Strongest War Emperor

The Third Prince’s rise plunged the Eastern Palace Crown Prince and his retinue into unspeakable despair.

To reach the King Martial Realm at such a young age was unprecedented—not just in the Purple Chu Country, but across the Eighteen Snow Countries and even the entire Western Wilderness.

With such a heaven-defying individual looming over him, even the calculating Crown Prince Tantai Xuanmo was at his wit’s end.

But unexpectedly, at this very moment, Shen Lang—the man who was currently the talk of the Imperial Capital—appeared at his door.

It was like receiving charcoal in a snowstorm, a lifeline in a desperate situation.

A sharp glint flashed in Tantai Xuanmo’s eyes as he shot to his feet.

The golden longchair he had been sitting on exploded with a BANG, instantly turning to ash that drifted down around him.

For the normally unshakable Tantai Xuanmo to react this way showed just how shocked and excited he was.

Before anyone could react, Tantai Xuanmo practically flew out the door, abandoning all of his usual calm and composure.

The retinue behind him exchanged glances before scrambling to follow.

The entire group, anxious and in a great procession, practically jogged out together—a truly spectacular sight.

The moment Tantai Xuanmo stepped outside, he saw two figures standing at the entrance to the hall.

One had fine features, but his eyes darted about nervously, tinged with a hint of panic. He looked vaguely familiar, as if he’d seen him somewhere before.

The other wore a golden mask and carried a Single Saber on his back. He stood with his hands clasped behind him, his presence as deep and still as an abyss, as imposing as a great mountain.

Although Tantai Xuanmo had never met Shen Lang, he instantly dismissed the man at his side, Xia Yu, without a second thought.

A wide smile spreading across his face, Tantai Xuanmo naturally extended a hand toward Shen Lang. ”Brother Lang! Why didn’t you let me know you were coming? If I’d known you were visiting today, I would have arranged a banquet this morning and come to receive you personally!”

’Damn, the Royal Family is really built different,’ Xia Yu thought, dumbfounded despite having braced himself. ’Shen Lang beat up your brother, yet not only are you not ashamed, you’re grinning from ear to ear... and you’ve never even met the guy, right? You’re acting like you’ve been brothers for years!’

Shen Lang nodded, neither servile nor arrogant, and clasped his hands in a salute. ”Crown Prince, you are too kind. I am not worthy of such a reception.”

”Nonsense! Brother Lang and I have long been kindred spirits. If I hadn’t known how busy you were, I would have paid you a visit long ago!”

Tantai Xuanmo’s compliments flowed endlessly like a torrential river, until he noticed a flicker of impatience in Shen Lang’s eyes. Only then did he realize how foolish he was being.

’A person of his caliber has long since ascended to a level beyond the reach of ordinary people. How could the platitudes of the court or the Royal Family possibly impress him?’

’If I keep this up, I might actually anger him!’

Wiping away a bead of cold sweat, Tantai Xuanmo composed himself and waved his hand magnanimously. ”Attendants! Brother Lang’s arrival is the greatest celebration for the Eastern Palace! Prepare a banquet at once!”

”Yes, Your Highness!” one of the attendants responded respectfully before hurrying away to make the arrangements.

Only then did Tantai Xuanmo move to Shen Lang’s side and make an inviting gesture. ”This is no place to talk. Please, Brother, let’s speak inside.”

Shen Lang gave the Eastern Palace Crown Prince a faint glance. ’He reacts quickly,’ he thought.

’He caught the slightest change in my expression. A clever man, indeed.’

”A banquet... won’t be necessary,” Shen Lang said coolly. ”I only came to have a few words with Brother Xuanmo. I’ll be leaving shortly.”

Hearing Shen Lang address him as ”Brother Xuanmo,” Tantai Xuanmo was instantly overjoyed.

He quickly ushered Shen Lang and Xia Yu inside.

