West of the Plum Garden.
Yin energy surged into the heavens, ghostly shadows layered upon shadows.
A colossal ghost creature over a dozen zhang tall exuded boundless ferocity.
Each time its ghost claws pressed down, the void trembled violently.
Under the giant ghost creature's storm-like onslaught, a white-haired elder retreated again and again, barely holding on.
This white-haired elder was the Second Prince's guardian.
As for the Second Prince, his face was deathly pale, and his left sleeve hung empty.
At some unknown point, he had lost an arm.
It was an utterly miserable sight.
"Your Highness, go!"
"This old man will cover your retreat!"
The white-haired elder shouted sharply.
If one listened closely, one could hear the breathlessness in his voice.
The Second Prince's expression changed several times, growing so gloomy it seemed water could be wrung from it.
He raised his head toward the ghostly shadow in midair, his eyes filled with bitter hatred.
His lips moved, spitting out three icy words.
"Zhou Jueyin!"
With that, the Second Prince transformed into a streak of escaping light and fled into the distance.
Seeing the Second Prince flee, the giant ghost creature split off several ghostly shadows to pursue and kill him.
Eastern Warm Pavilion.
"Fifth Prince, you really are handsome."
"If you weren't a prince, I truly would want to take you beneath my pomegranate skirt."
A silver-bell-like laugh rang through the room.
It was as pleasing as a yellow oriole's song.
Like the tinkling murmur of a clear spring.
The Fifth Prince, dressed in magnificent robes, showed little panic as he looked up at the woman in white before him.
Nangong Miaoyin, the White Lotus Lineage's foremost candidate Saintess.
Beyond the Saintess herself, the White Lotus Lineage had nine candidate Saintesses.
Should anything happen to the Saintess,