Chapter 1372: 惊动

Zu An and the others' expressions changed slightly. Could it truly be the Demon Ancestor resurrected? For them, this was the worst possible scenario.

Just then, a sudden change occurred. Two guards, who were closest to the Golden Crow Crown Prince in the main hall, suddenly erupted into action, attacking his vital points from both sides. The other guards never expected their familiar colleagues to suddenly attack the Crown Prince, and by the time they reacted, it was already too late.

These two were incredibly fast, and their cultivation levels were among the highest of the eighteen guards present, both having reached the Yingpo (Heroic Soul) stage of the Zongshi (Master) realm. Consequently, the other guards shouted in anger and gave chase, but could not catch up in time. The Golden Crow Crown Prince was currently undergoing a crucial trial with his eyes closed. Even if he noticed the commotion behind him, he wouldn't be able to disengage from the trial quickly. It was clear that these two guards had chosen an incredibly vicious and opportune moment.

"Could these also be assassins sent by the Little Demon Empress?" Yun Jianyue asked via qi transmission.

"Probably not," Zu An replied, shaking his head slightly. "If the Little Demon Empress had dispatched other assassins, why would she have gone to such great lengths to find him?"

"The Golden Crow Crown Prince is probably finished. However, it's not a bad thing that we don't have to get involved," Yu Yanluo said, visibly sighing with relief. She didn't want Zu An to take any risks.

"Not necessarily. The Golden Crow Crown Prince is too calm," Yan Xuehen said, frowning. His temperament back when they were with the Snake Tribe had not been this composed.

Indeed, no sooner had she spoken than the Crown Prince, who had been deeply immersed in the trial, abruptly opened his eyes. Then, fierce flames surged around his entire body, protecting him. This was the Golden Crow imperial family's signature skill — the Golden Crow Sacred Flame!

The two Zongshi (Master) assassins, who were at the Yingpo (Heroic Soul) stage, were somewhat surprised by this development. However, they did not flinch. Instead, gripping jade pendants, a shimmering light enveloped their bodies, just barely managing to ward off the Golden Crow Sacred Flame. Clearly, they had anticipated this situation and prepared fire-repelling artifacts to counter it. Of course, the Golden Crow Sacred Flame was far from ordinary fire, and their artifacts certainly wouldn't last long. However, only a few seconds were needed—enough time for them to strike down the defenseless Golden Crow Crown Prince.

But just then, a scorching heat suddenly spread out. A crimson sun rose above the Golden Crow Crown Prince's head, and a golden war chariot emerged from within it. Enveloped by the crimson sun, the two assassins' movements were visibly affected. Their fire-repelling jade pendants shattered into fragments, and wisps of smoke began to rise from their bodies. At that moment, the golden war chariot slammed directly into the nearest Zongshi (Master) assassin. Held rigid by the crimson sun, the assassin was unable to dodge and was instantly struck. His body convulsed violently, blood spurted from his mouth, and he crashed heavily to the ground like a battered sandbag.

Seeing this, the other assassin was greatly alarmed. He bit the tip of his tongue and spat out a mouthful of vital blood, evidently activating some life-saving technique. He barely managed to struggle free from the crimson sun's restraint and desperately fled. He understood the current situation; there was no longer any chance to kill the Crown Prince. His sole thought was escape.

Just then, two gigantic, multi-meter-long wings suddenly sprouted from behind the Golden Crow Crown Prince. With a casual flick, like two enormous golden blades, they instantly severed the fleeing assassin's legs. The assassin fell from the air, writhing on the ground in agony. This Golden Wing Divine Slash was far from simple; it contained extremely sinister sword qi that entered through the wound and wreaked havoc within his body, causing even a Zongshi (Master) to scream repeatedly in pain.

Zu An watched, secretly astonished. He hadn't expected his defeated opponent to be so formidable, capable of severely wounding two Zongshi (Masters) in an instant. Even if they were only at the Yingpo (Heroic Soul) stage, they were still Zongshi (Masters), after all. He recalled how Yan and Yun had previously warned him that his victory over the Golden Crow Crown Prince was entirely due to their cultivation techniques being mutually incompatible, and he happened to be unaffected by many of the Crown Prince's lethal skills. However, against other masters, he might not be as formidable as the Crown Prince. Otherwise, the Golden Crow Crown Prince would not have been publicly recognized as the "Emperor" among the Five Uniques of the younger generation of the demon race.

At this point, the assassin who had been severely injured by the golden war chariot was struggling to sit, leaning against a pillar. The other guards had already arrived, placing their weapons against his neck and sealing off vital points throughout his body, rendering him completely immobile. The assassin knew he couldn't escape, so he offered no futile resistance. Instead, he stared fixedly at the Golden Crow Crown Prince and asked, "You weren't actually undergoing the trial just now?"

"Of course," the Golden Crow Crown Prince stated proudly. "How else could I have lured you into a trap?"

