Ling Chenglie stood in the center of the palace path, his aura at the Seventh Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm undiminished. The guards responsible for guarding the gate lowered their heads and retreated to both sides, none daring to interfere in the conflict between the prince and the princess.
Sun Meng stood behind the Second Prince.
He was thin and wiry, his hands hidden in his wide sleeves. He glanced at Shen Qianyue first, and then fixed his gaze on Chu Yunfei.
Shen Qianyue was damaged, his cultivation level dropped by one level, and his aura became noticeably weak.
However, Divine Sea Realm Sixth Layer cultivator should not be underestimated.
Moreover, this is the inner palace.
If things escalate, no one will benefit.
Ling Xueyao stepped forward, blocking Ling Chenglie's view of Chu Yunfei.
"He is the person I brought back; he will accompany me to see the Emperor."
"If Second Brother has nothing else to say, please step aside."
Ling Chenglie narrowed his eyes.
His father had been in seclusion for many years, and even he was not qualified to approach that palace.
Ling Xueyao has just returned to the capital and is about to bring a strange man into the inner palace; there must be a hidden reason behind this.
However, he was unaware that his father had been poisoned.
In his view, Ling Xueyao had probably found some treasures outside and wanted to take the opportunity to curry favor with her father.
"My dear sister, you travel extensively, and you're bound to encounter some people with ulterior motives."
Ling Chenglie suppressed his displeasure and his tone became concerned again.
"This person's origins are unknown. You're just bringing him into the inner palace like this. If something goes wrong, who will be responsible?"
"If Second Brother truly cares about me, then please make way for me."
Ling Xueyao's voice turned colder.
"I will explain his identity to my father myself; there's no need for anyone else to interfere."
The smile on Ling Chenglie's face gradually faded.
Bystanders?
He is the second prince of the Great Qian Dynasty, and also Ling Xueyao's elder brother.
Now, in her words, he has become an outsider with no right to interfere.
From childhood to adulthood, Ling Xueyao received far more favor than the three princes.
He has been diligently cultivating over the years and has already reached the Seventh Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm.
In his mind, Ling Xueyao's cultivation level had always been only at the Heavenly Origin Realm Fifth Layer. She was clearly inferior to him, yet she was the one most favored by his father.
Now, she's publicly humiliating a stranger for his sake.
Ling Chenglie's tone turned completely cold.
"Others?"
"I am your second elder brother, and naturally I am qualified to oversee things for you."
He stared at Chu Yunfei and continued, "I heard you spread rumors in the Cangwu Mountain Range that this person is the future consort of our Great Qian Dynasty. Is that true?"
The guards on both sides kept their heads down, but their ears were perked up.
Ling Xueyao's marriage was a topic of conversation throughout the entire capital city, and no one dared to discuss it casually.
Several holy sons from the seven major sects had personally come to propose marriage, but without exception, they were all rejected by her.
Now, she went out for a trip and personally brought back a future prince consort.
Who wouldn't be curious?
Chu Yunfei stood to the side, holding the Abyss-Devouring Sword, without saying a word.
He also wanted to see how Ling Xueyao planned to handle this trouble.
Ling Xueyao remained silent for a moment before looking directly at Ling Chenglie.
"Good."
The moment those two words were uttered, silence fell over the palace gates.
Shen Qianyue twitched slightly.
He had heard about the prince consort before, but the expedient measure in the Cangwu Mountain Range was clearly different from publicly acknowledging it in the palace now.
Chu Yunfei also turned his head to glance at Ling Xueyao.
Ling Xueyao's expression remained aloof, but she tightened her grip on the sword sheath slightly, without looking at him.
Ling Chenglie's face darkened completely.
"Marriage is a serious matter, and Father Emperor will decide for you. How can you act recklessly on your own?"
"Have you investigated where this person comes from and what forces are behind him?"
Ling Chenglie raised his hand and pointed at Chu Yunfei.
"My dear sister, you are still naive and inexperienced in the ways of the world. Don't be fooled by sweet words. Those who want to curry favor with the royal family, no matter how nice their words are, are only after your status."
Chu Yunfei raised an eyebrow slightly.
