C17

"Heavenly Soul Summoning Thunder, Thunder Punishment the Heavens." Han Xiao's hand carried a faint silver light, and lightning from his palm into the Eagle Peak Sword. A destructive force was emitted from the sword, and a scorched mark appeared on the ground in front of Han Xiao, the bamboo in front of him instantly turned into ashes.

Han Xiao's mouth twitched. He believed that if Han Xiangtian saw him destroy the bamboo forest in the palace like this, he would have the heart to kill him.

After calming himself down, Han Xiao walked towards the bamboo garden.

Although he had already moved to the bamboo garden for a month, the Phoenix Sage Temple was still in the process of being rebuilt, and was after all a main palace that could not be completed without half a year's time. Although he missed the garden, Han Xiao could only obediently stay in the bamboo garden, and familiarize himself with the Heavenly Thunder Sword Technique by going to the bamboo forest every day, as well as practicing his karate and Taekwondo.

"Seventh Prince, another question raised in the court today. Although the Emperor rejected it at that time, it seems he didn't stop them from thinking about it." Xiao Jianfeng said as he placed a cup of tea beside Han Xiao.

"They're probably worried that I will affect Han Zhao's position as they see me getting more attention these days." Han Xiao said with a sneer.

"Normally, when I am in the Imperial Court, I will not be able to stand as the next emperor. Seventh Prince, your identity as the first prince is just right here. In addition, with your current aptitude, you can be said to be the most advantageous competitor for the throne." Xiao Jianfeng said.

"I'm not interested in who sits on the throne, but I heard that someone said recently that they would make Han Zhao's birth mother, Imperial Concubine Ming, the empress to stabilize the harem?" Han Xiao drank a mouthful of tea and asked.

"Recently, something happened in the imperial harem, so someone brought it up like that. But your subordinate thinks that it was the Third Prince who caused all of this. After all, he is very passionate about the throne." Xiao Jianfeng said carefully.

"That has nothing to do with me. By the way, Cousin Jianfeng, I remember the last time you mentioned that we were only recruiting once every three years. How long is it until the next time we can recruit new students?" Han Xiao asked.

"There's about a year left. Seventh Prince, do you want to go to the Abyss Academy?" Xiao Jianfeng hesitated for a moment before asking.

"Staying in the palace is just playing around with Han Zhao. It's really a waste of time. Moreover, the Yun Ming Empire is only a middle ranked empire after all. I don't even have a lot of the things I need." Han Xiao said indifferently.

"It's just that His Majesty the Emperor …" Xiao Jianfeng said hesitantly.

If Han Xiao was chosen by the Abyss Academy, then his cultivation base would definitely surpass Han Xiangtian's. Being surpassed by his own son would be a slap in the face to Han Xiangtian.

"Han Xiangtian doesn't need to care about him. His legs are on me, and with grandfather's help, can he still force me to stay?" Han Xiao said with a sneer.

He had personally witnessed Han Xiao's hardship in the past, and now that Han Xiao had rejected him in such a way, it was understandable. But since the father and son duo did not have enmity that night, he still hoped that Han Xiao would be able to let go of the grudge in his heart and not reject Han Xiangtian.

"That's right, cousin Jianfeng, how is it with Mo Yun?" Han Xiao asked.

"Mo Yun's gambling skills have greatly improved. Even the gambling house's income has increased to tens of thousands of Soul Stones." Xiao Jianfeng respectfully said.

Back then, Han Xiao had taken out four million spirit stones to rebuild the Phoenix Sage Palace. Han Xiao had also taken out five hundred thousand spirit stones for Xiao Jianfeng to buy a few betting shops with good positions and then brought Mo Yun to the palace. After giving Mo Yun some simple gambling techniques, he had handed over the light gambling house to Mo Yun and similarly, he had given Mo Yun a Longevity Pill.

"Since that's the case, Cousin Jianfeng, come with me out of the palace. There are a lot of things I need to take care of before I go to Oming Academy." After Han Xiao finished speaking, he walked out of the room with a smile on his face. It was like a poison that made people want to get close to him.

