Eternal Life: My Lifespan Increases Daily

Chapter 677: Chapter 446: Darkness and Downfall! (Double-Length)

In the Cloud Palace, a high-level rune array severed communications, much like a phone on airplane mode.

Not until he left the Cloud Palace did Prince Cui receive the nighttime communication.

Crack!

Prince Cui suddenly clenched his fist, the power exploding in his palm like he had accidentally detonated a hand grenade, creating quite the commotion.

”What happened?” Prince Xia frowned, looking at his friend.

Such an overreaction clearly indicated something major; otherwise, Prince Cui wouldn’t behave this way.

Song Changming also observed Prince Cui growing increasingly furious, his expression even a bit ferocious.

This was the first time he had seen Prince Cui this angry; clearly, even Prince Cui couldn’t accept what had occurred.

”Could it be the main city has been breached?” Song Changming mused; perhaps only losing the main city and losing Cui Bai Dao could make Prince Cui react like this.

”Brother Li, pardon my leave. We’ll talk another day! Changming, let’s go!”

As Prince Cui spoke, he transformed into a streak of light, hastening away with Song Changming.

He even ignored the rule forbidding flying within the Imperial City, accelerating with a string of sonic booms echoing in the sky.

This forced Song Changming to summon the Cloud Crane Witch Soldier Seal to keep pace with Prince Cui.

This urgency underscored the seriousness of the situation.

Throughout the journey, Prince Cui remained sullen and silent, preventing Song Changming from asking questions.

It initially took two days to travel from Cui Bai Dao to Cloud Emperor City, but now, making their return under the stars, they entered the Cui Bai Dao domain after just one day.

Only then did Prince Cui slow his pace, slightly catching his breath while gathering his strength.

At last, Song Changming learned the story from Prince Cui.

The night of the Imperial Banquet, a great demon appeared outside the main city, causing havoc, resulting in severe losses for the First Army.

Most crucially, Commander of the First Army, Hu Donghuo, was slain by the great demon!

Hearing this, Song Changming was shocked, his mind recalling a prior meeting with Hu Donghuo.

Though he hadn’t interacted much with Hu Donghuo, he had heard many tales, recognizing him as a rare talent and the third Martial Arts Grandmaster produced by the Hu imperial Family!

He couldn’t fathom how such a figure, a grandmaster, could meet such an untimely demise.

Sacrificed within his own Cui Bai Dao, it indeed sounded strange.

No wonder Prince Cui was this agitated and furious after learning of the event.

Hu Donghuo had been the great hope of the Hu imperial Family.

Especially for the Hu family, Hu Donghuo was seen as the successor to revival efforts after Prince Cui, even considered the designated future!

Heaven knows how much effort and resources the entire Hu family and Prince Cui had invested in Hu Donghuo.

This untimely death means all the Hu family’s past investments have amounted to nothing.

Not to mention the uncertainty over how long it would take to produce another Hu Donghuo...

For any family, a lack of successors is the most terrifying prospect.

The Zhao Family, now extinct, serves as the best example; without heirs to uphold the family’s legacy, it’s left unprotected, vulnerable to everyone’s predation, with its vast estate unguarded.

Hu Donghuo’s sudden downfall is a huge, painful blow to both Prince Cui and the Hu family.

”How could this happen?” Song Changming pondered.

On one hand, how did the demon appear so stealthily in the heart of the main city.

On the other hand, with the Hu Tomb and the other noble families’ patriarchs present, how was Hu Donghuo allowed to fall?

Hu Donghuo was a Martial Arts Grandmaster, even against a powerful demon; he should have been able to either resist or escape. If it was merely one demon, it shouldn’t have been able to kill him swiftly.

It must have been more complicated than that!

Thoughts swirled in Song Changming’s mind, but the true situation could only be clarified upon investigation in the main city.

Soon, the two arrived back at Cui Bai Main City.

Cui Bai Main City remained peaceful, unmarred by the demon’s assault.

Even the ordinary citizens woke unaware of the demon’s disruption.

The incident circulated only among the city’s elite families and was being discussed.

Aside from the Su Family and the Hu family, no one knew of Hu Donghuo’s sacrifice.

In the Prince’s Mansion, Prince Cui and Song Changming arrived suddenly.

The nearby patrolling government soldiers immediately saluted Prince Cui.

”Have Hu Tomb come to see me!” Prince Cui commanded sternly, striding into an inner room.

Song Changming, undisguised, followed Prince Cui inside.

Soon a breeze swept through, and Hu Tomb quickly arrived at the inner room to greet Prince Cui.

”What on earth happened?” Prince Cui demanded, staring at Hu Tomb, his voice hard.

Song Changming also gazed at Hu Tomb.

After all, before Prince Cui left, he had entrusted Hu Tomb to command all forces and guard Cui Bai Dao.

Now the major invasion had occurred while Hu Tomb was unaware, marking a fault on Hu Tomb’s part.

Furthermore, Hu Donghuo’s death was undoubtedly tragic, leaving Hu Tomb responsible.

But faced with Hu Tomb, it was clear he too was affected.

Hu Donghuo’s death had dealt him a heavy blow, burdening him with intense guilt.

He willingly accepted all of Prince Cui’s punishments without complaint.

However, before that, he needed to clarify everything that transpired that night.

Including the sudden interference by Su Family’s elder grandmaster, who obstructed him.

This unusual behavior also raised suspicions toward the Su family.

Due to the Su family’s obstructions, by the time he found Hu Donghuo, there was nothing left but a shriveled-up body drained of its essence blood, too late to intervene.

”This matter is overly suspicious...” Song Changming commented.

”I suspect the Su Family orchestrated Hu Donghuo’s death in retaliation for our previous breach of the agreement!” Hu Tomb even bluntly stated.

With no outsiders present, Song Changming was considered one of their own, and Hu Tomb didn’t mince words.

Prince Cui remained silent, but after hearing Hu Tomb’s entire report, he instinctively believed that even if the Su family hadn’t directly killed Hu Donghuo, they were certainly involved.

”Changming, what do you think?” Prince Cui unexpectedly asked Song Changming.

”The elder grandmaster from the Su family was able to block the marshal from leaving the city immediately, indicating they were prepared for this. Just this detail alone says a lot.”

Song Changming spoke candidly.

”Additionally, after Hu Grand Marshal’s death, his body was left for the marshal to reclaim, suggesting a deliberate act. If it were truly the demon’s doing, it could have swallowed the body whole and disappeared without a trace.

Who wouldn’t a great demon find a Human Race Grandmaster’s body irresistible for complete devouring...”

Song Changming noted only the most glaring suspicious points, agreeing with Hu Tomb.

This matter was almost undoubtedly the Su family’s doing, a direct revenge on Hu Donghuo and Prince Cui!

In fact, the Su Family could have been more discreet, lessening their suspicion significantly.

But the Su family did not, the warning and threat towards Prince Cui were implicit yet clear.

The Changsheng Family still aimed to bind the Hu imperial Family, preventing Prince Cui’s rise, intending for Prince Cui to continue laboring for them, continually benefiting them.

Today they can kill one Hu Donghuo, tomorrow the Su family could continue striking down important figures from the Hu family or even Prince Cui’s faction.

Such audacity aligns with the Changsheng Su Family’s usual style.

If Prince Cui doesn’t respond firmly this time, all the past probing and efforts would be futile.

Reflecting on this, Song Changming once again looked at Prince Cui.

At this moment, Prince Cui showed no expression, frighteningly calm, giving no hint of his thoughts.

In the background, Song Changming seemed to sense the scent of war looming, feeling a colossal, unprecedented battle was imminent.

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