I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 235 Don't rush, I'll kill you.

As soon as the Crown Prince uttered his words of seeking death, a clamor immediately erupted from the Crown Prince's camp.

Some people loudly advised against it, some shouted to protect the king, and some cried out that they would die with the king.

Ning Shu's beautiful eyes turned red. "My father is kind and willing to sacrifice himself for us."

If our father died unjustly, how could we bear to live on?

"I am willing to follow the Crown Prince to the underworld."

Wei Xiang spoke out loudly, but few echoed his sentiments.

The chief eunuch, Li Fang, said loudly, "Even if it costs us our lives, we must kill as many traitors as possible. Gentlemen, do not listen to the traitors' seditious words."

Gentlemen, having read the books of sages and worthies, you will understand the principle of sacrificing oneself for righteousness!

"Ning Boqian is putting on an act again, trying to win people's hearts."

The white-robed man in the cloak said coldly, "Even at this point, Ning Boqian, you're still trying to gain fame and reputation!"

Very well, I will personally peel off your mask.

I want to kill him or destroy his spirit; I want both.

"Today I've set up the arena for a duel, and I'll fight you one-on-one. I want to see how many are willing to risk their lives for you."

Upon hearing this, the five assassin factions were all in an uproar.

Clearly, everyone was very dissatisfied with the white-robed, cloaked man's pointless act of taking off his pants.

A powerful demon snorted, "With the Crown Prince's mansion's meager resources, there's no need for further discussion. With all sides attacking together, any protective formation will shatter in one strike."

The white-robed, cloaked guest said, "Gentlemen, I have come here only to punish the Crown Prince Li, and it has nothing to do with the common people or the fate of the Great Zhou Dynasty."

If we rashly launch a forceful attack, the Crown Prince's residence will collapse, Chang'an will crumble, and corpses will litter the ground. Who among us will bear the blame for such a crime?

Upon hearing this, the five assassin factions all found it absurd. They had already come to attack the Crown Prince's residence, so what crime were they afraid of?
Then there's only one possibility: the host family is worried about taking responsibility.

If so, then the identities of those who hired the assassin are obvious; they must be Prince Duan and Prince Zhao.

If it were someone else, why would they care about the fate of the Great Zhou Dynasty, or the people of the city?

“The King of Duan and the King of Zhao were truly beasts who murdered their brothers.”

The old scholar Wei Xiang cursed angrily.

Li Fang snorted, "It's obvious, what's the point of saying more?"
The teleportation portal opened above the Crown Prince's residence, and it had been almost half a cup of tea's time. Normally, the imperial city would have been alarmed long ago.

Only the strict control of the palace by these two individuals prevented the news from leaking out and delayed the arrival of reinforcements.

The Crown Prince's residence was in complete chaos, with people cursing and lamenting.

The white-robed man shouted, "Ning Boqian, I have already given you enough face. If you still have any conscience and think of all the servants in this mansion, then stop being a coward."

If you cower in fear, I will order a full-scale attack. The Crown Prince's residence will collapse, Chang'an will fall, and the people will suffer—all because of your sins.

Liu Zhiwei thought to herself, "The white-robed cloaked man is too sharp-tongued."

This is not about negotiating terms; it's about overturning the Crown Prince's residence from a moral high ground.

The crown prince looked up at the sky and murmured, "I have done nothing to serve the country, and I am guilty before Your Majesty."

At this point, he suddenly shouted, "But this is not a reason for you rampant bandits to invade the Crown Prince's residence."

"I may die, I may die for the people, but I will never be scared to death by you."

The next moment, the prince's aura surged forth, revealing his cultivation level above the late Nascent Soul stage.

"Father, calm down."

Ning Shu whispered, "Don't fall for their tricks. We will have reinforcements."

"Reinforcements?"

A commotion erupted among the people in the Crown Prince's residence.

Ning Shu said loudly, "I have already sent out secret messages to my capable advisors. They will not ignore the message once they receive it, so please rest assured."

Ning Shu was still stirring up people's hearts.

She understood that when people huddled together for warmth, it meant they still held onto hope.

Once people lose hope and are in despair, humanity becomes the most unreliable thing.

