The Crown Prince's Soul Lamp Has Extinguished

Tiansheng City, Yichun Courtyard.

Inside a luxurious private room on the second floor, three old men were perched against the windowsill. They squinted as they watched the dancers below twisting their waists and waving their sleeves, thoroughly engrossed in the performance.

From time to time, they would offer excited commentary: “Tsk tsk... that figure, those steps... that dance is truly spirited!”

“Isn't it? Especially that woman in red. She’s so fair, so large, and so pert...”

“No, I think the woman in white is dancing with more spirit!”

As the dance concluded, the Sword Lunatic took a sip from his wine cup and glanced sideways at the other two. “I say, you two are like the weasel paying a New Year visit to the hen—no good comes of it. Why are you suddenly treating me to drinks today?”

The two felt a jolt in their hearts. Had this lunatic discovered something? Their eyes flickered. One of them was Mo Changye, a Unity stage cultivator of the Tianqi Dynasty and the master of the Tianqi Crown Prince.

Mo Changye stroked his sparse goatee and chuckled. “Sword Lunatic, you’re truly measuring the heart of a gentleman with the mind of a petty man. We’ve been friends for years. Isn't it normal to invite you for a drink?”

Gu Qing of the Yunhua Sacred Palace, who was sitting beside him, chimed in, “Exactly, exactly! It’s rare for us to have a chance to gather like this. We should catch up on old times!”

As he spoke, Gu Qing picked up the wine jug and filled a large bowl for the Sword Lunatic. The Sword Lunatic nodded in agreement. “You’re right. I have to say, the bonds forged through beatings are indeed the best...”

As soon as the Sword Lunatic finished speaking, Mo Changye and Gu Qing’s faces turned red, and they let out awkward coughs. The three of them had grown up in the same era, so they had engaged in plenty of duels and brawls.

Essentially, the result was always them getting thrashed by the Sword Lunatic. In fact, almost everyone of their generation had been beaten by him. Those who hadn't were simply not qualified enough to be his opponents!

“However, I can't drink with you for too long. I’m still working...” the Sword Lunatic muttered, wiping the corner of his mouth. Mo Changye and Gu Qing exchanged a look.

One thought was shared between them: get him drunk! Drown him in wine! If they couldn't beat him, surely they could out-drink him?

The only reason they were treating him to drinks was because their respective Saint and Crown Prince had approached them regarding Ye Qingcheng.

For the sake of immortal-grade techniques and immortal treasures, never mind getting the Sword Lunatic drunk—they would even be willing to take another beating from him! Thus, the two had prepared a large quantity of high-quality spiritual wine.

“Look! Miss Lian'er is coming on stage!” Gu Qing shouted excitedly, pointing below.

“Ah... she really is! Miss Lian'er’s ditties are truly a delight to hear!” Taking the opportunity, Mo Changye filled another cup for the Sword Lunatic.

A cup for the left, a cup for the right, a toast, a penalty, a return... cup after cup followed. Soon, Mo Changye and Gu Qing’s heads began to spin, and their gazes grew hazy.

Looking at the Sword Lunatic, he was also bleary-eyed and swaying from side to side. But even in this state, he was still insisting on going back to protect his employer.

“No, no... no more drinking. I really can't drink anymore. I have to go back and protect my employer...” The Sword Lunatic wobbled, supporting himself on the table as he prepared to leave.

The drunken Gu Qing slammed a jar of spiritual wine onto the table. Only the twitch at the corner of his mouth revealed his heartache. “Will you drink Sunset Drunk? It was incredibly expensive... I bought it for thirty thousand high-grade spirit stones.”

“Hmm? Sun... Sunset Drunk...” The Sword Lunatic, who had just stood up to leave, suddenly froze in his tracks.

Sunset Drunk was a spiritual wine brewed by collecting the essence of the sunset glow, supplemented by 10,000-year-old Sunset Spirit Fruits and Sunset Immortal Grass, and then nourished with underground spiritual spring water for eight hundred years. Not only was it delicious, but it could also increase the cultivation of low-tier cultivators.

For experts like the Sword Lunatic, however, it was simply a matter of taste. This wine had immense kick; a typical cultivator would be dazed and incoherent after just three cups.

Gu Qing opened the jar, and a mellow aroma instantly filled the room. The Sword Lunatic immediately sat back down. “Fine! Let's have another bowl!”

Gu Qing hurriedly filled a large bowl for the Sword Lunatic and poured one for himself as well. “Give him one too!” the Sword Lunatic said, pointing at Mo Changye.

Originally, the two had hoped one of them could stay sober, but hearing the Sword Lunatic’s words, Gu Qing had no choice but to pour a large bowl for Mo Changye as well.

You toast a cup, I finish a bowl. They had agreed to get the Sword Lunatic drunk, but after half an hour of effort, they had gone through three jars of Sunset Drunk.

Mo Changye and the other were now completely wasted, their speech slurred. “Come... come... old lunatic, have another bowl!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Mo Changye’s body tilted, and he passed out in the room. Following him, Gu Qing also slumped onto the table.

“Drink... drink it all... get up!” the Sword Lunatic said, nudging the two below him with his foot.

Losing his balance, his body swayed, and with a heavy thud, he fell right on top of Mo Changye. He mumbled incoherently, “Good wine... another bowl...”

Tianqi Dynasty.

“Your Majesty, this is bad! Something terrible has happened!” A wail of extreme distress shattered the silence of the Emperor’s palace.

“Impudent! What is the meaning of this shouting?” Emperor Tianqi put down the scroll in his hand and looked up to reprimand the intruder.

When he saw that the one wailing was the manager of the Soul Lamp Hall, his heart sank. Had something happened? “What is it?” Emperor Tianqi asked.

“The Crown Prince... the Crown Prince's soul lamp has extinguished!” the manager said cautiously. He was terrified that the Emperor would strike him dead in a fit of rage, but he had no choice but to report it.

“What?”

“Why has the Crown Prince's soul lamp extinguished?” Emperor Tianqi stood up abruptly, his usual calm and majestic imperial bearing vanishing instantly.

All that remained was overwhelming fury and disbelief. A soul lamp was tied to a cultivator's life; if the lamp remained, the person lived; if the lamp died, the person was gone.

How could the soul lamp of the heir apparent, whom the Tianqi Dynasty had painstakingly nurtured for years, suddenly extinguish?

Under the crushing pressure of the Emperor’s aura, the manager collapsed to his knees, his entire body trembling. Cold sweat instantly soaked his clothes, and he didn't even dare to lift his head, his voice shaking uncontrollably.

“I... I would not dare to deceive Your Majesty. Just now, the Crown Prince’s natal soul lamp suddenly went out...” However, he was secretly grumbling in his heart: What a pointless question. He’s obviously dead, otherwise why else would the lamp go out?

Emperor Tianqi’s body swayed as his aura erupted. The manager was struck by the force, coughing up blood as he slumped to the floor.

Emperor Tianqi clenched his fists so hard his knuckles cracked, his eyes churning with anger and murderous intent.

The Crown Prince had gone to the Tiansheng Sect to participate in the Saintess's Husband Selection Assembly. He was accompanied not only by several guards but also by his master. How could he have suddenly lost his life?

Had he been killed on the arena? But who would dare to deal a lethal blow? He was the Crown Prince of the Tianqi Dynasty! Even if he lost, no one should have dared to kill him on stage.

Besides, the Crown Prince’s strength was not weak; there were few who could defeat him. Or had some other accident occurred? But why hadn't his master sent any word?