"Asura Blood Saber... Tsk, that's actually quite fitting!"

Tang Yan clicked his tongue in approval.

Clang!

The blood saber howled, trembling with a constant buzz, as if exhilarated by its new name!

At last, Xu Yang was utterly satisfied!

No wonder it was crafted by Tang Yan; this True Monarch's Supreme Treasure was nearly unimaginably flawless!

The mysteries it holds can only truly blossom at the True Monarch realm!

"Kid, are you really going to give up being the Crown Prince?" Tang Yan asked suspiciously.

"My heart is set on the martial path!"

Xu Yang smiled faintly, not harboring even a shred of attachment to that title!

Perhaps Tang Yan had been secluded for too long, utterly unaware of all he'd been through!

But if it were someone else, they might have guessed at a few reasons!

Yet to outsiders, no matter what grievances one had endured, when faced with the 'Crown Prince' title, no one would ever reject it!

Xu Yang, however, no longer cared for any of that!

That Crown Prince title had become nothing but shackles to him!

He sought to scale the very summit of martial arts!

"Tsk, what others would die for means nothing to you, kid!" Tang Yan marveled, his opinion of Xu Yang rising yet again.

"But…" His tone suddenly shifted: "That princess, they say she is anything but simple!"

"Hm?"

Xu Yang arched his brows slightly.

"How old are you?"

"Twenty!"

"Hiss!"

Tang Yan couldn't help but suck in a breath.

Barely twenty years old?

Is this horse-training-in-the-womb level terrifying or what?

His heart lurched painfully. He cast an aggrieved look at Xu Yang and sighed, "You should call her elder sister, then!"

"His Majesty has no sons, only her as princess!"

"Yet after all these years, still no Crown Prince has been named, and this princess naturally desires to become an unprecedented empress!"

"Though she seldom appears in public, behind the scenes she's gathered considerable power!"

"Of those recently spying in secret, at least a third support her!"

Xu Yang's heart leapt in surprise!

Then he shook his head and smiled: "What does that matter to me?"

Tang Yan's mouth twitched, and he shook his head again.

Then, waving his hand, he said, "Go on, get moving!"

"Don't forget what you promised!" As Xu Yang was leaving, Tang Yan hurriedly reminded him.

"Rest easy, elder!"

Xu Yang nodded solemnly, then departed in a swirl of motion.

"Now that the spirit saber has been forged, it's time to go to the palace."

Though he wondered if he'd be able to meet the Son of Heaven!

His nominal royal uncle!

The information Tang Yan had shared just flashed through his mind. Xu Yang smiled lightly: "Ambition? Though I care not for this title, I just hope no trouble comes of it!"

He despised trouble above all!

...

The Imperial Palace, Cloud Dance Garden.

This secluded orchard deep within the palace sprawled over an impressive area; ancient trees ringed the grounds, interlaced bamboo groves surrounded winding blue-stone paths, clear streams flowed among buildings steeped in classical charm.

A graceful figure sat cross-legged beneath a pavilion, facing a stream that flowed before her. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

The young woman looked just past twenty, her face as luminous as jade.

Her eyes were closed, yet she still exuded a distinguished aura.

Suddenly.

Footsteps approached.

A tall woman, garbed in long embroidered blue robes and carrying an ancient sword on her back, strode swiftly forward.

Stopping just outside the pavilion, the woman bowed respectfully: "Your Highness, he has arrived."

Can Yunwu's eyes trembled slightly, then opened, liveliness flashing like lightning!

"Took him long enough; seems he came prepared!"

Dong Xiuling said quietly, "In that estate, he claimed he was here to relinquish his Crown Prince identity."

"Do you believe him?"

Can Yunwu turned to meet Dong Xiuling's gaze!

"I do not know," Dong Xiuling replied calmly, "But few in this world can resist that title's allure!"

"Especially when it costs nothing!"

"Just so."

