Everyone in the hall glanced at Xia Yan. Sneaking suspicions dawned in their hearts.
“The First Prince has always exercised forbearance before. But to challenge the Second Prince of his own volition…has he really cultivated some kind of special skill?”
“No, don’t be fooled, fellow ministers. He is merely putting on airs. I mean look at him…there isn’t a single trace of spiritual Qi in his body. The difference between him and the Second Prince is as wide as the space between Heaven and Earth!”
“Tch, you’re right… and to think I almost flinched in front of the Tang princess, no less. I almost disgraced myself because the First Prince has suddenly decided to start clutching at straws!”
“If only the First Prince had chosen to bear patiently again. Now, there’s no turning back for him.”
“…”
The surrounding ministers and officials offered up their opinions one by one. It seemed obvious to them that Xia Yan was merely pretending to be strong just to avoid losing face in front of Tang Xun’er. None the less, with Xia Fanghan as his opponent, no one believed he could escape this disaster.
“Oi, when did you learn to start making threats, Big Brother? Don’t worry, I’m not angry about it. In fact, if talking big makes you happy, then continue by all means. I just hope you don’t choke on your own words when the time comes.”
A fierce light burned in Xia Fanghan’s eyes.
The air crackled and a sharp aura emerged around him, whipping up from stillness to almost palpable fury in seconds.
An atmosphere of volatility rose between them.
But before his neck could go rigid from the tension, Xia Fanghan touched the Xumi Storage Ring on his left hand. A faint white glow filtered through the air and melted into a long, flaming spear. A coiling black snake sigil encircled it from shaft to blade.
“Xia Yan, Xia Fanghan, no mortal wounds are permitted. This spar is not to turn into a life-and-death match.”
The Xia Emperor approved of the match, but he held no hope for his oldest son. Xia Yan had constantly disgraced him over the years by being a waste and by being unable to provide any male heirs.
His second son, on the other hand, was a different story entirely. Since childhood, he had exhibited signs of a strong latent aptitude for cultivation. With the highest perception among all of his children and the fastest cultivation speed, he proved himself to be a talent blessed by Heaven.
Xia Fanghan had fully given him face. He was his most beloved, and as such, he hoped the Second Princess would choose him instead of Xia Yan, giving the youth a stronger claim to the throne.
Tang Xun’er watched the Xia Emperor make his decision in silence. It would’ve proven inappropriate for her to interfere with the internal matters of the Xia imperial family. And she had to admit that she was also somewhat curious herself about Xia Yan and his strength.
Soon, everyone’s gaze gathered on the two forms positioned at the center of the main hall. For the other imperial princes, this match would merely be a good play. But for the court ministers and officials, the outcome of the match would let them know which lord they would need to follow in the future. The 100 summoned beauties held similar ideas.
Once the general and imperial guards had surrounded Xia Yan and Xia Fanghan in a tight ring, ensuring that the aftermath of their fight would not affect others, the Xia Emperor motioned for them to begin.
“Since you are the younger one, I will allow you to make the first move, Second Brother.”
Xia Yan’s eyes were faint and indifferent.
“Those should be my words. But since you’ve already offered, it would be wrong of me to refuse.”
“Anyways, going first will give me the chance to show off the new cultivation technique I’ve recently learned from ‘Master Yu’. You would be wise to heed me, brother. Don’t lose before I have a chance to enjoy myself!”
Smiling contemptuously, Xia Fanghan began spinning his long, fiery spear so quickly it became a dancing ring of fire.
Tendrils of heat, light, and turbulent spiritual Qi surged through the main hall.
“Profound Flame Whip Spear!”
Screaming, Xia Fanghan struck forward. The flames of his spear extended from his spearpoint like a whip to slash across Xia Yan’s body.
The hearts of the onlookers trembled, sensing the awe-inspiring power behind the Second Prince’s attack.
“Your imposing manner is not bad.”
Xia Yan didn’t try to dodge or shift into a defensive posture. Instead, he relaxed and looked at Xia Fanghan’s approaching attack as if it were nothing more than a soft breeze and gentle cloud.
“What is the First Prince doing? Isn’t he even going to try and escape?!”
“He isn’t paralyzed by fear is he?”
Before concerns, suspicions, and premonitions could further beset them, the tip of Xia Fanghan’s spear cracked against Xia Yan’s body.
“Boom!”
Flame and iron erupted into an inferno across flesh, searing giant scars across the main hall’s jade tiles and gold bricks.
However, to everyone’s surprise, Xia Yan remained unfazed. Pieces of his clothes had been burned to cinders. But with part of his flesh now exposed, they could see that his skin was without damage.
“Whish!”
The princes and officials gaped at Xia Yan’s unmarked body, overcome by disbelief and astonishment.
“H-he is alright after taking such a blow?!”
Tang Xun’er’s eyebrows arched in surprise.
Until a cultivator reached the Extremity Realm, his physical body remained within the level of mortals. Even a Core Realm expert’s body wouldn’t have been able to come out unscathed if they hadn’t defended or dodged an attack that was equal to the strength of a Yuan Realm 9th stage expert. Only an Extremity Realm cultivator could’ve accomplished such a feat.
Was it possible the First Prince had achieved that realm?
“How is this possible?!” Xia Fanghan screamed in shock. He was clear of the power he had put behind that strike. Yet, Xia Yan was okay.
“Brother, you made me think this new technique of yours would be strong. But I have to say I’m disappointed. Is this your limit?”
Xia Yan casually brushed the ashes from off his body. His calm movement seemed an insult to Xia Fanghan.
“Don’t become so pleased that you lose your sense of measure, Big Brother!”
Fiery anger exploded from Xia Fanghan’s eyes.
Monstrous waves of turbulent spiritual Qi shook the walls of the main hall.
The domineering pressure caused the spectators to be in awe.
‘The Second Prince is finally acting seriously.’
“Since you have such skill…then block this, brother!”
Now using all of his power, Xia Fanghan lunged forward. The flames at the edge of his long spear sculpted into a ferocious fire dragon as he wielded it with blinding speed.
With this strike, he would defeat Xia Yan and rectify his name.
“Little Brother, I only allowed you to make the first move,” Xia Yan whispered in a soft voice. “It seems you have mistaken my kindness for weakness.”
Xia Yan shifted his right foot backward and flexed his fingers into a fist.
His eyes became sharp as blades.
