“Emperor Tianqi, to what extent has your cultivation been suppressed in this secret realm?”
Lu Ming’s voice suddenly rang out eerily.
He had been testing the waters bit by bit, watching Emperor Tianqi’s reaction.
If Emperor Tianqi made a move, he and Big Yellow would bolt immediately.
After all, killing a Unity-stage powerhouse was no easy feat.
Yet, despite his provocations, the Emperor continued to endure.
Lu Ming had heard that Emperor Tianqi was not known for having a good temper.
The fact that he was holding back meant he had reservations and didn't want to fight.
“Father, has your cultivation been suppressed?”
The Eighteenth Prince, standing to the side, couldn't help but exclaim in shock.
“Indeed. Your old man’s cultivation is currently sealed. If you kill him now, you could rightfully become the new Emperor Tianqi. After all, no one knows yet that your position as Crown Prince has been revoked!”
Before Emperor Tianqi could speak, Lu Ming’s voice rattled on.
“Exactly! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Once he’s dead, you’ll be the new Emperor...” Big Yellow chimed in from the side.
The Eighteenth Prince’s heart stirred, and he stole a glance at Emperor Tianqi.
But seeing the Emperor’s majestic, imposing face, his heart skipped a beat. He quickly looked up and roared, “Don't you dare try to drive a wedge between my father and me!”
“Boom...”
Right then, Emperor Tianqi suddenly raised his hand and sent an attack flying toward the Eighteenth Prince!
“Idiot!”
“Pfft...”
The Eighteenth Prince was sent flying, coughing up a mouthful of blood mixed with several teeth.
If you're going to hit someone, hit them, but why knock their teeth out?
Ignoring the prince’s miserable state, Emperor Tianqi turned his eyes, narrowing them as he stared at Lu Ming.
“Saint Lu, would you like to test my strength?”
“No need, no need. I have no designs on your throne, so there's no point!” Lu Ming waved his hands dismissively.
Then, he turned back to the Eighteenth Prince, who was lying on the ground spitting blood.
“Look at you. I was just talking; how could you take it seriously?”
“Even if your father’s cultivation is suppressed, who knows by how much? You should have at least investigated first!”
“You were too impulsive. Impulsiveness is the devil!”
Hearing this, the Eighteenth Prince, still spitting blood, felt his vision go dark and nearly fainted.
You guys aren't human! You're killing me and then crushing my heart!
Emperor Tianqi stared at Lu Ming, calculating in his mind his chances of successfully killing him.
He was indeed suppressed in this secret realm, but it wasn't his cultivation that was suppressed.
It was law suppression!
He felt as if he were walking with a massive mountain on his back.
Emperor Tianqi suspected that in this place, the higher one's cultivation, the greater the suppression.
“Saint Lu, let's walk together!”
In an instant, Emperor Tianqi decided not to act.
As the Saint of the Qingshan Sect, the boy was bound to have life-saving measures.
If a fight really broke out, his foolish prince might not be a match for that peak Soul Transformation dog!
It was hard to say who would come out on top.
“Sure!”
Lu Ming agreed with a smile.
Lu Ming also didn't want to act without certainty.
After all, he didn't know who else had entered.
If a Mahayana powerhouse from the Tianqi Dynasty had come in, they might not be able to handle it.
Thus, the three men and one dog left the riverbank and began exploring the secret realm.
Occasionally, they encountered demon beasts corrupted by malevolent aura. They dealt with the weak ones directly.
For the strong ones, they simply ran!
Big Yellow’s nose twitched as he sniffed the surroundings.
“Boss, there's a spirit herb!”
Big Yellow dashed out and returned with a very old spirit herb.
“Wow! Big Yellow, you're amazing!”
“Of course!”
“Boss, more spirit herbs!”
“Wow! This one is at least a thousand years old!”
“Boss, another one...”
“Boss...”
Along the way, Big Yellow and Lu Ming collected several very old spirit herbs.