"Reinforcements, haha... Where would reinforcements come from at this juncture?"

A powerful demon in the demon alliance burst into laughter.

Before the laughter subsided, several disheveled streaks of light suddenly flashed across the distant horizon.

More than ten figures sped through the night sky, their cloaks tattered, their armor broken, and bloodstains trailing long lines behind them.

Further back, the Imperial Guard's banners fluttered, and the battle formation was already in place. Thousands of armored cavalry approached from the air, their swords, halberds, and runes forming a line of attack.

More than ten people formed a formation in mid-air, and spiritual light quickly built up between them, transforming into a rough but sturdy array shield, directly meeting the first wave of attacks from the Imperial Guards. Halberd light and talisman arrows exploded in front of the formation, scattering firelight in all directions.

One of them raised his head and shouted, "The Crown Prince is benevolent and measured; he will surely become a wise ruler in the future. We are willing to die for the Crown Prince."

"It's Uncle Ding."

Ning Shu shouted loudly.

"It is General Wuwei."

The people in the Crown Prince's residence shouted.

"If you've got the guts, release the barrier."

Wei Xiang angrily rebuked the white-robed, cloaked man, "You claim to be having a duel, why are you blocking loyal and righteous men from the outside of the formation?"

The white-robed, cloaked figure pointed at the Crown Prince and said, "You still have a few loyal ministers. If you sit idly by and watch them die for you, I wonder if you would still have the shame to live on?"

As he spoke, the white-robed, cloaked figure raised his hand and waved.

The light patterns at the edge of the great formation opened up effortlessly, and a gap appeared in the Taiyuan Returning Breath Formation, allowing more than ten figures to flash in as reinforcements entered.

The armored soldiers' attacks were unstoppable. In an instant, spirit cannons, talisman arrows, and poetic imagery rained down, but they were swallowed up layer by layer by the ancient formation, like stones sinking into the deep sea.

As the chaotic light flashed by, more than ten people appeared inside the formation.

Several other figures silently slipped in, some standing on the rooftops, some sitting on the eaves, and some hovering in mid-air.

The white-robed cloaked figure surveyed the entire scene, unconcerned about the number of reinforcements present, and calmly waved his hand, "Since everyone is here, let's begin."

"Wait a minute! It was supposed to be a series of attacks, how did it turn into a duel?"

Someone in the Witch God Cult shouted loudly.

"After dragging this out for so long, and still going it alone, the risks are increasing, so we need to raise our prices."

Some members of the Qingyang Spirit Clan were also dissatisfied.

"Getting the head of a crown prince is never an easy task, and you keep changing your demands. I should have known better than to take your business. You're so long-winded."

The one who spoke was a great demon from the Demon Alliance.

They didn't care about the common people or the Crown Prince's residence; that was the master's concern.

Now that conditions have changed, they have more on their minds.

The white-robed, cloaked figure gestured with his hands, "Increasing the reward is easy; everything will be fine after the deed is done. But if it fails, whether we can all leave alive is another matter."

Therefore, I urge you all to work together to overcome the difficulties, defeat the remnants of Crown Prince Li's forces, and take Crown Prince Li's head.

Few from the five factions responded, but they all sensed the threat in the white-robed, cloaked man's words.

After all, the teleportation array through which they entered this place was entirely under the control of the white-robed, cloaked man.

The white-robed, cloaked figure that entered this place was merely a phantom.

As a result, the five assassin factions abandoned their intention to raise prices.

Within the protective array of the Crown Prince's residence, the Crown Prince stepped forward, standing amidst the light and shadow. He first bowed to the group of reinforcements who had stormed in, then turned around and saluted the civil and military officials and personal guards in the residence, saying, "You have stood alongside me in this chaotic situation in the Crown Prince's residence, and I will always remember you."

The crowd was silent, and the wind swept past the edge of the protective formation, rustling the armor plates.

A middle-aged swordsman clad in tattered armor stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your humble servant Guo Ting was saved from wrongful imprisonment by Your Highness years ago, and I have come today to serve you to the death."

An elderly general with graying temples gripped the hilt of his sword. “Zhao Bi, you have served in the army for thirty years and received His Highness’s salary for ten. Now, you should simply return to where you belong.”

