The aura of power Chu Yun had revealed earlier truly belonged to the Early Qi Transformation Realm.
That was because, before coming to the Eastern Palace, Chu Yun had known of the Crown Prince's arrangements and directly had Venerable Wan Lei seal his cultivation.
Keeping it at the Early Qi Transformation Realm was enough.
This was also to prevent the identity of Xiao Yan from being exposed.
After all, he had already obtained something so precious. If it were ruined over a banquet, he would die of heartbreak.
Listening to Chu Rong's utterly hypocritical words, Chu Yun replied, "Compared to Eldest Brother, I am still far behind."
"Ninth Brother, you are being too modest. I am merely a little older than you. Once you reach my age, your cultivation will certainly not be inferior."
Chu Yun smiled and said nothing more before returning to his seat.
"Ninth Brother, I heard that when you first returned, your realm seemed to only be at the Qi Gathering Realm?"
"How did your cultivation break through to the Qi Transformation Realm in just a few short days?"
"Could it be that you encountered some fortuitous opportunity during these past few days?" Fifth Prince Chu Yu probed.
Chu Yun handled it calmly. "Fifth Brother must have heard wrong. When I returned, I was already at the Early Qi Transformation Realm. I simply never disclosed it to the outside world."
Fifth Prince Chu Yu nodded. "So that was it."
"Ninth Brother, from what I can see, the power you cultivate belongs to blood and vital energy-type techniques."
"That reminds me of a figure who has stirred the winds and clouds in the Imperial City these past few days." Eighth Prince Chu Hao suddenly spoke.
"Eighth Brother, are you referring to Xiao Yan, who became famous in a single battle at the Misty Rain Pavilion?" Seventh Prince Chu Bei asked.
"Precisely." Chu Hao nodded with a serious expression. "It is said that Xiao Yan cultivates a blood technique. With merely Early Golden Core Realm cultivation, he actually killed a Golden Core Realm Peak duelist from the Misty Rain Pavilion without suffering a single scratch."
"Such talent is unprecedented in all ages!"
"Unfortunately, no one currently knows where this Xiao Yan truly came from, nor what he looks like."
"Otherwise, no matter what, I would certainly seek to make his acquaintance."
Chu Yuan suddenly threw out a remark. "They both cultivate blood techniques. What if Old Ninth is Xiao Yan? Wouldn't that mean you have already met him?"
Chu Yun immediately looked toward the Sky Demoness.
He knew she had done this deliberately, but it still gave him quite a fright. This woman really knows how to give people a thrill.
The others in the hall smiled as well upon hearing this.
They all treated Chu Yuan's words as nothing more than a joke.
They both cultivated blood techniques, but Ninth Prince was Xiao Yan?
How could that possibly be?
One was in the Qi Transformation Realm, while the other was in the Golden Core Realm.
The gap between them was simply the difference between heaven and earth.
Especially in the Crown Prince's eyes.
What was Chu Yun worth?
How could he possibly be worthy of comparison with Xiao Yan, who was about to join the Eastern Palace?!
That would simply be an insult to Xiao Yan!
"Old Eighth, rest assured."
"Since you wish to befriend Xiao Yan, then as your eldest brother, I will certainly do my utmost to make your wish come true!"
The Crown Prince's words greatly surprised the Eighth Prince, but he still said, "Then many thanks, Eldest Brother."
After that, the banquet entered its most tedious phase.
It was nothing more than exchanging empty pleasantries. As the host, the Crown Prince also introduced Chu Yun to the identities and backgrounds of the nobles present.
Chu Yun returned their toasts one by one and exchanged some meaningless words with them.
It was not until deep into the night that the banquet finally ended.
Chu Yun and Luo Feng returned to the Prince's Mansion.
At the same time, in a side hall of the Eastern Palace.
Crown Prince Chu Rong, Chu Yuan, Bei Lanqi, the County Princess of Guanshan, as well as Wang Han Cuo and County King Guanshan, who had been staying in the Eastern Palace all along, were seated within the hall.
