Sovereign of Stars

Chapter 49 – The heart has twisted

Inside a tavern at the camp, in an elegant private room.

"What a pity. I encountered a genius who could potentially break into the top hundred of the hunt right at the start. Otherwise, I would still have a chance to pass the first stage of the hunt."

A young man in a luxurious golden robe sat there, with two others standing beside him.

One of them was Situ Yu.

The other was Tu San, a genius from the Qi Prince's Mansion, recognized as having the potential to break into the top ten of the hunt.

Yet at this moment, both Tu San and Situ Yu appeared extremely respectful in front of the seated young man.

"Your Highness, the order has been given. Within three days, the family and close associates of the genius who eliminated you will all be executed," Tu San said respectfully.

"Don't be so cruel. Just kill his family," the young man waved his hand, speaking with such indifference, as if killing a family was as insignificant as squashing a bunch of ants.

Situ Yu, standing respectfully at the side, secretly clicked his tongue.

The Imperial Capital Hunt was originally meant for the geniuses within the Heavenflame Dynasty to compete fairly based on their own strength.

Even if one were eliminated during the hunt, it could only be blamed on their lack of strength.

But this prince, just because he was eliminated, wanted to vent his anger by exterminating the family of the genius who eliminated him...

"The rumors are indeed true," Situ Yu thought to himself.

He had heard some rumors before.

It was said that this prince, Xia Yuanji, from the Qi Prince's Mansion was originally an illegitimate child, growing up in an extremely unconventional environment, with a heart already twisted and mad. After becoming a prince, he acted recklessly, often executing people or even exterminating clans over trivial matters.

Several families in the Imperial Capital had been exterminated by this prince, for reasons that were utterly insignificant.

"I really have to serve this calamity carefully, otherwise, if I offend him, even my family might not be able to protect me," Situ Yu muttered to himself.

He truly didn't want to serve such a twisted and mad prince.

But it was a task assigned by his family, to build a good relationship with this prince.

"Situ Yu, have you seen the latest intelligence on geniuses released by the Crimson Dragon Tower?" Xia Yuanji suddenly looked over.

"I have," Situ Yu nodded repeatedly.

"According to the information collected by my subordinates, the two new geniuses who have a chance to break into the top ten seem to have some connection with you," Xia Yuanji said, tapping his finger on the armrest with a smile.

"Yes," Situ Yu continued to nod, "Among these two, I don't know the one named Wu Chao at all. I've never interacted with him before, and I don't understand why he would seek me out, and with such hostility."

After the first stage of the hunt ended, Situ Yu learned from Miss Song, who had been eliminated, that a terrifyingly powerful monk had been searching for him throughout the first stage of the hunt.

Miss Song also said that it was because she knew they had a good relationship that the monk directly eliminated her.

Obviously, the monk was looking to cause him trouble.

"According to the intelligence from the Crimson Dragon Tower, this Wu Chao is very strong. Even I might not be able to defeat him," Tu San said.

"Even you, Tu San, aren't confident of winning?" Xia Yuanji laughed in surprise, "Situ Yu, being targeted by someone like him, you're really unlucky."

Situ Yu smiled bitterly.

He didn't even know why Wu Chao was looking for him.

"Besides Wu Chao, there's also Su Xin from the Su Family..." Xia Yuanji's gaze suddenly turned cold, "Hmph, the Su Family, a family long in decline, even their Nirvana Realm ancestor is dead. Yet not long ago, according to your Situ Family's request, a squad of Winged Dragon Guards was sent there, and they were all wiped out!"

"That was a complete Winged Dragon Guards squad!"

Xia Yuanji's tone was clearly filled with anger.

Situ Yu couldn't help but tremble.

That Winged Dragon Guards squad was dispatched by the Qi Prince, and they were all killed at the Su Family, which enraged the Qi Prince, and the Situ Family was also implicated.

The reason he was sent to this prince was to appease him and try to quell the Qi Prince's anger.

"And then there's Su Xin, just a Sea Transformation level, even lower than my cultivation, yet the Crimson Dragon Tower believes he has a chance to rank in the top ten of this hunt? What a joke, I couldn't even pass the first stage of the hunt, so how could he have the qualifications to break into the top ten?" Xia Yuanji roared.

His childhood experiences had already completely twisted his heart.

He considered himself a genius and couldn't stand those with higher talent than him.

He was at the peak Sea Transformation level and had received abundant resources at the Qi Prince's Mansion, yet he was eliminated in the first stage of the hunt.

This already made him extremely angry, wanting to wipe out the family of the genius who eliminated him.

And Su Xin, a mere Sea Transformation level, with lower cultivation than him, managed to pass the first stage of the hunt? And was recognized as having the potential to break into the top ten?

Why?

"Kill him!"

"Both of you, if you encounter Su Xin, kill him immediately."

It seemed like a ridiculous reason, but Xia Yuanji directly gave the order.

"Yes," Tu San nodded, showing no change in expression.

Situ Yu, however, was shocked.

"Your Highness, the Imperial Capital Hunt has clear regulations prohibiting killing. If violated..."

Before Situ Yu could finish his sentence, Xia Yuanji's cold gaze swept over him.

"Regulations?"

