Lin Hao’s cultivation had already broken through to the Third Layer of Yin Yang Realm, and his Heaven-Stepping Step possessed an unpredictable, almost supernatural power. The moment he moved, Ye Qinghan was sent flying.
Blood sprayed across the sky.
Had Ye Qinghan not undergone Thunder Forging Body since childhood, that single strike would have killed him.
THUD!
Ye Qinghan’s body vanished from the void projection and plummeted directly in front of the four Princes. Runic patterns rippled across the floor, preventing any damage to the ground, but Ye Qinghan’s helmet rolled aside as he coughed up massive mouthfuls of blood. His armor was entirely gone, shattered into fine dust by Lin Hao’s devastating attack.
BAM!
Di Lintian lashed out with a kick, sending Ye Qinghan flying out the door. A single, chilling word drifted through the air: "Trash."
Ye Qinghan spat another mouthful of blood. The four Princes ignored him completely, keeping their eyes glued to the void projection.
By now, Lin Hao had endured the celestial bombardment for over half an hour. Yet the fury of the lightning only intensified, growing far more violent than before. Di Lintian had linked that spatial zone directly to the firmament. The Celestial Thunder crashed down in what seemed like an endless barrage, transforming the area into a sprawling Thunder Sea.
Lin Hao’s body was swallowed by the boundless lightning. Within the flashing arcs, dazzling streaks of crimson continuously bloomed. It was Lin Hao’s blood.
"Sixth Brother, go take a look," Di Lintian transmitted his voice privately to the Sixth Prince. "Something doesn’t feel right. He seems to be using the lightning for Thunder Forging Body. Be careful."
Di Lintian had initially intended to speak aloud, but after a subtle shift in his expression, he opted for telepathic communication instead. Just as the transmission ended, Ye Qinghan reappeared at the doorway. Covered in blood, he swayed unsteadily on his feet.
"Your Highnesses, please allow me to fight again," Ye Qinghan said, stunning all four Princes.
"Our Li Long Dynasty has never once lost to a Martial Artist from the Nine Yang Continent. You’ve certainly made history, Ye Qinghan," the Sixth Prince sneered, his gaze fixed on the injured man before sudden rage overtook him. "You’ve completely disgraced the Li Long Dynasty! If you don’t get out of my sight right now, I’ll strike you dead myself!"
"As if I could ever lose to him! He ambushed me! I must avenge this slight! COUGH! COUGH!" Ye Qinghan’s face flushed crimson with intense agitation.
"Qinghan, I noticed something unexpected happen to you just now. What exactly occurred?" the Third Prince suddenly asked.
"Nothing escapes your eyes, Third Prince. Lin Hao suddenly transmitted his voice to me, claiming he knew someone was spying on him from the shadows. I was startled, and he seized that momentary lapse. But it’s also my fault for underestimating him, otherwise I..." Ye Qinghan glared at Lin Hao in the void projection, raw murderous intent flashing in his eyes.
"Heh, just forget it. Stand here and watch me kill him," the Sixth Prince said, glancing at Ye Qinghan with undisguised contempt.
With that, the Sixth Prince vanished from his spot. An instant later, his figure appeared within the void projection.
The zone had become a raging Thunder Sea, yet the Sixth Prince simply stood with his hands clasped behind his back, utterly ignoring the apocalyptic storm. He stepped directly into the maelstrom. The lightning crashed against him, but it failed to inflict even the slightest harm.
This was the true might of a Prince of the Li Long Dynasty. Having practiced Thunder Forging Body with Celestial Thunder since childhood, they were incomparably powerful. It was no wonder they looked down upon the rest of the world. The Sixth Prince was quite young, roughly the same age as Lin Hao, yet their states within the lightning were entirely opposite.
As the Sixth Prince stood tall with his hands behind his back, bathed harmlessly in the arcs of electricity, he looked like a reincarnated Thunder God. In stark contrast, every bolt that struck Lin Hao tore his flesh open, threatening to cleave his body in two.
Taking in the sight, a mocking smirk touched the Sixth Prince’s lips. Without making a single visible movement, he casually repelled the lightning.
