The Azure Dragon Patriarch was quickly notified of Long Chen and Mo Xiaolang’s arrival. When Long Chen had just exited the Xuanyu Pavilion, the Patriarch appeared in front of him with a whoosh and glared coldly. “What did you do to Xuanyu?”
“She’s your daughter, would I dare do anything to her?” Long Chen replied with a question. If he touched Dongfang Xuanyu, it would be a gesture of great disrespect to the Azure Dragon Patriarch. For the sake of his future plans, he held it in.
“Good. I heard you took Li Ziling’s Blazing Thunder Crystal Soul? Long Chen, you have ruined the Lingwu family’s big plans for your own selfish benefit!” The Azure Dragon Patriarch was extremely displeased with Long Chen’s actions.
“Did the Lingwu family intend to collaborate with the Dawn Trading Alliance? But the relationship turned sour because of me?” Long Chen instantly guessed what he was about to say.
“You’ve guessed correctly. The other Patriarchs and myself have made extensive preparations to collaborate with them, yet it was all for nothing because of you!” he said.
“You’ll have to blame your daughter for this. She was the one who told me about the Blazing Thunder Crystal Soul at the Fire Thunder Mountain Range, and she even sent people to murder me! If I wasn’t smart, I wouldn’t be standing in front of you right now. You old geezer, let me tell you this: if anything happens to me, my master will annihilate your whole family immediately!”
When he mentioned Li Xuanji, the Azure Dragon Patriarch’s face changed. He did not even rage when Long Chen called him an old geezer.
After a long pause, he changed the topic and said, “Tonight, we will have a grand feast at the Jade Palace to welcome the Ninth Prince. All the youth disciples who will enter the ancient ruins must go. You two stay here for the time being, and I will come get you when the time comes. The Ninth Prince holds a high status. You two should know how to handle this.”
Then the Azure Dragon Patriarch left.
Long Chen and Mo Xiaolang looked at each other and nodded.
“I haven’t met a person from the Imperial Capital in so long.” Mo Xiaolang sighed.
Night fell quickly.
The busiest place in Yuanling City tonight was the newly erected Jade Royal Palace. It was the most lavish and extravagant place in the entire city, and the cost of building it was astronomical. However, the three factions had not even furrowed their brows when spending all that money.
Yuanling City was a minor faction after all, and it was very rare for people from the Imperial Capital to visit. This was the best opportunity to leave a good impression.
Colorful lanterns and streamers hung everywhere in the Jade Royal Palace, though most of the light came from shining divine jades and precious gemstones. They emitted a soft glow, making the place look beautiful.
Within the largest building of the Jade Royal Palace, also called the Jade Royal Hall, the three main factions were present. Long Chen and Mo Xiaolang were sitting in a corner in the designated Lingwu area, keeping a low profile. There was no reason for them to attend this event other than to get to know many legendary characters.
Long Chen knew most of the people from the Lingwu family, though two elders he hadn’t seen before attracted his attention. They were in the seats meant for people of the same rank as the Azure Dragon Patriarch, so they were the legendary Vermilion Bird Matriarch and the White Tiger Patriarch. The Vermilion Bird family’s head was a lady, and although she was of similar age to the other Patriarchs, she cared for her appearance well. That was why with her black hair and sophisticated features, she looked like she was in her forties.
The leaders of the Dawn Trading Alliance were headed by a plump old man. His face glowed red and he was very fat, as if he could be knocked over by a kick. However, Long Chen knew that he was a cultivator at the Heavenly River Realm. Plus, he was the head of his powerful faction. There were two Heavenly River Realm cultivators in the Dawn Trading Alliance, and the other was the alliance’s head emissary, who had been the old man’s good friend for many years.
Li Ziling and Li Qingling were with the Dawn Trading Alliance’s group.
But Long Chen paid more attention to the Beast Soul Palace’s side. This was his first time truly meeting a group of Beast Warriors. They radiated killing intent and brutality, qualities that were unique to demonic beasts. Upon closer inspection, he could see blood in the depths of their eyes. They looked like normal people, but they gave off the feeling of demonic beasts laying low for their next kill, making people’s scalps go numb and attracting attention.
Long Chen knew that the legendary number one master of Yuanling City was not one of Lingwu’s four Patriarchs, nor was it the Dawn Trading Alliance’s fat old man and head emissary. It was the only Heavenly River Realm cultivator in Yuandi City, Emperor Yuan. This was what every head of the Beast Soul Palace was called.
The old man in question was easy to spot. If the members of the Beast Soul Palace were like demonic beasts, then he was the leader of the pack, attracting gazes instantly. The incumbent Emperor Yuan’s age was similar to that of the Azure Dragon Patriarch and the others, but from the outside, he looked more like the Azure Dragon Patriarch’s son, Dongfang Xuanfeng. With black hair, dark eyes, and a wrinkle-less face, he still possessed a vibrant life force.
