"It seems today I'm destined to fight alongside the young prince," Lu Fan said with a smile, "If I ensure the young prince's safety today, will I be drawn into factional disputes?"
"Why do you seem unwilling to join my faction?" Bai Xi smiled, "If you feel it's inappropriate, you can leave on your own. I don't need your help."
"You shouldn't speak so dismissively," Lu Fan stated directly, "If I could leave now, I wouldn't need your words."
"Since that's the case, then let's fight side by side," Bai Xi smiled, "I want to see what they can do to me."
At that very moment, Bai Xi shot into the sky. His aura grew immensely powerful, as if a seal had been broken, pushing 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, that he wasn't a good-for-nothing. It seemed he had reached the Spirit Emperor realm.
"Spirit Emperor?" Incredulity filled Dark Shadow's eyes, "How is this possible? How could he be a Spirit Emperor?"
"Nothing is impossible. Since he has been hiding, his strength has naturally been reserved," Elder Yun stated directly, "So you should understand, this matter is not trivial. If we don't resolve him today, there will be endless trouble later. If this reaches the Eighth Prince's ears, we will have no way to survive."
Facing these words, Dark Shadow nodded slightly. Since he had chosen to stand with the Eldest Prince, he would not show mercy.
At that very moment, Dark Shadow vanished from the air and stepped towards Bai Xi. He was already at the half-step Spirit Venerable realm, and dealing with Bai Xi was not difficult.
Just then, Lu Fan's palm ignited with the White Lotus Sacred Fire, carrying boundless momentum as he arrived beside Bai Xi. "You truly are something. Even if you were hiding your strength, you shouldn't be so arrogant. With your current power, it will be difficult to evade their pursuit."
As soon as he finished speaking, the White Lotus Sacred Fire from Lu Fan's hand spread into the void. At that very moment, an explosion sounded, and Dark Shadow was violently flung back, letting out 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 aura he displayed was enough to make Spirit Venerables wary.
Elder Yun moved to Dark Shadow's side, quickly dispelling the fire on him. He frowned and looked 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 that wrong!" Lu Fan narrowed his eyes, "It's not me who will act, but him!"
Lu Fan pointed at the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Fire Pavilion. The Pavilion Master understood immediately and, in the blink of an eye, stood beside Elder Yun.
"Dark Shadow Guard, full assault, kill the prince," Dark Shadow commanded, his voice carrying a faint cold glint. The situation had reached this point, and he could only go all out. He had no intention of retreating.
The Dark Shadow Guard members were horrified and didn't know what to do. They never expected things to turn out this way. As the Dark Shadow Guard of the Eighth Prince's Axe, they were now being ordered to kill the Eighth Prince's son.
"I am Prince Bai Xi. Who dares to lay hands on me?" Bai Xi's gaze fell upon the members of the Dark Shadow Guard. If he could make them obey him, this conspiracy would crumble on its own.
"You are all members of my Dark Shadow. Do you still intend to obey him?" Dark Shadow's expression was cold, filled with a sharp killing intent. If anyone dared to defect, he would never let them off.
Facing these words, the guards' faces turned ashen. They stepped towards Bai Xi, their hearts filled with the knowledge 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, heed my command! Intercept the Dark Shadow Guard and let them know the power of the Heavenly Fire Pavilion."
The elders of the Heavenly Fire Pavilion all nodded, their expressions resolute as they charged towards the Dark Shadow Guard. It was a matter of life and death, and they dared not be negligent.
Suddenly, shouts of killing erupted, plunging the area 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 prematurely, the blame would fall upon the Heavenly Fire Pavilion, and the Heavenly Fire Pavilion would then face disaster. It was already difficult enough for the Heavenly Fire Pavilion to have followed Lu Fan to the Royal City, and Lu Fan did not want them to face any danger. As long as Bai Xi could be protected, they would not be ruthlessly eradicated by the Eighth Prince's Mansion. Otherwise, Lu Fan would not have acted this way.
"You don't need to guard me!" Bai Xi spoke, "Among them, besides Elder Yun and Dark Shadow, no one else can harm me."
"Don't force yourself. Although you are in the Spirit Emperor realm, you are the target of everyone," Lu Fan gave him a look, "If I don't protect you, how can I keep you safe?"
Bai Xi felt helpless and didn't know what to say.
Meanwhile, in the Royal City, two elders approached a young man and bowed slightly, "We two have been in seclusion. Prince Bai Hu, what is your business?"
"It has been some time since I allowed you to cultivate in the Royal Mansion," Bai Hu smiled, "I have just learned that Bai Xi is not a fool. He threatens my throne, so I request you two to take action and eliminate him completely."
"Eldest Prince, does the Prince know about this matter?" Elder Tian frowned, "If the Prince does not know, and we are blamed later, there will likely be 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 could I dare not!" Elder Tian quickly clasped his hands, "It's just that if Prince Bai Xi has an accident, it might cause endless troubles, and even we will not be spared then."
"If you are so concerned, how can you accomplish great things?" Bai Hu's expression was cold, "They are now in the Phoenix Forest, surrounded and unable to leave. However, they have the assistance of other forces. If you two go, you can easily capture him. Afterwards, you can shift all the blame to the Heavenly Fire Pavilion, and it will be foolproof."
"So, Prince already had a plan," Elder Tian clasped his hands, "In that case, we will head to the Phoenix Forest now and will not disappoint Prince Bai Hu."
"That would be for the best!" Bai Hu nodded slightly, a smug expression appearing on his face. Things he wished to do, he could always accomplish. Now that Bai Xi had been exposed, he would not let up and intended to hunt him down to the last.