Upon seeing Can Yunwu, an old True Monarch's eyes flashed, and he chuckled, "Your Highness Princess, His Majesty gave an order just now. Until His Majesty returns, all affairs of Daqian will be left to the Crown Prince!"

Hearing those words, a trace of bitterness flickered in Can Yunwu's eyes.

Soon after, she bowed respectfully towards Xu Yang, "Can Yunwu greets Your Highness!"

This bow meant she was giving up.

Su Yun winked at Xu Yang, watching the scene play out. To be honest, she felt extremely satisfied inside.

Xu Yang said blandly, "You'd better get ready to take the position."

"What?"

Can Yunwu looked up at Xu Yang in shock.

"When he returns, I'll step down from Crown Prince. That's what he promised me."

"Crown Prince?"

Xu Yang shook his head slightly, no trace of attachment!

Can Yunwu, however, was utterly bewildered.

The seat she fought so hard for was, in Xu Yang's eyes, meaningless, not worth caring about!

How could he not care?

Xu Yang ignored whatever Can Yunwu was feeling, turned, and walked over to the three girls: Su Yun and the others.

"You were worried about me."

"I knew you wouldn't let me down. But those two don't quite trust you." Su Yun hooked Xu Yang's arm with a giggle.

Bai Jingxue lowered her head in embarrassment.

Tuoba Hongyu's mouth twitched slightly. Suddenly, she pulled Bai Jingxue's delicate hand and tucked it into Xu Yang's other arm.

Bai Jingxue stared blankly at Tuoba Hongyu.

Even Su Yun was stunned.

Xu Yang's body froze; then he took a deep breath and didn't struggle.

Bai Jingxue's face instantly broke into a smile.

Tuoba Hongyu beamed, "Thank you, Your Highness, for helping me avenge my family!"

"May I ask, Your Highness, do you still need a maid by your side?"

Maid?

Su Yun immediately became guarded—this woman was too calculating.

A dignified Barbarian princess, becoming a maid?

Even if the Barbarian Race was gone now.

She clearly meant to retreat in order to advance.

"How could Hongyu be a maid?" Su Yunjiao giggled sweetly. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Xu Yang's mouth twitched.

He was truly uncomfortable with this situation.

He immediately broke free from Su Yun and Bai Jingxue's arms, coughed, and said, "You guys chat; I need to find someone!"

With those words, he sped off into the distance.

Halfway there.

A hazy figure floated over.

"Teacher."

"Tsk, worthy of the Crown Prince—having such luck with beauties, most people would envy you!" Gu Jun teased.

Xu Yang looked helpless, "Teacher, please don't make fun of your student."

"Hahaha!" Gu Jun laughed heartily.

"Teacher, about that last battle…"

Gu Jun's expression grew grim; he glanced nervously at the sky and muttered, "Terrifying—all levels I've never imagined!"

"The 'shackles of this world' the Emperor spoke of probably connects to the biggest secret of Daqian, the one the Grand Justice mentioned before!"

"And that faintly appearing spirit river at the end…"

Gu Jun was equally full of curiosity inside.

"It's pointless to guess now. When the Emperor returns, he'll tell you the truth!"

"By then…remember to bring your teacher along." Gu Jun grinned broadly.

Xu Yang telling him couldn't compare to hearing the answer straight from Can Sutian's mouth.

"Alright."

Xu Yang nodded lightly.

"Teacher, did you spot Song Yuanhao?" Xu Yang glanced around. The battle was nearly over, and the Great Hao experts here were either dead or suppressed.

But there was no sign of Song Yuanhao!

"That fellow was carried away by a True Monarch, though another True Monarch has gone after them."

"Should we track them down?" asked Gu Jun.

Whether Song Yuanhao could be captured, even he couldn't guarantee it!

Having experienced so much, Gu Jun had learned the most valuable lesson: never make absolute statements, or you'll get slapped in the face!

"Let's go see."

"That guy has no reason left to live anyway."

Xu Yang's eyes turned cold.

"Come, this way!"

Gu Jun pointed the direction, sprinting off with Xu Yang. He had been hiding in the shadows, and had witnessed Song Yuanhao's escape clearly.

Half an hour later.

Somewhere in the Northern Territory's wilderness.

A Martial Artist sat cross-legged ahead of them.

"That's the True Monarch who chased him!" Gu Jun's pupils contracted.

They quickly approached. The sitting expert immediately opened his eyes, alert.

Xu Yang's brows knitted; this True Monarch was injured, and not lightly.

"Your Highness."

Seeing it was Xu Yang, the True Monarch relaxed and quickly stood up.

Xu Yang hurried to say, "Senior, no need to stand on ceremony. Where is Song Yuanhao?"

The True Monarch forced a bitter smile, "Song Yuanhao's guard seemed to use the Barbarian Secret Skill—he spirited Song Yuanhao away right under my nose. Even I couldn't detect a trace."

"Barbarian Secret Skill?"

Xu Yang's eyes contracted.

"Barbarian Race!" Gu Jun suddenly spoke. "Now that Great Hao has collapsed, their foundation is just those experts who followed Song Tianchou. Besides that, nothing remains."

"Where could he flee to?"

The lands of the Barbarian Race!

That's a place no one can find easily.

Xu Yang's spirit lifted; he said quickly, "Senior, you heal up. I'll go check out the Barbarian Race!"

"Your Highness, why not wait for others to arrive and go together?" the True Monarch hesitated.

"It's fine. My teacher is with me; that's enough." Xu Yang smiled lightly.

The True Monarch trembled inside—Xu Yang's teacher?

Wasn't that the Pill Emperor?

After what happened in the battle at the capital, this rumor had spread among some circles; he'd heard about it.

He immediately looked at Gu Jun with new respect.

"Greetings, Pill Emperor."

"We'll go on ahead!" Gu Jun returned the gesture and quickly left with Xu Yang, leaving the True Monarch in shock—so the Pill Emperor really was still alive.

"Damn, I should've gone with them! My wounds are grave, but not fatal. If I could impress His Highness on the way, would that mean a chance for the Pill Emperor to treat me?"

He fumed with regret; looking again, Gu Jun and Xu Yang were already gone.

Xu Yang and Gu Jun crossed the Barbaric Mountain Range directly.

This vast, perilous range that used to be a forbidden land to him was now like solid ground—no threats remained.

Entering the Barbarian heartlands again, Xu Yang couldn't help sighing.

What has become of the Barbarian Race now?

But he didn't dwell on it, and hurried straight to the Barbarian royal court.

"Kid, over here."

Gu Jun suddenly whispered gruffly, grabbing Xu Yang and flicking him hundreds of feet away.

On the ground lay over a dozen Barbarian Martial Artists' corpses.

"Just died recently."

Xu Yang glanced around and could still sense faint traces of energy in the air.

"Could it be him?" Even he wasn't sure.

Gu Jun was about to speak when he suddenly gazed with suspicion toward the royal court.

Xu Yang sensed it, too.

A weak ripple flashed and vanished suddenly.

Coming from the royal court!

To sense it from so far away—trouble must be brewing in the royal court.

The two exchanged a glance, then soared up immediately.

Whether or not it was Song Yuanhao, they had to check it out.

Moments later, they arrived at the royal court.

The place now was exceedingly desolate.

One glance revealed hardly any Barbarian Martial Artists on the grounds.

Xu Yang's eyes narrowed sharply, staring at the depths of the royal court, where ruins of collapsed buildings and utter chaos lay.

Clearly, some upheaval had just happened.

Undoubtedly this was the source of that strange ripple from before.

He and Gu Jun cautiously approached, and immediately spotted a vast pit behind the rubble.