《Villain: I Possess The Dragon Yang Dao Physique, All Saintesses Turns Into Villainesses》 Chapter 1 - Getting the villain system, awakening the Dragon Yang Dao Physique Chapter 1: Getting the villain system, awakening the Dragon Yang Dao Physique ¡°I¡¯ve crossed over?¡± Below the vault of the sky, above the clouds, three flood dragons are pulling a golden chariot racing across the horizon. Dozens of swordsmen in white guarding the surroundings, escorting with swords on both sides, looking incredibly impressive! Lin Qi¡¯an is sitting in the chariot, digesting the memories in his mind. After a while, he couldn¡¯t help but take a sharp breath! ¡°I¡¯ve actually become the son of the Northern Emperor of the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty, the Crown Prince of Beiyang?¡± The Tianlang Immortal Dynasty is the ruler of the Canglan Dao Domain, possessing billions of people, and is one of the oldest and most powerful force! And it is widely known that the one who established this empire is the Northern Emperor, Lin Weixuan! But people are more familiar with another name of his, the Sword Emperor! His white-clothed sword guards fought for 80,000,000 miles and were invincible, creating the glory of the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty. Yet he has no interest in managing the trivial matters of the dynasty, choosing to stay in Beiyang as the Northern Emperor and Lin Qi¡¯an, is the only son of the Sword Emperor. ¡°This identity is a bit too terrifying...¡± Just as he was feeling pleased with himself, thinking he could act without restraint, another set of memories surged into his mind. The rise of the Sword Emperor wasn¡¯t just due to terrifying strength, his methods were brutal! ¡°On my elder sister¡¯s seventh birthday, father took a sect treasure from the Luli Holy Land, the Seven Treasures Glazed Flower, creating my sister¡¯s Pure Glass Body.¡± ¡°It¡¯s said that the flower was originally intended for a supremely talented young genius within the sect...¡± ¡°When I was five, father searched all major sects and finally found a person with Innate Sword Bones. He took his sword bones and forcibly implanted them in me... It¡¯s said that the young man who was robbed has recently been rising slowly?¡± ¡°When my younger sister was three, father stormed into the Phoenix Empire and forcibly took the Phoenix Essence Blood, just to give her the Innate Flame Phoenix Physique.¡± ¡°It¡¯s said that the Phoenix Empire has recently had a supremely talented disciple causing a huge stir...¡± Lin Qi¡¯an felt a bit panicked as he was clearly the villain standing in the way of these protagonists. Once they rise, as the son who inherits the father¡¯s debts, death is inevitable! Even if father is the Sword Emperor, even if Beiyang has profound foundations, it¡¯s not enough! Lin Qi¡¯an, well-versed in novels, knows well how terrifying these so-called children of destiny can become once they grow! One who has a ring that contains an old master inside, one with innate divine powers, and treasure-finding cheats. Protected by the heavenly dao, even if they are not smart, they often grow at a terrifying speed, eventually becoming a great power! ¡°I can¡¯t let them grow up. Father, your path as a great villain, only your son can help you continue. Even if it¡¯s for myself, for the family, these threats must be eliminated!¡± Just then, an emotionless mechanical voice sounded in his mind. Although, if he were to be killed, his father would annihilate the opponent¡¯s ancestors for eighteen generations. To be a villain, one must rely on oneself! He must strive, otherwise, he will eventually fall at the hands of those children of destiny. ¡¾Congratulations to the host for making a decision, receive a beginner¡¯s gift pack!¡¿ ¡°Open it!¡± ¡¾Congratulations to the host, you have obtained the physique ¡°Dragon Yang Dao Physique¡±, Heavenly Spirit Shaping Pill¡¿ This physique?! Lin Qi¡¯an had heard of it. The Dragon Yang Dao Physique, similar to the Innate Dao Physique, naturally harmonizes with the great dao, unobstructed absorption of spiritual qi, cultivation without bottlenecks, but it also has a special function. If a female cultivator dual cultivates with a possessor of the Dragon Yang Dao Physique, they can also receive the blessings of the dao essence, greatly increasing their cultivation or permanently enhancing their talent, the benefits are countless! Throughout tens of thousands of years of history, only one person has ever possessed the ¡°Dragon Yang Dao Physique¡±. Known as, the Dragon Yang Emperor. Surrounded by more than three thousand beauties! In that era, nearly all the fairy and saintesses of the world were gathered under his command, envied by countless cultivators! After becoming emperor, the close women around him, those who achieved quasi-Saint and Saint statuses were numerous. ¡°This beginner¡¯s reward isn¡¯t bad, at least there¡¯s no trouble in terms of cultivation.¡± As for women, Lin Qi¡¯an wasn¡¯t concerned. As the son of the Sword Emperor, the Crown Prince of Beiyang, looking across this vast Canglan Dao Domain, which woman couldn¡¯t he snatch? Time is pressing, it¡¯s time to carry out the villain tasks, to accelerate growth. Kill Holy Sons, collect Saintesses! Pulling aside the curtain, Lin Qi¡¯an asked, ¡°Where is the nearest Holy Land?¡± ¡°Responding to the Crown Prince, two hundred li from here is the Tianchi Holy Land.¡± The servant hastily replied. ¡°Tianchi Holy Land?¡± Also a major power, it¡¯s said that the Tianchi within the sect can cleanse the body and remove impurities. Direct disciples can obtain a chance to cleanse in the Tianchi. Rumors say, the Tianchi Saintess has been bathing with the holy waters of the Tianchi since she was young. Her body like glaze, skin like ice and bones like jade, untainted by the mortal world. The number of cultivators infatuated with her exceeds several hundred thousand! ¡°Pass my order, we¡¯re going to the Tianchi Holy Land!¡± Chapter 2 - Meeting the Saintess of Tianchi! Discovering the Protagonist of Luck Chapter 2: Meeting the Saintess of Tianchi! Discovering the Protagonist of Luck ¡°The prince has ordered, head to Tianchi Holy Land!¡± the servant loudly announced. Boom, boom! Three flood dragons simultaneously turned their heads, dragon roars resounded. Dozens of white-robed sword guards, treading on flying swords, surrounded the golden chariot, creating a grand spectacle. Wherever they passed, golden light radiated, clouds rolled. Everyone on the ground was stunned. ¡°Heavens, which powerful figure is traveling with such a grand display! Dragons pulling a chariot, a golden chariot, how majestic! Could it be some holy son?¡± ¡°Nonsense, see those sword-wielding white robes? Those are the Beiyang Sword Guards, a unit directly under the Sword Emperor!¡± ¡°Could it be...the prince?¡± After guessing the person in the chariot, everyone on the ground was filled with envy and reverence. The Tianlang Immortal Dynasty is the ruler of the entire Canglan Dao Domain! Their power is overwhelming. The greatest contributor is the Sword Emperor, so his son¡¯s status is naturally unparalleled, even surpassing the princes of the immortal dynasty! ¡°I heard the prince is as elegant as jade and unparalleled in handsomeness. If only I could see him in person...¡± ¡°Haha, with your looks, don¡¯t even think about it!¡± On the chariot, Lin Qi¡¯an was already fully experiencing the benefits of the ¡°Dragon Yang Dao Body.¡± Heaven and earth¡¯s spiritual energy naturally gathered around him. In terms of cultivation speed, it was at least several times faster than others. ¡°Your Highness, we are approaching Tianchi Holy Land. Should we notify them in advance?¡± In the Canglan Dao Domain, all holy lands and sects look up to the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty. As the most honorable being in the immortal dynasty, the heir naturally needs to be grandly received. ¡°Go,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an nodded. At this moment, in the sky, flood dragons roared, bringing a golden chariot. White-robed sword guards opened the way, exuding majesty. The curtains lifted, and a man in snow-white robes stepped out of the chariot. His brows were calm, his aura transcendent, unlike ordinary people. ¡°Welcome, Your Highness!¡± the entire sect greeted in unison. ¡°Truly handsome...¡± Many young girls, though bowing their heads, were secretly peeking at this handsome man. Is this the feeling of being a villain? Being admired everywhere you go. Unlike the protagonist, who is constantly ridiculed... Lin Qi¡¯an casually glanced and spotted the woman in a crescent-white dress among the crowd. Her appearance was stunning, with fine brows and snowy skin, like a fairy from the moon. In a white dress, she seemed like an immortal, with exquisite features, like the first snow on Mount Hua, exuding an unapproachable aura. Life is like a journey, it should be like a flying swan treading on snow. The Saintess of Tianchi, Su Xueni. It¡¯s said that aside from her father, she has never touched any man in her life, bathing daily in the water of Tianchi, without a trace of impurity on her body. She is truly an ice-skin jade-bone beauty, coveted by countless saint children and geniuses. Ranked second on the Canglan Dao Domain¡¯s Fairy Beauty List. The first is Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s fiance?e, the princess of the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty, but let¡¯s leave that aside for now. The reason Lin Qi¡¯an could accurately find her among thousands was not just because of her outstanding beauty. A faint golden aura enveloped her, rising into the sky. Golden luck! In the novice mission, there was a task to subdue a Saintess with golden luck, he didn¡¯t expect to meet her so soon. Wait... Lin Qi¡¯an noticed that Su Xueni was also looking at him. Her beautiful eyes seemed to hold an inexplicable heat. Su Xueni was indeed looking at Lin Qi¡¯an, but what she cared about was not his noble status and handsome appearance. Women with purple and golden luck can see things ordinary people can¡¯t... Like the faint Dao charm emanating from Lin Qi¡¯an, and the yang energy like a golden dragon circling his body. The prince is actually the legendary physique that drives countless women crazy... Dragon Yang Dao Body! Knowing this fact, Su Xueni¡¯s heart was already in turmoil. Chapter 3 - Father, Let Me Serve the Prince Chapter 3: Father, Let Me Serve the Prince ¡°Your Highness, please come in.¡± ¡°Your Highness¡¯s arrival truly brings glory to our Tianchi Holy Land!¡± Unexpectedly, Lin Qi¡¯an frowned, ¡°Your Holy Master didn¡¯t personally come to greet me. Does he not regard me?¡± A rebuke, frightening thousands within Tianchi Holy Land. Beiyang¡¯s prince, Lin Qi¡¯an, truly a dissolute son! ¡¾Ding! Host¡¯s arrogance and domineering nature show initial villainous traits, villain points +500¡¿ As expected, gaining villain points, Lin Qi¡¯an was pleased. He had merely tried casually, not genuinely blaming the holy master for now welcoming him. ¡°Your Highness, calm your anger! It¡¯s not that the Holy Master didn¡¯t come to greet you, but he was seriously injured recently and is in seclusion recuperating.¡± A sect elder hurriedly explained, cold sweat already dripping down his back. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s proceed.¡± Seeing that His Highness didn¡¯t pursue the matter, everyone¡¯s heart felt relieved. The group entered the Holy Land¡¯s grand hall. Lin Qi¡¯an walked straight to the top and sat on the Holy Master¡¯s golden jade chair. Seeing this, no one in the Holy Land dared to object; it was only natural. Might makes right. Who doesn¡¯t know the Sword Emperor¡¯s brutality? Angering him could erase Tianchi Holy Land with a flip of his hand. At this moment, a middle-aged man with an immortal-like demeanor stepped into the hall. He respectfully cupped his fists and said, ¡°Your Highness, apologies for the lack of a proper welcome.¡± The Holy Master of Tianchi Holy Land, Su Yun. His face was pale, and his breath was uneven, indicating he was injured and had just ended his seclusion to come and greet. ¡°Dont worry about it.¡± ¡°May I ask why Your Highness has come today?¡± ¡°Do you have someone named Ling Tian here?¡± ¡°Ling Tian?¡± Su Yun was puzzled, ¡°Are you referring to my disciple Ling Tian?¡± ¡®What a ridiculous prince, one day I will trample you underfoot! Including your Sword Emperor father, all of Beiyang and even the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty will be mere stepping stones for me.¡¯ He thought to himself. ¡°This boy is courting death...¡± ¡°A madman with no regard for his life...¡± Seeing this, many in the hall shook their heads in anger, their fists clenched tightly. If you anger His Highness, do you want the entire Holy Land to die with you, madman! Even the Saintess of Tianchi standing by the side couldn¡¯t help but frown slightly. ¡°Guards, take him away and make him reflect in isolation for three days!¡± Su Yun was constantly watching Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s expression, fearing his anger. He didn¡¯t dare leave this ungrateful Ling Tian here, ordering him to be taken away. ¡¾Ding! Ling Tian has angered the crowd, luck value -100¡¿ Lin Qi¡¯an was very satisfied, ¡®By reducing his luck, when it is low enough, I can kill him and seize the core of his luck.¡¯ ¡°Your Highness, please calm your anger. Ling Tian has always been arrogant and unwilling to submit to others.¡± ¡°Heh, I won¡¯t get angry over such a small matter.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said calmly, ¡°I came to Tianchi Holy Land to enjoy the scenery, nothing more.¡± His Highness indeed has great magnanimity. The Holy Master didn¡¯t personally greet him, and a disciple behaved recklessly in the grand hall, both acts of disrespect, yet he did not mind them. Su Xueni thought of this and stole another glance at the man on the throne. Seeing the golden dragon aura swirling around him, she couldn¡¯t help but feel admiration. That night. In Tianchi Holy Land, nearly a hundred beautiful women were gathered in the backyard, standing in a row. They were all slender, with bright eyes and white teeth. Any one of them would be a captivating beauty outside. However, at this moment. Su Yun was hesitating, unsure who to choose to serve His Highness. He is so high and mighty, with a wave of his hand, countless goddesses would gather. Ordinary women would certainly not catch his eye. If there is anyone in the Holy Land who could be favored by His Highness, it would probably be his precious daughter, Su Xueni. But Xueni has never liked being close to men since childhood. Elegant as a lotus, how could she possibly be willing to serve another man? Just as he was hesitating, Su Xueni, in a white dress, arrived, ¡°Father, let me serve His Highness.¡± Chapter 4 - Saintess Becomes a Scumbag, Too Real! Chapter 4: Saintess Becomes a Scumbag, Too Real! Saintesses are mostly pure and chaste. It¡¯s not because their hearts are solely devoted to cultivation and seeking the Dao. It¡¯s because indulging in worldly pleasures affects their Dao heart, and losing their primordial yin impacts their cultivation. In this vast world, strength is paramount; without it, one becomes a mere plaything for others. But what if indulging doesn¡¯t affect their cultivation and instead brings benefits? Then it wouldn¡¯t be so rejected, just like Su Xueni at this moment. The legendary Dragon Yang Dao Physique is right before her, and seemingly no one else knows about it. If used properly, she might even become an Empress in the future! She doesn¡¯t like Lin Qi¡¯an but admits she craves his body. Already a scumbag mentality. ¡°Father, let me serve His Highness.¡± Upon hearing this, Su Yun first thought there was something wrong with his ears. His precious daughter had never touched a man¡¯s hand since childhood, and today she wants to serve His Highness? Does she know what that means? Serving is not merely pouring tea and water. If His Highness desires, it means accompanying him in bed... ¡®Yes, she must be thinking of the sect, wanting to cling to this powerful support, that¡¯s why she said this.¡¯ ¡°Xueni, don¡¯t force yourself, I¡¯ve already arranged someone else.¡± As a father, he naturally cherished his daughter. Although if she could truly be with His Highness, it would be a great blessing for Tianchi Holy Land, but it must be sincere, not sent off like an object! ¡°Father, I¡¯m not forcing myself.¡± Su Xueni shook her head and softly said, ¡°His Highness is as elegant as jade, countless women admire him. This opportunity is rare, I am willing.¡± ¡°Xueni, I know you are thinking of the sect...¡± ¡°I¡¯m not!¡± ¡®Wait, this is the plot location of the protagonist of luck, Ling Tian. Su Xueni is also a golden luck bearer, isn¡¯t she Ling Tian¡¯s heroine?¡¯ According to the normal plot progression, Ling Tian should soar to the sky, then capture Su Xueni¡¯s heart, and no one could stop his rise, but with Lin Qi¡¯an here, he couldn¡¯t let things progress normally. ¡°Your Highness,¡± Su Xueni slightly bowed and softly said, ¡°Father sent me to serve you. If you need anything, you can call Xueni anytime.¡± ¡°The bed is a bit cold,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said with a smile. Hearing this, even the prepared Su Xueni couldn¡¯t help but pause slightly, ¡®His Highness, isn¡¯t he too impatient? To speak so directly...¡¯ Thinking of the term ¡°bed-warming maid,¡± Su Xueni couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit ashamed. She, a dignified Saintess, would be like this! She struggled intensely within, trying to calm herself. Only give her body, not her heart. No woman could resist the Dragon Yang Dao Body. ¡®I, Su Xueni, just want to get closer to the Dao, nothing wrong with that!¡¯ Moreover, serving the elegant His Highness, she wouldn¡¯t suffer much. At worst, when she achieves the Dao, she could deny this relationship. ¡°Xueni understands...¡± She bit her red lips lightly, her cheeks flushed with a delicate blush, her exquisite and graceful body even more enchanting under the soft light. ¡°Wait!¡± Just as she was about to undress, Lin Qi¡¯an stopped her which made Su Xueni freeze. If it were any other man, they would have been impatient by now, their eyes bloodshot. ¡®His Highness, so calm?¡¯ Indeed, His Highness¡¯s temperament is extraordinary, unlike ordinary men who lose their minds to beauty, but Lin Qi¡¯an wasn¡¯t in a hurry; this made her even more anxious. If she could be the first to enjoy the Dragon Yang Dao Body, she would benefit the most! She heard that His Highness has been cultivating in Beiyang Tianjian City, not even seeing his fiance?e, so he probably had no other women. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Your Highness...¡± Chapter 5 - The Initial Rift Between Male and Female Leads, the Holy Land is Attacked! Chapter 5: The Initial Rift Between Male and Female Leads, the Holy Land is Attacked! ¡°You, what is your relationship with Ling Tian?¡± Hearing this question, Su Xueni was so angry that she felt a bit suffocated. ¡®Is it that my appearance is not good enough?¡¯ A strong sense of frustration rose in her heart. ¡°Replying to Your Highness, Ling Tian is my father¡¯s direct disciple. I have also traveled and trained with him. We are ordinary friends.¡± Ling Tian¡¯s feelings for her, Su Xueni naturally knew. She herself had some admiration for Ling Tian, but that was all. ¡°Ordinary friends? Then what do you think of his talent?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an sipped his tea and asked again. ¡°His qualifications are acceptable, but they are not one ten-thousandth as good as Your Highness¡¯s.¡± As a scumbag woman, it was naturally impossible to praise another man in front of His Highness. Su Xueni understood these social nuances well. Lin Qi¡¯an became suspicious. The Saintess of Tianchi, pure and untainted, yet she took the initiative to throw herself at him. If she were truly in love with him, then Ling Tian¡¯s luck value would surely have been reduced. But there was no system prompt! This proved that Su Xueni was not sincere but had another motive. Impure motives should be punished. ¡°Then, come and wash my feet,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an curled his lips. Making the high and pure Saintess do such a servant¡¯s task was outright humiliation! For Su Xueni, dual cultivation with the Dragon Yang Dao Physique was acceptable, but washing feet brought no benefit and was extremely unwilling. ¡°What, you are willing to sleep with me but not wash my feet?¡± ¡°I... I am willing,¡± Su Xueni half-bit her silver teeth. ¡°No need to force yourself. This prince will not force you. Come back when you are willing. Dismissed,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an gestured for her to leave. ¡°Xueni... takes her leave.¡± Though unwilling in her heart, Su Xueni still exited the hall. Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince had such strong resistance to beauty. Ling Tian was stunned, ¡°Xueni, don¡¯t you trust me?¡± ¡°I warn you, it¡¯s best to drop these thoughts. If you mention it again, don¡¯t blame me, Su Xueni, for being ruthless!¡± Usually gentle and elegant, the Saintess, like a serene maiden, used a threatening tone for the first time. After saying this, she waved her sleeve and left, leaving behind a stunning figure. Ling Tian was struck as if by lightning! ¡°It must be Lin Qi¡¯an who used some method to bewitch Xueni. Damn it, hateful... Lin Qi¡¯an, don¡¯t think your power and influence make you untouchable.¡± At this moment, a ethereal female voice echoed in Ling Tian¡¯s mind: ¡°Ling Tian, you shouldn¡¯t provoke someone you can¡¯t afford to for such trivial matters.¡± The speaker was the sword spirit Ling Yu of the Nine Yang Divine Sword, a remnant soul of an ancient god. He had gone this far because it was with Ling Yu¡¯s help that his strength advanced rapidly, which was the root of his rise. ¡°This is not a trivial matter!¡± Ling Tian said excitedly: ¡°I like Xueni. Heaven and earth can witness my heart. It is not the filthy desire of someone like Lin Qi¡¯an!¡± ¡°Ah... You are young and impulsive. You must learn to endure and hide, or it may harm yourself.¡± ¡°Rest assured, master, I have a plan.¡± ¡¾Ding! Ling Tian and Su Xueni have a rift, Luck Value -50¡¿ Hearing the system prompt, Lin Qi¡¯an smiled. Su Xueni was indeed his Luck Female Lead. If their relationship broke, her Luck Value would surely decrease. But he hadn¡¯t even made a move yet, so why had it decreased? Suddenly, there was a rumbling sound from the sky. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Your Highness, it seems someone is attacking the Tianchi Holy Land!¡± Chapter 6 - Lin Qi’an: I Still Need a Maid Chapter 6: Lin Qi¡¯an: I Still Need a Maid ¡°Let¡¯s go have a look.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an stood up unhurriedly. The attack on the Tianchi Holy Land had no real impact on him. Even if the entire Tianchi Holy Land were destroyed, it would just be a small skirmish to him. Looking up, he saw that the protective array of the Tianchi Holy Land had already been activated. But the external attack was fierce, with meteoric fire rain and constant thunderous roars in the sky, as if the apocalypse had arrived. The entire Tianchi Holy Land was already in chaos. Inside the main hall, Holy Master Su Yun was pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back, and the elders all had anxious expressions. ¡°Holy Master, our protective array can only hold out for three days at most!¡± ¡°Those bastards from the Tiangang Holy Land, our private conflicts have actually alarmed the Tai¡¯an royal family!¡± ¡°Relying on some connections to try to destroy us, how outrageous!¡± The Tai¡¯an royal family was the ruler of the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty, the overlord of the Canglan Dao Domain. With its hundreds of millions of inhabitants in Tai¡¯an City, it overlooked all living beings. All sects and holy lands in the Mortal Realm followed its lead, except for Beiyang. This was because seven-tenths of the Immortal Dynasty¡¯s territory had been conquered by Beiyang. ¡°They want to destroy our Tianchi Holy Land. Do they know that the Crown Prince is here?¡± ¡°So what if they know? They are not targeting the Crown Prince. Do you really expect the Crown Prince to help us?¡± ¡°The Tiangang Holy Land is acting under the nod of the Tai¡¯an royal family! Now that the Holy Master is injured, we have no means to resist...¡± ¡°Alas, is the Tianchi Holy Land doomed?¡± Su Xueni felt deep regret in her heart. If she had willingly washed the Crown Prince¡¯s feet earlier, would he have been in a good mood and helped them out of this disaster? But now, it was too late to regret. The Crown Prince would never go against the Tai¡¯an royal family for a holy land with which he had no personal connection... Su Yun¡¯s face turned ashen. The elders were heartbroken. Su Xueni bit her silver teeth but also expressed understanding. Beiyang belonged to the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty; they were essentially one entity. Now, risking their relationship for a small holy land was not worthwhile or daring. ¡°However, it¡¯s not impossible for me to help your Tianchi Holy Land, but there are conditions.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s words brought a turn for the better, giving everyone a glimmer of hope. Su Yun was overjoyed and said tremulously, ¡°What are your conditions, Your Highness? Just say it, and we will do our best!¡± ¡°I want a person.¡± Everyone looked, and the Crown Prince¡¯s gaze fell on Su Xueni! The Crown Prince wanted to compete with the prince for a person?! A thunderbolt struck everyone¡¯s hearts. Only Su Xueni felt joy. She had thought he wasn¡¯t interested in her, but it turned out to be all a man¡¯s facade, hmph! She was more than willing to follow Lin Qi¡¯an, which would give her a legitimate reason to win him over. It was a thousand times better than following the prince! ¡°But... the prince also fancies Xueni, you...¡± ¡°What does it matter to me if the prince fancies her?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an sat on the golden throne in the hall, smiling at everyone, ¡°Whoever I fancy is mine.¡± With these words, everyone felt that the white-robed Crown Prince exuded an overwhelming aura. His gaze seemed to overlook the world, putting no one in his eyes! Domineering! Astonishing! Everyone in the hall gasped. The Crown Prince not only dared to protect the holy land but also openly competed with the prince for a person. Was there anything in the world he didn¡¯t dare to do?! Su Xueni blushed, her heart pounding. At this moment, she was truly attracted by Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s domineering aura, unrelated to the Dragon Yang Dao Physique... ¡°But you have misunderstood one thing. What I need is a maid to take care of my daily life, not a Dao companion.¡± His words fell like a bomb exploding underwater! A great shock! The woman favored by the prince, the second beauty on the Immortal List, the unparalleled saintess. The Crown Prince only wanted her to be a maid? Chapter 7 - Taking the Shaping Pill, the Saintess Begins Her Self-Strategy Chapter 7: Taking the Shaping Pill, the Saintess Begins Her Self-Strategy Su Yun was shocked. His daughter, at the age of eighteen, was stunningly beautiful and had already reached the fourth layer of the Heaven Ascendant Realm. In the Canglan Dao Domain, there were countless admirers, numbering in the tens of thousands.Fo?llo?w new stories at novelhall.com Even the prince of the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty had sent people multiple times to invite her to the palace and had given numerous natural treasures, showing his sincerity. But because his daughter did not like him, she had politely declined. However, the Crown Prince was different. Upon arriving at the Tianchi Holy Land, he directly stated that he wanted her to become his maid! How domineering! It could only be said that he was truly worthy of being the son of the Sword Emperor and the Crown Prince of Beiyang. The elders were even more shocked, speechless, and gaping. To ask the saintess, who bathed daily in the water of the Tianchi, pure and pristine, to do menial tasks, the Crown Prince was truly outrageous! As for Su Xueni herself, she almost bit through her tender lips. This drastic difference in treatment made her quite uncomfortable... ¡¾Ding! The host is domineering, shocking everyone, villain points +1500¡¿ ¡°As I said, this prince will not force you. The protective array can still hold for three days. Saintess Xueni can take her time to consider.¡± ¡°If you are willing, three days later, I will protect the Tianchi Holy Land.¡± Leaving these words, Lin Qi¡¯an walked away with his hands behind his back. The task of ¡°conquering¡± required Su Xueni¡¯s willingness, and it could not be forcibly accomplished. Inside the hall, everyone dispersed. Only Su Yun and Su Xueni remained. ¡°Daughter, you have to endure this... It is my fault for provoking the Tiangang Holy Land.¡± Su Yun sighed helplessly. As her biological father, he would never want to use his daughter as a bargaining chip. ¡°Even if you hadn¡¯t conflicted with the Tiangang Holy Land, the prince would still have found other reasons to cause trouble.¡± Su Xueni shook her head, ¡°Besides, I don¡¯t feel too aggrieved.¡± ¡®Hmph, a maid is a maid. A maid can still sleep with her master!¡¯ In the entire Canglan Dao Domain, if Lin Qi¡¯an wanted to recruit a maid, many saintesses from various holy lands and ancient clans would vie for the position. At least, she was personally chosen by the Crown Prince himself. She thought so... ¡¾Ding! Su Xueni¡¯s compliance with the host increased, Ling Tian¡¯s luck value -50, villain points +700¡¿ ¡¾Store is now open¡¿ Back in his room, Lin Qi¡¯an heard the system prompt again. ¡®What¡¯s going on? I just left, and Su Xueni started to think differently?¡¯ After viewing, Lin Qi¡¯an sighed. Unexpectedly, the Dragon Yang Dao Body required a whole million villain points! It was indeed the ultimate physique, if it was revealed, all the goddesses and saintesses in the world would come pester him. By that time, he might not have any time to cultivate and instead would have to work hard day and night. It had to be kept secret. ¡®For now, let¡¯s use the ¡°Heavenly Spirit Shaping Pill¡± in the storage.¡¯ This item could reshape the body, repair any physical ailments, clear impurities, and keep the body in perfect condition. After taking the pill, Lin Qi¡¯an began to meditate and in an instant, a blinding white light enveloped him. The holy light flowed like water and his entire body was being thoroughly cleansed! Waves of black gas floated out from the top of his head; these were the impurities being expelled. His meridians were reforged, and his sword bones fused. The imperfect sword bones finally became perfect at this moment! At the same time, a sharp aura shot up to the sky. It pierced through the roof and soared into the clouds! In the Netherworld, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s protector, You Yi, looked shocked. ¡°This kind of sword aura... piercing the rainbow and the sun, it actually has a shadow of the Sword Emperor...¡± ¡°The Crown Prince, in just a few days, has made such great progress?¡± At this moment, everyone in the Tianchi Holy Land was shocked. Just looking at that sword aura from afar felt piercing. ¡°What is that soaring sword aura...¡± ¡°It¡¯s from the Crown Prince¡¯s residence! Could it be that the Crown Prince is cultivating?¡± ¡°What a terrifying sword intent... Isn¡¯t it rumored that the Crown Prince¡¯s sword bones are imperfect and he can¡¯t fully exert his strength?¡± ¡°It seems that rumor is going to be broken now!¡± Looking at the soaring sword aura from afar, Su Yun was overjoyed. Cultivating in the Tianchi Holy Land already showed the Crown Prince¡¯s stance. Such prowess, truly worthy of the Sword Emperor¡¯s son, his future achievements would be limitless... If only Xueni could change from a maid to a wife or concubine. Su Xueni¡¯s pupils trembled! The Crown Prince was cultivating in the Tianchi Holy Land... making progress. This proved that he intended to stand with the Tianchi Holy Land. Those words earlier were not empty. Unexpectedly, she, a mere girl from a small holy land, could truly make the Crown Prince openly defy the Tai¡¯an royal family! In some aspects, wasn¡¯t this already a high status? At least, higher than the number one beauty on the Immortal List, the Tai¡¯an princess! As his fiance?e, the Crown Prince had never visited her in Tai¡¯an City. Thinking this way, Su Xueni¡¯s resistance diminished significantly. Chapter 8 - Resistance Decreases, Su Xueni Begins to Serve as a Maid Chapter 8: Resistance Decreases, Su Xueni Begins to Serve as a Maid Outside the Tianchi Holy Land. The Tiangang Holy Land was attacking the protective array with all its might. ¡°Hehe, this protective array can hold out for no more than two days.¡± ¡°In two days, our Tiangang Holy Land will completely annex the Tianchi Holy Land!¡± ¡°That Saintess of Tianchi, she is truly an unparalleled beauty...¡± Apart from the Tiangang Holy Land, accompanying them was the Shenlong Army under the Tai¡¯an royal family! The entire army was clad in silver dragon armor, wielding dragon spears, exuding a domineering presence, and looking awe-inspiring. An imperial army, who dares to stand against it? Now, those holy lands and sects with old ties to the Tianchi Holy Land had all shrunk back. No one dared to lend a helping hand. ¡°I say, this Saintess of Tianchi is really ungrateful!¡± ¡°She refused multiple invitations to the palace, and now she has angered the prince, she deserves it.¡± ¡°Haha, just because she is a bit pretty, she dares to put on airs with the prince. Doesn¡¯t she know that the Canglan Dao Domain is ruled by the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty!¡± The Holy Son of Tiangang was extremely excited. Although just a tool for the prince, he would still obtain half of the holy land¡¯s resources, a huge profit. The foundation of a holy land is enviable. In two days, once the Tianchi Holy Land is breached, he must bring those beautiful women of the holy land to the Tianchi for a grand feast, enjoying the pleasure of occupying the territory. ¡°Look at the sky, what¡¯s that!¡± Suddenly, a beam of white light shot up, attracting everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°It¡¯s sword energy!¡± ¡°I heard the Crown Prince is a guest in the holy land. Could this be his doing?¡± ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be. I heard the Crown Prince hasn¡¯t fully fused with the sword bone. How could he emit such terrifying sword energy?¡± ¡°Hehe, the Crown Prince, is he trying to intimidate us?¡± The Holy Son of Tiangang sneered, ¡°Relying on his father¡¯s stolen opportunities to grow, and now he wants to act domineering outside, how unaware of himself!¡± ¡°We are here under the prince¡¯s order. If the Crown Prince has any ideas, he should think twice! Continue the attack, don¡¯t mind it!¡± ... Lin Qi¡¯an completed his body shaping. But Ling Tian was undeterred, ¡°I know you are thinking for the holy land. Rest assured, with me here, the holy land will not be threatened!¡± ¡°What are you planning to do?¡± ¡°I have my ways! Xueni, I am willing to do anything for you, promise me, don¡¯t compromise!¡± Ling Tian spoke earnestly and profoundly. However... Su Xueni felt suffocated with anger, ¡®From the start, it was I who coveted the Crown Prince¡¯s Dao Body, yet you keep obstructing me?¡¯ An ordinary man, really off-putting! ¡°You are a disciple of the Tianchi Holy Land, act cautiously and don¡¯t mess around. It¡¯s time, I should go serve the Crown Prince.¡± Leaving behind two cold sentences, Su Xueni turned and left. ¡°Damn... damn it!¡± Ling Tian punched a nearby stone pillar, cracks spreading. ¡°Xueni, wait, I alone am enough to protect the Tianchi Holy Land. No need for that damn Crown Prince!¡± ¡°Master Ling Yu, I want to break through to the fifth layer of the Nine Yang Profound Art!¡± In the sword sheath, the Nine Yang Divine Sword hummed. ¡°Impossible! You just entered the fourth layer not long ago, don¡¯t be reckless.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the only way for to have the power to fight.¡± Ling Tian¡¯s eyes showed madness.... ¡°Your Highness, Xueni has come in.¡± A burst of spiritual energy pushed open the door, and Su Xueni entered the hall with a wooden basin. Upon seeing Lin Qi¡¯an rise from the couch, her beautiful eyes immediately carried a trace of heat. Dao resonance flowing, dragon energy surrounding. The eternal divine body, the Dragon Yang Dao Body! In the early morning, the dragon energy was at its peak... If she could dual cultivate with him, not to mention getting closer to the Dao and enhancing her talent, even her long-standing ailments might be cured. She took a deep breath, her resolve even firmer. ¡®Even if the Crown Prince¡¯s fiance?e is the princess of the Immortal Dynasty, so what? I, Su Xueni, might as well seize the opportunity!¡¯ ¡°Su Xueni, why are you looking at me?¡± ¡°Nothing, Xueni is here to help Your Highness dress and wash...¡± Chapter 9 - Complete Submission, Gaining Ten Thousand Swords To Court! Chapter 9: Complete Submission, Gaining Ten Thousand Swords To Court! The moon was bright and stars were sparse. Inside the bedchamber, the lights were soft. Lin Qi¡¯an was sitting on a sandalwood chair, beneath him was the figure of a moon-white long dress. The Saintess of Tianchi, Su Xueni, was kneeling in front of the chair, her face flushed, and her delicate body trembling slightly. At this moment, her soft and delicate hands, white as jade, were massaging Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s feet. If this scene were to spread out, countless Holy Sons and prodigies in the Canglan Dao Domain would have their Dao hearts shattered! The prince of the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty would probably vomit blood upon hearing this. The Saintess he had invited multiple times, his designated consort, was washing another man¡¯s feet?! To Su Xueni, this should have been an extremely humiliating thing, but at this moment, shame outweighed humiliation. Her face was flushed with a rosy tint, like the evening clouds staining the clear sky, beautiful and charming. Her heart was almost racing out of her chest. ¡°To touch the Dragon Yang Dao Body with my own hands, it feels like this...¡± She thought in her heart. Just by doing this, Su Xueni clearly felt that her speed of absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth had increased significantly because the prince was a Dao Body, naturally close to the Dao! The spiritual energy of heaven and earth comes naturally! If she really dual-cultivated with the Dragon Yang Dao Body, her spiritual orifices might be fully opened! ¡¾Ding! Su Xueni¡¯s submission to the host increased, Ling Tian¡¯s luck -50, host¡¯s villain points +700¡¿ Hearing the system prompt, Lin Qi¡¯an was a bit speechless. This girl, is she trying to wind my favor just by washing my feet? But it felt good to reap the rewards. She had already added several thousand villain points for him, deserving a reward. ¡°Your Highness, the water is getting cold, Xueni will add some more.¡± Su Xueni said softly. ¡°You have already added water three times. Are my feet that dirty?¡± Su Xueni subconsciously licked her lips. ¡°Thank you, Your Highness, I feel much better...¡± she said softly. She didn¡¯t expect the prince to really care about her. At this moment, even the determinedly body-craving her had a complicated feeling in her heart. ¡°Since you are my maid, taking care of you is only right.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an sat by the bed, smiling. ¡°The Tianchi water is too cold, to resist it, you need to practice a high-level cold attribute technique. As for a complete cure, I don¡¯t have a solution yet.¡± ¡®Dual cultivation with Your Highness will cure it...¡¯ Su Xueni thought. ¡°I happen to have a cold attribute technique here that can help relieve your symptoms, take it.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an took out a jade slip from his ring. ¡°Thank you, Your Highness...¡± Su Xueni opened the jade slip, scanned it with her divine sense, and her beautiful eyes were filled with shock. Heaven-level technique: ¡¶Mystic Ice Jade Body Technique¡· Techniques are divided into heaven, earth, mystic, and yellow levels. Each level is vastly different. The highest in Tianchi Holy Land was only top-tier earth level and the prince casually handed out a heaven-level technique suitable for her... Priceless! With this technique, she could establish her own sect! And the prince gave it to her so casually. Is this the foundation of Beiyang? Terrifying... ¡°Your Highness¡¯s great kindness, Xueni will never forget!¡± At this moment, Su Xueni¡¯s view of Lin Qi¡¯an completely changed. She had thought he was an arrogant and domineering playboy, but he turned out to be so considerate, so generous, not indulging in beauty, with a noble demeanor. Such a man was a thousand times better than the prince of Tianlang Immortal Dynasty! And that Ling Tian, repeatedly trying to kill the prince... was truly ungrateful. ¡¾Ding! Su Xueni¡¯s submission to the host greatly increased, Ling Tian¡¯s luck -100, villain points +2000¡¿ ¡¾Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully subduing a golden luck saintess, gaining divine ability reward: Ten Thousand Swords To Court¡¿ Chapter 10 - The Crown Prince Agrees to Protect the Holy Land! Ling Tian Courting Death Outside? Chapter 10: The Crown Prince Agrees to Protect the Holy Land! Ling Tian Courting Death Outside? Succeeded in subduing her? Lin Qi¡¯an felt that he didn¡¯t exert much effort at all. She was doing all the work herself, but since the system indicated completion, it meant she had submitted and could be considered one of his own. Therefore, he decided to protect the Tianchi Holy Land. ¡°You just rest here.¡± ¡°What about your highness...¡± Su Xueni laid on the soft couch, pulling the quilt to cover half of her blushing face, exposing only her shy and charming eyes. ¡°I have other matters to attend to.¡± Su Xueni had offered herself, and naturally, he would accept, but there was no need to rush; there was plenty of time in the future. The first dual cultivation with the Dragon Yang Dao Body would greatly benefit both parties, especially with an ice-type physique. Yin and Yang combine to achieve the Dao! Although Su Xueni¡¯s physique was suitable, its quality was lacking. He would later enhance her physique to make it a top-tier ice attribute, then dual cultivation would yield the greatest benefits. ¡°You did well today. From now on, you will be my personal maid.¡± ¡°I will protect the Tianchi Holy Land.¡± Hearing this, Su Xueni was overjoyed! Although the Crown Prince¡¯s demands were domineering, he did not force her at all. Instead, he was considerate, giving her a heaven-level technique and willing to oppose the Tai¡¯an royal family for her sake. The slight humiliation of washing feet earlier was nothing compared to the current joy! ¡°Thank you for your great kindness, Your Highness!¡± Su Xueni made up her mind to repay the Crown Prince¡¯s kindness in the future. At this moment, Lin Qi¡¯an needed to enhance his strength. He went to a secluded secret chamber and activated the jade slip of ¡¶Ten Thousand Swords To Court¡·. ¡¾Ding! Do you want to spend 1000 villain points to cultivate?¡¿ ¡°Yes!¡±Re?Ad lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only Countless densely packed golden characters shot from the jade slip into Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s forehead. After a while, he had comprehended the first level of Ten Thousand Swords To Court. ¡°Dare someone from the Tianchi Holy Land come out? Courting death!¡± The Shenlong Army and the Tiangang Holy Land cultivators surrounded him. In an instant, the night sky was filled with surging spiritual energy, meteoric fire rain, and overwhelming spells. ¡°Break!¡± Ling Tian¡¯s forehead shone with golden light, and with a sweep of his sword, crimson flames roared like a phoenix! The entire night sky was ignited by divine fire. The power of one sword strike resulted in deaths and injuries. Though alone, he came prepared, intending to challenge only the young generation¡¯s experts. If the opponent was unreasonable, he would detonate the divine fire within the Nine Yang Divine Sword, causing severe damage to them. If things followed the typical protagonist¡¯s plot, he would succeed today, repel the enemies, and elope with the female lead. However, the situation was now very different. ... Inside the holy land. Su Xueni was reporting the good news to her father. ¡°Father, I have good news! The Crown Prince has agreed to protect our Tianchi Holy Land.¡± Hearing this, Su Yun was overjoyed, ¡°Is this true?! ¡°Of course it is true. The Crown Prince also gave me a heaven-level technique to suppress my cold ailment.¡± ¡°Excellent, excellent!¡± He never expected that his daughter could gain the Crown Prince¡¯s favor, truly a blessing for the holy land. With the Crown Prince backing them, even if the Tai¡¯an royal family pressed hard, they had confidence. Beiyang never feared anyone! But at this moment, a figure suddenly rushed in hurriedly. ¡°Holy Master, something terrible has happened! Ling Tian killed members of the Shenlong Army and is challenging them outside!¡± ¡°What?!¡± Su Yun¡¯s face changed drastically as if struck by lightning. Chapter 11 - The Prince Descends the Mountain, All Bow Their Heads! Chapter 11: The Prince Descends the Mountain, All Bow Their Heads! The Prince¡¯s willingness to protect Tianchi Holy Land was a tremendously good news. Because Beiyang had the capability to withstand the pressure from the Taian Imperial Family! But Ling Tian, as a disciple of Tianchi Holy Land, dared to kill the members of the Imperial Dragon Army. A bolt from the blue! What right did Tianchi Holy Land have to oppose the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty? Wasn¡¯t this pushing them into a fire pit? Su Yun¡¯s face turned pale immediately. He staggered back two steps and said in a trembling voice: ¡°Don¡¯t mind that bastard! From today onwards, he has no ties with Tianchi Holy Land! No one is to act rashly; everyone follows the Prince¡¯s orders!¡± He knew very well that doing anything unnecessary now would only cause more trouble for the Prince. There was also disappointment in Su Xueni?¡¯s eyes. ¡°I warned him many times, but I didn¡¯t expect him to go mad to this extent!¡± ....... On the other side. ¡¾Ding! The crowd is extremely disappointed with Ling Tian, Ling Tian¡¯s Luck Value -100, Host Villain Points +2000¡¿ Lin Qi¡¯an, who had just come out of seclusion, also received this news. As expected of the Son of Luck, daring to show off outside alone. According to the normal plot, it indeed should be your time to show off, shock everyone, and become famous in one battle. ¡®But with your current Luck Value, can you really retreat unscathed?¡¯ After several reductions, Ling Tian¡¯s status had already changed. Son of Luck: Lin Tian Secret Treasure: Mountain Opening Seal, ¡¶Nine Suns Profound Art¡· Luck: 500 (Blue) Luck Core: Nine Yang Mystic Art Current Kill Reward: Mountain Opening Seal, Great Profound Golden Pill Tip: When the target¡¯s Luck Value drops below 100, you can seize their Luck Core, gain permanent Luck Value, and receive all rewards. However, since things had already blown up, it was time to take action. ¡°Sword Guards, listen to my command! Follow this Prince down the mountain.¡± Three flood dragons pulled the chariot, surrounded by dozens of Sword Guards in white, extremely domineering. ¡°Is that the Prince¡¯s chariot?¡± ¡°Oh? Could it be that the Prince is here to intercede for Tianchi Holy Land?¡± The golden chariot stopped in mid-air, and a figure in white, like snow, stepped out with his hands behind his back. Elegant as jade, unrivaled in beauty. His gaze was indifferent, like a king overlooking the world, making people tremble with fear! The Prince¡¯s aura immediately suppressed the murderous intent in the air. Though the Prince was weak, Beiyang was strong, the Sword Emperor was strong. At least, no one present dared to provoke him. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the Prince to be here as well.¡± ¡°We are here by imperial decree to destroy Tianchi Holy Land and take away the Saintess, we hope the Prince will not interfere.¡± The one speaking was the leader of the Dragon Army, Xuande. He brought up the imperial decree right away to suppress the Prince, hoping he would not meddle. Hearing this, even Su Yun, Su Xueni?, and others subconsciously held their breath. The pressure was immense! How would the Prince respond? ¡°Impudent!¡± His words were like heavenly thunder. Lin Qi¡¯an hovered in the air with his hands behind his back, sweeping his gaze over everyone, his eyes filled with sword intent. This shout made many people¡¯s blood surge, nearly losing their footing... Sword Bone Pressure? Wasn¡¯t the Prince¡¯s Sword Bone imperfect, yet it was so terrifying! Many people were secretly shocked. ¡°Since you see this Prince, why do you not salute? Do you not put Beiyang in your eyes?¡± As the words fell, countless sounds of iron clashing rang out. The Sword Guards had drawn their swords! In an instant, dozens of terrifying sword energies shot up to the sky, almost piercing through the dark clouds, revealing a bright full moon. Everyone was trembling with fear. The Beiyang Sword Guards had swept through countless sects in the Canglan Dao Domain, undefeated. The mere Dragon Army was not worth mentioning. ¡°Greetings, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Greetings, Your Highness!¡± The Tiangang Holy Land and the Dragon Army all bowed their heads in salute, with no trace of arrogance left.UppTodated from Chapter 12 - Arrival of the Dragon General, the Princes Dominance! Chapter 12: Arrival of the Dragon General, the Prince¡¯s Dominance! ¡°The Prince is majestic...¡± Everyone in Tianchi Holy Land was in awe. In front of the chariot, with his hands behind his back, the figure in white was as elegant as jade. Extremely domineering, it made people¡¯s hearts yearn! Even the Dragon Army of the Taian Imperial Family was stunned... After the ceremony, Lin Qi¡¯an said indifferently, ¡°You may leave now.¡± A dismissal order. Xuande, along with the Holy Son of Tiangang, suddenly looked up! ¡°What does the Holy Son mean?¡± ¡°Tianchi Holy Land, this Prince will protect.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s words were like thunder. The sound of gasping filled the air. The Prince wants to destroy the Holy Land and capture the Saintess, but the Prince wants to protect it? The Beiyang Prince dares to openly oppose the Taian Imperial Family! ¡°Your Highness, this is absolutely impossible! We have come thousands of miles under the Prince¡¯s orders; how can we return just because of your words?¡± Xuande gritted his teeth. As the imposing leader of the Dragon Army, he felt completely humiliated at this moment. It seemed that he wasn¡¯t even considered by this Prince! As for the Tiangang Holy Land, it wasn¡¯t worthy of consideration. This was the dominance of the Beiyang Prince! Back then, his father, the Sword Emperor, also fought invincibly throughout the Canglan Dao Domain. The Prince was also the son of the Emperor! The people of Tiangang Holy Land and the Dragon Army exchanged glances. They thought they would return triumphant, but they didn¡¯t expect to encounter this calamity. It was truly unlucky. And these people? They came in force to destroy my Holy Land, only to be told to ¡°get lost¡± by the Prince. Long Ye¡¯s eyes showed dread. He was indeed no match for the protector behind Lin Qi¡¯an. At this point, hard tactics wouldn¡¯t work; he had to soften his approach. ¡°Prince, Beiyang and Tai¡¯an both belong to the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty; why hurt our harmony? We won¡¯t destroy Tianchi Holy Land. If you let us take the Saintess, we can at least give an account to the Prince. How about it?¡± Even the mighty General yielded before the Prince. The Dragon Army soldiers were greatly demoralized. But this was indeed a mutually beneficial solution. It gave face to the Prince and avoided the Prince¡¯s reproach. ¡°It¡¯s bad... The Prince might really be helpless now?¡± ¡°Yes, the other side has made significant concessions. If the Prince continues to make things difficult, he will be unreasonable and overbearing...¡± ¡°Alas, it¡¯s a pity for the Saintess; she still can¡¯t avoid being taken by the Prince!¡± Sighs echoed one after another. Even Su Yun felt helpless. The other side had given the Prince maximum face; not killing anyone, both sides had a way out. This request seemed very reasonable. The air was unusually quiet. Everyone watched Lin Qi¡¯an in white, waiting for his response. ¡°Xueni, I¡¯m thirsty.¡± The Saintess of Tianchi, dressed in a moon-white long dress, with an exceptional appearance and a graceful figure, respectfully approached Lin Qi¡¯an. Holding a white jade tray with a cup of tea on it. ¡°Your Highness, please have some tea.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an took the cup, sipped it lightly, ¡°Step back.¡± A deathly silence. Everyone present was shocked to the core! The Prince had already answered with his actions. Su Xueni? was his person! Today, no one could take her away. Chapter 13 - All of You Attack Together, Thousands of Swords to Court! Chapter 13: All of You Attack Together, Thousands of Swords to Court! The Beiyang Prince openly competing with the Prince for a woman showed utter disregard for the Taian Imperial Family. How arrogant, how bold! The most critical point was that there had been no prior rumors indicating that the Prince desired the Saintess of Tianchi Holy Land. In contrast, the Prince had repeatedly sent people to request her, which meant the Prince¡¯s act was purely a whim! Realizing this, the Dragon Army felt stifled, and the people of Tiangang Holy Land were pale with extreme displeasure. ¡°Your Highness dares to act like this, are you not afraid of the Taian Imperial Family causing trouble?¡± ¡°Afraid of what... The Sword Emperor fought invincibly across the world, with countless enemies. Did he ever fear anyone?¡±Re?Ad lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only ¡°Beiyang¡¯s heritage is truly terrifying! It¡¯s said that strong men abound in Tianjian City, no less than in Taian Imperial City.¡± ¡°Hmph, he¡¯s just a spoiled brat riding on his father¡¯s coattails. How much strength does he have himself?¡± Discussion was rampant. For the overbearing and unreasonable Prince, people from Tiangang Holy Land and the Dragon Army were naturally unconvinced, thinking he only relied on his powerful backing. Without the Beiyang mountain behind him, what was he? The world respected the Sword Emperor, not some spoiled brat! ¡°Prince!¡± Long Ye strode forward, his voice like thunder. ¡°The Prince has a profound protector by his side, I dare not block him! But if today¡¯s matter spreads, outsiders will mock the Prince for bullying and robbing by force!¡± These words clearly implied that Lin Qi¡¯an had no real strength and was only pretending to be powerful. Hearing this, the Sword Guards¡¯ killing intent soared, and the aura from the Netherworld became more intense. ¡°Prince, let us destroy them! A bunch of ants dare to criticize the Prince, they are courting death!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an wanted to fight a thousand people alone? If that wasn¡¯t madness, what was it? In the entire Canglan Dao Domain, no prodigy dared to be so arrogant. ¡°This Prince has the Sword Emperor¡¯s illness without the Sword Emperor¡¯s strength...¡± ¡°Arrogance requires strength; he¡¯s courting death!¡± ¡°After this battle, the Beiyang Prince will likely become a joke!¡± At this moment, Ling Tian, who had escaped injured, was also hiding somewhere in Tianchi Holy Land, watching secretly. ¡°Relying on the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty and possessing countless resources, even a dog could rise to power. He hasn¡¯t achieved anything, what a useless Prince!¡± Even the Sword Guards beside him tried to persuade him. ¡°Your Highness, don¡¯t...¡± But Lin Qi¡¯an ignored them. ¡°Fine, in that case, we will challenge the Prince together!¡± The Holy Son of Tiangang stepped out, his face showing a sinister smile. Today¡¯s battle would be the one that made his name famous in Canglan, using the Beiyang Prince as a stepping stone. It would feel fantastic, haha! Nearly a thousand people simultaneously mobilized their spiritual energy. Instantly, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged, the wind and clouds changed color, and no birds were seen within a hundred miles. The spiritual pressure like a tidal wave rushed towards Lin Qi¡¯an. Lin Qi¡¯an remained as still as a mountain. He raised his sword finger, pointing to the sky! A terrifying aura of extreme sharpness spread upwards, slicing the incoming spiritual pressure into thousands of pieces. Not only that, but this aura spread across the sky, covering a hundred miles. Divine Ability ¨C Thousand Swords to Court! Chapter 14 - Borrow Ten Thousand Swords, Kill a Thousand People! Chapter 14: Borrow Ten Thousand Swords, Kill a Thousand People! ¡°Hey, my sword!¡± ¡°Damn, what¡¯s going on?! The sword flew away on its own?!¡± Everyone present, regardless of friend or foe, saw the same thing. All who carried swords saw their blades shoot out of their sheaths and into the sky. At this moment, in the armory of Tianchi Holy Land, the sound of metal clashing resonated loudly. Countless swords hummed as if they had gained sentience, all rushing out of the armory together. The massive momentum frightened the guards into collapsing nearby. Within a hundred-mile radius, all sects, big and small, as well as wandering cultivators, experienced this bizarre event. Swords left their bodies and flew into the sky. Among them were mundane weapons, spirit weapons, and even earth and heaven weapons. Ling Tian was entranced by the sight, his Nine Yang Divine Sword suddenly buzzing in his hand, as if agitated. He hurriedly pressed down on the hilt. ¡°Master Lingyu!¡± ¡°Such powerful sword dao divine power...¡± Lingyu was deeply shaken, gazing at the white figure in the sky like a god. Perhaps this was a true sword wielder. Countless beams of white light converged from all directions, like countless meteors. The tens of thousands of swords hovered above Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s head, seemingly jubilant. ¡°He... he... borrowed everyone¡¯s swords!¡± ¡°What kind of divine technique is this? I¡¯ve never seen the Sword Emperor use it!¡± ¡°Could it be that the his highness comprehended it himself?¡± ¡°They say his sword bone is imperfect, but if he can¡¯t activate the sword bone, how can he perform such a terrifying sword dao divine power?¡± ¡°With a single command, ten thousand swords come to court!¡± The Holy Lord of Tianchi, Su Yun, felt indescribable joy. The Heir Apparent dared to kill even the direct army of the Tai¡¯an royal family for Xue Ni. This was excellent; Xue Ni would naturally not suffer any grievances with him. Su Xue Ni¡¯s beautiful eyes sparkled even more. No wonder this was the man she submitted to, domineering and unparalleled in strength. How could this maid not be satisfied! In the future, if he spread the word, countless saintesses and geniuses would flock to him, and she was the first to seize the opportunity. Being close to him brought countless benefits. The group of sword guards were excited, bowing with their swords in salute. ¡°Heir Apparent¡¯s divine might!¡± In this young figure, they faintly saw the shadow of the Sword Emperor. If this news reached Beiyang, it would surely bring the Sword Emperor great joy! Even the hidden protector of Lin Qi¡¯an, Aunt You, couldn¡¯t help but marvel. Though she was blind, she could sense with her divine consciousness... Ten thousand swords came to court, and the sword qi soared into the sky. When did this little brat grow to such a level? Lin Qi¡¯an stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the few people left in front of him. ¡°I gave you the chance to leave.¡± ¡°Leave!¡± Long Ye dared not utter another word. Beiyang indeed had no fear of the royal family. If he persisted, he would probably be killed too! He could only return and report to the prince for a decision. Tiangang Holy Land had mobilized to destroy Tianchi Holy Land, but now they lost their Holy Son. They could only swallow their pride and leave in disgrace. In this battle, Lin Qi¡¯an borrowed ten thousand swords and killed a thousand people! Unmatched in the world, his fierce reputation spread far and wide. ¡¾Ding! Host acted domineeringly and decisively, embodying the villain¡¯s demeanor.¡¿ ¡¾Villain points +20000¡¿ ¡¾Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the task ¡°Slay a Holy Son¡±¡¿ ¡¾Rewards obtained: ¡°Ice Qilin Essence Blood¡± ¡°Fire Qilin Essence Blood¡±¡¿ Chapter 15 - Gifting Ice Qilin Essence Blood, Preparing for Dual Cultivation? Chapter 15: Gifting Ice Qilin Essence Blood, Preparing for Dual Cultivation? The crisis at Tianchi Holy Land was resolved, and cheers erupted. The gratitude towards the Prince echoed throughout the entire holy land! ¡°Spread the word, tomorrow, Tianchi Holy Land will host a banquet to thank the Prince!¡± Su Yun¡¯s hearty laughter resounded at the mountain gate, making him seem much younger. Su Xueni? looked at Lin Qi¡¯an with undisguised admiration in her eyes. Amidst the overwhelming praise, Lin Qi¡¯an did not get carried away. He had not forgotten the presence of the Son of Luck. ¡°Aunt You, go find Ling Tian¡¯s whereabouts. He should still be nearby. Find him but do not engage and report any situation to me.¡± ¡°As you command!¡± With Aunt You¡¯s strength, finding someone was not difficult at all. ¡°Damn it, why is he in the spotlight? Damn it!¡± Ling Tian, hiding in the shadows, gritted his teeth. In the previous battle, he had forcibly triggered the Nine Yang Divine Flame, causing Ling Yu¡¯s soul to be damaged and his vitality to be severely depleted. Despite his efforts, he ended up paving the way for someone else¡¯s success. How could he endure this? ¡°Ling Tian, since you call me Master, listen to my advice. Leave this place and do not provoke that Prince again. If you endure and cultivate in seclusion, your future achievements may not be less than his. But for now, you cannot compare.¡± The sword¡¯s spirit, Ling Yu, advised earnestly. When the Prince used his divine power earlier, even the Nine Suns Divine Sword, a sacred weapon, almost flew out. Ling Yu was in awe and yearned to be used by him. Honest advice is hard to hear. ¡°I will leave... but I must take Xueni? with me. I cannot watch her jump into the fire pit! She will understand my good intentions!¡± Ling Yu sighed deeply. She was too weak to speak further. Neither of them noticed the eyes watching them from the void. ¡°A sacred weapon, a sword spirit... interesting. No wonder the Prince had me watch him.¡± The next night, Tianchi Holy Land was brightly lit, and a grand banquet was held. The hall was filled with dishes of chicken, duck, fish, and cups of jade-like wine. Attendees included not only people from the Holy Land but also sects from the surrounding areas who came to see the Prince. They wanted to see his true face and, if possible, align themselves with him. When Lin Qi¡¯an arrived at the banquet, everyone stood up.Fiind updated novels at novelhall.come, Prince!¡± It came from the ancient divine beast, the Ice Qilin, an absolute top-tier sacred object! It was said that if one could refine this essence blood, they could forge a Cold Jade Body, making them instantly proficient in all related techniques and divine powers¡ªa dream physique for women! The Prince actually had such a thing... Her delicate hand trembled continuously. Su Xueni? took a deep breath, ¡°Prince, are you giving this to me?¡± ¡°Of course, it is of no use to me.¡± ¡°Prince... Xueni? is just a maid. Isn¡¯t this too precious?¡± Su Xueni? doubted her status as a maid. Could even the Prince¡¯s official wife receive such treatment? She didn¡¯t know, but she was sure the Prince¡¯s fiance?e from the Taian Imperial Family didn¡¯t have this. She might be the first woman to be so favored by the Prince... ¡°Hehe, of course, it¡¯s not for free,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said with a smile. ¡°Refine this essence blood, cultivate the Cold Jade Body, and you can dual cultivate with me to advance together.¡± The Yang Dragon Dao Physique required a very specific dual cultivation partner, and the Cold Jade Body was a perfect match. If they combined, it would greatly benefit both. ¡°D... Dual cultivate...¡± Hearing these dream words, Su Xueni?¡¯s face immediately turned a captivating shade of red, her eyes seductive, and her ears flushed. She was ecstatic but dared not show it, trying hard to suppress her excitement. Getting the Ice Qilin Essence Blood to cultivate a rare divine body was already a great fortune. Being able to dual cultivate with the legendary Yang Dragon Dao Physique to reach a higher level was beyond words. Could there be such good fortune in the world? Perhaps in the future, she would no longer be called the Saintess of Tianchi but the Empress of Tianchi! ¡°What, you don¡¯t want to? Then I can take it back.¡± ¡°I, I am willing!¡± Su Xueni? hurriedly grasped the porcelain bottle, afraid it would be taken back. Then, realizing she was being too eager, she bit her lip, her exquisite face becoming even more captivating. ¡°Thank you for your great kindness, Prince. Xueni? will definitely work hard to refine it!¡± Leaving these words, she fled the room. Once she closed the door, she leaned against it, almost collapsing. Holding her chest with her delicate hand, a smile that could outshine any flower appeared on her lips. From now on, she would wholeheartedly serve the Prince. She thought. Chapter 16 - Complete Break Between the Protaganist and the Heroine, Ling Tian Imprisoned Chapter 16: Complete Break Between the Protaganist and the Heroine, Ling Tian Imprisoned Su Xueni? had just left Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s sleeping quarters when a bright flame suddenly appeared in front of her. She recognized this flame; it was part of Ling Tian¡¯s technique! Her eyes narrowed, and a look of disgust appeared on her face. It was guiding her somewhere? This Ling Tian was bold indeed. After making such a grave mistake, he still dared to hide within Tianchi Holy Land! Following the flame, Su Xueni? arrived at a secluded woodshed. Pushing the door open, she found Ling Tian hiding inside. ¡°Xueni?, you¡¯re here!¡± Ling Tian quickly stepped forward, eyes filled with excitement. Xueni? had come; she still cared about him!UppTodated from ¡°You acted on behalf of Tianchi Holy Land without permission and angered the Tai¡¯an Royal Family¡¯s Dragon Army. Do you realize the magnitude of your mistake?¡± Su Xueni?¡¯s gaze was icy, her tone devoid of warmth. ¡°I was trying to help you all!¡± Ling Tian felt as if he had been doused with cold water. He hadn¡¯t expected Su Xueni? to blame him instead of showing concern. His mood immediately turned heavy, and a hint of malevolence appeared in his eyes. ¡°Help us? If it weren¡¯t for the Prince¡¯s intervention, you would have harmed us.¡± Su Xueni? looked at him and said, ¡°My father has already expelled you from Tianchi Holy Land. From now on, you and I have nothing to do with each other. Leave.¡± ¡°Xueni?! You...¡± Ling Tian felt as if he had been struck by lightning, stumbling and almost falling. ¡°I treated you sincerely, I treated Tianchi Holy Land sincerely. Why did it come to this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all because of that damned Prince, it¡¯s him...¡± ¡°Xueni?, you must not stay by Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s side. He¡¯s a monster who eats people without spitting out the bones! Beiyang¡¯s power is built on countless corpses!¡± Ling Tian clenched his fists, gritting his teeth, his eyes red with agitation. During the ancient era of turmoil, countless forces competed for supremacy. Beiyang indeed built its dominance on the corpses of many. Without Beiyang, the continuous wars would have claimed even more lives! Moreover, the Prince sincerely cared for her, giving her Heaven-tier techniques and Ice Qilin Essence Blood. No matter what others thought of him, Su Xueni? was determined to repay him sincerely. ¡°Shut up! I know exactly what kind of person the Prince is. If you speak ill of him again, don¡¯t blame me for being unkind!¡± Ling Tian¡¯s face turned pale, his voice becoming hoarse. ¡¾Three Elements Soul Condensation Elixir: 2000 Villain Points¡¿ Effect: Can help remnant souls become more solid, restoring some soul power. ¡®Heh, sowing discord with sweet words and gifts is most effective. There¡¯s a saying, after all: The most touching thing is sincerity!¡¯ Beiyang Tianjian City, gathering countless famous swords; the Nine Yang Divine Technique in Ling Tian¡¯s possession should be quite nice? ¡ª Upon hearing that Ling Tian was still in the Holy Land, Su Yun was furious! This brat nearly ruined everything, and it was only thanks to the Prince that they avoided disaster. He used to admire Ling Tian¡¯s talent, thinking he could one day lead Tianchi Holy Land. But now, his daughter was favored by the Prince, securing their future. As for Ling Tian, whether he was exiled or executed was up to the Prince. Currently, Ling Tian was imprisoned in a dark, damp dungeon, meditating to heal himself. Disheveled and in a sorry state, the Nine Yang Divine Technique was hidden in his brow, his last and only hope for a comeback. ¡°Ling Yu, Master, once you recover a bit, we can break through the restraints. A mere dungeon can¡¯t hold me!¡± No matter what happened, he knew that Ling Yu would always be with him. No one knew of Ling Yu¡¯s existence. With her help, he still had a chance to turn things around! Lost in thought, he suddenly saw a figure in a moon-white dress approaching. ¡°Xueni??¡± He called out, but the words stuck in his throat. Beside Su Xueni? was a handsome man in luxurious clothing. It was the Beiyang Prince, Lin Qi¡¯an. Chapter 17 - A Psychological Strategy! Recruiting the Sword Spirit Chapter 17: A Psychological Strategy! Recruiting the Sword Spirit Ling Tian¡¯s anger surged, his face turning red, his eyes bloodshot. ¡°What are you here for? Are you here to humiliate me?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an didn¡¯t bother to respond to his outburst. He calmly said, ¡°I¡¯m not interested in you. Let your master come out and talk.¡± Ling Tian felt as if he had been struck by lightning. This was his biggest secret, his last hope. He had never told anyone, not even Xueni?. How did Lin Qi¡¯an know? ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about...¡± Ling Tian clenched his fists and answered in a low voice. ¡°You have the Divine Technique Divine Technique, and there is a spirit within it. All your opportunities and growth have come from her. Did I make myself clear?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an smirked. Hearing this, even Su Xueni? couldn¡¯t help but pause. ¡°How... how do you know this?¡± ¡°Do you think you can hide anything from me?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked. Ling Tian trembled all over, feeling an overwhelming sense of powerlessness. He nearly collapsed. Only now did he realize the insurmountable gap between him and the high and mighty Prince.Fo?llo?w new stories at novelhall.comn it, if only I had enough time to grow! One day, I could crush him underfoot! If only I had listened to Ling Yu¡¯s advice...¡¯ But it was too late to regret. His trump card was known, and escape was impossible. A red aura emerged from Ling Tian¡¯s brow, forming the ethereal figure of a woman¡ªthe sword spirit, Ling Yu. ¡°I¡¯m just a mere remnant soul of a sword spirit, why does the prince bother?¡± Ling Yu spoke calmly. ¡°Oh? And what gives you the right to decide for your master?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an smiled. ¡°Was it your impulsive challenge that drained her spirit, leaving her in her current weakened state?¡± Ling Yu was silent. She had to admit that in every way, Ling Tian fell short compared to Lin Qi¡¯an. His impulsiveness and lack of forethought had driven them to this dire situation. ¡°If you truly care for your master, you should let her follow me. To heal and restore her physical form, to fully unleash the power of the Divine Technique, she should follow me,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said sincerely. Beiyang Tianjian City was the best place for nurturing swords. Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s words were sweetly persuasive to Ling Yu. She knew that with Beiyang¡¯s resources, they lacked nothing in terms of sacred weapons. The fact that he was personally trying to recruit her showed great sincerity. Truthfully, she had a favorable impression of Lin Qi¡¯an, especially after witnessing his Thousand Swords to Court ability. The sight of countless swords soaring to form his weapon was a spectacular scene. At that moment, she felt a burning desire to be wielded by someone truly talented, ensuring her legacy was not tarnished. Ling Tian had awakened her, but she had repaid him many times over. ¡°Prince, though I am his master, I cannot accept your offer right now,¡± Ling Yu replied, using the term ¡°for now.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t force you, Senior. But you are weak from overexertion. I have a spirit elixir that can help restore some of your soul power.¡± With that, he tossed a bottle of Three Elements Soul Condensation Elixir into the dungeon, not waiting for her to refuse, and left with Xueni?. On the way out, Su Xueni? was puzzled. ¡°Prince, if you wanted his spirit treasure, why not just take it? Why play mind games?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand. Simply obtaining a sacred weapon without the spirit¡¯s approval greatly diminishes its power.¡± ¡°I see... Then, Ling Tian is entirely at your disposal.¡± Su Xueni? smiled enchantingly, ¡°As for me, I¡¯ll continue refining the Ice Qilin Essence Blood~¡± Chapter 18 - Receiving a New Villain Mission, Purple Specter Saintess Chapter 18: Receiving a New Villain Mission, Purple Specter Saintess ¡®Damn it..... Lin Qi¡¯an, I cannot coexist with you!¡¯ For Ling Tian, the words he just heard were like a demonic chant, each word tormenting him. Especially seeing the small porcelain bottle on the ground, his anger surged, wishing he could smash it with a stomp! Ling Yu looked at the porcelain bottle on the ground and said softly, ¡°Actually, based on my observations over the past few days, the Crown Prince may not be as unforgivable as you think.¡± ¡°On the contrary, he has many admirable qualities. He has strategy, courage, talent, strength, and a generous heart. He doesn¡¯t just rely on his background and has no other merits.¡± Ling Tian was furious, his features nearly distorted, ¡°He¡¯s gone, and you still call him Crown Prince!¡± ¡°I.......¡± ¡°If he¡¯s so excellent, then go follow him! Why bother about my life and death?!¡± ¡°Xiao Tian, calm down, we can talk about this.¡± ¡°What is there to talk about? You said you wouldn¡¯t submit to Lin Qi¡¯an for now. I want to know, when exactly will you submit to him!¡± Just thinking about his master¡¯s praises for Lin Qi¡¯an made his heart ache. Not only had his treasured Xueni betrayed him, but even his master, who had always been by his side, had been bewitched. The more Ling Tian spoke, the angrier he got. He punched the stone wall, using a tone of reprimand and even a roar: ¡°Is this bottle of spiritual liquid really that important to you? Then take it and use it!¡± In the past, he had always obeyed Ling Yu¡¯s master, but now, it was as if they had become strangers. Naturally, Ling Yu couldn¡¯t use it herself; she didn¡¯t have a body and could only absorb the spiritual liquid by having someone else pour it on her sword. Ling Tian did not intend to do this for her. So, Ling Yu fell silent, retreating into the sword, and the surface of the sword gradually dimmed. ...... ¡¾Ding! The rift between Ling Tian and Ling Yu deepens, Luck Points -100, Host Villain Points +2000¡¿ Lin Qi¡¯an heard the system prompt and couldn¡¯t help but shake his head. These so-called children of luck are really brainless as they fall for such simple provocations. ¡®Our protagonist Ling Tian could perfectly serve as this treasure-hunting mouse, continuing to shine and heat!¡¯ ¡®Need to figure out a way to make him do this task! Then snatch it from his hands to complete the mission smoothly.¡¯ ¡¾Sou Devouring Worm: 3000 Villain Points¡¿ Effect: Once ingested, the host will always know the opponent¡¯s location. If ordered to self-destruct, it will instantly lock all of the opponent¡¯s spiritual apertures, rendering them unable to use any power. This is a safeguard as he can not just let the child of luck go. What if he finds an opportunity to rise, it would be disastrous. However, how to make him ingest this spirit insect is a problem! .......... Ziyou Holy Land. This place is not far from Tianchi Holy Land, they are neighbors so they naturally heard about the news over there. ¡°Mother, Brother Ling is in trouble, I can¡¯t just sit by and do nothing. After all, he helped me once.¡± The speaker was a woman in a purple dress. Her fragrant shoulders were half-exposed, and her dress was full and round. Her three thousand strands of black hair draped behind her, and her figure was graceful. The night wind blew, her skirt fluttered, and her pair of enchanting straight jade legs appeared faintly. Ziyou Saintess, Zi Lianyou. She is a big-breasted, brainless, pure-hearted girl. Some time ago, during an adventure, she met Ling Tian from Tianchi Holy Land and received his help once. Since then, she always kept it in her heart, wanting to find a chance to repay him. ¡°I heard that Ling Tian opposed the Crown Prince, almost causing Tianchi Holy Land to fall into turmoil. Now he has been imprisoned in the dungeon.¡± ¡°You¡¯er, how can you risk yourself for someone like that....¡± Zi Lianyou pouted: ¡°I don¡¯t care, tomorrow I will go to the Crown Prince to plead for him.¡± ¡°Sigh, mother knows you have feelings for Ling Tian. But the world is big, and there are countless good men. You have seen too few, and your heart is simple.¡± ¡°Learn from your sister Xueni, who is now leaning on the Crown Prince, and can enjoy the world....¡± Zi Lianyou didn¡¯t take it seriously. Is the Crown Prince really that good, making even the always elegant sister Xue Ni willing to serve him? Tomorrow, she will go and see!! Chapter 19 - Ziyou’s Saintess First Encounter with the Prince, Astonished! Chapter 19: Ziyou¡¯s Saintess First Encounter with the Prince, Astonished! The next day. Su Xueni? had become increasingly proficient in her role as a maid. Previously shy and awkward, she now performed her duties with eagerness and skill, serving tea, delivering water, massaging shoulders, and kneading legs without hesitation. In private, she even learned techniques from other maids, showing significant improvement. In the afternoon, Lin Qi¡¯an was lounging in a chair, basking in the sunlight. He didn¡¯t need to actively cultivate or seclude himself for decades like others. The natural spiritual energy of heaven and earth would come to him effortlessly. With all seventy-two spiritual orifices open, this was the so-called Dao Physique! ¡°Your Highness, are you comfortable?¡± Su Xueni?, dressed in a moon-white long dress, with a beautiful appearance and a graceful figure, stood behind Lin Qi¡¯an, massaging his shoulders. Her slender hands felt incredibly soothing, accompanied by a faint fragrance of a young maiden. ¡°Very comfortable, you¡¯ve improved a lot.¡± It wasn¡¯t just comfortable; it was an exquisite enjoyment! If it were the typical protagonist, the female lead might be in danger of being coveted by a villain, requiring the hero to save her and tenderly care for her. After countless trials and tribulations, they would finally be together. Isn¡¯t that exhausting? ¡°By the way, Your Highness, a sister of mine wishes to see you,¡± Su Xueni? said softly. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Saintess Zi Lianyou of Ziyou Holy Land. She seems to have a past with Ling Tian and is here to plead for him.¡± In the past, Zi Lianyou had been jealous of Su Xueni?¡¯s beauty, outstanding temperament, and ethereal aura, making her the dream goddess of countless men. But now, she didn¡¯t envy her at all, for Su Xueni? had become a gilded cage bird, serving the Prince, perhaps never to find her true love again. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it... I have my reasons.¡± Su Xueni? certainly wouldn¡¯t share the secret of the Yang Dragon Dao Physique. Not even with her closest sister, let alone anyone else! They walked into a courtyard filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers. Through the stone archway, Zi Lianyou saw Lin Qi¡¯an reclining on a chair. Her beautiful eyes widened in shock. Dao aura swirling, golden dragons circling... ¡®Wait, why can I see such visions? This... this is the legendary... Yang Dragon Dao Physique!¡¯ In ancient times, the feats of the Yang Dragon Emperor were still sung by people today. He had a harem of three thousand, all goddesses of their time. The most outrageous story was that the Yang Dragon Emperor fell for a woman selling tofu in the city, known as the Tofu Beauty. Later, this woman, who had no cultivation talent, became a quasi-Saint, surpassing countless prodigies! The Prince has such a physique... Zi Lian You suddenly turned to look at Su Xueni?, her heart filled with a terrifying realization. Could Sister Xueni? see these visions too? If so, her willingness to serve the Prince made perfect sense! Which woman wouldn¡¯t be tempted by this? ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Lianyou?¡± ¡°Nothing...¡± Zi Lian You forcibly calmed her pounding heart. Today, despite discovering the Prince¡¯s astonishing secret, she couldn¡¯t forget her purpose. If only she could touch this legendary physique... No, no! She was here to plead for Brother Ling! ¡°Ziyou Holy Land¡¯s Zi Lianyou greets the Prince.¡± ¡°No need for formalities.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an looked at the girl in the purple dress with a smile. Unexpectedly, she was also a woman with purple luck! Chapter 20 - Plea for Mercy? No, I Came to Witness the Princes Charisma Chapter 20: Plea for Mercy? No, I Came to Witness the Prince¡¯s Charisma ¡°You came to plead for Ling Tian?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked, a playful smile curling his lips. ¡°Not exactly a plea,¡± Zi Lianyou stammered, still flustered, her face a mix of white and red. ¡°I just heard the Prince was here and wanted to meet him, to witness the elegance of the Prince in person!¡± At first, her tone was uncertain, but as she continued, she grew more confident, as if her words were entirely true. Su Xueni? was stunned! Just a moment ago, at the door, Zi Lianyou was solely focused on pleading for Ling Tian. Now, before the Prince, she claimed to be here to admire him? ¡°Ha ha, then tell me your impressions,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said. ¡°Lianyou is not as eloquent as Sister Xueni?. I just find the Prince to be incredibly handsome and elegant!¡± ¡®Could she be any more sycophantic?¡¯ Su Xueni? thought, seething. Is she implying I¡¯m a smooth talker while she is genuinely praising the Prince? Su Xueni?¡¯s teeth ground in frustration. Zi Lianyou, usually so honest, had turned obsequious before the Prince. She would need to be wary of her in the future. Flattered by Zi Lianyou¡¯s praise, Lin Qi¡¯an felt slightly uncomfortable. ¡°Alright, I know you have a history with Ling Tian.¡± ¡°Indeed... I owe him a favor,¡± Zi Lian You admitted. ¡°I¡¯m not one to hold grudges. For Su Xueni?¡¯s sake, I can give him a chance.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an retrieved a jade-white pill, flicking it into Zi Lianyou¡¯s hands. ¡°This pill, have Ling Tian take it.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± she asked. ¡°A Spirit Gathering Pill. It will restore his spiritual power, helping him break out of the dungeon.¡± ¡°The Prince again...¡± Ling Tian¡¯s mood soured at the mention of him. ¡°Brother Ling, I have a Spirit Gathering Pill that can restore your strength and help you break the restraints!¡± ¡°Really?¡± Just when he thought all was lost, a ray of hope appeared! ¡®I, Ling Tian, am favored by destiny. Every setback makes me stronger. Lin Qi¡¯an, wait for me.¡¯ ¡°Lianyou, you are a great help as I needed this.¡± Ling Tian quickly took the pill and began meditating, feeling his strength rapidly return. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Brother Ling. I owed you a favor anyway.¡± Crack! The restraints shattered. Ling Tian was free, his eyes shining with renewed determination. ¡°What are your plans now, Brother Ling?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll find a way to rise again! Once I¡¯m strong enough, I¡¯ll reclaim everything I¡¯ve lost.¡± He was confident that with enough time, he would seize opportunities to grow stronger. ¡°Brother Ling, I hope you won¡¯t oppose the Prince anymore. If not for him, I couldn¡¯t have seen you...¡± Ling Tian frowned, glaring at Zi Lian You. ¡°Even you speak for him, like that wretched Su Xueni??¡± ¡°I just think the Prince is a good person,¡± Zi Lianyou said, biting her lip. ¡°Hmph, I¡¯ll tell you this: it¡¯s impossible! The enmity between me and the Beiyang Prince is irreconcilable. You and Su Xueni? will see. One day, I¡¯ll crush him right before your eyes. Goodbye.¡± With those cold, cutting words, Ling Tian left the dungeon, leaving Zi Lianyou standing there, sighing in disappointment. ¡®Brother Ling, how did you become like this...¡¯ Chapter 21 - Breakthrough! Cultivating the Yang Flame Departure Technique Chapter 21: Breakthrough! Cultivating the Yang Flame Departure Technique Ling Tian left Tianchi Holy Land. Everything was going according to Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s plan. Ling Tian even had a falling out with Zi Lianyou, giving Lin Qi¡¯an another boost in villain points. His total villain points had now surpassed the thirty thousand mark! Soon, a secret realm would open. Ling Tian, eager to increase his strength, would undoubtedly enter it. There, he would become nothing more than a treasure-seeking mouse, while Lin Qi¡¯an reaped the rewards. Before that, Lin Qi¡¯an needed to prepare to receive the Nine Yang Sword. It contained the terrifying Nine Yang Divine Fire, rumored to be the flames of the Golden Crow, known for their destructive power. Just one flame could burn down a city! Unfortunately, Ling Tian had no fire control techniques, recklessly releasing the flames like a brute, wasting Ling Yu¡¯s energy without utilizing its full power. ¡¾Yang Flame Departure Technique: 10,000 Villain Points¡¿ A top-tier Heaven-grade fire control technique capable of controlling all the world¡¯s different flames! This was the most expensive and best fire control method in the system store. After exchanging for it, Lin Qi¡¯an spent more villain points to cultivate the Yang Flame Departure Technique to the third level. ¡°By the way, I wonder if villain points can help me cultivate my own technique?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s main technique was called ¡°Sword Manifestation,¡± the pinnacle technique of Beiyang Tianjian City and their foundation!Re?Ad lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only Ordinary people in Tianjian City could only cultivate it up to the third level. Beyond that required exceptional talent, and even being the Sword Emperor¡¯s son offered no shortcuts! Nine levels in total, each level¡¯s difference was like an insurmountable chasm! Currently, Lin Qi¡¯an had only reached the third level. He tried to click on the upgrade button for the technique. ¡¾Do you want to spend 8,000 villain points to cultivate ¡°Sword Manifestation¡±?¡¿ It really worked? Lin Qi¡¯an immediately confirmed! On his own, it would take years to progress, even with the sword bone. Elite elders in Tianjian City often spent decades or centuries without advancement. Using villain points to enhance his strength directly and save years of time was incredible. Sword energy soared to the sky, breaking through the clouds! For those with the sword bone, every breakthrough was accompanied by a sword energy phenomenon. For those with a Dao physique, breakthroughs also caused significant disturbances. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Tianchi Holy Master Su Yun was startled from his meditation. He saw a sword energy like a heavenly sword piercing the sky! ¡°Is this also caused by the Prince?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve never seen such a phenomenon before!¡± ¡°Forcing such a vast range of spiritual energy to converge is too domineering...¡± ¡°No time to waste, I¡¯ll report to the Sword Emperor immediately!¡± ¡°Hey, you...¡± ¡ª Lin Qi¡¯an finished his breakthrough, feeling refreshed and his body brimming with spiritual energy, nearly overflowing. Heaven Dominion Realm, peak. He smiled wryly. ¡°Stop it already. With so much spiritual energy, I can¡¯t absorb it all. Disperse.¡± The spiritual energy scattered. Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s status panel had changed significantly. Host: Lin Qi¡¯an Identity: Crown Prince of Beiyang, Tianlang Immortal Dynasty Cultivation: Peak of Heaven Dominion Realm Techniques: Sword Manifestation (Fourth Level), Yang Flame Departure Technique (Third Level) Physique: Yang Dragon Dao Physique, Sword Bone Divine Powers: Falling Moon God Sword, Heavenly Sword Finger, Thousand Swords to Court (First Level) Storage: Fire Qilin Essence Blood Villain Points: 3000 Luck: 50 (Black) ¡ª In the blink of an eye, several days passed. News of Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s breakthrough had reached Beiyang Tianjian City. Chapter 22 - Beiyang Tianjian City, A Dominant Family Chapter 22: Beiyang Tianjian City, A Dominant Family Beiyang, Tianjian City.Re?Ad lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only The city was divided into two parts: the Earth City and the Sky City. The vast plains were home to the Earth City, which sprawled like a majestic beast, with a population in the tens of billions! At the core of the Earth City stood countless towering swords, each connected by iron chains. These swords served as the pillars. Above these pillars, amidst the cloud-covered mountains, lay the Sky City. This architectural marvel was a testament to the Sword Emperor¡¯s taste, creating a city in the sky that became a legendary tale! At this moment, in the training grounds outside the heavenly palace, the Sword Emperor was personally instructing his fourteen-year-old daughter, Lin Hongyu. His wife and several noblewomen watched from the side, chatting casually. ¡°I heard that a few days ago, the Crown Prince got into some trouble outside?¡± ¡°Yes, I heard the same. It seems he took a woman that the Imperial Prince fancied and heavily injured the Shenlong Army.¡± ¡°The Imperial Prince in Taian City was furious and threatened to settle accounts with the Crown Prince...¡± Upon hearing this, Mu Qingzhu smiled gracefully. ¡°He just took an Imperial Prince¡¯s woman. Does the Taian Imperial Family dare to come to our Tianjian City to demand justice?¡± Our family has taken a lot of things; this is just a small matter. ¡°I¡¯m more interested in how Qi¡¯an took her. Did he do it with the same flair as his father?¡± The noblewomen were all shocked. Provoking the Taian Imperial Family, Mu Qingzhu showed no concern and instead cared about her son¡¯s style! Her casual words revealed a domineering attitude. The Lin family was indeed formidable... ¡°Father, I don¡¯t want to train anymore. I miss Brother!¡± The fourteen-year-old Lin Hongyu, already a delicate beauty, was pouting in her fiery red dress. The Sword Emperor, Lin Weixuan, laughed heartily. ¡°Your brother is out there stealing women, and not just any woman, but one fancied by the Imperial Prince. Isn¡¯t that impressive? When he returns, you might have a new sister-in-law.¡± ¡°A month ago, he had just broken through to the third level, and now he¡¯s at the fourth?¡± Recalling his younger years, even as a prodigy, it had taken him a year. Was his son surpassing him? ¡°Indeed... We were all stunned.¡± Mu Qingzhu smiled, ruffling her daughter¡¯s hair. ¡°Now, your brother is even further ahead of you. Better work harder!¡± ¡°Wuwuwu...¡± ¡°You¡¯ve reported well. Go and claim your reward.¡± ¡°Thank you, Sword Emperor!¡± The Sword Guard was overjoyed. Following the Crown Prince was rewarding; even reporting good news earned a reward. ¡°Spread the word: to celebrate my son¡¯s breakthrough, there will be a three-day feast at Tianjian Palace. All are welcome to enjoy fine wine and meat!¡± The Sword Emperor¡¯s voice resonated like heavenly music across Tianjian City. All the cultivators in the city heard the news. ¡°Wow... The Crown Prince has broken through again!¡± ¡°Son, am I going senile? Didn¡¯t we just attend a feast last month?¡± ¡°Dad, you¡¯re not senile... The Crown Prince broke through again after just a month.¡± ¡°Ha ha ha, as expected of our Beiyang Crown Prince. We¡¯ll drink until we drop tonight!¡± ¡°Wife, let¡¯s make a son tonight to celebrate!¡± ¡°If you were half as handsome as the Crown Prince, our son could have been making soy sauce by now...¡± (TL: making soy sauce idiom... Uhh it¡¯s kinda hard to explain how it¡¯s use here I¡¯ll just explain the idiom. making soy sauce is a chinese internet slang that means having children or, more broadly, implies that a child is old enough to run errands or take care of simple tasks. It originates from the idea that even a child can be sent to buy soy sauce from the store. In short means that if he were as handsome as the Crown Prince, they would have already had a child old enough to run simple errands.) Chapter 23 - The Secret Realm Opens, Lin Qian Sets Off Chapter 23: The Secret Realm Opens, Lin Qi¡¯an Sets Off Half a month later, at Tianchi Holy Land. The scouts sent to investigate the secret realm returned. ¡°Your Highness, there are signs of a secret realm opening near the Jiuwang Mountain!¡± ¡°In less than two days, the news will spread, and the entire southern region of the Canglan Dao Domain will come to compete for the resources.¡± ¡°Jiuwang Mountain, the territory of the Nanyue King?¡± ¡°It¡¯s said that the Nanyue King¡¯s son is a devoted lackey of the Imperial Prince. Let¡¯s hope he doesn¡¯t cause trouble for himself.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an stood up. ¡°Spread the word, we are heading to Jiuwang Mountain!¡± Three flood dragons pulled a golden carriage into the sky, flanked by dozens of white-clad Sword Guards. Outside, the entire Tianchi Holy Land chorused: ¡°Farewell, Your Highness!!¡± Inside the carriage, Lin Qi¡¯an and Su Xueni? were seated. ¡°How is it? Is this carriage comfortable?¡± ¡°Your Highness¡¯s carriage is naturally comfortable... But as a mere maid, do I truly deserve to sit here?¡± ¡°If I say you do, then you do.¡± Su Xueni?¡¯s beautiful eyes sparkled as she lifted the curtain, seeing the accompanying Sword Guards and the flying flood dragons. Her heart raced with excitement and joy. Although she was just a maid in name, this treatment was akin to that of a Dao companion. The Prince¡¯s numerous kindnesses made her feel somewhat guilty for only thinking about his body. ¡°Thank you, Your Highness, for your favor...¡± Su Xueni?¡¯s soft voice lingered as her delicate figure gently kissed Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s cheek. Nanyue King¡¯s City. The Nanyue King was a prince with the same surname as the Taian Imperial Family. His son, Zhao Sanfeng, regarded the Imperial Prince as a close friend but looked down on Lin Qi¡¯an. They were both crown princes, but Beiyang was merely a vassal. How could it compare to him?! ¡°How dare he take the Imperial Prince¡¯s woman! He must have a death wish! Now he dares to come to my territory, eyeing the secret realm? Dream on!¡± ¡°Send orders to block the area around Jiuwang Mountain. No one is allowed to approach!¡± One day. Jiuwang Mountain erupted with radiant light, spiritual energy surging out, more concentrated than usual by a hundredfold. Above the mountain, a portal of white light appeared, exuding a terrifying aura even from ten miles away. The secret realm was opening! Bold cultivators ventured closer and discovered it to be at least a quasi-Saint level secret realm! This news spread like wildfire, sweeping across the southern half of the Canglan Dao Domain. Countless holy lands and sects moved, heading towards the area. A quasi-Saint level secret realm contained at least the relics of a quasi-Saint, potentially holding rare treasures. Divine abilities, secret techniques, heavenly materials, and precious pills could be found in abundance! The possessions of a quasi-Saint could drive the world mad. With any luck, one could soar to new heights. ¡ª In the sky. Countless radiant streaks crossed, dazzling and brilliant! These were the traces of the holy land geniuses passing by. Some rode white jade carriages, some used flying artifacts, some rode giant beasts, and some walked on air. The sight was grand! However, these enthusiastic sects and holy lands were blocked by a line of defense around the mountain, unable to approach Jiuwang Mountain. ¡°The Nanyue Crown Prince has ordered that this secret realm belongs to Nanyue. No one is allowed to approach. Violators will be killed without mercy!¡± Chapter 24 - Overbearing Nanyue? The Crown Prince Arrives! Chapter 24: Overbearing Nanyue? The Crown Prince Arrives! The ones blocking these sects and holy lands were none other than the Nanyue King¡¯s personal guards, the Southern Python Guards! Countless guards formed a human wall in the sky, preventing anyone from entering the mountain range. ¡°Nanyue... aren¡¯t you being too overbearing?¡± ¡°A secret realm¡¯s emergence is a chance for everyone to explore. What right do you have to block us?¡± ¡°Just because this is your territory? How absurd! Even Beiyang has never been this unreasonable and overbearing. This is outrageous!¡± For a moment, the sects and holy lands all protested. They had traveled long distances for a chance at fortune. If they lacked strength or luck, they could accept it. But not even being allowed to enter was infuriating! ¡°This is too much...¡± Naturally, the Ziyou Holy Land was among them, and Zi Lianyou was stomping her feet in anger. ¡°Sigh, Nanyue King is a relative of the Taian Imperial Family, sharing the same surname as the emperor!¡± ¡°Yes, even if we are angry, there¡¯s nothing we can do about it.¡± Although Nanyue¡¯s actions had angered everyone, no one dared to act. If they did, they would provoke the mighty Tianlang Immortal Dynasty, and that could lead to the destruction of their entire sect and their nine generations. But no one was willing to leave, so they stayed and waited. ¡°Saintess, don¡¯t worry. Let me try a secret method. Maybe I can sneak in.¡± An elder from the Ziyou Holy Land said. He activated a secret technique, transforming into an invisible ghostly form, and rushed toward the Southern Python Guards. ¡°Kill any intruders!¡± Unfortunately, the Southern Python Guards were no ordinary soldiers; many were strong cultivators. As soon as the elder approached, he was struck by a streak of spiritual power, revealing his form. Immediately, several guards stepped forward, weapons drawn. The scene caused an uproar. All the surrounding cultivators and sects were in a frenzy. Such an imposing presence, accompanied by white-clad Sword Guards¡ªwho else could it be but the Crown Prince of Beiyang? Rumors of the Crown Prince has been spreading in the southern region recently, and it turned out to be true! As the carriage descended and hovered in mid-air, two figures stepped out. The man wore pristine white clothes, his demeanor like a jade immortal, exuding a godly aura that looked down upon all. Beside him was a woman in a moon-white dress. She was none other than Su Xueni?, the Saintess of Tianchi Holy Land, ranked second on the list of most beautiful immortal maidens in the Canglan Dao Domain. Her stunning face and graceful figure, combined with her cold, ethereal demeanor, captivated countless male cultivators. ¡°She is truly a peerless beauty...¡± ¡°So beautiful! To see the Tianchi Saintess in person today, my trip is not wasted.¡± Yet, this breathtaking Saintess quietly stood behind Lin Qi¡¯an, gazing at the Crown Prince with admiration. It was the first time people had seen the Saintess look at a man with such a gaze. They were envious and wished they could be in his place. Zi Lianyou, seeing the two figures in the sky, felt a surge of frustration. If she had aligned herself with the Crown Prince like Sister Xueni?, would this tragedy have happened? ¡°Yue Sect pays respects to the Crown Prince!¡± ¡°Qingyun Holy Land pays respects to the Crown Prince!¡± ¡°Tiansha Valley pays respects to the Crown Prince!¡± ¡°Xuantian Holy Land pays respects to the Crown Prince!¡± The holy lands and sects all bowed to the Crown Prince, forming a line with their lowered heads. The lone cultivators who only dared to watch from afar were stunned. This was true dominance! To ordinary people, these holy lands and great sects were untouchable, yet here they bowed to the Crown Prince. Wait, was the Crown Prince entering the secret realm? What would Nanyue do now? Everyone sensed that a good show was about to unfold! Chapter 25 - Beiyang Crown Prince, You Understand the Ten-Breath Rule Chapter 25: Beiyang Crown Prince, You Understand the Ten-Breath Rule Seeing Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s imposing arrival, the Southern Python Guards sneered. Earlier, Crown Prince Zhao had specifically instructed them that if he attempted to enter the secret realm, they should block him without giving any face. The Nanyue King, being a prince with the same surname as the imperial family, was the emperor¡¯s brother! Why should they fear Beiyang? The Sword Emperor might be powerful, but his fame had been established three thousand years ago! Over these millennia, countless prodigies had emerged, and the era of the Sword Emperor¡¯s dominance had long passed. Otherwise, why would he have willingly remained in the north for so many years, only doing things like seizing treasures for his children, and never engaging in battles with other emperor-level experts? ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked. ¡°Your Highness, it seems that the Southern Python Guards, the Nanyue King¡¯s personal troops, are blocking the various sects from entering.¡± ¡°A Ziyou Holy Land elder tried to sneak in using a stealth technique but was discovered and killed on the spot. They are determined to monopolize the secret realm!¡± After listening, Lin Qi¡¯an nodded. Looking down, he quickly spotted the purple-dressed girl among the crowd, looking pitiful and tearful. ¡°Xueni?, what¡¯s your opinion?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked. ¡°Me...?¡± Su Xueni? was pleasantly surprised. The Crown Prince was asking for her opinion and didn¡¯t see her as an outsider! ¡°Xueni? believes that since this area is the Nanyue King¡¯s territory, they are clearly trying to reclaim face for the Imperial Prince by blocking you. If you force your way in, there will likely be a conflict.¡± She then smiled knowingly, her beauty captivating. ¡°However, it¡¯s not in your nature to back down if they try to turn you away.¡± ¡°Beiyang Crown Prince, please halt!¡± Finally, the two sides confronted each other. A general with a broadsword at his waist stepped forward, his aura robust, a Transcendent Realm expert! ¡°The Crown Prince orders that no one may enter Jiuwang Mountain. We, the Southern Python Guards, are here to enforce this. We hope the Beiyang Crown Prince will understand and leave.¡± The speaker was Wei Ting, a battle-hardened general of South Yue! He gestured for Lin Qi¡¯an to leave, thinking his attitude was quite courteous. If it had been any other sect, they would have drawn their swords by now, not spoken so politely. ¡°Indeed, they¡¯re even blocking the Crown Prince!¡± This result was expected by most people. But they couldn¡¯t predict what would happen next. The white-clad Crown Prince smiled. ¡°I give you ten breaths to get out of my sight.¡± His tone was calm but extremely domineering! Hearing this, gasps spread across the mountain range. The Beiyang Crown Prince was indeed domineering! Wei Ting¡¯s face darkened, his right hand gripping the hilt of his sword, his voice thundering. ¡°Beiyang Crown Prince! This is Nanyue territory. I hope you recognize the situation and don¡¯t make a mistake!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an stood with his hands behind his back, speaking calmly: ¡°Ten. One.¡± ¡°Time¡¯s up. I gave you a chance.¡± ¡°Kill.¡± Chapter 26 - Beiyang Sword Guards, Killing Without Blinking, the Gentle Crown Prince Chapter 26: Beiyang Sword Guards, Killing Without Blinking, the Gentle Crown Prince ¡°Kill.¡± A single, ethereal word of command reached the ears of the sword guards. Swish! Swish! Swish! Dozens of white-clad sword guards simultaneously drew their swords. The clanging and roaring of steel resonated through the air. ¡°Sword Guards, the Crown Prince has ordered, kill!¡± The sword guards were exhilarated, their blood boiling. Having followed the Crown Prince on this journey, they were finally being put to use. It had been too long since they had drawn their swords. It seemed people had started to think Beiyang was an easy target! Beiyang Sword Guards, directly under the Sword Emperor, were elite forces with no weaklings among them. Just these dozens of guards were enough to turn ninety percent of the holy lands in the Canglan Dao Domain upside down! As for the Southern Python Guards, they were not even considered a threat. ¡°Kill!¡± The white-clad sword guards flew out, each creating a trail of white light. The sharp sword energy intertwined, clashing continuously. ¡°Oh my... I thought the Crown Prince was overbearing, but I didn¡¯t think he was this overbearing!¡± ¡°To kill Nanyue King¡¯s people on their own territory, incredible!¡± ¡°The Crown Prince truly understands the ten-breath rule...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you get it? He never intended to let this go peacefully! He said ¡®kill¡¯ without even blinking, terrifying...¡± ¡°The Sword Emperor was also this domineering back in the day. His son is no different!¡± The battle was not fierce because the forces were not evenly matched. The sword guards were heroic, slaughtering with their swords, their white robes stained with blood, not even blinking as they killed. Some were even competing to see who could kill more! ¡°You don¡¯t understand. Can Nanyue compare to Beiyang? Beiyang truly subdued the entire Dao Domain, while Nanyue is just elevated by connections!¡± ¡°Hahaha, that was satisfying to watch. They dared to act tyrannically, and now they¡¯ve hit a wall!¡± Cultivators cheered, some even shouting Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s name, becoming die-hard fans. The Ziyou Holy Land, having suffered earlier, felt the most relieved. ¡°The Crown Prince is mighty, Beiyang is mighty!¡± They wanted to raise their hands and feet in celebration, having vented their previous frustration. Zi Lianyou was filled with mixed emotions, grateful yet envious of her Sister Xueni?. With such a strong backer and being close to the Yang Dragon Dao Physique, becoming the greatest goddess of the Canglan Dao Domain seemed possible! As she was lost in thought, the white-clad figure descended towards her. ¡°Greetings, Crown Prince...¡± Zi Lianyou hurriedly wiped away her tears and bowed. ¡°No need for such formality.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an comforted her, ¡°Though I avenged you, the dead cannot be revived. My condolences.¡± ¡°Mm... thank you for your concern, Crown Prince.¡± Zi Lianyou was taken aback. The Crown Prince had come specifically to comfort her... ¡°Does the Saintess have a connection with the Crown Prince?!¡± Behind her, the elders and disciples of Ziyou Holy Land were overjoyed. This was a great boon! Unexpectedly, they had truly climbed the social ladder thanks to sisterly affection! Indeed, while their Saintess might be slightly inferior to the Tianchi Saintess, she was still a goddess admired by many, pure-hearted and endearing. If the Crown Prince took both sisters under his wing, it would be a beautiful story! ¡°Zi Lianyou... could you try? Maybe you could become the Crown Prince¡¯s maid.¡± ¡°Stop, don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± Zi Lianyou bit her tender red lips and turned her head away. Her heart, however, was burning with excitement. ¡®The Crown Prince is so gentle and considerate? Not only did he avenge the Ziyou Holy Land, but he also came to comfort me, and I hadn¡¯t even done anything for him...¡¯ ¡®Perhaps Brother Ling really has a prejudice against the Crown Prince. Next time I see him, I¡¯ll persuade him to stop targeting the Crown Prince!¡¯ Chapter 27 - Ling Tians Exploding Mentality, The Secret Realm Opens! Chapter 27: Ling Tian¡¯s Exploding Mentality, The Secret Realm Opens! ¡°Lianyou sister?! Yes, she must be worried about me, so she came to find me.¡± ¡°The last time she gave me the pill in the dungeon, I was fortunate to have her.¡± In the crowd of onlookers, Ling Tian had been there all along. At first, when he saw Zi Lianyou, his heart was filled with comfort and happiness! He could forget about Su Xueni?, that sycophantic woman. At least his pure-hearted sister Lianyou stood by him. But then he saw the scene where the elder of Ziyou Holy Land was killed making Zi Lianyou tearful and heartbroken. Ling Tian clenched his fists and thought, ¡°Lianyou, I don¡¯t have the strength to avenge you right now. But in the future, I will protect you from anyone who tries to harm you!¡± Her pure nature and gratitude had made Zi Lianyou the last cherished part of Ling Tian¡¯s heart. Her beautiful purple dress, her ethereal beauty, made him feel warm. But then Lin Qi¡¯an arrived, driving his carriage, killing the Southern Python Guards with dominance, stealing the spotlight. All of a sudden, the mountains and valleys echoed with praise and admiration. ¡°The Crown Prince is truly fortunate! First, he won over the Tianchi Saintess, and now it seems he¡¯s also caught the eye of the Ziyou Saintess. I¡¯m so envious!¡± ¡°Hahaha, don¡¯t talk nonsense. Being noticed by the Crown Prince is a blessing for the Saintess.¡± ¡°I¡¯d love to be noticed, but do I have that qualification?¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± In the crowd, Ling Tian clenched his fists and roared in anger, his eyes bloodshot. His chest was filled with rage, his heart brimming with resentment. His chiseled face was full of murderous intent, as if he wanted to devour everyone alive! ¡°Are you crazy? What¡¯s it to you...¡± ¡°Yeah, you like the Ziyou Saintess? Then you have to have that ability! What¡¯s the use of staring at her from afar and fantasizing? Ugh!¡± Hearing the sarcastic ridicule, Ling Tian clenched his fists tighter, glaring at the distant white figure. ¡®One day, I¡¯ll slap you all in the face!¡¯ What Ling Tian wants will ultimately be his! He was imagining a future where he would rise again and be admired by everyone. Truly, a broad-minded person! Compared to Nanyue, he was far more magnanimous. It seemed that while the Crown Prince was arrogant and domineering, he was also reasonable. In the blink of an eye, a few more days passed. In the sky, the secret realm gate, enveloped in white light, was finally fully revealed to everyone. The restrictions on the gate disappeared, and dense spiritual energy flowed out like water. ¡°The Crown Prince is magnanimous; we shall go ahead and explore. If we find any treasures, we will surely present them!¡± ¡°The Yandao Sect will pave the way for the Crown Prince!¡± ¡°The Hongzhao Sect, listen to my order. Go clear the secret realm beasts for the Crown Prince!¡± Various sects and holy lands moved towards the secret realm entrance. Before departing, they loudly declared that it was all for the Crown Prince. For a while, countless beams of light filled the mountains, as countless people entered the secret realm gate. Among them was Ling Tian. ¡°Good job, Lin Qi¡¯an. The biggest mistake of your life was letting me into this secret realm! If you dare enter, this place will be your burial ground!¡± Naturally, not everyone could enter the secret realm. According to the tests, only cultivators at the Heaven Dominion Realm and below could enter. Stronger cultivators would be repelled by the secret realm, and if great experts forced their way in, it would cause the secret realm to collapse. ¡°Crown Prince, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t accompany you into the secret realm.¡± From the void came Aunt You¡¯s voice. ¡°No problem,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an smiled and shook his head. He knew these routines very well, having read many novels! Limiting the upper limit of cultivation was meant to allow the protagonist to show off. Ling Tian was likely at the Heaven Ascendant Realm, capable of killing Heaven Dominion Realm experts. This was his stage to shine! ¡°Crown Prince, this secret realm seems to be fire-attribute.¡± A subordinate who went to investigate reported back. ¡°Fire-attribute?¡± Another advantage for Ling Tian? He possessed the Nine Yang Divine Technique, which contained terrifying Divine Fire. This secret realm was practically tailor-made for him! ¡®Very well, hehe... My treasure-seeking mouse, you better not disappoint.¡¯ Chapter 28 - Entering the Secret Realm, Encountering the Magma Beast! Chapter 28: Entering the Secret Realm, Encountering the Magma Beast! ¡°Everyone, stay here and guard the entrance and Xueni?, come with me into the secret realm.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an had no intention of letting the sword guards follow him. ¡°Yes!¡± Su Xueni? happily followed. After taking a few steps, Lin Qi¡¯an turned back, smiling as he asked, ¡°I wonder if Ziyou Saintess is interested in joining us?¡±Re?Ad lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only Being a girl of purple luck, closely related to Ling Tian, bringing her along could be advantageous. ¡°Me...?¡± Zi Lianyou pointed at herself, her clear, beautiful eyes filled with disbelief and was flattered! ¡°Why are you still standing there? It¡¯s your fortune that the Crown Prince is personally inviting you, hurry up.¡± The hundred members of Ziyou Holy Land were all excited. This was a great opportunity falling from the sky! What does it mean when they say ¡®one person ascends to heaven, the chickens and dogs follow¡¯? The Tianchi Holy Land had already demonstrated this well. They were originally targeted by the Tai¡¯an Royal Family and were on the verge of annihilation, but because the Crown Prince took a liking to the Tianchi Saintess, he intervened and resolved the crisis. It¡¯s said that he even gifted them a heavenly-tier cultivation technique! If the Ziyou Saintess could receive similar treatment, their faces would surely break from smiling. ¡°Then I will shamelessly follow the Crown Prince...¡± Zi Lianyou¡¯s face blushed as she softly replied. Su Xueni? smiled and extended a fair arm: ¡°Come on!¡± Inwardly, she thought, ¡®Getting a good deal and still acting innocent, aren¡¯t you, sister?¡¯ The three of them stepped into the light gate together, entering the secret realm. Inside, it was a small world of its own! The sky was a scorching red, the air filled with a sweltering heat. Without using spiritual power to protect themselves, people would likely be steamed alive. The ground was filled with cracks, with flowing red-hot magma visible through the gaps. Indeed, this was a fire-attribute secret realm. There were already many beast corpses on the ground, blood everywhere, showing signs of the previous battles from those who had entered before. Seeing the handsome figure in white arrive, accompanied by two stunning saintesses, everyone hurriedly saluted. ¡°We¡¯re all here to seek treasures, no need for formalities,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an smiled amiably. ¡°Crown Prince, we¡¯ve all been stopped here, unable to cross this magma lake! I suspect that to obtain the treasures in this volcano, we must cross it.¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t you cross?¡± ¡°Because... there is a terrifying beast in the lake.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an was about to inquire further but then... Ahead, a man in simple cloth shouted, ¡°A mere beast in the lake dares to block me? My Longhu Sect specializes in domineering spiritual power and fears no flames!¡± With that, he leaped into the air, trying to cross the lake. Just as he reached the middle, the lake erupted, and several huge tentacles shot up, wrapping tightly around him. ¡°Vile creature, die!¡± The man tried to blast the tentacles with techniques, but to no avail. He was swiftly dragged into the magma lake. ¡°Ahhh!!!¡± A heart-wrenching scream echoed which made everyone¡¯s hair stand on end. Soon, there was no more sound from the man. He had likely been dissolved entirely in the magma. ¡°It seems we can¡¯t cross the lake directly!¡± ¡°I propose we join forces to slay this beast, so we can all cross the lake together!¡± ¡°Agreed!¡± ¡°That seems to be the only option...¡± After a brief discussion, all the cultivators turned their eyes to Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡°What does the Crown Prince think?¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an nodded. After all, he was just here for a casual stroll, to pass the time. For real treasure hunting, he¡¯d rely on Ling Tian. By sensing the position of the soul devouring worm, Lin Qi¡¯an knew Ling Tian was among the cultivators present. As expected, main characters are always in disguise. Chapter 29 - Seven Stars Dragon Spring Sword, Slaying the Beast with One Sword! Chapter 29: Seven Stars Dragon Spring Sword, Slaying the Beast with One Sword! ¡°Alright, let¡¯s all attack together and kill this beast!¡± ¡°Everyone, charge!¡± Among the nearly hundred cultivators observing from the shore, more than half soared into the air, flying above the magma lake. Boom! Suddenly, the calm lake surface exploded and countless scalding magma spurted like fireworks. Appearing before the crowd was a monstrous fish with numerous tentacles! The fish was a hundred meters long, with crimson scales. It was the guardian beast of the lake. Flame Abyss Demon Whale! Its aura reached the peak of the Heaven Dominion Realm! And in this magma lake, it thrived, its combat strength soaring, likely reaching the Transcendent Realm. ¡°Everyone, do not hold back! Attack with all your might!¡± In an instant, the lake surface was awash with radiance, streams of spiritual power bursting forth. Dozens of cultivators fought fiercely with the giant demon whale. ¡°A bunch of fools...¡± Disguised Ling Tian sneered in the shadows. Taking advantage of these fools distracting the beast, he quietly retreated and submerged into the magma. The classic move of the protagonist, reaping the benefits without lifting a finger. With the Nine Yang Divine Technique protecting him, this ordinary magma posed no threat to him. No one noticed his actions, except for Lin Qi¡¯an, who could sense it secretly. ¡°Crown Prince, this demon whale is quite fierce. I don¡¯t think they won¡¯t be able to handle it... Xueni? is willing to fight for you.¡± Su Xueni? volunteered. She couldn¡¯t always just be a decorative figure in front of the Crown Prince; she had to act when necessary. ¡°Go ahead, don¡¯t hurt yourself.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Being concerned about her, Su Xueni? felt elated and flew up. Her dress fluttered, and her black hair danced in the wind. Her movements were graceful and elegant, with an ethereal quality, truly captivating. The sharpness of a sacred weapon was not something these beasts¡¯ flesh could withstand. Seeing the troublesome tentacles dealt with, everyone¡¯s pressure lessened significantly, and their attacks grew fiercer. ¡°I¡¯ll help too!¡± Zi Lianyou felt she couldn¡¯t just stand by any longer. The Crown Prince brought her along, not to be a vase but to show her worth. She transformed into a purple stream of light, her ribbons fluttering, and beams of light bombarded the massive creature. ¡°Hiss~~~¡± A cry like a baby¡¯s wail echoed. The severely injured demon whale was enraged, leaping out of the water completely, opening its massive mouth to swallow the human cultivators whole! Zi Lianyou was just within its range. As the gaping maw loomed larger in her vision, a sword light as bright as moonlight flashed. It descended from the sky like silver radiance. Falling Moon Divine Sword! The power of a single strike pierced the whale from back to belly! The scalding blood evaporated into steam as soon as it touched the magma. The whale¡¯s internal organs were completely destroyed by the terrifying energy that invaded its body, and it fell into the lake. Boom! A splash dozens of meters high erupted. ¡°What a powerful divine technique...¡± ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this is the signature move of the Tianjian City, the Falling Moon Divine Sword!¡± ¡°Such formidable power, unstoppable. It only took one sword strike to pierce the beast¡¯s heart!¡± The cultivators had been struggling for a long time but couldn¡¯t finish the beast off. Yet the Crown Prince took it down with a single strike. The other demon whale was soon dealt with as well and the two women returned to Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s side. Zi Lianyou was the first to speak: ¡°Thank you, Crown Prince, for saving me!¡± She was overjoyed. In her moment of danger, the Crown Prince had acted immediately, clearly concerned for her. Su Xueni?¡¯s brows furrowed slightly and thought she shouldn¡¯t always act too strong in the future. She needed to occasionally show her feminine side to arouse the Crown Prince¡¯s protective instincts... Chapter 30 - Triggering the Trap! Lin Qian Reaps the Benefits Chapter 30: Triggering the Trap! Lin Qi¡¯an Reaps the Benefits ¡°Majestic prowess of the Crown Prince, we can¡¯t compare!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll go ahead!¡± Now that the beasts had been slain, they couldn¡¯t wait to search for treasures. Lin Qi¡¯an was at ease because Beiyang lacked nothing. But those people were different; any treasure could greatly enhance their strength. ¡°Heh, what a bunch of fools...¡± At this moment, hidden within the magma, Ling Tian sneered. ¡°You probably can¡¯t even imagine that the true treasure trove lies in the palace beneath the magma and the key to opening the palace is within the bodies of these two beasts.¡± ¡°Now, they¡¯re all mine! Lin Qi¡¯an, your time to flaunt won¡¯t last much longer.¡± Ahead, some cultivators reached the opposite side of the magma lake, where a stone gate blocked the way, with a mechanism on the wall. ¡°This mechanism should open the door!¡± One cultivator immediately went to pull the lever. Creak. But instead of opening the stone door, the entire mountain began to tremble violently! The rock walls above started to crumble. The magma below churned violently like boiling water. ¡°What¡¯s happening!!¡± ¡°Oh no, is it a trap?!¡± ¡°Retreat!¡± Indeed, the real treasure trove lay beneath the magma. The mechanism above was a trap. Once triggered... Boom!! The magma lake erupted, sending waves a hundred feet high, instantly engulfing all the cultivators! ¡°Quick, use spiritual qi to protect yourselves!¡± Thanks to this, the cultivators managed to save their lives. The survivors fell to the ground, panting. Looking at the tall white figure, they were filled with gratitude, bowing in respect. ¡°Thank you, Crown Prince, for saving our lives. My Feiyan Sect will never forget this!¡± ¡°Thank you, Crown Prince, for saving our lives!¡± ¡°Thank you, Crown Prince!¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the Crown Prince, we would have perished in this hellhole!¡± The survivors were immensely grateful to Lin Qi¡¯an, almost wanting to kneel and bow. Su Xueni? calmed her heaving chest, her beautiful eyes full of admiration for Lin Qi¡¯an. Such a handsome and noble man, with an exalted status, always protecting her in times of crisis. How could she not be smitten? ¡°Thank you, Crown Prince...¡± Zi Lianyou, her head slightly lowered, her heart racing. Being with the Crown Prince gave her such a sense of security! It felt like he could shield her from any storm. She envied her sister. In the future, she would always be with the Crown Prince, while Zi Lianyou had to part ways with him once they leave this place... ¡°It¡¯s a pity we didn¡¯t find any treasures and almost lost our lives!¡± ¡°Indeed! I think this secret realm was certainly left by someone not from the righteous path.¡± ¡°I agree; I¡¯ve never heard of such vicious traps before!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go; I don¡¯t want to risk my life for nothing.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll visit again later to thank the Crown Prince properly for saving us!¡± The crowd began to leave. Only Lin Qi¡¯an knew that the real treasure was hidden beneath the magma. His treasure-seeking mouse had already gone in. ¡°Let¡¯s go too.¡± ¡°Where does the Crown Prince want to go?¡± ¡°Just to wander around.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an strolled ahead leisurely, with two stunning women following behind. Now, all he had to do was wait for the treasure-seeking mouse to endure countless hardships and bring out the treasure. Then, he would reap the benefits. Chapter 31 - Ling Tian Practices Demonic Arts, Treasure Seeking Mouse Appears Chapter 31: Ling Tian Practices Demonic Arts, Treasure Seeking Mouse Appears Lin Qi¡¯an strolled around with two beautiful women, while Ling Tian was fighting desperately. He had dived to the bottom of the magma and successfully opened the gate of the underground palace, but that was just the beginning! The underground palace was full of traps and powerful beasts blocking his way. Fortunately, Ling Tian had the Nine Yang Divine Technique to help him. After overcoming countless obstacles and being covered in wounds, he finally reached the end of the palace. At the top of the dark palace, there was a jade table, and on the table lay a box. ¡°Finally, I found it...¡± Ling Tian hurriedly opened the box. There were two items inside: a black jade slip and a blood-colored lotus. Opening the jade slip, four black characters were prominently written on it: ¡°Demonic Death Tome.¡± Below was a message: ¡°If you have made it here, it proves our fates are intertwined. The technique recorded in this jade slip can devour the heavens and overturn the earth with infinite power!¡± ¡°To practice it, you must first abandon your true nature and fall into the demonic path. If you have the courage, inject spiritual power and relax your sea of consciousness. You will naturally gain everything.l ¡°Additionally, this lotus is called the ¡®Seven Petal Blood Heart Lotus,¡¯ an ancient treasure that can open a small world. To reactivate it, it needs to be stained with the blood of seven prodigies.¡± After reading the jade slip, Ling Tian took a deep breath. He never expected that after all his hardships, he would end up with a demonic technique. The eerie aura it emitted made him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. ¡°Ling Tian, this is a demonic path technique. You must not rush into practicing it!¡± After a moment of silence, a look of madness appeared in Ling Tian¡¯s eyes. ¡°Why not? Why not!¡± ¡°Are you insane...¡± ¡°To become stronger, to get revenge, so what if I go mad! As long as I master it, I won¡¯t worry about not being able to kill Lin Qi¡¯an!¡± ¡°It¡¯s done!¡± Ling Tian suddenly opened his eyes, gleaming with light. His pupils were filled with dark energy, and his entire being exuded a chilling aura. ¡°I have finally mastered the Demonic Death Tome...and my realm has soared to Heaven Dominion Realm!¡± Feeling the terrifying power coursing through his body, Ling Tian was ecstatic. Thinking about his imminent revenge, his entire being was jubilant. ¡°When I was in the Heaven Ascendant Realm, I could already slay Heaven Dominion cultivators. Now that I¡¯ve reached Heaven Dominion and my power has increased greatly, Lin Qi¡¯an, what will you use to fight me!¡± ¡°When I find you, I will definitely use your blood to sanctify the Blood Heart Lotus!¡± He rushed out of the magma lake and had just exited the mountain when he ran into a cultivator who was about to leave the secret realm. ¡°Stop! Tell me, do you know where Beiyang¡¯s prince, Lin Qi¡¯an, is?¡± Ling Tian grabbed the man¡¯s head, looking fierce and malicious. ¡°The...the prince? He should still be in the secret realm, but I don¡¯t know exactly where.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± ¡®Still in the secret realm? Good. It seems even the heavens want you dead. I will guard the entrance to the secret realm and wait for you to come out.¡¯ ............... In the secret realm, most of the heaven-tier materials and earth-tier treasures had been looted. Most cultivators had left satisfied, and few remained in the secret realm. Lin Qi¡¯an was one of them. For the past two days, he had been leisurely walking around with Su Xueni and Zi Lianyou. The treasures those people obtained didn¡¯t catch his eye, and he wasn¡¯t interested in snatching them. ¡°Your Highness, we¡¯ve been here for two days and haven¡¯t gotten anything good!¡± ¡°If there¡¯s nothing, then so be it. It¡¯s just our bad luck. Let¡¯s go, it¡¯s time to leave.¡± ¡®My dear treasure-seeking mouse, you finally came out. Let your master wait so long!¡¯ Chapter 32 - Securing the First Kill, Dropping Gear! Chapter 32: Securing the First Kill, Dropping Gear! At the secret realm¡¯s exit, Ling Tian stood guard. Anyone who came and went would be met with his venomous gaze. ¡°This person¡¯s aura is too terrifying...¡± ¡°He exudes an ominous presence from head to toe, which sect is he from?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother, the best thing to do is to stay far away!¡± Everyone instinctively kept their distance from him, fearing that an unlucky encounter might bring trouble! At this moment, Lin Qi¡¯an approached with two women, casually chatting about trivial matters. ¡°Lin, Qi, An!¡± A venomous voice squeezed out from between clenched teeth.The black-robed figure blocked the three of them. ¡°You, made, me, wait!¡± ¡°Who are you, daring to offend the crown prince!¡± Su Xueni stepped forward to shield Lin Qi¡¯an, her face frosty. Zi Lianyou also silently mobilized her spiritual power, ready to show no mercy to anyone who dared to harm Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡°Heh heh! Two wretched women, you forgot me so quickly!¡± The black-robed man slowly tore off his mask, revealing a true and ferocious face. ¡°Ling Tian.¡± ¡°Ling... Big Brother?¡± Su Xueni¡¯s gaze was icy and Zi Lianyou covered her mouth, her eyes filled with disbelief. In her earliest memories, Ling Tian was a righteous person with great ambitions. But why had he become like this, exuding an evil aura that made one shiver... ¡°You¡¯ve fallen into the demonic path!¡± Su Xueni saw through it at a glance. ¡°Haha, that¡¯s right, the demonic path! To get revenge on you all, I¡¯ll stop at nothing!¡± Ling Tian laughed wildly, his deep eyes filled with vicious light. ¡°Demonic path! You actually entered the demonic path! You¡¯ve actually practiced demonic arts while in the secret realm!¡± Zi Lianyou cried out. Entering the demonic path meant practicing sinister and ruthless demonic arts. Some involved devouring others¡¯ essence and blood, using young women as cauldrons, or achieving the Dao through slaughter. Nearby trees and flowers withered, the sky was covered with dark clouds, resembling an apocalypse. ¡°Heaven Dominion Realm! He actually entered the Heaven Dominion Realm through demonic cultivation!¡± The two women were stunned. The prince was only in the Heaven Ascendant Realm, could he be in danger... ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, today, I will step on your head to make my name! Die for me!¡± Ling Tian charged with his sword, dark eyes filled with fierce light, black aura swirling around him and charged like a demon god! ¡°Is that so.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an calmly snapped his fingers, triggering the Devouring Spirit Insect within Ling Tian. In an instant, all Ling Tian¡¯s spiritual apertures were locked, his aura couldn¡¯t circulate at all, and he fell to the ground and became an ordinary person... ¡°Why, why!¡± He grasped the grass roots on the ground with both hands, his face filled with disbelief. Looking up, he saw Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s faint smile, as if he had anticipated all this. Suddenly, he remembered the pill he took in the dungeon. ¡°Wretched woman Zi Lianyou, you harmed me... you harmed me!¡± ¡°A madman who entered the demonic path, still blaming others? I warned you not to attack the prince again.¡± Zi Lianyou¡¯s gaze was cold, her tone devoid of any warmth. ¡°Senior, may I borrow the divine fire?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an called out. In Ling Tian¡¯s hand, the Nine Yang Divine Sword hummed and flew into Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s hand in an instant. ¡°Master?!¡± Ling Tian¡¯s eyes widened. Unexpectedly, the master who once accompanied him would help kill him! Lin Qi¡¯an activated his technique, golden divine fire danced on the sword blade, dazzling and bright. ¡°Let me help you find peace.¡± A divine fire shot at Ling Tian. With all his spiritual apertures locked, how could he resist? In the blink of an eye, he was reduced to ashes. ¡¾Ding! Successfully killed the Son of Luck ¡°Ling Tian¡±¡¿ Immediately, a series of notifications popped up densely! Gear dropped! Chapter 33 - Obtaining the Chaotic Treasure, A Bountiful Harvest! Chapter 33: Obtaining the Chaotic Treasure, A Bountiful Harvest! ¡¾Ding! Successfully killed the Son of Luck ¡°Ling Tian¡±¡¿ ¡¾Congratulations! Successfully seized the luck core ¡°Nine Yang Divine Sword¡±, luck value +100¡¿ ¡¾Congratulations! Successfully killed the son of luck, villain value +50000¡¿ ¡¾Congratulations! Obtained Seven Petal Blood Heart Lotus, ¡¶Demonic Death Tome¡·¡¿ ¡¾Congratulations! Obtained Mountain Opening Seal, Great Profound Golden Pill, ¡¶Nine Yang Divine Art¡·, Heart Devouring Powder¡¿ A series of reward notifications exploded like a barrage of cannonballs. Everything valuable on Ling Tian burst out! No wonder he had been meticulously nurtured as a treasure-hunting mouse. Among the treasures, the most crucial was undoubtedly the luck core ¡°Nine Yang Divine Sword¡±. Not only was it a sacred weapon on par with the ¡°Seven Stars Dragon Spring Sword¡±, but it also contained the immensely powerful ¡°Nine Yang Divine Fire¡±! ¡°Senior Lingyu, would you be willing to follow me to Tianjian City? Given the circumstances, there¡¯s no better place to go...¡± From within the sword, Lingyu¡¯s weak voice emerged: ¡°I will enter a period of slumber for now. I hope you will make good use of this sword, Crown Prince.¡± ¡°Very well, rest well, Senior.¡± Thus, the Nine Yang Divine Sword wholly belonged to him. At this moment, the other two women also approached. Su Xueni felt no emotional fluctuation over Ling Tian¡¯s death, only that he deserved it. In her heart, anyone who sought to harm the Crown Prince deserved to die! Zi Lianyou was still somewhat incredulous but not overly saddened; the demonic path only made one feel that death was not a pity. ¡°Your Highness, should we leave now? The people outside are probably getting impatient.¡± ¡°No rush, I plan to stay here and prepare for a while.¡± Having received so many rewards at once, Lin Qi¡¯an wanted to savor them carefully. Great Profound Golden Pill: A pill that can increase cultivation for those below the Heaven Ascendant Realm, not important. Heart Devouring Powder: A colorless, odorless chronic poison, not important. ¡°Open.¡± ¡¾Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Chaos Treasure¡ªImmortal Sword Box¡¿ (TL: ¡°Chaos Treasure¡± can be considered among the highest grade of treasures within cultivation novels, often associated with ancient myths and legends. Their origins are usually traced back to the very beginning of time.) After reading the description and effects, Lin Qi¡¯an was incredibly shocked! All the supreme divine weapons in the world are not dead objects, like the Nine Yang Divine Sword. Therefore, a swordsman can only control one sword. Only those who are single-minded can become a great sword Dao cultivator. For example, the Sword Emperor! He only had one wife and only one sword. One sword for life and therefore they are called life swords. Being fickle and having multiple thoughts, one cannot communicate with the sword spirit, but with this sword box, the master can communicate with twelve divine weapons, making them all his life swords! Openly maintaining a harem in the sword! The sword box comes with a sword control technique¡ªHeavenly Flying Immortal. Mastering it allows simultaneous control of twelve divine weapons, slashing through eternity like shooting stars! Lin Qi¡¯an opened the sword box. Placed the Seven Stars Dragon Spring Sword and the Nine Yang Divine Sword inside. He could call upon any sword whenever needed, and the sword box¡¯s spiritual energy would constantly nourish the swords, keeping them in peak condition. ¡°What is this...