Crown Prince Chu Rong, Third Prince Chu Yuan!

Regarding this, Chu Yun had long been prepared: "Father Emperor, this son truly doesn't know what happened. In a certain moment, I fell into a wondrous state of enlightenment."

"When I woke up, my cultivation had already broken through to the early stage of the Golden Core Realm."

Chu Yun's explanation wasn't exactly a great one.

But by attributing everything to enlightenment, no one could investigate further.

"Oh?"

"Enlightenment to break through realms? This is the first time I've heard of such a thing."

The Great Xia Emperor revealed a smile full of hidden meaning and said slowly.

"This son also finds it somewhat incomprehensible. Perhaps it's because this son has better luck." Chu Yun said, his face not flushing and his heart not beating faster.

"Yun'er, then what about your talent?"

"How is it that someone in the early stage of the Golden Core Realm could defeat someone at the peak of the Golden Core Realm? You don't know how shocked I was when I heard this news!"

Consort Shi spoke up at this moment, her face full of pride and self-satisfaction. Because of Chu Yun's outstanding talent, she, as his mother, was in a great mood after hearing the news.

"Mother Consort, my talent, like my cultivation, came from enlightenment. This son doesn't really know how to explain it specifically. That feeling... is very mysterious."

Since he had attributed everything to enlightenment, he would see it through to the end.

"So that's how it is." Consort Shi nodded as if she suddenly understood.

"Yun'er, your talent and cultivation have made such astonishing progress. I am happy for you."

"But I must also advise you, before you have completely established yourself, it's best not to reveal everything. Do you understand?" the Emperor cautioned.

In this Imperial City, there were many people watching Chu Yun.

If Chu Yun were to reveal his brilliance, it would only make those people feel threatened or even afraid.

In that case, they would definitely spare no expense to kill Chu Yun.

The matter of his disappearance years ago still had no true culprit found.

This showed just how deep the waters were in this Imperial City!

"Father Emperor, rest assured. The reason I'm using the alias Xiao Yan is precisely because of this," Chu Yun replied with a serious expression.

"Alright, alright."

"Yun'er has grown up and has his own ideas about everything. We shouldn't interfere."

"Yun'er, quickly tell Father Emperor and Mother Consort what you've experienced all these years living alone outside?"

As a mother, Consort Shi was more curious about her son and what he had experienced during the many years he was missing and living outside.

Chu Yun then gradually began to recount his experiences from when he could remember...

The few of them chatted for nearly two hours. Finally, Chu Yun spoke to the Emperor, asking for five hundred guards to protect the Imperial Prince's manor. The Emperor agreed without a second word.

Afterward, Chu Yun and they finished lunch before leaving the palace with Luo Feng.

"Enlightenment to break through realms, what do you two think?"

In the imperial palace garden, the Emperor looked at Consort Shi and her elder brother, smiling meaningfully.

"Everyone has secrets. Since he doesn't want to talk about it, we, as elders, don't need to pry."

"We just need to know that no matter what he becomes, he is still your son, an Imperial Prince of the Great Xia Dynasty," the Asura Venerable replied calmly.

Given who the three of them were, Chu Yun's outrageous excuse naturally couldn't fool them.

Fortunately, they were relatively open-minded and, knowing Chu Yun didn't want to talk, didn't delve deeper.

"This child, don't let the smile on his face fool you; he has many worries."

"I heard from Atai that he is already planning to investigate the events of that year," Consort Shi said with a worried expression.

The Asura Venerable's face turned serious as he looked at the Emperor: "Your Majesty, if Yun'er investigates himself, he will eventually find that mother and son."

"Since that's the case, instead of letting Yun'er fall into danger, why don't we take the initiative?"

A hint of grimness flickered in the depths of the Emperor's eyes: "It's simple to deal with her alone, but her connections behind her... touch one and the whole body moves. I fear the entire Imperial City would fall into chaos."

"Then should I call the old man over? Isn't that enough?" the Asura Venerable's tone grew heavier.

The Great Xia Emperor shook his head: "Asura, I understand how you feel, but you must know that I want to eliminate them even more than you do. However, her relationships within the court and the royal family are far from simple..."

Upon hearing this, the Asura Venerable fell silent.

Consort Shi also looked solemn. For His Majesty to find this so troublesome, the network of relationships involved must be unimaginable.

Beneath the palace walls.

Chu Yun and Luo Feng were walking towards the palace gate.

"Commander Luo!!"

At this moment, a voice called out to them.

The two stopped.

In the distance, a young man in a five-clawed python robe walked slowly alongside another handsome youth dressed in luxurious brocade.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince."

"Third Prince."

Luo Feng bowed his head slightly in greeting upon seeing the two approaching.

Chu Yun immediately understood their identities.

The one in the python robe was Crown Prince Chu Rong.

The other, in the brocade attire, was the Third Prince Chu Yuan.

The two bore a striking resemblance, as expected of brothers born of the same mother.

Crown Prince Chu Rong, being the eldest, possessed a mature and steady demeanor.

Third Prince Chu Yuan, on the other hand, exuded a spirited and arrogant aura, looking down on everything.

"Commander Luo, there's no need for such formalities."

"I presume this must be my ninth brother?"

Crown Prince Chu Rong looked at Chu Yun and smiled kindly.

"Chu Yun greets Eldest Brother and Third Brother."

Chu Yun smiled and cupped his hands towards them.

"Ninth Brother, we are brothers, so such courtesies are unnecessary. We were both very happy to hear of your return. As your elder brothers, we should prepare something. In three days, I will host a banquet at the Eastern Palace to celebrate our reunion. I'll invite Seventh Brother, Fifth Brother, and the others as well, and introduce them to you!"

The Crown Prince invited him with unusual warmth.

"My brother is very thoughtful. In that case, I will certainly be there in three days." Chu Yun nodded.

"Good, then it's settled!" The Crown Prince smiled happily.

Following this, Chu Yun and Luo Feng left the palace and headed towards the Imperial Prince's manor.

"Your Highness, are you sure you want to attend the banquet at the Eastern Palace?" Luo Feng asked softly on the street.

"Do you think it's a Hongmen Banquet?" Chu Yun smiled as if it were nothing.

Luo Feng stated plainly, "The Crown Prince initiated the invitation. If blood were to be shed, he wouldn't be able to handle the consequences."

"So."

"He doesn't have the guts for that."

"I suspect he's not inviting me to deal with me, but rather to probe me. Coincidentally, if he wants to probe me, I also want to probe him, and get to know my other brothers."

After Chu Yun returned to his manor, the five hundred guards assigned by the Emperor had also arrived.

Chu Yun reviewed them, and the results were acceptable. Among the five hundred soldiers, there was one in the Nascent Soul Realm, ten in the Golden Core Realm, and the rest were mostly in the Qi Gathering Realm and Profound Transformation Realm.