Ye Rong issued his orders and the two personal guards were about to go notify Ling Qianli when suddenly Xue Tong's ear twitched, his expression shifting.
"Someone's entering the valley!"
Ye Rong's face turned cold. The two personal guards were death-sworn warriors who had followed him since childhood, and they immediately flanked him, shielding Ye Rong behind them.
The rest of the team quickly gathered around upon hearing the news.
Ling Qianli, who had been searching for spirit beasts, seemed to have sensed the danger as well. With a few leaps, he vaulted back to the team. Every member of the group assembled on a clearing in the valley.
"Hahaha, this Labyrinth really is a small world. Fourth Brother, I never expected we'd run into each other in a place like this." Ye Dai was the first to stride in through the entrance.
Behind him followed a large group. His own team had nine people, and together with Third Prince Ye Zheng's eight, the two squads combined made a total of seventeen.
Among those seventeen, one of Ye Dai's subordinates was a Spirit Realm second-stage martial artist, plus three first-stage Spirit Realm martial artists. On Ye Zheng's side, there was also one first-stage Spirit Realm martial artist.
Beyond that, there were four half-step Spirit Realm fighters.
Spirit Realm martial artists plus half-step Spirit Realm — counting only the actual Spirit Realm ones, that was nine in total, more than half the team's numbers.
The remaining eight, including Ye Dai and Ye Zheng themselves, were all at the peak of the True Qi Realm, with considerable combat strength.
When Ye Rong saw that Ye Dai and Ye Zheng had joined forces, his heart sank.
"Big Brother, the road to heaven is wide — let each go their own way. We're hunting spirit beasts here. Surely you're not going to stick your nose in?"
Ye Rong smiled. "This spirit beast is extremely powerful — our team can't handle it alone. With your numbers and your strong fighters, perhaps you could give it a try."
Ye Dai looked at Ye Rong with a half-smile.
"Fourth Brother, drop the act. Did you really think we came into this valley to compete with you for the spirit beast?" Ye Zheng sneered.
"Third Brother, what do you mean?" Ye Rong's face darkened.
"Don't you think this valley is wonderfully serene, with excellent feng shui? It would make a rather fine burial ground for you, wouldn't it?" Ye Zheng grinned viciously.
"Big Brother, is that what you're here for?" Ye Rong fixed his gaze on Ye Dai.
Ye Dai smiled lightly. "Fourth Brother, if you'd just stayed well-behaved like before and not stirred up trouble, I wouldn't have to keep you down. But you've been anything but obedient — defying me time and again, and in the Royal Capital you were dead set on stealing my thunder. Tell me, how am I supposed to view you?"
"Big Brother, we are both Father King's blood. We're brothers competing fairly. As the eldest, do you truly lack even the magnanimity to accept competition from your younger brothers?"
"Fair competition? What gives you the right to compete with me? I, Ye Dai, am the legitimate eldest son. My mother's family has held the title of high ministers for three generations, wielding power that shakes the court. From the very moment I was born, countless opportunities awaited me — I was destined to succeed Father King's throne. Every step of my path has been paved, all leading toward the Dragon Throne. You — a bastard born of a concubine — aside from sharing half of Father King's blood, what else do you have? What right do you have to compete with me?"
There were no outsiders here, and this was not the Royal Capital, so Ye Dai saw no reason to keep up the pretense.
"Big Brother, so this is your theory of qualification? If you were destined from birth to inherit Father King's throne, then what use are the rest of us princes?"
"He only fathered you lot to satisfy his passing desires!" At this moment, Ye Dai showed not the slightest respect even for Father King, the King himself.
When Ye Zheng heard these words, a faint shadow flickered across his face, but he quickly suppressed it and hid it away.
"So you're dead set on killing me today?" Ye Rong asked coldly.
"You're right. But out of respect for our brotherhood, I'll give you the chance to take your own life as an apology." Ye Dai's smile was chilling. "If you wait for us to act, you might suffer quite a few unpleasant bits first. I promise — I won't let you die quickly and painlessly."
"Well, well, truly Father King's beloved son. Truly the righteous and dignified First Prince. Ye Dai, I see you clearly now."
"Haha, so what if you see through me? What does it matter how well you've disguised yourself? Before absolute power, all those masks of yours are meaningless. One wave of my hand is all it takes to crush you completely."
Ye Rong turned his gaze to Ye Zheng. "Third Brother, you're playing his henchman — have you considered that what happens to me today will be your fate tomorrow? Do you think he'll let you sleep peacefully with your bed right beside his?"
Ye Zheng burst into laughter. "Fourth Brother, do you really think that at a time like this, your petty attempts at sowing discord will work on me? I have no interest in the Crown Prince's position whatsoever. I'll admit it freely — I'm far inferior to Big Brother in every respect. What could I possibly use to compete with him? Since I can't win, it's better to know my place and do my duty. The wise man adapts to circumstances. You — you've always been the one who never understood that."
Ye Dai nodded with clear appreciation, evidently quite satisfied with Ye Zheng's declaration.
Ye Rong let out a soft sigh, glancing at Ling Qianli and then at his two personal guards.
Ling Qianli spoke calmly. "Don't look at me. You treated me as a knight, and I naturally repay that with a knight's loyalty. I won't abandon you and leave."
"We will protect the Fourth Prince to the death!" the two personal guards declared with iron resolve.
Xue Tong sighed, gripped the Blood Curse Bow in his hand, and assumed the stance of a man ready to fight to the last breath.