A scholar in white robes, his clothes stained with blood, bowed respectfully. “I am Xu Ling. Having read Your Highness’s old writings, I know that Your Highness is concerned with the nation and does not concern yourself with a mere household. I have come here to offer my respects and to do justice to all that I have learned in my life.”

The crowd stirred, their armor plates lightly tapping, their robes rubbing together, and a solemn yet calming aura slowly rose within the formation, suppressing much of the previous panic.

The Crown Prince nodded slightly, "I am unworthy of your loyalty and righteousness."

He looked up at the white-robed, cloaked figure high in the sky and said, "You have come for the Lone Chief, so please let the rest of my household leave."

I, alone, committed suicide on the battlefield, and offer this head to you.

The entire audience was shocked.

Opposition voices arose almost simultaneously.

"Not allowed, Your Highness."

"If Your Highness commits suicide, I will not live on alone."

"If Your Highness dies, let them slander you; you will surely be condemned for eternity."

Some people simply knelt on one knee, their armor striking the bluestone with a dull thud.

Ning Shu looked up at the Crown Prince, her clear eyes filled with tears, "You gentlemen cannot leave at all. There are traitors inside and rebels outside. The only way is to seek survival amidst death. Besides, I have reinforcements coming. Father, if you hold on for a moment, something extraordinary will happen."

The reinforcements she was referring to were Xue Xiang, but she had already given up much hope.

She didn't think Xue Xiang would lie to her, but life is full of disappointments, and perhaps Xue Xiang couldn't hire anyone even if he spent money.

The Crown Prince nodded slowly, looked at the white-robed man again, and sighed, "I agree to the duel, but there must be rules."

From this moment on, only victory and defeat are to be fought; indiscriminate killing is forbidden.

Those on either side who have lost their fighting ability shall be allowed to retreat; no one shall finish them off, nor shall they be used as a pretext to slaughter innocent members of my Crown Prince's household. If this agreement is followed and we are ultimately defeated, then my life is yours to take.

"Even on the verge of death, you still try to win people's hearts. Ning Boqian, you are truly a venomous snake."

The white-robed, cloaked figure sneered, "Fine, then I'll make sure you die with a clear conscience."

After saying that, he cupped his hands to the five assassins and said, “Gentlemen, whoever leads the charge will be credited with merit and rewarded handsomely. The more victories you win, the richer the reward will be.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the most restless demon in the demon alliance formation practically rushed out of the formation.

With a flick of his heavy cloak, he revealed a ferocious face. He stood in mid-air, looking down at the direction of the Crown Prince's residence without uttering a word, but his demonic aura poured out like a cold tide, spreading along the outer wall of the protective array.

A fine frost immediately appeared on the light screen above the Crown Prince's residence, and a chill descended with the wind, causing several cultivators with lower cultivation levels to subconsciously hold their breath.

"It's the Frostbite Lion!"

Someone lowered their voice.

"The other side of the far northern abyss."

Another person added, "I heard that it devoured 100,000 vengeful spirits in the Snow Prison, and its innate nature is extremely cold, freezing its bones and harming its spirit."

"Judging from its aura, it's at least at the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm. The appearance of this fiend on the battlefield is enough to bring about an entire calamity."

The discussion was deafening.

A tall, imposing general stepped out of the ranks, his armor as solid as a mountain, his back ramrod straight. He knelt on one knee before the Crown Prince and said, "This humble general, Ding Fen of the Wuwei Army, requests permission to fight."

Someone nearby whispered, "It's him, Zhenxiong for ten years."

"The one who broke through the Demon Cave and fought against three rebel armies."

"At the initial stage of Nascent Soul formation, this person climbed up step by step, bleeding profusely."

The crown prince nodded and said no more.

Ding Fen stood up, his right hand reaching into the void, and a long spear appeared effortlessly. The spear was entirely golden-red, with a long, narrow blade and a tassel that billowed like flames. As soon as the spear was unleashed, the light and color of the world seemed to be pulled aside.

Someone in the Crown Prince's residence gasped, "The Divine Fire Phoenix Spear..."

"The national defenders of yesteryear."

