A Major Crisis

Although the palace city of Angel Civilization and Tian Cheng District were on the same Main Star, they were located in different places.

Tian Cheng District was on the surface of the Main Star, where the common people of Angel Civilization lived. The palace city, meanwhile, sat atop a massive floating island suspended ten thousand meters above the Main Star, where the royal family and nobility resided.

When Hua Zhen heard this from Gus, he was greatly shocked. Only after asking in detail did he learn that the palace city could float because of the Anti-Gravity System.

He knew a little about the Anti-Gravity System. It applied a counterforce to an object; when that counterforce exceeded the object's gravity, the object broke free from the planet's pull. If gravity and anti-gravity reached equilibrium, it could remain suspended between the atmosphere and the ground.

Over the past few days, Hua Zhen had been scouting around in his quest to court death, but even so, he had not managed to leave the grounds of his own Bedroom Palace. His Bedroom Palace alone was already so vast—what about the entire palace city? To hold such a huge stretch of land in the sky without letting it fall, just how powerful did the palace city's Anti-Gravity System have to be? He could not imagine it.

Faced with such powerful technology and such a visually stunning sight, Hua Zhen desperately wanted to see it for himself. But Gus told him...

Before a prince came of age, he could not freely enter or leave the palace city without the Angel King's permission!

Starting out as a prince gave him a high status, but it also came with countless restrictions. Unable to experience the visual spectacle brought by advanced technology, Hua Zhen's disappointment was only natural.

Previously, because he had been desperate to return home, he had not cared much about his words or behavior. He did whatever he wanted. But things were different now. Since he wanted to survive properly in this "Deep Palace Courtyard," there were some things he could no longer do solely on impulse.

"Ah..." Thinking of this, Hua Zhen sighed helplessly and resumed his drills.

"Um... Your Highness, what are you doing?"

Gus had held it in for quite a while before finally speaking. He had spent the entire previous night explaining Angel Civilization to him, and their conversation had not ended until dawn. He had thought this little master would finally settle down after that. Who would have expected him to start causing trouble again?

As he stretched his legs, Hua Zhen said, "Didn't you say I can only undergo a Gene Upgrade after I come of age? Of course I need to build a solid foundation before then!"

"Actually, Your Highness, there is no need for this..." Gus said with an amused smile. "After your genes are upgraded, your physical abilities will naturally become stronger."

"How could that be the same?" Hua Zhen stopped, rose to his feet, and said to Gus, "If I build up my foundation in advance and can reach your First Generation Angel level with the strength of an ordinary angel, then wouldn't I become even stronger after a Gene Upgrade? I might even reach the level of a Second-generation Angel. My lifespan would increase too, wouldn't it?"

Gus grimaced, feeling that he needed to emphasize something. "Well... Your Highness, First Generation Angels and Second-generation Angels are not ranks. They merely represent advancements in scientific research and technology. In..."

Hua Zhen waved a hand. "I know all that. It was just an example. All right, warm-up complete. Today's goal is to run ten thousand... uh... five thousand meters instead..."

"But, Your Highness..."

"Hm? What is it now?" Hua Zhen turned to look at Gus.

"Today is the day you are supposed to see Consort Xin Yao. If you do not go today, you will have to wait another month..."

"..."

Hearing Gus's words, Hua Zhen gradually furrowed his brow. Consort Xin Yao was no stranger—she was the biological mother of the person whose body he inhabited. To be honest, he did not want to interact with anyone "familiar" right now, especially Consort Xin Yao. He had not inherited even a shred of the Third Prince's memories. If she noticed something, that would be a real disaster.

And more importantly, Hua Zhen felt deeply resistant toward that woman. He already had a mother, okay?

Some might ask: since Hua Zhen was a prince, why could he only see his own mother once a month? Did that not make no sense?

There was actually a reason for it!

Angel King Hua Que had now reached his twilight years and possessed an intense desire to control the position of Lord of Tiangong. The First Prince and Second Prince competed fiercely for the position of heir apparent. Not only did he not stop them, he was pleased to see it happen. Whenever one side fell into a disadvantage, he would even offer support to restore a certain balance.

Why? Imagine that one of the princes emerged victorious. What would he do next? Needless to say, he would covet the throne. That was not something Hua Que wanted to see.

Of course, allowing his children to compete could also be seen as a test Hua Que had set for them.

Aside from the First Prince and Second Prince, Old Third and Old Fourth were the same. In Hua Que's eyes, any one of his sons could become the future Angel King!

Angel Civilization was also a society fundamentally built on a Patriarchal Clan system, where female angels had no status to speak of.

Male Angels could earn the recognition of the upper class through military achievements and ability. The stronger their abilities and power, the more resources they received. That was how they obtained resources.

Female angels, however, could only obtain resources through their beauty, by winning the favor of Male Angels. In other words, Male Angels were the resources of female angels.

Therefore, since Hua Que placed hopes on every one of his sons, he could not allow them to casually interact with their mothers. He feared that these women would instill bad ideas in the children and affect how the future Angel King governed.

However, Hua Que was not completely heartless. It was impossible to forbid them from meeting forever, so he decreed that princes could see their mothers only once a month. Unless there were special circumstances, violating this order meant defying the king's command and would be severely punished!