¡± As soon as she entered the sword box, Lingyu suddenly woke up. She had been very weak, but now she felt an indescribable comfort. It was as if her entire being was being nourished! Following the Crown Prince... might really be the best choice. ¡°After nurturing the crops for so long, it¡¯s time for a bountiful harvest... Killing the main character, is it really this satisfying?¡± In the future, when encountering main characters, they must be fattened up before being killed. Now, his villain points had reached a whopping 67700. It was time to spend them. ¡®After going out, think of a way to kill a bunch of holy sons and heavenly talents.¡¯ (TL: Sleeve Universe ¨C It describes a magical space or small pocket dimension contained within an item or person, often used by powerful cultivators or immortals. The phrase implies that the item, typically a sleeve or other inconspicuous part of clothing or an accessory, holds an entire universe or significant space within it, much larger than its outer appearance suggests.). Chapter 34 - The Arrival of the Nanyue Crown Prince! Seeking Justice Chapter 34: The Arrival of the Nanyue Crown Prince! Seeking Justice Outside the secret realm, Jiumang Mountain. Most of the holy land sects had already exited the secret realm. They had also found quite a few heavenly materials, earthly treasures, and divine abilities within the secret realm. Obtaining even one or two of these was enough to satisfy them. However, Lin Qi¡¯an didn¡¯t care for these small trinkets. The essence of the entire secret realm¡¯s treasures was in his possession. ¡°Is the Crown Prince still inside the secret realm?¡± ¡°He should be, he hasn¡¯t come out yet.¡± ¡°Could it be that the Crown Prince obtained some great treasure inside the secret realm?¡± ¡°The secret realm exuded an evil aura everywhere, especially in that volcano. I suspect it was left by demonic cultivators!¡± ¡°Speaking of which, when I left the secret realm, I saw a man full of vicious aura. It was terrifying...¡± The entire Jiumang Mountain range was still crowded with people and no one was in a hurry to leave. They wanted to wait for the Crown Prince to come out before paying their respects. After all, their opportunity to explore and seek treasures in the secret realm was all thanks to the Crown Prince. It would be best to leave a good impression on the Crown Prince for future interactions. Some sects had even dispatched subordinates to rush back to the sect and bring the most beautiful women here. If one of them caught the Crown Prince¡¯s eye, it would be a meteoric rise! ¡°Look up there! Who is that with such a grand presence...¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Southern Python Guards. It looks like someone from the Southern Yue Kingdom has arrived!¡± A mighty force of Southern Python Guards, hundreds in formation, marched through the air like heavenly soldiers and generals, their aura soaring to the heavens! In the center, there was a white jade chariot. Crafted entirely from white jade and glass, with gleaming curtains, it vaguely revealed several figures seated inside.T/his chapter is updated by Heavenly horses pulled the chariot, radiating multicolored light! Even more terrifying was the sight behind the chariot: a vast sea of people, numbering in the thousands. Bright lights and shadows moved in unison, stars chasing the moon. For a moment, the sky was filled with anomalies, exuding majesty. ¡°Is that... the Holy Lord of the Jindao Holy Land, a great expert in the Celestial Realm!¡± ¡°The head of the Shenxiao Sect is here too, this is insane!¡± ¡°The Nanyue Crown Prince has such a grand presence, with thousands of strong experts and masters following him. He¡¯s determined to suppress Lin Qi¡¯an.¡± ¡°The two crown princes clashing head-on, it won¡¯t end easily!¡± All the holy land sects watching quickly retreated ten miles away. They knew that once the Beiyang Crown Prince emerges, a great battle would surely erupt here. ...... Lin Qi¡¯an had just spent a large amount of villain points. These villain points, they come quickly, but they go just as fast. Upgrading divine abilities consumed an enormous amount. This was why most cultivators focused on mastering one path, as mastering just one would take decades or even centuries! Once mastered, it would benefit them for life. The reason why protagonists in novels could fight across realms was that they mastered various techniques and had multiple trump cards, excelling in everything. Lin Qi¡¯an was now walking the path of a hexagonal warrior. With his current combat strength, fighting across realms was easy and effortless, with no pressure at all. Opening his attribute panel, he saw a significant change! Host: Lin Qi¡¯an Identity: Beiyang Crown Prince of Tianlang Immortal Dynasty Cultivation: Peak Heaven Dominion Realm Cultivation Methods: Sword Manifestation (Fourth Layer), Yang Flame Fire Technique (Fourth Layer) Physique: Dragon Yang Dao Physique, Innate Sword Bone Divine Abilities: Thousand Swords To Court (Fourth Layer), Heavenly Flying Immortal (Second Layer)... Storage: Fire Qilin Essence Blood, Ancestral Dragon Soul Bone... Villain Points: 20000 Luck Value: 150 (White) Chaotic Treasures: Immortal Sword Box, Seven Petal Blood Heart Lotus Luck Item: Nine Yang Divine Sword ¡°Xueni, Lianyou, we can leave now.¡± A few days had passed, who knew what the situation outside was like? Chapter 35 - Lin Qian Exits the Secret Realm, Tensions Rise Chapter 35: Lin Qi¡¯an Exits the Secret Realm, Tensions Rise Outside the secret realm. All the sects and holy lands had already moved away. The Beiyang Sword Guards at the center had become the focus of everyone¡¯s attention and they were surrounded on all sides. ¡°Do these people really think they are something special? Let me go and kill my way in and out seven times!¡± A sword guard angrily suggested. ¡°Impossible, they have the advantage of numbers. Even if we charge in and kill dozens, it would still be a heavy loss.¡± The Beiyang Sword Guards were strong, but it was impossible to fight thousands of experts simultaneously and they simply couldn¡¯t kill them all. ¡°We should wait for the Crown Prince to come out and decide. If the Crown Prince orders us to kill, we will kill.¡± Within the Ziyou Holy Land and Tianchi Holy Land, there was a sense of panic among everyone. ¡°What should we do... the Ziyou Saintess is still with the Crown Prince...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that, the Saintess of Tianchi is also by His Highness¡¯s side.¡± ¡°Will we be held accountable together later...¡± ¡°The Saintess of Tianchi might be fine, as she¡¯s favored by the prince, but Ziyou Saintess is not!¡± ¡°We¡¯re doomed! If we get implicated, our Ziyou Holy Land is finished...¡± Hundreds of elders and disciples were all trembling with fear. If they were really implicated, the power under the Nanyue Crown Prince, destroying their two holy lands would be as easy as turning over a hand! They wouldn¡¯t have the slightest chance to resist. Outside, the cultivators from various sects were whispering to each other. ¡°Hey, this is not Beiyang after all, Lin Qi¡¯an can¡¯t act domineering here.¡± ¡°Exactly... Two tigers cannot live on the same mountain. If he acts so tyrannically in Nanyue, he will inevitably be suppressed.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not worried about the Crown Prince¡¯s life. In the Canglan Dao Domain, no sect dares to harm the son of the Sword Emperor.¡± Stepping out of the secret realm was a man dressed in white, his bearing was graceful, like a divine son in a robe of cloud brocade. It was the Beiyang Crown Prince, Lin Qi¡¯an and two stunning women stood by his side. One was elegant as a lotus, like a celestial maiden. The other wore a purple dress, equally a peerless beauty. ¡°Beiyang Crown Prince!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Beiyang Crown Prince, he¡¯s out!¡± ¡°Finally... The show is about to start!¡± The entire mountain range erupted in excitement. The white-clad sword guards stepped forward to greet the Crown Prince. After listening for a moment, he immediately understood the situation and looked at the richly dressed man not far ahead. ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t expect you to personally come to greet me?¡± ¡°Beiyang Crown Prince, it took you so long to come out, were you hiding?¡± Zhao Sanfeng sneered with his hands behind his back. His words were full of undisguised mockery, angering the sword guards, who were ready to draw their swords. ¡°Insulting the Crown Prince, courting death!¡± The Southern Python Guards shouted angrily: ¡°Crown Prince? In Nanyue, there is only one Crown Prince. Beiyang dares to be presumptuous?!¡± The tension between the two sides was palpable. The air was thick with the scent of gunpowder, ready to explode at any moment. Lin Qi¡¯an whispered, ¡°Aunt You, they seem to have a lot of people. What do you think?¡± A ripple appeared in the shadows, and a black figure emerged faintly. ¡°Your Highness, they are just a bunch of rabble. I can kill them at will.¡± She was indeed the female assassin who struck fear across the Canglan Dao Domain five hundred years ago. Everyone thought she had died, but they didn¡¯t know she had been subdued by the Sword Emperor. His father assigned her as his protector which was a bit of a waste of talent! ¡°Then why don¡¯t you go up and kill a few rounds, let the Nanyue Crown Prince feel the warmth of Beiyang?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an smiled and asked. ¡°At your command!¡± Chapter 36 - Aunt You Kills a Hundred People, Another Quasi-Saint Appears Chapter 36 Aunt You Kills a Hundred People, Another Quasi-Saint Appears The Ziyou Holy Land had already secretly sent someone to Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s side. He urged, ¡°Saintess, quickly follow me back!¡± Staying by Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s side at this time is no different from seeking death. Zi Lianyou subconsciously glanced at Su Xueni, only to see her still standing calmly by the prince¡¯s side, smiling at her. ¡°Lianyou sister, you don¡¯t need to look at me. As His Highness¡¯s maid, I naturally will not leave.¡± ¡°Then I won¡¯t leave either!¡± Zi Lianyou stubbornly said, ¡°His Highness the prince has helped me, I should repay him.¡± What a girl who knows to repay kindness and enmity clearly. Seeing Lin Qi¡¯an still entangled with the two women, Zhao Sanfeng became furious. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an! This prince is giving you one last chance.¡± ¡°Bow your head and admit your mistake and hand over Su Xueni, and I may let you leave safely!¡± This was the final ultimatum. Lin Qi¡¯an smiled and said, ¡°What if I refuse?¡± ¡°Good... Who is willing to fight for this prince?!¡± Zhao Sanfeng shouted. ¡°The Jiandao Holy Land is willing to serve as the vanguard!¡± ¡°The Tiangang Holy Land is willing to serve His Highness!¡± ¡°The Shenxiao Sect will not shirk from this duty!¡± In the blink of an eye, three streaks of rainbow light flew to the front of the formation, all were elders of their respective sects. Their strength was all above the Transcendent Realm! Above Heaven Dominion is Transcendent and above Transcendent is the Celestial Realm. Transcendent represents the moon, Celestial represents the sun; these two realms are also called the Sun and Moon Realms. The sects of these three people were all located in Nanyue. At this moment, they were currying favor with Zhao Sanfeng to gain the attention of the King of Nanyue, which was a profitable trade. ¡°Good, let¡¯s go together.¡± ¡°Apologies in advance!¡± A bunch of trash! No wonder they are no match for Beiyang Sword Guards. ¡°Aunt You, come back after killing a hundred people.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said. As soon as the words fell, black light appeared in the air. A terrifying nether light rushed into the rear at a speed invisible to the naked eye. Like a wolf into a flock of sheep. Black light flashed, blood sprayed wildly and ten breaths later, the black light returned. ¡°Reporting to Your Highness, a hundred people have been killed.¡± The surrounding sects: ... Looking closely, those sects that came to assist were already terrified! ¡°Said to kill a hundred people, and killed a hundred people.¡± ¡°As if entering no man¡¯s land, this is too terrifying...¡± ¡°I thought the Beiyang prince would be severely suppressed, but who is suppressing whom now?!¡± ¡°My heavens...¡± The people of Ziyou Holy Land were dumbfounded. They still underestimated the Beiyang prince, actually wanting to call the Saintess back to avoid disaster. Staying by the prince¡¯s side is the safest place! Look at the Tianchi Holy Land, they had foresight. Su Xueni looked at this scene, her heart fluttered, admiring Lin Qi¡¯an, mixed with excitement and happiness. The one who made the move was a woman. If she stayed by the prince¡¯s side, wouldn¡¯t she become such a powerful woman in the future? Whoever she wanted to kill, she could kill. In the Three Thousand Dao Domains, strength is respected! At this moment, above the head of the Nanyue prince, Zhao Sanfeng, a slowly floating old phantom appeared. White hair and beard, immortal demeanor, wearing a wide-sleeved long robe, terrifying and majestic aura spread between heaven and earth. It made countless people involuntarily want to kneel and submit. ¡°That is... the Xuan Zhendao Venerable of Nanyue!¡± ¡°It is said that he has perfected the ¡®Purple Mansion Immortal Scripture¡¯ and stayed to teach because of an old friendship with the King of Nanyue.¡± ¡°Quasi-Saint... His aura covers the sky, this is the aura of a quasi-Saint!¡± ¡°My heavens, the conflict between the two princes actually brought out a quasi-Saint, this is going to be big!¡± Chapter 37 - Quasi-Saint, Blood Nether Princess! Lin Qi’an Is Not Afraid at All Chapter 37: Quasi-Saint, Blood Nether Princess! Lin Qi¡¯an Is Not Afraid at All ¡°Who dares to hide, show yourself to this lord immediately!¡± Xuan Zhendao pointed at the void, the space twisted, causing a ripple. A woman dressed in tight black clothes finally appeared in the public¡¯s view. Her eyes were covered with a black satin band; she was blind. But at the moment everyone saw this woman, all around, countless sect masters, holy lords, and elders, their hair stood on end, and their hearts trembled. Some even subconsciously wanted to flee from this place. The coldness that crawled up from their spine went straight to their skulls. The disciples of the younger generation were quite confused, not knowing why everyone was so afraid of this blind woman. ¡°She... she is...¡± ¡°The Palace Master of the Netherworld Rakshasa Palace, Blood Nether Princess!¡± Someone pointed at her, their face twisted, and their fingers kept trembling. ¡°Her phantom is formless, and her killing skills are exquisite. Five hundred years ago, she was someone everyone in the Canglan Continent feared!¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t she besieged and killed by several Sovereign Realm experts? How is she still alive...¡± ¡°Turns out she has been hiding in Beiyang, saved by the Sword Emperor?!¡± Five hundred years ago, mentioning the name Blood Nether Princess would make everyone shiver, and children would cry. The Netherworld Rakshasa Palace was a sect specialized in killing and had long been destroyed. The lives taken by Blood Nether Princess were not many, but every one of them was not a nobody! Holy lords, sect masters, nobles, Taoist palace ancestors, Buddhist monks... No one targeted by her ever escaped. Lin Qi¡¯an was somewhat speechless. Just one Aunt You scared you all like this? The Saints of Beiyang could gather for a game of Werewolf and they had enough Great Emperors to play Mahjong. (TL: The werewolf game is referring to you know the werewolf and villager game? It¡¯s like Murder Mystery and the Mahjong part basically it¡¯s just saying they have a lot of powerhouse.) ¡°But your Sword Guards, who killed hundreds of our Southern Python Guards, must all stay behind to be buried. Not one can escape!¡± ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± ¡°Your Highness, don¡¯t worry, we will protect ourselves.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an ignored them, stepping forward alone to face Zhao Sanfeng and the thousands of cultivators. ¡°Today, this prince will play a game with you all. Each sect, choose a genius to fight against this prince.¡± ¡°If you win, you¡¯ll be rewarded with a Heaven-rank technique! If you lose, leave your life behind.¡± The task requires killing ten geniuses, which could be completed here. These sects are all helping Nanyue; killing them carries no psychological burden. ¡°Heaven-rank technique...¡± ¡°Damn, the prince is too generous!¡± ¡°The highest technique in our holy land is only Earth-rank...¡± ¡°Hehe, our sect doesn¡¯t even have a high-grade Mystic-rank.¡± Upon hearing these words, everyone was in an uproar, admiring Beiyang¡¯s deep foundation. ¡°Haha, Lin Qi¡¯an, haven¡¯t you figured out the situation?¡± Zhao Sanfeng laughed, ¡°Why should we gamble with you?¡± ¡°Good question! Because I can destroy your sect with just one word, is that reason enough?¡± As the words fell, a burst of laughter erupted. ¡°Hahaha, you may be powerful in Beiyang, but this is Nanyue! How can you destroy a sect in Nanyue with just one word?¡± (TL: By the way don¡¯t worry this is the only face slapping scene after this chapter he is no longer underestimated in the rest of the novel.) Chapter 38 - Transmit the Prince’s Sword Order, Destroy Tiangang Holy Land! Chapter 38: Transmit the Prince¡¯s Sword Order, Destroy Tiangang Holy Land! Everyone was puzzled; why? Who wouldn¡¯t think he was boasting? He, Beiyang, is indeed powerful, but Beiyang is millions of miles away. This kind of boasting is just too much. The final outcome might indeed be the Beiyang Sword Guards being killed and the prince leaving in disgrace. However, Lin Qi¡¯an didn¡¯t care what they thought and started calling names. ¡°The first one, let¡¯s choose your Tiangang Holy Land.¡± The Holy Lord of Tiangang was furious, his face red with anger as he scolded, ¡°My son has already been killed by you. Where is there any genius left!¡± ¡°This prince doesn¡¯t care, you have ten breaths to choose, if you can¡¯t, Tiangang Holy Land will be destroyed.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said in the most relaxed tone, speaking words that made their spines chill. ¡°Heh, I want to see how the prince will destroy my Tiangang Holy Land!¡± ¡°Not only him who want to see it, I want to see it too, haha.¡± Zhao Sanfeng laughed. In his eyes, Lin Qi¡¯an at this moment was like a jumping clown. Unable to win in an open fight, he was trying to entertain the crowd to delay time. Blood Nether Princess was already being watched by Xuan Zhendao, and there were no other strong fighters by his side. Who really believed he could do it? ¡°The ten breaths are up.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an sighed, ¡°Tiangang Holy Land, can be destroyed.¡± ¡°The Prince of Beiyang speaks sharply, destroying a Holy Land with just words. It¡¯s an eye-opener!¡± ¡°Hahaha, everyone, don¡¯t mock the prince, lest you implicate your own sect!¡± Sarcastic laughter came from the front. Obviously, no one took Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s words seriously. This is Nanyue¡¯s territory; why would Beiyang have any say here? Destroy with a word? I can also destroy your Beiyang Tianjian City with a word! Even Su Xueni and Zi Lianyou didn¡¯t understand what the prince was thinking... If he couldn¡¯t do it, he might really have to pay the price today. ¡°Sword Guards, heed my order!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s voice suddenly grew louder, echoing through the sky! The surroundings immediately fell silent, everyone wanted to see what else the prince could do. Exactly a hundred miles away, there was a disciple of Tianjian City. He was fighting and training against a demonic beast. Seeing the Sword Order in the sky, he hurriedly escaped and pointed his sword to the sky, emitting sword energy. At this moment! Everyone seemed to understand how this Sword Order worked. Using one person after another to transmit the message back to Beiyang... A terrifying chill rose. A great fear enveloped everyone present. A thousand miles away a Sword Guard was returning to his hometown, shopping at the night market with his son. Seeing the white light in the sky, he hurriedly said, ¡°Son, stay here and don¡¯t move, Dad will be right back.¡± Five thousand miles away another Sword Guard was entangled with a woman in a brothel. Suddenly, through the half-open window, he saw the white light in the sky. He immediately stopped moving! ¡°Young master, why did you suddenly stop... Are you playing with me...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t shout, I have something to do, we¡¯ll continue later!¡± Ten thousand miles away, in the forest. A Sword Guard was fighting an enemy, already having a great advantage. Risking injury, he pointed his sword to the sky and wrote ten large characters. ¡¾Transmit the prince¡¯s sword order, destroy Tiangang Holy Land¡¿ Countless cultivators saw this message... They all stopped to watch, with waves of shock in their hearts. An old master living in seclusion in the deep mountains: ¡°Is Tiangang Holy Land insane? Provoking Beiyang?¡± An old ancestor of a Taoist palace watching the stars: ¡°The Sword Order has been used... Tiangang Holy Land is done for.¡± In Tai¡¯an Imperial City, a Great Emperor suddenly opened his eyes: ¡°Amazing, daring to provoke the Sword Emperor¡¯s precious son! Are people today so fearless?¡± Tonight, the Canglan Dao Domain was destined to be restless. One after another, beams of white light spanned half the Dao Domain. Transmitting back to Beiyang, TianjianCity! Chapter 39 - The Sword Order Returns, Everyone is Terrified! Chapter 39: The Sword Order Returns, Everyone is Terrified! Beiyang, Tianjian City! At the city gate, a guard saw the distant sword energy rising to the sky and quickly flew up. ¡°It¡¯s the Sword Order! The prince orders the destruction of Tiangang Holy Land!¡± Naturally, above the city, the Sword Emperor also saw this message. Rubbing his temples, his voice thundered in the sky, ¡°Send someone fast to destroy that damn Tiangang Holy Land.¡± ¡°Shen Fengzi is willing to serve the Sword Emperor!¡± A rainbow light shot out from the city, almost instantly disappearing into the horizon, moving so fast it was nearly invisible to the naked eye. The disciples of Tiangang Holy Land had no idea that a Saint, whose every move could change the heavens and earth, was about to give them a big surprise. ........ Jiumang Mountain Range. Everyone stared at Lin Qi¡¯an with disbelief. This so-called Sword Order actually relied on beams of light to send the message to distant Beiyang? If that was true, it was too domineering! If the Sword Emperor received this message, destroying Tiangang Holy Land would be as easy as flipping a hand? ¡°It seems we underestimated the prince... no, the Emperor¡¯s son! Both are princes, but this Beiyang prince is the son of a Great Emperor. The difference in foundation is clear.¡± ¡°Prince... I was wrong! Please, show mercy!¡± The Holy Lord of Tiangang, a powerful Dao Transformation Realm expert, kneeled from a distance, begging a young man. This scene made many people shake their heads. If he had known this, why did he act so rashly? Losing his son should have been enough; seeking revenge brought the whole holy land to ruin. The most distressed was Zhao Sanfeng, the prince of Nanyue. He stammered and couldn¡¯t speak. After this scene, did he still dare act against Lin Qi¡¯an? No. If he did, the next Sword Order might flatten Nanyue! His Southern Python Guards, who were shivering, had lost their earlier arrogance. ¡°The Sword Order is issued and cannot be revoked.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s face was indifferent. Behind Zhao Sanfeng, a Holy Lord clutched his chest, ¡°Your Highness, my old injury has flared up, I need to return to recuperate.¡± ¡°Your Highness, I just remembered today is the old ancestor¡¯s birthday, I must leave first!¡± ¡°Oh no, I suddenly remembered there are many unresolved matters in the sect, we must leave now.¡± ¡°My mother passed away, today is the seventh day, I must go back. Sorry, Your Highness.¡± The sects that came in force to seek justice were now filled with the desire to retreat. Adaptability is the key to survival. But the next moment, a voice stopped them. ¡°Did this prince allow you to leave? Whoever leaves now will be the next Tiangang Holy Land!¡± This caused everyone to be terrified. They hadn¡¯t expected that even trying to leave wasn¡¯t an option. This Beiyang prince was outrageously domineering... Too afraid to speak, they had to stay. ¡°The game continues. Next, Tianchan Holy Land.¡± Chapter 40 - The Geniuses Forced to Battle, The Prince is Too Arrogant! Chapter 40: The Geniuses Forced to Battle, The Prince is Too Arrogant! ¡°Next, Tianchan Holy Land.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s voice, like a judgment descending, made everyone in Tianchan Holy Land shiver. ¡°Send someone to fight, or let Tianchan Holy Land disappear, you can choose. The usual rule, ten breaths.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an smiled slightly. ¡°No! We¡¯ll send someone to fight, send someone to fight!¡± Who would dare let Lin Qi¡¯an count to ten? Everyone knew, once he finished counting ten the next count would be one. If they responded slowly, Tianchan Holy Land would be gone! ¡°Tianchan Holy Son, quickly go out and fight.¡± ¡°Elder... I... I don¡¯t want to go!¡± If he died, he had to leave his life behind. The Holy Son was trembling with fear, his face pale. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense, if you win against the prince, you get a Heaven-rank technique. If you lose, you just start over!¡± Thus, the Tianchan Holy Son was pushed out. He was also a Heaven Ascendant Realm genius, but at this moment, he was as scared as a little chick, which was quite pitiful. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this prince will find you some companions. Next, Longxu Dao Palace.¡± ¡°Ten...¡± ¡°Fight! Longxu Dao Palace will fight!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an barely said ten before getting a response and the efficiency was quite high. ¡°Jiandao Holy Land?¡± ¡°Coming!¡± Soon, dozens of holy lands sent out their most treasured geniuses. Normally, they were saints and geniuses admired by thousands. Among them were Heaven Dominion Realm experts, even two Transcendent Realm experts, all long-famous young talents. If he lost, though his life wouldn¡¯t be in danger, today¡¯s established prestige would become a joke! The damage to Beiyang¡¯s reputation would be huge! ¡°Haha, the prince is domineering.¡± ¡°Go, prince, we cheer for you!¡± The white-clad Sword Guards were all boiling with blood, raising their swords and shouting. They thought traveling with the prince would be boring. Unexpectedly, it was this thrilling! First, they made the Southern Python Guards flee in panic, then issued the Sword Order against thousands. These deeds alone, bragging about them back in Beiyang, would make the city guards envy them to death. Those guards could never experience this feeling! Beiyang was too powerful; who dared to cause trouble at their doorstep? It was boring every day. Following the prince was full of twists and turns, always showing Beiyang¡¯s might. So worth it! Su Xueni softly said, ¡°Be careful, Your Highness, don¡¯t get hurt.¡± She then retreated to the back with Zi Lianyou to watch the battle. The geniuses¡¯ faces were extremely ugly and they felt humiliated. Who here wasn¡¯t raised under the admiration of countless people? Each one had unparalleled talent, hoping to revive their sect! But before the prince, they were like grass, worthless. ¡°Since the prince demands it, we will fight.¡± The heavenly geniuses took out their spiritual treasures and divine weapons, and for a moment, the area was filled with brilliant light. An overwhelming sense of terrifying spiritual energy followed. ¡°Everyone, be careful. Don¡¯t injure the prince¡¯s precious body!¡± Chapter 41 - Heavenly Flying Sword, Simultaneously Controlling Two Holy Weapons? Chapter 41: Heavenly Flying Sword, Simultaneously Controlling Two Holy Weapons? ¡°Go!¡± The heavenly geniuses launched their attacks. Beams of radiant light shot across the sky, fiery meteors streaked through, filling the night with divine might.CHeCk for new stories on no/v/el/bin(.)c0m Since it was a duel, a bet among countless sects, even if they injured the prince, it would be his own fault, not others¡¯. So they didn¡¯t hold back, attacking with full force right from the start. ¡°Very good, perfect for trying a new move.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an stood calmly in the air, his expression unchanged, unmoving like a mountain. Whoosh! Whoosh! Two swords flew out, constantly circling Lin Qi¡¯an, forming a protective barrier. Divine Sword Technique ¡ª Heavenly Flying Immortal! Simultaneously controlling two weapons. The Seven Stars Dragon Spring Sword. The Nine Suns Divine Sword. With these two swords circling and protecting him, all incoming spells and divine powers were scattered. The white-robed prince stood amidst thousands of rays of light, his black hair flowing, without a single scratch. ¡°My heavens... he¡¯s so handsome!¡± ¡°The prince really is like a god descended to earth...¡± Many girls were infatuated, their eyes dreamy, cheeks flushed. Unlike these spectators, those who truly understood the battle were all shocked. A monstrous golden flame burst from the Nine Yang Divine Sword! The overwhelming Nine Yang Divine Fire covered Lin Qi¡¯an, burning everything! ¡°My weapon!¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± Those treasured weapons, formidable to ordinary people, met their match. The Nine Yang¡¯s Divine Fire was among the finest of all flames, its destructive power unmatched. Many weapons turned to ash in the flames. The slightly better ones barely escaped but were heavily damaged. With their weapons damaged, the geniuses suffered backlash, spitting blood. Ling Yu watched, her heart surging with emotion! She had initially said she was going to sleep because her former master, Ling Tian, had died. She had some reservations about her new master. But now, seeing the prince¡¯s mastery of fire far surpassed Ling Tian¡¯s, she realized this was the true power of the Nine Suns Divine Fire! Only the prince could fully unleash its power... ¡°We can¡¯t waste this blood.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an quickly sent out the Seven Stars Dragon Spring Sword. It flew around, collecting the blood of the geniuses on its blade. Those who hadn¡¯t bled were cut to make them bleed. Returning, he carefully stored the blood in a porcelain bottle to activate the Blood Lotus later. With this done, there were no more worries. Now, he could start killing! The Seven Stars Dragon Spring Sword zipped through the night sky, leaving countless white streaks. It sliced through like a meteor chasing the moon. People heard only the continuous screams of the heavenly geniuses. Soon, the battle was over. Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s white robe remained spotless, his demeanor elegant, his aura otherworldly. In front of him, not a single person was left alive. Chapter 42 - Rewards Received! Remember to Sit at the Kids’ Table in the Future Chapter 42: Rewards Received! Remember to Sit at the Kids¡¯ Table in the Future ¡¾Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the task, a major massacre¡¿ ¡¾Reward received: three drops of Ancestral Dragon Essence Blood¡¿ The task was successfully completed, and the rewards arrived. Lin Qi¡¯an extended his hand, and the two divine weapons returned, re-entering the sword box. ¡°The geniuses of dozens of sects and holy lands, just... just died like this?¡± ¡°Sorry, I still underestimated the prince. Such combat power can only be described as terrifying!¡± In the Jiumang Mountain Range, the stunned cultivators exclaimed in waves of astonishment. The Beiyang prince had never had any illustrious achievements before. Everyone¡¯s respect and fear of him came from the Sword Emperor! But in this period, Lin Qi¡¯an had made two moves. The first time, he borrowed ten thousand swords to slash a thousand people, making his name known far and wide. The second time, he used two divine weapons to fight dozens of geniuses, an astonishing feat! ¡°I¡¯m completely convinced by the prince...¡± ¡°Perfect in appearance, noble in status, with extraordinary courage and strength, who wouldn¡¯t be convinced!¡± ¡°I¡¯m so envious of the Tianchi Saintess, sigh!¡± As for those sects and holy lands that lost their geniuses, they were all heartbroken. A perfectly good genius just died so meaninglessly, without any value, all becoming the prince¡¯s backdrop. However, amid their grief, they also knew that in their misfortune, they were lucky it was only one person who died!CHeCk for new stories on no/v/el/bin(.)c0m Tiangang Holy Land was the unluckiest, angering the prince for no reason. One sword order, and their home was gone! Who could they complain to? This battle not only shocked the ordinary cultivators but also the two quasi-saints. Xuan Zhendao never expected that the Sword Emperor¡¯s son would be even more arrogant and stronger than the Sword Emperor himself. The onlookers secretly laughed. Zhao Sanfeng had been imposing in Nanyue all his life, but today he was humiliated by an outsider, his face as dark as if he had eaten excrement! It was too amusing! ¡°Zhao Sanfeng, I heard you came to capture Su Xueni?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an smiled, pulling Su Xueni into his arms. ¡°Still want to capture her? I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± ¡°Your Highness, you¡¯re so annoying...¡± Su Xueni¡¯s eyes flashed with reproach, her face blushing, but she didn¡¯t resist, enjoying the feeling. To others, it must seem she was the prince¡¯s woman, not just a maid. ¡°Fine, Lin Qi¡¯an, you¡¯re impressive.¡± Zhao Sanfeng swallowed and waved his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Wait, Zhao Sanfeng! I haven¡¯t bid you farewell.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an smiled. ¡°What... do you want?¡± Being stared at by Lin Qi¡¯an, Zhao Sanfeng felt a chill, but with Xuan Zhendao by his side, he still had some confidence. ¡°Two things. First, don¡¯t call yourself ¡®prince¡¯ in front of this prince. I don¡¯t like it.¡± Zhao Sanfeng: ... What a domineering demand. ¡°Second, at future banquets, remember to sit at the kids¡¯ table.¡± ¡°Hahahahaha!¡± The mountains echoed with laughter. Zhao Sanfeng¡¯s chest tightened, nearly spitting blood. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Chapter 43 - Obtaining the Villain’s Divine Eye! Activating the Blood Heart Lotus Chapter 43: Obtaining the Villain¡¯s Divine Eye! Activating the Blood Heart Lotus ¡¾Ding! The host is heinous, feared by countless people, villain points +80000¡¿ This was the system¡¯s comprehensive evaluation after a series of actions. It included destroying a holy land, killing dozens of heavenly geniuses, and intimidating countless people. He had earned a big wave of points! Villain points directly reached 100000. ¡¾Ding! Due to the host¡¯s excellent performance on the villain path, you have obtained: Heavenly Fate Villain¡¯s Divine Eye¡¿ ¡¾Effect: Upon activation, anyone who meets your gaze will be suppressed by your aura, and you can directly observe the son of luck within range¡¿ Lin Qi¡¯an immediately tried it and a layer of ethereal golden aura covered his pupils. With a glance, he saw Su Xueni and Zi Lianyou, both daughters of luck. ¡®Oh?¡¯ Lin Qi¡¯an noticed a line of small text immediately appearing.Discover new chapters at ¡¾Su Xueni, Hostility: 0¡¿ ¡¾Zi Lianyou, Hostility: 0¡¿ Through this, he could directly see whether they had any hostility towards him! Not only that, he could see through others without any obstruction. This meant that even if they were far away, he could instantly see what they were doing, without searching aimlessly. Very reasonable! ¡°What are your plans now, Your Highness?¡± Su Xueni asked. ¡°First, we return to Tianchi Holy Land to rest.¡± At present, Lin Qi¡¯an planned to first look at the ancient treasure, the Seven Petal Blood Heart Lotus. After studying it, he would take Su Xueni back to Beiyang Tianjian City to see his family. His little sister was probably missing him terribly! He would also take some yin-cold treasures from the treasure vault to assist Su Xueni in her cultivation. Instantly! Vibrant life emerged. The withered seven-petal flower revived as if bathed in spring, but its color was not ordinary; it was a bewitching blood-red, possessing a captivating beauty. According to records, one must drop their own blood into the heart of the lotus to control it. Lin Qi¡¯an immediately did so, dropping a drop of his blood. In a flash, a surge of blood energy burst forth. It wasn¡¯t that simple! The lotus seemed to become a battlefield. The blood of those geniuses was fighting each other! If his blood couldn¡¯t suppress the others, he wouldn¡¯t gain control! But Lin Qi¡¯an had the Dragon Yang Dao Physique and a innate sword bone. In terms of physique, no one could compare. In moments, his blood subdued the others, gaining dominance. Simultaneously, his mind connected with the Blood Lotus. ¡°Open!¡± Space twisted and rippled, and Lin Qi¡¯an disappeared. He was absorbed into the Blood Lotus space and when he opened his eyes, it was a different scene. Above was a flawless blue sky, below was green grass, surrounded by trees, flowers, and the sound of clear springs. A true paradise! Since ancient times, spatial secret arts and divine powers were terrifying and taboo. Related spiritual treasures were extremely rare. This Seven Petal Blood Heart Lotus formed its own small world, where he could do anything and he could also bring others in. If he entered the Blood Lotus space, the lotus would follow, making it a perfect tool for escape and hiding! Bringing a girl here for some fun was also very convenient... Tomorrow he could bring Su Xueni in; she would love it. Chapter 45 - Immortal Fairy Goddess Diagram Chapter 45: Immortal Fairy Goddess Diagram ¡®Oh? A luck treasure chest was also rewarded! Not bad, not bad, having these maidservants was truly worth it.¡¯ Lin Qi¡¯an was in a particularly good mood. ¡°Alright, you two can go in and play. Just call me when you want to come out.¡± ¡°Thank you, Your Highness!¡±Diiscover new stories at Activating the Blood Lotus, he brought the two women into the space and immediately prepared to open the luck treasure chest. Su Xueni was a Daughter of Gold Luck, and Zi Lianyou was a Daughter of Purple Luck. With the combined luck of these two, the rewards from the chest would surely not be disappointing! ¡¾Congratulations, Host! You have obtained the Chaos Treasure ¡°Immortal Fairy Goddess Diagram¡±¡¿ Another Chaos Treasure! But judging by the name, it didn¡¯t seem to be something he could use. Lin Qi¡¯an immediately took it out for a closer look. The so-called Immortal Fairy Goddess Diagram was completely blank, only showing a vague mist. Fortunately, since it was a gift from the system, he could instantly see its effects. ¡¾Only for women: Drip a drop of blood onto it to add your own portrait. The person in the painting will have their life and death controlled by the host, and they can also obtain great opportunities of the Dao¡¿ The Dao! Seeing this term, even Lin Qi¡¯an couldn¡¯t help but have his pupils contract. The term ¡°Dao¡± was usually associated with Great Emperors. Everyone knew there were three ways to become an Emperor: One could either walk their own path of the Dao, obtain the inheritance of a Great Emperor, or kill an Emperor to prove the Dao! And the women who enters this Goddess Diagram could actually obtain opportunities of the Dao? Wouldn¡¯t that mean they could become Empresses? A vision suddenly flashed through Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s mind. With a wave of his hand, several Empresses would rise into the sky beside him¡ªwhat a delightful thought. However, it was only an opportunity, and whether they could become Empresses would depend on their own abilities. Lin Qi¡¯an set a requirement for himself. Anyone who wanted to be added to the Goddess Diagram had to become his woman first¡ªno benefits to outsiders. For now, he decided to keep this treasure. ........ ¡°Let¡¯s set off.¡± He brought the two maidservants onto the chariot. A dragon pulled the chariot, soaring into the sky! Everyone in the Holy Land of Tianchi came out to see the Prince off. ¡°Xueni, make sure to serve His Highness well.¡± ¡°If you can turn from a maidservant into a wife or concubine, our Holy Land of Tianchi will surely prosper!¡± Everyone had high hopes for Su Xueni. After all, she was the first woman by the Prince¡¯s side, and the hope was great. ¡°I wonder what the Prince¡¯s fiance?e will think about this?¡± ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s a problem. She is the daughter of the Tai¡¯an Imperial Family, with better looks, status, and cultivation than the Saintess!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. With the Prince around, the Saintess won¡¯t be wronged.¡± ¡°And if the Prince truly liked that Imperial Princess, why hasn¡¯t he visited Tai¡¯an City despite being engaged for years?¡± .......... Not long after setting off, Lin Qi¡¯an received a new villain mission. ¡¾Ding! Received mission ¡°Ferocious Beast Pulls the Chariot¡±: The host must subdue a Primordial Ferocious Beast of the Transcendent Realm to pull the chariot, showcasing the villain¡¯s grandeur¡¿ ¡¾Reward: Beast-Control Spirit Pot, which can be used to store any beast subdued by the host¡¿ This reward wasn¡¯t bad¡ªit could store any beast like a piggy bank! When needed, just take it out for a walk. As expected, the Prince¡¯s chariot-pulling beast had to be extraordinary, different from others. As a major villain, he couldn¡¯t lose his prestige, but this mission was quite challenging. A Primordial Ferocious Beast of the Transcendent Realm had immense strength, and even ordinary Transcendent Realm cultivators couldn¡¯t handle it. He was still only in the Heaven Dominion Realm. It seemed it was time to fuse the ¡°Dragon Bone¡± and refine the dragon blood. With the pressure of the Ancestral Dragon, any ferocious beast would submit. ¡°Do you know where to find a Primordial Ferocious Beast?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked his attendants. ¡°Primordial Ferocious Beast? It¡¯s said there are traces of them in the Great Wilderness we will pass through.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s take a detour.¡± Chapter 46 - Encountering the Daughter of Fortune Again, Myriad Beast Affinity Physique Chapter 46: Encountering the Daughter of Fortune Again, Myriad Beast Affinity Physique Inside the chariot, Lin Qi¡¯an was currently fusing with the Ancestral Dragon Soul Bone. Forcing it into his body was a difficult process. Previously, when he fused with the Innate Sword Bone, his father, the Sword Emperor, had assisted him. Now, he could only rely on himself. But if the fusion was successful, the benefits and the enhancement to his combat power would be enormous! The Ancestral Dragon¡¯s pressure made all beasts retreat. Any ferocious beast had to avoid it by miles. Three days passed in the blink of an eye. During these days, Su Xueni and Zi Lianyou were organizing the Blood Lotus Small World, starting to build a home there. ¡°Your Highness, we¡¯ve reached the Great Wilderness,¡± came the voice of a servant from outside. Lifting the curtain, Lin Qi¡¯an saw the boundless yellow sand below, with some small villages scattered around, looking quite impoverished. In such a barren and resource-scarce place, there were only a few small sects with weak strength; the strongest was likely not even on par with the Holy Land of Tianchi. ¡°It¡¯s said that the ferocious beasts are wreaking havoc in this area.¡± ¡°Where is the nearest sect?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked. ¡°It¡¯s called Yushou Sect, fifty miles to the north. We¡¯ll reach it soon.¡± ¡°Alright, instruct the Sword Guards to spread out and gather information about the Primordial Ferocious Beasts. Report back to me at the Yushou Sect if they find anything.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± With Aunt You around, the Sword Guards didn¡¯t need to worry about the Prince¡¯s safety, so they scattered in different directions. Lin Qi¡¯an called for the two women and prepared to head there himself. A dragon pulling a chariot would be too conspicuous, and these small sects would likely be frightened. Soon, the three of them arrived near the Beast Controlling Sect. The surroundings were covered with yellow sand, occasionally dotted with a few cacti. The mountain gate was small, with many spirit beasts like camels tied nearby. ¡¾Ding! Detected the Son of Luck ¡°Xiao Chen¡±, successfully integrated into the plot¡¿ Wait, even in this godforsaken place, there is a Son of Luck? ¡°Who are you, and what business do you have with our Yushou Sect?¡± ¡°We¡¯re here on some business and would like to stay for a few days.¡± ¡°Ah... I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not possible.¡± The guard looked troubled, ¡°To be honest, there have been ancient ferocious beasts rampaging around here today, causing panic, and many people in the sect have fled.¡± ¡°If you want to stay, you should find another place.¡± Su Xueni, being clever and understanding that Lin Qi¡¯an shouldn¡¯t handle everything personally, stepped forward and said: ¡°No worries, my master is not afraid of ferocious beasts. Please inform your superiors, we will naturally offer compensation.¡± ¡°This...¡± Just then, a dense sound of footsteps came from behind. ¡°Senior Sister Ran is back!¡± the guard disciple exclaimed in surprise. Lin Qi¡¯an and his companions turned around and saw an unforgettable scene. Leading the way was a girl. A girl with distinct Western features, radiating warmth like the sun at first glance. She had a complex and exquisite red pendant on her forehead, a jeweled necklace hanging on her chest, gold ornaments on her arms, and her outfit was quite revealing, showing a lot of skin. The highlight was her slender waist, barely a handful! Behind her followed a bunch of exotic beasts. There were colorful birds, three-legged black crows, unicorn pigs, and more... ¡°Another Daughter of Purple Luck?!¡± ¡¾Ran Yu, Hostility: 0¡¿ Lin Qi¡¯an suddenly understood that she must be the Daughter of Luck associated with Xiao Chen here. These Sons of Luck were either on the path to obtaining opportunities and treasures or wooing their heroines. ¡°Huh? We actually have guests!¡± Ran Yu exclaimed and as soon as she spoke, her gaze fixed on Lin Qi¡¯an, unable to move away. Since childhood, she had the ¡°Myriad Beast Affinity Physique.¡± With her purple luck, she could also see the special phenomenon surrounding Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s physique. ¡®Dao aura flowing, dragon energy coiling... This special physique characteristic, it¡¯s so unique, I seem to have heard the sect master mention it?¡¯ Chapter 47 - A Kiss, Awakening Spiritual Apertures! Chapter 47: A Kiss, Awakening Spiritual Apertures! ¡°Senior Sister Ran, you¡¯re back!¡± The gatekeeping disciple looked on with admiration. In the Yushou Sect, everyone practiced beast controlling techniques. Ran Yu, naturally gifted with an affinity for all beasts, was the only goddess in the hearts of the disciples! Moreover, her appearance and figure were top-notch. Her smile, as refreshing as a spring breeze, and her slender waist which made people want to hold her in their arms! It¡¯s a pity, the only person in the sect who could match Ran Yu was Xiao Chen, who joined a year ago. That kid was exceptionally talented, having already subdued all the young experts of the sect within a year, becoming the pride of everyone. The two of them were a perfect match, like a golden couple! ¡°Mm! These guests aren¡¯t from around here, are they?¡± Ran Yuwei greeted them openly and cheerfully. She wasn¡¯t a fool; she could tell at a glance that these people were extraordinary. ¡°Yes, we would like to stay for a few days.¡± ¡°Of course. We¡¯d be happy to have you! But there are ancient ferocious beasts nearby. If you¡¯re not afraid, you¡¯re welcome anytime~¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an smiled. Such a handsome man! Ran Yuwei couldn¡¯t help but feel her heart flutter. In this barren land, she had never seen such a graceful and handsome man! She must also ask the sect master about the physique surrounded by golden dragons¡ªit must be extraordinary... Ran Yuwei turned back and waved, ¡°You all can go back now. Don¡¯t follow me, I¡¯ll play with you another time!¡± ¡°Howl, woo~¡± The beasts howled reluctantly and scattered. ¡°Please, come with me.¡± ¡°Thank you, Miss Ran.¡± ¡°Huh, did I introduce myself just now?¡± she was puzzled. ¡°We¡¯ve heard of Miss Ran¡¯s reputation around here, and your noticeable affinity with all beasts makes you easy to recognize.¡± Hearing this, Ran Yuwei couldn¡¯t help but blush with a bit of maidenly shyness. Su Xueni thought, ¡®His Highness is so skilled at charming women, he clearly just heard the disciple call her name!¡¯ Zi Lianyou took her leave. ¡°Xueni, try to get closer to Ran Yuwei.¡± Su Xueni¡¯s eyes sparkled, pouting slightly, ¡°Your Highness, do you fancy her?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an just smiled and lifted Su Xueni¡¯s sharp, white chin, ¡°What, feeling jealous?¡± ¡°Xueni is just a maidservant, I wouldn¡¯t dare...¡± Before she could finish, a warm breath suddenly came over her. ¡°Your Highness...¡± Lin Qi¡¯an held Su Xueni¡¯s slender waist, pulling her into his arms, and kissed her. Lin Qi¡¯an domineeringly kissed her, feeling her soft sweet lips. Su Xueni¡¯s lips parted slightly allowing him to slip his tongue in. Their bodies pressed together feeling each other¡¯s warmth so close they could feel each other¡¯s heartbeat. As they taste each other¡¯s sweetness and shared breath, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s left hand roamed around her ass, feeling the firmness and softness of it. ¡°Mmm...¡± Su Xuine let out a soft moan, her eyes filled with mist, heaving breathily from his actions, her body going soft. Lin Qi¡¯an withdrew his hand gripping her ass and their lips parted. He looked at her straight in the eye with a smile. ¡°Y-your highness.¡± She spoke unclearly while looking back at him in the eyes. Her face were red from shyness and her voice carrying a bit of seductiveness wether unintentionally or intentionally. Seeing this Lin Qi¡¯an continued... ... A moment later. Her beautiful eyes were misty, her cheeks flushed red, and her ears were burning. Su Xueni held her chest, leaning against Lin Qi¡¯an, almost ecstatic! For cultivators, the number of spiritual apertures they opened determined their talent. There were seventy-two spiritual apertures. Opening fewer than ten was ordinary, more than twenty was a genius, and more than thirty was heaven¡¯s favored. She herself had opened thirty-two. Just now, being kissed by Lin Qi¡¯an, the Dragon Yang Qi entered her body, and her thirty-third spiritual aperture was opened! ¡°Your Highness, could you kiss me a few more times?¡± ¡°Stop daydreaming and focus on your task. I¡¯ll give you a great opportunity later.¡± ¡°As you command...¡± Chapter 48 - Gifting an Earth Rank Technique, Ran Yuwei Discovers the Dragon Yang Dao Physique Chapter 48: Gifting an Earth Rank Technique, Ran Yuwei Discovers the Dragon Yang Dao Physique ¡°Senior Sister Ran, come here!¡± After Lin Qi¡¯an and the others left, Xiao Chen hurriedly called Ran Yuwei over to a secluded spot. ¡°What is it, Junior Brother Xiao?¡± ¡°You must stay away from that man! Do not approach him again.¡± Xiao Chen spoke sternly, his tone almost commanding. ¡°Do you know who he is?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to know. Just know that he is a heinous person! Trust me, the farther you stay from him, the better!¡± ¡®Heinous person?¡¯ Ran Yuwei felt a bit irritated. The man seemed polite and courteous, not to mention very handsome. He didn¡¯t look like a bad person, but thinking about her Junior Brother Xiao she thought he wouldn¡¯t harm her. ¡°Got it, I¡¯ll go report to the sect master now.¡± Inside the main hall. The Yushou Sect Master, Li Feng, was listening to the sect officials report the situation. ¡°Sect Master, the ferocious beasts have been causing havoc recently. In just one month, we¡¯ve lost dozens of disciples, and we couldn¡¯t even find their bodies.¡± ¡°Nearly a hundred disciples have left the sect! Even my personal disciple has been gone for a long time without returning...¡± ¡°Those damn ferocious beasts! Our Yushou Sect is already small. How can we withstand such turmoil?¡± Recently, the sect had been in a state of decline. Even the fallen leaves on the bluestone slabs remained unswept. Sect Master Li Feng watched helplessly as the sect dwindled day by day, his hair turning white. The sect¡¯s resources were also depleting. At this rate, they might have to disband and go their separate ways. ¡°Greetings, Sect Master!¡± Ran Yuwei entered. ¡°Yuwei, no need for formalities.¡± Ran Yuwei was an orphan picked up as a child. Li Feng treated her like his own daughter, showering her with love. ¡°Shut up!¡± Li Feng glared angrily, ¡°Apologize to our esteemed guests!¡± ¡°Uh...¡± Li Feng was overjoyed. It was like rain after a long drought, a timely help! This was a top-tier Earth Rank technique! And the Yushou Sect¡¯s highest was only Mystic Rank. What did this mean? With this technique, a small sect could rise and become a major sect! Just for a few days¡¯ stay, such a grand gift. This young master was more than just an esteemed guest! Li Feng hurried down, bowing, ¡°Miss, I apologize for the earlier rudeness. Please don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Zi Lianyou felt pleased and left. ¡°Xiaoliu, spread the word. Serve our guests well, and do not neglect them!¡± Everyone, including Ran Yuwei, was stunned. What had caused the sect master¡¯s drastic change in attitude? ¡°Do you know what they gifted? An Earth Rank technique! Yuwei, you¡¯ve invited a god!¡± The officials were all shocked, gasping in amazement. They wished they could slap themselves. How could they have thought of driving them away? Ran Yuwei felt conflicted as Xiao Chen had just warned her that the young master was bad. But now, it seemed he repaid a small favor with a great one. How could he be bad? ¡°This esteemed guest must be extraordinary. Yuwei, treat him well. Our sect¡¯s rise might depend on it!¡± Li Feng was so excited he kept swallowing. ¡®You just told me to send them away...¡¯ ¡°By the way, Sect Master, I have another question.¡± Ran Yuwei asked softly, ¡°I remember the ancient texts mentioning a physique surrounded by dragon energy and flowing with Dao aura. What is it?¡± ¡°Dragon Yang Dao Physique? Why ask about this? These are things from ancient legends. Don¡¯t waste your time on them.¡± ¡°Oh...¡± Ran Yuwei looked lost and she now remembered, dual cultivation with someone with the Dragon Yang Dao Physique had limitless potential. Chapter 49 - Xiao Chen Organizes a Crusade, Ferocious Beast Jiuying Transforms into Human Form Chapter 49: Xiao Chen Organizes a Crusade, Ferocious Beast Jiuying Transforms into Human Form Using the Divine Eyes specifically for spying on protagonists, Lin Qi¡¯an discovered something interesting. After Xiao Chen¡¯s instigation, Ran Yuwei¡¯s hatred towards him had risen to 10. However, after the events in the main hall, it had dropped back to 0. At the same time, there was a system prompt. ¡¾Ding! Ran Yuwei has begun to doubt Xiao Chen, Xiao Chen¡¯s luck -50, Host¡¯s villain points +500¡¿ Night had fallen. Let¡¯s see what the heroines and protagonist are up to? Xiao Chen, cultivating all night? As expected of the protagonist, diligence and opportunities go hand in hand. Zi Lianyou, giggling foolishly under the covers? Occasionally hugging her pillow and rubbing against it. What are you doing? Su Xueni, writing and drawing with a pen? ¡®Let me see what she¡¯s drawing... A construction diagram for the Lotus Realm house?¡¯ Name: Snow Peace Pavilion? ¡®You¡¯re thinking quite far ahead!¡¯ Ran Yuwei, taking a flower petal bath? Nothing much to see here. Wait, that waist is as flexible as a water snake, supple and boneless! She had a chest as big as Zi Lianyou¡¯s. Su Xueni¡¯s perfectly smooth fairy-like legs and Ran Yuwei with her uniquely slender waist, wearing Western-style attire, has a different kind of beauty. After watching for a bit, Lin Qi¡¯an continued fusing the dragon bone. It was estimated that it would be successful in a few more days. ...... Over the next few days, Lin Qi¡¯an and his group were treated as honored guests. The patrolling Sword Guards also brought back some news. The ancient ferocious beast causing havoc in this area was called Jiuying! It could transform into human form, spray water and fire, and was extremely powerful. It led a group of ferocious beasts that devoured humans and used them to cultivate, which was extremely vile. Many small sects and factions in the surrounding area could no longer hold on. Currently, the Sword Guards were searching for Jiuying¡¯s lair and would report back immediately once they found it. Drink her blood, eat her flesh, and put her bones in the soup to boil. This way, her cultivation would surely soar! As she walked, she suddenly saw two women ahead. They were stunningly beautiful, like celestial beings. One in purple, the other in white, both enchanting. Jiuying couldn¡¯t help but swallow, her appetite growing. ¡°That Xiao Chen is indeed brave. He will definitely succeed in killing Jiuying!¡± ¡°Yes, I heard Xiao Chen has an ancient treasure, the Myriad Beast Diagram, which naturally restrains these ferocious beasts!¡± ¡°Jiuying is doomed!¡± Hearing this, Jiuying felt a chill down her spine. ¡®That kid actually had such a treasure?! Good thing I overheard these two girls¡¯ conversation today. Otherwise, I might have fallen into his trap!¡¯ ¡®I need to think of a way to counter this treasure. As for these two girls, hehe. To reward you for providing such valuable information, I¡¯ll eat you together later.¡¯ ......... Inside the room. Aunt You appeared. Jiuying could fool ordinary people, but not a quasi-Saint. ¡°Your Highness, are you just going to let her go?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯m waiting for another show.¡± The conversation was arranged by him. Now that Jiuying knew Xiao Chen¡¯s trump card, she would surely be prepared. Xiao Chen¡¯s plan to use others as cannon fodder, then reap the benefits and win the beauty¡¯s heart, was foiled. His selfish scheme would be his downfall. Once people dies, they would all blame him. ......... Elsewhere, Xiao Chen found Ran Yuwei. ¡°Why is that man still staying in our sect?!¡± Chapter 50 - Beast Horde Attack, Battle on the Night of the Full Moon! Chapter 50: Beast Horde Attack, Battle on the Night of the Full Moon! ¡°Why is that man still staying in our sect?!¡± Xiao Chen demanded, worried that Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s presence would ruin his plans. As long as he could absorb Jiuying¡¯s power successfully. His rise to prominence would be inevitable. No uncertain factors could be allowed! The lives of those people didn¡¯t matter; as long as they could weaken Jiuying, he could step in as a hero. ¡°That young master is a distinguished guest of our sect. Why shouldn¡¯t he stay?¡± Ran Yuwei frowned. ¡°Junior Brother Xiao, can you not speak in such a tone? I dislike it.¡± ¡°Sorry... but I fear he has ill intentions that could ruin our plans!¡± ¡°The young master has been in his room meditating and has not gone out. How could he ruin anything? Besides, we have accepted his gifts and should treat him as a guest!¡± Ran Yuwei¡¯s tone had a touch of firmness. She couldn¡¯t understand why Xiao Chen harbored such strong hostility toward the young master. The young master was not only handsome but also generous and polite, and he possessed the legendary Dragon Yang Dao Physique! With all these factors combined, Ran Yuwei felt no animosity toward him and even wanted to get closer. Which girl wouldn¡¯t be tempted? ¡°Senior Sister Ran, are you actually scolding me for an outsider?¡± Xiao Chen¡¯s voice was hoarse, unable to reveal Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s true identity. Imagine living an ordinary life with a girl, almost becoming a couple, and then a billionaire suddenly appears beside her. Fear! He feared the name of the Crown Prince of Beiyang was too prominent, taking away the one he loved. After all, he was indeed handsome, noble, and could provide anything a girl wanted. Too much of a threat. ¡°Enough, talking more is useless.¡± Ran Yuwei turned and left, leaving Xiao Chen clenching his fists and gritting his teeth. ...... ¡°Interesting.¡± Watching the scene unfold, Lin Qi¡¯an smiled. Due to the increasing distrust between the two, Xiao Chen¡¯s luck value dropped by 50, while Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s villain points increased by 500. ......... In the next two days. The joint crusade team found nothing and finally, the night of the full moon arrived. Tonight was eerily silent. ¡°Alright, brothers, let¡¯s go!¡± Everyone charged out, including the entire Yushou Sect, everyone went out to fight. Boom! The beasts swept in like a flood. Eight Desolate Snakes, Dragon Ancient Leopards, Fiery Yang Rhinos, Ghost Tooth Lions... Led by Jiuying, they almost instantly flattened the mountain gate! A great battle broke out and sparks and flames filled the air. Shouts of humans, roars of beasts, and the clash of weapons echoed in the sky. Inside, Lin Qi¡¯an remained in seclusion. Su Xueni and Zi Lianyou were in the outer room. ¡°The beasts are attacking... His Highness is still in seclusion.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, with Aunt You here to protect him, we should just stay put and follow orders.¡± Aunt You guarded the area, only responsible for the prince¡¯s safety, unconcerned with anyone else¡¯s life or death. ......... Outside. Xiao Chen found Ran Yuwei immediately. ¡°Senior Sister Ran, don¡¯t go out to fight, stay hidden inside!¡± ¡°What are you saying? Everyone in the sect is fighting to the death, how can I stand by and do nothing?¡± Ran Yuwei¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Trust me, Senior Sister. I have a way to suppress these beasts. Believe in me just this once, I, Xiao Chen, will kill Jiuying today!¡± He raised his hand, making a solemn vow and his heroic spirit was reassuring. ¡°But...¡± ¡°No buts, Senior Sister. You will understand my good intentions.¡± Xiao Chen knew those people were going to their deaths, and he didn¡¯t care. But she was dear to his heart and so he wanted to protect her. Today, he would make his mark! Chapter 51 - Xiao Chen Takes Action! This Isnt What We Expected Chapter 51: Xiao Chen Takes Action! This Isn¡¯t What We Expected ¡°Kill!!!¡± The sound of battle cries filled the air around the gates of the Yushou Sect, with flames soaring into the sky. Elite disciples from various sects fought ferociously against the tide of ferocious beasts. Fortunately, these were all elite disciples from nearby sects, their combat power was extraordinary. Various magical abilities, divine powers, and spiritual weapons were unleashed! The ground was littered with the corpses of various demonic beasts, and the thick scent of blood permeated the air. ¡°These damn beasts, coming here to die on their own!¡± ¡°They¡¯re nothing special!¡± Morale was high among the disciples, their bodies covered in blood, driven by a fierce fighting spirit. But just then, a gigantic beast descended from the sky! Boom! A loud explosion shook the area, with a storm of dust and wind spreading out for hundreds of meters. The beast was completely crimson, with a dragon¡¯s body and a serpent¡¯s tail. It had nine heads! Each head seemed to have its own consciousness, twisting like water snakes. An ancient ferocious beast, Jiuying! It could breathe fire and water and loved to eat humans, making it the leader of these beasts. ¡°It¡¯s Jiuying? Kill it!¡± ¡°Everyone, today is the day we eliminate this threat once and for all!¡± The cultivators¡¯ eyes were red with fury. This detestable beast had eaten countless people, and many disciples¡¯ bones were never recovered. If they couldn¡¯t kill it today, their hatred would never be quenched. ¡°Roar!!¡± With a beastly roar, the nine heads began to glow with blinding light. Nine pillars of fire shot out from different directions, turning the entire sky red with flames! The screams of human cultivators echoed through the air. The weak were instantly engulfed by the flames, while the strong retreated, struggling to fend off the fire. ¡°Such strong flames... No wonder it¡¯s a ferocious beast!¡± ¡°Suppress it!¡± Countless golden beams shot down from the scroll, enveloping Jiuying. Its howls echoed through the heavens! With the Beast Suppression Scroll, as long as the owner¡¯s realm was sufficient, even a Taotie or Qiongqi could be suppressed, let alone a Jiuying. (TL: Just search up the beast looks and stuff on google it doesn¡¯t have an English name since it¡¯s all this beasts are Chinese mythologies.) Amidst the golden light, Jiuying fell to the ground, turning into a shadow, absorbed into the scroll. ¡°It¡¯s done!¡± Xiao Chen rejoiced. The Beast Suppression Scroll could only be used once a day, so he had meticulously prepared. Now, he could gain the power of Jiuying. Driving away the beast tide would be a piece of cake. Behind him, the cultivators were all in shock. ¡°Brother Xiao subdued Jiuying?¡± ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s a spiritual treasure, finally resolved!¡± ¡°Xiao Chen! Xiao Chen!¡± Their cheers grew louder and more excited. Xiao Chen excitedly retrieved the scroll, but his pupils suddenly contracted upon noticing something wrong. ¡°It¡¯s not there! Why?¡± Suddenly, an ethereal voice echoed, ¡°If I hadn¡¯t been prepared, I really would have fallen into your hands today!¡± In front, a tiger beast¡¯s belly suddenly split open, and a graceful woman stepped out. ¡°You... Who are you?¡± Xiao Chen was shocked, his whole body tensing up. Indeed, she was the real Jiuying! The one just now was a fake, created by cutting off one of her heads. ¡°Let you insignificant humans witness my true power!¡± Crimson light exploded. With a dragon¡¯s body and serpent¡¯s tail, the giant beast covered the sky! At this moment, Jiuying was more than twice the size of the previous one! The massive shadow loomed over Xiao Chen¡¯s pale face and eight fierce heads glared menacingly. A Transcendent realm ancient ferocious beast revealed its true form! Chapter 52 - Exiting Seclusion, Dragon Might Subdues All Beasts! Chapter 52: Exiting Seclusion, Dragon Might Subdues All Beasts! Lin Qi¡¯an was still in seclusion. The dragon bones had been refined and integrated into his body, but that was not enough. With a thought, he took out the three drops of Ancestral Dragon Essence Blood. Boom! It was as if mountains shattered and stars extinguished. In these Three Thousand Dao Domains, myriad ancestors rose, and dragons became rare, with flood dragons even being used as carriage beasts. But the Ancestral Dragon was the ancestor of all dragons! Its essence blood contained the power of dragons for countless ages. It was the noble bloodline of emperors. In terms of level, it was enough to suppress all beasts. Lin Qi¡¯an directly swallowed the three drops of essence blood. Instantly, a terrifying force exploded in his throat! Like a raging torrent, it cascaded down from three thousand feet. The domineering dragon power surged into his limbs and bones with an overwhelming force. In that moment, Lin Qi¡¯an seemed to see eternal mountains and rivers, seas drying up, mountains shifting, and the cycles of the sun and moon. Dragon blood resonated with dragon bones! But it repelled the sword bone! Two domineering auras clashed violently within Lin Qi¡¯an. Like needle points against wheat awns. However, Lin Qi¡¯an was prepared and swallowed a jade-white pill. It was the ¡°Heavenly Spirit Shaping Pill¡± exchanged at a high cost of villain points. The ultimate fusion agent. As the pill¡¯s power entered his body, the two forces began to merge, gradually becoming smooth. ... ¡°No, it¡¯s impossible! How could it have anticipated this?¡± Xiao Chen¡¯s face was pale. It was over. The Jiuying spewed flames, its aura soaring to the sky. The fire pillars converged, forming a sword of creation, slashing down! Many people were terrified, feeling an irresistible sense of dread. At this moment, Li Feng, the Sect Master of the Yushou Sect, stood alone in mid-air, spitting blood as he barely managed to intercept the attack. ¡°What a terrifying dragon aura! This is the might of the Ancestral Dragon... Impossible! How could a mere Yoshou Sect possess an Ancestral Dragon!¡± It dared not make any rash moves. Its wide eyes were bloodshot, staring in the direction of the guest room. From there, a figure in spotless white clothes floated out. His expression was calm, his posture upright, and his demeanor handsome and elegant. The dragon aura came from him! ¡°It¡¯s that young master...¡± Ran Yuwei murmured, her tears halted. ¡°Who is he?¡± Li Feng asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± Few had seen the Crown Prince of Beiyang. This was his first outing. ¡°Who are you!¡± Jiuying roared, its eyes fierce. ¡°I am your master. From today, you will pull my carriage, bound by a blood contract, never to resist.¡± ¡°Bullshit! You think you deserve it?¡± Jiuying fury soared. As a beast, its greatest shame was being enslaved! This person wanted it, an ancient ferocious beast, to pull his carriage? Seeking death. Flames burst forth, turning the sky red. ¡°Impudent.¡± With two simple words, the dragon¡¯s might release and was vast! It forcibly extinguished the raging flames in the air. The surrounding ferocious beasts prostrated and trembled, spitting blood, unable to move. Under the might of the Ancestral Dragon, they were mere ants. The fleeing cultivators peeked from afar, awestruck... Xiao Chen emerged from the ground, gritting his teeth in frustration! At this moment, Lin Qi¡¯an seemed like a god. Glorious and unmatched! ¡°Why is it him in the spotlight... I hate it!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said coldly, ¡°Since you like playing with fire, let me give you more.¡± With that, a strand of Nine Yang Divine Fire shot out, burning Jiuying. Its agonized screams echoed to the sky. ¡°Bow to me, and the fire stops. Otherwise, be destroyed in both body and soul!¡± Chapter 53 - He Turns Out to Be the Crown Prince of Beiyang?! Chapter 53: He Turns Out to Be the Crown Prince of Beiyang?! ¡°The might of the Ancestral Dragon...¡± Feeling this terrifying aura, Aunt You couldn¡¯t help but feel a shock in her heart. How could the Crown Prince have the dragon¡¯s might? Even with Beiyang¡¯s profound heritage, it is impossible to have an Ancestral Dragon inheritance, a divine object that could drive countless Dao Domains mad! Earlier, she thought she might need to intervene. Now it seemed completely unnecessary. Jiuying was severely suppressed by the dragon¡¯s might, although its realm surpassed that of the Crown Prince, it posed no threat at all! If the Sword Emperor knew his son bore both the sword bone and the dragon¡¯s might, he would surely be astonished. ¡°The Crown Prince... can easily suppress a Transcendent realm beasts?¡± Zi Lianyou murmured. Every time she saw the Crown Prince display his divine prowess, her maiden heart would surge with excitement. Who doesn¡¯t like to see a handsome man being heroic? ¡°This is the result of his seclusion...¡± Su Xueni¡¯s mind began to wander to other thoughts. Dragon Yang Dao Physique, unparalleled through the ages! Sword bone talent, supreme under the heavens! The mighty dragon aura, looking down on all beings! If, in the future, she could dual cultivate with the Crown Prince... She might be the first lucky person throughout history to taste such a man. The thought grew more and more appealing. Li Feng, as the Sect Master of the Yushou Sect, had long been in contact with various rare beasts. At this moment, his pupils were shaking, his whole body trembling. Dragons, in his heart, were unattainable, noble beings akin to gods. ¡°All beasts submit, it¡¯s the dragon¡¯s might, it must be the dragon¡¯s might!¡± He was almost spitting with excitement. ¡°Who would have thought that heaven would not seal off all paths, that great opportunities arise in times of great danger.¡± ¡°Today, I actually met someone with dragon¡¯s might, hahaha!¡± Laughing, he spat out a mouthful of blood. Beside him, Ran Yuwei hurriedly helped him steady his breath. ¡°Sect Master, don¡¯t get too excited, calm your breath!¡± She forcibly suppressed her surging emotions. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for him, this place would have been a bloodbath tonight!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said, ¡°Once again, pull the carriage or be annihilated in body and soul, your choice.¡± Jiuying knew it was doomed today, ¡°I am, after all, an ancient ferocious beast. If I am to pull your carriage, at least tell me who you are!¡± It had only one question: Who was this young man? Looking across the Canglan Dao Domain, there couldn¡¯t be a second like him. Such a person couldn¡¯t be an unknown. This question also piqued everyone¡¯s curiosity. Their savior, what was his identity? Before Lin Qi¡¯an could answer, streams of light converged from the sky causing everyone to be astonished. These were powerful cultivators! ¡°Your Highness, we saw the sky-piercing aura and came back to aid you!¡± ¡°Is it this beast that tried to harm you?¡± ¡°Let us cut it down!¡± ¡°No need, don¡¯t act.¡± This immediately exposed Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s identity and everyone¡¯s pupils shook. ¡°White-clad Sword Guards... This is the white-clad sword guard of Beiyang! He is the Crown Prince!¡± A single stone stirred a thousand waves. ¡°Greetings, Crown Prince!¡± ¡°Greetings, Crown Prince!¡± After the initial shock, everyone bowed in salute. Who would have thought that the noble Crown Prince would visit such a remote place! Even the severely injured Li Feng knelt in gratitude: ¡°Thank you, Crown Prince, for saving our lives!¡± ¡°He is... the Crown Prince of Beiyang...¡± Ran Yuwei blinked, still unable to fully recover from her astonishment. No wonder he was so handsome and noble, no wonder he acted so generously, his identity was so terrifying. ¡°Greetings, Crown Prince...¡± She hurriedly followed with a bow. Chapter 54 - Su Xueni Unveils Xiao Chen’s Schemes Chapter 54: Su Xueni Unveils Xiao Chen¡¯s Schemes ¡°The Crown Prince of Beiyang!¡± Although Jiuying had never seen him in person, seeing everyone around bowing, how could it be false? Thinking this way, everything made sense. If not for such a favored son of heaven like the Crown Prince of Beiyang, how could he possess the might of the Ancestral Dragon? Relying on the Heaven Dominion Realm, he could directly suppress a beast of the Transcendent Realm. His combat power was undeniably terrifying! Today, there were only two choices: either submit to him or die. What else was there to think about? Maybe following him, it could enjoy a good life in the future. At least, it wouldn¡¯t be so shameful to be seen by others. ¡°I, Jiuying, am willing to pull the carriage for the Crown Prince and serve as a lifelong servant.¡± ¡°Very well.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an controlled the flying sword to cut his fingertip, a drop of blood floated out, imprinting on a piece of talisman paper. This was a ¡°Blood Contract Talisman Paper¡± exchanged with villain points. Once a blood contract was established, the servant could never disobey the master for life. If the master died, the servant would die as well. The talisman paper flew to Jiuying¡¯s forehead and slowly merged into its body and the contract was established. At the same time, the system prompt sounded. ¡¾Ding! Task completed. Congratulations to the host for obtaining the reward ¡°Beast-Control Spirit Pot.¡±¡¿ With this, any other rare birds and beasts he subdues in the future could be directly stored in it, like a portable pet box. Very convenient! ¡°Come in first.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an took out the Spirit Pot and collected Jiuying into it. ¡°Sister Ran, are you alright!¡± Xiao Chen ran to Ran Yuwei¡¯s side, asking with urgent concern, but he received a cold response. ¡°You fled, why come back?¡± ¡°Sister Ran, it¡¯s a misunderstanding! How could I abandon you? I went to get reinforcements, and now I¡¯ve returned.¡± Xiao Chen hurriedly explained. These words slightly lessened the coldness in Ran Yuwei¡¯s heart. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s true! I, Xiao Chen, swear, if there¡¯s half a lie, may I be struck by lightning.¡± Xiao Chen raised three fingers, swearing firmly. ¡°Oh? Then may I ask, Xiao Chen, why would you let others go to their deaths?¡± At this moment, a woman in a moon-white dress approached. With elegant steps and noble temperament, she was as beautiful as a moon fairy. In these days, under Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s arrangements, Su Xueni had interacted with Ran Yuwei a lot. Ran Yuwei had a good impression of this beautiful woman. ¡°Who are you? Stop talking nonsense!¡± Xiao Chen spoke angrily, his face already flushing with rage. He never expected this woman to see through his scheme at once. ¡°I am Su Xueni, the Saintess of Tianchi Holy Land, now serving as the Crown Prince¡¯s maid. I saw Xiao Chen¡¯s battle with Jiuying clearly.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, the scroll that almost subdued Jiuying is the ancient treasure, Beast Suppression Scroll.¡± Su Xueni smiled gently. Xiao Chen was struck like lightning! His greatest secret was revealed by her in one sentence, how could he not be shocked? ¡°The Beast Suppression Scroll can collect rare birds and beasts into the scroll, allowing the owner to gain corresponding powers.¡± ¡°Xiao Chen let others die to consume Jiuying¡¯s strength, creating the perfect opportunity to subdue it, right?¡± Every word from Su Xueni hit the mark. Leaving Xiao Chen feeling like a fishbone was stuck in his throat. ¡°Junior Brother Xiao, is... is she telling the truth?¡± Ran Yuwei¡¯s eyes were filled with disbelief. Chapter 55 - Xiao Chen Betrayed by All! Another Maid? Chapter 55: Xiao Chen Betrayed by All! Another Maid? Did Xiao Chen deliberately send us to our deaths? Hearing this, those who fought alongside Xiao Chen from other sects also gathered around. ¡°Brother Xiao, we called you brother, but you used us as cannon fodder?¡± ¡°No, of course not! This woman is talking nonsense, trying to frame me!¡± Xiao Chen woke up as if from a dream, angrily looking at the distant figure in white, ¡°It¡¯s him, it must be Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s instigation. That vicious person wants to sow discord between us!¡± ¡°Sister Ran, you must not believe him!¡± Su Xueni smiled gently, a hundred charms blooming, ¡°Does Young Master Xiao think too highly of himself?¡± ¡°I am the Saintess of Tianchi Holy Land, and His Highness is the Crown Prince of Beiyang.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what status Young Master Xiao has that would make us go to such lengths to frame you. Xueni is merely stating the facts.¡± Su Xueni, clever and composed, spoke with an unhurried grace. Her demeanor was impeccable. Who would believe that such a fairy-like woman would lie? One by one, angry gazes locked onto Xiao Chen. Even Ran Yuwei¡¯s delicate face turned cold, her eyes filled with unfamiliarity. ¡°Xiao Chen, I didn¡¯t expect you to be like this!¡± ¡°We misjudged you!¡± ¡°I feel unworthy for our fallen brothers!¡± Sect Master Li Feng shook his head and sighed: ¡°Hurting others for personal gain, sacrificing fellow disciples¡¯ lives just to become stronger, pathetic...¡± Each word turned into a sharp blade stabbing Xiao Chen, leaving him utterly exposed! ¡°No! Liars, they are all liars!¡± ¡°Haha, what¡¯s so special about being the Crown Prince of Beiyang? My sword bone was taken by Beiyang!¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for that, I would have been a genius of swordsmanship, not fallen to such a desolate place!¡± He roared loudly, his eyes bloodshot. ¡°Sister Ran, that¡¯s why I hate him! His father is tyrannical, seizing opportunities from others, isn¡¯t that hateful?¡± Ran Yuwei was unmoved, shaking her head: ¡°That¡¯s not a reason to harm others for your own benefit. If it weren¡¯t for the Crown Prince today, we would all be dead.¡± The more his luck value decreased, the more generous the kill rewards became! Exhausting his luck value would yield a luck treasure chest. Lin Qi¡¯an was in no hurry to kill him now and his own status had also changed. Host: Lin Qi¡¯an Identity: Tianlang Immortal Dynasty, Crown Prince of Beiyang Cultivation: Peak of Heaven Dominion Realm Cultivation Techniques: Sword Manifestation (Fourth Layer), Nin Yang Divine Fire Technique (Fourth Layer) Physique: Dragon Yang Dao Physique, Sword Bone, Ancestral Dragon Divine Body (10% progress) Divine Abilities: Ten Thousand Swords to Court (Fourth Layer), Heavenly Flying Immortal (Second Layer)... Storage: Fire Qilin Essence Blood, Beast Spirit Pot... Villain Points: 62000 Luck Value: 150 (White) Chaos Treasure: Immortal Sword Spirit Box, Seven Petal Blood Heart Lotus, Immortal Fairy Goddess Diagram Luck Artifact: Nine Yang Divine Sword Special: Heavenly Fate Villain Divine Eyes Now, Lin Qi¡¯an has gained the Ancestral Dragon Divine Body! If he cultivated this physique to the extreme, he might recreate the might of the Ancestral Dragon, subduing countless exotic beasts and ferocious creatures! The goal of subduing the beasts was achieved, it was time to set off, but before leaving, Lin Qi¡¯an decided to take this Daughter of Luck with him. A beast affinity physique like this spiritual body might pave an alternative path in the future. Moreover, Xiao Chen clearly still had an obsession with Ran Yuwei. With her around, he would not have to worry about not seeing Xiao Chen. After coming out, Ran Yuwei first came to thank Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡°Thank you, Crown Prince, for your kindness. Ran Yuwei has little ability, but will repay you in the future!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an took out two pills, smiling: ¡°This Profound Golden Pills can help the Sect Master recover quickly.¡± ¡°This... how can I...¡± Ran Yuwei was overwhelmed with surprise. This generous and elegant girl showed embarrassment for the first time. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Chapter 56 - Subduing Ran Yuwei, Setting Off! Chapter 56: Subduing Ran Yuwei, Setting Off! ¡°Take it and use it,¡± Li Feng also noticed that the Crown Prince might have taken a liking to Ran Yuwei. He immediately accepted the pills: ¡°Thank you, Crown Prince!¡± Being favored by the Crown Prince was a tremendous honor for Yuwei; how could she refuse? ¡°I am preparing to return to Beiyang. Miss Ran, would you be interested in coming along?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked with a smile. Upon hearing this, the Western-style girl¡¯s delicate body trembled, and two blushes appeared on her cheeks. Of course, she was a hundred times willing! Not to mention Beiyang¡¯s deep heritage and countless rare beasts that could help her grow faster, just the Crown Prince¡¯s Dragon Yang Dao Physique was enough to make her heart flutter... If he truly fancied her and she had the opportunity to dual cultivate with him, she would soar to great heights! That Xiao Chen claimed the Crown Prince took his sword bone, but it was clearly his father who did it when the Crown Prince was just a few years old. How could it be his fault? ¡°But... Sect Master.¡± ¡°Silly girl, why worry about me?¡± Li Feng said earnestly: ¡°It is your good fortune to be invited by the Crown Prince. You should accept quickly!¡± The disciples of the Yushou Sect also urged her. ¡°Yes, Sister Ran, you should go! Although we will miss you, once you succeed, you can come back and take care of us junior brothers.¡± Ran Yuwei nodded and met Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s gaze: ¡°I am willing to return to Beiyang with the Crown Prince!¡± She then looked at the junior brothers and sisters, reluctantly saying: ¡°I will miss my little pets. Remember how to feed them properly, and take good care of them for me.¡± ¡°Miss Ran, you can take them with you.¡± ¡°Ah? But...¡± Ran Yuwei had raised many rare birds and beasts in the sect. If she were to take them all, where would she put them? Living creatures couldn¡¯t be stored in rings. Lin Qi¡¯an took out the Beast Spirit Pot, smiling: ¡°You can put them all in here.¡± The Crown Prince was crafty! It seemed another sister would join soon. Su Xueni, clever and sharp, knew that with another sister joining, it was best to start winning hearts now to maintain her position. ¡°Ran sister, you might not know, but I am also the Crown Prince¡¯s maid.¡± Su Xueni smiled, holding Ran Yuwei¡¯s hand, her bright smile causing ripples in many men¡¯s hearts. ¡°The Saintess of Tianchi... is a maid?¡± Ran Yuwei was stunned. Tianchi Holy Land was far more prestigious than the Yushou Sect! The Saintess was the second most beautiful woman in the Canglan Dao Domain, far superior to herself. If even she was a maid, did the Crown Prince have a preference for this? ¡°Not just me, this is the Saintess of Ziyou Holy Land, also the Crown Prince¡¯s maid.¡± ¡°The Crown Prince treats his maids very well, Miss Ran, you can rest assured.¡± Hearing Su Xueni¡¯s words, Ran Yuwei had no more reservations and agreed happily. ¡°I am not very capable... Please don¡¯t mind, Crown Prince.¡± ¡°No worries, just do what you¡¯re good at and take care of the spiritual beasts.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an also instructed Jiuying ¡°Jiuying, from today, you are not to harm anyone around me and follow Ran Yuwei¡¯s orders.¡± With the blood contract, any command from him, Jiuying had to obey unconditionally. ¡°Hehe... I will certainly train, no, tame it well for the Crown Prince!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± There was an immediate burst of laughter. The little secret was out! Ran Yuwei happily packed the spiritual beasts, bid farewell to everyone, and set off. Chapter 57 - The Empress Reborn! Both Princesses Head to Beiyang Chapter 57: The Empress Reborn! Both Princesses Head to Beiyang Lin Qi¡¯an led everyone back to the carriage. Three flood dragons were comfortably lying on the ground, seemingly napping. ¡°Flood dragons!¡± Ran Yuwei¡¯s eyes lit up when she saw them. Who would have thought the Crown Prince would use flood dragons to pull his carriage? This was a dream come true for her! Following the Crown Prince truly had many benefits. ¡°These beasts are still sleeping. I¡¯ll whip them a few times!¡± a sword guard shouted. ¡°No need.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an looked at Ran Yuwei, smiling: ¡°Release Jiuying and give them a surprise.¡± ¡°Pfft, Your Highness is so bad...¡± Ran Yuwei also found it exciting and released Jiuying from the spirit pot. ¡°Roar!!¡± As soon as the dragon-bodied, snake-tailed beast emerged, it let out a thunderous roar. The three flood dragons woke up in shock and were so scared they wet themselves! They curled up in a ball, wondering where the Crown Prince had brought this terrifying beast from, fearing for their lives. ¡°Gah, gah, gah~~¡± Ran Yuwei laughed loudly, not at all like a reserved and gentle saintess, but more lively and open. ¡°Alright, you can rest in the second line from now on.¡± ¡°Jiuying, this is your first job. If you perform well, I¡¯ll reward you with a few Profound Golden Pills to repair that damaged head.¡± ¡°I will do my best to please the Crown Prince!¡± Jiuying spoke in a woman¡¯s voice. At this moment, its eight heads were bouncing around, as happy as a 300-pound child. Following the Crown Prince was already showing its benefits. Ran Yuwei put the three flood dragons into the pot, instructing them not to bully her little animals. Then she climbed onto Jiuying¡¯s back, patting its head. With a soft fist, she threatened, ¡°Show your fierceness again, and if you don¡¯t perform well, I¡¯ll report you to the Crown Prince!¡± ¡°Roar...¡± Jiuying dragged the golden carriage into the air, setting off. ¡°Drive!¡± Ran Yuwei held a leather whip, happily whipping Jiuying as her hair fluttered in the wind. Meanwhile, the two saintesses sat inside the carriage with Lin Qi¡¯an. The new sister was naturally pure and lively, a significant threat! ...... Tianlang Immortal Dynasty, Tai¡¯an Imperial City! The largest city in the Canglan Dao Domain. ¡°He first took the Saintess of Tianchi, then the Saintess of Ziyou, and recently took a third one from the desert...¡± Splash! Two splashes erupted from the lake, shooting several meters high, startling the maids who instinctively shrank back. Zhao Ziyu¡¯s mouth twitched... His beautiful sister¡¯s face was now covered with frost. Just now, she said it didn¡¯t concern her, but now she wasn¡¯t calm. ¡°In a few days, I will personally go to Beiyang.¡± Zhao Yunji took a deep breath. ¡°For what?¡± ¡°To annul the engagement.¡± ¡°Great, sister, I knew you wouldn¡¯t sit by! Remember, bring Su Xueni back for me.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± .......... In another part of the palace city, Qingle Palace. The Emperor of Tai¡¯an wasn¡¯t a devoted man; he had many concubines and numerous children. Qingle Palace housed his most beloved youngest daughter. Zhao Qingmeng. This eighteen-year-old girl was known as a bewitching beauty capable of bringing down a country. Compared to her dignified sister, she was more lively and charming, loved by many. Due to her seclusion in the palace, few had seen her, and she wasn¡¯t ranked among the peerless beauties. But if truly evaluated, her beauty could rank in the top five! On the fragrant bed. Zhao Qingmeng suddenly woke up. She looked at her hands in disbelief, stunned for a moment. Muttering to herself: ¡°I have been reborn?¡± No one would have thought that a hundred years later, this girl with no cultivation talent would become a formidable empress! Yes, the Empress reborn, living two lives. The scene of rivers of blood seemed to replay in her mind. Corpses everywhere, utterly helpless... ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, why didn¡¯t you come to save me? Didn¡¯t you promise? You heartless man, how cruel!¡± Muttering his name, she clenched her fists, her teeth grinding. ¡°Someone! Prepare the carriage to Beiyang.¡± If her memory was correct, her sister would also head to Beiyang soon. From then on, her sister¡¯s relationship with Lin Qi¡¯an would officially begin. She must reach there first, win over Lin Qi¡¯an and then kill him! Chapter 58 - Returning to Tianjian City in Beiyang, the Crown Prince Finally Comes Back! Chapter 58: Returning to Tianjian City in Beiyang, the Crown Prince Finally Comes Back! Another few days passed quickly. With Ran Yuwei¡¯s cheerful personality, she soon got along well with Su Xueni and Zi Lianyou. Naturally, she was also taken to the Lotus Realm to play and was amazed by the independent paradise world. She eagerly threw herself into building their home. Unlike the two saintesses, who had never touched menial tasks, Ran Yuwei was truly skilled. She often took care of various exotic beasts and built shelters for them, proving to be handy and adept at creating a home. Lin Qi¡¯an cut some wood and put it in the Lotus Realm. To his surprise, they actually built a small wooden house together! ¡°Your Highness, come quickly and see our creation!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an was excitedly pulled into the Lotus Realm by Ran Yuwei. Standing in front of the small wooden house, he pondered, ¡°It¡¯s nice, but it¡¯s too small.¡± ¡°Ah, we can only manage this much.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an smiled: ¡°When we return to Beiyang, I¡¯ll find some top-notch carpenters to build beautiful big houses.¡± Hearing this, Su Xueni¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Then I want this spot by the stream.¡± She claimed the best location near the creek. ¡°Ah! So fast, then I want this spot! I like this area, I can build a fence and raise some small animals, hehe.¡± The girls started marking their territories. Lin Qi¡¯an thought: ¡°Why don¡¯t we build a quadrangle courtyard together? Isn¡¯t it better to enjoy together than separately?¡± Su Xueni¡¯s pale, beautiful face blushed slightly, ¡®Enjoying together... isn¡¯t that a bit too open?¡¯ ...... Beiyang Border. The border guards suddenly saw a ferocious beast galloping in the sky, immediately calling for attention. ¡°Wow! What is that pulling the carriage? It¡¯s terrifying!¡± Soon, the carriage flew to the sky city. The sky city was home to many cultivators and powerful sword guards! ¡°Welcome back, Crown Prince!¡± In front, rows of sword guards saluted in unison, making Ran Yuwei feel a bit embarrassed, as if the honor was for her. ¡°At ease.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an nodded to the guards: ¡°You have worked hard. Pass on my order for rewards!¡± ¡°Thank you, Crown Prince!¡± After the sword guards left, Lin Qi¡¯an said: ¡°Aunt You, you¡¯ve worked hard too. Go and rest.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The carriage continued to the celestial palace, stopping on a vast lawn outside. Jiuying immediately wilted, its nine heads drooping to the ground, not daring to lift them at all. Not far ahead stood a bearded man in a wide-sleeved robe, who could probably kill it with just a glance! As Lin Qi¡¯an got off the carriage, a girl in a red dress ran up and threw herself into his arms. ¡°Brother, you¡¯re finally back!¡± ¡°Hongyu, you haven¡¯t grown taller in all this time!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an rubbed his sister¡¯s head, smiling. ¡°Hmph! You only know how to rub my head, of course, I can¡¯t grow tall!¡± Hongyu pouted, her cheeks puffing like a goldfish, extremely cute. ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an held his sister¡¯s hand, walking forward. Ahead were his father, Sword Emperor Lin Weixuan, and his mother, Mu Qingzhu. ¡°Greetings, Father and Mother!¡± ¡°Hahaha.¡± The Sword Emperor laughed heartily, patting his son¡¯s shoulder: ¡°Son, you¡¯ve brought great honor to Beiyang this time, well done!¡± ¡°You always indulge him.¡± Mu Qingzhu, though indulgent in front of others, would still act strictly as a mother when meeting her son. ¡°You dared to take a woman fancied by a prince! Quick, bring her to let me see what kind of beauty could captivate my son so much.¡± Chapter 59 - The Princess Arrives! The Reborn Empress Has Come Chapter 59: The Princess Arrives! The Reborn Empress Has Come ¡°Xueni, come over.¡± Su Xueni never expected that she would have the honor of meeting the Sword Emperor! The other two girls were both envious and surprised. The Crown Prince didn¡¯t treat his maids as mere servants; he even introduced them to his parents... Being the Crown Prince¡¯s maid came with impeccable treatment in every aspect. If word got out, countless women would come forward to volunteer! ¡°Xueni greets the King of the North and the Queen.¡± Su Xueni suppressed her excitement and respectfully greeted them. In front of the Sword Emperor, she felt as insignificant as an ant under a towering mountain. However, with the Crown Prince by her side, she felt much more at ease. Mu Qingzhu, who was the number one beauty in the Canglan Dao Domain three thousand years ago, still retained her peerless elegance, now enhanced with a mature charm and noble demeanor. ¡°Rise, you are indeed a beautiful and graceful girl.¡± Mu Qingzhu smiled: ¡°Qi¡¯an, if you like her, you can marry her as a concubine. This way, the Prince of Tai¡¯an won¡¯t come asking for her.¡± Concubine! Hearing this, Su Xueni felt a surge of joy in her heart. ¡°No rush. I enjoy watching him try to snatch her but fail. Isn¡¯t it amusing?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said, playing his role as a villain. Hmph, His Highness is so mischievous... ¡°You¡¯ve certainly inherited your father¡¯s traits!¡± Mu Qingzhu couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes. The Lin family seemed to have a penchant for snatching other people¡¯s women. Three thousand years ago, Mu Qingzhu herself was one of those women, so she knew this very well. ¡°Brother, Father only married after becoming an Emperor. You¡¯re still weak, so you shouldn¡¯t rush into it!¡± Lin Hongyu teased, tugging at Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s clothes. Su Xueni glanced at the girl in the red dress; it seemed she had an issue with her future sister-in-law! ¡°You know so much.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an laughed, rubbing his sister¡¯s head. At this moment, a sword guard flew over, kneeling: ¡°Report, the carriage of the Tai¡¯an royal family has arrived outside Tianjian City!¡± They¡¯ve come so quickly? Seems they couldn¡¯t wait. A Daughter of Luck?! Lin Qi¡¯an was astonished. That¡¯s strange, usually, he detects the son of luck first, why not this time? He quickly checked her stats. Daughter of Luck: Zhao Qingmeng Secret Treasure: Divine Origin Golden Bell Luck: 1200 (Gold) Core of Luck: Reborn Empress Current Kill Reward: None Reborn Empress!! A rebirth plot, and she¡¯s an empress? Impossible, Zhao Qingmeng never had any cultivation talent, how could she become an empress in the future? Even her incredibly talented sister might not achieve that! ¡¾This target is too powerful. Please choose a strategy route to receive corresponding assistance.¡¿ ¡¾Route One: Kill¡¿ ¡¾Route Two: Subdue¡¿ When killing, the luck treasure chest obtained is based on the amount of luck value reduced from the target. If fully subdued, the full luck treasure chest can still be obtained. The benefits are similar, depending on the target¡¯s hostility. Activating the Heavenly Fate Villain Divine Eyes, his gaze pierced through countless obstacles, instantly locating her! ¡¾Zhao Qingmeng, Hostility: 80¡¿ The hostility isn¡¯t at 100, so it¡¯s not a deep-seated hatred. When reduced to 0, she should be close to being subdued. But why does she have such high hostility towards me? I didn¡¯t wrong her sister, nor her. Could it be because I took her brother¡¯s woman? Chapter 60 - Gaining a Temporary Hack, Able to Hear the Empresss Thoughts! Chapter 60: Gaining a Temporary Hack, Able to Hear the Empress¡¯s Thoughts! Lin Qi¡¯an then suddenly realized that she was reborn from the future! She has memories! ¡®She is so hostile to me, she must have been messed up by me in the future... Thinking this way, there is a chance to save it, as long as I don¡¯t mess with her.¡¯ ¡®Moreover, she is the Emperor¡¯s most beloved daughter. Without any personal grudge, I can¡¯t just kill her outright.¡¯ ¡°I choose to subdue her!¡± ¡¾Ding! Route selection successful¡¿ ¡¾You have gained assistance from this route: You can hear the other party¡¯s thoughts¡¿ Hearing thoughts? This hack seems quite good. ¡®At least I can obtain a lot of useful information to strategize against her.¡¯ Bringing along three maids, they arrived at the city gate. Zhao Qingmeng was sitting in the carriage. There were nearly a hundred guards, all experts from the Tai¡¯an Imperial City. There was also an old servant in plain clothes, even Lin Qi¡¯an couldn¡¯t see through his aura. ¡°Your Highness, forgive me for not coming out to meet you earlier!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an tried to be as polite as possible. The golden curtain lifted, a slender figure slowly descended from the magnificent carriage. A face of devastating beauty appeared. The little princess was wearing a frost-colored long dress, intricately embroidered with countless dark golden closed-eyed dragons. Her jet-black hair was adorned with golden rings, exuding extreme luxury. Truly a noble person, perhaps even her bones and flesh were soft, making one fantasize about holding her in one¡¯s arms and tenderly cherishing her. At first glance, Zhao Qingmeng saw the three beautiful maids beside Lin Qi¡¯an, each stunning in their own way. ¡¾Zhao Qingmeng, hostility: 82¡¿ Lin Qi¡¯an: ? ¡¾Heh, a bunch of ordinary women! I hope you have some self-awareness and don¡¯t ruin this princess¡¯s big plans¡¿ ¡°Your Highness, about...¡± ¡°No need to be so formal.¡± Zhao Qingmeng smiled and said, ¡°You are older than me, I will call you Brother Lin, and you can call me Sister Qingmeng, okay?¡± ¡°This might be inappropriate, right?¡± ¡¾Inappropriate? In the previous life, you called me Meng¡¯er, and during our intimate moments, you insisted I call you Brother!¡¿ ¡¾Now you¡¯re hiding it well, huh?¡¿ Lin Qi¡¯an thought, ¡®Am I such a pervert in the future?¡¯ ¡°Perfectly appropriate!¡± She smiled innocently. ¡°Very well, Sister Qingmeng, may I ask why you came to Beiyang?¡± ¡°I heard that Brother Lin was immensely glorious before, using ten thousand swords to kill a thousand people, suppressing countless geniuses alone.¡± ¡°My heart admires you, so I came to see your splendor!¡± Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s smile was sweet, her dimples charming. But beneath this mesmerizing smile was a terrifying psychological activity. ¡¾There is only one purpose for coming here, first sleep with you, then kill you¡¿ ¡®Sleep with me?¡¯ Lin Qi¡¯an suddenly realized! The reason she could become the Empress in the future was because she dual-cultivated with the Dragon Yang Dao Physique? ¡®So in this life, she hurried over to advance the dual cultivation and then exact revenge... Quite ruthless! However, knowing your purpose, you will never outplay me.¡¯ As long as she doesn¡¯t succeed, just keep her dangling. Once the hatred value drops to zero, then let her succeed. ¡®By that time, she will have no killing intent, and I can subdue her and gain rewards.¡¯ ¡®No matter how this little demoness tempts me, I must not fall for it. Wait, in a few days, that princess will also come to Beiyang?¡¯ ¡®When the sisters meet... Won¡¯t it be a bit awkward if the older sister finds her younger sister secretly seducing her fiance??¡¯ Chapter 61 - Brother Lin, Im Afraid... Chapter 61: Brother Lin, I¡¯m Afraid... Lin Qi¡¯an arranged Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s sleeping quarters right next to his own. He specially assigned a team of highly skilled sword guards. ¡°Listen carefully! Princess Qingmeng is of noble stature. If she loses even a single hair, I will hold you all accountable!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± ¡¾He¡¯s actually quite considerate. In the previous life, he never showed such gentleness to anyone.¡¿ Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s hostility decreased to 76. It seems that as long as he treats her sincerely, completely eliminating her hostility wouldn¡¯t be too difficult. ¡°Sister Qingmeng, rest well today. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll take you to tour Tianjian City.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an was about to leave. ¡°By the way, Brother Lin, can you lend your maid to me? I want to hear about your journey.¡± ¡°Sure, Xueni, go serve the princess.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± The clever Su Xueni knew what to say and what not to say. With her following, Lin Qi¡¯an felt at ease. Inside the sleeping quarters. Lin Qi¡¯an had just left when Zhao Qingmeng pulled Su Xueni over to inquire as she didn¡¯t have much time. ¡°Su Xueni, answer everything I ask truthfully, without any concealment.¡± She no longer pretended, even showing a bit of the majesty of a Great Emperor, with stars seemingly flickering in her eyes. ¡°Please ask, Your Highness...¡± ¡°Has Lin Qi¡¯an ever asked you to sleep with him?¡± ¡°No, Your Highness, the prince does not seem to be obsessed with women and has never asked us to sleep with him.¡± Seeing Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s hatred value drop to 65, Lin Qi¡¯an was very satisfied. This was easier than suppressing the protagonist! ¡¾You want to leave? After all the trouble to get you here, how could I let you go so easily?¡¿ ¡°Don¡¯t go!¡± A pair of soft, white hands reached out from the bed, grabbing Lin Qi¡¯an. Her bright eyes were like water, soft and weak: ¡°I have something to say to Brother Lin in private...¡± ¡°Xueni, leave us for now and close the door.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Su Xueni left quickly, feeling heavy-hearted. ¡®I came first, will the prince forget our double cultivation promise?¡¯ She felt lost as after all, the princess¡¯s noble status was something she couldn¡¯t match. In the bedroom. Zhao Qingmeng bit her tender red lips, almost drawing water. ¡°Brother Lin, I have been unable to cultivate since I was young, always an ordinary weak girl...¡± Her pitiful look would make any man feel moved. ¡¾Because I have the Supreme Yin Jade Maiden Physique, unlike my sister¡¯s Supreme Yin Divine Body, it must be activated through dual cultivation to open the spiritual apertures.¡¿ Supreme Yin Jade Maiden Body! The world¡¯s top dual cultivation furnace! Even a Great Emperor would be tempted. Damn, if this news spreads, who knows how many emperors from various domains would gather in Canglan to seize her! ¡¾Father killed all who knew, letting me live as an ordinary girl.¡¿ ¡¾If you hadn¡¯t taken me in the previous life, opening all my spiritual apertures, I might never have known this secret.¡¿ ¡¾As long as I can successfully dual cultivate with your Dragon Yang Dao Physique, my Taiyin Jade Maiden Body¡¯s potential will be fully activated, leading me to the Great Emperor path.¡¿ ¡® Taken?¡¯After hearing her thoughts, Lin Qi¡¯an understood most of it and was greatly shocked. The girl gently pulled his hand, tugging him towards the bed. ¡°Brother Lin, I¡¯m afraid to sleep alone...¡± Chapter 62 - Hatred Value Decreases! You Want to Manipulate Me, But Ill Keep You Hanging Chapter 62: Hatred Value Decreases! You Want to Manipulate Me, But I¡¯ll Keep You Hanging ¡°Brother Lin, I¡¯m afraid to sleep alone...¡± In this situation, any man would be tempted, but Lin Qi¡¯an didn¡¯t forget. He had first promised Su Xueni, and he couldn¡¯t be a scumbag. Moreover, if this girl achieves her goal and her strength soars, she would want to kill him... Before her hatred value drops to 0, even if she¡¯s delivered to his door, he won¡¯t take the bait! Flirting with her first is the correct strategy. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. Zhao Qingmeng had already instinctively closed her eyes, ready to be taken, but unexpectedly, this guy just kissed her lightly! Her beautiful eyes widened in disbelief. ¡¾So gentle, so much like a gentleman. This isn¡¯t like you, you bastard.¡¿ ¡¾In the previous life, you even had me and my sister serve you together.¡¿ Now, she didn¡¯t know what to do, and her hatred value dropped to 60. ¡°Rest well. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll take you out to play. For now, I¡¯ll go prepare the itinerary. Let Xueni accompany you to sleep. Be good.¡± The future Empress, now overwhelmed by this tender gesture, felt her heart race. She could only let out a kitten-like whine, ¡°Mm...¡± ¡¾Zhao Qingmeng, hatred value: 55¡¿ Seeing today¡¯s results, Lin Qi¡¯an left satisfied. He opened the door and saw Su Xueni waiting anxiously: ¡°Your Highness, you came out!¡± She was very happy, it seemed His Highness hadn¡¯t fallen. After all, even if he was fast, it couldn¡¯t have been that fast. ¡°Look at you, so anxious.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an affectionately rubbed Su Xueni¡¯s cheek, ¡°Cultivate well, and you¡¯ll succeed.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm!¡± Su Xueni was overjoyed. ¡°Let¡¯s go, today I¡¯ll show you around Tianjian City.¡± As they were about to leave the palace, a fiery figure quickly ran over. It was Lin Hongyu. ¡°Brother, you rarely come back. You take them out to play but not me!¡± ¡°Haha, sorry, I was afraid you knew Tianjian City too well and would find it boring.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fun as long as I¡¯m with you!¡± Lin Hongyu pouted, leading the way. Lin Qi¡¯an and Zhao Qingmeng walked side by side. Three stunning maids followed behind. This lineup, no matter how low-key, couldn¡¯t stay low-key. Their average beauty was too overwhelming. On the street, many people recognized Lin Qi¡¯an and Lin Hongyu. Early in the morning, the city was abuzz, with people calling out for the prince everywhere. Some even threw flowers and handkerchiefs, hoping the prince would glance at them, like fans chasing a star. ¡°You¡¯re really popular...¡± Zhao Qingmeng noticed. To prevent the crazy crowd from affecting her, Lin Qi¡¯an used his spiritual power to create a defensive barrier, protecting her tightly. ¡¾Damned gentleness... why has this man suddenly become like this?¡¿ She bit her lip. If this continued, she might be reluctant to act against him! The group played, ate, and drank all the way, having a great time. In the afternoon. Lin Qi¡¯an let the group rest at a teahouse, ¡°Rest here for a while and have some snacks.¡± ¡°Yuwie, come with me. I¡¯ll take you to a good place.¡± ¡°Coming!¡± Ran Yuwei eagerly followed. Chapter 63 - Spirit Beast Pavilion, Xiao Chen, We Meet Again Chapter 63: Spirit Beast Pavilion, Xiao Chen, We Meet Again ¡°Your Highness, where are we going?¡± ¡°Lingshou Pavilion.¡± In Tianjian City, the Lingshou Pavilion is the largest spirit beast breeding base. Inside, there are all kinds of rare birds and exotic beasts, and special teams frequently go out to restock. Ran Yuwei should like it. However, the main reason for bringing her here alone is because he saw a certain son of luck following them. Xiao Chen! Sons of luck always disguise themselves, and he was no exception. This guy even followed them into Tianjian City, changed his identity, and is working at the Lingshou Pavilion, using various spirit beasts to increase his power. ¡®Well, sorry, but to fulfill my duties as a villain, I have to come and suppress you.¡¯ ¡°Spirit Beast Pavilion? That¡¯s great!¡± Ran Yuwei was overjoyed, her eyes squinting into a line. ¡®The prince is truly kind to his maid! Taking the princess out to play, yet thinking of me... hehe.¡¯ ... Lingshou Pavilion. Xiao Chen was feeding spirit beasts in the breeding courtyard. He had actively applied to work here, and due to his excellent job performance, he quickly became a core member, thus gaining the qualification to feed the beasts. Every night when no one was around, he would quietly come here. Unfolding the Beasts Scroll, he would kill a spirit beast and absorb its power. As a result, he grew rapidly, as if he was cheating! In just a few days, he had reached the peak of the Heaven Dominion Realm. The humiliation he suffered that day was etched in his heart, haunting him every night. ¡®Lin Qi¡¯an, just wait! Everything I lost, I will make you pay back double!¡¯ As his thoughts surged, he was suddenly called out by the shopkeeper. Chirping, cooing, making all sorts of noises. They swarmed towards her, affectionately rubbing against her hands. ¡°Wow, so many! Golden Silk Spirit Sparrow, so beautiful and Red-Eyed Ice Rabbit, so cute!¡± Here, her true nature was immediately unleashed. The shopkeeper and the staff were all stunned. ¡°This... this is! Affinity with Myriad Beasts Physique!¡± The beautiful maid beside the Prince turned out to have the Affinity with Myriad Beasts Physique! No wonder the Prince maid was so extraordinary. Especially those ordinary workers, they had never seen such a beautiful woman, with an exotic charm! Those slender arms with gold bracelets, that soft waist like a water snake, and a flat, flawless abdomen, perfect. Only the Prince could possess such a woman... They felt satisfied just by looking at her. In the crowd of workers, Xiao Chen gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with hatred. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for him... Senior Sister would be mine! Lin Qi¡¯an, I hate you!¡± Letting Ran Yuwei enjoy herself, Lin Qi¡¯an asked the shopkeeper, ¡°Has anything strange happened here recently?¡± ¡°Your Highness, you are indeed wise. Yes, there has been!¡± The shopkeeper, amazed by Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s foresight, explained the recent spirit beast disappearances. As expected, Xiao Chen needed to become stronger by using the Myriad Beasts Scroll, absorbing spirit and fierce beasts. ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an already had a plan. Find a place with good concealment and use a Memory Stone to record all of Xiao Chen¡¯s actions. Then show this Memory Stone to the shopkeeper and Ran Yuwei. By then, their expressions will surely be priceless. Chapter 64 - The Villain Embraces the Goddess, the Son of Luck Can Only Stare, Very Satisfying Chapter 64: The Villain Embraces the Goddess, the Son of Luck Can Only Stare, Very Satisfying As they left. Ran Yuwei bought a bunch of cute spirit beasts, planning to take them back to the Lotus Realm to raise and play with! She was extremely happy. The shopkeeper tried desperately to give them away for free. Only under Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s orders did he finally accept the money. ¡°Your Highness, you are so kind to me! Oh, I don¡¯t even know how to repay you.¡± Ran Yuwei furrowed her eyebrows, looking troubled. She wished the Prince would ask something of her. Otherwise, she would feel too embarrassed! ¡°Want to repay me? You can.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an reached out. He wrapped his arm around her soft waist, pulling Ran Yuwei into his embrace, making her blush and her heart race, blinking repeatedly. ¡°Your, Your Highness...¡± ¡°What, the Saintess of Tianchi often lets me sleep on her lap, and you are not willing to let me hug your waist?¡± ¡°Willing, I am willing! If Your Highness likes, you can do it anytime...¡± Ran Yuwei¡¯s voice trailed off, her shy and enchanting eyes looking elsewhere. At this moment, Lin Qi¡¯an completely resembled a domineering playboy harassing a woman on the street! Sure enough, exclamations of surprise erupted around them. However, they weren¡¯t envious of Lin Qi¡¯an but of Ran Yuwei. ¡°Wow, this girl is so lucky! I heard she¡¯s a maid the Prince picked up from outside, so envious!¡± ¡°Your Highness, when will you pick up maids in Tianjian City too?¡± At the entrance of the Lingshou Pavilion. Xiao Chen stood there, his eyes about to burst! Countless times he had fantasized about holding Senior Sister¡¯s soft waist. But today, Lin Qi¡¯an casually achieved it. Rage welled up inside him, almost bursting out! ¡°Still looking, still looking?¡± Another kick landed on his butt. Xiao Chen staggered a step, seeing it was the shopkeeper, he dared not express his anger. ¡°You¡¯ve been staring at them the whole time just now, don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t notice! That¡¯s the prince¡¯s woman, who do you think you are?¡± ¡¾This little girl is still so clingy¡¿ ¡¾She will be domineering in the future, Phoenix Divine Physique, divine fire, burning anyone she dislikes¡¿ ¡¾It¡¯s because she often interferes that my dual cultivation sessions are reduced, otherwise I would have become an Emperor a hundred years earlier Lin Qi¡¯an: ... Reborn with cheats is powerful, knowing everything. Even his little sister¡¯s future was spoiled, but it wasn¡¯t hard to imagine. A day of playing, the scenery of Tianjian City amazed the few women. Even Zhao Qingmeng was filled with emotion. ¡¾I never strolled and admired like this before, every time I came, it was a hurried flight over¡¿ ¡¾Living again, I¡¯ve gained many precious experiences¡¿ She was very satisfied, so her hostility towards Lin Qi¡¯an decreased a bit. That night. Lin Qi¡¯an had already instructed his subordinates skilled in concealment to keep an eye on Xiao Chen. Xiao Chen was completely unaware that his every move was being recorded. He turned his anger into strength, absorbing spirit beasts, thinking one day he would make Lin Qi¡¯an die! Lin Qi¡¯an, having made all the arrangements, was about to go back to his room to rest, but he ran into a girl in a purple dress. Zi Lianyou. ¡°Hey, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Where have you been?¡± ¡°I was called by the Princess. She asked me some questions about the Heir Apparent.¡± ¡®This girl, trying to break through my maid? Scheming to sleep with me, why bother. As long as your hatred value drops to 0, we can completely have a heart-to-heart.¡¯ ¡°By the way, Lianyou, something¡¯s off with you lately.¡± ¡°I... did I do something wrong?¡± Zi Lianyou asked cautiously. ¡°No, you got smaller.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said seriously. Chapter 65 - Whatever His Highness Gives, I Like Chapter 65: Whatever His Highness Gives, I Like ¡°Smaller?¡± Zi Lianyou initially didn¡¯t understand. But then she saw his gaze lingering below her neck, and she suddenly realized, her face blushing. Instinctively, she covered her chest with her jade-like hands, stammering, ¡°I... used some cloth to bind it.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an: ?? ¡°Who taught you to do such a ridiculous thing, ruining natural beauty, it¡¯s simply outrageous!¡± ¡°It was... Sister Xueni who said that Your Highness gets dizzy at the sight of breasts...¡± Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s face turned black and didn¡¯t expect this girl to be so cunning! Telling others to cover up tightly while she often left a tantalizing glimpse of her slender, snowy legs, what a clever tactic! The dignified Saintess of Tianchi was proficient even in palace intrigue, it seemed she had learned quite a bit of skills. ¡°Don¡¯t do that again, understand?¡± ¡°Mm... I will listen to Your Highness.¡± ¡°By the way, Xueni and Yuwei have both received gifts from me, and you still haven¡¯t. Is there anything you want? Just ask.¡± He wanted to treat his maids as fairly as possible, not favoring any one side too much. ¡®I thought His Highness had forgotten about me, but he remembers?¡¯ ¡°As long as it¡¯s from Your Highness, I like it!¡± ¡°Alright, wait for me here by this time tomorrow.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ... Lingshou Pavilion. Extremely angry, Xiao Chen continued absorbing the power of spirit beasts. Only by constantly getting stronger could he trample the Crown Prince underfoot and reclaim everything that was rightfully his. Being summoned alone by the prince gave her a good mood early in the morning. ¡°Nothing major, my little sister said she also wants to raise a spirit rabbit. Go to Lingshou Pavilion and find a good one to bring back.¡± ¡°Oh, okay, Your Highness!¡± Ran Yuwei didn¡¯t ask much, just running an errand for His Highness, simple. As soon as she left, a shadowy figure appeared beside Lin Qi¡¯an. It was the subordinate who had spied last night, his name was Mo Yin, extremely skilled in concealment. ¡°Your Highness.¡± Mo Yin bowed respectfully. ¡°Go, and in front of Miss Ran, give the Memory Stone to the shopkeeper.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Mo Yin immediately disappeared. It seemed a good show was about to start. ... Lingshou Pavilion. Xiao Chen, under the alias Liu Chen, was working normally inside the pavilion. ¡°Brother Chen, if you¡¯re tired, take a break!¡± The girl speaking was named Xiu Lan, the shopkeeper¡¯s precious daughter. Although she couldn¡¯t compare to Ran Yuwei, she was still a pretty wealthy girl. For an inexperienced young lady like her, Xiao Chen¡¯s deception was effortless! ¡°Not tired, thank you Lan¡¯er, you¡¯re so kind to me.¡± Xiao Chen took the scented handkerchief, wiped the sweat from his forehead, showing a warm smile. Of course, he didn¡¯t care for ordinary girls like Xiu Lan and he was just using her for fun. ¡°Xiu Lan, everyone is working, don¡¯t cause trouble!¡± Seeing his daughter flirting with this boy, the shopkeeper got angry and couldn¡¯t help but scold her. However, he still thought of grooming this boy well. After he was worthy of his daughter, it would be fine to marry her to him. The shopkeeper thought. ¡°I¡¯m not causing trouble, I just want to be with Brother Chen.¡± Xiu Lan clung to Xiao Chen¡¯s arm, speaking confidently. Unexpectedly, Xiao Chen pushed her away. His gaze was fixed on the distance, filled with undisguised passion. Senior Sister Ran had arrived! Chapter 66 - The Heartless Xiao Chen Collapses Again! Chapter 66: The Heartless Xiao Chen Collapses Again! A stunningly beautiful woman with exotic charm walked into the Lingshou Pavilion. Immediately, she drew a lot of admiration. Xiao Chen was overjoyed! ¡®Today, Senior Sister Ran came alone, without that annoying prince. Could it be that Senior Sister Ran recognized me yesterday and came to see me specifically today?¡¯ ¡®It must be! Otherwise, why would she come alone? I knew you still had me in your heart.¡¯ Xiao Chen¡¯s heartbeat grew more intense. Of course, he couldn¡¯t let Senior Sister Ran see him being intimate with another woman, so he pushed Xiu Lan away. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you, miss. Please come in!¡± The shopkeeper quickly nodded and bowed, personally coming to greet her. This was someone close to the prince, and so beautiful, he naturally remembered her immediately. ¡°What brings you here today, miss?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m here to help the prince buy a spirit rabbit. I¡¯ll go in and take a look first,¡± Ran Yuwei said cheerfully. Hearing what Ran Yuwei said, the fiery excitement in Xiao Chen¡¯s heart felt like it had been doused with cold water. ¡®She came to buy something for that damned prince, huh. Ran Yuwei, you¡¯ve really disappointed me...¡¯ ¡®I originally planned to marry you as my main wife, but now it seems you can only be a concubine at best.¡¯ ¡°Brother Chen, what are you doing!¡± Xiu Lan unhappily patted Xiao Chen¡¯s back, muttering. ¡°Why are you so entranced? That¡¯s someone close to the prince, she¡¯s a stunning beauty, but don¡¯t be a toad lusting after a swan.¡± Women are always jealous, and she was no exception. She wanted Xiao Chen to stop aiming too high and to treat the girl next to him well. ¡°Bullshit!¡± Xiao Chen was furious, glaring at Xiu Lan fiercely. ¡°Scoundrel, scoundrel...¡± The shopkeeper¡¯s face turned red with anger, blood boiling, brows furrowing. After cursing twice, his roar echoed throughout the Lingshou Pavilion, ¡°Liu Chen, get over here!¡± At this moment, Xiao Chen was still pulling with Xiu Lan. Both were startled by the shopkeeper¡¯s roar and hurriedly walked to the counter. At the same time, many Lingshou Pavilion employees were also attracted, wanting to see what had angered the shopkeeper so much. ¡°Father, what¡¯s wrong? Why are you so angry?¡± Xiu Lan asked. ¡°See for yourself!¡± Bang, the Memory Stone was thrown to the ground. Xiu Lan frowned, picked it up, and injected spiritual power into it. The scene started playing immediately. Seeing the footage, Xiao Chen¡¯s face began to twist uncontrollably. Last night¡¯s events had been recorded! Even Xiu Lan was shocked and angry, her pupils filled with disbelief. ¡°Liu Chen, you heartless bastard! So you¡¯re the one behind the missing spirit beasts in the pavilion! I gave you a job, and this is how you repay me!¡± The furious shopkeeper strode forward and slapped him hard. Smack! A crisp slap. ¡°So it was him...¡± ¡°What an ingrate. The boss might be strict, but he pays well.¡± ¡°Sigh, I thought this guy was decent. You really can¡¯t judge a book by its cover!¡± A wave of sighs echoed around. After being slapped hard, Xiao Chen stood there like a lifeless puppet. Covering his face, his pupils dilated, and his complexion turned pale. He couldn¡¯t understand¡¯ Chapter 67 - I Am Very Happy to be by the Princes Side! Chapter 67: I Am Very Happy to be by the Prince¡¯s Side! ¡°Tell me, how did you sneak in here?¡± the shopkeeper questioned sternly. He had never given the key to any of the employees. Unexpectedly, his daughter raised her hand. ¡°I gave it to him... Brother Chen! You said you needed it to take care of the spirit beasts at night. You lied to me terribly!¡± Xiu Lan cried, her face wet with tears. But all the scolding and rebuke, Xiao Chen didn¡¯t care. What he cared about was Senior Sister Ran standing in front of him. He raised his head and met her cold gaze. Ran Yuwei said coldly, ¡°Xiao Chen, I didn¡¯t expect you to change your appearance and do such things. To get stronger, are you really willing to resort to any means?¡± Everyone was stunned, even Xiu Lan stopped crying. This Liu Chen actually knew the maid of the prince? ¡°Senior Sister Ran, I...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me Senior Sister! I don¡¯t have a junior brother like you!¡± Ran Yuwei looked at Xiu Lan. ¡°To get stronger, you even deceived a woman¡¯s feelings, are you still a man?¡± ¡°I am!¡± Xiao Chen retorted loudly, clenching his fists. ¡°I didn¡¯t deceive her feelings!¡± Hearing this, Xiu Lan¡¯s heart calmed a bit. No matter what bad things Brother Chen had done, as long as he still loved her, there was room for redemption. ¡°My feelings for you, Senior Sister Ran, have never changed! Everything I did was to win you back!¡± Xiao Chen declared firmly. Xiu Lan felt as if she had been struck by lightning, her face turned pale, and she fainted on the spot. ¡°Are you crazy? I¡¯m very happy to be by the prince¡¯s side. I hope you won¡¯t disturb my life anymore, and don¡¯t harbor any ill intentions towards the prince.¡± Leaving these words, Ran Yuwei walked away without looking back. ¡°Get out, get out of here! Scoundrel!¡± The shopkeeper cursed, kicking and punching Xiao Chen. The guards of the Lingshou Pavilion also started to drive him out. ¡°This scoundrel isn¡¯t even human!¡± ¡°Yes, the young lady of the Lingshou Pavilion treated him with all her heart, and he used her!¡± ¡°Heartless scum, he deserves to die!¡± On the street, many onlookers threw eggs and vegetables at him, leaving him in a sorry state. ¡®Lin Qi¡¯an, it must be you... It¡¯s definitely your doing! Fine, very well! No matter how much you suppress me, as long as I have a breath left, I, Xiao Chen, will make you regret it!¡¯ The so-called protagonist grows through ridicule and hardship, he firmly believed this was just a trial, and the future would be a bright path. ¡¾Ding! Xiao Chen is despised by everyone, Luck Value -100, Host Villain Points +1000¡¿ Lin Qi¡¯an couldn¡¯t help but want to applaud. What a great show! His exquisite arrangement not only suppressed Xiao Chen but also did the Lingshou Pavilion a great favor, freeing the girl who had been deceived. ¡°No need, Elder Dan, we had enough of those when we were kids.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an quickly waved his hand. As children, he and his elder sister and younger sister ate all kinds of spiritual pills like candy and had maximized their potential. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re rejecting my pills now! Hmph, my pills are worth a fortune after ten thousand years!¡± ¡°No, no, I actually came to ask you for a favor today.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an took out the Nine Yang Divine Sword. Lingyu was beyond surprised, this old man was a top alchemist of the Canglan Dao Domain, known as the Pill Emperor! ¡°Elder Dan, I have a friend, a sword spirit with a remnant soul. I would like to ask you to refine a body for her, is it possible?¡± Hearing this, Lingyu¡¯s heart surged with waves of shock! She had known Beiyang had deep foundations but never expected the prince to ask the Pill Emperor to refine a body for her! The prince truly kept his promises. Lingyu¡¯s goodwill towards him increased greatly. ¡°Haha, refining a body is no problem.¡± Elder Dan stroked his beard and smiled. ¡°Leave the sword, I¡¯ll put it in the furnace, and the girl will absorb the medicinal power to form a body. Don¡¯t worry about being seen.¡± Haha, Elder Dan even considered a girl¡¯s sense of shame. This method was perfect! After all, Lingyu was also a girl. ¡°Thank you, Elder Dan. Next time, I¡¯ll bring some fine Immortal Jade Brew from my father¡¯s cellar!¡± ¡°You really know how to please an old man!¡± Lingyu was extremely excited. Was she finally going to have a body? It all seemed too easy, almost unreal. Having been a sacrificial sword spirit for a thousand years, she had always longed for a body to experience the world. ¡®Finally... following the prince was indeed the right choice.¡¯ ¡°Thank you, Prince!¡± ¡°Thank you, Elder Dan!¡± A sword spirit with a body still couldn¡¯t stray too far from the sword. But it didn¡¯t matter, staying by the prince¡¯s side and becoming his strength was already great. ... At night. Lin Qi¡¯an had an appointment with Zi Lianyou. They met as scheduled. ¡°Your Highness!¡± The girl in the purple dress had a slender figure and a beautiful face. The bright moonlight bathed her, giving her a holy glow. ¡°Let¡¯s go to my sleeping quarters.¡± ¡°To... to Your Highness¡¯s sleeping quarters?¡± Chapter 68 - Zhao Qingmeng Confesses, I Am the Reincarnated Empress! Chapter 68: Zhao Qingmeng Confesses, I Am the Reincarnated Empress! ¡°Go to the Crown Prince¡¯s sleeping quarters?¡± Zi Lianyou¡¯s heart began to race subconsciously. Could it be that they were going to... share an intimate moment? Her face instantly turned red with embarrassment, and her heart surged with excitement. The luxurious sleeping quarters were brightly lit by candlelight. ¡°Do you see that box on the table? It¡¯s a gift for you. Open it and take a look.¡± ¡°A gift?¡± Zi Lianyou hurriedly bent down and carefully opened the box. Inside lay a long dark purple dress. ¡°Immortal Brocade, Ethereal Silk!¡± ¡°Oh my...¡± Zi Lianyou was so excited she lost her voice, unable to contain herself. As an exceptional beauty, she naturally valued her appearance. Among the fabrics used for clothing, Immortal Brocade and Ethereal Silk were top-tier materials, each worth a fortune and hard to come by. Not only were they comfortable and ethereal, but they were also water and fire-resistant with excellent defensive properties. A single dress could be as valuable as an Earth Rank technique! Generally, only princesses or daughters of nobility were qualified to wear such materials. She didn¡¯t expect the Crown Prince would gift her such a treasure. Zi Lianyou held the dress, her eyes glistening with tears of gratitude. ¡°Do you like it?¡± ¡°Su Xueni, I¡¯ll be straightforward with you.¡± Zhao Qingmeng said, ¡°I am the reincarnated Empress. If you are willing to help me, with the cultivation techniques and divine abilities I remember, there will be no obstacles to you becoming a Saint in the future!¡± ¡°Pfft...¡± Su Xueni couldn¡¯t help but laugh lightly. The princess had no cultivation talent from a young age and was still an ordinary girl. Everyone knew that and for her to claim to be a reincarnated Empress was quite amusing. ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡± Zhao Qingmeng gritted her teeth. ¡°Let me tell you, in the future, there will be many fairies and goddesses around Lin Qi¡¯an. With your average talent, you will be forgotten among the crowd and not be loved.¡± Actually, she was lying. In the future, Su Xueni would be one of Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s most cherished women, with a status comparable to that of an empress. ¡°Your Highness, this...¡± ¡°I also know you have a Lotus Realm, where you have built various courtyards for Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s confidantes. Your courtyard is called Xue¡¯an Garden!¡± Hearing this, Su Xueni¡¯s eyes were filled with shock as she had never told anyone about this! Seeing Su Xueni¡¯s incredibly shocked expression, Zhao Qingmeng felt very pleased. This was the advantage of being reborn! However, this advantage might not apply to many situations. After all, in her previous life, she didn¡¯t come to Beiyang early. From that moment, the butterfly effect occurred, and the future might have already changed significantly. So, her memory could only be a reference, but it was enough to shock Su Xueni. ¡°Do you believe me now? I am the reincarnated Empress. Trust me, and I will ensure your future is limitless!¡± Su Xueni took a deep breath and forced herself to accept this fact. ¡°What does Your Highness want me to do?¡± ¡°It¡¯s very simple... Put this packet of powder into Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s water and make him drink it.¡± Su Xueni took the powder and looked suspicious. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not poison. I¡¯m not that foolish to harm your Crown Prince in Beiyang. It¡¯s a mind-clouding drug. After taking it, he will be confused and speak his true feelings.¡± ¡°I just want to know what he thinks of my elder sister.¡± Zhao Qingmeng lied. This wasn¡¯t a mind-clouding drug but a Spring Breeze Powder! Chapter 69 - The Princess Leaves Taian City! Zhao Qingmengs Ultimate Move Chapter 69: The Princess Leaves Tai¡¯an City! Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s Ultimate Move The Spring Breeze Powder: upon consumption, one¡¯s rationality is lost, and desires surge uncontrollably. Even a monk wouldn¡¯t be able to maintain his vows, so Lin Qi¡¯an definitely wouldn¡¯t be able to resist! Once he consumes it, she can sneak into his room, and everything will be accomplished. ¡°I refuse!¡± Su Xueni shook her head. ¡°I won¡¯t give the Crown Prince something suspicious like this.¡± ¡°Are you stupid? Following him will get you nothing, but with me, your future is limitless!¡± Zhao Qingmeng glared at her. ¡°No way, unless the princess tries it first,¡± Su Xueni smirked. ¡°You! Fine, I¡¯ll eat it. I will personally prove this medicine is harmless,¡± Zhao Qingmeng took a deep breath, used her finger to scoop a bit of the powder, and put it in her mouth. ¡®This small amount shouldn¡¯t have too strong an effect, right?¡¯ But as soon as she consumed it, she immediately felt a surge of heat exploding within her body, causing her temperature to rise. Her face instantly became rosy and charming. ¡°Your Highness, Xueni bids you farewell.¡± ¡°You??¡± ¡°I only said for Your Highness to try it, not that I would help you.¡± With that, Su Xueni hurriedly left. ¡®Whether you are the Empress or not, if the Crown Prince doesn¡¯t favor me, will he favor you?¡¯ ¡°Damn it, damn it!¡± Zhao Qingmeng collapsed onto the bed, looking extremely alluring. As the Empress, being toyed with by a mere maid was indeed like a tiger being bullied by a dog. Her breathing was heavy, and her eyes were filled with lust. She had no choice but to hold the bedding tightly, her legs clamping together. In her mind, she thought of Lin Qi¡¯an. Even if she hated him, he was still the only man she had ever been in contact with, and the most handsome at that. Thinking of him was the only way to alleviate her immediate crisis! ¡ª Night fell on the Tai¡¯an Imperial City. Boom! A beam of lightning shot into the sky, attracting countless eyes. ¡°The princess has broken through again!¡± ¡°With this breakthrough, she is probably at the Ninth Stage of the Transcendent Realm. The next step is the Celestial Realm.!¡± ¡°My God, her cultivation speed is terrifying. No wonder she possesses the Supreme Yin Divine Physique.¡± ¡°The Heavenly Five Thunder Technique is extremely difficult to cultivate. The princess indeed has extraordinary talent, a peerless genius.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, her fiance?, the Crown Prince of Beiyang, seems to be only in the Heaven Dominion Realm, right?¡± ¡°Yes, they are about the same age, but he is a whole realm lower! Compared to the princess, he is still lacking...¡± ¡°Wait, don¡¯t you know the Crown Prince¡¯s battle achievements? He single-handedly suppressed dozens of prodigies. It¡¯s been all the rage recently!¡± ¡°Who knows if it¡¯s true? I think it¡¯s mostly rumors.¡± Zhao Yunji slowly opened her eyes, the dark golden light in her pupils gradually fading. This was the top-tier divine ability ¡°Autumn Water Clear Eyes,¡± capable of seeing through everything! ¡°It¡¯s about time to go to Beiyang and break off the engagement.¡± She muttered to herself. She was extremely displeased with the marriage arranged by the Tai¡¯an Emperor. She believed her life should not be controlled by others! Moreover, with her extraordinary talent, why must she marry a man and not pursue the Dao wholeheartedly? Zhao Yunji had great ambitions! Becoming the Empress of the Canglan Dao Domain was no longer enough to satisfy her. She wanted to conquer the other Dao Domains and achieve unification in the future! Therefore, becoming stronger was the most important thing. ¡°Xueni means... thanks to your help, my Cold Jade Physique is about to be perfected. By then...¡± Su Xueni hesitated. ¡°Oh, you mean dual cultivation?¡± She blushed and nodded. ¡°No problem, we¡¯ll proceed as planned. I never go back on my word. If she comes, let her watch us cultivate together. Wouldn¡¯t that be more thrilling?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an held the delicate wrist of the Tianchi Saintess, smiling playfully. ¡°Your Highness, you¡¯re so naughty...¡± Though she said he was naughty, her heart was filled with joy. ¡ª Among everyone, the one most affected by the news of Zhao Yunji coming was Zhao Qingmeng! ¡°It¡¯s over, it¡¯s all over.