Chapter 19

{Bonus chapter for 100 powerstones}

"... Our Su Clan is willing to submit," the Su Clan ancestor said, his voice heavy with defeat. His shoulders slumped as he spoke, his words carrying the weight of his shattered pride.

"We offended the prince," the Su Clan ancestor said, his tone heavy with resignation. "Though it was the actions of the younger generation, I cannot sit idly by and watch the entire clan face annihilation. How could I ever face our ancestors?"

His voice trembled slightly, and his downcast expression only deepened the weight of his words. The other members of the Su Clan clenched their fists and gritted their teeth, their anger simmering beneath the surface. Yet, they could not openly defy him. The harsh reality of their situation left them with no choice but to swallow their pride in silence.

Who in the Su Clan had been secretly supporting the crown prince in his schemes against Lianchen? Naturally, it was one of the Su Clan elder's sons. After all, it was standard practice for major clans to pledge allegiance to a prince, and the Su, Mo, and Lu Clans had chosen to back the crown prince.

It was only natural that the younger generation would carry out the crown prince's bidding without question. Whatever he asked of them, they obeyed, seeing it as a duty to secure their clan's position and favor within the imperial court.

These ancestors had never even heard of Lianchen until today when they were forced out of their closed-door cultivation. For hundreds of years, they had remained isolated from the outside world, detached from the affairs of mortals.

And now, to emerge from their seclusion only to face this chaotic spectacle, it was almost too much to process. The sheer absurdity of the situation left them bewildered, their long-dormant senses struggling to grasp the magnitude of what was unfolding before them.

"The prince is truly talented," the elder said lightly, his tone laced with resignation. "For a 6-year-old, he has already brought our three clans to the brink of destruction. Even if we know he is behind everything… what can we do about it?"

He paused, his words sinking heavily into the room. "His mastery over so many paths places him on par with a Nascent Soul Realm expert," he continued, voicing the truth that many were unwilling to confront. The weight of his statement settled over the gathered clans like a storm cloud, leaving them grappling with their own helplessness.

Indeed, Lianchen's comprehension of so many paths elevated him to the level of a Nascent Soul Realm expert. However, as for what specific level he stood at within that realm, even Lianchen himself didn't know.

"Smart move… now, what about you?" Lianchen said, shifting his gaze to the Lu Clan. His calm tone carried an edge of authority, daring them to defy him.

The Lu Clan members' faces twisted with frustration, their pride battling against reason. But with the Su Clan's submission already on the table, how could they possibly say no? Their silence stretched for a moment before it became clear, they had no choice but to follow suit.

"Smart choices," Lianchen said with a pleased smile. "I shall reward your wisdom with some treasures of mine."

With a casual flick of his wrist, he tossed a few treasures toward the Su and Lu Clans. Their lips twitched in unison as they caught the items, their expressions a mix of disbelief and suppressed fury.

The treasures Lianchen had so generously "gifted" them were a mix of items that unmistakably belonged to the Su, Lu, and Mo Clans. He had handed back their own treasures under the guise of a reward, and they couldn't even complain about it.

Forced to bow their heads in gratitude, the two clans gritted their teeth, silently enduring the humiliation.

"Now then, about the Mo Clan territory…" Lianchen said, his tone calm but commanding. "I want your two clans to handle taking over that land. Consider it the first task I assign to you."

With his hands clasped behind his back, he turned and walked away, his demeanor exuding the confidence of a seasoned expert. The Su and Lu Clan members exchanged uneasy glances, their resentment simmering beneath the surface. Yet, faced with Lianchen's overwhelming presence, they had no choice but to obey.

Word spread quickly, as it always did when so many eyes were watching. The news of the events surrounding the three clans traveled like wildfire across the empire. Three clans had dared to offend the prince, and within a week, one had been wiped out entirely, while the other two had bent the knee and submitted to him.

It was during this time that many came to realize a shocking truth: the Eternal Blossom Enterprise, a rising powerhouse, was under the prince's control. The revelation added to Lianchen's already growing reputation, casting him in an even more formidable light.

With the dust settling and the chaos behind him, the prince could finally return to his much-desired peace… for now.

***

"What is it?" I asked without turning around, my attention focused on the table before me. Sitting there, I was immersed in the study of Arrays and Formations, two paths that were closely related yet distinctly different.

Arrays could be likened to magic circles, compact, precise, and powerful within a limited scope. Formations, on the other hand, were on a much grander scale. They often required formation flags or specific objects to create a larger, interconnected structure, amplifying their effects or achieving a particular goal.

Explaining the intricacies of a formation was no simple task; it was something better understood through practice and application. Still, the interplay between Arrays and Formations fascinated me, especially the potential to combine the two for even greater outcomes.

Oh, you're wondering who was behind me? It was the Empress. But truth be told, she wasn't worth the effort of turning around to look at her.

"I came to apologize… I may have acted a bit overboard," the Empress said in a low voice, her tone unusually subdued.

I didn't bother turning around. My instincts told me everything I needed to know about her sudden humility. The Emperor must have given her a hint about what I truly was. That alone explained why someone as proud as her would lower herself in such a way.

"You know," I began calmly, my tone almost conversational, "I was planning to push you into desperation. To make you sacrifice everything in pursuit of greater power, just so you could give me a worthy challenge. I wanted you to spend every remaining year of your life consumed by the cruel embrace of death, watching it slowly creep closer."

"But I changed my mind," I continued calmly, my tone steady and unyielding. "I realized my hunger for a challenge was starting to drive me, and I prefer to stay in control. So... I'll let you live."

I paused, letting the weight of my words settle before continuing. "If you bother me again, I'll kill you. If your son bothers me, I'll kill you. Run along now and take your time comprehending the sad truth, you're nothing. And in my eyes, you'll never amount to anything."

"... U-understood," the Empress stammered, taking a deep breath to steady herself. Those words struck a deep blow to her pride, each syllable cutting like a blade.

But in the end, she couldn't deny the truth behind them. After all, the Emperor had told her who my mother was. That knowledge alone made it clear, that my words weren't just insults; they were a stark reality she had no choice but to accept.

She turned and left, her steps heavy with the weight of the encounter. Meanwhile, I shifted my attention to the side, where a young man sat cross-legged, immersed in cultivation.

This was my new disciple, Fang Yan. Of course, he had once been known as Mo Ye, but now he had chosen to reclaim the name from his past life, a name tied to his true self.

He eventually told me everything about his past, not because he wanted to, but because he had no choice. My instincts had brought me dangerously close to the truth, leaving Fang Yan with little alternative but to confess.

He revealed the full story of his past life, including the reason behind his death. It all came down to a single artifact. The Mirror of Spacetime.