"Father, I volunteer to lead imperial experts in hunting down the Demonic Sect remnants!" Lin Shuo offered.
"Wait..." As the Han Emperor was about to agree, a vigorous voice came from outside the Imperial Study.
"Big Brother...!" Lin Shuo started. The First Prince had cultivation talent surpassing even Lin Yu's back then, leading armies to invincible victories. When Lin Yu rose to fame, people compared them. Lin Shuo first suspected the First Prince of betraying Lin Yu's march route, but the prince had been pacifying northern barbarians for years, absent from the capital—until now.
Lin Shuo looked up as the First Prince, clad in iron armour, entered majestically.
"Your son greets Father... I've pacified the northern barbarians. Thirteen tribal chiefs have sworn allegiance and followed me back to pay homage." The First Prince bowed to the Han Emperor.
"Good! You've finally returned from the north!" The Han Emperor laughed heartily.
"First Prince's pacification of the north ends wars—an immense merit!"
"Your Majesty, such merit deserves a royal title!"
"The First Prince is truly our Great Han's war god—cause for celebration!"
The Chief Minister and others congratulated them.
Lin Shuo looked at First Prince Lin Feng. Among the emperor's sons, none had been titled yet. If Lin Feng was made a prince, he'd gain an edge in the succession struggle.
"Title conferral can wait," the Han Emperor waved. "Feng'er, your brother just offered to hunt the Demonic Sect. You seemed to disagree?"
"Father, on my way here, imperial spies returned from Great Zhou with urgent news." Lin Feng glanced at Lin Shuo. "Three days ago, Great Zhou's capital was attacked by a mysterious expert, killing many royal powerhouses. Only their secluded ancestor could repel the attacker."
"What?!" Everyone in the study exclaimed.
Great Zhou had numerous powerhouses, including Purple Mansion Realm experts. For them to need their secluded ancestor—said to be at Purple Mansion Eighth Grade, prolonging life with secret arts, each strike shortening his lifespan—meant the attacker was terrifying. Like Prince Su, he was a国运-suppressing existence.
"Who dares attack Great Zhou's capital? They'll face national retaliation!" The Chief Minister shook his head.
"Fortunately, we have Prince Su. If that expert dares come here, Prince Su will slay him with one sword!" The Han Emperor relaxed at the thought.
"Father, the mysterious attacker was Prince Su." Lin Feng declared after a pause.
"Impossible! Prince Su guards our capital—how could he attack Great Zhou?"
"Prince Su has no quarrel with them—no motive!" Exclamations rose.
The Han Emperor stared at Lin Feng. "Could the spy's news be wrong?" If true, war was inevitable.
Lin Feng shook his head. "Unlikely. When Great Zhou's ancestor attacked, he recognized Prince Su, shouting his name and asking if we seek war. But Prince Su didn't respond."
"The Great Zhou ancestor fought Prince Su in their youth. If he identified him, it's credible." The Chief Minister looked grave.
"Impossible! When Shuo'er was attacked at the border, a sword light rose from our capital to save him—witnessed by all. Prince Su was here then. Even a Myriad Manifestations expert couldn't reach Great Zhou in days!" The Han Emperor objected.
"Father, could the Demonic Sect be behind this?" Lin Shuo interjected. "They might have impersonated Prince Su to provoke war, then profit. We should send envoys to explain."
"Agreed." The Han Emperor told the Chief Minister, "Dispatch envoys to Great Zhou immediately."
After the ministers left, only Lin Shuo and Lin Feng remained.
"Your ninth uncle treats you differently, Shuo'er. Stay in the capital and seek him—maybe he'll meet you." The Han Emperor ordered.
Lin Shuo left as the Han Emperor tasked Lin Feng with guarding the border against Great Zhou.
"First Prince..." A subordinate met Lin Feng outside the palace—one with a mouth almost splitting to his ear, an unusual appearance.
"What is it?" Lin Feng eyed him.
"Someone has secretly funded the descendants of the Third Prince's subordinates. I suspect the Third Prince." The subordinate whispered.
"Lin Yu..." Lin Feng's eyes turned cold. "I knew he wouldn't stay quiet. Watch him. If confirmed, send someone to warn him to stay a useless cripple."
...
News of Great Han's Prince Su attacking Great Zhou's capital spread, straining relations. Border conflicts escalated, edging toward war.
In Yin Cloud Ridge, Heavenly Demon Sect's Bone Palace, the Sect Master sat on a skeleton throne, flanked by a black-robed warrior.
"Master's strategy is brilliant—Great Zhou blames Great Han!"
"Once they war, rivers of blood will let us collect enough to awaken the Blood Demon Lord!"
"Pity Elder Sun's plan failed. Who was that Great Han expert who could wield a sword across thousands of li? Why use Prince Su's name?"
Elders congratulated the Sect Master. If Elder Sun had killed the Second Prince, war might already have broken out.
"Whoever that Great Han expert is, the Blood Demon Lord will crush him easily upon awakening!" The Sect Master laughed, eyes gleaming with pride.
In the imperial city, Lin Yu moved like a wisp of smoke through the shadows.
As Cauldron Lord predicted, tonight's full moon should let the upper layer Demonic Beings tear a crack in the seal—just big enough for a Myriad Manifestations First Grade demon cultivator to escape.