Chapter 53: Appearance

"We pay our respects to Your Majesty."

Everyone in the martial arts arena knelt and bowed, even Liangjiang Mo, who also bowed in respect.

After all, it was not yet time for open hostility.

"Rise."

Liangjiang Lang's voice was calm as he and Liangjiang Zhong ascended to the main seats, sitting with dignity.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," the crowd said as they rose.

Liangjiang Lang sat in the main seat and looked at Liangjiang Mo, asking, "I heard that the Ye Chen father and son are under your command?"

"My father mentioned it," Liangjiang Mo shook his head.

He was telling the truth. The rumors in the imperial city were just that—rumors. He would like Ye Chen and his son to be under his command, but unfortunately, he didn't have the authority.

However, Liangjiang Lang thought differently and said sternly, "Regardless of whether they are or not, let them settle their own affairs. This matter ends here."

These words caused a slight change in the expressions of those around them.

Was the Emperor expressing his attitude?

Was he suppressing Liangjiang Mo by ordering him to handle his own pawns?

Was the Emperor choosing the Crown Prince?

Liangjiang Mo's pupils suddenly contracted. It seemed that his father was indeed giving up on him.

If that was the case, he had no more hesitation.

If you show no mercy first, don't blame me for not showing mercy either.

"Father is mistaken. Let alone the fact that I cannot allow them to settle their own affairs, even if I could, it would not be possible," Liangjiang Mo solemnly declared. This was open defiance of the Emperor's will—a direct challenge!

There was a low murmur among the crowd.

Was Liangjiang Mo attempting to defy the Emperor's orders? 

Li Jianglang's gaze became sharp as he stared at Liangjiang Mo, his eyes flashing like blades.

Liangjiang Mo remained composed and said, "Father is the ruler of a country. Whatever he decides, right or wrong, is the will of heaven."

The meaning of these words was simple: whatever Liangjiang Lang thought was defiance, would be considered defiance. Whatever he thought was not, would not be. Ultimately, right or wrong, it was up to him to decide.

This statement could be considered open defiance.

"It seems you have made your choice," Liangjiang Lang said coldly, not saying another word. But everyone knew that at that moment, the Emperor had sentenced Liangjiang Mo to death.

In an instant, no one had any hope for Liangjiang Mo.

"It was Father's decision," Liangjiang Mo replied solemnly.

If his father had not chosen to abandon him and side with the Crown Prince, he would not be in this situation.

As fate would have it, he had encountered Ye Chen and been given a chance to turn the tables.

One could say that everything that had happened was the result of Liangjiang Lang's choices.

"Ye Lingtian, settle the matters of your Ye family quickly. There are important matters to attend to today," Liangjiang Lang said, ignoring Liangjiang Mo. He had already given up on this son.

Settle this matter quickly, for soon the people from the Northern Cold Palace would arrive, and that would be the real event.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Ye Lingtian said as he rose and bowed. Then he turned to face Liangjiang Mo and said, "Today is the agreed-upon day for our battle. Are you afraid to show up?"

"It seems like it was your challenge. What do you mean by asking me?" Liangjiang Mo replied calmly.

"Enough talk. Send out your dogs to meet their death," Ye Lingtian said coldly.

As a prince, Liangjiang Mo should have been treated with respect by Ye Lingtian, a mere marshal. However, Ye Lingtian's words were icy, without a hint of respect.

Clearly, the royal family's attitude had made Ye Lingtian feel that he no longer needed to show any respect to Liangjiang Mo.

"Marshal Ye, it is ill-advised to speak rashly. You dare to speak, but I dare not listen," Liangjiang Mo said calmly.

Did he dare to call Ye Chen his dog?

Ye Lingtian did not understand the meaning behind Liangjiang Mo's words and only snorted coldly, "You have until the time it takes to finish a cup of tea. If you don't send out your dog to fight and meet its death, I will go myself."

"Seeking death," was Liangjiang Mo's only response.

Meanwhile, in the depths of the academy...

Ye Feng and Ye Shuixian stood in the main hall. Ouyang Qingyun was also present, and outside the hall, there were dozens of Ouyang family True Martial Realm experts.

Half a month ago, when Ye Chen asked Liangjiang Mo to protect Ye Shuixian, he naturally didn't dare to be careless. He sent Ouyang Qingyun directly to this place. Today, they would be there to protect Ye Shuixian at all costs.

"Father, could Dust Brother have gotten the date wrong?" Ye Shuixian asked with a worried tone. The sounds of activity from the martial arts arena kept drifting in, but Ye Chen and Wu Qingxue were still in seclusion, showing no signs of coming out.

Since confirming the true intentions of the royal family and Liangjiang Zhong half a month ago, Ye Chen had been fully focused on his cultivation and had not emerged from seclusion since.

Could he have remembered the date wrong for the agreed-upon battle?

Ye Feng shook his head. "Dust'er wouldn't forget. He's probably at a critical moment in his breakthrough. Let's wait patiently for a moment longer."

"Okay," Ye Shuixian nodded heavily. With her breakthrough to the Origin Vein Realm, she had full confidence in Ye Feng and Ye Chen. Today's battle would surely shock the empire.

"Clank!"

At that moment, the doors of the cultivation chamber opened, and Ye Chen stepped out.

The aura of his breakthrough had not yet dissipated, leaving Ouyang Qingyun shocked. "True Martial Fourth Layer! Heavens, this..."

Ouyang Qingyun could not find the words to describe it. The first time he had heard of Ye Chen's name, he was only at the Lingwu Third Layer. In just a few months, he had broken through a major realm. How could anyone live up

 to that?

The most shocking thing was that half a month ago, he had confirmed that Ye Chen was only at the True Martial First Layer. In just half a month, he had broken through three realms. This speed was too terrifying.

"Young Master Ye." At this moment, Wu Qingxue also successfully broke through and emerged from seclusion just in time.

"Is this... the aura of the Royal Martial?" Ouyang Qingyun was shocked beyond measure.

The Xuantian Empire had no Royal Martial Realm, so he didn't know how strong it was, but the aura emanating from Wu Qingxue was definitely stronger than the peak of the True Martial Realm. If it wasn't the Royal Martial Realm, what could it be?

"Are we all here?" Ye Chen asked softly, his expression calm and unruffled, but there was a chill in the air.

"We're all here, Young Master," Ye Feng said.

"Let's go. Today, we settle everything," Ye Chen said as he walked out, followed closely by Ye Feng, Ye Shuixian, and Wu Qingxue.

Ouyang Qingyun led the many True Martial Realm experts from the Ouyang family, quickly following.

In the martial arts arena, many people were starting to get impatient and murmuring.

"Why haven't they shown up yet? Could it be true what Marshal Ye said, that they're afraid to die?"

"Hmph, do they think they can escape by not showing up? If they're so afraid, they might as well fight openly. At least then, they'll die with some dignity."

The murmurs grew louder, filled with impatience towards Ye Chen and his son.

A pawn would inevitably die sooner or later. Why delay the inevitable? What they wanted to see was the true showdown today, to see if the Third Prince still had any tricks up his sleeve.

If they could, they would slap Ye Chen and his son dead right away and ignite the final showdown.

"They're here!"

At that moment, the murmurs turned into exclamations as the crowd gradually dispersed, revealing a group of figures walking towards them. At the forefront was none other than Ye Chen.

They thought he was afraid to show up, but it turned out he really dared to come.