“That person is indeed powerful. Even the Azure Dragon Patriarch’s aura is weaker than his.” When Long Chen saw Emperor Yuan, he felt a sudden stinging pain in his eyes and quickly turned away, not daring to look again.
“There are three generations living in the Beast Soul Palace. The strongest of each generation has their own title, namely Emperor Yuan, King Yuan, and Prince Yuan. The one who will participate in the ancient ruins battle is Prince Yuan, Yan Danqing. He is also ranked first on the Potential Ranking Board,” explained Mo Xiaolang by Long Chen’s ear.
Long Chen finally noticed the teenage boy sitting one step below Emperor Yuan. He was basically a younger version of Emperor Yuan, and with some time, he should be able to become just as powerful. However, he was terrifying enough now. At least he was ahead of every other youth in Yuanling City.
When Long Chen looked at Prince Yuan, the other party also looked in his direction, though his gaze landed on Mo Xiaolang. After they both eyed each other for a while, Prince Yuan glared coldly. When his elders started to chat with him, he turned and no longer looked around.
“Xiaolang, it looks like you’re the only one he considers an opponent.” Long Chen chuckled.
“That’s because he doesn’t know how strong my brother is,” said Mo Xiaolang.
“This is bad. You’ve only been with me for a short time, yet you’ve already learned how to kiss ass?” mused Long Chen.
Mo Xiaolang felt awkward, not knowing what to say.
At this moment, the head of the four Lingwu Patriarchs, the Azure Dragon Patriarch, was engaged in an indirect battle against the Dawn Trading Alliance’s fat old man, Li Wudi, and Emperor Yuan. They targeted each other with words, making implicit insults.
“Brother Dongfang, I hear that your clan produced a disciple called Long Chen … He’s something! He snatched the Blazing Thunder Crystal Soul right out of my Lingzi’er’s hands and even injured Qingling!” The fat old man squinted, targeting the Azure Dragon Patriarch immediately.
Not many people knew of this, so when Li Wudi mentioned it, everyone searched and found Long Chen in the corner, giving him shocked gazes. When the masters discovered that Long Chen was merely at the initial Heaven Core Realm, they were shocked and speechless. Even Emperor Yuan regarded Long Chen for a long while.
Long Chen had made a huge mess, and it would be difficult for the Azure Dragon Patriarch to pick up the pieces. Long Chen did not feel any pressure at all and answered in his place. “It is only natural that treasures should be given to the strongest cultivators so as to not insult its value. Alliance Chairman, I’m sure you understand this simple concept. Even the battle over the ancient ruins’ inheritance—is that not a battle of strength?”
Long Chen was too brave. He did not actually have a right to speak there, but not only had he spoken, he had done so in such an arrogant tone that Li Wudi did not even know how to respond. Li Wudi laughed, his flesh trembling, then he said, “What a witty brat! He has a quick mind too. I just wonder, how is your cultivation going?”
“It’s fine,” said Long Chen humbly.
Such a quick answer made everyone almost vomit blood.
Li Ziling could stand it no longer. Whoosh! She shot up from her seat and pointed at him, exclaiming, “You bastard! You took the chance to attack when I was exhausted after I suppressed the Blazing Thunder Crystal Soul! You even ambushed my younger brother to threaten me! You committed such a lowly crime, yet you dare act so arrogantly here today! Fight me here and now if you have the balls to! Let’s see who is truly the superior one!”
Li Ziling had always been a direct person. Everyone looked at Long Chen, wondering how he would respond. It was embarrassing when a woman said that a man had no balls.
But Long Chen was not afraid at all. He laughed and said, “That’s a strange thing to say, Miss Ziling! We can’t prove whether I have balls or not here—we’d have to prove it in bed! Miss, is this all because you think I’m handsome? Are you asking for a chance to bed me?”
Long Chen’s shameless response allowed him to dodge her question easily; he could even tease her at the same time. Everyone was completely impressed. However, the people from the Dawn Trading Alliance were furious.
“Shut your mouth, Long Chen!” bellowed the Azure Dragon Patriarch before the alliance members exploded. Long Chen smiled nonchalantly and sat down. Other than Li Wudi, many alliance members stood up and glared coldly in the direction of the Lingwu family. Everyone knew that the relationship between the Lingwu family and the Dawn Trading Alliance, which had taken massive effort to build, was completely broken.
“Long Chen … ” Li Ziling’s face was green with rage and she trembled all over. She glared at him and said through gritted teeth, “You have humiliated me today, so I will kill you in the future. I will use your blood and flesh to wash away the humiliation you made me feel!”
The killing intent in her eyes scared everyone into silence.
“Is it that serious? It’s not like I sexually harassed you in public,” Long Chen mumbled softly, rolling his eyes. The girl thought too highly of herself.
Mo Xiaolang saw that the conflict was going to continue, so he tugged at Long Chen and whispered, “Stop talking. The Ninth Prince is here.”