¡± Her original plan was to arrive in Beiyang ahead of time, create a time difference, and have Lin Qi¡¯an all to herself. But unexpectedly, Lin Qi¡¯an didn¡¯t take the bait, and his maids were all loyal and couldn¡¯t be swayed. ¡®If the imperial sister really comes, the plan won¡¯t be able to proceed at all! How long will it take for me to become the emperor then?¡¯ ¡®This weak and powerless body cannot cultivate without dual cultivation to open the spiritual aperture... Lin Qi¡¯an, I hate you so much!¡¯ At this moment, she recalled the scene of being isolated and helpless. Until death, she never saw that heartless man! In the end, she had no choice but to hang herself, dying and dissipating into nothingness. So after her rebirth, she wanted to kill him to vent her anger. ¡®Wait, that heartless man in the previous life was not a wooden block; he knew all sorts of strange positions.¡¯ ¡®It seems I have no choice but to use my ultimate move! I remember what he likes the most...¡¯ Zhao Qingmeng revealed her tender, jade-like feet, her cheeks tinged with a rosy hue. ... That night, Lin Qi¡¯an received a message from Zhao Qingmeng asking him to come. ¡¾Zhao Qingmeng, Hatred Value: 45¡¿ ¡®Sigh, has this woman not given up yet? Aren¡¯t you just greedy for my body and want to use me to ascend to the emperor¡¯s path again? It¡¯s impossible for the hatred value to drop to 0.¡¯ ¡®Besides, I already promised Su Xueni that I would dual cultivate with her in a few days. There¡¯s no way I can let you cut in line, give up.¡¯ However, Lin Qi¡¯an still went to her sleeping quarters to see what tricks she had up her sleeve. He pushed the door open, and a fragrant scent wafted into his nose. The sleeping quarters were quite dim, with only two red candles lit by the soft couch, the flickering light illuminating Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s enchanting face. She was wearing a thin white silk robe, huddled in the quilt, looking pitiful. ¡°Qingmeng sister, what do you want from me?¡± ¡°Brother Lin...¡± The quilt moved slightly, suddenly revealing a pair of crystal-clear, delicate feet. Smooth and tender, making Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s heart skip a beat. ¡°My feet are a bit sore, could you rub them for me?¡± ¡°...¡± At the same time, Lin Qi¡¯an heard her inner voice. ¡¾Heartless man, this is your favorite thing, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll take the bait¡¿ ¡®What? In the future, I actually liked this about her the most! But it makes sense. Compared to Su Xueni¡¯s legs, she can¡¯t compete.¡¯ ¡®Compared to Zi Lianyou¡¯s chest, she can¡¯t compete. Compared to Ran Yuwei¡¯s waist, she can¡¯t compete. But these feet, like works of art, have great playability! Tsk, I didn¡¯t expect you to even know my future preferences.¡¯ Chapter 70 - Am I a Man? The Princess Arrives! Chapter 70: Am I a Man? The Princess Arrives! ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll help you massage them.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an sat on the bed and placed Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s feet on his lap. He held one foot and gently massaged it. Zhao Qingmeng was dying of embarrassment. She had asked him to massage her feet, but did he actually have to do it? However... it felt so good! This was an experience she never had in her past life. She didn¡¯t expect Lin Qi¡¯an to be so gentle. Her hatred value decreased by another 5 points, now at 40. After a while, Lin Qi¡¯an asked, ¡°Feeling better? Should I massage the other foot as well?¡± ¡®You¡¯ve got to be kidding me, you pervert. Even after being reborn, you¡¯re still such a rogue.¡¯ Zhao Qingmeng couldn¡¯t take it any longer! If she couldn¡¯t win over Lin Qi¡¯an soon, her sister would arrive... Once their relationship improved, there would be no room for her to interfere. And with Su Xueni as a rival, how long would she have to wait for her turn? Zhao Qingmeng stood up angrily and shouted, ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, are you even a man?!¡± ¡°What do you mean by that, Your Highness? I¡¯m helping you massage your feet; how does that make me less of a man?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an frowned. As a man, such words were intolerable. ¡°I am the princess of Tianlang Immortal Dynasty, no, the imperial princess! How am I not worthy of you? Across the Canglan Dao Domain, countless men dream of me, obsessed with my beauty.¡± ¡°Even though I may not have my sister¡¯s natural charm, I have my own strengths! I am light, gentle, and easy to push down, you know? You don¡¯t even take the meat delivered to your mouth; you¡¯re not a man!¡± Zhao Qingmeng finally vented all her dissatisfaction. Any other man would probably not endure such taunts. Indeed, Lin Qi¡¯an couldn¡¯t tolerate it. He grabbed her delicate body with a swift motion. ¡°Hey, Lin Qi¡¯an, what are you doing!?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll show you what it means to be a man!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an raised his hand and smacked her buttocks hard. Zhao Qingmeng cried out in pain, her beautiful eyes wide with disbelief. As an imperial princess, cherished and loved since childhood, not even her parents had the heart to hit her. She was destined to be a future empress, overlooking the world. Yet here she was, being spanked bare-bottomed by this man! This was truly shameful and infuriating. Moreover, she had no ability to resist, as her personal guards and protectors had all been dismissed. Smack! ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, you¡¯ve lost your mind! How dare you hit me?!¡± Smack! ¡°Help! The Crown Prince of Beiyang is attacking me! Someone, help!¡± ¡°You can scream all you want. This is my territory, no one will come to save you,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an sneered. ¡°Let me show you if I¡¯m a man.¡± Smack! ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, you¡¯re shameless, perverted, and despicable!¡± Smack! ¡°Woo woo woo, you¡¯re bullying me...¡± Zhao Qingmeng cried, her tears falling like pear blossoms in the rain. She was both ashamed and angry, her buttocks burning with pain. Smack! ¡°Your Highness, now tell me, am I a man?¡± ¡°You are, you are... You¡¯re my good brother, the manliest man in the world!¡± Zhao Qingmeng almost pleaded. At this moment, Lin Qi¡¯an heard a new prompt in his mind. ¡¾Ding! Detected the Child of Destiny ¡®Ye Yun,¡¯ successfully involved in the plot.¡¿ ¡¾Son of Destiny: Ye Yun¡¿ Secret Treasures: Yang Sword, Mountain and River Scripture Luck: 1200 (Golden) Luck Core: ¡¶Great Yang Emperor Technique¡· Current Kill Reward: None Prompt: When the target¡¯s destiny is reduced below 100, you can seize its luck core, obtain permanent luck points, and receive all rewards. ¡®Oh? Another protagonist with a high destiny value of 1200?¡¯ It looks like he might be even more formidable than Xiao Chen! Activating the Divine Eyes of Destiny, Lin Qi¡¯an instantly located him. It turns out he is the princess¡¯s guard! Ye Yun, like Zhao Qingmeng, is a target with kill rewards, while Zhao Yunji should be a destiny heroine, like Su Xueni and others. As for whether to kill or subdue them, it depends on their hatred values. ¡¾Ye Yun, Hatred Value: 100¡¿ ¡¾Zhao Yunji, Hatred Value: 30¡¿ ¡®Alright, it seems Ye Yun has some grudge against my Lin family. Or perhaps he is jealous? No matter, the kill route is the right route.¡¯ ¡®This way, there will be three protagonists of destiny intertwined in Beiyang¡¯s Tianjian City. Xiao Chen and Ye Yun need to be killed, Zhao Qingmeng needs to be subdued. This will be quite a spectacle!¡¯ If it were elsewhere, Lin Qi¡¯an might not have the confidence to deal with three people at once. But here in Beiyang, on his turf, he can play slowly! The Sword Emperor wouldn¡¯t interfere in these young people¡¯s matters. They had to resolve it by their own abilities. ¡ª Outside the Heavenly Palace, on the lawn, Lin Qi¡¯an was playing Cuju (kickball) with his sister, three stunningly beautiful maids, and the charming Zhao Qingmeng. A leather-wrapped ball was kicked around, and laughter filled the air. These saintesses and fairies, who were usually high above and admired by many, had never played such a folk game. They found it incredibly novel! Zhao Qingmeng, an empress in her previous life, originally had no interest in this activity. But thinking of annoying her sister, she became enthusiastic. She had to admit, in the Cuju game, Zi Lianyou, in her new dress, became the most stunning sight. No, it was almost a crime. While the fairies played Cuju, Lin Qi¡¯an leisurely watched, feeling quite at ease. ¡°The princess has arrived!¡± With the announcement, everyone turned their attention to the steps. Zhao Yunji, wearing a golden long dress adorned with nine phoenixes dancing around the sun, perfectly showcased her nobility. Her brows were like distant mountains, her skin flawless. Her exquisite face seemed to encompass all beauty. Her eyes were cold and indifferent, yet she exuded a unique charm due to her innate seductive bones. She truly deserved to be called the number one fairy in the Canglan Dao Domain! Zhao Yunji was displeased. Her slender brows furrowed slightly. She had come to Tianjian City, and as her nominal fiance?, Lin Qi¡¯an did not come out to greet her. Instead, he played Cuju with his confidantes? How disgraceful! Wait... As a destiny heroine, Zhao Yunji naturally noticed the anomalies around Lin Qi¡¯an. Dao essence flowed around him, and dragon energy coiled around his body. Just looking at him, she felt an indescribable aura of the Dao emanating from him! ¡®How is this possible?!¡¯ In an instant, this noble princess¡¯s eyes showed a brief moment of daze. As someone well-read, she knew that only the legendary Dragon Yang Dao Physique could have such phenomena! Lin Qi¡¯an possesses such a divine physique? Why has there been no news of this! At that moment, the princess¡¯s emotions became very complicated. Chapter 71 - How Dare You Interrupt My Flirting With My Fiancée? Chapter 71: How Dare You Interrupt My Flirting With My Fiance?e? ¡°Royal Sister!¡± Upon seeing the newcomer, Zhao Qingmeng was the first to run over, lifting her skirt and pouting. ¡°Royal Sister, you finally came. Lin Qi¡¯an bullied me!¡± ¡°He dared to bully you?¡± Zhao Yunji¡¯s frown deepened. Her sister was cherished by their father, the apple of his eye. Who in the entire Canglan Dao Domain would dare bully her? ¡°How did he bully you?¡± ¡°He... he molested me! Wu wu wu, Royal Sister, I¡¯ll never be able to get married now.¡± At this moment, Zhao Qingmeng looked like a perfect white lotus, rubbing her eyes with fake tears, appearing utterly wronged. Lin Qi¡¯an wanted to laugh upon hearing this, ¡®Oh, sure, I molested you. You put your little feet on my lap. Next time, I¡¯ll record it and show your sister.¡¯ He couldn¡¯t be bothered to refute her. After all, Zhao Yunji was here to break off the engagement. What was the point of explaining? ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, is this true?¡± Zhao Yunji¡¯s beautiful face frosted over. If her nominal fiance? molested her sister, it would become a huge joke if word got out. She cared a lot about her reputation. ¡°What, is Your Highness jealous?¡± As a villain, Lin Qi¡¯an gave a shameless response. His face bore a mischievous smile, resembling a rogue teasing someone on the street. ¡°You!¡± Zhao Yunji finally got angry. In her anger, she activated the divine ability ¡°Autumn Pupils.¡± In an instant, her pupils gleamed with a faint golden light, and her gaze, which seemed capable of piercing through people, swept over with strong pressure. ¡°Such strong pressure...¡± ¡°Autumn Pupils lives up to its reputation...¡± The maids did not dare look into the princess¡¯s eyes, retreating a few steps in awe of her formidable aura. ¡®Playing this game with me? Alright.¡¯ Lin Qi¡¯an remained unfazed and activated the Divine Eyes of the Heavenly Fated Villain, directly facing Autumn Pupils. Special effect: Anyone who meets your gaze will be suppressed by your aura. ¡°?!¡± Zhao Yunji abruptly stepped back half a step, her gaze shifting away, her heart throbbing in fear. How could this be! Her mind was in turmoil. She was at the peak of the Transcendent Realm, a whole realm above Lin Qi¡¯an. Autumn Pupils was a top-tier divine ability. Once activated, it could even suppress Celestial Realm experts. Yet, Lin Qi¡¯an, with just his Heaven Dominion Realm cultivation, managed to suppress her? Taking a deep breath, Zhao Yunji realized that the Crown Prince of Beiyang was not just a name. The maids felt relieved, looking at Lin Qi¡¯an with a sense of security. He truly deserved to be their prince, even unafraid of the princess¡¯s Autumn Pupiles. ¡®Foolish woman.¡¯ Zhao Qingmeng couldn¡¯t help but think. ¡®You think too highly of yourself.¡¯ ¡®Encountering Lin Qi¡¯an, who is even more exceptional will make you fall step by step. It was the same in the last life, and it¡¯s still the same in this one. Can¡¯t you be a little more creative?¡¯ ¡°Royal Sister, he not only bullied me but also gave you a warning!¡± Zhao Qingmeng said weakly, ¡°This man is simply arrogant. You can¡¯t marry him, or you¡¯ll surely suffer.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Zhao Yunji felt somewhat speechless. Naturally, she had been determined to come and break off the engagement. But she hadn¡¯t expected Lin Qi¡¯an to possess the legendary Dragon Yang Dao Physique! She knew how favored such a physique was by the heavens. As long as she dual cultivated with him, combined with her top-tier talent, becoming an empress would be a sure thing. Moreover, he was her nominal fiance?, so dual cultivation was logical and proper. But now... She came with the intention of breaking off the engagement, and it might be too late to change her mind. If she missed this chance, would she regret it for the rest of her life? The beautiful princess fell into a dilemma, feeling extremely conflicted. At this moment, her guard Ye Yun stepped forward. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an! Not only did you bully Princess Qingmeng, but you also flirted with both princesses. Do you not regard the Tai¡¯an Royal Family?¡± His imposing presence and strong aura of the Transcendent Realm made him seem like a young genius. No wonder he was a Child of Destiny. His aura was indeed formidable! Coming out to speak for the princesses at this time, gaining fame and favor from beauties¡ªwas that his script? Unfortunately, he encountered Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡°Men!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said simply. A group of sword guards flew over. ¡°Drag this person out and give him fifty lashes!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an ordered. As she left, Zhao Yunji saw the white-clad Tianchi Saintess standing beside Lin Qi¡¯an, smiling as she watched her go. An unnamable anger rose within her! She had never regarded this second-ranking saintess with much importance. But now... she felt a strange sense of defeat. ¡®Useless woman,¡¯ Zhao Qingmeng thought. ¡®Look at your arrogance. It¡¯s only natural you end up losing twice.¡¯ Zhao Qingmeng, too, was disappointed her plan didn¡¯t succeed. ¡°Royal Sister, wait for me~¡± ¡®If you don¡¯t break off the engagement, I¡¯ll keep an eye on you, ensuring you never get any private time with Lin Qi¡¯an, hmph!¡¯ Lin Qi¡¯an: ... ¡®Zhao Qingmeng, if you knew I could hear your thoughts, would you die of embarrassment?¡¯ ¡ª Ye Yun was dragged to the punishment platform and received the full hundred lashes. It was a humiliation beyond measure. He had risen to prominence through his exceptional talent, gaining the princess¡¯s favor and becoming the captain of her guards. Never had he endured such an insult. Lin Qi¡¯an, someday, I will settle all scores with you... Feeling despondent, he went to a tavern in Tianjian City to drink away his sorrows. The tavern was packed, and only one corner table had a vacant seat. Ye Yun sat down, slapping the table. ¡°Waiter, bring me your best wine!¡± ¡°Yes, sir, just a moment!¡± Looking up, he noticed the man sitting opposite him was also drinking alone, looking just as despondent. The man had spilled much of his wine and was now slumped over the table, thoroughly drunk. At the adjacent table, a few patrons were chatting. ¡°Hey, did you hear? The princess came to see the Crown Prince but didn¡¯t mention breaking off the engagement!¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s strange. Everyone was saying she would.¡± ¡°Who knows, maybe she changed her mind!¡± ¡°I also heard that the princess¡¯s guard spoke against the Crown Prince and got a hundred lashes.¡± ¡°Wow, the Crown Prince is truly domineering!¡± At that moment, Ye Yun and the drunkard across the table both slammed their hands down and shouted, ¡°Damn that Crown Prince!¡± Their voices were almost in unison and both looked at each other in surprise. The patrons were baffled. ¡°What¡¯s it to you if we praise the Crown Prince?¡± Curses and complaints followed from the surrounding tables. After a while, Ye Yun spoke in a low voice, ¡°Brother, do you also despise that Crown Prince?¡± ¡°Hmph! Despise? I wish I could kill him!¡± the drunkard replied. ¡°He¡¯s the reason I lost everything.¡± He poured himself another drink, spilling half of it. ¡°I feel the same.¡± Ye Yun admired Zhao Yunji, yearning to win over this supreme goddess. Thus, he had trained diligently, climbing the ranks to become her guard and gain the opportunity to be near her. But now, a great obstacle lay in his path. To win Yunji, he had to break her engagement with Lin Qi¡¯an, but this task seemed far from simple. Pouring himself a drink, Ye Yun said, ¡°Brother, we are kindred spirits. Let¡¯s drink!¡± ¡°Cheers!¡± ¡°I¡¯m Ye Yun. What is your name, brother?¡± ¡°My surname is Xiao, given name Chen.¡± ¡°Alright, Brother Xiao, we won¡¯t leave until we¡¯re drunk tonight!¡± The two drank heavily, stumbling into the nearby forest, where they sparred, discovering that both were extraordinary talents. Sharing similar fates and statuses, they felt a deep camaraderie. ¡°Brother Xiao, from now on, we are brothers!¡± ¡°Brother Ye, if we join forces, we can surely bring Lin Qi¡¯an down!¡± Chapter 72 Chapter 72: Snowy Night Night. In the sleeping quarters, the two sisters were having an intimate conversation. One was a captivating little demoness, while the other was a peerless beauty with natural charm. ¡°Royal Sister, I have encountered a difficult problem.¡± Zhao Yunji propped her chin with her hand, looking troubled. ¡°What problem, Royal Sister?¡± Zhao Qingmeng asked. After a moment of contemplation, Zhao Yunji slowly spoke, ¡°If you had to abandon pride and dignity to have a chance at becoming an emperor, would you be willing?¡± Although Zhao Yunji¡¯s question was implicit, Zhao Qingmeng, having lived two lives, could easily decipher its meaning. Abandoning pride and dignity clearly implied submitting herself to serve Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡®So, Royal Sister knows that he possesses the Dao Physique! No wonder she doesn¡¯t want to break off the engagement.¡¯ ¡®But Royal Sister, you should know that merely giving up pride isn¡¯t enough for Lin Qi¡¯an to accept you. After all, I personally tried and ended up being spanked bare-bottomed. Who can I complain to about that?¡¯ Zhao Qingmeng shook her head and said, ¡°Royal Sister, although I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying, I believe that as the number one fairy of the Canglan Dao Domain, the daughter of the Tai¡¯an Emperor, you, who countless men admire, must never abandon your pride, let alone your dignity!¡± ¡°Remember, no one in this world can make you submit; others must submit to you!¡± Zhao Yunji pondered for a moment and said, ¡°But my dream is to become an emperor...¡± ¡°With your unparalleled talent, Royal Sister, you will naturally become an emperor in the future. I believe in you!¡± ¡®Hmph, these words sound so good,¡¯ Zhao Yunji thought, ¡®But why is my sister so eager for me to break off the engagement? Could it be that she also knows about Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s physique?¡¯ ¡ª In Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s sleeping quarters, he was watching two Child of Destiny becoming sworn brothers. He was also amused by Zhao Qingmeng filling her sister¡¯s head with misleading ideas. With a creak, the door opened. Under the bright moonlight stood a dreamlike, beautiful woman in a white dress. Her bright eyes and white teeth, delicate eyebrows, and snow-like skin made her look like a fairy. The white dress fluttered gracefully, and her exquisite features were illuminated, revealing her slender legs. Su Xueni seemed like a fairy descending from the moon. She had dressed up specially tonight, with red makeup and a captivating fragrance. ¡°Your Highness.¡± ¡°Su Xueni, what brings you here so late?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked as she closed the door and approached him, her lips slightly parted and her cheeks flushed. ¡°They... they...¡± Ran Yuwei stuttered, unable to finish her sentence. ¡°In just one night, breaking through a major realm is incredible,¡± Zi Lianyou sighed, though she still held great hopes for future opportunities. ¡°Ran Yuwei, I think I should be ahead of you in line, right?¡± Zi Lianyou teased. ¡°What are you talking about? I never intended to be with the Crown Prince...¡± Ran Yuwei blushed in denial. ¡°But if the Crown Prince likes me, I won¡¯t refuse,¡± she quickly added. ¡°You¡¯re just putting up a front...¡± ¡ª In the Heavenly Palace, the Sword Emperor stood on the balcony, gazing at the night sky. Beside him, his wife remarked, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Qi¡¯an to reach the Transcendent Realm so quickly. His cultivation speed is astonishing!¡± Though they couldn¡¯t see the golden dragon exclusive to Lin Qi¡¯an, they could still see the surge of spiritual energy during the breakthrough. ¡°That boy doesn¡¯t care about that little girl¡¯s feelings at all, hahaha!¡± The Sword Emperor laughed heartily. ¡°She wanted to break off the engagement? Perfect timing for Qi¡¯an to slap her in the face! That¡¯s more like it,¡± his wife said with satisfaction. ¡ª Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s cultivation skyrocketed! From the Heaven Dominion Realm to the Transcendent Realm. Transcendent Realm Stage 1. Transcendent Realm Stage 2! Transcendent Realm Stage 3! Transcendent Realm Stage 4! He broke through a major realm and four minor realms in one night, something that would take ordinary people hundreds of years and even prodigies several years and Lin Qi¡¯an did it in one night. As for Su Xueni, she also achieved a major realm breakthrough, opening ten spiritual apertures in the process. Her ability to absorb spiritual energy doubled, making her ecstatic. The power of being the first to share in the Dao Physique¡¯s blessings was truly marvelous! Compared to this, the Tai¡¯an princess seemed to fall short, she thought with a smirk. ¡®I will definitely repay the Crown Prince¡¯s kindness and maintain my status...¡¯ Su Xueni thought. Chapter 73 Chapter 73: Ye Yun¡¯s Challenge and Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s Arrival The next morning, a crowd gathered in the courtyard outside Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s sleeping quarters. Lin Qi¡¯an, who had intended to savor his time with Su Xueni, was disturbed by the noise outside. Su Xueni, blushing deeply, covered her face, ¡°Your Highness, there are so many people outside. I...¡± ¡°What are you afraid of?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m in my own home. Why should I be afraid of what others think? Let¡¯s go outside.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Su Xueni stumbled a bit. ¡°Alright, let me help you out,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said, supporting her. As soon as they opened the door, they were met with a crowd. Zi Lianyou, Ran Yuwei, and Zhao Qingmeng were all there. Zhao Qingmeng bit her lip, her hatred visibly increasing, ¡®Heartless man, heartless man, heartless man x10086¡¯ Holding Su Xueni¡¯s hand, Lin Qi¡¯an walked out confidently, ¡°What¡¯s going on here? Don¡¯t you all have anything better to do early in the morning?¡± Su Xueni buried her blushing face, unable to look at anyone. ¡°Nothing much. We saw your aura last night and were curious, so we came to see,¡± Zhao Qingmeng said sarcastically, even changing the way she addressed him. ¡°So, everyone knows what I was doing last night... cough cough!¡± ¡°That¡¯s really embarrassing,¡± Su Xueni¡¯s face turned even redder, steam practically rising from her head, though she felt both happy and shy inside. ¡°Qingmeng, there¡¯s no need to be envious. If there¡¯s an opportunity, we can explore life together someday.¡± ¡®Hmph! Shameless! Heartless man, heartless man, heartless man¡¯ As a villain, it was normal for Lin Qi¡¯an to flirt and embrace multiple women. He wasn¡¯t a protagonist who clung to just one person. ¡°And you two? Why are you here?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an looked at the two maids. ¡°Your Highness, we¡¯re not here to join the crowd. Ye Yun is in the city issuing a challenge, and it has drawn quite an audience.¡± ¡°He wants to challenge me?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an laughed. Was he tired of living with his high destiny value and wanted to give it up? He activated his villain¡¯s divine eyes for a quick scan. Indeed, the martial arena in Tianjian City was packed with people, even Xiao Chen was there. These two were indeed good brothers! ¡°Ignore him.¡± Ye Yun scanned the crowd and spotted the beautiful woman in a golden dress, standing not far away, surrounded by guards. The princess had indeed come! He was incredibly excited because this challenge was to help her break off the engagement. ¡°Your Highness, rest assured. Once I defeat Lin Qi¡¯an, I will ensure he agrees to break off the engagement. He will no longer trouble you!¡± Ye Yun replied via divine sense. ¡°Who gave you the right to make decisions? Get down!¡± Zhao Yunji¡¯s voice was cold and full of rejection. ¡°But Your Highness, didn¡¯t you come to Beiyang to break off the engagement?¡± ¡°That¡¯s my business. What does it have to do with you?¡± Last night, Lin Qi¡¯an was intimate with another woman. Initially, Zhao Yunji was furious because they hadn¡¯t officially ended the engagement, which felt like a betrayal. But then she thought... In one night, Su Xueni had reached the Transcendent Realm, the same major realm as herself. Such results were hard to resist. If she, at the peak of the Transcendent Realm, could step into the Celestial Realm in one move, it would be worthwhile. ¡°Last warning, get down.¡± Zhao Yunji¡¯s voice was icy, her eyes already showing a hint of golden anger. ¡°A blood oath challenge cannot be refused. If Your Highness doesn¡¯t want me to interfere, just consider it a spar between me and the Crown Prince!¡± Ye Yun was determined. Today, he would surpass the Crown Prince of Beiyang, proving what true unparalleled talent was, not only for the princess but also for his brother Xiao Chen watching below. Zhao Yunji realized that if Lin Qi¡¯an did come to fight, he might not be able to defeat Ye Yun. It was near noon, and the sun was blazing. Ye Yun¡¯s cultivation, ¡¶Great Yang Emperor Technique¡·, was at its peak under the strongest sunlight. At noon, it wasn¡¯t difficult to fight across realms, especially with the Yang Sword enhancing his advantage. Ye Yun was indeed a monstrous talent, capable of crushing those so-called geniuses from sects and holy lands. ¡°Look up there!¡± someone shouted. In the sky, a massive nine-headed beast pulled a golden carriage, almost blocking out the sun, causing the crowd to back away in fear. ¡°The Crown Prince is here! He really came to accept the challenge!¡± ¡°Everyone, make way for the Crown Prince!¡± The crowd retreated like a tide, creating a large open space. From the carriage, a figure in white, more beautiful than snow, stepped out, causing cheers to erupt. Zhao Yunji: ... She didn¡¯t expect Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s carriage to stop right next to her. Chapter 74 Chapter 74: A Shout and a Sword: Ye Yun¡¯s Spirit Shattered! ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, you finally arrived!¡± Ye Yun and Xiao Chen below glared at him with eyes full of hatred. Everyone expected Lin Qi¡¯an to step onto the stage and accept the blood oath challenge, but he ignored Ye Yun completely. Instead, he walked directly to Princess Zhao Yunji. ¡°Yunji, the weather is perfect today. Why don¡¯t you join us for a spring outing? Your sister is also on the carriage,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an invited with a smile. Zhao Yunji was taken aback. Peeking out of the carriage window was Zhao Qingmeng. ¡®He¡¯s here to invite me for an outing, not to accept the challenge?¡¯ She was bewildered, having hoped to see firsthand the true strength of her fiance?e, the Crown Prince of Beiyang. Ye Yun nearly went mad with anger. He had passionately issued a challenge, only for the opponent to invite his dream girl for an outing, making him look like a fool. Infuriating! ¡°Oh well, no show to watch,¡± Zhao Qingmeng pouted. She hadn¡¯t expected this heartless man to be so crafty, ignoring Ye Yun entirely and going straight for her sister. ¡°Oh! I wanted to see His Highness defeat him. Just looking at him irritates me,¡± Zhao Qingmeng grumbled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, His Highness isn¡¯t afraid of him; he just doesn¡¯t want to waste his time,¡± Su Xueni reassured. Zhao Yunji was still hesitant. Should she accept or not? Lin Qi¡¯an extended the invitation publicly, refusing would mean losing face. ¡°The Crown Prince¡¯s invitation is sincere. I wouldn¡¯t want to disappoint him,¡± Zhao Yunji nodded slightly and instructed her subordinates, ¡°You may return. I will join the Crown Prince in his carriage.¡± At that moment, Ye Yun¡¯s heart shattered. He had followed the princess for so long without ever getting close. Yet, here Lin Qi¡¯an was about to whisk her away for a spring outing. Unbearable! ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an!¡± Ye Yun raised his bleeding hand and shouted, ¡°The blood oath challenge is a Beiyang tradition. As the Crown Prince of Beiyang, you dare not accept a challenge from a peer. Are you afraid of me?¡± His words provoked a chorus of boos! ¡°He¡¯s too arrogant, suggesting our Crown Prince is afraid of him?¡± ¡°Who does this nobody think he is to challenge the Crown Prince?¡± ¡°Your Highness, ignore him!¡± Although the crowd supported Lin Qi¡¯an, being publicly challenged still left a sour taste. They hoped the Crown Prince would teach this arrogant man a lesson. The maids were also furious. On the martial stage, Ye Yun was enveloped in humiliation, unable to accept the reality. At noon, his peak strength time, he was defeated without being looked at directly... One move severed his arm and the princess was taken away by Lin Qi¡¯an. His heart twisted in agony! His bold declarations seemed like the world¡¯s biggest joke! ¡°Brother Ye!¡± Xiao Chen hurriedly helped Ye Yun up, consoling him, ¡°Don¡¯t be disheartened. Lin Qi¡¯an is strong, but we still have a chance! The grand hunt is coming. When it does, we can join forces and reclaim our honor!¡± ¡°The grand hunt... Alright, we¡¯ll wait for the grand hunt!¡± Ye Yun punched the ground, his hatred pouring out like a tangible force. ¡¾Ding! Ye Yun¡¯s spirit is unstable, and his luck value decreased by 200. The host gained 2000 villain points.¡¿ Meanwhile, Lin Qi¡¯an and the saintesses embarked on their spring outing. Each of the women was a peerless beauty, and he, accompanied by five, including two princesses of the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty! If other male cultivators knew, they¡¯d probably vomit blood. Princes might get high blood pressure from envy! ¡ª Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s attribute panel had also changed. Host: Lin Qi¡¯an Identity: Crown Prince of Beiyang, Tianlang Immortal Dynasty Cultivation: Transcendent Realm Stage 4 Techniques: Sword Come (Fourth Stage), Yang Divine Fire Technique (Fourth Stage) Physique: Dragon Yang Dao Physique, Sword Bone, Ancestral Dragon Divine Body (10%) Divine Abilities: Ten Thousand Swords to Court (Fourth Stage), Heavenly Flying Immortal (Second Stage) Storage: ¡¶Nine Yang Mystic Technique¡·, ¡¶Demonic Death Tome¡· Villain Points: 67,500 Luck Value: 150 (White) Chaos Treasures: Flying Immortal Sword Spirit Box, Seven Petal Blood Heart Lotus, Immortal Fairy Goddess Diagram Luck Artifact: Nine Yang Divine Sword Special: Divine Eyes of the Heavenly Fated Villain Next, he planned to use his villain points to upgrade his techniques and divine abilities in preparation for Beiyang¡¯s biggest event¡ªthe grand hunt! Chapter 75 Chapter 75: Su Xueni Enters the Immortal Fairy Goddess Diagram, The Great Hunt Begins! After the spring outing, several days passed quickly, and even Lin Qi¡¯an couldn¡¯t understand Zhao Yunji¡¯s intentions. She came under the pretext of breaking off the engagement but never formally mentioned it, instead living comfortably in Beiyang. ¡®Could she, like her sister, be infatuated with me? Could she be aware of my Dragon Yang Dao Physique; how how?¡¯ Both princesses remained in Beiyang, claiming they wanted to experience the grand event of the Great Hunt. Lin Qi¡¯an didn¡¯t interfere and just let them have their fun. Tonight, Su Xueni was called to Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s chamber. The two of them first strolled through the Peach Blossom Land within the Lotus Realm, discussing plans for construction and development. Then, they leisurely enjoyed tea together at a stone table. Gradually, Su Xueni¡¯s impression of Lin Qi¡¯an shifted from the lofty Prince to a reliable man. Finally, Lin Qi¡¯an brought up the main topic. ¡°By the way, do you remember the opportunity I mentioned to you last time?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an took out the ¡®Immortal Fairy Goddess Diagram.¡¯ ¡°Drop your blood on it.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Although Su Xueni didn¡¯t know what this was, she trusted that the heir wouldn¡¯t harm her, so she immediately complied. A drop of crimson blood fell onto the ancient scroll, and it slowly outlined a woman¡¯s portrait that looked just like Su Xueni. Once she was part of the Immortal Fairy Goddess Diagram, she would always belong to Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡°Your Highness, what is this?¡± Su Xueni felt an inexplicable connection to the scroll. ¡°Those on the diagram can obtain the opportunity of the Great Dao.¡± ¡°The Great Dao!¡± Upon hearing this term, Su Xueni¡¯s eyelids twitched violently. Could this mean the path to becoming a Great Emperor? ¡°Yes, I am giving you this opportunity. You can comprehend it on your own. Whether you can obtain the Great Emperor¡¯s inheritance depends on your own fortune.¡± Hearing this, Su Xueni was shocked beyond words. ¡®The Prince is giving me the chance of a Great Emperor? Is this something that can just be given away? The path to becoming a Great Emperor is something countless people dream of! What have I, Su Xueni, done to deserve such a precious gift?¡¯ ¡°As for things I want to do, I haven¡¯t thought much about it. Having a body is already a great blessing; in the future, I will serve you, Your Highness.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an laughed and said, ¡°Alright, if I ever come across your enemies, I¡¯ll take action for you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Your Highness, for your great kindness!¡± Now that there was Yang Flame Departure Technique and Lingyu¡¯s assistance, his control over the Nine Yang Divine Fire had reached a higher level. This divine fire could burn all things in the world, was unafraid of water, and was the nemesis of all demons and evil beings. Even a fierce beast like Jiuying would submit with just a wisp of the divine fire! Currently, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s realm was only at the fourth layer of the Transcendent Realm, but his actual combat power was beyond estimation, even by himself. To put it simply, an ordinary favored child of destiny could battle cultivators of a higher realm. Those with great luck could battle favored children of destiny. However, Lin Qi¡¯an could battle those with great luck across realms! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª- The Great Hunt is approaching! This is the grand event of Beiyang. At that time, billions of people from Tianjian City and even Beiyang, along with all sects and holy lands, could participate! However, only young people could join. It is said that the Sword Emperor of the past rose to fame by winning the Great Hunt. To this day, countless people wish to replicate the Sword Emperor¡¯s miracle, but it has always been imitated, never surpassed. The Great Hunt is divided into three stages: preliminaries, semi-finals, and hunting! At this moment, the preliminaries are in full swing in various regions. The method is simple: it¡¯s a battle, where the victor stays and the weaker leaves. After one round of selection, these people will enter the semi-finals. After another round of selection, the remaining 2,000 people will all be elites! These elites will enter a certain area together to start the final hunting stage. ¡°Ye Yun wins!¡± ¡°Xiao Chen wins!¡± These two children of destiny shone brightly in the first two rounds, advancing through the stages with more than ten consecutive victories! They have already made it to the final list. ¡°The opportunity has finally come.¡± ¡°In the Great Hunt, we will surely make our names known to the world!¡± ¡°Cheers!¡± Chapter 76 Chapter 76: Your Highness, I Am Willing to Join You! The winner is Wuling! ¡°Wow, he is the Holy Son of Taiwu Holy Land, the largest sect outside Tianjian City!¡± ¡°They say he¡¯s young, yet he¡¯s already at the peak of the Transcendent Realm and is likely close to reaching the Celestial Realm!¡± ¡°The battle techniques of Taiwu Holy Land are unmatched. Recently, this Holy Son was ambushed by three Celestial Realm experts from the Demon Sect. Can you guess what happened?¡± ¡°He actually killed one of them and escaped!¡± ¡°That¡¯s terrifying... He¡¯s definitely a top contender in this Great Hunt!¡± The winner is Mo Shuiqiu! ¡°Is she the Saintess from Yunmo Dao Palace? Is she participating too?¡± ¡°Tsk tsk, who knows what kind of exquisite figure is hidden under that loose daoist robe!¡± ¡°Hush, do you want to die? I heard that a Holy Son recently tried to take liberties with this fairy, and all 100 of his entourage were slaughtered! Their bodies were laid out, and the blood splattered like an ink painting..¡± ¡°So ruthless? Her strength should not be underestimated!¡± The winner is Chan Xin. ¡°Which sect is this monk from? Why does he look so lecherous?¡± ¡°Tsk tsk, his kasaya barely covers him, and you can see everything. How vulgar!¡± ¡°He¡¯s a genius from the Joyful Sect, practicing only the Joyous Zen. His power is terrifying... They say he¡¯s been with more women than you¡¯ve seen! And several at once!¡± ¡°His cultivation is also terrifying. The women participating in the Great Hunt should be careful!¡± Each region has also selected its participants. Xiao Chen and Ye Yun, two children of destiny, worked together to capture a fierce beast named Gui Che for Xiao Chen! Their strength surged and even their luck value increased. Ye Yun¡¯s divine skills also improved significantly, yielding great benefits. The two of them are convinced that they will stand out in the Great Hunt and wash away all previous humiliation! On the other hand, the four from the Demon Sect, Chi, Mei, Wang, Liang, also successfully qualified for participation. (TL: ÷Î (Chi?): Refers to mountain spirits or demons often depicted in Chinese mythology. ÷È (Me?i): Refers to female spirits or demons, sometimes associated with enchantment or illusion. All three maidservants were competing for this spot, and Lin Hongyu was the most direct, clinging to her brother¡¯s arm and acting spoiled. ¡°Brother, I want to participate! Take me!¡± ¡°No, you are too low in cultivation. If you get hurt, I would have to apologize to our parents.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an rejected his fourteen-year-old sister¡¯s request. On the other side, the two princesses were also not far away, heavily protected by strong guards. Ye Yun bowed to Zhao Yunji and said solemnly, ¡°Your Highness! A few days ago, I embarrassed you. In this Great Hunt, I will participate with Brother Xiao and strive to win glory for you...¡± His tone was sincere, showing that he had recognized his shortcomings and was working to correct them. Zhao Yunji nodded slightly and as for gaining glory, she didn¡¯t really care. These days, she had come to understand Lin Qi¡¯an as a man. Dominant, shameless, and roguish. He often called the maidservants to serve him at night. Yet he was also incredibly talented, with unmatched strength among the younger generation, and exceedingly handsome, the heartthrob of countless women. Simply put, he had the right to be arrogant! At least he was much better than those courteous hypocrites. His roguish charm made it hard for anyone to stay angry with him, sigh. ¡°Now, let me announce the rules!¡± An elder hovered in the air and announced loudly. ¡°First, upon entering the competition field, everyone must ride or walk, no flying, or you¡¯ll be disqualified!¡± This is because hundreds of cultivators will be following the projection. If everyone flies, it would be chaotic! At this moment, the images were projected to the audience and the spectators eagerly watched. Some even began to take out snacks and enjoy the show. ¡°Second, teams of two, each with one token.¡± ¡°Third, the hunting rules. After entering the competition field, successfully hunting a low-level fierce beast earns 1 point, a high-level fierce beast earns 3 points.¡± ¡°Seizing other teams¡¯ tokens earns 3 points. Successfully hunting the Golden-Winged Profound Sky Cicada earns 100 points!¡± ¡°Ultimately, the highest scorer wins. The winner can receive the Golden-Winged Profound Sky Cicada, a Heaven-rank technique, and a Sacred Rank weapon!¡± Hearing the rewards, nearly everyone was thrilled. Not only the contestants, but the audience also exclaimed loudly, with voices forming a continuous stream. Heaven-rank techniques and Sacred Rank weapons! As expected of Tianjian City, their generosity is astonishing! Any one of these items is at the level of a sect¡¯s treasure! ¡°What a pity, I wish I could participate, but I¡¯ve aged out.¡± ¡°Yeah, this is the stage for the young. The requirement is under forty years old. Those who are exactly forty have a huge advantage!¡± ¡°Indeed, the prince would be at a disadvantage if he participated, as he¡¯s only twenty and others have twenty more years of cultivation.¡± Chapter 77 Chapter 77: The Prince Wants to Take the Princess Along? Are You Crazy?! Heaven-rank techniques and Sacred Rank weapons! This grand event, held once every four years, can only be afforded by the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty. The participating cultivators were thoroughly excited. As for the Golden-Winged Xuan Sky Cicada, it didn¡¯t garner much attention. It¡¯s an ancient spiritual beast known for one thing: speed! It instinctively avoids those with spiritual energy. The elder holding it now is a Saint... For ordinary people, catching it is nearly impossible! So catching it grants a whole hundred points instantly! ¡°If I remember correctly, hardly anyone has caught that golden cicada in the past century, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, past winners always relied on capturing tokens and slaying fierce beasts for points.¡± ¡°Anyone who tries to catch that thing is just wasting their time... No one has caught it in a hundred years; this year will probably be no different!¡± Among everyone present, only one person was different. Zhao Qingmeng. She couldn¡¯t help but show a bitter smile, ¡®Golden-Winged Xuan Sky Cicada, finally seeing you again. Wonder if you¡¯ve delivered the message to Lin Qi¡¯an. If you did, why didn¡¯t he come to save me?¡¯ Indeed, in the future she experienced, this cicada became a love token and communication tool for the two. Once released, it could deliver messages anywhere. But in the final battle of carnage, Zhao Qingmeng waited for Lin Qi¡¯an in vain. ¡ª¡ª¡ª The rules were explained. Each team must have one person with a token hanging from their waist. If the token is taken, the team is disqualified! ¡°Ready?¡± ¡°Begin!¡± As the elder¡¯s voice fell, his hand released the cicada. The Golden-Winged Cicada flew off at an incredible speed, disappearing in a blink. At the same time, two thousand people, forming a thousand teams, charged past the starting line! ¡°Go!¡± Some rode horses, others set off on foot. ¡°No way!¡± ¡°It¡¯s absolutely impossible!¡± The strongest reactions came from the guards and protectors nearby. This hunt was unpredictable, with many people and fierce beasts. How could a mortal princess take such a risk? If she were injured, the Tai¡¯an Emperor would be furious! ¡°What¡¯s impossible! This is Beiyang¡¯s territory. With the Prince¡¯s protection, would I be in danger?¡± Zhao Qingmeng said with hands on her hips, snorting coldly. ¡°But...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if anything happens to her, I¡¯ll take responsibility,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an insisted. He knew this was the best chance to reduce Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s animosity and uncover what the future held. What connection does the golden cicada have with us? With the prince and princess¡¯s insistence, everyone fell silent. After all, it was just a competition. With the prince¡¯s protection, the princess should be safe. The horse was ready. ¡°Can you get on?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked. ¡®As a former empress, you ask if I can ride a horse? Are you insulting me?¡¯ ¡°No, I can¡¯t!¡± Zhao Qingmeng said confidently. She was indeed a delicate girl now, with no solution. Unexpectedly, Lin Qi¡¯an wrapped his arm around her waist and jumped onto the horse. He placed her in front and wrapped his arms around her to hold the reins. ¡°Hold on tight! Let¡¯s go!¡± Before Zhao Qingmeng realized it, Lin Qi¡¯an had already set off at a gallop. ¡°Prince, the token!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an took the number 1001 team token. No one expected the Prince to team up with Princess Qingle, effectively bringing along a burden. ¡°Go, Prince!¡± ¡°Bring glory to Beiyang!¡± ¡°Protect the princess well!¡± Shouts echoed from behind. Spectators from various sects and factions went wild when they saw this scene on the recording stones! Chapter 78 Chapter 78: The Crown Princess Joins the Battle in Anger! Lin Qi¡¯an Receives a New Task ¡°The Prince really joined the hunt! And he brought that princess who doesn¡¯t have a trace of cultivation, is he crazy?¡± ¡°No way! If I remember correctly, the Prince¡¯s fiance?e is still around here!¡± ¡°The Prince is hitting on her sister right in front of his fiance?e?¡± ¡°Hahaha, that¡¯s our Beiyang Prince, always playing with fire.¡± ¡°But how is the Prince supposed to hunt with her? Is he just sightseeing?¡± ¡°Forget it, he probably doesn¡¯t even plan to win; he¡¯s just out there having fun. Look how leisurely he rides his horse!¡± ¡°I¡¯m suddenly so jealous. The Prince and Princess Qingle are a perfect match, and she looks so petite and protective...¡± ¡°Stop projecting yourself onto the Prince and fantasizing about the princess, it¡¯s disgusting!¡± In any case, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s departure immediately brought the scene to its peak excitement. He is a star in Beiyang! Add in the princess, and the excitement doubles. Some people even started shipping them as a couple. ¡°Hyah!¡± On the vast plains, Lin Qi¡¯an galloped on his horse, his white robe fluttering in the wind. In his arms sat the blushing little princess, dressed in a frost-colored long dress adorned with countless dark golden dragons with closed eyes, extremely elegant. ¡®This feeling, it¡¯s pretty nice. Why does it give me the illusion that Lin Qi¡¯an is a good man?.¡¯ Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s heart raced. ¡®Fortunately, I¡¯m facing away from him, or it would be too embarrassing if he saw my expression.¡¯ Little did she know, every thought she had was heard clearly. Outside, countless people were eagerly watching the two riding together. Compared to fighting and killing, isn¡¯t this more enjoyable to watch than the Prince? Zhao Yunjing: ... Heaven knows how angry she was. ¡®Does this Crown Princess have no face? The man you¡¯re cheering for is my fiance?! As long as the engagement isn¡¯t broken, he¡¯s my man.¡¯ ¡®First, he cultivates with other women in front of me, and now he flirts with my sister? Lin Qi¡¯an, you¡¯ve got guts!¡¯ ¡°Who dares to fight alongside this princess?¡± a clear voice rang out across the sky. At the same time, Zhao Yunjing, dressed in a golden gown and exuding unmatched elegance, leapt to the forefront. Everyone was shocked, the Crown Princess is joining the battle?! ¡°Does a fiance?e smell better than a little sister?¡± ¡°Pfft...¡± Zhao Qingmeng couldn¡¯t help but laugh. It seems some things haven¡¯t changed; he said the same thing in her previous life. ¡¾Ding! The host¡¯s heart is not dedicated, exhibiting a villain¡¯s charm, villain points +1000¡¿ ¡¾New task received: Make All Bow Down¡¿ ¡¾Task requirements: Make one hundred teams kneel and take their tokens¡¿ ¡¾Reward: 30,000 villain points, location guide to the Thunder Emperor¡¯s Mansion¡¿ After seeing the task requirements, even Lin Qi¡¯an couldn¡¯t help but gasp. He needed to make a hundred teams kneel and offer their tokens! Isn¡¯t that too domineering? There are only a thousand teams in total; this means I have to defeat one-tenth of them. These people are the young geniuses and strongmen from all the sects in Beiyang. You can say, a villain is indeed a villain... Fortunately, it¡¯s not about killing them; they¡¯re all from Beiyang sects, so rampant killing wouldn¡¯t be good. The rewards are quite rich! The location of the Thunder Emperor¡¯s inheritance... According to ancient records, the Thunder Emperor made his name 30,000 years ago during a chaotic era when demonic sects thrived, and demons ran rampant. Wherever the Thunder Emperor¡¯s divine lightning passed, all became ruins! He single-handedly slaughtered countless demons, instilling fear in the Demon Sect. He is someone on par with the Sword Emperor. Honestly, if it were any other great emperor¡¯s inheritance, Lin Qi¡¯an might not even be interested, but the Thunder Emperor¡¯s is intriguing! It¡¯s said that his fiance?e cultivates the Heavenly Extreme Five Thunder Technique. If she finds out her fiance? has the Thunder Emperor¡¯s inheritance, will she question her life choices? ¡¾Accept the task?¡¿ ¡°Accept,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an agreed without hesitation. ¡¾Ding! Task accepted successfully, task assistance obtained: Full Map Vision¡¿ A map immediately appeared in Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s mind, dotted with over a thousand small red points, like a radar. No doubt, these are the locations of other teams! This is like having a cheat code. Chapter 79 Chapter 79: The Prince Encounters Chan Xin! A Seeded Competitor in the First Battle The hour of protection has passed and teams are now free to engage each other. In the hunt, all participants are young talents selected for their strength, and they bear the risk of life and death. Those in the sky holding the recording stones are there to document and typically do not interfere in battles. Lin Qi¡¯an and Zhao Qingmeng, due to their slow pace, hadn¡¯t encountered anyone after three hours of travel. However, with the radar map of the Great Tai Mountain Plains, finding someone was simple. Ahead in the forest, signs of battle finally appeared. Trees swayed, fierce winds howled, birds and beasts scattered! ¡°It seems there are people fighting ahead, should we go around?¡± Zhao Qingmeng asked. ¡°Why go around? Of course, we should check it out.¡± ¡°You... you¡¯re not planning to actually join the fight, are you? I can¡¯t help you!¡± Zhao Qingmeng pouted. She thought this trip was purely for sightseeing since she couldn¡¯t fight, but it seemed Lin Qi¡¯an had different plans. ¡°Did I say I needed your help? Just watch obediently.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an smiled slightly and rode forward. ¡ª In the forest, two teams were engaged in battle. One team consisted of disciples from the Tianshan Sect, a junior brother and sister. The other was led by the infamous lecherous monk, Chan Xin! This battle was the focus, and the scene had already been transmitted through the projection stones. ¡°Encountering Chan Xin, it seems this team is doomed¡± ¡°This monk looks strange, but his skills are formidable!¡± ¡°Indeed, he¡¯s one of the seeded competitors!¡± As expected, after a fierce fight, Chan Xin overwhelmed the pair with his strength. His robes half-open, he approached the female disciple with a sinister smile. ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer! I¡¯ll give you my token, just don¡¯t do anything!¡± The female disciple hastily threw her token away in fear. She had heard of Chan Xin¡¯s reputation; women spoke of him with dread. A monk practicing Joyful Zen¡ªthose who know, know. Chan Xin casually crushed the token, earning +3 points. Still smiling, he walked toward the female disciple, staring at her intently. ¡°Dear benefactor, our meeting today must be fate. How about we cultivate together?¡± Chan Xin clasped his hands with an eerie smile, sending shivers down her spine. ¡°Indeed, and the prince brought the princess with no cultivation, while Chan Xin has two strong fighters¡± ¡°In the Great Hunt, many want to make a name by defeating the prince. Chan Xin won¡¯t miss this chance¡± In the Great Hunt, Tianjian City is the host. Even if the prince is injured in a normal battle, it¡¯s considered acceptable, and Tianjian City won¡¯t pursue it. ¡°It¡¯s the prince and the princess!¡± Chan Xin immediately lost interest in the female disciple. Everyone was curious about how the heir would handle Chan Xin. The prince in white spoke calmly, ¡°Kneel and offer your token.¡± With one sentence, the prince ignited the atmosphere. ¡°My god, the prince is too bold!¡± ¡°I thought the prince wouldn¡¯t fight, but he demands kneeling and offering tokens with just a word!¡± ¡°Ah, my heart¡¯s melting for the prince, he¡¯s unbelievably cool¡± ¡°Is the prince so confident he can handle Chan Xin? There are two of them!¡± ¡°Go, prince, beat that monk!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an had no idea so many people were watching. To complete the task, he had to do this. ¡°Kneel... haha, the prince must be joking.¡± Chan Xin¡¯s eyes narrowed, and his body erupted with golden light! A colossal figure materialized behind him, a radiant golden body. His eyes gleamed with golden light, wearing Buddhist beads, his whole body like cast gold. ¡°It¡¯s the Vajra Arhat Body!¡± ¡°Chan Xin is going all out, aiming to crush the heir!¡± ¡°With an indestructible body, can the prince win?¡± ¡°Please enlighten me, prince!¡± Buddhist chants thundered through the air. The massive figure slammed down with a palm, like Mount Tai descending! Chapter 80 Chapter 80: One Finger Breaks the Form, Lin Qi¡¯an Acquires a Special Rosary The massive dark-golden palm descended from the sky! As the enormous shadow approached, Lin Qi¡¯an remained calm, and the Nine Yang Divine Sword flew out from his sleeve. With a casual flick of his finger, he tapped the sword¡¯s scabbard. The divine technique of Tianjian City, Heavenly Sword Finger! In an instant, the heavens changed color, and fierce winds howled, spreading violently for miles! Trees and plants were pressed down by the hurricane. Chan Xin¡¯s massive form had its forehead pierced instantly, with countless cracks spreading. Crack! It shattered with a crash. Chan Xin spat out a mouthful of blood and retreated a hundred meters. Zhao Qingmeng covered her mouth, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief, ¡®One finger, one sword, shatters the Vajra Body. No wonder I chose this man.¡¯ Just now, Lin Qi¡¯an even diverted some power to protect her! He shielded her from the residual energy to prevent her from getting hurt. Even though she had the Holy Origin Golden Bell for protection and wouldn¡¯t have been harmed. Even while multitasking, Lin Qi¡¯an shattered Chan Xin¡¯s invincible form with overwhelming force! ¡®Hmph, I knew you cared about me, Your Highness.¡¯ Lin Qi¡¯an: ... ¡®A former Empress shouldn¡¯t think like a lovestruck young girl, right? You¡¯re making it hard for me to stay composed!¡¯ The others present, including the female disciple Chan Xin had defeated, were as surprised as they were delighted. She had just experienced Chan Xin¡¯s strength firsthand, being effortlessly overpowered two-on-one! He was one of the seed competitors in this hunting battle! Yet, the Prince, while protecting the princess, broke Chan Xin¡¯s strongest technique with a single finger! ¡®The Prince is truly mighty! No wonder he¡¯s our Beiyang Prince...Being saved by the Prince is definitely a heroic rescue! When I return, I must brag to my fellow disciples~¡¯ As she thought, a blush spread across her cheeks. Meanwhile, the spectators went from worrying about the Prince being defeated by Chan Xin to celebrating with wild cheers! The deafening cheers formed waves of sound that echoed across the plains. It was almost more enthusiastic than the previous Great Hunt¡¯s winner! ¡°The Prince is too powerful! Who said he would fear Chan Xin? Did you see? This is the Beiyang Prince, the pride of Beiyang!¡± ¡°Hahaha, well done! So satisfying. The lecherous monk probably never imagined he¡¯d be eliminated immediately.¡± Everyone knew that the prince¡¯s ten breaths were more like two! When ten passed, it immediately became one! If you dared hesitate, he would end your life. Lin Qi¡¯an took the token and crushed it casually, adding +3 to his hunting points. Meanwhile, the mission progress updated. ¡¾Mission Progress: 1/100¡¿ He thought, ¡®I¡¯d better defeat more teams on the first day, or there won¡¯t be any left later... As for this lecherous monk, I might as well kill him.¡¯ ¡°Prince, this monk has something to offer! I only ask for your mercy.¡± Sensing the killing intent in the Prince¡¯s eyes, Chan Xin was terrified and quickly took out his treasure. ¡°You think I¡¯d be interested in your stuff?¡± ¡°The Prince, this rosary is my favorite treasure. It can shrink freely and bind people!¡± A binding rosary?! ¡°Well, I can¡¯t say no to that.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an suddenly thought of Zhao Qingmeng, she might enjoy a binding play. Taking advantage of Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s distraction, Chan Xin quickly fled, voluntarily leaving the hunting battleground, not daring to make a sound. The female disciple from the Heavenly Mountain Sect hurried to Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s side and bowed, ¡°Thank you, Prince, for your assistance!¡± Her heart was filled with gratitude. The prince was handsome and unrivaled in strength. Much better than her useless senior brother, a million times better! After she flew away, Lin Qi¡¯an and Zhao Qingmeng also left, riding off to find the next target. Zhao Qingmeng enjoyed the feeling of being held by Lin Qi¡¯an while riding, feeling safe. However... women like gentleness, while men enjoy excitement and slaughter. ¡°Where are we going next?¡± ¡°To find people and fight.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it nice to just wander around and enjoy the scenery?¡± ¡°No.¡± He planned to crush a hundred teams, with no time for romance. ¡°Why did you take that weird rosary?¡± ¡°Guess...¡± Chapter 81 Chapter 81: The Prince Ranks First at the End of the First Day¡¯s Battle The first day¡¯s hunting battle was coming to a close and fighting was fierce! Some teams focused on hunting fierce beasts, while others sought out people to fight. By the end of the day, nearly two hundred teams had been eliminated! The points leaderboard was updating rapidly. Earlier in the day, the Holy Son from the Taiwu Holy Land, Wu Ling, was in the lead with 20 points! Mo Shuiqiu from the Yunmo Dao Palace followed closely with 17 points. These two teams likely increased their points by preying on other teams, climbing rapidly. One of the seeded competitors, Chan Xin, was eliminated tragically. But later on, Team 1002 caught up at an incredible pace, quickly surpassing Wu Ling to take the lead. This team consisted of Princess Zhao Yunjing of Tai¡¯an and Saintess Su Xueni of Tianchi. They formed nearly the strongest female duo... The top two ranked beauties in the Canglan Dao Domain, their strength was equally terrifying, which was unexpected. However, just as everyone thought they would maintain the top spot, a dark horse charged through, unstoppable, and took the lead, surpassing everyone! Team 108. ¡°Who are they? I have no impression of them!¡± ¡°They shouldn¡¯t be any sect¡¯s son, they seem ordinary!¡± ¡°I remember! This person is Ye Yun, the commander of the princess¡¯s guards, who was once punished by the prince with a hundred lashes!¡± ¡°Really? Even a guard can be this strong? That¡¯s absurd... The other one is also quite formidable, able to use various beast abilities!¡± ¡°Wait, these two aren¡¯t from Beiyang, will they take first place?¡± Indeed, these two were none other than the combination of two children of destiny, Ling Tian and Xiao Chen. The so-called children of destiny thrive once given a stage. They trample all those so-called prodigies beneath their feet! Even the radiant Princess Zhao Yunjing was slightly overshadowed by them. Seeing these two climb to the top, Zi Lianyou and Ran Yuwei were displeased. Xiao Chen and Ye Yun had long been old adversaries of the prince. Their rise to the top meant overshadowing the prince. ¡°Our chance has come...¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t expect the little princess to run out herself, with no guards around, heaven is helping us!¡± ¡°Haha, she trusts that Beiyang Prince too much, thinking no one would dare touch him in Beiyang. Set up the array, they¡¯ll be here soon.¡± The Ghost Fiend Palace, Chi Mei Wang Liang, had four people. Their goal was to capture Zhao Qingmeng. The Great Hunt was just for fun, to kill some sect prodigies and grab rewards, but unexpectedly, Zhao Qingmeng joined herself! After a day¡¯s tracking, they finally found the Beiyang heir and discovered he was pursuing various teams. Tonight, they set up a bonfire nearby on purpose. The blue smoke rose straight into the night sky. They were not worried that he wouldn¡¯t take the bait. ¡°Heard the Beiyang prince has many sacred weapons, wouldn¡¯t it be great to kill him?¡± ¡°Of course, but we must first use the Four Netherworld Formation to isolate the outside world, don¡¯t let anyone know...¡± ¡°Otherwise, the Sword Emperor¡¯s wrath isn¡¯t something we can bear.¡± The four slowly sank into the ground, leaving only the bonfire crackling away. Lin Qi¡¯an, with Zhao Qingmeng, was already heading toward the bonfire. ¡°After a whole day, I¡¯m exhausted...¡± Zhao Qingmeng was, after all, a mortal, unable to endure long journeys, now almost collapsing on the horse. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll rest soon, let¡¯s check if there¡¯s anyone at that bonfire ahead first.¡± ¡°Grumble...¡± Zhao Qingmeng stomach growled and she had become numb. Lin Qi¡¯an defeated dozens of teams in a day, needing no help from her. And every victory required the defeated to kneel and present their tokens. A peculiar hobby? Though tired, Zhao Qingmeng was happy, just being a cheerleader and winning. Mortals have their benefits, always being protected. Her hatred for Lin Qi¡¯an also quietly dwindled. ¡°Nobody?¡± Before the bonfire, it was empty. Chapter 82 Chapter 82: Ambushed! Trapped in a Dark Formation ¡°No one?¡± Looking at the empty bonfire, Lin Qi¡¯an pondered. According to the radar map in his mind, there should have been four people here, hiding. ¡®Oh well, I can¡¯t be bothered with them.¡¯ ¡°Get down.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an dismounted and he turned to see the little princess looking at him wistfully, with a hint of pitifulness. ¡°Oh, sorry, I forgot.¡± He helped her down from the horse, taking just a few steps when¡ª Boom! The ground suddenly erupted! Countless clods of earth and sand exploded. Mixed within were dozens of black talismans. The explosion turned into a dense black smoke! Simultaneously, at the four corners, four men in black robes sprang up from the ground. A large, dark formation quickly formed in mid-air, enveloping Lin Qi¡¯an and Zhao Qingmeng. ¡°Hahahaha! The Beiyang prince and the Tai¡¯an princess, I can¡¯t believe you fell into our hands so easily!¡± Of course, Lin Qi¡¯an and Zhao Qingmeng were unharmed because the black smoke wasn¡¯t lethal; it was a slow-acting poison. ¡°Cough, cough...¡± The little princess coughed a few times, but golden light already shimmered around her; her protective sacred artifact had activated. As for Lin Qi¡¯an, he looked at the four black-robed men with interest, ¡°You guys are from the Demon Sect?¡± ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an! You might not know it yet, but you¡¯re doomed. This is the Four Netherworld Formation, built with our combined power. No aura can escape, and to others, this place will appear as utter darkness.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already entered a lightless prison. Soon, you¡¯ll inhale this black smoke, your spiritual apertures will lock, and you¡¯ll become a cripple!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think about breaking the formation, heir. You¡¯ve been traveling and fighting all day; surely your strength is nearly spent!¡± ¡°And we four are all at our peak! I didn¡¯t expect this mission to be so easy, catching two big fish at once.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an frowned. ¡°So, we¡¯re trapped in here to die?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. But only you will die; we wouldn¡¯t dare kill the princess, she needs to be taken back. This princess is quite charming; maybe we should savor her first?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an yawned, ¡°Fine, you all take your time; I¡¯ll get some sleep first.¡± With a thought, the Lotus Realm opened, drawing the two of them inside. Seeing this, the four were dumbfounded. ¡°This is...¡± ¡°A top-tier Heaven Rank Technique, I¡¯ve transcribed it for you!¡± Zhao Qingmeng felt guilty. Lin Qi¡¯an not only brought her to the Great Hunt but protected her throughout, and now she had become a burden. The group¡¯s goal was to capture her and kill Lin Qi¡¯an in the process! She wanted to repay him with something but had nothing on her. Except for the techniques and divine abilities from her memory. Lin Qi¡¯an was about to ask why she was giving this to him, but hearing her inner thoughts, he didn¡¯t need to. ¡°Since I¡¯ve promised to protect you, it¡¯s my duty; no need to thank me...¡± ¡°And this too, for you!¡± Zhao Qingmeng produced more pages, also filled with handwritten script. ¡¾Six Paths Reincarnation Fist¡¿ ¡®Wait, isn¡¯t this the secret of the Six Paths Divine Palace... Only the sect leader¡¯s personal disciples can learn this divine ability, yet she has it!¡¯ ¡°Cough, cough... This gift is a bit too precious. ¡°And these, all Ninth-Grade Divine Pill recipes. As far as I know, the Pill Emperor of Beiyang doesn¡¯t even know these formulas!¡± Zhao Qingmeng, full of pride, handed over a stack of papers. Ninth-Grade Divine Pill recipes... One would drive all alchemists in the Canglan Dao Domain mad! Even the Pill Emperor would be thrilled, unable to sleep for three days and nights. ¡®Is it really appropriate to give me so much at once?¡¯ Lin Qi¡¯an felt a bit touched. Though Zhao Qingmeng had many schemes and initially harbored ill intentions. Once she genuinely cared, she was like an innocent little girl, sharing all her treasured toys with you! ¡°I¡¯ll accept them all then...¡± Lin Qi¡¯an stored them in his ring, stretched lazily, and stood up. ¡°But I can¡¯t take these for nothing, so I¡¯ll go deal with those outside, then you can come out?¡± ¡°Okay, but be careful!¡± ¡®Even if you die, it should be by my hand, hmph, don¡¯t let anyone else kill you¡¯ ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they can¡¯t harm me.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Zhao Qingmeng suddenly removed the beautiful golden bell from her wrist. ¡°You take this too. If there¡¯s danger, it can protect you.¡± ¡®This is crazy... This is your protective sacred artifact, the Holy Yuan Golden Bell, personally crafted by Emperor Tai¡¯an!¡¯ Chapter 83 Chapter 83: The Crown Prince to Annihilate the Demon Sect, the Sword Emperor Takes Action! A male disciple of Tianjian City named Xiao Wu happened to pass by nearby. He was one of the ¡°photographers¡± responsible for recording the competition¡¯s events. The image stone he held was connected to a large image stone on the plains. Once activated, it could project the recorded scenes over there. Xiao Wu was quite unlucky; he hadn¡¯t recorded any exciting battle scenes all day and was exhausted from running around. Probably, no one was watching the projection area of his image stone... he thought dejectedly. At this moment, he noticed a mysterious dark area! He could hardly see inside or hear anything, as if some isolating formation was in place. ¡°Is someone fighting in there?!¡± The sharp-eyed Xiao Wu immediately found a hidden spot, infusing spiritual power into the image stone, ready to record at any moment. ... On the plains, since nighttime was mainly for resting, there weren¡¯t many image stones broadcasting, and many staff members were resting. Those bored cultivators wandered around, looking for image stones still broadcasting to pass the time. Coincidentally, they saw Xiao Wu¡¯s stone and were puzzled. ¡°What is this? Why is it all black? You can¡¯t see anything!¡± ¡°Yeah, who¡¯s controlling this image stone? Why keep it on with nothing to see, to entertain us?¡± ¡°Haha, maybe the person fell asleep!¡± ¡°Forget it; can you expect to see any exciting battles at night? Better rest for tomorrow.¡± ¡°Wait! Don¡¯t you find this dark area strange... From my experience, it¡¯s likely some sort of hidden formation!¡± An older and more experienced cultivator suddenly spoke up which immediately drew a lot of attention. ¡°Senior, you mean there¡¯s a fight inside?¡± ¡°Why hide the fight with a formation?¡± ¡°Right, are they doing something shady!¡± Gradually, more and more cultivators gathered here, all curious about what was happening inside the formation. ... Spatial fluctuations! Lin Qi¡¯an left the Lotus Realm. He naturally didn¡¯t take the Sacred Origin Golden Bell. Dealing with four cultivators at the Transcendent Realm didn¡¯t require using three sacred weapons; that would be overestimating them. ¡°They¡¯re out!¡± The four members of the Demon Sect, who had been maintaining the barrier, were delighted when Lin Qi¡¯an appeared, immediately boosting their spirits. ¡°Looks like the Crown Prince can no longer hold on? Where¡¯s the princess? Hand her over, and maybe we¡¯ll give you a less painful death.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an sighed, ¡°Do you really think this black fog, this barrier, can affect me?¡± ¡°What? Take me to see it immediately!¡± The Qinglong Saintess was shocked, flying up without further explanation, her dress billowing. If the Crown Prince had the ancestral dragon¡¯s power, she must find ways to please him; maybe she could gain some of the ancestral dragon¡¯s legacy... ¡°Even at night, we can see the Crown Prince fight? Let¡¯s go quickly!¡± ¡°Wait, didn¡¯t the Crown Prince fight all day, defeating dozens of teams? Does he still have energy?¡± ¡°Indeed, the Crown Prince fought one against two, which should be even more draining!¡± As more people gathered, the noise grew louder. ¡°Who¡¯s making such a racket, can¡¯t a person sleep at night?¡± ¡°They say the image stone shows the Crown Prince!¡± ¡°Then who cares about sleep? Let¡¯s go watch!¡± Even Xiao Wu didn¡¯t know that due to him capturing the Crown Prince, the viewers went from a few to a crowded throng. In the woods, the four members of the Demon Sect were in shock! ¡°Dragon might...impossible!¡± ¡°How can a cultivator at the Transcendent Realm have such terrifying power!¡± Their pupils constricted in horror and a massive fear gripped their hearts. It was like an invisible black hand slowly squeezing their hearts. ¡°This person is unbeatable, retreat quickly!¡± The eldest, Chi, reacted the fastest and tried to fly away immediately. With the formation broken, fighting here might attract others, making escape impossible, but he was met with a golden divine fire. Realizing it, they were already trapped in a fiery cage and were unable to escape. A palm strike brought scorching pain to the soul. ¡°Ah!!¡± ¡°What is this fire?!¡± The four were terrified, trapped in the flame prison. The Nine Yang Divine Fire could burn everything; how could these Demon Sect cultivators break through? The four unleashed various divine powers and treasures on the prison, all incinerated by the divine fire, none effective. ¡°Did I allow you to leave?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s calm voice rang out. They were utterly terrified! Is the Crown Prince of Beiyang even human with this battle strength? He¡¯s a monster. ¡°Your Highness! We offended you; please forgive us!¡± They began begging for mercy. Chapter 84 Chapter 84: The Crown Prince to Annihilate the Demon Sect, the Sword Emperor Takes Action! Dragon might, sacred weapons, divine fire... Each of these trump cards is an existence capable of defying the heavens, and he possesses them all? Who knew that the true power of this crown prince was so terrifying? Had they heard even a whisper of this, they wouldn¡¯t have dared to provoke him! The audience was exhilarated watching this. ¡°Who do they think they are, daring to challenge the Crown Prince? Courting death!¡± ¡°These sneaky individuals, four against one, must be from the Demon Sect! The Crown Prince fights four with ease, truly satisfying!¡± At this moment, Zhao Qingmeng emerged from the Lotus Realm. She blinked, quite puzzled, ¡®How long had it been? Is the battle already over?¡¯ It seems her worries were unnecessary; Lin Qi¡¯an always provided a sense of security. ¡°Two things. First, kneel and offer the medallion.¡± ¡°Certainly, certainly!¡± Two of them hurriedly knelt, presenting the medallion respectfully. The task progress increased by 2. ¡°The second thing, from you, I ask and you answer. Which sect do you belong to?¡± The first to be questioned happened to be the leader of the four, Chi. In the Demon Sect, one never reveals their sect, it¡¯s a rule, and breaking it means death. Naturally, he stammered and hesitated. ¡°I¡¯ll give you ten counts.¡± ¡°Ten, one. Unfortunately, time¡¯s up.¡± The Nine Yang Divine Sword flew up, piercing through the man¡¯s chest in an instant, leaving a golden flame burning fiercely. ¡°Ah!!!¡± Amidst the screams, his body was incinerated, leaving nothing behind. Xiao Wu, still in shock, saw the Crown Prince approaching and felt a chill. Had he been discovered? ¡°Come out,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said calmly. Xiao Wu hurried out, kneeling on one knee: ¡°Greetings, Your Highness!¡± ¡°Point the image stone at me.¡± ¡°As you command...¡± At this moment, the image stone focused on Lin Qi¡¯an, giving him a close-up. Handsome in white, graceful like jade. ¡°The Ghost Fiend Quartet plotted against me, this sect has no reason to exist.¡± From these words, people understood only one thing. The Crown Prince intended to annihilate the Ghost Fiend Palace! ¡°I¡¯ve heard of this sect, but no one knows its exact location!¡± ¡°Yes, Misty Ghost Mountain is vast, said to have a hidden formation blending with nature, even a half-saint couldn¡¯t find it.¡± ¡°Beiyang is strong, but rooting them out is no easy task.¡± These Demon Sects excel at hiding, sneaky tactics. Ordinary people can¡¯t uproot them. On the exclusive stand was Sword Emperor Lin Weixuan, with deep, sharp eyes, as if containing a formidable sword aura. ¡°Did you hear my son? Does anyone know where this sect is?¡± Below, a group of saints and half-saints all looked troubled. ¡°Sword Emperor, the sect¡¯s protective formation blends with the clouds, one with nature, hard to detect.¡± ¡°I am willing to investigate, once found, I will annihilate this sect immediately!¡± Ghost Feind Palace confidence came from their security. Even if their base was exposed, it wouldn¡¯t be easily found. Unless someone destroyed the entire mountain range spanning hundreds of miles! ¡°Forget it, I will go myself.¡± Everyone was shocked! For his son, the Sword Emperor would take action personally! Chapter 85 Chapter 85 A streak of sword energy tore through the sky, splitting the sun and moon, traversing the heavens and earth! Beneath the plains, millions looked up in astonishment, their hearts trembling violently. ¡°An aura of the Great Emperor...¡± ¡°The Sword Emperor himself has made a move, intending to destroy that Demon Palace!¡± ¡°Heavens, this is too overwhelming! It¡¯s said that the Sword Emperor dotes on his children exceedingly, and indeed, it¡¯s true.¡± The other Great Emperors of Beiyang gazed at the sky, murmuring to themselves. ¡°With this strike, the entire Canglan Dao Domain will likely be reminded of the Sword Emperor¡¯s might.¡± ¡°The world thinks the Sword Emperor has lost the godly valor he had when he conquered all sides three thousand years ago, but how could they know that he is now even more terrifying.¡± ... A step from the Great Emperor spans ten thousand miles. Misty Ghost Mountain, Ghost Fiend Palace. The Ghost King was in the midst of harvesting the essence of a female cultivator. After a moment of enjoyment, the flesh and blood on her body withered away, leaving behind a dried corpse. Such is the inhuman cruelty of the demonic cultivation! ¡°If I can successfully capture that imperial princess, I too shall become an emperor in the future.¡± A sinister smile curled at the corner of his mouth. The Supreme Yin Jade Maiden Physique, one of the top dual cultivation furnaces in the world. It doesn¡¯t directly elevate one¡¯s cultivation level but makes every future breakthrough far easier! An ancestor had experienced it before. By harvesting the essence of a Supreme Yin Jade Maiden Physique, the bottlenecks in what were considered insurmountable realms became much easier to break through, allowing an almost unobstructed rise to the peak. Eventually, he became an emperor, dominating the Dao Domain. Unfortunately, he was ultimately destroyed by the Thunder Emperor, leading to the decline of the demonic sect. If he can capture the young imperial princess, within no more than a hundred years, he will surely lead the demonic sect to flourish again! Until then, the Ghost King had no plans of leaving. As long as he stayed within the great formation, he was absolutely safe. Even if a Great Emperor comes personally, it would be impossible to find this place. Boom! At this moment, an earthquake erupted, and a violent roar came from above. The Ghost King immediately stepped outside the hall. He looked up and his face turned deathly pale! ... Before long. The Sword Emperor returned and eeryone knew that the Ghost Fiend Palace had been annihilated. ... At dawn. The second day of the Grand Hunt officially began. There was no denying it; the team in group 108, where the two Sons of Fortune were, scored incredibly fast. Even though Lin Qi¡¯an took it easy for an entire night, they had already risen to first place. Meanwhile, the team in group 1002, where the two fairies were, didn¡¯t fall behind in the slightest. The other leading teams, who were also seed candidates, stayed at the forefront as well. On this new day, Lin Qi¡¯an continued to hunt down teams. Any team that encountered the Crown Prince had to kneel and hand over their tokens, which became a popular topic of discussion. Every time people saw the Crown Prince in action, they anticipated how the opponent would kneel. Therefore, whenever a projection stone showed Lin Qi¡¯an in action, it was always packed with people! ¡°Your Highness, here is the token!¡± ¡°Your Highness, please accept the token!¡± One team after another was subdued by Lin Qi¡¯an. Speed was the highlight! Others might have to fight fiercely for a long time to seize a single token. But for him, it didn¡¯t even take half a cup of tea¡¯s time. With a Sacred Rank weapon and Divine Fire, he was far ahead of these ordinary geniuses; there was no need to even use his Dragon Might. ¡¾Mission Progress: 52%¡¿ According to the map in his mind, Lin Qi¡¯an noticed that there was no one nearby. The closest group was in a mountain gorge twenty miles away. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the Mountain Goblin Gorge.¡± Hearing this, Zhao Qingmeng shuddered with a chill, her body instinctively curling up. ¡°The mountain goblins there are extremely ugly and have a special fetish for human women. Just thinking about it is disgusting!¡± ¡°With me here, what are you afraid of?¡± ¡°Then... you must protect this princess well!¡± Chapter 86 Chapter 86 Mountain Goblin Gorge. The cliff was lush with vegetation, and the distant mountains stretched endlessly, shrouded in mist, forming a series of picturesque landscapes. Mo Shuiqiu, the Saintess of Yunmo Dao Palace, along with a senior martial brother, was hunting a Mountain Goblin King in the gorge! Mo Shuiqiu was dressed in a loose daoist robe with cloud patterns inked on it. Despite the loose fit, her movements revealed tight curves, exuding a unique lazy beauty. ¡°Junior Sister, hold on! I¡¯m coming to help you!¡± This Mountain Goblin King was the lord of this area, standing five meters tall, with cultivation at the Transcendent Realm. It could move through mountains and earth effortlessly, possessing immense strength! It ran swiftly along the cliffs, occasionally spewing out streams of spiritual energy from its bright red nostrils. Boom! Boom! Boom! Explosions echoed continuously along the cliffs. Mo Shuiqiu stood in the center of the gorge, using her brush to draw numerous large falcons and birds, which transformed into ink beasts and attacked the Mountain Goblin King, engaging in an intense battle. Her senior brother was meticulously drawing a six-winged lion, which required immense effort and spiritual energy. Once completed, it would surely subdue the Mountain Goblin King! However, just as the battle was at its peak, a golden scroll suddenly flew into the sky and rapidly expanded. The golden light filled the air, with countless images of flowers, birds, grasses, and fish appearing, encompassing all aspects of nature. Yes, it was Xiao Chen¡¯s ¡°Myriad Beasts Scroll.¡± ¡°Capture!¡± The golden light surged. The Mountain Goblin King was enveloped within it, unable to move. Its entire body was being absorbed into the scroll! ¡°SSSSHHH!~~~¡± The shrill cry sounded like thousands of bamboo sticks being ripped apart! It echoed throughout the valley, resonating endlessly. Mo Shuiqiu and her senior brother instinctively covered their ears. They watched as the Mountain Goblin King was sucked into the scroll, which then shrank and flew into the hand of another man. ¡°Thank you for the generous gift!¡± Xiao Chen laughed heartily, turned, and left, his aura significantly stronger. This hunting competition had become the perfect opportunity for him to grow stronger. ¡°Damn it! Who would have thought this person would reap the benefits without lifting a finger!¡± Watching Xiao Chen leave from the top of the gorge, the senior brother was furious. If they had subdued the Mountain Goblin King, they would have earned at least three points, which was equivalent to defeating a team. ¡°Forget it, it¡¯s just a minor gain. People like him will never achieve greatness.¡± Mo Shuiqiu, who had loved literature and painting since childhood, had a cultured temperament and was naturally more refined, not easily moved by emotions. Boom! On the plains, in front of the projection stone. Countless cultivators flocked to the scene. All for a single statement: The Crown Prince encounters a Celestial Realm ferocious beast! Almost instantly, this statement spread across dozens of miles on the plains. Countless figures from various sects and factions flew towards the scene. ¡°Where is the Crown Prince¡¯s projection stone!¡± ¡°Over there! Can¡¯t you see everyone flying in that direction?¡± ¡°Hurry!¡± The projection stone showing Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s image was surrounded by layers of people. There were even people crowding in the air... ¡°Isn¡¯t that the Saintess of Yunmo Dao Palace? She¡¯s one of the seed candidates!¡± ¡°My god, that really is a Celestial Realm beast! Look at the size of that body.¡± ¡°The Crown Prince is confronting it head-on. Could he be doing it to save the Saintess of Yunmo Dao Palace?¡± ¡°It seems so...¡± ¡°Damn, these beasts have no reservations. Won¡¯t they attack the Crown Prince with full force?¡± Some were just there to watch, but many were genuinely concerned for Lin Qi¡¯an. A Celestial Realm beast was an entire major realm above Lin Qi¡¯an. Even the Saintess of Yunmo, a seed candidate, had no resistance. No matter how strong the Crown Prince was, he couldn¡¯t possibly be a match... ¡°Damn that beast, how infuriating!!¡± Everyone in the Yunmo Dao Palace was in despair. They had been watching this spot the entire time. At first, the Celestial Realm beast had not appeared, and everything was fine. But then, the unexpected happened! The male disciple who had accompanied the Saintess, also a direct disciple of the Palace Master with exceptional talent, was crushed to death by this damnable beast in one blow. Losing such a great genius, how could the sect not be heartbroken? But the most terrifying thing was, the Saintess might not escape this demon¡¯s clutches... Just as they were all holding their breaths, the Crown Prince¡¯s figure appeared. ¡°If the Crown Prince can save the Saintess, our Yunmo Dao Palace will repay him generously!¡± ¡°Come on, Crown Prince!¡± A crowd clutched their chests, even forgetting to breathe. The Crown Prince of Beiyang versus the Celestial Realm ferocious beast. If the Crown Prince loses, he could reveal his identity and the Mountain Goblin might refrain from killing him. But the Saintess... she would surely suffer a tragic fate. This battle held the hearts of everyone in the sect! Chapter 87 Chapter 87 ¡°Your Highness...¡± Mo Shuiqiu gazed at the figure before her, her eyes dazed. When all hope seemed lost, she never expected to be rescued by the Crown Prince. ¡°Leave! Or die.¡± The vast voice thundered like a clap of thunder. The mountain beasts palm, which was about to strike down, suddenly halted. It sensed an aura of danger from this young man, especially from the crimson long sword he held in his hand. Could it be... a Sacred Rank weapon? ¡°Present your token, and I¡¯ll spare your life.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an ignored the mountain beasts threat, instead looking indifferently at Mo Shuiqiu, who was prostrated on the ground. ¡°Y-Yes...¡± Mo Shuiqiu dared not hesitate, hurriedly presenting her token with utmost respect. She added, ¡°Your Highness, it misunderstood that I killed its offspring, but it was actually captured by someone else using a magical artifact.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an already had a guess in mind. That person was likely Xiao Chen, who had already fled far away. This time, they seemed to have learned their lesson, only taking points without causing trouble for him. ¡°Your Highness, be careful...¡± Mo Shuiqiu stood beside Lin Qi¡¯an, her eyes filled with trepidation. This Celestial realm great fiend was terrifying just to look at! But why was the Crown Prince so calm? Was he not afraid? ¡°Still not leaving? Then you can die together!¡± ¡°We can make a deal.¡± The mountain beasts thunderous roar contrasted sharply with Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s calm, leisurely tone. ¡°What deal? No matter what you offer, today, I must take this human woman with me!¡± The mountain beasts voice was imposing, leaving no room for negotiation. ¡°Uh, I think you misunderstand, my deal is simple. I spare your life, and you let her go.¡± Mo Shuiqiu¡¯s heart trembled... The Crown Prince was speaking to this Celestial realm beasts so dominantly and unreasonably? This was clearly provoking it! If it was completely enraged, there would likely be no way out today. ¡¾The Crown Prince is too arrogant. Isn¡¯t he afraid?¡¿ ¡¾It¡¯s clear the other party doesn¡¯t recognize him. His identity won¡¯t help here!¡¿ ¡¾This is bad... very bad.¡¿ These were the thoughts of the spectators. As for everyone from Yunmp Dao Palace, their faces turned ashen! Initially, they hoped that the Crown Prince could reveal his identity and status, making the fiend spare the Saintess out of respect for the Sword Emperor. But things were not developing that way at all! At this rate, there was no chance for negotiation, only war. ... ¡°Insolent brat, seeking death!¡± As expected, the gigantic beasts was utterly enraged. That brat, to have such a fortuitous encounter? As expected of my son, the future will probably be his to rule. ... ¡°I¡¯ll give you one more chance.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an stood with his hands behind his back, his tone indifferent. He seemed like a high king, overlooking all beings. ¡°Ancestral Dragon¡¯s might... very well!¡± The massive mountain beast stood up once again. In its trembling gaze, a touch of madness appeared. If it could devour this young man, perhaps it could also gain the power of the Ancestral Dragon? As long as it could withstand the pressure, at its level, he would surely be no match. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve chosen the wrong path.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an shook his head and sighed, ¡°Then die.¡± Above the cliff, atop the clouds, high in the sky a beam of silver light descended. The Sacred Rank weapon, the Seven Stars Dragon Spring Sword! It had been hidden in the clouds all along, hanging over the mountain beast head. Once negotiations fails, it would descend, falling from the sky to the earth. Innate Sword Bone Technique: The Abyss of Heaven and Earth! The streak of light pierced through the mountain fiend¡¯s head, completely penetrating its body from top to bottom, embedding deep into the earth. A sword that pierced through heaven and earth. ¡°No...¡± The mountain beast¡¯s massive body cracked all over. With a thunderous roar, it exploded on the spot! Countless chunks of flesh and blood mixed with a hurricane of dust, rocks, and soil. It blossomed into a brilliant firework... In the midst of the swirling dust, the Crown Prince of Beiyang, Lin Qi¡¯an, used his spiritual power to shield his body, not allowing a single speck of dust to touch him. ¡°This...¡± Mo Shuiqiu stood in place, dazed, and her mouth hung open, unable to speak. The Celestial realm beasts was... killed in an instant by the Crown Prince? Across the plains, countless cultivators gasped in shock. People instinctively rubbed their eyes, doubting what they had just witnessed. The Crown Prince of Beiyang had, with a single sword descending from the heavens, instantly killed a Celestial realm great fiend? Not even in tales would such a thing be written! ¡°I¡¯m stunned. Is this really the power of the Transcendent realm? Terrifying, absolutely terrifying!¡± ¡°Just a moment ago, I was worried that the beast would be a threat to the Crown Prince. Who could have imagined this?¡± ¡°No wonder the Crown Prince dared to bring the little princess, who has no spiritual power, to participate. This is the confidence in his own strength!¡± ¡°I remember there were people who said the Crown Prince was too young and would suffer losses in the hunting battle... What losses? In two more years, the others won¡¯t even be able to compete!¡± ¡°Our sect master is only at the Celestial realm, and he¡¯s seven hundred years old! How old is the Crown Prince? Twenty?¡± One exclamation after another filled the air, filled with awe and amazement. Chapter 88 Chapter 88 The power of Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s sword, piercing the heavens and the earth, was too terrifying! The intense sense of shock stirred up waves in the hearts of the audience, which could not be calmed for a long time. Both the younger generation and the older generation were horrified by this. Even the Sword Emperor, at this age, might not have been as terrifying as the Crown Prince. The members of Yunmo Dao Palace were left dumbfounded. The fact that the Saintess was safe should have been something to celebrate and cheer for. But the overwhelming impact from the Crown Prince left them speechless, their mouths agape, eyes dazed. ¡°Saintess, to have encountered the Crown Prince... truly a blessing.¡± ¡°To surpass a higher realm and annihilate a Celestial realm beast with a single sword¡ªsuch power leaves us in awe!¡± ¡°No wonder the Crown Prince of Beiyang Tianjian City is so unparalleled; we are completely outmatched!¡± They had originally thought that the Saintess was already powerful enough, at least not much weaker than the Crown Prince, and might even have the qualifications to contend with him. But after witnessing today¡¯s events, it was clear she couldn¡¯t even come close! ¡°When we return, we must send gifts to Tianjian City to thank the Crown Prince for his great kindness...¡± ¡°Hey, do you think His Highness the Crown Prince might take a liking to our Saintess?¡± ¡°Yeah! After all, the Saintess is like an immortal in appearance. Perhaps the Crown Prince has a taste for this kind of woman?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense! Senior Sister Mo has loved nothing but calligraphy and painting since she was a child. Her life revolves around cultivation and her art; she¡¯s not interested in anything else.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Senior Sister Mo exudes a scholarly aura and is completely untouched by worldly matters.¡± In the exclusive stands, even the quasi-Saints and Saints couldn¡¯t help but express their amazement. To become a Saint, who among them wasn¡¯t a peerless genius of their time? But in front of the Crown Prince, they couldn¡¯t help but think back to their younger selves, only to feel a sense of inferiority. Her gaze focused on Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s face, and upon seeing that handsome visage, her heart began to race slightly. The Crown Prince of Beiyang¡ªunparalleled in handsomeness and extraordinary in strength. No wonder so many Saintesses were willing to serve as his maids. Perhaps it wasn¡¯t out of greed for power, but simply pure admiration? ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine... Thank you for your concern, Your Highness.¡± Mo Shuiqiu¡¯s voice carried a hint of nervousness. Suddenly, she took out a scroll from her ring. ¡°If Your Highness doesn¡¯t mind, you may take this painting. It can be hung indoors, filling the room with the fragrance of flowers and plants.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an unrolled the painting and his eyes lit up. It was a traditional ink painting of flowers, birds, plants, and trees. Although it lacked other colors, it exuded a vibrant life force in every stroke. The breath of spring seemed to waft through the air immediately. It was truly a masterpiece! ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll accept it.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an unceremoniously tucked the painting into his sleeve. Only by accepting such a token would the giver feel at ease. ... ¡°I¡¯m gonna go crazy! That¡¯s the spiritual painting of plants and trees that Senior Sister Mo spent more than half a month working on!¡± ¡°Every stroke of that painting is imbued with spiritual energy. Hanging it indoors is like being caressed by a spring breeze¡ªso refreshing and pleasant...¡± ¡°And Senior Sister Mo just gave it to His Highness the Crown Prince!!¡± The male disciples of Yunmo Dao Palace were dumbstruck, as if their souls had left their bodies. Senior Sister Mo treated her paintings as treasures and never gave them away, not even once! Even her failed works were personally burned by her. They couldn¡¯t even find them by rummaging through the trash... Later, a rumor spread within the sect: if the Saintess ever gifted someone her calligraphy or paintings, it might very well be a token of her affection. No one expected to witness such a scene today! The pain in their hearts was unbearable. Chapter 89 Chapter 89: Entering the Thunder Emperor¡¯s Abode, Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s Hatred Reduced to Zero Suddenly, Lin Qi¡¯an heard a cry for help from above. ¡°Save me!¡± The little princess in a frosty dress was falling from the cliff. Lin Qi¡¯an had no choice but to catch her. ¡°Oh my, I was watching the excitement up there and accidentally slipped. It scared me to death!¡± Being held in Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s arms, Zhao Qingmeng clutched her chest, her heart still racing. ¡¾If I hadn¡¯t come down, you might have ended up with that Saintess again.¡¿ So it was on purpose... ¡°Greetings, Your Highness the Princess.¡± ¡°No need for formalities.¡± Mo Shuiqiu knew it was time for her to leave; it was no longer appropriate for her to stay. ¡°In a few days, my Yunmo Dao Palace will host a literary gathering. Many enthusiasts will attend. Would Your Highness the Heir be interested?¡± ¡°A literary gathering?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an pondered briefly. Isn¡¯t that just a meeting where scholars and poets recite verses? ¡¾He¡¯s just a vulgar man; what would he understand about the elegance of literature? He¡¯s acting like he is thinking a lot about it.¡¿ Zhao Qingmeng mentally scoffed. It seemed that these events didn¡¯t exist in her memories from the previous life. Lin Qi¡¯an felt a bit displeased, as a time traveler armed with three hundred Tang poems, does she actually think he can¡¯t attend a literary gathering? He could easily outshine those people as a literary plagiarist. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll come and take a look.¡± Mo Shuiqiu was delighted. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take my leave now. See you at the literary gathering.¡± With that, she leaped into the air and left the Grand Hunt stage. ¡°You, a vulgar person, attending a literary gathering? You¡¯re likely to embarrass Beiyang,¡± Zhao Qingmeng said with a snort. ¡°Oh? And you¡¯re not vulgar?¡± ¡°Of course not! This princess can¡¯t cultivate, so I¡¯ve been well-versed in poetry and literature since childhood. To prevent you from embarrassing yourself too much, I¡¯ll go with you.¡± ¡°Ok you¡¯re right about everything, but... how much longer do you plan to stay in my arms?¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± ... The people of Yunmo Dao Palace were nearly overjoyed to the point of madness! The Saintess had successfully invited the Heir to attend the literary gathering! This was fantastic news. If they could use this opportunity to strengthen their relationship with the Heir, Yunmo Dao Palace would have a powerful backer. ¡°The Saintess has invited the prince. Once the Grand Hunt is over, we must quickly return and prepare to welcome the prince!¡± ... Night fell. The second day of the Grand Hunt had also basically concluded. At night, everyone chose to rest and recover. Out of a thousand teams, seventy percent had already been eliminated, but the scores on the second day were truly eye-opening. The Prince had been furiously chasing points throughout the day. Team 1001 firmly held the first place with a total score of 240! After defeating a Celestial Realm beast and seizing tokens from dozens of teams, he stood at the top. In second place was the team of Xiao Chen and Ye Yun, with a total score of 196. In third place was Team 1002, made up of two female fairy¡¯s, with a total score of 173. The consensus on the second day was: His Highness the Prince outshines everyone! Facing two opponents at once, he showed no signs of pressure! This year¡¯s champion is surely going to be His Highness the Prince! ¡°My apologies...¡± The knowledge of the reborn Great Emperess finally came in handy. Lin Qi¡¯an quickly lifted Zhao Qingmeng onto his back. ¡°You said this is the Thunder Emperor¡¯s Abode, so you need to find the Zhen trigram, representing thunder. Two yin lines above and one yang line below¡ªthunder shakes and all things move.¡± Rumble! Dust rolled as the stone door slowly opened! ¡°It¡¯s open!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an was overjoyed and hurriedly entered the abode, and the stone door immediately closed behind them. ¡°Cough, cough.¡± Zhao Qingmeng coughed twice, and her inner thoughts slipped out. ¡¾Quick, praise me! Why aren¡¯t you praising me yet!¡¿ ¡°Sister Qingmeng, you¡¯re amazing! If it weren¡¯t for your intelligence and wisdom, I¡¯d never have made it in here!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an satisfied her small vanity... ¡°Good that you know,¡± she huffed. ¡°By the way, didn¡¯t you say you twisted your ankle? Let me massage it for you.¡± This time, Lin Qi¡¯an was genuinely concerned. After all, she got injured because of him. Zhao Qingmeng found a stone bench inside and sat down, revealing her adorable, jade-like feet. As Lin Qi¡¯an earnestly massaged her ankle, Zhao Qingmeng felt moved. ¡¾Is this really the same man who just killed a Celestial Realm beast with one strike? He¡¯s so considerate, massaging my foot.¡¿ ¡¾The Thunder Emperor¡¯s Abode is right in front of him, yet he¡¯s not in a hurry to explore. He really is sincere.¡¿ ¡°Alright, it¡¯s not that painful anymore. I¡¯ll sit and rest for a while; you can go ahead,¡± Zhao Qingmeng said kindly. ¡°That¡¯s a shame. Your feet are so beautiful, I wanted to play with them a bit longer.¡± ¡°Scoundrel!¡± Blushing, Zhao Qingmeng glared at him playfully, but Lin Qi¡¯an had already started exploring the abode. A place like this should have been a treasure trove for the Child of Destiny, yet it had been preemptively seized by a villain like him. The abode wasn¡¯t very large. As he walked deeper inside, he noticed two ever-burning candles hanging on the stone walls. Beneath them was an ancient stone table, weathered by time, upon which lay some scrolls. Lin Qi¡¯an picked up the scrolls and returned to Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s side. ¡°Shall we take a look together?¡± Her knowledge might prove useful. Zhao Qingmeng couldn¡¯t help but laugh¡ªwho knew this Heir would rely on others? After some time, after reading the scrolls, Zhao Qingmeng said, ¡°The scrolls contain the story of the Thunder Emperor. Once, he fell in love with a woman from the Tianhai Dao Domain.¡± ¡°The two were deeply in love. But at that time, the Canglan Dao Domain was overrun by demons and fiends, with demonic sects flourishing. The Thunder Emperor couldn¡¯t focus on love while the world was in chaos.¡± ¡°So, they made a ten-year promise, that in ten years, the Thunder Emperor would go to the Tianhai Dao Domain to find her.¡± ¡°To bring peace to the world, the Thunder Emperor suffered severe Dao injuries in battle. Knowing his lifespan was short, he didn¡¯t dare go to the Tianhai Dao Domain to meet his beloved.¡± ¡°In the end, he died here in sorrow. He had no descendants, was all alone, and chose to bury himself at the place where he had once gained enlightenment.¡± ¡°If anyone were to inherit his legacy, he hoped they could deliver a letter to the Tianhai Holy Land.¡± After finishing the story, Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s expression darkened. ¡®Why does the Thunder Emperor¡¯s story feel so similar to my own?¡¯ She knew all too well what it was like to wait for someone. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, if you were the Thunder Emperor, what would you do?¡± Zhao Qingmeng suddenly asked. ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Would you, with your broken body, go to meet her, or would you rather not?¡± ¡°If I¡¯ve made a promise to you, I would keep it for a lifetime,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an smiled and said. ¡°As long as I¡¯m not dead, even if I have only one breath left, I would go to see her.¡± ¡¾If I¡¯ve made a promise to you, I would keep it for a lifetime...¡¿ ¡¾Alright, I believe you! Maybe when you didn¡¯t come to save me, it was because you were facing a great calamity. I won¡¯t hold grudges over the past anymore.¡¿ Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s hatred points officially dropped to zero. Chapter 90 Chapter 90: Successfully Subdued and Obtained the Ten Thousand Poison Pill! After listening to Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s inner thoughts for so long, Lin Qi¡¯an finally understood what had been troubling her. In the future, she would face an incredibly powerful enemy! As a female emperor, she couldn¡¯t run away but had to fight to protect her people. Because the enemy was too strong, she had no choice but to use the ¡°Golden-Winged Profound Sky Cicada¡± to call for my help. ¡®Perhaps I had promised her that I would come no matter where I was if I received her message. But that time, I didn¡¯t go to save her. The result was Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s death.¡¯ The fact that an enemy could push an emperor to her death showed just how powerful her future adversary would be... ¡¾Ding! Congratulations to the host, the Destiny¡¯s Child ¡°Zhao Qingmeng¡± has been successfully subdued.¡¿ As her hatred dropped to zero, a notification popped up. ¡¾Villain Points +30,000, Luck Points +50¡¿ ¡°System, what exactly are these Luck Points used for?¡± ¡°Increasing Luck Points can allow the host to avert dangers in certain situations, more easily obtain opportunities and fortuitous encounters, and receive the favor of the Heavenly Dao.¡± ¡°When opening a Luck Chest, the cumulative Luck Points will add to the host¡¯s current Luck Points, making the rewards even more valuable.¡± ¡°When killing a Child of Destiny, the Luck Points of both parties are reduced, making it easier to obtain the core of their luck.¡± Besides the elusive favor of the Heavenly Dao, there were two practical effects. ¡®First: Suppose I reduce a Child of Destiny¡¯s Luck by 1,000, and I have 200 Luck Points left; then the Luck Chest will yield rewards worth 1,200 Luck Points.¡¯ ¡®Second: Originally, to seize the Luck Core of a Child of Destiny, I needed to reduce their Luck Points to below 100. Suppose the opponent has 300 Luck Points left, and I have 200. If I kill them then, I can still obtain the Luck Core because 300 ¨C 200 = 100, just meeting the requirement!¡¯ ¡®In simple terms, it allows for more flexibility. In the future, if I encounter a Child of Destiny, I can choose to nurture them longer to increase the rewards, or if I really can¡¯t stand them, I can kill them directly!¡¯ ¡¾Ding! You have obtained a Luck Chest. Would you like to open it now?¡¿ The reward for subduing Zhao Qingmeng had arrived. Their combined Luck Points amounted to a whopping 1,400! ¡°Open it.¡± ¡¾Congratulations, you have obtained a Super Grade Pill: Ten Thousand Poison Pill¡¿ Pills are ranked from one to nine, with anything above the ninth rank being Super Grade. After reading the effects, Lin Qi¡¯an was astonished. ¡¾Effect: After consumption, it can neutralize any poison and grant the ¡°Immune to Ten Thousand Poisons.¡±¡¿ If Immune to Ten Thousand Poisons is cultivated to its peak, it could indeed become immune to all poisons in the world. Even without reaching the peak, it would still provide significant resistance to poisons. Moreover, cultivation is not difficult; it just requires a lot of Villain Points! Eventually, it can be fully cultivated. After reviewing the reward, Lin Qi¡¯an felt quite grateful to Zhao Qingmeng. Not only did she help him enter the Thunder Emperor¡¯s Abode, but she also brought him such a valuable reward. Of course, what mattered more was that this girl dared to love and hate intensely. When she hated, she wanted to kill in revenge. When she loved, she wished to give everything to the other person. ¡°You want to destroy me? Not a chance.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an condensed countless ethereal swords with his spiritual energy, nearly filling the sky. ¡°Ten Thousand Swords to Court!¡± In an instant, the world was filled with nothing but the sound of clashing forces. The entire sky turned into a blinding white. Finally, everything fell silent. ¡°Using a sword to break the thunder, how bold! Then take this final strike!¡± The Thunder Emperor¡¯s voice echoed through the heavens, followed by a massive black thunderbolt, like a serpent tearing through the sky. The aura of annihilation it carried was terrifying. ¡°Roar!!!¡± A heaven-shaking dragon¡¯s roar erupted from Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s throat. A giant azure dragon, formed from his dragon might, clashed head-on with the terrifying black divine thunder. The two forces entangled and battled, ultimately disintegrating each other... Lin Qi¡¯an was drenched in sweat, having exhausted all his strength! ¡°Hahaha! I never expected my inheritor to be such a monster! A peerless genius, rare even in ten thousand years.¡± The Thunder Emperor¡¯s hearty laughter resonated through the clouds. ¡°Very well, today I shall bestow upon you my legacy! As long as you follow my path, you will surely become a Great Emperor in the future!¡± But Lin Qi¡¯an shook his head. ¡°I won¡¯t follow anyone else¡¯s path. My path to becoming an Emperor will be walked by me, just like you did.¡± ¡°Bold and ambitious!¡± Every top-tier Great Emperor had forged their own path. While following someone else¡¯s path might be easier, it would limit one¡¯s potential. The Thunder Emperor understood this well. A bolt of purple lightning shot into Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s forehead, containing the Thunder Emperor¡¯s techniques, divine abilities, and insights into the Great Dao! With that, Lin Qi¡¯an officially received the Thunder Emperor¡¯s legacy. Though he wouldn¡¯t use it to become an Emperor, he could still learn its divine abilities and strengthen his combat power by drawing from the best of various techniques. ¡°Rest assured, Senior, the Thunder Emperor¡¯s legacy will not be tarnished!¡± ¡°Young one, since you¡¯ve received my legacy, could you do two things for me?¡± ¡°The first is to deliver a message to the Tianhai Dao Domain?¡± ¡°Yes... though I wonder if she is still alive?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will go. Even if she is no longer there, I will bring the letter to her grave!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an cupped his hands respectfully. Because of the Thunder Emperor¡¯s story, he and Zhao Qingmeng had reconciled, and now, having received this legacy, it was only right to fulfill a small request. ¡°What is the second task?¡± ¡°Not far from my abode, underground, there is a dark cave that holds an immortal, indestructible evil beast! My thunder techniques can destroy everything, yet I couldn¡¯t annihilate it.¡± There was a hint of apprehension in his tone. Lin Qi¡¯an suddenly recalled that the Thunder Emperor had once suffered an incurable Dao injury¡ªcould it have been caused by this beast? Demons were always terrifying entities that all cultivators feared. Spirit beasts and fierce beasts might still possess some humanity, but demons were different! They were beings of extreme evil, devoid of any humanity, and everyone feared them. And here, nearby, there was a sealed demon... A demon that had brought down the mighty Thunder Emperor, who once shook the Nine Provinces! Chapter 91 Chapter 91: Xiao Chen Tames the Demonic Beast, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s Unexpected Encounter with Jin Chan! ¡°Senior¡¯s injury was caused by it?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked. ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s correct! It is called the Ghost-Eyed Demonic Wood, nearly indestructible and immortal. However, it has been tormented by my formation for thirty thousand years, and its power must have drastically declined.¡± ¡°If you are fortunate enough to discover a method to destroy it, you should kill it. If not, do not under any circumstances break the seal!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an was astonished. ¡°An indestructible entity, how can it be destroyed?¡± ¡°The wood fears fire, but it must be ancient divine fire! Fire alone is insufficient; the divine lightning must merge with the unusual flame, and only then might this supreme demonic beast be eradicated!¡± Divine lightning, something attainable once he masters the Thunder Emperor¡¯s inheritance. Divine fire, the Nine Yang Divine Fire should be more than enough. In that case, could he really achieve it? ¡°But controlling one element is already extremely difficult, let alone merging two. This is merely my conjecture, so do not force yourself.¡± ¡°Go now. I, Sikong Yun, have lived my life with no regrets toward my parents or the heavens and earth, but I am ashamed only toward you...¡± The Thunder Emperor¡¯s voice slowly faded into nothingness. Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s consciousness also retreated from the spiritual realm. ¡°How did it go?!¡± Zhao Qingmeng rushed over, concerned. ¡°It was a success.¡± ¡°You truly obtained the Thunder Emperor¡¯s inheritance?¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s stay here for the next couple of days. I need to comprehend the Thunder Emperor¡¯s divine techniques.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhao Qingmeng was somewhat disappointed. Staying here for two days, she thought they might do something exciting, but it turned out to be cultivation. Heh, men! Lin Qi¡¯an was unaware that while he was in the spiritual realm undergoing the Thunder Emperor¡¯s trial, Xiao Chen and Ye Yun, two children of fortune, coincidentally entered a cold and eerie underground palace. ¡°What a chilling aura... Brother Xiao, I have a bad feeling about this!¡± Ye Yun was chilled to the bone, his cultivation in the Great Yang Heavenly Emperor Technique making him particularly averse to such an environment. ¡°Brother Ye, we¡¯ve broken through numerous traps to get here. Based on my experience, there must be a fortuitous encounter!¡± The so-called children of destiny are those who even if they fall off a cliff, will obtain divine skills, with no need for any system to guide them. As they ventured deeper, the sinister chill grew more intense. Finally, the narrow passage opened up to reveal a large, damp cavern. Seeing the scene inside, both of them nearly got goosebumps. The cave was filled with withered trees, the air reeked of foul odors. The ground was littered with desiccated branches, resembling a lifeless mummy. Black cobwebs clung to the cave walls, and the air was thick with the scent of ashes. Jagged rocks were piled against the cave walls, making it seem like a legendary cursed place! On the ground lay an unidentified object. It resembled a dead log, but it clearly had limbs, all bound by heavy iron chains. ¡°What... is this thing?¡± Xiao Chen muttered. ¡°Don¡¯t get close!¡± Ye Yun hurriedly stopped Xiao Chen. He had a premonition that if they got too close, they would meet a terrible fate. Just then, the log on the ground moved and opened its eyes. Its entire body was covered in densely packed red eyes! Those eyes were filled with a terrifying, evil aura. The two of them quickly retreated several steps, overwhelmed by immense fear, their faces pale, pupils trembling. The moment this creature opened its eyes, they felt every hair on their bodies standing on end! Cultivation: Fifth Layer, Transcendent Realm Techniques: Sword Manifestation (Fourth Layer), Yang Flame Departure (Fourth Layer), Nine Heavens Thunder (Second Layer) Physique: Dragon Yang Dao Physique, Sword Bone, Ancestral Dragon Sacred Body (30%), Ten Thousand Poison Physique(20%) Divine Abilities: Ten Thousand Swords to Court (Fourth Layer), Heavenly Flying Immortal (Second Layer), Heavenly Sword Lightning Technique (Second Layer) Treasure Techniques: Blue Sky Yellow Springs Storage: Taixuan Golden Pill, Nine Yang Mystic Technique... Villain Points: 3500 Luck Value: 200 (Green) Chaos Treasures: Flying Immortal Sword Spirit Box, Seven Petal Blood Heart Lotus, Immortal Fairy Goddess Diagram Luck Artifact: Nine Yang Divine Sword Special: Heavenly Fated Villain Divine Eyes The later stages of these techniques and divine abilities consumed increasingly more resources, so he realized he needed to accumulate more Villain Points. With everything ready, Lin Qi¡¯an took the Thunder Emperor¡¯s letter and prepared to leave the cave mansion with Zhao Qingmeng. ¡°I found a hidden compartment!¡± Zhao Qingmeng excitedly shared her discovery and quickly pulled Lin Qi¡¯an over. ¡°Look behind this wall painting; it¡¯s obvious that there¡¯s a seam!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an noticed a painting of a woman on the wall. Despite being three thousand years old, it was still well-preserved, likely portraying the Thunder Emperor¡¯s beloved. Indeed, something was hidden behind the painting. ¡°Wait, there seems to be some writing on it?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an discovered traces of spiritual power on the wall. With a gentle sweep of his hand, a line of small characters immediately appeared: ¡°If you find her, give her this sword. If she has passed away, bury it beside her grave.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an forcefully opened the hidden compartment. Inside lay a sword, its gleaming blade inscribed with its name: Thunder Annihilation. The Thunder Emperor¡¯s sword! ¡®Alright, I will take it and fulfill your wish.¡¯ ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The two left the Thunder Emperor¡¯s cave mansion and closed the stone door behind them. Two days had passed, and the Grand Hunt was nearing its end. What was happening outside? As they stepped out of the dark cave into the sunlight, the brightness was blinding, and they found it somewhat uncomfortable. ¡°Finally, we¡¯re out! I was almost suffocated in there!¡± Zhao Qingmeng stretched her arms, greedily breathing in the fresh air. Her luxurious frost-colored long dress rippled gracefully with her light steps. She didn¡¯t seem like an empress at all, just a little girl. At that moment, she suddenly spotted a cicada with golden wings perched on a branch ahead! ¡°Don¡¯t come closer!¡± Zhao Qingmeng quickly whispered, signaling Lin Qi¡¯an to stay still. Lin Qi¡¯an also noticed it and dared not make any sudden movements. Indeed, it was the ¡°Golden-Winged Void Cicada,¡± worth 100 points, unexpectedly resting right there. However, if disturbed in any way, it would instantly fly away at an unbelievable speed. In the century-long history of the Grand Hunt, no one had ever managed to capture one! Zhao Qingmeng cautiously moved, slowly approaching the branch and an astonishing scene unfolded¡ªthe Golden-Winged Void Cicada didn¡¯t flee! Chapter 93 Chapter 93: The Purple Heaven Divine Thunder, Sacred Weapon Divine Fire, Countless Exclamations of Awe! Boom! A bolt of heavenly lightning streaked across the night sky, its white light blinding. The Crown Prince and the Princess struck simultaneously. Zhao Yun wielded her magical sword, astonishingly drawing down that bolt of lightning! The bright blue thunder transformed into a vividly lifelike dragon made of lightning. ¡°Transmuting Thunder into a Dragon! The Princess¡¯s Heavenly Extreme Five Thunder Technique must have reached the fifth level!¡± ¡°The fifth level?! Isn¡¯t that only achievable at the Celestial Realm? The Princess is practicing across realms!¡± ¡°The Crown Prince is truly facing a difficult challenge...¡± The thunder dragon roared as it charged, its momentum unstoppable! Lin Qi¡¯an remained unfazed. His sword finger traced a silver arc resembling a crescent moon. Divine ability: Falling Moon God Sword! With a single stroke, he severed the dragon¡¯s head! The residual force splintered countless branches and leaves. ¡°The Crown Prince¡¯s swordsmanship is fluid and powerful. His mastery of the Falling Moon God Sword seems to have reached its essence, as he was able to cut down the thunder dragon in one strike]¡± The spectators¡¯ hearts surged with excitement. Each clash was a glimpse into the formidable strength of both combatants. However, despite the dragon¡¯s head being severed, it did not disappear. Instead, it split into ten, then a hundred, transforming into countless serpents of lightning! ¡°Transmuting the dragon into serpents... The Princess¡¯s control over lightning is truly exquisite!¡± This move drew widespread admiration and applause. In response, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s spiritual power manifested as countless tiny swords, slicing through the serpents and reducing them to nothing. ¡°This is incredible! To think such divine abilities and combat techniques are displayed by two young people!¡± ¡°Princess Yunji, isn¡¯t this probing enough?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an smiled faintly. ¡°If you don¡¯t get serious now, you won¡¯t have another chance.¡± ¡°Such arrogance!¡± Zhao Yunji exclaimed. ¡°Bring the thunder!¡± Her clear shout pierced the night sky. The rain began to reverse, the wind howled, and the trees bent in the gale. In an instant, several bolts of lightning, shaped like trees, converged and were drawn into Zhao Yunji¡¯s body. Her entire being crackled with lightning, the terrifying power of which seemed capable of destroying everything. Her eyes were now covered in a layer of dark golden light. ¡°Drawing lightning into her body... With her Autumn Pupils, the Princess is getting serious!¡± ¡°My goodness, she wasn¡¯t serious before?!¡± ¡°After absorbing the lightning, the Princess¡¯s close-combat prowess will increase dramatically. I fear the Crown Prince won¡¯t be able to withstand it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the Crown Prince hasn¡¯t used his Dragon Might yet!¡± Zhao Yunji had initially hoped that her Lightning Dharma Body would force Lin Qi¡¯an to use his Dragon Might, but he only countered with divine fire instead. Fine, she will go all out! She disengaged from the twin swords, retreating swiftly as her Dharma Body rejoined her and lightning surged around her to protect her body. Stepping on the void, she pointed her sword toward the sky. ¡°Yi Wood True Thunder.¡± Boom! Thunder rumbled across the nine heavens, and rolling purple lightning descended like divine punishment, shaking all creation. One, two, three... nine bolts of purple lightning, each carrying the wrath of the heavens, struck down toward Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡°If you can¡¯t hold on, just say so.¡± Zhao Yunji¡¯s features were stunning, her face icy, hovering in the air like a celestial being. Despite the intensity of the situation, she still expressed concern, fearing the power of this divine technique might overwhelm Lin Qi¡¯an. After all, her goal was not to kill him but to teach him a lesson. At that moment, even the cultivators not present at the scene felt a chill run down their spines instinctively. ¡°The Purple Heaven Divine Thunder! Her Highness is invoking the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder!¡± Those who recognized the scene cried out in shock. The Purple Heaven Divine Thunder was the pinnacle of lightning techniques, comprising seventy-two variations. Princess Zhao Yunji had drawn nine in one go! This was true divine power... Not every cultivator of lightning techniques could summon the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder¡ªit was the thunder of the heavenly dao itself! One must resonate with the heavenly dao and gain its approval to wield it. Clearly, Princess Zhao Yunji had this qualification. ¡°This is terrifying... the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder has appeared.¡± ¡°If I were there, I might die faster than anyone present.¡± ¡°I¡¯d fall to my knees and beg for mercy... who would dare fight against this and risk annihilation?¡± ¡°I wonder how the Crown Prince will respond. He still hasn¡¯t used his Dragon Might.¡± ¡°Your Highness, be careful!¡± Su Xueni instinctively shouted. Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s face also grew solemn; she knew the power of her sister¡¯s Purple Heaven Divine Thunder. Despite facing the bombardment of nine divine thunders, Lin Qi¡¯an remained unmoved, neither dodging nor avoiding, facing them head-on. There was even a playful smile on his lips. ¡°Go.¡± From the Nine Yang Divine Sword, a torrent of golden flames surged, forming a wall of fire that instantly enveloped Lin Qi¡¯an. Chapter 94 Chapter 94 ¡°Divine Fire Protection! Is the Crown Prince going to withstand the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder head-on?¡± ¡°Does the Crown Prince have a death wish? The heavenly might is irresistible; evasion would be the proper response.¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re anxious, but there¡¯s no need to worry; the Crown Prince won¡¯t back down.¡± ¡°In case you haven¡¯t noticed, the Crown Prince hasn¡¯t taken a single step since the battle began.¡± Boom! Boom! Boom! The nine bolts of lightning were all blocked by the divine fire, their terrifying power dissipating into the air. ¡°Bing Fire Yang Thunder.¡± Zhao Yunji¡¯s face had turned slightly pale. The heavens rumbled again. Within the thunderclouds, the wrath of the gods seemed palpable! More bolts of lightning descended from the sky, each more powerful than the last. ¡°The second type of Purple Heaven Divine Thunder, Bing Fire Yang Thunder, is even more powerful than the Wood Thunder...¡± People were utterly mesmerized, mouths agape, breath held, unable to even blink! The fire thunder finally dissipated Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s protective divine fire! Just when everyone thought the Crown Prince would finally use his Dragon Might to counterattack, he did not. The Seven Stars Dragon Spring Sword and the Nine Yang Divine Sword crossed and intersected, soaring into the sky. The terrifying divine thunder, just as it began to gather momentum, was cut down in midair, extinguished before it could fully form... ¡°The Crown Prince is controlling two sacred weapons to slay the thunder!¡± ¡°My god, what kind of monsters are these two... I¡¯m speechless, just watching this is terrifying.¡± Finally, after the eighteenth bolt of lightning was destroyed, the sky returned to a temporary calm. ¡°No, I just want to advise you not to push yourself too hard, lest you get hurt.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for the Crown Prince to worry.¡± Zhao Yunji knew that if she could summon one more bolt of divine thunder, Lin Qi¡¯an would be defeated! Although she had never succeeded before, today, she was confident! ¡°Geng Metal Tribulation Thunder.¡± Rumble! In the dark clouds, flashes of golden light surged, like a golden dragon churning within. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth fled in panic. The terrifying aura of destruction filled the air... ¡°The Princess is truly insane... trying to summon Metal Thunder at the Transcendent Realm?¡± ¡°According to ancient records, even the most talented practitioners of lightning techniques could only summon Metal Thunder at the Celestial Realm.¡± ¡°Will her body even be able to withstand this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid this could backfire...¡± Zhao Yunji¡¯s gaze sharpened, her spiritual energy channeled through her sword, the heavenly might growing stronger. ¡°Thunder, come!¡± A bolt of lightning, as thick as a golden dragon, tore through the clouds. But at the same time, Zhao Yunji spat out a mouthful of blood, her body swaying unsteadily... ¡°Damn, she can¡¯t control the Metal Thunder!¡± Zhao Qingmeng exclaimed in shock. The Metal Thunder had already gone out of control. If it fell, it might reduce her to ashes. ¡°The Metal Thunder is out of control, Crown Prince, run!¡± ¡°This thunder is unstoppable; if you don¡¯t escape now, you¡¯ll be annihilated!¡± ¡°Run, Crown Prince!¡± Everyone¡¯s hearts were in their throats. No one had expected this battle to take such a turn... Chapter 95 Chapter 95 The Purple Heaven Divine Thunder and the Golden Thunder spun out of control! Though the thunder had already been summoned, it was now beyond control, and could not be recalled. Instead, it turned towards Zhao Yunji as its target. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it to still be lacking...¡± She murmured, her voice faint, as her pupils dimmed. The immensely powerful Golden Thunder was likely to turn the entire area into ruins. ¡°You all, leave now!¡± Biting her crimson lips, Zhao Yunji soared into the air, facing the Golden Thunder head-on. Zhao Yunji had always been a proud individual, and even in this moment, she remained so. The mistake was hers, and she intended to bear the consequences herself. She couldn¡¯t allow her younger sister or any innocent bystanders to be harmed. She was well aware that even with her protective Sacred Artifact and Sacred Weapon in hand, she might not be able to fully block the Golden Thunder. If she were unlucky, severe injury or even death was a real possibility. Boom! In a flash, the first bolt of Golden Thunder struck down. The thunder, like a golden dragon emerging from the sea, was surrounded by golden beads, shining brightly like gold, and the terrifying power it contained was unfathomable. Zhao Yunji raised her sword to take the hit head-on. Yet, even this first bolt was enough to strike her down, causing her to drop her sword, barely managing to block it thanks to her protective Sacred Artifact. She plummeted like a kite with a broken string. The most dangerous part was that the second bolt of Golden Thunder was already following, with the third bolt ready to strike... The most anxious ones were the guards from the Tai¡¯an Imperial City and the protectors of the two princesses. This situation had escalated so suddenly that they couldn¡¯t even attempt a rescue, only able to watch in despair. If all nine bolts of Golden Thunder were to fall, even a peak Celestial Realm expert might not survive them all. This was the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder of the Heavenly Dao, not something formed by spiritual power! ¡°Sword Emperor, Shenfengzi requests to go for the rescue.¡± Shenfengzi, also known as the Wind Saint, was the fastest under the Great Emperor. If he acted now, he might just make it in time. ¡°Hurry!¡± Mu Qingzhu urged anxiously. ¡°No rush.¡± The Sword Emperor squinted, his gaze deep. His son showed no signs of panic, so he wasn¡¯t afraid of the Golden Thunder? He was curious to see how Lin Qi¡¯an would handle this situation! ¡°Just who is the Crown Prince? How does he know everything...¡± This scene was even more shocking than if he had shattered the Golden Thunder! Controlling it was on a completely different level of difficulty than destroying it. There was only one possibility. The Crown Prince also had extremely high mastery in thunder techniques! Lin Qi¡¯an redirected the Golden Thunder, sending it back into the sky, where it collided with the third bolt of Golden Thunder. In an instant, golden light filled the sky as terrifying thunder exploded over a hundred miles. All creation trembled! The fourth and fifth bolts of Golden Thunder followed closely behind. Lin Qi¡¯an used the same method, leveraging strength to counter strength, using thunder to strike thunder. In truth, his ability to control the Golden Thunder relied more on the Thunder Emperor¡¯s Sacred Weapon, the Thunderbolt Sword, rather than his own thunder techniques. But no one else knew this. To everyone else, he looked like a god descended to earth, wielding thunder and radiating divine light! Even Zhao Yunji herself was captivated... The Crown Prince of Beiyang, who once seemed like a hedonistic, debauched playboy, had today revealed himself to be the true favored son of the heavens within the Dao Domain. One could imagine that once word of today¡¯s battle spread, it would incite the fervent admiration of countless women, and among the younger generation, no one would be able to overshadow his brilliance. Having such a man as her fiance?, it seemed she had gained more than she thought. Zhao Yunji, who had always held herself in high regard, found her mindset undergoing a significant change; she even began lowering her own stance. The ninth bolt of Golden Thunder, as if possessing intelligence, hesitated in the clouds, reluctant to strike, before gradually dissipating and vanishing. All nine bolts of Golden Thunder had been neutralized just like that. By this time, the torrential rain had also gradually ceased, and the world returned to peace. The spectators on the plain had long gone mad with excitement! ¡°The Crown Prince really withstood all nine bolts of Golden Thunder...¡± ¡°Who would have thought that he only recently entered the Transcendent Realm!¡± ¡°In the past, people always said the Crown Prince of Beiyang was unworthy of the first goddess, Zhao Yunji. Haha! After today, those rumors can be put to rest.¡± ¡°Crown Prince, you are mighty! Crown Prince, you are mighty!¡± All the cultivators of Beiyang felt their spirits soar. Chapter 96 Chapter 96 Previously, with the Crown Prince unseen for two days and his points lagging behind, the atmosphere had been quite gloomy. No one expected that as soon as the Crown Prince appeared, he would deliver such a shocking surprise! The Saintess of Yunmo Dao Palace, Mo Shuiqiu, stared in awe at the recording stone, her eyes sparkling with an unusual light. Earlier, being saved by the Crown Prince had been an immense honor. It was evident that even someone as proud as Zhao Yunji, the high and mighty goddess, had been overshadowed by the Crown Prince... During this trip to the cultural assembly, Mo Shuiqiu was determined to host the Crown Prince with utmost hospitality. Ran Yuwei and Zi Lianyou, the two maids, were already lost in admiration. They knew the Crown Prince was handsome, but it was the first time they had seen him this dashing. Facing the might of the heavens with his own strength! It was simply thrilling, leaving them unable to contain themselves. Needless to say, the outcome of the duel between the Crown Prince and the Princess was already clear. ¡°The Crown Prince won!¡± ¡°Hurry, settle the bets; we wagered on the Crown Prince¡¯s victory!¡± Amid the surrounding cheers, the two maids finally snapped out of their daze. The cultivators who bet on the Princess¡¯s victory were groaning in disappointment, while the two maids were overjoyed, having made a fortune. ¡°Thank you, Crown Prince!¡± The Tai¡¯an royal guards bowed their heads to the recording stone, one after another. Had the Crown Prince not intervened to save the Princess, not even ten heads would have been enough for them to lose back in the imperial city! Saving the Princess was equivalent to saving their own lives... Zhao Yunji: !! For some reason, this girl¡¯s words were infuriating! And why was she so comfortable around Lin Qi¡¯an? Before she came to Tianjian City, the two shouldn¡¯t have had any interaction. Yet between herself and Lin Qi¡¯an, there seemed to be a thick barrier, full of unfamiliarity. ¡°There¡¯s no need to thank me. I just want to ask, why didn¡¯t you listen when I tried to stop you earlier? Did you really want to win against me that badly?¡± ¡°I...¡± Zhao Yunji was momentarily speechless. Indeed, she had a strong competitive spirit and didn¡¯t want to lose to anyone. But the real reason was probably that her fiance? didn¡¯t take her seriously at all, instead being close to other girls. But such a jealous emotion was something her pride would never allow her to admit. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± At this moment, the proud princess, dressed in a golden gown, spoke with a tone that even carried a hint of grievance. She was quite thankful that Lin Qi¡¯an had sent those people away. Had they still been there, she would have been utterly humiliated. Lin Qi¡¯an, on the other hand, was puzzled. He had saved her, so logically, the Luck Value of the protagonist should have decreased, but there was no system notification. This meant that the princess had not yet let go of her pride. This was going to be tricky. How could he shatter the Dao Heart of this child of destiny and provoke them into a rage? Perhaps... he could have Zhao Yunji chase after him instead... If the goddess, supreme in her mind, were to pursue a man she deeply resented, the protagonist¡¯s mindset would likely crumble. In that case, he decided to hit Zhao Yunji with something harsh first! ¡°Alright then, didn¡¯t you come to Beiyang to break off the engagement? I agree now; let¡¯s annul the engagement.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t...¡± Zhao Yunji instinctively began to speak. ¡°No objections? Very well, Your Highness, from now on, you and I have nothing to do with each other.