Black clad figures surged towards Lu Fan like a tide, their passage stirring up fierce winds that shook the very soul. No one had anticipated such a turn of events.
Upon witnessing the scene, Lu Fan offered a faint smile. "Truly unexpected. To deal with me, they've deployed a Half-Emperor level expert. They certainly hold me in high regard!"
"You will surely die today, brat. Offending the Fifth Prince is not something you can bear!" The voice of Gui Lao, hoarse with age, echoed.
Lu Fan's brow furrowed slightly as he unleashed his power. In the blink of an eye, several figures fell at his hands, seemingly unable to mount any defense, appearing as withered bones before him.
Seeing this, Gui Lao's expression shifted. Even he hadn't expected such prowess from someone as young as Lu Fan, leaving him caught off guard.
"These trash are no match for me!" Lu Fan shrugged. "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you; I'm not dying today!"
"Insolent brat, who knows no fear! Offending the Fifth Prince and still daring to act so arrogant!" Gui Lao's voice was icy. He formed his hand into a claw and lunged directly at Lu Fan, his movements sharp and fierce. He was a late-stage Martial Emperor, and ordinary Martial Emperors bowed before him, let alone Lu Fan.
Sensing the terrifying aura, Lu Fan retreated rapidly, his brow furrowed. He hadn't anticipated Gui Lao's strength, which caught him somewhat by surprise.
After retreating a few steps, Lu Fan looked back at Gui Lao. "Truly unexpected, your strength is so formidable. I've certainly experienced it firsthand!"
"Die!"
Gui Lao wasted no more words, intent on ending the fight quickly. The aura surrounding him reached its peak.
Meanwhile, many within the imperial capital watched from afar, wondering what was happening. Upon realizing it was Gui Lao and Lu Fan engaged in combat, they were shaken.
"Isn't that the one who attempted the Heavenly Path? It seems he offended the Fifth Prince and is now being assassinated!"
"Couldn't agree more! It's best to keep a low profile in life, or you might not even find your remains!"
"Don't speak so carelessly. Spreading rumors in the imperial capital can lead to trouble!"
A murmur of conversation arose, with onlookers expressing their suspicion about the unfolding events.
Lu Fan’s body exploded backward, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning pale. He hadn't expected Gui Lao to be so powerful, leaving him utterly unable to resist.
Within the imperial capital, many were aghast, lamenting that this generation's prodigy was about to perish. It was a cause for regret, as few, if any, had managed to ascend the fifth step in centuries.
"You shouldn't have come to the imperial capital!" The voice of the black-clad assailant was cold. In a flash, he lunged towards Lu Fan, exuding an imposing aura.
At that very instant, the black-clad assailant launched a powerful airborne strike. However, a hidden aura suddenly emerged, repelling the attacker. The immense power startled the assailant, forcing him to quickly evade.
The imperial capital buzzed with speculation as to who had intervened with such terrifying might, leaving everyone perplexed.
Simultaneously, Lu Fan scanned his surroundings but saw no one, a hint of confusion in his heart.
"Thank you for your assistance, senior!" Lu Fan bowed, his gaze sweeping across the area. He still saw no one, and his confusion deepened.
"Are you alright?" Liu Ruyan hurried over, her brow furrowed. She had been in her room and only rushed out when she heard the commotion. To her surprise, Lu Fan was already heavily injured.
"I'm fine. Someone saved me!" Lu Fan shook his head. "I just don't know who this expert is. They are so powerful that even a Martial Emperor expert couldn't withstand a single wisp of their aura!"
"Someone this powerful is helping you?" Liu Ruyan appeared puzzled. If what Lu Fan said was true, it was indeed astonishing.
Lu Fan nodded and said no more. The events of the day had been quite impactful for him.
Across the imperial capital, rumors spread like wildfire, with many pointing fingers at the Fifth Prince. It was widely known that the Fifth Prince wished to kill Lu Fan, a fact he had openly declared, leaving no room for doubt.
Inside the inn, upon hearing the news, Princess Bei Mei quickly arrived and asked Lu Fan, "Could it really be my Fifth Brother? He has such audacity! I will report this to His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor and ensure he faces severe consequences!"
"He is a prince. What consequence can even the Heavenly Emperor impose?" Liu Ruyan shrugged. "Would he kill his own son?"
Princess Bei Mei blinked, unsure how to respond. As Liu Ruyan had said, no matter what, it was futile. After all, the one who wanted Lu Fan dead was a prince.
"It may not be the Fifth Prince!" Lu Fan shook his head, his gaze heavy. "This matter is likely not as simple as it seems. If it were truly the Fifth Prince, he wouldn't act so brazenly!"
"If not the Fifth Prince, then who else!" Ling'er shook her head. "I believe it was him. Only he could have done something like this!"
"We need to investigate this further, but one thing is certain: this has nothing to do with the Fifth Prince. It's likely someone is trying to frame him!" Lu Fan shook his head, seemingly well-versed in the struggles for imperial power.
At the same time, everyone was perplexed, especially by Lu Fan's earlier words, which only added to the confusion. If it wasn't the Fifth Prince, then who could it be?
"If not the Fifth Prince, then perhaps it's Prince Bailong," Liu Ruyan casually remarked, appearing unconcerned.
"Impossible! How could my Brother Bailong do such a thing!" Princess Bei Mei quickly interjected. "Lu Fan is my friend. What benefit would Brother Bailong gain from doing this to him?"
"Prince Bailong invited him to be his advisor, but Lu Fan refused. Isn't that reason enough?" Liu Ruyan smiled faintly.
"Regardless of who we suspect, we need evidence. Don't just spout nonsense and damage our friendship!" Princess Bei Mei spoke again, sounding somewhat angry. At least in her eyes, Bailong was incapable of such actions.
Lu Fan remained silent. Even he harbored suspicions that this matter was related to Bailong.