From the moment news spread about the Third Prince of Da Yan, Su Chen's extraordinary talent, a veil of mystery enveloped him, attracting the attention of countless people.
Among them were many Sect Forces, as well as Cultivators from various countries surrounding Great Yan.
Everyone wanted to know what terrifying qualities this widely rumored Genius within Great Yan truly possessed.
However, Su Chen himself rarely appeared and rarely made a move. Although his aura was no different from an ordinary person, many believed it was due to him Cultivating a certain Cultivation Technique that concealed his aura.
A while ago, the Great Xuan Dynasty heavily defeated the Great Yan army, forcing Great Yan to pay reparations and even send its most talented Third Prince as a hostage.
That day, countless people sighed, believing Great Yan was finished, and would have to rely on the Great Xuan Dynasty's whims for at least several centuries.
Many also secretly mocked, saying that the Genius Prince, so heavily promoted by the Emperor of Da Yan, would still end up with a tragic fate.
Great Yan was also severely weakened.
Many also speculated whether the Third Prince of Da Yan would be imprisoned after arriving in the Great Xuan Dynasty.
But now, with the news spreading from the Great Yan Imperial Capital, countless people were utterly astonished, expressing their disbelief.
It wasn't until they confirmed that the news originated from the Great Yan Imperial Family that they fell silent.
At this point, they realized that the Emperor of Da Yan had long since made his plans... all to await this very day.
They were the ones who had been kept in the dark all along.
"Shocking! The Third Prince of Da Yan's reputation as a Genius is false!!! The true Genius is the Second Prince of Da Yan!!"
"Heavens! The Emperor of Da Yan actually deceived everyone!!"
"The Great Xuan Dynasty suffered a terrible loss this time!!"
"I never thought Great Yan would actually trick the Great Xuan Dynasty!"
"I knew it, that Third Prince of Da Yan didn't look like a Cultivator."
...Throughout the entire Southern Wilderness, such voices were everywhere.
The Third Prince of Da Yan's reputation as a Genius crumbled overnight, while the Second Prince of Da Yan's reputation gradually began to rise... A day later.
Within the Great Xuan Dynasty, countless commoners looked furious and cursed loudly.
"Damn it! Great Yan is truly shameless, to use such a trick to deceive us!"
"I knew it, the people of Great Yan had no good intentions. How could they willingly send over their Genius Prince!"
"My Great Xuan Dynasty was actually tricked, it's truly detestable!!!"
"I think we should just kill that so-called Third Prince of Da Yan to deter them!"
...The Great Xuan Dynasty's commoners, upon hearing the news, were incredibly indignant, and sounds of cursing filled every corner of the Great Xuan Dynasty.
Not only among the common folk, but the imperial court today was also exceptionally lively.
Inside the palace, in Da Xuan Hall.
"Your Majesty, those people from Great Yan are truly detestable, to resort to such petty tricks!" A middle-aged man said with indignation, his words filled with anger.
As the man spoke, more and more people below stood up.
"Your Majesty, I propose we immediately dispatch troops to flatten Great Yan!"
"No, we have already signed a treaty with them. If we launch a large-scale invasion into Great Yan, the other countries will not stand idly by!"
"Are we just going to let ourselves be played like this?"
"Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, since that Third Prince of Da Yan is useless, keeping him is a waste. It would be better to just kill him!"
"Father Emperor, your son believes that even if we cannot launch a full-scale attack, we can still send troops to harass their borders as a form of punishment!"
...The scene below was chaotic, with everyone speaking at once, discussing with great fervor.
Above, Xuan Qianming had his eyes slightly closed, his face unperturbed.
After a long while, he finally opened his mouth and smiled faintly, saying, "Gentlemen, do not be so impatient. We have not been dealing with Great Yan for just a day or two. The strong and the weak are clear at a glance. This matter may not necessarily mean we have lost. If there is nothing else, let us adjourn the court."
As soon as these words were spoken, the noise below instantly ceased.
The ministers exchanged glances, as if hearing an unusual meaning in his words.
Such a humiliating major event, yet the Emperor did not get angry? Not even his emotions showed any fluctuation.
Could it be... the Emperor had already anticipated today's situation? Had he already made backup plans?
Thinking of this, they all relaxed, and couldn't help but feel a little anticipation for what methods Xuan Qianming might have.
"Since Your Majesty already has a decision, then we shall say no more."
"Great Yan thought they tricked us, but it's still unknown who will emerge victorious."
"The Emperor has a Wisdom Eye like a torch. He must have anticipated today's situation long ago. We were indeed a bit too hasty."
...After this matter, there were some trivial affairs. Xuan Qianming found them uninteresting and announced the end of the court session early.
After returning to his bedchamber, Qin Hongzhi skillfully began to massage his shoulders.
"Hongzhi, what do you think I should do about this matter?" Xuan Qianming asked with a half-smile.
Qin Hongzhi knew what he was referring to; she had also heard the news from outside today.
The commoners were simultaneously cursing Great Yan and secretly blaming the Imperial Family for their incompetence, for not even seeing through such a trick.
She didn't care what the outside world discussed, but she knew that the fact this man in front of her wasn't angry meant the problem wasn't big.
She thought for a moment, then softly said, "Husband already has a decision in his heart, why ask your concubine?"
"Hahahaha." Xuan Qianming laughed heartily and praised, "Hongzhi is indeed clever."
"I think it's time for me to meet this young man that Yingxue speaks of, and see what kind of person he truly is."
...Inside the manor.
Shangguan Chen sat alone in the courtyard, holding a book and reading it carefully, the scholarly aura about him becoming increasingly evident.
