From Cold Palace Princess to Celestial Empress Ch. 104
On the arena.
The Fifth Prince revealed a faint smile. Having traveled extensively for many years, he had faced countless life-and-death battles, amassing rich combat experience. He also held many trump cards, far surpassing the pampered and leisurely Fourth Prince.
On the other side, Xiao Minghuang’s eyes narrowed slightly.
She had long known that the Fifth Prince was at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm, with true strength possibly sufficient to cross realms and battle those at the Spring Realm.
But she hadn’t expected that he could defeat the Fourth Prince, who was also at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm, with just a single punch.
Such strength was indeed somewhat terrifying.
However.
The corner of Xiao Minghuang’s mouth lifted slightly, a hint of a smile in her eyes.
“Compared to me, he is far inferior.”
In her eyes, the Fifth Prince’s punch was nothing special.
When she was at the fourth level of the Qi Refining Realm, she could already defeat warriors at the peak of the Spring Realm.
Now that she had reached the second level of the Spring Realm, her strength was even more incomparable.
In the center of the grand hall, the Fifth Prince’s aura was overwhelming as he proudly surveyed the crowd, declaring loudly:
“Brothers, is there anyone else who dares to challenge me?”
The entire hall fell silent.
“If there’s no one, then this cup of Spiritual Wine is mine!”
Before his words had fully faded.
The Fifth Prince leaped into the air, reaching out to seize the Spiritual Wine.
At that very moment!
Several sharp sword lights abruptly emerged from the void, interlocking and arriving in an instant, about to slash at the Fifth Prince’s wrist in the next moment.
The Fifth Prince’s expression changed drastically, feeling all the hairs on his body stand on end as he swiftly retreated, narrowly avoiding the sword qi.
The sword qi missed its target, slashing fiercely into the floor.
A trench over ten feet long was clearly imprinted on the ground.
The Fifth Prince’s face turned grave. That sword strike had contained an incredibly sharp and continuous intent. If he had tried to resist it with his physical body, the only outcome would have been being shredded by the sword qi!
“Who is wielding the sword?”
His eyes burned like torches as he scanned the entire hall.
At that moment.
A figure clad in white leaped out from the crowd, his posture upright, the entire person resembling an unsheathed sharp sword!
It was the Sixth Prince!
An intense aura burst forth from his body.
At this very moment.
He did not resemble a person but rather an unparalleled, indestructible sword, capable of cutting through mountains, rivers, grass, trees, the sun, and the stars!
The Fifth Prince’s pupils constricted sharply as he felt this unstoppable sharpness, his heart filled with terror.
“Sword Intent!”
A trembling voice echoed throughout the entire venue.
Countless people widened their eyes, their pupils filled with disbelief.
“It’s Sword Intent! The Sixth Prince has mastered Sword Intent!”
An elderly martial artist with graying hair exclaimed in shock.
“Sword Intent… This is an unparalleled technique possessed only by the Nascent Soul Realm experts of the Spirit Sword Sect. The Sixth Prince… is truly a prodigy!”
Someone declared in awe.
“Although our cultivation realms are higher than the Sixth Prince’s, in terms of comprehension, even if we trained for hundreds of years, we might never catch up to him!”
A Divine Sea Realm martial artist lamented with a sigh.
“It doesn’t seem to be full Sword Intent… Look closely, everyone. The sword around the Sixth Prince hasn’t fully solidified yet; it’s still in its embryonic form… This should be the embryonic stage of Sword Intent!”
An old friend of the Martial Peace King, a Divine Sea Realm martial artist who had guarded the border for many years and was also a sword cultivator, quickly noticed the anomaly in the details after his initial surprise.
Everyone turned their gazes.
They saw the Sixth Prince standing firmly in place, his long sword gleaming with a cold light, his entire body seemingly enveloped by a massive sword.
However, this sword had not yet fully formed, resembling a sword embryo that still needed refinement.
“Even if it’s just the embryonic stage of Sword Intent, it’s still incredibly impressive… He’s not even thirty years old yet, is he?”
“With the Sixth Prince mastering the embryonic stage of Sword Intent, his current strength should be on par with the Second Prince and Princess Ziwei, shouldn’t it?”
As soon as these words were spoken, the speaker realized their mistake and immediately lowered their head.
Yet, no one in the audience refuted the statement.
Because everyone felt that the Sixth Prince, who had grasped the embryonic stage of Sword Intent, could not only rival the Second Prince and Princess Ziwei but might even surpass them.
Sword Intent greatly enhances a martial artist’s power, even allowing them to fight across major realms.
Although the Sixth Prince was only at the second level of the Spring Realm, with the embryonic stage of Sword Intent, none of the other princes would likely be a match for him!
Not even the Second Prince or Princess Ziwei.
They probably couldn’t defeat him either!
At the center of the grand hall, the Sixth Prince stood on the high platform, holding his long sword. A powerful aura emanated from him, his Sword Intent as radiant as a drawn sword, its sharpness fully revealed!
