Chapter 412 - Weird Sword Emperor

Even though it was chaotic, everything was still within Long Chen’s control.

Lin Batian was now truly angered because of Lin Zichen. Even though he was weaker than his younger brother, he still had exact revenge for the First Commander. If he didn't, everyone would spread the news of how he was unwilling to defend his people when they were killed. His reputation would plummet and there would be no way for him to succeed the throne then.

He also had one more pillar to rely on, Long Chen. Long Chen had killed someone at the Eighth River Stage in front of Lin Batian before, so he knew that even if Long Chen could not beat Lin Zichen, he could at least stall for time.

Most of the guards stationed in Qianwen Palace were basically powerless, so Lin Batian took only Long Chen and ran towards Xingchen Palace.

Long Chen followed him. Lin Batian was like a bomb on the cusp of blowing up.

Long Chen smiled cruelly when he thought about the three members of the imperial family he had killed thus far. All three of them were related to Xiaolang’s family getting destroyed.

The Sword Demon was dead, and now Long Chen was preparing to kill Lin Zichen.

Soon, they reached the entrance of Xingchen Palace. Lin Batian ignored the guards and broke the door down before howling, “Lin Zichen you fucking coward. Come out!”

Everyone nearby heard him shouting. Some people even heard it from the remote corners of the palace, much less Lin Zichen. Lin Zichen was frustrated after his failed attempt to make Lin Batian attack him that day, so he ran over the moment he heard the shout. He saw the broken door and scoffed. “What? Did you go insane?”

“Lin Zichen, are you going to pretend you’re innocent? How deplorable. No need to put up an act. Stop being a coward and admit it!”

Lin Zichen looked down on Lin Batian. He was the only one who could’ve killed the First Commander.

“Are you stupid? Are you trying to instigate something here? Lin Batian, I won’t fight back just because you came here wanting to fight me. Fix my door and get out, or you will stay here forever.” Lin Zichen’s eyes were glowing and emitting an aura as sharp as swords.

Not only had Lin Zichen not admitted it, he even spoke more arrogantly than usual. This made Lin Batian’s killing intent grow. “I admit that I’m not as strong as you in terms of cultivation, but you are rubbish compared to me when it comes to everything else! You attacked me first, and in the palace grounds at that! I will call Father over and see how you will explain this.”

Lin Batian marched over to the Sword Emperor’s residence.

“You won’t be leaving that easily after breaking my door without an explanation.” Lin Zichen blocked Lin Batian.

Lin Batian was even angrier. But instead of shouting, he smiled and approached Lin Zichen.

“You killed one of my people and still act arrogant? I’m impressed. But if you keep standing in my way, I will make sure that Father punishes you!”

“Kill your people?” Lin Zichen was taken back. “When did I kill your people?”

“Are you still feigning innocence?!” Lin Batian skirted past him and walked towards the palace.

“Lin Batian, don’t you dare try to run away without an explanation!” Lin Zichen tried to grab Lin Batian.

“Yang Qing!” Lin Batian finally called for Long Chen, and he was not disappointed. Long Chen appeared immediately and stood between Lin Batian and Lin Zichen. Lin Zichen finally had a chance to take a closer look at Lin Batian’s newest subordinate.

“You are probably quite powerful if you’re willing to stop me from grabbing him.” Lin Zichen sized Long Chen up. “But you are nothing but a bug to me. Lin Batian came to my palace, wrecked my door, and even said I killed his people. I’m the fourth prince, so I can’t just overlook this humiliation!”

Lin Zichen shouted, and his Ninth River Stage Qi exploded. He channeled it to his fist and punched Long Chen.

Long Chen was no longer the weakling he once was. He had failed to block Lin Zichen’s attacks in their previous confrontation even with the help of Blood Sacrifice, but now he didn’t even need to transform. Now that the commotion had grown so large, the Sword Emperor would be here soon, so he expected that he would not need to fight Lin Zichen for long.

Even though it was a simple punch, any attack from a Ninth River Stage cultivator was very strong.

