Infiltrating the world of cultivation

Walking alone through the alleys of the capital, the sky was already bright, but the shops on both sides of the street were deserted, creating a somber atmosphere as if a storm was brewing.

Wang Chao walked back to Li Hu's residence, his mind filled with thoughts. He was not a sentimental person, but some people, even if they forget a relationship, are left with scars.

The most helpless thing is meeting someone you want to protect for life when you have nothing.

Wang Chao took a deep breath. A cloud of white mist swirled and rolled around him. He withdrew his spiritual power, feeling the biting winter chill and the bone-deep cold, trying to clear his head.

To hell with worldly views! In this life, if my dynasty ever meets someone I truly love, no matter what kind of person she is, no matter if she is even human, I will never let her go.

Life is so short. If even loving someone requires hesitation and second-guessing, wouldn't that be a pathetic way to live?

Wang Chao sat cross-legged in the courtyard. At this moment, he had no intention of cultivating. His chaotic thoughts were tangled and knotted.

For some reason, he thought of Nangong Qingyu, and then shook his head. She was a proud daughter of heaven, how could she possibly be interested in you?

"Kill! Slaughter the capital and help my Third Prince become emperor!"

Outside the Eighth Prince's residence, shouts of battle shook the heavens, but the dynasty paid no heed. With so many innate masters assisting Li Hu, why did he need to personally take action?

The clash of swords echoed, cries of agony filled the fields, blood stained the imperial city, and bones were buried on the emperor's road.

Every change of dynasty inevitably results in countless deaths and injuries; every prosperous era is built upon mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Outside the house, shouts of battle shook the heavens, while inside, snowflakes continued to fall.

Zheng!

Faintly, the sound of a zither could be heard coming from amidst the clash of weapons.

clank!

The music and the chaotic noise were combined in such a skillful way that no one could detect the slightest flaw. If Wang Chao were not a cultivator with keen spiritual perception, he would probably have difficulty understanding its meaning.

The battle lasted for three days and three nights, leaving the entire capital city awash in blood and littered with corpses.

The third prince led the imperial guards into the city. Except for the eighth prince and the sixth prince who was far away in Yunnan, the other princes were beheaded.

The third prince possessed grand strategies and the bearing of an emperor, and the world believed that his ascension to the throne was inevitable.

But that unknown eighth prince actually had twenty innate masters hidden behind him. You must know that each of these innate masters is a killer of a thousand men and a match for ten thousand men.

Today is the day of the decisive battle between the Third Prince and the Eighth Prince. It is a day of life and death, a day of victory and defeat.

The Third Prince ordered that no effort be spared in seizing the throne, and he wanted to announce to the world that he would openly and legitimately appoint Atao as the founding empress.

The 100,000 Imperial Guards, with their morale soaring, charged fearlessly toward the twenty Innate Realm experts.

Knowing it's certain death, yet going without hesitation, how can one achieve imperial ambitions without shedding blood and sacrificing oneself?

Even if I die today, I will still be a hero twenty years from now. If I am lucky enough to survive today, I will be a founding hero and enjoy unparalleled glory!

Life is short, why not take a chance! To conquer the world with our lofty ambitions, wouldn't that be exhilarating?

The Third Prince led his troops toward Li Hu. It was a battle of the victors and the vanquished; it was either you or me who would die!

Blood spilled along the way, staining the capital red, staining the mountains and rivers with blood, I, a hero of heaven and earth!

The Third Prince fought valiantly, fighting his way to Li Hu's feet, who looked at him with a complex expression.

"Third Brother, I admire your character. If you were to leave like this, I, Li Hu, swear to heaven that I will take the rich lands of Jiangnan and make you king. What do you say?"

The third prince looked up, his expression resolute.

"I have nowhere to retreat. I must give her a proper status. If I cannot have her in this life, what good will it do me to give me this vast empire?"

Li Hu smiled bitterly. He knew that this battle was unavoidable, so he took a step back.

bass!