Countless eyes were fixed on him, all filled with astonishment.
To comprehend the embryonic stage of Sword Intent before the age of thirty—such talent had already surpassed the Nascent Soul Realm experts of the Spirit Sword Sect.
Among the audience, the most shocked was undoubtedly the Fifth Prince.
“The embryonic stage of Sword Intent? That’s quite impressive…”
Despite saying this, the Fifth Prince showed no trace of fear. Deep in his eyes, a glimmer of light flickered.
Seeing the Fifth Prince standing silently, someone spoke up:
“The Sixth Prince has comprehended the embryonic stage of Sword Intent. With such strength, the Fifth Prince likely can’t contend. It’s better to admit defeat early and avoid damaging the harmony between brothers!”
The Sixth Prince’s gaze was intense as he looked at the Fifth Prince and said solemnly:
“You’re no match for me. Admit defeat! I don’t want to hurt you.”
On the spectator stand, Xiao Minghuang took a gentle sip of her fruit tea, her mind pondering. She could vaguely sense a peculiar aura from the Fifth Prince, seemingly no weaker than the Sixth Prince’s, yet it remained hidden and unexpressed.
“Still holding some cards, huh…”
In the center of the grand hall.
The Fifth Prince stood tall and straight, like a spear thrust into the ground. His body exuded a sharp and domineering aura.
Suddenly.
A vast and overwhelming presence surged into the sky, like a dragon emerging from the depths, profound as an abyss, and as heavy as a mountain. The sheer dominance he radiated was in no way inferior to the Sixth Prince!
Feeling this overbearing and flamboyant aura, the Sixth Prince’s eyes widened slightly, and a look of seriousness appeared on his face.
Between the two, an invisible ripple spread out in all directions, instantly reducing many of the tables and chairs in the hall to powder, scattering them across the floor.
Everyone present was utterly shocked!
What was going on!?
“What’s happening?! How can it not be weaker than the embryonic sword intent?!”
A young martial artist exclaimed in astonishment.
“Could this be… Spear Intent?”
An elder muttered in confusion.
“No, this is the embryonic spear intent!”
At this moment, the burly man who had accompanied the Fifth Prince spoke up with pride, his voice booming:
“My younger brother grasped the embryonic spear intent at the age of eighteen. In the entire Southern Region, you won’t find a second person like him. I say he’s the number one genius of the Southern Region. Who agrees? Who disagrees?!”
Hearing this, the crowd fell silent.
They had thought that the Sixth Prince’s grasp of the embryonic sword intent was already terrifying enough, but they hadn’t expected that the Fifth Prince had comprehended the embryonic spear intent many years ago. In this light, the Fifth Prince was indeed even more monstrous than the Sixth Prince!
“Originally, I thought today would be a clash between the Second Prince and Princess Ziwei, but who would have guessed it would turn into a showdown between the Fifth Prince and the Sixth Prince? Truly unexpected!”
“Today’s banquet was likely meant to bolster the Second Prince’s reputation, but it seems it has instead become a stage for the Fifth Prince and the Sixth Prince… Let’s see who the ultimate victor will be today, the Fifth Prince or the Sixth Prince.”
Someone whispered softly.
No one believed that the Fifth Prince, with his spear intent, or the Sixth Prince, would lose to Princess Ziwei or the Second Prince.
Gradually, the murmurs died down, and the atmosphere in the hall reached a tense climax.
Countless eyes focused intently on the two figures in the center.
At this moment, from the high platform, Prince Wu’an coughed lightly, and a faint wave of pressure rippled out like a tide, dispersing the heavy sword and spear intents.
“The hall is too cramped for the two princes to fully display their skills. Why not move to the martial arena?”
Hearing this, the Fifth Prince nodded.
The Sixth Prince remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.
Soon after, the crowd moved to the martial arena.
Countless large night pearls were arranged around the perimeter, illuminating the hundred-zhang-wide arena as brightly as daylight.
On the arena, Prince Wu’an, Princess Ziwei, the Second Prince, the Third Prince, and a group of high-ranking officials took their seats.
Notably, beside Prince Wu’an appeared a young woman dressed in an emerald-green gown, her features delicate and her figure graceful.
But at this moment, no one noticed the sudden appearance of the young woman.
All attention was fixed on the central stage of the arena.
On the stage, the Sixth Prince and the Fifth Prince stood facing each other.
The air between them seemed to freeze.
In the audience, some whispered among themselves.
“The Fifth Prince has grasped the embryonic spear intent, and the Sixth Prince has the embryonic sword intent. Who will win?”
“It’s hard to say, but the Sixth Prince is at the Spring Realm, so he has a better chance.”
As the crowd buzzed with speculation.
Prince Wu’an suddenly turned to Xiao Minghuang and asked softly:
“Your Highness, who do you think will win this match?”
Xiao Minghuang didn’t give it much thought.
No matter who won between the two, she would ultimately be the victor.
She was already winning by a landslide!
