The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 548: A City Full of Killing

A City Full of Killing . . .

The King was left speechless, his thoughts a tumultuous storm. No words could bridge the chasm of despair and apprehension that had consumed him. It felt as though his career had come to a shuddering halt, and the future of his life was equally uncertain.

The chain of sudden and shocking events, from the massacre in Second Prince's palace to the ruthless elimination of the brothels, had unfolded with breathtaking swiftness. Two days prior, the great sects had mounted an assault on the palace, only to falter. However, the following day, they had returned with a vengeance, successfully toppling the palace.

The brothels' demise, though brutal, was deemed a matter of private concern, and its repercussions were not expected to affect him significantly. Nevertheless, a more sinister turn of events now unfolded as officials were ensnared in brutal murders within his tightly secured perimeter. It appeared that a prison sentence loomed on the horizon.

The relentless bad news continued to flow in, informing him of official families being wiped out. The King wondered why this was happening, but he found it challenging to muster any further gloom. The prospect of imprisonment seemed far more bearable than watching countless lives perish.

As fate would have it, just when he believed things couldn't get any worse, a world-altering incident occurred. A resounding cry echoed through the sky, capturing the attention of all below. On the pinnacle of the capital's tallest tower stood a masked figure dressed in black, a macabre sight. In their grasp, they held a mangled corpse.

With a swift motion, the figure cast the body off the tower, and it plummeted to the ground, shattering into pieces upon impact. The lifeless skull, its eyes still open, rolled away. It was a gruesome spectacle that suggested Second Prince had been alive until the moment of impact. The state of his remains indicated he had suffered extreme torture before his demise.

This audacious act had taken place in the heart of the capital, a bold declaration of defiance. The tower was swiftly sealed off, surrounded by soldiers, and an urgent report was dispatched to the king.

Amid the commotion, a keen observer noted something unusual within Second Prince's mouth—a small scroll of paper. When retrieved, the scroll revealed a chilling message: "Second Prince is unscrupulous and evil! He deserves this! If I had another chance, I will kill him again! I will wipe out his family again! I won't leave him a full body! I will torture him to death!"

In an instant, a stream of azure light burst into the sky, and a resounding voice declared, "Second Prince is unscrupulous and evil! He deserves this! If I had another chance, I will kill him again! I will wipe out his family again! I won't leave him a full body! I will torture him to death!"

The azure light expanded like an ocean, flickering in the sky as the voice continued to reverberate. The figure responsible for this message seemed intent on escaping.

However, two top Sky Origin Stage cultivators from the royal house sprang into action, converging on the figure. With an air of cool confidence, the figure, still in the sky, turned and charged headlong to meet them. The clash was marked by two resonant impacts.

Three formidable cultivators, their hands colliding in mid-air, created a deafening shockwave. The figure in the sky laughed maniacally as the blue light enveloping them began to pulsate rapidly, interspersed with flashes of purple. A magnificent display of light filled the sky before vanishing.

All that remained was the haunting echo of the figure's voice, suspended in the air.

"Such ridiculousness! A mere grain of rice dares to shine amidst pearls! How audacious to think that feeble power could confine me here! Pure ignorance!" Cha Eun Xiao's voice rang out with disdain.

In this ultimate confrontation, the victor was clear. It was a battle of strength, and the more powerful adversary emerged triumphant.

Both of the royal house's revered masters were distinguished Sky Origin Stage cultivators, at the pinnacle of their craft. Yet, following a single palm strike, they plummeted from the sky like kites with severed strings. Their bodies were no longer under their control as they hung suspended in the air, blood spewing from their mouths.

A group of men dashed forward to prevent them from meeting their demise upon the unforgiving ground. The hushed silence that followed was marked by the realization of the gravity of the situation. Sky Origin Stage cultivators, especially those of the highest caliber, were often deemed invincible within the Land of Han-Yang, approaching the realm of myth. However, the murderer responsible for Second Prince's death transcended such myths.

Amid the stillness, a horse-drawn carriage approached. The arrival of the king signaled the commencement of an agonizing ordeal for all those involved.

News of Second Prince's death and the appearance of his murderer had swiftly reached the royal court. Advisers urged the king not to present himself until the identity of the assassin was ascertained. However, upon learning of the gruesome circumstances surrounding his son's demise, the king's anguish overcame any rationale.

The king's entourage, comprising horses and carriages, arrived at the scene with expediency. Without hesitation, the king disembarked from his carriage and surveyed the ghastly aftermath. On the floor lay a macabre tableau, a jumbled mass of flesh and blood. An ill-fated attempt had been made to reassemble the pieces to resemble a human form, but the endeavor had proved futile.

The king and those in attendance could only ponder the mind of the murderer. Second Prince's body had already been subjected to unimaginable violence, and yet the assassin had chosen to cast him from a great height, rendering him unrecognizable save for his severed head.