¡± Hearing these words, Zhao Yunji felt a sudden, inexplicable pain in her heart. Even her clear eyes dimmed a bit. Zhao Qingmeng, however, was secretly thrilled as if she had been injected with a dose of excitement. She hadn¡¯t expected the engagement to be annulled for real! Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Everyone believed that if the royal engagement between Beiyang and the Tai¡¯an Imperial Family were to fall apart, it would definitely be Princess Zhao Yunji who would initiate the annulment. After all, the world knew of her dedication to the Dao, her relentless pursuit of strength, and her utter lack of interest in romantic affairs. Furthermore, she was the number one goddess of the Canglan Dao Domain, a peerless beauty with a naturally alluring charm. Who could possibly refuse such a woman? Especially someone like the lustful prince, Lin Qi¡¯an, who constantly gathered concubines. However, the outcome left even Zhao Yunji feeling as if it wasn¡¯t real and she looked at Lin Qi¡¯an, her gaze filled with resentment and grievance. She had never been treated with such disrespect in her entire life. Even her fists clenched involuntarily. After taking a deep breath, she barely managed to maintain her proud persona, ¡°Fine... After all, it¡¯s just a verbal engagement between the Duke of Zhenbei and my father. I will inform my father when I return.¡± With that, she turned to leave, her slender figure casting a lonely shadow. ¡°Elder Sister, wait!¡± Zhao Qingmeng quickly chased after her, trying to comfort her. ¡°Sister, don¡¯t be sad...¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sad!¡± ¡®Ah, yes, of course, you¡¯re not sad. When you were younger, you would always clench your dress tightly and bite your lips whenever you were upset, thinking no one would notice.¡¯ ¡°Actually, if you had just softened your stance a bit earlier, Lin Qi¡¯an might have changed his mind. But alas, my proud sister would never lower her head first.¡± ¡°What did you just say...?¡± Zhao Yunji froze as if struck by lightning, her face turning even paler. It felt as if her heart had been dealt a crushing blow. Unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret in this world. From now on, she would no longer be his fiance?e, and she would forever lose the opportunity to cultivate her Dao Physique close to him. ¡°Elder Sister, take care. I still need to accompany Brother Lin for the Grand Hunt~¡± Zhao Qingmeng waved cheerfully as she watched her sister leave. Is this what it feels like to successfully surpass one¡¯s elder sister? It¡¯s exhilarating! ¡°Xueni, you should return with her. Wait for me to come back.¡± ¡°Understood, Your Highness, be careful~¡± Lin Qi¡¯an, of course, saw right through Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s glee and even noticed that she was intentionally provoking her elder sister. What¡¯s the plan going forward? How to turn Zhao Yunji¡¯s pursuit into a desperate ¡°wife-chasing¡± drama? Simple! Give her a massive sense of disparity. If her younger sister, who couldn¡¯t cultivate since childhood, suddenly surpassed her in realm overnight, wouldn¡¯t that create enough of a shock? By that moment, Zhao Yunji would undoubtedly experience the greatest setback of her life. And as for how to make Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s cultivation skyrocket? That¡¯s even easier! She was already the reincarnation of the Empress, possessing everything¡ªexcept my Dao Physique. Find an opportunity to let Zhao Qingmeng inherit this physique, and it will not only fulfill her wish but also deal a blow to Zhao Yunji, killing two birds with one stone! Once Zhao Yunji finds out that her little sister is now involved with her ex-fiance? and has even achieved a massive leap in cultivation, she¡¯ll surely be devastated... After organizing the entire plan, Lin Qi¡¯an couldn¡¯t help but sigh: Damn, I¡¯m really the villain here, scheming and manipulating people¡¯s hearts like this! ¡°Brother Lin, let¡¯s head back,¡± Zhao Qingmeng returned with a bright smile. ¡°Yes, tomorrow is the last day of the Grand Hunt, so it¡¯s about time to head back.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been in that cave for two days, and I¡¯m not sure if our points are enough for first place, but fortunately, capturing the Golden-Winged Profound Sky Cicada should give us an extra hundred points.¡± ¡°If Your Highness wishes to annul the engagement, I can speak on your behalf. I believe this time, Lin Qi¡¯an won¡¯t dare ignore me,¡± Ye Yun declared confidently. ¡°Shut up!¡± A flash of coldness flickered in Zhao Yunji¡¯s eyes, and her dissatisfaction grew. Everyone assumed she wanted to break off the engagement, but couldn¡¯t she change her mind? How frustrating. On the other side, Xiao Chen eagerly sought out Ran Yuwei. ¡°Senior Sister Ran!¡± he called out openly, full of pride. ¡°I recall telling you that I¡¯m no longer your senior sister,¡± Ran Yuwei replied, clearly not interested in engaging with him. ¡°Heh,¡± Xiao Chen chuckled. ¡°I just wanted you to see for yourself. Here in Beiyang, on Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s turf, I, Xiao Chen, can still rise to prominence. Talent like mine is like gold¡ªit shines no matter where it is!¡± ¡°And as for you, Senior Sister...¡± Xiao Chen¡¯s pupils unknowingly flickered with a strange, dark red glow, cold and sinister. ¡°You will be mine too!¡± He licked his lips greedily after finishing. Ran Yuwei was utterly disgusted by him. How could there be such a revolting man? Rolling her eyes, she said, ¡°Xiao Chen, I hope you have a bit of self-awareness. Don¡¯t come looking for me again. I fear the prince would not be pleased to see you.¡± Only then did Xiao Chen leave, though there wasn¡¯t a trace of disappointment. In fact, his evil desire had only intensified. Finally, Lin Qi¡¯an arrived. As soon as he dismounted, he was greeted by a chorus of cheers. In the sky, the white-haired elder who presided over the Grand Hunt called out in a loud voice, ¡°Good! All teams have returned! I will now officially announce the final results of the Grand Hunt.¡± Although everyone could already see the results from the leaderboard, they were waiting for the official announcement. Some even felt a sense of rejection. ¡°Wait!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an interrupted suddenly. ¡°Does the prince have something to say?¡± the elder asked. ¡°Before the results are officially announced, shouldn¡¯t we recount the points? We have a little something here.¡± As Lin Qi¡¯an spoke, he opened his palm. In the glow of light, a golden-winged cicada flapped its wings frantically, trying to escape. ¡°The Golden-Winged Profound Sky Cicada!¡± ¡°No way, is it really?¡± ¡°The prince actually caught it? Unbelievable!¡± ¡°A record that no one has broken for a hundred years has been shattered!¡± Exclamations of shock echoed across the entire plain. Even the old Saint presiding over the hunt was filled with astonishment, his once-cloudy eyes now wide with disbelief. ¡°So, that¡¯s why the prince disappeared for two days?¡± ¡°Hurry, recount the points!¡± ¡°If you add the points from the Golden-Winged Profound Sky Cicada, the two teams will be tied!¡± ¡°Tied?!¡± A tie meant there would be a tiebreaker match. All the previous arguments about Lin Qi¡¯an and Team 108 not having faced each other directly were just talk, but now, the chance had come. A tiebreaker¡ªwhoever won would take the championship! Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Everyone assumed that Lin Qi¡¯an would end up in second place. But upon his return, he brought a huge surprise! The fact that he had managed to capture the Golden-Winged Profound Sky Cicada left people astonished beyond belief. Zhao Qingmeng stood proudly, hands on her hips, taking credit for the accomplishment. Meanwhile, Xiao Chen and Ye Yun were furious, their faces dark with rage, their hatred for Lin Qi¡¯an growing as though they could devour him. ¡°No need to worry. Even if we have to fight again, with the two of us combined, there¡¯s no way we¡¯ll lose to him,¡± Ye Yun said confidently. ¡°Exactly. We¡¯re not the same as before!¡± Xiao Chen smirked coldly to himself. He still had a trump card, one that could possibly crush Lin Qi¡¯an underfoot. Finally, the white-haired elder who presided over the hunt recovered from his shock and officially announced, ¡°Teams 108 and 1001, due to identical final scores, must compete in a tiebreaker to determine the Grand Hunt champion!¡± ¡°Go, prince!¡± ¡°We believe in you!¡± ¡°Take them down!¡± Countless voices cheered for Lin Qi¡¯an, their shouts growing louder, rumbling like thunder. ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t the prince going to fight both of them at once?¡± someone asked. ¡°Yeah, the princess can¡¯t fight, so the prince has to take on two opponents by himself. Can he do it?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He¡¯s been through so many battles already. Do you really think the prince is afraid of these two?¡± Amidst the growing anticipation, Lin Qi¡¯an, Ye Yun, and Xiao Chen all entered the arena. The battlefield spanned ten miles, exclusively for their use. To prevent collateral damage, several powerful experts had set up a defensive formation, ensuring the utmost safety for the spectators. ¡°Sister, you¡¯re probably rooting for your guard, right? I¡¯m betting on Brother Lin. How about we make a little wager?¡± Zhao Qingmeng teased with a grin. ¡°Who told you I was supporting him?¡± Zhao Yunji responded irritably. ¡°What? Are you still supporting your ex-fiance?? He just broke off the engagement with you!¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t speak properly, just don¡¯t talk!¡± ¡°So fierce... so fierce...¡± As the final battle was about to begin, Xiao Chen stepped forward and asked loudly, ¡°Will this fight be unrestricted, with life and death left to fate? Otherwise, if we injure the prince, we might not be able to leave Beiyang alive!¡± His words sparked outrage among the Beiyang crowd. ¡°What arrogance! Does he really think he can injure the prince?¡± ¡°He¡¯s full of himself!¡± ¡°I spit on him! Who does he think he is?¡± Boos erupted from the crowd. Even Ran Yuwei couldn¡¯t hold back a cold snort, thinking, ¡°If you dare harm the prince, I will make you pay!¡± ¡°Brother, teach him a lesson!¡± Lin Hongyu also sniffled angrily. Despite the anger, rules still had to be clarified. ¡°During the match, if one side surrenders or can no longer fight, the battle ends. Until then, everything is part of the competition, and no one will be held accountable afterward.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s body was endowed with the Dragon Bone and Sword Bone, and he had consumed the Heavenly Spirit Physique Pills twice. His physical strength had long surpassed ordinary limits. Yet, he rarely used close combat because he found it inelegant. In the first round, neither Ye Yun nor Xiao Chen had gained the upper hand. This outcome surprised everyone. *Crack!* Ye Yun broke free from the ice. Under the immense heat radiating from him, the frozen air turned into mist, filling the battlefield. ¡°Great Yang Overturning Mountain Palm!¡± Ye Yun unleashed another attack, his Yang Crown Sword shooting forward like a meteor chasing the moon. Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s Nine Yang Divine Sword rose from its sheath, clashing with the Sun Crown Sword head-on as Lin Qi¡¯an pointed out a finger. ¡°It¡¯s the Heavenly Sword Finger from our Tianjian City!¡± ¡°Go, prince!¡± As the two forces were locked in a stalemate, Xiao Chen attacked again. Lin Qi¡¯an split his attention, sending the Seven Stars Dragon Spring Sword to engage Xiao Chen. Despite being outnumbered, Lin Qi¡¯an showed no signs of being overwhelmed. ¡°Great Yang Overturning Sea Palm!¡± Ye Yun followed up with another strike, each palm stronger than the last. The sunlight grew more blinding, and the pressure mounted! The Nine Yang Divine Sword burned with divine flames, straining to block the onslaught. ¡°Great Sun Heaven and Earth Palm!¡± Ye Yun¡¯s third palm descended, capable of shattering even the clouds. The ice plains beneath them melted away into nothingness. This was the might of the sun, unstoppable! The Nine Yang Divine Sword was knocked aside, and Lin Qi¡¯an was forced to take a step back, retreating at high speed. ¡°The prince... he retreated...¡± Seeing this, countless hearts filled with shock. Even when faced with the Purple Sky Divine Thunder, Lin Qi¡¯an hadn¡¯t taken a single step back. But now, with his retreat, it felt like the invincible legend had been shattered. Perhaps even the prince had techniques he couldn¡¯t withstand. Disappointment crept in. On the other side, the swordsmanship of a single sacred weapon could no longer suppress Xiao Chen. Especially as he unleashed various divine abilities of many beasts, combined with his high cultivation, he was now gaining the upper hand. *Buzz!* The Seven Stars Dragon Spring Sword was struck away by Xiao Chen¡¯s punch, embedding itself into the ground. ¡°Could the prince lose?¡± ¡°Oh no, the heir is at a disadvantage...¡± The two adversaries exchanged smug glances, their eyes filled with disdain. Satisfaction bloomed in their hearts. At last... they were finally able to turn the tables and suppress the once-invincible Lin Qi¡¯an! Their intentions were clear. They aimed to deal a fatal blow. But just at that moment, a terrifying aura descended from above! Looking up, they saw a flash of purple light descending from the sky, its sharpness threatening to pierce the heavens and earth. A third sword¡ªThunder¡¯s Judgement. All along, Lin Qi¡¯an had been secretly controlling this third sword. Was he really fighting both of them while controlling three swords at once? By the time they realized what was happening, it was too late to escape. The sword technique unleashed was none other than Sword Bone Divine Art: Blue Sky Yellow Springs! The terrifying power exploded across the plains like a nuclear bomb. Dust and debris spread ten miles wide, only stopping when they hit the protective formation. The ground now had a crater over a kilometer wide, with cracks spreading for thousands of meters like a spider¡¯s web! As for Xiao Chen and Ye Yun? Whether they were dead or alive remained uncertain... The might of that single strike left everyone in shock. No one had expected to have underestimated the heir¡¯s abilities so greatly. Chapter 99 Chapter 99 The sheer power of that strike tore the ground apart, leaving the audience horrified. The sound of people gasping in shock filled the air. ¡°His Highness, the prince, wasn¡¯t losing but was controlling a third sword in secret...¡± ¡°I remember, this was the technique that instantly killed that Celestial Realm monster before! Could that sword also be a sacred weapon?¡± ¡°To control three sacred weapons at once, the prince is truly terrifying...¡± The last time people had witnessed this sword was on a recording stone. While they knew it was powerful, they hadn¡¯t experienced it firsthand and thus couldn¡¯t fully grasp its might. But today, many had the chance to watch it live, and they were left in awe. As they saw the cracks spreading across the ground and the swirling dust, they finally understood the scale of its destructive force. A strike of this magnitude would kill anyone below the Celestial Realm without question. The power of the prince could no longer be measured by ordinary standards. ¡°He didn¡¯t even use this move yesterday,¡± Zhao Yunji muttered in disbelief. ¡°Of course not! This technique is far too terrifying. Brother Lin wouldn¡¯t use it lightly, especially since he didn¡¯t actually want to kill you,¡± Zhao Qingmeng teased, revealing the true nature of Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s restraint. It was clear now¡ªLin Qi¡¯an had been holding back during their battle. He had feared hurting her, so he refrained from using his most devastating abilities. Zhao Yunji¡¯s heart ached even more at this realization. ¡°Well struck...¡± Ran Yuwei muttered aloud. She wouldn¡¯t have felt the slightest remorse if Xiao Chen had died from that blow. In fact, it would have been a relief. In her eyes, Xiao Chen had already lost his mind. His aura earlier had even carried a chilling, sinister vibe, sending shivers down her spine. Seeing this strike, even the Sword Emperor stood up, ¡°What a fine sword!¡± Those standing behind him couldn¡¯t help but echo his praise. The Sword Emperor rarely spoke, so his praise for Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s sword spoke volumes. However, they didn¡¯t realize that his compliment had a second meaning. Not only was Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s skill commendable, but the sword itself was exceptional. The Sword Emperor had seen the sword¡¯s true identity¡ªThunder¡¯s Judgement. It wasn¡¯t a mere sacred weapon; it was an Emperor Weapon, once wielded by the Thunder Emperor himself. Although it had lain dormant for many years, currently only able to display the power of a sacred weapon, once fully awakened, it would shake the world. No wonder Lin Qi¡¯an had learned lightning-based techniques; he must have inherited the Thunder Emperor¡¯s legacy. Quite the fortuitous opportunity! ¡°Mother, did Brother win?¡± Lin Hongyu asked excitedly. ¡°It seems not yet,¡± she replied. Despite the terrifying power of Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s strike, those two were no ordinary opponents. The lingering spiritual energy in the dissipating dust was clear evidence that they had survived. What is a protagonist of fate, after all? They always manage to emerge unscathed from disaster. Xiao Chen and Ye Yun were both alive, but only barely. They had poured every ounce of strength into surviving that sword strike and were now gravely injured, unable to continue fighting. The combination of the sword bone¡¯s technique and a sacred weapon had created a force strong enough to slay a Celestial Realm expert, something they simply couldn¡¯t withstand. Both lay on the ground, bloodied and battered. Xiao Chen spat out blood, a venomous glint in his eyes. ¡°We can¡¯t lose... How can we lose?¡± ¡¾Ding! Xiao Chen has been possessed by a demon. Luck value -300.¡¿ Destiny¡¯s Child: Xiao Chen Secret Treasure: Ancient Beast Taming FluteLuck: 100 (White)Luck Core: Ten Thousand Beasts ScriptureCurrent Kill Rewards: Ghost Eye Evil Wood Root, Gu Eagle Iron Claws, Immortal Ape Heart Blood, Ancient Shura Eyes ¡¾Tip: The Luck Core can be seized.¡¿ Lin Qi¡¯an saw the system prompt, but despite the warning of demonic venom, he didn¡¯t feel any discomfort. It was likely due to the protective effects of the Myriad Poison Pill he had previously consumed, which provided immunity from one poison. While Lin Qi¡¯an remained unaffected, the crowd, unaware of this, was filled with dread. Many believed that Lin Qi¡¯an had been poisoned, and their hearts raced in fear. Xiao Chen had become a demon, and merely being near him was enough to make people feel uncomfortable. Ran Yuwei¡¯s heart trembled. What concerned her most was that Lin Qi¡¯an had been poisoned. His safety was the priority. Without hesitation, she ran toward him. Zhao Qingmeng, Su Xue Ni, and several others followed suit, rushing toward Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡°Hurry and take the prince to detoxify him!¡± the Saint overseeing the hunt shouted. Then, with a single palm strike, he attacked Xiao Chen, his aura towering like a mountain. Xiao Chen¡¯s body shattered under the force, his flesh scattering across the ground, leaving behind only twisted, withered roots. The power of a Saint¡¯s palm strike was overwhelming! On the other side, Lin Qi¡¯an was quickly surrounded¡ªnot just by his maids, but also by many physicians from Tianjian City. Zhao Qingmeng, being small, couldn¡¯t push her way through and was left anxiously standing outside the crowd. ¡°Make way for me!¡± The Pill Emperor strode through the crowd, his brows furrowed with worry. He quickly took Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s pulse. ¡°Strange... His pulse is stable? Could it be that the poison hasn¡¯t activated yet?¡± Without hesitation, the Pill Emperor pulled out several porcelain bottles from his storage ring. ¡°Here, take these¡ªNine-Turn Golden Pill, Disaster-Averting Immortal Pill, Clear Heart Spirit Pill¡ªtake them all to preemptively prevent the demonic poison from acting up!¡± ¡°When we return, I¡¯ll personally craft the highest-grade detoxification pill for you. Don¡¯t worry.¡± The crowd around them was stunned. The pills the Pill Emperor had taken out were the kind of life-saving elixirs that most people could only dream of obtaining. Yet, here he was, handing them out like candy! ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so dramatic...¡± Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s mouth twitched as he looked at the collection of pills. ¡°It¡¯s absolutely necessary! Demonic poison is not to be underestimated. If it flares up, not even a deity can save you. Take them now! I¡¯ll be off to prepare more.¡± The Pill Emperor turned and flew off immediately. Lin Qi¡¯an quietly stored the divine pills in his ring. It wasn¡¯t that he needed them, but they were too valuable to pass up. At that moment, his maids finally reached him. ¡°Your Highness, are you alright?¡± ¡°Do you feel any discomfort?¡± ¡°Let me help you back...¡± Su Xueni, Zi Lianyou, and Ran Yuwei looked pale with worry, and there were even tears welling up in their eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s nothing serious.¡± Their conversation didn¡¯t escape the Sword Emperor, Lin Weixuan, who reassured his wife and daughter, ¡°Qi¡¯an is fine. With that old Pill Emperor around, even if he lost half his life, he¡¯d be saved.¡± Suddenly, a voice broke through the commotion, sending shockwaves through the crowd. ¡°The demon... he¡¯s resurrecting!¡± Chapter 100 Chapter 100: The Demon That Even the Sword Emperor Can¡¯t Kill ¨C Can the Prince? Has the demon resurrected again?! Upon hearing this, everyone¡¯s hearts trembled. The demon that had just been shattered by the Saint¡¯s palm slowly began to reform its body and limbs. Xiao Chen¡¯s body was covered in withered branches, red pupils sprouted all over him, creating an utterly terrifying appearance. At this moment, Xiao Chen had completely fused with the demon. Boom! The old Saint struck with his palm once more. Under the immense power of the Saint, even the heavens and the earth seemed to change color! Yet, the result was the same as before. Although its body was shattered again, it quickly reformed, almost as if it possessed immortality! Seeing the demon resurrect time and again, the crowd could no longer remain calm. A chilling sensation crept up their spines. ¡°What kind of demon is this? It¡¯s terrifying...¡± ¡°I-I don¡¯t know. Is it really impossible to kill?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve heard anything about demons. Where did this thing come from?¡± ¡°If it truly can¡¯t be killed, how should we handle it?¡± Just one demon was enough to terrify millions of cultivators. Such a creature was beyond comprehension, lacking human reasoning and wisdom, and the unknown was something people feared deeply. Zhao Yunji was extremely worried about Lin Qian, yet she knew she couldn¡¯t get close and had no place there. She shifted her focus back to the demon instead. ¡°Ye Yun, what on earth happened?¡± Zhao Yunji¡¯s voice was cold as she questioned the injured Ye Yun, who had barely escaped. ¡°Your Highness... I don¡¯t know either,¡± Ye Yun replied. ¡°Fool!¡± Zhao Yunji¡¯s spiritual energy shot out, leaving a red mark on Ye Yun¡¯s face. Her Autumn Pupil Eyes gleamed with a golden pressure that seemed to see through everything. ¡°We... accidentally entered a Yin Cave and found a sealed beast. Brother Xiao wanted to subdue it...¡± Ye Yun hesitated, his face pale. ¡°And you didn¡¯t stop him?¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t know it was a demon... and Brother Xiao was eager to grow stronger,¡± Ye Yun stammered. ¡°Ye Yun, from this day forward, you are relieved of your duty as Commander of the Guards!¡± Zhao Yunji¡¯s voice was firm and absolute. ¡¾Ding! Zhao Yunji is disappointed in Ye Yun, Ye Yun¡¯s Luck Value -100, Host¡¯s Villain Points +1000¡¿ ¡°Your Highness! Your Highness!¡± Ye Yun tried to protest, but Zhao Yunji no longer paid him any attention. All eyes turned to the demon, which Xiao Chen had now become. At that moment, Sword Emperor Lin Weixuan took a step forward. He raised his hand, and his sword energy pierced through the air, shattering Xiao Chen¡¯s body into near dust. The attack was so precise that the ground beneath remained untouched. This was the power of the Sword Emperor, whose control over his strength was absolute. If he wanted to destroy something, it would be annihilated without causing collateral damage. ¡°Even the Sword Emperor has made a move!¡± ¡°That strike could fell a Saint!¡± ¡°Finally, it¡¯s over. This thing is dead for sure now.¡± ¡°It¡¯s turned to dust. There¡¯s no way it can revive!¡± Many people were concerned about Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s condition. If he had indeed been poisoned by the demon and fell, it would be a huge loss for Beiyang. However, his complexion now seemed relatively normal, which brought some relief. Zhao Yunji, upon seeing this, let out a quiet breath of relief. Then she paused. Wait, he¡¯s no longer my fiance?¡ªwhy am I still so worried about him? Shaking her head, she turned her attention back to see what Lin Qi¡¯an was planning. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, you are on the brink of death, yet you still dare to show off before me?¡± Xiao Chen roared, his voice crazed. ¡°You will die! Hahaha!¡± Pinned to the ground by the pressure of the Saint¡¯s might, Xiao Chen screamed and writhed, completely consumed by madness. Lin Qi¡¯an raised both of his swords. The Thunder Calamity Sword was in his left hand, and the Nine Yang Divine Sword was in his right. He first activated the Heavenly Sword Thunder Technique. With a deafening roar, dark clouds gathered in the clear sky, and a bolt of violet lightning suddenly struck down. ¡°Violet Heaven Divine Thunder!¡± Zhao Yunji¡¯s pupils constricted in shock. She hadn¡¯t expected Lin Qi¡¯an to be able to summon the Violet Heaven Divine Thunder, even though it was of a lower level. Though not the most powerful, Zhao Yunji herself had spent seven years mastering the art of summoning it through lightning techniques, and Lin Qi¡¯an, who was on the path of sword cultivation, had somehow achieved it. A mix of confusion and complex emotions welled up within her. Lin Qi¡¯an caught the Violet Heaven Divine Thunder with the Thunder Calamity Sword. Instantly, the sword was engulfed in crackling lightning, radiating an aura of utter destruction. At the same time, the other sword¡ªthe Nine Yang Divine Sword¡ªsuddenly ignited with golden flames! One thunder, one fire. The two forces illuminated Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s handsome face, their lights blending together. ¡°What is the Prince planning to do?¡± The next scene defied everyone¡¯s understanding. Lin Qi¡¯an brought the two swords together! The divine thunder and divine fire began to merge. The terrifying aura of destruction spread wildly through the air, as if it would explode at any moment. ¡°Has the Prince gone mad?! Doesn¡¯t he know that merging thunder and fire could cause a massive explosion?¡± ¡°Retreat! Retreat immediately!¡± Countless people were already breaking into a cold sweat, their breaths held in fear of what might come next. If the fusion went out of control, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if Lin Qi¡¯an was blown to pieces! Even the Saint elder standing nearby instinctively took two steps back, deeply anxious. He knew he would have to save the Young Lord at the moment of detonation or risk being held accountable by the Sword Emperor. He steeled himself for the worst. Zhao Yunji muttered to herself, ¡°Is he a madman... or a genius?¡± Violet Heaven Divine Thunder was a force of the heavenly dao. Even at its weakest, it was still a supreme existence. Forcing it to fuse with another element would cause a violent backlash, one not easily controlled. At least, she didn¡¯t believe she could do it. Yet, Lin Qi¡¯an did it! Though sweat poured down his face and his complexion turned pale, the fire and thunder, these two terrifying forces, were truly merging, no longer as chaotic as before. Was he going to succeed? ¡°Has anyone ever tried something like this before?¡± ¡°Absolutely not. We¡¯re witnessing a miracle...¡± Under the gaze of millions, the Violet Heaven Divine Thunder and Nine Yang Divine Fire fused into one. The result was a purple-golden orb, as clear and radiant as glazed glass. What kind of power it contained, no one dared to imagine. Lin Qi¡¯an then directed this power into the Seven Stars Dragon Spring Sword. ¡°Go!¡± he commanded. With a single point of his finger, the sacred sword, now imbued with divine thunder and otherworldly fire, shot forward and pierced Xiao Chen¡¯s chest! Chapter 101 Chapter 101: The Great Hunt Concludes ¨C Lin Qi¡¯an Takes the Crown! The Seven Stars Dragon Spring Sword pierced through Xiao Chen¡¯s chest, and the divine thunder and fire spread across his body with terrifying speed. ¡°Argh... No! My body, no!!¡± Xiao Chen¡¯s agonizing screams were like nails scraping against glass, unbearably sharp and piercing. Gradually, the screams subsided until they disappeared completely. His body disintegrated, and the withered branches within him slowly turned to ash. Finally, there was silence. ¡°Is he dead?¡± ¡°Wait... he might still resurrect.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see.¡± No one dared to speak loudly, all holding their breath as they watched the pile of ash. At any moment, these ashes could come back to life! After all, this was a being even the Sword Emperor couldn¡¯t kill, so how could the Prince? A moment passed. Then another. Half an hour went by. The pile of ash remained still, and when the wind blew, it scattered into the air, disappearing completely. ¡°He¡¯s dead! The demon is truly dead!¡± ¡°My heavens, the Prince killed the demon! The Prince did it!¡± ¡°All hail the Prince! Hahaha!¡± Like a stone dropping into a pond, waves of excitement surged through the crowd. Everyone erupted in celebration! The Prince had succeeded where even Saints and the Sword Emperor had failed¡ªhe had slain the demon. Could there be anything more exhilarating than this? Cheering waves echoed across the plains, and countless passionate, admiring gazes fell upon the white-clad figure. At that moment, the Prince was nothing less than a god in the eyes of Beiyang¡¯s people. ¡°This boy...¡± Lin Weixuan couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. It seemed his son had inherited the method of defeating the demon from the Thunder Emperor¡¯s legacy¡ªwhat fortunate timing. Even Mu Qingzhu smiled and shook her head. She had never expected her son to shine so brightly. Like all mothers, she simply hoped for his safety, but seeing him stand in such glory now brought an undeniable warmth to her heart. ¡°Wow! Someday, I¡¯ll be just like Brother, even more impressive than him!¡± Lin Hongyu clenched her little fists in determination. ¡°Hongyu, didn¡¯t you say you wanted to be like your father before?¡± Mu Qingzhu asked with a smile. ¡°At Father¡¯s age, was he as powerful as Brother?¡± Lin Weixuan: ... As the crowd continued their cheers, one person remained silent¡ªYe Yun. He stared into the sky, his fingernails digging deeply into his palms. The plan to kill Lin Qi¡¯an had failed, Xiao Chen was dead, and he had lost the trust of the princess. He had never faced such a devastating setback. ¡°Brother Xiao, I swear on my life, I will avenge you!¡± Ye Yun vowed silently, his heart seething with anger. ¡°And as for you, Princess, one day you¡¯ll willingly be mine!¡± Meanwhile, Zhao Yunji, dressed in a golden gown, stood still, her eyes flickering with a mixture of emotions. If Lin Qi¡¯an were still her fiance?, she would probably be happy to witness this scene. Yet now, her feelings were much more complicated, even tinged with a faint pain. Regret began to creep into her heart. If I had stopped him when he wanted to annul the engagement, would he have softened? Shaking her head quickly, Zhao Yunji smiled bitterly. No, she thought. How could I, Zhao Yunji, lower myself like a young girl for another man? ¡°Brother Lin is truly incredible!¡± Zhao Qingmeng praised, her words overflowing with admiration and clearly indicating their closeness. Hearing this, Zhao Yunji felt her chest tighten, nearly to the point of spitting blood in frustration. ¡°The Prince is so handsome...¡± ¡°Finally, Xiao Chen has been brought to justice!¡± Purple Lianyou and Ran Yuwei both sighed in relief, sincerely happy for Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡°Relay this Emperor¡¯s decree! In celebration of my son¡¯s victory in the Great Hunt, Tianjian City will celebrate for three days. Everyone may indulge in the festivities!¡± The Sword Emperor¡¯s high-profile celebration signaled the official end of the Great Hunt. Various sects and factions came forward to offer their congratulations to Lin Qi¡¯an and to bid farewell. ¡°Congratulations to the Crown Prince on claiming victory! Your radiance truly makes you the number one in all of Canglan Dao Domain!¡± At this moment, the people from Yunmo Dao Palace also arrived. Saintess Mo Shuiqiu of Yunmo Dao Palace gave a slight bow and softly said, ¡°Congratulations, Your Highness, on your victory. The cultural gathering will be held in half a month. You are always welcome to visit Yunmo Dao Palace as an honored guest.¡± Her cheeks flushed slightly¡ªthis was the first time she had ever personally invited a man. ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll come to enjoy the event,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an replied. Hearing his positive response, the people of Yunmo Dao Palace were overjoyed, and many envious gazes were cast their way. ¡°The Crown Prince is attending Yunmo Dao Palace¡¯s cultural gathering?¡± ¡°Oh? That¡¯s interesting! I hear many refined and elegant fairies who love poetry, chess, and painting will be attending.¡± ¡°Indeed. Saintess of Yunmo Dao Palace has had a love for books and painting since childhood. She exudes a scholarly aura.¡± ¡°Not to mention the peerless beauty Qinglian Fairy, ranked third on the list of celestial beauties, a disciple of the Sage of Calligraphy, as graceful as a lotus.¡± ¡°Hah, I want to see the excitement too!¡± ¡°You lowly commoners think you¡¯re worthy of attending the gathering? Wake up! Invitations are limited, and the Crown Prince is a special guest. Do you have keys to the event?¡± The topic sparked a lively discussion among the crowd. Gradually, the various sects and factions began to disperse, each returning to their own homes and lands. ¡°Sister, now that the Great Hunt is over, are you heading back to Tai¡¯an City?¡± ¡°Yes, aren¡¯t you returning?¡± Zhao Yunji frowned. ¡°Oh, when you return, make sure to inform Father that I¡¯m very happy here in Tianjian City and plan to stay a little longer. I won¡¯t be going back for now.¡± ¡°You...¡± Seeing her younger sister¡¯s delighted expression, Zhao Yunji grew even more frustrated. ¡°Tianjian City is having a grand celebration. I suppose I¡¯ll stay a few more days as well.¡± ¡°Tsk, Sister, your skin is thick!¡± That night, the entire city of Tianjian was alight with celebration, lanterns illuminating the streets. Lin Qi¡¯an drank deep into the night, his body reeking of alcohol as he was helped back to his chambers by several maids. ¡°You may all leave. I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Ran Yuwei, stay.¡± ¡°Huh? Me?¡± Ran Yuwei blinked in confusion, unsure of what to do. Su Xueni whispered in her ear, ¡°Congratulations, Sister. Be sure to serve His Highness well.¡± Outside, Zi Lianyou mumbled, ¡°I was clearly here first... wuwuwu...¡± He killed the Fated Protagonist, then bedded the Protagonist¡¯s destined woman. Was there anything more satisfying than this? Chapter 102 Chapter 102: The Former Fiance?e Arrives and Witnesses... In the chamber, candlelight flickered softly. Ran Yuwei, with her exotic Western charm, wore little fabric, adorned with gold jewelry. Her slender waist, which could barely be held in a single hand, was truly a sight to behold. ¡°Y-Your Highness?¡± ¡°I killed Xiao Chen this time. How do you feel about that? After all, he was once your junior brother,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked. ¡°He deserved to die. His death is of no regret!¡± Ran Yuwei responded straightforwardly and emphasized, ¡°I¡¯m now the Crown Prince¡¯s maid, and anyone who opposes Your Highness is my enemy!¡± ¡°Very good. Come here, I have something for you.¡± Ran Yuwei hesitated for a moment, her face blushing as she lowered her head and sat beside Lin Qi¡¯an, gently leaning against him. ¡°It¡¯s a prize from the Great Hunt, the Heaven-tier cultivation technique, *Beast King True Record*. It¡¯s said to have come from an ancient beast-taming sect.¡± To Lin Qi¡¯an, such ordinary techniques were useless, so he casually gave it away. ¡°Ah?!¡± Ran Yuwei quickly waved her hands. ¡°This is such a valuable gift! Your Highness, I... I truly think Xiao Chen deserved to die. There¡¯s no need to comfort me!¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to comfort you. His death has nothing to do with treating my maid well, does it?¡± Ran Yuwei looked at Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s handsome face and found herself in a daze. So, he specifically chose this technique to give to me... ¡°Thank you, Your Highness! I¡¯ll work hard in the future to repay Your Highness!¡± Ran Yuwei accepted the technique, her heart racing. ¡°No need to wait for the future. You can repay me now.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an pulled her slender waist closer. ¡°Mm...¡± ...... The next morning, despite her body being sore, Ran Yuwei got up early to serve the Crown Prince, diligently helping him dress and wash. As she worked, her heart was filled with sweetness. From now on, she would be the Crown Prince¡¯s woman, just like Sister Xueni. If she could bear a cute daughter for His Highness, that would be wonderful! After raising spirit beasts for so long, she wanted to raise a human child! ...... Outside, Su Xueni and Zi Lianyou were waiting, chatting casually. The more Zi Lianyou listened, the more her face blushed. In her heart, she thought, *I must work harder in the future. There¡¯s still so much to learn.* Su Xueni, on the other hand, was calm and composed, having been the first to enjoy the ¡°feast.¡± She felt a sense of confidence. No matter how many women the Crown Prince takes in the future, they would still have to show her respect! But someone else had already blackened with rage. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, you heartless...¡± Upon learning that Lin Qi¡¯an had spent the night with a maid, Zhao Qingmeng was immediately filled with jealousy. How could she let others get ahead of her again? Why? Just because that girl¡¯s waist was slim and soft? Zhao Qingmeng was furious and couldn¡¯t bear the anger alone. Her royal sister hadn¡¯t left yet, so she hurried over to deliver some news. ¡°Sister, something terrible has happened! They say Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s demon poison has flared up, and it¡¯s already deep in his bones! You should go check on him quickly...¡± ¡®Demon poison flare-up?!¡¯ Hearing this, Zhao Yunji was confused at first. Didn¡¯t he seem perfectly fine yesterday? Wait, could it be a delayed effect? She didn¡¯t have time to think it through and quickly grabbed Zhao Qingmeng, flying off with her. From now on, she would definitely look for more opportunities to serve His Highness, heh. As for Lin Qi¡¯an, he too made significant progress, jumping from the fifth layer of the Transcendent Realm to the seventh layer! A single night¡¯s indulgence was equivalent to decades of hard cultivation for others. This was a huge gain! Moreover, killing the destined child and then claiming the destined child¡¯s destined woman brought a unique satisfaction that could not be described. Meanwhile, Zhao Qingmeng was frantic, to the point of fabricating an urgent message. There would be plenty of opportunities during the upcoming cultural gathering. As for Zi Lianyou, she clearly harbored some resentment. It would be wise to pick a suitable day to resolve that... ¡°Your Highness, what are your plans next?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stay in Tianjian City for a while longer, then attend the cultural gathering at Yunmo Dao Palace.¡± ...... A few days later, Zhao Yunji returned to the capital of Tai¡¯an. Her brother, Zhao Ziyu, eagerly came to greet her. ¡°Sister, how was your trip to Beiyang?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ask me!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You seem upset?¡± Zhao Ziyu was puzzled. His mood hadn¡¯t been great either, since he hadn¡¯t seen Su Xueni, but it seemed his sister was even more frustrated, likely due to her failure to suppress Lin Qi¡¯an. He quickly found a servant and ordered, ¡°Tell me exactly what happened in Beiyang, word for word!¡± ¡°Yes, Your Highness...¡± The servant began recounting everything in detail: the Princess¡¯s initial arrival in Tianjian City, where she had attempted to exert pressure, only to be countered by Lin Qi¡¯an. He had even punished the captain of the guard with one hundred strikes. Then, the captain challenged Lin Qi¡¯an, only to have his arm severed by a single sword strike. Next came the Great Hunt, where Lin Qi¡¯an accompanied the young royal princess and passed every challenge, eventually defeating the Princess and earning widespread fame. Lastly, he killed the demon-possessed individual and claimed the championship of the Great Hunt. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me!¡± Zhao Ziyu roared. ¡°Why is it all about that Crown Prince of Beiyang¡¯s glory?!¡± ¡°Your Highness, please calm down. Everything I¡¯ve said is the truth, not a single false word!¡± ¡°Outrageous... utterly outrageous!¡± Hearing about Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s continued success was like swallowing a bitter pill. ¡°Fine, he¡¯s impressive! Great Hunt Champion, demon-slaying, how majestic. Whatever. I don¡¯t need Su Xueni anymore!¡± Zhao Ziyu pondered for a moment, then turned to his subordinate and said, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, the famous cultural gathering is coming up soon, and Qinglian Fairy will also attend, correct?¡± On the list of Saintess Beauties, Su Xueni was ranked second, and Lu Miaoyin, the Qinglian Fairy, was ranked third¡ªboth were peerless beauties! ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll give Beiyang face and leave Su Xueni for them. I¡¯ll go after Lu Miaoyin instead.¡± ¡°Make arrangements. I will personally attend the cultural gathering!¡± ¡°Your Highness... it¡¯s said that the Crown Prince of Beiyang is also planning to attend the gathering...¡± ¡°What?!¡± Zhao Ziyu¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Was that Lin Qi¡¯an really intent on competing with him for women? *Hmph! Fine, you may have unrivaled talent, and even my sister couldn¡¯t beat you in combat. You might be the strongest of your generation, but the cultural gathering isn¡¯t about brute strength.* Qinglian Fairy didn¡¯t favor uncultured warriors! ¡°I¡¯ll bring the old Grandmaster with me. With him assisting me in secret, how could I not steal the spotlight?¡± Chapter 103 Chapter 103: The Literary Meet Approaches, and the Emperor of Wenchu Turns Out to Be a Transmigrator! Lin Qi¡¯an obtained a Sacred Weapon. As part of the rewards from the Great Hunt, he was allowed to freely select from the Seven Treasures Pavilion in Tianjian City. Sacred Weapons, though Lin Qi¡¯an owned three already, were exceedingly rare in Tianjian City. As the name implies, they were weapons used by Saints! Even within Tianjian City, the number of Saints could barely fill a game of Werewolf, meaning there weren¡¯t many. For people Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s age, it would be a miracle just to touch a Divine Weapon. Only heavenly prodigies like him and Zhao Yunji, with their powerful backgrounds, had the privilege of obtaining a Sacred Weapon as their own. He had been pondering which Sacred Weapon to choose. After careful thought, it had to be a sword! With his mastery of the sword technique Heavenly Flying Immortal and possessing the Flying Immortal Sword Spirit Box, one could never have too many swords, as they greatly enhanced his combat prowess. Lin Qi¡¯an selected an ice-attribute sword, perfect for defense. Since he had also absorbed Su Xueni¡¯s icy aura, his ice-based defensive abilities were already impressive. The other three Sacred Weapons in his possession were primarily offensive. A balance of one defensive and three offensive weapons seemed very reasonable. Thus, he chose the Sacred Weapon, Divine Frost Sword. Following this, he began using his 200,000 Villain Points to improve his abilities. With four swords in his arsenal now, his divine sword technique Heavenly Flying Immortal needed to be upgraded to keep pace; otherwise, he would not be able to control them all. Heavenly Flying Immortal (Second Layer) ¨C> (Fourth Layer) consumed 40,000 Villain Points. Next, although his Thunder Annihilation Sword currently possessed only the power of a Sacred Weapon, its true form was that of an Emperor Weapon! It had yet to awaken because the ¡°Thunder¡± it had encountered wasn¡¯t powerful enough. If Lin Qi¡¯an could summon the remaining twenty-seven bolts of Purple Heaven Divine Thunder, there was a chance it would regain its full power as an Emperor Weapon. Thus, his cultivation of the divine abilities of the Thunder Emperor needed to keep up. Heavenly Sword Lightning Summoning Technique (Second Layer) ¨C> (Fourth Layer) Nine Heavens Thunder Movement (Second Layer) ¨C> (Fourth Layer) Together, these upgrades consumed 80,000 Villain Points. With the remaining Villain Points, Lin Qi¡¯an chose to invest everything into upgrading his Impervious to Poison Physique. Last time, this physique had saved his life, but the poison resistance effect had been used up. By fully refining this physique, his body would become immune to all poison attacks in the world! Lin Qi¡¯an had a strong premonition. The demonic beast he encountered last time wouldn¡¯t be the only one. If hordes of such creatures appeared in the future, immunity to poison would be crucial. Ten Thousand Poison Immunity (20% ¨C> 50%) Although only halfway complete, it already granted immunity to most poisons, significantly enhancing his ability to protect himself. This upgrade consumed 70,000 Villain Points. With that, Lin Qi¡¯an had nearly exhausted all his Villain Points, meaning he would have to earn more soon. Lastly, Lin Qi¡¯an obtained Xiao Chen¡¯s Beast Scripture, a treasure of great value! However, the beasts inside were currently too weak and were not as strong as Lin Qi¡¯an himself. If he encountered a ferocious beast like the Taotie in the future, then perhaps it could be useful, but for now, he put it aside. With these improvements, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s attributes underwent significant changes: ¨C Host: Lin Qi¡¯an ¨C Identity: Crown Prince of Beiyang, Tianlang Immortal Dynasty ¨C Cultivation: Transcendent Realm, Seventh Layer ¨C Techniques: Sword Manifestation (Fourth Layer), Yang Flame Departure (Fourth Layer), Nine Heavens Thunder Movement (Fourth Layer) In the Lotus Realm, a second house had been built. Su Xueni¡¯s first residence was called Xue¡¯an Pavilion, while the newly constructed one, with many small spirit beasts in the courtyard, belonged to none other than Ran Yuwei. She had boldly named it Yu¡¯an Pavilion and placed a wooden plaque at the entrance with the three characters engraved on it. Zi Lianyou, feeling wronged, pouted, ¡°I also want to build a house inside. It¡¯s so unfair that I¡¯m the only one without one! Waaah!¡± The other two women chuckled at her complaint. ¡°If you want a house, you¡¯ll have to work harder to please the Crown Prince. Don¡¯t wait for him to make the first move,¡± Su Xueni teased. ¡°Only those who become the Crown Prince¡¯s women have the chance to own their own courtyard,¡± Ran Yuwei added with a sly smile. Both women covered their mouths and giggled, thoroughly pleased with themselves. In the future, there might be more women moving in, but the first thing they would see would always be Xue¡¯an Pavilion and Yu¡¯an Pavilion. Their status was already firmly established. Even if a royal princess were to arrive, she would have to lower her head and walk respectfully. ¡ª Finally, the day arrived for Lin Qi¡¯an to set off for Yunmo Dao Palace. As he prepared to depart, the Sword Emperor brought his family to personally bid him farewell. ¡°Brother, I want to go with you! It¡¯s so boring at home!¡± Lin Hongyu, dressed in a red dress, clung to Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s arm, pouting adorably with her cheeks puffed out. ¡°That¡¯s not happening. You haven¡¯t even read a few books. What business do you have at a literary meet? Stay home and focus on your cultivation.¡± ¡°Brother, you have the nerve to scold me? You never read books either!¡± Lin Hongyu stuck her tongue out playfully. ¡°I bet you¡¯re just going to make a fool of yourself, hmph!¡± ¡°Haha, well, you can wait and see. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll bring you a gift when I return.¡± After reassuring his sister, Lin Qi¡¯an said his goodbyes to his father and mother. The Sword Emperor, Lin Weixuan, only had one thing to say: ¡°If you get bullied while you¡¯re out there, send word back with the sword order, and I¡¯ll destroy them for you.¡± Lin Weixuan was notorious for being overprotective and biased toward his family. Though the world knew him as a violent Sword Emperor, he was undoubtedly a good father. That¡¯s why Lin Qi¡¯an always found ways to eliminate any Destined Children with grudges against the Lin family. He couldn¡¯t allow them to become a threat to his loved ones. ¡°Get on the carriage.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an boarded the carriage, accompanied by his maidservants and the little princess, Zhao Qingmeng. Ran Yuwei rode on the back of the Nine-Headed Serpent, cracking her whip and calling out, ¡°Giddy-up!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a horse!¡± roared the Nine-Headed Serpent angrily as it soared into the sky. Dozens of sword-wielding guards in white uniforms escorted them on both sides, making the scene truly impressive. ¡°Your Highness,¡± one of the maids began to chat with Lin Qi¡¯an, ¡°the literary meet will be held at Wenqu Waterfall. It was the place where Emperor Wenqu proved his Dao.¡± ¡°It¡¯s said that a secret realm left behind by Emperor Wenqu is also located there, though no one has ever found it. That¡¯s why the literary meet is being held there, with many hoping they might uncover Emperor Wenqu¡¯s secret realm.¡± ¡°Emperor Wenqu?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an mused aloud. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± the maid continued, ¡°this emperor¡¯s method of proving his Dao was particularly unique. He did it through literature, especially poetry. I¡¯ve even memorized one of the poems he left behind: ¡®Before my bed, the moonlight bright, I suspect frost on the ground. I raise my head to gaze at the moon, and lower it to think of home.''¡± Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s eyes widened in shock, his heart stirring like a raging storm. ¡®What the hell...¡¯ Could it be? Was Emperor Wenqu a transmigrator too? A fellow countryman who became an Emperor by copying literature? This was definitely intriguing. It was a shame the man was no longer alive. Lin Qi¡¯an couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he might have a chance to unlock this fellow transmigrator¡¯s secret realm and discover what treasures he left behind. Chapter 104 Chapter 104: Proclaiming Across the World to Recruit Maids, the Crown Prince Has Gone Crazy! Ding! A new task has been issued to assist the host in becoming a supreme villain. Task 1: Announce to the world that the most outstanding woman at the literary meet will be invited to serve the Crown Prince personally. Task 2: At the literary meet, use crude and harsh language to belittle the Destined Child. Reward: 100,000 Villain Points. Lin Qi¡¯an, who had been lounging comfortably with his head resting on Su Xueni¡¯s lap, suddenly jolted awake upon hearing the system¡¯s notification. These tasks... they reek of villainy! A literary meet? That was supposed to be a refined gathering of scholars and literati, where the main focus was on elegance, with activities such as playing the qin, chess, calligraphy, and poetry recitation. The participants were all cultured individuals, polite and courteous. Yet here Lin Qi¡¯an was, tasked with issuing an announcement about inviting women to serve as personal companions in such a sophisticated setting! It was utterly shameless, scandalous even, as if blinded by lust. To top it off, he had to choose the woman who performed the best at the literary meet, making it even more thrilling¡ªtruly a villain¡¯s style. The second task was even more classic: belittle the Destined Child with biting sarcasm. Such scenes usually led to the protagonist pulling off some dazzling move to turn the tables. This type of trope was as common as they come. But since the task was already issued, how could he not accept it? After all, 100,000 Villain Points was no small sum. Plus, along the way, there would surely be more opportunities to earn a large wave of Villain Points. He really needed those points. ¡°Your Highness, you¡¯re awake?¡± Su Xueni asked softly, her voice filled with concern as her gentle fragrance wafted over. ¡°Mmm.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an stretched and lifted the curtain of the carriage. ¡°Someone, come here!¡± ¡°What are your orders, Your Highness?¡± A sword guard in white immediately stepped forward. To accompany the Crown Prince on his travels was considered the greatest honor, not to mention that he was the champion of the Great Hunt and the pride of Beiyang. The last group of guards who had accompanied him on a mission received great rewards when they returned. This kind of duty was far more enjoyable than working in Tianjian City. ¡°Announce my decree to the world,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an ordered calmly. ¡°Say that I have four words that I do not fully understand, and the woman who performs best at the literary meet will have the honor of joining me to comprehend them.¡± With a wave of his finger, Lin Qi¡¯an wrote four golden characters in the air: Feng Hua Xue Yue (Wind, Flower, Snow, Moon). ¡°Understood! I will take care of it immediately,¡± the guard replied. The maids were left in shock as they watched the scene unfold. The hidden meaning behind comprehending the four characters together was obvious¡ªit was an open invitation to be his personal maid in bed! Oh my heavens... ¡°As expected of the Crown Prince, always capable of doing things we couldn¡¯t even imagine!¡± ¡°Turning an elegant literary meet into a competition for bed maids... Only the Crown Prince could pull off something like this!¡± Su Xueni and Ran Yuwei, on the other hand, were quite calm. After all, they were already secure in their positions and had no reason to worry. However, Zhao Qingmeng was instantly furious, ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, you shameless scoundrel! You¡¯re looking for a bed maid even at the literary meet? Why don¡¯t you just ascend to the heavens while you¡¯re at it!¡± She had been eagerly awaiting the literary meet every day, and now that the Crown Prince had spoken, her chances, as one of the most talented women of her generation, seemed very promising. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a secret joy. Her only real competition would likely be Saintess Lu Miaoyin from Qinglian Holy Island. Once Miaoyin arrived, Mo Shuiqiu intended to have a word with her. After all, she was confident that Miaoyin wasn¡¯t the type to be interested in men anyway. Qinglian Holy Island, a peaceful and isolated sect on a mystical island far from the mainland, was a sanctuary of tranquility. A scholar dressed in a Confucian robe was pacing back and forth, furious. His name was Ji Bai, the top scholar of the Dust Dynasty¡¯s imperial exams. Due to his exceptional literary talent, he had been invited to Qinglian Holy Island by its cultivators. Though he lacked cultivation, his knowledge and scholarship earned him immense respect, and he enjoyed the best treatment possible for an ordinary man. ¡°The literary meet is about to begin, and the Crown Prince of Beiyang wants to take the most talented woman for himself!¡± When Ji Bai heard the news, his usual calm composure shattered in an instant. The person he had long admired¡ªthe Qinglian Saintess, the woman of his dreams¡ªwas very likely to be the most talented woman at the literary meet! He rushed to the lotus pond, where that familiar graceful figure in a green dress was feeding the fish. Her slender eyebrows, snow-white skin, and flowing dress that bloomed like a lotus highlighted her serene beauty. Though she had been ranked third on the Saintess List, in Ji Bai¡¯s heart, she was unquestionably number one. No one could match her elegance and beauty. ¡°Miaoyin!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡± Lu Miaoyin asked in her usual calm tone as she continued to scatter feed for the fish, her voice as gentle as ever, exuding a transcendent aura. ¡°Have you heard the news from the Crown Prince of Beiyang? His intentions are utterly vulgar! You shouldn¡¯t attend the literary meet this time.¡± ¡°Why pay it any mind?¡± Lu Miaoyin turned to face him, her beauty as serene as a lotus in bloom. Just looking at her brought a sense of peace to one¡¯s heart. ¡°Though the Crown Prince of Beiyang may be a peerless prodigy, he is not the man my heart desires. Even if I attend the literary meet, I won¡¯t be competing for such a position.¡± ¡°That¡¯s wonderful!¡± Ji Bai was overjoyed, a huge weight lifting from his heart. Lu Miaoyin was someone he could trust. She wasn¡¯t the type to be swayed by power or status, and no matter how powerful a man was, he wouldn¡¯t catch her interest. He was determined to make the Crown Prince realize that the literary meet was not a place for vulgar displays of power. In another carriage, Zhao Ziyu was also on his way to the literary meet. He knew that Lu Miaoyin had a calm and refined temperament, and using force would never work with her. The best approach was to use his literary talent to win her over and capture her heart. To ensure his success, he had even brought along the national scholar of his immortal dynasty to offer advice in secret. With such backing, he was certain that he would be able to win over Lu Miaoyin! ¡°Your Highness... we have a problem!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°News has arrived that the Crown Prince of Beiyang has issued an invitation to the world. He plans to invite the most outstanding woman at the literary meet to join him in comprehending four characters!¡± ¡°What four characters?¡± Feng Hua Xue Yue (Wind, Flower, Snow, Moon). Zhao Ziyu was left dumbstruck, his eyes wide with disbelief. How dare he? To be so vulgar and arrogant at a literary meet¡ªwasn¡¯t he afraid of alienating the noble women with such crude behavior? ¡°The Crown Prince of Beiyang truly is a vulgar man! When I arrive, I must teach him a lesson and put him in his place.¡± Chapter 105 Chapter 105: Stop by the Maple Forest at Dusk, Frosty Leaves Bloom in February Originally, the literary meet was just a small gathering. After all, in this world, most people focused on cultivation, and only a small portion had an interest in poetry, song, and literature. It was a niche field. Not everyone aspired to be like Emperor Wenqu, who had attained the Dao through literature. That was an extraordinarily unique case, and most people simply pursued these arts as hobbies. However, once the Crown Prince announced his intentions, everything changed! All the sects and clans, including those women who had previously shown no interest in elegant matters, began cramming in their studies. They burned the midnight oil, reading and memorizing feverishly. If the Crown Prince were to notice them, even if it was just to serve as a maid, it would be like soaring to new heights! Time was running short, and many sects had already set off, with some even coming from the southern, western, and eastern regions of the Dao Domain, traveling vast distances to participate. According to estimations, even with a threshold set for participation, the number of attendees would be at least ten times that of previous years! What started as a niche gathering had now become a grand event filled with talented women. ¡ª Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s carriage was still en route. He was leisurely enjoying the scenery along the way, taking his time to relax. However, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit of sympathy for Zi Lianyou. These past few days, her mood had been quite low, yet she continued to grit her teeth and secretly study, trying to improve her literary skills. Normally, she was very playful, but now she didn¡¯t even come out to play anymore. Just as they passed through a forest of maple trees, the entire mountain was ablaze with vibrant red leaves, creating a breathtaking view. ¡°Stop the carriage. How far are we from Yunmo Dao Palace?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked. ¡°Your Highness, it¡¯s about 400 li away. We¡¯ll be there soon,¡± one of the guards replied. ¡°No rush. The scenery here is quite beautiful. We can stop for a while and enjoy it.¡± Following his orders, the carriage landed, and Lin Qi¡¯an dismissed all the sword guards to patrol ten li away, ensuring no one would approach. This transformed the maple forest into a private playground for him and his maids. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go have some fun,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said as he stretched and stepped down from the carriage. ¡°The scenery here is so beautiful! I¡¯ll take out some spirit pets for a walk,¡± Ran Yuwei said cheerfully. Su Xueni and Zhao Qingmeng also followed him down from the carriage. ¡°What about you, Lianyou? Aren¡¯t you coming?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked. ¡°I... I¡¯ll pass. You all have fun!¡± Zi Lianyou responded, even though she wanted to join them. However, she knew that hard work was more important right now. It¡¯s okay to be a little slow as long as I work hard. The Crown Prince will surely notice me! she thought. After playing for a while with the others, Lin Qi¡¯an suddenly signaled to Su Xueni with a look. ¡°Su Xueni, why don¡¯t you keep Qingmeng company for a bit? I¡¯ll go grab something from the carriage,¡± he said. Su Xueni¡¯s eyes flickered with understanding. She nodded, ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡± At this moment, the sword guards were far away, Ran Yuwei was out with the spirit pets, and Su Xueni was accompanying Zhao Qingmeng. The area around the carriage was deserted. Zi Lianyou, meanwhile, was inside, lying by the window and studying diligently. Her fragrant shoulders were half-exposed, and her purple fairy dress hugged her figure beautifully. However, as she encountered parts of the text she didn¡¯t understand, her delicate eyebrows furrowed in frustration, making her look adorably stubborn. ¡°Still studying?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked with a smile as he entered the carriage. ¡°Your Highness! Why did you come back all of a sudden...¡± Zi Lianyou was startled and quickly closed the book, a blush rising on her bright, beautiful face. ¡°I came back to see you,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an replied. ¡°The rule is simple: those who wish to participate must first pass an initial test.¡± ¡°The test is straightforward: it¡¯s a traditional ¡®Flying Flower Order.¡¯ We will assign a character, and participants must, within the allotted time, recite a poem containing that character.¡± ¡°Anyone wishing to participate, please line up.¡± As soon as these words were spoken, a wave of discontent erupted from the crowd. ¡°What? We have to take a test just to join a literary meet?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t take Yunmo Dao Palace too seriously!¡± ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re only here out of respect for the Crown Prince. We don¡¯t even care about Yunmo Dao Palace!¡± ¡°Get out of the way, or we¡¯ll force our way in!¡± Hundreds of sect members were blocking the entrance, and the crowd, numbering in the thousands, looked like a vast, oppressive sea of people. The suffocating pressure made it difficult to breathe. Among them were various powerful elders¡ªveteran cultivators¡ªwho had personally escorted their younger disciples to the event, only to be turned away. Naturally, this infuriated them, and their fearsome auras became stifling. The elder in charge of reception was drenched in sweat, too terrified to even breathe. He knew better than to offend anyone. But what could he do? ¡ª Saintess Mo Shuiqiu was watching from the shadows, her heart in turmoil. It was her first time seeing such a grand spectacle. Yunmo Dao Palace wasn¡¯t like Tianjian City; it wasn¡¯t equipped to handle such a large crowd. But they also couldn¡¯t allow so many people in all at once, or chaos would ensue. Even the sect leader was at a loss, left fretting in vain. Suddenly, a loud roar echoed from the sky and everyone looked up. They saw a nine-headed beast pulling a carriage as it strode through the clouds. Dozens of sword guards dressed in white stood around the golden carriage, flying on their swords, their presence awe-inspiring. Wherever they passed, golden light illuminated the surroundings, and clouds billowed beneath them. ¡°It¡¯s the sword guards of Beiyang!¡± ¡°The Crown Prince! The Crown Prince has arrived!¡± ¡°My heavens, that ferocious beast is terrifyingly majestic! As expected of the Crown Prince!¡± As the carriage descended, hundreds of sects bowed their heads. ¡°Welcome, Your Highness!¡± ¡°Welcome, Your Highness!¡± Mo Shuiqiu felt a surge of relief. The Crown Prince had arrived. She hurried out to greet him. As Lin Qi¡¯an stepped out of the carriage, the crowd parted to make way for him. The Crown Prince was incredibly handsome, and his maids¡ªeach one more beautiful than the last¡ªwere dazzling to behold. ¡°Your Highness, please come in!¡± the elder said hastily, not daring to show even the slightest hint of neglect. Unlike typical protagonists, who might be ridiculed when entering a new place, Lin Qi¡¯an was treated with the utmost respect¡ªthis was the difference in status. ¡°What was all the commotion earlier?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked. ¡°Your Highness, it¡¯s because there are simply too many people...¡± the elder explained nervously. Lin Qi¡¯an listened and then smiled slightly, ¡°That¡¯s fair. Since a test is required to enter, let¡¯s begin.¡± Chapter 106 Chapter 106: The Golden Luck Woman, Saintess of Qinglian! ¡°Then let¡¯s begin the test,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said, his words sparking astonishment from the crowd behind him. The Crown Prince was voluntarily asking for a test! Why would he need one? Yunmo Dao Palace was practically begging for him to attend! If he failed the test and couldn¡¯t get in, wouldn¡¯t they be the ones left crying? After some thought, there could only be one reason¡ªLin Qi¡¯an wanted to set an example for others. ¡°But can the Crown Prince recite poetry? I¡¯ve never heard of that before!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know...¡± ¡°His cultivation talent is unparalleled, but I¡¯ve never heard anything about his literary skills!¡± ¡°What if he fails? That would be embarrassing...¡± ¡°Haha, if the Crown Prince fails, it¡¯s Yunmo Dao Palace that¡¯ll be crying! They went through so much trouble to invite him!¡± ¡°Exactly... If the Crown Prince doesn¡¯t participate, all of us would have come here for nothing.¡± At that moment, Saintess Mo Shuiqiu, along with several elders, came out to greet him. Upon hearing that Lin Qi¡¯an had asked for a test, their hearts tightened. If he failed, the loss would be theirs! Everyone was on edge, praying that the Crown Prince would be able to recite a few decent lines of poetry. As long as he could pass, they¡¯d make sure he was allowed through. After all, the difficulty of responding to the first line of the Flying Flower Order wasn¡¯t particularly high. The elder in charge of issuing the test, however, was drenched in sweat, his hands trembling. If things went wrong, it might be his end! He had to pick the easiest word possible. ¡°Your Highness, the word for this round is ¡®flower.¡¯¡± All Lin Qi¡¯an had to do was recite a line of poetry containing the word ¡°flower¡± to pass the test. While everyone expected him to take some time to think, Lin Qi¡¯an immediately responded without hesitation. Before many of the real scholars had even recalled a poem about flowers, he had already opened his mouth. ¡°Last night, the sound of wind and rain, how many flowers have fallen?¡± This line from the famous poem Spring Dawn was something Lin Qi¡¯an didn¡¯t need to think much about. The crowd erupted instantly, with countless mouths agape, their eyes filled with shock. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard this poem before! Did the Crown Prince compose it himself?¡± ¡°In just a short line, I can already picture the scene of falling flowers on a rainy night. This poem is on a different level!¡± ¡°No way, the Crown Prince actually has literary talent?¡± ¡°Not just talent, the imagery in this poem is something even ordinary scholars wouldn¡¯t be able to come up with!¡± ¡°Uh... Could it be that the Crown Prince composed it himself?¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible. He¡¯s already handsome and powerful¡ªif he¡¯s also skilled in poetry, how are the rest of us supposed to live?¡± Even Zhao Qingmeng was surprised. In her previous life, there had been no such literary meet, and Lin Qi¡¯an had only ever recited one poem to her when they were getting close. She had assumed he copied it from somewhere, but now it seemed that wasn¡¯t the case at all. ¡°Such a beautiful poem!¡± ¡°Marvelous! Absolutely marvelous!¡± The flattery came in waves, with people falling over themselves to praise him. ¡°Oh my heavens! After hearing this poem, I had a breakthrough in my cultivation!¡± The ridiculous praise kept coming, over-the-top and exaggerated. Zi Lianyou covered her face in embarrassment. In her heart, ¡°Frosty leaves are redder than February flowers¡± was still the best... ¡°Wonderful!¡± ¡¾Ding! Destined Child ¡°Ji Bai¡± detected. You have successfully intervened in the storyline.¡¿ ¨C Destined Child: Ji Bai ¨C Secret Treasure: None ¨C Luck: 600 (Purple) ¨C Core of DestinyLuck: Emperor Wenqu¡¯s Manuscripts ¨C Current Reward for Killing Him: None Reminder: When the target¡¯s destiny drops below 100, you can seize their core of destiny and gain permanent destiny points, along with all associated rewards. ¡®This protagonist seems weak... the rewards don¡¯t look great either,¡¯ Lin Qi¡¯an thought. ¡®Emperor Wenqu¡¯s Manuscripts? Oh, so that¡¯s his ¡°golden finger.¡± He must be using that to shine at the literary meet, amaze everyone, and win the heart of the Saintess.¡¯ Activating his Heavenly Fated Villain Divine Eyes, Lin Qi¡¯an observed further. Ji Bai¡ªHostility: 100 Lu Miaoyin¡ªHostility: 10 Another golden-luck woman, this time the Saintess of Qinglian, Lu Miaoyin. ¡®She¡¯s definitely worth taking as a maid,¡¯ Lin Qi¡¯an thought. Mo Shuiqiu had her own charm too, so the final choice for his bedmaid would be between the two of them. And as for the one he didn¡¯t choose¡ªhe would eventually claim her as well. For now, though, he was content to watch the drama unfold. ¡°Who are you, kid? Trying to sneak in?¡± a guard called out as Ji Bai attempted to enter. ¡°I¡¯m with the Saintess of Qinglian. Why can¡¯t I go in?¡± Ji Bai retorted. The elder glanced over, and Lu Miaoyin confirmed, ¡°He is indeed from Qinglian Holy Island.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter. Only those who pass the test can enter,¡± the elder replied. ¡°The Saintess of Qinglian has earned special privileges, but that doesn¡¯t extend to you.¡± A wave of jeers followed from the crowd. ¡°Who¡¯s this guy with no cultivation trying to attend the literary meet?¡± ¡°Must be some poor scholar who thinks he¡¯s important!¡± Ah, the classic treatment for a protagonist¡ªimmediate ridicule from the bystanders. Ji Bai sneered inwardly. ¡®I¡¯ve spent thirty years studying relentlessly, enduring hardship by the cold window. And I have Emperor Wenqu¡¯s Manuscripts on me! They contain poetry the world has never seen before!¡¯ He thought. ¡®A mere ¡°Flying Flower Order¡± test is nothing to me!¡¯ These ignorant fools had no idea who they were dealing with. This literary meet would mark his rise to glory! ¡°The topic is: flower.¡± ¡°Hah, ¡®flower¡¯? How difficult could that be?¡± Ji Bai scoffed, stepping forward confidently. With a raised voice, he recited: ¡°Last night, the sound of wind and rain, how many flowers have fallen?¡± As soon as he finished, the entire place fell into stunned silence. Ji Bai stood tall, hands behind his back, full of pride. This poem, taken from Emperor Wenqu¡¯s Manuscripts, had never been shared with the world before. Surely they were all astonished. But instead of praise, the crowd suddenly burst into uproarious laughter. ¡°Hahahahaha!¡± ¡°Where did this poor scholar come from? He¡¯s copying the Crown Prince¡¯s poem!¡± ¡°The Crown Prince just said that not too long ago. Does he think we¡¯re fools?¡± ¡°Exactly! We may not have passed the test, but we wouldn¡¯t stoop to plagiarism. How embarrassing!¡± In that moment, Ji Bai stood frozen, completely petrified. ¡®How... how is this possible?!¡¯ Chapter 107 Chapter 107: The Crown Prince Arrives! Lin Qi¡¯an Resting on Su Xueni¡¯s Lap? How is this possible?! Ji Bai thought in disbelief. This poem was written by Emperor Wenqu himself! It had never been shared with the world, so only he should know about it. Yet, they dared to accuse him of plagiarizing¡ªand from that debauched Crown Prince? Outrage surged through Ji Bai, his body trembling, hands and feet cold. Instead of receiving praise and admiration, he was met with sneers and mockery. ¡°Is that true?¡± Lu Miaoyin asked the elder. ¡°It is absolutely true. The Crown Prince recited that poem shortly after entering,¡± the elder confirmed. Hearing this, Lu Miaoyin cast a disdainful glance at Ji Bai. Plagiarists were the most despised of all. Having someone like him from Qinglian Holy Island would not only bring shame to himself but also tarnish her own reputation. ¡°Miaoyin, Miaoyin!¡± Ji Bai called out desperately, his face pale, but Lu Miaoyin ignored him and continued into the sect. Ding! Ji Bai has been ridiculed and despised by the crowd, Luck Points -100, Villain Points +1000 to the host. Lin Qi¡¯an chuckled at the turn of events. He hadn¡¯t even made a move, and Ji Bai had already lost 100 destiny points on his own. At this rate, he¡¯ll be too easy to deal with. It was clear that pretending to be a literary master came with risks. However, since Ji Bai was the Destined Child, he was sure to find another way into the event. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t live up to his title. Inside Yunmo Dao Palace, Mo Shuiqiu greeted Lu Miaoyin. The two were kindred spirits and close friends who hadn¡¯t seen each other in a long time, so naturally, they had plenty to discuss. Once they reached the guest chamber, Mo Shuiqiu lowered her voice. ¡°Miaoyin, you¡¯ve heard about the Crown Prince¡¯s announcement, haven¡¯t you? He¡¯s looking for talented women to discuss wind, flowers, snow, and moon.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard,¡± Lu Miaoyin replied calmly, clearly uninterested in the matter. ¡°You don¡¯t need to concern yourself with it. Let the others fight for that spot while we enjoy a private gathering of the cultured. Turning the literary meet into such a vulgar competition is beneath us,¡± Lu Miaoyin said, shaking her head in disdain. In her eyes, those women desperately competing to serve Lin Qi¡¯an, even burning the midnight oil to study, were nothing but commoners. Only Mo Shuiqiu could match her refined nature, untouched by the distractions of wealth and power. ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear you say that,¡± Mo Shuiqiu smiled, taking Lu Miaoyin¡¯s hand. ¡°I was going to ask you not to compete with me for this spot.¡± ¡°What...?¡± Even the ever-composed Saintess of Qinglian couldn¡¯t hide her shock at those words. Mo Shuiqiu was not an ordinary woman. As the Saintess of Yunmo Dao Palace, she spent her days in solitude, consumed by her love for calligraphy and painting. She could go an entire month without food or water, fully dedicated to completing a single painting. That¡¯s why they had become such close friends. But now, even she wanted to win the favor of the Crown Prince? It was hard to believe! ¡°Miaoyin, during the Beiyang Great Hunt, I had the fortune of getting to know the Crown Prince. He even saved my life. It¡¯s rare to meet a man as remarkable as him in this world. I¡¯m not trying to curry favor with his power; I¡¯ve simply been charmed by his personality. Serving His Highness would be an honor for me.¡± Hearing Mo Shuiqiu¡¯s earnest confession, Lu Miaoyin felt like her worldview had been shaken. Could someone really change this much? ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t interfere with your decision,¡± Lu Miaoyin said, trying to regain her composure. ¡°Good! Just make sure you don¡¯t outshine me during the literary meet. As for the others, they don¡¯t stand a chance against me!¡± Mo Shuiqiu teased. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Lu Miaoyin¡¯s goal was to follow in Emperor Wenqu¡¯s footsteps and prove her Dao through literature. To achieve that, she needed to cast aside all worldly distractions. No matter how outstanding the Crown Prince was, he couldn¡¯t stir even the slightest ripple in her heart. ¡ª ¡°Take me to him!¡± Zhao Ziyu commanded, his hands clasped behind his back as he followed Mo Shuiqiu through the pavilions and courtyards until they reached a secluded, quiet garden. There, a shocking sight greeted him. Dressed in a moon-white gown, her delicate features framed by cascading black hair, was the Saintess of Tianchi, Su Xueni! She was the woman Zhao Ziyu had long desired but never managed to win over. The moment he laid eyes on her, a flash of heated desire filled his gaze. But as he took another step closer, it felt like a bolt of lightning struck him. Lin Qi¡¯an was lounging on Su Xueni¡¯s lap! Completely at ease, he rested his head on her legs, while she gently played with his hair, her fingers brushing across his face, a soft smile lingering on her lips. The scene was so intimate, so serene¡ªit filled Zhao Ziyu with an unbearable envy and rage. ¡°Ah-hem!¡± Zhao Ziyu coughed deliberately, trying to draw attention. He fully expected Su Xueni to panic and kneel in respect upon seeing him. After all, she was just a Saintess from Tianchi, nothing of significant importance. But instead, Su Xueni simply gave him an apologetic glance, ¡°Your Highness, I¡¯m afraid I cannot bow right now. I¡¯m busy cleaning the Crown Prince¡¯s ears.¡± Zhao Ziyu nearly exploded with fury on the spot. What kind of Crown Prince am I if I command no respect? Even a mere maid dares to ignore me! ¡°How dare you!¡± Zhao Ziyu thundered, his voice booming like a clap of thunder. ¡°Su Xueni, who gave you the audacity to disregard me, the Crown Prince of Tianlang?!¡± If it were the past, Su Xueni would never have dared to speak this way. But now, she only listened to Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡°Who¡¯s making all that noise?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an murmured lazily, stretching as he sat up, squinting at the intruder. When he realized who it was, a smile spread across his face. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s the Crown Prince of Tianlang! Such an honor to have you here!¡± ¡°Ha, I was sleeping so well, I didn¡¯t feel like getting up,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an yawned, then, without a care, leaned back onto Su Xueni¡¯s fragrant shoulder, inhaling deeply as if savoring the scent. His behavior was as roguish as one could imagine. ¡°Your Highness is so mischievous...¡± Su Xueni blushed, casting a teasing glance at him. Zhao Ziyu: ... This was clearly intentional. They were mocking him! Unbelievable! As the Crown Prince of an immortal dynasty, he had always stood above others, looking down on everyone from his elevated status. Yet today, he was humiliated like this. And the worst part? He had no choice but to swallow this insult. He couldn¡¯t beat Lin Qi¡¯an in a fight, and the power behind him was only equal to the backing Lin Qi¡¯an had. There was no advantage to be had. ¡®But if I can find a legitimate reason to make trouble for him...¡¯ Zhao Ziyu thought. At that moment, Zhao Qingmeng, dressed in a frosty-colored gown, appeared. The little princess, delicate and adorable, drew the attention of those around her. ¡°Sister!¡± Zhao Ziyu called out. ¡°Has Lin Qi¡¯an mistreated you during these past days? If he has, your brother will make things right for you!¡± But Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s expression was cold as she walked past him without sparing a glance. In her future as the Empress of the Immortal Dynasty, she would rule with an iron hand. Zhao Ziyu, however, was nothing more than worthless trash, a constant source of frustration. Lin Qi¡¯an might be a womanizer, but he was far more capable than Zhao Ziyu, who couldn¡¯t even measure up to a single toe of Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡°Zhao Ziyu, stop spewing nonsense!¡± Zhao Qingmeng scolded him sharply. ¡°Brother Lin treats me very well. He protects me at every turn. What are you shouting for?¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t speak properly, then don¡¯t speak at all. No one¡¯s going to mistake you for a mute!¡± Zhao Ziyu stood there, frozen for a long moment, completely dumbfounded. ¡°...¡± Chapter 108 Chapter 108: A Backstab from a Sister After a full day of selection, a total of 700 people from various sects and factions qualified to participate in the cultural event. In previous years, the number never exceeded 100, so this was a staggering sevenfold increase. Most of the participants were women, each more beautiful than the last. Everyone knew exactly why they were here. This time, not only the Prince of Beiyang but also the Crown Prince of the Immortal Dynasty would be attending! To catch the eye of either of them would be a tremendous fortune. As for the men, they hoped to use this grand stage to gain fame. A stellar performance could attract the attention of a prospective match. Even if they couldn¡¯t win the favor of a stunning beauty like Su Xueni, they still had their sights set on the others. ¡°How vulgar... utterly vulgar...¡± Ji Bai shook his head and sighed. Soon after, another piece of explosive news spread through the ranks¡ªthe Lin Qi¡¯an would serve as a judge for the event! ¡°What? The Prince as a judge?¡± ¡°I thought the judges were only the Sect Master of Yunmo Dao Palace and the renowned Book Saint?¡± ¡°While the Prince¡¯s talent in cultivation is undeniable, his literary skills might not be up to par.¡± ¡°Yeah, this might upset the real scholars in attendance!¡± ¡°But why isn¡¯t the Immortal Dynasty Crown Prince a judge also?¡± ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s because the Crown Prince has external help, while the Beiyang Prince composes his poetry independently, without relying on anyone.¡± ¡°That¡¯s embarrassing for the Crown Prince!¡± ¡°This is absurd!¡± Ji Bai clenched his fists, his face contorted in anger. ¡°How can Lin Qi¡¯an be a judge? Just because of Beiyang¡¯s power? If this actually happens, it¡¯ll be a disgrace to scholars everywhere. I won¡¯t stand for it!¡± His righteous indignation caught the attention of several participants, and his harsh critique of the Young Lord sparked mockery from those loyal to the lord. ¡°Who do you think you are, daring to criticize the Prince?¡± ¡°I... Heh, you¡¯ll all know soon enough!¡± ¡ª The next evening, under the bright moonlight and starlit sky¡ªscenes beloved by scholars¡ªthe cultural event was set to officially begin. The venue was the Wenqu Waterfall, located behind Yunmo Dao Palace. It was the place where the Wenqu Emperor had proven his Dao, a site revered by countless scholars. While many admired the Wenqu Emperor, few attempted to follow his path. Throughout history, only the Wenqu Emperor had succeeded in proving his Dao through literature, making the road impossibly narrow. Even in a blessed land like Yunmo Dao Palace, which had natural advantages as the Emperor¡¯s place of enlightenment, the strongest practitioner had only reached the quasi-Saint level, like the Palace Master. Most people viewed poetry as a hobby, not a method of cultivation. However, there were exceptions¡ªSaintess Lu Miaoyin was one such person. She was determined to walk the same path as the Wenqu Emperor, aiming to prove her Dao through poetry. With every word she spoke, the heavens would respond, and one word alone could subdue a thousand enemies. Let¡¯s see who commands more respect! Mo Shuiqiu and Lu Miaoyin were still waiting patiently. From the courtyard, a tall and graceful figure walked toward them. Dressed in white robes, pristine as snow, his demeanor was extraordinary¡ªLin Qi¡¯an, the Prince of Beiyang, stood out as a figure of unparalleled grace and elegance. His looks alone put him far ahead of the Crown Prince, and behind him followed three stunning maids, each with their own unique charm. Beside them was a little princess in a frost-colored gown, exuding elegance and nobility. At just one glance, Lu Miaoyin was frozen in place, her eyes trembling with surprise. Lin Qi¡¯an was indeed a rare sight¡ªa strikingly handsome man¡ªbut she had always prided herself on being immune to good looks, caring little for outward appearances. What truly caught her off guard, however, was the mysterious aura subtly surrounding him. A Dao Aura Golden Dragon... Others had to constantly absorb the spiritual energy of the heavens and earth, yet it seemed that for Lin Qi¡¯an, spiritual energy would naturally flow toward him wherever he went. ¡°An ancient and rare Dao Physique...¡± she unconsciously muttered, before realizing her slip. She quickly covered her lips with the back of her hand. This physique was extraordinary, for it naturally aligned its bearer with the Dao. Being so close to the Dao made comprehending it easier. She wondered how such a divine physique had gone unnoticed. If this had been known, women from all over the Dao Domain would have rushed toward him. Wait! Su Xueni, the Saintess of Tianchi Holy Land¡ªwasn¡¯t her cultivation supposed to be only at the Heaven Dominion Realm? Why did she now exude the aura of someone in the mid-stage Transcendent Realm? Normal cultivation couldn¡¯t progress that fast. Moreover, there was a peculiar cold energy about her, likely indicating that she had awakened some form of special spirit body. Could it be that she had benefited from Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s Dao Physique? Countless thoughts flooded Lu Miaoyin¡¯s mind, leaving her in turmoil. Eventually, one pressing question remained: If she could gain his help, would she more easily comprehend the Wenqu Emperor¡¯s Dao? That was her lifelong pursuit. ¡°Miaoyin, what¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Mo Shuiqiu. ¡°Nothing... nothing,¡± Lu Miaoyin quickly took a deep breath, calming her thoughts as she regained her usual graceful composure. However, the storm raging in her heart was impossible to suppress. ¡°Greetings, Your Highness,¡± the two women said, bowing in unison. Mo Shuiqiu, dressed in her elegant Dao robe, and Lu Miaoyin, wearing an ethereal green dress, stood side by side like the most beautiful scene of autumn. It reminded Lin Qi¡¯an of a line from a famous novel: ¡°Her brows were like autumn waters, her skin as soft as the breeze.¡± ¡°Your praise is too generous...¡± Mo Shuiqiu lowered her eyes, surprised that the prince had complimented her with poetry. She immediately thanked him with a bow. Noticing Lu Miaoyin¡¯s silence, she quickly nudged her in reminder. To be honest, Lu Miaoyin¡¯s first impression of Lin Qi¡¯an had been far beyond her expectations. She had anticipated that the Prince of Beiyang would be an exceptional man, but only in terms of his cultivation talent. She had imagined him as a frivolous playboy, given how many beautiful maids surrounded him. Yet, to her astonishment, he left such a good impression¡ªdressed in snow-white robes, full of grace, and able to craft poetry with ease. With a slight bow, Lu Miaoyin softly said, ¡°This humble woman is but a novice in talents, yet Your Excellency is unmatched in this world.¡± Mo Shuiqiu: ? Her wide eyes stared at Lu Miaoyin in disbelief. What happened to letting me shine? You just praised him as unmatched in the world right after arriving¡ªwhat is this supposed to mean?! Noticing this, Lin Qi¡¯an smiled subtly, realizing that Lu Miaoyin¡¯s previous animosity toward him had completely disappeared... Chapter 109 Chapter 109: We¡¯re Here for Prince Lin Qi¡¯an, Who Do You Think You Are? The literary gathering had yet to officially begin, but already, betrayal brewed between the sisters. Mo Shuiqiu¡¯s chest heaved with anger, her emotions surging uncontrollably. ¡°Move! What are you all standing around for?¡± Zhao Qingmeng snapped, her frustration mounting, as she cursed Lin Qi¡¯an under her breath. As a Princess of Tai¡¯an, renowned for her devastating beauty, she couldn¡¯t believe that all she got from Lin Qi¡¯an was a smack on the bottom, while other women received poetry and compliments. ¡°How is this fair?¡± she fumed inwardly. Mo Shuiqiu, trying to maintain some composure, said, ¡°But the Crown Prince mentioned he went back to fetch something. Shouldn¡¯t we wait for him?¡± ¡°Wait for what? Forget it!¡± Zhao Qingmeng retorted angrily. ¡°Does he deserve for me to wait? Let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an chuckled softly and followed behind Zhao Qingmeng, with the maids naturally trailing close by. Mo Shuiqiu exchanged a glance with Lu Miaoyin. ¡°Hmph!¡± Mo Shuiqiu huffed in frustration and stormed off, while Lu Miaoyin hurried to explain, ¡°I just thought that since the Prince praised us, it¡¯s only polite to return the compliment.¡± ¡°Sure, sure. You¡¯re so dignified,¡± Mo Shuiqiu muttered. ¡ª Meanwhile, in his chambers, Zhao Ziyu lay back, feeling incredibly pleased with himself. The thought of Lin Qi¡¯an foolishly waiting outside for him made him chuckle. Suddenly, one of his maids burst through the door. ¡°Your Highness!¡± ¡°They couldn¡¯t wait any longer, could they?¡± Zhao Ziyu asked, grinning smugly. ¡°No... they¡¯ve already left,¡± the maid replied nervously. ¡°What?!¡± Zhao Ziyu shot up from his bed, his face a mixture of disbelief and rage. He rushed outside, only to find the courtyard completely empty. His expression immediately turned as sour as if he had swallowed something foul. ¡°Damn it... They dared to leave without me? How could they?¡± ¡°Your Highness, it seems that it was Princess Zhao Qingmeng who insisted on leaving,¡± the maid whispered, her head bowed. ¡°Zhao Qingmeng? So she¡¯s siding with that Lin Qi¡¯an now? Very well! As her elder brother, I¡¯ll make sure to teach her a lesson when the time comes.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± he barked, storming out. ¡ª At the Wenqu Waterfall in the back mountains of Yunmo Dao Palace, the surrounding mountains were blanketed in mist. The moon hung high in the sky, and the stars shimmered brilliantly. The grand waterfall, over a hundred feet tall, cascaded down like a river from the heavens, sending countless droplets into the air. This was the place where the Wenqu Emperor had proven his Dao! Around the waterfall, countless lotus lanterns were lit, creating an ethereal, dream-like atmosphere. Many first-time visitors couldn¡¯t help but stop and admire the breathtaking view. By now, hundreds of people had already gathered¡ªall participants in the literary event, talented men and women from various sects and factions. ¡°Who is that? How dare they write such a poem?¡± ¡°Apparently, he¡¯s from Qinglian Immortal Island, but he¡¯s just an ordinary man with no spiritual power.¡± ¡°What are you laughing at? Did I say anything wrong?¡± Ji Bai raised his voice, his tone indignant. At this, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s maids, faces now frosty, fought the urge to strike Ji Bai down. Sadly, the rules of the literary gathering forbade any form of physical violence. All disputes had to be settled through literature. ¡°Shall I have him removed, Your Highness?¡± Mo Shuiqiu whispered, ready to act. ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an stepped forward and calmly asked, ¡°Tell me, in what way have I abused my power? Did I force anyone to attend this gathering?¡± Upon hearing this, the crowd quickly responded. ¡°Your Highness has done nothing but add a little incentive! No one was forced to come, so how is that abusing power?¡± ¡°Exactly! Participation was voluntary!¡± ¡°In fact, it¡¯s thanks to His Highness that this event is so lively! Don¡¯t accuse him unjustly!¡± ¡°Right, previous years never had such a turnout!¡± Ji Bai quickly retorted, ¡°More people attending only brings disorder. I wonder how many here slipped in through sheer luck, reducing the quality of this once-prestigious event. It¡¯s truly a shame.¡± His words instantly triggered a wave of outrage. ¡°Who do you think you are, calling us unworthy?¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the rules, I¡¯d slap that smug look off your face right now!¡± ¡°Trash! You really think you¡¯re someone important?¡± An overwhelming storm of insults rained down on Ji Bai, drowning him in hostility. His earlier confidence began to waver. He hadn¡¯t expected such an honest remark to offend so many people. ¡°Quiet, everyone,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an interjected, silencing the angry crowd. ¡°Since he believes I¡¯m spoiling the event, fine. I retract my earlier words. Let it be known, everyone is here simply for the pleasure of literature and nothing more.¡± It was as though a boulder the size of a mountain had been dropped into the sea. ¡°No, Your Highness, please don¡¯t say that!¡± ¡°We¡¯re all here because of you, Your Highness!¡± ¡°Please reconsider! Don¡¯t let this fool anger you!¡± ¡°Where is the Palace of Yunmo Dao? How can you allow this man to remain here when he disgusts us all?¡± ¡°I heard he¡¯s from Qinglian Immortal Island. Saintess Lu, would you care to say something?¡± ¡°This idiot doesn¡¯t know his place! Your Highness, please don¡¯t lower yourself to his level!¡± The crowd was panicking. They had journeyed from all corners of the land, and the sole reason for their efforts was to win Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s favor. They had burned the midnight oil, improving their knowledge and refining their skills, all in hopes of catching His Highness¡¯s eye. And yet, this fool, Ji Bai, had dared to suggest that Lin Qi¡¯an was abusing his power? The truth was obvious to everyone present. They weren¡¯t being pressured by Lin Qi¡¯an¡ªthey were the ones eager to take advantage of him, hoping to climb the social ladder through him. At long last, Lu Miaoyin spoke. ¡°Get down.¡± Her voice was cold as ice. The Saintess of Qinglian, Lu Miaoyin, was angry. How could this be happening?! Ji Bai¡¯s chest tightened, and his heart sank. Just moments ago, Lu Miaoyin had shared his disdain for Lin Qi¡¯an. But now, why was she angry with him instead? Chapter 110 Chapter 110: Open Rivalry and Hidden Battles! Are Both Saintesses Giving Themselves to the Prince? Ji Bai¡¯s clownish behavior ended amidst a wave of laughter and ridicule from the crowd. No one took him seriously. Tonight, however, five people were the focus of everyone¡¯s attention: Lin Qi¡¯an, the Prince of Beiyang; Zhao Ziyu, the Prince of Tai¡¯an; Zhao Qingmeng, the Princess of Tai¡¯an; Lu Miaoyin, the Saintess of Qinglian; and Mo Shuiqiu, the Saintess of Yunmo. The first three held the highest political power among the attendees, while the latter two were divine maidens known for their extraordinary talents, admired by all. ¡°Prince, this way, please.¡± ¡°Prince, please take your seat.¡± ¡°Princess, this way.¡± The five key figures were invited to the prime seats in the pavilion, where jade plates filled with delicacies adorned the stone table. The remaining hundreds of talented scholars either took seats below or stood around, awaiting the event. ¡°The Book Saint has arrived!¡± As the white-haired Book Saint took his seat, everyone present showed respect to the revered elder. He was a Saint who had cultivated the Dao through literature and was undoubtedly the most learned person there. ¡°The Master of Books has arrived!¡± The Master of Books, Mo Haitian, the half-Saint and Master of Yunmo Dao Palace, also arrived. His daughter, Mo Shuiqiu, was by his side, and Lu Miaoyin was the sole disciple of the Master of Books. With all key figures present, the literary gathering was ready to begin. ¡°Many thanks to the Prince for saving my daughter during the Great Hunt.¡± Mo Haitian nodded at Lin Qi¡¯an, expressing his gratitude. ¡°It was my duty.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an smiled in response. Mo Shuiqiu¡¯s gaze softened as she watched the Young Lord in his white robes, her heart stirring like the gentle ripples of an autumn lake. ¡°Even a half-Saint like Mo Haitian shows such respect to the Prince. His status is truly remarkable!¡± ¡°Wait a minute, why didn¡¯t the Book Saint greet the Prince of Tai¡¯an?¡± ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s because these esteemed elders only value true talent and skill, not those who rely on the influence of others.¡± The Book Saint was well aware that Zhao Ziyu had the assistance of an old national teacher and hadn¡¯t passed the literary tests through his own merit. People of letters held their pride, and they looked down on those who faked their way through. ¡°The following individuals will serve as judges for this literary gathering: The Master of Books, Wang Yi, The Book Saint, Mo Haitian, and Lin Qi¡¯an, the Prince of Beiyang.¡± Hearing this, Zhao Ziyu¡¯s expression immediately darkened. Why is Lin Qi¡¯an a judge, and I¡¯m not? He slammed his hand on the table. ¡°Does Yunmo Dao Palace believe that this Prince is unworthy to be a judge?¡± ¡°Not at all, Your Highness. We simply wish for you to fully enjoy the event, to immerse yourself in its beauty, without the burden of judging lesser works.¡± The response was crafted cleverly, giving Zhao Ziyu a graceful way out. He had no choice but to let the matter drop. ¡°The literary gathering will now officially begin! ¡°Tonight, over seven hundred participants are present, making this the largest event to date. We hope that each of you will showcase your talents and allow others to appreciate and learn from your brilliance.¡± ¡°Please come forward in order¡ªmusic, painting, calligraphy, poetry, and chess are all welcome!¡± The first round was all about showcasing one¡¯s talents. Since many participants had barely prepared and lacked true skill, the easiest way to weed them out was to make them demonstrate their abilities upfront. As she moved, her long, jade-like legs peeked out from beneath her swaying skirt, making her appear like a goddess descended from the heavens. To everyone¡¯s surprise, she chose to compose a poem. ¡°Damn it... She promised not to go all out and let me take the spotlight,¡± Mo Shuiqiu thought bitterly, clenching her teeth. She had assumed Lu Miaoyin would hold back, but it was clear now that her so-called sister had no such intentions. Instead, she was giving it her all by selecting poetry, the skill that best showcased her talent. Hmph, so much for sisterhood. It seems that even the graceful Qinglian Saintess isn¡¯t immune to the petty schemes of women. Appearing pure and serene on the surface, but beneath it all, she¡¯s no different from anyone else. ¡°Wha¡ªwhat a beautiful poem!¡± ¡°Absolutely brilliant. Though on the surface it speaks of the moon, I can sense a deeper affection hidden within.¡± ¡°Ah, this is the true essence of literary elegance, using nature to express one¡¯s emotions.¡± As expected, Lu Miaoyin¡¯s poem drew widespread admiration. Finally, Zhao Ziyu could no longer sit still. He suddenly stood up and declared, ¡°Saintess of Qinglian, may I ask if you would be willing to gift this poem to me, the Crown Prince?¡± The Crown Prince had personally requested her work! This small interlude sent waves of discussion through the crowd. Earlier, Mo Shuiqiu had gifted her painting to Lin Qi¡¯an, and now it was clear that Zhao Ziyu felt his pride was at stake. His eyes burned with desire¡ªhe had clearly shifted his focus from the Saintess of Tianchi to the Saintess of Qinglian. However, Lu Miaoyin gracefully knelt, her demeanor calm and elegant as she responded softly, ¡°Your Highness is as noble as a dragon among men. I believe that unless the poem was written by a master of great renown, like my teacher, it would not be worthy of you.¡± She refused him! The crowd was taken aback¡ªno one had expected Lu Miaoyin to so boldly reject the Crown Prince. Thankfully, her reason was sound enough not to offend him too deeply. In fact, Zhao Ziyu even felt somewhat satisfied, agreeing that her reasoning was valid. But her next words sent him into a furious rage. ¡°Prince Lin Qi¡¯an, would you care to accept this humble work of mine?¡± Following Mo Shuiqiu, Lu Miaoyin now also wanted to gift her poem to Lin Qi¡¯an! Everyone was stunned. This kind of treatment is insane... Poor Crown Prince, he couldn¡¯t even get a poem, yet Lin Qi¡¯an gets everything without even asking! The whispers grew louder, with countless people debating the scene before them. ¡°Are the Saintess of Qinglian and the Saintess of Yunmo both vying for Prince Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s favor?¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be right! Maybe Mo Shuiqiu has a chance since Prince Lin Qi¡¯an saved her before, but the Saintess of Qinglian? She¡¯s always been so devoted to her poetry and books. Do you really think she¡¯d actively pursue a man?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. When you think about it, it doesn¡¯t seem likely...¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an replied with a smile, accepting the poem graciously. As Lu Miaoyin returned to her seat, Mo Shuiqiu greeted her with a warm smile. ¡°Miaoyin, it¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen you compose such a fine poem. You¡¯ve certainly surprised us all.¡± ¡°Just a spontaneous creation, nothing more...¡± Lu Miaoyin avoided her gaze, feeling somewhat guilty. It¡¯s worth mentioning that even Zhao Qingmeng took to the stage, revealing that she did, in fact, possess some talent. ¡°Next, Ji Bai!¡± At the sound of his name, all eyes turned toward Ji Bai¡ªthe Child of Destiny. His moment had finally arrived. Chapter 111 Chapter 111: May We Live Long, Sharing the Moon Even Thousands of Miles Apart Ji Bai stepped onto the stage, dressed in a simple white scholar¡¯s robe, looking quite ordinary. He was the only one among all present who was just a regular person without any cultivation, undoubtedly fitting the protagonist template. What Lin Qi¡¯an needed to do was simple¡ªridicule him as much as possible during this literary gathering to complete his task. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the guy who wrote a poem mocking the heir earlier?¡± someone jeered from below. ¡°He¡¯s got the nerve to come up here!¡± More mocking voices quickly followed. ¡°Ha! He actually thinks he¡¯s important. Why doesn¡¯t he just leave while he still can?¡± Indeed, this was the typical setup for a protagonist. ¡°Go ahead and mock me now,¡± Ji Bai thought to himself with a smirk. ¡°Soon, I will shatter all your perceptions.¡± He walked to the center and loudly declared, ¡°Today, I, Ji Bai, will create a poem!¡± ¡°What? He¡¯s going to compose a poem?¡± The crowd murmured in disbelief. ¡°An original one, no less? Haha!¡± The difficulty of composing something original was no small feat. Many who forced themselves to create something ended up embarrassing themselves instead. Ji Bai was truly bold. ¡°The title of this poem is, *When Will the Moon Be Clear and Bright?*¡± Lin Qi¡¯an chuckled. So, it¡¯s actually a famous poem from the Wenchu Emperor¡¯s casual writings. Ji Bai had the audacity to claim it as his own. He had truly abandoned all shame. Ji Bai cleared his throat, took a few steps forward, and began reciting: ¡°When will the moon be clear and bright? With a cup of wine in hand, I ask the sky.¡± At the first line, the audience was stunned. The opening itself sounded extraordinary, as though questioning the heavens! Such grand ambition¡ªcould it really come from the mouth of a mere mortal? Suddenly, the spiritual energy of the heavens and earth began to converge on this scholar, furiously pouring into his body. ¡°Wait, his cultivation level is rising!¡± ¡°He¡¯s advancing directly to the Qi Refining Realm!¡± ¡°Damn, is it really possible to increase cultivation through poetry?¡± This scene shocked everyone. Ji Bai continued reciting, ¡°I do not know what time of year it would be in the palaces on high.¡± As he finished this line, his aura surged again! He had now reached the Spiritual Insight Realm! In just a few breaths, he had leaped from Qi Refining to Spiritual Insight. It was unbelievable! At this moment, the crowd was no longer calm. Even the Holy Master of Literature and the Ink Sage looked at him with new respect. The verses were truly extraordinary! ¡°Dancing with my shadow, I question how it compares to life on earth.¡± With that, his cultivation broke through once more¡ªhe had now reached the Heaven Ascendant Realm! To go from a mere mortal to someone in the Heaven Ascendant Realm in such a short time was inconceivable! Ji Bai felt satisfied within. ¡°I told you, today, you will all see me in a new light. Thirty years of studying were not wasted.¡± Having recited the legendary works of the Wenchu Emperor at the Literary Waterfall, his rise was only natural. ¡°The red mansion turns to lower windows, shining on the sleepless. There should be no hatred. Why does the moon remain so round when we are apart?¡± He had now reached the Heaven Dominion Realm! Everyone was speechless, as though they were witnessing the birth of a miracle. Even the two elders shook their heads. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, don¡¯t slander me!¡± Ji Bai began to panic. After all, he had indeed stolen the poem. But this was the work of the Wenchu Emperor, known by no one else. How could Lin Qi¡¯an see through it so easily? It had to be a baseless accusation! However, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s next words left Ji Bai frozen on the spot. ¡°This poem expresses the longing for family. And you? You turned it into a love poem! It¡¯s completely nonsensical! You even want to give a plagiarized poem to someone else? It makes me sick just thinking about it.¡± The Water Melody: When Will the Moon Be Bright, written by Su Shi, expressed his longing for his brother, Su Zhe, whom he hadn¡¯t seen for seven years during the Mid-Autumn Festival. ¡°How do you know this poem is about missing family?¡± Ji Bai stammered, shocked, instinctively refuting. But the moment the words left his mouth, he regretted it. As expected, the crowd buzzed with whispers. If this poem was truly his own work, why would he need to ask such a question? Shouldn¡¯t he confidently say, ¡°I wrote it, what do you know?¡± ¡°So, it really is plagiarism...¡± ¡°How shameless! It¡¯s disgusting!¡± Ji Bai glanced at Lu Miaoyin and saw her beautiful face clouded with frost, her eyes filled with disgust. Plagiarizing poems and passing them off as one¡¯s own was utterly despised. Doing it once might be forgivable, but twice? The prince¡¯s insult suddenly seemed too mild. ¡°Nonsense! Utter nonsense!¡± Ji Bai argued coldly. ¡°None of you have ever heard this poem before, so why accuse me of plagiarism? Lin Qi¡¯an, words alone are not proof. If you have no evidence, stop slandering me here!¡± ¡°Evidence? Certainly.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an calmly raised a cup of wine, stood up, and drank it all in one gulp. He then lifted his head to gaze at the moon. ¡°When will the moon be bright? With a cup of wine in hand, I ask the sky. I do not know what time of year it would be in the palaces on high.¡± His clear voice, carried by the night wind, echoed in everyone¡¯s ears, stirring waves of emotion in their hearts. ¡°The prince is also reciting the poem!¡± ¡°The tone and feeling are completely different from before...¡± ¡°Yes, the emotion has changed!¡± They listened as he continued: ¡°I wish to ride the wind and return, yet I fear the jade palaces are too high, where the cold is unbearable. Dancing with my shadow, I question how it compares to life on earth.¡± ¡°The red mansion turns to lower windows, shining on the sleepless. There should be no hatred. Why does the moon remain so round when we are apart?¡± Upon hearing this, the crowd¡¯s emotions were entirely different from before. Through the heir¡¯s recitation, they could now truly feel the subtle traces of longing within the poem. In the path of cultivation, the sorrow of separation was abundant. Even if you could live for thousands of years, what about your loved ones? Your parents? Perhaps when you left to begin your journey in cultivation, your parents still had thick black hair, healthy and full of life. But when you returned, they had grown old, with white hair and frail bodies. By the time Lin Qi¡¯an reached this point, no one was speaking. Even the elders of literature and ink had closed their eyes, quietly immersing themselves in the sense of longing the poem evoked. It felt as if time had reversed, allowing them to once again see the loved ones who existed only in their memories. Lu Miaoyin and Mo Shuiqiu, their gazes fixed on Lin Qi¡¯an, followed his recitation, their thoughts drifting far away. But unfortunately, the last line of the poem was poor. It could ruin all the emotions that had been built up beforehand. What a shame. Yet, when Lin Qi¡¯an recited the final line, everyone¡¯s expressions changed. ¡°May we live long, sharing the moon even thousands of miles apart.¡± Chapter 112 Chapter 112: The Secret Realm of the Great Emperor Opens! One Hundred Enter, Competing for Opportunities *People experience sorrow, joy, separation, and reunion. The moon waxes and wanes¡ªsuch things have been difficult to perfect since ancient times. May we live long, sharing the moon even thousands of miles apart.* As Lin Qi¡¯an finished reciting, everyone¡¯s expressions changed dramatically. The final line recited by the Crown Prince was completely different from Ji Bai¡¯s version! The scholars gathered from all over the country visibly became excited, their bodies even trembling with emotion. That final line¡ª¡±May we live long, sharing the moon even thousands of miles apart¡±¡ªwas beyond what could be described as exquisite. For a moment, no one dared to speak, and the crowd fell into silent reflection, savoring the full poem in the quiet night. After a long pause, someone finally broke the silence with a single word, ¡°Brilliant!¡± That one enthusiastic exclamation instantly ignited the crowd like a stone dropped into a still pond, causing waves of excitement. ¡°What an incredible line¡ª¡¯May we live long, sharing the moon even thousands of miles apart!''¡± ¡°That line completes the entire poem like the finishing touch on a masterpiece!¡± ¡°I never expected the last line to be so profound. It¡¯s on a completely different level from the previous version.¡± ¡°Haha! Truly a timeless classic!¡± Even those who weren¡¯t true scholars, but rather ordinary people who had managed to sneak in, could tell how much better the Crown Prince¡¯s version was compared to Ji Bai¡¯s. After hearing it, many couldn¡¯t help but silently repeat the lines in their hearts, over and over again. The more they tasted it, the more they discovered its depth¡ªit was simply indescribable. Countless admiring gazes converged on Lin Qi¡¯an. If not for him, today¡¯s masterpiece might have remained buried and forgotten! Even the maids, who had known the Crown Prince for some time, were genuinely surprised. They had no idea the Crown Prince had such literary talent! Handsome, naturally gifted, an extraordinary cultivator, and now revealed to be a scholar of considerable merit as well¡ªcould so many virtues truly reside in one man? Those who had previously doubted Lin Qi¡¯an or questioned his abilities now felt overwhelming guilt, wishing they could kneel and apologize. Their guilt quickly turned into anger, and they began shouting accusations at Ji Bai. Such a person wasn¡¯t fit to be called a scholar; even common folk would look down on him. Ji Bai clenched his fists, his gaze turning to Lu Miaoyin in desperation, ¡°Miaoyin, please listen to me! I didn¡¯t plagiarize it!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for further words,¡± Lu Miaoyin replied coolly. ¡°From this day forward, you and Qinglian Immortal Island are no longer connected.¡± Her delicate features remained impassive, her demeanor cold and distant, as though an unbridgeable chasm now separated them. ¡¾Ding! The path of Ji Bai¡¯s rise has been cut off. His luck value -200, and host villain value +2000.¡¿ At this point, Ji Bai¡¯s fortune had dropped to just 300. Lin Qi¡¯an could easily kill him now and seize his core of fortune. But what was the point? It would be too easy, and the reward wouldn¡¯t be worth much. ¡°Everyone, quiet!¡± One of the scholars spoke up, ¡°May I ask the Crown Prince to reveal the true author of this poem?¡± The crowd was curious. If neither Ji Bai nor the Crown Prince wrote the poem, then who did? Lin Qi¡¯an, without taking credit, calmly replied, ¡°Naturally, it was written by the Wenchu Emperor. Beiyang was fortunate enough to come across a fragment of his work, and I¡¯ve read part of it.¡± ¡°So it was written by the Wenchu Emperor!¡± ¡°Does the Crown Prince have any more unpublished works of his?¡± ¡°Please, Crown Prince, share them with us!¡± The crowd erupted in excitement, their voices filled with anticipation. Lin Qi¡¯an smiled lightly and said, ¡°Indeed, there is one more.¡± Chapter 113 Chapter 113: The Secret Realm of the Great Emperor Opens! One Hundred Enter, Competing for Opportunities Seeing the crowd¡¯s eager anticipation, Lin Qi¡¯an had no choice but to recite another poem, ¡®Drinking Alone Under the Moon¡¯. Originally, he had thought he was here to show off by copying famous poems, but now, the one who had tried plagiarizing was actually the Child of Destiny, and he had even failed at it. Just as everyone was still lost in the atmosphere of *Drinking Alone Under the Moon*, a thunderous sound erupted. Boom!! The cascading waterfall suddenly exploded! Fierce winds howled, the air distorted, and the Milky Way seemed to reverse its flow. ¡°What¡¯s happening...¡± ¡°The spiritual energy of heaven and earth is madly converging there. What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°What a powerful aura!¡± In the center of the waterfall, a glowing door slowly appeared, with divine light flowing like water. ¡°This... this is the secret realm of the Wenchu Emperor!¡± ¡°The Crown Prince¡¯s poem has resonated with the secret realm!¡± ¡°My heavens, there¡¯s really a secret realm of the Great Emperor here!¡± The crowd¡¯s eyes were filled with wild excitement. If one could obtain the inheritance of the Wenchu Emperor inside this secret realm, they would undoubtedly soar to new heights! Even Lu Miaoyin, usually so composed, couldn¡¯t hide the burning desire in her eyes. After all, her ultimate pursuit was to follow the same path as the Wenchu Emperor¡ªusing literature to attain the Dao! She never imagined that the Crown Prince¡¯s recitation would open the secret realm, giving her a chance to fulfill her aspirations. She felt overwhelming gratitude in her heart. Even the Book Saint, the Ink Saint, and the National Preceptor behind Zhao Ziyu couldn¡¯t maintain their calm. A secret realm of the Great Emperor¡ªwho wouldn¡¯t be tempted? Suddenly, the secret realm unleashed a tremendous suction force, like a vortex in the deep sea. It was selecting individuals to enter! Those being chosen were all the talents who had showcased their literary prowess at the gathering earlier. Others, no matter how much they desired to enter, simply weren¡¯t qualified. ¡°Don¡¯t miss this chance, hurry in!¡± Those who weren¡¯t chosen desperately tried to rush into the secret realm. The Sage of Literature and the Ink Sage also leaped into action. But for those not selected, no amount of effort mattered¡ªnot even saints could force their way in. Without exception, everyone was blocked by the barrier of the secret realm. ¡°The entrance is closing!¡± ¡°Damn it...¡± Within just a few breaths, the light around the secret realm dimmed, and the entrance completely sealed. Hundreds were left standing outside in frustration. These were his unrivaled divine abilities. Learning even a single character would grant the ability to command the heavens with words and make decrees that manifested reality! Just one word could destroy a myriad of enemies, suppress all evil, and wield immense righteous power. Only the most exceptional person from each trial would be granted these words. Now, the real competition of the literary gathering had begun. ¡°How do we pass this trial?¡± ¡°Are we supposed to defeat those soldiers across from us?¡± ¡°But we can¡¯t use our spiritual power here. How can we possibly fight them?¡± ¡°Idiot! This is the Wenchu Emperor¡¯s secret realm¡ªit¡¯s obviously about winning with literature, not force!¡± ¡°Look over there, under the sand!¡± someone shouted. Beneath the swirling sands, a complex network of lines was revealed, dividing the ground into squares. ¡°Wait, is this... a chessboard?¡± ¡°But what kind of chess is this? I¡¯ve never seen it before!¡± Everyone exchanged puzzled glances, even the two saintesses shook their heads, uncertain about what lay before them. All except Lin Qi¡¯an. Looking closely at the central line, he saw the words clearly written: Chu River, Han Border. This wasn¡¯t Go. It was Chinese chess! ÁÙ (Lin) ¨C ¡°Arrive¡± or ¡°Approach¡± ±ø (Bing) ¨C ¡°Soldier¡± or ¡°Troop¡± ¶· (Dou) ¨C ¡°Battle¡± or ¡°Fight¡± Õß (Zhe) ¨C ¡°One who¡± or ¡°Those who¡± ½Ô (Jie) ¨C ¡°All¡± or ¡°Everyone¡± Õó (Zhen) ¨C ¡°Formation¡± or ¡°Array¡± ÁÐ (Lie) ¨C ¡°Arrange¡± or ¡°Line up¡± ÔÚ (Zai) ¨C ¡°At¡± or ¡°In¡± Ç° (Qian) ¨C ¡°Front¡± Literal Meaning: ¡°The soldiers and warriors all form a line in front.¡± Contextual Meaning: This phrase is often seen as part of incantations or spells in Taoism or in the genre of Xianxia, symbolizing the summoning of power, military formations, or invoking protection. It conveys the idea of readiness for battle, as if calling forth forces to arrange themselves before the speaker. Chapter 114 Chapter 114: Chess Match Solution! In this world, the only chess people knew of was Go. Chess, Five-in-a-Row, and other similar games simply didn¡¯t exist. Who would have thought the first trial in the Wenchu Emperor¡¯s secret realm would be so tricky! Lu Miaoyin quickly sought out a woman named Qin Hui, a renowned Go player. In matters of chess, no one present was her equal. ¡°Miss Qin, can you figure out the intricacies of this chessboard?¡± Lu Miaoyin asked anxiously. ¡°I... don¡¯t know,¡± Qin Hui shook her head in frustration, clearly embarrassed. This only made Lu Miaoyin more anxious. She wanted to solve the trial more than anyone, but felt powerless to do so.No?v(el)B\\jnn ¡°I know!¡± Ji Bai suddenly spoke up, his eyes filled with fervor, and a smug grin curled at the corners of his mouth. He recognized this chessboard from the Wenchu Emperor¡¯s notes! He had studied it before and knew how to place the pieces. ¡°You know? You don¡¯t know sh*t!¡± ¡°Get lost! Don¡¯t mess this up!¡± The others clearly had no trust in him. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to pass this trial, follow my instructions!¡± Ji Bai shouted confidently. ¡°Stand on the chessboard as I direct, taking the places of the chess pieces!¡± ¡°Fine, let¡¯s give him one last chance,¡± someone muttered. One by one, people stood on the positions Ji Bai indicated on the chessboard. Suddenly, their attire changed! They were now clad in armor, wielding swords like battle-hardened soldiers. ¡°It actually worked?¡± The crowd was shocked. Ji Bai sneered, ¡°Anyone who wants to pass the trial, listen to my instructions!¡± More people took their places on the chessboard, transforming into soldiers. Some became pawns, others knights, and a few even cannons. Soon, sixteen chess pieces were placed. Simultaneously, the black-armored soldiers on the opposite side also took up their corresponding positions on the battlefield. A massive clash seemed imminent. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why can¡¯t I move?¡± ¡°Of course you can¡¯t move. You¡¯re a chess piece now; only the player can move the pieces!¡± The player, naturally, was Ji Bai. He hovered in the air, overlooking the entire board with an air of authority. ¡°Forward!¡± Ji Bai commanded. Lin Qi¡¯an almost couldn¡¯t hold in his laughter. This idiot actually moved the general forward one step... Was he planning to send the general straight into battle? Maybe he thought the piece looked the most imposing. The problem was, while Ji Bai knew how to place the chess pieces, he had no idea how to play chess! He didn¡¯t even know the movement rules for each piece. Under his ineffective command, while their side barely moved, the opposing army¡¯s pieces¡ªchariots, knights, and cannons¡ªswiftly surrounded them in a triangular formation. The result was predictable. One by one, Ji Bai¡¯s ¡°soldiers¡± were swiftly defeated, leaving them in disarray. ¡°This is cheating!¡± Ji Bai yelled furiously, ¡°How can their pieces move like that? It¡¯s absurd!¡± As the game board reset itself, the Wenchu Emperor¡¯s dispassionate voice echoed through the air. ¡°You have one last chance.¡± Ji Bai¡¯s misplaced confidence had cost everyone a valuable opportunity, instantly igniting the crowd¡¯s anger. ¡°If you don¡¯t know what you¡¯re doing, stop pretending you do!¡± ¡°Get out of here before we throw you out ourselves!¡± ¡°How frustrating! We lost without any chance to fight back!¡± Even Lu Miaoyin was seething with anger. It was bad enough that Ji Bai had embarrassed Qinglian Immortal Island before, but now he had wasted everyone¡¯s chance in the Wenchu Emperor¡¯s secret realm. If she weren¡¯t concerned about maintaining her image, she would have slapped him on the spot! ¡°What do we do now? It¡¯s our last chance...¡± someone muttered, despair creeping in. Lin Qi¡¯an, on the other hand, didn¡¯t rush to take action. His chess skills weren¡¯t exactly top-notch either. Instead, he approached Qin Hui quietly. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a painting of such a grand scale...¡± Within the painting, there were a thousand scenes of bustling life! People heading to the market, noble processions, people on horseback, and commoners walking with donkeys. There were busy boatmen, porters, and carts being pushed through crowded streets. The painting depicted farms, trees with new leaves, giant riverboats, and city walls¡ªall within one frame, capturing every aspect of life. ¡°This is breathtaking...¡± Mo Shuiqiu, who specialized in painting, couldn¡¯t help but marvel in admiration. ¡°What kind of painting could encompass all of this...? Such a painting could only exist in the heavens!¡± Despite their admiration, the group quickly realized they needed to solve the puzzle. How could they break through this trial? Lin Qi¡¯an recognized the painting at once¡ªit was the famous ¡¯Along the River During the Qingming Festival¡¯. He hadn¡¯t expected the Wenchu Emperor to leave trials so well-suited to him. Was this the mutual benefit of being a transmigrator? If it had been anyone else, they might have been stuck here for a long time. ¡°How do we clear this trial?¡± someone asked in confusion. ¡°I thought I was well-read, but in the Wenchu Emperor¡¯s secret realm, I feel like I know nothing!¡± Ji Bai confidently declared, ¡°I know what to do!¡± The crowd responded in unison, ¡°Get lost!¡± Eventually, all eyes turned to Mo Shuiqiu. ¡°Saintess Yunmo, do you have any insight?¡± someone asked. Mo Shuiqiu examined the painting carefully before responding, ¡°This painting depicts the grand scenes of a city in full bloom, with carriages, pavilions, and towers bustling with life. However... something seems to be missing.¡± She pointed to a woman in the painting. ¡°Look at this woman. Her hand is stretched out, as if she should be holding a child, but there¡¯s no child there...¡± Hearing this, everyone began to ponder. Lin Qi¡¯an then spoke, his words cutting through the confusion like a blade, ¡°We can immerse ourselves in the painting and fill in the missing parts to make the painting whole.¡± ¡°The Crown Prince is right!¡± ¡°If we take the place of these missing figures and complete the painting, we should be able to pass the trial!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s try it!¡± The results were astounding. It wasn¡¯t just about standing in the correct positions¡ªthey had to fully immerse themselves into the roles depicted in the painting. For example, if one became a cart driver, they had to imagine themselves as that cart driver, fully embodying the character to fill in the gaps of the painting. ¡°This is truly remarkable...¡± ¡°Look, there¡¯s a group of pigs over here, but one pig is missing!¡± ¡°Who will play the missing pig?¡± ¡°Ji Bai, who else but you?¡± someone taunted. ¡°What! Why me?¡± Ji Bai protested angrily. ¡°Because you¡¯re the most useless!¡± In the end, under the pressure of the crowd, Ji Bai had no choice but to crawl on the ground and play the role of the pig, seething with humiliation. One by one, people filled the missing parts of the painting. ¡°I found another missing piece!¡± someone called out. ¡°Look here, it¡¯s supposed to be a family, but there¡¯s only a child¡ªno parents.¡± ¡°This will require two people... but all the men have already entered the painting, except for the Crown Prince.¡± ¡°It seems only the Crown Prince can take this role.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to trouble you, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Who will play the mother and child?¡± another asked. ¡°I can do it!¡± Both Lu Miaoyin and Mo Shuiqiu spoke at the same time. Chapter 115 Chapter 115: ¡°Don¡¯t Talk, Kiss Me!¡± Lu Miaoyin and Mo Shuiqiu spoke almost in unison. Both of them wanted to play the role of Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s wife! After they spoke, they instinctively glanced at each other, and sparks seemed to fly between their gazes. The rest of the crowd wanted to vie for the role as well, but who could compete with two saintesses? ¡°Miaoyin, leave such trivial matters to me. You are always calm and reserved, so I fear you may not be able to portray the role of a wife convincingly,¡± Mo Shuiqiu said with a smile. ¡°That statement may be a bit biased,¡± Lu Miaoyin replied, shaking her head with a composed expression. Her flawless features revealed no emotion as she continued, ¡°Shuiqiu, you excel in painting and should stay outside to oversee the bigger picture. If I can¡¯t do it, we can always switch later.¡± The crowd was utterly dumbfounded. The Yunmo Saintess and the Qinglian Saintess, who were known to be aloof and untouched by men, had never been swayed by the countless suitors chasing after them. But now, both were vying to play the role of Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s wife. It seemed that women who claimed to be indifferent to love simply hadn¡¯t met the right man. ¡°Step aside, neither of you are fit for this!¡± Suddenly, Zhao Qingmeng, who had been quietly standing by Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s side, spoke up. She wore an elegant frost-colored dress adorned with golden dragons, her appearance regal and striking, with a beauty that could cause the downfall of nations. ¡°What does the princess mean?¡± someone asked. ¡°Naturally, I will play the role myself!¡± Zhao Qingmeng said with a cold huff, crossing her arms. Mo Shuiqiu raised an eyebrow. ¡°If I remember correctly, your elder sister, Princess Zhao Yunji, was once betrothed to the Crown Prince. Wouldn¡¯t this be inappropriate?¡± ¡°They have already annulled their engagement. What¡¯s inappropriate about it?¡± Lu Miaoyin interjected. ¡°The engagement was just dissolved, and now the princess is getting close to the Crown Prince? It might lead to rumors...¡± Zhao Qingmeng waved off the concern with a confident smile. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of gossip. There¡¯s no need to discuss this further!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an, observing the escalating situation, thought to himself, ¡¯Are you all done arguing? Can¡¯t you show a little sympathy for the Child of Destiny, who¡¯s still pretending to be a pig?¡¯ In the end, everyone conceded to the princess and allowed her to play the role of his wife. As they entered the painting together, Lin Qi¡¯an and Zhao Qingmeng walked side by side through the bustling streets, looking as if they truly belonged within the scene. But that alone wasn¡¯t enough. They needed to act like a real couple in order to complete the painting and fully restore it. Everyone outside the painting watched closely, curious as to how they would manage this. Inside the painting, the two of them stood face to face. One tall, the other petite. ¡°Don¡¯t talk, kiss me!¡± Zhao Qingmeng commanded. She stood in the middle of the street, her radiant figure becoming the most captivating sight within the painting, as though the entire bustling cityscape existed solely to highlight her presence. Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and just as he lowered his head, Zhao Qingmeng suddenly rose up on her toes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him on her own initiative! ¡°Wow...¡± ¡°Is this really happening...?¡± ¡°The princess... is kissing the Crown Prince!¡± The women watching from outside the painting gasped in shock. No one had expected to witness such a scene. If word of this spread, who knew what kind of storm it would stir up in the Canglan Dao Domain? As the kiss deepened, the two grew more and more passionate. Lu Miaoyin¡¯s face flushed a deep red, and she turned her head away, too embarrassed to keep watching. As for Mo Shuiqiu, though she covered her eyes with her hands, she couldn¡¯t help but peek through the gaps between her fingers... Meanwhile, Ji Bai, still wallowing in his humiliation while pretending to be a pig, had no idea that Lin Qi¡¯an was savoring the sweetest moment of his life. ¡°Go for it, brother, I¡¯m right behind you!¡± About twenty people stepped onto the stone slabs, but unfortunately, all of them were expelled from the realm. However, their failures revealed some of the correct words on the path: spring, wind, again. ¡°Spring wind again... what comes after?¡± ¡°Spring wind comes again? Spring wind leaves again?¡± ¡°Ugh, neither feels right!¡± The remaining group scratched their heads, drawing lines on the ground as they tried to figure it out, but to no avail. Lu Miaoyin and Mo Shuiqiu were equally stumped, biting their lips in frustration as they struggled to think. Meanwhile, Ji Bai secretly skimmed through the Wenchu Emperor¡¯s notes but found nothing to help with this puzzle. ¡°It¡¯s green,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s voice broke the silence, instantly drawing everyone¡¯s attention. Since he had led them through the first two trials, everyone trusted his judgment fully. ¡°The Crown Prince said green?¡± ¡°Quick, try that word!¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not going, I will! I trust the Crown Prince!¡± Soon enough, a young woman stepped onto the slab with the word green inscribed on it. To everyone¡¯s delight, she wasn¡¯t expelled from the secret realm. The crowd¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°It worked!¡± ¡°It¡¯s really green. Amazing, what a clever choice!¡± ¡°The Crown Prince is incredible, haha!¡± One by one, admiring glances turned to Lin Qi¡¯an. Without him, they wouldn¡¯t have passed any of these trials. The word green was indeed a stroke of literary genius¡ªone that ordinary poets wouldn¡¯t have been able to come up with. ¡°The next word is river.¡± ¡°River, go ahead!¡± ¡°Let me try it this time!¡± Where once everyone feared taking the lead, they now eagerly vied to step forward, thrilled at the idea of advancing the trial. ¡°Another success! It¡¯s right again!¡± ¡°My god, the Crown Prince is amazing... How does he keep getting it right?¡± ¡°The Crown Prince must have read the unpublished works of the Wenchu Emperor. He must have seen this poem before!¡± ¡°Thank goodness for the Crown Prince. Without him, we wouldn¡¯t even be in the running for the Wenchu Emperor¡¯s inheritance!¡± ¡®Spring wind again turns the riverbanks green, when will the bright moon shine on me once more?¡¯ This poem was filled with a deep sense of homesickness. The Wenchu Emperor must have left this riddle while thinking of his homeland and family in his final days. Following Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s guidance, the group finally crossed to the other side of the pond, completing the third trial. Another beam of golden light shot into Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s forehead, marking his acquisition of six of the nine-character mantra. Though the others felt some jealousy, they accepted it and congratulated him sincerely. The group had dwindled to just fifty people¡ªhalf of what it had been when they first entered. ¡°Congratulations on passing the third trial,¡± the Wenchu Emperor¡¯s voice rang out once again. ¡°The path ahead leads to my inheritance. However, it is overrun with demonic creatures, and survival is unlikely.¡± ¡°Those of you who wish to leave can do so now, while you still can.¡± ¡°But once you pass through this door, there is no turning back!¡± The word ¡®demonic¡¯ cast a heavy sense of dread over the group, filling their hearts with unease. Chapter 116 Chapter 116: Demons Attack, Lin Qi¡¯an Summons the Light of Literary Brilliance! The Wenchu Emperor had set up three trials in the secret realm, with a clear purpose in mind: he wanted to leave his inheritance to a fellow traveler¡ªsomeone who, like him, would enter the Dao through literature, standing on the shoulders of immortal poets and writers. If someone else were to obtain the inheritance but couldn¡¯t comprehend it, it would be wasted. In that case, it was better to let it remain forever sealed. However, the fourth trial wasn¡¯t left by the Wenchu Emperor. This trial had demons. Something had interrupted the path of his inheritance with these creatures. Why? Perhaps it was because the Wenchu Emperor¡¯s Nine-Character Mantra had a powerful suppressing effect on demonic and evil forces, provoking certain dark entities. If they could permanently sever his legacy, it would eliminate a major threat to them. To obtain the inheritance, everyone present had no choice but to venture deeper into the danger. This time, it wasn¡¯t just a test of knowledge but a life-or-death struggle. ... ¡°What should we do? There are demons ahead. Should we keep going?¡± someone voiced their concern. ¡°Why would there be demons in the Great Emperor¡¯s secret realm?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going any further. Demons are terrifying¡ªwho would want to face them head-on!¡± ¡°We¡¯ve come this far; if we give up now, all our previous efforts will have been for nothing!¡± In front of the glowing gate, the group began to split into two factions, one ready to advance and the other wanting to quit. Lin Qi¡¯an spoke calmly, ¡°The path to the Dao is a personal choice. If you want to continue, stand on the left. If you¡¯re turning back, stand on the right.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going,¡± Lu Miaoyin said, standing beside Lin Qi¡¯an without hesitation. She was determined, and nothing could make her retreat now. ¡°I¡¯m going too!¡± ¡°Count me out...¡± Soon, people began choosing sides. About twenty individuals, including Zhao Qingmeng, Mo Shuiqiu, and others, chose to move forward. ¡°You¡¯re going too?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked, looking at the little princess. ¡°Of course! No one can use spiritual power in the secret realm, so we¡¯re all equal here. I won¡¯t hold you back.¡± ¡°Wait a minute¡ªif we can¡¯t use our powers, how do we fight these demons?¡± someone asked, realizing the looming danger. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The demons won¡¯t be able to use any extraordinary powers either. The secret realm suppresses everyone, including them, so this is actually our chance,¡± Mo Shuiqiu explained. ¡°Then those who wish to leave, please do so,¡± she added. Most of the group left the secret realm, reducing their numbers to around twenty. Of course, Ji Bai, the protagonist of fate, stayed. After all, moments like this were when he thrived, and he wouldn¡¯t miss such a golden opportunity. ¡°I¡¯m going ahead!