As the lanterns began to light up, the streets and alleys of Wanghai City, as well as its restaurants, came alive.
While eating and drinking in the restaurants, guests would also chat about important court matters, strange and interesting events in the martial world, and the recently prominent Fourth Prince, Chu Zhiyuan.
The Fourth Prince, Chu Zhiyuan, was the most popular topic after tea and meals.
The people of Wanghai City were now very familiar with Chu Zhiyuan, knowing him like the back of their hands.
From his background, his aptitude, his progress, to his several major battles.
His uncompromising stance against the evil sects, and his future princess consort, Xiao Ruoling, the Holy Maiden of Inviting Moon Palace.
People praised, sighed, envied, and revered him.
Chu Zhiyuan's reputation and prestige unknowingly rose amidst these discussions.
Soon, someone brought up the scene from earlier.
It seemed the Holy Maiden of the Worry-Free Sect had a conflict with the Fourth Prince.
Some said that the Worry-Free Sect really wished the Fourth Prince would quickly leave the Eastern Territory and stop meddling.
Others said that the Worry-Free Sect was inactive, yet resented the Prince's active efforts to cleanse the world and pacify the Eastern Territory, which was truly inappropriate.
Some said that the Worry-Free Sect lived up to its name, daring to treat the Fourth Prince in such a way.
Opinions varied, with everyone saying something different.
But people knew that the relationship between the Worry-Free Sect and the Fourth Prince Chu Zhiyuan was not good.
The Worry-Free Sect was indeed lawless, not taking the imperial court seriously, nor the Prince.
They felt dissatisfied but did not discuss it further, burying it in their hearts.
In the early morning, on the bustling streets, people gathered in small groups, looking for breakfast stalls.
Suddenly, with a muffled sound, a window in an elegant room of the Tianshui Pavilion shattered.
Window shards scattered, and a figure shot out from the fragments, then soared into the sky, fleeing into the distance.
Hmph!
Anyone who knew a little martial arts immediately had these three words appear in their minds.
Then they shook their heads.
Being chased by a Grandmaster meant certain doom.
In this world, only a Grandmaster could escape a Grandmaster; below that level, no one could resist.
Gang Qi, in the face of spiritual energy, was like the difference between wood and stone.
Easily shattered, vulnerable.
Then someone whispered, "It's the Prince!"
"It's the Fourth Prince!"
"The Fourth Prince is being chased by a Grandmaster!"
"Where are the Fourth Prince's guards? Are they just eating and doing nothing?"
"Bang!" A shocking roar came from the elegant room of the Tianshui Pavilion.
The entire Tianshui Pavilion was shaking.
Three figures rushed out of the window, floating into the air, lightly exchanging palms in the sky.
Huang Cheng alone faced two middle-aged men.
"Rumble!"
A gale howled, sweeping in all directions.
The stalls on the ground were blown away, people's clothes fluttered wildly, and they could barely stand.
"Despicable!" Huang Cheng roared, about to chase after them, but was blocked by another middle-aged man.
"Rumble!"
The two exchanged palms again.
The ground suffered again.
People widened their eyes, trying to see clearly, but with sand and stones flying and the wind howling, they couldn't see clearly.
They could only vaguely see that after the three Grandmasters exchanged several palms in the air, Huang Cheng was seriously injured and could only flee, chased away by the two Grandmasters.
After the three had gone far away and the wind subsided.
Amidst the wreckage and debris, beside the dilapidated stalls, people began to discuss.
"Three Grandmasters are attacking the Fourth Prince together!"
"The Fourth Prince has a Grandmaster protecting him, so it should have been foolproof."
It was impossible for the Fourth Prince to have no Grandmaster by his side.
But the one who truly killed the evil sect demons was the Fourth Prince; the Grandmaster only provided protection in the shadows.
Too many people had seen his heroic figure, the flash of his blade, the swift decapitation.
"Who would have thought that the evil sect demons would send even more Grandmasters? Truly despicable!"
"The Fourth Prince is probably in mortal danger!"
"Heaven has no eyes!"
"If Heaven had eyes, how could the evil sect demons be so rampant!"
