Lin Hao and Ning Qingxue rode their swords to the Zhuque Kingdom and stopped outside the capital city, gazing at the graropolis.

  It was a majestic city, sprawling over hundreds of miles, with no end in sight.

  It was daytime, and the buildings were clearly visible. The streets were wide and interected, bustling with people.

  "This is the imperial capital of the Zhuque Kingdom. Let's head straight to the pad settle the matter," Lin Hao said calmly.

  Ning Qingxue nodded slightly, agreeing with his pn.

  The two of them flew on their swords towards the pace.

  "Halt, who goes there!"

  Meng Long shouted, exuding an astonishing aura. He was a Golden Elixir cultivator, and his presence was even more intimidating due to his background as a seasoned military general.

  His gaze was arrogant, coldly watg the newers.

  "The pace is a restricted area. Trespassers will be executed without mercy!"

  Lin Hao didn't waste words, directly taking out his identity token.

  Meng Long's expression ged instantly, and he spoke respectfully, "This humble one failed tnize Mount Tai. Please five my offense."

  He was a Golden Elixir cultivator, anding an army of a huhousand. In the Zhuque Kingdom, he was sed only to one.

  Now that the one above him had passed away, his status was arguably the most esteemed.

  Yet, even so, he had to respectfully address a cultivator from the Xuan Yi as "superior."

  Lin Hao, however, didn't bother tue, simply waving his hand, "We have an imperial decree to announce! Lead us into the pace."

  "Yes."

  At this time, the great hall was still filled with verbal sparring.

  The two princes refrained from physical frontation, which frustrated the princes hoping to take advantage.

  "Sed Brother, have you ever heard the story of the Lü family?"

  "I don't want to hear it, I don't want to hear it. Third Brother, you have no respect for your elders, truly wless!"

  "Elders must be virtuous and respectable to be worthy of respect. As for you... ha!"

  "You!"

  Fang Ming was furious, rolling up his sleeves, ready for a brawl, when a shout interrupted.

  "The Xuan Yi's superior has arrived!"

  A superior has arrived?

  Everyone in the hall ged their expressions instantly.

  Lin Hao and Ning Qiood on their flying swords above the clouds, looking down at the crowd.

  Are they fighting for power?

  Lin Hao g the people below, took out a jade slip from his ste bag, and flicked his finger.

  Golden characters appeared in the sky.

  "Due to the sudden passing of the Zhuque Emperor without leaving a decree, to prevent national chaos and suffering for the people, the thirteenth prince, Fang Yuan, is hereby appointed as the new emperor of the Zhuque Kingdom!"

  After reading the golden characters, Prince Fang Ming inwardly mented. He had po support the eldest prind then seek a title from the Xuan Yi.

  But his phrough.

  Prince Fang Tian, looking smug, first bowed to the decree, then to the two superiors, and finally to Fang Yuan.

  "gratutions to His Majesty on asding the throne. Long live the Emperor!"

  His bered a rea, with many ministers and General Meng Long kneeling to greet the new emperor.

  The other princes were unwilling, especially the eldest prince, whose face was clouded with gloom.

  But the Zhuque Kingdom was uhe trol of the Xuan Yi, and no one dared to defy the decree!

  The new emperor, Fang Yuan, was actually an outer disciple of the Xuan Yi, and he had ehe sect at the same time as Lin Hao, making them true fellow disciples.

  He flew to the two of them and spoke, "Senior Brother Lin, thank you for arriving in time to help me asd the throherwise, my brothers' dissatisfa would have led to flict, and the people would have suffered," Fang Yuan said sincerely.

  His talent for cultivation wasn't high, and he had barely reached the Great Perfe of Qi Refining, but failed to establish his foundation, injuring his roots.

  He po return home to recuperate, but before he could, his father passed away.

  He was caught in the drama of his brothers fighting for the throne.

  He was ihe legitimate son, but having pursued the Immortal Path from a young age, he was far removed from court affairs, with no supporters except for a third uncle.

  In this struggle for the throne, he was at a disadvantage.

  Fortunately, Lin Haht an imperial decree, helping him asd the throne.

  Lin Hao didn't know much about this enthusiastic fellow disciple, but he remembered that ier sect, he was known as the "Wealthy Boy."

