"You..."

Can Yunwu was shaking all over with rage, her eyes filled with killing intent.

She wished she could kill Tuoba Hongyu right then and there, but her reason forced her to suppress the urge.

All her masks had been ruthlessly torn away by Tuoba Hongyu—this feeling was just like the moment she had faced Xu Yang in the palace.

"Sharp-tongued!"

"No wonder you're his woman, just as rude as him!" Can Yunwu sneered, pressing down her fury.

Tuoba Hongyu laughed, "Rude? What does that matter in the face of absolute strength?"

"..."

Can Yunwu's chest heaved violently; her fists clenched tight.

Behind her, Dong Xiuling let out a silent sigh.

Her Highness had lost.

And it was a disastrous defeat!

"In your heart, you long for him to lose, yet you also want him to win."

Tuoba Hongyu said mildly, "If he loses, it's Daqian's reputation on the line, the Emperor's machinations will go astray—consequences you can't bear, you aren't even qualified to bear them!"

"If he wins, you have even less hope!"

"But, he has no interest in the Crown Prince's position at all. He's just doing what he ought to do. You, wanting to become Crown Prince, are not qualified—not even if you were forced into it!"

"In fact, there's a choice that could let you turn the tables."

Meeting Can Yunwu's blazing gaze, Tuoba Hongyu remained unfazed: "This battle—you, go and kill Song Yuanhao. Who in the world would dare defy you then?"

"You dare not, do you?"

"You don't have that strength, aren't qualified!"

"What are you so unresigned about? What are you angry about?"

"If you're so capable, then go ahead."

"Let's go!"

Can Yunwu gave a low growl, spun around, and left.

At that exact moment as she turned, her body shivered, blood oozed from her lips!

She was actually provoked into coughing blood by Tuoba Hongyu's words!

Her mindset was near collapse!

If it were Xu Yang, it wouldn't matter so much.

But the one humiliating her was a woman, a former princess!

Outmatched, Tuoba Hongyu accepted it openly!

She could even resign herself to the fall of the Barbarian Race!

But Can Yunwu was left in powerless fury!

No strength, no qualification...

Can Yunwu suddenly let out a bitter, mocking laugh: "So you think I'm not qualified as well?"

Dong Xiuling was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly: "You aren't as good as him. Not by far."

Pff!

A jet of blood sprayed from Can Yunwu's lips.

On the other side—

Su Yun and Bai Jingxue stared dumbly at Tuoba Hongyu.

Those words had thoroughly stunned both of them.

Su Yun was the first to snap out of it. She grabbed Tuoba Hongyu's arm excitedly: "So impressive! That was a princess, and you left her speechless!"

As a mere bystander, she felt an exhilarating sense of satisfaction.

Tuoba Hongyu gave a wry smile: "I just blurted things out and hit the mark, couldn't let her humiliate me, could I?"

Though being humiliated by a princess wasn't exactly shameful, but as a former princess herself, she had her pride and dignity.

Dignity can be cast aside before Xu Yang, but not in front of anyone else.

Su Yunjiao giggled: "Looks like that one's pretty formidable. To make a princess take such a loss—I wonder what happened in the capital."

Suddenly—

Waves of terrifying auras surged from the west.

All eyes lifted as one.

A crowd swept in like a flood, stirs the heavens, rolling like a tide.

"That's Great Hao's people arriving."

"Whoa, there are actually True Sovereign experts among them!"

"We've got our own over here, just no one's revealed themselves."

"That's Song Yuanhao, isn't it?"

...

In the mountains, a loud wave of discussion broke out.

People were gathering, their eyes fixed on the arrivals.

Over a hundred barrelled in—menacing, imposing.

Leading them was a young man dressed in imperial dragon robes.

Song Yuanhao!

His cultivation had reached Myriad Manifestations Perfection, giving him an unfathomable air.

Song Yuanhao surveyed the many Martial Artists across Cloud Mountain and smiled: "Such a commotion—if I lose this battle, I'll be thoroughly disgraced!"

But the winner will be the focus of all, basking in ultimate glory!

"Xu Yang, to challenge you I've gone through hell, so don't disappoint me!"

Song Yuanhao narrowed his eyes, waved his hand: "Everyone, stay here."

With that, he leapt to the peak of Cloud Mountain, sat cross-legged, and waited in silence.

Two days left before the final day.

He didn't care for dramatic entrances!

He was waiting for Xu Yang.

As this unfolded, the crowd's expressions grew somber, and discussion became hush.

Somewhere outside Cloud Mountain—

A group of Daqian True Sovereigns had gathered.

"So?"

"Song Yuanhao isn't weak, he's like a reborn man now. Though he's hiding it well, the faint aura on him suggests his whole body's transformed into spirit bone and spirit blood!"

"Myriad Manifestations Perfection. Here beneath Cloud Mountain, no matter young or old, no equal in cultivation can rival his power!"

A True Sovereign said gravely.

Another Sovereign spoke slowly: "That's just the surface!"

The experts fell silent!

Exactly. That's only what's shown!

Though Song Yuanhao was only at Myriad Manifestations Perfection, he had treasures masking everything, even True Sovereigns can't see through it!

As Great Hao's Crown Prince, would Song Yuanhao lack for such things?

"His Highness didn't take any treasures or resources from the palace..." someone suddenly lamented.

"The divine weapon I forged for him—is that not something?" Tang Yan suddenly stepped forward, his tone cold.

"Mr. Tang."

The experts greeted him at once.

"A divine weapon crafted by Mr. Tang is not to be underestimated, but the treasures Song Yuanhao's concealing—unimaginable." someone sighed. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Tang Yan watched from afar, his eyes sharpened.

"That brat really plans to show only at the last moment?"

They looked at each other.

None of them even knew where Xu Yang was, let alone the answer to this.

"Stop boosting the enemy's morale."

Tang Yan sniffed, then said indifferently: "Don't forget how monstrous that kid is, a peerless Pill Master, apprenticed to a Pill Emperor."

"And there's His Majesty's grand plan in all of this!"

At these words, the experts were jolted, faces lighting up.

True! The Emperor's plot was in play!

How could Xu Yang fall short?

Thus, they waited.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye!

Martial Artists from all around Cloud Mountain gathered in greater and greater numbers—a sea of people.

It was no exaggeration to say that the whole of Qingzhou now held most of Daqian's strongest warriors and prodigies.

Yie Vajra, the Central Province Governor, Wuhou Hall—every Martial Artist familiar to Xu Yang was here!

As the final moment drew near, the world grew especially quiet.

Everyone stared wide-eyed, waiting for Xu Yang to appear.

At a certain moment—

On Cloud Mountain Peak, Song Yuanhao suddenly stood, gazing into the distance.

Every Martial Artist who saw that scene felt their pupils contract.

"Has he arrived?"

"He's here—really here."

Amid a wave of gasps—

A dark streak burst through the sky like lightning, its speed astonishing; in just a few blinks it was overhead Cloud Mountain.

It was Xu Yang!

He had raced from Liangzhou all the way here.

He looked worn from travel.

His cultivation was Late Stage of Myriad Manifestation Realm.

"Just Late Stage of Myriad Manifestation Realm?"

"To face me, you seem far from prepared!"

Song Yuanhao fixed Xu Yang with a feral, mocking smile: "Do you need a few more months to get ready? I can wait as long as you want."