Versatile Mage (Web Novel) - Chapter 18 — Teammates are important

Prince Kaelen Verath is a royal disgrace—a “good-for-nothing” heir who drowns his shame in wine and brothels.But when traitors slaughter his family and reduce his kingdom to ashes, Kaelen’s desperate pact with the Voidwell, an ancient power that consumes souls, grants him unimaginable strength… and hollows him into a monster.Death offers no escape.He becomes a regressed prince who once watched his kingdom and family burn, only to fail in avenging them without losing himself.Now given a second chance, he refuses to settle for mere survival or revenge—this time, he wants everything.Every empire, every kingdom… all under his control.But with every soul he consumes and every ounce of power he gains, a piece of his humanity is lost.How will he balance power and control?Can he become a supreme ruler and still remain himself?What is the cost of Absolute Sovereignty?————Send Powerstones for a guaranteed mass release!

In the third year of the Kaihuang era, as the Great Sui began to unfold between the fall of the Northern Dynasties and the rise of the glorious Tang Dynasty, Emperor Yang Jian created the House of Blades – an intelligence agency for strategies and conspiracies – in preparation to unify the world.

On a snowy night, a convoy of tribute from the Kingdom of Khotan was raided. Not one soul survived the attack. Feng Xiao, Second Commandant of the House of Blades, was ordered by the Emperor to investigate the matter in person.

On the distant border, a storm brewed as major forces gathered from all sides in Liugong Town. The strong rubbed shoulders with the strong; the skilled crossed paths with the skilled.

Here, the ever-successful Second Commandant Feng ran into a wall for the first time – all because of a feeble Taoist priest with ailing health.

Some things would never be known if no fights were ever picked. Only through their skirmishes did Feng Xiao realise that this sick bastard seemed to have way more aliases and personas than he himself ever did.

- Description from Novelupdates

Shen Yuqing and the Emperor had a secret arrangement––

She was his pampered consort, and she would hit wherever the Emperor directed her to strike;

The Emperor “loved and favored her forever”, and she could do whatever she wanted.

Later, she set her eyes on the Empress who had the same type of marriage only in name…

- Description from Novelupdates