Chapter 431: I Am the Prince of Norland

Lans stepped out from the crowd.

Jiang Li knew the moment of final confrontation had arrived.

Yet he felt a flicker of fear…

Fear of facing Xiao Fei directly…

"Lans!"

"You actually showed up?"

Xiao Fei spoke with calm indifference: "Where is the true prince you've protected all this time?"

"Why not appear? Let me see him!" said Imperial Consort Xiao.

"Imperial Consort Xiao—you haven't answered my question!"

Xiao Fei swept her sleeve.

Lans sneered: "I'll summon the prince now—you'll crush him with the force of a thunderbolt. Then, the Kingdom of Norland will still have only one new king, just as you wished."

"Hahaha!"

Imperial Consort Xiao laughed heartily.

As if hearing something hilarious, she laughed until she bent forward and backward.

Lans frowned.

"Lans, Lans—you are Norland's First Sword Saint—back then, apart from the Second King of Norland, no one in the entire kingdom could match you!"

"I never imagined that after hiding for so many years, your courage had shrunk and your resolve had faded!"

"Who is the true Second Prince of Norland? Call him out—let us all see him. I assume you've prepared thoroughly!"

"Moreover, I made it clear just now: it has nothing to do with whether he is prince or not. If a second person passes the Trial Valley, he may challenge the Crown Prince at any time to decide who becomes the next monarch—what are you afraid of, Lans?"

"I fear you," said Lans.

"I…"

Imperial Consort Xiao pointed at her own nose: "I'm merely a woman—why would you fear me?"

"Imperial Consort Xiao—you've hidden your true self deeply. When I fled with the young prince, I was ambushed by black-robed men and wounded. As you said, only the Second King of Norland could have defeated me—that became my lifelong torment!"

"But now I think about it—there was no reason for the Second King to do such a thing! The only one capable of such an act… must be you, Imperial Consort Xiao."

"Besides—the rules are rules, but they are set by the strong. Today, the prince stands before you directly—that alone is nine deaths and one life, regardless of whether he passed the Trial Valley! He lacks wings, while you tower over the world!"

At Lans's words, the ministers and generals in the hall all drew sharp breaths.

There was a hidden truth here!

Moreover, the crowd, perceptive as they were, instantly sensed powerful presences surrounding the hall from all directions.

Lan Lan Lite cast Jiang Li a complex glance, lost in thought.

She ultimately did not directly reveal to her mother who the Third Prince of Norland was.

She did not want him to die—at least, she believed that if she now declared Jiang Li the son of the Second King of Norland, Imperial Consort Xiao would likely strike him down immediately!

Not until the very end would she allow this!

She had once believed Jiang Li meant little to her.

Yet his figure haunted her day and night, burning her soul like hellfire, torturing her without respite.

"Hmph—"

"In Norland, strength is king. If you have strength, even a commoner can rise to become its monarch!"

"That's right—the black-robed man was me. Tell you plainly, Lans: even if you bring that so-called prince before me today, if he cannot crush everything, you'll still bear the charge of treason. I foresee your death anniversary will be tomorrow!" said Imperial Consort Xiao.

"A fine saying—strength is king!"

"My injuries are fully healed. For years, I've longed to reclaim my honor. Today, I'll finally go all out!"

As he spoke, Lans suddenly erupted with powerful blue qi.

The qi blast sent everyone in the hall tumbling, and Jiang Li was thrown violently, nearly flying out of the hall.

The overwhelming aura pierced the palace ceiling, revealing the white clouds above—and churned them into a muddy mess.

Such power caused every person in the hall to turn pale.

The First Sword Saint of Norland—his reputation was no empty boast.

Without a supreme expert to suppress him, no number of opponents could stand against him.

"Hmph—"

"What nonsense—First Sword Saint of Norland!"

Imperial Consort Xiao sneered, then erupted in blazing crimson fire—suddenly, all felt as if plunged into a molten hell, their blood boiling.

The two overwhelming auras clashed—Boom—crashing through the entire hall, which shattered instantly.

Jiang Li was flung away in the chaos.

The imperial palace descended into chaos.

Imperial Consort Xiao and Lans flew onto the dais and clapped palms—each palm's residual force cracked the earth and obliterated half the palace.

Both were thrown back thousands of meters, their faces no longer calm—they acknowledged each other's strength.

Imperial Consort Xiao glanced at Lan Lan Lite inside the palace, then flew straight out of the imperial city; Lans naturally chased after her.

Lan Lan Lite clenched her teeth, drew her waist sword, and raised it high: "My mother pursues the traitor—continue the new king's coronation!"

"Is the Prince of Lans present?"

A red-haired middle-aged man stepped forward from the ministers.

"Your humble servant is here!"

"You shall preside over the new king's coronation and perform my investiture ceremony!"

"Yes!"

The Prince Gong answered and walked to the center of the original ruins of the grand hall, picking up the supreme crown of Norand and the king's staff.

Lan Lan Lite waved her hand, and the court musicians scattered far away scrambled over in a panic.

"Keep playing! Keep dancing! Don't stop!"

Various musical sounds erupted.

Lan Lan Lite walked solemnly, step by step, toward the Prince Gong.

The Prince Gong held the crown, his expression toward Lan Lan Lite twisted with extreme complexity.

"Who stands below the stage!" said the Prince Gong.

"Below the stage—the Crown Prince of Norand—Lan Lan Lite!"

"Have you passed the trials of the Trial Valley?" said the Prince Gong.

"I have!"

"Have you passed the final trial?" the Prince Gong asked again.

"I have not," Lan Lan Lite answered truthfully.

The Prince Gong turned to the ministers and said: "According to the laws of the Norand Kingdom, the Trial Valley is the place of succession!"

"Normally—only those who pass the final Trial Valley's body refinement may ascend the throne—but Norand is now in a special period; those who pass the Five Elements trial of the Trial Valley may also ascend the throne. Now I ask you: besides the Crown Prince of Norand, Lan Lan Lite, who has passed the Five Elements trial of the Flame Valley, is there anyone else who has passed the Five Elements trial of the Flame Valley or the final body refinement trial? If so, step forward now! This is your last chance!"

As his words fell, Lan Lan Lite sharply turned her gaze to the Prince Gong before her, her face filled with utter disbelief.

Wasn't this Prince Gong one of her own people?

And one corrupted by Dark Force—his words just now clearly gave others an opening.

How could he?

Lan Lan Lite was startled.

Jiang Li knew he must step forward.

Xiao Fei was not present; that made his heart feel slightly lighter.

At least this Crown Prince, Lan Lan Lite, left him with no good impression.