"Alas— — . —"
In Wanghai City, there were still some remnants of the evil sects, who were extremely excited to see this situation.
There were also some informants of the evil sects who saw it as well.
Even some disciples of the Worry-Free Sect quickly transmitted the news.
A quarter of an hour later, almost everyone in Wanghai City knew the news.
Some were worried, some were celebrating, some were lamenting, and some were excited.
A bright moon hung high in the sky.
Moonlight, like water, cascaded upon a mountain forest more than a hundred miles outside Wanghai City.
In the woods halfway up the mountain, Chu Zhiyuan sat cross-legged on a blue stone.
The Bright Moon Blade lay across his lap, his aura circulating, continuing to operate the two small sword Qi.
Huang Cheng sat beside him.
He smiled and said, "Your Highness, I doubt they'll be easily fooled."
Tao Haoran stood not far away, hands clasped behind his back, and said with a smile, "Our acting was good, right? There shouldn't be any flaws."
The four Grandmasters cooperated tacitly, creating enough impact.
There were almost no flaws, making it impossible to arouse suspicion, and they wouldn't even suspect that Grandmasters would put on such a show.
Chu Zhiyuan, while circulating his energy, said, "Whether it succeeds or not, let's do our best and leave the rest to fate."
He was still wearing the Bi Luo True Robe, his face like white jade, illuminated by the moonlight, making him even more handsome and compelling.
Huang Cheng smiled and said, "These guys are shrinking back; they're really timid."
Tao Haoran chuckled, "They've been thoroughly frightened to death."
He also felt relieved.
Although he was a Grandmaster, he really wasn't as good as the Prince at killing evil sect demons.
This time was truly satisfying.
Chu Zhiyuan said, "There are always some who aren't afraid of death."
Like the Fearless Sect.
But this time, no experts from the Fearless Sect came to join in the fun.
Huang Cheng shook his head, "We can't act again to increase the momentum."
Acting to this point was already the limit; it wasn't appropriate to continue, or it would arouse suspicion.
A Grandmaster could only take action once; it wasn't appropriate to keep acting, it would be too fake.
Tao Haoran said, "Your Highness, is it almost complete?"
Chu Zhiyuan nodded, "It will be in the next few days."
"Amazing," Tao Haoran said with emotion.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Does Master Tao have anything to teach me?"
Tao Haoran said, "Your Highness, you shouldn't abandon this saber technique; it's unique and extremely powerful."
Chu Zhiyuan nodded.
", Someone's coming!" Huang Cheng suddenly said.
The four of them flashed and disappeared.
A dozen breaths later, a young man walked slowly towards them.
Chu Zhiyuan sat quietly on the blue stone, watching the young man approaching slowly.
The young man had ordinary features and a medium build, but he possessed the cultivation of a Perfected Grandmaster.
His expression was calm and composed, as if holding a pearl of wisdom in his hand.
At such an age, with such cultivation, even surpassing Chu Zhiyuan.
No wonder he had such a bearing.
Among the many evil sect Grandmasters Chu Zhiyuan had seen, this person was the youngest.
Chu Zhiyuan sat cross-legged and said faintly, "Huaisu Sect?"
"Hand over the Venerable's image." The young man stopped ten steps away and said calmly, "I can spare your life."
+
Chu Zhiyuan took out the statue from his sleeve, the one with many legs and a human body.
"Is it this?"
"Keeping the Venerable's image is useless to you; it will only bring disaster."
"It's contained in a Spirit-Sealing Box; it shouldn't be able to cause any harm, right?"
"It seems Your Highness is not prepared to hand it over."
"Why don't you come and take it yourself?" Chu Zhiyuan looked at him with a smile, "Are you a true disciple of the Huaisu Sect?"
"Xie Wufeng of the Huaisu Sect."
"Xie Wufeng—" Chu Zhiyuan said, "How many people have you killed to reach this realm?"
"Three," Xie Wufeng said faintly.
Chu Zhiyuan was surprised, "Only three?"
"Three masters," Xie Wufeng said faintly, "Each master helped me advance a major realm."
