red armored figure, a phantom of slaughter.
Li Luoyan saw the apparition and felt her very soul threaten to shatter.
She steadied herself and stood, her face grim with killing intent.
"Young master, this is all my fault. I will go kill my way into the Crown Prince’s manor!"
Xia Jiuxuan turned, his voice cold as ice. "Sit down. Until your Sword Soul is repaired, you are not to take a single step outside this room. Otherwise, get lost."
The icy words entered Li Luoyan’s ears, leaving her stunned. Though harsh on the surface, they were in truth a form of protection; the young master clearly didn’t want her to go to her death.
With a flash, Xia Jiuxuan spoke no more and sped away.
Li Luoyan watched his departing figure, closed her eyes, and worked to banish all distractions.
...
The Crown Prince’s manor was not within the palace itself, as per the Immortal Martial Dynasty’s traditions.
Xia Jiuxuan’s figure landed heavily before the gate, shattering a wide swath of bluestone tiles.
He looked up at the manor gates.
Before them hung a corpse, battered and bruised.
Yao Yunya!
The wounded body belonged to Yao Yunya!
"Ah! Forgive me!"
Xia Jiuxuan cried out in pain, unable to suppress the catch in his throat.
Guilt weighed heavily on his heart, but now he had to push aside all distractions and save Xia Ran first.
"Kill!"
He raised his sword and charged into the Crown Prince’s manor.
Instantly, hundreds of powerful auras descended, locking onto him.
Xia Jiuxuan paid them no mind, pressing forward desperately, his spiritual sense searching for Xia Ran.
"How dare you!"
Several peak Transcendent guards rushed him.
"Out of my way!"
Xia Jiuxuan swung his sword, cleaving each guard in two at the waist.
He continued his charge, already sensing Xia Ran’s aura.
In a courtyard, upon a tall tree, Xia Ran was bound and hanging.
"Second uncle, it hurts..."
Seeing Xia Jiuxuan arrive, Xia Ran, who had fainted several times from pain, cried hoarsely.
"Curse your ancestors for eighteen generations! Today, you will all die!"
The blood in Xia Jiuxuan’s veins seemed to ignite!
He leapt forward to cut the rope and rescue Xia Ran.
Bang!
A mighty force knocked Xia Jiuxuan back.
Figures flew out from behind.
"Haha, you fool. For this little girl, you really came to die."
At their head was the Third Prince.
"Take the girl away. I’ll torture this bastard first."
"Yes, Your Highness."
An old man with an abyssal aura took Xia Ran, vanishing so completely even Xia Jiuxuan’s spiritual sense could not track her.

"Release her, and we can talk," Xia Jiuxuan said coldly.
"Talk? Who do you think you are? You’re not worthy," the Third Prince sneered.
"Damn you!"
Xia Jiuxuan roared, charging straight at him.
He moved so quickly that even the guards around the Third Prince failed to react.
For Xia Jiuxuan had activated advanced footwork!
Today, lives would be taken. What need for caution now?
"Protect His Highness!"
The Third Prince felt a surge of terror and cried out for help.
"Protect the Prince!"
Bang!
Several guards rushed forward, only to be blasted away by a terrifying force.
The Third Prince, panic-stricken, hastily activated his protective energy.
Clang!
The sword struck his chest, blocked by a mysterious-grade battle armor.
The Third Prince was sent flying, crashing through the wall behind him.
Xia Jiuxuan pursued relentlessly, his sword raised, unleashing a torrent of sword intent like a waterfall.
"Brother, save me!"
The Third Prince never imagined Xia Jiuxuan could be so ferocious, so wild!
Swish!
A blade of spiritual energy struck Xia Jiuxuan’s back.
He wore black battle armor and was unafraid of the attack.
With a swing, he cleaved the Third Prince’s armor, severing his shoulder.
Xia Jiuxuan grabbed the Third Prince and soared into the air.
He was already surrounded by a hundred Imperial Guards.
"Brother, save me!"
The Third Prince bawled uncontrollably. Despite the protection of several fifth-level Spirit-Sealing guards, he had still been cut down!
Next, a young man in a yellow robe adorned with four clawed serpents stepped out, hovering several yards away from Xia Jiuxuan.
"Your armor is impressive, able to resist spiritual attacks."
This was the Crown Prince of the Immortal Martial Dynasty—Yu Hong!
"Enough nonsense. Return my niece, or I’ll kill him."
Xia Jiuxuan was icy and indifferent.
"Threats? Do they work?" Yu Hong replied calmly, as if he cared not for the Third Prince’s fate.
"Brother, save me! I’ve lured him here for you; you can’t let me die!" The Third Prince wailed even louder.
"Don’t worry, little brother. After you die, I’ll avenge you," Yu Hong said coolly.
Hearing this, the Third Prince felt as though he’d fallen into an abyss.
Xia Jiuxuan became even more decisive. Since threats were useless, he would kill!
With a swift motion, Xia Jiuxuan raised his sword and sliced off the Third Prince’s head.
"You—!"
Yu Hong’s pupils contracted. He had only intended to appear indifferent, hoping to intimidate Xia Jiuxuan.
But this man, far from fearing him, actually killed his own royal brother!