”To be frank, Brother Xuanmo, I wouldn’t have come without a purpose...”

The moment they were seated, Shen Lang prepared to get straight to the point.

Tantai Xuanmo sat bolt upright, his expression grave. ”Brother Lang, if there is anything you need from me, please do not hesitate to ask. So long as it is within my power, I, Tantai Xuanmo, will risk my very life to see it done!”

To become the Emperor of a nation required more than just strength; it demanded extraordinary methods.

From a young age, members of the Royal Family are endlessly taught countless techniques of intrigue and manipulation.

They grow up steeped in such an environment, where only the fittest survive.

The ones who ultimately remain to play their hands in the arena of power are, without exception, cunning old foxes, seasoned by countless battles.

Being able to so naturally call a stranger ”brother” and declare ”I’ll risk my life to help you” without batting an eye—that was something Xia Yu, standing beside Shen Lang, could never have managed.

Shen Lang said nonchalantly, ”I’ve come to visit you, Brother Xuanmo, for two reasons. The first concerns the matter of the Twin Dragon Sect offending the Crown Prince. The second concerns the Third Prince.”

At this, Shen Lang paused, deliberately letting the words hang in the air.

The faces of everyone seated around them changed drastically.

Had it been any other matter, it would have been nearly impossible for Tantai Xuanmo to refuse any request from Shen Lang.

For one, Shen Lang himself was overwhelmingly powerful, his strength and influence reaching a point where they could crush the Royal Family. He was not someone the Eastern Palace could afford to provoke.

For another, the Eastern Palace had just been hoping to borrow his power to deal with the Third Prince!

They had barely been seated, and now the Crown Prince was already being forced to make a choice...

The problem was, Xu Lianyou was the woman who had utterly captivated Tantai Xuanmo!

For Shen Lang to do this in front of so many people was, to put it bluntly, tantamount to stealing Tantai Xuanmo’s woman!

For any man, such a blow to his pride would be significant.

Back when Xue Dangdang, in a fit of jealousy, had deliberately taken the Third Prince’s arm, Shen Lang had been ready to kill the prince right then and there.

How could any other man be different?

But no one spoke. They didn’t dare.

Everyone was perfectly clear on the consequences of angering Shen Lang.

The Third Prince had burst onto the scene, and the Crown Prince was already overwhelmed.

If they provoked the even more formidable Shen Lang on top of that, it would be suicide.

Tantai Xuanmo looked up, his eyes meeting Shen Lang’s perfectly calm gaze.

In that single glance, Tantai Xuanmo understood a great deal.

Shen Lang had raised both issues simultaneously, but he’d only hinted at the first one, not directly mentioning Xu Lianyou. He was already being extremely considerate of the Crown Prince’s pride.

At the very least, he hadn’t embarrassed him in front of so many people.

At the same time, with just a few words, he had laid out the terms and made his meaning clear: ’You must give up on Xu Lianyou, and in return, I will help you deal with the Third Prince.’

It was that simple.

After meeting Shen Lang’s gaze for only an instant, Tantai Xuanmo nodded immediately, almost without a moment’s hesitation.

”The matter with the Twin Dragon Sect is a trifle. Rest assured, Brother Lang. Xu Lianyou is a friend of mine, but my chosen Crown Prince Consort is someone else. In the days to come, I will do everything in my power to help and protect the Twin Dragon Sect.”

Everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It had been a simple exchange, but within the hearts of those present, it felt like a raging tide had swept through.

”Then, on behalf of the Twin Dragon Sect, I thank you, Brother Xuanmo.” Shen Lang lifted his teacup and took a light sip.

Tantai Xuanmo feigned displeasure. ”We are brothers now. Such politeness makes us seem like strangers!”

Xia Yu, watching from the side, was completely baffled.

With a small smile, Shen Lang continued, ”I know the situation with the Third Prince has caused you considerable trouble, Brother Xuanmo... but you needn’t worry too much. Some people, no matter how powerful they become, will die if I wish it.”

