Where Did This Ugly Monster Come From

Chapter 23: Where Did This Ugly Monster Come From?

Ji Hongxue's delicate face flushed "swish," and she instinctively pushed An Bulang away, her clear, moist eyes glaring at him in annoyance: "You… you're being a pervert again!"

How could a boy three years younger than her be so… wild?!

An Bulang laughed heartily, "Sister Hongxue, you think too highly of yourself. Do you really think I'm so desperate that I'd want to get perverted with you?"

Saying nothing would have been better, but now that it was mentioned, Ji Hongxue exploded and chased An Bulang all over Yongyang Courtyard.

Late at night, An Bulang absorbed all the more than a hundred Spirit Stones Ji Hongxue had given him, raising his cultivation to Body Refinement Seventh Level in one go.

Since he had already clashed with the Soaring Dragon Empire, the stronger his power, the better.

He didn't know what level of power his current cultivation matched in the mortal world. He figured he should be safe in the Spirit Attunement Realm. Although the Azure Dragon Elder he killed was only at Spirit Gathering Second Layer, and each layer was a world apart, An Bulang felt that in his current state, he could easily defeat someone at Spirit Gathering Ninth Layer.

He just didn't know if his strength could reach the Heavenly Origin Realm level.

Body Refinement, Spirit Attunement, Heavenly Origin, Divine Sea, Seeking the Dao, Tribulation Crossing – these were the six major realms for cultivators, with Heavenly Origin Realm being a significant dividing line.

Cultivators at the Body Refinement Realm could, at their limit, rival it. Cultivators at the Spirit Attunement Realm could be overwhelmed by sheer numbers if mortals gathered armies. But once a cultivator entered the Heavenly Origin Realm, any amount of mortal power would be useless. Heavenly Origin Realm cultivators could perceive heaven and earth, resonate with Spiritual Energy, unleash various powerful and unfathomable Sorceries, and even fly through the air, moving freely between heaven and earth.

To put it simply, if you gathered a hundred thousand troops to deal with a Heavenly Origin Realm cultivator, but they could fly in the sky, how would you fight? If they rained down Sorceries one after another, you'd just be a slow-moving target.

"Heavenly Origin Realm great cultivators… I heard the Soaring Dragon Empire only has a few. As long as they don't gang up on me, I won't panic and can just do as I please," An Bulang nodded and muttered to himself.

Dawn was breaking in the east.

Ji Hongxue went to pay her respects to her father, the King.

She had originally planned to take the Spirit Stones and flee to another country.

But An Bulang insisted on staying in the royal palace to have some fun, so she had no choice but to remain.

At this point, I can only hand this over to Father…

Ji Hongxue walked into Ji Yonghao's chambers, pressing something in her embrace.

From within the chambers came sounds of coughing.

In a gracefully decorated courtyard.

A man in purple Crown Prince robes looked slightly stunned, "You actually failed?"

"Hmph! That insignificant cultivator didn't know what was good for him and dared to insult me!" A beautiful woman's face was currently gloomy, her tone filled with chilling coldness. "When he falls into my hands, I will make him wish he were dead."

The speakers were Crown Prince Ji Wuye of the Azure Kingdom and Grand Princess Qin Shiyue of the Soaring Dragon Empire.

Ji Wuye sighed, "I thought our Azure Kingdom would gain another great general. But he has cultivation but no vision or ambition."

"Heh, perhaps that slut offered her body, which is why An Bulang is so devoted to her. Otherwise, what would An Bulang be after?" Qin Shiyue's eyes revealed deep disdain as she maliciously speculated.

Hearing Ji Hongxue spoken of like this, Ji Wuye's expression didn't change. "Ever since she forcibly intercepted the secret report I sent you, she hasn't been my sister. Who she associates with is none of my business. In the end, she'll just become a plaything for important figures."

"If that's the case, when Ji Hongxue falls into your hands, could you let me have my way with her first? I've admired her for a long time," a young man in green, sitting next to Ji Wuye, asked politely, fanning himself.

"Since the Young Sect Master of the Cloud Sword Sect has made this request, how could I possibly refuse?" Ji Wuye smiled and nodded.

The Cloud Sword Sect was one of the three great sects of the Azure Kingdom, with Sect Master Cheng Yuzi, a cultivator at the Spirit Attunement Realm, presiding over it. As the Young Sect Master of the Cloud Sword Sect, Ji Wuye naturally gave him face.

Inside the King's chambers.

Ji Yonghao finished reading the secret report on the sheepskin scroll, his hand trembling slightly.

"Cough, cough, cough…" His chest churned with Blood Essence, and he suddenly began to cough violently again.

"Father." Ji Hongxue quickly stepped forward to support him.

