Heaven's First Consortium has always been a unique presence in the martial world. Its master is a top-tier fighter, and its ranks are filled with capable experts. Yet, Heaven's First Consortium does not rely on martial might to make its mark, but on commerce.
Though merchants are considered lowly in status, there is no such rule in the martial world. Thanks to their trading business, Heaven's First Consortium maintains friendly relations with most sects, so Storm Cloud Bu's words are respected and valued by many.
"Princess Royal, shouldn't you explain yourself? Why are you with this Demon Lord?" Fortress Lord Ling recalled plotting with Prince Damien and Princess Royal Helena to harm Ninth Royal Uncle just days ago, and now felt utterly disgusted.
"Heh..." Prince Damien laughed arrogantly, propping his head on his right hand, lounging sideways in his chair, and casting a wicked, dangerous look at Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena.
Princess Royal Helena had wanted to reveal Prince Damien's true identity, but when she remembered his ruthless methods and the strange people around him, she hesitated. She insisted she did not know Prince Damien was the Demon Lord.
"I am but a weak woman—how could I know about such martial matters? This warrior approached me, and I only wanted to recruit him for his skills. How was I to know..." Princess Royal Helena looked deeply ashamed. "I truly did not know this was the Demon Lord everyone seeks. Had I known, I certainly would not have let him go so easily." She bit out the last words, as if truly furious.
Prince Damien did not refute her. He kept smiling, as if he were a god and everyone else mere ants. His arrogance infuriated the crowd. Some hot-headed ones shouted, "This Demon Lord has brought disaster to the martial world—why bother with words? Let's just kill him! I don't believe we can't take him down together!"
"That's right. Let's all go at him—I refuse to believe we can't take his life!"
Martial artists are full of hot blood; their fists move faster than their minds. At just a word, they surged forward. Fortress Lord Ling did not stop them—he too wanted to test Prince Damien's limits.
"You think you can take my life?" Prince Damien looked at them with contempt. With a casual wave of his hand, a batch of strange-looking people surged out from behind him.
No one knew where these people had been hiding before; they simply appeared behind Prince Damien all at once. Without needing a word from him, they began fighting the hot-headed martial artists.
Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena exchanged a worried glance: these people really were too reckless.
Sure enough, after just a few rounds, the martial artists began to fall back, prompting even more to join the battle—though this did not include Skyvault Fortress, Moonvault Palace Sect, or Ninth Royal Uncle and his allies.
The crowd fought with Prince Damien at the center, but no one could get close to him. He sat arrogantly in the middle, like a king. "Ninth Royal Uncle, aren't you going to act? Only you here can defeat me."
Once again, Prince Damien was deliberately painting a target on Ninth Royal Uncle. Fortress Lord Ling added fuel to the fire: "Please, Ninth Royal Uncle, help us."
Everyone turned to look at Ninth Royal Uncle, full of hope. If he refused to act now, he'd be condemned by all.
But Ninth Royal Uncle was not so easily swayed. "Eastlyn has always refrained from interfering in martial world affairs, giving heroes the greatest freedom. Though I promised Fortress Lord Ling that Eastlyn would help purge these demonic forces, that does not mean I am Skyvault Fortress's hired blade."
Ninth Royal Uncle spoke slowly and at length, making the crowd anxious. When he finally finished, their hopes were dashed. At that moment, Sean Xuan shifted everyone's attention: "Didn't Fortress Lord Ling say Skyvault Fortress would set an example and lead the fight against evil? Why is he only calling on Ninth Royal Uncle to act while standing still himself?"
"Fortress Lord Ling is righteous—let him take action first so we suffer less loss." Storm Cloud Bu drew his sword and stepped forward, setting an example. Lance Quinn joined the fray without needing anyone to urge him.
With this, Fortress Lord Ling and Linden Ling, who had been standing idle, looked especially conspicuous.
"Today I've truly witnessed the style of Hero Ling." Prince Damien couldn't resist stirring things up again. This time, not even Fortress Lord Ling and Linden Ling could save face. Suppressing his anger, Fortress Lord Ling shouted a few righteous words and charged toward Prince Damien with his sword.
"Cover me—I'm going to kill that Demon Lord!" Fortress Lord Ling's eyes were fierce, his killing intent palpable.
Here, the one who most wanted Prince Damien dead was probably Fortress Lord Ling, because he feared Damien would reveal their previous dealings.
"Want to kill me? You think I'm like Eastlyn's Ninth Royal Uncle—dumb enough to be fooled by your so-called honest face?" Prince Damien never missed a chance to mock Ninth Royal Uncle.
"So in Prince Damien's eyes, you're the dumb one," Serena retorted. Ninth Royal Uncle quietly turned away and leaned down to say something to Sean Xuan, who nodded seriously and rushed into the fray.
Using clever force, Sean Xuan slipped over to Lance Quinn and Storm Cloud Bu, found an opening, and quickly whispered in their ears: "Don't use internal energy."
Though the two were puzzled, they nodded and complied.
The fighters in the melee didn't notice, but Prince Damien did. His brow furrowed as a possibility flashed through his mind. His face darkened, and he looked up at Ninth Royal Uncle—just as their eyes met...
In Ninth Royal Uncle's eyes was undisguised contempt and mockery.
Prince Damien leapt up and glared angrily at Ninth Royal Uncle: You knew?
Ninth Royal Uncle closed his eyes slightly, tacitly admitting it.
So you're turning my own plan against me? Prince Damien was on the verge of exploding. After months of scheming, Ninth Royal Uncle had seen through everything and was even planning to use his handiwork to win favor with the martial artists. It was outrageous.
Ninth Royal Uncle nodded lightly, confirming it.
Prince Damien's rage flared instantly. He cursed, "Eastlyn's Ninth, you bastard!" and charged at Ninth Royal Uncle without hesitation...
He was determined to kill this bastard who always snatched the easy gains.
But with one in the center of the melee and the other outside, it wasn't so easy for Prince Damien to break through.
"Quick, everyone! Attack together—kill the Demon Lord!" Prince Damien's bodyguards had protected him so no one could get close, but now that he charged out, he was asking for death.
At a moment of life and death, no one held back. The crowd united, covering each other in pairs, striving to finish off Prince Damien.
Prince Damien's martial skills were formidable, and with his bodyguards backing him up, the crowd couldn't gain the upper hand. Still, he couldn't break through their ranks either.
"Kill them!" Prince Damien was so enraged by Ninth Royal Uncle that he abandoned his slow plan, unleashing his followers to fight fiercely with the crowd.
His strange followers hesitated for a moment, but then followed Prince Damien's orders. Their attacks turned vicious and deadly, mowing down opponents like grain, felling dozens in an instant.
So weak?
Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena both frowned, a trace of worry surfacing in their hearts...
Would these people even last until the Black Riders arrived to rescue them?