Although he was reading, his peripheral vision was constantly on Xuan Yingxue.
From within the courtyard came the sounds of swords clashing; that was Xuan Yingxue practicing her sword.
Shangguan Chen knew that she was Cultivating.
As early as their first meeting, Xuan Yingxue had confessed to him that she came from a wealthy family and had started Cultivating since childhood, now possessing a Qi Refining ninth-level Cultivation.
But Shangguan Chen felt that her Cultivation should be more than that.
From her sword techniques, it was clear she indeed came from a wealthy family. As for how wealthy, Shangguan Chen didn't want to investigate.
He only knew that Xuan Yingxue's sword techniques... still needed more practice... many of the flaws were very obvious, she just hadn't realized them herself. Shangguan Chen wanted to offer some guidance, but felt it wasn't quite right... After all, he was the Evil Sword Master, and if he were exposed, he would be condemned by thousands. He still needed to be low-key. If he were discovered, explaining it would be very troublesome, so he held back.
What he didn't know was that while he was observing Xuan Yingxue with his peripheral vision, Xuan Yingxue was also observing him with hers.
Shangguan Chen's hesitant expression did not escape her eyes.
"It's like this... and he still won't speak?"
Xuan Yingxue secretly fumed in her heart. She knew that Su Chen must be hiding something, his strength was far from as simple as it appeared on the surface.
Yet, even though she deliberately exposed many flaws while practicing her sword, he could still resist giving pointers.
She steeled her heart, a look of distress appearing on her face, and said dejectedly, "After practicing for so long, I can only manage this much. Young Master, do I lack the talent for practicing the sword?"
"?" Shangguan Chen was slightly stunned, then smiled and said, "Little Xue is joking. How many people envy your swordsmanship and can't achieve it in time? Just like me, I'm extremely envious in my heart."
"Really? Young Master isn't lying to me?" Xuan Yingxue looked at him with a wronged expression.
"Uh... really." Shangguan Chen couldn't help but rub his nose, feeling a little guilty.
Since becoming the Heavenly Evil Sword Master, his attainments in the Sword Dao could be said to have advanced by leaps and bounds, long surpassing countless Grandmasters of the Sword Dao. If his Cultivation also increased, he himself wouldn't know how strong he would be.
"Liar!" Xuan Yingxue turned her head, pouting, "You don't even look at me when I practice my sword!"
"Because I don't understand it!"
"Then why don't you look at me?"
"Women only slow down my reading speed..."
"You! Hmph!" Xuan Yingxue's words faltered, feeling somewhat deflated.
Sometimes she didn't understand why Su Chen liked reading so much. Were women not good? Were women not fragrant?
Were soft, sweet girls not pleasing to the eye?
Why did he insist on holding those headache-inducing books and reading them non-stop?
Both of them fell silent.
After a while, there was a hurried knock on the courtyard door, accompanied by Chen Fan's characteristic loud voice: "This is bad, something big has happened!!"
"Daoist Chen, come in." Shangguan Chen's heart stirred, vaguely guessing something.
After Chen Fan entered, he went straight to the two of them, his breathing somewhat hurried. He first glanced at Xuan Yingxue, then shifted his gaze to Shangguan Chen, saying with a strange expression:
"Third Prince, are the rumors outside true?"
"Rumors? What rumors?" Shangguan Chen asked.
"Everyone outside is saying that the Great Yan Imperial Family has released news that the Third Prince's spiritual power affinity is only nineteen! He cannot Cultivate, and the true Genius is the Second Prince, who has already reached the eighth level of the Qi Condensation Realm!"
"Oh, that. It's true then. My spiritual power affinity is indeed only nineteen." Shangguan Chen didn't feel surprised, admitting it very naturally.
In his heart, he mused: Su Jian's Cultivation speed isn't slow, he's already at the eighth level of the Qi Condensation Realm... It's just... I'm already close to breaking through to the Na Ling Realm... He estimated that at the current pace, in three to five days at most, he would be able to enter the third realm, the Na Ling Realm.
"Ah??? Is that true??" Chen Fan exclaimed, his face somewhat dazed, and his gaze towards Shangguan Chen became even stranger.
Then, his heart jolted.
He realized another point: why was Xuan Yingxue next to him not reacting at all???
Could it be that she already knew?
And even knowing this, she still wanted to be this kid's maid... This guy... Could he really be the Emperor's illegitimate son?
Chen Fan's mood at this moment was somewhat complex.
Originally, upon hearing of Shangguan Chen's reputation as a Genius, although he was a Prince from an enemy country, Chen Fan still felt some admiration.
But now, knowing he wasn't a Genius, he should have felt disdain.
The problem was, Xuan Yingxue hadn't said anything, and the Emperor also praised him highly... He suddenly felt that it would be better to continue playing dumb.
"Haha... haha... If it's true, it's true. It's alright, Third Prince, don't be sad." Chen Fan scratched his head, laughing somewhat awkwardly.
Shangguan Chen raised an eyebrow, surprised, and said, "I'm not sad. What's there to be sad about? Cultivators have their advantages, and ordinary people have theirs. As a scholar, I dislike fighting and killing the most."
"Young Master is right, what's good about fighting and killing?" Xuan Yingxue also said.
Chen Fan was stunned, speechless. He silently exited the courtyard, and as soon as he closed the door and turned around, he came face to face with someone, almost scaring the soul out of him!
He gasped, his pupils instantly constricted, and he was about to shout: "Emperor."
Xuan Qianming subtly gestured for him to remain silent.
Chen Fan immediately held back, still incredibly shocked in his heart.