Free Web NovelChapter 126: Chapter 126: Crown Prince Yonghong
At that moment, Shen Daoxing was following Eunuch Li toward the palace. He had no idea why the Martial Kingdom’s emperor wanted to see him. ’Considering how generous the emperor has been, granting me access to all resources, he probably doesn’t mean me any harm,’ he thought. ’Otherwise, this would all be a pointless effort.’
The imperial palace was truly vast; Shen Daoxing walked for a long time but still hadn’t reached Jinluan Hall.
Furthermore, palace etiquette forbade him from casually using his cultivation to perform a Body Technique, so he could only travel on foot.
Shen Daoxing found the palace’s endless, rigid rules to be stifling. ’If I had to live here and abide by all this etiquette, I’d suffocate to death,’ he mused. He much preferred the pursuit of power and freedom.
This was precisely why Shen Daoxing had no interest in the throne whatsoever.
Even though he had obtained the Great Wu Dragon Vein and should, by all rights, be the next emperor of the Martial Kingdom, he had no desire for the throne.
Besides, Shen Daoxing didn’t believe the Martial Kingdom’s Royal Family would ever hand the throne over to him. ’As long as they don’t cause me any trouble, I’ll be happy.’
After crossing a long stone bridge and passing one gilded, magnificent hall after another, Shen Daoxing came to a wide, straight avenue.
At the end of this avenue was Jinluan Hall.
A young nobleman dressed in fine brocade robes was waiting on the avenue.
The man was dashing and possessed an extraordinary air; he was clearly a scion of the Royal Family. However, Shen Daoxing hadn’t seen him during the Dragon Vein Trial.
As Shen Daoxing passed, the nobleman in fine robes looked over and stopped him.
"You must be Shen Daoxing?"
It seemed he had been waiting here specifically for him.
"Crown Prince Yonghong, what are you doing here?"
Eunuch Li was taken aback for a moment upon seeing the nobleman. He quickly stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
It turned out this young nobleman in fine brocade was none other than Gu Yonghong, son of King Zhenwu, Gu Tian.
Gu Yonghong had entered the Trial Land several years ago and awakened his Royal Bloodline early. If he weren’t from a branch of the family rather than the Direct Lineage, he might have already earned the Dragon Vein’s acknowledgment.
He had once ventured alone into the Li Kingdom, slain dozens of experts, and returned unscathed. He was truly the most outstanding member of the Martial Kingdom’s younger generation. In terms of strength, even the Second Prince was far from his equal.
Gu Yonghong smiled faintly. "My father and I came for an audience with Your Majesty today. I heard that an astonishing new genius has appeared in our Martial Kingdom, so my curiosity got the better of me. I decided to wait here and see for myself."
Then, Gu Yonghong turned to Shen Daoxing. "So you are Shen Daoxing? I heard that it was thanks to you that my royal cousins were able to survive the Trial Land a few days ago. For that, I must thank you sincerely!"
"It’s a shame I left in a hurry and didn’t bring a gift. I will be sure to visit you personally with a generous present to express my gratitude another day!"
Gu Yonghong was suave and refined, appearing quite amicable. As he spoke, he extended a friendly hand toward Shen Daoxing.
"You’re too kind, Crown Prince Yonghong."
Shen Daoxing had no reason to refuse such a show of goodwill, so he reached out and shook Gu Yonghong’s hand.
But while Gu Yonghong was all smiles and courtesy on the surface, his grip was anything but gentle.
The instant their hands clasped, Shen Daoxing felt an aggressive, immense power surge from Gu Yonghong’s hand into his own.
"To think Crown Prince Yonghong waited here specifically for me today, I am truly honored!"
Shen Daoxing smiled calmly, refusing to be outdone. The Seven-Colored Profound Platform within him began to spin, unleashing a massive amount of Spiritual Power to counter the force, resulting in a stalemate.
Their hands were locked in a tight grip, trembling almost imperceptibly. As they both exerted more force, veins bulged on their arms.
Gu Yonghong didn’t let go. Instead, he increased the pressure, though his face remained a mask of suave politeness. "To meet a peerless genius like Shen, what’s a little waiting to me?"
Invisibly, Gu Yonghong’s aura surged, and a crushing pressure, as if Mount Tai itself were falling, bore down on Shen Daoxing.
An ordinary person would have been crushed to dust by such force.
’This Gu Yonghong is truly ruthless!’ Shen Daoxing was shocked. The Seven-Colored Profound Platform in his body spun faster, flaring with brilliant light as he released an equally immense aura to push back.
They both looked at each other, smiling, while their invisible powers were locked in a deadly struggle. If either one of them were to relax for even a moment, the other would suffer grievous injuries, or even death.
Seeing the two men gripping hands and gazing intensely into each other’s eyes, a confused Eunuch Li stepped forward. "Young Master Shen, we must get to our audience with Your Majesty. We can’t afford any delays."
He had barely taken a step when an immense force struck him. BANG! He was sent flying, and he coughed up a large mouthful of blood.
Gu Yonghong was surprised to see Shen Daoxing standing firm under his full power. He grunted softly in astonishment, and then his entire body erupted in a brilliant golden light.
ROAR!
A long, heavy draconic cry echoed from within his body.
Golden light flared, and a corporeal Five-Clawed Golden Dragon with an immense presence materialized behind him.
This was the power of an awakened Royal Bloodline. Compared to the Second Prince’s Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, this one was far more corporeal, majestic, and terrifying.
"Crown Prince Yonghong, what do you think you’re doing?!" Eunuch Li cried out in alarm.
The moment the dragon’s phantom appeared, Eunuch Li felt a majestic pressure bear down on him, as if a great mountain had been dropped on his back. THUD! He was slammed flat against the ground, unable to move a muscle.
CRACK! CRACK!
He could clearly hear the sound of his own bones shattering.
Eunuch Li was still a considerable distance from the two, yet he was experiencing such immense force.
One could only imagine the pressure Shen Daoxing was facing.
Shen Daoxing smiled faintly. "Crown Prince Yonghong is truly so considerate of his juniors. I will never forget your kindness."
’This Gu Yonghong really isn’t holding back at all. He’s trying to crush me to death with absolute power.’
"As expected of Shen, the number one genius of the Martial Kingdom who slew Xia Junze. I’m impressed! Truly impressed!"
Gu Yonghong also had a smile on his face, looking perfectly courteous, but he showed no sign of stopping.
The Five-Clawed Golden Dragon behind him blazed with golden light, its presence suddenly rising to another level as it lunged forward with unstoppable, overwhelming might.
It looked as if it would not rest until Shen Daoxing was ground to dust.
But just as the massive dragon was about to crush Shen Daoxing...
ROOOOAAAAR!
A far more majestic draconic cry echoed, resounding throughout the entire imperial palace.
Then, a pair of majestic, terrifying golden eyes snapped open behind Shen Daoxing, shooting out long beams of golden light.
A moment later, the figure of a colossal golden dragon materialized, like some ancient god or demon.
Before this new behemoth, the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon looked like a mere lizard.
BOOM!
The colossal dragon opened its mouth and exhaled a blast of scorching breath.
Instantly, the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon dissolved into the air like scattered sand.
"!?"
Gu Yonghong.
Before Gu Yonghong could even react, several Blood Arrows erupted from his body. As if struck by a giant sledgehammer, he was sent flying backward with a WHOOSH, carving a perfect arc through the air.
