Category: Dear, it’s time for your medicine!

Chapter 154: Descent of the Goddess 

The silhouette formed by the blood mist.

The phantom of the Evil God had appeared.

Augustus, Saint Monique, and Wadsworth hadn’t expected such a change. The Grand Prince had long been eroded by a sinister power.

Instantly, a deep, oppressive gray fog enveloped the entire arena. Countless black, snake-like lines danced wildly and gloomily, radiating madness, despair, eerieness, and… an overwhelming lust.

Mortals, do not gaze upon a god!

“Close your eyes, everyone! Don’t look…” Augustus suddenly roared. He remembered the disaster that had once occurred in the Holy See. This aura was so familiar.

His voice echoed through the arena, reaching everyone’s ears.

Everyone heard it.

But… it was too late.

They had already seen the phantom behind the Grand Prince. Madness, eerieness, and a lustful will instantly invaded their consciousness, countless fragmented images flooding their minds.

Indescribable whispers and screams echoed in their ears.

Countless pale, twisted limbs appeared before their eyes, intertwined, as if in the throes of passion or wailing in agony.

They covered their eyes, falling to their knees in pain, tears of blood streaming down their faces, their muscles convulsing.

Their minds became confused, as if something evil was awakening within them.

Their body temperature rose, and a powerful lust began to grow within them.

At some point, the pain gradually dissipated, and their eyes, filled with a dazed lust, looked at those around them. Everyone seemed so noble, elegant, and alluring, arousing a desire to possess, to violate.

The symptoms of the Evil God’s pollution were manifesting.

No matter how elegant and noble the silhouette appeared, it couldn’t conceal its true nature. It was a deity of lust.

People began to pounce on those closest to them… regardless of whether they were their boyfriends, girlfriends, wives, or husbands…

The scene in the arena was filled with madness and despair.

These pitiful nobles, most of whom had lived in comfort since childhood, weren’t strong, and their wills were weak. They couldn’t resist this invasion at all.

Only a very few, with considerable strength and willpower, could resist the Evil God’s aura.

At the entrance to the arena, Anastasia and Angelica, although weaker, were strong enough to resist the phantom’s influence. Most importantly, their wills were very strong.

They just didn’t understand what was happening, why the arena had suddenly descended into such chaos and terror.

Violet’s face was grim. The scene before her seemed to take her back to the day the Temple of the Storm Lord was destroyed a thousand years ago.

Ekaterina and Athena frowned, their hands gripping their weapons tightly. Everyone knew that the situation was completely out of control.

Only Loseweisse seemed particularly strange.

She stared blankly at the phantom behind the Grand Prince, completely unaffected, not even afraid of the terrifying phantom. She even felt a faint sense of familiarity, of kinship.

Her heart pounded inexplicably.

This strange reaction made Loseweisse’s mood very complex.

Qin Chu, meanwhile, was retreating.

This duel was full of surprises.

A smile appeared on his calm face for the first time.

He had thought that just teaching the Grand Prince a lesson would be enough, but unexpectedly, the Grand Prince had suddenly ascended to the Champion realm, revealing one of his trump cards.

After defeating the Grand Prince in the Champion realm, he thought it was over, but unexpectedly, the Grand Prince had turned into an Evil God, even summoning the phantom of the Evil God.

Perhaps he should have ignored Wadsworth’s face and killed the Grand Prince directly?

Of course, taking this opportunity to learn more about the existences in the Void seemed like a good idea too.

Qin Chu was certain that the being behind the Grand Prince was one of the seven deities in the Void.

At this moment, the Grand Prince was howling with excitement at the unprecedented power he had obtained. He had become a madman, only a deep obsession remaining in his heart. He didn’t even know what he had become.

In stark contrast to the sinister yet elegant and noble silhouette behind him, the current Grand Prince was like a writhing mass of flesh, his limbs twisted grotesquely beneath him, supporting his body, a thick, crimson liquid oozing from his surface.

Hehehe…

Strange, hoarse laughter continued to come from the Grand Prince’s mouth.

He seemed to be gradually gaining control of his mangled body. Suddenly, his eyes turned towards Qin Chu. Although his mind was in chaos, his hatred for Qin Chu hadn’t diminished in the slightest.

His ferocious gaze was filled with madness, and he suddenly opened his mouth, letting out a sharp wail.

Almost at the same time, the phantom of the Evil God behind the Grand Prince also abruptly turned towards Qin Chu.

Qin Chu felt as if he had seen the most beautiful gem in the world. It was the Evil God’s eye.

Hum…

His heart pounded as if hit by a bullet train, almost exploding.

A dark gray fog, connected to the Void, seemed to appear before his eyes, crashing into his chest. A cold, evil power instantly permeated his entire being.

He was sent flying backwards, unable to withstand the impact.

Seeing Qin Chu being knocked away, the Grand Prince wriggled his bloody, rotting flesh with glee, his laughter becoming even more shrill.

Look, Loseweisse, look!

How handsome, how powerful he was now!

The Grand Prince turned his gaze towards Loseweisse, hoping she could see his magnificent form.

However, when he looked at Loseweisse, he found that she was just frowning, her head lowered, as if lost in thought.

This sight made the Grand Prince’s flesh tremble. This… This wouldn’t do.

His chaotic mind prevented him from continuing to pursue Qin Chu. If Loseweisse couldn’t see his handsome and powerful appearance now, then everything was meaningless.

The mass of rotting flesh wriggled rapidly on the ground, crawling towards Loseweisse.

From afar, the Grand Prince let out a sharp cry:

“Ah, my most beautiful Saintess… Look… Do I look handsome now?”

“I defeated Qin Chu, I am the strongest, the one most worthy of you!”

“Look at me!”

Loseweisse, lost in her own thoughts, was startled by the Grand Prince’s voice and subconsciously looked up. When she saw the mass of rotting flesh crawling towards her, a twisted fear instantly appeared on her face.

A strong wave of nausea washed over her, her face turning pale, her stomach churning, as if she might vomit at any moment.

Her beautiful face contorted, and goosebumps erupted all over her fair skin.

This was too… too disgusting.

Loseweisse instinctively retreated, trying to distance herself from the Grand Prince.

But in the Grand Prince’s eyes, this scene deeply hurt what little humanity he had left.

Why?

Loseweisse, he loved her so deeply, he just wanted her to look at him, why was she pulling away? Why was she looking at him like he was trash, something dirty?

They should be the perfect couple.

Don’t look at him like that, don’t, don’t, don’t…

Strange sounds came from the Grand Prince’s throat, the rotting flesh wriggling more and more violently.

Loseweisse’s resistance and retreat made the Grand Prince feel a surge of hatred. Twisted, hideous tentacles extended from the rotting flesh.

His body suddenly lunged towards Loseweisse with great force, the tentacles reaching out before he even arrived.

Loseweisse was his. He would hold her in his arms, merge her into his body.

He would kill that woman Anastasia and make her regret her decision.

And Qin Chu’s other women, he wouldn’t let any of them live in this world. He would make Qin Chu experience pain dozens, hundreds of times more intense than his own.

Just as the rotting flesh was about to reach Loseweisse, a figure suddenly appeared in front of her… It was Qin Chu. Of course, Qin Chu wasn’t doing this for Loseweisse.

He didn’t care whether Loseweisse lived or died. Although he wanted to personally torture this woman, if the Grand Prince only wanted to kill her, Qin Chu wouldn’t bother to stop him.

But in the Grand Prince’s churning malice, Qin Chu sensed the presence of Anastasia, Angelica, and Violet.

Qin Chu would never allow the Grand Prince to harm these people, not even a single hair on their heads.

He suddenly extended his right hand.

The Goddess’s Hair on his wrist was instantly activated.

A bright, gentle white light bloomed on Qin Chu’s body.

Since the seven Evil Gods in the Void had to use all their power to suppress the mysterious goddess, then this deity projecting its phantom into the lower realm would inevitably weaken its suppression of the goddess. Correspondingly, the goddess should also be able to exert more power.

The small sprout in his body was jumping happily, while also squeezing the Battle Qi and Mana within him. Along with the sudden burst of white light, just like the silhouette of the Evil God appearing behind the Grand Prince, a tall and graceful figure quickly formed behind Qin Chu, outlined by the white light.

This figure was even clearer than the silhouette opposite them.

A pure white dress fluttered in the raging energy.

A pair of fair, jade-like feet extended from beneath the skirt, her toes dangling and swaying gently.

Although it was just a simple outline, it already showcased her graceful figure. Her face couldn’t be seen clearly, but it was enough to drive everyone mad.

Dark red chains were wrapped around her slender wrists and ankles, her long neck, and her delicate waist.

The other end of the chains disappeared into the black fog, seemingly connected to the endless Void.

She opened her arms slightly, her tall figure floating behind Qin Chu, like his guardian deity, protecting the small figure in front of her.

Chapter 153: The Evil God Descends 

BOOM!

The meteor crashed into the ground, the violent impact shaking the entire arena. A sound like thunder and earthquake echoed in everyone’s ears. Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring everything.

Then, silence.

A deathly silence descended upon the arena, so profound that even the drop of a pin could be heard in the stands. Almost everyone stood up, their faces etched with shock, their gazes fixed on the arena. Even the powerful figures in the VIP seats were no exception.

Some even rubbed their eyes in disbelief, as if suspecting they had seen wrong. The scene before them must be an illusion, right?

It was too brutal.

Too shocking.

Before the match began, who could have imagined such an outcome? Everyone had expected the Grand Prince to easily defeat the Hero, but unexpectedly, the Grand Prince was suppressed from the very beginning. Even after his power increased, he was still being toyed with, as if the Hero was his natural nemesis, always a step ahead.

The thousands of ice swords formed from Frost Battle Qi, instantly shattered by an invisible wave, transforming into a shower of beautiful ice shards, sparkling in the air. The image left a deep impression on them.

The figure burning in flames further shook their hearts.

Even Augustus, Wadsworth, and the others in the VIP seats had goosebumps. They had been certain that Qin Chu was hiding his strength, and that defeating the Grand Prince was almost a foregone conclusion. But even these powerful figures hadn’t expected that Qin Chu would still be able to defeat the Grand Prince even after he briefly entered the Champion realm.

These people had sharp eyes. Wadsworth naturally knew what was going on, but even if the others didn’t know the details, they could still guess most of it. The Grand Prince had used some method to forcefully increase his strength, allowing him to unleash terrifying power in a short time, although it couldn’t last and had severe side effects. But his Champion realm was genuine.

And Qin Chu’s situation seemed to be the same, but the effect was even stronger than the Grand Prince’s.

The Grand Prince had just stepped into the Champion realm.

Qin Chu was even more ruthless, directly reaching the mid-stage of the Champion realm.

What kind of power was this? Was it some kind of magic, martial skill, potion? Or even an ability?

Wadsworth, Augustus, Saint Monique, and Zimmerman exchanged grim glances, seeing the seriousness in each other’s eyes.

Even if Qin Chu was the Hero, this rate of improvement was too terrifying.

Qin Chu was destined to change the balance of power in the entire Heavenly Continent. It seemed they needed to reconsider how they treated the Hero.

His advancement speed was several times faster than that of the First Hero, Jie Luo. When Jie Luo had been in the Heavenly Continent for the same amount of time as Qin Chu, his strength was far inferior.

With Qin Chu’s strength, it was almost foreseeable that he would eliminate the Demon Beasts and destroy the Demon King in time.

Then, the remaining question was how to maintain their own status and power after the Demon Beasts were eliminated… As the ones at the top of the pyramid in the Heavenly Continent, they definitely didn’t want another person above them.

No one was willing to share, let alone hand over, the power they held.

Before the Demon Beasts were even eliminated, these people were already considering other things. Perhaps… this was the nature of this world.

…

Putting aside the hidden agendas in everyone’s hearts.

Back in the arena.

The dust gradually settled.

When the owner of the arena saw the scene inside, his eyes rolled back, and he almost fainted.

God, what was he seeing?

The arena floor, with a diameter of one hundred meters, had been completely shattered, not a single intact stone slab or tile remained. Only a giant crater was left. Dozens of stone pillars were shattered, and the arena itself was shaking precariously, seemingly about to collapse. Even the metal fences around the arena had been blown away by the violent impact, the magic barriers on them destroyed. How much would it cost to repair this?

The money he earned from ticket sales today might not even be enough!

Qin Chu stood in the middle of the crater, silver and crimson flames still swirling around him. At this moment, he was like a demon god emerging from a raging inferno.

Just like before, he had one foot on the Grand Prince’s face, seemingly declaring his power and victory.

Qin Chu didn’t directly kill the Grand Prince… After all, he was Wadsworth’s son.

But the Grand Prince clearly wouldn’t live much longer. The potion he used to forcefully ascend to the Champion realm had already taken a heavy toll on his life force, and coupled with the heavy blow from Qin Chu just now, the damage was even more severe.

His originally light brown hair was now completely white.

He looked haggard, his skin wrinkled.

His body was emaciated, as if all the life had been drained from him, his skin clinging tightly to his bones, covered in cracks. In some places, bone fragments even pierced through his skin, but not a single drop of blood flowed out. His appearance was horrifying.

Perhaps because of the powerful force supporting him in the Champion realm, the Grand Prince was still alive, but only his eyes could move.

Deep hatred and resentment could still be seen in his gray pupils.

His eyes were fixed on Qin Chu. He wanted to reach out and scratch that calm face looking down at him.

Was it because he had such a trump card that he could remain so calm?

But he no longer had the strength to control his limbs.

Why?

Why him?

A barbarian summoned from another world, how could he be better than him, the Grand Prince with the noblest bloodline?

His gaze shifted away from Qin Chu. He knew he was about to die and only wanted to see Loseweisse, the woman he loved most, one last time before his consciousness faded into darkness.

He didn’t know why he had fallen in love with that woman.

With his noble status, he had never lacked women.

Whether it was the maids around him or the elegant ladies from noble families, he could easily have any woman he wanted.

He had thought he wouldn’t be moved by any woman, but the moment he saw Loseweisse, his heart had already fallen deeply.

