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Chapter 177: Chapter 101: Zhao Ci: Huh? I Became the Demon Monarch?

Huangfu Song pointed at the people healing their wounds not far away, his voice filled with uncontrollable rage. ”Are you all useless? How have so many of you been taken out in just half a day?”

Withered Mountain Old Ghost looked like he wanted to cry but had no tears left. He lowered his voice and said, ”Dharma Protector! Ever since the Saintess leaked... The Imperial Clan Court came after us too fast! Those Zhao bastards are fighting like madmen. The brothers are no match for them at all.”

Huangfu Song was furious, but he couldn’t bring himself to be too harsh.

The Imperial Clan Court really did have too many ruthless experts.

One couldn’t just look at how the Saint Monarch used to abuse them like dogs; that was the Saint Monarch in his prime!

If you took the Saint Monarch out of the equation and had the Holy Sect face the Imperial Clan Court head-on, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say their chances of survival were one in ten.

His expression darkened. ”Can we still contact Zhao Yong? I need to get information about Zhao Ci from him!”

Withered Mountain Old Ghost’s face fell. ”We can’t! He destroyed the black jade I gave him before the entrance to the ruins even appeared.”

’So cautious!’

Huangfu Song asked again, ”What about the Crown Prince?”

Withered Mountain Old Ghost replied, ”He destroyed his too!”

Huangfu Song grew even more annoyed, his gaze turning frighteningly sinister.

Withered Mountain Old Ghost quickly cursed, ”Those two Zhao bastards! Useless at everything except being number one at running away. They’re real pieces of work!”

Only then did Huangfu Song’s expression soften slightly. He said in a deep voice, ”Meeting!”

...

「Ninth Prince’s Mansion.」

”Achoo!”

”Achoo!”

”Achoo!”

Zhao Yong sneezed three times in a row, which he found rather odd. His injuries hadn’t fully healed, and he’d just ridden nonstop for a day and a night.

But he possessed a Third-Grade Flesh Soul, Second-Grade Tendons and Meridians, and was on the verge of the Bone Forging Stage.

Moreover, he cultivated Imperial Extreme True Qi, a gentle type of True Qi.

’There’s no way I should be catching a cold!’

He couldn’t quite understand it.

But now was clearly not the time to be focusing on such things.

Lying on his sickbed, he mentally reviewed the events in the Northern Three Prefectures from beginning to end one more time. Only after confirming once again that he had left no loose ends did he finally, finally, *finally* allow himself to relax.

For the past few days, whenever he had a moment of peace, he would involuntarily imagine the scene of Zhao Huan discovering the truth and disowning him.

He had been back for so long, only sleeping and recuperating, yet he had ended up having nightmares for a whole afternoon.

’How absurd!’

’It was just too terrifying!’

’Completely unacceptable!’

”Phew...”

Zhao Yong let out a long sigh and once again took out his notebook of life insights.

He solemnly wrote down a sentence: You can do anything in the future, just don’t act against your conscience.

He lay there for a good while before finally managing to compose himself.

”Someone, call Zhu Yan over!”

”Yes, Your Highness!”

The voice of a maidservant came from outside the door.

A short while later, the sound of steady footsteps approached from outside.

Zhu Yan pushed the door open and came in. When he saw Zhao Yong’s condition, he was stunned. ”Your Highness! How did you sustain such heavy injuries?”

”It’s nothing serious!”

Zhao Yong waved his hand dismissively. Although the incident in the Northern Three Prefectures had caused quite a stir, everyone who knew about it had been sworn to secrecy. Their very lives were at stake, so they all kept their mouths shut.

The well-connected higher-ups in Lingge might have heard some rumors.

But a minor Mansion Official like Zhu Yan would naturally have no way of hearing about it.

After all... two princes were nearly killed right in front of the Imperial Clan Court. The Imperial Family had its pride to consider.

He looked at Zhu Yan. ”How have things been in Lingge these past few days?”

Hearing this, Zhu Yan immediately broke into a smile. ”The strategy Your Highness proposed was excellent. I mentioned it to the other mansions, and many of them agreed. Every day, one expert goes to wear down Zhu Li, bringing along a group of weaker fighters.

With Zhu Li’s strength, she should have only lost two out of fifteen matches, but she ended up losing a total of five.

Although the other two won a few matches with dirty tricks, they probably won’t be able to use them again.”

”What about Zhao Ci?”

Zhao Yong asked again, ”I remember Zhao Ci is back too. He definitely wouldn’t stand for this kind of humiliation, so he must have fought several people today. He’s not weak now. What were the results?”

”After the challengers entered the Tenth Prince’s Mansion, they closed the main gates. We don’t know anything yet.”

Zhu Yan smiled. ”However, Tan Yu and Gongsu Cuo were both there today. He shouldn’t have been able to gain any advantage.”

”That’s good!”

Zhao Yong breathed a slight sigh of relief. Tan Yu and Gongsu Cuo were both relatively low-key and not particularly famous, but their strength was quite terrifying.

Among the thirty-plus people in this mansion competition, they could at least rank in the top ten.

