Chapter 61: Destroying the Flower
No matter how beautiful Princess Huanzhu was, in Xia Wuyang’s eyes, she was nothing more than an enemy.
He slowly walked up to Princess Huanzhu, his gaze falling upon the Thousand-year-old Ice Silkworm Armor she wore close to her skin. A smile touched the corners of his lips.
’With this Top Level Treasure Armor, my Defense should increase by at least three times, greatly enhancing my ability to survive.’
The Treasure Armor was as thin as a cicada’s wing, crystalline all over, and emanated a faint, cold aura. Not only could it protect its wearer, but it could also keep them in a constant state of clarity, providing a decent auxiliary effect for both Cultivation and combat.
It was considered one of the best even among Top Level Treasure Armors; even a Super Grade Celestial Human would be tempted by it.
As a member of the Royal Family, obtaining Middle-Low Level artifacts wasn’t difficult. However, acquiring High Level artifacts or better was no easy task. As for Top Level Artifacts, they were exceedingly rare.
Among the Princes and Princesses, very few possessed a Top Level Artifact.
For instance, the only Top Level Artifact Princess Huanzhu had was this Thousand-year-old Ice Silkworm Armor; her other possessions were far inferior.
Currently, the only Top Level Artifacts Xia Wuyang possessed were the Cyan Cloud Boots and the Thousand-year-old Ice Silkworm Armor he was about to acquire.
"Such a treasure should be returned to its rightful owner."
Xia Wuyang murmured this because Princess Huanzhu had swindled and extorted so many things from him that their value was more than enough to exchange for a Thousand-year-old Ice Silkworm Armor. Therefore, this item should be his compensation.
The process of unfastening the Thousand-year-old Ice Silkworm Armor was somewhat delicate. Xia Wuyang had to get close to Princess Huanzhu’s body, his fingertips occasionally brushing against her warm skin.
Princess Huanzhu remained completely oblivious, still immersed in the Illusion, feeling nothing at all. This just went to show how powerful Xia Wuyang’s Soul Capturing Technique was.
When the Thousand-year-old Ice Silkworm Armor was removed, Princess Huanzhu’s snow-white, jade-like back was completely exposed to the air. Her perfect curves gleamed like ivory under the light of the Luminous Pearl, her beauty breathtaking.
However, Xia Wuyang turned a blind eye to her beauty. He quickly placed the Thousand-year-old Ice Silkworm Armor into his Personal Space. The Top Level Treasure Armor felt cool and comfortable to the touch.
Besides the Thousand-year-old Ice Silkworm Armor, there were other treasures in Princess Huanzhu’s Practice Room: High Level Elixirs, Sea Pearls and Beautiful Jades, Special Incense... These were all good things, and Xia Wuyang naturally wouldn’t let them go to waste. He swept them all into his Personal Space.
Princess Huanzhu’s Practice Room was ransacked, with almost nothing left behind. Xia Wuyang didn’t even spare the High Level boots on her feet, taking them directly.
’Even though I already have the Cyan Cloud Boots, there’s no harm in having an extra pair of High Level boots.’
Unfortunately, there was no trace of any Miracle Treasure in Princess Huanzhu’s possession, let alone a Special Miracle Treasure.
Such fine items were extremely rare, even for a Prince or Princess. Typically, one would consume them as soon as they were obtained. Who would keep them lying around?
After collecting all these items, it was time for Xia Wuyang to do one last thing.
Forming a sword finger, he precisely struck the vital acupoints on Princess Huanzhu’s body, completely destroying her Cultivation, leaving not a single trace behind.
’Since it’s not a good time to kill her, I’ll just collect some interest first. Back then, that bitch wanted to kill me and even harmed many of my subordinates. It’s time she paid a price.’
’Besides, given Princess Huanzhu’s personality, crippling her will be more painful than killing her. Let her have a taste of what it’s like to be useless.’
Her vital acupoints were destroyed, her meridians were ruined, and the bones in her limbs were crushed... Xia Wuyang’s movements were as smooth as flowing water. Wherever his hands passed, Princess Huanzhu’s years of Cultivation melted away like ice and snow, and she was reduced to a cripple.
Even so, her stunningly beautiful face still wore the focused expression of someone in Cultivation, completely unaware of her current state. It was a testament to the power of a Perfection Level Soul Capturing Technique.
Of course, the Spiritual Power required to activate the Soul Capturing Technique at this level was also a critical factor.
After doing all this, Xia Wuyang didn’t leave immediately. He looked down at the limp form of Princess Huanzhu on the floor, and scenes from the past flashed through his mind.
’My brothers, may you rest in peace.’
It was this seemingly elegant young woman who, in order to seize the resources of the Eastern Palace, had not hesitated to murder the Guards loyal to him, not even sparing their parents, wives, and children.
’Now I’ve finally gotten a bit of revenge. And after losing her Cultivation and becoming a cripple, how long can this bitch, who has made so many enemies, possibly survive in the Imperial Palace?’
As he left the Practice Room, the old Nanny was still lost in the Illusion Realm.
Xia Wuyang considered for a moment. Without using any Combat Techniques or Secret Techniques, he threw an ordinary punch, landing it heavily on the back of her head.
The Third Grade Middle Stage General Level expert collapsed to the ground, completely motionless.
With herself crippled and her greatest protector killed, one could only imagine what awaited Princess Huanzhu.
’I should also take this opportunity to frighten certain people, to make them a little more careful in the future.’
With a faint smile, Xia Wuyang quickened his pace and returned to Wenhua Hall. He once again lay down among the Palace Maids, surrounded by their soft, warm, and fragrant bodies, resuming his decrepit, elderly posture.
It was as if none of this had anything to do with him. Besides, the Imperial Palace was filled with so many wealthy Princes and Princesses, with all sorts of resources and treasures for the taking. How could anyone bear to leave a place like this?
The outside world might be safer, but where else could he find such excellent conditions for Cultivation? And if he really did flee the Imperial Palace, who knew what certain people would do, or how many experts they would send to hunt him down.
Fleeing might actually be more dangerous than staying here.
「The next morning, inside Bamboo Forest Hall.」
A Palace Maid, carrying a silver basin for washing, was walking toward the Practice Room. When she saw the old Nanny collapsed on the ground outside, the silver basin in her hands fell with a CLANG, and the warm water splashed onto her dress.
"Someone, come quickly! Something’s happened!"
The Palace Maid couldn’t help but let out a piercing scream, shattering the tranquility of Bamboo Forest Hall.
A large group of Palace Maids, eunuchs, and Guards rushed over. They gathered around the old Nanny and, after a brief inspection, discovered she had been dead for some time. There was no sign of life, and the color drained from everyone’s faces in shock.
"Nanny Hua was an expert of the Upper Three Grades! How could she die so silently outside the Practice Room? Who could have done such a vicious thing?"
"It looks like she was ambushed from behind and killed with a single punch. She didn’t even have a chance to resist. The enemy’s power is terrifying."
"Nanny Hua is dead... could something have happened to the Princess? We have to check the Practice Room, quickly!"
...
The crowd scrambled into the Practice Room. The stone door was already open, and what greeted them was an even more horrifying sight.
Princess Huanzhu lay limp on the ground, her face as white as a sheet, with dried bloodstains at the corners of her mouth. It was impossible to tell if she was dead or alive.
"Ah! Princess, what’s happened to you? Go get the Imperial Physician, now!"
"Don’t move the Princess! Wait for the Imperial Physician to arrive!"
"The Princess is still breathing! She’s not dead!"
...