“Probably the Fifth Prince,” Xiao Minghuang replied after a brief moment of consideration.
Next, Prince Wu’an turned to the Second Prince and asked the same question.
However, the Second Prince gave a completely opposite answer.
“The Sixth Prince will definitely win!”
Hearing this, the young girl sitting beside Prince Wu’an suddenly spoke up, her voice clear and melodious, asking curiously, “Cousin, how did you come to the opposite conclusion as Princess Ziwei?”
The Second Prince, gentle and refined like jade, explained in a soft and soothing tone, as if a spring breeze had brushed past, “The Sixth Prince is at the second level of the Spring realm, while the Fifth Prince is only at the peak of the Qi Refining realm. The gap between their realms is vast, so the Sixth Prince is sure to win!”
“I see, cousin. You’re so knowledgeable. I’ve learned something new!” the girl nodded in response.
“If there’s anything you don’t understand, cousin, feel free to ask me. As long as I know the answer, I’ll definitely explain it to you!”
“Then I’ll thank you in advance, cousin!” the girl replied with a smile, her face brightening with joy.
Ever since that incident, the Second Prince had been distant and cold toward her, but today his sudden change in attitude left her feeling both surprised and flattered.
“You’re too kind, cousin,” the Second Prince responded before turning his attention back to the martial arena.
In his eyes, the outcome of this match no longer mattered.
Because no matter who won, they would have the strength to challenge Xiao Minghuang and emerge victorious.
But compared to the Fifth Prince, he leaned more toward the Sixth Prince.
After all, the Sixth Prince was already a disciple of the Spirit Sword Sect and could no longer return to Great Xia to inherit the throne.
However, no matter who won, he would do everything in his power to ensure the victor voluntarily gave up the throne and refrained from participating in the grand competition.
As the group conversed, the atmosphere on the arena reached a tense climax.
The battle was about to erupt!
Whoosh!
In an instant, the Sixth Prince made the first move!
Gripping his longsword with both hands, his body shot forward like a spring.
A brilliant sword light tore through the air, slicing through the dark night sky as it fiercely slashed toward the Fifth Prince’s chest!
The sword light was as fast as thunder, as swift as lightning!
Before anyone could blink, the sword light was already in front of the Fifth Prince.
Facing the dazzling sword light, the Fifth Prince remained calm. With a slight twist of his wrist, a flash of black light appeared, instantly transforming into a black spear.
But he didn’t panic. With a single stomp on the ground, he leaped into the air, the spear light in his hand flashing as he thrust it fiercely toward the sword light!
Boom!
A deafening explosion rang out as the two attacks collided, creating a shockwave that shook the ground and sent dust flying into the air!
This was a fierce collision.
The attacks of the Fifth Prince and the Sixth Prince, one with the nascent form of a spear, bold and domineering, the other with the nascent form of a sword, sharp and unyielding, clashed and eroded each other.
In the end, the spear’s radiance and the sword’s energy dissipated simultaneously.
“Whew…”
Heavy panting came from the Fifth Prince, his face pale.
The spear strike he had just unleashed had used nearly seventy percent of his strength, yet he hadn’t gained the slightest advantage.
“It seems the gap in cultivation realms isn’t so easily bridged…”
On the other side.
The Sixth Prince wasn’t faring much better.
The sword strike he had just executed had also consumed seventy percent of his strength, but against the overwhelming spear technique, it had only resulted in a draw.
“My cultivation realm is clearly much higher than the Fifth Prince’s, so why hasn’t my strength surpassed his?”
The Sixth Prince was puzzled.
But he didn’t have much time to ponder this question.
In the next moment.
The Fifth Prince’s figure swayed, leaping into the air, his spear thrusting like a dragon, leaving a trail of afterimages as it shot straight toward the Sixth Prince.
His cultivation realm was inferior to the Sixth Prince’s, so if he wanted to win, he had to end the fight quickly, delivering a decisive blow that would leave his opponent unable to retaliate.
If the battle dragged on too long, defeat was inevitable.
In the night sky, the tip of the spear trembled slightly, like lightning or a rainbow, creating countless spear shadows that pressed toward the Sixth Prince’s chest.
“What incredible speed!”
The Sixth Prince thought to himself.
In the next moment.
Instead of dodging, he swung his long sword, meeting the attack head-on.
Swish!
The sword danced, its radiance overflowing, its shadows intertwining to form a vast net in the air, covering everything.
The sound of metal clashing rang out, reverberating in all directions.
Bang!
The two of them exchanged blows, locked in a fierce struggle.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The spear and the sword collided hundreds of times in mid-air, each impact producing a deafening roar.
Their attacks grew increasingly ferocious and sharp.
To the onlookers, their battle was no longer just a contest between two individuals, but a clash between two martial prodigies.
Moreover.
As they continued to duel, their auras grew stronger and stronger.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Sword shadows flickered, spear radiance rained down like a meteor shower, cleaving the ground into rolling chunks of stone that scattered in all directions.
Their duel had reached a white-hot intensity!
Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu
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