The second prince listened to the opera on stage with closed eyes, a look of enjoyment on his face, while the third prince appeared listless, showing no interest in the performance.
When the opera concluded, the second prince was still immersed in the beautiful music.
"Third brother, some things cannot be forced. Do not make things difficult for yourself," Xiao Zhiyi said softly to Xiao Zhihong with his eyes closed.
"How do you know it's forced if you don't try? Didn't I listen to it just like you? The process and the result are both there. Why bother caring if you like it or not?" Xiao Zhihong turned to Xiao Zhiyi with a pointed remark.
Xiao Zhiyi fell silent. He had truly underestimated his brother. Was this a threat?
"The opera is over. I shall not disturb my imperial brother's good time. Su Fan, let's go." Xiao Zhihong stood up, preparing to depart.
Xiao Zhiyi frowned. Xiao Zhihong's words, laden with hidden meanings, made him quite displeased. He glanced at Su Fan, who was following behind, and pondered with a furrowed brow.
At this moment, Jiang Xiaoli, who had been playing the young male role, walked over.
"Everyone, withdraw," Xiao Zhiyi said to his subordinates upon seeing Jiang Xiaoli. His guards and maids, accustomed to such situations, immediately retreated, leaving only Xiao Zhiyi and Jiang Xiaoli in the audience area.
Jiang Xiaoli skillfully approached Xiao Zhiyi and poured him tea.
"Your Highness, why the frown?" Jiang Xiaoli asked with concern.
"Recently, a person has appeared by Third Brother's side. It seems Third Brother values this person greatly. However, I've investigated, and this person is utterly ordinary. I don't understand what Third Brother sees in him," Xiao Zhiyi confided his thoughts to Jiang Xiaoli without reservation.
"Since Your Highness is in doubt, why not ask?" Jiang Xiaoli said, moving behind Xiao Zhiyi to gently massage his shoulders.
"Ask whom? Third Brother? He speaks so little; he would never reveal any reason," Xiao Zhiyi asked doubtfully.
"Then ask the person involved. Since he is ordinary, he has no background. If he is to choose a side, choosing Your Highness or Third Prince is the same. It depends on whether Your Highness has what he needs," Jiang Xiaoli said softly.
Xiao Zhiyi's eyes lit up. Jiang Xiaoli's words opened a new line of thought for him. He was determined to meet this Su Fan and find out who he really was.
...
"You have now appeared before the Second Prince, and I believe you have made a deep impression on him. He is naturally suspicious. The more ordinary you appear, the more curious he will become," Xiao Zhihong said to Su Fan, who stood before him.
"Then what should I do?" Su Fan asked indifferently.
"Do nothing. Wait for him to come to you, then tell him the truth. Tell him I threatened you. Just don't say I asked you to kill him." Xiao Zhihong had already formulated a plan. Following it step by step would surely lead to the elimination of Xiao Zhiyi!
"Understood," Su Fan nodded, his mind already contemplating how to eliminate Xiao Zhihong without anyone noticing. Only by eliminating Xiao Zhihong could he feel at ease. Otherwise, even if the plan succeeded and he escaped, he would likely be betrayed by Xiao Zhihong, who was not trustworthy.
"If you have nothing else, you may return," Xiao Zhihong waved Su Fan away.
Su Fan turned and left indifferently. This fellow, summoned and dismissed at will, would be dealt with sooner or later.
Taking advantage of the time, Su Fan went to level up again. Whether in the game or in reality, Su Fan's strength was becoming insufficient. The crises he faced were currently difficult to handle, and he could only improve his strength as quickly as possible.
Su Fan emerged from the game and, without even eating, began to cultivate. He felt he could break through to the peak of the Kaiyang realm today. A pile of attribute pills was stacked on Su Fan's bed. There were at least four hundred of them, which translated to four hundred million in money! Su Fan's cultivation was truly expensive.
Su Fan stuffed handfuls of attribute pills into his mouth. If those old cultivators at the peak of the Kaiyang realm knew how he consumed the breakthrough pills they treasured so highly, they would probably want to kill him.
After swallowing a large quantity of attribute pills, Su Fan felt a large mass of pure energy within him. He immediately circulated his cultivation technique to refine it. The pile of attribute pills visibly diminished as Su Fan refined them into his own true qi, increasing the total volume of true qi in his body. Gradually, the true qi in Su Fan's body began to show signs of liquefaction, becoming as thick as liquid.
"Peak!" Su Fan's eyes snapped open. He had successfully entered the peak of the Kaiyang realm. The conversion of true qi to a liquid state was a sign of impending entry into the Yuheng realm.
"Su Fan!" A sudden exclamation came from outside. Su Fan was startled. Could it be the Assassin Alliance again? Su Fan immediately rushed out.
At that moment, Su Yutong stood by the window, looking outside with a shocked expression.
"What is it?" Su Fan asked, puzzled, seeing that Su Yutong was unharmed.
"Come quickly, look! Someone is fighting outside, so powerful! Are they your kind?" Su Yutong said excitedly upon seeing Su Fan.
Su Fan was speechless. What did she mean by "my kind"? It was as if he wasn't human. Su Fan walked to the window, his expression turning to surprise at the scene outside. It was Fang Tongzi and... Tang Xin and others... Why were they fighting? And was Tang Xin out of her mind? Could she possibly defeat them? They were two realms apart, yet she dared to fight. He didn't know how she would die.
"Who are you!" Tang Xin and the others looked warily at the old man who had suddenly appeared. The aura emanating from him made her heart palpitate. Such a powerful martial artist!
"And who are you? Sneaking around like this, it's obvious you have ill intentions," Fang Tongzi retorted. His mission was to protect Su Yutong. Although Su Fan was present now and Su Yutong's safety was not a concern, this was his duty. Regardless of Su Fan's presence, he would remain near Su Yutong and question any martial artist who seemed suspicious.
"Old man, mind your own business. This has nothing to do with you!" Tang Xin's team member said coldly to Fang Tongzi. Tang Xin's face stiffened. Brother, you're really digging a hole for us. Can't you sense the opponent's strength? Are you that bold?
"Little brat, it's best to use your brain when you speak. If I weren't a kind person, you would have died eight times over by now," Fang Tongzi said with displeasure. His Yuheng realm aura immediately enveloped the team member, forcing him to his knees, unable to even lift his hand.
Tang Xin and the others immediately became vigilant, preparing to fight.
"Little brats, you still want to fight!" Fang Tongzi had never experienced anything like this. A group of youngsters wanted to fight him? Did they think he was made of mud?
"All of you, get down!"