"Whose regulations?"

"The Heavenflame Emperor's?"

"Even if I violate them, what can be done?"

Xia Yuanji's voice was icy, his gaze like that of a beast.

Situ Yu didn't dare utter another word.

He already knew how mad and reckless this prince was, but he indeed had the qualifications to be so.

The Qi Prince had once competed fiercely for the throne with the current emperor, and for a long time, he was able to contend with the emperor.

Even though he eventually lost, the power the Qi Prince controlled was still immense, so much so that the Heavenflame Emperor, after all these years on the throne, dared not make any move against him.

This Xia Yuanji had been so rampant and murderous, yet the Heavenflame Emperor could only tolerate it.

And merely killing a genius during the hunt, the Heavenflame Emperor probably wouldn't do anything to Xia Yuanji.

Understanding this, Situ Yu began to gloat.

"Being targeted by the prince of the Qi Prince's Mansion, Su Xin, you're really unlucky."

"Much unluckier than me."

He was also unlucky, being targeted by a mysterious Wu Chao.

But at least Wu Chao followed the rules of the hunt.

Now, the one targeting Su Xin was a genuine madman who disregarded any rules.

And the reason this madman targeted Su Xin was utterly ridiculous.

...

Soon, three days passed.

Early in the morning, the thousand geniuses who passed the first stage of the hunt were led into the Heavenflame Imperial Capital.

The massive capital was far more bustling and magnificent than any place in the thirty-six states of the Heavenflame Dynasty.

Countless exquisite houses and pavilions were densely packed.

The streets were crowded with people, and there were many powerful individuals.

Inside the Xuanwu Gate was a vast training ground, large enough to accommodate tens of thousands of people simultaneously.

When the numerous geniuses arrived at the Xuanwu Gate, many people were already standing on the vast training ground.

These people wore different clothes, some gathered in small groups, others stood alone, but each exuded an immensely powerful aura, clearly having stepped into the Void Shattering Realm.

"These people..."

The thousand geniuses who had just arrived at the training ground looked at these people in confusion.

"Most likely, they are the strong individuals from the major forces and sects within the Heavenflame Dynasty," Duan Yunfeng, standing with Su Xin, said. "Every time the Imperial Capital Hunt is held, the top ten geniuses are naturally absorbed into the Heavenflame Palace. But besides these ten, the other geniuses also have high potential and talent, and this is when the major forces and sects of the Heavenflame Dynasty strive to recruit them."

Su Xin nodded slightly.

He also knew that the Imperial Capital Hunt was the largest gathering of geniuses within the Heavenflame Dynasty.

And the reason this gathering attracted so many geniuses was that it drew the attention of all the forces within the Heavenflame Dynasty.

Through the hunt, those geniuses who already belonged to certain forces or sects could not only rely on their strength to make a name for their respective forces or sects but also aim to join the Heavenflame Palace.

And those geniuses who hadn't joined any forces or sects could prove themselves through the hunt and join those major forces or sects.

The major forces and sects within the Heavenflame Dynasty also possessed considerable resources, and joining them could be highly beneficial.

Like the Su Family that Su Xin belonged to, at its peak, it had sent strong individuals to this hunt several times, trying to recruit some true geniuses.

Even if they couldn't recruit these geniuses in the end, forming good relations with them in advance was also a good choice.

"You have one hour to prepare. After one hour, the second stage of the hunt will begin."

A grand voice echoed throughout the training ground.

"One hour to prepare?"

Su Xin's heart stirred, immediately understanding that this hour was likely for the forces to recruit geniuses.

Although the first stage of the hunt wasn't publicly disclosed, after nearly ten thousand geniuses were reduced to just a thousand, most of the geniuses had already emerged.

Even if some were still hiding their strength, there wouldn't be too many.

These forces could already use the intelligence provided by the Crimson Dragon Tower to recruit geniuses.

Sure enough, the numerous strong individuals from the forces who had already gathered there began to take action.

...

In a corner of the training ground.

"Elder Mo, I didn't expect you to personally come to this year's Imperial Capital Hunt?"

"No choice, the geniuses in this year's hunt are noticeably more outstanding than in previous years, so the sect naturally pays more attention."

Two familiar individuals gathered and casually chatted.

"So, have you found any geniuses you're interested in?" one of them asked.

"The top ones destined to join the Heavenflame Palace are out of the question, but among the other geniuses, there are indeed a few promising ones," the white-robed elder, referred to as 'Elder Mo,' smiled, holding a piece of intelligence from the Crimson Dragon Tower.

Compared to what was circulated among the geniuses, the intelligence obtained by these strong individuals was more detailed.

At this moment, Elder Mo was closely watching a name on the intelligence.

"Su Xin!"

Elder Mo's gaze was somewhat fervent.

"According to the intelligence from the Crimson Dragon Tower, this Su Xin is only nineteen years old this year, and his cultivation is only at the Sea Transformation level, yet his combat power is said to have the potential to break into the top ten of the hunt!"

"Such a prodigy!"

"He must have awakened a bloodline!"

"Compared to the geniuses with the strongest combat power in this hunt, Su Xin's talent is even higher."

Elder Mo pondered for a moment, then walked toward where Su Xin was standing.