Even if he went all out, he might not be able to defeat them within a hundred moves.

Especially Tan Yu, who controlled three Corpse Puppets simultaneously. If he were even slightly careless, he might even be defeated.

He had approached Tan Yu back then, but unfortunately, the Heir of King Lie beat him to it.

’Zhao Ci shouldn’t be able to win!’

’But still...’

A hidden worry still lingered in his heart. He didn’t believe Zhao Ci had fought the Demon Sect’s puppets head-on with his own strength—after all, such a claim was too absurd.

But the fact that Zhao Ci managed to get out alive definitely meant he had a few tricks up his sleeve.

’Could it be...’

’Probably not!’

’Who in this world could improve that fast?’

At that moment, a series of hurried footsteps approached.

TAP TAP TAP...

When Zhao Yong saw who it was, a smile appeared on his face. ”Tian Xi, why are you in such a hurry?”

This person was one of his Mansion Officials.

The number one of the Feng Family’s younger generation, Feng Tianxi.

Outsiders often joked that the Tenth Prince’s Mansion got the pant-stitcher, while the Ninth Prince’s Mansion got the sky-mender.

This was one of the sources of Zhao Yong’s confidence.

Feng Tianxi said in a grim voice, ”The results from the Tenth Prince’s Mansion are in!”

”What are the results?”

Zhao Yong smiled faintly. ”How many matches did Zhao Ci win?”

Feng Tianxi took a deep breath, his voice somewhat hoarse. ”He didn’t lose a single one...”

”Gongsu Cuo and Tan Yu are sensible. They must have beaten Zhao Ci to a pulp, so he didn’t win a single...”

The smile on Zhao Yong’s face froze. ”What? You said he didn’t lose a single match?”

Zhu Yan was also dumbfounded. ”Tianxi, what did you say?”

”He didn’t lose a single match!”

Feng Tianxi’s face was full of dread. ”Gongsu Cuo and Tan Yu didn’t even last ten breaths. About ten people went to the Tenth Prince’s Mansion today, and all of them were hammered into the ground by the Tenth Prince. In contrast, Zhu Li, who was well-rested, didn’t lose a single match, and even the two useless members of their mansion managed to pick up several easy wins.”

Zhao Yong: ”Huh?”

Zhu Yan: ”Huh?”

They were both completely numb.

Especially Zhao Yong; the shock ran from the top of his head to the soles of his feet.

’That level of strength is just too absurd.’

’Could it be... he really fought his way out of the Black Fog Space using his own power?’

’Uh, th-th-th-this...’

Feng Tianxi’s voice was low. ”The Tenth Prince also posted a notice on his gate.”

Zhao Yong quickly asked, ”What did it say?”

Feng Tianxi’s expression was a little stiff. ”It says: ’Don’t bother coming to challenge us tomorrow. The Tenth Prince’s Mansion is coming to sweep you all. From now on, my Chief Mansion Official and I will not lose a single match, and we will smash your dog heads!’”

Zhu Yan: ”*Hiss...*”

Zhao Yong: ”*Hiss...*”

He felt a tightness in his chest.

’Zhao Ci!’

’Why won’t you just die already!’

The corner of Zhao Yong’s eye twitched. He hated that he hadn’t cultivated diligently enough. Otherwise, once he reached the Bone Forging Stage, he could have used an Emperor Pill to forge his bones to the second grade, and then he could have easily beaten Zhao Ci to death.

’But right now, my injuries are too severe...’

He shook his head. ”Don’t panic! Their roster isn’t full, and they’re carrying two useless members. Even if they really win every match, it’ll be hard for them to get into the top three. Besides, he isn’t necessarily a match for us.”

...

「Tenth Prince’s Mansion.」

Zhao Ci slept so deeply it was almost sublime.

’Goddamn, I’m exhausted!’

First, the wilderness battle royale, then riding nonstop for a day and a night without sleep, and then fighting more than a dozen matches in a row.

’Even a man of iron couldn’t take it!’

He should have slept soundly, but he was too anxious. He quickly transitioned from a deep sleep to a state of being half-awake.

The trip to the Black Fog Space had made him deeply realize the importance of strength.

He also discovered how much potential his own physical body had yet to be tapped.

And yet, the Heaven-Suspended Spider Silk was right in front of him, but it felt just out of reach.

’Yang Mo was right.’

’This is a process that requires patience.’

’This is so hard!’

’What am I supposed to do?’

’The top three mansions are too strong. Even if Zhu Li and I win all our matches, we still might not get the Heaven-Suspended Spider Silk!’

In the midst of his mental turmoil, Zhao Ci suddenly felt fair and slender fingertips pressing against his wrist.

He opened his eyes and saw a pair of captivating eyes gazing at him.

”You just finished healing, and you immediately ride for a day and a night, fighting over a dozen matches without any sleep. Did I pay such a heavy price to heal you just so you could go and ruin your own body?”

[Gu Xiangzhu’s Current Wish: Use words to win him over and make this little puppy subconsciously believe I’m on his side. Wish Fulfillment Reward: Insight +100, Friend and Not Enemy Talisman.]