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  Ancient fragment #3

  The Zhao Imperial Clan of the Eastern Azure Dragon Kingdom was famed for the so-called Three Suns of the Capital:

  Zhao Shengwu — the First Prince

  Zhao Mingde — the Second Prince

  Zhao Mingyuan — the Third Prince

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  Zhao Mingyuan, the third prince of the Eastern Azure Dragon Kingdom, floated in the air before the Godslaying Abyss. He wore a golden robe with a majestic azure dragon on his back. His eyes reflected the wall of death. Even he, a powerful cultivator in the Qi Exertion Stage, would not dare touch the grey mist. He stood there silently and alone, for no one in the city shared the same level of cultivation as him.

  From the beginning, he had sensed Hua Qingqing leaving the estate. His soul sense could cover the entire Hua Estate, and nothing could escape his senses unless they were stronger than him or had a treasure that could avoid soul sense.

  Father, it seems like your plan to advance in your blood cultivation has been stumped by a woman in love, how ironic.

  Zhao Mingyuan tightened his fist as he thought of his own mother, how she had been used and discarded. The anger in his chest flared as he wished nothing more than to see the death of his imperial father.

  Zhao Mingyuan frowned as he also considered the implications of what had just transpired.

  It will be hard for me from now on, a laughingstock, a green hat, all kinds of rumors, and worst of all, my own father will hate me now for being inadequate.

  Zhao Mingyuan smiled slightly, and to Hua Dazhi, the Clan Master of the Hua Clan standing far below, it was a smile of incoming death. He trembled at the consequences of what had just happened and hurriedly kneeled. Hua Qingqing was dead, and now he had, in some way, save his clan from extermination.

  What do I do... what do I do...

  "Y-Young prince..." Hua Dazhi stammered, sweat running down his back as he and his clan members knelt, pleading for mercy.

  Zhao Mingyuan's eyes shifted to Hua Dazhi.

  Mhm... I need to handle this carefully so it does not look too obvious.

  Zhao Mingyuan's voice turned cold as he addressed Hua Dazhi.

  "Hua Clan Master, you had better have a convincing explanation for the Imperial Family about what happened to my consort..."

  BANG!!

  A terrifying and powerful aura descended from Zhao Mingyuan, crushing Hua Dazhi into the ground and drawing blood. His clan members could only watch in horror as their clan master was hurt and disgraced, laying in the dirt before the third prince.

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  "Ahh! Please, have mercy! I swear, we'll make it right! There are still many young women in the Hua Clan!"

  "Hmph!" Zhao Mingyuan snorted, his aura pressing even harder on Hua Dazhi.

  This should be enough...

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  Inside The Godslaying Abyss.

  All Long Tianyu could see and feel was the grey mist. On the outside, The Godslaying Abyss appeared calm and unmoving, but he realized they could not have been more wrong. The inside was a roaring storm unlike anything he had ever experienced or even thought possible. He and Hua Qingqing were flung through a raging ocean of grey mist, nearly losing their grip on each other.

  No! I won't lose you!

  With all his pitiful strength, Long Tianyu held her close, protecting her in case they hit something. In this storm of chaos and grey, the only warmth he could feel was Hua Qingqing.

  Hua Qingqing’s hair whipped across her face as she tried to shout, but it was useless. Both screamed in horror as the storm raged so loudly that no other sound could be heard. Each gust of wind howled like the cry of some ancient beast. Her tears disappeared almost as soon as they formed. She pressed her face against Long Tianyu's chest and felt his heartbeat like a loud drum.

  Suddenly, the storm of grey mist stopped raging. Long Tianyu and Hua Qingqing's eyes opened instantly.

  Light, why is there light here?

  "Tianyu..." Hua Qingqing whispered, her eyes fixed on something behind him.

  The stars and three moons.

  They had been flung into an opening in The Godslaying Abyss by the storm, they had finally escaped and now they dropped. Like an eagle diving for prey, they plunged once again into the ocean of grey mist. This time they gripped each other more tightly, holding onto each other's clothes with all their strength.

  The storm did not carry them upward this time. They fell fast into the abyss, their clothes flapping harshly against their bodies as the storm showed no mercy.

  BOOOM!

  What is that noise? It almost sounds like thunder..

  Long Tianyu felt something was wrong, it wasn't the wind howling anymore. His eye lids opened as he realized the grey storm had dramatically thinned out and he looked past Hua Qingqing, lightning, an ocean of colorful lightning were raging and exploding far below them. It illuminated Long Tianyu's face as Hua Qingqing also realized it would soon be over.

  Seconds stretched into eternity as they came closer to the storm of deadly lightning.

  BOOOOOM!

  A larger explosion sounded and Long Tianyu eyes widened as he thought he imagined it, he saw the nearby storm illuminate something massive deep within the grey mist. Its figure unmoving, but its massive shadow no doubt touched Long Tianyu and Hua Qingqing, making Long Tianyu's body go cold and and he felt even more horrified how something could be inside this storm of death.

  What is that?!!?

  BOOOOOOOM!

  The storm was just a few seconds below them.

  Long Tianyu ignored it and focused on Hua Qingqing's eyes, trying to remember them in the last seconds before his death. He hoped the memory would be carved into his mind for eternity. Then they touched the ocean of lightning and thunder. Time seemed to stop as lightning overwhelmed them, covering their bodies. They screamed in pain and horror at the incoming death.

  Around Hua Qingqing's neck hung a necklace of unimportant silver that flared into light, brighter than the storm itself. The radiance spread over her like water, warm and unyielding, forming a shield of brilliance that stretched toward Long Tianyu. It wrapped around him, a cocoon of light stronger than the fury of the storm. It felt blissful, they were saved.

  Another explosion sounded, this time far louder than before, it shook away the peace that had existed for that small moment for the two of them, it was as if the storm was angry for being challenged by something weak. In a split second the shield cracked under the lightning's assault, but the momentum flung them upward and away from the storm, into the shadow of that immense thing.

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  End of chapter 3 - The Godslaying Abyss