She was so holy, so pure.

She seemed to exude an endless charm, weaving a net that captured him.

At that moment, the Grand Prince knew that he had fallen deeply in love with this woman. He would never be moved by any other woman in his life. Loseweisse would be the only one for him.

Finally, he saw her.

Loseweisse, along with those other vulgar women, appeared at the entrance to the arena.

Ah.

She was still so pure, so captivating.

Just seeing Loseweisse’s face seemed to make his pain disappear.

Her face was filled with sadness, her small hands clasped over her heart. The Grand Prince even saw a faint trace of tears in the corners of her eyes.

Was she sad for him? Was she heartbroken for him?

Don’t look at his pathetic appearance now.

But this sadness suddenly gave the Grand Prince a surge of courage.

The woman he loved most was watching him. He couldn’t continue to be so pathetic. A strong stubbornness surged in his heart, even overshadowing his fear of impending death.

He was a descendant of the Aberchian family, having enjoyed the best resources since childhood. He couldn’t lose to a mere, vulgar outsider… Most importantly, he couldn’t continue to be so pathetic in front of the woman he loved most.

Even in death, he wanted Loseweisse to see his most handsome side, even if it was only for a moment.

Such a pitiful and foolish man.

He didn’t know that Loseweisse’s sadness was only because she was about to lose her last ten million Mana.

A spark suddenly appeared in his dull, gray eyes. He looked at Qin Chu again, his lips moving rapidly.

Oh, starry sky, give me strength!

Oh, Void, I offer you my soul!

He began to pray to the Void. The moment he opened his mouth, everything became irreversible. Qin Chu keenly sensed a gloomy, oppressive, cold, and dark aura rapidly growing from the Grand Prince.

That aura was very familiar to Qin Chu.

Moreover, small, black-gray scales were rapidly spreading on the Grand Prince’s dry, cracked skin. The eerie scene made Qin Chu’s scalp tingle.

A strong sense of danger instantly arose.

Void Evil God!

Qin Chu instantly understood what the Void Evil God’s invasion he had felt late at night a few days ago was all about. The Grand Prince had already been polluted by the Evil God.

Now, under the influence of the Evil God’s power, the Grand Prince was mutating.

Originally, Qin Chu didn’t want to kill the Grand Prince because he was Wadsworth’s son and he didn’t want to completely fall out with the Emperor of the Empire.

But now, Qin Chu couldn’t care about that anymore. He suddenly raised his hand, and a Holy Light struck the Grand Prince, preparing to purify him and the Evil God’s power on him.

But this time, the Holy Light didn’t work.

With a sizzling sound, the moment the Holy Light landed on the Grand Prince, it was like a basin of ice water poured onto a red-hot iron plate, instantly producing a large amount of white smoke.

A faint, dark light emanated from the Grand Prince’s body, and strange patterns quickly spread from his chest and abdomen to his limbs and even his face, twisted light coiling around his body.

Thump… Thump… Thump…

His heart beat like a drum.

The strange scales even covered his eyeballs, then quickly began to fall off. Perhaps because his life force was about to be exhausted, this shedding of scales was particularly bloody.

Each scale was attached to a piece of skin, falling off his body with blood and gore.

The Grand Prince looked like a skinned monster, his flesh and white tendons exposed, but he didn’t feel any pain at all. A twisted, eerie smile even appeared on his bloody face.

Hehehe…

Yes, that’s right.

Potions and the like were useless.

This was true power.

That eerie appearance made everyone around him shudder.

The blood on his body was evaporated by an invisible force, turning into a blood mist. The blood mist gathered behind the Grand Prince, gradually condensing into a tall, slender figure.

Although it was just a silhouette outlined by blood mist, it exuded an astonishing nobility and charm. There seemed to be a vortex, drawing people’s souls and wills into a deep abyss.

Seeing this, Wadsworth, Augustus, Saint Monique, and Zimmerman almost simultaneously stood up, especially Augustus. His body trembled violently, his eyes filled with intense hatred. His hands subconsciously clenched, and a beast-like growl escaped his throat.

Chapter 152: Burning Rage

The arena was silent, a silence so profound it was terrifying. Everyone understood the true nature of this duel. It wasn’t a fight for revenge; it was a brutal judgment, a public execution. Qin Chu wasn’t just aiming to break the Grand Prince’s body, but to crush his spirit, to grind his soul into dust.

The Hero’s ruthlessness was beyond imagination.

Of course, the Grand Prince had brought this upon himself. He was the one who had issued the challenge.

Groans of despair rippled through the stands. Those who had bet on the Grand Prince – and that was almost everyone – realized their folly. Some, driven by greed, had wagered fortunes, certain of the Grand Prince’s victory. Now, they faced ruin.

A cacophony of noise filled the arena, while in the VIP seats, the four powerhouses watched with grim expressions. The Hero, due to his Super-tier abilities, was often stronger than his level indicated.

But this was absurd!

However, Qin Chu had just mentioned being tutored in magic by Athena for three days and nights.

What kind of tutoring was that?

Ordinary people didn’t understand Athena’s abilities, but Wadsworth, Saint Monique, Augustus, and Zimmerman, these old foxes, knew a thing or two.

Athena herself was a potent source of Mana. Anyone who possessed her could gain immense benefits.

Could this be the source of Qin Chu’s seemingly inexhaustible Mana?

It was a power that could allow a mage to directly ascend to the level of Grand Mage.

Thinking about this, Qin Chu’s abundant Mana seemed to make sense.

Three days and three nights? Tsk.

The Hero had quite the stamina. To be with a woman like Athena for three days and nights and still be so vigorous…

Wadsworth and Augustus exchanged knowing glances and chuckled.

Zimmerman stared straight ahead, pretending nothing had happened.

Saint Monique, however, spat lightly at these two powerful figures.

They were the strongest in the Heavenly Continent, yet they still acted like children.

But Saint Monique also felt a slight sense of relief. If the Hero’s Mana amplification rate was really that exaggerated, it would be terrifying.

However, if it was obtained from Athena, it was more acceptable.

After all, Athena’s ability could only grant Mana to one person in her lifetime. It couldn’t be used to mass-produce magic experts…

The question now was, why didn’t Qin Chu need to chant spells when using magic?

And where did his combat awareness come from?

During the brief exchange with the Grand Prince, his combat awareness had been impeccable, even Wadsworth couldn’t have done better.

Meanwhile, after hearing Qin Chu’s words, Loseweisse looked at Athena in shock. She naturally knew about Ekaterina and Qin Chu, in fact, she considered it her own arrangement.

But what was going on with Athena?

Why would Athena waste her precious, once-in-a-lifetime ability on Qin Chu?

Loseweisse knew that Athena had always protected her purity, hoping to one day give it to Lord Jie Luo.

Then, Loseweisse’s face suddenly turned pale, and her body trembled uncontrollably. She suddenly remembered something: she had bet ten million Mana on the Grand Prince winning…

Sighs of amazement, wails of despair, and curses echoed through the stands. For most of the nobles, the power Qin Chu had displayed was a miracle, a height they could never reach in their lifetime.

It was over.

Everyone thought so.

Even Morton was about to announce Qin Chu’s victory.

But at this moment, the Grand Prince, lying motionless on the ground, suddenly began to convulse. A bone-chilling coldness emanated from his body.

The area around him instantly froze.

“His Battle Qi is actually increasing after suffering such severe injuries?” Natia frowned and said slowly.

Gradually, everyone’s expression became more serious.

Hum… Crack…

Strange sounds echoed as waves of energy radiated from the Grand Prince’s body. The newly formed ice cracked.

Not just the ice, but even the ground beneath their feet began to crack.

An invisible shockwave spread like a tsunami.

The surrounding stone pillars seemed to shake.

The chandeliers above the arena swayed precariously, and an oppressive pressure weighed on everyone’s hearts, making their chests feel like they were about to explode.

What was going on?

Morton, being closest, sensed it most clearly.

The top experts in the VIP seats, Ekaterina, Athena, Loseweisse, and Violet waiting for Qin Chu in the waiting room, everyone who had reached this level of strength, almost all spoke at the same time:

Champion!

Those who had bought tickets today definitely got their money’s worth.

Because they were about to witness the birth of a Champion.

Valkyrie-Champion, Titled Knight, Grand Mage, Master Thief… These were some of the greatest hurdles on the path of human cultivation.

*In this context, “Champion” refers to the male equivalent of a Valkyrie.*

For those top experts, only after reaching this level could they be considered to have truly begun their cultivation journey, to have truly entered the door.

Only then could they glimpse the scenery they had never seen before. After this, every level was a hurdle.

The more they cultivated, the more they felt their own insignificance.

But how difficult it was to break through this hurdle! Not to mention breaking through, even getting close was extremely difficult. After level 70, every level up required countless hardships and sweat.

The Grand Prince’s original level was 75. After being tempered by the Evil God, he had reached level 79 and was repeatedly trying to break through the level 80 barrier. Unfortunately, the Evil God’s tempering was too short. If it had lasted for another month, or even just a few days, the Grand Prince might have directly ascended to the Champion level.

And now, under heavy injuries, with the help of the potion, the Grand Prince had finally forcefully reached this level.

However…

Qin Chu could see that this potion came at the cost of his life force.

The longer the Grand Prince stayed at the Champion level, the greater the consumption of his life force, until he finally exhausted his last drop and died completely.

He felt a little helpless. Did this guy hate him that much?

Was he that petty? He hadn’t really done anything. It was the Grand Prince himself who had abandoned his fiancée, and Loseweisse had never even looked at him, she was the one who threw herself at Qin Chu.

He was too narrow-minded. One should be like him, Qin Chu, open-minded and never holding grudges, in order to live a happy life.

When he was executed in the first playthrough, the Grand Prince had been the one laughing the loudest. He hadn’t held a grudge, he had only beaten him up and made him call him “uncle”…

Qin Chu took a few steps back.

The chaotic airflow around the Grand Prince’s body had transformed into sharp sword beams, creating a strong wind that swept through the arena, ruffling the hair of the spectators and stinging their eyes.

Within a twenty-meter radius around the Grand Prince, everything was a mess. Everything on the ground had been cut into fine powder, even the huge stone pillar behind him instantly crumbled.

The Grand Prince’s body seemed to be supported by some kind of force, floating in mid-air. The dense wounds on his body – frostbite, burns, lightning strikes, cuts from wind blades – were healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Even the blood that had flowed out seemed to flow back in reverse.

In just a few seconds, the Grand Prince’s injuries had almost completely healed, his skin as smooth as jade, emitting a faint white light.

His entire being was filled with elegance and nobility. Although his clothes were tattered, he seemed even more charming, eliciting screams from the stands.

Especially the screams of several noble ladies, which were particularly shrill.

Morton looked at Qin Chu with concern, as if asking if he wanted to stop the duel. The power of a Champion was extremely dangerous. Even Morton wasn’t sure if he could stop the Grand Prince from killing the Hero at the critical moment.

Qin Chu’s expression remained calm, a faint smile on his face.

He shook his head, rejecting Morton’s kindness.

“Champion…” Finally, a noble reacted, his voice trembling.

“So strong!”

“What a terrifying pressure.”

“It’s over. The Hero’s strength is indeed very strong, but he’s definitely no match for the Grand Prince, who has already reached the Champion realm.”

“It’s really a pity. It seems the Hero has to lose. That’s a Champion!”

“As expected of the most talented member of the royal family, to reach the Champion realm at such a young age.”

People’s attitudes changed once again.

No one thought Qin Chu could still win in this situation. For him to defeat the Grand Prince before his advancement was already considered a miracle, but… that was a Champion!

Qin Chu looked up at the Grand Prince floating in the air.

The Grand Prince opened his eyes, his gaze filled with an uncontainable arrogance. He could feel the boundless energy surging within him.

So strong.

He was truly strong now.

He was confident that he could destroy everything at this moment.

“Qin Chu, kneel!”

“Beg for my forgiveness,” the Grand Prince said coldly.

Qin Chu’s expression remained calm. He just glanced indifferently at the figure in the sky, “We’ll see after we fight.”

“As you wish,” the Grand Prince wasn’t angry, his voice filled with arrogance.

Possessing the strength of a Champion, he wouldn’t bother with Qin Chu’s petty provocation.

He spread his arms to the sides.

Drawn by his will, countless icy blue lights quickly appeared.

His cold Battle Qi condensed into sharp swords.

Ten… fifty… one hundred, two hundred… one thousand…

The ice swords seemed to appear endlessly, and the Grand Prince was demonstrating his power to everyone in the most arrogant and flamboyant way…

He was like a peacock, fully displaying his tail, wanting Loseweisse to see how beautiful he was.

Countless sword shadows filled the entire arena, arranged in a huge cone shape above Qin Chu’s head, with Qin Chu at the tip of the cone.

It seemed that in the next second, Qin Chu’s body would be pierced by countless swords… No, not pierced, but crushed into a pulp.

In the waiting room, seeing this scene, Angelica and Anastasia couldn’t help but feel anxious, subconsciously gripping their skirts.

Even Athena’s expression changed slightly.

Loseweisse’s eyes flickered rapidly. No one knew what she was thinking at this moment.

“Master, he…”

“Don’t worry…” Violet glanced casually at the scene before her. The countless sword shadows, which seemed so powerful and menacing to others, only made Violet scoff.

The power was too dispersed, it was a waste.

True experts didn’t need such flashy moves.

They often only needed the simplest actions to cause the greatest destruction.

“Qin Chu is stronger than you think.”

Violet’s words seemed to carry a special magic, and Anastasia and Angelica gradually calmed down. Especially Anastasia, she remembered that there was another incredibly powerful woman residing within Qin Chu.

Anastasia couldn’t judge what level that woman was, but she was definitely stronger than the Grand Prince.

With that woman inside him, Qin Chu wouldn’t lose no matter what.

As if showing off, the Grand Prince fully displayed his power. He wanted to see the fear and despair on Qin Chu’s face, but he was disappointed.

