First Meeting with Zhou Yuan

Though the royal palace of the Great Zhou Royal Family was no longer at the height of its former glory, it remained resplendent in gold and jade, with carved beams and painted rafters. Its imposing aura could still be felt, inspiring awe.

"Halt. What business do you have?"

A soldier at the gate raised his hand, blocking Mu Chen's path. This was the royal palace; idlers were not permitted beyond this point.

"I am Mu Chen. I wish to make a transaction with His Majesty. I possess a spiritual liquid capable of healing the body," Mu Chen said calmly, neither humble nor overbearing.

He intended to use the Ancestral Stone Spirit Liquid to trade for a place in Great Zhou Mansion. As the founder of Great Zhou Mansion, Zhou Qing certainly had the authority to grant it. It was a very simple method.

The two soldiers exchanged glances. One of them headed into the palace to report the matter to His Majesty.

This was not something they could decide lightly.

Within the palace, wisps of faint green smoke curled through the air, carrying an unusual fragrance. A middle-aged man in a bright yellow robe sat upon the throne. His features were resolute, and an aura of majesty filled the space between his brows.

He was Zhou Qing. Behind him, an indistinct aura rose and surged, like flames and thunder, issuing deep rumbling sounds.

The sleeve around his right arm hung empty. He had clearly lost that arm.

"Let him in." After pondering for a moment, Zhou Qing decided to meet this Mu Chen. This was the first time he had encountered such a situation, and he was quite curious.

After respectfully saluting, the soldier made his way toward the palace entrance.

"Brother Mu Chen, His Majesty has agreed to see you." The soldier led Mu Chen onward, his attitude noticeably improved.

Along the way, Mu Chen observed the palace. The patrolling soldiers were basically all Source Masters, with at least Qi Nourishing Realm cultivation.

Those at the Heaven Pass Realm were likely minor commanders with soldiers under them, while Primordial Realm experts held the highest status beneath the king. The Great Zhou Dynasty currently had no Divine Mansion Realm experts; otherwise, they would have directly launched a counterattack against the Great Wu Dynasty.

"Greetings, Your Highness!"

A boy of twelve or thirteen was walking through the gardens. His body was somewhat thin, his face pale, and he carried the frail air of someone lacking in vitality. The soldier immediately saluted him, his expression respectful.

Mu Chen sized up the handsome youth before him. Since he was addressed as Your Highness, he should be Great Zhou's prince, Zhou Yuan. He seemed extremely frail, far less sturdy than many children his age.

His Saint Dragon Destiny had been stolen, and there was also the hidden danger of the Resentful Dragon Poison. This really was the standard setup for a protagonist.

If his destiny had not been stolen, Zhou Yuan would at least be at the Heaven Pass Realm. Born with Saint Dragon Destiny, his Eight Meridians had naturally opened from birth, allowing him to reach the Qi Nourishing Realm. His starting point had already surpassed that of many peers.

"And this is?" Zhou Yuan casually waved his hand, then looked at Mu Chen with pale golden eyes and asked curiously.

He rarely left the palace and had never met Mu Chen before, but his instincts told him that this handsome youth was extraordinary, unlike the young men of Great Zhou Mansion.

"Your Highness, this is Brother Mu Chen, who has come to see His Majesty. I am guiding him there," the soldier replied.

"Mm... go on and attend to your duties. I'll take him to see my royal father," Zhou Yuan said with a nod, waving the soldier away.

"This..."

The soldier looked at Zhou Yuan hesitantly. If Mu Chen suddenly attacked Zhou Yuan, it would be a grave dereliction of duty on his part.

"Heh, don't worry. He isn't my enemy." Zhou Yuan shook his head.

Seeing this, the soldier cupped his fists and promptly left.

He was merely a subordinate. All he needed to do was obey orders.

"Prince of Great Zhou, aren't you afraid I might make a move against you?" Mu Chen teased with interest. Su Youwei's grandfather had now been healed by him, so Su Youwei and Zhou Yuan would no longer cross paths. Did that count as intercepting Zhou Yuan's opportunity?

"Just call me Zhou Yuan." Zhou Yuan did not put on any airs and smiled helplessly.

"Alright, just call me Mu Chen. You look rather weak. You should exercise more," Mu Chen said with a smile, pretending not to know Zhou Yuan's condition.

Zhou Yuan's mouth twitched. Then, with a somewhat dejected expression, he said, "I've been in poor health since I was young. I did exercise, but it had no effect."

Mu Chen nodded thoughtfully. It seemed Zhou Qing and the others had not yet told Zhou Yuan the truth. Zhou Yuan still did not know exactly what was wrong with him and merely believed that he had been born physically weak.

"Yuan'er, why are you here?" Zhou Qing asked in surprise.

He looked at Mu Chen. What a fine-looking young man, brimming with youthful vigor. Zhou Qing sighed faintly to himself. If not for the incident in his son's childhood, his son would not have been inferior now either. Fate truly toyed with people.

"Royal Father, I happened to run into Mu Chen. Weren't you going to see him? So I brought him here."

Mu Chen's pupils contracted slightly. Was this a Primordial Realm expert?

Even without displaying his might, that imposing presence was enough to move one's heart.

"Heh, no need to be so surprised. He may be the strongest person you've seen so far, but compared to Marten Lord at his peak, the gap is still enormous," Little Marten's voice sounded in Mu Chen's mind.

Mu Chen had lifted the restriction, so Little Marten could now observe the outside world and communicate with him.

"Yes, yes, at your peak, Little Marten, you were a Death Profound Realm expert." Mu Chen could hear Little Marten showing off his glorious past.

"Boy Mu Chen, there's no need for you to rush. Since you've been acknowledged by the Stone Talisman, your talent is quite impressive. One day, you'll reach Marten Lord's peak realm," Little Marten consoled Mu Chen in the manner of an experienced elder.

"What are you showing off for? Didn't you blow yourself up and end up with only your demon spirit left?" Mu Chen said teasingly, knowing this was what Little Marten least wanted to remember.

Little Marten: "..."

If you hadn't brought that up, we could still be good friends.

That bastard who ambushed him—just let him meet that man again someday. Otherwise, Marten Lord would make him understand why flowers were so red. The moment he thought of it, killing intent surged through his heart.

A mighty expert at least at the Samsara Stage had come to kill a junior at the Death Profound Realm like him. He truly had no shame. If he had not blown up his body, he really would have been unable to escape.

"Greetings, Your Majesty. I am Mu Chen." Mu Chen cupped his fists and spoke calmly, neither humble nor overbearing.

Without cheats like the Ancestral Stone and the Ancestral Symbol, Mu Chen would have been more respectful. No—without them, he would not even have come to the royal palace.

Unless a commoner possessed exceptional talent, they had no right to catch the eye of nobles. Although Zhou Qing seemed easy to speak with, he was, after all, the king of Great Zhou.

"Mu Chen, Mu..."

Zhou Qing stroked his chin, pondering that surname. There should not be any prominent clan bearing that surname within the Great Zhou Dynasty.

And Mu Chen's bearing was exceedingly rare even among commoners. Could he be from a reclusive family?!

Mu Chen did not know that Zhou Qing had already imagined countless possibilities, picturing him as a young master from a reclusive family who had come out to gain experience. His ordinary clothing was merely meant to conceal his identity and adapt to local customs.

"Did you come from outside the Great Zhou Dynasty?" Zhou Qing asked curiously.

Zhou Yuan stared at Mu Chen in surprise. So he was from another country.