"Dawn, the Cangfeng Mountain Range... Why choose such a place?"
"Could this be a trap?" County King Guanshan, Bei Song, asked warily.
"Even if he can set a trap, how much trouble can he stir up?"
"Are we supposed to fear a Golden Core Realm cultivator?"
"Besides, Xiao Yan does not even know who we are. The reason he agreed to meet us is most likely because of that Nirvana Realm Evil Infant. The chance of him setting a trap is not high."
Wang Han Cuo, the Divine Sect's Third Elder, spoke with complete confidence.
"Elder Wang makes sense."
"Xiao Yan does not even know who we are. Choosing to meet in the Cangfeng Mountain Range may simply be for his own safety."
"I do not think it is a problem. King, what do you think?" The Crown Prince turned to Black Iron King.
"My thoughts are the same as Your Highness's."
"Furthermore, this matter has already received the Empress's approval. We need not have any misgivings."
"Elder Wang, King Bei Song, the three of us will head to the Cangfeng Mountain Range tonight."
"As for Your Highness, remain in the Eastern Palace for now and await our news," Black Iron King said in succession.
"Alright."
County King Guanshan, Wang Han Cuo, and the others all nodded in agreement.
Two Nirvana Realm experts and one Shattering Realm expert.
With the three of them going, even if Xiao Yan truly intended to play some trick, they had nothing to fear.
"Good!"
"Then I shall wait here for good news from the King and the two of you."
"Please be sure to bring Xiao Yan back. Tell him that I have admired him for a long time."
Crown Prince Chu Rong raised his wine cup in toast to them.
The others raised their cups and returned the toast.
Late at night, Black Iron King, Wang Han Cuo, and County King Guanshan all left the Eastern Palace, making their way toward the city gate in utmost secrecy.
At the same time, Meng Ruoxue received the news within the Prime Minister's Residence.
"Miss, there has been movement in the Eastern Palace."
"The Divine Sect's Third Elder Wang Han Cuo, Black Iron King, and King Bei Song are leaving the Eastern Palace overnight and heading toward the city gate."
Meng Ruoxue looked at the woman. "Which city gate?"
"The eastern gate!"
Whoosh!!
With a flash, Meng Ruoxue's entire figure vanished from the room, leaving behind only waves of delicate fragrance.
Cangfeng Mountain Range.
At this moment, Chu Yun wore a mask and had changed his hairstyle. Even his clothes had been specially changed into an outfit he had never worn before.
He and the likewise masked Venerable Wan Lei stood atop the mountain peak. A biting cold wind swept over them, making Chu Yun's long hair flutter gently.
Before long, dawn arrived.
Wang Han Cuo, Black Iron King, and the others slowly flew up from the mountain path below.
"They're here."
Chu Yun murmured inwardly. Beneath the night sky, the mountain was pitch-black, but under the moonlight, he could still make out the faces of the three men.
Wang Han Cuo, Black Iron King, and the others arrived directly before Chu Yun and stood tall.
The two sides had formally met.
"Are you Young Master Xiao Yan?" Black Iron King asked first.
Suppressing his voice, Chu Yun answered steadily, "I am."
"How do you prove it?" Black Iron King followed up, wearing a smile that did not reach his eyes.
"There is no need to prove it."
"I believe that, aside from myself, no one in the entire Great Xia Dynasty would dare impersonate Xiao Yan."
With his hands behind his back, Chu Yun looked at them with a firm gaze, composed and unhurried.
Wang Han Cuo smiled faintly. "Young Master Xiao Yan truly deserves to be called an unparalleled genius."
"Indeed. At this critical juncture, only a fool would dare impersonate Young Master Xiao Yan."
Chu Yun responded calmly, "Since that is so, then first show me your sincerity."
Wang Han Cuo smiled. "No problem."
Immediately afterward, Wang Han Cuo took out a box containing an Evil Infant from his storage ring.
"Sealed within this is an Evil Infant at the Middle Nirvana Realm. Though it cannot compare to the one from Misty Rain Pavilion, it represents our sincerity in wishing to meet Young Master Xiao Yan."
Wang Han Cuo handed over the box.
After receiving it, Chu Yun secretly used his Netherworld Divine Eyes to inspect it and confirmed that there truly was a Nirvana Realm Evil Infant inside.
"I have received your sincerity."
"Now, let us get down to business."
"Which faction do you come from?"
"You wished to meet me. What is the reason?"
After putting away the box, Chu Yun asked directly without beating around the bush.
At the same time, they were not the only two groups atop Cangfeng's peak.
A Nirvana Realm elder from Misty Rain Pavilion, one specifically responsible for concealment and tracking, hid by the cliffside and observed the situation here.
Meng Ruoxue had also followed Black Iron King and the others out of the city. She was now concealed behind a massive boulder, restraining her aura as her gaze remained fixed on Chu Yun.
Yet what disappointed her somewhat was this.
This Xiao Yan was not a clone of the Sky Demoness.
She and the Sky Demoness had been mortal enemies for many years. So long as it was one of her clones, Meng Ruoxue could identify it with a single glance.
And this Xiao Yan before her was not one of them.
But since she was already here, she wanted to see just what kind of background this Xiao Yan possessed.
An Early Golden Core Realm cultivator defeating someone at the Golden Core Realm Peak—such a heaven's chosen was rare even when she had been an Emperor in her previous life.
"Young Master Xiao Yan, allow me to introduce myself first."
"I am Wang Han Cuo, the Third Elder of the Divine Sect."
"These two are Black Iron King of the Great Xia Dynasty, and the other is the King of Guanshan Commandery."
The instant she heard the identities of Wang Han Cuo and the other two, a slight change flickered deep within Chu Yun's pupils.
They were actually members of the Empress's faction!
Tonight was truly interesting.
If there were only the three of them, Venerable Wan Lei could likely deal with all of them at once without any problem.
"Your identities are rather unexpected."
"Elder Wang, then what do you wish to discuss with me?" Chu Yun asked with apparent interest.
"Young Master Xiao, may I ask whether you have a master, or belong to some sect, lineage, or faction?" Wang Han Cuo asked.
"I have no sect and no faction. Say whatever you wish to say," Chu Yun replied.
"Good."
"Since that is the case, we shall not beat around the bush."
"Young Master Xiao, on behalf of the Empress and His Highness the Crown Prince, we have come to invite you to join the Eastern Palace."
"If Young Master Xiao is willing to agree, His Highness has said that you may name any conditions you wish. He personally admires you greatly!" Black Iron King said bluntly.
Chu Yun had not expected that the Empress and Crown Prince wanted to win him over.
At this moment, he could barely hold back his laughter.
If they learned that Xiao Yan's true identity was the Ninth Prince they wanted to eliminate, what expressions would they wear?
Chu Yun did not answer immediately.
He considered it carefully in his heart and instantly came up with an even better idea.
"Join the Eastern Palace..."
"Please tell the Crown Prince that I, Xiao Yan, appreciate his goodwill. But what I want is likely not something you possess, so there is no need to make things difficult for each other," Chu Yun said, advancing by retreating.
"What does Young Master Xiao require? Please speak freely." Black Iron King looked at him with a serious expression.
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