Qin Chu’s expression was frighteningly calm.

The Grand Prince felt a surge of anger, as if he had been provoked. He no longer hesitated and slammed his palm down. “Die, lowly bastard!” he roared.

With his roar, the dense rain of swords moved instantly. Only blurry sword shadows, almost connected in a straight line, could be seen in the air, falling downwards with the momentum of a collapsing mountain.

And Qin Chu, from beginning to end, didn’t move.

He even admired the Grand Prince a little. This guy was even more impressive than he had imagined… He had actually managed to reveal one of his trump cards. Praiseworthy.

It was a pity that this guy didn’t even notice that his hair had started to turn gray.

Qin Chu suddenly closed his eyes, and images from the first playthrough flashed through his mind.

Being poisoned, betrayed by his teammates, executed under the mockery of the crowd…

Rage… ignited!

For the first time, Qin Chu used the power of Rage, Rage Explosion!

Rage Explosion, based on the level of rage in his heart, once triggered, would at least double his strength for a certain period. Qin Chu’s strength was already infinitely close to level 80. With this double amplification, he instantly surpassed the Grand Prince.

Countless illusory flames seemed to flicker on Qin Chu’s body. His figure seemed to grow taller, his entire being transforming into a dancing flame.

With a boom, the ground beneath Qin Chu’s feet, seemingly unable to withstand such powerful force, instantly exploded, creating a crater with a diameter of more than ten meters. Qin Chu’s body floated above the crater, the power within him still rapidly expanding.

The dense rain of swords also fell at this moment, but…

Pfft…

With a strange sound, the falling sword beams, before even touching Qin Chu’s body, were shattered by an invisible wave of energy.

Ice shards danced in the air.

That scene had a strange beauty to it.

The people in the stands couldn’t even scream in shock anymore. They were already numb from the shock.

This… What kind of power was this?

This scene made the Grand Prince’s face change drastically. This… This was impossible.

He felt an indescribable pressure from Qin Chu, goosebumps erupting all over his skin.

At this moment, Qin Chu suddenly looked up and smiled at the Grand Prince.

An inexplicable fear instantly swept through his body, and a strange gurgling sound escaped his throat.

The next second, Qin Chu’s figure flickered and disappeared.

A sense of danger arose in the Grand Prince’s heart. He cursed inwardly and tried to dodge, but it was too late. He felt a sharp pain in his neck as a rough hand gripped it.

Qin Chu’s figure had already appeared in front of him, his face still cold and calm.

The Grand Prince instinctively struggled.

At this moment, a hoarse voice echoed in his ear:

“Grand Prince, no matter how strong you become, I can still defeat you!”

The next instant, Qin Chu grabbed the Grand Prince’s neck and, carrying him like a burning meteor, plummeted towards the hard ground below.

Rumble…

Chapter 151: A Cruel Trial 

What was this? A preemptive cuckolding?

The Grand Prince was Anastasia’s ex-fiancé, and Loseweisse was the Grand Prince’s beloved. Loseweisse kissing Qin Chu right in front of him was a devastating blow.

The Grand Prince slumped, his face ashen, as if aged decades in an instant. All traces of his usual nobility and elegance vanished, replaced by a strange, involuntary trembling. He didn’t interrupt Qin Chu and Loseweisse, wanting to maintain a semblance of composure in front of the Saintess. He wanted to preserve his perfect image in her eyes.

A wave of pity washed over the onlookers. The Grand Prince’s devotion to Loseweisse was well-known throughout the Imperial City. Now, his fiancée was kissing another man, and his beloved Saintess was kissing the same man… It was a scene that could bring tears to your eyes, or even make you spit blood.

“So pitiful…”

“Truly pitiful, like a dog.”

Whispers spread through the crowd.

Even the important figures in the VIP seats wore expressions of bewilderment. This was supposed to be a sacred duel, but it felt like a farce.

No, not a farce.

More like a cruel, public trial of the Grand Prince, body and soul.

Even Wadsworth, who was merely using his son as a pawn, felt a flicker of pity. The other royal family members also exchanged uneasy glances. This Hero was ruthless.

Not only did he want to kill, he wanted to destroy the spirit as well.

Why kiss him here, of all places? Right in front of the Grand Prince? Wasn’t this deliberately provoking him?

Looking at the Grand Prince’s haggard and slumped figure, it was clear that the provocation had hit its mark.

The silence of the crowd and the weight of their gazes made Loseweisse blush. She took a shy step back, her hand fluttering to her chest, peeking at Qin Chu from beneath her lashes. She saw the surprise on his face.

Hehe, she thought, my surprise attack worked. The Hero is stunned.

His face was a little red too. His heart must be racing from her kiss.

This should leave a lasting impression on him, smoothing the path for their future relationship. The only obstacle was Angelica. That woman would definitely try to interfere.

How annoying. She shouldn’t have saved Angelica from the stake. She had only done it to humiliate her, never imagining that the maid would become such a thorn in her side.

She had to find a way to get rid of Angelica. She wouldn’t be able to rest until she did.

Malicious thoughts swirled in her mind, but her face remained a mask of innocence. “Then, Hero,” she said sweetly, “I will be watching you.”

“Victory or defeat is not important, but please be careful. Loseweisse doesn’t want to see you injured. It would make me very sad.”

She gave him a cute little wave and turned to leave.

Finally, they were alone.

Qin Chu turned and casually wiped away the trace of saliva Loseweisse’s kiss had left on his cheek.

Ugh, disgusting.

Hiss!

The Grand Prince, lifting his head, saw this.

Such a waste! he thought. Did this guy even know how precious a kiss from the Saintess was? He wanted to rush over and lick it clean.

He hadn’t even touched the Saintess’s hand, and this bastard, having received her kiss, didn’t even appreciate it. What a waste!

Qin Chu finally entered the arena.

The Grand Prince’s eyes were bloodshot, tears and blood mixing on his cheeks. He was heartbroken, furious, and desperate.

But he didn’t blame Loseweisse.

The Saintess must have been deceived by that bastard Qin Chu. This was definitely not her true intention.

He directed all his hatred towards Qin Chu.

A cruel, twisted smile appeared on his face, his eyes fixed on Qin Chu with a manic glint.

“I’ve decided!” he declared, his voice laced with venom.

“I won’t kill you so easily. In this duel, I will let everyone see how weak and despicable you are. I will make you kneel and beg for my forgiveness.”

“You dared to defile the pure Saintess. This is the punishment you deserve.”

Pure? Qin Chu thought, Pure, my ass.

He dug his ear impatiently, “Can we start now? I don’t want to waste too much time here. I have many girls waiting for me at home.”

The Grand Prince’s body trembled, but he didn’t explode in anger. Instead, a cold smile spread across his face. “Good,” he said, “Since you’re so eager to die, I’ll grant your wish…”

In a flash, he drew his sword.

A chilling aura enveloped him.

“Saintess Loseweisse, watch closely. This is what a real man looks like…”

“Frost Shadow Sword!”

A frosty, white pattern instantly covered his blade, giving it a strange beauty.

The next instant, the Grand Prince kicked off the ground with explosive force. The hard stone slab beneath his feet shattered with a bang. Wrapped in a chilling aura, he shot towards Qin Chu like a phantom.

Before reaching Qin Chu, he swung his sword, and seven frosty sword beams tore through the air with blinding speed, aiming for Qin Chu from all directions.

Swish, swish, swish…

The sound of tearing air echoed through the arena, accompanied by the gasps of the audience.

Qin Chu looked up, calmly watching the approaching sword beams.

His right hand hung naturally at his side, silver Battle Qi swirling around his arm, quickly condensing into a sharp sword.

Although Qin Chu didn’t take the Grand Prince seriously at all, this guy wasn’t even worthy of being his opponent, he still paid close attention to his strength.

This guy currently possessed power close to level 80.

His gaze locked onto the trajectory of each sword beam.

The next instant, his sword swept across.

Clang~~~

Seven crisp clashes rang out almost simultaneously, and the seven sword beams instantly shattered into pieces, scattering in the air.

The silver-white sword formed from Battle Qi trembled in Qin Chu’s hand.

He actually… blocked it?

Clearly, this result was beyond everyone’s expectations.

A wave of groans erupted from the stands. Many had bet heavily on Qin Chu losing in the first second of the fight. No one expected him to block the Grand Prince’s first attack.

Another group of people, however, looked smug. They had said that the Grand Prince wouldn’t end the duel so easily, he would definitely toy with his opponent first.

At this moment, the Battle Qi within Qin Chu’s body suddenly surged violently. Silver flames wrapped around his hair, shoulders, arms, and legs.

A large amount of Battle Qi flowed into the sword in his right hand, the sword extending, growing longer and thicker, instantly transforming into a huge spear.

Before anyone could react, he kicked the spearhead with his toe, and the spear leaped into the air.

With a bang, it blocked the Grand Prince who had rushed to Qin Chu.

Qin Chu seemed to have accurately predicted where the Grand Prince would appear. This scene made the four experts in the VIP seats frown. This kind of prediction required thousands of battles to develop into an instinctual reaction. How could Qin Chu possess such an ability?

The Grand Prince’s expression changed slightly. He hadn’t expected his two attacks to be blocked by Qin Chu. He shifted his footing, twisted his waist, and was about to swing his sword at Qin Chu’s neck when he found that the opponent’s spear had already thrust towards him with a whoosh.

A longer weapon had the advantage.

The Grand Prince was forced to retreat, putting some distance between himself and Qin Chu.

But Qin Chu’s attack wasn’t over yet.

He seemed to have anticipated the Grand Prince’s reaction. He took a step forward, his black hair fluttering, his body like a drawn bow, his right hand gripping the spear shaft tightly.

Whoosh!

The spear in his hand was thrown.

The spear, like a meteor tearing through the night sky, instantly disappeared.

Only a silver streak remained, appearing before the Grand Prince’s chest as if teleporting.

Qin Chu hadn’t even looked, yet he accurately judged where the Grand Prince would appear.

Where the silver spear passed, a terrifying storm erupted, the air compressed by the violent impact and then exploding. A deep groove appeared on the stone slab of the arena floor.

The Grand Prince’s eyes widened. Seeing the spear heading straight for his chest, he gritted his teeth. Too late to dodge, too late to block, his right hand shot out towards the spearhead, Battle Qi condensing into hard ice in his palm…

Screech!

A grating sound echoed as the spear and the Grand Prince’s palm rubbed violently against each other.

The violent impact sent the Grand Prince stumbling backwards until his back hit a stone pillar with a bang. The entire arena shook.

Dense cracks appeared on the round stone pillar.

The spear formed from Battle Qi gradually dissipated.

A deathly silence fell over the arena. This scene stunned countless people. They even wondered if they were seeing things.

Why was the Grand Prince, who was 28 levels higher, the one at a disadvantage? How was this possible?

This couldn’t be real.

The Grand Prince straightened up, annoyed that he hadn’t been able to defeat Qin Chu with a stylish move and impress Loseweisse with his prowess.

“Is this your true strength?”

“Not bad. It seems I have to get a little serious to deal with you,” the Grand Prince said in a cold voice.

He still maintained his pride as a superior, a stronger being.

“You talk too much. Has anyone ever told you that?”

“My time is precious. I really don’t want to waste too much of it on you.”

Qin Chu took a step forward with his right foot.

The Grand Prince’s face darkened, his smile becoming more cruel. Was Qin Chu putting him on the same level as himself?

A small warrior of only level 40, was he worthy?

Suddenly, a sense of danger arose in the Grand Prince’s heart. He felt a chilling coldness behind him.

Purely out of instinct, the Grand Prince abruptly stepped to the side. The next instant, an earth spike erupted from the ground, barely grazing his thigh.

A chill ran down the Grand Prince’s spine. That was too close. He almost got impaled.

“Qin Chu, you bastard! You’re so shameless, using magic in a duel!” The Grand Prince couldn’t help but scream.

“Is there a rule against using magic?”

“Shameless? You, a level 70 plus, challenging me, a level 40 something, to a duel, and you have the nerve to call me shameless?” Qin Chu raised an eyebrow and retorted.

The Grand Prince was speechless for a moment.

Whispers also arose from the stands. They had just remembered that there was a 28 level difference between Qin Chu and the Grand Prince. This wasn’t a fair duel at all.

From this perspective, the Grand Prince had already lost from the start. Even if he could defeat Qin Chu, there would be no glory in it.

“Then, next… Prepare for a storm of magic.” A cruel smile appeared on Qin Chu’s face as he spread his arms.

The next instant, countless huge fireballs fell from the sky towards the Grand Prince.

High-tier magic, Rain of Fire.

Before the fireballs could land, Qin Chu waved his right hand in the air, his fingers as if pulling something.

Crackling sounds echoed as a series of lightning bolts tore through the sky.

High-tier magic, Chain Lightning.

He spread his arms to the sides, and two huge tornadoes, formed from the stone slabs of the arena floor, roared towards the Grand Prince.

High-tier magic, Tornado!

High-tier magic, Thunderstorm.

High-tier magic, Blade Storm.

High-tier magic, Blizzard.

High-tier magic, Meteor Shower!

High-tier magic, Water Spout!

Original magic, Five Consecutive Lightning Whips…

In an instant, colorful lights flickered crazily in the arena, blinding everyone.

Qin Chu’s Mana seemed endless. With a wave of his hand, he cast one High-tier magic after another. If one spell couldn’t kill you, he would just bombard you with a bunch of them.

Under the Grand Prince’s terrified and desperate gaze, he was completely engulfed by magic.

Didn’t you want to see my true strength? Then I’ll show you a little bit.

Water, wind, fire, ice, lightning, earth… All kinds of magic at his fingertips.

Before one spell ended, another had already begun. For a time, the entire arena had become Qin Chu’s stage.

Chaotic energy transformed into a storm, raging in the arena. The surrounding metal fences rattled, the magic barriers on them activated, even showing signs of cracking.

Countless eyes were stung by the various lights. They couldn’t even make a sound, just staring wide-eyed as Qin Chu wreaked havoc.