¡± Ji Bai declared, stepping through the glowing gate and disappearing from view. ¡°We should go too,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said, and the rest of the group followed through the gate. ... They arrived in a desolate place¡ªan endless forest of dead trees. The withered trees looked like skeletal remains, adding to the eerie, barren landscape. As soon as they entered, regret washed over some of the participants, but there was no turning back. They either had to push forward or perish here. No one noticed that Ji Bai had already quietly separated himself from the group. ¡°Something¡¯s coming...¡± someone whispered in alarm as shadows appeared in the distance. ¡°What do we do? There are more and more demons surrounding us...¡± ¡°How much farther until we¡¯re through this dead forest? I can¡¯t hold on much longer!¡± ¡°Everyone, hold on! Don¡¯t stop moving!¡± As the number of demons increased, so did the pressure from the surrounding demonic energy. Although they were able to keep the demons at bay with their literary powers, the black demonic aura was constantly gnawing at the light they had summoned. The pressure was immense, and even Lu Miaoyin, with her usual composure, was starting to sweat, her pale neck glistening. Invoking their literary energy to resonate with the secret realm was draining everyone¡¯s stamina, and it seemed likely that some would collapse from exhaustion before they reached the end. Suddenly, more demons rushed at them! These ones were no longer keeping their distance¡ªthey were charging aggressively, launching an all-out attack on the protective light surrounding the group. ¡°I... I can¡¯t keep going!¡± One of the men collapsed to his knees, blood trickling from his nose and mouth. Just like that, a tiny crack had formed in the dam, and the balance of the group¡¯s defense began to fall apart. ... The protective light began to dim, almost entirely overwhelmed by the encroaching demonic energy. With the demons closing in from all sides, a sense of hopelessness gripped the group. Despair and helplessness weighed heavily on their hearts. ¡°Heh, finally, they¡¯re at their breaking point,¡± Ji Bai thought with a cold smile. He was confident that he could keep himself safe. The moment for his grand entrance was near. He would soon step in and shock everyone with his heroism. But then, a powerful voice rang out through the forest, interrupting his plan. ¡°Heaven and earth possess righteous energy, it manifests in many forms!¡± In an instant, a blinding burst of golden light erupted from within the group, shining as brilliantly as the sun. The demons recoiled in terror, driven back by the intense radiance. ¡°Crown... Crown Prince?¡± someone muttered in disbelief, staring at the source of the light. Yes, the source of the brilliant golden light was none other than Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡°It descends to mountains and rivers, and rises to the sun and stars. In man, it is called the grand spirit, a mighty force that fills the universe!¡± As Lin Qi¡¯an recited the next lines, his body became encased in divine light, as if he were a deity descending to earth. Everyone stood in stunned silence, watching him in awe. The resonance he had invoked with the secret realm was beyond anything they had ever seen. Lu Miaoyin immediately felt the pressure on her ease. She exhaled a sigh of relief, looking at Lin Qi¡¯an with admiration and wonder in her eyes. ¡°The Crown Prince¡¯s literary brilliance alone might be enough to save us all,¡± someone whispered. Lin Qi¡¯an was reciting from The Ode to Righteousness! This particular poem invoked the powerful force of righteous energy, which was highly effective in suppressing demons and evil entities. As he continued, the surrounding demons retreated further, and the weaker ones even collapsed to the ground, trembling. ¡°Follow the Crown Prince! Let¡¯s go!¡± someone shouted. Lin Qi¡¯an led the way, his radiant light clearing a path forward. The rest of the group followed closely behind, with not a single demon daring to approach. Even Zhao Qingmeng, whose fear had previously paralyzed her, now felt a wave of relief. Her small hand clung to the edge of Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s robe, as if drawing comfort from his presence. ¡°This... this can¡¯t be happening...¡± Ji Bai¡¯s face turned ashen as if he had been struck by lightning. His carefully laid plan had been shattered. Worse yet, the demons he had attracted toward Lin Qi¡¯an now avoided him entirely and instead began to turn their attention toward Ji Bai himself! The once-confident Ji Bai now found himself facing the horde of demons, which were closing in fast. Chapter 117 Chapter 117: Sword Sweeps the Demons, Ji Bai is Killed! ¡°Qingmeng¡± Fills the River and Stars Under Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s lead, no demon dared to approach the group. He had almost fully harnessed the power of the Wenchu Emperor¡¯s secret realm! The group was filled with immense gratitude. Who would have thought that in each of the four trials, they had all relied on the Crown Prince to get through? If anyone was truly worthy of receiving the Wenchu Emperor¡¯s inheritance, it had to be Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡°Look, we¡¯re almost at the end!¡± ¡°Finally... we¡¯re really getting out of here!¡± At last, the eerie forest of dead trees came to an end. Once outside, they found themselves on the shore, where a large ship was docked by the water¡¯s edge. ¡°Once we board the ship, we can escape!¡± ¡°Hurry, get on the ship!¡± ¡°Crown Prince, please board first!¡± No one had forgotten Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s contributions, so they all urged him to be the first on the ship. However, Lin Qi¡¯an had other plans¡ªhe was waiting to deal with the Child of Destiny, Ji Bai. Smiling calmly, he waved them ahead. ¡°You all go first. I¡¯ll stay behind and guard.¡± Zhao Qingmeng hesitated, not wanting to leave his side, but he urged her on. The group was astonished at his selflessness¡ªhow could there be someone so noble, who put others first even after doing all the heavy lifting? Without further hesitation, everyone boarded the ship as quickly as possible, while Lin Qi¡¯an stayed on the shore, keeping the demons at bay. ¡°Crown Prince, hurry and get on!¡± people called from the ship. At that moment, a panicked figure suddenly burst out of the forest¡ªit was none other than Ji Bai, wearing his scholar¡¯s robes. ¡°Wait for me, wait for me!¡± Ji Bai shouted as he ran, a horde of demons chasing closely behind him, swarming like a black tide. ¡°It¡¯s Ji Bai!¡± ¡°He went off on his own and still survived?¡± ¡°This guy is seriously lucky!¡± But Lin Qi¡¯an knew better. He could tell that most of the demons had been lured by Ji Bai. It was about time to deal with him. Ji Bai¡¯s remaining fortune value was less than 300. Slaying him now would allow Lin Qi¡¯an to claim his core of fortune. ¡°Wait for me! I need to get on the ship too!¡± Ji Bai shouted in desperation. ¡°Thank you, Crown Prince!¡± Inside, Ji Bai was laughing. ¡®What an idiot! This stupid Crown Prince is actually waiting for me! Does he really think I¡¯m worth saving?¡¯ Suddenly, Lin Qi¡¯an spoke. His voice was calm, yet filled with an overwhelming presence of righteous energy. ¡°Three thousand guests drunk on blooming flowers, a single sword chills fourteen provinces.¡± As the verse rang out, the wind howled violently. The rivers surged, and the sky darkened! A tremendous, unstoppable force surged from the heavens and earth, all of it flowing into Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s body. ¡°What terrifying literary resonance!¡± ¡°The Crown Prince is drawing upon all the power of the Wenchu Emperor¡¯s secret realm...¡± ¡°A single sword chills fourteen provinces.¡± ¡°How imposing!¡± The scholars and nobles on the ship stared at Lin Qi¡¯an with awe and admiration. What they witnessed next was a scene they would never forget for the rest of their lives. With a casual wave of his hand, Lin Qi¡¯an released an invisible sword qi. It swept forward like a storm, tearing through everything in its path. Where it passed... Sand and stones flew through the air! The ground itself was uprooted! Grass and trees were torn apart! The wind roared, and the rivers surged! Everything in the natural world seemed ready to submit to this single sword strike. No one had any objections to Lin Qi¡¯an being chosen. It was only fitting. He had led them through every trial, proving his worth. But who would be the second chosen one? Everyone exchanged glances, and tension began to build. The air was thick with competition. ¡°The second person will be decided through the Flying Flower test. The theme is ¡®stars.¡¯¡± ¡°Whoever remains at the end will be the one eligible to receive the inheritance.¡± Flying Flower! No one had expected the second person would be chosen through a poetic duel like this. Wait¡ªdidn¡¯t that mean the winner would get to inherit the Wenchu Emperor¡¯s legacy alongside the Crown Prince? And wouldn¡¯t that make her the most outstanding woman in the eyes of the Crown Prince? Mo Shuiqiu, Lu Miaoyin, and many other women felt a surge of determination in their hearts. The final competition would take place here. Without hesitation, Lu Miaoyin stepped forward and recited a famous poem featuring the word stars. Going first was always the best move! She quoted one of the most famous lines about stars in all poetry, leaving the others feeling the pressure. They quickly began reciting their own lines, eager not to fall behind. Out of the nearly twenty people left, thirteen were women, each of whom recited a line featuring the word *stars. Everyone passed the first round of the Flying Flower challenge. Except for Zhao Qingmeng. All eyes turned to the little princess. People thought she was sure to be eliminated for not reciting anything yet. The challenge was based not only on who could keep up but also on whose poetry was the most moving. Failing to continue meant losing any chance of winning. Zhao Qingmeng stood in her frost-colored gown, adorned with golden dragons, her posture elegant beneath the starry sky. A small smile curved on her delicate lips, making her look like a celestial spirit in the night¡ªcharming and ethereal. ¡°Drunk, I knew not the sky lay in the water, as the boat of dreams pressed heavy on the stars.¡± This line had been burned into her memory, a verse Lin Qi¡¯an had once used to tease her. She had kept it locked deep in her heart, and now, it had come to perfect use. As soon as the words left her lips, the ship fell into a stunned silence. Everyone took a moment to fully appreciate the line, their expressions slowly shifting to disbelief. ¡°This... this is another timeless masterpiece!¡± ¡°Such artistic beauty, truly divine!¡± ¡°I admit defeat. I¡¯ve lost...¡± One by one, the others bowed in defeat. Even Lu Miaoyin couldn¡¯t help but feel a wave of frustration wash over her. She knew she had lost. Indeed, aside from Zhao Qingmeng and Lin Qi¡¯an, the rest of the group began to glow faintly with white light before their bodies dimmed and disappeared one after another, sent out of the secret realm. Now, under the brilliant starry sky and aboard the solitary ship, only Lin Qi¡¯an and Zhao Qingmeng remained. ¡°Excellent poem,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an remarked with a smile. He hadn¡¯t expected that even the reincarnated empress would become a ¡°literary plagiarist.¡± ¡°Surprised?¡± Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s eyes twinkled mischievously like crescent moons. ¡°Just a compliment on the poem? Don¡¯t you have anything more to say?¡± ¡°Well, the person who recited it is just as wonderful,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said as he stepped forward, wrapping his arms around the little princess and pulling her into his embrace. Her soft, delicate body was fragrant and intoxicating. If he were to indulge in her here and now, there would be no one to discover her unique physique, and no trouble would arise from it. After all, the remnant soul of the Wenchu Emperor had already disappeared, and no one would disturb them. ¡°What are you doing...?¡± Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s heart raced, her eyes wide and filled with a captivating sparkle. ¡°You know, my nickname is ¡®Star River.¡¯¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Zhao Qingmeng laughed softly, but before she could react further, she leaned into Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s chest and pressed her lips to his of her own accord. Under the glittering stars, bathed in the clear, cool moonlight, their boat drifted through the river of stars. The boat of ¡°Qingmeng¡± pressed heavy upon the heavens. Chapter 118 Chapter 118: Breaking Through to the Celestial Realm! Have the Demons Emerged from the Secret Realm? Zhao Qingmeng, with the Supreme Yin Jade Maiden Physique, was a complete mortal before today, unable to utilize any spiritual energy. However, after today, all her spiritual apertures were fully opened! She had become an ultimate genius, just like Lin Qi¡¯an. Her path to becoming an Empress had now begun. As for Lin Qi¡¯an, he had just enjoyed one of the world¡¯s most supreme furnaces! This furnace would make all future realm breakthroughs much easier for him. Their first union brought him an immensely obvious boost in cultivation.No?v(el)B\\jnn He swiftly advanced through the Transcendent Realm: ¨C Transcendent Realm, Eighth Layer! ¨C Transcendent Realm, Ninth Layer! ¨C Peak of the Transcendent Realm! With a surge of crimson light shooting into the sky, it ascended to the highest heavens, shining in harmony with the moon¡¯s light. Lin Qi¡¯an had broken through to the Celestial Realm! His aura instantly multiplied in strength, becoming far more terrifying. The gap between the Transcendent and Celestial Realms was as vast as the difference between the moon and the sun¡ªcompletely different levels of power. Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s advancement was even more astonishing. She skipped five major realms in a single step: ¨C Body Tempering ¨C Qi Refining ¨C Spiritual Insight ¨C Heaven Ascendant ¨C Heaven Dominion If word of this got out, it would likely drive everyone in the Canglan Dao Domain mad, especially if Zhao Yunji heard about it¡ªher reaction would surely be priceless. However, this was far from over. There was still plenty of time ahead, and the two could slowly contemplate the meaning of ¡°wind, flower, snow, and moon¡± in a leisurely manner. Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s delicate feet could also be properly admired during this time... ¡ª Ding! Congratulations to the Host for completing the Villain Mission. Villain Points +100,000! Even Lin Qi¡¯an hadn¡¯t expected Zhao Qingmeng to be the one to help him complete the mission. He had thought it would have been Mo Shuiqiu or Lu Miaoyin. ¡°Men, no matter how well they hide it, they can¡¯t deny their true nature, hmph!¡± Zhao Qingmeng crossed her arms and snorted coldly. Earlier, he had pretended to be so proper, but now wasn¡¯t he enjoying himself fully? ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, are you disappointed it was me in the end?¡± ¡°Not at all, I¡¯m more than happy!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an replied quickly. ¡°Haha, I saw it! When Lu Miaoyin left, there was a hint of disappointment in your eyes!¡± ¡°That¡¯s nonsense! How could Qingmeng be any less than her? I adore you!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an protested. ¡°Now you¡¯re being quite honest!¡± Zhao Qingmeng teased. Lin Qi¡¯an thought to himself, ¡®With you destined to become a Great Emperor, how could I dare not be honest?¡¯ Their cultivation session ended, and the two entered the boat to receive the inheritance of Emperor Wenqu. However, neither of them was particularly interested in his Dao. Zhao Qingmeng had her own path to follow, and Lin Qi¡¯an would never walk someone else¡¯s path. Thus, Lin Qi¡¯an took the inheritance with the thought that he might use it later to recruit Lu Miaoyin, who was very interested in such matters. The last word of the Nine Words of Truth Divine Ability also fell into Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s hands: ¡°Proclaim that the soldiers are arrayed before me!¡± With this divine ability, he would no longer need to fear any demonic or wicked entities wherever he went. For Lin Qi¡¯an, cultivation was simple¡ªhe could just spend Villain Points. With 220,000 points in his possession, he could afford to splurge a little. ¡°We can stay here a bit longer while I comprehend the Nine Words of Truth,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said. ¡°Suit yourself,¡± Zhao Qingmeng replied, feeling quite content. Although she didn¡¯t get to strike first, she had still claimed her share of the prize and successfully entered the path of cultivation. Of course, her growing relationship with Lin Qi¡¯an was the main reason for her happiness. ¡°Your Highness, the Crown Prince!¡± ¡°His Highness is finally out!¡± Everyone rushed over to greet them. Lu Miaoyin, who was particularly concerned about the inheritance of Emperor Wenqu, quickly realized she was standing too close and stepped aside to make space for others. ¡°Celestial... Celestial Realm!¡± When they discovered Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s current realm, the crowd¡¯s astonishment was endless. If they remembered correctly, the Crown Prince was only at the mid-stage of the Transcendent Realm when he entered the secret realm. Now, he had come out directly at the Celestial Realm. This was the result of hundreds, if not thousands, of years of arduous cultivation for most people! And he had achieved it in just one day. Was there even a point for others to keep trying? ¡°Your Highness, did you really obtain the inheritance of Emperor Wenqu?¡± ¡°Could you share some insights with us...?¡± ¡°Of course he did! How else could His Highness have progressed so much?¡± But when they sensed Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s aura, they were truly shocked beyond reason. She, the princess who couldn¡¯t cultivate, had reached the Heaven Dominion Realm? This was outrageous! Not only were the onlookers astonished, but even Su Xueni and the others couldn¡¯t close their mouths in disbelief. The only plausible explanation was the effect of Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s Supreme Yin Jade Maiden Physique. Yet, even if they had cultivated together, the progress was still unbelievably fast! Over the past two days, Lu Miaoyin¡¯s emotions had fluctuated more than in the past several decades combined. A Dao physique truly had the power to send someone soaring to the heavens! Now, the Crown Prince was not only in possession of a Dao physique but had also obtained the inheritance of Emperor Wenqu and was a brilliant scholar. She had finally come to terms with it¡ªif she couldn¡¯t obtain the inheritance herself, becoming the Crown Prince¡¯s woman would be just as good for achieving her goals. In the future, she¡¯d likely have to compete with Shuiqiu for his favor. The congratulatory voices and curious inquiries blended into a single, lively chorus, but amidst all this, the entrance to the secret realm suddenly began to stir. Black shapes started crawling out. ¡°Ah! What is that?¡± someone screamed. ¡°It¡¯s... it¡¯s demons! The demons from the secret realm are coming out!¡± In the midst of their panic, a man was bitten by a shadowy figure. His body immediately contorted, bones twisting unnaturally, and he transformed into a zombie puppet. Like a rabid dog, he lunged at the people around him. ¡°Help! Somebody help!¡± The crowd was gripped with terror, their fear spreading quickly. At this critical moment, both the Saint of Ink and the Saint of Literature took action! Two vast waves of power surged forward, slaying the demonic beasts, but more continued to pour out from the secret realm. Their target was Lin Qi¡¯an! The demons couldn¡¯t allow anyone to successfully cultivate the Nine Words of Truth, as it posed a massive threat to them. They had to eliminate him before that happened. ¡°Push them back into the realm!¡± the Saint of Ink shouted. The two most powerful elders stepped forward, their palms striking together. The terrifying power of Saints surged like a tidal wave, forcing the demons back toward the entrance. At this moment, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s protector, Aunt You, materialized from the void. Like a shadow, she darted forward, ruthlessly slaughtering the demons. Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s protector, the old Grandmaster who had once followed Zhao Ziyu, also appeared, joining the battle. All of these were peak-level experts at or above the quasi-Saint level! But there were simply too many demons, surging forward like an endless tide, completely fearless of death. With the residual soul of Emperor Wenqu gone and the inheritance taken, there was no longer any power within the secret realm to suppress the demonic beasts, which was why they were flooding out in such numbers. ¡°This won¡¯t work, we need to forcefully seal the secret realm!¡± ¡°If we work together, we might be able to close it!¡± ¡°No, we have to push back this overwhelming demonic energy first; otherwise, it¡¯s impossible to close the entrance!¡± The expressions on their faces grew grim. Forcibly sealing a Great Emperor¡¯s secret realm was already an immensely difficult task, but the dark energy brought by the demons acted like a giant black hand, holding the entrance open, preventing it from being sealed. ¡°I¡¯ll do it!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an stepped forward. Chapter 119 Chapter 119: ¡°The Word of Truth ¨C Repelling the Demons!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an stepped forward, his white robes as pure as snow. The Book Saint and the Saint of Ink both felt a shock in their hearts. It was simply impossible! Beneath the realm of Saints, all others were mere ants. Despite Lin Qi¡¯an having already reached the Celestial Realm, unmatched among the younger generation, in the eyes of a Saint, he was still just a child. With their combined strength, they could barely hold back the overwhelming demonic energy. How could the Crown Prince manage this? ¡°Trust the Crown Prince! Act quickly!¡± Aunt You snapped her head back, her voice filled with urgency. Given the dire situation, no one had time to think further. The Saints hurriedly nodded, their only option being to place their hopes in Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡°We leave it to the Crown Prince.¡± This was the battlefield of Saints! No one else could offer any meaningful assistance, so they all retreated a mile away. Even the aura emanating from the clash was enough to stir the blood, making everyone¡¯s bodies tremble uncontrollably. The demonic energy clashed with the aura of the Saints, creating an atmosphere of dread. Water droplets floated in the air, stones shattered, and dust filled the sky, resembling the end of the world. At the foot of Yunmo Dao Palace, fear gripped the hearts of all, for any misstep could spell their doom today. ¡°Why are there so many demons in Emperor Wenqu¡¯s secret realm?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know...¡± ¡°These demons willingly entered the realm, guarding the path to Emperor Wenqu¡¯s inheritance, not wanting anyone to obtain it. Now that it has been claimed, of course they want to chase down and eliminate the one who took it!¡± ¡°So, their target is the Crown Prince?¡± As people began to fear for Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s safety, they suddenly saw him walking forward, moving against the flow of demons. ¡°What is the Crown Prince doing!?¡± ¡°Has he gone mad... does he want to die?¡± ¡°Someone bring him back! He¡¯s walking into death itself!¡± Everyone was overcome with worry, especially the maids, Zhao Qingmeng, Mo Shuiqiu, and others, whose hearts leapt into their throats. Though the Crown Prince had repelled the demons by himself within the secret realm, that was only because of special rules inside. He had harnessed the power of Emperor Wenqu through talent and wisdom. Outside, there were no such rules to rely on. Here, he had to depend solely on his own strength. Fear spread through the crowd, panic written on every face. The presence of the demonic horde brought an overwhelming pressure and terror. These ancient demonic species, capable of troubling even Great Emperors, were beyond what mere mortals could handle. Suddenly, a loud, resonant shout echoed across the sky. ¡°Lin!¡± The voice was filled with immense righteousness. At the same time, a large character, ¡°ÁÙ,¡± appeared in the air, written with dragon-like strokes. It flew toward the entrance of the secret realm. The demon horde trembled and the surging demonic energy halted in its tracks. The Book Saint, Wang Yi, narrowed his eyes sharply. ¡°It¡¯s the Nine Words of Truth from Emperor Wenqu!¡± ¡°How is this possible? He already comprehended the divine ability in just one day?¡± His heart was filled with unspeakable shock. This divine ability was infused with immense righteous energy, incredibly effective against demons. Perhaps Lin Qi¡¯an could really pull this off. ¡°Bing!¡± Like the sound of thunder, the second golden character flew forth. Under the suppression of the Nine Words of Truth, the demonic energy scattered, relieving much of the pressure on everyone. However, there was still some time before the event. Staying here a little longer might give her more opportunities to interact with the Crown Prince. ¡°Brother Lin, I should get going as well.¡± Zhao Qingmeng also came to bid farewell to Lin Qi¡¯an. She had been away for too long and needed to return. Although she wished to stay close to Lin Qi¡¯an, cultivation was still her top priority. With the memories of a Great Emperor in this life, her path to becoming an Empress would be twice as fast. Hmph! When I become the first to ascend to the Empress realm, which woman will dare compete with me? Won¡¯t I be the rightful main wife? She left with these ambitions in mind, smart as always. Naturally, she also wanted to return and give her elder sister a little shock. ¡°Go ahead and take care of yourself,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said gently. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to come to the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty¡¯s millennial celebration!¡± Zhao Qingmeng reminded him. ¡°Rest assured, I¡¯ll be there.¡± ¡°And don¡¯t go around flirting with other women too much while you¡¯re out!¡± ¡°How far do you think your control goes?¡± The two exchanged playful banter, drawing envious glances from everyone around them. Onlookers couldn¡¯t help but sigh¡ªthese two were truly a match made in heaven! With that, Zhao Qingmeng departed, following Zhao Ziyu and his group. Inside the carriage, Zhao Ziyu looked at his sister in disbelief and asked, ¡°You really got together with Lin Qi¡¯an?!¡± ¡°Zhao Ziyu, listen carefully. I have something important to tell you, and you¡¯d better remember it,¡± Zhao Qingmeng said, her tone turning serious. In front of Lin Qi¡¯an, she had acted like a sweet, innocent girl, but in front of others, especially her brother, she could instantly regain the imposing aura of a future Empress. Even Zhao Ziyu was startled by the sudden change in her demeanor. ¡°Wha... what is it?¡± Zhao Ziyu stammered, a bit taken aback. ¡°Do not ever go against Lin Qi¡¯an. If you heed my words, you can live peacefully as his brother-in-law, with no worries for the future. But if you provoke him... not even the Emperor of Tai¡¯an can bear the consequences for you.¡± Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s words were sharp and direct. Zhao Ziyu was left speechless. She had not only addressed him by name but had even referred to their father, the Emperor, in such a casual manner! It was as if his sister had become a completely different person. ¡°Don¡¯t oppose Lin Qi¡¯an...¡± He mulled over these words, starting to grasp their meaning. From what he had witnessed at the literary gathering, it was clear that Lin Qi¡¯an was no ordinary person. Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s advice seemed sound enough. Back at Yunmo Dao Palace, nearly all the sects had already left, except for the people from Green Lotus Immortal Island. ¡°You¡¯re not leaving yet, Miaoyin?¡± Mo Shuiqiu asked with a smile. In the past, she had always encouraged Lu Miaoyin to stay a little longer, as they were close friends with much to talk about. But this year, something was different. Mo Shuiqiu found Lu Miaoyin¡¯s presence somewhat bothersome and was nearly ready to issue a polite but firm invitation for her to leave. ¡°No rush, I plan to stay a few more days,¡± Lu Miaoyin responded. Mo Shuiqiu laughed to herself¡ªGreen Lotus Fairy¡¯s skin had certainly grown thicker. Clearly, she was hoping to spend more time with the Crown Prince, and it wasn¡¯t as if anyone couldn¡¯t see through her intentions. After the literary gathering, there was a day of rest. Mo Shuiqiu unexpectedly came to find Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡°Your Highness, may I ask a favor?¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an replied. ¡°In Yunmo Dao Palace, we have a sacred weapon passed down from our ancestors, known as the Mountain and River Sun and Moon Scripture. We have been studying it for a long time but have been unable to unlock its full power. ¡°Would Your Highness be willing to take a look? Perhaps you can uncover its mysteries?¡± ¡°Very well, let¡¯s go take a look,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an agreed. Chapter 120 Chapter 120: Yin and Yang Transform the Sun and Moon, Helping the Saintess Restore the Painting ¡°Sect Master, the Saintess... took the Crown Prince to the treasure vault.¡± An elder immediately reported the situation to Mo Haitian. Unexpectedly, Mo Haitian stroked his beard and smiled with satisfaction, ¡°They must be going to look at the Mountain and River Sun and Moon Scripture.¡± ¡°The Mountain and River Sun and Moon Scripture? That sacred weapon we¡¯ve never been able to activate? We¡¯ve studied it for hundreds of years and still haven¡¯t made any progress,¡± the elder frowned. Mo Haitian shook his head, ¡°Qiu¡¯er¡¯s goal isn¡¯t to repair that treasure; she¡¯s trying to use this as an opportunity to get closer to the Crown Prince.¡± ¡°Ah, I see...¡± The esteemed Crown Prince of Beiyang wouldn¡¯t be interested in a mere treasure or two from Yunmo Dao Palace. ... ¡°The Crown Prince went out with the Yunmo Saintess earlier,¡± the three maids whispered among themselves. Ran Yuwei tilted her head, puzzled. ¡°What are they doing out so late?¡± Suddenly, as if realizing something, she hesitated, ¡°Could it be...? No way! If that were the case, wouldn¡¯t it be easier to do it in their chambers? Why go somewhere else?¡± Zi Lianyou¡¯s cheeks turned red, and she softly replied, ¡°Actually, the Crown Prince quite enjoys being outside...¡± Su Xueni chuckled softly, ¡°It seems it won¡¯t be long before another courtyard is added in the Lotus Realm.¡± ¡°I have a question. Why did the princess¡¯s cultivation suddenly skyrocket, but ours didn¡¯t?¡± ¡°Who knows? If the Crown Prince doesn¡¯t explain, we shouldn¡¯t ask too much,¡± Su Xueni said with a smile. ¡°Come on, the Crown Prince gave me the Lptus Realm, let¡¯s go play there.¡± ¡°Wow, he even gave you the Lotus Realm?¡± ¡°Sister Xueni, the Crown Prince treats you so well!¡± Enjoying the admiring gazes of the two younger maids, Su Xueni¡¯s mood lifted. This is the benefit of being the first. ... Mo Shuiqiu led Lin Qi¡¯an to Yunmo Dao Palace¡¯s treasure vault. This wasn¡¯t a place suitable for bringing along maids, as it was a sacred location of the sect. The path was heavily guarded. When they finally reached the deepest part of the vault, Mo Shuiqiu placed her palm on the stone door, and with a loud rumble, the door opened. ¡°No one is to enter without my command,¡± Mo Shuiqiu ordered the two guards. ¡°As you command!¡± With the door closed, only Lin Qi¡¯an and Mo Shuiqiu were left in the stone chamber. Alone, a man and a woman. Mo Shuiqiu wore the elegant Daoist robes of Yunmo Dao Palace. Though her robes were loose, her graceful and beautiful curves would occasionally reveal themselves with her movements. Despite being modestly dressed, there was a unique allure to her appearance. It made one curious¡ªwhat would she look like if her robes were removed? Mo Shuiqiu¡¯s heart was racing, her face turning red. She knew her intentions weren¡¯t pure. She had pretended to show the Crown Prince the treasure, but in reality, she was simply trying to get closer to him. As for the Mountain and River Sun and Moon Scripture, it couldn¡¯t be repaired. The sect had studied it for hundreds of years without success. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing! Crown Prince, please take a look.¡± Mo Shuiqiu pointed to the painting on the wall. It was indeed a beautiful landscape painting. Although only two colors were used, the night scene within was vividly portrayed, with the vast, silent night sky full of stars. ¡°This is the Mountain and River Sun and Moon Scripture, a sacred relic passed down from long ago. Unfortunately, we¡¯ve never been able to activate it successfully. The painting changes with time, shifting every hour. Right now, it shows the night scene.¡± She bit her lip gently, her fingers nervously tugging at her robe. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯ve never tried to paint the sun and moon... it¡¯s too troublesome.¡± ¡°Listening to you, it doesn¡¯t sound that troublesome.¡± ¡°Crown Prince?¡± ¡°We¡¯re already here, so let¡¯s give it a try.¡± ... On the first day, the Yin and Yang energies emerged. On the second day, the sun and moon took shape. On the third day, the sun and moon were fully formed, and the painting was brimming with life. ... Outside the stone chamber, the two guards were perplexed. The Saintess and the Crown Prince had been inside for three whole days and nights, with no sound coming from within. What were they doing? ¡°Sect Master!¡± ¡°The Crown Prince and the Saintess have been inside for three full days and nights!¡± When Mo Sheng learned this, he laughed heartily. ¡°Haha, wonderful! It seems that our Yunmo Dao Palace has a stroke of good fortune after all.¡± The maids were even more shocked. ¡°Three days? That¡¯s a full three days!¡± ¡°The Crown Prince is truly remarkable...¡± ¡°Have you experienced something like that before, Sister Xueni?¡± one asked. Su Xueni¡¯s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. She thought to herself, *I¡¯m not made of iron! How could anyone withstand that?* That Yunmo Saintess, though... she must be impressive! When Lu Miaoyin heard the news, her reaction was even stronger. ¡°What! They spent three days studying an ancient painting together?¡± At first, Lu Miaoyin didn¡¯t think much of it. But her maid softly reminded her, ¡°Perhaps they weren¡¯t just studying the painting...¡± The realization suddenly hit her, and her eyes widened in shock. Three days! That was beyond her imagination! ... Inside the stone chamber, Lin Qi¡¯an and Mo Shuiqiu had already emerged some time ago. Mo Shuiqiu¡¯s face was flushed like a peach blossom, her eyes glistening with moisture, completely unlike the elegant and pure Saintess she once was. Leaning against Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s chest, she whispered softly, ¡°Crown Prince, from now on, Shuiqiu is your woman. Whenever you need anything, just let me know...¡± She hadn¡¯t expected such an unexpected surprise. Her cultivation had risen by four whole small realms! Moreover, her spiritual apertures had expanded by ten! Becoming the Crown Prince¡¯s woman not only boosted her cultivation but also led to the restoration of the ancient painting. Who would¡¯ve thought that such a wonderful thing existed in the world? At this moment, she felt like the happiest woman on earth. Lu Miaoyin? Compete with me? Lin Qi¡¯an, never one to be overly modest, accepted it with ease. After all, could he call himself a proper villain if he didn¡¯t have many wives and concubines? ¡°If you need anything, you can come to Beiyang¡¯s Tianjian City to find me,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said casually. Mo Shuiqiu¡¯s heart soared with joy. With the Crown Prince¡¯s support, anyone who wanted to harm Yunmo Dao Palace would have to think twice! ¡°Understood,¡± she replied with a soft smile. Their three days and nights of effort had not been in vain. Chapter 121 Chapter 121: New Mission Received: Dragon Tendon Waistband! Boom! The stone door opened with a loud crash. The moment Lin Qi¡¯an and Mo Shuiqiu emerged, it caused an uproar throughout Yunmo Dao Palace! Outside, many people had gathered to greet them, eager to find out what had transpired over the past three days. Even Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s maids, along with Lu Miaoyin, were present. As soon as they saw the two, the disciples who were familiar with Mo Shuiqiu were utterly shocked. Three days ago, she was only at the third layer of the Transcendent Realm. Now, three days later, she had reached the seventh layer. In just three days, she had ascended four small layers! ¡°Saintess... how did your cultivation progress so quickly?¡± ¡°No idea, but this speed is terrifying!¡± ¡°I heard that all the women around the Crown Prince cultivate quickly. Could it be because of him?¡± Feeling the intense gazes from the crowd, Mo Shuiqiu blushed, lowering her head in embarrassment. The male disciples of Yunmo Dao Palace were losing their minds! Initially, they believed the Saintess and the Crown Prince were studying some scholarly topics together. Now, it was clear that this was no academic pursuit! Otherwise, how could the Saintess appear so shy... Damn it! They had never seen her act this way before. Envy, jealousy, and hatred filled their hearts! Countless male disciples fantasized about the Saintess¡¯s graceful figure beneath her Daoist robe. Now, it seemed that only the Crown Prince truly knew. Their soft dreams were shattered! ¡°Three days, and the Crown Prince still looks so refreshed and full of energy. Isn¡¯t he exhausted?¡± Zi Lianyou asked softly. ¡°Hush! The Crown Prince has dragon-like power, and his stamina is as strong as a dragon¡¯s,¡± Ran Yuwei whispered back. ¡°Next time, I want to try it too.¡± ¡°Let me help you try first...¡± Su Xueni, ever casual, pulled Mo Shuiqiu closer by the hand and smiled. ¡°Sister Shuiqiu, from now on, we¡¯re family.¡± ¡°Um...¡± Mo Shuiqiu mumbled bashfully. Once the crowd had dispersed, Lu Miaoyin privately approached Mo Shuiqiu. With a serious expression, she asked, ¡°Your cultivation increased so quickly¡ªwas it because of the Crown Prince?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Mo Shuiqiu responded with a knowing smile. Lu Miaoyin was speechless... ¡®So this is the power of a Dragon Yang Dao physique.¡® It could produce the effects of ten years of cultivation overnight. She, too, was tempted. She wanted to learn more about the Wen Qu Emperor¡¯s poems from the Crown Prince. But without a suitable opportunity, barging in to offer herself might be seen as too opportunistic and could lead to rejection. ¡°Can you... give me some advice?¡± ¡°What advice?¡± Mo Shuiqiu blinked innocently, pretending not to understand. She was curious to see what the typically pure and aloof Lu Miaoyin, the so-called immaculate Saintess of Qinglian, would say next. This time, they were here to attend the literary gathering. Normally, the scholars of the academy would not involve themselves in worldly conflicts. However, the Book Saint had a deep fondness for this disciple, so he nodded and said, ¡°Very well, I will accompany you this time.¡± ¡°Thank you, Master.¡± ¡°Crown Prince, Qinglian Immortal Island is in danger. We will take our leave first!¡± Lu Miaoyin, anxious to depart, quickly bid farewell. ¡°The Jiao Dragon Clan and I have some unfinished business, so I¡¯ll come along and take a look,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an responded. ¡°Your Highness... will join us?¡± Although Lu Miaoyin¡¯s expression remained calm, deep inside, she was overjoyed. This meant that the Crown Prince would assist Qinglian Immortal Island! The others from Qinglian Immortal Island were equally elated. With the Crown Prince on their side, there was no need to fear the Jiao Dragon Clan! ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an entered his carriage, bringing a few maids along. He left Mo Shuiqiu at Yunmo Dao Palace to continue her cultivation, knowing they would meet again at the upcoming thousand-year grand ceremony. Ran Yuwei took the reins, and the nine-headed Jiuying soared into the sky. Sword guards led the way as the carriage officially set off. ¡ª Qinglian Immortal Island was located in the western seas of the Canglan Dao Domain, to the west of West Sea. To the west was the territory of King Xiling! Just like the Sword Emperor of the Northern King, King Xiling was a Great Emperor and a powerful ruler of his domain. He commanded the Xiling Shrine, and his strength was unparalleled, far exceeding that of the Southern Yue Prince. After Qinglian Immortal Island was attacked, they not only sought out Lu Miaoyin but also sent someone to the Xiling Shrine for help. ¡ª ¡°For many years, Qinglian Immortal Island has offered tribute in the form of immortal lotuses, hoping King Xiling would extend his hand to stop the Jiao Dragon Clan!¡± An elder of Qinglian Immortal Island knelt outside the shrine. ¡°In Xiling, all sects offer tribute to the shrine. Such minor conflicts aren¡¯t worth Xiling Shrine¡¯s intervention,¡± a guard replied dismissively. ¡°No... no, I request to see King Xiling!¡± ¡°Do you think you have the qualifications to meet King Xiling? Get lost!¡± The elder was forcefully expelled. Naturally, meeting a Great Emperor was not so simple. In this world, the strong preyed on the weak, even between sects. Being invaded was merely a result of weaker abilities. Even if the Saintess returned, it would likely be of little help... ¡ª The journey was long, and Lin Qi¡¯an had to stay in the carriage for several days. Every night, he visited a different maid¡¯s courtyard within the Lian Realm, spending a night there. Life passed quite pleasantly. The maids¡¯ knowledge and creativity seemed to grow, though he wasn¡¯t sure where they learned such things from. Once, each had been pure and dignified Saintesses, but now they had all been ¡°corrupted.¡± During this time, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s cultivation reached a major breakthrough, ascending to the Celestial Realm. He had also made a significant advancement¡ªhe had finally cultivated a treasure technique from his dragon bone! The *Sword Bone Treasure Technique* was incredibly powerful, and his dragon bone was no different. The treasure technique was called *Phantom Dragon Divine Art*. When activated, it could summon a divine phantom dragon out of thin air! Even more terrifying, he could integrate different elements into the dragon to enhance its power. For instance, if he infused it with the Nine Yang Divine Fire, it could transform into a fire dragon. If he added the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder, it could become a thunder dragon. Combining the two would make it even more unstoppable! However, there hadn¡¯t been a suitable opportunity to unleash its full potential yet, as he feared its immense power might inadvertently harm others. For the past few days, Lu Miaoyin had been deeply worried. Her exquisite features carried a tinge of sadness that tugged at the heartstrings. Finally, the carriage flew over the vast northern seas, and an island grew larger in their view. Qinglian Immortal Island arrived! Chapter 122 Chapter 122: Attack of the Jiao Dragon Clan, The Ink Saint Is Forced to Leave! Qinglian Immortal Island was in complete disarray. The ground was damaged, trees were broken, and buildings were in ruins. It was evident that a battle had taken place. The disciples were cleaning up the aftermath with heavy hearts. Suddenly, several carriages flew in from the distant sky. ¡°It¡¯s the Saintess! The Saintess has returned!¡± someone shouted in excitement. Hearing the shout, everyone looked up. Sure enough, they saw the familiar carriages and were immediately overjoyed. ¡°It¡¯s really the Saintess! She has finally returned...¡± ¡°I wonder, did she bring back the Calligraphy Saint?¡± ¡°If not, I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t make much difference.¡± ¡°Wait a moment, whose carriage is that? Why does it look so imposing?¡± Behind the Saintess¡¯s carriage appeared a golden one. Pulling the carriage was a nine-headed fierce beast! Each head was vicious and menacing, their snake-like necks twisting, and the beast¡¯s massive body was almost the size of a small mountain. Just seeing it from afar was terrifying. However, the sword-wielding white-robed cultivators flying alongside the carriage quickly made them realize who it was. ¡°Beiyang Sword Guards, a fierce beast pulling the carriage! Could it be the young Prince has come?¡± ¡°What! The prince? You mean the famous son of the Sword Emperor?¡± ¡°Yes, the champion of Beiyang¡¯s Great Hunt, his reputation is widely known!¡± ¡°Wait, why would he travel all the way to our remote Qinglian Immortal Island?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know the young master also participated in the literary gathering? He must have been invited back by the Saintess!¡± ¡°That¡¯s great news, we¡¯re saved...¡± As the carriage landed, Lin Qi¡¯an stepped out, and the disciples immediately bowed. ¡°Greetings, Your Highness!¡± ¡°At ease.¡± Upon seeing the devastated state of Qinglian Immortal Island, even the maids couldn¡¯t help but shake their heads. What was once a serene paradise had been ravaged so severely. Lin Qi¡¯an, however, wasn¡¯t too surprised. Battles like this were happening all over the world; it was all too common. If you couldn¡¯t win, it was normal for sects to be wiped out! Take Tianjian City, for example. If not for its immense strength, it would have been destroyed hundreds of times over. As soon as Lu Miaoyin stepped out, someone immediately came forward to report. ¡°Saintess, the Jiao Dragon Clan caught us off guard, and they abducted nearly ten young girls from the sect!¡± ¡°What!¡± Upon hearing this, the Saintess, who usually maintained her composure, furrowed her brows in anger. Even children? Those girls were the future hope of the sect! ¡°This is vile! They even targeted children!¡± Zi Lianyou gritted her silver teeth in anger. ¡°If it were a normal battle, it would be understandable, but why kidnap young girls?¡± Ran Yuwei was puzzled. ¡°Perhaps... for some twisted pleasure, or to eat them?¡± Su Xueni suggested. They had eaten them?! The disciples of Qinglian Immortal Island were filled with shock and rage! At that moment, an elderly man with white hair rose into the sky. His voice, though old, was strong and thunderous, reverberating across the heavens. ¡°You¡¯ve gone too far.¡± His voice was calm, yet it carried an irresistible authority. It was the Ink Saint, Wang Yi! The savior of Qinglian Immortal Island. The disciples had been counting on the Saintess to bring him back for this very reason. ¡°So, the famous Ink Saint has appeared!¡± Jin Xu sneered. ¡°But you¡¯re from the Baiji Academy in the north. Why would you come all the way to meddle in the affairs of the west?¡± Clearly, they had anticipated the arrival of the Ink Saint. ¡°If I remember correctly, the academy does not involve itself in worldly matters. To intervene, you would have to completely sever ties with the academy.¡± ¡°The Ink Saint is a highly respected scholar of the academy! If you interfere, does that mean the Baiji Academy is ready to step into the world?¡± Wang Yi fell silent. He understood the implications of his actions. ¡°If you say yes, then in the future, no sect within the Dao Domain will respect the academy anymore.¡± The Baiji Academy remained uninvolved in worldly affairs, and thus, no one provoked them. But if that rule were broken, the academy would be dragged into conflicts like any other sect. Wang Yi knew he couldn¡¯t take action. He had hoped to intimidate the enemy, but it was clear that they had no intention of backing down. ¡°Besides, the Xiling Spirit Temple is aware of our conflict. Even they have not interfered, so why would you, Calligraphy Saint, involve yourself in this mess?¡± Jin Xu¡¯s words were carefully prepared. A mere scholar, burdened with responsibilities, was not to be feared. Wang Yi sighed. ¡°You harm innocent children and act no different from the demonic sects.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about us, old man. Just stay out of it.¡± Jin Xu¡¯s words were followed by laughter from the other Jiao Dragon Clan members. Wang Yi hesitated. He couldn¡¯t forsake the academy, so he had no choice but to retreat. ¡°Hahaha, the Ink Saint is nothing special after all.¡± ¡°Shh! Don¡¯t be so loud. We must show some respect, even if he¡¯s still here.¡± ¡°Just talking. We wouldn¡¯t actually attack anyone from the academy or break the rules.¡± ¡°Exactly. If they don¡¯t provoke us, we won¡¯t provoke them. The Ink Saint is showing great restraint!¡± Tears welled up in Lu Miaoyin¡¯s eyes. ¡°Master...¡± ¡°My hands are tied in this matter,¡± Wang Yi sighed, his face filled with guilt as he left. He had already gone to great lengths by coming here, and his final decision was for the sake of the academy. As the Ink Saint departed, despair filled the hearts of the Qinglian Immortal Island disciples. ¡°What are we going to do? We can¡¯t rely on the Xiling Spirit Temple, and the Calligraphy Saint can¡¯t help us either...¡± ¡°Do we really have to hand over ten more girls?¡± ¡°Those vile dragons, they deserve to die horribly...¡± Lu Miaoyin stood tall, holding her jade sword, her figure graceful yet resolute, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then we, Qinglian Immortal Island, will fight to the death. We will never compromise!¡± ¡°Alright, if the Saintess wants to fight, then we will stand by her to the end!¡± The sea breeze carried the tension in the air. The battle was about to erupt at any moment. Chapter 123 Chapter 123: Using Dragon Tendons as Rubber Bands ¨C Could Anyone Imagine This? Lin Qi¡¯an and his maids stood watching from the rear. ¡°Your Highness, what should we do? Should we help?¡± Ran Yuwei asked urgently. Her eagerness to assist was evident, but she didn¡¯t dare act on her own and awaited Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s decision. ¡°Xueni?,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an called. ¡°At your service,¡± Su Xueni responded softly, her moon-white dress dazzling in its elegance. ¡°It¡¯s time to test your strength. Go extract that man¡¯s dragon tendon for me.¡± ¡°Dragon... tendon?¡± Su Xueni paused briefly, realizing that removing the Jiao Dragon Clan member¡¯s dragon tendon would cripple his cultivation, a fate worse than death. Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s command remained as domineering as ever. ¡°Xueni? obeys!¡± As both sides were about to clash, Su Xueni flew into the sky, her white dress fluttering like an ethereal goddess. ¡°Is that Su Xueni?¡± The fact that the young prince¡¯s maid had made a move meant he wasn¡¯t going to stand by idly. Lu Miaoyin was overjoyed. However, Jin Xu had no idea who this woman was. The Jiao Dragon Clan had lived in the waters for so long that they paid little attention to human affairs, let alone matters involving the distant Tianchi Holy Land. ¡°Oh? Another fairy? It seems Qinglian Immortal Island may lack strength, but you sure have plenty of beauties!¡± Jin Xu sneered. Su Xueni did not respond and immediately launched her attack. A chilling wind howled through the air, and the temperature dropped sharply, even causing the surface of the sea to freeze. As the woman who had accompanied Lin Qi¡¯an the longest, Su Xueni had gained the most benefits from him. She possessed a Heaven-ranked ice cultivation technique, the Ice Qilin Essence Blood, and had even studied the Celestial Immortal Goddess Diagram, granting her profound insights. In terms of combat power, she was undoubtedly the strongest in Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s household. Facing opponents of the same realm, fighting across realms was no issue for her. With a wave of her jade-like palm, a frigid cold spread out, almost freezing Jin Xu midair. The ice spikes within the cold wind nearly cut through his hardened dragon scales. Only then did Jin Xu realize that this woman was no ordinary opponent. However, since only a single woman in the Spiritual Insight Realm had come forward, he didn¡¯t call for assistance. Naturally, he intended to defeat her on his own. ¡°Such skill, fairy. You¡¯d make a fine woman for me!¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Su Xueni¡¯s flawless face showed nothing but icy indifference. Her various ice-related divine abilities shimmered with dazzling light. The vast area of ten miles around her froze, and snowflakes danced in the air. ¡°This woman is incredibly strong!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t she the famed Saintess from Tianchi Holy Land?¡± ¡°She¡¯s so beautiful, but her strength is equally terrifying!¡± ¡°Are you joking? She¡¯s the Prince¡¯s woman!¡± Under Su Xueni¡¯s relentless pressure, Jin Xu finally couldn¡¯t hold out. He was frozen into an ice statue, unable to move. ¡°Did we win?¡± ¡°No, not yet!¡± Crack! The ice shattered into countless pieces, and a massive ten-zhang long Jiao Dragon burst free from the icy prison. Dark clouds gathered, and the sea surged violently. ¡°His true dragon form?¡± ¡°He¡¯s been forced back to his true form!¡± But upon thinking about it more, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. ¡°Understood!¡± Several subordinates carefully lifted the ten-zhang long dragon tendon and tied it between two trees outside. Their hearts were both nervous and excited. They couldn¡¯t help but feel that with the young master around, all the grievances they had endured in the past could now be avenged! ... At sea, about five hundred miles from Qinglian Immortal Island, stood a grand palace. This was where the Jiao Dragon Clan resided, reigning as the overlords of the surrounding waters. ¡°Report! Report!¡± Several clan members, looking panicked, fled while shouting. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why have only a few of you returned? Where¡¯s Jin Xu?¡± ¡°He... he had his dragon tendon extracted and was killed!¡± ¡°What?!¡± This news quickly spread throughout the Jiao Dragon Clan, igniting a furious uproar. The dragon tendon of a Jiao Dragon was incredibly valuable, used to craft various magical treasures. Having one¡¯s tendon extracted was the most humiliating experience imaginable, without question! What kind of guts did the people of Qinglian Immortal Island have to do something like this? ¡°Outrageous! Chief, let me lead a team to annihilate Qinglian Immortal Island!¡± The Jiao Dragon Divine Son, Yan Qing, stepped forward, volunteering for the mission. He was a rising star of his generation, the hope for the Jiao Dragon Clan¡¯s future, and an exceptional genius. At a young age, he had already reached the Celestial Realm and even gained a trace of Azure Dragon bloodline, earning the favor of an emissary from the Kui Dragon Clan. The Kui Dragon Clan, a true dragon lineage within the Dao Domain, was far nobler and more powerful than the Jiao Dragon Clan. They were a force to be reckoned with, even among the myriad races of the Dao Domain! This emissary had come to visit the Jiao Dragon Clan with the intention of taking Yan Qing to the Dao Domain, offering him the chance to become the disciple of a powerful Kui Dragon expert. It was an incredible opportunity, and the Jiao Dragon Clan had been doing everything possible to please this emissary. The invasion of Qinglian Immortal Island and the kidnapping of young girls were part of their efforts to entertain the emissary, who enjoyed the taste of human girls. They had originally intended to capture more girls this time, but Qinglian Immortal Island had overturned the table. ¡°Alright, Yan¡¯er, you personally lead the team this time and teach Qinglian Immortal Island a lesson. Remember to capture more human girls so we can better please the emissary.¡± ¡°Yes, father!¡± Yan Qing donned his silver armor, wielded a trident, and set out with his cloak billowing in the wind, his presence awe-inspiring. As he led a group of powerful Jiao Dragon Clan members, the sea churned violently, and schools of fish fled in terror. ... Outside Qinglian Immortal Island, led by Yan Qing, the Jiao Dragon Clan approached in full force, riding the waves with imposing momentum. Their arrival was nothing short of ominous. The towering waves and dark clouds overhead signaled their hostile intent. ¡°These foolish humans dared to take our dragon tendons and use them to craft magical treasures. They¡¯re courting death!¡± ¡°This time, we must severely cripple Qinglian Immortal Island!¡± ¡°We should capture more human women while we¡¯re at it, so they can bear children for the Jiao Dragon Clan, haha!¡± As they sailed, the members of the Jiao Dragon Clan exchanged crude remarks, eagerly anticipating their arrival. Before long, they reached Qinglian Immortal Island. ¡°Why aren¡¯t they showing any fear now that we¡¯ve arrived?¡± The Jiao Dragon members were puzzled. Normally, the area would be heavily guarded, but today it seemed abandoned. ¡°Haha, they must be scared!¡± ¡°Wait, what are those women doing down there?¡± They looked down and saw several women gleefully jumping up and down. Beneath their feet was a long, golden, elastic rope. ¡°Divine Son...¡± ¡°T-that¡¯s our Jiao Dragon¡¯s dragon tendon!!¡± Chapter 124 Chapter 124: Heaven¡¯s Sword Summons Thunder, Jiao Dragon Divine Son Defeated in an Instant! It was the tendon of a Jiao Dragon! These people didn¡¯t extract the dragon tendon to refine magical artifacts but were using it as a rope for jumping games?! ¡°Outrageous!!¡± Yan Qing roared, his voice shaking the heavens. In an instant, the terrifying aura of his Celestial Realm surged, accompanied by the majestic power of the Azure Dragon bloodline. Behind him, waves rose a hundred feet high! Meanwhile, the Island Lord and Lu Miaoyin, along with all of Qinglian Immortal Island¡¯s forces, had already gathered at the front. They knew that the Jiao Dragon Clan, in their fury, would inevitably come seeking revenge, so they had prepared in advance. ¡°Is that the Jiao Dragon Divine Son, Yan Qing?¡± ¡°Yes, the lucky one who obtained the ancient dragon bloodline!¡± ¡°Indeed, he¡¯s already in the Celestial Realm at such a young age.¡± ¡°He actually came in person... and with so many powerful experts. I fear today won¡¯t end well.¡± People whispered among themselves as Yan Qing appeared. Lin Qi¡¯an received a system notification. [Destined Child ¡°Yan Qing¡± Detected] Destined Child: Yan Qing Secret Treasure: Overturning Sea Trident Luck: 600 (Purple) Luck Core: Azure Dragon Bloodline Current Kill Reward: None Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s evaluation: A worthless Destined Child. The Azure Dragon bloodline was of no use to someone like him, who possessed the Ancestral Dragon bloodline. With this type of Destined Child, Lin Qi¡¯an could slowly diminish his luck for rewards if he was in the mood. If not, he could simply kill him without any hesitation. ... Yan Qing¡¯s thundering voice echoed across Qinglian Immortal Island. ¡°You dare extract the tendons of my Jiao Dragon Clan and play with them like this?!¡± ¡°And how do you justify slaughtering and harming ten innocent young girls?!¡± someone retorted loudly. ¡°Hmph, in sect conflicts, strength rules all. If you¡¯re weaker, being killed or tortured is your own fault.¡± ¡°Well said.¡± Lu Miaoyin responded calmly, ¡°In that case, having your dragon tendons extracted was your own doing, and you¡¯ve no one else to blame.¡± ¡°Good!¡± ¡°What courage from the Qinglian Saintess!¡± ¡°Whoever extracted the dragon tendon, come forth and face your death!¡± Yan Qing¡¯s roar spread across the entire Qinglian Immortal Island, as loud as thunder, and the force of his voice sent towering waves crashing against the shore. ¡°I¡¯ll give you ten breaths. For every breath you¡¯re late, I¡¯ll kill another person!¡± ... ¡°No need for ten breaths. It was me.¡± A stunningly beautiful woman in white, as graceful as a fairy, appeared in the sky. Her pristine white robes made her look like a goddess from the moon. For a moment, Yan Qing was mesmerized. He hadn¡¯t expected to find a woman here even more beautiful than the Qinglian Saintess! This Qinglian Immortal Island might be lacking in strength, but it certainly wasn¡¯t short on beautiful women. The nature of dragons was lustful by instinct. Yan Qing had tasted the flesh of countless human women, more than he could count, but such a peerless beauty was something he had never encountered. ¡°It was you who extracted the dragon tendon?¡± Yan Qing asked. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Yan Qing laughed, ¡°Such a powerful woman! I like you even more.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you an opportunity,¡± he declared arrogantly. ¡°You and the Qinglian Saintess, both of you can become my women. Hand over ten more girls, and perhaps I won¡¯t hold a grudge today.¡± He spoke as though he were offering Qinglian Immortal Island a great favor. However, the people of Qinglian Immortal Island merely sneered inwardly at his words. This fool dared to covet the Beiyang¡¯s prince woman? Even the crown prince of Tai¡¯an couldn¡¯t win her favor, and yet you think you can? Hah! There¡¯s bound to be a good show soon... Swords clashed with the trident, sparks flying. The sea beneath them erupted into towering waves, like a nuclear explosion in the water, shaking the heavens and earth. With the first exchange, Yan Qing¡¯s expression changed. The pressure from Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s three swords was like a mountain pressing down¡ªimpossible to resist directly! Crack! The Sacred Rank trident shattered into pieces. A Sacred Weapon, destroyed in the first round. Everyone was in shock. Yan Qing, too, was stunned. His hands were torn, blood spraying from his mouth. Like a cannonball, he was blasted into the sea, sending up a massive splash. ¡°Divine Son!¡± The Jiao Dragon Clan members were ashen-faced. Suddenly, a deep dragon roar erupted from the depths of the sea. ¡°Roar!¡± The water turned into a vortex as a hundred-meter-long Jiao Dragon broke through the surface, bringing with it a torrential downpour. This Jiao Dragon was different from ordinary ones; beneath its iron-hard scales shimmered a faint azure glow. It was the Azure Dragon bloodline! The overwhelming dragon aura forced many members of the Jiao Dragon Clan to bow in submission. ¡°The Divine Son has activated the power of the Azure Dragon bloodline!¡± ¡°So powerful...¡± The Azure Dragon, also known as the Green Dragon, was one of the four sacred beasts. Gaining its bloodline could allow even lowly Jiao Dragons to soar into prominence, their power increasing dramatically! This was why the Divine Son had earned the favor of the emissary from the Kui Dragon Clan. ¡°Tsunami Skyfall!¡± A three hundred-fifty-meter-high tsunami rose, and the countless whitewater waves condensed into hundreds of shimmering water spears. They shot toward Lin Qi¡¯an like arrows leaving a bowstring. Thousands of spears flew out, blotting the sky and shaking the heavens! Even from a distance, the scene filled onlookers with dread. Many thought the Beiyang Crown Prince was in for a fierce battle. But when it came to facing an opponent in the same realm, Lin Qi¡¯an didn¡¯t even bother using his dragon might. With ease, he recalled his three swords, which swirled around him defensively, shattering the incoming spears without any difficulty. Then, he raised his fourth sword¡ªThunderstrike! The sword glowed with dazzling lightning, blinding to behold. ¡°The Crown Prince is using four Sacred Weapons!¡± ¡°Is he crazy? Are Sacred Weapons so common for him?¡± ¡°Wait, what¡¯s happening?¡± The sky had already darkened with rolling clouds, and it seemed like thunder dragons were dancing within, ready to strike at any moment. Sensing the overwhelming destructive energy in the clouds, the surrounding cultivators grew fearful and shouted: ¡°Everyone, get away from the Crown Prince, protect yourselves!¡± ¡°Metal-elemental Tribulation Lightning.¡± Boom! The sky exploded with a deafening roar. A streak of golden lightning burst from the clouds, crashing down with the power to destroy everything. Suspended midair, Lin Qi¡¯an stood in his white robes, immaculate as ever, his sword guiding the heavenly thunder. The lightning struck. The clouds split apart! Space distorted! The sea churned wildly! The crowd collectively retreated in shock. Just the force of that single bolt caused countless hearts to quake, nearly making some cough up blood. Yan Qing was forced to confront it head-on. His dragon horns glowed as he braced himself against the thunder, trying to defy the heavens¡¯ might. ¡°The Crown Prince... summoned the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder?¡± ¡°Heavenly tribulation lightning cannot be blocked! Divine Son, retreat!¡± But the warning came too late. With an earth-shattering crack, the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder exploded, its power coursing through the dragon¡¯s body, ravaging it from within. Yan Qing¡¯s body, now scorched black, was gravely injured. The Purple Heaven Divine Thunder was far beyond what an ordinary person could endure. As Yan Qing¡¯s Jiao Dragon form fell into the sea, everyone knew the outcome. The Divine Son had been utterly defeated. In front of the Beiyang Crown Prince, he didn¡¯t even stood a chance! Chapter 125 Chapter 125: Su Xueni¡¯s Little Scheme ¨C Serving the Crown Prince During His Bath? The Jiao Dragon Divine Son, blessed with the Azure Dragon bloodline, was undoubtedly a heaven-sent prodigy. He was the hope of the Jiao Dragon Clan¡¯s future, destined to become a great power in the world. Moreover, he had caught the attention of major clans in the Dao Domain, and his potential seemed limitless. Given time, he was certain to rise to prominence. Yet, in front of the Beiyang Crown Prince, such a genius was nothing more than a helpless puppet! He had no ability to resist at all... The sheer contrast left the Jiao Dragon Clan members feeling utterly unreal, each one frozen in place, mouths agape. Yan Qing, knowing he couldn¡¯t match Lin Qi¡¯an, was overwhelmed with fear. His only thought was to dive into the water and flee¡ªescaping was the only way to protect his dragon tendon! ¡°Running? A bit too late for that.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an casually waved his hand, sending the Nine Yang Divine Sword and Seven Stars Dragon Spring Sword flying like streaks of red and white light. Squelch! The Jiao Dragon¡¯s head and tail were pierced through. The dragon scales, once as hard as steel, were like fragile paper in the face of Sacred Rank weapons. The entire dragon was skewered like a grilled squid! Standing atop the Jiao Dragon¡¯s body, Lin Qi¡¯an clenched his fist in mid-air and forcibly extracted the dragon tendon in one swift motion! ¡°Ahhh!!!¡± The Jiao Dragon Divine Son, covered in blood, screamed in excruciating pain. Losing his dragon tendon meant falling from the heavens, becoming a complete cripple. Behind him, the Jiao Dragon Clan members were filled with both rage and sorrow, their fists clenched, veins bulging, their eyes burning with fury. Yan Qing, the hope of the Jiao Dragon Clan, had been crippled by Lin Qi¡¯an just like that. How could they not be enraged? They wanted nothing more than to tear Lin Qi¡¯an apart! But on the surface, none dared to show it. The sheer power of the Beiyang Crown Prince was something they could not contend with. ¡°What do we do?¡± someone asked, their voice trembling. ¡°What else can we do? We need to bring the Divine Son back for treatment!¡± ¡°And the Beiyang Crown Prince?¡± ¡°That¡¯s beyond us. We¡¯ll have to report this to Xiling Temple!¡± A senior member of the Jiao Dragon Clan spoke with a grim face, gritting his teeth. ¡°I don¡¯t believe he can stay here forever! Once he leaves, we¡¯ll come back and destroy Qinglian Immortal Island!¡± ¡°Retreat!¡± ¡°Quick, report this to the clan leader and the envoy!¡± The Jiao Dragon Clan retreated, the tsunamis and dark clouds receding with them. Their once grand army slunk away in defeat. Watching this, the entire Qinglian Immortal Island was awestruck by Lin Qi¡¯an. One man had sent the ferocious Jiao Dragon Clan packing, something they could hardly believe even with their own eyes. ¡°The Crown Prince is incredibly powerful... Is he really only in his twenties?¡± ¡°He¡¯s practically the strongest genius in the entire Canglan Dao Domain. Even the Tai¡¯an princess can¡¯t compare. Don¡¯t judge him by ordinary standards.¡± ¡°When the Crown Prince was in the Spiritual Insight Realm, he could already kill those in the Celestial Realm. Defeating someone in the same realm is now a trivial matter.¡± ¡°Thank goodness the Saintess brought the Crown Prince. Otherwise, Qinglian Immortal Island would have been doomed.¡± As Lin Qi¡¯an extracted the dragon tendon, he heard the system notification. [Ding! Destined Child ¡°Yan Qing¡± has been crippled. Luck Value -200. Host Villain Points +2000]. Curiously, despite Yan Qing being crippled, he still had hundreds of Luck Points left. It seemed he still had some potential for a comeback. Lin Qi¡¯an decided to keep an eye on him¡ªafter all, with the Heavenly Fated Villain Divine Eyes, he could monitor Yan Qing¡¯s every move. As Lin Qi¡¯an returned, the Island Lord and many others immediately stepped forward to offer their endless gratitude, nearly ready to kneel at his feet. ¡°It was...¡± The subordinate hesitated, but before he could finish, the clan leader grabbed him by the collar and lifted him into the air. ¡°Speak!¡± ¡°It was the Beiyang Crown Prince, Lin Qi¡¯an...¡± ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an... the son of the Sword Emperor?¡± At the mention of this name, the overwhelming fury of the clan leader visibly deflated. It was as if a raging inferno had suddenly been doused with cold water. ¡°Beiyang Crown Prince... how arrogant, to extend his hand all the way into the Western Seas!¡± The clan leader¡¯s eyes flickered, his voice turning cold. ¡°Quickly, take Yan¡¯er away for treatment. Don¡¯t inform the emissary just yet. Try to keep this under wraps!¡± He feared that if the emissary learned of Yan Qing¡¯s condition, he would abandon Yan Qing entirely. ¡°Clan Leader, what do we do now?¡± ¡°What do we do? I¡¯ll go to Xiling Temple myself. Quickly, prepare heavenly materials, spirit pearls, and treasures!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The Beiyang Crown Prince had brought his dominance to the Western Seas, but would Xiling Temple, the overlord of this area, stand by idly? After all, the Temple¡¯s Master was an Emperor, famed for his ferocity and love of battle! ... Nightfall. Qinglian Immortal Island. The past few days had been much quieter on the island. Perhaps the Jiao Dragon Clan had been intimidated by the presence of the Crown Prince, and thus didn¡¯t dare to stir up trouble. At this moment, Su Xueni was preparing to head to Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s chambers to serve him during his bath. However, just as she reached the courtyard, she ran into Lu Miaoyin, who was pacing back and forth with a troubled look on her face. Lu Miaoyin was also a stunning beauty, with skin like jade and an aura of elegance. The delicate curve of her collarbone, peeking from beneath her white dress, was particularly alluring. However, Su Xueni couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®She¡¯s still two points behind me in beauty.¡¯ ¡°Sister Xueni!¡± Lu Miaoyin hurriedly approached. Su Xueni smiled warmly and asked, ¡°It¡¯s late, Sister Miaoyin. Do you need something?¡± ¡°I...¡± Lu Miaoyin hesitated. For the past few days, she had been discussing with the Island Lord how to properly thank the Crown Prince for his help. However, no matter how hard they thought about it, Qinglian Immortal Island had nothing that could catch the Crown Prince¡¯s eye. Nothing seemed valuable enough to offer. The only thing that could be worthy was Lu Miaoyin herself, the island¡¯s unparalleled beauty. Naturally, the Island Lord fully supported this idea. If Lu Miaoyin could catch the Crown Prince¡¯s attention, their future would be secure. After much internal struggle, Lu Miaoyin decided to approach Su Xueni for advice, believing that since she had been with the Crown Prince for so long, she would have the most experience. ¡°Sister Xueni, that¡¯s the situation... We want to repay the Crown Prince for his kindness, but we don¡¯t know how. Do you know what he likes?¡± Hearing this, a sly smile appeared on Su Xueni¡¯s face, ¡°There¡¯s an excellent opportunity right now. I can tell you, but remember, if the Crown Prince favors you in the future, you mustn¡¯t forget me.¡± Su Xueni was a schemer at heart. She was always cultivating her influence to solidify her position as the principal consort. As Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s harem continued to grow, Su Xueni knew that only by holding onto her authority would she remain secure. ¡°Of course!¡± Lu Miaoyin agreed, nodding eagerly. ¡°I¡¯m about to go serve the Crown Prince during his bath. If you wish, I can let you take this rare chance to get close to him.¡± ¡°Serve... him... during his bath?¡± Lu Miaoyin¡¯s face turned bright red. Chapter 126 Chapter 126: The Crown Prince¡¯s Peculiar Habits¡ªBathing Assistance?! Bathing! Hearing the word alone made Lu Miaoyin blush furiously. Just the thought of it made her feel embarrassed. She had never even held a man¡¯s hand before! In reality, Lu Miaoyin was not an ordinary human; she was a lotus spirit, pure and untouched. After she transformed into a human form, she had always lived on Qinglian Immortal Island. Her only passion was poetry, and due to her exceptional talent in cultivation, she eventually became the Qinglian Saintess. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t want to?¡± Su Xueni asked with a teasing smile. ¡°I... I do want to,¡± Lu Miaoyin replied, though still flustered. She was simply shy. These were things she had never even imagined before, let alone experienced. ¡°If you really don¡¯t want to, that¡¯s fine too. This kind of opportunity is something others would beg for.¡± ¡°No... Thank you, Sister Xueni. I¡¯ll always remember your kindness!¡± Lu Miaoyin quickly responded, determined to seize the chance. ¡°Good,¡± Su Xueni smiled. This girl was smart after all, truly a cultured person. Unlike that brash Zi Lianyou, who was all brawn and no brain, constantly needing reminders to know her place. Knock, knock! With a mixture of anxiety and excitement, Lu Miaoyin knocked on the door to Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s chamber. ¡°Crown Prince, Miaoyin seeks an audience.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Lu Miaoyin entered, and the candlelight flickered across her flushed, delicate face. ¡°Crown Prince, Sister Xueni said she wasn¡¯t feeling well, so she asked me to serve you during your bath,¡± she said, her voice trembling slightly, so much so that she nearly bit her lip from the embarrassment.@@@@ Lin Qi¡¯an chuckled, knowing that Su Xueni had surely set her up to come. ¡°So the Saintess is willing to be put through this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not unwilling...¡± Lu Miaoyin quickly replied. She hurriedly instructed two maids to bring in hot water, sprinkled with fragrant flower petals, and added a special body-cleansing liquid to the bath. After setting everything up, she dismissed the maids, closed the door gently, and said softly, ¡°Please, Your Highness...¡± Lin Qi¡¯an stepped into the bath, and Lu Miaoyin began to massage and scrub his back, following the usual steps. Though her technique was clumsy, the soft touch of her hands was undeniably pleasant. There was a certain charm to the awkwardness, enhanced by her innate beauty, like a buff of attraction. Lin Qi¡¯an couldn¡¯t help but think of the protagonists in those stories, constantly trying to win over women, often humiliated by the woman¡¯s powerful backers, having to go through endless hardships before finally winning her heart. And here he was¡ªstanding still, and the Saintess was offering herself up without any effort on his part. This is the life! As time passed, Lu Miaoyin gradually grew accustomed to her task. She no longer kept her head down in embarrassment and even mustered the courage to glance at the Crown Prince¡¯s muscular physique. ¡°Your Highness, I have a request,¡± she said shyly. ¡°Speak freely,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an replied. Is she really this shy? With a sigh, Lin Qi¡¯an stood up, picked up the lotus flower that was now Lu Miaoyin, and placed it gently into his tea cup. He decided to leave her be for the time being. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll go sleep in Su Xueni¡¯s room tonight,¡± he thought casually as he walked out of the room. After Lin Qi¡¯an left, Lu Miaoyin stayed in the tea cup for nearly two hours. By the time she finally reverted to her human form, the tea had taken on a sweet lotus fragrance. She quickly and quietly slipped out of the room, too embarrassed to let anyone see her. ... The next morning, Lu Miaoyin was already waiting outside Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s door at the break of dawn. She wasn¡¯t there for any other reason than to apologize for her awkward behavior the previous night. She feared that her poor performance had displeased the Crown Prince. Before long, Lin Qi¡¯an returned, stretching and yawning contentedly. ¡®Ah, Su Xueni really is perfect in every way,¡¯ he thought. ¡°What¡¯s this? Why are you waiting here so early?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked with a teasing smile when he spotted Lu Miaoyin. ¡°Last night... I was disrespectful. Please forgive me, Your Highness,¡± Lu Miaoyin said, bowing her head in embarrassment. ¡°Haha, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not that petty.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an, feeling a bit sorry for teasing her, added with a grin, ¡°There¡¯s no need to overthink it. Your secret is safe with me.¡± Lu Miaoyin couldn¡¯t help but be touched. The Crown Prince was not only understanding but also held no prejudice against her. How could there be another man like him in the world? ¡°As an apology, I¡¯ll stay by Your Highness¡¯s side today, ready to serve at any moment.¡± ¡°Suit yourself,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an chuckled, shaking his head with a smile. As he stepped into the room, his eyes fell on the tea cup from the night before, still sitting on the table. He remembered that Lu Miaoyin had been in that very cup. Out of curiosity, he picked it up and took a sniff, immediately noticing the fresh, delicate scent of lotus blossoms. ¡°Your Highness!¡± Lu Miaoyin¡¯s face turned beet red, stammering as she tried to stop him. ¡°That water... that water is¡ª¡± But before she could finish, Lin Qi¡¯an had already taken a sip. Instantly, her face flushed like a ripe apple, the redness creeping all the way up to her ears. ¡®That was the water I soaked in for two whole hours! And now the Crown Prince had just drank it?!¡¯ ¡°To be honest, it tastes surprisingly good,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said, amused by the situation. He couldn¡¯t help but let a playful smile creep across his face. This ¡°lotus tea¡± was unexpectedly delightful! Without a second thought, he took another sip, savoring the refreshing flavor that seemed to spread through his entire body, rejuvenating him like a breeze of spring air. ¡°Your Highness...¡± Lu Miaoyin could barely speak, her voice as soft as a whisper. She could never have imagined that the Crown Prince would have such... peculiar tastes. But deep down, she felt a strange sense of joy. Through this odd twist of fate, she had discovered something that the Crown Prince liked. At least now, she didn¡¯t feel entirely worthless. ¡°If... if Your Highness likes it, I could...¡± she stammered, her face still glowing with embarrassment. ¡°I could prepare tea like this for you more often.¡± ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s actually a pretty good idea,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an agreed with a smile. He couldn¡¯t help but think about the typical protagonists in those stories¡ªso proper, so gentlemanly with their female leads, always treating them with the utmost care and respect, trying to win their affection. ¡¯Where¡¯s the fun in that?¡¯ Lin Qi¡¯an thought, thoroughly enjoying his role as a villain. Chapter 127 Chapter 127: The Xiling Spirit Temple Sends Envoys¡ªThe Crown Prince Gives No Face? The Xiling Spirit Temple was the dominant force in the Western Domain, much like Tianjian City was in Beiyang, the unrivaled leader. All sects and holy lands within the Western Domain were under its jurisdiction. Previously, Qinglian Immortal Island had sought aid from the Xiling Spirit Temple, only to be turned away. This time, however, the one seeking help was the Jiao Dragon Clan Leader. ¡°That Beiyang Crown Prince dared to cause trouble in the Western Seas!¡± the Jiao Dragon Clan Leader roared in frustration. ¡°He extracted Yan¡¯er¡¯s dragon tendon! Although I am not his biological father, I raised him as my own. Seeing him reduced to a weak cripple is heartbreaking!¡± The one listening to this grievance was Yue Lin, the Right Envoy of the Xiling Spirit Temple. Although Yue Lin¡¯s cultivation wasn¡¯t as high as the Jiao Dragon Clan Leader¡¯s, his position within the temple afforded him considerable authority. The clan leader knew well that even a lower-ranking official in the Xiling Spirit Temple outranked him significantly. ¡°Beiyang Crown Prince Lin Qi¡¯an? Hmph, that infamous playboy who collects women everywhere, and now he¡¯s stirring up trouble in the Western Seas?¡± Yue Lin¡¯s tone was filled with disdain at the mention of Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s name. ¡°I¡¯ll help you report this matter, but this is no small issue...¡± Yue Lin trailed off meaningfully. ¡°I understand!¡± The Jiao Dragon Clan Leader immediately produced two storage rings. ¡°This is a token of our clan¡¯s appreciation. One ring contains gifts for the Xiling Spirit Temple, and the other is especially for you, Lord Yue.¡± ¡°Smart move.¡± Having accepted the gifts, Yue Lin naturally had to see the matter through. It wasn¡¯t long before the complaint was brought to the attention of one of the temple¡¯s higher-ranking Divine Envoys. However, the response was unexpected. ¡°We cannot provoke the Beiyang Crown Prince!¡± The Divine Envoy sternly rejected the idea of confronting Lin Qi¡¯an. He even issued a warning: Do not stir up trouble with Lin Qi¡¯an.¡± If any other sect or power were causing trouble in the Western Domain, the Xiling Spirit Temple could crush them without hesitation. But Lin Qi¡¯an was a different matter entirely. The Sword Emperor¡¯s reputation and the strength of Tianjian City were not things anyone could afford to take lightly. Moreover, Lin Qi¡¯an had recently garnered worldwide fame at the Beiyang Grand Hunt and Literary Assembly, where he had made a name for himself. Confronting him would be unwise. For the Jiao Dragon Clan Leader, this refusal was like a bolt from the blue. Desperate, he revealed his final card. ¡°In truth, our Jiao Dragon Clan currently has a guest from the Dao Domain¡ªa member of the Kui Dragon Clan!¡± the Jiao Dragon Clan Leader explained. ¡°This guest had his eye on Yan¡¯er and intended to take him to the Dao Domain. But now, thanks to Lin Qi¡¯an, that opportunity has been destroyed! If we don¡¯t seek justice, I can tolerate it, but the Kui Dragon Clan surely won¡¯t!¡± The Dao Domain was a realm of immense power, far beyond the Canglan Dao Domain, like a single leaf on a vast tree. The Kui Dragon Clan, in particular, was a major clan in the Dao Domain, with even emperors among its ranks. They were not to be trifled with. ¡°The Kui Dragon Clan has many ties to the Xiling Spirit Temple...¡± The Divine Envoy hesitated. ¡°While we can¡¯t afford to provoke the Beiyang Crown Prince, we can¡¯t ignore the Kui Dragon Clan either. This is indeed a tricky situation!¡± In the end, the Divine Envoy decided to dispatch Yue Lin to deliver gifts to Lin Qi¡¯an and persuade him to leave peacefully. This way, the temple would give Lin Qi¡¯an sufficient face. After Lin Qi¡¯an leaves, the Kui Dragon Clan could vent their anger on Qinglian Immortal Island. If Qinglian Immortal Island suffered as a result, it would be a perfect solution. ¡°Lord Yue, what about Yan¡¯er¡¯s revenge?¡± the Jiao Dragon Clan Leader asked. ¡°Revenge? Are you out of your mind? Do you dare lay a finger on the Beiyang Crown Prince? Remember Prince Nanyue? His son tried, and look how that turned out!¡± The battle in the Nanyue Secret Realm, where Lin Qi¡¯an single-handedly suppressed numerous sects and issued his Sword Decree, had sent shockwaves across the world. The Xiling Spirit Temple had not forgotten. While the temple was more powerful than Nanyue, it still could not afford to anger Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡°Settle your grievances with Qinglian Immortal Island,¡± Yue Lin advised. ¡°You can claim that the Jiao Dragon Divine Son was injured by the people of Qinglian Immortal Island.¡± Everything was carefully arranged. But the Jiao Dragon Clan Leader hesitated. ¡°What if the Beiyang Crown Prince refuses to leave after we ask him nicely?¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± Yue Lin said confidently. ¡°We¡¯ll offer him enough face by sending representatives from the Xiling Spirit Temple. If he refuses, it would mean he¡¯s disrespecting us, and that would be his own problem.¡± ... For the past few days, Lin Qi¡¯an had been enjoying a leisurely time on Qinglian Immortal Island. ¡°Your Highness... I wasn¡¯t...¡± Su Xueni¡¯s cheeks flushed bright red as she shot him a playful glare. Zi Lianyou, meanwhile, couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ... Back in the grand hall, Yue Lin was growing increasingly impatient. Why hasn¡¯t he shown up yet? Despite the terrible tea, Yue Lin had already downed five cups. The Island Lord glanced at Lu Miaoyin, seeking an explanation, but she could only shake her head. She had no idea what Lin Qi¡¯an was up to. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t the Crown Prince arrived yet?¡± Yue Lin demanded, his temper flaring. ¡°I-I don¡¯t know...¡± At that moment, Zi Lianyou entered the room. ¡°His Highness has instructed me to inform you that he is feeling unwell and will meet with you tomorrow instead.¡± With that, she quickly turned and left before anyone could respond. Bang! Yue Lin slammed his hand on the table, leaving a visible palm print. ¡°Hmph! Lin Qi¡¯an certainly knows how to act high and mighty. How dare he disrespect the Xiling Spirit Temple like this!¡± The people of Qinglian Immortal Island were speechless. Not in a million years would they dare to do something like this. Only the Beiyang Crown Prince had the gall to pull such stunts. ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll wait until tomorrow!¡± Yue Lin seethed, his fists clenched in frustration. Despite his anger, there was little he could do. After all, he couldn¡¯t confront Lin Qi¡¯an head-on, so he had no choice but to swallow his pride and comply. ... The next day, Yue Lin returned to the grand hall, his face even darker than before. He sat with one foot propped up on a chair, his expression stormy. It was clear to everyone present that he was seething with rage. As a representative of the Xiling Spirit Temple¡ªthe most powerful force in the Western Domain¡ªhe was used to being treated with the utmost respect wherever he went. Yet here, he was being forced to endure this indignity! The members of Qinglian Immortal Island stood around him, barely daring to breathe. ¡°His Highness has arrived!¡± A voice called out from outside the hall, and soon after, Lin Qi¡¯an, clad in pristine white robes and surrounded by his stunning maids, strolled into the grand hall. The moment Yue Lin saw Lin Qi¡¯an approaching, his anger evaporated. He quickly dropped any signs of temper and greeted him with a smile. ¡°Yue Lin of the Xiling Spirit Temple greets the Beiyang Crown Prince!¡± Yue Lin said, bowing respectfully. Lin Qi¡¯an didn¡¯t even acknowledge him. He walked straight to the center of the hall and casually took the highest seat. The highest seat, traditionally reserved for the person of the most authority, was taken without a second thought by Lin Qi¡¯an. Sitting comfortably, Lin Qi¡¯an glanced at the cup of tea on the table. He frowned slightly. ¡°Qinglian Saintess, your hand-grown tea isn¡¯t something just anyone can drink. Remember that.¡± Lu Miaoyin, initially startled by his words, quickly nodded and responded, ¡°Yes, Your Highness. I¡¯ll prepare a fresh cup for you immediately.¡± Yue Lin was left standing there, completely ignored. He had thought that invoking the name of the Xiling Spirit Temple would intimidate Lin Qi¡¯an, but to his shock, Lin Qi¡¯an acted as though he didn¡¯t exist! Frustration built up in his chest as he stood awkwardly, feeling utterly humiliated. Chapter 128 Chapter 128: Lin Qi¡¯an Turns Hostile¡ªAre You Teaching Me How to Act? Lin Qi¡¯an leisurely finished his tea before finally glancing at the Right Envoy, Yue Lin, with a nonchalant look. He spoke lazily, ¡°So, tell me, what does the Xiling Spirit Temple want with me?¡± Finally, the critical moment had arrived! The hearts of everyone on Qinglian Immortal Island, including the Island Lord and the Saintess, began pounding in their chests as they held their breath, listening intently. ¡°Your Highness, I come representing the Xiling Spirit Temple to pay my respects. These humble gifts are for you,¡± Yue Lin said, forcing a smile as he began to pull items from his storage ring. ¡°This is a Tianshan Snow Lotus, a rare treasure that blooms once every hundred years. It contains immense cold energy and can aid in cultivating ice-related divine abilities.¡± Hearing this, Su Xueni¡¯s eyes sparkled. That was a fantastic treasure! ¡°The second gift is a spirit beast nurtured by the Xiling Spirit Temple, called the Hundred-Song Phoenix Bird. It is said to carry a trace of the ancient divine phoenix¡¯s bloodline and is incredibly rare.¡± Yue Lin produced a cage containing a small, golden-feathered bird that looked extremely cute and lively. Ran Yuwei practically melted on the spot, her eyes lighting up with desire. She could hardly resist the urge to reach out and pet the bird. ¡°The third item is this.¡± Yue Lin retrieved a black sandalwood box, opening it to reveal an elegant dress. ¡°This is a Flowing Cloud Rainbow Skirt, woven from celestial threads. It changes colors with the weather, and at sunset, it¡¯s said to be breathtakingly beautiful.¡± As expected, Zi Lianyou bit her lip, barely containing her excitement. She liked it so much that she was almost ready to shout it out. However, they all knew these gifts were meant to bribe the Crown Prince, not for their personal indulgence. Lin Qi¡¯an wasn¡¯t going to accept them. It was a shame, but the bigger picture was more important, and they couldn¡¯t disturb the Crown Prince¡¯s plans. Yue Lin, on the other hand, was inwardly feeling the pain. The Xiling Spirit Temple had spared no expense to bribe Lin Qi¡¯an. They knew that ordinary items wouldn¡¯t interest him, so they decided to flatter his maids instead. That way, Lin Qi¡¯an might be swayed by their affections. ¡°Is the Crown Prince satisfied with these gifts?¡± Yue Lin asked, forcing another smile. ¡°Nothing comes without a reason. So, what¡¯s the issue you¡¯re here for?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an wasn¡¯t interested in judging the gifts. He wanted to get to the point. ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll be frank,¡± Yue Lin began, dropping all pretense. ¡°The Xiling Spirit Temple requests that Your Highness leave Qinglian Immortal Island and not get involved in these petty conflicts.¡± ¡°The incident with the Jiao Dragon Divine Son¡¯s tendon being extracted... The Jiao Dragon Clan has said they won¡¯t pursue the matter any further.¡± The moment those words left Yue Lin¡¯s mouth, Lu Miaoyin¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, and the Island Lord¡¯s face immediately darkened. No one had expected that the extravagant gifts were simply meant to convince the Crown Prince to leave! If Lin Qi¡¯an truly left, the Jiao Dragon Clan¡¯s wrath would fall entirely upon Qinglian Immortal Island. That would spell disaster for the island, which would be defenseless against the Jiao Dragons. But no one had the right to persuade Lin Qi¡¯an to stay. Qinglian Immortal Island couldn¡¯t offer gifts of such value, nor did they have the background to compete with the Xiling Spirit Temple. The choice was clear¡ªany reasonable person would side with the temple. After all, they had shown ample respect and sincerity. Ah... Xueni, take the gifts,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said with a smile. To be so brazen as to openly defy the Xiling Spirit Temple, and even insult them after accepting their gifts, was unheard of. Yet the Crown Prince did so with an air of absolute confidence. Amid the shock, there was an undercurrent of excitement. The people of Qinglian Immortal Island were filled with admiration and gratitude for Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s stance. The Crown Prince had kept his word¡ªhe would bear all consequences, even if the Xiling Spirit Temple got involved. Lu Miaoyin¡¯s heart swelled with gratitude. Her eyes sparkled with a growing affection for the Crown Prince, who was not only handsome but also protective. Being under his protection felt so safe. Ran Yuwei, after a brief moment of surprise, burst into a broad smile, her heart brimming with joy. She adored Lin Qi¡¯an even more now. How could any woman not fall for such a charming and charismatic man? Finally, Yue Lin could no longer suppress his anger. His voice rose in fury as he spoke each word deliberately, ¡°It seems that the Beiyang Crown Prince... has no regard for the Xiling Spirit Temple at all!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an couldn¡¯t help but laugh at that, a low, mocking laugh. Suddenly, he slammed the jade cup in his hand onto the floor, shattering it into pieces. Crash! The sound echoed through the hall as the cup broke into fragments. Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s voice rose with a commanding presence, reverberating through the room, ¡°Is it that I have no regard for the Xiling Spirit Temple? Or is it that your Xiling Spirit Temple has no regard for Tianjian City!¡± The weight of those words crushed the air in the room, as if the mere mention of Tianjian City could suffocate anyone. The Dragon¡¯s Might subtly emanating from Lin Qi¡¯an made everyone¡¯s hearts tremble, and no one dared to meet his gaze. ¡°A mere Right Envoy comes here, brings a few scraps, and thinks he can tell me what to do? If the Xiling Spirit Emperor himself had come, I might have given him some face.¡± ¡°But who do you think you are? Get out!¡± The final word, delivered with Dragon¡¯s Might, hit Yue Lin like a hammer. He stumbled backward several steps and fell to one knee, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. With just a single shout, the Crown Prince had inflicted internal injuries on a fellow ¡®Cestial Realm¡¯ expert! Everyone was shocked into silence, fully realizing the terrifying extent of the Crown Prince¡¯s power. The people of Qinglian Immortal Island, who had been cautiously polite to Yue Lin out of fear, were now filled with a sense of satisfaction. This Right Envoy, who had insulted them and acted so high and mighty, was nothing more than a powerless figure before Lin Qi¡¯an. The three maids were overjoyed¡ªnot only did they get to keep the treasures, but they had also successfully rejected the Xiling Spirit Temple¡¯s demands. It was a win-win! At this point, Yue Lin finally understood that Lin Qi¡¯an was an immovable force, a hard bone to chew. He sighed, deciding to reveal the truth. ¡°Your Highness, do you even know why the Xiling Spirit Temple sent me here? It wasn¡¯t just about the Jiao Dragon Clan.¡± His words confused the crowd. If not for the Jiao Dragon Clan, then why? ¡°The Jiao Dragon Clan has a guest from the Dao Domain¡ªa member of the Kui Dragon Clan.¡± ¡°The Jiao Dragon Divine Son you injured is someone that the Kui Dragon Clan had taken an interest in! If you¡¯ve offended them, it will cause major trouble for you.¡± ¡°The Xiling Spirit Temple simply wanted to prevent this from escalating. I advise Your Highness to consider this carefully.¡± An external clan from the Dao Domain? Everyone exchanged uncertain glances. If this was true, the implications were far more severe than they had initially thought. Chapter 129 Chapter 129: Killing the Right Envoy with a Single Finger¡ªThe Crown Prince¡¯s Might! In terms of race, there are two broad categories: Human and Myriad Tribes. The human race is the most numerous, with the highest number of cultivators and powerful figures, and thus stands as its own major category. The Myriad Tribes, on the other hand, include races like the Jiao Dragon Clan, White Tiger Clan, Heavenly Fox Clan, Soaring Serpent Clan, and many more. In the Heavenly Dao Domain, the power of the Myriad Tribes surpasses that of humans. Among them, the Kui Dragon Clan stands out due to its lineage, carrying the True Dragon Bloodline. After hearing the full story, everyone finally understood the situation. It all started when the Kui Dragon Clan¡¯s envoy, visiting from the Heavenly Dao Domain, took a liking to the Jiao Dragon Divine Son, Yan Qing, and decided to take him back to make him a personal disciple of one of their great elders. Overjoyed by this news, the Jiao Dragon Clan, eager to please the envoy, began capturing young girls from Qinglian Immortal Island as local ¡°specialties¡± to offer as gifts. But they hadn¡¯t anticipated Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s arrival, who had crippled the Jiao Dragon Divine Son. Now, the Xiling Spirit Temple sought a way to smooth things over, aiming to avoid offending both the Kui Dragon Clan and the Beiyang Crown Prince. ¡°So, your solution is to blame everything on Qinglian Immortal Island and let them bear the consequences?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked calmly. ¡°Your Highness, you must understand that in this world, the weak becoming cannon fodder is common. This is to avoid angering a far more powerful foe,¡± Yue Lin responded, his tone righteous. The people of Qinglian Immortal Island were both furious and terrified. They had been the most innocent party throughout this ordeal, yet now they were to be sacrificed to quell the wrath of the powerful! Still, they dared not voice their anger. They had neither the strength nor the backing to resist the likes of the Xiling Spirit Temple or the Kui Dragon Clan. Surviving in this world of the strong devouring the weak was exceedingly difficult without a protector. Lin Qi¡¯an remained calm. ¡°I¡¯m curious about something,¡± he said. ¡°How much profit does your Xiling Spirit Temple have tied to the Kui Dragon Clan? Your fear stems from the fact that this happened in the Western Sea, and you¡¯re afraid that your interests will suffer if they retaliate.¡± Yue Lin couldn¡¯t respond. Cold sweat trickled down his back because Lin Qi¡¯an had hit the nail on the head. The treasures produced in the Western Sea¡ªrare marine gems, pearls, and spirit fish¡ªwere all traded with external domains. The Kui Dragon Clan was one of their biggest customers. If that trade were to cease, the Xiling Spirit Temple would lose a significant portion of its revenue. In modern terms, their GDP would take a massive hit. In comparison, sacrificing Qinglian Immortal Island was a small price to pay. ¡°Alright, I take back what I said earlier,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an suddenly announced. Everyone was shocked, especially Yue Lin, who wiped the blood from his mouth and forced a smile, clasping his hands in respect. ¡°I knew Your Highness would see reason. The Xiling Spirit Temple will definitely express its gratitude to Tianjian City soon.¡± Internally, though, Yue Lin sneered, You arrogant brat, flaunting your father¡¯s name to act like a tyrant. Do you think we¡¯re really giving you any face? ¡°You may have misunderstood again,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an interrupted. ¡°Earlier, I said if the Xiling Spirit Emperor himself came, I might give him some face. I take that back.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an stood up, and in front of everyone¡¯s stunned gazes, he shouted, ¡°To curry favor with the Myriad Tribes, you¡¯re willing to sacrifice your fellow humans. If the Xiling Spirit Temple is full of such dogs, no matter how many come, I¡¯ll kill every last one!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Qi¡¯an extended a single finger. A boundless surge of sword energy instantly filled the grand hall. Winds howled, utensils shattered, and wooden tables splintered under the force. The sharp aura seemed ready to pierce the heavens, forcing everyone to instinctively activate their spirit energy to protect themselves as they scrambled backward. Heavenly Sword Finger! The air twisted as thousands of strands of spirit energy coalesced into an invisible sword, piercing straight through Yue Lin¡¯s forehead! In an instant, Yue Lin felt a torrent of powerful energy rampage through his body, tearing apart his limbs and internal organs. His pupils dimmed, and he collapsed backward. Dead. The high and mighty Right Envoy of the Xiling Spirit Temple, who had brought a trove of valuable gifts, was killed by Lin Qi¡¯an on the spot. No one had dared to imagine such a turn of events, yet here it was, unfolding right before their eyes. The shock rippled through everyone, and soon it broke out in a unified cry: ¡°The Crown Prince is mighty!¡± His fearlessness in the face of the Myriad Tribes and his unwavering stance to protect his fellow humans was a grand display of righteousness. It filled everyone present with admiration and respect. ¡°How do they plan to kill him? He has a powerful protector with him!¡± Yan Qing spat. ¡°The answer is to lure him in.¡± ¡°But Lord Kui may not be willing to get involved...¡± Yan Qing hesitated. ¡°Then we shall provoke him!¡± The Jiao Dragon Clan¡¯s leader and Yan Qing entered a deep, foreboding dragon cave, where Kui Zong resided. Though Kui Zong¡¯s cultivation was only at the Dao Transformation Realm, his backing was immense, and thus he had to be treated with utmost respect. The floor of the cave was littered with tiny white bones, remnants of the human girls that Kui Zong had devoured. ¡°Lord Kui!¡± the Jiao Dragon Clan leader called out. ¡°Did I not tell you to bring me more girls? Where are they?!¡± Kui Zong roared. ¡°Please calm your anger, my lord... Our Jiao Dragon Clan has been targeted. Even Yan¡¯er¡¯s dragon tendons were taken¡ªthis humiliation is unbearable!¡± ¡°WHAT?!¡± The Jiao Dragon Clan leader had prepared a long, convincing speech, but it turned out he didn¡¯t need it. Kui Zong was already infuriated. The reason? Yan Qing was secretly the illegitimate son of one of Kui Zong¡¯s high-ranking elders! Years ago, one of the elders had a brief tryst with a female Jiao Dragon, resulting in Yan Qing¡¯s birth. Kui Zong had been ordered to bring Yan Qing back to acknowledge him as the elder¡¯s son. If that elder discovered his illegitimate son had been crippled, the consequences would be unimaginable. ¡°Who?!¡± Kui Zong¡¯s roar nearly collapsed the dragon cave. ¡°Who extracted your dragon tendons? I¡¯ll tear him apart and return them to you!¡± Kui Zong¡¯s fury shook the entire cavern, the sheer force of his anger radiating outward. ¡°If the tendons can be recovered, there¡¯s a chance Yan¡¯er may still be healed. But without them, all hope is lost.¡± ¡°It was Lin Qi¡¯an who took the tendons! Not only that, but he also stopped us from capturing more girls and killed many of our people... He¡¯s a damn menace,¡± the clan leader spat. ¡°He¡¯s protected by a powerful guardian, making him difficult to kill. However, if you are willing to intervene, we can lure him into a trap.¡± Kui Zong narrowed his eyes. ¡°You want to use me to eliminate him? Bold of you.¡± ¡°We wouldn¡¯t dare...¡± ¡°Fine! It¡¯s just one person. My clan has never feared anyone! Lure him to the dragon cave, and I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± ¡°But what about the strong guardian by his side?¡± the clan leader asked cautiously. ¡°Though her strength may be reduced in the water, she¡¯s still not someone we can defeat.¡± The Jiao Dragon Clan leader was well aware that his power, at the Sovereign Realm, wouldn¡¯t be enough to hold off a Quasi-Saint, even in their home territory. Kui Zong chuckled darkly, ¡°I¡¯ll coat the entire cave with Dragon Lust Venom.¡± Hearing this, the Jiao Dragon Clan leader was secretly horrified. Dragon Lust Venom was a potent mixture created from the fluids secreted by dragons during childbirth, mixed with Mind-Bewitching Incense and Soul-Eroding Flowers. It was a drug designed to overpower even the strongest will, amplifying primal urges. Even a Saint could fall prey to it, their power consumed by uncontrollable desires. Rumor had it that the powerful guardian by Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s side was a woman. Kui Zong laughed sinisterly. ¡°Let¡¯s see how she handles the true nature of dragons...¡± ¡°Excellent!¡± The Jiao Dragon Clan leader nodded. ¡°If this plan succeeds, we¡¯ll be able to escape. And if we¡¯re pursued, we can flee to the Heavenly Dao Domain under your protection.¡± ¡°Naturally. The Kui Dragon Clan is always open to new allies.¡± And so, the plan to kill the Beiyang Crown Prince was perfectly set into motion. Even the escape plan was foolproof. This time, they intended to give Beiyang a shock it wouldn¡¯t forget. Chapter 130 Chapter 130: Lin Qi¡¯an Takes Lu Miaoyin to the Dragon Cave, the Saintess is Poisoned? Qinglian Immortal Island. ¡°The Jiao Dragon Clan¡¯s leader has personally come!¡± ¡°Even after the Right Envoy from the Xiling Spirit Temple was killed, they still dare to come? Are they asking for death?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t they afraid the Crown Prince will just slaughter them?¡± As the Jiao Dragon Clan approached over the waves, the disciples of Qinglian Immortal Island whispered among themselves. On any other day, they would have rushed to strengthen the island¡¯s defenses, but now that the Beiyang Crown Prince was their guest, there was no need to panic. When the Jiao Dragon Clan reached the shore, their usual ferocity had transformed into a humble demeanor. ¡°Please deliver a message¡ªwe wish to meet with the Saintess and the Crown Prince to offer our sincerest apologies for our previous transgressions.¡± Apologize? The sun must be rising in the west! Just a few days ago, they had threatened to destroy Qinglian Immortal Island, and now the clan leader was here, bowing and scraping. The difference in attitude was astounding. It was a testament to the Crown Prince¡¯s power¡ªthey had their dragon tendons extracted and used as jump ropes, yet they still had to come and apologize. It was laughable. The message quickly reached Lin Qi¡¯an, who, feeling bored, decided to check out the scene with his entourage. Qinglian Saintess Lu Miaoyin and the island lord were already present, along with many others who wanted to see whether the Jiao Dragon Clan dared to pull any more tricks. As the white-robed figure of Lin Qi¡¯an approached with a casual stride, the Jiao Dragon Clan leader¡¯s pupils involuntarily contracted. His gaze fell upon the white jade belt around Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s waist, where a thin golden thread was visible¡ªthe dragon tendon of Yan Qing! He extracted the dragon tendon from our clan¡¯s young prodigy just to use it as a belt? This man is a monster. The clan leader¡¯s heart swelled with both fear and rage, but he dared not show it. Instead, he greeted Lin Qi¡¯an respectfully. ¡°Greetings, Crown Prince. We were unaware of your presence here in the past and offended you greatly. We beg your forgiveness.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an smiled faintly. ¡°I¡¯m always generous. Just offer a few more dragon tendons as gifts, and we¡¯ll call it even. They make for great belts, very stylish.¡± The clan leader¡¯s mouth twitched uncontrollably. It seems that killing this brat is the only solution¡ªif left unchecked, the Jiao Dragon Clan would inevitably be wiped out under his tyranny. The clan leader then turned to Lu Miaoyin. ¡°In fact, the real reason we came today is to inform you of something important.¡± ¡°The girls we took from your island are still alive.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Lu Miaoyin¡¯s voice trembled. The last time the Jiao Dragon Clan had come, they had implied the girls had already been eaten.¡± ¡°We intended to prepare them as part of a feast, but before we could start, the Crown Prince arrived, so we didn¡¯t have the chance.¡± ¡°The girls are still in our care, unharmed, though they are frightened and won¡¯t allow us to approach. We kindly ask the Saintess to personally come and retrieve them.¡± Nonsense. Everyone present thought the same. No one believed their story. However, the Jiao Dragon Clan was preying on Lu Miaoyin¡¯s kindness. While the majority believed the Jiao Dragons were lying, what if there were survivors? Lu Miaoyin couldn¡¯t ignore that possibility. If there was even a slight chance to save the girls, she wanted to try. ¡°Saintess, you must not go!¡± ¡°It¡¯s clearly a trap to lure you in. Who knows what they¡¯re planning?¡± ¡°Please reconsider, Saintess!¡± The crowd tried to dissuade Lu Miaoyin, knowing full well it was a ruse. Meanwhile, the Jiao Dragon Clan had already set the next stage of their plan in motion by extending an invitation to Lin Qi¡¯an.@@@@ ¡°To further express our apologies, we are willing to present our clan¡¯s Dragon Pearl to the Crown Prince. We¡¯ve heard that the Crown Prince practices dragon-related techniques, and this treasure would undoubtedly be of great benefit.¡± The Jiao Dragons were now playing a dangerous game of persuasion, hoping to entice Lin Qi¡¯an into accompanying them to their lair. ¡°Why not just bring the Dragon Pearl here instead of making His Highness travel?¡± Zi Lianyou couldn¡¯t hold back her anger, seeing through their deceit. ¡°The Dragon Pearl has never been removed before. To do so, it must first be subdued and refined.¡± ¡°Like hell! Don¡¯t believe their lies, Your Highness!¡± Zi Lianyou shouted. ¡ª ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said. Led by the graceful figures of the Jiao Dragon women, they ventured further, passing by ancient stone pillars, murals, and statues eroded by time. When they reached the deepest part, the Jiao Dragon women suddenly stopped, their eyes flashing with cold intent. ¡°Attack!¡± one of them shouted. In unison, they erupted into action, their killing intent like a volcanic explosion. They had been prepared to die, knowing full well they wouldn¡¯t leave this place alive. Lin Qi¡¯an sighed softly and casually pointed a finger. An invisible sword intent swept through them, and in an instant, their life force was completely destroyed. Their bodies shot out like cannonballs, crashing into the cavern walls. Dead. But before they could catch their breath, a loud rumble echoed from above. A colossal, steel-like tail came crashing down, blocking out the sky. Lin Qi¡¯an and Lu Miaoyin barely dodged it, only to hear a thunderous voice from the shadows ahead. ¡°So, you¡¯re the one who likes to extract dragon tendons?¡± Finally, the massive figure of a true dragon appeared. Its form resembled an ox, with a single leg and no horns. It was a Kui Dragon! ¡°So, you¡¯re the esteemed guest from the Tianhai Dao Domain?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked calmly. ¡°Indeed! You show no fear in the face of death. You¡¯ve got guts for a young one, but unfortunately, you¡¯ve made a grave mistake,¡± Kui Zong, the dragon, sneered. ¡°Where are the young girls?¡± Lu Miaoyin gritted her teeth and asked. Kui Zong glanced at a corner of the cavern and chuckled. Following his gaze, Lu Miaoyin¡¯s eyes widened in horror at the sight of a pile of broken bones. ¡°You... ate them?¡± ¡°The taste was quite satisfactory,¡± Kui Zong replied, his grin wide and wicked. ¡°...¡± Rage flooded Lu Miaoyin¡¯s heart. She couldn¡¯t comprehend why the Jiao Dragon clan had gone to such lengths to lure her here, and even brought Lin Qi¡¯an along. Not even the Xiling Shrine dared to openly make a move against him, so how could they Unless... they intended to use the hands of the foreign Kui Dragon clan to kill him? This was madness! In the Canglan Dao Domain, no one, not even the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty or the Tai¡¯an Imperial Family, would dare to lay a hand on the Crown Prince of Beiyang. Only outsiders, beyond the reach of retribution, would be so bold. Her mind raced with possibilities, but soon, Lu Miaoyin began to feel dizzy, her body heating up uncontrollably. ¡°What¡¯s happening to me...¡± she murmured, her voice weak. Unbeknownst to her, the air had been filled with a faint pink mist. Lin Qi¡¯an remained calm, looking around as he spoke, ¡°So this is your plan? A Dao Transformation cultivator needs poison to kill a Celestial Realm opponent? How shameful.¡± ¡°Hahaha! I never expected you to be so calm,¡± Kui Zong laughed, his voice booming. ¡°This is Dragon Venom, designed to turn one¡¯s spiritual power into uncontrollable desire, burning the body from within. I originally prepared it for your guardian, but it seems she didn¡¯t come?¡± ¡°No matter, I¡¯ll take your head back to Tianhai Dao Domain as a gift.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an was immune to the poison, thanks to his ¡°Ten Thousand Poison Immunity,¡± but Lu Miaoyin wasn¡¯t so fortunate. Having inhaled a large amount of the venom, she was starting to lose control, her soft arms wrapping around his neck. ¡°Your Highness...¡± Lu Miaoyin had already lost all rational thought, her face flushed as she breathed heavily, and she was already beginning to kiss Lin Qi¡¯an impulsively. However, this wasn¡¯t too much trouble for Lin Qi¡¯an. The Pill Emperor had given him plenty of detoxification pills for such situations, but he needed to deal with this old dragon first before he could attend to her. He opened the Lotus Realm and placed Lu Miaoyin inside. ¡°Yue Yi, help her suppress the poison for now,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an instructed. Inside the Lotus Realm, Yue Yi quickly caught Lu Miaoyin and began pouring her vast spiritual energy into her to suppress the poison¡¯s spread. However, Yue Yi was more concerned about Lin Qi¡¯an. The poison was potent enough that even she, as a quasi-Saint, couldn¡¯t fully resist it. How could the young lord possibly manage, especially with a Dao Transformation realm powerhouse still outside? Why hadn¡¯t Lin Qi¡¯an sought refuge within the Lotus Realm? Chapter 131 Chapter 131 Meanwhile, Kui Zong narrowed his dark yellow eyes, his pupils narrowing to slits. ¡°Where did that woman go? How could she just vanish like that?¡± A portable world artifact was beyond the understanding of most. Even Great Emperors might not possess one, let alone a junior cultivator. Hence, it never crossed his mind as a possibility. ¡°Did she use some spatial escape artifact?¡± he mused. ¡°No matter, you were always my primary target.¡± Kui Zong stood with his hands behind his back, a faint smile on his face as his thick dragon tail swayed. He was waiting for Lin Qi¡¯an to succumb to the poison. According to the Jiao Dragon clan, this young man had many protective artifacts, making him difficult to defeat. Caution was necessary. However, Lin Qi¡¯an had no intention of waiting. The rare chance to battle someone at a higher cultivation level was thrilling, a perfect opportunity to test his true strength. The higher one¡¯s cultivation, the harder it became to fight across realms because the disparity in power grew exponentially. This was a universal truth. Many prodigies could challenge higher realms in the Transcendent stage but found themselves like helpless chicks when facing a Dao Transformation expert after reaching the Celestial stage. Dao Transformation signified a deeper resonance with the Dao of Heaven and Earth, merging oneself with the Great Dao. Advancing to this stage required overcoming a tribulation, and even those who failed were stronger than those who hadn¡¯t attempted it. Successfully transcending the tribulation put one on a completely different level, looking down on others as if from a great height. ... Lin Qi¡¯an unleashed the ¡°Illusory Dragon Divine Art,¡± one of the techniques derived from the Dragon Bone Treasure Arts. A massive, ethereal dragon made of spiritual energy manifested in the air above him, its wings like iron and its claws like hooks.@@@@ Its bronze-yellow eyes rotated slowly, exuding the supreme aura of a sovereign overlooking all life. ¡°This... this is...¡± Kui Zong nearly fell to his knees. Under the terrifying pressure of the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s aura, he trembled uncontrollably. A cold shiver ran up his spine, spreading through his entire body. ¡°The aura of the Ancestral Dragon... How could this be?!¡± Kui Zong, though a member of the Kui Dragon race with ancient dragon lineage, was still a step below the Azure Dragon. Above the Azure Dragon was the Ancestral Dragon, the progenitor of all dragonkind, a supreme and unrivaled existence. The Ancestral Dragon¡¯s legacy was something all dragons sought their entire lives. Even the tiniest sliver of its power could elevate one to the status of a Dragon King. Yet this human boy had it? The absurdity of the situation overwhelmed him. A Dao Transformation expert like Kui Zong was almost driven to his knees by a mere Celestial Realm boy. How could this be? ¡°Wait... why haven¡¯t you succumbed to the poison?¡± Kui Zong finally realized something was wrong. His eyes filled with disbelief, slowly turning to fear. ¡°Impossible... this can¡¯t be...¡± The venom was potent enough that even quasi-Saints couldn¡¯t resist it. Kui Zong himself had taken an antidote beforehand, yet this boy had been breathing it in for so long without showing any symptoms? How could he remain so calm? ¡°Thanks for the gift,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an chuckled. ¡°You... you!¡± Kui Zong¡¯s eyes widened in horror as he realized that the lightning he had summoned was rapidly being absorbed. What was happening? All the lightning was being drawn into Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s sword, a once-imperial weapon crafted by a Thunder Emperor! Playing with thunder in front of Lin Qi¡¯an was a grave mistake¡ªeven Tai¡¯an¡¯s royal princess, Zhao Yunji, and her world-shaking Purple Heaven Divine Thunder couldn¡¯t compare. What could this mere Kui Dragon¡¯s thunder do? Raising his sword, Lin Qi¡¯an channeled all the gathered lightning into the phantom dragon. Violet light and golden flames intertwined, crashing together like the explosion of stars, forming a terrifying, awe-inspiring aura that seemed to ripple through space. The power of the phantom dragon surged once more, now comparable to a true Dao Transformation cultivator! The Dragonbone Mystic Art truly lived up to its reputation. If it could absorb other elements in the future, perhaps it could evolve into an ultimate monstrosity. But for now, dealing with this Kui Dragon would be easy. ¡°Tear it apart,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an commanded calmly. The phantom dragon spread its wings and instantly closed the distance between itself and Kui Zong. With a single swipe, the massive force tore one of Kui Zong¡¯s wings clean off. What followed was a grisly scene not suited for the faint of heart¡ªa living Dao Transformation expert was ripped apart piece by piece! Dark blood rained down in large drops, the thick scent of iron and decay filling the dragon cave. Lin Qi¡¯an stood in the midst of the bloodstorm, yet his white robes remained pristine, untouched by the carnage. ... Inside the Lotus Realm, Yu Yi, though not present physically, sensed the events through her spiritual perception. The Crown Prince, having just entered the Celestial Realm, had torn apart a Dao Transformation expert by hand... If this news spread, storytellers across the land would turn it into the stuff of legends, passed down as terrifying tales. If she hadn¡¯t witnessed it herself, Yu Yi would never have believed it. Lin Qi¡¯an hadn¡¯t even exerted his full strength, yet he had already effortlessly killed a cultivator far above his realm. If he unleashed his full power, what heights could he reach? Moreover, the poison that should have incapacitated him had no effect at all. Though Yu Yi had watched Lin Qi¡¯an grow up, she realized that lately, even she couldn¡¯t quite fathom his full potential anymore. Lost in thought, Yu Yi¡¯s focus returned when Lin Qi¡¯an re-entered the Lotus Realm. At that moment, she was still using her spiritual energy to suppress the poison in Lu Miaoyin¡¯s body. ¡°It¡¯s done. Let me handle the rest,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said as he gently lifted Lu Miaoyin¡¯s soft body, his expression cold and unreadable. ¡°And as for the Jiao Dragon Clan¡ªthey can be wiped out.¡± Outside, the poisonous fog from earlier had already dissipated during the battle. Now, with Yu Yi free to act, the Jiao Dragon Clan was in for an unpleasant surprise. Chapter 132 Chapter 132: Sleeping Lotus, Annihilation of the Dragon Clan! Outside the Dragon Cavern. Led by their clan chief, the entire Dragon Clan was prepared and ready! All they awaited was Kui Zong to slay the Imperial Prince, and they would depart from the Canglan Dao Domain to seek refuge under the Tiandao Domain. ¡°What a commotion...¡± Yan Qing couldn¡¯t help but show a trace of doubt as he heard the booming sounds coming from within. ¡°Clan Chief, didn¡¯t you say the interior was filled with poison, rendering Lin Qi¡¯an powerless? Why is there such an uproar? It sounds like there¡¯s a battle.¡± ¡°Hmph, he¡¯s probably just desperately holding on. Originally, I intended to personally deal with his quasi-Saint protector, but I didn¡¯t expect him to come alone!¡± The clan chief sneered. ¡°Don¡¯t worry; even if he escapes, we have an ambush waiting. He¡¯s destined to die!¡± Yan Qing nodded. ¡°It¡¯s a pity I can¡¯t witness his death with my own eyes to avenge the theft of my dragon tendon!¡± ¡°By the way, could we spare the Saintess of the Qinglian?¡± The clan chief berated him in anger, ¡°At a time like this, and you¡¯re still thinking about women! That woman belongs to the Master. Once we¡¯re in the Tiandao Domain, we¡¯ll still need to rely on him!¡± ¡°Ah, what a shame,¡± Yan Qing muttered. Behind them, the clan members were visibly thrilled. Killing the son of the Great Emperor in the Canglan Dao Domain was an achievement beyond belief! They imagined that mentioning this feat in the future would surely bring them honor. ¡°Seems like it¡¯s quiet now?¡± ¡°It must be over!¡± The clan chief¡¯s face lit up with anticipation. *Step! Step! Step!* The crisp sound of footsteps echoed outward. A slender figure slowly emerged into view. As the Dragon Clan members saw who it was, their smiles vanished, replaced by utter shock and terror. The figure approaching was not Kui Zong, but a woman cloaked in purple bandages, gripping a dagger that gleamed with cold light. Her aura was terrifying, an almost tangible bloodlust forming a suffocating field around her, chilling them to the bone. This was Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s protector. But how... how did she enter the Dragon Cavern? ¡°Something¡¯s wrong, run!¡± The clan chief immediately turned to flee. But the ordinary clansmen had no chance to escape, as Aunt You transformed into a streak of purple light that sliced through the crowd like a wolf among sheep. Where she passed, the cold light shimmered, and rivers of blood flowed! The once-impenetrable skins of the Dragon Clan members shattered like paper, tearing at a mere touch. Some had their hearts pierced, others had their necks slashed, and some were split in two on the spot... With every breath, another corpse of the Dragon Clan sank to the ground! ¡°The Prince ordered me to wipe out the entire clan; no loose ends must remain.¡± And so, she killed the ones who tried to flee the fastest. Like an invisible phantom, she reaped lives as if mowing grass. The vibrant red spilled across the entire sea, staining it a dark and eerie crimson. ... Inside the Lotus Realm.@@@@ While blood flowed outside, a different scene unfolded within. Just as Lin Qi¡¯an held Lu Miaoyin in his arms, freed from Aunt You¡¯s suppression of spiritual energy, she immediately became ¡°enthusiastic¡± once more. Who could have imagined that this usually refined, cultured young woman would transform so completely? In the end, Lin Qi¡¯an carried her into a stream and took out a Purity Pill left to him by the Dan Emperor, feeding it to Lu Miaoyin. ... After a long while, as the pill¡¯s effects began to circulate within her, Lu Miaoyin slowly regained her clarity. As her consciousness returned, her body suddenly stiffened! ¡°You¡¯re finally awake?¡± ¡°...¡± Then came the real issue¡ªshe retained all her memories from just moments ago. Her face flushed instantly, as red as a blooming lotus in water, nearly dripping with embarrassment. ¡ª- *Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the mission. Villain Points +50,000.* *Ding! Host has exterminated an entire clan, earning an infamous reputation and obtaining the special villain skill ¡°Heavenly Fated Villain Right Hand.¡±* *Heavenly Fated Villain Right Hand: Upon touching any Destined Female or Male Protagonist, all their physical information will be revealed to the host (Know thy enemy, and you shall be victorious in every battle).* This was his second villainous ability, following the Heavenly Fated Villain Divine Eyes. First his eyes, now his right hand. Would other organs awaken in the future? Intriguing! Lin Qi¡¯an chose not to bring Lu Miaoyin out immediately. The scene before him was far too bloody, and he worried it might disturb her. As for himself, he was quite at ease; this was merely a necessary step in eliminating all loose ends as a villain. ¡ª Lin Qi¡¯an had been away from Green Lotus Immortal Island for nearly an entire day. On the island, everyone was growing anxious. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t His Highness returned yet?¡± ¡°Let us go and wipe out that Dragon Clan until not a trace of them remains!¡± A sword guard raised his sword and shouted, and immediately, his sentiment was echoed by all, who found the idea quite appealing. In the end, it was Su Xueni who managed to calm them down. ¡°His Highness must have his own plans. You mustn¡¯t act recklessly and ruin his efforts.¡± At this moment, she displayed an impressive leadership aura, almost embodying the authority of the island¡¯s lady. She remained far calmer than anyone else. Fortunately, her persuasion worked, and no one rushed out impulsively. ¡°Look, His Highness has returned!¡± ¡°Safe and sound; what a relief!¡± Seeing Lin Qi¡¯an return unharmed, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. The people of Green Lotus Immortal Island quickly asked about the Saintess¡¯s whereabouts. Lin Qi¡¯an, slightly embarrassed, explained that she was resting inside the Lotus Realm. ¡°Your Highness, what happened while you were gone? Why did it take so long?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing much. Just that the Dragon Clan has been exterminated by this Prince.¡± The Dragon Clan... exterminated... Everyone froze upon hearing this news. Especially the people of Green Lotus Immortal Island, who were left dumbfounded, unable to speak for a long while. They had all been worried for His Highness and the Saintess, fearing he might be in danger. But he returned with news of having annihilated the entire Dragon Clan? This seemed too far-fetched to be real! Immediately, someone flew out to investigate. The scout returned moments later, trembling with excitement. ¡°The Dragon Clan¡¯s territory... it¡¯s a sea of blood, bodies strewn everywhere!¡± ¡°His Highness truly exterminated their entire clan!¡± The eradication of the Dragon Clan meant no one would harass Green Lotus Immortal Island again in the future. Waves of cheers and celebration swept through the island, one after another. Everyone felt immense satisfaction, with most becoming die-hard fans of the Prince. Su Xueni approached Lin Qi¡¯an, her smile radiating charm, ¡°Your Highness, why does Sister Miaoyin remain in the Lotus Realm, unwilling to come out?¡± ¡°Well...¡± ¡°Then allow me to take care of Sister Miaoyin on your behalf.¡± *Cough*, ¡°I¡¯d be grateful for the help.¡± Indeed, matters of the inner residence were best managed by the perceptive and intelligent Su Xueni. Chapter 133 Chapter 133: Zhao Qingmeng ¨C ¡°Sister, what should I do if my cultivation is progressing too fast?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an had already set his next course of action: to head to Tai¡¯an Imperial City and participate in the grand millennial celebration! This Millennial Celebration, as the name suggests, commemorates the thousand-year unification of the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty. Held once every millennium, it is a spectacular event of unparalleled scale. At that time, every sect in the Canglan Dao Domain, if they wished to maintain any influence, would send representatives to attend! This included regional marquises, divine sons, saintesses, and outstanding talents from various sects, all converging on Tai¡¯an City. Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s father, the Sword Emperor, would also arrive with the family, giving him the chance to see his eldest sister after so long. It would be an ultimate grand gathering for the entire Dao Domain! Moreover, Lin Qi¡¯an still had unfinished business with Ye Yun, the Destined Child of Tai¡¯an Imperial City. He had allowed him ample time to grow; by now, Ye Yun should have matured considerably. Lin Qi¡¯an hoped he wouldn¡¯t be disappointed. After resting for a few days on Celestial Lotus Island, Lin Qi¡¯an set out on his journey. ¡°To Tai¡¯an Imperial City.¡± ¡°The Prince has ordered us to proceed to Tai¡¯an Imperial City!¡± ¡ª At the Xiling Divine Palace The news of Lin Qi¡¯an killing the Xiling Divine Palace¡¯s Right Enforcer had already spread far and wide. While the Right Enforcer was a minor figure, the Xiling Divine Palace was more concerned with their honor than with the loss itself. Killing someone from the Xiling Divine Palace in the Western Seas was equivalent to a heavy slap to their face. The entire Xiling Divine Palace seethed with pent-up anger, yet they knew the best chance to avenge this humiliation would be at the grand gathering in Tai¡¯an City. With a booming sound, a golden light burst from the Xiling Divine Palace¡¯s dome, piercing through the night sky into the vast cosmos. People instinctively looked up to see a figure hovering mid-air, one side of his body shrouded in icy blue, the other in fiery red. His divine radiance was majestic and extraordinary, like a god from the heavens, inspiring awe and reverence. ¡°The Xiling Divine Son has finally emerged from seclusion!¡± ¡°His Ice and Fire Divine Technique has broken through to the sixth layer?!¡± ¡°At the peak of the Celestial Realm... if I recall correctly, the Beiyang¡¯s Prince has only just reached the Celestial Realm?¡± ¡°Heh, with the Divine Son out of seclusion, the younger generation across the entire Dao Domain will have no equal!¡± ¡°With the Divine Son present, our Xiling will undoubtedly reclaim its former glory at this celebration.¡± People were still immersed in the awe of the Divine Son¡¯s power when a grand voice, carrying an imperial majesty that compelled reverence, resounded through the Xiling Divine Palace! ¡°By decree of the Emperor, proceed to Tai¡¯an City.¡± The Xiling Emperor himself would lead the Divine Son to attend the grand celebration in Tai¡¯an City. His departure was marked by radiant splendor, drifting clouds, and swirling spiritual energy. ¡ª In a remote, unnamed green mountain ¡°Disciple, you have become invincible in this era. Come down the mountain with me.¡± The speaker was a middle-aged man with grayish-white hair, his face bearing the marks of time, yet his gaze was one of unshakable dominance. ¡°Master, what shall we do after descending the mountain?¡± asked a young man named Li Xuan, dressed in plain clothes with a blade at his waist. ¡°Judging by the time, the Millennial Celebration of the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty should be approaching. I wonder if my old friends still remember me.¡± Though the middle-aged man looked far from elderly, he was already over four thousand years old. His name was Gu Jingyun, a figure who rose to fame alongside the Sword Emperor Lin Weixuan three thousand years ago. The world had since known him as the Blade Emperor! ¡°My cultivation has improved again... even without Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s Dao Physique, I should be able to achieve the Dao on my own strength.¡± ¡°A broken engagement is a broken engagement. I¡¯ll make sure he regrets it, hmph!¡± Of course, these were merely her thoughts, things she¡¯d never say out loud. A proud imperial princess wouldn¡¯t stoop to sounding like a resentful girl. That would ruin her carefully cultivated image. ¡°Darn it, why do I think of him the moment I stop cultivating...¡± It took Zhao Yunjin quite a while to calm her mind. Just then, she heard a report that Zhao Qingmeng had arrived. ¡°What does she want? Is she here to flaunt again?¡± Her face immediately darkened. She had realized her younger sister was far from simple. In the courtyard, the sunlight was bright, and birds chirped amidst blooming flowers. ¡°Elder Sister, you¡¯re here!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been busy with cultivation lately. Unless it¡¯s urgent, don¡¯t come to me.¡± Zhao Yunjin¡¯s tone was cold, not wanting to engage in idle talk and risk disrupting her cultivation. ¡°It¡¯s nothing urgent. I just came to consult you about a little issue.¡± ¡°Speak.¡± Zhao Qingmeng blinked with feigned innocence. ¡°Recently, I accidentally reached the Transcendent Realm. My cultivation speed is too fast. Could there be any side effects?¡± ¡°What?!!!¡± Zhao Yunjin¡¯s beautiful eyes widened. She sensed the spiritual energy surrounding Zhao Qingmeng, and a storm surged within her heart as if struck by a heavenly thunderbolt! Impossible! Zhao Qingmeng was born without any cultivation talent, an ordinary mortal. How had she managed to cultivate? During the Great Hunt, she clearly had no cultivation, and now she had reached the Transcendent Realm? In just a couple of months, she had leapt six major realms? ¡°You...¡± Zhao Yunjin felt a lump in her throat as she suddenly recalled something. Lin Qi¡¯an possessed a Dao Physique, and Zhao Qingmeng had often spent time with him. Could she have benefited from his Dao Physique, awakening her cultivation path? ¡°Give me your hand!¡± Zhao Yunjin brusquely grabbed Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s wrist, trying to confirm if her original purity remained intact. ¡°As expected...¡± It was indeed Lin Qi¡¯an. Very well, then! I had just annulled my engagement with him, and now you¡¯re entangled with him already? Do you really not regard me as your sister? ¡°Sister, why are you so harsh!¡± Zhao Qingmeng pouted. ¡°Guards, see the guest out!¡± Zhao Yunjin stood up, leaving without a backward glance, her stunning figure framed by the golden hem of her gown. ¡°Hehe...!¡± Zhao Qingmeng nearly burst into laughter. This was too satisfying. The famed beauty of the Canglan Dao Domain, jealous and arguing with her younger sister¡ªhow ridiculous was that? Hahaha! Brother Lin should be arriving in Tai¡¯an City soon. The coming days will certainly be exciting. Chapter 134 Chapter 134: The Prince Arrives at Tai¡¯an City! The Emperors¡¯ Betrothals Are in Disarray Li Xuan, following his master Gu Jingyun, quickly reached the gates of the Tai¡¯an Imperial City. Gazing up at the enormous gate, with the bold characters ¡°Tai¡¯an City¡± carved in a majestic dragon-and-phoenix style, Li Xuan felt his blood surge with excitement. ¡°Once, I was just an orphan on the verge of death, chased and wounded by wild beasts...¡± ¡°Who would have thought that one day, I¡¯d become an unrivaled young genius?¡± LAnd now, I¡¯m set to marry the ethereal princess of the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty! All of this¡ªI owe to my master.