"A purple-grade magic artifact, passed down through countless generations, was bestowed upon him by His Highness."

Before he finished speaking, Ding Fen flicked his wrist, and the spear tip trembled slightly. A clear cry, like that of a phoenix but not quite, resounded from deep within the spear. Sparks burst forth, and a phoenix shadow rose from the spear, its feathers bright and clear. It circled Ding Fen once, its tail trailing a long streak, before attacking the Suanni.

With a wave of its hand, the Frost Demon Suanni unleashed a torrent of cold air from between its fingers, instantly condensing frost into hundreds of ice shards that slashed down from above with a chilling glint.

Ding Fen's feet sank, his steps echoing the rhythm of a military drumbeat, as his spear thrust upwards. Phoenix Shadow followed suit, swooping down and crashing into the ice shards. Flames exploded, scattering ice fragments that were incinerated into billowing mist.

Instead of retreating, Ding Fen launched a series of attacks, with waves of fire surging forth, suppressing the extreme cold within a narrow range.

"This spear is amazing!"

One of the great demons couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement, "This is no ordinary purple weapon; the spear itself nurtures a spiritual flame."

"The Divine Fire Phoenix Spear contains a Divine Fire Array," someone added. "When activated by spiritual power, it can burn through a hundred miles with a single spear thrust."

More than ten rounds passed faster than the blink of an eye.

Every time the Frost Nightmare Lion tried to expand its icy domain, Ding Fen shattered it with his spear.

Ding Fen's offensive was relentless, employing the ruthlessness honed in the crucible of death. Every step he took was perfectly timed, leaving the Cold Nightmare Lion no chance to catch its breath.

The two attacked like a tidal wave, but failed to overturn a single brick or tile in the Crown Prince's residence. The residual energy was absorbed by the magic array high above.

Ding Fen's footsteps were like drumbeats, each step resounding.

The Divine Fire Phoenix Spear tumbled in his hand, its phoenix shadow swirling in the sky, turning the entire sky dozens of feet long into a crimson gold.

The Frost Demon Suanni stood opposite, its silver armor crisscrossed with cold patterns, its spiritual power surging. With a wave of its hand, it unleashed a sky full of frost.

Extreme cold and raging flames tore at each other in mid-air, each collision accompanied by howling gales.

Ding Fen was clearly a Nascent Soul cultivator, yet his military formations and offensive tactics were devoid of any fancy moves, consisting entirely of deadly battlefield techniques.

He fired shot after shot, pushing the power of the fire spirit along the gun to its limit. The phoenix shadow flapped its wings and let out a long cry, shattering pieces of ice and forcing the cold nightmare lion to retreat repeatedly, its scales and armor being smashed to pieces.

Someone couldn't help but whisper in praise, "Wuwei's reputation is truly well-deserved."

"This powerful demon was completely suppressed by him."

"Truly worthy of being a general of our dynasty, remarkable!"

Ding Fen fought with increasing courage, and the phoenix sang again, its red light filling the sky.

Seizing the moment when the Cold Nightmare Suanni's energy faltered, Ding Fen roared and thrust out the Divine Fire Phoenix Spear. The phoenix shadow, carrying the scorching spear intent, descended from above, as if to nail this ferocious northern demon to the void.

"If this shot hits, Han Yan will likely perish."

Someone whispered.

Someone in the Demon Alliance formation sneered, "It's still early."

Before he could finish speaking, the Cold Nightmare Suanni suddenly raised its head.

Without a sound, the temperature around him plummeted again, and extreme cold was released from the depths of his bones.

The previously scattered cold air suddenly converged and burst forth from his palm, enveloping the crimson phoenix flames in mid-air inch by inch.

Fire and ice clashed in the air. After a moment, the divine fire phoenix unleashed by the divine spear let out a sharp cry, and with a crack, the feathered flames were frozen into ice sculptures. Under the pressure of the cold, the raging flames were forcibly condensed into crystal blue.

"That's impossible. There's absolutely no way that an ice spell could freeze the Divine Fire Phoenix."

"I understand, it's the innate divine power, the innate divine power of a great demon!"

"........."

Everyone in the Crown Prince's residence was terrified.