In the VIP seats, Saint Monique, Wadsworth, Augustus, and Zimmerman all stood up abruptly, their eyes filled with shock.

They were shocked by Qin Chu’s astonishing Mana.

They were even more shocked that Qin Chu didn’t need to chant lengthy incantations at all. He could cast High-tier magic instantly. What kind of ability was this? This guy was cheating, right?

After an unknown amount of time, the torrent of magic finally subsided.

When the magic dissipated, the Grand Prince lay on the ground, almost unrecognizable. He was still alive, seemingly having used some method to protect himself before the magic hit, but the protection wasn’t perfect.

His body twitched like a dying frog…

The arena was deathly silent, everyone stunned by the power Qin Chu had displayed.

They watched as Qin Chu walked towards the Grand Prince step by step, raised his foot, and stepped directly on the Grand Prince’s dirty face:

“Grand Prince, I’ve been diligently cultivating magic with Grand Mage Athena for three days and three nights. What do you have to fight me with?”

As soon as he said this, Athena’s cheeks instantly flushed red.

And Augustus, Wadsworth, Saint Monique, and Zimmerman all looked thoughtful.

The Grand Prince didn’t have the strength to retort. He just stared at Qin Chu with ferocious and resentful eyes. His hand opened weakly, and a potion bottle rolled out from his palm.

Chapter 150: A Husband’s Transgression? 

“No way! Someone actually bet on the Hero winning? And they bet a hundred million?!”

“Gods, do they have money to burn? A hundred million Mana down the drain.”

“I wish they’d given it to me.”

“Shh, be quiet, it’s starting.”

The news of a hundred million Mana bet on the Hero’s victory caused a commotion among the spectators.

Amidst the clamor, the long wait finally ended. A referee entered the arena first. It was Morton, the captain of the Imperial Knights, making a guest appearance.

Morton was very strong. Even if something unexpected happened, he could intervene in time.

After Morton appeared, a tall, handsome figure emerged from the passage on the left. Although he looked a bit thinner after a few days, the Grand Prince’s elegance remained undiminished, his aura even more noble and charming.

Cheers erupted from the arena, the spectators waving their tickets and shouting at the top of their lungs. They were undoubtedly the nobles who had bet on the Grand Prince’s victory.

And these people made up almost 99.9% of the audience. Almost everyone believed this was a duel with a foregone conclusion. No one believed that the Hero could win with a 28-level difference.

This was a fair and just arena. The Hero had no chance for a sneak attack.

These people didn’t care about the consequences of the Hero’s potential loss. They just wanted excitement.

Moreover, although the Grand Prince’s status was no longer as high as before, and he had lost his right to inherit the throne, he was still a noble, a native of the Heavenly Continent.

Although the Hero was here to save this world, he was ultimately just an outsider from another world.

In this case, the support was overwhelmingly one-sided.

But when Qin Chu emerged from the other side, the noise abruptly died down, the contrast stark. Only a few scattered voices praised the Hero’s courage.

Seeing the approaching figure, the Grand Prince’s pupils constricted.

Just the sight of this man, this face, ignited the fury in his chest. His eyes were filled with venomous hatred, wanting nothing more than to tear Qin Chu apart.

It was because of this damned bastard that he had fallen from grace, losing his claim to the throne.

It was this bastard who had stolen Saintess Loseweisse from him, defiling the body meant only for him.

It was this bastard who had humiliated him at the banquet and taken away his fiancée.

All his hatred surged to the surface, and the Grand Prince gritted his teeth so hard that blood seeped from his gums.

Just as Qin Chu reached the entrance, he suddenly stopped and turned to look back.

This action caused another wave of murmurs.

“No way, is he scared?”

“I paid for this!”

“Is he getting cold feet now? Tch, what a coward.”

“A duel is sacred! Act like a man! Don’t make me look down on you…”

“That’s how outsiders are, no sense of chivalry.”

Even in the VIP seats, Wadsworth, Saint Monique, Augustus, and the others wore strange expressions, a shared thought crossing their minds: Could the Hero really be afraid?

If he was afraid, why not say so earlier? Why lose face in front of so many people?

The Grand Prince frowned, then a smug smile spread across his face. He spread his arms, as if he had already won the duel. “See? This is the Hero you’ve been waiting for.”

“He doesn’t even dare to step into this sacred arena.”

“Is it really appropriate to entrust the hope and fate of the Heavenly Continent to such a person?”

He bowed gracefully, basking in the cheers and the mockery directed at the Hero.

His brown eyes scanned the stands, searching for Loseweisse, wanting her to see who the true hero was, who the real man was.

Loseweisse, a man like me is worthy of you. Trash like Qin Chu is not. I don’t care that your body has been defiled. As long as you’re willing to look at me, I will be your most loyal knight.

Unfortunately, the Grand Prince couldn’t find Loseweisse in the dense crowd.

“Master Morton…” The Grand Prince looked at Qin Chu’s back and said to Morton, who was acting as the referee, “Shouldn’t you announce my victory…?”

“This guy doesn’t dare to come up. There’s no point in waiting any longer…”

Although he couldn’t personally teach Qin Chu a lesson, which was a pity, it was still good to let everyone see the Hero’s cowardly side.

But before the Grand Prince could finish his sentence, a figure suddenly emerged from the passage. Dressed in a pure white gown, like an angel descending from the heavens, her icy blue hair swaying behind her.

Even the Grand Prince had to admit that she was a beautiful woman.

It was his former fiancée, Anastasia.

The Grand Prince frowned. What was she doing?

Was she going to fight him in Qin Chu’s place?

What a shameless coward, pushing a woman to the front. He had no honor as a man.

But just as the Grand Prince was feeling smug, Anastasia stopped in front of Qin Chu, stood on tiptoe, ignoring the thousands of spectators, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him on the lips.

A deathly silence descended upon the arena, everyone’s faces filled with a strange mixture of shock and bewilderment.

Especially the Grand Prince. His body trembled as if he had been electrocuted, his smugness instantly turning into twisted rage.

They were actually kissing in front of him…

The Grand Prince’s lungs were about to burst.

Shameless! He was Anastasia’s fiancé! She was kissing another man right in front of him…

The nobles in the stands exchanged bewildered glances. What was this?

“I think this must be the Hero’s plan, trying to demoralize the Grand Prince. Look, the Grand Prince is about to explode with anger. Poor guy…”

“Kissing another man in front of your ex-fiancé, how exciting…”

“I suddenly have a strange idea. I’ll try this with my girlfriend later…”

After the brief kiss, Anastasia gracefully stepped back, seemingly unaffected by the gazes of the crowd.

Qin Chu touched his lips, a puzzled expression on his face.

“Hero, I wish you victory.”

Anastasia curtsied elegantly and disappeared into the passage.

Her action seemed to have started a trend. Soon, Angelica also appeared, a shy blush on her face. Like Anastasia, she kissed Qin Chu on the lips. “Master, be careful,” she whispered.

As soon as Angelica disappeared, Ekaterina, with her fiery red hair, appeared before Qin Chu.

Then came Athena…

One after another.

These women, each more beautiful and seductive than the last, any one of them enough to make a man happy for a lifetime, and now they were lining up in front of the Hero?

A strange atmosphere filled the stands.

“Am I jealous? Are you guys jealous…?”

“I’m about to lose my teeth from grinding them…”

“Damn it, so many beautiful girls, why can’t I have one?”

Envy, jealousy, and hatred filled the gazes of the spectators. They all wished they were the one standing at the entrance of the arena.

Violet appeared like a gust of wind. She was a bit tall, so kissing seemed a bit inappropriate. After a moment of thought, she opened her arms and hugged Qin Chu, his face buried in her soft and warm embrace.

A chorus of groans and wails erupted from the stands.

Jealousy made people ugly.

That embrace must be very warm.

Damn it, why could only the Hero enjoy such warmth? They wanted to experience it too.

“Although I know your strength… please be careful and don’t get hurt. Many girls will be heartbroken if you do,” Violet said, patting his head gently like an older sister.

Well, she was indeed like an older sister. There was no one taller than Violet in the Heavenly Continent.

Natia, in the VIP seats, watched this scene with envy, her small hand subconsciously clenching.

Perhaps she should also be more proactive, like these girls?

But her previous proposal had been rejected by Qin Chu.

Could it be that she shouldn’t be proactive with words, but with actions? Natia tilted her head, pondering.

She had thought Violet was the last one, but then Loseweisse suddenly appeared.

Her cheeks were flushed, her breath slightly ragged.

She had finally managed to sneak out of the Holy See. She was currently under house arrest and wasn’t allowed to leave before Karsus’s trial… She had also sneaked out three days ago.

But after Anastasia’s appearance, Loseweisse keenly sensed that her position was precarious. If she didn’t act, she would lose her place by the Hero’s side.

This was something Loseweisse couldn’t tolerate.

She had to make her presence known to the Hero, to make him notice her more.

Although she had wasted some time at the entrance placing a ten million Mana bet on the Hero losing… There was no helping it. She didn’t know who had stolen her money, and she was broke now. Although the odds of the Hero losing were low, she still wanted to earn a little something.

The Grand Prince stared wide-eyed as Loseweisse appeared before Qin Chu.

He shook his head like a madman, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets. Thinking about what might happen next, he almost went insane:

“No, don’t…”

“Loseweisse, please, don’t do this…”

The Grand Prince muttered, his scalp tingling.

But Loseweisse clearly didn’t hear him. She didn’t even seem to notice his presence.

A pure, innocent smile and a shy blush appeared on her face. Then, she stood on tiptoe and, as if to maintain her pure image, she didn’t kiss Qin Chu on the lips, but on the cheek.

A light kiss!

The moment Loseweisse’s lips touched Qin Chu’s cheek, the Grand Prince felt as if a heavy hammer had struck his chest.

His body trembled violently.

He spat out a mouthful of blood.

Chapter 149: Filial Piety

Wadsworth dismissed the guards stationed near the residence and pushed open the door alone.

A stifling atmosphere permeated the room, dimly lit by a magic lamp. A figure sat motionless in a chair, like a statue shrouded in shadows.

It was his son.

Once the Grand Prince of the Auville Empire.

But now, he looked incredibly haggard, as if he hadn’t slept well in a long time. Dark circles ringed his eyes, and his skin was an unhealthy pale.

However, the Grand Prince didn’t appear tired. On the contrary, he seemed very alert.

His deeply sunken eyes gleamed with intense excitement, and his lips were curled into a nervous, almost manic grin. He was impatiently waiting for tomorrow…

He would kill the Hero in the arena, in front of everyone, proving to them that he was superior.

He would make that foolish woman Anastasia understand who the true powerhouse was.

Although he looked disheveled and haggard, the Grand Prince’s clothes were neat and clean. His posture, sitting upright in the chair, still exuded nobility and elegance. Even in his downfall, he seemed unwilling to lose his dignity.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, the Grand Prince finally raised his eyelids, glancing at the newcomer with a mocking smile. “I wondered who it was. So it’s my most beloved father. Have you also come to see your son’s downfall?”

He had seen many such people these days. A fallen phoenix was truly not as good as a chicken. Even the servants who used to grovel at his feet, their faces full of flattery, now dared to bare their fangs at him.

With the Grand Prince’s strength, killing those fools wouldn’t take any effort at all. But the current Grand Prince was too lazy to bother with them. His only target was Qin Chu. He had to adjust himself to his best condition and defeat Qin Chu with absolute strength, proving his power to the world.

Others might underestimate the Hero, but the Grand Prince wouldn’t.

He had arranged for more than a dozen elite assassins to kill Qin Chu, but they were all wiped out. From that moment on, the Grand Prince knew that Qin Chu had been hiding his strength. He was far more powerful than people imagined.

However, the Grand Prince had absolute confidence in his own strength, because he had obtained a strange and powerful force from the Void.

He was far stronger than Qin Chu now.

He wouldn’t lose.

When he unleashed his power, he would shock everyone, and his father would regret his decision.

Wadsworth sighed softly. His expression was no longer his usual gruffness, but tinged with melancholy.

He didn’t answer his son’s question directly, but silently walked over and placed a set of knight’s armor beside the Grand Prince, “Your formal clothes are not suitable for battle. Wear this tomorrow.”

He also placed the Grand Prince’s sword beside the armor.

The Grand Prince’s body trembled slightly. He looked at Wadsworth in disbelief, surprised by his father’s actions.

“No matter what, you’re still my son, the one I value the most…”

“I’ve always raised you as my heir. You have great talent, and you’ve always made me proud. You don’t know how happy I was when others praised you.”

“But why did you have to fall for Loseweisse… You’re not stupid. You should know how intense the conflict is between the Empire and the Holy See, despite the superficial harmony.”

“No matter what, I will never allow you to be with Loseweisse.”

The Grand Prince lowered his eyelids, his fingers subconsciously clenching, but he didn’t speak. No one knew what he was feeling right now.

This was the first time his father had spoken to him with such an attitude and tone, which made the Grand Prince feel a little lost.

Perhaps only in this situation was Wadsworth not an emperor, but a father.

Wadsworth also seemed a little uncomfortable with this atmosphere. He shook his head anxiously and stood up, seemingly about to leave. But when he reached the door, he suddenly stopped, “Tomorrow, you must win.”

“There’s a potion inside the armor that can greatly increase your strength in a short time. For the glory of the Aberchian family, you absolutely cannot lose.”

“After you win, to appease the Hero’s resentment towards the royal family, I will strip you of your royal status, but I will give you your freedom. If you still want to pursue Loseweisse, go ahead, use your strength to conquer her.”

After saying these words, Wadsworth left without looking back.

Inside the room, the Grand Prince’s eyes gleamed, and his body trembled slightly with excitement.

After a long time, he murmured:

“Father, I will not disappoint you!”

On the other side, the fatherly expression on Wadsworth’s face vanished the moment he stepped out of the room, replaced by a hawk-like, sinister look.

Just making use of waste.

Wadsworth hoped to use his foolish son to force out the Hero’s full strength.