¡± Though a passionate young man, Li Xuan had never been close to a woman. In his village, he had been the orphan everyone despised, ignored even by the limping village girl. Now... he chuckled to himself. ¡°Master, let¡¯s hurry into the city. I can hardly wait.¡± With success came a bit of arrogance. Unlike Lin Qi¡¯an, who had the restraint of someone with two lifetimes of experience, Li Xuan was eager and unrestrained. At this moment, his greatest wish was to meet the princess, his fiance?e! As they approached the city gate, however, they were stopped by a fierce, armored guard. ¡°With the grand ceremony approaching, we must guard against any demonic infiltrators. All arrivals must show identification.¡± Just as they reached the gate, they encountered fierce guards who blocked their path. Recently, countless sects and clans had gathered in the Dao Domain, so it was only natural that security was heightened. Cultivators needed to show their sect or family tokens, though ordinary people were exempt. ¡°Do you know who my master is? Move aside, or don¡¯t blame me for being rude!¡± Li Xuan shouted. ¡°No matter who your master is, you must show proof of identity. That¡¯s the rule!¡± ¡°Courting death!¡± Li Xuan erupted in rage, releasing a terrifying aura. In an instant, a flash of cold light swept through the air, and the guard¡¯s head fell to the ground. Frightened citizens screamed, while the remaining guards drew their weapons, prepared to retaliate. The atmosphere grew tense. Gu Jingyun silently observed. Although youthful pride was natural, he hadn¡¯t expected his disciple to be so impulsive, resorting to violence over a minor offense. Perhaps, after training in the mountains for so long, Li Xuan lacked social etiquette, behaving like a wild brute. ¡°Lower your weapons,¡± Gu Jingyun commanded. These simple four words carried an authority impossible to defy¡ªthe voice of an Emperor, vast and thunderous. Winds howled as thunder cracked across the sky. The aura of an Emperor filled the air, sending shockwaves throughout Tai¡¯an City, alarming countless powerful cultivators. Who was this Emperor, gracing Tai¡¯an with his presence? ¡°Hurry, let them pass! Do not provoke them!¡± someone hastily transmitted to the guards. Terrified, the guards quickly complied, realizing that even a glance from the Emperor could mean their deaths. Grateful to have survived, they hurriedly allowed the two to enter. ¡°Master, let¡¯s go!¡± Li Xuan strode forward, head held high. Outside, a commotion broke out. ¡°Who goes there?¡± ¡°The princess¡¯s fiance?! Have her come out to greet me!¡± ¡°How dare you! Such disrespect toward the princess?¡± ¡°Oh... ouch...¡± As Zhao Qingmeng stepped out, she saw the guards sprawled across the ground, groaning in pain. The one causing the ruckus was a young man in plain clothes, with thick eyebrows and large, fervent eyes barely able to contain his excitement. ¡°Who are you?¡± she asked, her tone cold. ¡°I am Li Xuan. Your father and my master made a pact to betroth you to me. From now on, you shall call me husband!¡± ¡°Get lost! How dare you presume to be worthy of me!¡± With a fierce shout, Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s dress billowed as if stirred by an unseen wind. ¡°Guards, throw him out!¡± she commanded. Li Xuan¡¯s face darkened with fury. ¡°How dare a mere girl show such disrespect to her fiance?? You¡¯re asking for a beating!¡± he shouted, striding forward, his hand raised to strike her. Though Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s current strength was no match for his, a powerful elder servant of the Dao Transformation Realm stood guard within the princess¡¯s estate. With a single palm, the elder deflected Li Xuan, sending him flying a hundred meters back. ¡°What strength...¡± the elder thought in surprise. His blow should have left the boy¡¯s bones shattered, especially given that he was merely at the Celestial Layer. But instead, he had only been knocked back. ¡°Leave now, or I won¡¯t hold back!¡± the elder threatened menacingly. Brushing off the dust, Li Xuan pointed an angry finger at the elder and shouted, ¡°An old weakling bullying the young! Let someone from the younger generation fight me if you dare¡ªI, Li Xuan, consider myself unrivaled among my peers!¡± The elder sneered. ¡°You¡¯re just an ignorant boy who¡¯s never seen the world, and yet you dare call yourself invincible among the young?¡± He continued, ¡°Princess Yunji is peerless, and the Beiyang Prince is an exceptional talent. Just who do you think you are?¡± With a disdainful smirk, Li Xuan replied, ¡°Heh, the Beiyang Prince? Rest assured, if he dares come to Tai¡¯an City, I¡¯ll crush him like an insect!¡± Just then, a voice transmission arrived. ¡°Your Highness, the Prince has arrived in Tai¡¯an City!¡± ¡°Brother Lin is here?¡± Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s cold, stern expression softened, transforming into that of an adorable young girl. Her eyes curved into crescent moons, and without a second thought, she leaped up, preparing to greet Lin Qi¡¯an. She had no time to waste on this arrogant fool. ¡°I didn¡¯t say you could leave! How dare you disregard your duty as my future wife?¡± Li Xuan shouted, chasing after her. Chapter 135 Chapter 135: Embracing Zhao Qingmeng, Shattering the Confidence of the Destined Child Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s first entry into Tai¡¯an City caused an overwhelming sensation! The Nine-Headed Beast pulling the chariot felt immensely proud. Under normal circumstances, seeing this many cultivators would mean it would be hunted by all. But now, as it served the Beiyang Prince, it was the object of reverence! And as if that wasn¡¯t enough, it could sometimes enjoy a few spirit pills when idle, making its life thoroughly enjoyable. Even if Lin Qi¡¯an ordered it to leave, it would stubbornly refuse¡ªthere was no way it was going anywhere! The chariot sliced through the sky, quickly crossing the Outer City and entering the Inner City, where most cultivators and nobility resided. Suddenly, several people blocked its path. ¡°Forgive my interruption, Your Highness! I am Wang Li, a direct disciple of Yuxu Mountain, requesting guidance from the Prince!¡± ¡°Liu Miao of the Eastern Sea Pavilion, humbly asking for a lesson!¡± ¡°Jiang Xiu from Xuanwu Gate, requesting guidance from the Prince!¡± These people were prodigies from various sects, each hoping to challenge Lin Qi¡¯an. Winning would make them famous, while even a loss would allow them to brag to their peers. It was a win-win situation and an opportunity to bask in Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s fame. Soon, the challengers multiplied from dozens to hundreds, filling the entire airspace around the chariot. ¡°Your Highness, more people are gathering. What should we do?¡± Ran Yuwei asked, lifting the curtain with a worried expression. Declining their challenges might seem dismissive, especially since sparring was part of the grand millennium ceremony. Yet accepting them all would be too much trouble. Su Xueni smiled and suggested, ¡°Your Highness, perhaps you could address it this way...¡± ¡°Good idea.¡±@@@@ Stepping out of the chariot, Lin Qi¡¯an declared loudly, ¡°If you wish to challenge me, go ahead! Set up your own ring, and the final victor will earn the right to challenge me.¡± This solution saved him from countless fights while keeping the crowd¡¯s spirits high¡ªan efficient and fair approach. ¡°The Prince wants us to fight amongst ourselves first?¡± ¡°Makes sense. Not just anyone should have the privilege of challenging him!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s set up a ring! Whoever wins will get to face the Prince!¡± The gathered prodigies quickly agreed, realizing they needed strength to earn the spotlight. Soon, stages were set up across the city as challengers began sparring, drawing even more spectators. The festive atmosphere of the grand ceremony was truly building up. Lin Qi¡¯an descended to the ground, as flying was prohibited within the Imperial City. Here resided nobility, powerful cultivators, and members of the royal family, all of whom held extraordinary status. ¡°Well, Tai¡¯an City is lively enough. You are all dismissed¡ªgo and enjoy yourselves,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an ordered his guards. Keeping them close would only attract too much attention, hindering his enjoyment of the festivities. ¡°Yes, Your Highness!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go! Time to explore the city! I heard there¡¯s an entertainment quarter in the Imperial City. Let¡¯s go check it out together!¡± The guards were equally excited, eager to unwind after their duties. ¡°Aunt You, don¡¯t you have old friends in Tai¡¯an City? No need to follow me¡ªgo visit them,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said. Having ample ways to protect himself, he no longer required a bodyguard, especially since no one would dare act recklessly within Tai¡¯an¡¯s borders. ¡°As you wish.¡± Once everyone was dismissed, Lin Qi¡¯an was left with only Su Xueni, Ran Yuwei, and Zi Lianyou¡ªhis three maidservants. With fewer people, it was easier to move around while still having attendants for his needs. ¡°What a lively scene...¡± ¡°Yes! This is the grand millennium ceremony, even livelier than the great hunt!¡± He could see everything, even details as private as her last menstrual cycle! The absurdity of it was beyond belief¡ªjust a touch, and he saw it all. As the two embraced lovingly, indulging in their affection, a figure in the distance arrived¡ªLi Xuan. When he saw this scene, his anger erupted, veins bulging in fury. That was his fiance?e! And yet she ignored him to embrace another man! It was unforgivable¡ªlike a pair of shameless lovers! However, he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to attack recklessly. Judging by the crowd¡¯s whispers, he knew that man was none other than the Beiyang Prince. Acting rashly would be unwise. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an! That woman is my fiance?e! Let go of her!¡± His shout was an outlier amid the murmurs of admiration, immediately silencing the crowd. ¡°What¡¯s with this guy? Did he just claim the princess is his fiance?e?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s this country bumpkin? Is he looking for death?¡± ¡°Daring to compete with the Beiyang Prince for a woman? Even the Crown Prince wouldn¡¯t dare. Who gave him the courage?¡± Whispers of surprise and ridicule filled the air. Lin Qi¡¯an turned his gaze toward this new Destined Child¡ªthis was the disciple of a Great Emperor. ¡°Brother Lin, I don¡¯t even know him! He must be delusional!¡± Zhao Qingmeng exclaimed in disgust, finding him utterly repulsive. The very sight of him made her stomach turn; she had never encountered such an obnoxious person. Li Xuan¡¯s goal was to provoke Lin Qi¡¯an into making the first move, but he could never have expected that Lin Qi¡¯an would merely glance at him with indifference, then look away as if he were nothing more than street trash. ¡°We haven¡¯t found a place to stay yet.¡± ¡°You can stay at my residence, Brother Lin!¡± Zhao Qingmeng suggested excitedly. ¡°Good idea. Let¡¯s go,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an replied. Following Zhao Qingmeng, Lin Qi¡¯an passed right by Li Xuan amidst the gathering crowd. ¡°!!!¡± He¡¯s ignoring me? Outrageous! I am invincible among the younger generation! If he dared to face me head-on, I¡¯d crush him in an instant! ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an! Do you dare to fight me?¡± ¡°If you lose, you¡¯ll back off! She is my fiance?e! Lin Qi¡¯an, stop!¡± Li Xuan¡¯s roars echoed behind them, drawing the attention of everyone around. But Lin Qi¡¯an didn¡¯t spare him a single glance. In that moment, Li Xuan seemed like nothing more than a street clown, no matter how loudly he shouted. To acknowledge him would sully Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s gaze. Humiliation¡ªabsolute and thorough. With a furious stomp, cracks splintered across the ground beneath Li Xuan. ¡°Haha, he¡¯s mad now!¡± ¡°Shout all you want; His Highness the Prince still won¡¯t care.¡± ¡°Hey, do you make keys? Two taels of silver for one?¡± (TL: Idk if this is an idiom or not.) ¡°At that price? No way he can afford it!¡± ¡°Want to challenge the Prince? Sure, go win in the arena first. Only the final victor gets a shot.¡± Arena? Hearing this, Li Xuan grabbed the speaker by the collar, demanding fiercely, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°T-the Prince... said that the final winner in the arena could earn the right to challenge him. Now, let me go!¡± ¡°Arena, huh?¡± Li Xuan¡¯s lips curled into a twisted smile. Without hesitation, he stormed off. If there was even the slightest chance to challenge Lin Qi¡¯an, he would take it. Daring to touch his fiance?e? He would make Lin Qi¡¯an pay¡ªand he wouldn¡¯t stop until he¡¯d claimed every one of Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s maidservants as his own! Chapter 136 Chapter 136: Lin Qi¡¯an: ¡°I Didn¡¯t Sleep a Wink Last Night, Too Tired. Let¡¯s Do This Another Day.¡± In the Inner City, a fierce battle raged atop the challenge ring, with crowds of onlookers watching eagerly, curious to see who would ultimately secure the right to challenge the Beiyang Prince. ¡°Move aside, let me through!¡± Li Xuan landed powerfully on the ring, sending two cultivators flying with a single palm strike, leaving them coughing up blood. ¡°Who is this guy? He¡¯s so strong!¡± ¡°His aura... is he at the peak of the Celestial Realm?¡± ¡°Is there really someone this powerful among the younger generation? The Prince was only in the early Celestial Realm!¡± ¡°Pfft, don¡¯t be ignorant. The Prince¡¯s battle strength can¡¯t be measured by his realm alone.¡± ¡°But who is this guy? Which sect does he belong to? I¡¯ve never seen him before.¡± The man on the stage proclaimed, ¡°My name is Li Xuan. If you wish to challenge me, come up together!¡± ¡°What boldness, to invite multiple challengers at once?¡± ¡°That¡¯s just too arrogant!¡± Quickly, a few more challengers rushed onto the stage, but Li Xuan defeated them all with ease, not even needing to draw his weapon. At that moment, the audience fully grasped the strength of the young man on stage. And so, Li Xuan began his journey of defending the ring. As long as he defeated all challengers, he would earn the right to face Lin Qi¡¯an! ... While Li Xuan fought arduously in the ring, Lin Qi¡¯an was already at Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s residence, enjoying tea in the courtyard and chatting leisurely. ¡°You don¡¯t know who he is?¡± ¡°Probably someone my father promised something to. That old man always causes trouble and has added to Brother Lin¡¯s burdens,¡± Zhao Qingmeng said irritably. Referring to the Tai¡¯an Emperor as ¡°that old man¡±¡ªimpressive... To outsiders, Zhao Qingmeng was every bit a regal princess, but in front of Lin Qi¡¯an, she was like a clingy little girl, sweet and affectionate. ¡°Oh, Brother Lin, you came to my residence first thing upon arriving in Tai¡¯an City. If my sister finds out, won¡¯t she be upset?¡± Zhao Qingmeng asked, blinking mischievously. ¡°Why are you acting so sly?¡± ¡°I¡¯m worried about you! Oh, do you know where I live? I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll get lost at night.¡± ¡°Who said I¡¯d be visiting at night?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an chuckled, both amused and exasperated. ¡°It¡¯s been so long since we last met, and you¡¯ve probably spent countless nights with your maidservants. Aren¡¯t you going to spare some attention for your younger sister?¡± Zhao Qingmeng pouted, crossing her arms with a displeased look. ¡°Alright, alright. Just make sure you¡¯re this confident tonight.¡± ... As evening approached, Li Xuan thought he would dominate without any obstacles. After defeating over a hundred challengers, everyone became wary of this brute, and no one dared to step onto the ring anymore. Just when people assumed Li Xuan would secure the right to challenge the Prince, another figure stepped forward. ¡°Ye Yun, requesting a match!¡± Destined Child Ye Yun versus Destined Child Li Xuan¡ªboth were at the peak of the Celestial Layer! A fierce battle erupted between them, each shocked by the other¡¯s strength, forcing both to reveal their trump cards and go all out. They fought until the skies darkened, both ending up injured before finally calling a truce. In the end, Li Xuan won by a narrow margin, but he was left battered, his clothes torn and bloodied. ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought my first battle after leaving the mountain would be this tough...¡± ¡°Interesting. He¡¯s not just some ignorant country bumpkin!¡± But just as everyone was in awe of Li Xuan¡¯s Sacred Weapon, something unexpected happened... Li Xuan froze. The crowd fell silent. Everyone¡¯s jaws dropped in shock. Li Xuan was now surrounded by four swords, each one positioned to strike from a different direction. Each sword radiated the aura of a Sacred Weapon, locking him in place! ¡°The Prince... is controlling four Sacred Weapons at once?¡± ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen the Prince in action, and it¡¯s terrifying!¡± ¡°No wonder stories of his deeds have spread far and wide. His reputation is well-deserved!¡± Li Xuan was trapped within a cage of swords¡ªone at his right leg, another at his left arm, one at his neck, and one pointed at his chest. Each blade¡¯s aura alone was enough to threaten his life. ¡°I¡¯m giving you a chance to go back to your master. Killing you too quickly would just be boring,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said with a faint smile. His tone was calm, but it cut even deeper. To Li Xuan, it felt as though Lin Qi¡¯an was sparing his life as a courtesy to his master. The notion that Lin Qi¡¯an could kill him any time he wanted shattered his once ¡°invincible¡± mindset. ¡°Haha, I told you. The Prince may be at a lower realm, but his combat strength is on another level.¡± ¡°If the Prince wanted to kill him, it wouldn¡¯t even take an effort. He¡¯s just choosing to ignore him.¡± ¡°Hurry up and thank the Prince for sparing your life!¡± Though Li Xuan felt resentful, he knew he was in poor condition. Once he¡¯d recovered, he vowed he wouldn¡¯t lose again. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, mark my words. The humiliation I suffered today¡ªI¡¯ll repay you double in the future!¡± He spat out the classic vow of a defeated protagonist and stormed off furiously. Lin Qi¡¯an knew that his next stop would likely be to find his Great Emperor master and complain about what had happened. Timing-wise, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s father and his entourage should soon arrive in Tai¡¯an City as well. When it came to family backing, he had nothing to fear ¡ª¡ª Sure enough, Li Xuan staggered his way back to find Gu Jingyun, like a child returning home to report being bullied. ¡°Master... that Beiyang Prince was too much!¡± Gu Jingyun was resting in the inn, waiting for someone and uninterested in trivial matters. He glanced at his bedraggled disciple. ¡°How did it go?¡± ¡°He stole my fiance?e! He deserves death!¡± Li Xuan explained through gritted teeth, detailing the incident with every implication of humiliation. Gu Jingyun could read between the lines. He was utterly humiliated. His fiance?e was taken, and even his attempt to fight was a failure. How could this be anything but shameful? And worse still, he had lost to Lin Weixuan¡¯s son¡ªa bitter and intolerable disgrace! ¡°In the future, when you¡¯re out and about, don¡¯t tell anyone I¡¯m your master. I can¡¯t afford to lose face like this.¡± ¡°Master! I was just careless. I fought over a hundred battles before challenging him, so I wasn¡¯t at my peak!¡± ¡°Enough.¡± Gu Jingyun snorted coldly. He didn¡¯t care about other matters, but if the Tai¡¯an Emperor was going back on his promise, that was a lack of respect. The agreement to marry his daughter to his descendant wasn¡¯t one he¡¯d let slide. Especially since he¡¯d lost the woman he¡¯d once competed for with the Sword Emperor. Now his disciple couldn¡¯t even outmatch the Sword Emperor¡¯s son. The humiliation was relentless. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the Tai¡¯an Emperor myself!¡± Chapter 137 Chapter 137: Sword Emperor and Blade Emperor, A Fierce Confrontation! ¡°Who dares intrude on the forbidden palace grounds?¡± ¡°Scram!¡± Gu Jingyun flew straight toward the palace, striking down anyone who dared block his path. With a single casual palm, he sent the elite guards of the imperial Shenlong Army spewing blood as they were thrown back hundreds of meters. He held back out of respect for Tai¡¯an City¡¯s palace, sparing them, but any less restraint, and he¡¯d have killed them in an instant. After all, this was the imperial palace of Tai¡¯an; he had to show some respect for his old friend. ¡°Zhao Tai¡¯an, is this how you welcome an old friend after so many years?¡± His booming voice echoed across the city like a dragon¡¯s roar, carrying a hundred miles beyond the palace. From afar, a calm response immediately echoed back. ¡°Come in.¡± Countless onlookers were stunned by the powerful exchange between the two Great Emperors, igniting waves of speculation. ¡°The Tai¡¯an Emperor invited him directly into the palace. Who is this?¡± ¡°Never seen him before... Could there be someone of such rank in the Canglan Dao Domain?¡± ¡°I know! He attended the Tai¡¯an Emperor¡¯s celebration for his daughter¡¯s birthday once. I did some digging afterward¡ªthis man¡¯s origins are extraordinary!¡± ¡°Tell us!¡± ¡°He rose to fame at the same time as the Sword Emperor, mastering the blade, and is known as the Blade Emperor!¡± ¡°The Blade Emperor? I remember! He¡¯s incredibly powerful. Back then, even the Sword Emperor barely managed to defeat him.¡± Gu Jingyun entered the majestic palace, with its pavilions and flowing waters, and soon found himself face to face with Emperor Tai¡¯an in his imperial robes. ¡°Old friend, indeed, it has been far too long,¡± Emperor Tai¡¯an greeted him with a smile. ¡°Do you still consider me a friend? Then let¡¯s discuss whether the marriage arrangement you promised years ago still stands.¡± Ah, so this was why he¡¯d come. Emperor Tai¡¯an sighed internally, already feeling a headache brewing. ¡°Please, have a seat. We can discuss this calmly.¡± ¡°Calmly? Today, you must give me an answer!¡± Gu Jingyun demanded, refusing any pleasantries. Though he was the ruler of an immortal dynasty, Tai¡¯an Emperor¡¯s expression finally showed a hint of displeasure at Gu Jingyun¡¯s lack of decorum. ¡°In matters of marriage, one must consider the wishes of the children. Qingmeng is my beloved youngest daughter, and I would never force her into anything against her will.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re reneging on your word?¡± Gu Jingyun sneered, his hands folded behind his back. ¡°Zhao Tai¡¯an, you should know this is one issue on which I will not compromise.¡± ¡°Then what would you have me do? Should I speak to Lin Weixuan directly?¡± ¡°Hah, Lin Weixuan? Do you think he would turn against me over something so trivial?¡± Great Emperors rarely came into direct conflict over personal matters, even when it involved family. Emperor Tai¡¯an and the Sword Emperor, for example, would never intervene in minor quarrels among their children; it was beneath them. Besides, should such conflicts escalate, it could lead to bloodshed and devastation beyond measure¡ªsomething no one wanted. So Gu Jingyun was confident that Lin Weixuan wouldn¡¯t create an enmity over his son, seeing it as not worth the trouble. After all, a Great Emperor with power was enough to throw Beiyang into chaos. For ten miles around, everyone below the level of Saint collapsed to their knees! The pressure of the Great Emperors¡¯ confrontation was enough to destroy one¡¯s spirit entirely, leaving them crippled. After a tense moment, the clouds reverted to their natural form, and a gentle breeze swept through as if nothing had happened. In reality, the two Great Emperors had already engaged in a brief but fierce exchange. True power didn¡¯t always manifest in overt destruction; sometimes, the victor was decided without a single blow. A trickle of blood slipped from the corner of Gu Jingyun¡¯s mouth, instantly swept away by the wind. Lin Weixuan, his hands behind his back, said calmly, ¡°The affairs of the younger generation should be settled with their own fists. This Emperor will not intervene, nor do you have the right to.¡± ¡°That was a promise from the Tai¡¯an Emperor!¡± Gu Jingyun protested. Tai¡¯an Emperor thought wryly to himself, ¡®Now that you¡¯ve lost, you¡¯re shifting the blame onto me?¡¯ ¡°Ahem, my eldest daughter Zhao Yunji also once had an engagement with Lin Qi¡¯an, yet that¡¯s been annulled, hasn¡¯t it? The world changes, and everything depends on fate.¡± ¡°You!¡± ¡°The grand ceremony is about to begin. Your disciple will have plenty of chances to prove himself. If he truly can overshadow Lin Qi¡¯an, there¡¯s no reason why my daughter wouldn¡¯t take notice.¡± The Tai¡¯an Emperor¡¯s suggestion was clear: the outcome of this rivalry would be determined at the grand ceremony. There, each would rely on their own strength, leaving no room for complaints. ¡°Fine, then we¡¯ll settle it at the ceremony.¡± Gu Jingyun turned to leave, only to stop after a few steps and look back. ¡°Lin Weixuan, in seven days, do you dare accept a single strike from me?¡± ¡°A blade honed for a century? Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡± The Tai¡¯an Emperor could only manage a wry smile. It seemed inevitable that the two would end up sparring again. Every time they met, it always came down to this. After all, it had been a century since their last match. Gu Jingyun had abstained from drawing his blade for a hundred years, preparing for this one decisive strike. Their showdown in seven days would coincide with the grand ceremony¡ªa spectacle bound to captivate the world. ... When Gu Jingyun returned, Li Xuan immediately rushed forward. ¡°Master, how did it go?¡± ¡°Use your own strength. What else can I say? If you want a woman, take her yourself.¡± Gu Jingyun¡¯s response hit him like a bolt from the blue. Li Xuan¡¯s face went pale. The first grand dream he¡¯d had since leaving the mountain had shattered just like that! But wait¡ªif he remembered correctly, Tai¡¯an City also had an elder princess. She was renowned as the number one beauty of the Canglan Dao Domain, a beauty unmatched even by the fairy-like maidservants surrounding Lin Qi¡¯an. And, rumor had it, she once had a marriage arrangement with Lin Qi¡¯an but had since annulled it. This had to mean she despised Lin Qi¡¯an! Excellent. Determined, Li Xuan vowed to win the elder princess¡¯s heart. ¡¯You took my fiance?e? Then I¡¯ll go after your former betrothed!¡¯ Without delay, he left to gather every detail he could about Zhao Yunji, from her background and personality to her hobbies and interests. Whatever was necessary, he would be prepared. Upon learning she practiced the art of lightning cultivation, he borrowed ancient texts on lightning techniques from his master, rare treasures not circulated beyond the sect. With these in hand, he was certain Zhao Yunji would be intrigued! Chapter 138 Chapter 138: Going After the Ex-Fiance?e! Lin Qi¡¯an Invites Zhao Yunji Everything Li Xuan was doing, Lin Qi¡¯an observed clearly with his Heavenly Fated Villain Divine Eyes. Trying to pursue Zhao Yunji? How laughable. As the most aloof goddess of the Canglan Dao Domain, Zhao Yunji was known for setting her sights higher than anyone. People said she could never fall in love with any man, no matter how outstanding he was. Her heart was devoted solely to the Dao; if anything, she would spend her future with the Way itself. Yet Li Xuan, oblivious, was trying to court her. To make things more interesting, Zhao Yunji already had another Destined Child fawning over her¡ªYe Yun. If these two crossed paths, it would be quite a show. ... For the past few days, Zhao Yunji had stayed within her residence, occasionally wandering around or sitting in her garden, seemingly lost in thought. The maidservants couldn¡¯t help but notice her unusual behavior. ¡°What¡¯s going on with the princess these days? She seems so restless.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know... Usually, when the princess cultivates, she can go half a month without eating or drinking. But lately, she seems like a different person!¡± ¡°I have a theory! Do you think it¡¯s because of the Prince¡¯s arrival?¡± ¡°Shh! Don¡¯t say such things carelessly, or you¡¯ll lose your head!¡± ¡°But wasn¡¯t the Prince once engaged to the princess? Even if the engagement is annulled, it seems her unease began when he arrived.¡± ¡°That actually makes sense...¡± From her pavilion, Zhao Yunji heard every word the maids whispered, given her cultivation level. Her face turned bright red, and she couldn¡¯t help but bury it in her arms, feeling utterly embarrassed. Ever since she had last seen Zhao Qingmeng and witnessed her rapid improvement in cultivation, Zhao Yunji had been shaken. All of it was because of Lin Qi¡¯an. Moreover, Lin Qi¡¯an had mastery over the same lightning techniques that she practiced. If only she could be closer to him, she might gain everything she desired... But all of these possibilities vanished with the annulment of their engagement. When her father, the Sword Emperor, arrived in Tai¡¯an City, she harbored a faint hope that the engagement set by their elders might still be salvaged. However, he didn¡¯t mention it, not once. To her frustration, Lin Qi¡¯an immediately went to Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s side and even stayed at her residence. Unbearable! ¡®Fine,¡¯ she thought to herself. ¡®Even if you come to see me in person, I¡¯ll ignore you.¡¯ ¡°Your Highness!¡± A maid approached, interrupting her thoughts. Zhao Yunji straightened herself, asking calmly, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The Prince requests an audience!¡± ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an?!¡± A flash of joy crossed her heart, but Zhao Yunji replied coolly, ¡°Invite him in.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡± She quickly adjusted her attire and hair, restoring her usual dignified appearance. Soon enough, Lin Qi¡¯an was led over by the maids. ¡°What brings the Prince to see me?¡± Zhao Yunji asked, her tone neutral. ¡°I¡¯ve brought ancient lightning scriptures to share with the princess. Now move aside!¡± ¡°Studying lightning techniques?¡± A glint of murderous intent flashed in Ye Yun¡¯s eyes. Was this man sent by Lin Qi¡¯an? If so, he had to die. ¡°Fine. The princess is away from the residence. Follow me,¡± Ye Yun said, pretending to lead him to Zhao Yunji while actually guiding him to the city¡¯s combat arena. ¡°Why did you bring me here?¡± Li Xuan demanded, suspicious. ¡°Fight me again. Defeat me, and I¡¯ll let you see the princess!¡± ¡°Another round? You really think you can win?¡± It was noon, a time when Ye Yun¡¯s strength, bolstered by his Great Yang Heavenly Emperor Technique, was at its peak. Intent on defending the princess, he readied himself for a full-force battle. The two clashed once more, their duel causing tremors that shook the arena, drawing a massive crowd of spectators. Were it not for the protective barrier around the ring, the surrounding area would have been reduced to rubble. In the end, it was another hard-fought battle that left both parties severely injured. Ye Yun managed to gain a narrow victory, but he was left bloodied and exhausted, while Li Xuan¡¯s condition was even worse¡ªhis body charred and scorched. ¡°You¡¯ve actually gotten stronger!¡± ¡°Enough talk! You lost¡ªnow get out of here. Acting as Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s errand boy... what a waste.¡± ¡°Who are you calling Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s errand boy?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you?¡± A silence fell between them as they both began to piece things together. They had been played. ¡°That damned Lin Qi¡¯an... he set this up to make fools of us!¡± ¡°You idiot! Out of my way!¡± The two raced back to Zhao Yunji¡¯s residence as fast as they could, but by the time they arrived, she was already gone. Zhao Yunji had been quietly escorted away by Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡°Damn it, search everywhere!¡± Ding! Destined Children Li Xuan and Ye Yun both suffered severe injuries. Destiny values decreased by 200 each. Seeing this notification, Lin Qi¡¯an smiled to himself. His plan had worked perfectly! Thanks to their lack of intelligence, his scheme had succeeded with ease. Currently, he and Zhao Yunji had arrived at the secluded Tiannu Lake on the western side of the city. Dressed in plain clothes and without any attendants, they had gone unnoticed by the crowds. ¡°Why... why did you bring me here?¡± Zhao Yunji asked, her voice soft and tinged with a hint of shyness, her beautiful face faintly flushed. ¡°To study lightning techniques together, of course. Let¡¯s board one of the boats¡ªno one will disturb us there.¡± The lake was dotted with small boats, mostly carrying couples enjoying the tranquil surroundings. Zhao Yunji didn¡¯t respond but quietly followed Lin Qi¡¯an onto one of the boats. Chapter 139 Chapter 139: Is Zhao Yunji Really Feeding Lin Qi¡¯an? Unbelievable! On the lake, Lin Qi¡¯an and Zhao Yunji leisurely floated along, their small boat gliding across the rippling water as fish occasionally leapt out to create fleeting splashes¡ªa scene of picturesque tranquility. Lin Qi¡¯an, dressed plainly in a modest green robe, looked calm and relaxed. Zhao Yunji, on the other hand, wore a dress in the shade of water-blue, embroidered with intricate patterns of countless fish swimming gracefully across the flowing fabric. Her dress alone was worth a fortune and perfectly matched her beauty. Her flawless features, radiant complexion, and elegant figure left even Lin Qi¡¯an, who was surrounded by beauties daily, unable to find any fault in her. The only imperfection lay in her somewhat cold personality. ¡®If only she could be tamed,¡¯ Lin Qi¡¯an mused, ¡®she would be the most perfect woman in the world.¡¯ Breaking the silence, Zhao Yunji cast a sound-blocking barrier around them and asked, ¡°Why are we discussing cultivation here of all places?¡± In her mind, if they were to discuss the Thunder Emperor¡¯s inheritance, a private chamber would have been far more suitable than an open lake. ¡°Who told you we¡¯re here to discuss cultivation?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an responded with a mischievous smile. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°We¡¯re here to enjoy the scenery. If I¡¯m in a good mood, I may share some of the Thunder Emperor¡¯s inheritance with you.¡± ¡°In a good mood...¡± Zhao Yunji¡¯s expression shifted multiple times. She never thought she¡¯d be catering to a man¡¯s mood! ¡°What would put you in a good mood, then?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an casually took out a lunch box prepared by Su Xueni. Smiling, he said, ¡°I¡¯m a bit hungry. Why don¡¯t you feed me?¡± ¡°Feed you?¡± Zhao Yunji¡¯s eyes widened in shock. She, the noble princess of the immortal dynasty, admired by countless, known as the number one beauty of the Canglan Dao Domain, was to feed a man? She had never considered something so undignified in her entire life! ¡°What, unwilling?¡± ¡°Do you take pleasure in this?¡± Zhao Yunji raised an eyebrow. ¡°I may desire the Thunder Emperor¡¯s inheritance, but don¡¯t think that gives you the right to humiliate me.¡± ¡°Humiliate you? Not at all.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an replied with a straight face. ¡°Now, if I had stripped your sister and spanked her, that would be humiliation¡ªbut she¡¯s doing just fine. All I want is a taste of having a princess feed me. So, are you in or not?¡± Hearing that Zhao Qingmeng had actually been spanked by him, Zhao Yunji suddenly felt more at ease. Feeding him, in comparison, didn¡¯t seem so humiliating. ¡°Fine... but you can¡¯t tell anyone!¡± ¡°Why would I need to anyone? Do I need to swear an oath on it?¡± ¡°No.¡± Suppressing a massive surge of embarrassment, Zhao Yunji picked up the chopsticks and began feeding Lin Qi¡¯an, ¡°Open your mouth.¡± ¡°Relax a little.¡± If others were to see this, they¡¯d merely say, ¡®Look at that beautiful couple, so perfectly matched! And they¡¯re feeding each other¡ªhow enviable!¡¯ But this would only be the impression of onlookers. However, two bystanders saw things very differently. Ye Yun and Li Xuan! After their mutual defeat, neither had tended to their injuries but immediately started searching for Zhao Yunji. Along the way, they overheard a passerby remark, ¡°Did you hear? There¡¯s a lady by Tiannu Lake who looks just like the princess!¡± Naturally, this person had been planted by Lin Qi¡¯an to lead them to the scene. Following the hints, they arrived at the lake, only to witness an astonishing sight. Under the warm sunlight, ripples danced on the water¡¯s surface as the high and mighty princess, the unattainable goddess, fed Lin Qi¡¯an with a blush on her cheeks. ¡°No... this can¡¯t be...¡± Ye Yun¡¯s throat felt as if it had been blocked. His eyes turned red, his body trembled, and his nails dug deeply into his palms. To him, just exchanging a single word with the princess could brighten his entire week and fill him with a sense of purpose. Being able to gaze at her from afar was the height of happiness. Yet here she was, feeding another man. His heart felt as if it were shattering, sending a torrent of burning fury through his veins, spreading to every corner of his body. Inside the lotus realm. For Zhao Yunji, it was her first time in this place, and she found herself marveling at the independent world inside the lotus artifact. ¡°This is the lotus¡¯s internal world. You can stay as long as you want; we¡¯ll leave once the crowd outside has dispersed,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an explained. ¡°Thank you...¡± As the serenity of this paradise settled her mind, Zhao Yunji began to calm down, taking in her surroundings and noticing several pavilions, each bearing a different name. But they all had one thing in common¡ªthe word ¡°An¡± was part of each name. They were clearly personal quarters for Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s maidservants, each with her own dedicated space. ¡®Who knows what they do inside these rooms!¡¯ Zhao Yunji thought with a tinge of annoyance. Feeling slightly guilty, Lin Qi¡¯an realized he had indeed treated her as a pawn in his scheme, all to toy with those two Destined Children and siphon away their destiny points. To make amends, he took out a jade slip and handed it to her. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°A lightning technique from the Thunder Emperor¡¯s inheritance: Nine Heavens Lightning Surge.¡± Her once-dismal mood instantly lifted, her eyes gleaming with excitement. ¡°Thank you.¡± She accepted it without hesitation, reasoning that this was her rightful reward for feeding him, not a mere gift. ¡°This contains only the first three levels. If you want the rest after mastering these, feel free to come find me again,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said with a knowing smile. ¡®Best to keep the benefits flowing gradually,¡¯ he thought. ¡°Hmph!¡± Zhao Yunji realized this likely meant further ¡°bullying¡± in the future, but couldn¡¯t help letting out a soft huff. Without further ado, she sat down to study the jade slip. Her zeal for cultivation, especially when presented with a rare opportunity, allowed her to focus entirely on her practice. By the time Lin Qi¡¯an quietly left the lotus realm, she was completely engrossed and hadn¡¯t even noticed his departure. ¡®Let her stay in there for a few days,¡¯ he thought, certain she¡¯d eventually reemerge. Returning to Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s residence, he settled in to rest. However, later that night, things took an unexpected turn. Zhao Qingmeng had caught wind of the day¡¯s rumors and came to him that evening. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an! I heard you took my sister boating earlier today, and in disguise, no less. Why so secretive?¡± ¡°Are you here to lecture me? Maybe your backside needs a reminder?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an raised his hand teasingly. ¡°Oh, stop it!¡± Zhao Qingmeng pouted playfully. Ever since he discovered her secret weakness, Lin Qi¡¯an had taken full advantage, to her playful frustration. ¡°Fine, I don¡¯t mind your affairs. But I do want to build a pavilion for myself in your lotus realm!¡± Initially uninterested, Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s competitive spirit flared upon hearing that even the other maidservants had their own quarters. Why should she be the exception? ¡°Alright, another time.¡± ¡°Why wait? I want to go in now to plan it!¡± ¡°Now¡¯s... not the best time.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Sensing something amiss, Zhao Qingmeng leaned in closer and caught a faint scent on his clothes. It was the same fragrance her elder sister used¡ªa unique palace-made sachet from a renowned perfumer, unmistakably the same. ¡°Oh?¡± Chapter 140 Chapter 140: The ¡°Affair¡± Uncovered! Zhao Yunji¡¯s World Collapses Zhao Qingmeng smirked playfully, a mischievous glint lighting up her eyes like a spirited pixie among blooming flowers. ¡°Oh, Lin Qi¡¯an, you¡¯re quite daring, aren¡¯t you? You managed to charm my lofty elder sister too! Truly, no one in our generation can rival your skill with women!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an was momentarily taken aback. ¡®What is she, some kind of bloodhound?¡¯ He feigned calmness, though internally startled. ¡°What are you babbling about? There¡¯s no way I¡¯d ¡®charm¡¯ Zhao Yunji¡ªour engagement was called off long ago.¡± ¡°Oh, is that so? Then let me take a look inside the lotus realm. If you have nothing to hide, you won¡¯t mind me looking around, right? Otherwise, I¡¯ll just call all your maidservants here to help us catch a sneaky cat. That should be quite entertaining.¡± ¡°Fine, take a look. I have nothing to be guilty about.¡± With no other choice, Lin Qi¡¯an reluctantly opened the lotus realm and entered with Zhao Qingmeng in tow. Inside the lotus realm, Zhao Yunji was deep in study, poring over the Thunder Emperor¡¯s technique, until she heard footsteps approaching from outside. Alarmed, she stopped immediately. Not only has Lin Qi¡¯an returned, but someone else is with him? Suddenly, she felt a surge of panic, her heart pounding wildly. ¡°How long have I been in here without realizing it? And that awful Lin Qi¡¯an actually brought Zhao Qingmeng inside¡ªhe¡¯s trying to embarrass me on purpose!¡± Acting quickly, Zhao Yunji glanced around and spotted the nearest pavilion, Xue¡¯an Pavilion, and hurried inside. Frantically searching for a hiding place, she considered the bed and the wardrobe. ¡®It¡¯s humiliating, but...¡¯ With no other option, she squeezed into the wardrobe, quietly shutting the doors and holding her breath. ¡¯If Zhao Qingmeng catches me here, I¡¯ll never live it down. She might even think I¡¯m trying to take her man! I¡¯ll lose all my dignity as her elder sister.¡¯ Zhao Yunji clenched her teeth in silent determination; she would die before that happened. Outside, Zhao Qingmeng strolled around, with Lin Qi¡¯an following close behind. ¡°What exactly are you looking for?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing in particular.¡± Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s tone was sweetly evasive, adding to Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s exasperation. He raised his voice, speaking pointedly so that Zhao Yunji could hear. ¡°I did meet with Zhao Yunji earlier today, but we only discussed cultivation. She¡¯s very busy, you know.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, I didn¡¯t say you brought her back here. I just felt like looking around; is that so wrong?¡± After a few minutes of leisurely exploration, Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s gaze zeroed in on Xue¡¯an Pavilion. She noticed that the door, which should have been tightly shut, was slightly ajar. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she reached for Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s hand. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, come with me.¡± ¡°What are you doing?¡± Inside the wardrobe, Zhao Yunji¡¯s heart raced as the footsteps grew nearer. ¡®What is she planning? Has she lost all restraint since starting cultivation? Just because she¡¯s benefiting from my engagement... how dare she! No, former engagement...¡¯ So close now that Zhao Yunji could practically sense their every movement from her hiding spot. Holding her breath, she stilled her aura and tightly covered her mouth. ¡°Can we leave now? If there¡¯s nothing here, let¡¯s go,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an suggested. ¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡± Zhao Qingmeng smirked, her delicate fingers gently tugging at her belt. Thanks to his prior schemes, their Destiny Points had plummeted significantly. Destined Child: Ye Yun Artifact: Great Yang Sword Destiny Points: 300 (Green) Core of Destiny: Great Yang Heavenly Emperor Trchnique, Golden Crow Divine Fire Current Kill Reward: Golden Crow Blood, Golden Crow Feather Note: Killing this Destined Child will allow you to claim all Core of Destiny items. With his own 300 Destiny Points to counter Ye Yun¡¯s, Lin Qi¡¯an could reduce Ye Yun¡¯s total to below 100, making the opportunity ripe. ¡®Ye Yun¡¯s carrying some seriously tempting prizes...¡¯ The Great Yang Heavenly Emperor could elevate his strength under the blazing sun, making it an incredibly powerful technique. Coupled with the Great Yang Sword and the Golden Crow Divine Fire and Blood, it was practically a full set of rare treasures. Destined Child: Li Xuan Artifact: Northern Star Desolate Blade Destiny Points: 700 (Purple) Core of Destiny: Disciple of a Great Emperor Current Kill Reward: None Unlike Ye Yun, Li Xuan doesn¡¯t carry as many enticing items. However, depleting his Destiny Points might still yield a valuable reward¡ªlike a Destiny Treasure Chest. For now, that was the only upside. ... That day, Tai¡¯an City welcomed another high-profile arrival. The Xiling Emperor and his son, the Xiling Holy Son, Xi Chao, arrived, drawing awe and excitement from the crowd. Another Great Emperor had arrived. Xi Chao¡¯s presence shocked many; he, too, had reached the pinnacle of the Celestial Realm, marking him as one of the younger generation¡¯s elite. Now, Ye Yun, Li Xuan, and Xi Chao¡ªall stood at the peak of the Celestial Layer, the pinnacle of their generation. Of course, their realm was one thing... but everyone knew that Beiyang¡¯s Prince Lin Qi¡¯an was not bound by mere cultivation levels. His strength couldn¡¯t be measured in simple terms. Among the young women, Zhao Yunji was the strongest, though other notable figures were less well-known. However, another prodigy arrived in Tai¡¯an City on the same day as Xi Chao, capturing everyone¡¯s attention. Her name was Lin Liuli, from the Beidou Divine Tower, a prestigious sect in the Canglan Dao Domain. But her other identity was even more remarkable. Lin Liuli was the adopted daughter of the Sword Emperor of North Yang Heavenly Sword City, and thus, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s elder sister. Chapter 141 Chapter 141: Sister is a Daoist Nun? Turns Out Daoist Nuns Can Hit People Too ¡°Brother! Big Sis is also in Tianjian City. Let¡¯s go welcome her!¡± Lin Hongyu dragged Lin Qi¡¯an along, hurrying over in an almost fiery rush. This sister, Lin Qi¡¯an hadn¡¯t seen her in a long time. She wasn¡¯t his biological sister but the orphan of a close friend of the Sword Emperor. Her original surname was Nan, later changed to Lin. Her original name was Nan Liuli, and she had no blood ties with Lin Qi¡¯an. The Sword Emperor treated her as his own daughter, even gifting her the Seven Treasures Glazed Flower when she was young to help her cultivate the Immaculate Glazed Body. To further enhance her cultivation of the Perfect Glazed Body, she joined the most suitable sect for her physique¡ªBeidou Divine Palace¡ªbecoming a Daoist nun! Daoist nuns are different from Buddhist nuns. They don¡¯t shave their heads or completely renounce worldly life, though they generally don¡¯t marry unless they return to secular life. Now, Lin Liuli was the Saintess of Beidou Divine Palace. As Lin Qi¡¯an approached, his system immediately reacted. Ding! The Destined Child ¡°Xi Chao¡± has successfully entered the plot. Xi Chao, the Divine Son of the Xiling Divine Palace, was the third Destined Child detected by Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s system. Destined Child: Xi Chao ¨C Treasure: Frostfire Jade ¨C Luck: 1500 (Golden) ¨C Luck Core: Mystic Stone ¨C Current Kill Reward: None Looking at Xi Chao¡¯s panel, Lin Qi¡¯an couldn¡¯t help but feel amazed. His luck value was an astonishing 1500! Lin Qi¡¯an had never seen such a high number¡ªnot even Zhao Qingmeng, the reborn Great Emperor, reached this level. The luck core, ¡°Mystic Stone,¡± was likely a rare treasure of chaos-level quality. Lin Qi¡¯an was determined to claim it. Ye Yun, Li Xuan, and now Xi Chao¡ªthese were the three strongest youths in the Canglan Dao Domain, and all of them were Destined Children! Three against one, huh? Pressure? That doesn¡¯t exist for Lin Qi¡¯an. He felt only excitement. The first two fools barely lasted a moment under him, but three of them together might be interesting. The Destined Girl tied to Xi Chao had to be... Big Sis? Golden Luck Destined Girl¡ªLin Liuli! Damn it. His sister was the Destined girl¡ªthis was troublesome. To reduce Xi Chao¡¯s luck value, would Lin Qi¡¯an really have to flirt with his sister? Though they weren¡¯t blood-related, and she wasn¡¯t truly a Lin, she was still his foster father¡¯s adopted daughter. Besides, she was a Daoist nun, far removed from worldly desires. Forget it for now. First, they have to welcome her. Lin Qi¡¯an, holding his little sister Lin Hongyu¡¯s hand, hurried to the gates of the palace city. Sure enough, two groups were gathered there, with many onlookers nearby. ¡°My heavens! That¡¯s the crown prince¡¯s sister? She¡¯s stunning¡ªa true beauty who could topple kingdoms!¡± ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s gorgeous! Why isn¡¯t she on the rankings of famous beauties?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a Daoist nun! Do you even understand what that means?¡± ¡°That Divine Son of Xiling is also dashing and extraordinary. They look like a perfect match, don¡¯t they?¡± Indeed, Lin Liuli was conversing with Xi Chao. It was no surprise that the Destined Child and the Destined Girl knew each other. Without interference, they would naturally end up together. ¡°Thank you again for your help earlier, Divine Son. Farewell,¡± Lin Liuli said with a slight bow. Earlier, on her way to the city, Lin Liuli¡¯s group had been attacked by magical beasts. Though not a major threat, it was troublesome enough that Xi Chao stepped in to assist, easily resolving the issue. Sometimes, Lin Liuli herself doubted. She couldn¡¯t help but ask those who told her, ¡°Are you sure this Lin Qi¡¯an is my brother?¡± ¡°Absolutely! It¡¯s the Crown Prince of Beiyang. He¡¯s unbelievably powerful,¡± her fellow disciples always responded with awe, which filled Lin Liuli with pride. ¡°Well, I suppose it¡¯s barely acceptable,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an remarked casually as their group approached the palace quarters to meet their parents. On the way, with no outsiders present, Lin Liuli¡¯s demeanor shifted entirely. ¡°You rascal!¡± she exclaimed. ¡°How long has it been since you last came to visit me? You¡¯re quite impressive out there, huh? Running around looking for women, is that it?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an groaned. ¡°My life is over! A Daoist nun is hitting me!¡± ¡°Who says Daoist nuns can¡¯t hit people?¡± Lin Liuli smirked and began to count names off on her fingers. ¡°Su Xueni, Zi Lianyou, Ran Yuwei, Lu Miaoyin... and even Zhao Qingmeng? Impressive!¡± For every name, she smacked Lin Qi¡¯an lightly. By the time she was done, he was thoroughly exasperated. ¡°Sister, how do you know everything about me when you¡¯re all the way in Beidou Divine Palace?¡± ¡°What? I can¡¯t keep tabs on my little brother?¡± Though Lin Qi¡¯an was the awe-inspiring Crown Prince of Beiyang, capable of dominating any scene like a deity descending to earth, he could never stand tall in front of his elder sister. When Lin Liuli hit him, there was no retaliation¡ªwhat could he do, fight back? ¡°Sister, what¡¯s your cultivation level now?¡± ¡°Peak Celestial Realm.¡± ¡°So strong?¡± Her cultivation was higher than Zhao Yunji¡¯s. Though she was older by a few years, it was still reasonable. ¡ª The family of five reunited in a lively and joyous atmosphere. ¡°Liuli, aside from attending the grand ceremony, do you have any other plans?¡± Mu Qingzhu asked. Lin Liuli nodded. ¡°The Perfect Glazed Body requires enduring the Five Element Tribulations. I¡¯ve passed three but still need to face the hardest one: the Ice-Fire Tribulation. If I succeed, I should break through to the Dao Transformation Realm.¡± Hearing this, Lin Qi¡¯an suddenly understood. Xi Chao had the ¡°Frostfire Jade.¡± In the original plot, he would have helped his sister overcome the tribulation¡ªthese stories always followed that pattern. But this time, Lin Qi¡¯an was here, and things would be different. ¡°I¡¯ll kill that Destined Child myself and help my sister pass the tribulation,¡± he resolved. ¡ª The day of the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty¡¯s millennial grand ceremony was drawing near. Everyone who needed to arrive had arrived. Since even Lin Liuli had come, Lin Qi¡¯an naturally left Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s residence to stay at his own palace in Tianjian City. That night, he chatted with his two sisters until late, only leaving when they went to rest. As he stepped outside, he noticed a group of sword guards sneaking around in plain clothes, clearly preparing to leave. ¡°Crown Prince!¡± The guards quickly saluted upon noticing him. ¡°Looking shifty there. Where are you off to?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°To... the Pleasure Quarter,¡± one guard replied sheepishly. ¡°Would you like to join us, Your Highness?¡± ¡°The Pleasure Quarter?!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s eyes lit up. Chapter 142 Chapter 142 The Pleasure Quarter was no ordinary brothel; it was an official establishment for entertainment! The women here were often descendants of criminals or the surviving beauties of annihilated sects, ensuring the utmost quality. Among them were even cultivators, setting it far above the common brothels of the mortal realm. Hearing this, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s sleepiness immediately vanished. Even though his entourage of the most stunning women in the Canglan Dao Domain¡ªwhether it be Princess Zhao Qingmeng or Su Xueni¡ªwas already peerless, the allure of ¡°wildflowers¡± was always irresistible. Men, after all, craved a little thrill. ¡°How could His Highness be interested in the Pleasure Quarter? That¡¯s an insult to him!¡± ¡°Exactly! With so many beauties surrounding him, why would the Crown Prince care for such women?¡± The suggestion of Lin Qi¡¯an visiting the Pleasure Quarter made the others scoff. ¡°Ahem!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an cleared his throat. ¡°Well, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to take a look.¡± He had already visited Tianjian City¡¯s Pleasure Quarter, but as the largest city, Tai¡¯an¡¯s boasted unparalleled splendor. Not visiting would indeed be a missed opportunity. ¡°Your Highness truly wants to go?¡± ¡°Keep it down.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an frowned. ¡°Let me make this clear¡ªif my sister finds out, you¡¯re all finished.¡± After all, if his Daoist nun sister caught him indulging in such places, she would surely detest it. ¡°Understood, hehe!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an changed into a blue robe he rarely wore and even disguised himself. This way, no one would recognize him. If he entered as himself, the women of the entire Pleasure Quarter would throw themselves at him, and by the next day, the streets would buzz with rumors of the Crown Prince visiting the Pleasure Quarter¡ªa disaster in the making. ¡ª The streets were bustling, adorned with festive lanterns and decorations. ¡°Your Highness, tomorrow marks the grand opening of the ceremony. Today, the famed courtesan Qin Jinxian will perform!¡± ¡°Oh? Tell me more.¡± ¡°The Pleasure Quarter has twelve courtesans, and Qin Jinxian is the most beautiful. Known as the ¡®Music Immortal,¡¯ she plays the zither but doesn¡¯t sell her body. A single song from her is worth a fortune.¡± ¡°She became the talk of Tai¡¯an in her first year here! People saved every coin they had, going without food or drink, just to hear her play.¡± ¡°She¡¯s stunning, though it¡¯s a pity she only performs. Even the Crown Prince tried to approach her but was turned down.¡± ¡°They say she admires scholars. If Your Highness visited, she might even fall into your arms!¡± Wherever beauties gathered, the Crown Prince Zhao Ziyu was never far behind. However, as the Crown Prince of an immortal dynasty, he couldn¡¯t simply force himself upon her; maintaining his reputation mattered too much. ¡ª Led by his sword guards, Lin Qi¡¯an entered the enchanting district of Tai¡¯an¡¯s Pleasure Quarter. ¡°Welcome, sirs! Please, come in!¡± The alleys glittered with lanterns, music flowing from every corner. The yard was packed with people, all gathered to see Qin Jinxian. Scantily clad women roamed the area, enticing guests. Amidst the crowd, a familiar figure in a dark robe caught Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s eye. The Crown Prince, Zhao Ziyu! Of course, Lin Qi¡¯an thought. Where else would the Crown Prince be? Zhao Ziyu¡¯s disguise was laughably amateurish, making him instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with him. ¡°Stop.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an smiled faintly and called out, ¡°Crown Prince.¡± ¡°?!¡± Zhao Ziyu froze, shock written all over his face. How had he been recognized?! Ever since Su Xueni and Lu Miaoyin were ¡°stolen¡± by Lin Qi¡¯an, Zhao Ziyu felt as though misfortune clung to him. All the most beautiful women seemed to fall into Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s grasp! After much thought, he decided to heed his sister¡¯s advice and avoid provoking Lin Qi¡¯an. Fine, he told himself. He wouldn¡¯t touch the untouchable Saintesses. Tonight, he was just here to find an ordinary woman at the Pleasure Quarter. There was no way Lin Qi¡¯an would interfere here, right? This was his city! He was determined to enjoy the company of the famed Qin Jinxian, whose beauty rivaled even the Saintesses of major sects. ¡°Who are you?¡± Zhao Ziyu asked, glaring at Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡°I¡¯m your brother-in-law.¡± ¡°Lin...!¡± Zhao Ziyu¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, a million curses running through his mind. Damn it, Lin Qi¡¯an! Are you cursed to ruin my life? He had already yielded two Saintesses, Su Xueni and Lu Miaoyin. His sister was Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s, and even his eldest sister could be pursued if Lin Qi¡¯an so desired. Now this?! It was too much! ¡ª ¡°Coming to a place like this, you wouldn¡¯t want anyone else to know, right? Let¡¯s keep this between us,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an whispered with a sly smile. ¡°What are you planning? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re interested in women from the Pleasure Quarter too?¡± ¡°Just sampling the flavors; nothing too serious.¡± ¡°...¡± Lin Qi¡¯an had intentionally revealed his identity because he noticed another Destined Child present: Xi Chao, the Divine Son of Xiling! Drunk, Xi Chao was slouched by a pool, lazily holding two women. If Lin Qi¡¯an wanted to deal with him tonight, he couldn¡¯t act directly. Fortunately, Zhao Ziyu was here. ¡ª ¡°Look, Qin Jinxian is here!¡± The crowd turned their eyes to the towering pavilion. Under the bright moon, a graceful woman stepped out, clad in layers of exquisite red robes embroidered with golden phoenixes. Her gown trailed behind her, and her peach blossom eyes sparkled with enchanting charm, as if butterflies fluttered within them. Stunning! Even Lin Qi¡¯an had to admit she deserved seven points¡ªadd one for her allure as a ¡°wildflower,¡± and another for her musical talent. ¡°Qin Jinxian is truly beautiful...¡± ¡°She is, but she¡¯s still a notch below the two princesses.¡± ¡°Nonsense! Do you think you could meet a princess so casually?¡± The courtyard, packed with over a thousand people, buzzed with admiration and longing. Some had already begun fantasizing about undressing this celestial beauty, though such dreams were impossible¡ªshe only sold her art, not her body. ¡°To celebrate the grand ceremony tomorrow, Jinxian will perform a piece for everyone,¡± her voice rang out. ¡°Forgive my humble skills.¡± As the maid brought over the zither, Qin Jinxian gracefully seated herself on the veranda and began to play. Her melody was ethereal, the moonlight as gentle as flowing water, leaving the audience spellbound. It was a breathtaking experience! When the song ended, most were still lost in the beauty of the music. Suddenly, the drunken Divine Son of Xiling, Xi Chao, shouted, ¡°Your name is Qin Jinxian? Tonight, come and serve me!¡± Serve him?! The crowd gasped in unison. Qin Jinxian was famously known for not selling her body, and here was someone brazen enough to demand such a thing. A wave of jeers and scornful comments surged through the crowd, yet Xi Chao merely sneered, raising his wine jug and flinging its contents into the air. To everyone¡¯s astonishment, the droplets coalesced into an ice zither, emanating a chilling frost. As expected of a Destined Child¡ªafter enduring ridicule, he now sought to shock everyone with his power. Classic behavior. The crowd, predictably, was awed by the spectacle. ¡°He seems to be a formidable cultivator!¡± ¡°This technique is exquisite; I feel rather inferior by comparison.¡± ¡°Transforming wine into a zither? Incredible...¡± If Lin Qi¡¯an weren¡¯t there, this performance might have truly stolen the show. However, Lin Qi¡¯an subtly whispered something into Zhao Ziyu¡¯s ear, prompting the Crown Prince to step forward with a smirk. ¡°Wait! Qin Jinxian is mine tonight! No one else may compete!¡± The crowd turned, their attention now fully drawn to Zhao Ziyu. People chuckled¡ªanother contender openly vying for Qin Jinxian? Chapter 143 Chapter 143: Crown Prince: Lin Qi¡¯an, Are You Stealing My Woman Again?! ¡°You? You¡¯re not even worthy. Scram!¡± Xi Chao retorted coldly. Zhao Ziyu chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ll dedicate a poem to Qin Jinxian: ¡®Clouds think of clothes, flowers think of beauty. Spring breezes brush the threshold, dew glimmers rich and heavy.¡¯¡± The recitation drew gasps of admiration. This poem was a masterpiece, perfectly capturing feminine elegance. Who would¡¯ve thought they¡¯d hear such a gem in a place like the Pleasure Quarter? Was a famous scholar secretly among them? Qin Jinxian¡¯s beautiful eyes sparkled with wonder. Such a poem, dedicated to her, was a priceless gift! Even courtesans dreamed of immortal fame. Normally destined to fade into obscurity, a poem like this could elevate her reputation and worth beyond measure, leaving her name etched in history. Suddenly, a burst of flame shot into the air, shattering the ice zither into pieces. Xi Chao¡¯s icy voice followed. ¡°You dare challenge me? Believe me, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± ¡°That¡¯s the Divine Son of Xiling!¡± shouted a sword guard¡ªstrategically placed there by Lin Qi¡¯an. The crowd erupted. ¡°The Divine Son of Xiling?! He came to the Pleasure Quarter to fight over a courtesan?¡± Having his identity revealed, Xi Chao no longer bothered with pretense. ¡°Pathetic scholar, take your poem and leave before I make you regret it.¡± Zhao Ziyu¡¯s fury boiled over. ¡°A Divine Son dares to act like this on my turf?! This is Tai¡¯an City, my territory!¡± The crowd froze in shock. The Crown Prince?! Tai¡¯an¡¯s Pleasure Quarter had suddenly become the stage for two of the most powerful figures in the land to clash! ¡°Greetings, Your Highness!¡± the onlookers bowed in unison. Now, it was Xi Chao who looked like the fool. First, his grand display was overshadowed by a poem. Then, revealing his identity backfired spectacularly when it couldn¡¯t outmatch the Crown Prince¡¯s status. ¡ª ¡°Pfft, the Divine Son of Xiling is in such an awkward spot now.¡± ¡°He can¡¯t win by force or finesse...¡± ¡°Trying to throw his weight around in Tai¡¯an City¡¯s Pleasure Quarter? He must¡¯ve had too much to drink.¡± Xi Chao¡¯s face darkened at the mockery swirling around him. The humiliation was unbearable. He had come to unwind after a bad day, only to be humiliated even further. Though he was stronger than Zhao Ziyu, this was Tai¡¯an City¡ªhis odds were clear. Grimacing, he could only retreat. ¡°Hmph!¡± With a flick of his sleeve, Xi Chao stormed off. Ding! Destined Child Xi Chao failed to show off, mocked by the crowd. Luck Value -100. Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s plan was a complete success. His own identity remained hidden, while Zhao Ziyu¡¯s was fully exposed. ¡ª Moments later, Qin Jinxian¡¯s maid approached the scene, making her way through the crowd. Zhao Ziyu felt a swell of pride. Surely, Qin Jinxian had been so moved by the poem that she sent her maid to thank him. But to his utter shock, the maid walked right past him¡ªstraight to Lin Qi¡¯an! ¡°This gentleman, Miss Qin invites you upstairs for tea.¡± ¡°What?! Zhao Ziyu was flabbergasted. ¡°I¡¯m the one who recited the poem! Why is she inviting Lin Qi¡¯an?!¡± The crowd buzzed in astonishment. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Qin Jinxian invited someone? That¡¯s a first!¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve never seen her do this before. Who is that man?¡± Qin Jinxian had spent enough time in Tai¡¯an City to know Zhao Ziyu¡¯s capabilities¡ªor lack thereof. The poem had thrilled her at first, but upon realizing its true origin, she saw through the scheme. The one standing beside Zhao Ziyu, the one who whispered in his ear¡ªthat was the real poet. Thus, the invitation naturally went to Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡ª Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Lin Qi¡¯an didn¡¯t hesitate to accept the invitation. After all, he came here specifically for Qin Jinxian. Who would¡¯ve thought his visit would end this way? Successfully suppressing a Destined Child while also¡ªonce again¡ªsnatching the Crown Prince¡¯s intended woman? Lin Qi¡¯an was enjoying the benefits, though he felt a bit sheepish about it. Under countless envious gazes, Lin Qi¡¯an ascended the pavilion stairs at Qin Jinxian¡¯s invitation. The sword guards below exchanged whispers of admiration. ¡°I told you the Crown Prince would catch her eye!¡± ¡°Shh, don¡¯t let His Highness¡¯ identity slip...¡± ¡°Keep the story straight¡ªif Her Highness Liuli asks, just say the Crown Prince went to dine with friends.¡± Meanwhile, Zhao Ziyu could only stand frozen, glaring in frustration before stomping away. He didn¡¯t dare expose Lin Qi¡¯an, fearing retaliation. Who knew when Lin Qi¡¯an might swoop in again to steal another woman? ¡°Fine, fine, I¡¯ll let him have another one!¡± ¡ª Upstairs, Lin Qi¡¯an was invited into Qin Jinxian¡¯s private room and the two were alone. The room was fragrant and serene. Sitting by the table, Qin Jinxian, dressed in a flowing red gown, cast her enchanting gaze toward him. Her graceful figure was mesmerizing and she suddenly knelt beside him, ¡°This humble woman greets the Crown Prince.¡± ¡°Oh? And how did you figure out my identity?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an raised an eyebrow, surprised. Hearing his admission, Qin Jinxian¡¯s excitement grew, ¡°Someone who can craft such a magnificent poem yet willingly let another take credit¡ªwhy? If not for indifference to fame, then surely to avoid the spotlight.¡± ¡°When I invited you, the Crown Prince was furious but didn¡¯t question me, which only confirmed my suspicions. Thus, I deduced that your identity must be extraordinary.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an nodded with a smile. ¡°Sharp as ever.¡± He removed his disguise, and Qin Jinxian froze in awe. She had heard tales of the Crown Prince¡¯s striking appearance, but seeing him in person exceeded all expectations. Such an extraordinary man, sitting in her room¡ªit felt like a dream. ¡°Though I have entered the dust of the mortal world, I am still untouched. I ask the Crown Prince to cherish me...¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you claim to sell only your art, not your body?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an teased. ¡°If no money is exchanged, it isn¡¯t selling.¡± ¡°Fair and logical.¡± ¡ª The next morning, the grand ceremony of Tai¡¯an City was set to begin at noon. Knowing his family would attend the opening together, Lin Qi¡¯an slipped back home early, ensuring he¡¯d changed out of the scented clothes from the previous night. ¡ª ¡°Stop right there!¡± It was none other than Lin Liuli, clad in her black-and-white Daoist robes. The attire, favored by Daoists, symbolized Yin and Yang and the interplay of cosmic balance. ¡°Sister? Good morning!¡± ¡°Where were you last night?¡± Lin Liuli asked with a bright smile. ¡°I just stepped out; I was home sleeping last night. Why do you ask, Sister?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an replied, feigning innocence. ¡°Oh, nothing. I just heard a rumor about the Divine Son of Xiling and the Crown Prince having a confrontation at the Pleasure Quarter. I thought you might have gone too.¡± ¡°Come on, Sister, how could I go to the Pleasure Quarter? I, Lin Qi¡¯an, absolutely detest such places! Do you think I¡¯m like Xi Chao?¡± ¡°To think Xi Chao appears so gentlemanly on the surface yet indulges in such vulgar pleasures,¡± Lin Liuli remarked with a trace of disappointment. Ding! Lin Liuli expresses disappointment in Xi Chao. Luck Value -100. Smiling faintly, Lin Liuli said, ¡°Let¡¯s go prepare. The ceremony is about to begin.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± As Lin Qi¡¯an entered the house, Lin Liuli¡¯s smile quickly faded. ¡°You rascal! If I ever catch you, I¡¯ll make sure you regret it!¡± Chapter 144 Chapter 144: The Grand Ceremony Begins, The Sword Emperor Seeks to Kill a Saint! The grand central square of Tai¡¯an City was bustling with activity. Representatives from countless sects of the Canglan Dao Domain gathered in one place, creating a vibrant sea of colors with their varied attire. Among them, Lin Qi¡¯an and the delegation from Beiyang Tianjian City had arrived as well. ¡°So many people!¡± someone exclaimed, ¡°It¡¯s so lively! Nearly half the sects in the Canglan Dao Domain must be here.¡± The square was packed to the brim, with disciples from various sects blending into an enormous, colorful mosaic. Surrounding the square, countless vendors had set up stalls, their voices blending into the bustling atmosphere. At noon, Tai¡¯an Emperor stepped forward to deliver the opening speech. His voice resonated across the square: ¡°Thank you all for traveling from afar. This grand ceremony commemorates the three thousand years since the founding of the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty! During the celebration, feel free to enjoy the various events and activities throughout Tai¡¯an City.¡± He elaborated on the planned events: tributes to honored predecessors, banquets, and sect exchanges. While some activities were designed for the older generation, the highlight for the younger cultivators, including Lin Qi¡¯an, was the ¡°Beast Hunt Competition¡± scheduled for the next day. A vast ancient forest outside Tai¡¯an City was to serve as the battleground. Ferocious and demonic beasts, captured for their past crimes, would be released into the forest for the participants to subdue or slay. Captured beasts would then be used in the subsequent ¡°Beast Duel Competition.¡± As the crowd enthusiastically discussed the upcoming events, a sudden rumble interrupted them. Boom! The skies in the distance split apart as an enormous warship, resembling a colossal beast, emerged. Its overwhelming size blotted out the sun, casting vast shadows over the land below. ¡°My heavens! I¡¯ve never seen such a massive warship!¡± ¡°Who could it be? Is it a sect?¡± ¡°No sect I know of has such grandeur... What¡¯s going on?¡± Even the strongest cultivators, including the attending Great Emperors, narrowed their eyes in uncertainty. Tai¡¯an Emperor stepped forward and called out, his voice booming: ¡°Who dares arrive uninvited?¡± A thunderous response echoed from the ship, accompanied by the roar of wind and lightning: ¡°Tianhai Dao Domain!¡± The proclamation was like a thunderclap, stunning the crowd. A neighboring domain had sent such a massive warship to the ceremony¡ªthis was no casual visit. ¡°Tianhai Dao Domain? Why have they come? And with such fanfare...¡± The tension thickened as a powerful figure descended from the ship. A middle-aged woman with faintly glowing purple scales and horns stood amidst crackling lightning. Her aura was suffocating, unmistakably that of a Saint. She glared down at the gathering below and roared: ¡°Who is Lin Qi¡¯an? Step forward! You killed my son, and today I shall have your blood to repay his life!¡± Her saintly aura swept over the crowd, sending waves of pressure crashing down. Many younger cultivators paled, struggling to breathe under the oppressive force. ¡°She¡¯s here for Lin Qi¡¯an?¡± murmured someone among the crowd. ¡°It seems he caused some trouble in the Western Seas...¡± Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s sister, Lin Liuli, grabbed his arm in alarm, ¡°Is this really about you?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an replied calmly. ¡°Quick! Hide somewhere. Father and I will handle this!¡± Lin Liuli urged. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sister. It¡¯s nothing,¡± he reassured her with a smile. All eyes turned to Lin Qi¡¯an, curious about how he would respond to a Saint¡¯s challenge. Could he possibly retain his usual audacity? And how would the Sword Emperor handle this situation? Would he offer apologies to avoid conflict, or hand over his son to pacify the Saint? Suddenly, a figure soared into the sky¡ªit was Lin Wei Xuan, the Sword Emperor himself. His gray robe billowed as a terrifying sword intent erupted from his deep-set eyes, piercing through the heavens. ¡°Sword Emperor Lin Wei Xuan is taking action!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe I get to witness this moment in my lifetime!¡± The crowd erupted in awe as they watched the legendary Great Emperor of the Canglan Dao Domain. For many, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the embodiment of swordsmanship itself. Lin Weixuan raised his hand and pointed at the Saint. Instantly, the air trembled as an overwhelming force sealed off the space around her, cutting off all routes of escape. The pressure alone left the Saint gasping for breath, her expression contorted with shock. ¡°Sword Emperor is preventing her escape?¡± ¡°No way... Is he planning to kill her outright?¡± ¡°Impossible! Killing a Saint would provoke war between the domains!¡± Yet the Sword Emperor, renowned for his decisive actions, showed no hesitation. His finger traced a circle in the air, sending ripples through the void. A dazzling light emerged from the ripples, revealing a myriad of swords¡ªfirst hundreds, then thousands, then millions¡ªall arranged in perfect formation. Every blade pointed toward the female Saint, their sharp edges emanating an aura of annihilation. The Sword Emperor¡¯s intent was unmistakable¡ªhe was prepared to slay her without mercy. With a flick of his wrist, the Sword Emperor unleashed millions of radiant swords, each infused with devastating intent. The sheer elegance and terrifying precision left the crowd breathless. ¡°Every movement creates millions of sword techniques. Such divine power... truly beyond words!¡± ¡°First, he sealed her escape route, and now he¡¯s unleashed this unparalleled ability. He¡¯s determined to annihilate her!¡± Spectators murmured in awe, knowing that witnessing the Sword Emperor¡¯s might alone made the grand ceremony worthwhile. The female Saint, trembling with wide eyes, struggled to counter. Her pupils quivered, and blood seeped from her lips as she stared at the cascading swords with disbelief. Impossible! Even if he is a Great Emperor, how can I be so utterly powerless? ¡°Go.¡± With that single command, the millions of light swords descended like a torrential rainstorm, piercing toward her with unrelenting fury. The Saint hastily channeled her spiritual energy for defense, but it shattered upon contact with the first wave. Blood sprayed from her mouth as her body trembled. ¡°These light swords... Each one alone could kill a Sovereign Realm cultivator!¡± ¡°This is equivalent to millions of Sovereign-level warriors attacking her simultaneously...¡± ¡°How terrifying! If the Sword Emperor wanted, this technique could wipe out millions below the Sovereign Realm in an instant!¡± The crowd shuddered in fear and reverence. Blade Emperor Gu Jingyun, watching from afar, couldn¡¯t help but twitch his lips. ¡°I thought my blade intent, honed over a century, could finally surpass Lin Weixuan¡¯s swordsmanship. But now it seems his strength has grown even more... It¡¯s hard to say anymore.¡± Even Tai¡¯an Emperor sighed in resignation. Though also a Great Emperor, his battle prowess paled compared to Lin Wei Xuan¡¯s. Among Great Emperors, there was a gulf that could not be bridged. While he and Xiling Emperor represented the middle tier, Lin Weixuan and Gu Jingyun belonged to the upper echelon. Lin Wei Xuan, in particular, could easily fight two lesser Great Emperors simultaneously without faltering. The sky filled with streaks of light as millions of swords hovered in perfect formation, aimed unwaveringly at the Saint. The sheer control Lin Wei Xuan exhibited over such devastating power astounded all. Not a single ripple of destruction touched the ground or the nearby structures¡ªsomething lesser Great Emperors could never achieve. ¡°For his son, the Sword Emperor shows no mercy...¡± ¡°To threaten the Crown Prince in the Canglan Dao Domain is to court death!¡± ¡°Even if his son slaughtered her entire clan, Lin Weixuan wouldn¡¯t hesitate to protect him!¡± ¡°His principle is clear¡ªloyalty to family above all else!¡± This unyielding nature was precisely why Lin Qi¡¯an had chosen to accept the system¡¯s path as a villain. To protect his family and crush any so-called ¡°Destined Children¡± threatening their safety, he had taken this unorthodox route. Now, it was his father shielding him. But one day, Lin Qi¡¯an knew he would bear the weight of this responsibility, standing as the pillar of his family. ¡°The Sword Emperor¡¯s name is truly well-deserved!¡± Suddenly, a man descended from the colossal warship¡ªa member of the Kui Dragon Clan, dressed in luxurious purple-gold robes with lightning crackling across his body. His brown hair swayed as his domineering aura spread through the area. This was Kui Shili, the Great Emperor of the Kui Dragon Clan, and a cornerstone of the Tianhai Dao Domain¡¯s might. The female Saint, though powerful, was merely a clan elder and held no authority compared to him. Her vendetta was personal and lacked the domain¡¯s endorsement. Kui Shili raised his hand, summoning a shield of lightning that saved the Saint from certain death. Without his intervention, she would have perished under the Sword Emperor¡¯s wrath. ¡°She only said a few words, and the Sword Emperor sought to kill her. Isn¡¯t that too tyrannical?¡± Kui Shili asked. Lin Wei Xuan chuckled. ¡°She¡¯s still alive, which means I haven¡¯t gone too far.¡± The casual tone carried an unmistakable dominance. ¡°If I truly intended to kill her, do you think you could stop me? Her survival is simply my indulgence.¡± Kui Shili¡¯s expression darkened at the implicit threat. Tai¡¯an Emperor spoke up, his tone sharp, ¡°If the Tianhai Dao Domain has come all this way for such a trivial matter, you may return now!¡± ¡°We wouldn¡¯t waste time over personal grudges,¡± Kui Shili replied with a faint smile. Another figure descended from the warship, exuding an imposing aura. This man, bald with obsidian skin and muscles like coiled dragons, emanated raw power with every step. The Tianhai Dao Domain had dispatched not one but two Great Emperors! Accompanying them were Saints and other formidable experts, transforming this ceremony into an unprecedented gathering of power. ¡°We heard about the millennium celebration in the Canglan Dao Domain and decided to join in the festivities. Our young talents also seek to exchange pointers with yours. Wouldn¡¯t that make the event more lively?¡± Kui Shili proposed with a smile. Even before he finished, nearly a hundred beams of light shot down from the warship¡ªTianhai Dao Domain¡¯s prodigies. Most were non-human geniuses, with only a few humans among them. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to trample these so-called geniuses of the Canglan Dao Domain!¡± ¡°I heard they¡¯re all weaklings¡ªonly a handful have even reached the peak of the Celestial Realm!¡± ¡°Pathetic. This will be boring.¡± Confidence radiated from their every word, their faces brimming with arrogance. Kui Shili added, ¡°Would it be possible for us to participate in the grand ceremony? It would surely make this event even more spectacular!¡± His real goal, however, wasn¡¯t simple revenge for the female Saint. He sought to crush the younger generation of the Canglan Dao Domain, seize opportunities from the ceremony, and set the stage for future invasions. Tai¡¯an Emperor hesitated. Refusing would make their domain appear cowardly, but accepting and losing would tarnish their reputation. ¡°Yes,¡± Lin Weixuan answered decisively, cutting through the tension. His single word caused ripples of astonishment among the crowd. No one had expected the ceremony to take such a turn, with outsiders now entering the fray. The stakes and intensity had soared. For the Canglan Dao Domain¡¯s young talents, this was a battle of honor. Could they withstand the pressure from the Tianhai Dao Domain? Lin Qi¡¯an felt the weight settle heavily on his shoulders. He had to face not only three ¡°Destined Children¡± but also fend off personal vendettas while protecting the reputation of his domain. His father¡¯s decision carried an unspoken message: ¡°I trust my son. Bring it on!¡± Chapter 145 Chapter 145: Lin Qi¡¯an Meets Lu Weishuang at Night, A Promise Worth a Thousand Gold! The guests from the Tianhai Dao Domain had all settled in Tai¡¯an City. Tomorrow marked the beginning of the first contest for the younger generation: the ¡°Beast Hunt Battle.¡± Among the crowd of many races, a particular human woman caught Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s attention. Her hair was streaked with white, evidence of her advanced age, and her high cultivation realm reflected her profound wisdom and respectability. She looked so familiar! After a moment of thought, Lin Qi¡¯an suddenly remembered. She was... the woman the Thunder Emperor never met, even until his dying day! Years ago, the Thunder Emperor had promised her that in ten years, he would seek her out in the Tianhai Dao Domain. But due to being poisoned with demonic venom, he never made it, dying alone in his cave dwelling. Perhaps she still didn¡¯t know that the Thunder Emperor had already perished, as Lin Qi¡¯an was the only one who had discovered the cave dwelling; no one else had ever found it. Lin Qi¡¯an had once promised to deliver the Thunder Emperor¡¯s letter and sword to her. He never went back on his word. Through some inquiries, he learned that the woman¡¯s name was Lu Weishuang, a Saint Realm expert. But now wasn¡¯t the right time to approach her. As someone deeply loathed by the Heavenly Dao Domain cultivators, approaching her rashly would only invite trouble and make her a target. It was better to find out where she was staying and visit her under cover of night. ¡ª That evening. In the courtyard where Lu Weishuang resided, her disciple Tong Xiang appeared more anxious than she did. ¡°Master, since we¡¯ve come all the way to the Canglan Dao Domain, why not inquire about the Thunder Emperor¡¯s whereabouts?¡± Tong Xiang was a warm-hearted man, though his talent was mediocre. After cultivating for hundreds of years, he had only reached the Celestial Dawn Realm. He had always wanted to help his master resolve this lingering regret. ¡°What¡¯s the point of asking? It¡¯s been so long; he¡¯s probably dead,¡± Lu Weishuang replied, her tone calm as she sat on a stone chair, sipping tea without joy or sorrow. She hadn¡¯t smiled in over a thousand years, and her cultivation realm had stagnated for just as long. People said she had lost all vitality, like a living corpse. ¡°Master, alive or dead, we need to know! I¡¯ll find out why he didn¡¯t come to see you. This can¡¯t just end like this!¡± Tong Xiang was more worried than anyone. Recently, his master had seemed weaker and weaker, with signs of her cultivation level declining. He had suggested seeking famous healers, but she refused... His master had loved only the Thunder Emperor in her entire life. Ever since he failed to keep his promise, she had never been close to any other man. Even the Kui Dragon Emperor pursued her personally, but she never accepted him. This trip to the Canglan Dao Domain was only because of the Kui Dragon Emperor¡¯s invitation, coupled with Tong Xiang¡¯s insistence. She had reluctantly agreed. Tong Xiang was terrified as he feared that if things continued like this, his master¡¯s vitality would completely fade, and she would pass away. ¡°Perhaps the Great Emperors of the Canglan Dao Domain know something about the Thunder Emperor¡¯s whereabouts. I¡¯ll inquire tomorrow!¡± ¡°No need to trouble yourself. Focus on preparing for the ceremony; consider it a valuable experience,¡± Lu Weishuang said as she massaged her temples. ¡°I¡¯m tired. Go back and rest.¡± ¡°Master...¡± Suddenly, a figure appeared at the courtyard gate. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Tong Xiang immediately grew alert and when he saw who it was, his gaze filled with hostility. The Crown Prince of Beiyang, Lin Qi¡¯an! How dare he come here alone? Did he have a death wish? This was the residence of the Tianhai Dao Domain cultivators! If someone wanted to kill him, no one would have time to save him. Coming here was akin to stepping into a dragon¡¯s den! ¡°What are you doing here? Do you want to die? Get lost before someone finds you. I can pretend I didn¡¯t see you!¡± Tong Xiang said harshly. ¡°You¡¯re quite kind-hearted, but I¡¯m here to meet Senior Lu,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an replied, stepping forward fearlessly. Tong Xiang was about to say more when Lu Weishuang spoke softly, ¡°It¡¯s fine. What do you need from me? Speak.¡± Her pupils were dull, her face pale, and her voice weak. Lin Qi¡¯an could tell that this senior likely didn¡¯t have much time left unless she could find a reason to keep living and break through to the next realm to restore her vitality. Even the most potent elixirs wouldn¡¯t help otherwise. ¡°Senior Lu, this matter is of great importance. We must be cautious; the walls have ears.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Lu Weishuang replied as she set up a soundproof barrier. ¡°To be honest, I¡¯ve come to deliver two items to you,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said. ¡°This letter is the first.¡± The moment Lu Weishuang received the letter, a glimmer of light appeared in her dull pupils. Her hands trembled uncontrollably. ¡°This letter... this letter is...¡± Tong Xiang was struck speechless. In the centuries he had followed his master, he had never seen her so agitated. Her usual emotionless demeanor had always seemed normal. Without hesitation, Lu Weishuang tore open the letter. It was indeed written by the Thunder Emperor himself, explaining why he hadn¡¯t come to see her. Tears began to fall onto the yellowed letter, soaking the delicate paper as Lu Weishuang read it. At the end of the letter, it said, *¡±I have little time left and fear that fate does not favor us. Since that is so, I will no longer seek you out. ¨C Sikong Yun¡±* A heartache that had persisted for thousands of years was finally resolved today. Lu Weishuang¡¯s silent tears flowed like a broken dam, streaming down her face as she choked with emotion. The letter seemed to reverse the river of time, taking her back to her youthful days when they had made that solemn promise to each other. ¡°Master...¡± Tong Xiang was utterly dumbfounded. The master who had always accepted calamities with a calm demeanor, as if nothing could shake her, was now crying. What on earth had this boy shown her? ¡°Where did you get this letter?¡± Lu Weishuang asked, her voice trembling. ¡°From the Thunder Emperor¡¯s cave dwelling. I was fortunate enough to inherit his legacy and promised the remnant of his soul that I would deliver these items to you,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an explained truthfully. ¡°When I saw your portrait in his cave, I recalled it today and came, hoping to fulfill that promise.¡± He then took out another item¡ªthe Thunder Emperor¡¯s sword, Thunder Calamity. Lu Weishuang¡¯s pupils constricted sharply as soon as she saw it. Cradling the sword in her arms, she caressed it gently as if she were holding a newborn child. At that moment, Tong Xiang suddenly understood everything, and his heart was filled with joy. He never imagined that the Crown Prince of Beiyang, Lin Qi¡¯an, would be the one to resolve his master¡¯s lifelong regret. All the hostility he¡¯d held toward Lin Qi¡¯an instantly evaporated, replaced by overwhelming gratitude. After a long while, Lu Weishuang finally composed herself. Tong Xiang could distinctly feel that the grayness in his master¡¯s eyes had lessened. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, do you realize this is an Emperor Weapon? You could have kept it for yourself. Why give it to me?¡± An Emperor Weapon was an ultimate treasure, coveted even by Great Emperors. How could a junior like him willingly give it up? ¡°An Emperor Weapon is extraordinary, but not as heavy as a promise,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said with a calm smile. ¡°Good. Just for those words, if Kui Jinling comes after you again, I will protect you,¡± Lu Weishuang said solemnly. ¡°Additionally, this Thunder Calamity Sword can regain its full Emperor Weapon power, and I can assist with that.¡± She infused spiritual energy into the sword, and in an instant, a pure, shimmering light enveloped it like flowing water. Lin Qi¡¯an immediately felt the sword¡¯s power intensify. He realized that the Thunder Emperor must have sealed the sword long ago to prevent misuse, and only Lu Weishuang had the means to undo it. ¡°The second layer of the seal requires the power of the Five Elements Purple Heaven Divine Lightning to fully unlock. That will be up to you,¡± she explained. He remembered Zhao Yunji had previously struggled to control the Golden Lightning. After that came Earth Lightning. To activate the full power of this weapon, Lin Qi¡¯an would either need to cultivate several levels of the Thunder Emperor¡¯s techniques himself or borrow Zhao Yunji¡¯s summoned lightning. Considering this, letting Lu Weishuang study the Thunder Emperor¡¯s techniques could benefit both of them. ¡°Thank you, Senior,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said with a respectful bow. ¡°Thank you, Brother Lin!¡± Tong Xiang followed suit, bowing deeply, his gratitude evident. He seemed ready to kneel in thanks. He knew this gesture might save his master¡¯s life. ¡°If you ever need my help in the future, Brother Lin, I will scale mountains of swords and plunge into seas of fire for you!¡± ¡°Haha, that won¡¯t be necessary,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an replied with a light laugh. Lu Weishuang thought for a moment before taking out a purple bead from her storage ring. ¡°Take this as a token of my thanks.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked curiously. ¡°I heard that one of the events in the ceremony involves beast dueling. Perhaps the Canglan Dao Domain isn¡¯t skilled in this area, but this should help you,¡± Lu Weishuang explained. The next phase involved hunting demonic beasts, not only capturing them but also taming them. Afterward, these beasts would compete, similar to a cricket fight. In terms of beast dueling, the Canglan Dao Domain was likely inexperienced, while the Heavenly Dao Domain, with its vast races, excelled at such competitions. ¡°If your spirit beast consumes this, it may evolve and grow stronger. Additionally, it can temporarily store the power of deceased demonic beasts, though that aspect is of lesser use,¡± she said. Tong Xiang was stunned¡ªhe had never seen his master so engaged in conversation before! His heart swelled with emotion. ¡°Thank you, Senior...¡± Lin Qi¡¯an accepted the bead without hesitation. This item could prove invaluable to him. He already possessed another treasure: the Myriad Beast Scripture. If he channeled the power of the Myriad Beast Scripture into the essence within this bead and had Jiuying consume it, she could evolve into a fearsome super-beast! At that point, who could rival her? Lu Weishuang¡¯s kindness toward Lin Qi¡¯an stemmed largely from the fact that he had inherited the Thunder Emperor¡¯s legacy. Perhaps she even saw him as her sole remaining connection to the past. Though Lin Qi¡¯an aspired to be a villain, the most compelling villains always adhered to principles¡ªthey didn¡¯t commit evil indiscriminately. ¡°Someone¡¯s coming. Hide!¡± Lu Weishuang suddenly raised her hand, pushing Lin Qi¡¯an into the house with a burst of energy. As fate would have it, the newcomer was none other than the woman who sought to kill Lin Qi¡¯an in revenge. Chapter 146 Chapter 146: Gathering of Geniuses, the First Day of Battle Begins! The visitor was Kui Jinling, an elder of the Kui Dragon Clan, a Saint Realm expert, accompanied by her personal disciple. Lu Weishuang remained as cold as ever, her expression indifferent. ¡°What brings you here?¡± she asked plainly. ¡°I¡¯ll skip the formalities. I recall you have a treasure called the Myriad Beast Essence Spirit. Hand it over¡ªmy disciple may find it useful,¡± Kui Jinling demanded. Lu Weishuang had already given the treasure to Lin Qi¡¯an, so there was no way she could produce it now. Maintaining her composure, she replied, ¡°Why should I give it to you?¡± Kui Jinling sneered. ¡°Because your disciple, just like you, is nothing but useless mud that can¡¯t stick to the wall. Hand it over, and perhaps my disciple can bring some honor to the Canglan Dao Domain.¡± Tong Xiang, Lu Weishuang¡¯s disciple, was infuriated. ¡°You can insult me, but don¡¯t slander my master!¡± Kui Jinling laughed coldly. ¡°A little human waste who barely reached the Celestial Realm in centuries¡ªdo you think you can compare to geniuses who achieve the same realm in decades? Your master, always sickly, probably doesn¡¯t have long to live. It¡¯d be better to leave such treasures to those who can actually use them.¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± Tong Xiang was so angry his face turned red, fists clenched tightly. Kui Jinling sneered again. ¡°You should be grateful that the Kui Dragon Emperor fancies you, yet you act all high and mighty! Truly clueless.¡± Everyone knew Kui Jinling was jealous of Lu Weishuang because the Kui Dragon Emperor favored the latter over her. However, Lu Weishuang, unwilling to get close to any man, lacked support and was subjected to constant suppression. Her disdain for petty conflicts only encouraged more provocations. ¡°Leave,¡± Lu Weishuang commanded coldly. ¡°My, my, you¡¯re actually angry? That¡¯s quite a rare sight!¡± Kui Jinling smirked. ¡°Are you sure you won¡¯t hand it over? If so, your secret about hiding a man might not stay hidden much longer.¡± ¡°You, the so-called noble Saint, keeping a human man in secret¡ªso you disdain the men of the myriad races, is that it?¡± Kui Jinling taunted. Tong Xiang shouted angrily, ¡°Enough with your slander! My master¡¯s restraint doesn¡¯t mean you can act however you please!¡± ¡°Well, it seems I¡¯ll have to expose you right here,¡± Kui Jinling declared before walking toward the door. Tong Xiang¡¯s heart nearly stopped. He couldn¡¯t bear to imagine the consequences. If Lin Qi¡¯an were found, his master would surely defend him, leading to a clash between two Saints. The revelation would bring ruin to her reputation in the Tianhai Dao Domain. ¡°Stop right there. Who allowed you to enter?¡± Lu Weishuang¡¯s tone grew sharp, betraying her worry. ¡°Save your breath, Lu Saint. Your anger only confirms my suspicions. Let¡¯s see what kind of man you¡¯re hiding.¡± Kui Jinling pushed the door open with a resounding bang and stepped inside. Tong Xiang¡¯s heart pounded furiously, unable to fathom what would come next. If Lin Qi¡¯an were discovered, the fallout would be catastrophic. However, contrary to expectations, Kui Jinling found nothing. She paced the room, visibly perplexed. Where was he? She had distinctly sensed a trace of someone¡¯s aura earlier, and there was no other place he could have gone. Lu Weishuang forced herself to stay calm, her face betraying no emotion even as relief washed over her. ¡°Finished looking? Get out. I won¡¯t say it again.¡± Kui Jinling clicked her tongue in irritation. ¡°Fine, consider yourself lucky today. Even without the Myriad Beast Essence Spirit, my disciple will still crush those useless Canglan Dao Domain participants. Let¡¯s go!¡± With a sour expression, Kui Jinling led her group away. Only then did Lu Weishuang let out a quiet sigh of relief. What happened next left everyone in shock. Lin Qi¡¯an emerged from the room. ¡°You... how?¡± Tong Xiang staggered back a few steps, looking as if he¡¯d seen a ghost. ¡°No worries. I used a secret technique to hide. I¡¯ll be on my way now,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said with a calm smile. ¡°Go ahead,¡± Lu Weishuang nodded slightly, her eyes carrying a rare hint of approval. Tong Xiang was stunned. His master had never looked at anyone with such an expression before. Instead of feeling jealous, he regarded Lin Qi¡¯an as a role model. Hard work could make up for his shortcomings¡ªhe just needed to try harder. ¡ª The Next Day The grand event unfolded in an orderly fashion, with all attention on the opening act: the Beast Hunt! Though just an appetizer to the main battles, the first round¡¯s outcome would decide the participants¡¯ reputations. Especially for the Canglan Dao Domain contestants, who not only faced external foes but also internal rivalries. This year¡¯s opponents were particularly formidable. Outside Tai¡¯an City, the Autumn Mist Forest stretched across vast lands, serving as the stage for the first round of the hunt. The rules were simple. Previously captured vicious beasts and demonic creatures were imprisoned in the forest, secured by powerful barriers. The participants had two objectives: capture beasts for the second round¡¯s battles and hunt as many as possible for higher scores. While human conflict was prohibited, with intentional harm being grounds for disqualification, countless recording stones had been placed in the forest to allow the audience to witness the action. This year¡¯s audience was exceptionally prestigious. The number of Great Emperors present required more than two hands to count. Figures such as the Sword Emperor, Blade Emperor, Tai¡¯an Emperor, and Kui Dragon Emperor all attended, along with numerous Saints and countless experts below them. Most of their heirs and disciples were competing in the hunt, as participation was a prerequisite for the final ¡°Forbidden Land Expedition.¡± ¡°Well, well, the aloof Lu Saint is here too. What a surprise!¡± Kui Jinling sneered upon spotting Lu Weishuang at the event. Lu Weishuang ignored the provocation. Her true focus was on Lin Qi¡¯an, like many others. Even the Tianhai Dao Domain powerhouses were curious about the young man who had earned a Saint¡¯s enmity. The participants entered the forest from different points. Among them were notable figures such as Beiyang¡¯s Lin Qi¡¯an, Xiling¡¯s Divine Son Xi Chao, Tai¡¯an Princess Zhao Yunji, Beidou Divine Sect¡¯s Saintess Lin Liuli, the Destiny Child Ye Yun, Blade Emperor¡¯s disciple Li Xuan, and Kui Dragon Divine Son Kui Xiao. Thus began the highly anticipated first day of battle. Chapter 147 Chapter 147: Feigning Injury, Unexpectedly Luring His Elder Sister Lin Qi¡¯an entered the forest, where towering trees, though blocking out the sky and sunlight, still allowed faint beams of light to filter through the dense canopy. The interwoven foliage formed an endless sea of green above. However, beneath this vibrant and lush scenery lay a dangerous truth¡ªthe forest was crawling with ferocious beasts and demonic creatures. A single misstep could lead to becoming their prey. [Ding! Detected competition with multiple Destined Children. Villain task received.].[Task: Borrow a blade to kill¡ªlure ferocious beasts to hunt the protagonists.]. Lin Qi¡¯an frowned as he read the task. A wave of discomfort hit him, ¡°What kind of trash task is this?¡± The goal of the beast-hunting competition was to kill beasts, yet the system wanted him to lure beasts to the Destined Children, essentially serving them on a platter. He scoffed. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a protagonist get killed by beasts. They¡¯re always treated like stepping stones for leveling up, delivering easy experience points.¡± [Ding! Host dissatisfaction detected. Do you wish to invert the task objective?]. ¡°Invert? What does that mean?¡± [Task inversion: Make the Destined Children lure beasts to hunt down the host. This greatly increases difficulty but offers more substantial rewards.].[Reward: If the attempt fails, all Destined Children lose luck value, and host gains +50 Luck.]. ¡°Oh? Now this sounds interesting!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s interest was piqued. Typically, his luck value would only increase after seizing the core fortune of a protagonist. To have a task directly grant it was a rare opportunity. ¡°Let them run around dealing with beasts while I wait for the rewards to come to me. That¡¯s the way it should be,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Running around to attract beasts only to get killed by protagonists is just stupid.¡± Executing the plan, however, posed a challenge. He needed to orchestrate a scenario where the Destined Children would lure beasts toward him. Given their intent to kill him, and the competition rules prohibiting direct attacks in the first round, beasts became their only viable weapon. Lin Qi¡¯an concluded that he needed to show a vulnerability¡ªlike being injured and immobile. Seeing him as a sitting duck, the Destined Children would surely plot against him. The plan was set. All that remained was to stage an injury convincingly. Lin Qi¡¯an ventured deeper into the forest. Soon, his first target appeared. ¡°Look! The Crown Prince has encountered a beast!¡± With his reputation from winning the Great Hunt, Lin Qi¡¯an remained a focal point of attention. This event, being a key competition between two Dao Domains, drew even more eyes. The moment news spread that he had engaged a beast, all attention shifted toward him. ¡°It¡¯s the Eight-Eyed Demon Ape!¡± The screen displayed a ten-meter-tall ape. Its dense fur, bulging muscles, and eight blood-red eyes made for a terrifying sight. Its protruding fangs gleamed menacingly. ¡°If I recall, capturing that creature once required three mid-Celestial Realm experts.¡± ¡°Indeed, its speed and strength are outrageous. Its real power rivals a mid-stage Celestial Realm cultivator.¡± ¡°The Crown Prince is starting off with a tough one!¡± ¡°Relax. For someone like him, this beast shouldn¡¯t pose a problem.¡± The spectators had complete faith in Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s strength. After all, he had overcome countless higher-level opponents. Those familiar with his true abilities, like Zhao Qingmeng, believed even ten such beasts would pose no threat. Yet Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s performance was surprising. He engaged the demon ape in an even match, with neither gaining the upper hand. ¡°What¡¯s going on? This isn¡¯t like the Crown Prince...¡± ¡°With his strength, shouldn¡¯t he have killed it instantly?¡± ¡°Yeah, this is strange.¡± Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s sharp instincts immediately detected something deliberate. ¡°There¡¯s no way he¡¯s struggling. He¡¯s doing this on purpose.¡± She knew Lin Qi¡¯an could easily take down even peak Celestial Realm beasts. A mid-stage beast was hardly a challenge for him. Su Xueni and Ran Yuwei, who had been around Lin Qi¡¯an long enough, also recognized the act. However, the majority of spectators were unaware. Even Lu Weishuang¡¯s eyes betrayed a hint of worry¡ªshe couldn¡¯t gauge Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s true strength. At this moment, the battle took a sudden turn. The Eight-Eyed Demon Ape roared and raised its iron-like fist, slamming it down with devastating force. Leaves scattered as the wind howled. Boom! The impact struck Lin Qi¡¯an head-on, sending him flying like a cannonball. He smashed through countless trees, leaving a trail of destruction as a terrifying shockwave spread across ten miles. When the dust settled, the screen shifted to Lin Qi¡¯an. To everyone¡¯s astonishment, he was retreating, his complexion pale and sickly, as though gravely injured. The audience erupted into chaos, especially those from the Tianhai Dao Domain, as mockery filled the air. ¡°So, this is all the kid¡¯s got? And he dares to participate? Looks like the standards for the Canglan Dao Domain¡¯s competition aren¡¯t very high!¡± ¡°He might just die in there if he¡¯s not careful. No need for the elders to do anything.¡± ¡°The so-called Crown Prince of Beiyang is so pathetic, getting beaten this badly by a mid-stage Celestial Realm beast.¡± ¡°Boring. Let¡¯s go watch someone else.¡± Disinterested viewers began shifting their focus to other dazzling prodigies. However, Lin Hongyu was panicking. ¡°Mother! What if Brother is really hurt? What should we do?¡± she asked in a rush. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯ll be fine,¡± her mother replied with a calm demeanor. ¡°During the Great Hunt, Lin Qi¡¯an already killed a Celestial Realm demonic beast in seconds. Now, he¡¯s even stronger. That boy must have his own plan. Let¡¯s not worry for now.¡± Meanwhile, other geniuses began showcasing their remarkable abilities. ¡°Look! Li Xuan just subdued a peak Celestial Realm beast!¡± ¡°As expected of the Blade Emperor¡¯s personal disciple. Impressive!¡± ¡°Ye Yun is so strong! He just annihilated two mid-Celestial Realm beasts that were ganging up on him!¡± ¡°That divine aura... is that the Divine Son of the Kui Dragon Clan?¡± The first round had turned into a magnificent display of talent, with prodigies from all factions shining brilliantly. Nearly everyone met expectations, slaying beasts and advancing triumphantly. Everyone, that is, except Lin Qi¡¯an. After his apparent loss in the first battle, he simply sat on the ground, quietly ¡°recovering¡± and making no further moves. The first to notice Lin Qi¡¯an was Xi Chao, the Divine Son of the Western Tombs. From afar, he saw Lin Qi¡¯an sitting cross-legged, completely still. ¡°He¡¯s healing his wounds?¡± Xi Chao sneered. ¡°Looks like the Crown Prince of Beiyang is only good for charming a few women.¡± A sinister gleam flashed in his eyes. ¡°This seems like an opportunity.¡± Since direct attacks on participants were forbidden in the Beast Hunting Competition, if Lin Qi¡¯an were killed by a ferocious beast while recovering, it would be entirely permissible. Xi Chao grinned. This was the perfect scenario for borrowed blades. An idea quickly formed in his mind. He began driving more ferocious beasts toward Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s location, intending to give him a deadly ¡°surprise.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on with the Divine Son of the Xiling? Why is he herding beasts instead of fighting them?¡± the spectators wondered in confusion. Beast after beast was drawn toward Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s position, the ground trembling with their approach as their roars echoed through the forest. The commotion soon caught the attention of other participants, who rushed over to investigate, including Lin Liuli. When Lin Liuli arrived, she was shocked to see Lin Qi¡¯an seemingly injured, fending off attacks from a Wild Ghost Lizard that was relentlessly trying to break through his defenses. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an!¡± she shouted, immediately descending to his side. With a single palm strike, she sent the lizard flying, making it cough up blood as it retreated. Turning to her brother with concern, she asked, ¡°You¡¯re injured? What happened?¡± ¡°Uh... I got careless and underestimated my opponent during the fight,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said, taking advantage of the situation to deceive her. ¡°Idiot!¡± Lin Liuli snapped, her expression a mix of worry and frustration. From what she could see, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s cultivation seemed to only be at the early Celestial Realm. Coupled with the rumors she had heard, she couldn¡¯t accurately assess his true strength, so she believed him. After all, being at the early Celestial Realm in a competition filled with powerful beasts made getting injured entirely plausible. ¡°Focus on recovering. I¡¯ll guard you!¡± she declared firmly. ¡°Sis, you don¡¯t have to¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up and listen. As long as I¡¯m here, no one will harm you.¡± ¡°...¡± Lin Qi¡¯an felt both touched and exasperated. He hadn¡¯t anticipated his sister would show up, and this was truly an accident. Now, he could only hope that once the Destined Children lures a tide of beasts his way, Lin Liuli would be able to hold her ground. Chapter 148 Chapter 148: Two Fairies Protect Lin Qi¡¯an, He Finally Drops the Act! ¡°Is the Saintess Liuli actually protecting Lin Qi¡¯an?¡± ¡°Sigh... What should we do now?¡± Witnessing this scene, the disciples of Beidou Divine Palace shook their heads and sighed in frustration, their spirits thoroughly dampened. They had hoped for Lin Liuli to stand out and shine. After all, the points earned in these matches directly determined who could enter the forbidden grounds in the end. By staying behind to guard Lin Qi¡¯an, Lin Liuli essentially forfeited her chance to compete. ¡°That Lin Qi¡¯an! If he¡¯s not strong enough, he should just back out voluntarily instead of dragging the Saintess down with him!¡± ¡°Say no more. She¡¯s his elder sister; naturally, she¡¯s concerned for him.¡± Meanwhile, the people of Tianjian City were equally dejected, as if they were mourning a great loss. Lin Qi¡¯an and Lin Liuli were their pride, the very faces of their city. Now, both seemed to have lost their competitive edge, and the rounds ahead looked bleak. ¡ª Unaware that Lin Liuli was present, the forces of the Western Dynasty focused solely on driving ferocious beasts toward Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s location. Their strategy repeated in cycles, resulting in seven or eight powerful beasts being herded directly to where Lin Qi¡¯an was healing. The audience finally realized what was happening, and the disciples of Tianjian City erupted in anger. ¡°Western Divine Hall! Who would have thought your Divine Son would resort to such despicable tactics!¡± ¡°Driving beasts to harm the Young Master¡ªwhat revolting methods!¡± Outrage filled the air as they berated the Western Divine Hall. However, the disciples of the Western Divine Hall sat unmoved, sneering. ¡°Despicable? Our Divine Son is just being kind, worried that your Young Master¡¯s points are too low, so he sent beasts your way!¡± ¡°Hahaha, and now you¡¯re blaming us? Shouldn¡¯t you ask why your Young Master got injured in the first place?¡± ¡°This is hilarious. Weak and still full of complaints.¡± Ran Yuwei almost stepped forward to defend Lin Qi¡¯an, but Su Xueni held her back. ¡°No need to waste your breath. Just wait and watch His Highness perform,¡± she advised calmly. ¡ª The second to realize the situation was Ye Yun. Seeing an opportunity to exploit his deep-seated hatred for Lin Qi¡¯an, he began driving beasts from another direction, pushing them toward Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s location. ¡ª ¡°Why are there so many beasts?¡± Lin Liuli was perplexed. For now, she could handle them, but if the numbers kept increasing, she would eventually struggle. Not daring to leave Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s side, she had no choice but to stay and fight. Fortunately, the ordeal came with some silver linings, as she managed to slay several of the beasts. ¡°Stupid little brother, hurry up! At this rate, even the flowers will have withered!¡± ¡°Big sister, you¡¯re a Daoist priestess. Can you stop talking so crudely?¡± ¡°And you still have the nerve to joke with me!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an decided that when Lin Liuli reached her limit, he would step in. He would not let her get hurt. ¡ª The beasts rampaged, their battle cries shaking the heavens and the earth. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why is there such a massive commotion?¡± Zhao Yunji noticed the unusual disturbance and rushed toward the center, determined to find the source. By then, Lin Liuli was nearing her limit. She had pushed her Perfect Glazed Body to its extreme, her entire being glowing with a jade-white radiance. She unleashed her full arsenal of Daoist techniques and divine arts, her Daoist robes swirling and her dust-whisk dancing in the air. The stunning Daoist nun stood alone, battling a horde of ferocious beasts. The ground cracked, vegetation was trampled, and the battlefield was littered with corpses. As powerful as she was, protecting Lin Qi¡¯an while fighting the beasts was proving to be incredibly taxing. Just as she was about to reach her breaking point¡ª A deafening roar echoed as a bolt of purple lightning struck from the heavens, reducing a massive lion to a charred husk. Through the crackling light stepped a woman in a dark gold gown, regal and poised. She held a slender sword and looked every bit like a celestial being. ¡°Zhao Yunji?¡± Lin Liuli immediately recognized her. ¡°Don¡¯t get the wrong idea. I¡¯m not here to help Lin Qi¡¯an. I¡¯m here to hunt beasts and earn points,¡± Zhao Yunji declared curtly. Her classic tsundere attitude made Lin Qi¡¯an inwardly roll his eyes. Still, with Zhao Yunji¡¯s arrival, they could hold out a bit longer. Her recent study of lightning techniques had sharpened her skills considerably, and bolts of lightning tore into the beasts, leaving them howling in pain. ¡ª Two of the top prodigies of the Canglan Dao Domain were now protecting Lin Qi¡¯an. This scene quickly stirred heated discussion among the spectators. ¡°Hahaha, the Young Master may not have much strength, but his luck with women is incredible!¡± ¡°Healing with not one but two fairies standing guard¡ªwhat luxury!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hope the Princess doesn¡¯t get dragged into this mess too!¡± ¡°Right? The beasts are clearly targeting Lin Qi¡¯an on purpose!¡± ¡°This brat is taking forever to heal. It¡¯s nerve-wracking to watch!¡± Some clenched their toes anxiously, all hoping Lin Qi¡¯an would recover quickly, lest he be devoured by the beasts. ¡ª Deep within the forest, the battle raged on. Lin Xuan was killing beasts at an astonishing pace and even subdued the most powerful one, keeping it for the upcoming beast duels. With his massive lead in points, he was securely in the first place. Noticing the chaos caused by the beast surge, he quickly made his way to the scene to hunt, only to discover Lin Qi¡¯an surrounded by ferocious beasts. ¡°Why isn¡¯t he moving? Could it be that he¡¯s injured and unable to fight back?¡± It immediately dawned on him that someone was intentionally herding the beasts toward Lin Qi¡¯an. Despite being protected, the defenders were clearly nearing their limit. Lin Qi¡¯an, you have no one to blame but yourself for making so many enemies. When the wall crumbles, everyone will push it down. Let me add a bit more weight! With a sly smirk, Lin Xuan disappeared into the depths of the forest. When he emerged again, he was leading a pack of ferocious beasts. Now, three Destined Children were actively driving beasts toward Lin Qi¡¯an, intent on his demise. Even a disciple of the Kui Dragon Clan¡¯s female saint joined the effort, aiming to finish Lin Qi¡¯an off. From four directions, waves of beasts poured in relentlessly. Thunder Leopards, Eight-Eyed Demon Apes, Soul-Eating Snakes, Bone-Melting Ants... Each of these creatures was infamous for wreaking havoc in their respective territories. The weakest among them were at the Heaven Dominion Realm, and the strongest neared the pinnacle of the Celestial Realm, just shy of reaching Dao Transformation Realm. While the truly overpowering beasts had been filtered out, the sheer number of beasts created a terrifying tide. It was enough to turn the tables and even hunt down the prodigies driving them. ¡ª ¡°Damn it! These people are shameless, targeting the Young Master like this!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t take it anymore! If this continues, the Young Master will be devoured by the beast tide!¡± ¡°Father, we can¡¯t just stand by and watch Brother fall into danger! Do something!¡± Lin Hongyu anxiously shook her father¡¯s arm. Lin Weixuan, however, remained calm. ¡°Your brother isn¡¯t so foolish as to get himself killed during a beast hunt.¡± On the sidelines, Lu Weishuang couldn¡¯t bear to watch. Having no children of her own, she had, in her heart, placed Lin Qi¡¯an in the position of a son after recent events. Now, seeing him in peril, she clenched her fists instinctively. ¡°Master, are we just going to watch? I don¡¯t want anything bad to happen to Brother Lin!¡± Lu Weishuang sighed and shook her head. She couldn¡¯t intervene¡ªher position wouldn¡¯t allow it. Meanwhile, Kui Jinling wore a radiant smile. ¡°That brat¡¯s finally getting what he deserves. He¡¯s reckless and unrestrained; his death is nothing but karmic retribution. If someone saves him now, it¡¯ll only make him a laughingstock. That¡¯s even worse than dying!¡± The young elites of Tianhai Dao Domain were filled with schadenfreude. Without them lifting a finger, Lin Qi¡¯an was already on the verge of being taken down by his own peers. The situation was almost comical. ¡ª In the forest, spiritual energy surged to the heavens as the two women fought bitterly to hold their ground. Lightning roared, and divine arts dazzled. The surrounding area had been flattened, leaving a chaotic landscape of pits and craters. But the two were nearing their limit. Te Yun, Lin Xuan, and the others watched with smug satisfaction. ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought, Lin Qi¡¯an finally meets his match?¡± ¡ª At that moment, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s eyes snapped open, and he rose to his feet. Seeing him awaken, Lin Liuli immediately shouted, ¡°I thought you were asleep! Hurry up and find a way to escape¡ªthere are too many beasts!¡± She was using her Dao arts to maintain a barrier that was already on the verge of breaking. ¡°Sister, Yunji, thank you for your efforts,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said calmly. ¡°Efforts? Don¡¯t misunderstand! I¡¯m not helping you¡ªI¡¯m just here to hunt beasts!¡± Zhao Yunji retorted, making her stance clear. ¡°Alright, leave the rest to me.¡± ¡°You... what are you planning?¡± Lin Liuli asked in alarm. ¡°A one-wave sweep,¡± he replied casually. Insane! Seeing Lin Qi¡¯an prepare to leave the barrier, Lin Liuli was stunned. She thought he had lost his mind. Earlier, she and Zhao Yunji had managed to hold their ground because the beasts were attacking in small groups, with no more than three or four at a time. But now? Outside, hundreds of beasts had gathered into a massive tide, a dark, seething swarm. If he stepped out now, he¡¯d be overwhelmed and devoured in an instant. Was he courting death? ¡ª ¡°Why isn¡¯t Lin Qi¡¯an escaping?¡± ¡°He struggles with a single beast, yet he thinks he can handle this?¡± ¡°Is he trying to play the hero? What an idiot!¡± ¡°Wait... I suddenly have a terrifying thought...¡± A disciple of Tianjian City muttered hesitantly, ¡°This round is about who can kill the most beasts. Do you think... the Young Master might¡¯ve intentionally gotten injured to lure all the beasts here?¡± The suggestion sent shockwaves through the crowd. ¡°No way, right?¡± ¡°Could the Young Master really handle this many beasts at once?¡± ¡°Why not? If it¡¯s the Young Master, it¡¯s possible!¡± ¡°Otherwise, why doesn¡¯t he seem afraid at all?¡± As the thought sank in, chills ran down their spines. The realization was unsettling. Chapter 149 Chapter 149: The Grand Sweep! Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s Shocking Display Previously, Lin Qi¡¯an had fled wounded, battered, and utterly humiliated. Now, he strolled out casually, calm and unperturbed, as if he were a completely different person. Seeing Lin Qi¡¯an emerge, Ye Yun, Lin Xuan, and Xi Chao suddenly felt a bad premonition. As soon as he appeared, the terrifying beasts¡ªferocious and aggressive¡ªcharged toward him like a black tide, a vast sea of destruction that seemed ready to consume him whole. But in the next instant, an ancient dragon¡¯s roar erupted from Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s throat, shaking the heavens and the earth. The sound wave swept outward, quaking everything in its path. Boom! Boom! One by one, the enormous beasts, each as massive as a small mountain, collapsed to the ground, kicking up clouds of dust. Like a row of dominoes, the fall of the first beast triggered a chain reaction. ¡°Wuu...¡± Countless beasts howled in despair, trembling uncontrollably under the overwhelming presence of the dragon¡¯s aura. Above Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s head, an illusory dragon materialized, its massive wings spreading to blot out the sun. Illusory Dragon Divine Art. Seeing this, Lin Liuli was completely stunned. Standing alone at the center of the beast tide, Lin Qi¡¯an, clad in pristine white robes, exuded a kingly aura, as if he were a monarch overlooking all life. Was this truly the same injured young man from moments ago? Under the dominance of his dragon¡¯s aura, the beasts were forced to kneel, crushed by the absolute suppression of his bloodline. They couldn¡¯t even lift their heads. ¡°Well, I must thank you all for this generous gift. You¡¯ve saved me the trouble of hunting them down one by one,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said, his voice light but cutting. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an... you were faking it?¡± Lin Liuli finally caught on. He had clearly feigned injury to exploit the hatred others harbored toward him, luring them into herding the beasts in his direction. With such a terrifying dragon aura, these beasts couldn¡¯t harm him in the slightest! Her little brother¡¯s cunning shocked her, but she couldn¡¯t help feeling a tinge of irritation. He had tricked everyone, herself included. She huffed coldly, resolving to settle this score with him later. ¡°This man¡¯s words are never to be trusted...¡± Zhao Yunji muttered inwardly, relieved that she had maintained her stance of ¡°killing beasts¡± rather than ¡°protecting him.¡± ¡ª At that moment, the spectators erupted like boiling water. ¡°See what I said earlier? The Young Master being injured by beasts? What a joke!¡± ¡°Damn, that dragon¡¯s aura is insane!¡± ¡°Is the Young Master flipping the table? You just can¡¯t judge him by common sense!¡± Su Xueni smiled knowingly, thinking to herself, As expected, I understand His Highness better than anyone. Those who had mocked Lin Qi¡¯an earlier, including the Xiling Hall and Tianhai Dao Domain disciples, were left dumbfounded. Even without being there, they could sense the sheer terror of the dragon¡¯s aura just by looking at the beasts¡¯ reactions. ¡°It¡¯s just bloodline suppression!¡± one scoffed bitterly. ¡°The aura won¡¯t last long. Once it fades, the beasts will recover.¡± ¡°Then he¡¯ll have to rely on actual strength to face the tide!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way a Celestial Realm cultivator at the early stage can handle over a hundred of these powerful beasts!¡± ¡ª Lin Qi¡¯an, unfazed by their words, drew both his swords. The Nine Yang Divine Sword glowed with golden radiance as the Nine Yang Divine Fire surged into the illusory dragon, dyeing it a fiery red. The Thunderstrike Sword, meanwhile, summoned dark clouds and rolling thunder. A thick bolt of violet lightning struck from the heavens, infusing the illusory dragon with electric power. ¡°Purple Heaven Divine Thunder!¡± Lu Weishuang, unable to contain her shock, exclaimed aloud. The Purple Heaven Divine Thunder, comprised of seventy-two heavenly lightning bolts, was among the most powerful lightning techniques in existence and the signature divine ability of the Thunder Emperor. To think Lin Qi¡¯an had mastered it! He had truly inherited the Thunder Emperor¡¯s legacy. Beside her, her disciple Tong Xiang stared in disbelief. In just one day, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s presence had shaken his master¡¯s views in ways he never thought possible. ¡ª The dragon, imbued with thunder and fire, now brimmed with destructive energy. A purple-gold dragon¡¯s breath poured from its mouth, spreading across the ground like a tide. The combined might of the Nine Yang Divine Fire and the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder formed a dragon¡¯s breath so devastating that it could annihilate even Dao Transformation Realm experts. How could these beasts possibly withstand it? A chorus of agonized screams erupted as the ferocious beasts were consumed by the fiery onslaught, their bodies charred black as life left them. In mere moments, the terrifying beast tide had been completely eradicated by Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡ª Ding! Task completed. Destined Children Ye Yun, Lin Xuan, and Xi Chao: Luck Value -100. Host Luck Value +50. ¡ª Lin Liuli was left speechless. This little brother of hers¡ªat the early stage of the Celestial Realm¡ªwas this reasonable? Witnessing such terrifying combat power in person was far more shocking than hearing about it from others. What she had thought was a story about a sister protecting her brother turned out to be a case of her brother hiding his true strength, only to end it all in one grand sweep! Chapter 150 Chapter 150: Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s Unstoppable Rise¡ªA Blow to All Rivals Zhao Yunji: ... Her impression of Lin Qi¡¯an had been shattered and rebuilt once again. She had thought her recent progress was substantial, yet this man was far more terrifying than the last time she had seen him. To think he could even summon Purple Heaven Divine Thunder¡ªand he wasn¡¯t even a specialist in lightning techniques! ¡ª ¡°This is impossible!¡± From a distance, Ye Yun, Lin Xuan, and Xi Chao, the three Destined Children, stood utterly dumbfounded. Their jaws dropped, unable to form coherent words. All their hard work, painstakingly herding countless ferocious beasts toward Lin Qi¡¯an, had been for naught. Instead of overwhelming him, they had handed him the perfect opportunity to shine. Not only had he stolen the spotlight, but he had also claimed all the beasts¡¯ points in one grand sweep. This result was unacceptable to them. Resentment boiled within, but they could do nothing about it except grit their teeth in frustration. ¡ª In the audience seats of Beiyang Tianjian City, the air was electric with excitement. All the disciples felt an unparalleled sense of pride. It was as if even the air had become fresher. Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s strategic feint had propelled his beast-hunting score to a staggering 324 points, far surpassing the second-highest score of just 51 points. With the power of an early-stage Celestial Realm cultivator, Lin Qi¡¯an had trampled on the young elites of both the Canglan Dao Domain and Tianhai Dao Domain. ¡°A single victory for him is a victory for us all!¡± ¡°His Highness is unbelievable¡ªhe cleared the entire field! That was beyond satisfying!¡± ¡°Where are all those people who mocked him earlier? Speak up, I can¡¯t hear you over our celebration!¡± ¡°Now, tell me¡ªdoes His Highness deserve to attend this grand event or not, hmm?¡± Meanwhile, the Xiling Hall¡¯s delegation sat in utter humiliation, their faces dark with shame. This entire beast tide debacle had been initiated by their own people. He¡¯s attempt to incite internal strife had instead gifted Lin Qi¡¯an a legendary victory, turning them into a laughingstock. ¡°The Xiling Divine Son is truly a clown. Instead of targeting outsiders, he focused on his own people. And now? How amusing is this?¡± ¡°So what if his cultivation is high? He¡¯s clearly no match for His Highness!¡± The mockery rippled through the crowd, all aimed squarely at the Xiling Divine Hall. Even Xi Chao¡¯s face darkened in displeasure. ¡ª The second group of clowns was, of course, the Tianhai Dao Domain, led by the Kui Dragon Clan. Kui Jinling clenched her fists, her chest heaving with rage as she bit out through gritted teeth, ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, I underestimated you!¡± ¡°No matter. The real battle lies ahead. When we reach the combat stages, the prodigies of Tianhai Dao Domain will crush you without fail!¡± ¡ª Within the Tianhai Dao Domain, only two people seemed genuinely pleased¡ªLu Weishuang and her disciple, Tong Xiang. ¡°Unbelievable... Brother Lin is that powerful?¡± Tong Xiang exclaimed, his awe growing with every moment. ¡°It¡¯s beyond anything I could have imagined¡ªhe¡¯s only at the early Celestial Realm!¡± Lu Weishuang nodded. ¡°Truly exceptional.¡± Tong Xiang¡¯s jaw nearly dropped at his master¡¯s rare praise. Lu Weishuang, who seldom lauded anyone, had openly acknowledged Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s strength. This was no small matter. Ever since meeting Lin Qi¡¯an, Lu Weishuang seemed revitalized. To her, Lin Qi¡¯an wasn¡¯t just a fellow cultivator¡ªhe was the sole link between her and the legacy of the Thunder Emperor, someone she now regarded as a son. ¡°Fantastic,¡± Tong Xiang thought to himself. ¡°I must thank Brother Lin properly and learn all I can from him.¡± ¡ª Su Xueni and Zhao Qingmeng, on the other hand, had never worried about Lin Qi¡¯an. This outcome was entirely within their expectations. They simply enjoyed the process of watching Lin Qi¡¯an dominate his rivals and slap their faces with overwhelming force. Seeing their man bask in glory was immensely satisfying. ¡°See?¡± Mu Qingzhu said with a chuckle, ruffling Lin Hongyu¡¯s hair. ¡°Your brother isn¡¯t in any danger; he was simply hiding his true strength.¡± ¡°He¡¯s incredible... My brother is even stronger than Big Sister!¡± Lin Hongyu¡¯s eyes sparkled with admiration. Even Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s father, the Sword Emperor, allowed a trace of pride to show in his eyes. The Blade Emperor had sent his disciple down the mountain specifically to test Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡°Fine,¡± he thought. ¡°Let him come. Do you think my son will be afraid?¡± ¡ª The opening battle of the event was over, and Lin Qi¡¯an had delivered a perfect answer sheet. Even the Tai¡¯an Emperor nodded in satisfaction, thinking, ¡°Marrying my youngest daughter to this man wouldn¡¯t be a loss. But it must be as his wife, not as a concubine.¡± ¡ª The first day of the Beast-Hunting Battle concluded with Lin Qi¡¯an, a human, a cultivator of the Canglan Dao Domain, and the Young Master of Beiyang, leaving the Tianhai Dao Domain thoroughly shaken. Chapter 151 Chapter 151: Lin Liuli¡¯s Wrath¡ªLittle Brother Needs a Beating! The Beast-Hunting Battle, serving as the opening act of the event, was initially seen as little more than an appetizer. No one held high expectations for it. Yet Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s performance left the audience exhilarated, their cheers echoing across the venue. Setting aside his rivals and enemies, Lin Qi¡¯an was still a cultivator of the Canglan Dao Domain. With tensions between the two domains running high, most spectators felt a collective sense of pride in his victory. As Lin Qi¡¯an returned, the crowd erupted into a tidal wave of cheers. ¡°Long live the Young Master!¡± ¡°He¡¯s brought glory to our domain¡ªwhat a champion!¡± ¡°His score completely crushed the second-place finisher. Truly worthy of the title Young Master!¡± ¡°With this performance, he¡¯s guaranteed a spot in the forbidden grounds!¡± The overwhelming crowd forced the Tianjian City Sword Guards to step in and block the way, ensuring Lin Qi¡¯an could pass through. Several maids followed behind Lin Qi¡¯an, basking in the flood of cheers. Sharing in his glory, they couldn¡¯t help but feel immense pride. ¡ª Meanwhile, Lin Liuli returned to the Beidou Divine Palace camp to a round of praise from her peers. Yet her focus was elsewhere. ¡°I noticed the beast tide seemed deliberate,¡± she asked. ¡°Did anyone see who was behind it?¡± Although Lin Qi¡¯an emerged unscathed, Lin Liuli was determined to uncover who had sought to harm him. Malice toward her family was something she would never tolerate. ¡°It was the Xiling Divine Son Xi Chao who first started drawing the beasts, followed by others imitating him. That¡¯s how the tide spiraled out of control,¡± someone explained. ¡°Xi Chao?¡± A flash of icy disdain crossed Lin Liuli¡¯s eyes. Previously, she had a favorable impression of Xi Chao he had helped her. But all that goodwill was now gone. Ding! Lin Liuli¡¯s disappointment in Xi Chao causing the his Luck Value to drop by 200. ¡ª Elsewhere, Ye Yun had returned to the guards¡¯ camp. ¡°Brother Ye, you¡¯ve got some nerve!¡± a fellow guard remarked. ¡°Deliberately luring beasts to trouble the Young Master?¡± ¡°Not to mention,¡± another added, ¡°the Princess herself was there... She¡¯s been protecting Lin Qi¡¯an the whole time!¡± ¡°What?!¡± Ye Yun¡¯s pupils shrank as the revelation struck him like a bolt of lightning. Princess Zhao Yunji had been protecting Lin Qi¡¯an? Why? Hadn¡¯t their engagement already been annulled? Why were they still connected in this way? The thought that his actions might have endangered the Princess filled Ye Yun with regret and anger. Glaring at the guards, he hissed, ¡°Say nothing of this. When the Princess returns, you will claim to know nothing!¡± ¡ª ¡°What is it you don¡¯t want me to know?¡± Zhao Yunji¡¯s icy voice cut through the air as she returned. The guards immediately bowed their heads in salute, but her sharp gaze pinned them in place. ¡°Answer me!¡± she demanded. Unable to withstand the suffocating pressure of her authority, the guards revealed the truth: Ye Yun had been the one luring the beasts. ¡°Ye Yun, you¡¯ve thoroughly disappointed me,¡± Zhao Yunji said, her cold gaze locking onto him. She had already found him impulsive and reckless during their time in Beiyang. Though she had kept him around because of his extraordinary talent¡ªone that rivaled even the Blade Emperor¡¯s disciple¡ªhis repeated offenses had exhausted her patience. ¡°Princess, I only wanted to avenge you! Lin Qi¡¯an is so disrespectful...¡± Ye Yun tried to defend himself. ¡°Who asked you to avenge me?¡± she snapped. ¡°Do you realize countless eyes are watching you? In a moment like this, you focused on internal strife. If not for Lin Qi¡¯an crushing his rivals, today would have been a humiliation for the Canglan Dao Domain!¡± ¡°I... was wrong, Princess. Please forgive me,¡± Ye Yun stammered, bowing his head in shame. ¡°There is no need for forgiveness. From this moment on, you are no longer my guard. Guards, strip him of his armor.¡± ¡°Princess? Princess!¡± Ye Yun¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, as though struck by lightning. He couldn¡¯t fathom why Zhao Yunji would dismiss him over Lin Qi¡¯an. Serving by her side had been his sole source of solace. Just seeing her each day gave him boundless motivation. But now, even this small joy had been torn away. As the silver armor was stripped from his body, Ye Yun felt as though his world had shattered. Watching Zhao Yunji¡¯s radiant figure in her stunning golden gown fade into the distance, Ye Yun¡¯s eyes burned red with rage. He ground his teeth, trembling with fury and a murderous aura that seemed to engulf him. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an... it¡¯s all because of you, all because of you!¡± ¡°I, Ye Yun, have nothing left to lose. I must kill you!