Can Yunwu smiled faintly, stepping outward: "Father is still in seclusion, so if he wishes to meet him, it's not happening!"

"Come—let us see this near-legend of a little brother."

The two women walked one after the other out of the garden along the blue-stone path.

Ahead, near the plaza, a figure was already standing.

It was Xu Yang, newly arrived at the imperial palace.

Xu Yang had barely entered when he saw the chief of the clan!

Can Yunxiao seemed to have awaited him for ages.

Not a word more; he simply led Xu Yang here, leaving behind one message: "If His Majesty wishes to meet you, it will happen soon enough!"

"If not, no matter how long you wait, it'll be useless!"

Xu Yang turned abruptly, eyebrows furrowing as he caught sight of the two women approaching.

"If she's here, then she must be the princess."

Can Yunwu!

Xu Yang found himself quite curious about this princess.

As they drew closer, his eyes flashed ever-so-slightly.

Can Yunwu's cultivation was formidable—Myriad Manifestations Realm Perfection!

Though a royal princess, to possess such prowess spoke volumes of her prodigious talent!

And the woman behind her, she too was Myriad Manifestations Realm Perfection!

She even gave Xu Yang the sense she was stronger than Can Yunwu!

"Brother, you're far slower than I'd expected."

Can Yunwu stopped a yard away, smiling at Xu Yang with a gaze like spring water.

"Sooner or later, what difference does it make?"

"Late arrival—could it be the princess is disappointed?"

"You ought to call me Royal Sister." Can Yunwu's eyes sharpened.

Xu Yang's lips curled slightly—here it comes?

What a blatant show of force!

"Why bother?"

"I presume the princess knows quite well my identity and experience."

Xu Yang replied calmly.

"Royal blood is an honor; it must not be defiled!" Can Yunwu enunciated each word slowly.

"Seems royal blood is the ultimate nobility in your eyes!"

Xu Yang said quietly, "But to me, it's not even worth a single coin!"

"You…"

Fury flooded Can Yunwu's eyes as she glared at Xu Yang, vanishing without warning from her spot.

Boom!

Myriad Manifestations Realm Perfection burst forth in a sweeping torrent!

Can Yunwu appeared above Xu Yang like a specter, slamming her palm down in attack.

Her gaze was cold and sharp as she barked: "I'd like to see what justification you have for scorning royal blood."

Boom!

Her palm came crashing down as if to flatten the heavens.

Xu Yang shook his head slightly.

Boom!

He threw a punch, casual and effortless.

Can Yunwu took the blow like a thunderstrike, muffled cry escaping as she spat blood and was knocked back!

Swish!

Xu Yang sprang forward like lightning.

"Your Highness, look out!" Dong Xiuling's expression changed drastically, leaping without hesitation.

Thud!

With a dull crash, Can Yunwu screamed in pain.

She was pinned to the ground, Xu Yang's hand clutching her throat mercilessly.

Can Yunwu's eyes went wide, shock and disbelief overflowing!

How could he be so strong?

She, Myriad Manifestations Realm Perfection, had no power to resist at all.

Xu Yang glanced sideways at Dong Xiuling.

"Release Her Highness, now!" Dong Xiuling had drawn her ancient sword, locking her gaze onto Xu Yang.

Xu Yang couldn't help but laugh: "Princess, it seems your followers have no notion of rank or station!"

"Stand down!" Can Yunwu hissed through gritted teeth.

But Dong Xiuling did not budge in the slightest!

"What is it you want?"

"It's not what I want, it's what you want!" Xu Yang fixed his cold gaze on Can Yunwu.

Can Yunwu shuddered; her spirit seemed to collapse!

Spurt!

She suddenly coughed out a jet of blood!

"Royal Sister? Are you worthy?"

Xu Yang laughed coldly: "You, with this little bit of strength—two months ago you couldn't even match Huangfu Qing; let alone Song Yuanhao!"

"So this is your royal blood?"