He couldn’t describe this feeling. This Second Hero seemed far more mysterious and terrifying than the First Hero, sometimes even making Wadsworth’s hair stand on end. If he couldn’t know the Second Hero’s true strength and potential, he wouldn’t be able to sleep or eat in peace.

He wasn’t worried that the Grand Prince’s actions would affect his relationship with the Hero. After all, the Hero also knew that he and his son were like fire and water.

Moreover, if the Hero was really about to be killed by the Grand Prince, he could step in and kill his son in time, perhaps even gaining some favor with the Hero.

As the Emperor, he didn’t need any messy emotions. The interests of the Aberchian family were his top priority.

…

The next day.

The Arena.

This arena had a nice name: Knight’s Glory.

If there was a conflict between people? Put on your armor, pick up your weapons, and settle it here.

Of course, this kind of thing didn’t happen every day. Even if there was a conflict, it didn’t necessarily have to be resolved in Knight’s Glory. The rental fee for the venue was very expensive, so most of the time, it was actually used as an entertainment facility for nobles and wealthy people.

Strong men from the commoner district, in order to earn a high appearance fee, would wear their coarse clothes, carry their rusty weapons, and fight ferocious beasts here.

This tradition had lasted for a thousand years. The blood, gore, severed limbs, and shrill screams constantly stimulated the nerves of the nobles and the rich. Even after the appearance of the Demon Beasts, it hadn’t been cancelled. On the contrary, the owner here had developed a new way to play: capturing live Demon Beasts and letting dozens of commoners fight them. The ferocious Demon Beasts would tear apart one body after another, always eliciting shrill screams of excitement.

The entire building looked somewhat similar to the Colosseum in ancient Rome. The huge circular arena was surrounded by a large number of stone pillars, majestic and magnificent. The arena was enclosed by metal fences, reinforced by high-level mages, so there was no need to worry about the Demon Beasts breaking free from the cage.

Further away were a large number of stands, which could accommodate tens of thousands of spectators.

The owner was overjoyed today. All the seats in the arena were filled. Even after increasing the ticket price tenfold, they were still instantly sold out. His business hadn’t been this good for a long time.

After all, the duel between the Grand Prince and the Hero, one a renowned and talented member of the royal family, the other a Hero from another world with two Super-tier abilities, was truly eye-catching.

The two protagonists hadn’t appeared yet, but the arena was already packed.

Noisy voices filled the air, and there were even large crowds in the corridors and aisles. The owner shamelessly started selling standing tickets, and the price wasn’t any lower.

The only thing that made the owner unhappy was that the royal family, the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess, and the Holy See took many tickets, all VIP seats, and they didn’t even pay… This made the owner curse them in his heart for three days and three nights.

In the VIP seats, Wadsworth, Saint Monique, Augustus, and Zimmerman sat in the center, with some members of the royal family, important figures from the Church, and Natia, the only representative from Sage Mountain besides Zimmerman, scattered behind them.

Natia had been in seclusion at Sage Mountain for the past few days. She seemed to need some time to calm down, but after hearing that Qin Chu was going to duel with the Grand Prince today, she couldn’t help but break through her seclusion and come.

At this moment, Natia was frowning, her face filled with visible worry.

Zimmerman glanced at his most outstanding disciple with a strange look. For Natia, who always had an indifferent expression, such an expression was extremely rare.

She definitely wasn’t worried about the Grand Prince… Could it be that the cabbage he had painstakingly raised was really going to be taken by the Hero?

This made Zimmerman feel the displeasure of an old father… Although he understood that Natia had to interact with this world, otherwise, her future would be very lonely and bleak. The Hero’s talent was undeniable, and he was indeed a good choice… But he was still displeased.

“Who do you think will win?” A lazy voice came from the royal family’s side.

It was the Third Prince, Bernard Aberchian.

His talent in Battle Qi wasn’t outstanding, but among all the princes, he was definitely the most insidious and cunning. After the Grand Prince fell from grace, Bernard was immediately entrusted with important tasks, and he was currently in his prime.

“The Hero will win,” replied a charming young lady in a purple dress.

A section of her slender leg was exposed beneath her skirt, her delicate toes swinging her black high heels back and forth, revealing the curve of her arch.

The black lace garter belt contrasted beautifully with her fair skin.

Bernard sighed helplessly. This was his younger sister, Carol Aberchian.

She had such a beautiful name… Well, her appearance was also quite beautiful, but her behavior was completely devoid of the

decorum expected of a royal family member. She even had her legs crossed… It was too inelegant.

Their father also had a headache because of Carol. He had arranged several etiquette teachers for her, but without exception, these elegant etiquette teachers were all driven away by Carol with a whip.

And her personality was extremely twisted. A young master from a duke’s family had a crush on Carol and once confessed to her publicly. As a result, his sister took out a metal collar from somewhere, saying that she didn’t need a boyfriend, but she hoped to have a well-behaved pet…

The duke’s face turned green at that time. Just thinking about that scene gave Bernard goosebumps.

It seemed that their father was preparing to send Carol to the Hero’s side. It should happen within the next few days.

Bernard withdrew his gaze, “Carol, you seem to have a lot of faith in the Hero? However, you might be overthinking it. Although I also hate Big Brother, his talent and strength are undeniable.”

Carol scoffed and didn’t say anything more.

Actually, almost everyone in the arena had similar thoughts to Bernard. No one thought Qin Chu could win. The difference in strength between the two was simply too great.

The Grand Prince’s public level was 75.

And the Hero’s public level was 47. His most notable achievement was defeating the level 60 Horn, seemingly through a sneak attack.

As everyone knew, the higher the level, the greater the difference between each level.

Although the Grand Prince was hit by dozens of beer bottles by Qin Chu at the banquet, that was because Qin Chu launched a shameless sneak attack, catching the Grand Prince off guard.

Once the Grand Prince was prepared, Qin Chu wouldn’t have a chance to launch a sneak attack.

At some point, the topic of discussion had changed. Even the gambling odds had changed from who would win to how long the Hero could last against the Grand Prince.

“I bet 1000 Mana that the Hero can last five minutes.”

“Are you kidding me? That’s the Grand Prince! Level 75, and the Hero is only level 47. With a 28 level difference, there’s no way he can last that long. Besides, I heard that the Hero even snatched the Grand Prince’s fiancée. Now, the Grand Prince’s fiancée is living in the Hero’s residence. Maybe they’ve already done this and that. Think about how the Grand Prince must be feeling, he must hate the Hero to death. Once the duel starts, I think it will be a storm. In that case, the Hero probably won’t even last a minute. I’ll also bet 1000, three seconds…”

“Don’t be so sure. Of course, I’m not saying the Hero can win, but haven’t you heard of a cat playing with a mouse? I think the Grand Prince won’t defeat the Hero so quickly. Maybe he’ll toy with him a bit, making him lose face in front of so many people. I bet half an hour…”

“Hehe, I don’t think so. I believe the Grand Prince will use his absolute power to instantly kill the Hero. I bet 500, one second…”

In the preparation room, Qin Chu sat quietly in a chair, his eyes closed, meditating.

Angelica, Violet, Ekaterina, Athena, and Anastasia were all accompanying him.

The soundproofing here wasn’t very good, and the voices outside clearly reached Angelica’s ears, making her feel very uncomfortable.

“Angelica, there’s no need to be angry at those people, they’re just having fun…” Qin Chu stretched lazily.

“But if no one bets on me winning at all, it would be a bit embarrassing.”

“Although my level isn’t as high as the Grand Prince’s, after three days and three nights of Athena’s guidance, I still have some confidence.”

Athena’s face flushed slightly, and she glared at Qin Chu.

“So let’s play a little too, a small gamble can be enjoyable…”

“Angelica, go place a bet, just a symbolic amount, don’t bet too much…”

“One hundred million will do!!”

Chapter 148: Athena is a Good Teacher

Phew…

Qin Chu let out a long breath, his body subconsciously tensing. He hadn’t expected Athena’s magic tutoring to begin in such a way. His expression was rather strange.

“Hero, are you alright?” Loseweisse asked, her expression also a bit odd. She had only seen Qin Chu’s lips tremble slightly, his gaze darting around.

“No, it’s nothing.” Qin Chu finally pulled his wandering mind back. He adjusted his posture in the chair, leaning back slightly, and looked at Loseweisse, who was sitting to his left, “Saintess, your concern is very touching.”

A gentle smile appeared on Loseweisse’s face. “So, what do you think, Hero? If you agree, I’ll go persuade His Holiness to use the Holy See’s influence to stop the duel between you and the Grand Prince. I believe His Holiness wouldn’t want you to be in danger either.”

Loseweisse was surprised to find that the Hero seemed a bit distracted today.

He had already adjusted his posture several times in this short period.

It seemed that although the Hero had accepted the challenge in the heat of the moment after being provoked by the Grand Prince, he was actually feeling uneasy, wasn’t he? His face was even a little red.

It was understandable. After all, the Grand Prince had a reputation. He had always been praised as a dragon among men, and everyone knew that he was a powerful expert. He had even personally appeared on the front lines against the Demon Beasts, slaying many powerful ones. Although there were doubts about who actually killed those Demon Beasts, it was still quite difficult for the Hero, with his current strength, to deal with the Grand Prince.

Qin Chu leaned forward slightly, his hands resting on the desk, his entire body and chair moving closer. His eyes flickered slightly, then he spoke:

“Saintess, I appreciate your kindness, but… I’m sorry.”

Huh?

Loseweisse didn’t expect Qin Chu to reject her proposal. He was clearly restless with fear, what was he insisting on?

“Why?” Loseweisse tilted her head cutely. Although Anastasia was slightly better than Loseweisse in terms of both figure and appearance, Loseweisse was very good at pretending. She could put on the most innocent and pure appearance in front of men.

And men usually didn’t have much resistance to this kind of purity, subconsciously developing unnecessary favorable feelings.

“I know a little about the rules of duels. If I run away this time, what do you think will happen…?” Qin Chu asked rhetorically with a long sigh.

He would become a coward despised by everyone.

So it was for the sake of face?

Loseweisse sneered inwardly. If he cared so much about face, then he shouldn’t have acted tough before.

Now he knew to be afraid?

His body was even trembling.

What a ridiculous man.

Of course, Loseweisse would never show her true thoughts on her face. She put on a very concerned and caring expression, speaking softly:

“Hero, this is not you running away from a fight, but the duel being terminated due to force majeure. You don’t have to worry about your reputation at all.”

“No, Saintess, you misunderstood.” Qin Chu swallowed and took a breath before continuing, “You’re right…”

Loseweisse became even more suspicious. She felt that the Hero’s speech was a bit incoherent today. It seemed that this duel was really putting a lot of pressure on him.

“But what I care about is not my reputation. Using the Holy See’s influence can indeed forcefully stop this duel, and we can claim it’s due to force majeure… But what do you think those nobles and commoners will think? They will only think that the Hero ran away from a fight, understand?”

Loseweisse’s breath hitched. She realized that she had oversimplified things.

Could Wadsworth, Augustus, and Saint Monique, those three old foxes, not have thought about the danger Qin Chu faced in a duel with the Grand Prince?

Impossible.

If there was real danger, those three old geezers would definitely jump out even faster than Loseweisse. They could even come up with more perfect solutions, such as the Grand Prince suddenly dying, or crippling most of his strength, or taking away his ability to speak, and then throwing him into the arena to be easily dealt with by Qin Chu.

This way, the Hero would gain fame, the morale of the Allied Forces against the Demon Beasts would be boosted because of his strength, and they could even gain the Hero’s favor. A triple win, a complete victory.

But now, these three old geezers were sitting still, without any reaction at all. Why? Because they had other, more important things in mind.

What they cared about more was the Hero’s true strength.

Although Qin Chu had been hiding his strength and pretending to be weak, ever since he suddenly defeated Horn and subdued Violet, these three old foxes had begun to suspect his true strength…

The Hero’s true strength was directly related to how they would treat him.

Beating up the Grand Prince at the banquet, in the eyes of ordinary people, was just Qin Chu being dishonorable and launching a sneak attack, catching the Grand Prince off guard.

But these old foxes knew very well that if there was really a difference in strength between them, then even if Qin Chu used a wine bottle for a sneak attack, the Grand Prince could have counterattacked and killed him in the next second.

But in reality, the entire process was almost entirely dominated by Qin Chu. The Grand Prince had almost no chance to fight back.

This made the three old geezers even more suspicious of Qin Chu’s strength. They could use this opportunity to test his true power, and as for the Grand Prince, he was just being used as a stepping stone.

Otherwise, with Wadsworth’s tight control, the Grand Prince’s challenge letter wouldn’t have even been sent out.

Compared to these three old foxes, Loseweisse was still too naive.

Qin Chu composed himself, “Saintess, have you thought about it too? The Hero is supposed to bring hope to the Heavenly Continent, to save this world. If the Hero runs away from a fight, what kind of blow would it be to the morale of the Allied Forces against the Demon Beasts? It’s unimaginable. They might even doubt whether they can really defeat the Demon Beasts with such a Hero.”

“So I must participate in this duel. Even if I lose, I can’t run away.”

Loseweisse finally understood and felt a little ashamed, “But the Grand Prince is really dangerous… His personality is very extreme, he’s capable of anything…”

Qin Chu suddenly smiled, “Saintess, how can you be sure that I will definitely lose?”

“Besides, I’m also working hard to cultivate. I’m receiving guidance from Athena and learning some magic. Maybe it will come in handy,” Qin Chu blinked, “Athena was just here tutoring me…”

“Athena?” Loseweisse seemed to relax a little, “If it’s Athena, then maybe she really has the ability to help you turn the tables. Athena knows a lot about potions and strange magic formations… These can temporarily increase your strength, although they often come with some side effects.”

“Yes, Athena is a very good teacher,” Qin Chu nodded repeatedly, praising her, “It’s just that her teaching style is varied. Sometimes it’s like a violent storm, sometimes like a gentle spring rain, nourishing things silently…”

“After a session of her guidance, my mind becomes empty, I don’t even want to think about anything.”