A flicker of surprise briefly crossed Lin Hao’s eyes. It was a Martial Domain. This youth who had suddenly appeared was actively utilizing the power of his Martial Domain. To block out the thunder using a domain was an astonishing feat.
Just then, the Sixth Prince spoke. "So, you’re Lin Hao?" He kept his hands behind his back, his expression brimming with arrogant superiority.
Lin Hao raised an eyebrow.
"I suppose you are. I’ve heard of you. I originally thought you might actually have the strength to fight me, but looking at you now, you’re nothing but a pathetic weakling." The Sixth Prince shook his head in disappointment.
Before Lin Hao could respond, a wide grin spread across the Sixth Prince’s face. "I hear you possess the legendary Harmony Dominator Body, a physique rarely seen throughout the ages? I only have a Royal Body. Why don’t you come over here and see if you can destroy me?"
Lin Hao didn’t answer. He just looked at the Sixth Prince as if staring at an idiot.
The Sixth Prince’s smile vanished, replaced by mounting fury.
"Youyou," Lin Hao hummed leisurely before speaking. "Your mother and father must be cousins."
"How did you know?" the Sixth Prince blurted out in surprise, responding instinctively.
"Because you’re an idiot. Someone told me that inbreeding only produces fools. Sigh, the Imperial Palace is truly a mess," Lin Hao said with utter seriousness, shaking his head.
The Sixth Prince had been stunned from the moment Lin Hao uttered his first sentence. He had descended with an invincible posture, yet Lin Hao had the audacity to call him an idiot. Just how foolish did someone have to be to say something like that?
Because of that momentary daze, Lin Hao was able to finish his insult. Instantly, the Sixth Prince flew into a blinding rage. He was a noble prince! Anyone who dared speak to him in such a manner was courting death.
"You’re courting death!"
With that furious roar, the lightning he had previously blocked surged forward, funneling all its destructive might directly toward Lin Hao. It was a boundless Thunder Sea. At the same time, a powerful domain force erupted from the Sixth Prince’s body, completely locking down the space around Lin Hao.
In his eyes, this combined strike would absolutely reduce Lin Hao to ash. Yet, just like before, Lin Hao’s body was merely sent flying, his flesh torn and bloody, but entirely intact.
Suddenly, the Sixth Prince remembered Di Lintian’s warning. The next moment, his eyes flared brilliantly, a faint purple light shimmering within them as he attempted to see through Lin Hao’s true state.
Right at that moment, Lin Hao moved. Despite his horrific wounds from the Celestial Thunder, he executed the Heaven-Stepping Step once more.
The Sixth Prince’s mind jolted, and he instantly mobilized his powerful Martial Domain. But it was useless. The very same domain power that could repel the Celestial Thunder failed to slow Lin Hao’s speed in the slightest.
In the next blink of an eye, the Sixth Prince’s body was firmly immobilized by Lin Hao.
Outside the projection, the remaining three Princes and Ye Qinghan watched in dumbfounded shock. It had all happened far too fast. By the time they finally registered the sequence of events, the Sixth Prince had already been captured.
The faces of the three Princes turned incredibly ugly. For a prince of the blood to be taken hostage—and by a mere Martial Artist under the Li Long Dynasty’s rule, no less—was an absolute first in the dynasty’s entire history.
"Dammit!" the Fifth Prince roared, his eyes practically splitting from pure fury as lightning anomalies manifested within his gaze.
"Sixth Brother was too careless!"
"This Lin Hao is utterly despicable! He deliberately provoked Sixth Brother with his words just to set up an ambush!"
Witnessing the Sixth Prince being subdued so effortlessly, and recalling Ye Qinghan’s earlier defeat, the three Princes felt entirely humiliated. They voiced their outrage one after another, thoroughly indignant.
"Fourth— Third Brother, what do we do now?" the Fifth Prince started, initially glancing toward Di Lintian before quickly correcting himself and turning to the Third Prince.
Taking in this subtle interaction, Ye Qinghan’s heart suddenly tightened. He remembered the words Lin Hao had spoken just moments ago. For a fleeting moment, a bone-deep chill washed over him.