¡± The cultivation technique he practiced, The Great Yang Heavenly Emperor Scripture, grew stronger under the harshest sunlight. It also contained a forbidden divine ability: Black Sun. According to a brief passage in its records, this technique could draw in everything around it, grinding all into nothingness. It was an unbelievably powerful, forbidden divine art. However, its cost was equally severe¡ªusing it would cause the user¡¯s cultivation realm to drop by an entire major stage. Ye Yun had never dared to learn it before, but now, with his back against the wall, he had no choice. Ding! Zhao Yunji has completely severed ties with Ye Yun. Ye Yun¡¯s Luck Value -200. Meanwhile, Lin Qi¡¯an received the notification. Destined Child: Xi Chao Luck Value: 1000 (from 1500). Ye Yun was in an even more pathetic state: Destined Child: Ye Yun Treasured Artifact: Sun Corona Sword. Luck Value: 0 (Black). Core Opportunities: The Great Yang Heavenly Emperor Scripture, Golden Crow Divine Flame. Current Kill Rewards: Golden Crow Essence Blood, Golden Crow Feather. If I kill him now, I can claim all his rewards and his Luck Core, Lin Qi¡¯an thought with amusement. But I¡¯ll wait for the right moment to act. Elsewhere, a raging storm brewed in the residence of Li Xuan. ¡°You disgraceful fool!¡± Gu Jingyun roared as he stormed in. Li Xuan, his head bowed, dared not utter a single word. ¡°If you wish to defeat Lin Qi¡¯an, why not wait for a proper match and defeat him fair and square? Instead, you resort to such despicable methods? You¡¯ve disgraced me!¡± As one of the strongest Great Emperors of his era, Gu Jingyun carried immense pride. Over the years, his battles with Lin Weixuan had always been honorable, with no underhanded tricks. Even in defeat, he acknowledged his shortcomings with dignity. Now, his only disciple, barely off the mountain, had used such underhanded tactics against Lin Weixuan¡¯s son. How could he not be furious? People were already murmuring: So this is the Blade Emperor¡¯s disciple? What a joke. Gu Jingyun was too embarrassed to face the other Great Emperors. ¡°Master... I was wrong.¡± Kneeling on the ground, Li Xuan gritted his teeth. ¡°I believed I was invincible, but repeated failures against Lin Qi¡¯an have shaken my state of mind.¡± ¡°However, I¡¯ve realized my mistake. Once I am at my peak and unleash my full strength, he will not be my match.¡± ¡°In the third round, when a fair duel is allowed, I will fight him openly and bring glory to you, Master!¡± Ding! Gu Jingyun feels disappointment in Li Xuan. Li Xuan¡¯s Luck Value -100. Lin Qi¡¯an could barely contain his laughter. These Destined Children are hilarious. They make bold moves only to shoot themselves in the foot. Even so, Lin Qi¡¯an knew that these three weren¡¯t his greatest threats. The prodigies from Tianhai Dao Domain, who had yet to show their hand, posed a far greater danger. Their strength likely already exceeded the Celestial Realm. The first round had merely been an appetizer. The third round would be the true battlefield. Returning to his family¡¯s residence, Lin Qi¡¯an finally let his guard down. However, even the dazzling glory he had displayed earlier couldn¡¯t save him from a beating. ¡°So, you enjoy pretending to be injured, huh?¡± ¡°You lied to your sister, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Clearly, you¡¯ve been asking for a beating!¡± Yes, the one beating him was none other than Lin Liuli. With every word, her pristine white dust-whisk struck Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s body with a surprising amount of force. ¡°Do Daoist nuns really hit people this much? Can¡¯t you act more like a proper Daoist priest?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an complained as he dodged another strike. ¡°Sorry, big sister acts proper in public, but when it comes to hitting you, decorum is not required!¡± Lin Liuli snapped, her dust-whisk cracking down again. Though Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s earlier antics had thrilled the audience, they had clearly earned him some well-deserved punishment from his sister. Chapter 152 Chapter 152: Hatching the Egg with the Maid ¡°Hahaha! Big Brother deserved it!¡± Watching her usually overbearing older brother get disciplined by their sister, Lin Hongyu laughed so hard she nearly cried. ¡°You did well, at least you didn¡¯t embarrass me,¡± the Sword Emperor praised. After all, he had accepted the challenge from Tianhai Dao Domain in front of everyone. Losing to them would have been a major blow to his reputation. But Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s stellar performance in the first round had earned him plenty of face. It was especially gratifying to see Gu Jingyun momentarily rendered speechless before him. For someone like the Sword Emperor, who had lived for centuries, face was a currency of immeasurable value. ¡°Qi¡¯an, do you have a plan for the next round of beast duels?¡± Mu Qingzhu asked. The first round of beast hunting served as a preparatory phase for the next round. Those who failed to tame a beast would have to figure something out on their own. In the dueling phase, every participant was required to field a tamed beast to fight against others. ¡°Jiu Ying may be a formidable beast, but it might not be enough to contend with the Tianhai Dao Domain,¡± Lin Liuli remarked, shaking her head. The Tianhai Dao Domain, with its diverse myriad clans, excelled at taming ancient beasts. In terms of beast dueling, Canglan Dao Domain was at a disadvantage. ¡°You¡¯ve already dazzled everyone in the first round with your performance and accumulated plenty of points. I suggest forfeiting the second round and saving your strength for the third,¡± Lin Liuli advised earnestly. Her reasoning was sound. Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s extraordinary display in the first round had placed immense expectations on him. The higher the expectations, the greater the potential disappointment. If he suffered an embarrassing loss in the second round, it could crush morale and even provoke public outrage. Avoiding a field where he was less skilled would be the wisest choice. ¡°Sister, you¡¯d better worry about yourself. I have my own plan,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an replied with a grin. ¡°What plan? Don¡¯t just keep me guessing¡ªspill it!¡± Lin Liuli raised her dust-whisk threateningly. ¡°No comment.¡± ¡°You little¡ª!¡± ¡ª As night deepened, Ran Yuwei inspected the spirit beasts in her Beast-Control Spirit Pot one last time before preparing to rest. Lately, she had felt uneasy. The reason was simple: she felt her presence beside Lin Qi¡¯an was growing increasingly insignificant. When it came to status, Lin Qi¡¯an was surrounded by renowned Saintesses¡ªTianchi Saintess, Ziyou Saintess, Qinglian Saintess, Yunmo Saintess. Not to mention the princess Zhao Qingmeng, and more recently, even Zhao Yunji, had been growing closer to him. And she? She was just an ordinary girl from a sect in the western desert. Her cultivation was mediocre at best. Her only redeeming quality was her ability to manage spirit beasts. ¡°Agh, stop overthinking!¡± As she buried her face into her pillow, the door suddenly opened. ¡°Your Highness?!¡± Ran Yuwei nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw Lin Qi¡¯an enter. She scrambled to her feet, flustered. ¡°What¡¯s this? Not happy to see me?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an teased with a smile. ¡°Not at all! Just a bit... surprised. If Your Highness needed me, you could have summoned me...¡± she stammered, her cheeks turning red. Ran Yuwei had a natural beauty that could never grow tiresome. Her exotic western desert attire exuded warmth and charm, with a ruby adorning her brow and gold ornaments adorning her jade-white arms. Her slender waist was a sight to behold. ¡°Come with me. I¡¯ve got something great to show you,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said mysteriously. Without further explanation, he opened his Lotus Realm and brought Ran Yuwei inside. ¡ª Tonight, Lin Qi¡¯an had a special mission: preparing Jiu Ying for evolution to ensure it was strong enough for the next round of beast duels. In the Lotus Realm, Lin Qi¡¯an led Ran Yuwei to a spacious clearing. ¡°Bring out Jiu Ying,¡± he instructed. ¡°Alright!¡± Ran Yuwei summoned the ferocious nine-headed beast from her Beast-Control Spirit Pot, and the massive creature materialized before them. Jiu Ying had initially assumed it was being summoned for menial labor, but upon seeing Lin Qi¡¯an, it let out a friendly howl, showing its submission. Normally, such a creature would not take a human form, as its complete beast lineage made it more accustomed to living as a true beast. Lin Qi¡¯an, however, had seen its humanoid form before and knew it was female. He retrieved a dark purple orb¡ªa Myriad Beast Essence Orb¡ªa treasure gifted to him by Lu Weishuang. The moment Jiu Ying¡¯s nine heads saw the orb, their eyes lit up with a radiant glow, and drool nearly dripped from their mouths. It instinctively understood that consuming this treasure would bring about a dramatic evolution, taking its strength to unimaginable new heights. ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought the Young Master had such an incredible treasure?¡± ¡°Xiao Jiu, why are you drooling like that? Wipe it off¡ªso gross!¡± Ran Yuwei chided, her tone equal parts amused and exasperated. ¡°Rawrr...¡± Jiu Ying whimpered pitifully. Lin Qi¡¯an chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t be impatient.¡± He activated the Myriad Beast Scripture, an ancient scroll adorned with illustrations of birds, fish, and beasts. Glowing with golden light, it floated in mid-air. The scripture contained the power of numerous beasts slain by its former owner, Xiao Chen. Lin Qi¡¯an had never used it before since his own strength surpassed what it could provide. But now, it had found its purpose. Drawing its power out, Lin Qi¡¯an channeled it into the purple Beast Essence Orb, infusing it with the strength of hundreds of exotic, spirit, and ferocious beasts. Streams of energy flowed into the orb, converging into a brilliant white vortex within. The terrifying power it now contained was self-evident. Only by enhancing the orb this way could its full potential be realized. Jiu Ying¡¯s nine pairs of eyes went wide with amazement, each head visibly trembling with anticipation. If the purple orb had previously been a rare delicacy to Jiu Ying, it had now transformed into an imperial banquet. Swallowing it would mean a leap of unimaginable proportions¡ªone that could propel it to new heights. ¡°Here, feed it to Jiu Ying,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an instructed. ¡°Okay!¡± Ran Yuwei took the enhanced orb and turned toward Jiu Ying, who had all its heads raised and mouths wide open, as if trying to ensure she wouldn¡¯t miss. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to thank His Highness first? Otherwise, no food!¡± Ran Yuwei teased. ¡°Thank you, Young Master! Little Jiu promises to serve you loyally, pulling your chariot across the Three Thousand Dao Domains and helping you dominate the world!¡± Jiu Ying blurted out in a rush, its humanlike speech dripping with flattery. Amused by its antics, Ran Yuwei tossed the orb into one of its mouths. Moments after swallowing the orb, an earth-shattering aura erupted from Jiu Ying. Its body glowed intensely, transforming into a massive sphere of light. ¡°Come here!¡± Grabbing Ran Yuwei¡¯s slender waist, Lin Qi¡¯an pulled her into his arms, shielding her as he suppressed the wild energy surging from Jiu Ying. If left unchecked, it would destroy the delicate structures within the Lotus Realm, leaving the maids in tears. However, Lin Qi¡¯an had underestimated the sheer explosiveness of this power. It took the full activation of all his Sacred Weapons to barely contain the ferocious energy. As the light finally dimmed, the sight that greeted them left both Lin Qi¡¯an and Ran Yuwei stunned. Jiu Ying¡¯s massive body was gone. In its place was an egg, no more than half a meter tall. ¡°This...¡± The two stared at each other, torn between disbelief and laughter. The ferocious, fearsome beast that had once struck terror into the hearts of all had turned into... an egg. It was simply too absurd! ¡°Xiao Jiu, are you in there? If you are, make some noise! Hello?¡± Ran Yuwei tapped on the egg but got no response. ¡°Is this... reverse evolution?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an muttered, frowning. ¡°What happens if Jiu Ying doesn¡¯t hatch? How are we supposed to compete in the beast duels?¡± ¡°Maybe I should just crack it open,¡± he suggested. ¡°No way!¡± Ran Yuwei immediately shielded the egg. ¡°I think I¡¯ve read about something like this in ancient texts. It¡¯s absorbing and digesting the immense energy inside. Releasing it too early could ruin everything!¡± ¡°Really?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an grimaced. ¡°How long will this take?¡± ¡°If we¡¯re lucky, ten days to half a month. If not... it could take years,¡± Ran Yuwei said hesitantly. ¡°That won¡¯t do. Is there a way to speed it up?¡± ¡°Well... there is one method...¡± Ran Yuwei glanced at Lin Qi¡¯an, her voice dropping to a whisper. ¡°It¡¯s kind of like hatching a chicken egg. Incubating it manually might speed things up...¡± ¡°Incubate?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an blinked, dumbfounded. ¡°How exactly does one incubate an egg?¡± ¡°By... um... holding it close. You¡¯d need to strip down and sleep with it,¡± Ran Yuwei said, her cheeks turning bright red. ¡°If His Highness is in a hurry, I... I could try it myself.¡± Ran Yuwei¡¯s blush deepened as she spoke. Despite her embarrassment, she offered earnestly, even though she had never done anything like this before. ¡°This egg is huge. I don¡¯t think you can manage it alone,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said, eyeing the egg skeptically. ¡°You¡¯re right. So... how about we incubate it together?¡± Ran Yuwei suggested, her gaze hopeful as she looked up at him. Her face glowed crimson, her bright eyes shimmering with emotion. And so, the two began the rather unconventional task of incubating the egg. Chapter 153 Chapter 153: Successful Egg Hatching¡ªThis Is Our Child! The shared effort of Lin Qi¡¯an and Ran Yuwei to hatch the egg lasted an entire day. Finally, their perseverance bore fruit. With a crisp ¡°crack,¡± the pristine eggshell fractured. ¡°Your Highness, did we... did we succeed?¡± Ran Yuwei exclaimed with excitement. ¡°Ahem, perhaps you should get dressed first,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an responded awkwardly, shifting his gaze. Their eyes remained fixed on the egg. Suddenly, a small head peeked out from the crack in the shell. Covered in soft, snow-white fur and boasting large, round eyes, it looked as innocent as a newborn kitten. However, moments later, one head was followed by another, and then another¡ªuntil nine small, curious heads emerged, gazing at the world beyond the egg. ¡°Wow... it¡¯s so adorable!¡± Ran Yuwei¡¯s heart melted. She hurried to help the little creature break free from its shell. The being that emerged was entirely snow-white, with nine round heads and a charmingly fluffy tail. Could this really be the ferocious Nine-Headed Baby Beast? Wasn¡¯t it supposed to be a legendary terror? The newly hatched creature itself seemed perplexed. How had it turned into such an endearing form? What about its fearsome aura? Where was its dignity as a mighty beast? Still, as it moved, the creature could feel a vast and boundless power coursing through its tiny body. One swipe of its paw could likely collapse a mountain! Its strength had increased nearly tenfold compared to before. The little beast couldn¡¯t help but rejoice inwardly¡ªwhatever miraculous items Lin Qi¡¯an had fed it must have been extraordinary. Following this prince was clearly the right choice. The Nine-Headed Beast waddled over to Lin Qi¡¯an, nuzzling against his pant leg with its fluffy heads in a shameless display of affection. ¡°Don¡¯t try to win me over with cuteness,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an remarked sternly. ¡°You¡¯re my trump card for the beast competition. If you embarrass me, I won¡¯t hesitate to discipline you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so harsh!¡± Ran Yuwei interjected, scooping up the little creature and cradling it. ¡°We hatched it together¡ªit feels like our child. You should treat it more gently!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an fell silent. A human child in the future sounded far more appealing than raising a ferocious beast as a ¡°child.¡± ¡°How¡¯s it supposed to pull our carriage looking like this?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an muttered. The Nine-Headed Beast looked up, its baby voice sweet and earnest. ¡°Your Highness, I¡¯ll grow bigger in time. Just feed me lots of heavenly treasures, and I¡¯ll be strong enough.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s easier just to roast you for dinner,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an teased. ¡°Whimper?!¡± The little creature shivered in terror. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll feed you!¡± Ran Yuwei giggled, stroking the beast¡¯s fur. By now, her mind was at ease¡ªafter all, she and the prince already had a ¡°child,¡± putting her ahead in the race for his affection. Upon leaving the Lotus Realm, Ran Yuwei couldn¡¯t contain her excitement. She dashed off to find Su Xueni and Zi Lianyou to share the news. ¡°Yuwei, you and His Highness spent the entire day in the Lotus Realm?¡± Zi Lianyou asked, her eyes filled with envy. Spending time with the prince often resulted in cultivation breakthroughs¡ªa rare and coveted opportunity. ¡°Not only that, but we also had a child together!¡± Ran Yuwei declared triumphantly. ¡°What?!¡± Su Xueni and Zi Lianyou froze in shock, their beautiful eyes wide with disbelief. Su Xueni grabbed Ran Yuwei¡¯s wrist, frantically checking her pulse. ¡°A child? How is that even possible?¡± ¡°Oh, not the kind of child you¡¯re imagining,¡± Ran Yuwei clarified, laughing as she presented the Nine-Headed Beast. She then recounted the egg-hatching story with great relish. ¡°You two... certainly know how to have fun!¡± Su Xueni couldn¡¯t help but marvel. Even she was impressed by Ran Yuwei¡¯s creativity and audacity. ¡ª Over the next two days, the favored prodigies were busy preparing for the beast competition, each cultivating their own ferocious creatures to display their strength. According to the rules, participants could only use beasts they had personally subdued¡ªborrowing others¡¯ beasts was strictly prohibited. This rule made the competition unpredictable, as any participant had a chance to win. ¡°Master, I¡¯m ready!¡± declared Li Xuan with confidence. He had captured a ¡°Grand Mystic Spirit Bull,¡± a peak Celestial Realm beast of exceptional power. Most subdued beasts were weaker than their owners, but securing one of equal strength was a rare achievement. After forming a blood contract, Li Xuan had even imbued the bull¡¯s horns with a wisp of his blade intent¡ªa legitimate and clever tactic. When activated, this blade intent could serve as a trump card, turning the tide of battle. ¡°This time, I¡¯ll definitely defeat Lin Qi¡¯an,¡± Li Xuan vowed. The Xiling Temple had prepared extensively. Their chosen beast was the ¡°Demonic Dragon Shark¡± from the Western Sea, a gargantuan creature spanning over a hundred meters in length. Capturing it had required the efforts of numerous experts, and even then, a Celestial Realm master had lost his life to the beast¡¯s ferocious bite during the process. Such a terrifying creature was rightfully known as the ruler of its sea domain. Xi Chao, the representative of Xiling, had successfully formed a blood contract with the Demonic Dragon Shark. He sneered coldly as he issued his orders. ¡°I don¡¯t care about anything else, but if you come across Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s beast, tear it apart. Fail, and it will be your life on the line¡ªunderstand?¡± ¡ª Meanwhile, Ye Yun had captured a ¡°Primordial Ghost Tiger,¡± a truly ancient and domineering beast. This fearsome predator was known for its ruthless nature; any unfortunate creature crossing its path was invariably torn to pieces and devoured. Capturing it had been a grueling task for Ye Yun, leaving him covered in wounds and utterly spent. The tiger¡¯s power was undeniable¡ªit had managed to severely injure a peak Celestial Realm prodigy during the battle to subdue it. At this moment, Ye Yun held a black pill in his hand, exuding an ominous aura. He forced the Primordial Ghost Tiger to eat it. ¡°Here, swallow this,¡± he commanded. The tiger growled, resisting fiercely. ¡°Do you think you have a choice? I¡¯ve gone through so much for this. It¡¯s your turn to fight! Eat!¡± Ye Yun insisted. Under his relentless command, the Ghost Tiger reluctantly swallowed the pill. Instantly, its violent energy surged exponentially. Its massive jaws opened wide, revealing blade-like fangs, while thick, steaming saliva dripped to the ground. ¡°Good,¡± Ye Yun murmured with a satisfied smirk. ¡ª In the Tianhai Dao Domain, confidence ran high. Beast battles were their specialty, as the region boasted numerous ferocious creatures with rare and ancient bloodlines. Even a random pick from their stock could easily overpower the beasts of the Canglan Dao Domain. ¡°If you can¡¯t win a beast battle, you don¡¯t deserve the title of Son of God,¡± their elder declared sternly. ¡°You might as well wear a plaque saying ¡®trash¡¯ around your necks!¡± ¡°Understood! We will not bring shame to the Tianhai Dao Domain!¡± the participants vowed. ¡ª Amid the excitement of the masses, the beast battle finally commenced. The venue was an enormous, circular coliseum in Tai¡¯an City, spanning a hundred kilometers in diameter. The ferocious beasts would be released into the central battlefield, with spectators watching from the surrounding stands. Protective formations had been set up to ensure the safety of the audience, no matter how fierce the battles became. By noon, the arena was packed to capacity, with tens of millions of spectators crowding the seats. Onlookers ranged from common cultivators to nobles and the most powerful figures of the realms. The Emperors and Saints were seated in the prestigious VIP area atop a high platform, while the elite cultivators occupied the front rows and sect disciples filled the rear. Thanks to the use of projection stones, everyone had a clear view of the events unfolding in the arena. The host, an esteemed quasi-Saint elder, stepped forward to address the crowd. ¡°I now announce the rules of the beast competition!¡± his voice boomed. ¡°Each participant may send only one spiritual or ferocious beast into the arena.¡± ¡°Matchups will be determined by drawing lots. The victor advances, while the defeated is eliminated. Final rankings will determine your points, which directly affect your qualification for the Forbidden Land expedition. Give it your all!¡± The crowd roared with excitement as the elder concluded. Without further ado, the first two contestants were called to the arena. The opening match immediately captured the audience¡¯s attention, pitting Princess Zhao Yunji of Tai¡¯an against Lin Liuli of Beidou. Zhao Yunji¡¯s beast was a breathtaking Spirit Phoenix, while Lin Liuli summoned an elegant Celestial Crane. Both creatures were perfect representations of their respective masters¡¯ grace and nobility. ¡°This is going to be a spectacle!¡± one spectator exclaimed. ¡°I can¡¯t believe these two prodigious women are facing off in the first round!¡± another remarked. ¡°Just think about it¡ªlast round, they were protecting the prince together,¡± someone chimed in. ¡°One is the prince¡¯s elder sister, and the other his former fiance?e. This match is going to be fascinating!¡± Chapter 154 Chapter 154: The Beast Battle Begins, Nine-Headed Beast¡¯s Might Unleashed! Two stunning women stood on the central stage of the beast arena, their presence tense and confrontational. Their spiritual beasts were already prepared, coiled with power and ready to attack at any moment. ¡°I heard you¡¯re Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s ex-fiance?e?¡± Lin Liuli began casually, breaking the silence. Instead of initiating the battle, she seemed more interested in starting a conversation. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Zhao Yunji¡¯s beautiful face turned cold, her displeasure evident. She couldn¡¯t fathom why such a topic would arise at this time. ¡°Oh, nothing much,¡± Lin Liuli replied with a sly smile. ¡°I was just curious¡ªwas it you who ended the engagement, or was it him?¡± The question hit the audience like an explosion. ¡°Holy crap! I¡¯ve always been curious about that too!¡± ¡°The Crown Prince and the Princess seemed like a match made in heaven! One is an unparalleled prodigy, and the other is the most beautiful woman in the Canglan Dao Domain. Why did their engagement fall apart?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve been wondering about that for ages!¡± ¡°Haha, this drama is better than the fight itself! I¡¯m loving this!¡± The crowd roared with excitement, their cheers and gossip filling the arena. Only these two remarkable women could draw such a frenzy of attention. Lin Qi¡¯an: ... Aren¡¯t Taoist cultivators supposed to be detached from worldly affairs? Why is this Taoist nun so obsessed with gossip? Meanwhile, Zhao Yunji stood speechless. Admitting the truth¡ªthat Lin Qi¡¯an had been the one to annul the engagement¡ªwould be a humiliation she couldn¡¯t endure. Her face flushed with a mix of shame and anger. ¡°Enough with the nonsense¡ªlet¡¯s fight!¡± she snapped. With that, her Spirit Phoenix took to the skies, its fiery wings illuminating the arena. Lin Liuli¡¯s Celestial Crane followed, its elegant figure soaring gracefully into the air. The opening match proved to be a visual spectacle, captivating the audience with its sheer beauty. Zhao Yunji, who originally wasn¡¯t overly concerned about winning, now fought with all her might. She couldn¡¯t afford to lose¡ªnot today, not here. This was about pride, not just victory. In the end, Zhao Yunji¡¯s Spirit Phoenix triumphed. As a beast imbued with the fortune of the Celestial Dynasty, its strength was unmatched. ¡°Zhao Yunji wins!¡± the host announced. Lin Liuli, though defeated, showed no disappointment. Beast battles weren¡¯t her forte, and she had already secured solid points in the first round. As long as she performed decently in the third round, her qualification would be assured. ¡°Well fought,¡± Lin Liuli said calmly before leaving the stage. Zhao Yunji coldly hummed in response, leading her Spirit Phoenix away with an air of pride. ¡ª As the matches continued, the atmosphere grew more intense. The audience¡¯s cheers became deafening as they eagerly anticipated the next match. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an versus Li Xuan!¡± The announcement sent waves of excitement rippling through the crowd. One was the Crown Prince of Beiyang, the son of the Sword Emperor. The other was the personal disciple of the Blade Emperor. These two legendary figures had once been rivals and allies, their history rife with stories of battles and even rumored romantic entanglements. Now, their successors would face off in a battle that carried the weight of their masters¡¯ legacies. The audience erupted in frenzied cheers, their support overwhelmingly in favor of Lin Qi¡¯an. His dazzling performance in the first round had brought glory to the Canglan Dao Domain, earning him widespread admiration. However, there were plenty rooting against him as well, including enemies from factions like the Xiling Divine Temple and the Kui Dragon Clan of the Tianhai Dao Domain. Finally, the two contestants entered the arena. Lin Qi¡¯an appeared first, his white robes as pristine as freshly fallen snow. His handsome features and composed demeanor radiated a natural charm that left the crowd awestruck. Female cultivators screamed with excitement, their voices rising in waves across the arena. ¡°If the Canglan Dao Domain had a ranking for male cultivators, the Crown Prince would definitely be number one!¡± ¡°That¡¯s a great idea! Women have the Fairy List, so why not a ranking for men?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll vote for the Crown Prince on behalf of all my junior and senior sisters!¡± ¡°Keep dreaming! The Crown Prince would never notice you.¡± ¡°So what? Can¡¯t I admire him from afar? Crown Prince, go get them!¡± In contrast, Li Xuan¡¯s entrance drew far less admiration. His rugged appearance and wild demeanor, a product of his upbringing in the mountains, lacked the refinement expected of a cultivator of his status. He paid little attention to social etiquette or decorum, further souring the audience¡¯s perception. ¡°Isn¡¯t Li Xuan the one who tried to sabotage the Crown Prince in the first round by luring a ferocious beast to attack him?¡± ¡°As the Blade Emperor¡¯s disciple, he stooped to such disgraceful tactics. What a joke!¡± ¡°Exactly! Someone like him doesn¡¯t deserve to win against the Crown Prince. Just get off the stage!¡± The crowd¡¯s boos and jeers filled the air, but Li Xuan¡¯s expression remained unfazed. Instead, he smirked coldly, his eyes gleaming with defiance. ¡®Mock me all you want. Soon, I¡¯ll slap every one of your faces until they swell. Just wait.¡¯ ¡°Contestants, summon your beasts,¡± the host commanded. With a thunderous roar, the ground trembled as both fighters prepared to unleash their battle beasts. The stage was set for an explosive confrontation. With deep, heavy steps, the Grand Mystic Spirit Bull entered the arena. Its iron hooves stomped the ground, leaving behind deep pits with each stride. The crowd, momentarily stunned by the beast¡¯s immense size and presence, fell silent, their jeers at Li Xuan momentarily forgotten. ¡°That¡¯s the Grand Mystic Spirit Bull... and it¡¯s at the peak of the Celestial Realm! I can¡¯t believe Li Xuan managed to subdue such a powerful beast!¡± ¡°Indeed! This creature is of ancient lineage, and its dual horns are renowned for their unparalleled destructive power. A direct collision could overwhelm even a Dao Transformation expert!¡± ¡°Still, there¡¯s no need to worry. The Crown Prince¡¯s beast will surely be even more terrifying. Just look at that Nine-Headed Beast that pulls his carriage¡ªhow imposing!¡± ¡°Exactly! Just wait until we see the Crown Prince¡¯s beast!¡± The audience¡¯s anticipation soared as Lin Qi¡¯an prepared to summon his battle beast. With a simple motion, his Nine-Headed Beast emerged... except it wasn¡¯t the fearsome creature they expected. Instead, what appeared was a miniature, snow-white version of the legendary beast. Its nine adorably curious heads scanned the surroundings, resembling nothing more than a playful pet. Compared to the towering Grand Mystic Spirit Bull, this tiny creature was thousands of times smaller. The stunned silence from the audience quickly turned into confused murmurs. ¡°Wait... what is this?¡± ¡°The Crown Prince¡¯s chosen beast... is *this*?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like it! Master, is this an ancient beast?¡± ¡°Uh... I¡¯ve never seen anything like it either,¡± replied a bewildered elder. ¡°Are we sure this little thing can even participate in a beast battle? This has to be a joke, right?¡± The audience wasn¡¯t alone in their confusion. Even those who knew Lin Qi¡¯an well were baffled, completely unable to make sense of his choice. Only a select few, such as his personal maids, seemed to understand the situation. Zhao Qingmeng: What is that? Zhao Yunji: It¡¯s so cute... I really want to find a chance to hug it! Mo Shuiqiu & Lu Miaoyin: Isn¡¯t that the Nine-Headed Beast that pulls his carriage? When did it turn into this adorable form? Lin Hongyu: Sister, do you know what kind of beast this is? I want one too! Lin Liuli: I don¡¯t know... but what¡¯s that brat up to? Has he given up? Among them, Lu Weishuang was especially furious. She had given Lin Qi¡¯an the Essence of Ten Thousand Beasts, a rare and powerful treasure, specifically to enhance his performance in the beast battle. If used correctly, it could significantly evolve a beast¡¯s power. Yet now, it seemed Lin Qi¡¯an had no intention of competing seriously. ¡°Such a waste!¡± she fumed. In the VIP section, the gathered Emperors and Saints were equally perplexed. ¡°Lin Weixuan, we can¡¯t figure out what your son is up to. What¡¯s his plan here?¡± ¡°Hehe,¡± Lin Weixuan chuckled awkwardly. Don¡¯t ask me¡ªI can¡¯t figure him out either. Meanwhile, Gu Jingyun, Li Xuan¡¯s master, was in high spirits. No matter the reason for Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s odd choice, a victory here would restore some of his dignity. The crowd gradually reached a consensus: Lin Qi¡¯an wasn¡¯t taking this round seriously. Given his strong performance in the first round, he had likely secured enough points to qualify for the Forbidden Land expedition. This round seemed to be a throwaway, allowing him to forfeit without consequences. Disappointed murmurs filled the arena. ¡°Looks like the Crown Prince is just messing around this round.¡± ¡°Yeah, the second round is a write-off. The Tianhai Dao Domain folks will probably dominate this time.¡± ¡°Well, I guess I¡¯ll leave after this match and come back for the third round when the Crown Prince actually tries.¡± With the crowd assuming Lin Qi¡¯an would lose, the battle officially began. ¡°Charge!¡± Li Xuan commanded. The Grand Mystic Spirit Bull pawed at the ground before launching itself forward like a massive war chariot. Its dual horns glowed with blade intent, amplifying its already terrifying destructive power. The beast charged with supersonic speed, leaving a trail of yellow sand and roaring winds in its wake. ¡°This... this is going to be a killing blow!¡± ¡°How could he aim to kill the Crown Prince¡¯s beast when it¡¯s clearly so small?¡± The audience gasped in shock, many covering their eyes to avoid witnessing the seemingly inevitable slaughter of Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s tiny beast. But in the next moment, the Nine-Headed Beast leaped gracefully into the air, its nine fluffy heads working in perfect unison. With a quick flick of its tail, it met the charging bull head-on. Boom! The impact created a shockwave that swept across a radius of ten miles. The Grand Mystic Spirit Bull¡¯s supposedly indestructible horns shattered instantly, and its massive body was flung through the air like a cannonball, crashing into the ground and leaving a deep crater. The arena fell silent. Not a single sound could be heard as the spectators stared in stunned disbelief. The once-dominant Grand Mystic Spirit Bull now lay motionless, utterly defeated. The tiny Nine-Headed Beast stood unscathed, its nine heads swaying innocently, as if wondering why everyone had gone so quiet. The crowd could only stare, slack-jawed, as the realization dawned¡ªLin Qi¡¯an¡¯s seemingly innocuous beast wasn¡¯t just adorable; it was a monster in disguise. Chapter 155 Chapter 155: The Final Draw ¨C Lin Qi¡¯an vs. Ye Yun! A pet-like little spiritual beast swung its tail and sent the mountain-like Grand Mystic Bull flying, shattering its horns in the process. The massive bull lay on the ground, breathing heavily and unable to rise. The crowd collectively gasped, their disbelief palpable. They stared at the small spiritual beast as though they had seen a ghost. The creature, seemingly unbothered, yawned and perched itself on Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s shoulder, affectionately nuzzling him. After a long silence, the audience began to murmur in awe. ¡°This is insane! Absolutely insane!¡± ¡°Crown Prince, I¡¯m sorry for doubting you. This spiritual beast is terrifying!¡± ¡°Damn, that strength rivals a Dao Transformation Realm expert!¡± ¡°The Grand Mystic Bull looked like a mere chick in front of it!¡± Even the half-Saint elder hosting the event was stunned for a moment before finally announcing, ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an wins.¡± Cheers erupted, starting in Tianjian City and spreading like a tidal wave across the audience. ¡°Who said the Crown Prince was just messing around? That spiritual beast could probably defeat everyone here!¡± ¡°Hahaha, I thought it was just cute, but its strength is monstrous! What a show!¡± Li Xuan stood frozen, his hands trembling uncontrollably. Shock, confusion, and anger overwhelmed him, leaving his entire body quaking. Once again, he had lost to Lin Qi¡¯an, bringing yet another disgrace to his master. The crushing blow of defeat struck like a hammer, shattering his pride. Eyes lifeless, he staggered off the stage like a puppet, retreating in defeat. The Blade Emperor, observing the scene, shook his head and sighed. ¡°This boy¡¯s heart is still too fragile. He has never faced failure, so a single setback is enough to break him. If he cannot endure defeat, his future achievements will be limited.¡± [Ding! Gu Jingyun is deeply disappointed in Li Xuan. Li Xuan¡¯s Luck Value -100.] Zhao Qingmeng: ¡°Even as a reborn Empress, I¡¯ve never seen such a bizarre spiritual beast. How on earth did Lin Qi¡¯an manage this?¡± Zhao Yunji: ¡°Its strength is terrifying. Maybe hugging it isn¡¯t such a good idea after all...¡± Lin Liuli: ¡°I thought you were throwing this round, but you actually managed to surprise me!¡± Earlier, she had advised Lin Qi¡¯an to forfeit the round to avoid raising and then crushing the audience¡¯s expectations. It turned out he didn¡¯t need to. The strength of this spiritual beast was likely enough to rival even the monstrous beings from Tianhai Dao Domain. Lu Weishuang, knowing the truth, was the most shocked. She had given Lin Qi¡¯an the Myriad Beast Essence Orb, knowing it could evolve a spiritual beast, but never imagined it would result in such a drastic transformation. The power of this little creature could only be compared to the White Tiger of the Four Sacred Beasts. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an is far more exceptional than I imagined... His future potential may be limitless.¡± ¡°Master, Lin Qi¡¯an is incredible. Seeing his brilliance makes me feel ashamed,¡± Tong Xiang muttered. ¡°There is no need for shame. Everyone has their own opportunities. Focus on your own path,¡± his master replied. ¡°Yes, Master!¡± Tong Xiang¡¯s voice was filled with excitement. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect his master to console him like this. He knew it was all thanks to Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡ª Meanwhile, the people of Tianhai Dao Domain couldn¡¯t help but grumble bitterly. ¡°Are we sure that Lin Qi¡¯an caught this spiritual beast himself and didn¡¯t just get it from his father?¡± ¡°Having a powerful background is great. You can have anything you want!¡± Hearing this, the spectators from Canglan Dao Domain burst into laughter. ¡°Exactly! Our Crown Prince always relies on his background. Even during the demon beast hunting event, it was definitely his father who cleared the field for him!¡± ¡°Absolutely! The Sword Emperor must have taken down all those demon beasts. There¡¯s no way our Crown Prince could be this amazing!¡± ¡°We people of Canglan Dao Domain are just born weaker, right? Say no more~¡± The sarcastic remarks infuriated the Tianhai Dao Domain crowd. ¡°Just wait! Let¡¯s hope your Crown Prince doesn¡¯t encounter us too soon!¡± ¡ª After Lin Qi¡¯an stepped down, the beast duel continued. Ye Yun and the two Fate-Blessed contestants from the Western Dynasty performed exceptionally, while the two prodigies from Tianhai Dao Domain secured overwhelming victories. One by one, weaker spiritual beasts were eliminated. After dozens of rounds, the remaining contestants dwindled. Even Zhao Yunji¡¯s Spirit Phoenix fell in battle, defeated by a competitor from Tianhai Dao Domain. Only six contestants remained: three from Canglan Dao Domain and three from Tianhai Dao Domain. From Canglan Dao Domain, the remaining contestants were Lin Qi¡¯an and two Fate-Blessed individuals. From Tianhai Dao Domain, the remaining contestants were all heavyweight prodigies: Kui Xiao of the Kui Dragon Clan, Teng Yun of the Teng Snake Clan, and Jin Lingkong of the Golden Crow Clan. The next step was to draw lots for one-on-one beast duels. The three winners would then face off in a chaotic final melee. The draw was entirely random, introducing a significant element of luck. The final three contestants could all be from Tianhai Dao Domain or split between the two domains. One thing was certain: any lone survivor would likely face a two-on-one scenario. The crowd¡¯s anticipation reached its peak as they awaited the draw, each hoping the contestant from their domain would have a favorable matchup to avoid a disadvantage in the final melee. The six competitors stood ready as the tension built, with every heartbeat seemingly amplified in the silence before the announcement. Jin Lingkong smirked and said, ¡°Friends from Canglan Dao Domain, I suggest you pray you don¡¯t draw me. Otherwise, you¡¯ll be leaving early.¡± Teng Yun chuckled. ¡°Haha, Big Brother Jin is as bold as ever, but don¡¯t get too cocky!¡± Kui Xiao added with a sly grin, ¡°I hope all our opponents are from their side. Then, the final melee would be between just the three of us.¡± Despite the extraordinary display of Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s spiritual beast, the Tianhai Dao Domain contestants still dismissed him as irrelevant. After all, when it came to beast dueling, they were the undisputed experts. Meanwhile, hidden thoughts bubbled among Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s opponents. Ye Yun: Damn it, Lin Qi¡¯an. If I draw you, I¡¯ll kill your spiritual beast for sure! Xi Chao¡¯s: That wretched Lin Qi¡¯an. I¡¯ll settle both old and new scores today! Indeed, everyone in the arena seemed to be Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s enemy. He had no allies. The two destined contestants were long-standing rivals. Kui Xiao would undoubtedly seek vengeance for a Saintess from his clan. Jin Lingkong and Teng Yun both aimed to crush Lin Qi¡¯an for the glory of Tianhai Dao Domain and to elevate their own reputations. ¡°This doesn¡¯t look good for the Crown Prince.¡± ¡°Right? Everyone around him is an enemy.¡± ¡°Now that you mention it, you¡¯re right. Ye Yun and the Xi Chao definitely won¡¯t stand with him.¡± ¡°And the three on the other side seem united. This is going to be tough!¡± Even before the draw began, the spectators were already dejected. Their frustration wasn¡¯t due to Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s lack of strength but because he was completely surrounded by enemies. The spiritual beasts from Tianhai Dao Domain were all terrifying, and defeating even one was a monumental task. Facing two at once would mean certain defeat. Finally, the first draw was announced. Round 1: Lin Qi¡¯an vs. Ye Yun!* A wave of disappointment swept through the Canglan Dao Domain spectators. No one expected an internal battle right from the start. ¡°Ah, I wanted to see the Crown Prince teach those arrogant guys a lesson!¡± ¡°Be patient. If we have an internal fight, they¡¯ll have one too.¡± As if to balance the scales, the second draw was revealed. Round 2: Kui Xiao vs. Teng Yun. An internal Tianhai Dao Domain match. Neither contestant seemed concerned, as advancing or losing a few points meant little to them. Round 3: Xi Chao vs. Jin Lingkong. Xi Chao was pitted against the Golden Crow Prodigy, promising an intense battle. ¡°Let the match begin!¡± the hosting elder declared. Lin Qi¡¯an stepped into the massive dueling arena with his miniature Nine-Headed Beast perched on his shoulder. The atmosphere was electric. Thousands of spectators cheered wildly, their voices forming a tidal wave of excitement that filled the air. It was evident that most of the audience supported Lin Qi¡¯an; few placed any faith in Ye Yun. His fame, strength, and reputation were all inferior to the Crown Prince¡¯s. ¡°Elder Sister, if I¡¯m not mistaken, wasn¡¯t Ye Yun once one of your guards?¡± Zhao Qingmeng asked with a teasing smile. ¡°Why do I feel like you¡¯re cheering for Lin Qi¡¯an instead of him?¡± ¡°Ridiculous! I¡¯m not cheering for anyone!¡± Zhao Yunji retorted, her frosty expression betraying her annoyance. ¡°Besides, Ye Yun isn¡¯t my guard anymore.¡± ¡°So, if you had to pick a side, who would you support?¡± ¡°Of course, I... Why do I need to answer you?¡± ¡°Giggle~¡± Zhao Qingmeng couldn¡¯t help but laugh at her sister¡¯s embarrassment. By this time, Ye Yun had entered the arena with his spiritual beast, the ¡°Desolate Ghost Tiger.¡± The massive tiger, nearly five meters long, was pitch black and exuded an aura of ferocity that sent chills down the spines of all who beheld it. Its fangs bared and its menacing aura filled the air, a terrifying sight to behold. Chapter 156 Chapter 156: Nine-Headed Beast¡¯s Desperation for Pills ¡°Is Ye Yun¡¯s Desolate Ghost Tiger descended from pure ancient vicious beast bloodlines?¡± ¡°Its bloodshot eyes and swollen muscles radiate a terrifying aura of aggression. This seems abnormal!¡± ¡°You must be an expert?¡± ¡°This beast is violent by nature, but this level of frenzy feels more like madness...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There¡¯s no way the Crown Prince will lose!¡± The first round of the match officially began. ¡°Go, kill it,¡± Ye Yun commanded in a low voice. As soon as his words fell, the Desolate Ghost Tiger shot forward like an arrow. It left a resounding sonic boom in its wake, covering hundreds of meters in an instant. Its powerful limbs surged across the ground, churning up yellow sand wherever it passed. On the battlefield, it looked like a streak of black lightning. ¡°What incredible speed!¡± ¡°That ghost tiger is extraordinary. It might have already surpass the Celestial Realms!¡± ¡°It¡¯s at least at the quasi-Dao Transformation level. The Crown Prince¡¯s beast could be in trouble!¡± In the blink of an eye, the Nine-Headed Beast dashed forward to meet it. The collision of their terrifying energies was like two meteors crashing into one another, creating an explosive shockwave that fractured the ground beneath them. Despite its petite size, the Nine-Headed Beast held its ground against the massive Desolate Ghost Tiger without faltering in their grappling match. ¡°Roar!¡± The tiger¡¯s deafening roar echoed across the arena. Black energy surged in its mouth as it gathered terrifying power, ready to annihilate its opponent with a single blast. The Nine-Headed Beast reacted swiftly. All nine of its heads began glowing with white light, converging into a single point. Black and white energy intertwined, splitting the world into a stark dichotomy of darkness and light. Both beasts were swallowed by the clash of energy. Moments later, the light faded, revealing the scene on the battlefield. The audience initially assumed the Crown Prince¡¯s spiritual beast would emerge victorious. But reality was crueler. The snowy-white Nine-Headed Beast lay motionless on the ground, its fur dusty and disheveled, clearly injured. ¡°How is this possible?¡± ¡°The Crown Prince¡¯s beast lost?¡± ¡°That Desolate Ghost Tiger is this strong?¡± ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve ever seen the Crown Prince suffer defeat!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an furrowed his brows, while Ye Yun smirked coldly. Just as the crowd reeled in disbelief, someone noticed something unusual. ¡°Wait, look at the Desolate Ghost Tiger!¡± The tiger¡¯s body was engulfed in a fiery aura of blood energy, its saliva steaming as it hit the ground. Its vicious aura became so intense it seemed to pierce the heavens. ¡°That¡¯s the Three-Day Soul-Breaking Pill!¡± An experienced alchemist shouted in alarm. ¡°He actually gave the tiger such a sinister pill? He¡¯ll stop at nothing to win!¡± ¡°Even if he defeats the Crown Prince, it¡¯s a disgraceful victory!¡± ¡°Wait, what exactly does the Three-Day Soul-Breaking Pill do?¡± ¡°Once consumed, the user will die in three days without fail! It burns the body¡¯s blood energy, continuously increasing strength until it peaks just before death!¡± ¡°This Desolate Ghost Tiger is on the verge of death, but it¡¯s now at its most powerful!¡± Ran Yuwei, filled with rage, shouted, ¡°How could he treat his own spiritual beast like this? This is despicable!¡± Zhao Yunji shook her head coldly. ¡°He¡¯s lost his mind, obsessed with winning at all costs.¡± ¡°Get off the stage! Get off the stage!¡± A wave of boos and curses swept through the arena, with the majority of the audience expressing their disdain for such tactics. Using such a cruel method in an internal match was disgraceful. ¡°Technically, the rules don¡¯t forbid the use of pills, right? Heh, a win is a win, and a loss is a loss.¡± ¡°If he can use pills, so can the Crown Prince. If they don¡¯t take full advantage of the rules, who¡¯s to blame for their loss?¡± ¡°Haha, exactly! I suggest the Crown Prince feed his beast a Three-Day Soul-Breaking Pill* and start over!¡± Among the crowd, some voices dripped with sarcasm, clearly reveling in Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s misfortune. After all, Tianjian City had many rivals who would love nothing more than to see Lin Qi¡¯an lose miserably. The elder hosting the event hadn¡¯t expected anyone to go so far as to use the Three-Day Soul-Breaking Pill to win. Initially, there were no restrictions on pill usage, as conventional pills only provided minor, temporary boosts to the beasts¡¯ strength. Nobody imagined someone would use such a vile and destructive pill on their beast. After hesitating for a long moment, the elder reluctantly prepared to declare Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s defeat. ¡°May I also administer a pill to my spiritual beast?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an calmly asked the elder. ¡°Of course,¡± the elder replied. Lin Qi¡¯an nodded, walking steadily toward his injured beast without the slightest hint of panic. Ye Yun sneered, ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, doesn¡¯t defeat feel bitter? Refusing to admit it now is nothing short of shameless!¡± More jeers erupted from the crowd, but Ye Yun paid them no mind. Ever since he had been stripped of his title by Zhao Yunji, he had ceased to care about anything else. ¡®What does the judgment of others have to do with me? I, Ye Yun, need no explanation for my actions. If I could trample Lin Qi¡¯an, I wouldn¡¯t hesitate to feed the Three-Day Soul-Breaking Pill to a vicious beast¡ªor even take it myself!* ¡® From a distance, Ran Yuwei watched with concern. ¡°Is the Crown Prince planning to continue?¡± ¡°It seems so...¡± Zhao Yunji¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°Could he really be thinking of giving that beast the Three-Day Soul-Breaking Pill?¡± ¡°That¡¯s unlikely. Why are you so worried, Elder Sister? It¡¯s not even your spiritual beast.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m not worried!¡± Under everyone¡¯s gaze, Lin Qi¡¯an walked up to the Nine-Headed Beast, looking down at the small, snowy-white creature. ¡°How much longer are you going to pretend to be injured, hmm?¡± The Nine-Headed Beast flinched, utterly shocked. ¡®How did the Crown Prince know I was faking? Could it be because of the blood contract? Can he sense my condition?¡¯ She cursed herself for being careless, ¡®I¡¯m already acting so pitiful¡ªshouldn¡¯t he be giving me some divine pills by now so I can recover and keep fighting?¡¯ Of course, these were thoughts she dared not voice aloud. Instead, she feebly wagged her tail, lightly tapping Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s shoe in an exaggerated show of weakness, appearing frail and pitiable. The audience, seeing her act, was moved. ¡°Your Highness, maybe just concede this round. Let¡¯s not fight anymore!¡± ¡°Exactly, Your Highness. Look at how pitiful she is. Take her back to heal instead!¡± The Nine-Headed Beast¡¯s entire act was aimed at coaxing some pills out of Lin Qi¡¯an. Eating pills was the fastest way to grow and awaken her power, but Lin Qi¡¯an rarely indulged her with such treasures. This was her last-ditch effort. That said, the Desolate Ghost Tiger had truly hurt her earlier; the pain wasn¡¯t entirely fabricated. ¡°Fine, so you want pills? I¡¯ll give you pills,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said with a deceptively kind smile. ¡°But if you lose this fight, I¡¯ll cook you for soup tonight.¡± He retrieved a stash of pills from his storage ring¡ªSupreme Golden Pills! These were high-grade pills he¡¯d obtained after defeating the first Fate-Blessed contestant, and he still had plenty in reserve. He tossed nine pills to the Nine-Headed Beast. The little beast moved with lightning speed, each of her nine heads snatching a pill in an instant. The moment the pills entered her mouths, she was overjoyed. ¡®The Crown Prince actually gave me such top-quality pills¡ªand nine at once! He¡¯s so generous! Staying by his side is accelerating my evolution beyond belief.¡¯ As the medicinal power surged through her body, her growth advanced again. Even her size visibly increased, now resembling that of an adult dog. ¡°The Crown Prince¡¯s beast is back on its feet!¡± ¡°A miracle of medicine!¡± ¡°Only Beiyang¡¯s Crown Prince could have access to such divine pills. It¡¯s no wonder the beast healed so quickly!¡± ¡°But is it wise to keep fighting? The opponent¡¯s beast is still in a berserk state, burning with the Three-Day Soul-Breaking Pill¡¯s effects!¡± The majority of the audience worried for the little beast, fearing it would be torn apart in another confrontation. Lin Qi¡¯an ignored the chatter and calmly issued his command. ¡°You have thirty breaths to resolve this. If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll deal with you myself.¡± The Nine-Headed Beast shivered violently, not daring to hold back any longer. In an instant, she became a streak of white light, shooting across the battlefield. ¡°Kill it! Go!¡± Ye Yun roared. The Desolate Ghost Tiger lunged forward. Once again, black light clashed with white light. But this time, the result was shocking. As the white streak zipped by, a deep, bloody gash appeared on the Desolate Ghost Tiger¡¯s body. ¡°I can barely see its speed!¡± The Desolate Ghost Tiger was utterly unable to keep up, its eyes darting helplessly as the dazzling white light danced around it. Every time the white light passed, another wound appeared on its body. Within ten breaths, the Nine-Headed Beast had streaked across the battlefield seventy-two times, leaving seventy-two gruesome wounds crisscrossing the tiger¡¯s body. Flesh and blood were exposed, painting a scene of utter carnage. Finally, the Desolate Ghost Tiger collapsed with a thunderous crash, its life extinguished. In a way, this quick death was a mercy, sparing it from the slow, agonizing effects of the pill. The Nine-Headed Beast eagerly trotted back to Lin Qi¡¯an, wagging her heads in a show of submission. Each head nuzzled against him, as if to say: ¡®Look, I only used ten breaths! I still have twenty left! Maybe reward me with twenty more pills, Your Highness?¡¯ Chapter 157 Chapter 157: The Three-Way Battle Begins ¨C Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s 1v2? The audience was left speechless, unsure how to put what they had just witnessed into words. Against a berserk tiger enhanced by a pill, the Crown Prince¡¯s spiritual pet not only turned the tide but outright crushed its opponent. ¡°Didn¡¯t the Crown Prince¡¯s beast just get injured? How did its combat power skyrocket so suddenly?¡± ¡°No idea, but the Crown Prince is incredible, that¡¯s all that matters!¡± ¡°How can it pull off a comeback like that? Can someone please tell me what breed this thing is?¡± ¡°With such terrifying combat power, how is anyone else supposed to compete?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you mocking the Crown Prince earlier? Care to share your thoughts now? Don¡¯t just stay quiet!¡± Those who had been taunting Lin Qi¡¯an earlier now found themselves surrounded by amused onlookers, their mocking laughter echoing in the arena. ¡°So, the Crown Prince fed his beast pills and won. What do you have to say now?¡± ¡°Maybe eat your words, brother?¡± ¡°Hahaha! If I were you, I¡¯d leave immediately. Staying here is just embarrassing!¡± The ridiculed spectators wished they could vanish into thin air. ¡°That¡¯s right, this spiritual beast is my child with the Crown Prince!¡± Ran Yuwei said proudly, puffing out her chest. ¡°Beast companion is one thing, but calling it your child is taking it too far, Sister Yuwei,¡± Su Xueni replied with a smile. ¡°But it¡¯s true! We hatched it together... Mmph!¡± Ran Yuwei¡¯s words were muffled as Su Xueni playfully covered her mouth. Zhao Qingmeng looked at the scene with exasperation. This beast might actually be stronger than Lin Qi¡¯an himself. From its appearance, it seemed to be a transformed Nine-Headed Beast. How had it changed so drastically in just a few days? In the VIP section, a Great Emperor smiled and asked, ¡°Sword Emperor, this spiritual beast belongs to Tianjian City, correct? Would you be willing to trade it? I could offer some heavenly treasures in exchange.¡± The Sword Emperor¡¯s thoughts were chaotic. ¡®Trade? What nonsense! I don¡¯t even know where that beast came from! If I did, I¡¯d have locked it up and worshiped it already, let alone given it away!¡¯ He sighed inwardly. ¡®This kid, Lin Qi¡¯an, hasn¡¯t been out long, yet he¡¯s come across opportunities even I can¡¯t understand.¡¯ Meanwhile, Lin Liuli walked up to Zhao Yunji with a smug grin. ¡°This spiritual beast is amazing¡ªso cute, yet ridiculously strong. When we return, I¡¯ll have that brat hand it over to me to play with.¡± Her pride was evident, her tone completely unrestrained. She had noticed Zhao Yunji¡¯s subtle interest in the beast but knew she would never admit it. Sure enough, Zhao Yunji¡¯s expression darkened, her chest heaving in frustration. ¡°Hmph, it¡¯s just a spiritual beast. What¡¯s so special about it?¡± Lin Liuli simply smiled and turned to Zhao Qingmeng. ¡°Sister Qingmeng, you must visit us sometime. We can play with the beast together.¡± ¡°Sounds great!¡± Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement, her smile curving like a crescent moon. Picking on her elder sister was far too amusing. Zhao Yunji: ... Furious but unable to vent, she could only stew silently. ¡®Damn it. That beast should¡¯ve been mine! What are you all so smug about?¡¯ She truly regretted it now. It was all Ye Yun¡¯s fault for challenging Lin Qi¡¯an in Tianjian City and declaring he wanted to break off their engagement. ¡ª Ye Yun¡¯s Luck Value had already hit zero. There was nothing left to deduct. His mental state was completely shattered. He had gone to such lengths, even using the Three-Day Soul-Breaking Pill, all in hopes of defeating Lin Qi¡¯an¡ªjust once. Yet he had failed, utterly and completely, with no shred of dignity remaining. ¡®Is Lin Qi¡¯an truly invincible?¡¯ His chest burned with rage as his clenched teeth drew blood. Having lost the beast duel, his chances were dwindling. There was still a chance to fight Lin Qi¡¯an directly later, but it was his only remaining opportunity. He had to master his forbidden technique quickly. As he left the arena, his gaze was filled with grim determination. ¡ª Next up was the Tianhai Dao Domain internal match: Kui Xiao versus Teng Yun. Unlike Ye Yun, they didn¡¯t go all out. Winning or losing wasn¡¯t their main concern; conserving strength for the three-way melee was far more important. Kui Xiao¡¯s Tianhai Spirit Snake ultimately won. ¡°Kui, it seems you have a grudge against Lin Qi¡¯an. I¡¯ll leave the spot to you. Make sure to teach him a lesson later,¡± Teng Yun said with a chuckle. ¡°Haha, naturally.¡± The two laughed as they left the arena together. ¡ª The following match, however, was the real spectacle. Xi Chao, faced off against the Golden Crow Prodigy, Jin Lingkong. The battle between these two domains drew immense attention. While many disliked Xi Chao, they chose to support their own when faced with an external rival. ¡°The Crown Prince has already secured one victory. Hopefully, Xi Chao can win this too!¡± ¡°If he does, we¡¯ll have two representatives in the three-way melee, giving us a huge advantage!¡± ¡°There¡¯s hope. Xi Chao¡¯s Demonic Dragon Shark is incredibly strong. I believe in him!¡± The disciples of the Xiling sacred temple cheered loudly, their voices echoing across the arena as they rallied behind their champion. Both contestants stepped onto the stage, ready to face off. Xi Chao¡¯s spiritual beast was the Demonic Dragon Shark, a dominating predator from the Western Seas. Spanning nearly a hundred meters, its jet-black scales resembled iron plates, its massive muscles bulged ominously, and crimson gums framed its gaping maw. Its eyes radiated an aura of unending ferocity, sending chills down the spines of onlookers. ¡°That shark is enormous!¡± ¡°It might be the largest beast in this competition!¡± ¡°Just looking at it is intimidating...¡± In stark contrast, Jin Lingkong stood calmly with a seemingly ordinary crow perched on his shoulder. The crow was unremarkable save for its ink-black feathers and eerie white eyes that gave it an unsettling presence. ¡ª The beast duel officially began. The Demonic Dragon Shark was the first to act, unleashing a water tornado from its jaws in an attempt to drag the crow into its aquatic trap. However, with just a flap of its wings, the crow shattered the water tornado entirely. A terrifying windstorm descended from above, each blade of wind capable of cleaving through mountains, leaving deep gashes on the shark¡¯s massive body. Then, the crow transformed into a streak of black light and pierced through the shark¡¯s heart. The colossal beast collapsed in the center of the battlefield, lifeless. Blood poured from its wounds, pooling across the ground and staining the arena red. The Demonic Dragon Shark had been utterly annihilated¡ªa crushing defeat executed in mere moments. The crowd fell into stunned silence, many gasping at the display of overwhelming power. Especially the disciples of the Western Dynasty¡¯s sacred temple, who had been cheering moments earlier. Their fists froze mid-air, their celebration stifled by the shocking reality before them. ¡°Nicely done,¡± Jin Lingkong said casually as the crow flew back to him and perched effortlessly on his shoulder, as if its previous actions were trivial. ¡°This can¡¯t be...¡± Xi Chao¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot, his fists trembling as he struggled to accept the result. ¡°That White Rainbow Black Divine Crownis terrifying. No wonder it¡¯s been raised by Jin Lingkong since birth!¡± ¡°Hahaha! Look at their faces. They look like they¡¯ve swallowed something foul!¡± ¡°Thinking they could outmatch Tianhai Dao Domain in beast dueling? How nai?ve.¡± The audience finally realized that Jin Lingkong might be the strongest prodigy of Tianhai Dao Domain, his earlier restraint concealing his true might. Now, with his power revealed, his presence loomed like a dark cloud over the Canglan Dao Domain representatives. Jin Lingkong shot a glance at Lin Qi¡¯an before descending from the arena, his expression calm and composed. ¡ª After a brief intermission, the final three-way melee was set to begin. The situation had taken a dire turn for the Canglan Dao Domain. Lin Qi¡¯an was their sole representative, while Tianhai Dao Domain had both Jin Lingkong and Kui Xiao. ¡°What can we do? In this battle, the Crown Prince is sure to be targeted!¡± ¡°His spiritual beast is strong, but that crow looks even more terrifying!¡± ¡°If it were one-on-one, I¡¯d bet on the Crown Prince, but a two-on-one... That¡¯s a whole different story.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget Kui Xiao¡¯s snake. It defeated the princess¡¯s Spirit Phoenix¡ªit¡¯s just as extraordinary!¡± The intermission ended quickly, and the final beast duel began. Lin Qi¡¯an, Kui Xiao, and Jin Lingkong stepped into the arena, standing at three points of a triangle. This round had no rules. Two-on-one attacks were allowed, making the situation even more precarious for Lin Qi¡¯an. The crowd held their breath, especially Ran Yuwei, who clasped her hands tightly to her chest. She wasn¡¯t merely watching a duel; it was as if she were watching her ¡°daughter¡± go to war alongside her ¡°father.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s begin,¡± the hosting elder announced. Lin Qi¡¯an thought to himself, ¡¯If this were a typical plotline for a protagonist blessed with great fortune, the two enemies would now underestimate me.¡± ¡°They¡¯d arrogantly claim that only one of them is needed to defeat me, taking turns to throw themselves into my hands for an easy victory.* But he wasn¡¯t a protagonist and his enemies had a different plan. Jin Lingkong spoke first. ¡°Kui, it seems you have a personal grudge against him. Shall I let you handle it first?¡± Kui Xiao smiled slyly. ¡°You jest, Brother Jin. I think it¡¯s better if we work together, crush him quickly, and then enjoy the rest at our leisure.¡± Jin Lingkong nodded. ¡°Fair enough. Shall we start?¡± The two turned toward Lin Qi¡¯an in unison, their spiritual beasts coiled and ready to strike. The atmosphere grew tense as two sets of bloodthirsty eyes locked onto Lin Qi¡¯an. The final battle was about to explode! Chapter 158 Chapter 158: The Great Emperor¡¯s Gamble! The Three-Legged Golden Crow Emerges Lin Qi¡¯an entered the arena with his spirit beast, Jiuying. Kui Xiao followed, bringing the Tianhai Spirit Serpent. Lastly, Jin Lingkong stepped forward with the White Rainbow Black God Crow. The three-way battle officially began! Right at the start, the audience of the Canglan Dao Domain witnessed their worst fears coming true. The Tianhai Spirit Serpent and the White Rainbow Black God Crow showed no intention of fighting each other. Instead, they prepared to take down Jiuying first! The spirit serpent launched its attack from the ground, its body shimmering with vibrant rainbow hues¡ªboth eerie and mesmerizing. Meanwhile, the crow attacked from the skies. This terrifying creature had previously slain the hundred-meter-long giant shark of the Xiling Divine Son in a single strike, leaving ordinary people completely unable to fathom its combat prowess! With assaults coming from both the ground and the air, Lin Qi¡¯an felt the pressure. ¡°I hope those pills I fed it earlier weren¡¯t a waste,¡± he muttered under his breath. Jiuying shuddered as its nine heads fixed their gaze, each filled with determination and fighting spirit. In a flash, it transformed into a streak of divine white light and charged straight into battle. The three terrifying spirit beasts collided. A rainbow light, a black glow, and a white brilliance intertwined, clashing continuously within the massive arena. Each collision triggered explosions of violent winds and spatial distortions! Those with weaker cultivation could barely follow the battle, their eyes only able to trace the shifting lights. ¡°The speed is incredible!¡± ¡°These spirit beasts have already surpassed the Celestial Layer in strength. They are immensely powerful!¡± ¡°I never expected this beast duel to be even more intense than battles between people!¡± ¡°Come on, Crown Prince¡¯s spirit beast, don¡¯t lose!¡± As the hosts of this event, the people of Canglan Dao Domain could not afford to lose to the Tianhai Dao Domain. To lose would be a humiliation. What¡¯s more, the Tianhai Dao Domain was an uninvited guest. If they weren¡¯t thoroughly defeated, they wouldn¡¯t even recognize where they stood! Thus, all hope rested on Lin Qi¡¯an. Only his victory could preserve the dignity of Canglan Dao Domain! ¡°Didn¡¯t the Crown Prince¡¯s spirit beast just fight that ghost tiger? Could its condition still be poor?¡± ¡°That damned tiger had taken a Three-Day Soul Severing Pill! Otherwise, it couldn¡¯t have injured the Crown Prince¡¯s spirit beast.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t jinx it! The Crown Prince hasn¡¯t lost yet!¡± ¡ª In the VIP seats, Kui Long the Great Emperor, Kui Shili, laughed and asked, ¡°Does anyone wish to speculate on the outcome of this battle?¡± The Tai¡¯an Emperor scoffed coldly. ¡°Two against one, and you still want to add a wager?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Kui Shili replied with a smile, shaking his head. ¡°I merely wonder who will emerge victorious¡ªwill it be the spirit beast of the Golden Crow Divine Son, or that of our Kui Dragon Clan¡¯s Divine Son?¡± He completely excluded Lin Qi¡¯an from consideration. After all, the most likely scenario was Lin Qi¡¯an being eliminated, leaving the other two to compete for first place. The Tai¡¯an Emperor merely snorted, refraining from further comment. ¡°I¡¯ll take that bet!¡± A voice suddenly broke the silence. It was none other than the Sword Emperor, Lin Weixuan, clad in a long green robe and sporting a pair of sharp, sword-like brows. ¡°I¡¯ll bet that my son, Lin Qi¡¯an, will claim victory,¡± he declared. The Sword Emperor¡¯s bold statement left the Great Emperors and Saints in stunned silence. He really dared to bet? As expected, there wasn¡¯t a battle under the heavens the Sword Emperor wouldn¡¯t take on, even if it was a gamble. But betting on Lin Qi¡¯an was risky. His personal strength was undeniable, but the outcome of a battle between spirit beasts was far too unpredictable. His odds of winning were slim. The Sword Emperor¡¯s choice was seen asreckless. ¡°Impressive. The Sword Emperor¡¯s courage truly lives up to his reputation,¡± Kui Long the Great Emperor said with a hearty laugh. ¡°Then I shall bet that he¡¯ll be eliminated. My wager is this Thunder Dragon Pill, an elixir greatly beneficial to those who practice thunder-based techniques.¡± The Thunder Dragon Pill! A secret ninth-tier elixir of the Kui Dragon Clan, this pill was said to be forged within a thunder pool over a span of ten years, making it incomparably precious. For cultivators of thunder techniques, it was a treasure of immense value. ¡°And what will the Sword Emperor wager?¡± Kui Long asked. Lin Weixuan thought for a moment before responding, ¡°Then I shall wager the life of your clan¡¯s Saint. If I lose, I will spare her life.¡± !!! Gasps echoed through the VIP seats as every Great Emperor and Saint drew sharp breaths. The Sword Emperor¡¯s words were beyond audacious¡ªthis was outright disrespect! Using another clan¡¯s Saint¡¯s life as a wager was not merely arrogant; it was as if he didn¡¯t regard the Kui Dragon Clan at all! The Tai¡¯an Emperor sighed internally. Lin Weixuan¡¯s personality hadn¡¯t changed a bit in three thousand years. Back then, it was youthful recklessness. Now, even in his later years, he remained as brash as ever. No wonder he had so many enemies. Fortunately, he had no interest in power. Otherwise, the Canglan Dao Domain would likely face constant bloodshed and conflict, with invasions of neighboring domains being a daily occurrence. ¡°Do you look down on me, Sword Emperor?!¡± Kui Shili roared, golden lightning dancing in his pupils as the aura of a Great Emperor erupted around him. ¡°That¡¯s correct,¡± Lin Weixuan replied calmly. Everyone: ... He asked if you looked down on him, and you just outright admitted it? This was beyond arrogance; it left no room for any semblance of friendly discussion! ¡°Fine, this Emperor will grant you this favor and take the bet.¡± Kui Long the Great Emperor could not swallow this humiliation, so he agreed to the wager without hesitation. If he won, he could suppress the Sword Emperor¡¯s arrogance. Though Lin Weixuan wouldn¡¯t lose anything tangible, his reputation would take a hit, and for someone like the Sword Emperor, that was a significant stake. ¡ª Meanwhile, the beast battle had reached a fever pitch. Jiuying¡¯s nine heads suddenly began to spew water and fire. Towering flames surged upward, while countless water jets shot into the air! It used water to counter the crow and fire to burn the serpent. This time, Jiuying was giving it everything it had. Against two such formidable opponents, there was no room for error. If it lost, there was no telling if the Crown Prince would actually skin it alive upon return! Though it hadn¡¯t fully digested the energy within its body, its current strength should be enough to secure victory. In mere moments, the serpent¡¯s flesh was scorched black, and the crow¡¯s feathers scattered, leaving it in a wretched state. ¡°Well done!¡± ¡°The Crown Prince¡¯s spirit beast is truly powerful¡ªit even has the upper hand in a two-on-one!¡± ¡°Keep going! Finish them off!¡± The crowd erupted in cheers, unable to contain their excitement. ¡°Jiuying, take one down first,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an commanded from below. Jiuying immediately obeyed, transforming into a streak of white light as it charged toward the serpent. Its nine heads unleashed torrents of water and fire, leaving the Tianhai Spirit Serpent utterly trapped. The serpent¡¯s cries echoed through the heavens as Jiuying seized its chance to finish it off. It stepped on the serpent, its nine heads baring their white teeth, tearing it apart. ¡°No!!¡± Kui Xiao, the Kui Dragon Divine Son, roared with bloodshot eyes. In an instant, the Tianhai Spirit Serpent was torn into pieces, its segmented remains still twitching on the ground. The Kui Dragon Divine Son¡¯s spirit beast was officially eliminated. He had never expected Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s spirit beast to be so overwhelmingly powerful. ¡°Beautifully done!¡± ¡°Hahaha! Kui Dragon Divine Son, I must say, I preferred your usual arrogance!¡± ¡°So much for taking out our Crown Prince first. What happened to your big talk?¡± ¡°The more aggressive the opening boasts, the more humiliating the loss. Truly hilarious!¡± Kui Xiao gritted his teeth, storming off the field in fury. The disgrace was too much to bear, and he couldn¡¯t remain in the arena any longer. The audience from the Kui Dragon Clan looked ashen-faced, too stunned to utter a single word. Even Kui Long the Great Emperor wore a dark expression. Their final hope rested on the Golden Crow Divine Son¡¯s spirit beast. If it lost as well, it would be the ultimate humiliation for the Tianhai Dao Domain! ¡ª But the outcome was not unfolding as Kui Long had hoped. Under Jiuying¡¯s relentless assault, the crow couldn¡¯t hold its ground. Soon, its wings were broken, and it lay on the ground spitting blood. ¡°Perfect!¡± Ran Yuwei couldn¡¯t help but cheer aloud. Watching Jiuying steal the show filled her with pride. After all, she had contributed to its growth. Who would have thought that her and the Crown Prince¡¯s little spirit beast would turn out to be so formidable? ¡°My heavens, the Crown Prince¡¯s spirit beast actually defeated two opponents at once. It¡¯s terrifying!¡± ¡°I truly didn¡¯t expect the Crown Prince to claim victory this round. This will definitely humiliate the Tianhai Dao Domain!¡± ¡°Watching this battle has been utterly satisfying!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an, however, cautioned himself, ¡¯The victory hasn¡¯t been officially declared yet. Don¡¯t start celebrating prematurely.¡¯ An unexpected twist now would be the height of embarrassment. Noticing the crow still struggling to stand, he immediately ordered, ¡°Jiuying, finish it!¡± As a villain, Lin Qi¡¯an knew well that villains often meet their end by talking too much. Now wasn¡¯t the time for chatter¡ªthe only thing to do was finish the job! ¡®Eliminate its last breath, and only then can I rest easy.¡¯ Receiving its orders, Jiuying charged toward the heavily injured crow to deliver the killing blow. ¡ª But just then, something unexpected happened. A terrifying burst of firelight erupted from the crow¡¯s body, sending Jiuying flying backward! ¡°It can still fight?!¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± ¡°Why does it suddenly have such terrifying energy?!¡± The arena fell into stunned silence as countless eyes locked onto the scene. The crow slowly stood up and this time, it had grown a third leg. Chapter 159 Chapter 159: Ancestral Awakening Battle! Jiuyin Mystical Water vs. the Flames of the Golden Crow The black crow grew a third leg. It slowly ascended into the sky, radiating golden light that was dazzling and blinding, resembling a black bird standing within the heart of the sun. Sensing an extremely dangerous aura, Jiuying hesitated and didn¡¯t dare approach recklessly. Seeing this, everyone¡ªincluding its owner, the Golden Crow Divine Son¡ªwas utterly shocked! Members of the Golden Crow Clan trembled as their gazes flickered with disbelief, murmuring in awe. ¡°Ancestral awakening... this is ancestral awakening!¡± ¡°It has awakened the true power of the Golden Crow!¡± The so-called Golden Crow Clan merely carried a thin trace of Golden Crow bloodline, enabling them to wield some Golden Crow divine abilities. However, with each generation, the bloodline grew thinner¡ªa drawback of relying on ancient bloodlines. In their eyes, a true Golden Crow was akin to a god. This crow, originally just a spirit beast kept by the Golden Crow Clan and often seen idly playing on mountaintops, only possessed a faint trace of the Golden Crow bloodline, which explained its strength. Yet now, it had undergone an ancestral awakening, fully unlocking its Golden Crow bloodline. Its bloodline power had multiplied tenfold, transforming it into a genuine Three-Legged Golden Crow! Even Saints and Great Emperors couldn¡¯t remain seated, rising in astonishment. ¡°An ancient divine beast, the Three-Legged Golden Crow!¡± ¡°To think such an upheaval would occur in a mere beast duel!¡± ¡°Hahaha, an ancestral awakening of its bloodline¡ªexcellent, simply excellent!¡± Kui Long the Great Emperor beamed with joy. A moment ago, he thought his defeat was imminent, but the tables had turned dramatically. Now that this Golden Crow had undergone ancestral awakening, what spirit beast could possibly defeat it? He thought to himself, ¡®Sword Emperor, I¡¯ll watch to see how long you can maintain your arrogance. You¡¯re destined to lose this wager!¡¯ ¡ª Within the arena, the temperature was soaring rapidly, soon exceeding a thousand degrees. The scorching heat twisted the air, ignited the grass on the ground, and cracked the earth, as if a miniature sun hung above their heads. ¡°Hahaha! Wonderful!¡± The Golden Crow Divine Son stood below, unharmed, entirely unaffected by the heat. But Lin Qi¡¯an and Jiuying weren¡¯t so lucky. Faced with this indiscriminate area-of-effect attack, they had no choice but to muster their strength to resist the terrifying heat. ¡°Golden Crow Flames!¡± Ye Yun¡¯s eyes glimmered with fanaticism. By sheer chance, he had previously inherited a fragment of the Golden Crow¡¯s legacy and gained a trace of Golden Crow Flames. Even that small amount had greatly enhanced his strength. He was well aware of how terrifying the flames could be. Never did he expect to witness the emergence of a true Golden Crow here! ¡¯Lin Qi¡¯an, your defeat is finally upon you.¡¯ By now, Ye Yun¡¯s mindset had shifted. In the past, he desperately sought to prove himself and kill Lin Qi¡¯an with his own hands. Now, simply seeing someone else defeat Lin Qi¡¯an was enough to satisfy him. ¡°How could this happen...¡± Ran Yuwei¡¯s voice had dropped to a whisper. Her teeth bit down on her red lips, her eyes filled with worry. What had seemed like an overwhelming victory had taken a sudden, unexpected turn. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, get out of there!¡± Lin Liuli stood up and shouted. Staying any longer in the arena would mean being subjected to the indiscriminate onslaught of the Golden Crow Flames. These flames were powerful enough to overwhelm even a Dao Transformation cultivator, let alone someone at the early stages of the Celestial Layer! ¡°Your Highness, please leave the arena!¡± Voices called out for Lin Qi¡¯an to exit the battleground. Losing this match didn¡¯t matter, so long as his life was safe¡ªthat was all anyone cared about. But the spectators from the Tianhai Dao Domain, along with the Kui Dragon Clan and Golden Crow Clan, had no such goodwill. ¡°Wasn¡¯t he so arrogant just now? He better not leave!¡± ¡°Haha, who was mocking us earlier for losing two-on-one? Now it¡¯s our turn! Come on, say something!¡± ¡°Please, beg your Crown Prince to stay in the arena. He looks so impressive right now!¡± ¡°As expected of the Crown Prince¡ªhe¡¯s even enduring the scorching flames of the Golden Crow! Let¡¯s hope he keeps holding out!¡± The jeering and sarcastic remarks filled the air, their triumphant attitudes on full display. They had been holding in their frustration for too long. Arriving in such a grandiose fashion, losing the first round was bad enough. If they lost the second round despite a two-on-one advantage, they wouldn¡¯t know where to hide their faces! Winning this round was essential to boost their morale. ¡ª Lin Qi¡¯an shielded himself with his Nine Yang Divine Flames, but even so, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. He knew that as time went on, his defenses wouldn¡¯t hold. ¡°Your Highness, please leave the field!¡± Even the host, a Half-Saint elder, couldn¡¯t help but advise him. Lin Qi¡¯an could leave the battlefield, and the duel would continue, though at the cost of some face. Avoiding the edge of the Golden Crow Flames wouldn¡¯t be considered too humiliating. After all, the Crown Prince had essentially won before this unexpected development. There was no way anyone could have predicted such a turn of events¡ªit was simply bad luck. ¡°Still not leaving? Looks like you really can¡¯t bear to admit defeat, Lin Qi¡¯an!¡± Jin Lingkong laughed heartily. Bathed in the Golden Crow¡¯s radiance, he felt invigorated, his body brimming with heat and vitality. Even his cultivation was improving! Meanwhile, Jiuying stirred. Despite being scorched by the intense flames and lying prone on the ground in pain, a faint white glow emerged around its body. This glow enveloped Jiuying, steadily expanding. Its injuries had unexpectedly accelerated the digestion of its stored energy, which now coursed through its body, strengthening it. The Golden Crow Flames, which had burned it so fiercely, had ironically become a catalyst for its growth. Sensing the aura of the ancient Golden Crow, Jiuying¡¯s own ancient bloodline began to awaken. When the white light faded, Jiuying¡¯s transformation left everyone speechless. Its snow-white body had grown several hundred times larger, returning to its original massive size. Yet its power was on a completely different level than before. Under the scorching flames of the Golden Crow, Jiuying now stood tall and unafraid, all nine heads raised high. The connection between Jiuying and the Golden Crow wasn¡¯t just a coincidence. According to ancient myths, Jiuying lived in the Fiendish Waters and could spew water and fire. During the time of the ten suns, the Fiendish Waters boiled, forcing Jiuying to leave its home. Rampaging across the land, it devoured anyone it encountered. After Hou Yi shot down nine of the suns, he turned his bow to slay Jiuying. Thus, sensing the aura of the Golden Crow, Jiuying¡¯s ancestral awakening now seemed almost fitting. ¡°This... this Jiuying has awakened its ancient bloodline too?¡± ¡°What the hell?!¡± ¡°Are you kidding me? Since when did ancestral awakening become this casual?!¡± The audience erupted into chaos. This was supposed to be a simple beast duel¡ªnot some apocalyptic battle. Did it really need to escalate to this level? Now, everyone stared, slack-jawed and speechless, at the center of the arena. Jiuying moved and this time, all nine heads opened their mouths, aiming at the Golden Crow in the sky. Streams of water shot forth, shimmering with a crystalline glow like moonlight cutting across the air. ¡°That¡¯s... Taiyin Mystical Water?!¡± An elder suddenly stood up, his voice trembling with excitement. ¡°What is Taiyin Mystical Water?¡± ¡°The Golden Crow Flames can¡¯t be extinguished by ordinary water, but the Taiyin Mystical Water can!¡± ¡°This Jiuying can spew Taiyin Mystical Water? Unbelievable!¡± Nine streams of water transformed into water dragons in mid-air, coiling around the Golden Crow. A loud cry echoed as the once-blinding light of the sun dimmed. The oppressive heat began to dissipate, and the temperature in the arena dropped. The Three-Legged Golden Crow fell to the ground, motionless. Jiuying... had won. Chapter 160 Chapter 160: Overwhelming Victory! Zhao Yunji¡¯s Budding Affection The Three-Legged Golden Crow fell to the ground, lifeless. In contrast, Jiuying¡¯s body rapidly shrank, returning to its miniaturized form as it wobbled back to Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s side. Exhausted, it collapsed into unconsciousness, likely from severe overexertion. ¡°The Crown Prince¡¯s spirit beast... won?!¡± After a brief silence. ¡°Whoaaaaaa~~~~~~~~~!¡± The crowd erupted into frenzied cheers! ¡°How did this even happen? A comeback like this¡ªI must be dreaming! Hahaha, it¡¯s unreal!¡± ¡°Exactly! This wild rollercoaster of events has left me dumbfounded!¡± ¡°The Crown Prince truly is the blessing of our Canglan Dao Domain! He¡¯s taken first place two rounds in a row¡ªtoo powerful!¡± ¡°Hahaha, those who were mocking the Crown Prince earlier have suddenly gone mute, haven¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Look at them, all with faces as dark as thunderclouds. Scary~!¡± This unexpected reversal earned Lin Qi¡¯an the near-unanimous admiration of the Canglan Dao Domain audience. Even the Xiling Divine Hall, who had previously hated Lin Qi¡¯an, had to admit he had saved the Canglan Dao Domain¡¯s reputation. After all, the Xiling Divine Son¡¯s spirit beast had been killed by that crow, and now Lin Qi¡¯an had avenged them. Somehow, it felt satisfying. The saying proved true¡ª¡°The enemy of my enemy can be my friend, if only temporarily.¡± ¡ª Lin Liuli blinked rapidly, still finding the situation surreal. Her ¡°troublesome little brother¡± was a bit too powerful, wasn¡¯t he? She used to think that she needed to work hard in her training to protect her adopted family, especially her younger siblings. But now... was her little brother the one protecting her instead? On second thought, having a younger brother like this to rely on wasn¡¯t too bad after all. ¡ª Even Zhao Qingmeng was astonished. The battle between Jiuying and the Golden Crow was rare enough to be a spectacle even in the eyes of Great Emperors. Zhao Yunji was utterly speechless for a long time. The power Jiuying had displayed moments ago was clearly at the Dao Transformation level. More impressive still was its ability to unleash Taiyin Mystical Water. This mystical water was formidable, capable of extinguishing even divine flames that ordinary water couldn¡¯t touch. ¡°Elder Sister, if you want to cuddle that spirit beast, I can ask Brother Lin for you,¡± she teased with a giggle. ¡°You scram!¡± Zhao Qingmeng snapped, annoyed. ¡ª ¡°Thank goodness!¡± Ran Yuwei finally let out a sigh of relief. To her, winning or losing didn¡¯t matter as much. What mattered most was seeing the Crown Prince and Jiuying safe and sound. ¡°Yuwei, you¡¯ve really done a great job this time!¡± The other two maids looked on enviously, knowing this would likely earn Ran Yuwei even more favor from the Crown Prince. ¡ª In another corner, Tong Xiang stood slack-jawed. ¡°Master, was the All-Beast Essence Spirit you gave to Brother Lin really that powerful?¡± ¡°How could it be...¡± Lu Weishuang shook her head. ¡°If it were that effective, it would¡¯ve been snatched from me long ago. There¡¯s no way it would¡¯ve stayed in my possession.¡± She was utterly baffled as to why Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s spirit beast so overwhelmingly strong? Even consuming the All-Beast Essence Spirit shouldn¡¯t have produced such a result! ¡ª The most dramatic reactions, however, came from the VIP seats. Earlier, Kui Long the Great Emperor had made a wager with the Sword Emperor. Now, Kui Shili¡¯s face looked as though he had eaten something foul. He couldn¡¯t speak for a long time. Victory had been within reach¡ªthey were practically popping the champagne¡ªand yet, that brat had somehow reversed the situation. His rage was indescribable. ¡°The elixir¡ªtime to hand it over,¡± Lin Weixuan said calmly. ¡°Hmph. Take it!¡± Kui Shili reluctantly tossed over the Thunder Dragon Pill and stormed off in fury. Lin Weixuan, now holding the incredibly precious pill, showed no reaction. Instead, he casually handed it to one of his subordinates. ¡°Give this to Qi¡¯an as a reward from his father.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± ¡ª Back in the arena. Jin Lingkong cradled the lifeless Golden Crow in his hands, realizing it was no longer breathing. It was nothing but a corpse. ¡°Nooooooo!!!¡± His anguished, heart-wrenching scream echoed through the arena. The Golden Crow Clan members, too, were consumed with rage. Their fists clenched, their eyes burned with hatred as they glared at Lin Qi¡¯an. Their killing intent was palpable¡ªblatantly murderous. This was a true Golden Crow... If nurtured carefully, it could have revitalized the Golden Crow Clan, strengthening their fading bloodline. But now, that hope had been snuffed out before it could blossom. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, your spirit beast killed our Golden Crow!¡± ¡°You bastard! Do you know how important it was to our clan?!¡± ¡°You deserve to die!¡± A cacophony of venomous curses erupted. Before Lin Qi¡¯an could respond, the Canglan Dao Domain audience¡¯s fury flared up. ¡°Skill-less fools, shut up already!¡± ¡°Why so noisy? Did someone at home die?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you so cocky just now? Now that our Crown Prince crushed you, you¡¯re sulking? Pathetic!¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t handle losing, get out of here! What a joke¡ªyou think we¡¯ll put up with your nonsense?¡± The Golden Crow Clan was drowned in an onslaught of insults. What could they do? Nothing, except swallow their anger and leave, tails between their legs. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, our clan will remember this grudge!¡± ¡°Pray we don¡¯t find an opportunity. If we do, you won¡¯t live!¡± From this day forward, the Golden Crow Clan officially marked Lin Qi¡¯an as their mortal enemy¡ªan enmity that would not end until death. ¡ª The second round had officially ended. After a short intermission, the third round would begin. One of the main events of the grand ceremony was the Pilgrimage Path. At that time, all participating Holy Sons and Saintesses would enter together, showcasing their abilities on a grand stage. Without lingering further, Lin Qi¡¯an took Jiuying and left the arena. ¡ª ¡°Your Highness, is Jiuying all right?¡± Ran Yuwei ran over anxiously. Lin Qi¡¯an gave her a playful smile. ¡°You don¡¯t check on this Crown Prince first, yet you rush to console a spirit beast? You deserve to be punished.¡± ¡°P-Punished? How so?¡± ¡°Tonight, you will assist this Crown Prince with his bath.¡± ¡°As you command.¡± Ran Yuwei thought to herself, mThis is clearly a reward, not a punishment. Honestly, I wouldn¡¯t mind more ¡®punishments¡¯ like this!¡¯ ¡ª After reuniting with Lin Liuli, she immediately asked, ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, where did you even get a spirit beast like that?¡± ¡°I hatched it,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an replied without hesitation. ¡°Hatched? Are you joking with me?¡± Lin Liuli crossed her arms, scoffing. ¡°Do I need to describe the entire day-and-night process of incubating the egg in detail to convince you?¡± ¡°Your Highness?!¡± Ran Yuwei quickly interjected, her face flushing. Even though Lin Liuli was a wandering Taoist and detached from worldly affairs, she could still understand the innuendo. Her expression became slightly awkward. Before she left home, Lin Qi¡¯an had been nothing more than a mischievous child. Now? He had a growing circle of women and no shortage of tricks to keep them entertained! At that moment, a subordinate approached and respectfully handed Lin Qi¡¯an a small box. ¡°Your Highness, this is from the Sword Emperor. He instructed me to deliver it to you.¡± Inside was the Thunder Dragon Pill. The moment Lin Qi¡¯an saw it, he recognized its immense value¡ªespecially for cultivators who practiced thunder techniques. Just then, Zhao Qingmeng and Zhao Yunji entered. The younger princess was dressed in an elegant frost-colored gown embroidered with golden dragons with closed eyes, her enchanting beauty capable of captivating kingdoms. The elder princess, in contrast, wore a regal golden dress that perfectly highlighted her stunning figure. Tall and dignified, she radiated a beauty that could mesmerize an entire empire. The sight of the two walking together was a breathtaking display of elegance. Such an encounter was a privilege only someone like Lin Qi¡¯an could enjoy. ¡°Brother Lin!¡± Zhao Qingmeng giggled as she spoke. ¡°Elder Sister insisted on coming to see your spirit beast. I couldn¡¯t stop her, so here she is!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make things up!¡± Zhao Yunji quickly clarified, flustered. ¡°I came here on Imperial Father¡¯s orders to congratulate you on your victory and deliver this spirit medicine to aid your spirit beast¡¯s recovery.¡± She explained herself clearly, wary of any misunderstandings. At the same time, her gaze fell on the pill in Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s hand. The Thunder Dragon Pill! Her eyes brightened instantly. While it might be of little use to most people, it was a priceless treasure for cultivators of thunder techniques. If successfully refined, the benefits would be immeasurable. ¡°Thank you, Your Highness,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said as he accepted the spirit medicine. He handed it to Ran Yuwei, instructing her to aid Jiuying¡¯s recovery, before preparing to refine the Thunder Dragon Pill himself. With the Pilgrimage Path approaching, every bit of strength mattered. Lin Qi¡¯an understood that many would target him, and in such a treacherous environment, power was his only guarantee. ¡ª ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, may I accompany you?¡± Zhao Yunji¡¯s sudden question left everyone stunned. She had actually said such a thing? This was completely unexpected! ¡°Accompany me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re refining the Thunder Dragon Pill. I¡¯ll stay nearby and won¡¯t disturb you,¡± she explained. Even just being near the process would allow her to gain some insights, which would benefit her cultivation. Her personality was always focused on growth. For Zhao Yunji, diligence and effort were paramount¡ªshe firmly believed that the heavens rewarded hard work. ¡°Fine.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an agreed, allowing her to follow him into the Lotus Realm. As for Lin Liuli, Zhao Qingmeng, and the others, they were left to be entertained by the maids while Jiuying was entrusted to their care. The Lotus Realm. This was Zhao Yunji¡¯s second visit to the Lotus Realm. As Zhao Yunji entered, memories of the last time surfaced, causing a blush to rise on her cheeks. She couldn¡¯t believe she had done such a thing. ¡°Why is your face so red? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked casually. ¡°N-Nothing!¡± she stammered. That event was something Zhao Yunji had resolved to keep buried in her heart forever. Little did she know that Lin Qi¡¯an was already aware of it. ¡°Let¡¯s get started.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an took out the Thunder Dragon Pill and split it into two equal halves. ¡°Last time, though you claimed you were hunting demonic beasts, you did stand guard for me for quite some time.¡± ¡°And today, you¡¯ve gifted me this spirit medicine. I owe you a favor.¡± We¡¯ll split this pill¡ªhalf for each of us. Take it.¡± ¡°Wait... what?¡± For a moment, Zhao Yunji was completely stunned. A warm, joyful feeling suddenly welled up in her heart. Chapter 161 Chapter 161: Truth or Dare¡ªLin Qi¡¯an Is Too Unbelievable! At first, Zhao Yunji¡¯s feelings for Lin Qi¡¯an were complicated. She was initially drawn to his extraordinary Dao Physique, and her sister Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s constant teasing only fueled her conflicted emotions. It was a confusing mixture of admiration and annoyance. But as time passed, spending more time with Lin Qi¡¯an allowed her to understand the man himself. Now, the tiniest spark of genuine affection had begun to grow within her heart. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t hold back then.¡± ¡°Wait, there¡¯s one condition,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said. ¡°What condition?¡± ¡°If your cultivation progresses to the point where you can fully summon the Five Elemental Lightning of the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder, you must help me with something.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an needed the Five Elemental Lightning to fully awaken the emperor weapon Thunder¡¯s Bane. An emperor weapon¡¯s power was unparalleled, and once awakened, it would elevate his strength immeasurably. Zhao Yunji was the perfect candidate to assist with this. ¡°Deal!¡± With the agreement in place, the two consumed the Thunder Dragon Pill and began refining it. Threads of crackling lightning swirled around them as they meditated. By the time they finished, half a day had passed. Both woke up almost simultaneously, clearly feeling the enhancements to their strength. Lin Qi¡¯an had advanced one minor stage in cultivation, and his divine technique Heavenly Sword Lightning Summoning Technique improved as well. Zhao Yunji¡¯s comprehension of thunder techniques had deepened significantly, leaving her ecstatic and deeply grateful to Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡ª When they emerged from the Lotus Realm, it was already nighttime. The air was cool and crisp under the starlit sky. In the courtyard, a group of women had gathered around a table. If any man from the outside world saw who was seated there, he would undoubtedly lose his mind. There was Su Xueni, Ran Yuwei, Zi Lianyou, Zhao Qingmeng, and Lin Liuli. Even Mo Shuiqiu and Lu Miaoyin had come. And now, with Zhao Yunji joining them, there were eight women in total. Each one was a peerless beauty, admired by countless men as celestial goddesses. Yet here they were, all gathered in Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s small courtyard, drinking tea, enjoying snacks, and chatting under the moonlight. It was a scene that only Lin Qi¡¯an had the capability and status to bring about. For anyone else, this would be an unattainable dream. ¡°Your Highness is here!¡± The moment Lin Qi¡¯an appeared, the women eagerly pulled him over to sit among them. Surrounded by such stunning beauties, their delicate fragrances lingering in the air, it felt like being in the middle of a divine garden. ¡°Now that Brother Lin is here, let¡¯s play a fun game!¡± Zhao Qingmeng suggested with a mischievous grin. ¡°Elder Sister Yunji probably has no interest in such trivial matters. You might as well leave early,¡± she added with a teasing tone. ¡°I¡¯m staying!¡± Zhao Yunji immediately countered, clearly determined to join in. ¡°What kind of game is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s called Truth or Dare!¡± Zhao Qingmeng announced gleefully. Lin Qi¡¯an blinked in surprise but quickly understood. It had to be something he had taught her in his previous life. ¡°How do you play?¡± ¡°What are the rules?¡± The women¡¯s curiosity was piqued, and they leaned in eagerly. ¡°The rules are simple. We roll dice, and the person with the lowest roll chooses either truth or dare. The person with the highest roll gets to give the command,¡± Zhao Qingmeng explained. The women found the idea exciting and exhilarating. ¡°What kind of commands can we give?¡± ¡°Anything! As long as it¡¯s within reason. A bet is a bet, and the loser must follow through¡ªno backing out!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get started! I can¡¯t wait!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an coughed lightly, sensing a bad omen. ¡°Elder Sister, perhaps you should sit this one out. You¡¯re a Taoist, and this isn¡¯t exactly appropriate for you.¡± ¡°Why should I listen to you? Taoists have far fewer restrictions than you think!¡± Lin Liuli retorted defiantly. Unable to dissuade her, Lin Qi¡¯an could only sigh and let her join. The dice rolling began, and everyone took their turns. Zhao Qingmeng rolled the highest¡ªa six, six, and five. Zhao Yunji, however, rolled an abysmal total of four, putting her at the bottom. Having lost in the very first round, Zhao Yunji was almost fuming. But with the rule prohibiting the use of spiritual energy, she had no way to change her fate. The others, curious and eager to see how the dignified Zhao Yunji would handle this, became quiet spectators, watching with anticipation. ¡°Elder Sister, what a coincidence!¡± Zhao Qingmeng smirked. ¡°Now, will you choose truth or dare?¡± Zhao Yunji hesitated for a moment before gritting her teeth. ¡°Truth.¡± She felt that answering a question would be easier than performing some embarrassing dare. Speaking the truth shouldn¡¯t be too hard, right? Lin Qi¡¯an knew immediately that she was doomed. Falling into the hands of Zhao Qingmeng¡ªthe mischievous little fox¡ªmeant there was no way out. ¡°Alright then, Elder Sister, remember you must tell the truth and nothing but the truth!¡± ¡°My question is: After you broke off your engagement with Brother Lin, have you ever regretted it?¡± Everyone: ... Zhao Yunji: ... Lin Qi¡¯an: ... The question was so awkward it made everyone¡¯s scalp tingle. They couldn¡¯t even imagine how Zhao Yunji would respond. The women all held their breath, silently watching her. Zhao Yunji took a deep breath, calming herself. After a moment of thought, she answered slowly, ¡°I... have regretted it.¡± ¡°!!¡± ¡°?!¡± The entire group was stunned. No one expected the Princess Zhao Yunji to actually speak the truth! Given her personality, everyone assumed she¡¯d coldly state that she didn¡¯t regret breaking off the engagement. This completely overturned the impression she¡¯d left on the world! Even Zhao Qingmeng was momentarily stunned, clearly caught off guard. Lin Qi¡¯an, too, found it hard to believe. ¡®This girl really told the truth? It¡¯s just a game of Truth or Dare. If she lied, no one would even know... She¡¯s too honest for her own good.¡¯ ¡°He¡¯s such an outstanding man¡ªrarely seen in this world. Talented, handsome, and unparalleled in potential. Tell me, who among us here wouldn¡¯t feel a little moved?¡± ¡°Even my younger sister has become a clingy little kitten. Regretting the past isn¡¯t anything extraordinary. It¡¯s just human nature!¡± Zhao Yunji, in an impressive display of quick thinking, cleverly dragged everyone else into her response to mask her own embarrassment. It was a move both strategic and graceful¡ªcompletely within the game¡¯s rules! Even Lin Qi¡¯an, despite his shameless reputation, felt a bit flustered from all the praise. Zhao Qingmeng had hoped to see Zhao Yunji humiliated but ended up being implicated herself. She sighed, deciding not to press further. Zhao Yunji had passed this round. ¡ª The next round began. This time, Mo Shuiqiu rolled the highest, while Lu Miaoyin had the lowest score. These two had a shared history: one was the Saintess of Yunmo, and the other, the Saintess of Qinglian. They were also both literary enthusiasts and close friends. No one in the group expected a basic question like, ¡°Who¡¯s your crush?¡± After all, the answer was obvious¡ªthey all admired Lin Qi¡¯an. Mo Shuiqiu smiled mischievously and asked, ¡°Miaoyin, what¡¯s the most embarrassing thing you¡¯ve ever done with the Crown Prince?¡± ¡±The most embarrassing thing?¡± The obvious answer was sharing a bed, and everyone found it uninteresting. But Lu Miaoyin hesitated for a moment, her voice trembling as she shyly muttered, ¡°It was... being brewed into tea for the Crown Prince.¡± Everyone: ??? As everyone knew, Lu Miaoyin was a Camellia Spirit. Stunned, all eyes turned to Lin Qi¡¯an with expressions ranging from disbelief to shock. Lin Liuli¡¯s eyebrows shot up in astonishment. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, you really are something, aren¡¯t you?!¡± ¡°I never expected this! Your Highness, I¡¯ve seriously underestimated you!¡± Su Xueni exclaimed. ¡°Tch, the Crown Prince¡¯s tastes are unmatched,¡± another chimed in. ¡°Brother Lin, you¡¯re incredible!¡± Zhao Qingmeng added. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, you...¡± Zhao Yunji couldn¡¯t even finish her sentence. Ran Yuwei gasped. ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought? Aside from incubating eggs, His Highness does this kind of thing too!¡± ¡°Incubating eggs? Tell us more!¡± ¡°What¡¯s this about egg incubation?¡± ¡°Spill it! We need to hear this!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an: ¡¯Can we not? Why are you all trying to socially destroy me right now?¡¯ Once he explained the egg incubation process in detail, everyone was left stunned. ¡°So Jiuying was brought into this world that way?¡± ¡°Sisters, the Crown Prince is truly something else!¡± ¡°He looks so proper on the surface, but underneath... wow.¡± ¡ª The final round began. Lin Liuli rolled the lowest, while Su Xueni rolled the highest. Lin Qi¡¯an suddenly felt another sense of foreboding. Su Xueni, despite her celestial appearance¡ªlike a flawless moon goddess¡ªwas someone whose thoughts were as devious as they came. Lin Liuli, on the other hand, was genuinely innocent. There was no way she could outplay Su Xueni. ¡°Now, Elder Sister Lin, will you choose Truth or Dare?¡± ¡°D-Dare,¡± Lin Liuli stammered. After hearing the invasive questions in the previous rounds, she chose dare, hoping to avoid any embarrassing questions about her personal life. ¡°Let me think,¡± Su Xueni said, lightly tapping her chin as if deep in thought. ¡°Alright, Elder Sister Lin, I dare you to choose one person here and kiss them on the forehead.¡± While not overly outrageous, asking a dignified Taoist to kiss someone was undoubtedly mischievous. Still, with mostly women present, it wasn¡¯t an impossible request. The dare wasn¡¯t excessive, but Lin Liuli hesitated for a long time, her gaze circling the group over and over. The problem was that she wasn¡¯t particularly close to any of them. Most were new acquaintances, with whom she¡¯d only chatted briefly over tea. The only one she felt familiar with... was Lin Qi¡¯an. She stood up. Dressed in a simple black-and-white Taoist robe with her hair tied in a bun, her long, jet-black hair cascaded like a waterfall down her back. She wore no makeup, yet her beauty was ethereal. As she walked slowly to Lin Qi¡¯an, everyone stared with mouths agape. ¡°Close your eyes,¡± she commanded. ¡°Sister, you...¡± ¡°Shut up and do as I say!¡± ¡°...Fine.¡± Everyone was stunned into silence. Lin Liuli leaned down and gently kissed Lin Qi¡¯an on the forehead. ¡®It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not really a Lin. We¡¯re not blood-related,¡¯ she reminded herself over and over in her heart. The kiss was quick¡ªa brief touch before she immediately pulled back. ¡°Sister, can I open my eyes now?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked hesitantly. ¡°Never mind. I might as well kill you!¡± Lin Liuli fumed, her face flushed with embarrassment. ¡°What?! You kissed me, and now you¡¯re mad at me?¡± ¡°...Shut up.¡± ¡ª The night, despite its twists and turns, brought the group closer together. Chapter 162 Chapter 162: Sword Emperor vs. Blade Emperor¡ªA Century¡¯s Blade Unleashed! After seeing off the group of girls, Lin Qi¡¯an finally found some peace and took a moment to rest. His thoughts turned to the two ¡°Destined Children¡± to see what they were up to. The Xiling Divine Son, Xi Chao, was deep in meditation, practicing the Divine Art of Ice and Fire. A jade treasure hovered above his head, radiating streams of ice and fire that spiraled around him. It was clear he was going all out in preparation for the third round. Meanwhile, Ye Yun was meeting secretly with members of the Golden Crow Clan. As a member of the Canglan Dao Domain, meeting them during such a sensitive time revealed how blinded he was by hatred. ¡°I was fortunate enough to obtain the Golden Crow Flames as well! I know you hate Lin Qi¡¯an. Let me help you!¡± ¡°You¡¯re offering to help us kill someone from the Canglan Dao Domain?¡± ¡°Yes! I despise him to the core and want nothing more than to see him dead!¡± ¡°Excellent! We share the same goal. I¡¯ll join you in taking revenge for my Golden Crow Clan!¡± Ye Yun¡¯s alliance with the Golden Crow Clan didn¡¯t surprise Lin Qi¡¯an. They were all enemies, so whether they worked together or not made no difference to him. As the clear skies reflected the fervor of the grand ceremony, preparations for the third round, the Pilgrimage Path, were well underway. However, before it began, one event captured the attention of the masses¡ªa monumental duel. Blade Emperor Gu Jingyun was set to face Sword Emperor Lin Weixuan, a battle that would serve as the opening act for the Pilgrimage Path. ¡ª At the vast Taiyuan Great Lake, representatives from nearly every sect in the Canglan Dao Domain crowded along the shore, their numbers so great that they formed an unbroken ring around the lake. In the sky above, the two Great Emperors stood poised for battle. Gu Jingyun, the Blade Emperor, wielded a long blade in one hand. His casual attire and scruffy beard gave him the air of a reclusive mountain farmer, but everyone knew the weapon in his hand was a true Emperor Weapon. For a century, Gu Jingyun had not drawn his blade, instead sharpening his blade intent in silence. All of this preparation led to this moment¡ªhis chance to defeat Lin Weixuan. Opposite him stood Lin Weixuan, the Sword Emperor, his blue robes billowing in the wind, his sharp brows exuding an indomitable aura. In his hand, he held a plain wooden sword, another Emperor Weapon, known as the Heavenly One Sword. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it¡¯s been so long since we last saw the Blade Emperor and Sword Emperor fight.¡± ¡°Right? The first time I saw them, I was just a young novice. Now, I¡¯m the head of my sect!¡± ¡°If you ask me, the Blade Emperor could have been unmatched in any other era. Unfortunately, he rose to fame during the same time as Lin Weixuan.¡± ¡°In the past three thousand years, the Canglan Dao Domain has produced countless heroes and Great Emperors, but when it comes to the absolute pinnacle of strength, it¡¯s still these two.¡± ¡°Pay close attention, young ones. Watch and learn.¡± ¡°A battle like this only happens once in a lifetime. Any insight you gain will be the greatest treasure you can take away.¡± ¡ª The excitement in the air was palpable as the crowd eagerly discussed the upcoming duel. For the cultivators of the Canglan Dao Domain, this battle would decide who was the strongest Great Emperor of their time. For those from the Tianhai Dao Domain, it was a rare chance to measure the true strength of their rival domain. Li Xuan watched with fiery determination, hoping his master, the Blade Emperor, would defeat the Sword Emperor and prove his superiority. Lin Qi¡¯an, however, remained calm. The outcome of his father¡¯s battle didn¡¯t affect him much. He was on his own path and sought only to learn from others¡¯ strengths, never allowing external battles to disrupt his state of mind. Other Great Emperors worked together to construct a protective barrier around the lake, ensuring the safety of the audience. Although top-tier Great Emperors could precisely direct their power at their opponent, even the slightest spillover could be catastrophic for ordinary cultivators. There was no room for error. ¡°Lin Weixuan, I¡¯ve waited a long time for this battle.¡± Gu Jingyun¡¯s calloused hand rested on the hilt of his blade, trembling slightly with excitement. As a cultivator famed for his mastery of the blade, he hadn¡¯t drawn it in a hundred years. One could only imagine the terrifying power stored within that single strike after a century of preparation. ¡°Make your move.¡± ¡°This single strike¡ªprepare yourself!¡± As Gu Jingyun began to draw his blade, the moment the blade emerged from its sheath, an overwhelming gale of energy exploded outward. Waves surged across the lake, and the howling wind seemed to tear through the very air. If not for the barrier created by the Great Emperors, the surrounding area within a ten-mile radius would have been devastated. As more of the blade left the sheath, the oppressive blade intent grew increasingly suffocating. It was as though the autumn wind blowing across the lake had been sliced into countless fragments, scattering into whirlpools on the water¡¯s surface. ¡°Even through the barrier, I can barely breathe...¡± ¡°This is the Blade Emperor? Just drawing his blade is enough to make my legs shake!¡± Some cultivators instinctively shielded their eyes, certain that direct exposure to the blade intent would destroy their vision. The Tai¡¯an Emperor felt a chill in his heart. ¡°What a terrifying Gu Jingyun...¡± As someone intimately familiar with both combatants, he could sense the Blade Emperor¡¯s unparalleled strength. After a century of seclusion, Gu Jingyun had honed his blade to its peak, far surpassing his previous self. It was clear he had reached the late stages of the Great Emperor Realm. In contrast, Lin Weixuan had devoted much of his recent years to family matters, leaving his progress in the Sword Dao slower than before. There was a real possibility he might lose this time. Kui Long the Great Emperor, observing from the sidelines, couldn¡¯t hide his apprehension. ¡°I never expected the Canglan Dao Domain to have such a powerful Great Emperor.¡± As he carefully examined the situation, he realized that even he wasn¡¯t a match for Gu Jingyun. To deal with him, the Tianhai Dao Domain would have to deploy their most elite Great Emperors. This was likely the pinnacle of the Canglan Dao Domain¡¯s power. Even if the Sword Emperor was equally strong, both were on the same level. If the Tianhai Dao Domain intended to invade, finding a way to neutralize these two would be key. Without them, the rest wouldn¡¯t pose much of a threat. Kui Long the Great Emperor now had a clearer understanding of the Canglan Dao Domain¡¯s overall strength. Gu Jingyun finally unsheathed his blade. Raising it high with both hands, he brought it down in a single, devastating strike. In an instant, the space around the blade tore apart, and the vast lake spanning hundreds of kilometers was split in half. Violent gusts of energy surged outward, raging along the fault line of the blade¡¯s trajectory. Everyone could feel the terrifying power of this strike. It was a blow that could rend the heavens and split the earth, embodying a century of accumulated blade intent. Even the other Great Emperors felt a chill of fear in their hearts. This strike alone could undoubtedly kill a Great Emperor. Gu Jingyun¡¯s sheer determination had become the most powerful driving force behind his cultivation, and his strength had reached unimaginable heights. Many believed Lin Weixuan wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand this. At that moment, Lin Weixuan raised his wooden sword with effortless grace and swung it lightly. ¡°Ahh!¡± Countless onlookers cried out in pain, their eyes stinging as though pierced by invisible needles. The formless sword intent clashed with the devastating blade intent at the center, creating an explosion that sent waves over 7,000 feet high surging across the lake. The sheer power of the duel made many feel the urge to kneel, unable to withstand the overwhelming pressure of the two Great Emperors. ¡°Careful! The barrier is about to crack!¡± ¡°Everyone, full power!¡± The Great Emperors maintaining the barrier were horrified. Despite their combined efforts, the barrier nearly gave way under the clash of the two titans. If it had broken, the younger cultivators below would have been wiped out instantly. Fortunately, disaster was averted. The violent forces gradually subsided, and the distorted space, along with the faint traces of Dao laws within it, began to dissipate. ¡°He caught the Blade Emperor¡¯s strike!¡± ¡°My heavens, who won?¡± ¡°No idea! Both seem unharmed!¡± ¡°That was the Blade Emperor¡¯s century-long blade strike. If the Sword Emperor blocked it, doesn¡¯t that mean he won?¡± ¡°That makes sense!¡± A long silence followed before Gu Jingyun exhaled deeply and admitted, ¡°I lost.¡± As he spoke, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. ¡°What? The Blade Emperor was injured?!¡± The sound of collective gasps filled the mountains and valleys, creating an almost deafening chorus. The Tai¡¯an Emperor could only stare, stunned. Lin Weixuan remained as strong as ever. Even after three millennia, he stood at the pinnacle of existence, overlooking all life. What a monster. Kui Long the Great Emperor shivered unconsciously. He had initially believed the duel would end in a draw at best. But the reality was far more shocking¡ªGu Jingyun had been injured, while Lin Weixuan remained unscathed. This raised a terrifying question: Gu Jingyun had clearly given everything in that strike, but had Lin Weixuan done the same? The possibility was too dreadful to contemplate. The Sword Emperor¡¯s strength was far beyond expectations. Anyone considering targeting his son, Lin Qi¡¯an, would now think twice. The Canglan Dao Domain, once underestimated, had now become a force to be reckoned with¡ªthanks to the Sword Emperor¡¯s overwhelming power. Li Xuan¡¯s confidence crumbled entirely. He had always believed his master¡¯s blade was the strongest in the world, but now, someone had surpassed it. ¡¾Ding! Li Xuan¡¯s Dao heart has been damaged. Luck value -100.¡¿ With Li Xuan¡¯s luck value now at 300, he had entered the threshold for being slain. ¡°Don¡¯t be disheartened,¡± Gu Jingyun said. ¡°While I may have lost, that doesn¡¯t mean you will lose to his son.¡± ¡°Go now.¡± The third round, The Pilgrimage Path, was about to begin. Chapter 163 Chapter 163: Temporary Hack¡ª¡±Infinite Spiritual Qi¡±! The Geniuses Enter the Secret Realm The rules for the Pilgrimage Path were quite interesting. To Lin Qi¡¯an, they felt oddly similar to a game he had played before called Darwin¡¯s Evolution Island. In that game, animals were thrown onto an island where they devoured smaller creatures to evolve, ultimately fighting among themselves until only one survived. It served as the prototype for many battle royale games. ¡°Once you enter, your strength will be suppressed by the secret realm¡¯s rules. Only by collecting Spiritual Sources can you restore your power or even grow stronger,¡± the elder explained. ¡°The only way to obtain Spiritual Sources is by hunting spirit beasts created by the secret realm or defeating other participants.¡± ¡°The Spiritual Source levels are divided into ten tiers. At Tier Nine, you regain your full strength. At Tier Ten, you receive a power boost granted by the secret realm, making you even stronger!¡± In essence, participants needed to survive while continuously increasing their Spiritual Source levels. To win, they had to defeat all other participants. In this environment, individual strength wasn¡¯t the deciding factor. ¡°It¡¯s finally starting!¡± ¡°This is definitely the most exciting part of the grand ceremony!¡± ¡°Exactly! The Pilgrimage Path is the ultimate test of a generation¡¯s strength. Anyone who ranks near the top will undoubtedly become renowned in the future.¡± ¡°Even the Sword Emperor participated in the Pilgrimage Path back in the day and claimed first place!¡± ¡°With the Crown Prince participating this year, it¡¯s going to be an incredible show!¡± The spectators, excited and prepared, had already set up snacks like peanuts and sliced beef by the lakeside to enjoy the spectacle. This year¡¯s participants were all young prodigies. Lin Qi¡¯an, Zhao Yunji, and Lin Liuli. The Destined Children¡ªYe Yun and the Xiling Divine Son Xi Chao. The Blade Emperor¡¯s disciple, Li Xuan. From the Tianhai Dao Domain came the Kui Dragon Divine Son Kui Xiao, the Golden Crow Divine Son Jin Lingkong, and the Soaring Serpent Divine Son Tengkong. These were just the most well-known names. In addition, hundreds of Holy Sons and Saintesses from sects across the land would also compete. The Pilgrimage Path wasn¡¯t a simple tournament; it tested abilities, wisdom, strength, and strategy, making it the ultimate gathering of geniuses. This year, there were even participants from foreign domains, increasing the competition. Maintaining the honor of the local domain became an additional point of pride. Of particular interest was how Lin Qi¡¯an, having performed outstandingly in the first two rounds, would be targeted by many. How he would respond under pressure became another focus of attention. ¡°Xueni Sister, you could participate as well. Why aren¡¯t you joining?¡± Su Xueni smiled gracefully. ¡°Since following His Highness, I¡¯ve grown indifferent to chasing fame and fortune. Watching from the sidelines and enjoying His Highness¡¯ performance is much more satisfying.¡± Her strength undoubtedly placed her among the top geniuses, but seeing Lin Qi¡¯an win felt far more enjoyable than claiming victory herself. ¡ª¡ª¡ª The elder presiding over the event distributed pendants to the participants. ¡°These pendants will absorb Spiritual Sources and raise your levels. Crushing the pendant will allow you to leave the secret realm, which will count as forfeiting.¡± The pendants served as a safety measure. With them, participants could escape danger at any time, making it difficult to outright kill anyone in the secret realm. Ye Yun¡¯s heart sank at the sight of the pendants. It was bad news for his plans. He had been prepared to go all out to kill Lin Qi¡¯an, but with these pendants in play, it would be almost impossible. ¡°Fine. If I can¡¯t kill Lin Qi¡¯an, I¡¯ll at least defeat him,¡± he resolved. Several foreign Divine Sons shared similar thoughts. They understood that this battle would be watched by everyone, and directly attacking Lin Qi¡¯an in the secret realm could provoke retaliation from the terrifying Sword Emperor, whose power they had just witnessed. ¡°Remember, the key to victory isn¡¯t fighting but raising your Spiritual Source level. Even if Lin Qi¡¯an is stronger, you can still defeat him if your level is higher!¡± the elder emphasized. Once everyone was prepared, the Tai¡¯an Emperor, clad in a yellow robe, stepped forward. With a single gesture, he split the vast lake in two, revealing the entrance to the Pilgrimage Path at its center. ¡°The entrance lies in the heart of the lake. You may begin!¡± As his voice echoed, hundreds of participants transformed into streams of light, racing toward the lake¡¯s center. ¡°Quick, go!¡± ¡°If you¡¯re late, you¡¯re done for!¡± ¡°Charge!¡± Getting inside as quickly as possible provided a significant advantage, giving participants more time to collect Spiritual Sources and raise their levels. A higher level could mean overwhelming opponents early on¡ªclosing the gap would be nearly impossible. The Destined Children were among the first to enter, as were Zhao Yunji and Lin Liuli, who didn¡¯t dare delay. But as the participants surged toward the entrance like a swarm of locusts, one figure remained unmoving. ¡ª By the lakeshore, Lin Qi¡¯an, dressed in pristine white robes, calmly gazed into the distance without any sign of urgency. He wasn¡¯t trying to show off. Instead, a notification from his system appeared. ¡¾Ding! Detection of competition against three Destined Children. Initiating villain task: Arrogant Overconfidence.¡¿ ¡¾Task Requirement: Enter the secret realm one hour after the others.¡¿ ¡¾Task Reward: A temporary ability to aid the host in countering the Destined Children.¡¿ Lin Qi¡¯an knew that villains often acted arrogantly, letting others take the lead while claiming they didn¡¯t deem them worthy opponents. This hubris often allowed weaker protagonists to grow stronger and eventually humiliate the villain. He hadn¡¯t expected to find himself in such a situation. Entering an hour late could be disastrous, yet the reward¡ªa temporary ability in the secret realm¡ªwas highly tempting. His past experiences with the system¡¯s temporary abilities had proven their worth. The first had allowed him to hear Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s inner thoughts, and the second, during the Great Hunt, gave him a full map to track everyone¡¯s movements. Faced with such a reward, Lin Qi¡¯an decided to embrace the risk and play his role to perfection. Temporary abilities were essentially overpowered cheats, bypassing logic entirely. They represented terrifying rule-breaking powers that defied explanation. Lin Qi¡¯an couldn¡¯t help but wonder what this ability would be this time. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t the Crown Prince moved yet? He¡¯s already falling behind!¡± ¡°What is he thinking? If he lags too much, he¡¯ll become an easy target when he enters the secret realm!¡± ¡°Crown Prince, hurry up! If you wait any longer, it¡¯ll be too late!¡± The audience was growing increasingly anxious. They had been looking forward to seeing Lin Qi¡¯an showcase his strength by crushing the foreign prodigies in the secret realm. Now, many feared those same prodigies were already upgrading their Spiritual Sources while Lin Qi¡¯an was still on the shore. Even Zhao Qingmeng and Su Xueni were puzzled, unable to understand Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s intentions. Some of the spectators, unable to bear the suspense, even approached Su Xueni to plead with her to persuade the Crown Prince to make his move. She could only respond with a smile. ¡°I can¡¯t guess what His Highness is thinking, but I¡¯ll always support his decisions. Please remain patient.¡± By now, all the other participants had entered the secret realm, leaving Lin Qi¡¯an alone by the lake, calmly gazing out over the water. The Tai¡¯an Emperor chuckled and said, ¡°Lin Weixuan, it seems your arrogance has passed down completely to your son. Ha!¡± Lin Weixuan¡¯s lips twitched involuntarily at the remark, unsure how to respond. ¡®I may have been arrogant back in the day, but this rascal has taken it to a whole new level!¡¯ When Lin Weixuan had won the Pilgrimage Path in his youth, he had done so by entering the secret realm as quickly as possible, leveling up faster than anyone else. His son, however, was doing the complete opposite, putting himself at a massive disadvantage. Meanwhile, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s rivals took the opportunity to mock him mercilessly. ¡°Does he really think a bit of talent makes him invincible?¡± ¡°What a joke! Standing there like that¡ªwho is he trying to impress?¡± ¡°Watch, he¡¯ll walk in only to get smashed by someone with a higher Spiritual Source level. That¡¯ll be hilarious!¡± Some even felt relieved. If Lin Qi¡¯an had been a calm and cautious individual with monstrous talent, he would have been a significant threat in the future. But if he was just an arrogant, reckless child, he would be far easier to deal with. Even Lu Weishuang was growing anxious. But given her position, there was no way she could intervene. All she could do was wait. ¡ª Finally, an hour passed. By this point, the audience had mostly resigned themselves to the idea that Lin Qi¡¯an might be skipping the competition altogether. Given his first-place standing in points, it would make sense for him to rest on his laurels rather than risk humiliation by entering so late. Through the screens set up around the lake, spectators could see the progress of the other participants. In that hour, many had already begun hunting the secret realm¡¯s phantom beasts, successfully upgrading to Tier Two Spiritual Sources. But just as the audience had accepted Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s absence, he moved. Under countless shocked gazes, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s white-robed figure flew gracefully toward the lake and entered the secret realm. ¡°He¡¯s going in now?!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me!¡± ¡°What the hell? Isn¡¯t he just walking into a beating at this point?¡± ¡°Why would he deliberately handicap himself like this?!¡± ¡°No matter how strong he is, this is just reckless!¡± For most of the audience, Lin Qi¡¯an had become the face of the Canglan Dao Domain. If he ended up humiliated in the secret realm, it wouldn¡¯t just be his reputation that suffered¡ªit would be a blow to the entire domain¡¯s pride. But Lin Qi¡¯an didn¡¯t care about any of this. The moment the hour had passed, the system notified him that the task was complete. ¡¾Ding! Task complete. You have received the temporary ability: ¡°Unlimited Spiritual Energy.¡±¡¿ This meant that in the secret realm, Lin Qi¡¯an could use divine abilities and techniques without worrying about depleting his spiritual energy. He had essentially unlocked god mode. Chapter 164 Chapter 164: The Crown Prince¡¯s Unlimited Spiritual Energy¡ªDefeating a Higher Level! Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s official entry into the Pilgrimage Path caused an uproar. Whether out of worry for him or anticipation of his failure, all eyes were on him. The screen displaying his location quickly drew a massive crowd of spectators. Inside the secret realm, the scenery was breathtaking. The horizon was painted with radiant, colorful clouds, and the lush forests brimmed with vibrant life, resembling an idyllic paradise. The expansive forest stretched endlessly, and even the birds hopping between the branches were pure white. Every beast in the secret realm was created by the realm¡¯s energy. Their colors denoted their tier: white for Tier One Spiritual Beasts. Killing these creatures allowed pendants to automatically absorb their Spiritual Sources. With enough sources, participants could level up. ¡°Only about one-tenth of my power remains? The secret realm¡¯s suppression is this strong?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an mused as he assessed his strength. To make full use of his power and even enhance it, leveling up was an urgent task. In his current state, he couldn¡¯t even wield his Sacred Rank Weapon. Without hesitation, Lin Qi¡¯an began searching for spiritual beasts. Soon, a white rabbit darted into his path. With a single finger, he unleashed the Heavenly Sword Finger, instantly vaporizing the Tier One beast into a wisp of energy. The pendant absorbed the energy, and his Spiritual Source meter ticked upward. ¡°He¡¯s started hunting!¡± ¡°Come on, Crown Prince! Please don¡¯t run into anyone yet¡ªjust level up quickly!¡± ¡°If he doesn¡¯t reach Tier Two soon, everyone else will outpace him!¡± Supporters began praying fervently for Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s success. He continued exploring the forest, dispatching white spiritual beasts with ease. But then, he encountered a green cat, a Tier Two beast. ¡°Crown Prince, avoid it for now! This isn¡¯t the time to challenge a Tier Two!¡± ¡°It¡¯s better to level up step by step. Don¡¯t take unnecessary risks!¡± To the crowd¡¯s shock, Lin Qi¡¯an strode forward without hesitation and summoned the Sword of Spiritual Energy, engaging the cat directly. The beast¡¯s agility proved troublesome, evading several strikes in a row. Growing impatient, Lin Qi¡¯an resorted to the highly energy-intensive Ten Thousand Swords to Court, summoning a torrential storm of swords that rained down upon the cat. Finally, it dissolved into a mass of light, and its energy was absorbed by his pendant. ¡°That was reckless!¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t he understand the importance of conserving energy?¡± ¡°Yes, the key to surviving the secret realm is efficiency¡ªachieve the most with the least effort!¡± ¡°The Crown Prince wasted so much energy just to kill one Tier Two beast. This is a huge loss!¡± ¡°It¡¯s like sprinting at the start of a marathon¡ªyou¡¯ll exhaust yourself long before the finish line.¡± While other participants treated their energy reserves like precious water in a desert, Lin Qi¡¯an unleashed his strongest techniques without a second thought. Watching him squander energy left the audience disheartened on his behalf. But Lin Qi¡¯an didn¡¯t share their concerns. Killing the Tier Two beast provided a significant boost to his Spiritual Source, and with his unique advantage, energy conservation wasn¡¯t an issue. His unlimited spiritual energy allowed him to use abilities endlessly, like drawing water from an infinite ocean. Even a Great Emperor couldn¡¯t match his reserves in the secret realm. For Lin Qi¡¯an, waiting an hour before entering had been well worth it. He continued his rampage, defeating several more Tier One beasts. Just as he was about to level up to Tier Two, an unexpected encounter occurred¡ªa person appeared. It was the worst-case scenario. Lin Qi¡¯an had come face to face with a participant from the Tianhai Dao Domain, a Holy Son who had already reached Tier Two. ¡°It¡¯s over. The Crown Prince is in trouble now.¡± ¡°This is the downside of entering late. If he¡¯d gone in earlier, he wouldn¡¯t have fallen behind.¡± ¡°To lose to someone from the Tianhai Dao Domain? How humiliating!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s opponent was Xu Cheng, a prodigy from the Tianhai Dao Domain¡¯s Eight Veins Sect. The sight filled the Tianhai Dao spectators with glee. ¡°Like father, like son. He just had to act arrogant.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see how this plays out!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a shame he didn¡¯t run into the Golden Crow Divine Son, but this guy will do.¡± The power gap between Tier One and Tier Two was immense, with Tier Two participants having double the strength of Tier One. From the perspective of the crowd, Lin Qi¡¯an stood no chance. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an? A Tier One Spiritual Source?¡± Xu Cheng laughed mockingly. ¡°Looks like luck is on my side. Beating you will make me famous! If you surrender now, it might save you some humiliation.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an smiled faintly, his demeanor calm and composed. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got!¡± The battle erupted. Lin Qi¡¯an opened with one of his trump cards¡ªDragon Roar. The ancestral dragon¡¯s might caused a violent mental shock in Xu Cheng. Outside the secret realm, this move would have left his opponent coughing blood, but due to the realm¡¯s suppression, the effect was significantly reduced. Taking advantage of the brief pause, Lin Qi¡¯an unleashed the Heavenly Sword Finger, and a savage burst of sword energy exploded against Xu Cheng¡¯s body. Xu Cheng, however, managed to withstand the attack, merely staggering back a few steps. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Xu Cheng laughed triumphantly. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I blocked one of the Crown Prince¡¯s divine abilities! This must be my lucky day!¡± Everyone knew that in the outside world, Xu Cheng wouldn¡¯t even qualify to stand against Lin Qi¡¯an. But inside the secret realm, where power was suppressed, the rules allowed him to put up a fight. ¡°The Crown Prince¡¯s divine abilities don¡¯t seem to be working¡ªthis is bad...¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± Just as the audience began to despair for Lin Qi¡¯an, another Dragon Roar resounded. As Xu Cheng reeled from the second shock, Lin Qi¡¯an followed up with another Heavenly Sword Finger. ¡°Wait... Is the Crown Prince risking everything? He¡¯s using the Dragon¡¯s Might consecutively!¡± ¡°This level of spiritual energy consumption is reckless. Even if he wins this fight, he¡¯ll have no strength left for later rounds!¡± ¡°He must be desperate to save face. Let¡¯s see if his energy runs out first or if Xu Cheng collapses under the pressure.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s relentless combo of divine techniques seemed almost invincible. The Dragon Roar disrupted Xu Cheng¡¯s focus, while the Heavenly Sword Finger delivered crushing strikes. Xu Cheng was forced to retreat step by step as Lin Qi¡¯an advanced leisurely, as if on a casual stroll. Finally, after the eighth Heavenly Sword Finger, Xu Cheng spat out a mouthful of blood. ¡°This... This is impossible!¡± Xu Cheng was utterly shaken. Lin Qi¡¯an had unleashed the Dragon¡¯s Might and divine techniques eight times, yet his spiritual energy showed no signs of depletion. In contrast, Xu Cheng himself was visibly running out of stamina and could no longer hold his ground. As the next Heavenly Sword Finger prepared to strike, Xu Cheng panicked. Without hesitation, he crushed his pendant, signaling his surrender. With a faint cracking sound, Xu Cheng was officially eliminated. Lin Qi¡¯an casually approached and gathered all the Spiritual Sources left behind, fully absorbing them into his pendant. His Spiritual Source level not only reached Tier Two but even exceeded it slightly. ¡°The Crown Prince... won! He actually forced someone out of the secret realm!¡± ¡°This is incredible! He used pure divine power to dominate his opponent!¡± ¡°Wait a minute... How is he still using divine techniques like they¡¯re free? Isn¡¯t he worried about exhausting his energy?¡± The lakeside spectators erupted in astonishment. Lin Qi¡¯an had shattered their expectations once again. Even in the Pilgrimage Path, he had managed to achieve what seemed impossible¡ªa decisive victory over a stronger opponent through sheer force. The Tianhai Dao Domain¡¯s supporters, however, wore grim expressions. ¡°No problem. He¡¯s definitely drained now. There¡¯s no way he can keep competing.