Volume 1, Chapter 134: My Actions in Life Need No Explanation!

"Think you can escape? Did you ask for my permission?" 

As Lin Yu saw Wu Jing bite off the silver ring, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes. 

The Windrider Sword moved at his will, transforming into a cyan stream of light that shot toward the remaining two green-robed warriors. 

"Spare us! Spar—!" 

Seeing the Windrider Sword hurtle toward them, the two instantly knelt and begged for mercy. They had no courage to fight Lin Yu. 

The Windrider Sword swept past them. Sword qi surged, shredding their heart meridians. It then held the silver ring and flew back to Lin Yu. Desperation filled the two warriors' eyes, followed by ashen faces and dimming gazes. They collapsed beside Wu Jing. 

"You little abomination! The family head—he won't forgive you...!" 

Watching his subordinates die, Wu Jing knelt and roared at Lin Yu in anger. 

Lin Yu merely glanced at the impotently furious Wu Jing, then casually picked up the silver ring from the Windrider Sword to examine it. 

"Tsk tsk! A Sumeru Ring. This guy must have many good things!" 

Before Lin Yu could speak, Master Tripod's voice sounded in his mind. 

"Master Tripod, what is a Sumeru Ring?" 

The silver ring in Lin Yu's hand was engraved with dense inscriptions, from which silver light occasionally flashed—it was no ordinary ring. 

"The name comes from Buddhism. Sumeru is a holy mountain in Buddhism, said to be infinitely large yet able to be contained within a mustard seed. In essence, it's a spatial treasure for storing items, easy to carry. But this Sumeru Ring has a spiritual soul brand. Later, I'll help you undo the brand to see what treasures are inside!" 

Master Tripod chuckled, clearly explaining the ring's origin. 

Seeing Lin Yu examine the ring, Wu Jing gritted his teeth and said, "You little wretch! I've inscribed a spiritual soul brand on this ring. Unless I undo it, you'll never access the treasures inside!" 

Lin Yu looked at Wu Jing and almost laughed. A mere spiritual brand in a ring was child's play for Master Tripod. That Wu Jing dared to threaten him with this was ridiculous. 

He put away the ring, walked up to Wu Jing, and said indifferently, "Answer a few questions honestly, and I'll spare your life." 

Wu Jing looked at Lin Yu in disbelief: "What do you want to ask?" 

"What kind of person was my mother, Qu Lingxian?" 

After asking the first question, Lin Yu coldly watched Wu Jing, noting every change in his expression. If Wu Jing lied or hid the truth, Lin Yu would make him suffer worse than death. 

Lin Yu had no memories of Qu Lingxian. From infancy, he was raised by a wet nurse, seeing the Han Emperor only once every ten days or half a month. Even when summoned, the emperor mostly scolded him, showing no familial affection. Without the Second Prince and Seventh Princess, Lin Yu's early life would have been colorless. It was only after leading troops and befriending his army brothers that he gradually opened up. Yet who would have thought the First Prince, for his own gain, would send those brothers to their deaths in the Southern Wasteland's Ten Thousand Mountains? 

Since he couldn't find answers about his mother from the Han Emperor, he could only ask Wu Jing, a member of her family. 

"Miss...!" 

Wu Jing paused, his eyes clouded with memory, and the戾气 (ferocity) on his face faded. "Miss was the greatest prodigy of our Luoshui Qu Family, reaching the Myriad Phenomena Realm at a young age. She was kind to us—when we slacked in cultivation and were punished by the family head, she always pleaded for us. Miss was truly gentle and kind." 

With each word, Wu Jing's expression softened. By the end, he looked as if she stood before him, his eyes full of reminiscence. 

"So Mother was a gentle and kind woman." Lin Yu nodded. "Why did she flee the Qu Family?" 

"Our Luoshui Qu Family and the Qinghe Zhao Family are both among Penglai Continent's 'Five Clans and Seven Prominences,' having intermarried for years. Miss had a childhood betrothal to a Zhao Family son, but he was lecherous, cruel, and murderous, with an abysmal reputation. Miss refused to marry him, but the family head forced the union. Unable to resist, she took the Enlightenment Lamp and fled. The family head only learned in recent years that Miss crossed the Stormy Sea to the Divine State Continent, so we were sent to capture her." 

Once he started, Wu Jing didn't hesitate to reveal the secrets of Qu Lingxian's departure. 

Lin Yu looked at the Han Emperor, whose expression was阴冷 (gloomy). Presumably, after arriving in the Divine State, his mother met the Han Emperor and they married. But why did the Han Emperor dislike her and Lin Yu so much? Why did the First Prince hate her name so deeply? What had happened? Only the Han Emperor could clarify. 

Thinking this, Lin Yu looked at Wu Jing and asked gravely, "Last question: What does the Enlightenment Lamp look like?" 

The Enlightenment Lamp was his mother's relic. Since it wasn't with him, it must be in the imperial city. Knowing its appearance, Lin Yu would search every inch to find it. 

Wu Jing's eyes lit up, and he hurried to answer: "The Enlightenment Lamp is about a foot tall, shaped like—!" 

Boom! 

Before Wu Jing finished, an extremely sharp thunderbolt lashed at him like a whip. Before Lin Yu could block it, the thunder whip coiled around the defenseless Wu Jing. Dazzling thunder erupted, reducing him to ashes that vanished before Lin Yu. 

Lin Yu turned to the Han Emperor, who nonchalantly retracted his right hand as silver thunder flowed back into his palm. The Han Emperor had killed Wu Jing! 

"Eh! When did His Majesty become so powerful?" 

"Myriad Phenomena Realm! That strike was definitely Myriad Phenomena Realm!" 

"His Majesty hid his strength! When did he reach the Myriad Phenomena Realm?" 

Civil and military officials stared at the Han Emperor in shock. Who knew the unassuming emperor hid such power? 

"Why did you kill him? What are you hiding?" Lin Yu turned to the Han Emperor, his gaze sharp. 

"Hmph! Must I explain my actions to you?" The Han Emperor snorted, ignoring the question. 

"Hehe! I see. The Enlightenment Lamp is with you, isn't it?" Lin Yu stared at the Han Emperor, then shook his head and冷笑 (chuckled sarcastically), dropping a bombshell.