The night was slightly cool.

  Inside a mountain cave.

  Mmm~

  Mmm~

  Ning Qingxue slowly awoke, weakly opening her eyes to survey her surroundings, only to feel a chill on her body.

  She found herself covered with a man's arment, wearing only her undergarments underh, and saw Lin Hao meditating nearby.

  g!

  She drew her Snon Sword and pced it against Lin Hao's neck.

  "You sdrel, what did you do to me?"

  Lin Hao's eyes snapped open, but despite the bde at his throat, he remained calm.

  "I didn't do anything. Your clothes were soaked with blood, and if not removed, it would have clotted on your body, hindering your wound's healing. So, I took them off."

  "But I couldn't open your ste ring, so I covered you with my clothes."

  "Fairy Ning, what do you think I did to you?"

  "......"

  Ning Qingxue was now fully awake and didn't feel anything unusual with her body, realizing she might have wronged Lin Hao.

  However, when he undressed her, who knows if he did anything inappropriate.

  Mmm... Ah!

  Her sudden movement tugged at her wound.

  She could barely hold onto her sword.

  Seeing this, Lin Hao quickly pushed the bde away, thinking it would be too unjust to have his throat actally slit!

  "Fairy Ning, your injuries are severe. You should focus on healing first."

  Ning Qingxue raised an eyebrow, snorted coldly, and took out a set of clothes from her ste ring.

  "Turn around, and don't look."

  "Alright, alright." Lin Hao turned around, muttering under his breath, "It's not like I haven't seen it before."

  "What did you say?"

  "Nothing, I was just saying that Fairy Ning's injuries are severe. tally, the dual cultivatiohod I practice is quite effective for healing. How about we..."

  "Get lost!"

  Ning Qingxue's face was full of anger as she ehe pain to dress herself, then took out a small por bottle from her ste ring.

  Inside was a Saint Yuan Pill, a precious healing elixir that only aal Infant cultivator could refine, effective even for injuries of those at the Elemental Infant stage.

  Two years ago, her Sect Leader Master had gifted her five pills, and now only two were left.

  With a pained heart, she took one, swallowed it, and sat cross-legged to el her energy for healing.

  If she knew Lin Hao still had more than half a bottle, with dozens of pills, she would surely be envious, jealous, and furious.

  Lin Hao turned his head, seeing the woman with her eyes closed, and couldn't help but remark, "This elixir, you were relut to use it even against strong enemies, but now you've taken it. Am I scarier than those enemies?"

  Although Ning Qingxue was meditating with her eyes closed, she hadn't shut off her senses and heard Lin Hao's remark clearly.

  Hmph, you're indeed scarier than any enemy.

  The healing effect of the Saint Yuan Pill was remarkable. In just one night, Ning Qingxue's injuries were mostly healed.

  Stepping out of the cave, she found Lin Hao tending to a campfire, roasting two snow fowls over it.

  She frowned slightly. A Foundatioablishment cultivator could abstain from mortal food; what was this little rogue up to?

  What other schemes was he plotting?

  "Just in time, the chi is ready. e a."

  Lin Hao tore off a drumstid ha to her.

  Ning Qingxue was about to refuse, but the aroma was irresistible, awakening her long-suppressed appetite. She reached out with her delicate hand, took the drumstick, and took a small bite.

  Crispy oside, tender on the ihe meat was delicious, leaving a lingering fragran her mouth.

  Uedly, this little rogue had a knack for cooking.

  After swallowing a mouthful of meat, Ning Qingxue felt a hunger in her belly, eating in small bites until only the bone was left.

  Finished, she still looked longingly at the roasting chi.

  Seeing this, Lin Hao tore off another drumstick, levitating it to her, and then began to feast himself.

  "How should we pn our move?"

  "The missing fellow disciple, in my opinion, was most likely killed by the Qingyu or the Demon . This matter is signifit and has been taken over by my Senior Sister."

  Senior Sister?

  Ning Qi her lip slightly, thinking of the witch who once caused chaos in the sect.

  Speaking of which, Master Feng's three disciples were all notoriously arrogant.

  She looked at Lin Hao with a peculiar expression, as if trying to dis something.

  The person iion, unaware of her thoughts, tinued, "Anyway, your mission is plete. , we should head to the Zhuque Kingdom."

  Ning Qingxue nodded, but in her heart, she wondered if aligning with the power shifts of a secur kingdom would bring any trouble.

  ...

  Zhuque Kingdom, Imperial City.

  In the opulent and grand pace, the sound of heated arguments echoed.

  "Sint times, the eldest should i, not the you. Although there is from the te emperor, the eldest prince should rightfully asd the throne. Old Third, what do you have to say?"

  The speaker, dressed in a robe embroidered with four-cwed pythons, had a well-maintained face that exuded authority without anger.

  He was Fang Ming, the younger brother of the te emperor Fang Heng, and a prince of the realm.

  "By yic, the aeags also state that the legitimate should i, not the illegitimate. The thirteenth prince, Fang Yuan, is the only legitimate son of the te emperor and empress. If he doesn't asd the throne, who will?"

  This speaker, also in a python robe, was another prince of the Zhuque Kingdom.

  Fang Tian and Fang Ming held equally esteemed positions and naturally dared tue.

  "Sed Brother, everyone knows you favor the eldest prince, but isn't this favoritism a bit excessive, even more than for your own son?

  So, what exactly are you after?"

  "You..." Fang Ming was furious, a subtle hatred fshing in his eyes.

  "Then why are you so keen on supp the thirteenth prince's assion?"

  "Me? I just 't stand some people's barbaric ways."

  Fang Ming, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, screeched, "Old Third, what are you insinuating?"

  "What am I insinuating?" Fang Tian took two steps forward, his tone growing cold.

  "When our elder brother was campaigning outside, he entrusted you to escort the empress back. How did you 'escort' her?"

  "You..."

  "Shameless!"

  Fang Ming, like an enraged old lion, said through gritted teeth, "Old Third, do you think my sword isn't sharp?"

  g!

  Fang Tian also drew his sword, coldly saying, "My sword has never been dull."

  The princes present, seeing the two old princes drawing swords against each other, each harbored their own thoughts.

  The eldest prince was the firstborn, supported by Prince Ming.

  The thirteenth prince was the legitimate son, backed by Priian.

  If the two didn't exhaust each other, others would have little ce.

  Those present were all shrewd individuals, and the two fronting princes also khat if they fought, others would be.

  So they only exged harsh words, knowing they wouldn't truly fight until the end.

  Both were princes with nearly ten thousand armored private soldiers uheir and. If a flict truly erupted, the imperial capital would be awash in blood.

  Not to mention the one huhousand imperial guards stationed in the royal city. These loyal guards of the te emperor wouldn't partake ihroruggle but were responsible for the royal city's safety.

  If a battle broke out in the pace, they wouldn't stand idly by.

  General Meng Long of the imperial guards, heavy armor and wielding a three-foot azure bde, stood at the entrance of the royal city, his posture upright like a spear pierg the sky.

  This powerful minister, holding signifit military power, remained expressionless, his eyes devoid of emotion, leaving everyone guessing his thoughts.

  Peerjun