"Have you heard? Senior Brother Cheng, under the Second Elder, has actually accepted the same mission as those specially admitted students."
"Was it intentional or a coincidence?"
"Are you cerebellar atrophy? You must have done it on purpose! Those specially admitted students said those things in public, wouldn't the Second Elder's personal disciples fight them to the death!"
"So, those specially admitted students definitely won't be able to complete their first assignment?"
"Suspended."
The Nine Dragons Divine Dynasty has nine important and extraordinary cities, and its Primordial Stone, cultivation resources, and population are almost entirely supplied by these nine cities.
Azure Dragon City has three Primordial Stone, and it can be said that nearly 30% of the economy of the Nine Dragons Divine Dynasty comes from here.
The Primordial Stone are the universal currency of the Chaos Realm.
For any dynasty, the economy is one of its foundations.
The Ninth Prince, who was in charge of Azure Dragon City and was also the Crown Prince, was the object of the other princes' covetousness.
At this moment, Xiao Hei and his group arrived in Azure Dragon City.
The prosperity of Azure Dragon City is unmatched by any other city in the Mortal Realm.
Even the most powerful star systems in the High-Latitude Realm are no exception.
Cultivators were everywhere, and their strength was generally formidable.
However, due to the chaos in the Chaos Realm, even under the rule of the Nine Dragons Divine Dynasty, everyone still proceeded with caution and generally traveled in groups of two or three.
A secluded courtyard in Azure Dragon City, surrounded by no other buildings and rarely visited by people.
Beside this villa, countless soldiers clad in silver armor and possessing considerable cultivation stood guard.
When Xiao Hei and his group arrived, they were stopped by the soldiers.
"Who goes there?! This is restricted area; no one may enter without an invitation!"
Feng Ye stepped forward and handed the mission scroll to the soldier.
The soldiers opened it and found the unique seal of the Chaotic Spirit Academy inside.
One of the soldiers, upon seeing this, put away the scroll and nodded, saying, "So you're a student from the Chaotic Spirit Academy. Please wait a moment, I'll go and inform them."
After saying that, the soldiers jogged into the courtyard.
Ye Qiubai looked around and couldn't help but laugh, "It seems that the Ninth Prince is quite cautious. I can observe no fewer than twenty God Emperor Realm experts around here."
Just as he finished speaking, a young man's voice came from inside the courtyard.
"If you were facing assassination attempts more than three times a day, you'd be just as cautious, because I don't want to die yet."
As soon as the words were spoken, a man dressed in a white robe stepped out. The man looked somewhat thin, with his black hair tied back. If one had to pinpoint what drew attention to him, it would be his eyes, which seemed to see through everything.
At this moment, Cheng Dahai stepped forward and said with a smile, "Your Highness, Ninth Prince, why have you come out to greet me personally?"
The Ninth Prince chuckled lightly, "You are all distinguished guests of the Chaotic Spirit Academy, and also those I invited to protect my safety, so naturally you should be welcomed."
In every action and word, the Ninth Prince did not act arrogantly because of his favored status; he was just like an ordinary person who was very easy to get along with.
Those in high positions of power who possess this kind of personality are more likely to attract talented individuals.
"Everyone, please go into the courtyard and rest."
After saying that, the Ninth Prince turned and walked into the courtyard.
In this Heavenly Mystery Continent, few dare to impersonate members of the Chaotic Spirit Academy. With the Chaotic Spirit Academy's seal, there's no need for verification.
There were no other soldiers in the courtyard, only an old man with a tattered gray cloth around his eyes following behind the Ninth Prince.
Even Feng Ye and Cheng Dahai couldn't help but become solemn when they saw the old man.
The Ninth Prince smiled and invited Xiao Hei and the others to take their seats, saying, "This mission should have been sent to the Chaotic Spirit Academy quite some time ago. I thought no one would accept it, but so many people have come."
"Your Highness, these people are probably still not enough. How come there are still three who haven't even broken through to the God Emperor Realm?" At this moment, the old man behind the Ninth Prince said unhappily, "What use are these misfits?"
The old man was referring to Ye Qiubai, Shi Sheng, and Mu Fusheng...
The Ninth Prince glanced at the old man and smiled, " Elder Lin, you are, after all, a guest."
Upon hearing this, Elder Lin took a half step back and bowed slightly, saying, "It was I who overstepped my bounds."
The Ninth Prince nodded, then looked at Ye Qiubai and the others apologetically, "I'm sorry, but this concerns my safety. I hope you can understand."
Ye Qiubai and the other two smiled and shook their heads.
"However, I don't plan to ask for any more manpower. I hope you can safely escort me to Nine Dragons City."
Nine Dragons City is the main city of the Nine Dragons Divine Dynasty.
Upon hearing this, Elder Lin hurriedly said, "Your Highness, this journey is dangerous. Relying on them..."
The Ninth Prince stopped smiling and looked at Elder Lin.
Elder Lin paused for a moment, then shut up.
"You all should know the situation by now, right?" The Ninth Prince looked at Xiao Hei and the others, and said, "Our purpose in returning is to participate in the preparations for the Divine Dynasty's regalia and the appointment of the Crown Prince."
Although the Emperor of the Divine Dynasty had designated the Ninth Prince as the Crown Prince, according to the established rules, preparations were still needed, and the Crown Prince could only be formally established in the presence of civil and military officials.
And from this one sentence, one could sense the danger within.
In the Nine Dragons Divine Dynasty, the Crown Prince is the future heir apparent, so the other princes are naturally anxious. The best opportunity is to ambush him on the road from Azure Dragon City to Nine Dragons City!
"We'll depart in three days. I'll send someone to deliver the map to your lodgings." With that, the Ninth Prince picked up his teacup.
Seeing this, Mu Fusheng bowed slightly and then led everyone away.
Picking up the teacup and remaining silent signifies that the guest is leaving.
Mu Fusheng knew this all too well.
Not long after Feng Ye and his companions settled into an inn in Azure Dragon City, someone delivered a map to them.
In a room, everyone gathered to discuss countermeasures.
Of course, this excludes Cheng Dahai and Yu Cheng.
"This Ninth Prince is no ordinary person," Ye Qiubai blurted out.
Mu Fusheng nodded, "Quite cunning and calculating."
Feng Ye was taken aback. "Huh? Is it deep? You seem quite easy to talk to!"
Yes, that fits the persona of a battle maniac.
Mu Fusheng shook his head and explained, "As a prince, who wouldn't have a bit of arrogance? To be so approachable, and to this extent, is something that can only be achieved through years of concealment since childhood. This alone demonstrates his deep shrewdness."
"At the same time, when Elder Lin said those words, a normal person would definitely have replaced or added people, but why didn't the Ninth Prince add any?"
"Trust?"
"How can there be trust on the first meeting? Even the reputation of the Chaotic Spirit Academy can't guarantee complete trust." Mu Fusheng chuckled. "The royal family is ruthless; they don't even trust their own relatives, let alone outsiders."
"He did this partly to give face to the Chaotic Spirit Academy, which would be useful when he becomes the crown prince later."
"Secondly, having too many people makes it easier for assassins to get distracted, which would be even more dangerous!"
"This is where the scheming lies."
Feng Ye asked in a daze, "How do you know so much about this?"
"Oh, I am also a prince, though merely a member of the mortal royal family."