Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! Chapter 581 Brother vs Brother: No Mercy Left

Yu Wenzhao regarded him with a steady gaze for a moment.

Then, uproarious laughter erupted from him.

"Hahaha—!"

His laughter was unrestrained, echoing with pure mockery.

He even clutched his stomach, as if unable to contain his mirth, the sound sharp and piercing within the chamber.

Yu Longxuan's expression grew considerably darker.

"What's so amusing about this?!"

Yu Wenzhao's laughter subsided, though a hint of amusement lingered.

Wiping a tear from his eye, he continued, "Truly, you amuse me, little brother..."

He shook his head, a condescending smile playing on his lips.

"You still cling to such naive notions? I never imagined you to be this foolish!"

Another short burst of laughter escaped him.

"In the ruthless struggle for the throne, who gives a damn about being a 'brother killer'?"

His tone shifted to one of cold derision.

"If that's the case..."

A frigid smile stretched across his face.

"...then what do we call our departed father?"

An abrupt silence fell.

Yu Longxuan's pupils constricted slightly.

"Brother Butcher?" Yu Wenzhao mused, tilting his head.

The ascent to the throne had always demanded a bloody toll.

Killing one's siblings?

Which emperor in history had not resorted to such measures to claim the throne?

And it wasn't merely a select few—often, it numbered in the double digits.

Their father, however, was even more brutally pragmatic, eradicating any potential claimant, even those who harbored no ambition for the throne.

He eliminated all rivals to preempt future discord.

Yu Wenzhao's gaze intensified, growing colder.

A faint sneer touched his lips.

"Nothing holds value save for the throne itself."

Yu Longxuan's expression soured.

He paid little heed to Yu Wenzhao's pronouncements, for he recognized the bitter truth within them.

However, the underlying message was brutally clear: Yu Wenzhao intended to eliminate him today.

"You brought this upon yourself," Yu Wenzhao stated, a subtle killing intent beginning to emanate from him.

"Your devastating loss at the Xue Clan is the reason I am here."

Had it not been for that significant failure, Yu Wenzhao would not have seized this opportunity to remove a rival.

Yet, he was acutely aware of the inherent risks, not to mention the potential trump cards Yu Longxuan might possess, or whether forces like the First Prince or Fourth Princess might intervene.

Vigilance was paramount to ensure his efforts weren't exploited by others.

"Have you not suffered enough? Surrender now and preserve what little dignity remains!"

Yu Longxuan's own killing intent surged in response.

"You—!"

Before he could finish, Yu Wenzhao made a slight gesture.

Instantly, the formidable experts arrayed behind him advanced.

BOOM!

An oppressive pressure saturated the room.

The elders of the Crimson Thunder Palace reacted immediately, their auras flaring to counter the onslaught.

The two forces met, not with physical contact, but through the sheer intensity of their presence.

The air itself seemed to warp and twist.

The very ground beneath them quaked.

"Argh!"

What could the Crimson Thunder Palace elders possibly do against such power?

Their adversaries were cultivators of the Immortal Realm, easily overwhelming them with their sheer pressure.

"Secure the prince and flee!"

One of the elders gritted his teeth, offering the desperate suggestion.

Should the prince fall here, all their meticulously laid plans would crumble.

However, if the Seventh Prince could escape, Yu Wenzhao's endeavor would be rendered a failure.

The other elders exchanged grim glances, their faces etched with solemnity, and nodded in agreement, seeing no other viable option.

"Heh, what are you whispering about? Do you truly believe an escape is possible?" Yu Wenzhao inquired, a mocking amusement in his voice.

He could discern their intentions with a mere glance.

But could escape be feasible when he commanded cultivators of the Immortal Realm?

It was virtually impossible, especially with the added burden of protecting Prince Yu Longxuan.

Yu Longxuan's eyes blazed with a furious red.

Disaster compounded upon disaster.

First, the profound humiliation suffered at the Xue Clan.

And now, an ambush within the sanctuary of his own residence.

His fists trembled slightly.

(Will I perish here…?) The unwanted thought clawed its way into his consciousness.

He hadn't even revealed his full capabilities.

Yet, he found himself pushed to the very brink.

He refused to accept this fate—he absolutely refused.

"Move!"

One of the Crimson Thunder Palace elders bellowed.

BOOM!

At that precise moment, an Immortal Realm expert accompanying Yu Wenzhao stepped forward.

A palm strike descended, carrying an immense, crushing force that obliterated all in its path.

The Crimson Thunder Palace elders reacted instantly.

"Block it!"

Their auras erupted, Qi surging violently as multiple defensive barriers materialized simultaneously.

BANG!!!

The resulting collision reverberated throughout the entire residence.

Despite the Crimson Thunder Palace elders' valiant efforts to intercept the Immortal Realm expert's attack, the disparity in power was insurmountable.

The Immortal Realm represented a completely different echelon of existence.

Despite the Crimson Thunder Palace possessing superior numbers, their opponents boasted three formidable experts at the Immortal Realm. Even a single Immortal Realm elder would have presented a grave challenge; facing three made any chance of victory seem nonexistent. The outcome was decided in less than a minute.

A pained groan escaped one Crimson Thunder Palace elder as he was sent flying backward, coughing up blood. Another was forced to his knees, while the remaining cultivators stumbled, their formations shattered. Their defenses crumbled, their resistance proving utterly futile against the might of the Immortal Realm experts.

