In a trance, Xia Wuyang was completely immersed in the Soul Capturing Technique.
A flood of inspiration gave him a deeper understanding of the Soul Capturing Technique, revealing more of its flaws.
Myriad points of spiritual light poured down like a Star River, weaving into profound patterns within his Sea of Consciousness.
He began to improve it once again, and his mastery of the technique grew rapidly.
After avenging himself, his heart was light and clear, and Xia Wuyang unexpectedly fell into a state of epiphany—a fortuitous event that ordinary Martial Artists could only dream of.
Even with his level of Spiritual Power, it was not an easy state for Xia Wuyang to enter.
In this state of epiphany, he was like a god, able to effortlessly improve and enhance various Cultivation Techniques, Combat Techniques, and Secret Techniques. This time, his focus was on the Soul Capturing Technique.
The Soul Capturing Technique, already a Top Level Secret Technique, was faintly showing signs of breaking through to an even higher level. What that next realm might be, Xia Wuyang himself did not yet know.
But this barrier was clearly exceedingly difficult to overcome.
Even with the aid of the epiphany, he hadn’t broken through. However, he was now on the cusp of that higher realm and could attempt to break through even without another epiphany.
His mastery of the Soul Capturing Technique also skyrocketed. In a short time, he broke through Minor Achievement and advanced to the Great Success Realm. Because this new version was tailor-made for him, its effects were no less potent than the previous version at the Perfection realm—in fact, they might even be superior.
Xia Wuyang himself had not expected to reach Great Success with the Soul Capturing Technique so quickly, nor for it to be so greatly improved. This had saved him several months of effort, at the very least.
’Now, should I encounter any uncontrollable factors, I can better quell them with the Soul Capturing Technique.’
’I must also find time to summon Wei Xianren and use my Great Success level Soul Capturing Technique to tighten my control over him.’
Sensing the vast improvement in his Soul Capturing Technique, Xia Wuyang smiled faintly and continued to enjoy the company of the beauties around him, as if nothing at all had happened.
These Qiuci Dancers would never know that Xia Wuyang had improved so much in such a short time. With just a single glance, he could plunge them into an Illusion Realm; they could die without ever knowing how.
With his Soul Capturing Technique at Great Success, he could now control the life and death of many beings. He could effortlessly compel them to take their own lives, and no outsider would ever be able to discover the cause.
’Dealing with my enemies in the future will be much more convenient.’
「Three days later, in the rear garden of Caiyun Hall.」
Princess Yun Shu was sipping tea and admiring flowers with her best friend. Today, she had specially worn a crabapple-red robe, and the Golden Hairpin in her hair swayed gently with her laughter.
"Is it true? You were the one who used various means to send those Qiuci Dancers to the Eastern Palace, and no one has discovered anything unusual?" her best friend asked, looking at Princess Yun Shu in astonishment.
"Of course." Princess Yun Shu chuckled, covering her mouth. "You should have seen it. After just a few days, that old fossil couldn’t take it anymore. He crawled out of Wenhua Hall to beg for help and even asked Father Emperor for a Miracle Treasure to replenish his depleted body. It was absolutely hilarious."
Her best friend raised a delicate eyebrow. "As I recall, you don’t have any particular grudge against the elder Crown Prince. If you’re discovered, the consequences could easily outweigh the benefits."
"Who says there’s no grudge?" Princess Yun Shu sneered. "Having an old coot like him on the Crown Prince’s throne is an embarrassment to the entire Royal Family. Besides, that day outside the Inner Treasury, he showed me no respect whatsoever and just walked straight past me. It’s only right that I teach him a lesson."
Her best friend felt a bit helpless. ’Such trivial matters,’ she thought. ’Xia Wuyang is ancient, and he’s Princess Yun Shu’s elder brother. He has no reason to go out of his way to curry favor with her.’
’Besides, if it’s an embarrassment, it’s an embarrassment for the whole Royal Family, not just her. And even if someone were to move against Xia Wuyang, it should be those with a chance at the throne.’
’Princess Yun Shu is a woman whose Talent and Qualification aren’t top-tier. The throne is out of her reach, so for her to get involved like this to help others is just plain foolish.’
Of course, she would never say these things out loud. She was just about to advise her friend to be more careful and not so reckless when she saw Princess Yun Shu’s eyes suddenly fly open, her words catching in her throat. "I... I..."
The teacup in her hand fell to the ground with a CLATTER. Her face went deathly pale, and her slender fingers clutched desperately at the front of her robe.
"Aaaargh..."
A blood-curdling scream shattered the tranquility as Princess Yun Shu tumbled from the stone stool, her limbs twisting into unnatural positions.
Her elegant hairstyle came undone, and she didn’t even seem to notice as the Golden Hairpin plunged into her scalp.
"Imperial Physician! Quickly, fetch the Imperial Physician!"
Her friend, her face a mask of terror, screamed frantically. The other Palace Attendants descended into chaos, scrambling to run outside and summon an Imperial Physician.
If anything happened to Princess Yun Shu, they would all suffer dire consequences.
But it was too late. Princess Yun Shu’s mouth gaped open, but no sound emerged—only thick streams of blood gushing from her seven orifices.
Her once dazzlingly bright eyes, now bloodshot, bulged lifelessly from their sockets.
"THUD..."
After one last violent convulsion, Princess Yun Shu’s body slammed onto the ground. Even in death, she would never know that the elder Crown Prince, whom she had dismissed as a useless old man, was her true killer—and that he had taken her life right under everyone’s noses.
「The Eastern Palace, Wenhua Hall.」
The Qiuci Dancers, who had been sent here by Princess Yun Shu through various schemes, were still circling Xia Wuyang, spinning and dancing, presenting their most captivating selves.
Xia Wuyang seemed utterly captivated, his very essence being drained by these Alien Race beauties as he drew ever closer to death.
But Princess Yun Shu would never have imagined that long before the elder Crown Prince she was plotting against had died, she herself would be the first to arrive in the Underworld.
’She should be dead by now...’
At that moment, with a Qiuci Dancer in his arms, Xia Wuyang glanced pensively in the direction of Caiyun Hall.
’According to the time I set,’ he mused, ’that crazed "dear sister" of mine should be feeling the effects of her hidden injury right about now. It should only take a few breaths for her to die on the spot.’
’Unless a peerless divine doctor happened to be right by her side and could treat her within moments, her life might be saved. Otherwise, Princess Yun Shu is doomed.’
’Knowing her, she isn’t that lucky. And even if she were to survive this time, that luck wouldn’t last. At worst, I’ll just have to try again.’
’Princess Yun Shu is simply too dangerous. I can’t afford to let her live, even if she did send me all these enchanting Qiuci Dancers.’
Before long, news that Princess Yun Shu had died suddenly in Caiyun Hall from the relapse of a hidden injury spread throughout the Imperial Palace and beyond.
A large number of Imperial Physicians, forensic doctors, and Famous Constables descended upon Caiyun Hall to investigate anything suspicious. Anyone who had recently had a conflict with Princess Yun Shu was added to the list of suspects.
This list included the elder Crown Prince, Xia Wuyang. According to Princess Yun Shu’s Maid, the Princess had clashed with the elder Crown Prince Xia Wuyang a few days prior, angering him to the point that he stormed off, refusing to engage with her any further.