¡± ¡°Exactly. That must¡¯ve been his last burst of strength. If I were him, I¡¯d just quit now before embarrassing myself further.¡± Among the few who truly understood Lin Qi¡¯an, such as Zhao Qingmeng and Su Xueni, doubt began to creep in. They knew Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s character. He wouldn¡¯t act recklessly without reason. Did he have another card up his sleeve? ¡ª ¡°Lin Weixuan, your son fights like a brute,¡± one Great Emperor remarked. ¡°If he had a clearer understanding of himself, his future accomplishments would be far greater.¡± Lin Weixuan frowned slightly. He, too, felt that Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s approach seemed reckless. However, he refused to believe his son was merely a thoughtless brute. The Literary Saint and the Ink Saint had both praised Lin Qi¡¯an extensively, and earning their recognition required more than brute strength. Lin Weixuan thought to himself, ¡®What kind of trick are you playing this time, you sly fox?¡¯ For those curious about Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s next move, the answer came quickly. He encountered a blue spiritual beast¡ªa Tier Three Beast. If Lin Qi¡¯an fled, it would confirm he had no strength left to fight. But if he dared to face the beast... That was simply impossible. Chapter 165 Chapter 165: A Chance Encounter with a Little Admirer¡ªLin Qi¡¯an Gets Invited Into a Cave Lin Qi¡¯an found himself face-to-face with a Tier Three spiritual beast¡ªa blue wolf, formed by the secret realm¡¯s energy. The colors¡ªwhite, green, blue, purple, orange, red, gold, black, and multicolored¡ªrepresented the nine tiers. Higher-tier beasts yielded far more Spiritual Source energy when defeated. ¡°If the Crown Prince manages to kill this Tier Three beast, I¡¯ll start questioning reality itself!¡± ¡°That would mean he¡¯s no longer human but an outright monster!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an hesitated briefly before stepping onto the treetops, using the leaves as a springboard to escape. He didn¡¯t engage in battle. It wasn¡¯t because he couldn¡¯t win but because he shouldn¡¯t. Lin Qi¡¯an knew countless eyes were on him, analyzing his every move. His earlier display had already been extreme enough. If he went further, it might attract the attention of powerful figures, who could suspect him of possessing a heaven-defying treasure. After all, unlimited spiritual energy was a concept far too terrifying to ignore. A brute might celebrate such power and plow forward, crushing everything in their path. But restraint, Lin Qi¡¯an knew, was often the greatest form of wisdom. Once night fell and the lake¡¯s surface stopped reflecting images from the secret realm, he could unleash his full power without fear of exposure. ¡ª ¡°He escaped! Thank goodness!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t lie¡ªwatching him flee makes me feel relieved. At least it proves he¡¯s still human and not some terrifying anomaly!¡± ¡°Exactly. If he had fought that Tier Three beast and won, it would¡¯ve been terrifying!¡± Seeing Lin Qi¡¯an retreat eased the tension for many spectators. A person could be powerful, even extraordinary, but they couldn¡¯t defy understanding. Having twice or three times the normal spiritual energy was within the realm of possibility¡ªperhaps gained through a fortunate encounter. But having ten or twenty times more? That would only incite fear and greed, with others coveting whatever miraculous treasure allowed such power. ¡°Now that the Crown Prince is resting, he might have a chance to catch up to the others ahead of him.¡± ¡°Indeed! His spiritual energy seems more abundant than even some peak Heaven Dominion Realm experts. There¡¯s still hope!¡± With Lin Qi¡¯an retreating, the audience began shifting their focus to other prodigies, such as Zhao Yunji, Lin Liuli, and the Divine Sons of the Tianhai Dao Domain. By the time most participants¡¯ Spiritual Sources reached Tier Three, exhaustion had already begun setting in, forcing them to take breaks to recover. ¡ª As night fell, visibility in the secret realm diminished. The lake¡¯s reflective surface, which mirrored the participants¡¯ movements, now only showed vague outlines or nothing at all in areas shielded from the moonlight. Lin Qi¡¯an arrived at a cliffside. The darkness was his ally now, and he could finally act without restraint. Just as he was about to begin his rampage, a faint voice called out from a cave below the cliff. ¡°Crown Prince? Over here! Quickly, come inside!¡± ¡°Huh...¡± Lin Qi¡¯an paused, unsure if he should ignore the invitation. Deciding to investigate, he approached the source of the voice. The caller was a young woman in a pale yellow dress with a round, adorable face that made her look like a steamed bun. She had a delicate charm and a youthful innocence. She was a disciple from the Flying Star Sect of the Eastern Domain and a direct student of the sect master. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked. ¡°I¡¯m hiding to rest, of course. Aren¡¯t you doing the same? Come inside¡ªit¡¯s safe in here!¡± By now, most participants would have taken a break to recover after such an intense day. That¡¯s what she assumed. She couldn¡¯t have known that Lin Qi¡¯an had been preparing for a night of slaughter. As soon as she led him into the cave, she used her spiritual energy to push a large stone in front of the entrance, sealing it securely. Lin Qi¡¯an raised an eyebrow but said nothing. ¡°Wow! I can¡¯t believe I ran into you, Crown Prince! My luck is amazing!¡± ¡°Oh, by the way, my name is Ling Zhi, and I¡¯m from the Flying Star Sect in the Eastern Domain!¡± Ling Zhi looked both excited and nervous as she spoke, even shrinking back slightly as she continued. ¡°Please don¡¯t attack me, okay? Let¡¯s just rest here for now, and we can fight again after we¡¯re both fully recovered...¡± Seeing her fearful expression, Lin Qi¡¯an reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Since you invited me here, I wouldn¡¯t repay you with hostility.¡± As they spoke, Ling Zhi couldn¡¯t help but notice Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s pendant. ¡°What tier is your Spiritual Source, Your Highness? Let me take a look... Huh? Only Tier Two?¡± Her surprise was evident. Even she had already reached Tier Three. With Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s strength, she had expected him to be at least Tier Four by now. How could he still be at Tier Two? Lin Qi¡¯an casually dismissed her concerns, attributing it to bad luck. He intended to rest briefly before leaving. The cover of night provided the perfect opportunity to surge ahead in levels without being observed. Outside the cave, the forest was quiet and still, but Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s thoughts churned with anticipation. It¡¯s time to show them the real game. From the bushes outside the cave, three figures crouched stealthily, their eyes fixed on the entrance. They were all cultivators from the Tianhai Dao Domain. Yes, they had formed an alliance. The rules didn¡¯t explicitly forbid teaming up. As long as you didn¡¯t mind being seen as dishonorable and embarrassing your sect or elders, anything was fair game. At night, with visibility low, alliances could run rampant without fear of exposure. This trio¡¯s combined strength was formidable¡ªtwo Tier Three Spiritual Sources and one Tier Two. ¡°Did you see that? Another man just went into the cave!¡± ¡°Yeah, a man and a woman. Their Spiritual Sources will be split evenly among the three of us¡ªeasy pickings!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, time to strike!¡± Killing spiritual beasts was one way to gain Spiritual Sources, but defeating other participants was far quicker. Some people avoided hunting beasts altogether, focusing solely on hunting their peers. ¡ª Inside the cave, Lin Qi¡¯an was casually chatting with Ling Zhi. A small oil lamp flickered on the rock wall, casting warm light over the scene. He quickly realized this girl was a devoted admirer, practically buzzing with excitement. The flickering flame illuminated her rosy, round face, adding to her innocent charm. ¡°When we get out of here, I¡¯m totally bragging about this to my master and senior brothers!¡± Ling Zhi declared gleefully. She was like a fangirl meeting her idol. Lin Qi¡¯an had no doubt that if smartphones existed in this world, she¡¯d be snapping selfies and posting them everywhere. Suddenly, a muffled thud reverberated through the cave. The boulder sealing the entrance trembled, dislodging small rocks and dust. ¡°Someone¡¯s here!¡± Ling Zhi exclaimed, immediately on alert. Lin Qi¡¯an sighed, exasperated. ¡°You know, if you hadn¡¯t sealed the entrance so tightly, people might not have realized someone was inside.¡± ¡°W-Well... don¡¯t sweat the details! What do we do now?¡± ¡°What else? We go out and fight. We can¡¯t exactly run away now.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s give it our all!¡± Ling Zhi readied herself for battle, her face determined. With a deafening crash, the boulder at the entrance shattered into pieces, revealing three men standing in its place¡ªall from the Tianhai Dao Domain. The trio froze momentarily upon seeing the pair inside, then broke into smug grins. ¡°Well, well, who would¡¯ve thought we¡¯d run into the Crown Prince of Beiyang in a place like this? What a pleasant surprise!¡± ¡°Wait a minute. The famous Crown Prince is only at Tier Two? Is he here to serve himself up on a silver platter?¡± Ling Zhi¡¯s face flushed with anger as she pointed at them. ¡°You... you formed an alliance? Shameless!¡± The trio laughed mockingly. ¡°Oh, please. Isn¡¯t this girl with you an ally too?¡± ¡°We¡¯re just resting!¡± ¡°Yeah, sure. Rest all you want¡ªit doesn¡¯t matter. Nobody can see us at night anyway, so who cares if we teamed up?¡± Ling Zhi felt a wave of panic. Their opponents¡¯ combined strength far outweighed hers and Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s. ¡°Crown Prince, you should escape! I¡¯ll hold them off!¡± she declared resolutely. ¡°Can you even manage that?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked instinctively, tilting his head. ¡°Can you not ask such an obvious question right now?!¡± she shouted, flustered. She had hoped to make a noble sacrifice, but Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s casual skepticism made her feel more embarrassed than heroic. She just wanted to protect him¡ªsomeone who bore the hopes of so many¡ªand ensure he didn¡¯t get eliminated here. What she didn¡¯t expect was for Lin Qi¡¯an to take a step forward instead of retreating. His white robes shimmered in the firelight, his figure tall and graceful, exuding an aura of effortless confidence. Ling Zhi¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡¯Is the Crown Prince planning to protect me?¡¯ she wondered. But he was only at Tier Two! With the secret realm suppressing cultivation, how could he possibly defeat these three? ¡°Well, well. Lin Qi¡¯an, are you seriously planning to play the hero at Tier Two? This should be fun.¡± ¡°Looks like we hit the jackpot today. If we manage to take him out, the rewards will be endless!¡± The three cultivators knew that eliminating Lin Qi¡¯an would secure them glory within the Tianhai Dao Domain. After all, even their domain¡¯s top Divine Sons struggled to deal with him. Lin Qi¡¯an chuckled lightly. ¡°Ling Zhi,¡± he said calmly, ¡°I suggest you cover your ears.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Though puzzled, Ling Zhi instinctively obeyed, pressing her hands over her ears. The next moment, a deafening Dragon Roar erupted, shaking the entire cave to its foundation. Chapter 166 Chapter 166: Dragon¡¯s Might and Divine Fire Stun the Little Fangirl! The might of the Ancestral Dragon shook the three cultivators, forcing them to retreat several steps. After ascending to Tier Two, Lin Qi¡¯an could now summon the power of the Nine Yang Divine Fire, which was perfect for handling multiple opponents at once. Golden flames surged continuously, surrounding the trio in a blazing circle. It was a prison of fire. ¡°A mere Tier Two dares to face the three of us? You¡¯re overestimating yourself!¡± ¡°Attack!¡± Just as the three prepared to break through the flames and retaliate, a deafening Dragon Roar erupted again. The sound was so terrifying it felt as if their eardrums would burst. Their minds reeled, their vision blurred, and their balance faltered. The intensity wasn¡¯t strong enough to knock them out completely, allowing them to recover quickly. ¡°Hold on! He can¡¯t possibly sustain this for long!¡± ¡°Such a terrifying dragon¡¯s might, combined with the power to suppress us beyond his level, must be draining his spiritual energy rapidly!¡± They weren¡¯t overly frightened, certain that Lin Qi¡¯an was merely making a desperate stand. It wouldn¡¯t be long before exhaustion set in, giving them the chance to strike back. When the second wave of the Dragon Roar ended, Ling Zhi finally removed her hands from her ears. She was utterly stunned by what she had witnessed: the Crown Prince of Beiyang was suppressing three cultivators at once. This was her idol. Even at Tier Two, he could hold his own against three people. If he were Tier Three, he might outright dominate them all! Just as she started marveling at his power, a third Dragon Roar erupted. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Ling Zhi clutched her ears in pain, feeling the lingering vibrations even though the roar wasn¡¯t aimed at her. Meanwhile, the Nine Yang Divine Fire continued to blaze, forcing the trio to expend all their energy to resist its heat. The pattern repeated, with Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s roar disrupting their concentration and the relentless fire wearing them down. Ling Zhi stood frozen, her hands over her ears, her eyes wide in disbelief. She stared at Lin Qi¡¯an as though she¡¯d seen a ghost. All by himself, he had reduced the three cultivators to complete immobility. ¡°This... this is impossible!¡± ¡°How does he still have so much power? Is his spiritual energy endless?¡± ¡°It burns... It hurts... I can¡¯t hold on anymore!¡± Unable to endure, the trio finally crushed their escape pendants, disappearing in flashes of light. In their place, glowing orbs of spiritual energy floated in the air, remnants of their Spiritual Source. Lin Qi¡¯an calmly absorbed all three, instantly ascending to Tier Three. His power surged to new heights, and the thunderous energy of his lightning techniques was now accessible. Ling Zhi was utterly dumbfounded. She stood there in a daze, unable to process what had just happened. After a long pause, she finally stammered, ¡°Th-they were defeated... just like that?¡± ¡°What else did you expect?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an asked nonchalantly. ¡°Oh my heavens! Crown Prince, are you even human? Even in this secret realm with suppressed powers, you defeated three people all by yourself!¡± Ling Zhi¡¯s voice was filled with admiration, and she nearly burst with excitement. She seemed moments away from throwing herself at him, declaring her undying adoration. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be on my way,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said as he turned to leave. ¡°Wait! Don¡¯t go just yet! Your Highness, why don¡¯t you take my Spiritual Source as well?¡± ¡°...What?¡± ¡°This is my final contribution to the cause!¡± ¡°You¡¯re forfeiting?¡± ¡°I just want to return to my sect and brag to everyone about meeting you!¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Crown Prince, please carry my spirit with you and aim for victory!¡± With those words, Ling Zhi crushed her escape pendant, leaving behind another glowing orb of spiritual energy. Lin Qi¡¯an sighed and absorbed her Spiritual Source before continuing his journey. ¡ª¡ª¡ª Outside the Lake The night was quiet since the lake¡¯s surface no longer reflected the happenings within the secret realm. Suddenly, three cultivators were ejected from the realm, flying out of the lake in flashes of light. Their unexpected return caused a stir among the onlookers. ¡°People are getting eliminated even at night?¡± ¡°And three of them at once? That¡¯s unusual.¡± ¡°Wait, were they defeated by the same person?¡± At first, nobody paid much attention to this development. However, shortly afterward, another figure emerged¡ªa young woman. Unlike the defeated trio, she seemed overjoyed, practically skipping with excitement. Ling Zhi sprinted back to her sectmates, a wide grin plastered across her face. Her senior brothers and sisters approached her, pity evident in their expressions. ¡°Ling Zhi, you¡¯re out too?¡± ¡°I have amazing news! I met the Crown Prince of Beiyang himself!¡± ¡°What?!¡± Her sectmates crowded around, stunned by her revelation. ¡°Were you defeated by him?¡± ¡°It¡¯s incredible that he¡¯s still so strong even after entering the secret realm late. Truly unbelievable...¡± ¡°No, no, no!¡± Ling Zhi shook her head vigorously. ¡°The Crown Prince defeated those three cultivators in an awe-inspiring display! I voluntarily forfeited after that¡ªjust to come back and brag!¡± ¡°The three of them were beaten by the Crown Prince?¡± ¡°That explains why they all came out together...¡± The overwhelming might of Lin Qi¡¯an left everyone in awe and envy. ¡°The Crown Prince can now take on three opponents at once... His growth is terrifyingly fast!¡± Expressions of both amazement and admiration filled the faces of the crowd. ¡°Ling Zhi, did you get a chance to grow closer to him? Maybe you¡¯ll catch his eye!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, this might be your golden opportunity!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe you just forfeited like that... What a waste!¡± Ling Zhi shook her head, her expression dreamy, almost as if she were lovestruck. ¡°Meeting the Crown Prince alone is enough for me. I don¡¯t dare hope for anything more.¡± Meanwhile, the three cultivators who were defeated returned to the Tianhai Dao Domain camp, their faces filled with shame. ¡°You were defeated by Lin Qi¡¯an?¡± Their admission caused an uproar among their peers. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! He was recklessly expending spiritual energy earlier. By now, he should have been resting to recover, not still fighting at full strength!¡± An elder¡¯s voice carried both shock and disbelief. For three people to lose while working together was already disgraceful enough. Losing to someone at Tier Two was downright humiliating. ¡°You¡¯ve embarrassed us completely! Don¡¯t breathe a word of this and keep quiet!¡± Most had assumed Lin Qi¡¯an would fall behind significantly after entering the secret realm late. But now, it seemed the outcome might be quite different... ¡ª The Following Day As morning arrived, the lake once again began to reflect the events within the secret realm. ¡°I found him! Look, there¡¯s the Crown Prince!¡± someone exclaimed, drawing a crowd to watch eagerly. Lin Qi¡¯an was stretching as he stepped out of a cave, looking refreshed and completely at ease. ¡°So, even monsters need rest...¡± someone muttered. ¡°Wait, wait!¡± ¡°Is that... Tier Four Spiritual Source?¡± ¡°What the¡ª? I thought he was at Tier Two yesterday!¡± ¡°This is insane! He¡¯s leveled up twice in a single night. He¡¯s already caught up with the leaders!¡± ¡°What on earth happened last night...?¡± The crowd was dumbstruck, rubbing their eyes as if trying to dispel an illusion. But no matter how hard they tried, the image remained the same. Lin Qi¡¯an, who started far behind everyone else, had miraculously caught up with the leading participants on the first day. The Sword Emperor, watching calmly, broke into a smile. ¡°It seems my son does have the right to be arrogant. What do you think, everyone?¡± The other strong cultivators were too stunned to respond. Those with enmity toward Lin Qi¡¯an, in particular, wore expressions as sour as vinegar. Seeing him stumble was proving to be a near-impossible feat. Internally, however, the Sword Emperor wasn¡¯t as composed as he appeared. He transmitted his thoughts through divine sense. ¡°Qingzhu, when did our son become this strong? His talent is no less monstrous than mine in my youth!¡± Lady Qingzhu¡¯s response came swiftly. ¡°Correction¡ªyour past self wouldn¡¯t even make a ripple before our son¡¯s current abilities.¡± The Sword Emperor: ... Good thing he¡¯s my son. ¡ª Elsewhere in the secret realm, the Xiling Divine Son, Xi Chao, had ascended to Tier Five Spiritual Source, garnering praise for his rapid progress. ¡°His control over spiritual energy is absolutely precise, wasting not even a drop. That¡¯s how he¡¯s been able to ascend so quickly!¡± The Xiling Emperor nodded in satisfaction. No matter how dazzling Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s performance was, as long as Xi Chao maintained the lead, victory would be theirs. However, a surprising development unfolded¡ªXi Chao encountered Lin Liuli. It seemed fortune favored the destined, as the Destined Son crossed paths with the Destined Daughter in the vast secret realm. The Xiling Emperor smirked. Lin Liuli hailed from the Tianjian Holy City, just like Lin Qi¡¯an. If Xi Chao could defeat her, it would serve as sweet retribution. At that moment, Lin Liuli was locked in battle with a Tier Five Spiritual Beast. If Xi Chao joined the fray, the combined pressure would undoubtedly overwhelm her. What happened next, however, left everyone speechless. Xi Chao didn¡¯t attack her¡ªinstead, he helped her! The Xiling Emperor nearly spat out blood in frustration. ¡°That boy! What is he doing? Does he think this is a courting opportunity?¡± ¡ª Inside the Secret Realm Xi Chao unleashed his Ice and Fire Divine Art, descending upon the battlefield like a divine hero. In mere moments, he vanquished the Tier Five Spiritual Beast, leaving behind a glowing orb of spiritual energy. Lin Liuli, currently at Tier Four Spiritual Source, was naturally slower than Xi Chao in terms of progress. After all, he was the Destined Son. ¡°Miss Lin... I mean, Daoist Lin Liuli, are you alright?¡± Xi Chao asked, correcting himself awkwardly. Unexpectedly, Lin Liuli adopted a defensive stance, her gaze icy and full of hostility. She didn¡¯t appear the least bit grateful. During the first round of the tournament, Xi Chao had deliberately lured beasts to attack Lin Qi¡¯an. Lin Liuli had never forgotten this. Anyone who sought to harm Lin Qi¡¯an was her enemy. ¡ª Not far away, Lin Qi¡¯an used his Heavenly Fated Villain Divine Eyes to observe the scene. ¡°Xi Chao,¡± he muttered, ¡°you really can¡¯t resist trying to charm my sister, can you?¡± A sly smile crossed Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s face as he retrieved a small blood bag from his spatial storage. Once bitten, the bag would release a dramatic amount of blood, allowing him to feign serious injury. ¡°If my sister sees me getting hurt, she¡¯ll definitely get angry.¡± He sighed with mock remorse. ¡°I really am a terrible person.¡± Chapter 167 Chapter 167: Lin Liuli: ¡°Did You Dare to Hurt My Brother?!¡± ¡°Daoist Lin Liuli, I have no intention of being your enemy!¡± Xi Chao quickly interjected. ¡°I simply want to help you; you can absorb this spiritual source.¡± ¡°Sorry, but I never asked for your help.¡± Lin Liuli¡¯s expression was frosty, her whisk glowing faintly with pure light. Before arriving in Tai¡¯an City, the faint goodwill she had for Xi Chao had already dissolved due to his previous schemes against Lin Qi¡¯an. While Lin Liuli wasn¡¯t biologically part of the Lin family, her loyalty and affection for her adopted family were beyond question. Having experienced loss before, she cherished her loved ones even more deeply. Her training at Beidu Celestial Palace was all for the sake of better protecting her family. Even though her younger brother might be slightly stronger than her in certain aspects, she was determined to ensure she could provide support whenever he needed it. To Lin Liuli, anyone opposing the Lin family was an enemy. ¡°Wait, hold on!¡± Xi Chao quickly added, desperation creeping into his tone. ¡°Your Perfect Glazed Body has yet to overcome its Icefire Tribulation. I have a mystical artifact that could assist you!¡± Xi Chao, as a Destined Child, carried with him the treasure known as the ¡°Profound Icefire Jade,¡± which happened to perfectly complement Lin Liuli¡¯s predicament. This statement made Lin Liuli hesitate. Her descent from the Beidu Celestial Palace had two objectives. Firstly, as a representative, she was to participate in the grand event. Secondly, she sought a method to overcome her Icefire Tribulation. While she couldn¡¯t rely on the direct intervention of powerful cultivators, leveraging the power of a mystical artifact was within the rules. If she could fully achieve the Perfect Glazed Body, her strength would advance by leaps and bounds, and she could better fulfill her responsibilities as an elder sister. Seeing her momentary hesitation, Xi Chao¡¯s spirits soared. ¡°She¡¯s just another woman,¡± he thought. ¡°As long as I offer what she wants, she¡¯ll come around.¡± The thought of courting a Taoist nun like Lin Liuli filled him with a strange thrill. However, just as Xi Chao was about to press his advantage, a white-clad figure descended like a sudden gust of wind. ¡°No one wants the spiritual source?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an casually strode forward and absorbed the spiritual energy left behind by the defeated fifth-level source beast. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an?!¡± Lin Liuli¡¯s eyes sparkled with delight. Encountering Lin Qi¡¯an within the secret realm was a stroke of fortune, and she showed no anger over him taking the spiritual source. After all, it was only a fifth-level source beast¡ªshe could always find another. ¡°Lin... Qi... An...¡± Xi Chao¡¯s expression darkened as he roared, ¡°That spiritual source was left for Lin Liuli! How dare you take it?!¡± Lin Liuli¡¯s chilling gaze cut through his indignation. ¡°He absorbed what was mine. How does it concern you?¡± ¡°But I killed the source beast for you!¡± ¡°Did I ever ask for your help?¡± Lin Liuli¡¯s tone was icy. At this moment, Xi Chao resembled nothing more than a pitiful fool, groveling for attention. Despite his efforts to ingratiate himself, Lin Liuli responded with nothing but indifference. This only deepened his frustration. While Lin Qi¡¯an currently only held a fourth-level spiritual source, Xi Chao simmered with hatred. If not for Lin Liuli¡¯s presence, he would have struck Lin Qi¡¯an down without hesitation. Suddenly, Lin Qi¡¯an stepped forward, his voice calm but filled with provocation, ¡°Xi Chao, I¡¯ll give you the opportunity to challenge me one-on-one.¡± ¡°?!¡± Xi Chao was stunned for a moment but quickly regained his composure, his mood soaring. This was precisely what he wanted¡ªa chance to prove himself superior to Lin Qi¡¯an. To have it served on a silver platter was beyond his expectations. Outside the secret realm, their power levels might be close, but within this environment, Xi Chao¡¯s higher spiritual source level gave him a clear advantage. This was his golden opportunity to reclaim his pride. A chance to crush the man he hated in front of the woman he admired¡ªwhat could be sweeter? ¡ª Outside the Secret Realm: The audience erupted in excitement. ¡°Xi Chao versus Lin Qi¡¯an! This is going to be an amazing match!¡± ¡°These two are the top young prodigies of the Canglan Dao Domain! I didn¡¯t think they¡¯d duel so soon.¡± ¡°Why do they keep fighting each other? Can¡¯t they focus on the geniuses from the Tianhai Dao Domain instead?¡± ¡°Patience! This battle will be worth watching.¡± Despite the overwhelming odds, many still bet on Lin Qi¡¯an to win. His performances thus far had been nothing short of miraculous, and no one dared underestimate him. This duel not only ignited the rivalry between two prodigies but also reignited tensions between the Beiyang Tianjian City and Xiling temple. Both sides had been embroiled in disputes since Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s earlier transgressions on the temple¡¯s territory, where he killed its members with overwhelming dominance. Now, the audience awaited the clash with bated breath. ¡ª Inside the Secret Realm. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s fight!¡± Xi Chao agreed enthusiastically, his folding fan snapping open as his sleeves billowed in the wind. This was the moment he had been waiting for¡ªa chance to defeat Lin Qi¡¯an and earn Lin Liuli¡¯s admiration. Nothing could bring him greater satisfaction. ¡°Are you really going to fight him? He¡¯s a level higher than you!¡± Lin Liuli¡¯s tone carried worry. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an reassured her. ¡°If things go south, I¡¯ll just crush the escape talisman and leave. It¡¯s just a sparring match; I won¡¯t get hurt.¡± ¡°Alright, but be careful!¡± Although Lin Liuli often teased Lin Qi¡¯an, calling him her ¡°annoying little brother,¡± only she was allowed to criticize him¡ªno one else. If anyone dared to hurt him, she would never let it slide. Still, a sparring match shouldn¡¯t lead to serious injuries. If someone crossed the line, though, she wouldn¡¯t hesitate to retaliate. The match began. Lin Qi¡¯an wielded spiritual energy to form swords, while Xi Chao unleashed his Icefire Divine Technique, controlling flames in one hand and frost in the other. The forest around them was soon devastated, with trees reduced to splinters and the ground scorched or frozen in patches. Initially, their battle seemed evenly matched. Suddenly, Xi Chao unleashed a powerful ultimate move. Twin dragons of fire and ice erupted from his palms, crashing directly into Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s chest. With a deafening explosion, Lin Qi¡¯an was flung back hundreds of meters, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Of course, the blood was courtesy of the mini blood pack he had prepared earlier. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an!¡± Lin Liuli¡¯s heart twisted at the sight. She rushed toward him, her worry evident. Outside the secret realm, the spectators from the Xiling Temple erupted into cheers. ¡°Xi Chao won! Hahaha!¡± ¡°Finally, Lin Qi¡¯an meets his match! This is so satisfying!¡± ¡°Brilliant work by the Divine Son! It¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve seen someone put Lin Qi¡¯an in his place!¡± Even Xiling Temple¡¯s emperor nodded in approval. At last, the shrine¡¯s honor had been restored. Standing atop a tree branch, Xi Chao smirked triumphantly as he looked down on Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an,¡± he mocked, ¡°if you admit defeat now, crush your escape talisman and leave, you can still save yourself further humiliation.¡± This was undoubtedly one of the most gratifying moments of his life. ¡°I¡¯m fine, sis... cough!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s exaggerated coughing came with another spray of ¡°blood¡± as he finished emptying his blood pack. ¡°Hold on. I¡¯ll avenge you!¡± Lin Liuli¡¯s eyes burned with fury. In that moment, her hatred for Xi Chao reached its peak. ¡°I can¡¯t bear to hit him myself, yet you dared to injure him!¡± Her tone carried an icy chill that sent shivers down Xi Chao¡¯s spine. Before he could react, Lin Liuli launched a fierce assault. Her attacks came like a torrential storm, each strike filled with unrelenting intent. ¡°Lin Liuli, I don¡¯t want to fight you! Stop this!¡± ¡°You¡¯re courting death.¡± ¡°We can talk this out! He was just weaker than me¡ªhis injuries aren¡¯t my fault!¡± Xi Chao¡¯s protests only made Lin Liuli angrier. Wielding her whisk, she traced the pattern of the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper, unleashing streams of radiant energy that bombarded Xi Chao. She poured all her spiritual energy into the attack, determined to make him pay. ¡ª Notifications: ¨C Ding! Lin Liuli¡¯s hatred for Xi Chao has reached the extreme. Xi Chao¡¯s Luck Value -200. ¨C Ding! The Host¡¯s scheme succeeded. Villain Points +10,000. Lin Qi¡¯an was thoroughly enjoying himself. ¡°Sis, let me help you!¡± Under Lin Liuli¡¯s relentless assault, combined with Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s occasional interference, Xi Chao was quickly overwhelmed. Eventually, Lin Liuli¡¯s whisk struck Xi Chao square in the chest, sending him flying as he coughed up blood. ¡°I concede!¡± Xi Chao shouted desperately, clutching his chest. Yet Lin Liuli wasn¡¯t satisfied and continued her assault, forcing him to crush his escape talisman to avoid being killed. Before disappearing, his thoughts were a mess. Was injuring her brother really worth all this? Finally, after Xi Chao was teleported out, Lin Liuli let out a sigh of relief. She immediately turned to check on Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s injuries. Uh-oh. He realized the jig was up. In the chaos, Lin Liuli hadn¡¯t inspected his wounds closely, but now she would undoubtedly notice his ¡°injuries¡± were fake. ¡ª Outside the Secret Realm: The Xiling Temple faction exploded with outrage. ¡°You people from Tianjian City are so shameless!¡± ¡°They agreed to a one-on-one match, yet they teamed up when their guy started losing. If you can¡¯t handle defeat, don¡¯t participate!¡± ¡°Exactly! It¡¯s a disgrace. I can¡¯t believe this is how they win!¡± Tianjian City¡¯s supporters weren¡¯t having any of it. ¡°Let¡¯s not forget the first round when your Divine Son lured three beasts to attack our Crown Prince. Did we make a fuss about it?¡± ¡°Yeah, right! When you pull dirty tricks, it¡¯s strategy. When we fight back, it¡¯s shameless? Spare us the hypocrisy!¡± ¡°Seriously, you¡¯re disgusting. Grow up!¡± As the two sides argued fiercely, a crimson source beast suddenly emerged. The beast had likely been drawn by the energy fluctuations from the earlier battle. The Xiling Temple faction grinned wickedly. ¡°Look at that! Looks like karma came early for your Crown Prince.¡± ¡°One¡¯s injured, the other¡¯s drained of spiritual energy. Let¡¯s see how they handle this!¡± Chapter 168 Chapter 168: Lin Qi¡¯an Slays a Sixth-Level Source Beast! ¡°My Little Brother Lied to Me?¡± Within the secret realm, Lin Liuli anxiously checked Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s injuries. She was genuinely distressed. While she often teased him, it was one thing for her to bully him¡ªbut someone else daring to hurt him was absolutely unacceptable. Despite her concern, she maintained a stern facade and chided, ¡°I told you not to fight him, but you wouldn¡¯t listen. Look at you now, all hurt! Are you satisfied?¡± ¡°Come here, I have medicine for your injuries,¡± she added. Lin Qi¡¯an could only comply obediently. Just as he approached, an unexpected turn of events unfolded¡ªa towering, crimson source beast emerged. This beast was a colossal gorilla, nearly twenty meters tall. Its massive footsteps left deep impressions in the ground, causing the earth to tremble and crushing the surrounding trees and branches into dust. Lin Liuli¡¯s expression turned pale. ¡°This is bad!¡± The beast was a sixth-level source beast. Meanwhile, both she and Lin Qi¡¯an were only at the fourth level. To make matters worse, Lin Liuli had expended almost all her spiritual energy during her furious assault in the previous battle, leaving her nearly depleted. Lin Qi¡¯an, on the other hand, was supposedly already injured. Even in peak condition, they might not have stood a chance against a foe two levels higher. Now, the situation seemed hopeless. ¡°Quick, we need to leave! We can¡¯t fight it!¡± Lin Liuli urgently grabbed Lin Qi¡¯an, intending to retreat. ¡°Wait a moment,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said, his gaze fixed on the battlefield. ¡°Xi Chao¡¯s source energy hasn¡¯t been absorbed yet.¡± A fifth-level participant¡¯s source energy was an invaluable resource, and Lin Qi¡¯an had no intention of letting it go to waste. ¡°You¡¯re still thinking about the source energy at a time like this? If we don¡¯t leave now, we¡¯ll be forced to crush our pendants and forfeit!¡± Lin Liuli scolded. Lin Qi¡¯an shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s too late to run. The beast has already locked onto us. Instead of running, why not stay and kill it here?¡± ¡°Are you insane?¡± Lin Liuli¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Lin Qi¡¯an grinned nonchalantly. ¡°How about you take a break and leave this one to me?¡± ¡°You?¡± Lin Liuli¡¯s shock deepened. Before she could comprehend his confidence, Lin Qi¡¯an stepped forward to face the towering red gorilla head-on. ¡ª The spectators outside were equally stunned. ¡°Is Lin Qi¡¯an really planning to fight that thing?¡± ¡°He just got injured in a fight with a fifth-level opponent. Now he¡¯s challenging a sixth-level source beast? Is he out of his mind?¡± ¡°Maybe he¡¯s just greedy for that source energy Xi Chao left behind.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see if his greed will be his downfall.¡± The notion of Lin Qi¡¯an facing such a monstrous adversary alone garnered widespread attention. ¡°Isn¡¯t he being too arrogant? Crossing two levels to challenge a beast like that is practically suicidal.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen people fail even when challenging creatures just one level higher. How does he expect to pull this off?¡± Even the Xi Chao faction¡¯s emperor watched quietly, suppressing his emotions. Seeing Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s possible defeat was the only thing that could ease his earlier humiliation. ¡°These Canglan Dao Domain brats are something else. They¡¯d rather fight amongst themselves than focus on the bigger picture.¡± ¡°Exactly. While our heavenly sons are rapidly gaining strength, theirs are on the verge of being eliminated by their own people. What a joke!¡± ¡ª The red gorilla loomed over Lin Qi¡¯an like a living mountain, its sheer size enough to instill despair in anyone who dared oppose it. Lin Liuli couldn¡¯t fathom why her younger brother had the audacity to face such a foe directly. To her astonishment, Lin Qi¡¯an summoned a sword¡ªthe Seven Stars Dragon Spring Sword. Now that his fourth-level source energy had restored a portion of his power, he could unleash the strength of a Sacred Rank weapon. The sword shot into the sky, blazing like a meteor before descending in a fiery arc. ¡°Bone Sword Technique: Blue Sky Yellow Springs!¡± Lin Qi¡¯an called out. This technique was Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s most devastating and energy-consuming divine ability. The last time he had used it, he had killed a Celestial Realm demon beast in a single strike. With a deafening explosion, the Seven Stars Dragon Spring Sword struck the massive gorilla¡¯s head. The impact sent shockwaves rippling outward, uprooting trees and scattering the forest in chaos. Countless lower-level source beasts fled in terror. The gorilla, mighty as it was, was forced to its knees, the ground beneath it fracturing into a web of cracks. Lin Liuli¡¯s robes fluttered violently in the shockwave. Her whisk lashed against her face as her wide eyes reflected her disbelief. She could feel the terrifying power of Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s strike. He had crossed two levels and forced the gargantuan beast to its knees. The feat was nothing short of miraculous. Her thoughts raced. Why hadn¡¯t he used this technique against Xi Chao earlier? If he had, the battle would have ended in an instant, and he wouldn¡¯t have been hurt! Was he hiding his strength? Or... was he pretending? The realization left her speechless. The spectators outside the secret realm were equally shaken by Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s explosive display. ¡°Terrifying! This is beyond belief!¡± ¡°That divine ability was utterly earth-shattering! If the Crown Prince had unleashed his full strength outside the secret realm, even a Celestial Realm expert like Xi Chao would have been annihilated in one strike.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a shame his source energy is suppressed by two levels in the secret realm. That gap is just too significant.¡± ¡°Still, this performance won¡¯t hurt his reputation. No one would dare call this a loss.¡± The crowd understood that unleashing such a fearsome divine ability would consume an immense amount of spiritual energy. Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s act seemed to be a desperate gamble to maintain his dignity, ensuring that even in failure, he would earn respect. One spectator declared, ¡°When the Crown Prince emerges, I¡¯ll be the first to applaud him!¡± ¡°Same here. Always supporting the Crown Prince!¡± someone else chimed in. Back in the secret realm, the massive crimson gorilla began to stir. Though visibly injured, it was trying to stand. Yet, just as it seemed ready to continue the battle, something shocking occurred. Lin Qi¡¯an once again summoned the Seven Stars Dragon Spring Sword. Another streak of fiery light rained down from the heavens, as if divine punishment itself was descending. Boom! For the second time, the secret realm resounded with a deafening explosion. This time, the gorilla was severely injured, its massive body half-sunken into the earth. Parts of it were disintegrating into red light, fading into the air. Lin Liuli was utterly dumbfounded. This can¡¯t be real... Using such a powerful divine ability twice in a row should have been impossible without severe repercussions. For anyone else, this level of spiritual energy expenditure would result in destroyed meridians, rendering them a cripple. Yet, Lin Qi¡¯an remained composed, showing no signs of exhaustion. ¡ª ¡°He¡¯s crazy! Absolutely crazy!¡± one observer exclaimed. ¡°Does the Crown Prince even care about his life? No one can use such a terrifying ability twice without severe consequences!¡± ¡°Just watching it makes me nervous. If he keeps pushing like this, won¡¯t he ruin his cultivation entirely?¡± Even those from Tianjian City, who supported Lin Qi¡¯an, were urging Lin Liuli to stop him before he irreparably harmed himself. To their astonishment, however, Lin Qi¡¯an appeared completely unaffected. ¡°Wait,¡± one spectator murmured, his voice trembling. ¡°Did anyone else notice something terrifying? That level of power... if he had used it earlier, defeating Xi Chao would have been effortless. Why didn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Are you saying...¡± another began, their face paling. ¡°He was holding back,¡± someone concluded, their voice barely a whisper. This realization sent chills through the crowd, especially those from Xi Chao¡¯s faction. If Lin Qi¡¯an had truly suppressed his power during the duel, it was the ultimate humiliation for their side. Meanwhile, Lin Qi¡¯an was preparing for a third strike but decided against it. Too much overkill might draw unnecessary attention. The Seven Stars Dragon Spring Sword hovered before him as he pointed a single finger forward. Whoosh! The blade shot forward, transforming into a streak of light that pierced the gorilla¡¯s brow. The massive creature crumbled like a collapsing mountain, disintegrating into countless particles of red light. Its source energy floated in the air, a glowing orb of pure power. Lin Qi¡¯an absorbed the source energy from both the gorilla and Xi Chao, causing his source energy level to leap from the fourth to the sixth. When he returned to Lin Liuli, she finally snapped out of her daze. The truth hit her like a tidal wave¡ªLin Qi¡¯an had been holding back the entire time. If he had fought Xi Chao seriously, the battle would have ended in moments, and there was no chance he would have been injured. Her brows furrowed as she stepped forward, her tone icy. ¡°Explain yourself. What was that injury earlier?¡± ¡°Uh... Sis, listen, I can explain¡ª¡± ¡°Explain my foot! Take this!¡± ¡ª Outside the secret realm, the audience was in stunned silence. They watched as Lin Qi¡¯an dodged Lin Liuli¡¯s playful strikes, the two siblings chasing each other like children at play. There was no sign of fatigue or injury in Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s movements. Xi Chao stood frozen, his eyes wide and his pupils trembling. Just moments ago, he had been fuming over what he perceived as a stolen victory. Now, all he wanted to do was slap himself. That brat faked his injuries?! It was all a ploy to have Lin Liuli step in and attack on his behalf. Worse still, Lin Qi¡¯an had manipulated the situation so perfectly that now he was laughing and playing with Lin Liuli¡ªthe woman Xi Chao had dreamed of wooing. The realization hit him like a sledgehammer, shattering his confidence. This brat is ruthless! With his head hung low, Xi Chao muttered to himself, ¡°This can¡¯t be real...¡± For the first time, his dao heart began to crack. Chapter 169 Chapter 169: Tianhai Dao Domain¡¯s Ambush on the Crown Prince ¨C Utterly Shameless! ¡°Did the Crown Prince really kill that six-layer source beast?¡± ¡°I¡¯m stunned... Does this mean he intentionally lost to the Xiling Divine Son earlier? He could¡¯ve beaten him easily?¡± ¡°It looks that way! Now that I think about it, that blood vomiting was so fake¡ªlike blood just costs nothing!¡± ¡°Ha! The Xiling Divine Palace was ridiculing us for a two-versus-one fight earlier. Wonder how they¡¯re feeling now?¡± This wave of events sent waves of euphoria through Tianjian City¡¯s crowd. The Crown Prince never failed to amaze, having defeated the Xiling Divine Son, slain a six-layer source beast, and leveled himself up to six layers in the process. Now, his cultivation level matched those of the top prodigies. The Xiling Emperor¡¯s face turned darker than storm clouds, ¡°Lin Weixuan, your son is truly dazzling¡ªplaying our Xiling Divine Son like a fiddle,¡± he sneered. ¡°Merely passable,¡± Lin Weixuan replied, his expression calm. Though brimming with pride, he betrayed none of it outwardly. ¡°Do you know your son killed Xiling Divine Palace members in the Western Sea recently?¡± The crowd was stunned as the Xiling Emperor brazenly brought up old grievances. His original plan to have his Divine Son regain face by defeating Lin Qian had utterly crumbled. With that hope gone, he had to demand accountability for the prior incidents. ¡°Oh? Are you seeking an explanation?¡± Lin Weixuan¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°If he killed them, then so be it. What¡¯s the issue?¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± The Xiling Emperor¡¯s fury was palpable. Lin Weixuan¡¯s words were a slap to his face, uttered in front of everyone. ¡°If your juniors wish to challenge Qian, they¡¯re welcome to try. But if any elders dare to intervene, my Tianjian City¡¯s elite might take offense.¡± His words were spoken lightly, almost in jest, but carried an undeniable threat. The meaning was clear: anyone from the older generation who touched Lin Qian would face the full might of Tianjian City. The crowd remembered the stories¡ªLin Weixuan, the Sword Emperor, had once led the Sword Guards to sweep across the Canglan Dao Domain, leaving no survivors in his path. Though three millennia had passed, no one doubted he could do it again. The warning wasn¡¯t just for the Xiling Emperor¡ªit was for any Great Emperor or Saint present, even those from the Tianhai Dao Domain. A female Saint from the Kui Dragon Clan, who had entertained the idea of killing Lin Qian, trembled as a chill climbed up her spine. The Sword Emperor feared no one. ¡ª Within the secret realm. After much consideration, Lin Liuli said, ¡°Qian, my spiritual power is nearly depleted. I no longer have the ability to compete for the top. I¡¯ll leave the rest to you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re leaving too?¡± ¡°Carry the burden for your elder sister as well. If you don¡¯t win, I¡¯ll make you regret it!¡± With a stern glare, she crushed her escape talisman, leaving behind a white source crystal before disappearing. Helpless, Lin Qian absorbed her remaining energy and pressed forward. His journey after that was smooth¡ªhe defeated various source beasts, leveling up rapidly. Occasionally, he feigned exhaustion and rested, ensuring he didn¡¯t alarm the spectators too much. ¡ª The Third Day ¨C Noon ¡°Look! The Blade Emperor¡¯s disciple is facing the Kui Dragon Divine Son!¡± ¡°It¡¯s another peak-level clash!¡± When it came to inter-domain rivalries, honor was at stake. Despite the Blade Emperor¡¯s disciple being an unpopular figure, he was a top-tier prodigy of the Canglan Dao Domain. If defeated, it would reflect poorly on the entire domain. ¡°Come on! Don¡¯t embarrass your master!¡± the crowd shouted, their hopes pinned on Li Xuan. Though he couldn¡¯t match Lin Qian, he still sought validation by defeating others. Against the Kui Dragon Divine Son, his overwhelming blade techniques forced the latter into retreat. The crowd erupted with cheers, but their joy was short-lived. The Soaring Snake Divine Son suddenly joined the battle. As soon as he entered, the balance tipped. Together, the Kui Dragon Divine Son and Soaring Snake Divine Son overwhelmed Li Xuan in a two-versus-one fight. ¡°Face me one-on-one if you dare!¡± Li Xuan bellowed, enraged. Destined Children were notoriously obsessed with one-on-one battles, demanding fairness even against stronger opponents. Victory in such circumstances was the ultimate show of dominance. ¡°Can¡¯t win? Then just get out. Stop embarrassing yourself!¡± Neither opponent humored him, dismissing his challenge outright and pressing their attack. Li Xuan, overwhelmed and humiliated, had no choice but to crush his talisman and retreat. ¡ª Canglan Dao Domain supporters were outraged. ¡°How shameless can they get? Two-on-one against a peer!¡± ¡°They call themselves Divine Sons? They¡¯ve thrown all their dignity away!¡± ¡°Pathetic and disgusting behavior from so-called top prodigies!¡± The Tianhai Dao Domain¡¯s crowd responded with laughter. ¡°See that? You Canglan Dao Domain folks love to fight each other while we advance.¡± ¡°One of your best is already out. Who¡¯s left to threaten us?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget, several of your prodigies are after that Lin Qian too.¡± ¡°Haha! Keep it up, Canglan! You¡¯re your own worst enemy!¡± The rivalry between the domains was palpable, with disdain and mockery exchanged freely. In the secret realm, the situation was bound to escalate further. Losing to an external foe was the most infuriating defeat, and misfortune rarely comes alone. On another battlefield within the secret realm, Zhao Yunji faced off against the Golden Crow Divine Son. While they were evenly matched in talent, Zhao Yunji¡¯s signature technique, the Violet Heaven Divine Thunder, couldn¡¯t be fully unleashed due to the realm¡¯s restrictions. Eventually, she was forced to retreat from the secret realm, marking another external defeat for the Canglan Dao Domain. As morale among the Canglan Dao Domain plummeted, the Tianhai Dao Domain seized the moment to mock them. ¡°Didn¡¯t you call us shameless for a two-versus-one? What now? Beaten fair and square in a one-on-one?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you come up with another excuse? Haha!¡± ¡°Losing is losing. Stand straight when you take your blows. Ever heard of the saying ¡®to the victor goes the spoils¡¯?¡± Tensions between the two domains escalated as more participants were eliminated. The air was thick with hostility, and the rivalry reached a boiling point. The greatest concern was that only two top prodigies remained for the Canglan Dao Domain¡ªLin Qian and Ye Yun. Yet, these two were sworn enemies, making any notion of cooperation impossible. In stark contrast, the three Divine Sons of the Tianhai Dao Domain had formed an unshakable alliance, creating a lopsided disadvantage for the Canglan Dao Domain. ¡°Don¡¯t lose hope!¡± ¡°The Crown Prince is about to reach a ninth-layer source level! Once that happens, he¡¯ll regain his full strength.¡± ¡°Yes! The other participants are still stuck at the eighth-layer. Believe in the Crown Prince!¡± ¡°Wait, you don¡¯t get it¡ªthat¡¯s exactly the problem. Once the Crown Prince ascends to the ninth-layer, his aura won¡¯t be suppressed by the secret realm anymore. His position will be exposed for all to see.¡± ¡°Everyone will know where he is. It¡¯ll definitely draw a massive siege!¡± ¡ª Within the secret realm the Soaring Snake Divine Son and Kui Dragon Divine Son had just finished absorbing Li Xuan¡¯s source essence. As they prepared to leave, they sensed an overwhelming aura surging into the heavens. ¡°Someone¡¯s reached the ninth-layer source level?!¡± ¡°Already? That¡¯s too fast!¡± ¡°If they reach the tenth-layer, they¡¯ll gain the secret realm¡¯s full power. We can¡¯t let that happen. We must kill them now!¡± ¡°Go!¡± Indeed, the first to reach the ninth-layer was none other than Lin Qian. Despite being the last to enter the secret realm, he was the first to reach this critical level. Reaching the ninth-layer granted participants the ability to sense others¡¯ auras. The secret realm now turned into a hunting ground, with the ninth-layer being the hunter and everyone else below that the prey. By hunting others, one could absorb their source essence and ascend to the tenth-layer. Achieving the tenth-layer in the Pilgrimage Path meant becoming nearly invincible due to the realm¡¯s tremendous power boost. This made it imperative for the remaining participants to stop Lin Qian at all costs. More and more participants began converging on his location. ¡°Wait, it¡¯s the Crown Prince? Let¡¯s not get involved in this mess...¡± ¡°Agreed. If the Crown Prince takes first place, it¡¯ll still be a victory for the Canglan Dao Domain.¡± Upon realizing Lin Qian¡¯s identity, many participants from the Canglan Dao Domain wisely backed away, leaving the conflict to play out. However, those determined to hunt Lin Qian were all from the Tianhai Dao Domain. Leading the charge were the Kui Dragon Divine Son (Kui Xiao), the Golden Crow Divine Son (Jin Lingkong), and the Soaring Snake Divine Son (Teng Kong), joined by over a dozen other Tianhai Dao Domain participants. They surrounded Lin Qian in a tight formation, knowing that if they failed to eliminate him now, they¡¯d never get another chance once he reached the tenth-layer. ¡°Unbelievable! So many people are ganging up on the Crown Prince. This is shameless!¡± ¡°It¡¯s within the secret realm¡¯s rules. We can only hope the Crown Prince defeats them all...¡± ¡°If the Crown Prince loses, the Canglan Dao Domain will likely lose the entire competition.¡± ¡°But how can he win against more than a dozen opponents? This is too much, even for him.¡± No one knew. Even though Lin Qian had demonstrated power beyond his peers, facing so many opponents simultaneously at higher source levels was an almost impossible task. This battle had the eyes of both domains locked on it. Victory or defeat here would determine the ultimate winner of the Pilgrimage Path. Even Zhao Yunji, having recently retreated, clenched her fists tightly, silently rooting for Lin Qian. This was no longer just about individual pride¡ªit was a battle for the honor of the Canglan Dao Domain, resting entirely on Lin Qian¡¯s shoulders. Chapter 170 Chapter 170: I Wait for the Sword¡ªWhat Are You Waiting For? ¡°Everyone, give it your all in this battle. Hold nothing back!¡± Kui Long Divine Son began his rallying speech. ¡°If we can¡¯t defeat him now, we¡¯ll lose any chance we have in the future!¡± ¡°Agreed!¡± ¡°This man is a scourge upon our Tianhai Dao Domain. Don¡¯t let him crush the pendant and escape!¡± ¡°It¡¯s now or never¡ªattack!¡± In unison, more than a dozen proud scions of Tianhai Dao Domain launched their assault. Terrifying auras shot skyward, with three of them piercing through the clouds to reach the heavens themselves. Jin Lingkong tread the air, his hands shifting through seals. A blazing sun appeared behind him, dazzling and blinding. ¡°It¡¯s the Golden Crow Divine Technique!¡± ¡°The Divine Son has unleashed his strongest divine ability right at the start. He¡¯s going all out!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen this ability before¡ª¡®World-Scorching Flame.¡¯ It¡¯s incredibly destructive and once incinerated nearly ten thousand people from a sect into ashes!¡± Soaring Snake Divine Son also made his move. A massive purple serpent¡¯s shadow emerged behind him, its golden eyes gleaming and its tail coiled like a deadly hook. ¡°His Serpent Transformation Divine Art has reached this level... how terrifying!¡± ¡°This technique maximizes the power of his bloodline and is his ultimate trump card!¡± ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an won¡¯t be able to withstand this for sure!¡± Kui Xiao let out a long howl as thunder roared across the sky. He transformed into a thunder dragon, radiating overwhelming divine might. ¡°The Kui Long Divine Son has gone all out... He¡¯s never used this move before!¡± ¡°For three Divine Sons to attack with their full strength, Lin Qi¡¯an must truly be worth it.¡± ¡°Haha, once he falls, our Tianhai Dao Domain will dominate this secret realm and claim the ultimate victory!¡± The rest of the group unleashed their divine techniques as well. Countless beams of spiritual power surged toward Lin Qi¡¯an, brilliant and blinding. It seemed as if the entire world trembled under the violent onslaught of spiritual energy. At the center of it all was Lin Qi¡¯an, the undisputed target. There was no doubt that he was hit by this terrifying barrage of divine techniques. Boom! Explosions reverberated one after another, momentarily deafening everyone. The world seemed to fall silent, as if all sound had been swallowed up. ¡°Your Highness!¡± ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an!¡± Cries of worry echoed from those watching. To face such a large-scale divine attack head-on, without crushing his pendant in time, could put his very life in danger. Though Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s cultivation was high, his realm wasn¡¯t overwhelmingly superior. The risk was real. Lin Liuli felt her chest tighten instinctively. Her beautiful eyes stayed fixed on the lake surface, and even her breath stopped. She feared for Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s safety¡ªnot because of his abilities, but because of his importance in her heart. Zhao Yunji unconsciously bit her lip, her teeth pressing against her soft lips. She opened her mouth but said nothing. Only Zhao Qingmeng thought silently to herself, ¡°These small fry probably aren¡¯t a match for Brother Lin, right? No matter how many of them there are, trash is still trash¡ªthey can¡¯t make waves.¡± ... Finally the overwhelming radiance began to fade and the scene gradually cleared. The ground resembled a meteorite impact zone, devoid of life, charred and riddled with craters. Within a ten-mile radius, it was a desolate, apocalyptic wasteland. At the center stood a golden hemispherical barrier formed by the Nine Yang Divine Fire. As the Nine Yang Divine Fire dissipated, a second layer of protection emerged¡ªa barrier of crackling lightning. When the lightning faded, a third barrier appeared, formed by the frosty power of the Ice Soul Divine Sword. Three layers of barriers, forged by three Sacred Weapons, had blocked every single divine technique. Lin Qi¡¯an stood at the center of the devastation, his white robes fluttering in the wind. His black hair shimmered under the golden sunlight, transcendent and otherworldly. ¡°This... this is impossible!¡± ¡°He¡¯s completely unharmed?!¡± ¡°Is he even human?¡± ¡°A monster... he¡¯s truly a monster...¡± The surrounding cultivators of Tianhai Dao Domain were utterly horrified. Even the three Divine Sons trembled all over, choking on their words, unable to utter a single syllable. Lin Qi¡¯an was simply too terrifying. So many of them had joined forces, yet they couldn¡¯t take him down. Outside, the spectators erupted in deafening cheers when Lin Qi¡¯an emerged unscathed. ¡°Ohhhhhhhhh!¡± It was nothing short of a miracle. To emerge unscathed after such an overwhelming siege by so many powerful figures¡ªit was utterly shocking. Lin Liuli let out a breath of relief. ¡¯As long as he¡¯s safe, that¡¯s all that matters.¡¯ Inside, those present still clung to a sliver of hope. After blocking such a massive attack, surely Lin Qi¡¯an had no strength left to retaliate. Perhaps they still had a chance to defeat him! But then... Lin Qi¡¯an spoke. ¡°I am waiting for the sword¡ªwhat are you waiting for?¡± ¡°What?!¡± Above them, a streak of light descended. The terrifying sword aura seemed to pierce through the earth, reaching straight to the depths of the Yellow Springs. It engulfed everything in its overwhelming presence. ¡°Run!¡± Jin Lingkong shouted, crushing his pendant first to escape the secret realm. Soaring Snake Divine Son and Kui Long Divine Son, unwilling to linger a moment longer, followed suit and shattered their pendants, fleeing for their lives. But those who reacted too slowly met a cruel fate. Boom! The Seven Stars Dragon Spring Sword struck the ground, creating a massive crater like a meteor impact. The resulting explosion resembled a nuclear blast, and its horrifying shockwave swept across dozens of miles. Those who failed to escape in time were instantly obliterated, their bodies reduced to fragments as their paths ended in utter annihilation. The battlefield was left bathed in a faint, shimmering white light. ¡ª Outside the secret realm Several Divine Sons gasped for breath, their faces pale, their hearts still racing with fear. Had they been even a fraction slower, their lives would have ended on the spot. There was no chance of withstanding that attack. The scene grew eerily silent. Only after the shock in everyone¡¯s hearts began to subside did murmurs of astonishment ripple through the crowd. ¡°The Crown Prince is terrifying...¡± ¡°I knew he would win, but I didn¡¯t expect him to win so decisively!¡± ¡°One man against more than ten, nearly wiping them all out... If those few hadn¡¯t run so quickly, even their corpses would be missing.¡± Zhao Yunji couldn¡¯t help but feel a secret delight for Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s victory. Even she didn¡¯t realize how her growing fondness for him had quietly started to transform her heart. Lin Liuli chuckled softly. ¡°That brat is pretty impressive. Not bad¡ªhe didn¡¯t disappoint his elder sister¡¯s expectations.¡± The young Lingzhi girl¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Wow... His Highness is amazing! Did you see that? My contribution was in there too!¡± Even Li Xuan, who prided himself on his invincibility, was shaken by the sheer power of that strike. He gritted his teeth in frustration, unable to accept it. Lu Weishuang and her disciple remained in a daze, their unfocused eyes reflecting their shock. It took a long time for them to regain their composure. For Lu Weishuang, as the inheritor of the Thunder Emperor¡¯s legacy, witnessing such strength filled her with a sense of honor. Her heart swelled with pride, and much of her former melancholy seemed to dissipate. This wasn¡¯t limited to just them as even the Great Emperors and Saints watching were stirred by the events. ¡°As expected of your son, Lin Weixuan!¡± ¡°Such a genius! No one in the Canglan Dao Domain can rival him.¡± ¡°This battle has brought glory to the Canglan Dao Domain!¡± ¡°A tiger father truly has no dog sons!¡± Lin Weixuan, however, was speechless, ¡¯I barely even taught him anything... How is he this strong? I¡¯m just as shocked as you are!¡¯ He could only chuckle. ¡°Haha, naturally.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an may have killed many, but he acted entirely within the rules. There was nothing questionable about it. ¡®You ganged up on him, and he countered. If you couldn¡¯t escape, who¡¯s to blame for your death?¡¯ The Tianhai Dao Domain, however, was left mourning their losses and refused to accept it. No one had anticipated such heavy casualties, even with life-saving pendants in play. ¡°This boy is ruthless! To strike with such cruelty, leaving no survivors!¡± ¡°Is this how Beiyang treats its guests?!¡± ¡°Every single one of them was a prodigious talent, yet he slaughtered them all so viciously. It¡¯s unforgivable!¡± Accusations from the Tianhai Dao Domain poured forth. ¡°You¡¯re the shameless ones! If you¡¯re weaker and die, isn¡¯t it deserved?¡± ¡°Blaming our Crown Prince? Who gave you the courage?¡± ¡°Guests, my ass! If you don¡¯t want to stay, then get lost!¡± The people of Canglan Dao Domain immediately retaliated with their own arguments. As the bickering grew more heated, a commanding voice suddenly rang out. ¡°Silence!¡± The Sword Emperor¡¯s shout reverberated through the air, silencing the crowd instantly. ¡°When it comes to the ones Lin Qi¡¯an killed today, count their deaths under my Tianjian City¡¯s name!¡± ¡°If the older generation is dissatisfied, I¡¯ll give you a chance. You can challenge me directly.¡± ¡°If the younger generation has grievances, you¡¯re welcome to challenge my son when he emerges.¡± ¡°If there are still objections, I won¡¯t mind killing a few more.¡± The entire crowd fell into stunned silence and no one dared utter another word. This was the imposing presence of the strongest. ¡ª Meanwhile, back in the secret realm, a new twist of fate began to unfold. Chapter 171 Chapter 171: Ye Yun¡¯s Tenth-Level Spirit Source! A Battle to the Death! Moments earlier, while Lin Qi¡¯an was engaged in an intense battle against the elites of the Tianhai Dao Domain, Ye Yun arrived unnoticed. At that time, all eyes were fixated on the fierce fight unfolding. Seizing the opportunity, Ye Yun began systematically eliminating the spectators from his own Canglan Dao Domain. He wasn¡¯t merely defeating them¡ªhe was killing them outright. His goal was sinister: to absorb their spirit sources. Approaching each individual under the guise of a fellow observer, he would strike suddenly, piercing their chests with his palm and incinerating their internal organs into charred remains. Through this vile method, Ye Yun killed nearly ten people, successfully advancing to the Ninth-Level Spirit Source. Most were too absorbed in Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s battle to notice. However, as the duel concluded, a female cultivator stumbled upon the horrific scene of Ye Yun¡¯s actions and screamed in terror. ¡°Ah!!!¡± ¡°Ye Yun has slaughtered many cultivators from the Canglan Dao Domain!¡± Her exclamation sent shockwaves through the crowd, as if a massive boulder had been thrown into a calm sea. ¡°What? Isn¡¯t Ye Yun one of us?¡± ¡°Exactly! Why would he kill our own people?¡± ¡°He might have a grudge against Lin Qi¡¯an, but what enmity does he have with others?¡± When the gruesome truth became evident, it ignited an uproar among the Canglan Dao Domain cultivators. Their fury overshadowed even the joy of Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s victory. Ye Yun¡¯s actions were seen as monstrous. To gain spirit sources, he had resorted to massacring his own allies. Even Zhao Yunji, a prominent figure, was left aghast. Once, Ye Yun had been her loyal guard, but now he had turned into a devil, ¡°This treacherous fiend! When he shows himself, I will kill him!¡± ¡°This man must not be allowed to live!¡± ¡°He is a disgrace to the Canglan Dao Domain!¡± Countless influential figures prepared to eliminate Ye Yun. What they didn¡¯t realize was that he had no intention of leaving the secret realm. His only objective was to defeat and kill Lin Qi¡¯an at any cost, even if it meant sacrificing his own life. Since cultivating the forbidden technique Black Yang, Ye Yun had become consumed by madness. The sole thought driving him was to humiliate and annihilate Lin Qi¡¯an in front of everyone. Only then could he settle the unresolved grievances of the past. The insignificant lives he claimed meant nothing to him. He harbored no guilt or hesitation. ¡ª Inside the secret realm, Lin Qi¡¯an had just concluded his duel with the Tianhai Dao Domain when Ye Yun launched a sudden assault. A blazing sun erupted as Ye Yun wielded his sacred weapon, the Sunflare Sword, creating an explosion akin to a miniature supernova. Ye Yun¡¯s intention was unmistakable. He sought to absorb the scattered spirit sources from the battlefield and elevate himself to the Tenth-Level Spirit Source, achieving the pinnacle of power within the secret realm. Only by attaining this ultimate boost could he stand a chance of defeating Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡°This despicable creature...¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t even assist the prince earlier, and now he¡¯s ambushing him!¡± ¡°Wait, his target is the lingering spirit sources!¡± The spectators outside were both furious and helpless. Bound by the limitations of the secret realm, they could do nothing but watch. Even the Tianhai Dao Domain cultivators were stunned, mocking the infighting among their enemies. ¡°Does Ye Yun bear some deep hatred for Lin Qi¡¯an?¡± ¡°Haha, this is unexpected entertainment!¡± ¡°If Ye Yun kills Lin Qi¡¯an, I¡¯d thank his ancestors for eighteen generations!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Zhao Yunji clenched her fists, her icy expression revealing her rage. For the first time, she felt an overwhelming desire to personally end someone¡¯s life. Unbeknownst to her, Lin Qi¡¯an had grown increasingly significant in her heart. Lin Liuli, on the other hand, could hardly restrain herself from rushing into the secret realm. However, she was forcibly held back. Intervening now would be futile, as they lacked the strength to alter the situation. Meanwhile, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s maids and confidantes had unanimously placed Ye Yun on their must-kill list. ¡ª A terrifying scene unfolded. Ye Yun succeeded in his vile ambition. After absorbing every available spirit source, he broke through to the Tenth-Level Spirit Source, reaching the secret realm¡¯s ultimate limit. His aura surged into the heavens, merging with the very fabric of the realm. His eyes gleamed with divine light, resembling the descent of a celestial god. Every gesture he made shook the earth, causing mountains to tremble and all things to bow before his overwhelming might. ¡°Hehehehe...¡± Ye Yun¡¯s laughter echoed across the heavens and the earth, ¡°So this is what true power feels like? Absolutely marvelous!¡± ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, I should thank you for giving me such a wonderful opportunity.¡± Suspended mid-air, Ye Yun looked down at Lin Qi¡¯an with arrogance. Though his earlier sneak attack hadn¡¯t injured Lin Qi¡¯an, it successfully delayed him, providing Ye Yun the crucial window to absorb the spirit sources. Now, he had truly become the strongest in the secret realm. ¡ª ¡°This is bad! Ye Yun has reached the Tenth-Level Spirit Source!¡± ¡°Your highness, retreat! You cannot face him head-on!¡± ¡°Yes, hurry and crush your pendant to escape! What are you waiting for? You¡¯ll be too late otherwise!¡± ¡°This lunatic clearly has malicious intentions toward the prince¡ªhe must be stopped!¡± The danger Lin Qi¡¯an now faced far exceeded any of his previous battles. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a Tenth-Level Spirit Source in this secret realm before. How terrifying is it, exactly? Why can¡¯t the prince fight him?¡± ¡°Exactly! The prince defeated so many elites already. How could he not handle just one person?¡± Some younger cultivators voiced their confusion, blindly believing in Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s abilities. Their ignorance made them fearless. ¡°You fools know nothing!¡± an elder with white hair spat, his voice trembling with passion. ¡°The last time someone managed to absorb enough spirit sources to reach the Tenth-Level, do you know what happened?¡± ¡°That person, who was otherwise unremarkable in strength, single-handedly crushed every prodigy in the secret realm and seized the top prize!¡± ¡°Under the rules of this secret realm, a Tenth-Level Spirit Source wielder is akin to a god. There¡¯s no possible way to contend with such power!¡± Hearing this, the crowd finally grasped the severity of the situation. ¡°Even if he can¡¯t win, it doesn¡¯t matter! The prince can just escape!¡± ¡°Yes, he still has his pendant!¡± ¡°Once Ye Yun emerges from the realm, the rest of us will ensure he meets his end!¡± ¡°Ah, but that¡¯s the problem... do you think the prince will choose to escape?¡± Gu Jingyun remarked coldly, ¡°Only those who understand when to advance and when to retreat can become true powerhouses. Lin Weixuan, did you fail to teach your son this principle?¡± ¡°...¡± Lin Weixuan, the Sword Emperor, remained silent, unable to respond. If Lin Qi¡¯an chose not to retreat, Lin Weixuan himself doubted his son¡¯s ability to win. Having once been crowned the champion of the Pilgrimage Path, Lin Weixuan understood the terror of the Tenth-Level Spirit Source. It was as if one¡¯s power was forcibly elevated by an entire major realm. Against those who had not reached this level, the result would be nothing short of a slaughter. There would be no suspense, only domination. Moreover, Lin Qi¡¯an had just emerged from a grueling battle, without even a moment¡¯s rest, and now faced this overwhelming foe. ¡°Mother, will Brother be alright?¡± Lin Hongyu bit her lip, her large eyes filled with worry. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Qi¡¯an knows what he¡¯s doing,¡± their mother reassured gently, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of unease. ¡ª Within the secret realm, Lin Qi¡¯an stood calmly, his expression unchanging as he gazed at Ye Yun hovering in the air. It seemed the time had come to kill this so-called ¡°Destined Child.¡± Ye Yun¡¯s luck had long since dropped to zero. Killing him now would grant all the rewards that came with it. The only issue was the difficulty¡ªit would be significantly challenging. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an!¡± Ye Yun sneered. ¡°You¡¯re bold enough to face me, so I assume you won¡¯t crush your pendant to flee, right?¡± His words were clearly meant to provoke, and the spectators cursed his shamelessness for such a tactic. ¡°What do you think?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an countered with a faint smile. ¡°Such arrogance... good. I like your defiant attitude.¡± Before his voice had even faded, Ye Yun transformed into a streak of light, hurtling toward Lin Qi¡¯an at a speed so incredible it defied belief. The air split with a deafening sonic boom! In an instant, the two crossed paths, their clash resounding like a thunderstorm. Neither emerged with a clear advantage from the exchange. ¡°Heh, so this is the famed Tenth-Level power? The prince doesn¡¯t seem intimidated in the slightest!¡± ¡°Exactly! It doesn¡¯t look so fearsome after all!¡± ¡°Wait... look closely!¡± someone exclaimed, their voice trembling. In Ye Yun¡¯s hand gleamed a pendant. ¡°It¡¯s over! He stole the prince¡¯s pendant!¡± ¡°That wretched lunatic! He¡¯s cut off the prince¡¯s only escape route. He plans to kill him in violation of all rules!¡± ¡°Considering he killed so many to absorb their spirit sources, it¡¯s clear his ultimate target was always Lin Qi¡¯an...¡± ¡°A madman! He¡¯s an utter madman!¡± The realization sent a chill through the hearts of countless onlookers. Lin Liuli and others were so enraged that their nails dug into their palms, nearly drawing blood. Lin Qi¡¯an had lost his final means of retreat. This battle would truly be a fight to the death. Chapter 172 Chapter 172: A Battle for Supremacy and Life! ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, you didn¡¯t expect this, did you?¡± Ye Yun roared with wild laughter, his face twisting into a malevolent and venomous expression. Resentment, humiliation, and hatred¡ªevery emotion in his heart erupted at this moment without restraint. He yanked his pendant off and, along with Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s pendant, hurled them away. A burst of flame erupted from his palm, burning them to ashes, severing both their escape routes. ¡°Today, I, Ye Yun, will face you, Lin Qi¡¯an,¡± he declared, his voice dripping with malice. ¡°We shall not only determine a victor but also settle life and death!¡± The crowd was furious. Ye Yun possessed the terrifying power of a tenth-level spiritual source; what was the point of this so-called ¡°fair fight¡±? If he truly wanted a just battle, why not leave the secret realm to settle it? Such shamelessness and cruelty! However, no matter how angry the spectators were, they could do nothing to intervene. They could not help Lin Qi¡¯an. For Lin Qi¡¯an to survive, he had only two options: defeat Ye Yun or flee all the way back to the secret realm¡¯s entrance. It was obvious that Ye Yun would not let him escape easily. The second option seemed hopeless. ¡°Then let¡¯s begin. What are you waiting for?¡± Lin Qi¡¯an spoke calmly. His composed demeanor fanned the flames of Ye Yun¡¯s rage. Nothing infuriated Ye Yun more than being treated as insignificant, as if everything was under Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s control. It was unbearable. ¡°Good! I¡¯ll first beat you until you beg for mercy, then slowly torture you to death. Only then will I be satisfied!¡± Ye Yun spat venomously. He turned to the sky and shouted, ¡°Zhao Yunji! Watch closely from outside. Witness how I kill him today! I¡¯ll make sure you live your life drowning in regret!¡± Zhao Yunji: ... She hadn¡¯t anticipated Ye Yun¡¯s heart demon to be so severe. It all began during their trip to Beiyang. Unexpectedly, it was her actions that had brought harm to Lin Qi¡¯an. Zhao Yunji¡¯s heart filled with regret¡ªnot for her decision to stay behind but for not remaining in the secret realm to personally punish this monster. ¡°Look... What¡¯s Ye Yun doing?¡± someone muttered in shock. Ye Yun stretched out his right hand, driving all five fingers deep into his chest. Blood spurted violently as he tore his heart out. The sight left countless people horrified, a chilling dread crawling up their spines as goosebumps covered their bodies. Even as Ye Yun¡¯s heart continued to beat, pulsing and contracting, it floated into the air, transforming into a black sun that dyed the sky crimson. The entire scene became eerie and foreboding. Forbidden Technique: ¡°Black Yang¡±! This was a technique sealed within the *Great Yang Heavenly Emperor Art*, where one¡¯s heart is sacrificed to create a black yang. It allowed the user to draw infinite power from the black yang and remain in their strongest state, akin to high noon, indefinitely. ¡ª ¡°He¡¯s... reached the Dao Transformation Realm!¡± someone exclaimed in despair. ¡°With the secret realm¡¯s augmentation, this is terrifying! How can anyone stand against this?¡± ¡°Even if the Crown Prince is powerful, it¡¯s impossible to face such a suicidal monster!¡± No one believed Lin Qi¡¯an could win. No matter how strong he was, surpassing an entire major realm and fighting someone with the secret realm¡¯s enhancement using a forbidden technique was unimaginable. Even Zhao Qingmeng and Su Xueni couldn¡¯t help but feel worried. Fortunately, they took solace in one hope¡ªif Lin Qi¡¯an couldn¡¯t defeat Ye Yun, he could still escape into the Lotus Realm. ¡°Ye Yun is as good as dead. The Crown Prince doesn¡¯t need to risk his life fighting him,¡± Su Xueni stated gravely. ¡°Exactly. If the Crown Prince hides in the Lotus Realm, Ye Yun will eventually be executed once he exits,¡± someone agreed. Meanwhile, Lin Liuli hurried to the VIP seating area to plead with Lin Weixuan. ¡°Father, can¡¯t you do something?¡± she implored. ¡°It¡¯s impossible,¡± Lin Weixuan replied with a heavy heart. ¡°The secret realm has special rules that prevent us from intervening.¡± ¡°Useless!¡± Lin Liuli bit her lip, muttering her frustration, though she could do nothing but stew in anxiety. ¡ª Elsewhere, a Saintess of the Kui Dragon Clan inwardly rejoiced. ¡°How delightful! I never imagined the Canglan Dao Domain would descend into such infighting, with their dogs tearing each other apart. Even though I can¡¯t personally take revenge, watching him die is just as satisfying.¡± In contrast, many powerful figures from the Tianhai Dao Domain felt relief. ¡°This brat had limitless potential. It¡¯s a blessing someone dealt with him today, or he would have become a monumental threat in the future!¡± Several divine sons shared in the schadenfreude. Nothing brought them more satisfaction than watching this battle of tigers from the mountain. If Lin Qi¡¯an perished, the Canglan Dao Domain would surely weep in agony. Within the Secret Realm. Under the darkened sky, the black yang hung ominously, surrounded by a faint golden ring like a solar eclipse. Ye Yun finally made his move. With a casual wave of his hand, the black sun unleashed countless rays of dark light. These beams descended from the heavens like a torrential rainstorm, each one carrying the destructive power capable of annihilating a Transcendent Realm cultivator. It was as if thousands of such cultivators were launching a synchronized attack on Lin Qi¡¯an. Simultaneously, the ground erupted with countless spiritual light swords, a manifestation of Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s divine ability: ¡°Thousand Swords to Court.¡± The heavens clashed against the earth as the swords shot upwards while the dark beams rained downward. In midair, they collided, resulting in a series of deafening explosions. The sound merged into a continuous roar, and the violent spiritual energy storm swept across the area, obliterating everything in its path. Nothing could survive the devastation. From outside the secret realm, the crowd stared unblinkingly at the surface of the lake, not daring to even blink. The Crown Prince had chosen to clash head-on with Ye Yun in the most brutal way possible, an approach that seemed completely irrational. The vast gap between their realms naturally extended to their divine abilities. As expected, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s ¡°Thousand Swords to Court¡± was overwhelmed and ultimately shattered by the black beams. The devastating dark rays then bombarded the ground, engulfing the area in a massive cloud of smoke and dust. The violent winds swept the dust like a primordial beast devouring Lin Qi¡¯an. Ye Yun¡¯s laughter echoed, filled with twisted satisfaction. ¡°Finally, I can suppress Lin Qi¡¯an,¡± he sneered, reveling in his perceived victory. ¡°This feels incredible¡ªlike a king standing above the world, trampling everything beneath him!¡± ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, it seems you¡¯re nothing special after all. I hope you don¡¯t die too quickly; I¡¯m far from done with you.¡± From within the smoke, a calm voice responded, cutting through the chaos, ¡°As you wish.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Ye Yun¡¯s pupils contracted sharply. He had anticipated Lin Qi¡¯an would survive but never expected such a composed reply. Why? As the dust gradually cleared, the sight before Ye Yun¡ªand everyone else¡ªleft them stunned. Lin Qi¡¯an stood there, unscathed, his white robes pristine. Behind him loomed the translucent figure of a pale blue dragon. The dragon¡¯s enormous wings were folded protectively around him, shielding him from all harm. The dragon¡¯s back bore the brunt of the devastating attack. Within its massive form, four Sacred Weapons radiated power, enhancing its might. ¨C The Divine Frost Sword exuded icy energy, forming an indestructible armor around the dragon. ¨C The Nine Yang Divine Sword, wreathed in golden divine flames, transformed into the dragon¡¯s right claw, radiating boundless destructive power. ¨C The Thunderclap Sword, crackling with lightning, became the dragon¡¯s left claw, brimming with unparalleled destructive force. ¨C The Seven Stars Dragon Spring Sword, sharp beyond compare, served as the dragon¡¯s fangs, capable of tearing through any material. This was Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s ultimate form, a technique born from his own comprehension: ¡°Dragon Sword Bones.¡± Inspired by a certain anime¡¯s ¡°Susanoo,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an combined four Sacred Weapons through the technique described in *Heavenly Flying Immortal*, creating an unstoppable force of destruction. The drawback was its immense consumption of spiritual energy, making it impractical outside the secret realm. Here, with access to infinite energy, there were no such limitations. The spectators were left utterly speechless. Even those who had once competed with Lin Qi¡¯an were now frozen in disbelief. ¡°The Crown Prince... What kind of monster is he?¡± ¡°I once competed against him. How ridiculous was I to think I stood a chance?¡± A fangirl named Ling Zhi giggled nervously. ¡°The best part of attending this event was having some alone time with the Crown Prince. I can brag about it for the rest of my life!¡± Lin Liuli muttered in shock, ¡°What kind of monstrosity is this? Just looking at it sends chills down my spine. I can¡¯t even comprehend my little brother¡¯s strength anymore!¡± Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s eyes narrowed as she thought to herself, ¡°This technique... He didn¡¯t use it in our previous life. Did he comprehend it recently?¡± Tong Xiang sighed in despair. ¡°I was so naive to think I could ever catch up to Brother Lin. It was nothing but a fool¡¯s dream.¡± ¡°Master, can Brother Lin¡¯s technique counter Ye Yun¡¯s?¡± he asked his mentor, Lu Weishuang. Lu Weishuang replied gravely, ¡°Whether it can block Ye Yun, I don¡¯t know. But this technique can easily kill a Dao Transformation cultivator.¡± Easily kill a Dao Transformation cultivator! For an opponent in the Celestial Realm to achieve this was almost unfathomable. Lin Weixuan, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s father, had long thought that no one in the younger generation could compare to his son. The only rival might have been his younger self from three thousand years ago. Now, seeing Lin Qi¡¯an in his ultimate form, Lin Weixuan had to admit his wife had been right. Compared to his son, his younger self wasn¡¯t even worth mentioning. Chapter 173 Chapter 173: Sword Bone and Divine Dragon, The Fall of the Destined Child The Illusory Dragon spread its wings as Lin Qi¡¯an soared into the sky. Sensing the dragon¡¯s terrifying aura, Ye Yun froze for a moment before breaking into a maniacal grin. ¡°Excellent! This battle will surely be one for the ages; it cannot end so easily!¡± He had slaughtered countless cultivators in front of everyone and now aimed to kill Lin Qi¡¯an. Fully prepared for death, he decided to make the fight as exhilarating as possible, honoring his resolve. Golden flames ignited on Ye Yun¡¯s body. ¡°That¡¯s the Golden Crow Flame!¡± ¡°No... this isn¡¯t ordinary Golden Crow Flame...¡± A member of the Golden Crow Clan, his pupils contracting, gritted his teeth and muttered, ¡°This brat is burning Golden Crow Essence Blood. What a waste of a priceless treasure!¡± Behind Ye Yun, a phantom of a golden three-legged crow appeared. Its brilliance illuminated the entire heavens, painting the world in dazzling gold. With the infinite spiritual energy provided by the Black Sun, burning his essence blood, and summoning the Golden Crow Phantom, Ye Yun had unleashed his strongest technique. As expected of the Destined Child, his desperate gamble brought forth terrifying power. He was not to be underestimated. The battle ascended to new heights¡ªa clash worthy of gods. The Illusory Dragon faced the Golden Crow head-on. The two fought fiercely in midair, their massive phantoms tearing at each other. The dragon¡¯s claws clashed with the crow¡¯s wings repeatedly, twisting space with every collision, sending violent gusts scattering debris in all directions. The heavens were split in two¡ªhalf claimed by the Golden Crow and half by the ancestral dragon. ¡°Such intensity... Who would¡¯ve thought we¡¯d see such a battle between two young men?¡± ¡°Ye Yun may be reckless, but he is undeniably powerful.¡± ¡°Indeed, he¡¯s the only one capable of dueling the Crown Prince.¡± Li Xuan stared blankly, his eyes filled with disbelief. He had fought Ye Yun before and knew his strength, but never imagined it could reach such heights. The cultivators of the Tianhai Dao Domain prayed fervently for Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s defeat, believing his death was the only way to bring peace. Yet reality didn¡¯t align with their hopes. ¡°The Golden Crow is losing ground...¡± ¡°Impossible! Ye Yun¡¯s Golden Crow was summoned through essence blood combustion, amplified by a peak tenth-tier spirit source, and supported by the Black Sun¡¯s forbidden techniques!¡± ¡°Exactly! Besides, his cultivation is higher than Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget, Lin Qi¡¯an wields four sacred weapons and commands the ancestral dragon¡¯s might. His power rivals Ye Yun¡¯s!¡± The Illusory Dragon¡¯s claws tore through the Golden Crow¡¯s body. Yet in the next moment, Ye Yun poured the Black Yang¡¯s immense spiritual energy into the crow, restoring it completely to continue the battle. The rapid beating of his heart accelerated, for the Black Sun provided infinite energy only as long as the heart kept pumping. Should the strain prove too much, the technique would collapse. ¡°Why? Why can¡¯t I defeat him!¡± Ye Yun, trembling with rage, nearly bit through his lip as he witnessed the Golden Crow being torn apart and reassembled repeatedly. ¡°I refuse to believe your strength is endless!¡± For Ye Yun, the battle had devolved into a war of attrition. Whoever faltered first would be the one to fall. The Golden Crow soared high, spreading its wings wide. Countless feathers transformed into golden beams of light, raining down like a storm. The dragon roared, shaking the heavens and earth, repelling the golden feathers and causing them to explode in the air, like a celestial fireworks display. Lightning and golden flames intertwined as the dragon¡¯s claws shredded the Golden Crow phantom once more. ¡°Ah!¡± Ye Yun spat blood, his vision dimming as the strain on his heart reached critical levels. In contrast, Lin Qi¡¯an stood unscathed, calm and collected. ¡°Your power... surpasses even mine, despite my Black Yang!¡± Ye Yun¡¯s voice cracked with disbelief. Could a mortal truly achieve such heights? ¡°The Crown Prince is about to win!¡± ¡°Amazing... At this moment, he truly resembles a god descending to the mortal realm!¡± ¡°How does he possess such boundless spiritual energy? It¡¯s as endless as the ocean itself!¡± ¡°After this battle, the Crown Prince¡¯s reputation will shake the Canglan Dao Domain, resound throughout Tianhai Dao Domain, and strike fear into every young cultivator!¡± As the crowd marveled, their hearts finally eased¡ªthose worried about Lin Qi¡¯an could now breathe a sigh of relief. But then, the unexpected happened. ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, today will be your death!¡± Ye Yun¡¯s roar echoed like that of a wounded beast on the verge of collapse. The Black Yang in the sky began to expand uncontrollably. Its aura, terrifying to the extreme, locked onto everything below, reducing Lin Qi¡¯an to a mere insignificant ant in its shadow. ¡°This is bad! He¡¯s going to detonate the Black Yang!¡± ¡°Your Highness, run!¡± ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an!¡± Panic-stricken cries erupted as countless faces turned pale in fear. The Black Sun expanded to its limit before erupting with a deafening explosion. In an instant, the world turned pure white, devoid of any color, as a terrifying storm of spiritual energy swept across like a ravenous ancient beast devouring all in its path. Lin Qi¡¯an was caught in the blast, unable to escape. Everything within the secret realm was obliterated, reduced to dust that dispersed into the air. ¡°It¡¯s over... cough, cough...¡± Ye Yun coughed blood incessantly, resembling a terminally ill man clinging to his last breath. After his heart had given out, he was truly at death¡¯s door. Yet, he stubbornly held on, desperate to see the aftermath of Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s demise and erase his long-standing humiliation. ¡°The Crown Prince couldn¡¯t have survived, right?¡± ¡°Even I, as his master, would struggle to escape such an explosion unscathed... sigh.¡± ¡°If the Crown Prince perished with that scoundrel, it would be an immense loss for the Canglan Dao Domain!¡± ¡°Stop with the bad omens!¡± Despite the apparent destruction, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s confidantes were surprisingly calm. Those who had visited the Lotus Realm knew better than anyone¡ªself-destruction was the least of the Crown Prince¡¯s worries. Ye Yun¡¯s bloodshot eyes remained fixed on the scene before him. Amidst the dissipating smoke and dust, a figure emerged. His pupils dilated to their maximum, blood veins visibly pulsating. Lin Qi¡¯an stood unscathed, unharmed. ¡°You... you...¡± At that moment, Ye Yun¡¯s Dao heart completely shattered. He had burned his very life essence to kill Lin Qi¡¯an, but even at the cost of his life, he failed. ¡°Why!¡± He roared in despair, his voice hoarse. Lin Qi¡¯an offered no reply. He simply raised his index finger, releasing a single strand of sword energy that pierced through Ye Yun¡¯s forehead, ending his life. ¡ª System Prompts: ¡¾Congratulations, Host, for successfully killing the Destined Child ¡°Ye Yun.¡±¡¿ ¡¾Villain Points +100,000¡¿ ¡¾Congratulations on obtaining the ¡°Great Yang Heavenly Emperor Sutra.¡±¡¿ ¡¾Congratulations on obtaining the ¡°Sunflate Sword.¡±¡¿ ¡¾Luck Value +50¡¿ ¡¾You have received a Fortune Chest. Would you like to open it now?¡¿ ¡°Yes.¡± As Ye Yun¡¯s luck value dropped to zero, the rewards from the chest were bound to be extraordinary. Fortune Chest Opened Successfully: ¡¾Reward: Hundred Years of Cultivation¡¿ Lin Qi¡¯an felt his cultivation rapidly surging at an unimaginable speed. Breakthrough Progression: ¨C Third Layer of the Celestial Radiance Realm ¨C Fourth Layer ¨C Fifth Layer ¨C Sixth Layer ¨C Seventh Layer In a single sweep, he ascended five minor stages. The century¡¯s worth of cultivation bestowed upon him was equivalent to such growth. ¡°Not bad,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an murmured. At the very least, his realm would no longer lag behind his peers. Furthermore, the improvement in his cultivation also signified a significant boost in spiritual energy. Even without the ¡°infinite spiritual energy¡± from earlier, he was confident in replicating the Divine Dragon Sword Bone technique. ¡°Ye Yun is dead!¡± ¡°Hahaha, as expected of the Crown Prince! Finally, that menace is eliminated. This is truly satisfying!¡± The cultivators of the Canglan Dao Domain erupted in cheers, their relief evident. ¡°Master, didn¡¯t you say that a tenth-tier spirit source meant invincibility within the secret realm? How did the Crown Prince still win?¡± ¡°Well... how should I know? Someone like the Crown Prince defies all conventional reasoning!¡± Even Lin Weixuan, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s father, shook his head in disbelief. His son, lagging behind in spirit source level and cultivation realm, had still managed to overpower Ye Yun. Moving forward, the era of Lin Qi¡¯an seemed inevitable. Perhaps even the title of the strongest Great Emperor would eventually pass to him. On the other hand, the cultivators of the Tianhai Dao Domain were ashen-faced. Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s overwhelming strength instilled in them a suffocating pressure. If he survived today, his future growth would be limitless. Among the crowd, those who had once wished to challenge Lin Qi¡¯an¡ªincluding Li Xuan and Xi Chao¡ªfelt a chill run down their spines. They were relieved it wasn¡¯t them standing against him today. Especially Li Xuan. Before descending the mountain, he had considered himself invincible among his peers. Now, that confidence lay shattered, irreparably broken. Zhao Yunji¡¯s emotions were a tangled web of complexity and gratitude. ¡°The scourge of my Tai¡¯an City was resolved by him... yet again, I owe him a debt.¡± Tai¡¯an¡¯s Emperor remained silent for a long time before finally speaking, ¡°Lin Weixuan, since your son and my daughter, Meng¡¯er, are deeply in love, why not hold the wedding here in Tai¡¯an City?¡± Gu Jingyun interjected furiously, ¡°You!¡± Chapter 174 Chapter 174: The Battle Just Ended, and Here Comes the Drama? Gu Jingyun was both furious and shocked. ¡°You!¡± The youngest daughter of the Emperor of Tai¡¯an was originally intended to marry one of his descendants. Since Li Xuan and the girl didn¡¯t get along, that matter had been set aside. However, who could have expected that Li Xuan would strike while the iron was hot and suggest marrying her to Lin Qi¡¯an instead? The motive was clear¡ªsecuring Lin Qi¡¯an as a son-in-law to strengthen the future of the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty. Everyone knew that Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s potential was limitless. Having him as a son-in-law would already solidify their standing, with the powerful Tianjian City as a pillar of support. The future would be nothing short of secure. Lin Weixuan nodded and said, ¡°I have no objections. Once Qi¡¯an comes out, we can consult his opinion.¡± ¡°Agreed!¡± The moment this decision was made, messengers quickly relayed the news to Zhao Qingmeng and Zhao Yunji. ¡°Really? That¡¯s wonderful!¡± Zhao Qingmeng exclaimed in joy. ¡°Father is truly wise!¡± She was ecstatic. If this marriage were finalized, she would undoubtedly become the legitimate wife. There would be no need to worry about other women vying for his affection. ¡°No way!¡± Zhao Yunji firmly objected. ¡°Why not? Lin Qi¡¯an and I are in love. What¡¯s your issue, Sister?¡± Zhao Qingmeng retorted. ¡°I said no, and that¡¯s final!¡± Zhao Yunji¡¯s expression grew tense. Gritting her teeth, she added, ¡°This matter shouldn¡¯t be rushed. It requires careful consideration!¡± ¡°Ah? Sister, you¡¯re no longer Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s fiance?e. Even if there¡¯s planning to be done, it has nothing to do with you, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking about your lifelong happiness, can¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Hah, as if!¡± Meanwhile, Su Xueni received the news as well, her brows furrowing tightly. ¡°I was clearly the first to arrive¡ªhow could someone else get ahead of me?¡± Zi Lianyou chimed in, ¡°I was here before her too! What gives?¡± Ran Yuwei added indignantly, ¡°Exactly! Even I was earlier than her. The princess shouldn¡¯t get to cut in line!¡± Though they were merely maids, their opinions were strong. Despite their statuses being worlds apart from the princess, Lin Qi¡¯an treated them all equally well, showing no favoritism based on rank. This gave them hope¡ªthey still stood a chance to vie for his affection. They resolved to bring up the matter as soon as Lin Qi¡¯an came out. ¡°Look! The Young Master is here!¡± At the center of the lake, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s figure finally emerged into view. Simultaneously, a thunderous cheer erupted from the lakeshore. ¡°Congratulations to the Young Master for taking first place in the Dao Pilgrimage!¡± ¡°First in all three rounds! With the Young Master, our Canglan Dao Domain is truly blessed!¡± The flood of flattery and congratulatory remarks was overwhelming. When Lin Qi¡¯an landed on the shore, a swarm of people surrounded him. ¡°The Tianxuan Sect presents this. Purple Lingzhi to celebrate the Young Master¡¯s victory!¡± [TL: Lingzhi is like a type of spiritual fungus/mushroom.]. ¡°The Sect Master of the Cangmang Palace offers this jade treasure in honor of the occasion!¡± ¡°I am the Saintess of the Youzhu Holy Land, here to present a song for the Young Master...¡± The enthusiasm was overwhelming. Lin Qi¡¯an struggled to cope with the fervent attention. What was most absurd was that every single person coming forward to congratulate him was a stunning beauty. At the very least, they were the most beautiful women of their sects, with icy skin, jade-like bones, and delicate figures. Knowing that Lin Qi¡¯an was fond of beauty, none who lacked extraordinary looks dared approach. The crowd of beautiful women surrounding him nearly suffocated Lin Qi¡¯an, making him feel as though he were drowning in a sea of fervent waves. After witnessing Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s dazzling display, who wouldn¡¯t want to associate with him? If the Young Master took notice of them, their sects could rise to prominence overnight. Even the Emperor of Tai¡¯an shamelessly extended an olive branch, so what was there to lose for these smaller sects? Fortunately, the sword guards of Tianjian City stepped in to assist Lin Qi¡¯an, helping him fend off the relentless well-wishers. The only ones allowed near him now were his closest confidantes. Dressed in black-and-white Daoist robes, Lin Liuli approached first, hitting Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s chest lightly with her whisk. ¡°Ow! Everyone else came to congratulate me. Why are you hitting me, Sister?¡± ¡°Hmph! Seeing you so lively, it seems you¡¯re fine. Never do something so reckless again, or I won¡¯t let you off!¡± ¡°Alright, alright, you¡¯re the boss!¡± ¡°You still dare talk back? You¡¯re asking for it!¡± Lin Hongyu, his younger sister, also approached, expressing her admiration, ¡°Brother, from now on, Sister and I will follow your lead. You must protect us, alright?¡± ¡°Little girl, who said I¡¯m following him?¡± Lin Liuli retorted, pinching her younger sister¡¯s soft, bouncy cheeks. Their playful banter was lively and cheerful. Next, a petite princess in a frost-colored gown arrived, ¡°Lin Qi¡¯an, I have great news!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°My father just announced that he¡¯s marrying me to you. Once the grand ceremony is over, we can get married!¡± Zhao Qingmeng clung to Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s arm, claiming the spot by his side with a radiant smile that could enchant anyone. ¡°So soon?¡± ¡°Your Highness, this matter shouldn¡¯t be taken lightly...¡± Su Xueni bit her lip and said, ¡°Marriage is a major life event. Please reconsider!¡± ¡°What do you mean? A maid wants to compete with this princess for a man? Know your place and don¡¯t overstep your bounds!¡± Zhao Qingmeng snapped. ¡°Your Highness, you exaggerate,¡± Su Xueni replied with a calm smile. ¡°I¡¯m only thinking of your dignity. Besides, being so intimate with the Young Master in public may not be entirely appropriate.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an: ... This girl, Su Xueni, sure knows how to launch an attack! Encouraged by Su Xueni¡¯s boldness, the other maids joined in, voicing their own criticisms of Zhao Qingmeng¡¯s behavior. Even the renowned scholars Mo Shuiqiu and Lu Miaoyin couldn¡¯t resist chiming in. They quoted classical texts to support their argument, asserting that holding a wedding immediately after the grand ceremony was ill-advised. Their reasoning was sound and convincing. Zhao Qingmeng was ready to verbally duel with the crowd, but Zhao Yunji quickly covered her sister¡¯s mouth and dragged her away. Zhao Qingmeng could only flail her delicate arms in protest as she was pulled back. Lin Qi¡¯an couldn¡¯t help but sigh. He had just survived a fierce battle, and now he was thrown into an emotional battlefield. Meanwhile, the male cultivators from various sects were watching with near-crippling envy. Lin Qi¡¯an was surrounded by some of the most beautiful fairies and saintesses of the Canglan Dao Domain, their radiance forming a veritable sea of blossoms around him. Each of these women was the dream of countless male cultivators, yet here they were, vying for Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s attention. What kind of unfairness was this? The jealousy was palpable, especially from Li Xuan. Watching his ¡°former fiance?e¡± bicker with other women over Lin Qi¡¯an left him grinding his teeth in frustration. But he knew the truth¡ªwithout significant progress in his cultivation, he was no match for Lin Qi¡¯an. Defeated, Li Xuan could only seethe in silence. After the commotion died down, an elder formally announced, ¡°Congratulations to Lin Qi¡¯an, Crown Prince of Beiyang, for winning the Dao Pilgrimage Championship once again!¡± The crowd erupted into cheers. ¡°Three rounds, all first place! The Young Master is truly a once-in-a-millennium genius!¡± ¡°That final battle was breathtaking. My heart is still racing!¡± ¡°And the way he completely humiliated those Tianhai Dao Domain cultivators was so satisfying!¡± ¡°Right? They tried to gang up on him and got annihilated instead. Serves them right!¡± ¡°Their grand entrance was all for nothing. What a disgrace.¡± The ridicule from the crowd was relentless, like slaps landing squarely on the Tianhai Dao Domain representatives. When they first arrived in Tai¡¯an City, they were full of swagger, intent on making a statement by crushing the prodigies of the Canglan Dao Domain. Yet, they hadn¡¯t won a single round. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± one of them muttered through gritted teeth. With Lin Qi¡¯an basking in glory, they didn¡¯t dare to retort. One by one, the cultivators of the Tianhai Dao Domain left the grand lake in defeat. The next stage was the final reward: access to a forbidden zone. It was said that two centuries ago, an ancient coffin had been unearthed in the Tai¡¯an Imperial City. The coffin served as an entryway to a forbidden area. Due to the restrictive barriers within, only a limited number of participants could enter, and the preceding competitions had determined who would receive this rare opportunity. Rumor had it that the forbidden zone held unimaginable treasures and fortuitous encounters, the kind that could change one¡¯s destiny. In a few days, they would meet again. In the end, the marriage Zhao Qingmeng hoped for wasn¡¯t realized. The reason? It faced unanimous opposition from Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s confidantes. Most importantly, even Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s elder sister, Lin Liuli, objected. ¡°What¡¯s your problem?¡± Zhao Qingmeng fumed. ¡°You¡¯re a Daoist priestess; your brother isn¡¯t!¡± ¡°He¡¯s still too young! There¡¯s no rush for a marriage,¡± Lin Liuli replied firmly. ¡°Hah, Lin Qi¡¯an isn¡¯t ¡®too young¡¯ at all!¡± Zhao Qingmeng rolled her eyes dramatically. ¡°You don¡¯t know anything, so stop pretending you do!¡± In her heart, Zhao Qingmeng resolves that once she restores herself to her peak, she would suppress all these so-called ¡°vixens¡± and claim her rightful place by Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s side. Chapter 175 Chapter 175: The Girl with Black Luck ¨C A Little Beggar? Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s upcoming plan was straightforward. First, he intended to use the accumulated Villain Points to enhance his combat power, then spend a few days relaxing before the forbidden land opened. His top priority was to strengthen the Ancestral Dragon Divine Body. Enhancing this physique would make the might of Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s dragon aura even more terrifying while amplifying the power of his treasure arts. Currently, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s most formidable treasure art was his newly developed Dragon Sword Bone Technique. Once unleashed, it was a perfect combination of offense and defense¡ªvirtually invincible. As the Ancestral Dragon Divine Body advanced and the number of Sacred Weapons in his possession increased, its power would only grow. After some upgrades: ¨C Ancestral Dragon Divine Body: 30% ¡ú 70% ¨C Heavenly Flying Immortal: Fourth Layer ¡ú Fifth Layer These enhancements consumed nearly all his accumulated Villain Points, leaving him with none. The advancement in the Dragon Body further strengthened his dragon aura and dramatically transformed his physique. With his Sword Bone, Dragon Bone, and Ancestral Dragon Divine Body, Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s physical body was now even more terrifying than experts at the Dao Transformation Realm. It could likely rival the Vajra Indestructible Divine Technique of the Buddhist sects. However, in most of his battles, Lin Qi¡¯an rarely needed to resort to close combat. His usual approach was overwhelming his opponents with divine abilities. Upgrading Heavenly Flying Immortal now allowed Lin Qi¡¯an to control an additional Sacred Weapon, enabling him to simultaneously command five Sacred Weapons. When fused into the Phantom Dragon Technique, the resulting power would be unimaginable¡ªeven Lin Qi¡¯an himself hesitated to speculate on its limits. Against a group of so-called Destined Children and Divine Sons, it would be a one-sided massacre. Attribute Panel Update: Host: Lin Qi¡¯an Identity: Crown Prince of Beiyang, Tianlang Immortal Dynasty Cultivation Level: Seventh Layer, Celestial Realm Cultivation Techniques: ¨C Sword Manifestation (Fourth Layer) ¨C Yang Flame Departure (Fourth Layer) ¨C Nine Heavens Thunder Movement (Fourth Layer) Physique: ¨C Dragon Yang Dao Physique ¨C Sword Bone ¨C Ancestral Dragon Divine Body (70%) ¨C Ten Thousand Poison Immunity Divine Abilities: ¨C Ten Thousand Swords to Court (Fourth Layer) ¨C Nine Words of Truth (Fourth Layer) ¨C Heavenly Flying Immortal (Fifth Layer) Treasured Techniues:: ¨C Blue Sky Yellow Springs ¨C Dragon Sword Bone Technique Storage: ¨C Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir ¨C Supreme Profound Golden Elixir ¨C ¡¶Nine Yang Mystic Technique¡· ¨C ¡¶Demonic Death Tome¡· Villain Points: 0 Luck Value: 400 (Blue) Chaos Treasures: ¨C Flying Immortal Sword Spirit Box ¨C Seven Petal Blood Heart Lotus ¨C Immortal Fairy Goddess Diagram Luck Artifacts: ¨C Nine Yang Divine Sword ¨C Myriad Beasts Scripture ¨C ¡¶Great Sun Heavenly Emperor Scripture¡· ¡ª The residence of Lin Qi¡¯an in Tianjian City was bustling from morning until night. Feeling uninterested in entertaining visitors, Lin Qi¡¯an changed into plain clothes and took Su Xueni out to explore. The responsibilities of socializing were left to his attendants. Naturally, he didn¡¯t bring too many servants along to avoid attracting undue attention. ¡°I¡¯m so envious of Sister Xueni! You¡¯re the only one who gets to travel alone with His Highness,¡± whispered one of the maids. ¡°There¡¯s no helping it. His Highness really dotes on Sister Xueni,¡± another replied. During the grand ceremony, the entire city of Tai¡¯an was decked out with lanterns and decorations. The streets were filled with toys, snacks, and the lively chatter of crowds. Su Xueni dressed in a modest pink-and-white dress and styled her hair into a simple braid, transforming from a celestial beauty into a charming girl-next-door¡ªall to avoid drawing too much attention. With her stunning looks, she would have been recognized in no time otherwise. ¡°Your Highness...no, Brother,¡± Su Xueni said, smiling sweetly. ¡°It¡¯s so lively outside! Coming out to stroll around is quite fun!¡± Her radiant smile was like iced sugar in watermelon juice¡ªrefreshingly sweet, making one want to savor her in their arms. As a Saintess, she was usually secluded, dedicating herself to cultivation. Opportunities to wander through a bustling city like this were rare. Along the way, they bought masks to wear, enjoyed candied hawthorns, and tried peach blossom pastries, fully immersing themselves in the lively atmosphere of the mortal world. ¡°Have fun. If there¡¯s anything you like, just let me know,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said. ¡°Okay! Brother, you¡¯re the best!¡± To Su Xueni¡¯s surprise, Lin Qi¡¯an, despite being a prince, displayed no airs. With a mask on his head and snacks in hand, he looked no different from an ordinary young man. This easygoing demeanor made her feel completely at ease, which was one of the reasons she admired him most. Their relationship wasn¡¯t a rigid master-servant dynamic. Instead, they joked and teased each other like equals. What girl wouldn¡¯t dream of such a perfect companion? No one would have guessed that the most dazzling young prodigy of his generation was leisurely strolling through the streets like this. As they turned a corner, Lin Qi¡¯an suddenly stopped and walked toward a dark corner of the street. There, a small beggar girl crouched, her frail figure wrapped in a black cloak¡ªa pitiful sight. However, Lin Qi¡¯an wasn¡¯t moved by pity. He wasn¡¯t that kind-hearted. What drew him to her was the fact that she was a Fated Daughter. But unlike Su Xueni, whose faint golden aura indicated golden luck, this girl¡¯s aura was black. Not just any black, but an incredibly deep, terrifying black. Lin Qi¡¯an knew that a Luck Value of zero manifested as black luck, but this girl¡¯s aura was beyond that¡ªit was negative! A beggar girl with black luck? And a Fated Daughter at that? How bizarre. Mistaking his intent, Su Xueni knelt beside the girl, ready to wake her. ¡°Hey, wake up,¡± she called softly. After being shaken twice, the girl finally lifted her head. At that moment, even Su Xueni, with her otherworldly beauty, couldn¡¯t help but be surprised! The girl appeared to be around ten years old, but her delicate and fair face was strikingly refined. Her clear peach-blossom eyes sparkled, and her jet-black hair fell smoothly over her shoulders. The girl yawned lazily and stretched, revealing a slender, snow-white arm that was as tender as jade. This appearance was far from what one would expect of a beggar. ¡°Hello, Brother and Sister~¡± The girl¡¯s gaze landed on Lin Qi¡¯an, her eyes curving into crescent moons. Somehow, her adorably sweet expression carried a hint of seductive allure. Su Xueni was momentarily stunned before softly asking, ¡°Little sister, are you hungry? I can buy you something to eat.¡± ¡°I¡¯m hungry! Thank you, Sister!¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get you some buns and water. Wait here for a moment.¡± Su Xueni stood up and left to buy food, leaving Lin Qi¡¯an alone with the girl. Suddenly, the girl¡¯s pupils glimmered with a pink, bewitching light¡ªan enchantment technique! The glow was almost soul-snaring, and the technique was clearly not of a low level. This girl was no ordinary person. ¡°Beiyang Crown Prince, Lin Qi¡¯an,¡± the girl said with a sly smile. ¡°I was just wondering how to get close to you, but you¡¯ve delivered yourself to me.¡± Her lips curved into a smug grin. ¡°Looks like I have some luck after all.¡± The girl was well aware of Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s strength, but this was no ordinary seduction technique. It wasn¡¯t some low-tier magic from a common demon sect; even Lin Qi¡¯an shouldn¡¯t be able to resist it. But just as she was about to act further, Lin Qi¡¯an grabbed her slender wrist with a swift motion. ¡°What?!¡± The girl¡¯s eyes widened in shock, her enchanting peach-blossom eyes filled with disbelief. ¡°A mere mortal from the lower realm can resist my enchantment?!¡± she thought incredulously. As Lin Qi¡¯an held her wrist, he instantly discerned all her information: Name: Bai Jiuli Identity: Reincarnation of a Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Cultivation Level: Spiritual Insight Realm The fact that a reincarnated Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox was so weak intrigued him. As their eyes locked, Su Xueni returned with the food. Upon seeing Lin Qi¡¯an holding the little girl¡¯s hand, her mind immediately raced. Could the Crown Prince have an interest in someone this young? ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± she asked cautiously. ¡°Nothing.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an smiled faintly and released the girl¡¯s wrist. Just then, a roof tile suddenly fell from above! ¡°Watch out!¡± Su Xueni reacted quickly, catching the tile before it could hit the girl¡¯s head. If not for her swift action, the tile would have struck the girl directly. Lin Qi¡¯an couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the girl¡¯s terrifyingly black luck. Sitting still, she managed to attract disaster. Was she some kind of walking calamity? ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± After Su Xueni handed the food to the girl, Lin Qi¡¯an decided it was best not to provoke this unusual child for now. Her deliberate approach was suspicious, and caution was warranted. As Bai Jiuli gnawed on the bun, she was deep in thought, ¡°How strange. My enchantment failed? Could the Ancestral Dragon Bloodline in his body really be that strong?¡± With a sigh, she decided to find another way to approach him. ¡°If he doesn¡¯t care for children, I¡¯ll turn into a transcendent beauty. Let¡¯s see if he can resist that!¡± Her ultimate goal was to follow Lin Qi¡¯an into the forbidden land and seize the opportunity she desired. After some inquiries, she learned of another route. The next evening, a grand banquet would be held to reward Lin Qi¡¯an for his accomplishments as the leader. It would also provide an opportunity for the various sects to approach him. The banquet would include a dance performance¡ªa stage for the fairies and saintesses to showcase their skills. ¡°If it¡¯s a competition of dance, I¡¯ll let these mortals witness the true art of a Heavenly Immortal¡¯s Dance!¡± Bai Jiuli smirked confidently. Chapter 176 Chapter 176: The Dance Gala Begins, Saintesses Present Dances for the Crown Prince! Lin Qi¡¯an and Su Xueni returned to their residence. ¡°Your Highness, I can¡¯t help but feel that the young girl is unusual. There¡¯s an inexplicable aura about her...¡± ¡°Unusual is correct; she¡¯s practically a walking calamity. It¡¯s best to stay far away from her.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about her. There¡¯s no need to overthink it.¡± ¡°By the way, Your Highness, there¡¯s a dance gala tomorrow. We plan to perform a dance for you, so please look forward to it!¡± ¡°Oh? In that case, I shall eagerly await it.¡± That night, Su Xueni naturally shared the bed with Lin Qi¡¯an. After a sleepless night, Lin Qi¡¯an noticed Su Xueni¡¯s already exquisite physique had matured further. Her skin, as pristine as the first snow on Mount Hua, truly embodied the phrase ¡°ice muscles and jade bones.¡± Ever since Su Xueni entered the Immortal Fairy Goddess Diagram, her cultivation and combat abilities had surpassed those of others. This was because she could comprehend the profound Dao opportunities within the diagram. Once fully understood, it could provide a direct path to becoming a Great Emperor, a dream many could only hope to achieve. By following this systematic cultivation, eventual ascension to the imperial realm was guaranteed. Lin Qi¡¯an himself gained icy energy from their dual cultivation, creating a positive feedback loop where both parties mutually benefited. Now, Su Xueni had opened all her spiritual apertures, elevating her to the status of a monstrous genius. Compared to other Holy Sons and God Sons, she was not inferior in the least. However, she had no interest in flaunting her prowess and preferred to follow the Crown Prince, silently watching him. Soon after, Lin Qi¡¯an summoned Zi Lianyou and Ran Yuwei to join them and also placed them into the Immortal Fairy Goddess Diagram. Now, the diagram bore the silhouettes of three stunning celestial figures. Leaving an imprint within this primordial treasure meant their lives and deaths were tied to Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s will. In return, they could access unparalleled Dao opportunities. ¡°Opportunities of the Dao!¡± Hearing this phrase, both women were overjoyed. Following Lin Qi¡¯an had brought them far more benefits than they could have ever imagined. As ordinary Saintesses, they might have achieved some regional fame. But staying by the Crown Prince¡¯s side gave them a chance to ascend to the status of Empress. To be with the man they admired while also pursuing the Dao was, without doubt, the most blissful existence imaginable. In the courtyard, three maids were practicing their dance. ¡°Listen up, we must perfect this performance. Otherwise, we¡¯ll be ridiculed by other women, especially that Zhao Qingmeng!¡± Su Xueni, as the ¡°elder sister,¡± took charge of teaching the others. Recently, many women had been vying for the positions near the Crown Prince, making the maids feel a sense of urgency. They had to shine at the dance gala! Night fell, and the bright moon hung high in the sky. In the bustling palace city of Tai¡¯an, the grand dance gala officially began! This gala, a gathering for young elites, aimed to help the outstanding talents who had endured multiple battles relax and celebrate. The event was held in the grand plaza outside the palace city. Lanterns and red decorations adorned the surroundings, with luxurious golden-threaded red carpets covering the ground. Thousands of low, square tables were neatly arranged across the plaza. The tables were adorned with fine wines and jade cups. Those eligible to sit at the tables were no ordinary individuals; only distinguished geniuses of the heavens were allowed. Ordinary onlookers could only stand, yet even so, crowds surrounded the plaza in layers, forming a sea of people. ¡°This is incredible! So many people!¡± ¡°Of course! Events like this are a once-in-a-lifetime experience!¡± ¡°I heard rumors that tonight¡¯s performers include some peerless beauties!¡± ¡°Exactly! Their songs and dances are treasures to witness even once in a lifetime!¡± ¡°Haha, we¡¯re all lucky to bask in the Crown Prince¡¯s glory. Without him, we wouldn¡¯t have this chance to see such splendor.¡± Whether seated or standing, everyone eagerly anticipated the gala. Who wouldn¡¯t enjoy watching stunning women of unparalleled beauty? It was said that even the Crown Prince¡¯s personal maids, renowned for their elegance, would perform. Their allure was beyond imagination. At the northern side of the plaza stood three supreme seats. Why three seats? Because they corresponded to the champions of the three competition rounds. However, since Lin Qi¡¯an had triumphed in all three rounds, he was the sole occupant of the supreme seats. He was undeniably the star of the night. All the performances were dedicated to him. The Saintesses and fairies participating hoped to capture the Crown Prince¡¯s attention, wishing for even the slightest favor. Thus, the crowd both envied and admired Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡°Let it begin!¡± ¡°Look quickly, who is that woman?¡± ¡°My heavens, isn¡¯t that Qin Jinxian, the Zither Immortal from the Music Bureau?¡± ¡°She¡¯s actually here?¡± A graceful figure walked forward, wearing a resplendent red dress adorned with gold-threaded embroidery of a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix. Her attire was exquisite beyond compare. Her eyes, adorned with makeup, were as enchanting as fluttering butterflies. With a casual gesture, she retrieved an ancient zither from her storage ring, placing it gently on the ground. ¡°Tonight, this humble woman shall perform for the Crown Prince.¡± The crowd was stunned. None expected the renowned Zither Immortal to be present specifically to perform at this gala! ¡°The Crown Prince truly has immense influence. Others can only dream of hearing her play once, yet he has her here, performing endlessly!¡± ¡°We¡¯re in for a feast for the eyes and ears tonight!¡± ¡°Haha, with the Zither Immortal gracing us, this gala promises exceptional quality!¡± As the melodious zither music began, heavenly daughters stepped onto the stage one by one, showcasing their singing or dancing talents. None of the participants were mediocre. Each could easily command the adoration of millions. Lin Qi¡¯an sipped fine wine, listening to the music and leisurely appreciating the performances from his exclusive seat. After several acts, the highlight of the night arrived. The melody shifted. Suddenly, two ethereal figures floated down from the moonlit sky.One was clad in a dreamlike purple dress, her figure graceful and captivating, her beauty like a purple orchid in full bloom. The other, with a slender waist and charming allure, wore a strikingly unique outfit that left the audience in awe. ¡°It¡¯s the Crown Prince¡¯s two maids!¡± ¡°So beautiful... Heavenly!¡± Indeed, these two were Zi Lianyou and Ran Yuwei. But just as the crowd marveled, yet another figure descended from the moonlit heavens! This figure wore a pure white long dress, its hem flowing like a dream. Her cascading black hair swayed like water grasses in the breeze, soft and gentle. Her elegant and refined features radiated a celestial brilliance, her jade-like face illuminated by a star-like glow that seemed to brighten the mundane world itself. ¡°An immortal... an actual immortal!¡± ¡°Too beautiful...¡± Countless men were spellbound, some even drooling unconsciously. Su Xueni stepped forward as if treading on the moonlight, her form enveloped in a cold aura, truly embodying the essence of an immortal fairy. The three women had prepared a special dance for Lin Qi¡¯an. Accompanied by the Zither Immortal¡¯s music, their dance, with its light and ethereal movements, swirling blossoms, and radiant elegance, entranced countless onlookers. ¡°As expected of Su Xueni, the Saintess of Tianchi, ranked second among the immortals¡ªshe truly is breathtakingly beautiful!¡± ¡°One glance at her, and I¡¯ll never forget it for the rest of my life!¡± ¡°Such a woman serves the Crown Prince nightly¡ªah, I¡¯m going mad with envy!¡± The more captivated the male cultivators were, the more they envied and resented Lin Qi¡¯an. Some even shed tears of frustration. There was no helping it; such women could only belong to someone like the Crown Prince. Just witnessing them was already a blessing for the rest. At last, the trio¡¯s performance ended. Many in the audience remained in a daze, mouths agape, unable to recover from their trance. ¡°Not bad.¡± Lin Qi¡¯an applauded, clearly pleased with their efforts. The crowd followed suit with a thunderous wave of applause and cheers. Many even shouted, ¡°Encore!¡± However, Su Xueni and the others had already returned to Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s side. A single performance was enough to make their point: even as the Crown Prince¡¯s maids, they were unparalleled in beauty and talent! As the evening progressed with additional performances, the audience began to feel a sense of diminishing excitement. ¡°These women are stunning and immensely talented, but it just doesn¡¯t feel the same...¡± ¡°Exactly. They fall short compared to what we just witnessed.¡± ¡°Of course, they do! Three Saintesses dancing together¡ªdo you think that¡¯s something you¡¯d see casually on the streets?¡± ¡°If the Crown Prince weren¡¯t here, we¡¯d never experience this in our lifetimes. Be content!¡± Soon, the second major act began. A painting flew into the air, stopping at the center of the plaza. The artwork depicted two women. ¡°What is this...?¡± ¡°Could it be a mystical technique from Yunmo Dao Palace?¡± As the crowd wondered, the two women in the ink painting stepped out from the artwork itself! One wore a loose Daoist robe adorned with cloud patterns and ink bamboo. The other donned a cyan lotus dress. ¡°My goodness, it¡¯s Mo Shuiqiu, the Saintess of Yunmo, and Lu Miaoyin, the Lotus Fairy, ranked third among immortals!¡± ¡°This is madness! These two renowned prodigies of the Canglan Dao Domain are performing for the Crown Prince?¡± ¡°The Crown Prince¡¯s influence truly knows no bounds!¡± Chapter 177 Chapter 177: Zhao Yunji¡¯s Sword Dance Shocks the Crowd! Earlier, Su Xueni and the other two ladies displayed a beauty that could enchant an entire nation. Now, Mo Shuiqiu and Lu Miaoyin took a different approach, blending artistic elegance with feminine grace to create a profound and mysterious atmosphere. Mountains, rivers, and flying birds depicted in their performance seemed to manifest before the audience¡¯s eyes. Mo Shuiqiu painted in the air, while Lu Miaoyin wrote, seamlessly combining their dances with the arts of painting and calligraphy. This mesmerizing display stunned the audience, leaving many with mouths agape and eyes transfixed. ¡°Watching this dance feels like a spiritual cleanse.¡± ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s so soothing, as if my heart has been purified!¡± ¡°If I could witness such refined performances daily, I¡¯d gladly abandon cultivation!¡± ¡°Ha! Dream on. Don¡¯t you know these two are the Crown Prince¡¯s women?¡± ¡°Exactly. The Crown Prince once visited Yunmo Dao Palace and later helped Qinglian Immortal Island eliminate the Dragon Clan. Watching this performance is a privilege we owe entirely to him!¡± ¡°Ah, why is it that all the world¡¯s most stunning women belong to the Crown Prince?¡± The crowd was torn between awe and lamentation, with many downing their drinks in frustration. As the music ceased and the dance concluded, thunderous applause erupted. This performance was in no way inferior to the one by Su Xueni and her companions earlier. After bowing respectfully to the Crown Prince, the two ladies left the stage gracefully. ¡°Haha, I thought the earlier performance was unbeatable, but who would¡¯ve expected this surprise!¡± ¡°Surely, nothing can surpass this now, right? I can¡¯t imagine anyone topping it.¡± Several more performances followed. Although they were remarkable, none matched the brilliance of the previous acts. The only solace for the crowd was enjoying the zither melody from the Immortal Musician, which prompted many to close their eyes, swaying their heads gently to the rhythm. ¡°Little sister, why don¡¯t you perform a dance? I recall you¡¯ve learned court dances before.¡± Zhao Yunji finally seized an opportunity to provoke Zhao Qingmeng. After all, the earlier performers were all Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s close confidantes. If Zhao Qingmeng refrained from participating, it might appear she was inferior. On the other hand, if she joined but failed to match them, it would be even more humiliating. Unexpectedly, Zhao Qingmeng remained indifferent. ¡°Do you think I need to? Brother Lin¡¯s love for me isn¡¯t something these coquettish acts can sway.¡± Smiling faintly, Zhao Qingmeng continued, ¡°Oh, by the way, sister, look at this Gold-Winged Cicada Lin Qi¡¯an gave me. It¡¯s our token of love and allows us to communicate wherever we are.¡± ¡°...¡± Zhao Yunji was nearly driven mad with frustration. When it came to verbal sparring, she was no match for this mischievous little sprite. She couldn¡¯t understand how this girl had become so adept at palace intrigue! ¡°Speaking of which, sister, the second and third-ranked beauties of the Saintess list have already performed. Can the number one beauty sit idle any longer?¡± ¡°...¡± What was that supposed to mean? Did she think I would lose to those painted women? Slap! Zhao Yunji slammed her palm onto the table and stood up. With a tap of her foot, she gracefully leaped to the center of the stage. The sight of the golden-robed woman stunned everyone. The entire hall rose in unison to bow. ¡°Greetings, Princess!¡± How could they, mere mortals, deserve to witness the dance of Canglan Dao Domain¡¯s First Goddess and Princess? The only one who remained seated was Lin Qi¡¯an, who sipped his wine leisurely, dressed in pure white robes as immaculate as freshly fallen snow. ¡°Everyone, there¡¯s no need for such formalities,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an said calmly. ¡°Since the Princess has come forward, she¡¯s clearly here to enhance the evening.¡± Reassured by his words, the audience exchanged glances and dared to sit again. But in the next moment, Zhao Yunji raised her delicate sword, pointing it directly at Lin Qi¡¯an! What... what was she doing? ¡°Hmph.¡± With a soft snort, Zhao Yunji withdrew her sword and traced a crescent arc in the air. Her graceful figure began to move, her golden silhouette weaving through the moonlight. ¡°She¡¯s... she¡¯s dancing with a sword!¡± ¡°Unbelievable! I never thought I¡¯d live to see Princess Yunji perform a sword dance!¡± ¡°She¡¯s the top Saintess of Canglan Dao Domain. Just seeing her in person is a lifelong honor...¡± ¡°Brother, I wouldn¡¯t even dare to dream of this! It¡¯s too surreal.¡± The many prodigies present almost turned to stone, questioning if they were even worthy of witnessing such a magnificent spectacle. Zhao Yunji¡¯s sword dance lacked any coquettishness. Her golden figure glided like a fledgling swallow. As the zither melody filled the air, her jade-like hands spun lightly, while the gleaming sword flickered as swiftly as lightning. The sharp gleam of the blade merged seamlessly with her ethereal beauty. The scene was like a celestial maiden dancing under the moonlight. Each sword stroke seemed to cut down a moonbeam, creating a breathtaking and otherworldly spectacle. Even Lin Qi¡¯an, his wine cup poised in mid-air, paused to savor every intricate sword move. Swish! As Zhao Yunji sheathed her sword, a fresh breeze whistled through the hall. The pristine moonlight fell on her frost-like face, her cold and proud demeanor captivating everyone in the audience. ¡°Excellent,¡± Lin Qi¡¯an remarked, his voice breaking the silence. That single word erupted through the hall like a thunderclap. ¡°Brilliant! Absolutely flawless!¡± ¡°This event was worth every moment. I almost skipped it, thinking it was just another social gathering. Missing this would have been the regret of a lifetime!¡± ¡°This is truly the First Goddess of Canglan Dao Domain! Who could compare? Impossible!¡± ¡°But wait, didn¡¯t the Crown Prince and Princess Yunji dissolve their engagement? Why would the Princess perform now?¡± ¡°How should I know? The Crown Prince is just incredible, that¡¯s all that matters!¡± No one could have anticipated that a proud and untouchable figure like Zhao Yunji would perform such a captivating dance in public. Yet, it was clear to everyone that her motive wasn¡¯t to compete with other women for attention. The only explanation was Lin Qi¡¯an. ¡°This performance is simply to thank you for eliminating the disaster that plagued my Tai¡¯an City. Nothing more,¡± Zhao Yunji declared before leaving, her tone pointed and prideful. Everyone knew her outward words of gratitude were nothing more than a cover for her true feelings. ¡°Little sister, your dance was extraordinary! I¡¯m so proud of you!¡± Zhao Ziyu praised excitedly as Zhao Yunji returned to her seat. However, Zhao Yunji merely rolled her eyes at him. ¡°Thank you. Next time, don¡¯t be proud.¡± ¡°...Seriously?¡± Zhao Ziyu muttered under his breath. He consoled himself with the fact that his sister wasn¡¯t one of Lin Qi¡¯an¡¯s many romantic partners, unlike the other Saintesses who had just performed. This was a small comfort to him. As the evening progressed, the remaining dances seemed lackluster by comparison. ¡°After watching Princess Yunji¡¯s sword dance, nothing else holds any appeal.¡± ¡°Agreed. Tonight must have reached its peak.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve already seen three incredible performances and heard the music of the Zither Immortal. What more could we ask for?¡± ¡°All thanks to the Crown Prince for such a feast for the senses!¡± Finally, the event reached its final act. The last performer emerged¡ªa woman clad in a black gauzy gown, her face concealed by a veil, exuding an air of mystery. ¡°What¡¯s with the veil? Is she ashamed to show her face?¡± ¡°Exactly! Even Princess Yunji didn¡¯t wear a veil, and she¡¯s the top-ranked beauty. What¡¯s with this pretense?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of hiding? It¡¯s already uninteresting!¡± Having witnessed Zhao Yunji¡¯s sword dance, the audience had little expectation for what followed. Seeing a veiled performer only further dampened their enthusiasm, leading to murmurs of impatience. However, as the Zither Immortal¡¯s melody filled the hall, they reluctantly decided to give the final performance a chance. As the haunting music drifted through the air, the woman began her solo dance. Ten breaths later, the entire hall fell silent. A pin drop could be heard amidst the stillness. The woman seemed to merge with the night sky itself, her flowing black hair illuminated by the moonlight like a sacred aura. Her every movement¡ªeach spin of her toes, each flick of her wrist, each kick of her leg, and each flourish of her dress¡ªwas executed with perfect precision. Even the subtle opening and closing of her long, enchanting eyes seemed to stir the soul. She danced like a spirit bird gliding gracefully through a misty night, embodying all that was ethereal and beautiful. What set her apart was the deep sorrow and loneliness interwoven into her performance. Her breathtaking movements conveyed emotions so profound they penetrated the hearts of the audience, leaving many in tears. ¡°How could such a dance exist? I can¡¯t believe what I¡¯m seeing...¡± People wiped their tears, their voices choked with emotion. ¡°Who is this woman? Why have we never heard of her before?¡± The crowd, accustomed to calling extraordinary women ¡°fairies,¡± found this performer to be something entirely different. Unlike the usual term of endearment, this woman truly seemed like a celestial being descended from the heavens, generously sharing her divine beauty with the mortal realm. Even Zhao Ziyu was so entranced that he sat slack-jawed, drooling. As for Lin Qi¡¯an, he couldn¡¯t help but lose himself entirely. His wine cup tilted in his hand, spilling its contents as his gaze remained fixed on the stage. Even the Saintesses who had performed earlier found themselves deeply moved and humbled. ¡°This dance could only belong in the heavens!¡± The hall resonated with an unspoken understanding. They had witnessed a performance unlike any other¡ªa fleeting glimpse of the divine.