#157 - Chapter 157: Niu Dao Ren

Princess Chu left the Eighth City, heading towards the Second City. In an unnoticed corner, a dark-skinned, ordinary-looking armored man followed beside her. He appeared to be a retainer of the princess, but no one knew that this retainer was none other than Lin Changqing, whom the princess had supposedly killed the day before!

Lin Changqing was not dead. Last night, the princess's killing of him was merely an act, a play they had orchestrated together.

The plan the princess whispered to you that day about helping you seize the Bronze Steed was to fake your death. The princess wanted to create the illusion that she had personally killed you to gain the trust of the Fourth Prince's forces. After gaining their trust, she would feign cooperation in seizing the Bronze Steed, then betray them at a crucial moment. That was the general plan.

"The Fourth Prince has never fully trusted me, which is partly due to my cold attitude towards him. When the wick of my Azure Heaven Lamp suddenly went out during the day, leading to you killing the four Immortal Palace generals, he must have harbored suspicions."

"Therefore, I must create the illusion that I personally killed you to deceive the Fourth Prince, because if we want to easily seize the Bronze Steed, we must borrow strength, and that strength lies in the Fourth Prince's subordinates stationed in the Second City."

This was what the princess told you that night. After a moment of thought, you quickly agreed, as the plan did indeed seem promising.

Now, you have completed the first step of the plan. You have been successfully 'killed' by the princess, and she will bring the news of your death to the Second City to gain the trust of the Fourth Prince's men.

"Indeed, the first step of the plan was a success. After the news of your death spreads, the Fourth Prince should be ecstatic. After all, I have always been cold towards him, and this time, I have taken the initiative to eliminate a major enemy. I predict he will be overjoyed."

"I believe that upon arriving in the Second City again, I should easily gain the trust of his subordinates."

On the ancient road leading to the Second City, Princess Chu spoke to Lin Changqing beside her as they flew. Lin Changqing nodded in response.

Among the seven nations' forces in the Second City, the Fourth Prince's faction was undoubtedly the strongest.

Although the Fourth Prince was not personally present in the Second City.

As mentioned earlier, the Fourth Prince had obtained the Great Sun Immortal Lord's inheritance and possessed many trump cards.

It was said that he had two Nascent Soul Tenth Layer experts among his subordinates in the Second City alone!

It could be said that anyone who wanted to seize the Bronze Steed in the Second City had to overcome the Fourth Prince's faction.

But now, the princess's plan was essentially to align herself with the Fourth Prince's side, cooperating with his forces to seize the Bronze Steed, and then betray them at a crucial moment.

You and Princess Chu flew and talked. After a day and a night, you arrived at the Second City. Upon arrival, you saw four black-robed cultivators, followed by a large group of people coming out to greet you. The two leading black-robed cultivators were none other than the Fourth Prince's top generals, Daoist Niu and Daoist Ma, both at the Nascent Soul Tenth Layer.

"We respectfully welcome Your Highness's arrival. Your Highness eliminating Lin Changqing is truly a great service to the Fourth Prince. We thank you for this.", Daoist Niu and Daoist Ma stepped forward and respectfully addressed the princess.

The Fourth Prince's retainers behind them also began to praise the princess for her merit in killing Lin Changqing.

Princess Chu responded with a few indifferent words.

Daoist Niu and Daoist Ma found this cold attitude to be expected. After all, she was the Fourth Prince's fiancée, their future master. Her attitude towards them, mere servants, should naturally be cold and distant.

"Your Highness, we have prepared a grand banquet in the Prince's Residence. Tomorrow is the day to compete for the Bronze Steed. The Fourth Prince has instructed us to discuss the matter with you."

Daoist Niu said. Upon hearing these words, both Princess Chu and Lin Changqing's eyes lit up. This was exactly what they wanted.

Subsequently, the group began to walk towards the Fourth Prince's residence in the Second City.

On the way, someone asked who Lin Changqing was, the man beside the princess. Princess Chu replied that he was her cousin, the only son of a certain king, and she had brought him to the Second City to broaden his horizons.

"So it's the Little Prince. Greetings, I am Daoist Niu. Greetings, I am Daoist Ma. Greetings to the Little Prince."

Daoist Niu, Daoist Ma, and the retainers greeted Lin Changqing.

Lin Changqing's expression was strange. He had become a Little Prince. How interesting.

Ten minutes later, the group arrived at the Prince's Residence and began the banquet. During the banquet, Daoist Niu and Daoist Ma began to discuss the matter of the Bronze Steed with you. The more you and Princess Chu listened, the more shocked you became, because you heard many unknown secrets from Daoist Niu and Daoist Ma's faces.

"Haha, Princess, rest assured, the Bronze Steed will definitely belong to the Fourth Prince. Only a genius like the Fourth Prince is worthy of possessing such a sacred beast. The other six nations' cultivators are not qualified to compete with us, because they don't know that the Bronze Steed is hidden in two tombs, the Yin and Yang Tombs. The Fourth Prince learned about these two tombs long ago. I can say with confidence that tomorrow, when we seize the Bronze Steed, we have a 99% chance of success."

Daoist Niu and Daoist Ma said. According to them, the Bronze Steed was hidden in a place called the Yin-Yang Ancient Tomb. This tomb was filled with traps, and if one didn't know the secrets inside, it was easy to die, even for Nascent Soul Tenth Layer experts. Daoist Niu and Daoist Ma were very confident, saying that only the Fourth Prince knew the secrets of the traps in the Yin-Yang Ancient Tomb, so they were determined to obtain the Bronze Steed this time.

Hearing this, you sighed, grateful that Princess Chu had devised a plan for you to fake your death. Otherwise, if you had to directly snatch it here, it would have been difficult to seize the Bronze Steed. After all, if Daoist Niu and Daoist Ma hadn't said it, you would have known nothing about the Yin-Yang Ancient Tomb.

But now, it was good. You only had to follow behind the Fourth Prince's men with Princess Chu, wait for them to seize it, and then betray them at a crucial moment, snatching the Bronze Steed from their hands.

You chatted for a few more words, and then Daoist Niu said something that made you feel very apprehensive.

"Those six nations' cultivators still want to compete with us for the Bronze Steed? That's impossible! When we get to the Yin-Yang Ancient Tomb tomorrow, I'll make sure they die without even knowing how they died.", Daoist Niu said smugly, "They can't get through the Ambush from All Sides Formation!"

Subsequently, from Daoist Niu's words, you learned that there was a checkpoint in the Yin-Yang Ancient Tomb called the Ambush from All Sides Formation. To pass through this formation, one had to follow specific steps. If one didn't know the specific steps, even a Nascent Soul Tenth Layer expert would die. And only the Fourth Prince knew these specific steps, and he had only recently passed them on to his subordinates. Therefore, Daoist Niu said smugly that there would only be one victor in the end, and that was the Fourth Prince.

Hearing this, you sighed. This Fourth Prince was not to be underestimated, having learned so many secrets. However, all of this was for you to benefit from. The Fourth Prince probably never imagined that his future wife had already collaborated with you to set up a trap.

As the banquet drew to a close, a communication jade pendant on Daoist Niu's waist suddenly lit up. Then, a phantom image appeared, and it was the Fourth Prince.