With the experience from their journey north, the return trip went far more smoothly. In just ten days, Wei Xuan and Jing Hongchen were back in the Sun and Moon Empire.
The Imperial Palace
Inside the grand golden hall, the Emperor of the Sun and Moon Empire sat upon his dragon throne, his expression thunderous. His silence radiated rage so intense it suffocated the air.
The assembled ministers bowed their heads deeply, barely daring to breathe.
"Guards," the emperor's voice boomed, low and furious. "Bring that traitor Xu Fan before me!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" several guards responded and hurried out.
Ten minutes later—
The First Prince was dragged into the hall, confusion flashing across his face. He bristled with anger — why were the palace guards arresting him of all people?
But the moment he entered and saw the two figures standing before the throne — Wei Xuan and Jing Hongchen — his heart dropped. His face turned pale as death, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Impossible! In his mind, they were supposed to be dead.
Forcing himself to kneel, he bowed stiffly. "Your son greets Father."
The emperor's eyes were cold and full of fury. He slammed a palm against the armrest of his throne, shattering it.
"So you do remember you have a father!" he roared. "Fratricide! Attempted assassination of the Hall Master of the Illustrious Virtue Hall! You truly have great courage!"
The prince collapsed to his knees, panic flashing through his eyes. "Father, I've been framed! I would never do such a thing! Someone is slandering me!"
"Oh? You think I—the Hall Master of the Illustrious Virtue Hall—would fabricate crimes against a royal prince?" Jing Hongchen sneered.
"It wouldn't be impossible," the prince said coldly, glaring at him. "Perhaps I've offended the Hall Master somehow, and now he wishes to condemn me with false charges."
"Heh." Jing Hongchen's laugh was icy. "You'll see soon enough whether I 'fabricated' anything."
A flicker of panic crossed Xu Fan's eyes. Could it be someone was captured alive?
No — impossible. His agents were loyal to the death. None of them would dare betray him.
"Evidence?" he said mockingly. "Surely the Hall Master hasn't just plucked a random fool off the streets as a witness?"
"You'll know soon enough whether he's random," Jing Hongchen replied. He looked to the emperor, who gave a slight nod.
"Bring him in!"
The captive Level 8 Soul Engineer, Fang Xin, was escorted in by guards and forced to kneel. His expression was vacant, his mind still under residual influence.
Xu Fan's pupils shrank. He subtly met the man's gaze, sending a warning glint — Stay silent, or you and your family die.
"Fang Xin," Jing Hongchen said calmly, "repeat exactly what you told us before."
"Yes," Fang Xin said simply.
The single word froze the First Prince's blood. His mask cracked. "You—! You dare slander me and my royal bloodline? Say one more lie and I'll see your nine generations wiped out!"
But Fang Xin didn't even flinch. His voice remained dull, emotionless.
Around the court, the gathered ministers exchanged uneasy glances. They were not fools — the prince's threat already revealed much.
Jing Hongchen and Wei Xuan remained silent.
"Enough!" the emperor bellowed, fury bursting forth. "You dare issue threats before me!? What — if he tells the truth, will you exterminate his entire clan?!"
The throne room trembled under his voice.
Xu Fan fell prostrate, his head low, too afraid to look up. "Y-your son wouldn't dare…"
"You'd best not." The emperor's voice cut through the hall like a blade. "Now—speak the truth, Fang Xin. Confess, and I will spare your life and protect your family. But if you lie…"
His tone dropped, chilling every man present. "Then death will be a mercy you'll never taste."
"Yes…" Fang Xin murmured. He began recounting everything — the orders from the First Prince to assassinate Wei Xuan and Jing Hongchen, the preparation, the ambush in the Extreme North.
As he spoke, the color drained completely from the prince's face. His knees buckled; he collapsed fully to the floor, muttering, "He's lying… he's lying…"
When the confession ended, the hall was silent.
The ministers who had once sided with the prince stared straight ahead, terrified. No one dared speak.
Finally, the emperor broke the stillness with a deep breath. "Xu Fan… you have disappointed me."
"Father, I swear—I didn't! They're conspiring against me! They—"
"Do you take me for a fool?!" the emperor thundered.
The prince choked on his words, trembling violently, his lips pale.
"Xuan'er," the emperor said softly, turning toward Wei Xuan. "You were the victim in this matter. You decide how he should be punished. Whatever you say, I will abide by it."
The court murmured in surprise. All eyes turned to Wei Xuan.
Even Jing Hongchen frowned slightly — was the emperor testing his son's heart? Or hoping he might show mercy?
Through a private spiritual transmission, Jing Hongchen's voice reached Wei Xuan's mind:
"Your Highness, don't waver. Do what your heart dictates. I — and the entire Illustrious Virtue Hall — will stand behind you."
Wei Xuan didn't answer. He simply glanced at Xu Fan — then looked to the emperor.
His voice was calm, cold. "Kill him."
Just two words — yet they struck the entire court like thunder.
Even the veteran ministers blanched. Such decisiveness… from one so you ng.
Jing Hongchen nodded in quiet satisfaction.
The emperor's face softened only slightly. "So be it." He waved his hand. "Take him away. Grant him poisoned wine."
Xu Fan's eyes widened in terror. "Father—no! Please, don't kill me! I was wrong! I won't dare again! I'm your son—your own flesh and blood! Spare me, please!"
The emperor turned away, weary. "Too late for regret. Fratricide and the attempted murder of the Hall Master — both unforgivable. Go in peace. You'll be buried with royal honors."
The prince screamed as guards dragged him from the hall. His cries echoed for a long time… then fell silent.
Nightfall — The Second Prince's Quarters
In the quiet of his study, Xu Tianran swirled a cup of wine, smirking faintly.
"Oh, elder brother… truly useless," he murmured. "All that scheming, only to die so easily. You disappoint me."
He downed the wine and laughed softly. "To think I even planned so much for you. What a waste of my effort."
His eyes gleamed coldly in the candlelight. "Still… your death isn't without value. The plans meant for you can be used on our other dear brothers just as well."
Bitterness darkened his tone. The crippled prince flexed his fingers, the memory of his broken legs and stolen dignity burning within him. "They'll all pay for it — one by one."
Pouring another drink, he paused mid-sip, muttering, "But that boy Wei Xuan… he's the real problem."
A headache throbbed behind his temples. Xu Fan's failure had proven that Wei Xuan couldn't be underestimated. Any misstep could lead to disaster.
"Step by step," he whispered. "Let the others fall first. Then I'll find a way to deal with him."
He took another long drink, the wine's warmth doing nothing to thaw the icy resolve in his heart.
The Next Morning — Illustrious Virtue Hall
At dawn, Jing Hongchen arrived at Wei Xuan's quarters. He didn't knock — just strode in with a grin.
Wei Xuan was already awake, sitting cross-legged in quiet meditation.
Cultivators like him rarely slept. Meditation restored more energy than any dream ever could.
"Your Highness," Jing Hongchen said, "come with me. I've something interesting to show you."
He led Wei Xuan into his personal Soul Tool laboratory — the grandest chamber in all of the Illustrious Virtue Hall.
The room stretched over five hundred square meters, crammed with tools, rare metals, and prototypes. Soul Tools of every level, from the simplest to the most advanced, lined the walls like a museum of invention.
Wei Xuan chuckled. "Hall Master, it's barely sunrise. You're not planning to make me build Soul Tools already, are you?"
(End of Chapter)