  It was because after peting with oppos, if he admired them, he would gift them a magical treasure.

  Lin Hao casually mentiohis niame, and Fang Yuan couldn't help but smile shyly.

  "Senior Brother Lin, I didn't expect you to remember my niame. My only regret in four years of sect cultivation is not having sparred with you."

  "How about we have a matow?"

  The two exged gnces and ughed.

  Unknowingly, their retionship grew a bit closer.

  "Senior Brother, I'll have someone prepare a bao wele you and Senior Sister Ning."

  Lin Hao inteo refuse, but remembering Ning Qingxue's hidden injuries, he thought it best to rest here for a couple of days.

  After all, there was still some time before the Tianjiao Battle.

  "Then we won't stand on ceremony."

  Soon, under Fang Yuan's guidance, Lin Hao and Ning Qingxue went to the ba.

  The royal ba hall was resple, with red bamboo and lifelike golden dragons coiled around them.

  Uhe light of mps and jewels, the hall appeared even more magnifit.

  The aroma of food and spirit wine filled the hall.

  Elegant music drifted among the guests.

  The new emperor, Fang Yuan, sat at the head, with Lin Hao and Ning Qingxue seated closest to him on the left.

  After a few rounds of drinks.

  Fang Yuan cpped his hands, and dozens of women in sheer veils danced gracefully in the hall, each a stunniy.

  Lin Hao watched the dancers with an appreciative gaze.

  "Senior Brother, if you fany of them, I'll have someone seo you," Fang Yuan said with a knowing look.

  Lin Hao notiing Qig him and thought that he hadn't achieved his goal yet, so he couldn't afford to lose sight of the bigger picture.

  Moreover, these earthly beauties were of no be to his cultivation.

  If he were tempted, it would truly be for their physical allure, which was nht.

  So, he said righteously, "Junior Brother Fahly beauties are of no be to my cultivatio's not mention this again."

  Fang Yuan was surprised but nodded in agreement.

  Ning Qingxue, hearing their versation, merely snorted softly and excused herself, saying she was tired, ao rest.

  Lin Hao didn't try to stop her, only remindio take care of herself.

  Once her figure disappeared, his gaze returo the dancers.

  Everyone appreciates beauty, and watg somethiiful was more enjoyable than drinking with a bunch of old men.

  Seeing Ning Qingxue leave, Lin Hao revealed his true nature, and Fang Yuan immediately uood: So that's how it is! I khe renowned handsome young man couldn't possibly not love beauties!

  Huh?

  Lin Hao couldn't help but make a surprised sound, his gaze fixed on one of the imperial family members, uo look away.

  Such a stunniy in the mortal world!

  He stared ily at a beauty whose looks rivaled Ning Qingxue's, a delicate and lovely woman who evoked a sense of pity.

  "Junior Brother Fang, who is she?"

  Fang Yuan's eyes fshed with surprise, and he quickly said, "Senior Brother, that is my elder sister, the Princess Yong'an."

  He could see that Senior Brother Lin was very ied in his sister, and he sighed, "Senior Brother, my sister is indeed naturally beautiful. Even among the female cultivators in the Immortal Sect, few are more beautiful than her.

  Actually, I would love for us to bee in-ws, but unfortunately, my sister doesn't have that fortune."

  "What do you mean?"

  Lin Hao's gaze never left the princess.

  Not many women, even in the sect, could move him.

  He was quite ied in being the brother-in-w of Little Yuan, so he was curious why Fang Yuan said so.

  Fang Yuan's eyebrows furrowed into a frown, and he sighed heavily, "Senior Brother, you may not know, but my sister has suffered from a cold ailment since childhood. her the imperial physis nor the renowned doctors in the nd could cure her, and they all said she wouldn't live past 21. My sister is ly twenty."

  A cold ailment?

  Lin Hao's brows kightly. He had never heard of such a disease.

  He thought it was just a mundane illness, but Fang Yuan said their father had spent a great fortuo invite aal Infant cultivator to diagnose her, yet even he couldn't cure it.

  "However, that cultivator mentiohat the only way to save my sister is to find a man with a Pure Yang Body and dual cultivate with him."

  "But a Pure Yang Body is rarely seen even in a thousand years. It's extremely rare not only in the secur world but also in the cultivation world."

  "There's nothing we do!"

  Peerjun