As soon as those words were spoken, not only Shi Lei, but even cultivators from other imperial dynasties sneered in disdain.
They did not know much about what kind of person Ye Xuan, the much-praised new Crown Prince of Great Flame, truly was.
But they knew that once the Blood Spring erupted, it was by no means something Ye Xuan could resolve. Otherwise, after all these years, why had Ye Yu been the only one in Azure Prefecture to successfully seal it?
Shi Lei still wanted to say something, but someone appeared before him and helped him to his feet.
"Stone, it's been a long time." Ye Yu looked at Shi Lei, his gaze complicated.
He had never expected that such a strong and sturdy man would now become so gaunt and skeletal.
Over the past year, Shi Lei must not have had an easy time either.
Hearing that familiar form of address, Shi Lei looked at Ye Yu in surprise. The face before him was somewhat unfamiliar, but that bearing was incomparably familiar. After a long while, he said in delighted shock, "You... you are... the Crown..."
Halfway through, Shi Lei stopped himself. He knew that Ye Yu's name had now practically become taboo here.
Ye Yu smiled and patted Shi Lei on the shoulder, sending a stream of pure spiritual power into his body.
Shi Lei immediately felt a warm current flow through him, and his complexion improved considerably.
"Who are you? How dare you meddle in our business?" the man who had been toying with Shi Lei demanded angrily, moving as if to attack.
But an invisible force sent him flying, and he crashed heavily to the ground.
The surrounding cultivators immediately turned grave. They could all use spiritual power to protect their bodies, but they could