“At times like this, cultivating magic becomes twice as effective with half the effort.”

Loseweisse chuckled, covering her mouth, “Well, Athena’s personality is a bit eccentric. Please bear with her…”

As she spoke, Loseweisse stood up gracefully, “Since you already have a plan, Hero, I’m relieved. However… Hero, please be careful. I will be cheering for you. But it doesn’t matter if you lose the duel, please prioritize your own safety. The Heavenly Continent can’t afford to lose you.”

“If you get hurt, Hero, Loseweisse will be very sad,” the Saintess said softly, her face slightly red.

As she spoke, she also peeked at Qin Chu with gentle eyes.

Honestly, this kind of behavior was too powerful.

Qin Chu couldn’t help but shiver.

As Loseweisse was about to leave, Qin Chu also stood up to see her off. His clothes had become neat at some point.

When Qin Chu returned to the room after seeing Loseweisse off, Athena had also come out.

Her cheeks were still flushed, and she seemed a little angry, “Saying that I have an eccentric personality, she should look in the mirror and see what she looks like.”

Then she glared at Qin Chu angrily, “You, you actually made me hide under the desk? I could have just stayed here. It’s fine to meet Loseweisse…”

Athena was curious about her own reaction. Normally, she should be very angry, even explode, but she wasn’t. Strangely, she didn’t even dislike this feeling very much.

At this moment, Qin Chu suddenly thought of something, and he slapped his head, “Right, Miss Athena… There’s something I need to tell you.”

As he spoke, Qin Chu reached into his storage ring and took out a diamond-shaped crystal, handing it to Athena.

Athena was thinking about other things and felt a little impatient. After all, this wasn’t what she was yearning for right now… However, she quickly realized that this was Lord Jie Luo’s soul fragment.

She suppressed her slight irritation and took the soul fragment, examining it carefully. It didn’t seem to have any problems… After a few seconds, she finally noticed it.

A surprised and joyful expression appeared on her face, her voice even trembling slightly, “Lord Jie Luo’s soul fragment, has it healed a little?”

Although it was still covered in cracks, there seemed to be slightly fewer cracks than before.

Overjoyed, Athena didn’t even notice her own words, directly calling him “Lord Jie Luo.”

Fortunately, Qin Chu didn’t notice this.

Could it be that what happened last time accelerated the healing of the soul fragment? This thought quickly occurred to Athena, and she felt a surge of emotion. As expected, the sacrifice she made for Lord Jie Luo was useful.

If that was the case, this sacrifice had to continue. The more she sacrificed, the faster Lord Jie Luo’s resurrection would be.

At this moment, Qin Chu’s words made Athena’s face turn pale.

“After last time, I noticed that there are fewer cracks on this thing. Could it be because of that? Haha, if that’s really the case, then doing it a few more times might be able to resurrect the First Hero.”

Athena’s mind buzzed, and her face instantly turned pale.

A strong sense of fear surged in her heart. Could it be that Qin Chu had discovered their secret? What was he planning to do? Was he going to completely destroy the soul fragment? She instinctively wanted to stop Qin Chu. This absolutely couldn’t happen. If the soul fragment was completely destroyed, Lord Jie Luo might never be resurrected.

Seeing Athena’s expression, Qin Chu’s face turned strange, “Miss Athena, I was just joking, you didn’t take it seriously, did you? How could anyone be resurrected like that?”

Athena forced a smile, her gaze darting around, as if she didn’t dare to look Qin Chu in the eyes. She said with some embarrassment, “You know, the First Hero had a good relationship with us. After all, we fought side by side for many years, we do have feelings for him. Hearing the words ‘First Hero’s resurrection’ suddenly, it was a bit of a shock.”

“By the way, do you still need my magic guidance?” Athena changed the subject abruptly, giving Qin Chu a charming glance, and quickly adjusted her mental state. After seeing the cracks on Lord Jie Luo’s soul fragment starting to heal, the last bit of resistance in Athena’s heart disappeared completely. The self-moved and self-satisfied feeling brought about by self-sacrifice reached an unprecedented peak, and the slight resistance in her consciousness completely vanished.

Fortunately, Qin Chu didn’t seem to be a very observant man. He didn’t seem to notice the slight change in Athena’s emotions, his attention completely captured by her words.

His gaze became fervent, “Of course, there’s an old saying in my hometown, ‘Learning is a boundless sea, and hard work is the ship.’ In order to reach the peak of wisdom, it’s nothing to suffer a little. I can endure it.”

Athena didn’t care about anything else anymore, as long as her heart didn’t fall.

Lord Jie Luo, look, this is the sacrifice I’m making for you.

For you, I’m willing to do anything.

…

In the next few days, Qin Chu and Athena secluded themselves, diligently studying magic, not receiving any guests.

On the night before the duel, a special guest arrived at the Grand Prince’s residence.

Wadsworth!

Chapter 147: Athena’s Tutoring 

He had just declared boldly, “If he wants to fight, then let’s fight!” and then immediately turned around to ask Shaye if there was any way to legitimately kill his opponent.

His heroic spirit vanished in an instant.

Even Shaye felt quite helpless at Qin Chu’s behavior.

Qin Chu couldn’t help it. He naturally wanted to kill the Grand Prince, and although the challenge letter stated that their lives were in their own hands, that bastard was still Wadsworth’s son.

He had to give face to Wadsworth. Even if Qin Chu had the strength, he couldn’t really kill the Grand Prince in the arena.

If he wanted to kill the Grand Prince, he needed a legitimate reason, a reason that would make his death unavoidable.

An enemy like the Grand Prince was better off dead sooner rather than later.

Shaye sighed helplessly, “Think about it, why did Karsus, who is about to be executed, end up in this situation?”

“Because he’s stupid…” Qin Chu immediately answered.

“I think you’re the stupid one. His stupidity is his own business. What’s the reason given by the Holy See?” Shaye slapped Qin Chu on the head, “The Holy See said that Karsus was tainted by the power of darkness, lost control, and slaughtered 3200 Holy Knights…”

“Understand? This is a legitimate reason that no one can refute.”

“So I have to find a way to make the Grand Prince tainted by the power of darkness and make it obvious…” Qin Chu fell into thought.

This didn’t seem very difficult. He just had to find a way to make the Grand Prince touch any of those scrolls.

…

Gossip always spread the fastest.

In no time, the news that the Grand Prince and the Hero would duel in the arena three days later had spread throughout the city.

For a while, all the nobles were talking about it.

It seemed that the Grand Prince had really been driven mad by Qin Chu at the banquet. It was understandable. Who could withstand having dozens of bottles smashed over their head? Especially the Grand Prince?

Moreover, now, anyone who wasn’t an idiot could see that the Grand Prince had lost his right to inherit the throne. In the past few days, Wadsworth had begun to consciously involve some of his other capable sons in the management of the Auville Empire.

Falling from being the heir to the throne to nothing, this gap was like heaven and hell. Few people could withstand it.

Plus, his fiancée had broken off their engagement.

At this time, the Grand Prince was practically a contestant in the Auville Empire’s “Most Miserable Person” competition, and he would probably win the championship.

However, this was his own fault, wasn’t it? No matter how much he looked down on Anastasia, she was still his fiancée. To humiliate her so publicly was not the behavior of a gentleman.

It was too undignified.

Moreover, few people would care about a foolish prince who had lost his right to inherit the throne and would definitely have no chance of participating in the core of power in the future, especially those followers who had been clinging to the Grand Prince. They would even step on him to curry favor with the other princes who might inherit the throne.

“Tsk, he deserves it. Think about how arrogant the Grand Prince was before, looking down on everyone. Now what? He’s not even as carefree as us minor nobles.”

“I heard that the Grand Prince gathered a group of men and women in his palace and did some terrible things, almost angering His Majesty to death…”

“Tch, isn’t that common for high-ranking nobles? I heard that Marquis Momor did the same thing… But I know something even more shocking. I heard that the Grand Prince often runs around in women’s clothing late at night.”

“That’s nothing. I heard that the Grand Prince stole the underwear of several noble ladies… Two noble ladies have already come forward to confirm it, it’s absolutely true…”

“Ugh, how disgusting…”

“He’s disgraced all the nobles.”

In this world, no matter how noble you once were, once you fell from grace, there would always be more people who would step on you than those who would save or pity you.

With the deliberate promotion of some people with ulterior motives, the Grand Prince’s reputation became worse and worse.

But even so, no one thought the Hero could win.

Reputation was one thing, strength was another.

The Grand Prince was the most talented among the younger generation of the royal family. In a few years, he might even become a Champion.

As for the Hero, although his progress was unprecedented, even the First Hero couldn’t compare.

But again, the Hero had been in this world for too short a time, not enough time for him to grow strong. Even if he had defeated Horn before, there was still an insurmountable gap between him and the Grand Prince.

The Hero had a 99% chance of losing this duel. With the Grand Prince’s ruthless personality, he might even take the opportunity to kill the Hero… As for the banquet incident, where the Grand Prince was hit by dozens of beer bottles by Qin Chu, that was purely a sneak attack. The Grand Prince was stunned and didn’t react in time. It was also possible that he was wary of Ekaterina and Violet, who were beside Qin Chu, and didn’t dare to retaliate directly. But once they were in the arena, it would be different. If the Hero really asked those two for help, he would be laughed at for the rest of his life.

People were looking forward to seeing what would happen.

Some even started gambling. The odds of the Hero winning were 1 to 30. Almost no one thought he could win.

Compared to the commotion outside, Qin Chu’s side seemed quite calm, seemingly unaffected by the upcoming duel.

Shaye, Violet, and Ekaterina all knew Qin Chu’s true strength. Although he hadn’t reached the Champion realm yet, dealing with the Grand Prince was still a piece of cake.

Moreover, Qin Chu also had Shaye and Anthea inside him. If he really wasn’t a match for the Grand Prince, they could help at any time.

That idiot Grand Prince didn’t even understand that he wasn’t fighting against just one person…

On the other hand, someone couldn’t hold back anymore.

It was Athena.

Since their last meeting at the restaurant, Athena hadn’t visited Qin Chu for a few days.

She felt ashamed and didn’t know how to face him.

Even though she kept telling herself that all this sacrifice was for Jie Luo, Athena still couldn’t be as unrestrained as Ekaterina.

Most importantly, she was terrified of her body’s reaction, afraid that one day she would completely fall. She admired Ekaterina’s willpower, being able to distinguish between Jie Luo and Qin Chu so clearly.

Athena didn’t attend the banquet last time either, but now, hearing that Qin Chu was going to duel with the Grand Prince, she couldn’t hold back anymore.

It didn’t matter if Qin Chu died, but there was still Jie Luo’s remnant soul in his body! She absolutely couldn’t tolerate Lord Jie Luo being harmed.

After learning the news, Athena immediately rushed to the residence.

She didn’t see Qin Chu in the hall, only Angelica teaching Karen how to read.

Ekaterina and Violet were also nowhere to be seen.

“Angelica… Where’s Qin Chu?” Athena asked, suppressing her anxiety and trying to remain calm.

“Master is upstairs with Miss Anastasia…”

That damned bastard.

Ever since Athena heard about what happened between the Hero, the Grand Prince, and Anastasia, she knew that with Qin Chu’s personality, he would eventually make a move on Anastasia. But she didn’t expect it to be so soon.

Moreover, it was still daytime, right?

Doing this kind of thing in broad daylight was simply too much.

Did this guy even know what the current situation was?

The anger in her heart intensified for no reason. Her Eye of True Sight had been removed by Anastasia. She was a very skilled mage. Fortunately, Qin Chu seemed to think that it might have been planted by the Holy See or the royal family and didn’t suspect her.

Her sexy high heels clicked on the stairs as she quickly went up to Qin Chu’s bedroom door and pushed it open angrily. But she found that the situation was different from what she had imagined.

They weren’t doing what she had imagined. Qin Chu was sitting cross-legged on the floor, and Anastasia was beside him, pointing at something. It looked more like she was tutoring Qin Chu in magic?

Recalling the images that had just appeared in her mind, Athena felt a little ashamed.

Her thoughts seemed to be becoming more and more unhealthy.

Qin Chu and Anastasia looked at Athena at the same time. After a brief pause, Anastasia smiled understandingly, “It seems your friend has something to say to you. I won’t disturb you, take your time.”

Anastasia obediently left the room. When she passed by Athena, she even nodded gracefully in greeting, thoughtfully closing the door behind her.

“Athena, is something the matter?” Qin Chu also stood up and asked with some suspicion.

Athena took a deep breath, suppressing her frustration, and said in a deep voice, “Qin Chu, are you crazy?”

Qin Chu was a little confused, “Why do you say that?”

“Do you even know what you’re doing? Dueling with the Grand Prince? Do you really think you’re his match? That guy hates you to death, he will definitely take this opportunity to kill you,” Athena said quickly and anxiously. Lord Jie Luo couldn’t die with this idiot.

Qin Chu, however, was very relaxed. He slowly walked to Athena’s side, “Athena, I’m very touched.”

“What?” Athena couldn’t understand.

Qin Chu placed his right hand on Athena’s shoulder, activating the Touch of Lust silently, and said softly, “Because you’re concerned about me, right, Athena?”

For some reason, Athena felt her heart beat faster, and her body temperature seemed to be rising.

A restless feeling surged uncontrollably from deep within her.

The Touch of Lust ability wasn’t very strong in itself, but the most terrifying thing about it was that it was silent and almost impossible to detect when activated. Even Grand Mages like Natia and Athena couldn’t sense it, and they would be affected without realizing it.

Athena even felt a little inexplicably flustered. She didn’t dare to look into Qin Chu’s eyes. Could it be that she really cared about him? She subconsciously muttered, who cares about you? I’m only concerned about Lord Jie Luo.

Her gaze darted around.

At this moment, Qin Chu suddenly stepped forward and wrapped his arm around Athena’s slender waist.

“Ah!”

Athena was startled by Qin Chu’s action and let out a pleasant cry.

