"It seems today is destined for me to fight alongside the young prince," Lu Fan said with a gentle smile, "If I ensure the young prince's safety today, will I be drawn into the factional struggle?"
"Why do you seem unwilling to join my faction?" Bai Xi asked with a smile, "If you feel it's inappropriate, you can leave. I don't need your participation."
"You shouldn't speak so dismissively," Lu Fan stated directly, "If I could leave now, I wouldn't need you, the prince, to say so much."
"Since that's the case, then let us fight side by side," Bai Xi smiled, "I'd like to see what they can do to me."
At that very moment, Bai Xi soared into the sky, his aura becoming incredibly powerful, as if a seal had been broken, propelling him to an extremely high realm. Sensing this aura, Elder Yun was slightly startled. He hadn't expected Bai Xi to have hidden his strength and not be a complete waste. It seemed he had reached the Spirit Emperor realm.
"Spirit Emperor?" An Ying exclaimed in shock, his eyes filled with disbelief, "How is this possible? How could he be a Spirit Emperor?"
"Nothing is impossible. Since he has been hiding, his strength must have been reserved," Elder Yun said frankly. "Therefore, you should understand that this matter is not trivial. If we don't resolve him today, there will be endless trouble in the future. If this matter reaches the Eighth Prince's ears, we will have no way to survive."
An Ying nodded slightly at these words. Having chosen to stand with the eldest prince, he would not show any mercy. At that instant, An Ying vanished into the air and stepped towards Bai Xi. He was already at the half-step Spirit Venerable realm, so dealing with Bai Xi should not be difficult.
Just then, Lu Fan's palm ignited with the White Lotus Sacred Fire, carrying boundless momentum, and he arrived beside Bai Xi. "You really are something. Even if you hid your strength, you shouldn't be so arrogant. With your current power, it will be quite difficult to evade their pursuit."
As soon as he finished speaking, the White Lotus Sacred Fire in Lu Fan's hand spread into the void. At that very moment, an explosion sounded, and An Ying was sent flying backward with a scream. The aura of the White Lotus Sacred Fire was something he could not resist. Although Lu Fan was also only in the Spirit Emperor realm and had not reached Spirit Venerable, the momentum he displayed was enough to make Spirit Venerables wary.
Elder Yun arrived before An Ying, quickly dispelling the fire from An Ying's body, and frowned, looking towards Lu Fan. "To control two sacred fires at such a young age is indeed troublesome. However, today, let me face you."
"You've got it wrong!" Lu Fan narrowed his eyes, "It's not me who will make a move, but him!" Lu Fan pointed at the Heavenly Fire Pavilion Master. The Heavenly Fire Pavilion Master understood his meaning and, in the blink of an eye, stood beside Elder Yun.
"Shadow Guard, full attack, kill the prince," An Ying commanded, his voice carrying a faint cold glint. The situation had reached this point, and he could only go all out. He had no room to retreat. The Shadow Guard members were shocked and didn't know what to do. They had never expected things to turn out this way, that they, as the Shadow Guard of the Eighth Prince's Axe, would have to kill the Eighth Prince's son.
"I am Prince Bai Xi. Who dares to lay a hand on me?" Bai Xi looked at the Shadow Guard members. As long as he could make them obey him, this conspiracy would crumble on its own.
"You are all my shadows. Do you still intend to obey him?" An Ying's expression was cold, filled with a sharp killing intent. If anyone dared to defect, he would absolutely not let them off. Facing these words, the crowd's faces turned ashen, and they all stepped towards Bai Xi. They knew very well that there was no turning back. If they didn't kill Bai Xi, they themselves would be persecuted.
Seeing the scene before him, Lu Fan narrowed his eyes. "Heavenly Fire Pavilion, all elders, obey my command. Ambush the Shadow Guard and let them know the might of the Heavenly Fire Pavilion." The elders of the Heavenly Fire Pavilion all nodded, charging towards the Shadow Guard members with an unstoppable momentum. It was a matter of life and death, and they dared not be negligent.
Suddenly, shouts of killing erupted, plunging the scene into chaos. Lu Fan stood beside Bai Xi, making no move to intervene. He was well aware that Bai Xi was no ordinary person. If he were to die, the blame would fall upon the Heavenly Fire Pavilion, and then the Heavenly Fire Pavilion would face disaster. The Heavenly Fire Pavilion had already gone to great lengths to accompany Lu Fan to the royal city, and Lu Fan did not wish for them to face any threats. As long as Bai Xi could be protected, they would not be ruthlessly expelled by the Eighth Prince's mansion. Otherwise, Lu Fan would not have acted this way.
"You don't need to guard me!" Bai Xi said, "Among them, besides Elder Yun and An Ying, no one else can harm me."
"Don't try to be brave. Although you are in the Spirit Emperor realm, you are the target of everyone's attack," Lu Fan rolled his eyes. "If I don't protect you, how can I ensure your safety?" Bai Xi was somewhat helpless and didn't know what to say.
Meanwhile, in the royal city, two elders approached a young man and bowed slightly, "We have both been in seclusion. Prince Bai Hu, may we ask your reason for summoning us?"
"You have been cultivating in the royal mansion for some time," Bai Hu said with a smile. "I have just received news that Bai Xi is not a fool. He threatens my throne, so I ask you two to eliminate him."
"Eldest Prince, does the Prince know about this?" Elder Tian frowned, "If the Prince doesn't know, and we are blamed later, it will be a great trouble."
"The Prince naturally does not know!" Bai Hu narrowed his eyes. "Everyone knows that the three elders, Tian, Di, and Yun, all obey my command. Do you intend to disobey me?"
"How dare I not!" Elder Tian quickly clasped his hands. "It's just that if Prince Bai Xi has an accident, it will likely cause endless trouble, and even we will not be able to escape."
"If you are so concerned, how can you accomplish great things?" Bai Hu's expression was cold. "They are currently in the Phoenix Forest, surrounded and unable to leave. However, other forces are assisting them. If you two go, you can easily capture them. Then, you can shift all the blame to the Heavenly Fire Pavilion, and it will be foolproof."
"So the Prince already has a plan," Elder Tian bowed. "In that case, we will go to the Phoenix Forest now and will not disappoint Prince Bai Hu."
"That would be for the best!" Bai Hu nodded slightly, a look of pride appearing on his face. There was nothing he couldn't do once he set his mind to it. Now that Bai Xi had been exposed, he would not let him off and intended to hunt him down to the last.