Chapter 457: The Eldest Prince Dies, the Ultimate Victor

When the Overlord Heaven Halberd Method is used together with the Red Dragon Divine Fire, its explosive power exceeds the mere combination of the two.

It was not simply one plus one equals two; it far surpassed that. Qimingtian's third-layer Golden Core body, that protective true gang layer, shattered in an instant; his robust physique could not endure even a breath, as the Overlord Heaven Halberd pierced his body and punched straight through.

The Eldest Prince lowered his head, his face full of disbelief—his chest had truly been pierced; that pain was no illusion, but a genuine piercing of his body. Blood welled from the wound, bright red, continuously staining the surrounding clothes, and even the Overlord Heaven Halberd was dyed blood‑red.

"Blood?"

He reached out and touched the wound; the pain left him no choice but to take notice, his right hand turned blood‑red, and only then did Qimingtian confirm his defense had truly been shattered—blood‑red flooded his eyes, his sight filled entirely with blood‑red.

He muttered "blood, blood" under his breath, his whole person seemed demon‑possessed.

The Fifth Prince's expression brightened; he exhaled a turbid breath, exerted force, trying to lift Qimingtian's body, but Qimingtian gripped the Overlord Heaven Halberd tightly, his whole body tensed, refusing to let himself rise.

Once lifted, it would be Qimingtian's time of death.

Both knew this, so they were locked in a struggle, each refusing to yield.

"Qimingtian, today your death has come; resistance is futile."

The Fifth Prince roared, breaking Qimingtian's mental defense and causing his mind and body to falter.

Qimingtian gritted his teeth and said: "Haha, Qi Mingyu, I will not die."

"I am the emperor of the Great Qi Dynasty, a supreme existence, your sovereign—how could I die?"

"The one who deserves to die is you, not me."

The mad Eldest Prince Qimingtian lunged forward, the Overlord Heaven Halberd completely dyed red, their bodies drawing near.

Seeing this, the Fifth Prince was startled; he raised his right foot and kicked forward fiercely.

Qimingtian was unmoved; instead, he grew even more frenzied.

"Hahaha, you're panicking, Qi Mingyu—I don't know what method you used to break my defense, but I will not die."

"Such a minor injury is nothing to worry about."

"I will kill you and send you to join your fourth brother."

With his right hand he seized Qi Mingyu, and Qimingtian's mad eyes locked onto him.

Qi Mingyu panicked; at this moment he wanted to release his right hand, to let go of the Overlord Heaven Halberd.

Helpless, Qimingtian gripped his hand with both hands; that manic gaze gave a feeling of madness… and terror.

"You can't escape, Qi Mingyu—go die."

The Fifth Prince did not want to die here; he had not yet avenged his fourth brother.

At this moment, only that elder sister, arms crossed and watching, could help him.

He drew a deep breath and shouted: "Qi Ruohua, if you don't act now, I will die and you won't live much longer either."

At this moment he could only rely on that elder sister Qi Ruohua; even if hope was slim, he knew she wanted to watch them die, and at this point she might let them both lose, then perish together—thus she could become the ultimate victor.

Frankly, Qi Ruohua indeed had that thought; with them all dead, she would face no threat.

The remaining three princesses—those two younger sisters would not contend with her, nor are they her match.

Those officials, and those great clans, would also…

Weighing pros and cons, is it more beneficial or more harmful for her if the Fifth Prince stays alive?

In the end, Eldest Princess Qi Ruohua chose to intervene and save him; a living Fifth Prince is more useful to her.

This person could become the blade in her hand.

The precondition is that she can control his life and death; of course, this time it conveniently resolves that issue.

Qi Ruohua directly struck out, sending the Eldest Prince Qimingtian flying.

Then she appeared behind the Fifth Prince, seizing the moment his vital energy had not yet recovered and his body was tense with weakness, she acted directly, drawing out a strand of his soul as a means to control him.

"Qi Ruohua, you……"

The Fifth Prince's face changed; he wanted to resist, but at this moment it was already impossible.

A strand of his soul was drawn out; the method Qi Ruohua employed was extremely overbearing, leaving no power to resist, and also quite uncanny.

Such means are not found within the royal family.

Rather, it resembles the methods of the Yin Gui Sect—controlling the soul, directly mastering life and death.

Feeling his soul no longer under his own control, Qi Mingyu's face changed; he turned back, staring at that elder sister behind him—she remained the same her, so cold, so… ruthless.

"Fifth brother, no need to thank the elder sister; this is what she ought to do."

Having seized Qi Mingyu's soul and thus his life and death, Qi Ruohua could rest easy regarding the fifth brother before her.

"Fifth brother, let us siblings join forces and slay Qimingtian."

The Fifth Prince's hands trembled violently—with anger, fury, and resentment.

In the end, he still fell under her control, being dominated by Qi Ruohua.

And he… was powerless.

"Cough cough cough, excellent tactic, elder sister—you truly are a master schemer; younger brother admires you."

The Fifth Prince clasped his fists, enduring weakness, and spoke with sarcastic yin‑yang tone.

The Eldest Princess waved her hand: "Fifth brother, you overpraise me; I do this only for your own good. Your talent is too great, I worry—if I did not act, I would feel uneasy and could not fully trust you, so I had to resort to this measure; please understand, Fifth brother, and later I will return this strand of your soul."

That line—fool the ghosts with it.

Qi Mingyu would not believe such nonsense; with his life and death in her grasp, he could never turn things around in this lifetime.

"Best that way, elder sister."

Qi Mingyu gave Qi Ruohua a deep look; if there was no hope, he would fight to the death to kill her.

Seeing this, Qimingtian—regardless of his bleeding body and gradual weakness—looked up and laughed loudly: "Hahaha, Qi Mingyu, we both erred; we were both schemed against by that vile woman—cough cough cough."

"Qi Ruohua, you truly are a base woman, your schemes are exquisite; from start to finish, we have been your pawns."

"However, do you really think you have victory firmly in hand?"

"Hmph."

Qimingtian pressed both hands against his own wound, and that Golden Core was forcibly dug out.

In his eyes, a flicker of madness flashed.

「Qi Ruohua, Qi Mingyu, follow me to death. 」

「Let it explode. 」

「Not good. 」 Qi Ruohua's face changed; this Crown Prince is going to self-destruct.

Qi Mingyu was the same, hastily retreating, wanting to leave this place.

The Dadian was sealed off; they couldn't leave.

「Boom—」

The Golden Core self-destructed.

Even in death, Qimingtian would not let them have an easy time.

Finally, his body vanished in ashes and smoke amidst the explosion.

The entire Dadian collapsed along with it.

The Formation shattered.

Everything was pulverized in an instant.

Dust and smoke rose, the blast's aftermath covering everything.

Those outside were also caught in the blast's aftermath.

Many were flung into the air and then died.