Tantai Xuanmo’s head snapped up, his eyes flashing with a mixture of tension and fervent hope.

Tantai Xuanmo’s retinue all perked up their ears, afraid of missing a single word.

To Tantai Xuanmo and his followers, Shen Lang’s outrageously arrogant words didn’t sound inappropriate in the slightest. On the contrary, they were filled with wild joy!

As long as the man before them took action, what did the Third Prince’s strength matter?

The Elder Ancestor of the Purple Chu Royal Family was only at the Emperor Martial Realm Early Stage, yet Shen Lang could command even the legendary Zombie Emperor Duanmu Xie with ease!

The Elder Ancestors of the three great Spirit Copper Level influences, like the Imperial Dragon Sect, all called him brother!

Master of Chaos of the Ruyi Buddha Sect even called him senior brother...

If Shen Lang was willing to act, what was a mere King Martial Realm Third Prince?

Hadn’t he already been forced to slap himself in front of the entire city, utterly humiliating himself?

Without asking a single question, Tantai Xuanmo clasped his hands in a salute to Shen Lang. ”Brother Lang, I, Xuanmo, will engrave this great kindness upon my heart and never forget it as long as I live! If ever you have need of me...”

Shen Lang raised a hand, cutting him off. ”There’s no need for that, Brother Xuanmo. Though the Third Prince has a King Martial Realm Cultivation, he is nothing before me. With me here, you can rest easy.”

”However, this man and the forces backing him are not to be underestimated. You must listen to me, Brother Xuanmo: for the time being, avoid conflict with him as much as possible. With the power at your command, you cannot yet handle him.”

Before Tantai Xuanmo could even say all the things he had prepared, his goal had already been achieved...

Nothing could have made Tantai Xuanmo happier.

...

「Meanwhile」 At the same time Shen Lang was arriving at the Eastern Palace, two bizarre strangers appeared undetected inside the Third Prince’s bedchambers.

Both were dressed in black robes, and their heads were wreathed in a black aura, completely obscuring their faces.

The Third Prince gently set down his wine cup and chuckled. ”The people of White Bone Hall certainly have their methods, to be able to sneak in here without being discovered by the Royal Family’s powerhouses.”

One of the black-robed men spoke, his voice raspy. ”If we didn’t have some skill, how could our White Bone Hall dominate the Celestial Defying Demon Realm?”

”The Third Prince is an intelligent man, so I won’t beat around the bush.”

The black-robed man snorted. ”Our purpose in coming is simple: we wish to form an alliance with you, Third Prince, to deal with Shen Lang.”

The Third Prince glanced at the wine in his cup, swirled it twice, and began to laugh. ”An alliance? Do you believe you are qualified to form an alliance with me?”

Both black-robed men stiffened, their voices laced with Killing Intent. ”What do you mean by that, Your Highness? Our White Bone Hall is a great sect of the Demon Dao, a dignified Spirit Copper Level influence, and we are both at the Emperor Martial Realm Fifth Heaven. Do you think we are not qualified to ally with you?”

”Hmph!” The Third Prince snorted, raising his left hand and lightly tapping his forehead.

At his touch, a blood-red character for ’Demon’ slowly materialized on his forehead.

The character seemed simple, but the moment it appeared, a vast and piercingly cold Evil Qi, as if straight from Asura Hell, instantly flooded every inch of the hall.

Immediately, a monstrous wave of Demonic Qi erupted from the Third Prince’s body. It formed a colossal tide that seemed capable of destroying everything as it crashed toward the two King Martial Realm powerhouses from White Bone Hall, carrying a terrifying, suffocating pressure.

THUD!

The two King Martial Realm Fifth Heaven powerhouses fell to their knees before the Third Prince, who was merely at the King Martial Realm First Heaven!

”D-Demon... So... so you are from... *that place*...”