The man, who was physically strong and outwardly imposing, now looked frail and weak. Not only was his face sallow, but during his violent coughing fits, he even coughed up blood, staining the white silk handkerchief red.

"Hongxue… you should flee…" Ji Yonghao suddenly said.

Ji Hongxue was startled, "Father…"

"The Soaring Dragon Empire is too powerful. I have no way to resist them… Things have reached this point, and they won't let you go. I'll send experts to escort you away, far away from this country… as far as possible…" Ji Yonghao said with difficulty.

Ji Hongxue's eyes reddened, "But, but what about you, Father?"

"Cough, cough… It is I who lack the ability to protect this country. Generations of legacy, and it comes to my generation to see the fall of the nation… But…" Ji Yonghao took a deep breath, his expression gradually becoming resolute. "Though I am weak, I would rather die standing than live in shame."

In the Royal Palace's Hundred Flower Courtyard.

The crabapple blossoms bloomed in the spring breeze.

Several concubines were gathered, admiring the flowers, while several young princes and princesses played nearby.

A petite young girl, dressed in a luxurious outfit, hurried through the courtyard.

The clothes were indeed beautiful, but the person wearing them was exceptionally ugly. Her skin was dark green, her eyes were of different sizes, her nose and mouth were crooked, and her face was covered in pockmarks, making her appearance even more discordant.

She was the Fifth Princess of the Azure Kingdom, Ji Yinyin.

"Run! The ugly monster is here again!" The young princes and princesses shouted and ran away.

Ji Yinyin seemed accustomed to this scene and walked forward, ignoring it.

"What nonsense are you all spouting? She's your royal sister," one of the consorts said with a giggle, though she made no move to stop them.

"I don't have an ugly royal sister like that!" a young princess declared, her face flushed with anger.

"Monsters should hide in caves. Why are you running out?" A young prince picked up a stone from the ground and threw it at Ji Yinyin.

Ji Yinyin moved quickly, dodging the projectile.

But the other children, seeing one of them throw a pebble, began to follow suit.

A barrage of stones rained down. Ji Yinyin couldn't dodge them all and was hit on the head by one. Crimson blood trickled from her forehead.

"You brats, do you need a lesson in discipline?!" Ji Yinyin finally lost her temper. She was an elder of the Beggar Gang, after all, and usually let things slide out of consideration for family. She hadn't expected them to escalate things.

"What do you want? Are you trying to bully my child?" The consorts shrieked sternly as they saw Ji Yinyin approaching.

Ji Yinyin gritted her teeth. Who was bullying whom now?

But she knew that if a fight broke out, she would be the one held accountable afterward.

She was ugly, so she was wrong.

Ji Yinyin's expression dimmed. Seeing the children still pelting her with stones, she fled in a panic.

Behind her, the children's laughter and the consorts' taunts followed.

Bang!

Because she was running too fast.

She accidentally ran headfirst into someone.

"Where did this ugly monster come from? Can't you watch where you're going?" A man in green robes stared grimly at Ji Yinyin. Seeing the bloodstain on her clothes, his face darkened further.

Beside him stood Ji Wuye and Qin Shiyue, both frowning slightly.

Ji Yinyin panicked. "I… I'm sorry…"

Thump! A dull thud.

A hand suddenly appeared on Ji Yinyin's shoulder, followed by a surge of immense power that sent her small body flying. She slammed into a nearby pillar, spat out a mouthful of blood, and rolled onto the ground.

"Getting this ugly woman's blood on me so early in the morning. How unlucky."

Cheng Xiao snorted coldly and walked on, ignoring Ji Yinyin's fate.

"She's just a mere nobody. Not worth the Young Sect Master's anger," Ji Wuye said nonchalantly. He didn't even bother to glance at Ji Yinyin as he walked forward with Cheng Xiao.

In the past, to maintain his image, he might have uttered a few words of reprimand. But now that their masks were completely off, he couldn't be bothered to pretend anymore. Such an ugly sister was a disgrace to the royal family; he had long wanted her gone. When he gained control of the Azure Kingdom, this ugly monster would have no place in this world.

As he was thinking this.

Young Sect Master Cheng Xiao's vision blurred, and he accidentally bumped into someone who had suddenly appeared.

Cheng Xiao focused his gaze and saw a handsome young man looking at him with a grim expression.

"Where did this ugly monster come from? Can't you watch where you're going?" the young man suddenly said.

Cheng Xiao froze, then angrily retorted, "I…"

Slap!!!

A palm strike landed on Cheng Xiao's face.

The highly cultivated Cheng Xiao couldn't react in time, nor could Qin Shiyue.

Cheng Xiao's face contorted from the blow. The terrifying force sent him flying dozens of meters, and he only stopped, spitting blood on the ground, after crashing into a pillar.