"You knew we were going to make our move from the very beginning?" The assassin's face was etched with regret. If he had known, he would have waited a little longer, until the Crown Prince had fully entered the trial state before striking. Unfortunately, no one knew the specifics of the past Demon Emperors' spirit trials, and they feared such a trial might end quickly. After all, the flow of time varied in different secret realms; what if he had trained for a long time in his sea of consciousness, but only an instant had passed in reality? They dared not take such a risk, for if they truly waited until the Golden Crow Crown Prince completed the trial, it would be too late.

"I didn't know specifically," the Golden Crow Crown Prince admitted, "but I suspected there were spies placed by others around me, though I wasn't sure who they were. That moment was their last opportunity, so I used a tactic to lure the snake out of its hole, and to my surprise, you indeed made your move." He looked coldly at the assassin. "Why betray me? Have I ever mistreated you?"

"No, Your Highness, your kindness to us is as vast as a mountain. It's simply that we already served a true master, and we were truly not our own," the assassin sighed, his voice filled with deep helplessness. After all, he was a Zongshi (Master), not an ordinary assassin or suicidal operative. He had once had a promising future, but unfortunately, he became entangled in the struggle for imperial power and could no longer dictate his own destiny. Zongshi (Masters) also have families, people, and things they care about. These attachments create weaknesses, making them easy to threaten and control.

"A true master?" the Golden Crow Crown Prince sneered, looking down at the two. "Who exactly sent you? Confess honestly, and I might just spare your lives."

The assassin gave a bitter smile. "Since we chose assassination, we have already prepared to die. In fact, speaking would only condemn us to a life worse than death."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a trace of black blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. The other assassin was in the same state, and soon both of them breathed their last. The other guards were greatly alarmed and quickly rushed to examine the mouths of the two deceased assassins.

The Golden Crow Crown Prince flew into a rage. "How could you be so incompetent? You actually allowed them a chance to commit suicide by biting down on poison!" Many assassins hide poison in their teeth beforehand, so if their mission fails, they can bite down on it to commit suicide and avoid torture.

The guards hastily explained, "Reporting to Your Highness, that's not the case. They must have taken the poison beforehand; its effects have only just now taken hold."

Zu An and the others in the distance were startled. To think someone could make two Zongshi (Masters) willingly take poison beforehand to carry out a suicide assassination—the mastermind behind this was truly formidable. The Golden Crow Crown Prince's expression was grim. "As expected, their preparations were thorough." He stared intently at the two corpses. "Even if you refuse to speak, I can guess. That fire-repelling jade was so specifically tailored; it could only have been created by someone with an intimate understanding of the Golden Crow Sacred Flame. After much thought, I suspect only my dear second brother would have both the motive and the capability to pull this off."

Zu An felt a degree of admiration. This second prince was truly meticulous in his planning. Those brought here by the Golden Crow Crown Prince were undoubtedly his most trusted confidantes. Who knew how many years ago this subordinate had been dispatched and gradually climbed to this position? The crucial point was that even if this assassination failed, no evidence would be left behind, allowing him to completely deny any knowledge.

The Golden Crow Crown Prince suddenly chuckled. "My good second brother is indeed formidable. Unfortunately, it was all for naught in the end."

The other guards all knelt down, chanting, "Your Highness is destined by Heaven! Long live our Emperor, long live, long long live!"

The Golden Crow Crown Prince thoroughly enjoyed their chants. After they finished, he feigned humility, saying, "Low-key, low-key. Although I will soon become the Demon Emperor, I haven't officially ascended the throne yet. We wouldn't want my father to grow suspicious if he were to overhear."

"This birdman isn't as foolish as he seems," Yun Jianyue sneered.

Yu Yanluo also sighed. "He was originally recognized as the foremost talent among the younger generation of the demon race; he's only suffered a few recent defeats at Ah Zu's hands."

At that moment, new developments unfolded elsewhere. The Golden Crow Crown Prince ordered his subordinates to carefully preserve the two bodies. Furthermore, he instructed the remaining guards to form groups of three, to monitor and balance each other, preventing similar incidents from occurring again. Although these were his handpicked, loyal confidantes, and the likelihood of successive traitors appearing was low, it was still necessary to remain vigilant.

Following this, the Golden Crow Crown Prince officially began the trial. The Demon Ancestor statue began to glow, its entire black form now transformed into a black-and-gold hue. At that moment, the Demon Ancestor statue's eyes suddenly opened, and two golden beams of light shot downward, enveloping the Golden Crow Crown Prince. The other guards were stunned by the terrifying pressure that erupted in that instant, retreating repeatedly and trembling uncontrollably.

"The Demon Ancestor's power in the past must have far surpassed that of the current Demon Emperor," thought Yan and Yun. Even from such a distance, the two women found it difficult to withstand the terrifying oppressive sensation, instinctively taking a few steps back.

Just then, a sudden clatter came from the side. It turned out that Wu Liang, while retreating, had accidentally knocked a candelabra off the wall onto the ground.

"Who's there!" Given the recent assassination attempt, the guards in the hall were already on edge. Hearing the sudden noise, they immediately rushed towards the sound.