Meanwhile, Emperor Tianqi and the Eighteenth Prince, who were with them, hadn't found a single one.
Due to their restricted divine sense, they couldn't detect anything in advance.
“Father, let's stop walking with them. That dog’s nose can smell things from so far away; they snatch every herb before we can...” the Eighteenth Prince transmitted to the Emperor after taking a recovery pill.
Emperor Tianqi couldn't help but feel infuriated. How could someone as brilliant as him father such a creature?
Had the boy not considered that following them gave them a chance to find rare herbs?
That dog’s nose was a massive innate advantage in this secret realm.
“Shut up and just follow them...”
“Oh.”
The Eighteenth Prince didn't dare resist and continued to follow.
“Boss, there are two stalks of Returning Origin Pure Heart Grass up ahead. They're ten thousand years old...”
Returning Origin Pure Heart Grass grew in places with dense malevolent aura and spiritual energy.
It could be used during breakthroughs to protect the mind, allowing one to safely pass the heart demon tribulation!
Ten-thousand-year-old ones were especially effective!
And this secret realm was indeed suitable for its growth.
Lu Ming was startled. “Your dog nose is getting powerful. You can even smell the age now!”
Big Yellow was quite proud. “You bet!”
“Is there a guardian beast?”
Big Yellow sniffed again and transmitted, “Yes! I smell a faint fishy scent. It's definitely there!”
Hearing this, a sharp glint flashed in Lu Ming’s eyes. He immediately transmitted back, “Big Yellow, sound excited. Shout it out loud!”
Big Yellow understood perfectly, a mischievous smirk flashing in his eyes.
He immediately yelled at the top of his lungs, “Boss! It's Returning Origin Pure Heart Grass! We found a treasure!”
“Really?”
Lu Ming feigned a face full of pleasant surprise, looking overjoyed.
“We're rich, we're rich! This is Returning Origin Pure Heart Grass!”
Emperor Tianqi, who had been idle and indifferent, instantly had his eyes light up.
Abandoning his lazy posture, he stepped forward, closely following Lu Ming and the dog.
From a distance, they saw two stalks of ten-thousand-year-old Returning Origin Pure Heart Grass of exquisite quality.
They were rooted in a crack on the wall of a deep, cold ravine.
The place was shaded from the sun, and the ravine was perpetually shrouded in malevolent mist.
The two stalks were translucent and lustrous, their cores emitting a crisp medicinal fragrance, surrounded by wisps of elegant spiritual energy that calmed the mind.
“Wow... and they're ten thousand years old. Big Yellow, we've hit the jackpot this time...”
Just as Lu Ming was about to step forward to pick them, Emperor Tianqi flickered and blocked his path.
“Move!”
Lu Ming narrowed his eyes and said coldly to Emperor Tianqi.
“No!”
Emperor Tianqi refused flatly, his expression icy.
“You're being unreasonable. We found this Returning Origin Pure Heart Grass first...”
Lu Ming shouted with feigned anger.
“When hunting for treasures in the wild, there's no reason but the strength of one's fist!”
Emperor Tianqi said without even looking at Lu Ming.
“Eighteen, go pick the Returning Origin Pure Heart Grass!”
The Eighteenth Prince’s eyes lit up. Seeing Lu Ming and Big Yellow being humiliated made him happier than words could describe.
He finally understood why his father had been quiet before; he was waiting for a major opportunity!
Truly, the older the ginger, the spicier it was; the older the geezer, the more pungent his farts!
With that, the Eighteenth Prince walked triumphantly toward the two stalks of grass.
“Roar...”
“Awoo...”
Just as the Eighteenth Prince was about to reach the herbs.
A massive, pitch-black figure burst out from the malevolent mist.
Before the Eighteenth Prince could even struggle, he was swallowed whole by the Cold Flood Dragon.
At the moment he was swallowed, he couldn't help but curse inwardly:
This damned secret realm was out to get him. Since entering, he hadn't done any damage or made any contribution.
And now, he was dead!
Rate on N.U.