Her soft and voluptuous body instinctively twisted and struggled in his arms, “What are you doing? Let go of me…”

“Athena,” Qin Chu whispered in her ear, “I know there’s a gap between my strength and the Grand Prince’s, but it’s not insurmountable.”

“After that time with you at the hotel, Miss Athena, I found that my Mana has increased significantly…”

“But I’m not very proficient in magic. Miss Athena, would you be willing to tutor me in magic before the duel?”

His warm breath made Athena’s body feel weak, almost unable to muster any strength. If Qin Chu wasn’t holding her waist, she even suspected that she might collapse directly.

Her heartbeat became faster and faster, and her chestnut eyes were filled with a layer of mist.

Her breathing turned into rapid gasps.

She naturally understood what Qin Chu meant by “magic tutoring.” Her body trembled slightly… She blamed herself inwardly, she shouldn’t have come to find Qin Chu. It turned out like this again.

She hated her body’s involuntary reaction.

She knew she couldn’t refuse, but the last shred of her self-esteem made Athena unwilling to surrender so quickly, “Now, now? It’s daytime, what if someone comes…”

“Look, isn’t there plenty of space under the desk?”

Athena glanced at the tall desk…

At this moment, footsteps suddenly came from outside, followed by a knock on the door.

Qin Chu’s expression changed, “Quick, hide under the desk.”

Athena, whose mind was in a state of confusion, didn’t think much and quickly ducked under the desk.

As for Qin Chu, he sat calmly on the chair in front of the desk.

Only after hiding under the desk did Athena suddenly remember that she hadn’t done anything wrong, so why did she have to hide?

She could hear Qin Chu’s voice. The person who came in was Loseweisse. It was impossible for her to go out now. There was originally nothing going on, but if she crawled out from under the desk now, it would really seem like there was something going on.

Loseweisse seemed to be worried that Qin Chu might be in danger during the duel and came to persuade him not to participate.

A duel was a very formal and serious matter in this world. Once both parties confirmed the duel, no one could stop it. If one party ran away, they would be considered a coward and ridiculed for the rest of their life.

However, if they used the Holy See’s influence, they could forcefully stop the duel and allow Qin Chu to withdraw with dignity.

Perhaps due to the confined space, Athena felt her body becoming stranger and stranger, her mood restless, and her breathing even more rapid.

She didn’t even dare to use Mana to suppress her body’s reaction, worried that the perceptive Loseweisse would notice.

A strong desire even surged from deep within her.

No, not desire. Everything she did was for Lord Jie Luo.

T/N: Note that the term “Valkyrie” could also be replaced as “Champion”, which is a title not exclusive to women. Although the author has previously used this title only for female characters, it’s recently been revealed to be a more general term that can also refer to men, albeit rarely, in those cases I’ll use “champion”

Chapter 146: The Goddess’s Struggle 

Breaking off the engagement!

Anastasia’s words surprised Qin Chu. For the princess of the Ice Duchy to break off her engagement with the Grand Prince of the Empire was no small decision. The pressure involved was immense, enough to crush a lesser person. Most girls in her position would have silently endured the humiliation.

The consequences of breaking off the engagement were too severe for her and her country to bear.

Anastasia had initially intended to endure it, even contemplating suicide. Breaking off the engagement hadn’t even been a consideration.

For the Grand Prince, for the entire Empire, being rejected in such a way would be a tremendous disgrace. If the Empire retaliated, the Ice Duchy wouldn’t stand a chance. Yet, Anastasia had made this bold, decisive choice.

“Have you thought this through?” Qin Chu asked.

“Of course,” Anastasia replied, her voice cold and resolute. “The Ice Duchy holds back more than half of the Demon Beasts on the northern front. If the Empire acts against us, I will ask my father to withdraw our forces and let the Demon Beasts run rampant. If we become enemies, the Ice Duchy will either die at the hands of the Demon Beasts or the Imperial Army. Either way, it’s death. So why not drag more people down to hell with us? I think Wadsworth will consider this carefully.”

“The Empire’s long-term oppression of the Ice Duchy has already caused much discontent among our people. I believe many would be willing to do this.”

Qin Chu burst out laughing, a genuine, unrestrained sound. That’s right, he thought, that’s how it should be. When you’re not afraid of death, it’s others who should fear you. Anastasia had finally understood this principle.

In the first playthrough, Anastasia, unable to bear the humiliation, had committed suicide. The consequences were disastrous: rebellion in the north, and the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Imperial soldiers. The Demon Beasts had even pushed deep into the Empire’s territory, causing heavy losses and a period of great instability.

As long as Anastasia held firm, she didn’t need to fear the Empire’s threats, at least not until the Hero subdued the Demon Beasts… And Qin Chu, as the Hero, would surely subdue them, right?

Probably.

After a while, Qin Chu’s laughter subsided. “Clever,” he said, “But what does this have to do with me? Why should I be responsible?”

A sly, fox-like smile appeared on Anastasia’s face. She leaned closer, her hand resting on his chest, the neckline of her dress dipping slightly, offering a tantalizing glimpse of her fair skin. “Because of you, of course,” she murmured, “If it weren’t for you, I would have already killed myself. I wouldn’t have made the decision to break off the engagement.”

“And it was you who made me understand that the Empire doesn’t dare to act rashly against the Ice Duchy right now!”

“You defended my dignity and made me realize that my feelings for the Grand Prince were just a girlish fantasy…”

“I was helping you,” Qin Chu protested, feeling a bit wronged, “Isn’t this a bit like biting the hand that feeds you?”

“That’s why… Hero, please continue to help me. I might have to stay in the Empire for a while longer. You wouldn’t want me to sleep on the streets, would you? I might be bullied by bad people,” Anastasia said with a pitiful expression. She seemed much more playful after recovering from her earlier despair.

Qin Chu didn’t dislike it.

“So, kind Hero, can you continue to take in the homeless Anastasia?”

“There will always be a room for you in my residence, Anastasia,” Qin Chu said with a slight nod.

Anastasia beamed. Imitating Qin Chu’s earlier casualness, she stretched languidly, disregarding noble etiquette, her graceful figure on full display. In front of Qin Chu, she didn’t have to be so reserved, she could relax a little.

“I need to contact my parents… I have to let them know about this important matter,” she said after a while.

As Anastasia left, Qin Chu felt a pang of loneliness. Lying on the grass, gazing at the night sky, he thought about the people in this world. Some lived their lives in a daze, some were filthy and corrupt, but some were struggling very hard.

He raised his arm, and the silver mark on his wrist shimmered under the moonlight.

Was the goddess trapped in the cage also struggling desperately?

As if in response to Qin Chu, a burning sensation suddenly came from the Goddess’s Hair wrapped around his wrist.

This time, Qin Chu didn’t touch the scroll he had taken from Loseweisse, but his gaze seemed to penetrate the endless night sky, reaching the deepest part of the Void.

His consciousness seemed to have made contact with some mysterious existence.

He saw it.

Massive metal cylinders, larger than meteorites, arranged neatly, forming an enormous cage.

He saw a tall, graceful figure within the cage, draped in white gauze. He tried to see the goddess’s face, but it was blurred.

A surging energy emanated from her. The white gauze fluttered in the void, her silver hair danced wildly behind her, and her fair hands continuously unleashed energy that distorted space, turning the area around her into a chaotic energy storm.

The cage trembled violently, dense cracks appearing on the thick metal cylinders.

Seven strange energies extended from different directions, wrapping around the cage and repairing the damage.

They didn’t dare to relax for even a moment. Any lapse in concentration might allow the goddess to break free from the cage.

Qin Chu saw thick, swirling dark red clouds, a huge, twisted flame forming a grinning face; he saw a figure exuding elegance and nobility, sometimes male, sometimes female, filled with a sinister charm…

Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced through Qin Chu’s mind.

It felt as if his brain had been turned into mush.

His body convulsed in a twisted posture, countless strange symbols appearing all over him in an instant, making him look terrifying.

He felt as if countless ferocious insects were wriggling inside his body, trying to break free. Countless vertical eyes appeared on his skin, quickly rupturing and festering.

A strong sense of violence surged within him, an urge to destroy everything.

Strange whispers echoed in his ears, like needles trying to pierce his soul, tempting him to remove the hair from his wrist.

Twisted and chaotic illusions appeared before his eyes, strange limbs seeming to call out to Qin Chu, inviting him to become one of them…

At this moment, the silver hair on his wrist suddenly emitted a gentle and bright light, quickly dispelling the abnormalities in his body. His convulsing body gradually calmed down.

He was drenched in sweat, as if he had just undergone strenuous exercise. He gasped, his throat burning.

He knew that the goddess in the cage was struggling. It was her struggle that distracted those seven strange deities, preventing them from noticing him.

He closed his eyes, trying to regulate his breathing and his chaotic consciousness…

That wasn’t something he could consider now. It was better to avoid gazing into the Void in the future. It was full of danger.

After a long while, Anastasia returned, “My parents agreed to my proposal and asked me to convey their gratitude to you.”

“Also, my father asked me to ask you if you’re interested in becoming the royal consort of the Ice Duchy,” Anastasia squatted down beside Qin Chu, the tight-fitting, pure white dress outlining the alluring curves of her thighs and buttocks.

This princess was becoming less and less concerned about etiquette.

Qin Chu’s mind had recovered. Anastasia didn’t notice anything. He averted his gaze with some embarrassment, “Royal consort? Not interested, the Ice Duchy is too cold.”

“Is that so? That’s a pity,” Anastasia shrugged with disappointment, “I was thinking, the Grand Prince hates you so much, if I married you, it would definitely infuriate him…”

So that was why it was a pity? For a moment, his heart had actually skipped a beat.

Anastasia stood up, patted the grass and dirt off her clothes, and extended her hand to Qin Chu, “Hero, shall we go home?”

…

By the time they returned to the residence, the news of what happened at the banquet had already spread because of some gossipmongers. Even the four guards knew about it.

They were furious at the Grand Prince’s rudeness and very grateful to Qin Chu for standing up for their princess.

They were worried about their princess, but they found that Anastasia seemed to be in a good mood.

Anastasia even comforted them, telling them not to worry. She had spent a long time this evening preparing a statement.

The next morning, Anastasia was already properly dressed. She changed into a gorgeous outfit and headed towards the Imperial Palace.

The guards at the gate didn’t stop her. Although such a thing had happened yesterday, and both the Grand Prince and Anastasia had become laughingstocks, her status was still there.

According to the rules, Anastasia handed her statement to a civil official, then waited quietly in the council hall. Her demeanor was elegant and confident, seemingly unaffected by what had happened yesterday.

Wadsworth, who had been angered by his stupid son and hadn’t slept all night, couldn’t help but smile wryly when he saw the statement in his hand.

In this statement, Anastasia used euphemisms to express that she and the Grand Prince had incompatible personalities, and if they were forced to be together, it would only bring misfortune to both of them. Therefore, she hoped to break off the engagement.

What did “incompatible personalities” even mean…? He had already slapped her in public before they were even married. What would happen after they got married?

Anastasia was a princess, after all. It was normal for her to be unable to bear such humiliation. But Wadsworth didn’t expect this girl to be so strong and directly propose to break off the engagement.

This made Wadsworth feel a little regretful. Such an excellent girl, if she could really become his daughter-in-law, would definitely be a great help to his son.

Too bad, that idiot.

Wadsworth continued to read as he pondered, his expression gradually becoming serious. At the end of the statement, in a pleading tone, she mentioned that the Ice Duchy had suffered great losses in the war against the Demon Beasts, and due to lack of food and clothing, many excellent warriors who shouldn’t have died had perished at the claws of the Demon Beasts.

If this continued, the Ice Duchy might not be able to continue shouldering the responsibility of blocking the Demon Beast invasion from the north. The humans of the Heavenly Continent were all interconnected, like lips and teeth. Therefore, she hoped that the Empire could provide more material support.

Wadsworth’s expression became more and more regretful. This was truly a capable girl. Perhaps he could transfer the engagement from the Grand Prince to another prince?

…

Soon, an announcement was issued in the name of the Auville Empire’s royal family.

Because Princess Anastasia Maysfield of the Ice Duchy and Grand Prince Lance of the Auville Empire had incompatible personalities, both sides had friendly consultations and exchanged opinions frankly, deciding to break off the engagement.

However, those who knew a little about the situation understood that this was just a euphemism used to save face for the Empire.

After Anastasia submitted her statement, the engagement was quickly broken off. It was clearly Anastasia who had initiated the breakup.

Although this princess had lost face at the banquet, her decisive and resolute action still earned the admiration of many.

Another piece of news was that in order to maintain the united front against the Demon Beasts in the Heavenly Continent, the Empire decided to increase its material support to the Ice Duchy, including cotton-padded clothes, weapons, and food, with a tentative increase of 50%.

At the same time, the Royal Knights, led by Champion Morton, were sent to the homes of various nobles to solicit donations…

…

“Bastard, damn it…”

On the other side, the Grand Prince, who was confined to his residence and couldn’t go out, heard about the broken engagement from a few of his loyal subordinates and flew into a rage.

Almost everything in the room had been smashed to pieces, there was nothing left for him to throw.

His handsome face was twisted with rage, looking terrifying. His bloodshot eyes were filled with intense anger and killing intent.

That damned bitch, how dare she break off the engagement!

What friendly consultation? He wasn’t even present.

He was the Grand Prince, the most noble person in the entire empire in the future.

He could abandon that woman, but he would never allow her to break off the engagement on her own initiative.

All his face, dignity, and glory had been trampled upon by that woman. This was something the Grand Prince could never tolerate.

The series of blows almost drove the Grand Prince mad. He let out low growls like a crazed mad dog.

That woman, how dare she?

Who gave her the courage?

“Where is that woman now?” The Grand Prince roared at his few remaining loyal subordinates with a hoarse voice.

“At… at the Hero’s residence.”

Hiss…

The Grand Prince’s body twitched violently.

The Hero’s residence, had they even started living together?

Filthy, shameless things.