Seeing Hua Zhen frown, Gus cautiously asked, "Your Highness, shall I go make preparations now?"

"No!" Hua Zhen refused without a second thought, his face expressionless. "Cancel the monthly visits to Consort Xin Yao from now on."

"Can... cancel them? Why?" Gus asked in disbelief. Whenever His Highness heard that he would be seeing Consort Xin Yao before, had he not always been thrilled? Why was it different now...

"Why are there so many whys?" Hua Zhen shot him a fierce glare, then ran forward without looking back. "Hurry up and keep up!"

After entering the Gene Era, even ordinary angels possessed formidable physical abilities. Take Hua Zhen, for example. He had long since reached his five-thousand-meter goal, yet his breathing was only slightly uneven.

"Phew, phew... Oh, right, Gus..." After running for a while, Hua Zhen looked at Gus beside him and said somewhat awkwardly, "Once we get back to the Bedroom Palace, arrange for another maid to serve me. The one who took care of me before... damn it, she keeps taking advantage of me..."

That morning, he had wanted to exercise, so he instructed Gus to prepare a set of clothes suitable for working out. Because of his noble status, someone had to attend to things like dressing and washing. Though Hua Zhen was very unused to it, he had not refused.

But what he never expected was that the maid responsible for changing his clothes kept intentionally—or seemingly unintentionally—rubbing herself against him. She was even drenched in fragrant sweat and panting heavily. Damn it, was changing clothes really enough to tire her out like that? Hua Zhen was not an actual child. He saw through her intentions at a glance.

"What did you say?!" Gus's face instantly darkened, a flash of killing intent passing through his eyes. Blaming himself, he said, "Your Highness, it was my oversight. Once we return, I will deal with her!"

His Highness was still young, and there were things he should not be exposed to yet. As his personal guard, Gus did not want him to grow up into someone like the First Prince. Someone actually dared set her sights on His Highness—she was truly courting death!

?!!

Hua Zhen was startled by Gus. He had not expected this guy to have such a side to him, and quickly stopped him. "What do you mean, deal with her? I am telling you, do not do that. Do you hear me?"

She had not done anything excessive. If they really got down to it, he was the one who had benefited. Hua Zhen did not want someone to lose her life because of a single remark from him.

"...I understand, Your Highness." Gus narrowed his eyes.

...Is this still the Gus I know? Hua Zhen swallowed and thought to himself.

"Rumble..."

Just then, a tremendous roar suddenly came from the distance. Hua Zhen stopped in his tracks and looked up toward the source of the sound, his expression somewhat blank.

Far off at the horizon, a massive flying ship was rapidly approaching. Its overall appearance resembled a Two-Masted Sailing Ship. The sail beneath the mainmast was fore-and-aft rigged, while the bowsprit connected to the foremast and carried triangular sails. Along both sides were rows of "oars" that moved up and down as though rowing through water, providing the ship with ample power.

Towering pavilions were one of the ship's defining deck features. Gorgeous dark-gold patterns were seamlessly inlaid into the outer walls of the main hall, while two tall, pointed "masts" shot straight into the sky, displaying unabashed extravagance.

"Gu... Gus, is... is that a spaceship from our Angel Civilization?" Hua Zhen came back to his senses and looked at Gus as he stammered out the question. Although he already knew this world possessed highly advanced technology, this was the first time he had seen something like this.

"That is correct, Your Highness. Once you come of age, the Angel King will prepare one just like it for you as well!" Thinking that His Highness was envious, Gus smiled. "If I am not mistaken, that should be the First Prince's personal flagship. I did not expect him to return so early!"

"The First Prince... is that the guy named Hua Ye?" Hua Zhen asked with a frown. "Didn't you say he was stationed outside? Why did he suddenly return?"

Gus explained with a smile, "Your Highness, you do not know this, but in two months it will be the Angel King's once-in-a-thousand-years birthday. The First Prince, the Second Prince, and some Angel Commanders stationed outside will all return to celebrate the Angel King's birthday."

"So that's what it is..." Hua Zhen understood. A birthday once every thousand years—damn, people who lived long really could do whatever they wanted~

Gus suddenly looked conflicted. "Well... Your Highness..."

"Why are you hesitating? Just say whatever it is~"

Gritting his teeth, Gus said, "Your Highness, please be careful and cautious when the time comes, especially if you encounter the First Prince. You have never met him and do not understand him, so even if you suffer some grievance, do not show it. Otherwise, you will be at a disadvantage!"

"?!! You... you mean I have to attend that old bastard... Father's birthday too? D-Don't joke around!"

Gus's meaning was already obvious, and it gave Hua Zhen a fright. Attending the Angel King's birthday celebration meant he would inevitably encounter people familiar with him. What if they discovered he was an impostor...

"You are the Third Prince of the palace city, so of course you have to attend!" Gus said as though it were only natural.

"Damn..." Hearing that, Hua Zhen felt utterly miserable. Clinging to his last hope, he swallowed. "Do not tell me that woman named Xin Yao will be attending too!"

"Of course. Isn't Your Highness happy?"

Happy my ass!! Hua Zhen wailed inwardly.