Yu Longxuan's heart plummeted. For the first time, a profound sense of hopelessness washed over him. No plan came to mind, no solution presented itself to avert this impending disaster.

Yu Wenzhao observed him with a cold gaze. Despite Yu Longxuan being his own blood brother, Yu Wenzhao felt no pity or sympathy. Such was the brutal reality of the Imperial Family; he had always known this fate could befall him instead. “This is the end, little brother,” he stated impassively as an Immortal Realm expert raised a hand, preparing to deliver a final, annihilating blow. No one was left to intervene.

Yu Longxuan’s breathing slowed, his vision sharpening. (So this is how it ends…?) Just as the lethal strike was about to descend—

“Hahaha—!” A booming laugh echoed through the sky, like rolling thunder, vibrating the very air. In the next instant, several figures descended from above, their imposing auras vast and overwhelming.

“Since when…” a cold voice followed the laughter, “…did the Grand Elders of the Heaven Suppression Pavilion stoop so low? Sending their Grand Elders to deal with the younger generation?” The new arrivals impacted the scene with a force that made even the Heaven Suppression Pavilion experts stiffen.

“When did your dignity fall so low? Or do you think we, the Crimson Thunder Palace, are so easy to bully?” The figures landed, revealing themselves as the Grand Elders of the Crimson Thunder Palace!

Yu Longxuan's pupils dilated in surprise, followed by a surge of relief. “You are here…!” It wasn't just one or two; their numbers perfectly matched those of the Heaven Suppression Pavilion. It seemed they had anticipated this very situation.

“Prince, apologies for our delay!” they declared, cupping their hands in a respectful bow. “No, no, it is not your fault at all. I simply did not expect Yu Wenzhao to be so black-hearted as to attempt murder in my own residence,” Yu Longxuan replied, his eyes locking onto Yu Wenzhao with palpable killing intent. “But with you here, let’s see if he still dares to harbor such wicked dreams!”

Yu Longxuan's confidence surged back. With three Immortal Realm cultivators now on his side, the overwhelming advantage Yu Wenzhao had just moments ago completely vanished. Yu Wenzhao’s expression finally shifted. His faint smile disappeared, and his eyes narrowed. “So…” he murmured, “…you finally made your move.”

His gaze swept over the newly arrived figures. He attempted to maintain his nonchalant, confident facade, but it was clear his arrogance had significantly diminished. What would have taken mere minutes to resolve now involved a standoff with cultivators of equal or greater power. Not only was killing Yu Longxuan no longer a certainty, but his own life was now potentially at risk.

His plan had failed. Regardless of whether he could defeat Yu Longxuan, he recognized that pressing forward would only invite greater trouble. His initial objective was a swift conclusion, allowing him to return before other princes and princesses could exploit his absence. Prolonging the conflict with Immortal Realm elders present would consume too much time. By then, even if he succeeded against Yu Longxuan, he himself could become the target.

Seeing no path to victory, retreat was the only viable option. “Grand Elders, let us withdraw!” Yu Wenzhao declared, unwilling to waste more time or resources and inadvertently benefit others. He turned to leave.

“Stop!” Yu Longxuan's voice, no longer trembling, was now cold and seething with unrestrained killing intent. “You think you can just walk away?”

Yu Wenzhao paused, slowly turning back. Their gazes met. Yu Wenzhao let out a faint sigh. “Little brother…” His tone lost its earlier mockery, becoming serious. “You should know when to stop. We've both revealed too much today. If this continues, it will only benefit outsiders.”

The warning was genuine. “I will withdraw,” Yu Wenzhao continued calmly, “and we can both preserve our strength. This is also for your own good.”

While Yu Wenzhao’s reasoning held merit, Yu Longxuan’s eyes burned red, his expression contorted with fury.

A low chuckle escaped him. "Good...?"

"Hahaha... So you burst into my home... slayed my guards... nearly ended my life—and now you command me to desist?"

His words boomed like a furious roar.

At this very moment, no trace of strategy lingered in his gaze.

Only one singular objective remained.

Vengeance!

"Grand Elders!"

Yu Longxuan suddenly bellowed, his voice imbued with absolute authority.

"Dispatch them!"

The command landed with imposing weight.

"They have already expended much of their strength breaching my defenses," he observed, his eyes alight with a malevolent gleam.

"They are not at their peak! If we strike now—we can obliterate them right here!"

The Grand Elders of the Crimson Thunder Palace exchanged glances, their eyes flickering with sudden realization.

Indeed!

The Heaven Suppression Pavilion had revealed their Immortal Realm powerhouses. They had forcefully breached the compound. Their actions had already drained their resources.

This presented a prime opportunity.

Furthermore, given the unforgiving nature of the Crimson Thunder Palace…

Could they possibly permit their adversaries to depart unscathed? Unthinkable!

"Hmph!"

One of the Grand Elders advanced, a thunderous aura erupting around him.

"You dare defile my prince's residence and presume to depart?"

Another stepped forth, faint crackles of lightning surrounding him.

"Since you have arrived, then prepare to forfeit your lives!"

Their killing intent surged, unleashed without restraint.

Yu Wenzhao's expression soured.

"A bunch of utter fools..."

He murmured under his breath.

The Heaven Suppression Pavilion experts flanking him also knitted their brows.

They comprehended the dire situation; engaging further was the least desirable outcome.

But now...

There was no alternative.

For the opposing side had already made their decision.