Chapter Sixty-Three: Prince Lei Jue

Lin Ao Hun raised an eyebrow, as if he'd just heard a hilarious joke. He laughed heartily and said, "Little brat, you haven't even grown your hair yet, and you’re already imitating your elders? Trying to scare people by invoking your family? Didn’t you hear what I said just now? This is the Holy City! Here, only the rules of the Holy City matter. If you don’t like it, try to take it by force!"

The boy opposite him was so angry his lips turned purple. "You… you just wait! Let’s see if you’re still so arrogant in a moment. I’ll make sure you regret it today!"

The crowd murmured, "He’s from the Thunder Clan? This is serious. Commander Lin has made another enemy..."

Hei Yu watched for a while and finally understood—they were fighting over the ownership of the two demon beasts.

The demon beasts were already wounded, their injuries scorched by lightning. One had a broken leg, blood pooling beneath it, barely clinging to life. The other cradled its companion, gazing pitifully at the guards with pleading eyes.

"It seems these two demon beasts were rescued by Lin Ao Hun when they fled to the Holy City. I’ve heard the nobles of the Divine Realm care nothing for the lives of demon beasts, treating them no better than wild animals... I’d better observe for now," Hei Yu stood at the back of the crowd, watching the situation unfold.

Just then, a student came running hurriedly from the forest, breathless with excitement. "His Highness the Prince is here!"

Now, the students of the Royal Academy straightened their backs, suddenly emboldened, and quickly made way. Along the forest path, several teachers walked ahead, guiding the way. Behind them strode a majestic white tiger, powerful and noble, clad in golden armor with a brilliant emerald ornament on its brow.

Seated on the saddle atop the tiger was a young man of cold and imposing manner, dressed in a white robe adorned with thundercloud motifs. His eyebrows and hair were a pale gold, his sideburns shaved into lightning-shaped patterns. On his chest gleamed a yellow crystal badge, marking him as a mage of the highest rank.

His arrival stunned everyone present. The Holy City’s guards exchanged bewildered glances.

The common folk gathered by the gate, curious and awed, had never seen such a figure. The white tiger alone was enough to terrify them—no one dared lift their eyes to the man riding it.

The leading teachers reached the clearing and immediately knelt in two rows, respectfully calling out, "Welcome, Your Highness!"

The students followed suit, kneeling and not daring to look up. Even the siblings from the Thunder Clan did likewise, though their gazes at the prince were filled with awe and reverence.

"The prince—he’s Prince Lei Jue?" Hei Yu was amazed. "What is this man doing in the Holy City?"

Lin Ao Hun’s expression darkened at the word "prince." He realized things were about to get complicated, his hand tightening slightly around his hammer, though he showed no sign of backing down.

The noble prince guided the white tiger forward a few steps, coming to the center of the clearing, and looked down at Lin Ao Hun from above. His tone was stiff as he asked, "Leina, Leino, what’s going on?"

"Hmph, this little city guard from the Holy City is insolent!" Leina replied angrily.

Leino, the boy, hurried to the prince’s side and said, "Here’s what happened... We chased those two demon beasts for days, finally caught them, but the Holy City guards snatched them away! They claim anything within the city belongs to them—completely unreasonable! And the one with the hammer even injured me..."

"Oh? Just for this?" The man on the tiger’s back spoke without emotion, his face showing disdain.

Leina added, "If not for their interference, those demon beasts would be dead by now! Their souls would be ours!"

The white tiger paced in place, its massive body moving side to side. Prince Lei Jue’s aura was overwhelming, and his gaze upon Lin Ao Hun radiated oppressive power, making Lin Ao Hun uncomfortable.

"Surely this is a misunderstanding," he spoke slowly, icy in tone. "My students have pursued these demon beasts for days. They strayed into your city and caused a disturbance. Would you return them to my students, and let this matter rest?"

"Hmph," Lin Ao Hun retorted firmly, "We caught the demon beasts first, so they belong to us. Even if you’re the prince of the Divine Realm, things must be fair and just! There are plenty of demon beasts in the forest—don’t waste your time here!"

He waved his hand, clearly intending to send them away.

"Your Highness, you see now? These savages of the Holy City have no respect for the royal family..." Leina whispered, adding fuel to the fire.

"Oh? Fair and just. Nothing pleases me more than fairness and justice," Lei Jue said unhurriedly.

"Your Highness, don’t bother reasoning with him. We’ve wasted enough words already, and he still refuses," Leino cried anxiously.

Lei Jue let out a cold smile, guiding the white tiger forward a few more steps, looming over Lin Ao Hun. The common folk behind, for some reason, all stepped back in unison.

"Since neither side will yield, allow me to make a fair judgment," Lei Jue said, his icy gaze sweeping over the demon beasts, who recoiled in terror, as if their fate lay in the hands of these powerful figures.

Lin Ao Hun, unsure of his intentions, impatiently scratched his ear. "Let’s hear it—how will you decide?"

Lei Jue reached into his sleeve and slowly drew out a staff crafted from spirit stone, then continued, "As everyone knows, the souls of demon beasts are rarer than those of animals, and offer greater aid in magic. Since both sides refuse to settle, why not split the souls—half for each?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than his expression darkened; a bolt of lightning streaked down with unstoppable force, and in a blinding flash, the two demon beasts were severed at the waist.

"Ah!"

It was only a moment later that someone in the crowd gasped, covering their mouth in shock. His action had been so swift and ruthless that no one had time to react.

Hei Yu noticed the girl beside him, wearing a thick hat, was trembling with rage. A pale red aura seeped from her body, and a faint fox tail flickered into view. Her fingers, spread wide, were growing longer claws.

"Demon beast?" Hei Yu’s heart skipped a beat.

Suddenly, a nearby matron grabbed the girl, shaking her head to warn her against acting rashly. Beneath the girl’s hat, a pair of fox ears were hidden. Reminded, she calmed herself, retracting the fox tail that had begun to show.