Holy Son, Run! The Demon Empress Wants You as Her Consort! - Chapter 8:

Chapter 8: A Martial Arts Genius Among Millions!

Although You Yiran didn’t let Lin Ze sleep in the same room with her, the sleeping quarters she arranged for him were extremely luxurious.

Fengshen Hall was one of the finest sleeping halls in the entire Netherveil Palace. When Lin Ze and Er Hu saw it for the first time, they were both stunned. The entire hall was built with glazed tiles and gold, exuding extravagant luxury. Inside, everything was perfectly arranged, with even the chairs and tables inlaid with gold and jade.

Lin Ze slept alone on a 4-meter-wide bed, sleeping soundly through the night until morning. Thinking about checking if You Yiran had woken up, he had just stepped out when a figure in black suddenly jumped out and blocked his way.

Lin Ze instinctively shouted, “Assassin!!”

The man in black was startled and quickly rushed forward to cover his mouth. “Holy Son, don’t shout! I’m here to save you!”

He pulled off his mask and revealed his face. Lin Ze stared at him for a few seconds before asking uncertainly, “Jing Ke? The most famous assassin of the Azure Spirit Holy Land? The one known for drawing blood with every strike and never failing a mission?”

Jing Ke let out a breath of relief when Lin Ze recognized him. “Phew—Holy Son, I’ve already secured the map of the Netherveil Palace. Come with me, let’s get out of this tiger’s den.”

Leave?

Hell no! I went through so much trouble just to get in here, and I haven’t even done anything yet—and you want me to leave?

Absolutely not!

Lin Ze pushed him away and said firmly and with deep emotion, “I’m not leaving! I want to stay with the Empress for the rest of my life!” Then he added, “You, on the other hand, snuck into the Netherveil Palace. If you’re discovered, they’ll chop you up and feed you to the dogs. Run while you can.”

Hearing this, Jing Ke fell silent for a long moment, then suddenly looked up at Lin Ze with admiration. “Holy Son, your righteousness moves me. I, Jing Ke, am in awe!”

“Huh? What righteousness? I’m begging you, man, just run. Don’t get caught and drag me down with you. It’ll ruin the image I’ve built in the Empress’s heart.”

Jing Ke bit his lip hard, then bowed deeply to Lin Ze. “Holy Son, you’ve suffered. To protect the Azure Cloud Continent, you risked your life and chose to endure the torment of that demonic woman. I, who consider myself a chivalrous man, am ashamed compared to your noble spirit.”

Lin Ze didn’t get it at all. “Just go! Please, I’m begging you, leave now! Don’t waste all my effort!”

He screamed inwardly: I finally have the chance to stay by the Empress’s side, don’t mess this up for me!

Jing Ke’s eyes welled up with tears, overwhelmed by emotion. To protect the Azure Cloud Continent, the Holy Son was even willing to be tormented by the cruel Empress. Who could truly understand such suffering?

Wiping away his tears, Jing Ke declared with determination, “Holy Son, don’t worry. I will definitely rescue you from the hands of that demonic woman! I’ll go back and plan everything. Wait for me, Holy Son!”

With that, he activated a secret technique and vanished on the spot.

Leaving Lin Ze behind, looking heartbroken. “Don’t save me!”

Lin Ze wanted to cry but had no tears. He genuinely wanted to stay with the Empress. Why didn’t anyone believe him?

“Even if the Empress is disfigured, my love for her will never change!” he said to himself. “Tch, such shallow people!”

Grumbling, Lin Ze walked off.

At that moment, a voice rang out behind him. “Exactly, you’re right! Even though Her Majesty’s face is ruined, my love for her will never fade!”

Another man stepped out and glared viciously at Lin Ze, as if ready to kill.

Lin Ze frowned in confusion. “Who are you, man? Why’re you looking at me like that? I didn’t steal your wife!”

“Very well,” the man growled. “You dare pour salt into my wounds! I, Xu Tianjiao, will never share the same sky with you!”

