Chapter 49: The Death of Baili Xian

"It seems I cannot let you leave alive."

Baili Xian's eyes were filled with murderous intent as he retrieved a jade talisman. This talisman pulsed with a terrifying force capable of slaying anyone at the early stages of the Xuanling realm. Chu Xiaotian, merely at the first level of Xuanling realm, stood no chance against it. Baili Xian smirked coldly, as if he already saw Chu Xiaotian's demise, the fall of a prodigy.

"A Taoist talisman?"

Seeing the talisman Baili Xian took out, Chu Xiaotian immediately understood. Taoist talismans were another tool of mystics, able to store a strong person's attack within a jade talisman. Once activated by spiritual energy, it could unleash the force stored within it, though only a third of the original strength. Yet, this force far surpassed the Saint's intent Chu Xiaotian had previously slain, making the talisman much more precious.

"Die."

Baili Xian channeled his spiritual energy into the talisman. It released a formidable saber energy, the mere diffusion of which caused the surrounding air to explode. Almost instantly, a figure appeared between heaven and earth. It was the same figure Chu Xiaotian had seen when he killed Baili Hui, the Emperor's intent summoned by Baili Hui before Chu Xiaotian shattered it, making an enemy of the Emperor and the royal family.

Now, facing Baili Xian, Chu Xiaotian had displayed his dual domains. Realizing he was outmatched, Baili Xian had resorted to the Emperor's talisman given to him, seeking to slay Chu Xiaotian with it.

"You cur, die!" The Emperor's phantom appeared, releasing a mighty aura with every move. With a roar, he transformed his hand into a saber and slashed down. The spiritual energy of the world boiled, the saber's intent flourished, and the air and void continuously exploded.

"Clang!"

The hand-saber slashed down, immediately sending a ten-zhang-long saber light towards Chu Xiaotian. The saber appeared, the moonlight paled, and the world was shaken by this overpowering attack. Chu Xiaotian's bones creaked under the immense pressure, struggling to survive under the slash.

"Ah!" Chu Xiaotian roared defiantly, "You want my life? Impossible!" He bellowed to the sky, refusing to be killed by anyone.

"Come forth!"

In an instant, Chu Xiaotian unleashed all three of his domains without reservation. The Sword Domain dominated slaughter, the Fist Domain led the attack, and the Yin-Yang managed life and death. The three domains erupted together, turning Chu Xiaotian's face deathly pale.

"Eight Desolations Sword Technique, One Sword Breaks the Firmament!"

"Twin Dragon Fist!"

Both Xuan-level martial techniques fully unleashed. The sword qi spanned thousands of miles, the dragons shattered the heavens, and in a moment, Chu Xiaotian fought desperately.

"Kill!" Faced with a third of the Emperor's strength, Chu Xiaotian fought to the death.

"What..." Baili Xian's face drastically changed seeing Chu Xiaotian's three domains erupt. Even the assassins watching in the shadows wanted to flee but found their escape routes sealed by the domains.

"Boom!"

One sword and one fist, combined with three domains, were overwhelmingly powerful. Even a third of the Emperor's strength was utterly shattered by Chu Xiaotian. The saber light broke into countless particles, and the Emperor's phantom was obliterated. The sword qi and dragons fiercely turned towards Baili Xian and the hidden assassins.

"No!" Baili Xian, seeing his attack fail, was filled with unwillingness...

"Boom!"

A loud noise followed as the sword and dragons completely destroyed their targets, leaving no survivors.

"Who dared to kill my son?" Emperor Baili Xuan immediately sensed Baili Xian's fall, smashing a wooden table into dust, his rage uncontrollable. Baili Xian was his pride, irreplaceable compared to Baili Hui. And now, someone had dared to slay his chosen successor, igniting an undying feud with the royal family.

"Find out who killed my son, I want them to live a life worse than death!" Emperor Baili Xuan roared coldly, his fury at its peak. The previous defiance from Chu Xiaotian was one thing, but the slaying of his proudest son was unbearable. Little did he know that both acts were committed by Chu Xiaotian.

"Let's go." Chu Xiaotian, having killed Baili Xian, knew the enormity of the trouble he had caused. Baili Xian was the recognized future Emperor, his status unparalleled. While the death of other princes might only provoke some anger from Emperor Baili Xuan, Baili Xian's death would surely erupt like a volcano. Dragging his injured body, Chu Xiaotian quickly left the area, knowing powerful figures would soon arrive. Now completely powerless, even a strong commoner could pose a threat to his life.

"Where?" Not long after Chu Xiaotian left, a large group arrived at the scene, including Holy Academy assassins and royal elites.

"The Prince!"

Seeing Baili Xian's half-destroyed body, the crowd was enraged, vowing to avenge the brutal and disrespectful murderer.

"Sword wounds! Fist wounds!"

"Seal the entire royal city immediately, detain anyone who uses a sword or fist, no one leaves!" Orders were issued immediately, and in response to the Prince's death, the Emperor's wrath promised a slaughter.

"Yes!"

The troops respectfully acknowledged and took Baili Xian's body back to the palace, signaling the beginning of a massive hunt for Chu Xiaotian.