The Third Prince drew his sword. He was a genius who amazed the Wei Kingdom and a disciple of the White-Robed Imperial Advisor Li Wenshu. Had it been a few years later, he would surely have been remembered for eternity.

But now, standing in his way is Zuo Qiuzhen, a peerless expert who can rival the third stage of Qi Refining.

Even though the Third Prince was a genius who amazed the entire Wei Kingdom, he was still no match for Zuo Qiuzhen, who had returned from the Nanshan Spirit Mine.

Zuo Qiuzhen's expression was also somewhat complicated. Among the many juniors, the Third Prince was the one he favored the most, the most promising genius after the Grand Preceptor and himself.

But is it really worth it for Ah Tao? Is it worth sacrificing your promising future? Knowing you're no match, why did you still come?

boom!

In a single exchange, the Third Prince was kicked away by Zuoqiu Zhen, flying like an arrow and crashing heavily into the city wall, leaving a pool of bright red blood that stained the city gate.

"Atao, I want to give you a proper status!"

The third prince struggled to his feet and fearlessly lunged at Zuo Qiuzhen.

boom!

As expected, Zuo Qiuzhen would never allow the Third Prince to get close, and this time, he was even more seriously injured.

cough!

The third prince struggled to his feet, a mouthful of blood gushing up uncontrollably, staining his clothes red.

"If there is an afterlife, even if the whole world disagrees, even if the whole world is my enemy, I will still marry you."

"In my next life, I will not be born into an imperial family; I only wish to stay with you forever."

The third prince staggered to his feet, his right hand gripping the longsword trembling slightly, but his eyes were resolute as he stared intently ahead.

That's the direction of the Drunken Dream Pavilion; the sound of a zither drifts from there, and there's someone I long to see.

We're in the same city, yet I dare not go to see you.

I'm afraid of losing it all; I'm afraid that my last hope will be shattered.

Zuo Qiuzhen looked somewhat reluctant. He had been holding back his strength, hoping that the Third Prince would change his mind, but seeing that the prince was determined to die, he sighed inwardly.

He had promised the dynasty that he would spare the third prince's life, but now he didn't know what to do.

Can love truly make a person fearless? Even unafraid of death?

bass!

Zuoqiu Zhen drew his sword, determined to end it all. Therefore, even in death, he would give the Third Prince the utmost respect.

Zheng!

A guqin (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument) flew in from the horizon, accompanied by a whooshing sound, and its music whistled through the air.

The guqin was thrust diagonally into the ground, lying across Zuo Qiuzhen's path.

A graceful woman, as ethereal as a fairy, stood at the head of the zither.

The woman turned around and, in a flash, flew to the Third Prince's side.

"How could you be so foolish?"

The Third Prince's mind was already somewhat clouded. When he saw the woman in front of him, he was momentarily stunned. He couldn't believe it was real.

"Atao, I want to give you a proper status!"

The third prince murmured, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.

A smile played on Atao's lips. "Since you still care about me, why don't you come to find me?"

But gradually, she noticed that the Third Prince's smile froze, and a look of panic appeared on A Tao's face.

He's just tired, he's just sleepy, no, he won't die, right?

"Hao'er, wake up! Stop joking with me! Wake up, please wake up!"

Atao knelt on the ground, looking somewhat dazed. Her eyes were wide open, and she felt remorse in her heart.

Why did I wait for him to come to me? Why didn't I go to him? Why? Why?!

If I hadn't been so stubborn, if I had been a little weaker, would none of this have happened?

But why did I only realize these things after I lost them? If I had the chance to start over, I would stay with you and never leave you.

"Cough cough, Atao, if you don't let go of me, I'm going to be strangled to death!"

The Third Prince coughed lightly. He wasn't dead at all; he just didn't want Atao to see his tears, so he closed his eyes.

"Then why are you frightening me?"

Overjoyed, Atao burst into tears, and with a touch of shame and anger, punched the Third Prince in the chest.

The Third Prince coughed up a mouthful of blood, which startled A Tao so much that she immediately stopped what she was doing.

When the Third Prince looked up, Zuo Qiuzhen had already disappeared.