Wei Xiang exclaimed in alarm, "Be careful! Extreme Cold Locks the Spirit!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a chill ran up the spearhead and climbed up to Ding Fen's right arm in the blink of an eye.

Fine frost patterns formed on his golden armor. Before he could even pull himself away, a bone-chilling cold had already seeped into his flesh.

There was a click.

Frost patterns spread like snakes, and his right arm, from the shoulder down, instantly turned into crystal-clear ice.

Ding Fen gritted his teeth and forced his spiritual energy to surge forth, attempting to shatter the cold poison.

The Cold Nightmare Lion gently clenched its fist in the void.

A crisp cracking sound exploded in the sky as the frozen arm crumbled inch by inch, turning into countless ice shards that scattered amidst the burst of light.

Blood gushed out from the severed shoulder, but was contained by the protective array and turned into a cloud of crimson mist.

"General Ding!"

The people in the Crown Prince's residence shouted urgently.

Ding Fenshang tried to hold on, but his feet slipped, his dantian churned, and his vision went black as he plummeted from the sky. Several of his personal guards caught him and dragged him into the formation, where he was already unconscious.

Everyone in the Crown Prince's residence paled.

The Demon Alliance camp was in an uproar.

"What a load of bull! General Wuwei is nothing special."

"Lord Suanni is invincible in divine might."

The Cold Nightmare Suanni was very pleased with the praise from the demons. It snorted and its cold gaze swept across the Crown Prince's Palace formation as if it were selecting people.

The white-robed, cloaked figure stepped forward and proclaimed loudly, "The Suanni has rendered a great service; I will remember it."

Having said that, he pointed to the Crown Prince, "Now that the first battle has been decided, and Ding Fen has lost his fighting ability, who else on your side can fight?"

The energy within the Crown Prince's palace formation momentarily stagnated.

Some people glanced at the Crown Prince instinctively, some gritted their teeth and gripped their weapons tightly, and many more were filled with barely suppressed anger and fear.

The Cold Nightmare Suanni sneered impatiently, "No one will fight? This is far from satisfying. You, the mighty Great Zhou, the central power, have no one to challenge you!"

Just then, a voice rang out in the formation, very soft, yet just enough to drown out all the whispers, "Don't rush, I'll kill you after that ice flower blooms."

On the west side of the roof ridge, a slender shadow drifted down.

He landed in the courtyard, where a cluster of icicles formed from cold air was cracking beneath his feet.

As he stopped, the cluster of emerald green ice flowers burst open with a crack, shimmering with blue light, like flowing rosy clouds.

"Even fleeting beauty is good, after all, it has bloomed."

The young man smiled calmly.

He wore a light blue straight-hemmed robe with plain white cuffs, a narrow black sash tied around his waist, and a folding fan held quietly between his fingers, not unfolded.

Her black hair was tied up with a wooden hairpin, revealing a slender neck with well-proportioned joints. Her eyebrows and eyes were like distant mountains after a snowfall, clear and ethereal.

At eighteen or nineteen years old, his breathing was remarkably steady, like lake water that had receded long after a storm.

Someone in the crowd immediately recognized him and exclaimed, "Jiang Xingyun!"

"Didn't he go to Beihai to seek enlightenment eight years ago? Is he still alive?"

"...Jiang Xingyun, a disciple of Jiang Guanhai, the Confucian master?"

Discussions immediately arose among the various camps.

"Jiang Guanhai, a former master of Confucianism, was once enshrined in the Confucian Temple and was known as 'Master Guanhai'. He roamed the world for twenty years with just a book and a fan."

"It is said that he used the 'Righteous Words' to determine life and death, used rites and music to destroy the demon palace, and used three palms to suppress the demon abyss. Finally, after a battle eight years ago, he passed away peacefully by the broken stele in the North Sea."

"His killing move, the Three Powers Return to Origin Palm, can force even a Nascent Soul cultivator to retreat after three strikes."

"Mr. Guanhai is a powerful figure who is known to all the central kingdoms and most of the demon realm."

"Now, Mr. Guanhai has been dead for eight years, and only this young disciple remains. He has lived in Beihai for a long time and does not care about worldly affairs. Unexpectedly, he has appeared here."

(End of this chapter)