“Tidal Punch!” Long Chen shouted as he attacked back. He did not cower from Lin Zichen’s attack but instead launched himself forward like the tides. His fist rippled like the water and clashed with Lin Zichen’s fist.

Boom!

Lin Zichen remained motionless, while Long Chen was launched back by the impact. He turned around in the air before landing roughly on the ground. He barely managed to gain balance.

Long Chen was not acting at all—he had fought for real. Without transforming, he had more Qi than most Eighth River Stage cultivators, but he didn’t have anywhere near as much as Lin Zichen. Still, he knew he had gotten stronger after taking that attack unscathed. The Tidal Punch was an advanced Earth-tier technique that Zhao Qingyun had given him to maintain his disguise. Long Chen had cultivated it on the way here.

“You’re only at the Eighth River Stage, yet you were not injured by my punch. You are the first person to do that. It seems Lin Batian has a good eye for people. Too bad you chose the wrong owner!” Lin Zichen laughed and didn’t give Long Chen another chance.

“Brother Yang, be careful!” Lin Batian could do nothing as a Seventh River Stage cultivator.

“Stop.” A dignified voice boomed, and Long Chen stopped instinctively. He had heard the voice before—it belonged to the Sword Emperor. The last time he heard it was when the Sword Emperor howled in anger at the Sword Demon’s death.

Long Chen immediately kneeled down in the direction of the voice.

A man walked out of the darkness. He looked similar to Lin Zichen, tall and handsome and around thirty years old. He was exuding an oppressive aura that even made Long Chen lower his head. He had a feeling that all lies would be useless in front of this man.

I must not rouse suspicion!

Long Chen had to warn himself multiple times against the oppressive feeling.

Even though the Sword Emperor was at the Heavenly Passage Realm, he gave off a different feeling than Zhao Qingyun. Zhao Qingyun gave off the feeling of a hermit and sage, while the Sword Emperor gave off the feeling of a conqueror. He was just like a sharp sword that penetrated everything. His jet-black eyes, sharp gaze, and cold aura were in line with the Demon Emperor Sword in Long Chen’s Universe Pouch!

The Sword Emperor looked at Long Chen after seeing that he had stopped fighting the Fourth Prince. His cold gaze exuded enough pressure to make Long Chen immobile. This was the first time Long Chen had faced an opponent at the Heavenly Passage Realm.

“A cultivator from the Western Sea Kingdom? Your Tidal Punch is good.” The Sword Emperor nodded slightly before glaring at both Lin Batian and Lin Zichen.

“Father, I did not want to fight him, but he has taken things too far. He snuck into my palace and killed the First Commander ...”

“Bullshit! When did I do that?”

Lin Batian and Lin Zichen were busy defending themselves, but the Sword Emperor was clearly tired of their squabbles. “No need to tell me. Both of you, go back now and stop embarrassing me. I will let both of you know how to succeed to the throne tomorrow. Scram!”

“Yes!” Even Lin Zichen dared not take a deep breath in front of the Sword Emperor. He rolled his eyes at Lin Batian before returning to his palace. Lin Batian was silent and said nothing as he took Long Chen back to his palace. Only the Sword Emperor remained, standing motionlessly.

Why does that man feel familiar?

The Sword Emperor frowned.

***

Back in their residence, Ling Xi quickly asked, “Brother Chen, did our plan work?”

She wasn’t sure.

“It seems that it worked. We will see what the Sword Emperor says tomorrow.” Long Chen sighed in relief.

It seems that it’s not that simple to kill Lin Zichen.

Long Chen felt like he was a normal human facing a tiger when he met the Sword Emperor.

“Brother Chen, I feel like the Sword Emperor is a bit weird ...” Ling Xi suddenly said with uncertainty.

“How so?”

“I got the feeling that his soul was split in half, but I don’t know how it happened or what is going on. You should be able to tell if you look at him with the Soul Swallowing Gaze. But more importantly, his life was not affected even though half of his soul is gone. Rather, it seems his strength was refined ...”