Huh??

Xu Tianjiao clenched his fists, gritting his teeth. “Everyone in the Netherveil Palace knows I’m the Empress’s number one bootlicker! Yet you, a human, are going to become her husband? I won’t accept this!”

Lin Ze finally understood. “Oh~ So you’re a love rival. Maybe you’re just not as handsome as me.”

Xu Tianjiao glanced at Lin Ze and then touched his own face, suddenly unsure. “Feels about the same…”

Lin Ze raised a brow. “Hmm?”

Xu Tianjiao roared, “So what if you’re handsome? Can you eat good looks? In the demon race, strength is everything! Dare to accept my challenge?”

Lin Ze’s lips twitched. “We’re both refined people. Fighting isn’t really necessary, right?”

Xu Tianjiao shouted, “Haha! You’re scared! If you’re a real man, then fight me on the training platform!”

“I’ve been training hard every day, hoping to join the inner sect and get the Empress’s attention. But now she’s going to marry you. Do you know how much that hurts?!”

Lin Ze wore a pitiful expression as he consoled, “Come on, take it easy. If you want to live a good life, you’ve got to accept a little green on your head.”

Xu Tianjiao exploded, “Spit! Get up on the platform now! Either I kill you, or you die by my hands!”

He grabbed Lin Ze’s clothes and dragged him to the training platform.

Soon, a crowd of disciples gathered to watch.

“Who’s that guy? He dares to challenge the prince consort? Didn’t the Empress say yesterday that we must treat him with utmost respect?”

“This guy’s starting his day looking for death?”

“If I remember right, that’s Xu Tianjiao, the top outer sect disciple! He’s reached 2nd stage Martial Master after just one year of training!”

“I heard he’s about to become a disciple of the Grand Elder and enter the inner sect.”

“Damn, doesn’t that mean he could kill the prince consort with a single punch?”

“Not necessarily. The prince consort had a breakthrough yesterday with the Wildblade Sword Scripture – First Form. His sword talent is insane!”

“But so what? He has crippled meridians. He’s probably still stuck at Martial Disciple stage!”

“Xu Tianjiao is definitely going to win!”

But on the platform, Lin Ze showed no fear. Instead, he started breathing deeply, drawing in huge gulps of air.

Xu Tianjiao saw this and felt even more confident. He’s so scared he’s hyperventilating? Someone like this wants to marry the Empress?

With a cold laugh, Xu Tianjiao charged like a fierce tiger. “I’ve trained my Demon Tiger Heart-Piercing Claw for a year. One move is enough to cripple you! Die!”

Lin Ze didn’t move an inch, like he was frozen in fear. Some spectators even turned their heads, unable to bear watching him get beaten.

Suddenly, a system notification rang in Lin Ze’s mind.

[Detected host performing intense deep breathing. Cultivation +100 +100 +100 +100…]

[Cultivation maxed out. Host has broken through to 2nd stage Martial Master.]

Boom!

In an instant, Lin Ze’s aura transformed completely. He looked at Xu Tianjiao with a faint smile, raised his fist, and punched.

It was perfectly timed.

With a loud bang, Xu Tianjiao’s hands slammed into what felt like an iron wall. Both his arms broke instantly—his bones shattered completely.

“Ahhh! My hands!!”

“It hurts! It hurts so bad!!”

Xu Tianjiao’s wails of agony echoed across the training platform. He collapsed, rolling on the ground in pain.

Everyone watching was stunned, their faces filled with disbelief.

“One move? Lin Ze defeated Xu Tianjiao with just one strike?”

“His hand bones are completely shattered. That’s brutal!”

“And Lin Ze didn’t even move. He just raised his hand slightly and unleashed terrifying power!”

“My god! What kind of monstrous talent is Lin Ze? What realm is he at?”

“We were all wrong! For the Empress to choose him as her consort, he must be extraordinary!”

“He might truly be a martial arts genius among millions!”