Qin Chu… That’s right, it was all Qin Chu. It must have been that bastard who instigated this. Otherwise, Anastasia would never have dared to break off the engagement.

That damned bastard, he would kill him…

“Send a letter to Qin Chu for me,” the Grand Prince snarled.

It was… a challenge letter!

When the challenge letter was delivered to Qin Chu, he just smiled contemptuously and tossed it aside, “Tell the Grand Prince…”

“If he wants to fight, then let’s fight!”

After the messenger left, Qin Chu suddenly asked Shaye, “Shaye, is there any way for me to kill him legitimately?”

Chapter 145: Breaking the Engagement! You’re Responsible for Me Now! 

Smash!

The bottle shattered. Not into shards of glass, but into a fine powder, like dust. Tiny crystalline particles scattered, coating the ground in a sparkling layer.

A deathly silence descended upon the banquet hall. The noble ladies stared, dumbfounded, at Qin Chu, one hand gripping the Grand Prince’s arm, the other still holding the neck of the now-pulverized bottle. Good heavens, they thought, he’s insane! To assault the Grand Prince like this, in front of everyone, was beyond brazen. It was a complete loss of decorum, both for the Hero who had just smashed a bottle over the Grand Prince’s head, and for the Grand Prince himself, dripping with red wine and humiliation.

That was the Grand Prince! Even if he was the Hero, this was going too far.

Yet, a flicker of perverse satisfaction ran through some of the ladies present. After all, they too were women, vying for the Grand Prince’s attention, hoping for a chance to become his consort. They had sneered at Anastasia, mocked her provincial manners and simple dress. But seeing her humiliated so publicly by her betrothed evoked a reluctant sympathy. And seeing a man defend a woman so fiercely, even if it was against the Grand Prince, was undeniably…thrilling.

The male nobles, however, felt a chill run down their spines, instinctively reaching for their own heads. They might be despicable, but they were also shrewd. This was a conflict between the Hero and the Grand Prince, a dangerous game they had no desire to be caught in. Besides, the Hero had been with the Emperor just moments ago. This sudden outburst, this blatant act of violence, must have had the Emperor’s tacit approval.

Anastasia, initially stunned, now understood what had happened. Looking at Qin Chu’s cold expression, she felt a surprising warmth bloom in her chest. He had been worried about her, concerned for her safety.

The Grand Prince, however, was dazed, standing frozen in place, unable to process what had just happened. Red liquid dripped down his forehead, coating him in a sticky mess. It wasn’t blood; he was a level 70 expert, after all. A simple wine bottle couldn’t break his skull. It was just wine, humiliating and sticky, but not life-threatening.

After a few stunned seconds, the Grand Prince’s body trembled as if struck by lightning. “Qin Chu!” he shrieked, “You…you dare to hit me?!”

Qin Chu grinned, his words dripping with sarcasm, “Didn’t I tell you to stop hitting her? Why don’t you listen to your uncle?”

Smash!

Before the echo of his words faded, another bottle appeared in his hand, exploding against the Grand Prince’s forehead.

The surrounding nobles murmured amongst themselves. He says ‘stop hitting her,’ but he’s the one doing all the hitting.

“I’ll f***ing…” A stream of curses, devoid of any royal decorum, poured from the Grand Prince’s mouth. His elegant facade had crumbled along with the shattered bottles. He struggled to move, but his body felt sluggish, his Battle Qi strangely unresponsive, as if choked by his own rage. Unseen by him, black chains, conjured by Anthea, coiled around him, restricting his movements, slowing his reactions.

Qin Chu released the Grand Prince’s wrist and grabbed him by the collar. He extended his hand, and another bottle, as if drawn by an invisible force, flew across the room and landed in his palm, much to the astonishment of the watching nobles.

“Stop hitting her! Why don’t you understand human language?!” He swung the bottle, and with a pia, it exploded against the Grand Prince’s cursing mouth. Shards of glass flew into his mouth, some swallowed involuntarily. He felt his teeth loosen, blood welling up in his gums.

Smash!

Smash!

Smash!

A fourth bottle, a fifth, a sixth…a thirtieth, a fortieth?

Qin Chu seemed to be enjoying himself, lost in a frenzy of violence. He didn’t even know how many bottles he had smashed against the Grand Prince’s head. Even with his considerable strength, the Grand Prince couldn’t withstand the relentless assault. His forehead was a bloody mess, the bone visible in places. Blood streamed down his face. The ground was covered in a thick layer of broken glass. The nearby wine rack was empty.

Qin Chu was about to grab another bottle from further away when Anastasia, seemingly snapping out of her shock, caught his wrist with her pale hand, shaking her head slightly. “Stop it, Hero,” she said quietly.

Qin Chu’s eyes narrowed, and he glanced at Anastasia, a sudden smile playing on his lips. He released his grip, and the Grand Prince collapsed to the ground like a sack of meat, whimpering.

Anastasia took a deep breath and lowered her hand from her face, revealing her reddened cheek. But a flawless, serene smile graced her lips as she curtsied gracefully to the surrounding nobles.

Her movements were elegant and perfect, her voice calm and melodious. “My apologies for interrupting your enjoyment,” she said, “I’m feeling a little unwell and will excuse myself. Please continue to enjoy the banquet.”

With that, without a single glance at the Grand Prince sprawled on the floor, she turned and walked away.

In Anastasia’s heart, all illusions about the Grand Prince had shattered.

The dreams of a young girl had met the brutal reality of a cruel world.

Qin Chu didn’t follow her immediately.

Wadsworth, arriving late to the scene, frowned at the bloody mess on the floor. Good heavens, the Hero had a vicious streak. He had beaten Lance to a pulp.

“Third,” he said to one of his other sons, his voice cold and indifferent, “drag Lance away and get him treated.”

This reaction brought a flicker of hope to Wadsworth’s other sons. Their elder brother had completely enraged their father. Although there were many competitors, their chance had finally come.

“Brother Qin, I’ll leave Anastasia to you,” Wadsworth said, rubbing his temples with a weary sigh. The most pressing matter now was damage control. Anastasia couldn’t be allowed to come to harm. If she were to attempt suicide or something equally drastic, the consequences would be severe.

Just as Anastasia worried about damaging relations with the Empire and bringing disaster to her Duchy, Wadsworth had his own concerns. Although the Ice Duchy was a poor, frozen wasteland, its harsh conditions had forged some of the finest warriors in the Heavenly Continent. The soldiers from the Ice Duchy were known for their ferocity and courage in the fight against the Demon Beasts. If anything happened to Anastasia, they might revolt.

…

Meanwhile, Anastasia, having left the banquet, didn’t return to Qin Chu’s residence.

She wandered through the opulent city like a lost spirit. The river flowed gently, reflecting the stars and moons. Warm, inviting light spilled from the windows of elegant houses. The world was quiet.

It was a beautiful city, but it only made Anastasia feel more alone, more lost. It was colder than the icy plains of her homeland.

The night breeze brushed against her skin, and she instinctively pulled the elegant dress Angelica had provided closer around her.

After wandering for an unknown amount of time, she finally stopped by the riverbank. The water rushed past, a soothing counterpoint to the turmoil in her heart. For the first time, she abandoned her royal composure, sinking down onto the grass.

Alone at last, she allowed the carefully constructed walls around her heart to crumble. Tears streamed down her face, hot against her cold skin, leaving clean tracks through the dust and grime of her journey. They dripped from her chin, staining the pristine white of her dress.

No…this wouldn’t do.

She shook her head, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. She couldn’t ruin the dress. Angelica had chosen it specifically for her. It must have been expensive.

But the tears wouldn’t stop.

No matter how rational, how mature and elegant she tried to be, she was still just a girl. From a young age, she had been taught to be loyal to the Grand Prince, to give him all her love. She had been told of his handsomeness, his charm, his elegance and gentleness. Perhaps he was handsome, but where was the elegance? Where was the gentleness?

To be slapped, humiliated, in front of so many nobles…

She was a princess!

The shattering of her dreams, the unprecedented humiliation, had dealt a devastating blow.

In such a state, it was easy to make extreme choices.

Having suffered such disgrace, having brought shame upon the Ice Duchy, she couldn’t face returning to her parents.

A small bottle appeared in her hand, filled with the powdered petals of Nightshade flowers.

If she swallowed this, she would fall into a peaceful sleep, a sleep from which she would never awaken.

Everyone in the Ice Duchy carried such a bottle. They often had to venture out to battle Demon Beasts and wild creatures, and not every hunt was successful. If captured, they would be devoured alive. To watch your own body being torn apart, bit by bit, was an unbearable agony. The Nightshade offered a merciful escape.

The indifference of this city chilled her to the bone. But there was kindness here too.

A faint smile touched her lips. The Hero, for instance, had been kind. He had saved her from the assassins, shared his food, offered her shelter, and even defended her against the Grand Prince’s cruelty, risking a conflict with the Empire.

That not-particularly-handsome figure had left an indelible mark on her heart. She placed her hand over her chest, feeling a surprising warmth.

Because of this kindness, she couldn’t burden him further.

She was damaged goods now, a liability. Qin Chu, in his kindness, would likely offer her continued protection…but she couldn’t accept it. She couldn’t impose on him any longer.

It would be cleaner, simpler, to just fade away.

She opened the bottle, her face a mask of sorrow, and raised it to her lips, ready to swallow the bitter powder.

Just then, a pebble, flung from the darkness, struck the bottle, sending it flying into the river with a splash.

Anastasia turned, startled. Qin Chu stood behind her, his face partially obscured by the shadows.

A wave of panic washed over her. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and stood up quickly. “Hero,” she stammered, “what are you doing here?”

“I’m fine,” she lied, “I just wanted some fresh air. I apologize for letting you see me in such an undignified state.”

Qin Chu didn’t answer immediately. He stretched lazily, then sprawled on the grass beside her, plucking a blade of dogtail grass and chewing on it thoughtfully. His eyes, fixed on the moon, seemed distant.

“Undignified?” he mumbled, “I don’t care about that stuff.”

“Honestly,” he continued, his voice dropping to a low murmur, “pretending to be one of these high-society types is exhausting. More tiring than fighting Demon Beasts.”

His sudden shift in demeanor surprised Anastasia. He had abandoned all pretense of gentlemanly conduct, all traces of noble refinement. But she didn’t dislike it. He seemed more real, more approachable.

“Don’t keep thinking about killing yourself,” he muttered, “It’s not worth it to die for trash like the Grand Prince.”

“Besides,” he continued, his voice hardening, “who do you think would be happiest if you died? It would be the Grand Prince, of course. He’d be rid of an obstacle, probably jumping for joy.”

Anastasia flushed with shame. He had seen through her lie.

“Do you think so…” she whispered.

“Were you humiliated tonight?”

Anastasia nodded. Humiliated like never before.

“Was the Grand Prince also humiliated?”

She nodded again. You were the one who did it, she thought, why are you asking me?

“Then who do you think was more humiliated, you or the Grand Prince?”

Anastasia paused. Although her future husband didn’t love her, although he had slapped her…compared to the Grand Prince, who had had dozens of bottles smashed over his head, his forehead bloodied and his face covered in wine…

And the Grand Prince slapping her hadn’t been witnessed by many, while everyone had seen Qin Chu beating him to a pulp.

The Grand Prince’s status was even more noble, he was the heir to the throne… It seemed that the Grand Prince had suffered far greater humiliation than she had.

Thinking about this, she actually felt a little better, even a hint of satisfaction.

“Haha, feeling better now?” Qin Chu chuckled.

“And you don’t have to worry about the Ice Duchy falling out with the Empire. Wadsworth is no longer planning to let the Grand Prince inherit the throne. That idiot is finished.”

“And now is the time to fight against the Demon Beasts. Before the Demon Beasts are subdued, the Empire must maintain a good relationship with the Ice Duchy.”

“So you don’t have to worry so much.”

Anastasia stood beside Qin Chu, lost in thought, considering his words.

As the night wind ruffled her hair and skirt, her suicidal thoughts seemed to dissipate.

The Hero’s carefree and fearless attitude was something she didn’t possess.

Because the Ice Duchy was far less powerful than the Empire, Anastasia had always been cautious, afraid that her actions would disgrace her country, offend someone, and bring trouble to the Duchy.

But now that she thought about it, she had been overthinking things.

Although the Empire seemed powerful, it was already rotting from within. Perhaps, it only had a strong outer shell left.

And the Hero was right. If she died now, the happiest person would definitely be the Grand Prince… But her parents would be saddened by her death.

Had she gone crazy to do something that would hurt her loved ones and please her enemy?

Her mood gradually calmed down, and she was surprised to find that she wasn’t as sad as she thought… She even felt a sense of relief, as if she had finally broken free from her shackles.

As she calmed down, Anastasia’s intelligence also gradually returned. Perhaps, she didn’t love the Grand Prince as much as she thought she did.

This so-called love was just an illusion created by her etiquette teachers’ long-term indoctrination.

When she was with the Grand Prince, she only felt nervous, afraid, and trembling, not at all as relaxed, happy, and at ease as she felt with Qin Chu.

She sat silently beside Qin Chu, resting her chin on her hand, gazing at the night sky.

She let the night wind blow her hair, strands falling onto Qin Chu’s face. The Hero even opened his mouth and bit one of them. What did hair even taste like…?

The Grand Prince would only ignore her, letting others mock her and slap her…

But the Hero saved her from the assassins, shared his precious food with her, took her in, prepared a beautiful dress for her, praised her beauty, and stood up for her when she was humiliated…

Under the moonlight, a silly smile appeared on Anastasia’s fair face.

This valiant woman from the Ice Duchy had emerged from her false love and weakness. She had recognized her own heart.

Her beautiful eyes glanced at the Hero beside her, and she suddenly leaned closer.

Her icy white, jelly-like lips moved to Qin Chu’s ear, and she murmured softly:

“Hero… You have to take responsibility for me now…”

“Huh?” Qin Chu was stunned. What did she mean?

“It’s because of you that I made this decision,” Anastasia said with a gentle smile.

“What decision?”

“I’m breaking off the engagement!”