After leaving the palace for a while, he went to the gambling den that he managed in Zhu Jing's city and settled some matters before returning to the palace with Xiao Jian.

Returning to the palace, Han Xiao told Xiao Jianfeng to go back first, while he was just strolling in the palace, enjoying his rare moment of leisure. After passing by a patch of purple cherry blossom sea in the back garden, Han Xiao saw Han Yu carrying a woman and walking towards him.

"I was wondering who it was. So it's Seventh Imperial Brother. Why are you in the mood to come to the back garden today?" Han Yu looked at Han Xiao provocatively and said.

"I usually like to come here. This is not a secret. However, Fifth Brother, the person beside you should be from my hall. Would you be able to let her go?" Han Xiao's eyes narrowed, his entire body was filled with a cold intent as he asked.

Sensing the coldness in Han Yu's expression, he had already noticed that Han Xiao had a special feelings for her when she was near the prince's hall. When he thought about Han Xiao's great show of power and his beautiful face, Han Yu began to chase after his face in private, first by chance, giving away gifts in a courteous manner, then by a promise that Han Xiao had made to her after a month, Han Yu was finally tempted by her. And today, he knew that Han Xiao would come to the garden every day, so he brought her here to see the anger in Han Xiao's eyes.

"Seventh Imperial Brother must be joking. Qingrong has been a member of my hall since yesterday. Why should I let her go?" Han Yu raised his eyebrows and said proudly to Han Xiao.

Seeing Han Yu's complacent appearance, Han Xiao's frown deepened. He turned his head around and asked with a gentle tone, "Qingrong, Fifth Imperial Brother said that you became a part of his hall yesterday, right?"

Facing Han Xiao's gentle gaze, her face clearly showed her distance, "I thank the Seventh Prince for his love, but compared to the Seventh Prince, I like the Fifth Prince more, so please don't pester the Seventh Prince anymore."

"Hahaha, Seventh Imperial Brother, did you hear that? This is what Qingrong said herself! From now on, listen to her and don't bother him anymore, or else I won't hold back. Qinggrong, let's go. I miss your meat bun very much." With that, Han Yu laughed and left with Qing Rong in his arms.

The smile on his face was replaced by desolation. Anyone who saw Xiao Se's back would think that he had a deep affection for her, but in a corner where no one was looking, the corner of Han Xiao's mouth slowly curled into a mocking smile.

In the following days, Han Xiao spent his time in seclusion. When he thought about the few hundred slots that would be given to him every year, even the usually confident Han Xiao was a bit worried, afraid that his cultivation was not enough to enter the Abyss Academy.

Autumn passed and spring arrived. In the blink of an eye, another year of spring had passed, and Han Xiao had been reborn in this foreign world for eighteen years. Raising his head to look at the flower that had once again blossomed, Han Xiao could not help but think of that sunny afternoon when he met Gu Xuan'er. Now that spring had come, it was a pity that the woman who needed to be cared for was no longer around.

Lowering his head to cut off a part of his thoughts, he looked at the almost completed Phoenix Sage Temple. The corner of Han Xiao's mouth raised into a faint smile, turning around and leaving without a care in the world.

When they returned to the bamboo garden and saw that Xiao Jianfeng and Lil 'Lei were ready, they took a look at Wei Qinggrong, who had come to send them off, and said with a gentle smile: "Thank you, Wei Xiang, for sending me off at this time."

"Actually, this humble subject came because the emperor meant it. Seventh Prince, the emperor actually dotes on you very much." Wei Jinggrong hastily said.

"Love?" Han Xiao's eyes flashed with a dangerous light. He had never thought that this phrase could be used on Han Xiangtian.

Today was the day he was leaving the Imperial Palace for the Abyss Academy. The bright sunlight seemed to express how happy he was, as he walked to the entrance of the palace. Han Xiao once again looked back at the place where he had lived for eighteen years, then turned around and left without hesitation.