Chapter 98 - 97: Sending Off the Ghost Shadow
Xia Wuyang precisely controlled the output of his Spiritual Power. He didn’t kill Princess Xiu Min instantly, but instead completely destroyed her motor nerves. In the end, Princess Xiu Min collapsed limply onto the bed, unable to move a muscle—she couldn’t even move her eyes.
The most terrifying part was that her consciousness remained perfectly clear. She could hear, see, and think, but she could no longer control her own body. This state, where she could neither live nor die, was crueler than killing her outright.
Once she had suffered enough torment, Xia Wuyang would tell her the truth and let her die in endless regret, a final offering to the deceased Xiaodie.
"This... is the price you pay!"
Xia Wuyang glanced coldly at Princess Xiu Min, now a living statue on the bed, and began to search Brocade Hall.
The collection here was quite rich, with no shortage of various treasures and resources.
In one Jade Box, he found a Middle Level Miracle Treasure, the Celestial Water Essence. From another hidden compartment, he discovered a Clear Heart Fruit—a rare treasure capable of enhancing one’s Spiritual Power.
By using his Soul Capturing Technique to create an Illusion, he learned from Princess Xiu Min that she was the only one who knew about the Celestial Water Essence and the Clear Heart Fruit. Since she hadn’t told anyone, taking them would be fine.
Only then did Xia Wuyang place the two treasures into his Personal Space. He also took some other resources and valuables that were not publicly known, while leaving all the known ones in their place.
This was, of course, to avoid suspicion. It was better to let everyone believe that Princess Xiu Min suffered a Qigong Deviation on her own. Otherwise, with so many Princes and Princesses running into trouble, it would undoubtedly trigger a much stricter investigation.
After collecting the treasures, Xia Wuyang checked the area carefully. He confirmed he had left no traces behind and that all of Princess Xiu Min’s symptoms pointed to her suffering a Qigong Deviation from her own practice. Only then did he quietly depart from Brocade Hall.
The next morning, a scream from Brocade Hall shattered the tranquility of the Imperial Palace. Soon, news that Princess Xiu Min had suffered a Qigong Deviation during her cultivation and had fallen into a catatonic state spread like wildfire.
"I heard that Princess Xiu Min flew into a rage because a Palace Maid served tea that wasn’t to her liking. That’s why she suffered a Qigong Deviation during her Cultivation. It damaged her mind and left her catatonic. They say she’ll never wake up unless they can find some legendary Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to save her life."
"Ever since she started practicing those vile Secret Techniques, Princess Xiu Min has become more and more cruel and ruthless, killing people carelessly over the smallest things. She totally deserved this comeuppance."
"Quite a few Princes and Princesses have had incidents lately. Do you all think there’s some connection? Something just feels off."
"What’s there to feel off about? The Imperial Physicians and Divine Constables have already checked. Everything in Brocade Hall was normal, with nothing out of the ordinary. Everyone knows that practicing in a fit of rage can easily cause a Qigong Deviation. Princess Xiu Min had it coming."
...
When the news reached Yangxin Hall, Emperor Xia dispatched his own people to investigate. However, they found nothing and could only accept the official conclusion.
In Wenhua Hall, Xia Wuyang had already resumed his Cultivation, paying no mind to the events outside.
He barely had enough time for his Cultivation as it was; he had no time to waste on such trivial, chaotic matters.
To him, Princess Xiu Min was merely a minor nuisance. Now that the nuisance had been dealt with, it was time to return to his regular Cultivation.
But that very night, the Ghost Shadow that had previously visited his Sleeping Palace returned to perform its routine inspection.
The Ghost Shadow had inspected Xia Wuyang countless times. If he hadn’t awakened his Supreme Talent, the Seven-Aperture Exquisite, Xia Wuyang would have remained completely oblivious.
He would have gone to his grave without ever knowing, much less discovering who had sent this Ghost Shadow.
The Ghost Shadow slipped into Wenhua Hall with practiced ease, as if returning to his own home. Inside, the candlelight was dim, and the elder Crown Prince was nowhere in sight.
A cold sneer touched the Ghost Shadow’s lips as he headed toward the Practice Room. ’If he’s not in the Sleeping Palace, he must be hiding in the Practice Room again.’
’I wonder if that elder Crown Prince is hatching some kind of plot in there.’
Using the Power and Cultivation of a Third Grade Martial General, he easily opened the Practice Room and found the elder Crown Prince lying on the Jade Bed, resting.
He closed the stone door behind him. Looking at the elder Crown Prince, who still appeared ancient and frail, as if he might draw his last breath at any moment, the Ghost Shadow sighed in relief. ’Looks like the old bastard is just hiding in the Practice Room to rest and preserve his life. He isn’t secretly practicing his Cultivation or hatching any plots.’
’In that case, I’ll just follow the Third Prince’s orders and carry out the routine inspection.’
’I wonder when this old bastard will finally die. The sooner he kicks the bucket, the sooner I can rest easy and stop having to come here to check on him every few days.’
’Maybe I should do something... to help him die a little faster?’
As he hesitated, the Ghost Shadow approached Xia Wuyang, preparing to use a drug to put him into a deeper sleep to make the inspection easier.
But at that exact moment, the reclining Xia Wuyang’s eyes snapped open. "So, you’re one of the Third Prince’s men!"
His voice was ice-cold. Activating the Soul Capturing Technique, he easily probed the man’s surface thoughts, learning the Ghost Shadow’s origins and his current intentions.
The Ghost Shadow was horrified. He stared at the impassive Xia Wuyang, who was now staring back at him, and was momentarily speechless.
The glow of a Luminous Pearl illuminated a face that should have been withered and frail, but now radiated an intimidating and majestic aura.
"You..." Before the Ghost Shadow could say another word, Xia Wuyang struck like a bolt of lightning.
A hand like an iron vise clamped precisely around his throat, giving him no time to react.
The Ghost Shadow struggled, but discovered in horror that his opponent’s Power far surpassed his imagination. Despite his Cultivation as a Third Grade Martial General, he was as helpless as an infant in the other’s grasp.
"A Second Grade Grandmaster... You’re a Second Grade Grandmaster!" the Ghost Shadow stared at Xia Wuyang, unable to believe what was happening.
"Are you surprised?" Xia Wuyang’s voice was as cold as a blade. "Did you all think I was still that helpless weakling, for anyone to trample upon?"
"I..." The Ghost Shadow was speechless. The man before him, radiating an overwhelming aura, was nothing like the decrepit old Crown Prince. He had secretly cultivated to such a level, placing him at the very Peak among all the Princes and Princesses.
If his true strength were revealed, who could possibly threaten his position as Crown Prince? Perhaps that was precisely why he dared to show his hand now.
He desperately circulated his Qi Blood, trying to break free, but Xia Wuyang’s hand was like a vise forged from dark steel; it wouldn’t budge no matter how he struggled.
"Don’t waste your energy. It’s time for you to go."
Xia Wuyang tightened his grip. The Ghost Shadow’s pupils constricted. He wanted to beg for mercy, but his throat was clamped so tightly that not a single sound could escape.
He could only watch, wide-eyed and helpless, as Xia Wuyang’s hand slowly squeezed the life out of him.
"In your next life, learn not to provoke those you can’t afford to."
Xia Wuyang whispered in his ear just before the man died. His eyes widened in despair, and then he went still, all sound ceasing.