"Early Qi Transformation Realm... that is rather unexpected."
"That little bastard spent more than twenty years outside, yet he still managed to break through to the Qi Transformation Realm."
"Looking at it this way, his talent is likely not poor. Otherwise, if it were anyone else in a remote little sect like the Nine Splendor Sect, where resources were so scarce, how could they possibly have broken through so quickly?"
Wang Han Cuo analyzed the matter calmly.
Although the Early Qi Transformation Realm was not considered outstanding among the geniuses of the Imperial City.
One had to remember that Chu Yun had lived in a resource-starved sect like the Nine Splendor Sect. He simply could not compare with the superior resources they enjoyed.
Yet even so, he had still reached the Early Qi Transformation Realm!
This could only be explained by talent.
The Crown Prince's expression darkened slightly, and his gaze turned cold. "Hmph. Once this period has passed, his death day will come."
"Besides, I am about to obtain Xiao Yan, an unparalleled genius. Once I nurture him properly, let alone that lowborn wretch who survived by sheer luck, even Second Brother will only be crushed beneath my feet!"
"By then, the older generation will be restrained by Mother Empress, while the younger generation will be completely ruled by me. Looking across all of Great Xia, no one will be able to escape the grasp of my power!"
The Crown Prince's words made no attempt to conceal his desire for control and his greedy ambition.
"Your Highness, should we send someone to keep an eye on Chu Yun next?"
"Given his current talent, if he were to win over some powerful nobles and aristocratic clans within the city, I fear it may have some impact on our future plans." County King Guanshan advised.
The Crown Prince shook his head, brimming with confidence. "County King, you think too highly of him."
"The strength he displayed today was indeed beyond our expectations."
"But he is still far from being qualified to become my opponent."
"He is merely an ant right now. If not for the fact that his uncle, the Asura Venerable, is still in the Imperial Palace, I could have someone crush him to death anytime, anywhere!"
"Have you ever seen someone keep watch over an ant?"
King of Beishan Commandery said nothing after hearing this.
After discussing the progress of the Ten-Thousand-Year Blood Essence Stone and the Evil Infant at the Nirvana Realm Peak for a while longer, they each departed.
The next day.
Chu Yun rose early in the morning, mainly because the cooldown for editing backgrounds had ended.
System, check my Editing Points. Editing Points: 6400. Recommend a few decent backgrounds. Let me see what you have. Recommended backgrounds:
Empress Lan Ji's illegitimate son: 2000 Editing Points.
Personal disciple of an Imperial Ancestor Mountain elder: 1500 Editing Points.
Closed-door disciple of the Blood God Sect Master: 1700 Editing Points.
Father of Crown Prince Chu Rong: 4000 Editing Points.
Younger brother of Xu Nian, Chief Steward of the Misty Rain Pavilion: 6000 Editing Points.
Prime Minister Meng Changjiu's confidant despite their age difference: 4800 Editing Points.
Reincarnation of the Sky Demoness's beloved from her previous life: 6000 Editing Points.
Heavenly Mandate Empress Meng Ruoxue's unfulfilled love from her previous life: 8000 Editing Points.
Sole Disciple of Xiaoyaozi: 10000 Editing Points.
Rakshasa Gate Master: 18000 Editing Points.
Brother of the Saint King Mitian: 20000 Editing Points.
Seeing those recommended backgrounds, the corner of Chu Yun's mouth twitched.
Empress's illegitimate son... only someone with too much time on his hands would edit that.
It had even come up with being Chu Rong's father.
Good heavens, was this system trying to make him put a green hat on his own imperial father?!
Still, he really wanted to see the Crown Prince call him Father. That scene would definitely be stylish.
But it was truly a little too abstract.
"System, your recommendations are getting better and better."
"Are you planning to develop toward the abstract school?" Chu Yun grumbled inwardly.
System: Hehehe, isn't that stylish, Master?
You can be like me too, an abstract and stylish person—system.
Before you continue