Within his sea of consciousness, Xiaoxiao Dragon chuckled.
"You brat, he's practically pointing his finger at you and cursing you, and you're still putting up with it?"
Chu Yunfei thought to himself, " Ling Xueyao hasn't finished speaking yet, what's the rush?"
"I can tell you clearly want to hear that girl admit it herself—"
Chu Yunfei immediately cut her off from what she was about to say.
Ling Xueyao tightened her grip on the sword once more.
"Has Second Brother finished speaking?"
" Chu Yunfei saved my life. I know him better than you do."
She took half a step forward, her tone unwavering.
"Today, I must bring him into the palace."
"Anyone who obstructs me is making an enemy of me."
Ling Chenglie's eye twitched slightly.
He hadn't expected Ling Xueyao to be so assertive for a man she'd only recently met.
The next moment, he finally turned his attention entirely to Chu Yunfei.
"What kind of skill is it to hide behind a woman?"
Ling Chenglie took two steps forward.
boom!
The overwhelming pressure of the Seventh Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm pressed down on Chu Yunfei.
"I don't care what methods you used to gain my sister's trust."
"Leaving the capital now will at least save your life."
"If you continue to indulge in such delusional fantasies, like a toad eyeing swan meat, I will personally break your legs and throw you out of the palace gates!"
The oppressive force descended.
Chu Yunfei's robes fluttered in the wind, and the pebbles at his feet rolled outwards under his weight, but his feet seemed nailed to the spot, not retreating even half a step.
The spiritual pool within his dantian trembled slightly.
Liquid spiritual energy surged into his meridians, gradually dissipating the oppressive force.
Ling Chenglie's cultivation level was indeed six levels higher than his.
However, this level of pressure is nothing compared to the Scarlet-Pupiled Iron-Armored Beast, and it cannot be compared to the Divine Sea Realm assassin.
Chu Yunfei slowly raised his eyes.
Who do you think you are, daring to lecture me?
A deathly silence fell over the palace gates.
The guards on both sides tensed up, even their breathing became much softer.
He publicly insulted the second prince.
Does this person truly not know the meaning of death, or do they simply not take the Second Prince seriously at all?
Ling Chenglie was stunned for a moment, then laughed in extreme anger.
"Very good."
"A nobody who relies on his sister's protection dares to be so insolent before me!"
"Even if my younger sister protects you today, I will make you understand that the majesty of the royal family cannot be offended!"
Before he could finish speaking, Ling Chenglie had already raised his right palm.
Crimson spiritual energy gathered in his palm, causing the surrounding air to explode repeatedly.
Sun Meng frowned slightly, but did not stop him.
The second prince was truly enraged and needed to vent his anger.
As long as Chu Yunfei's life isn't harmed, Ling Xueyao, even if dissatisfied, wouldn't actually turn against her brother.
Moreover, Ling Chenglie only used 30% of his power.
It's enough to deal with a kid who's just entered the First Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm.
Ling Xueyao's expression turned cold, and just as she was about to draw her golden slender sword, Shen Qianyue raised his hand to stop her.
"Your Highness, please take a look first."
Ling Xueyao turned to look at him.
Shen Qianyue stared at Chu Yunfei's footsteps, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
He had never personally witnessed Chu Yunfei, with his Spirit Martial Realm cultivation, withstand a palm strike from the Divine Sea Realm; he had only heard about it from Ling Xueyao.
Although their time together was short, he could tell that Chu Yunfei was not the type to stand still and take a beating.
really.
As Ling Chenglie struck, Chu Yunfei had already moved.
The palm strike swept horizontally from right to left, blocking the escape route in front and to the left.
It appears to be completely sealed off, but there is a half-foot gap below the right rib.
Ling Chenglie had practiced palm techniques for many years, and every time he exerted force, his right shoulder would sink half an inch first.
This movement is extremely small.
But for Chu Yunfei, half an inch was enough.
A crimson palm print pressed down in front of him.
Chu Yunfei took half a step to the right, his body brushing against the palm strike. The sharp spiritual energy tore open his sleeve, but didn't even touch his skin.
Ling Chenglie's pupils contracted.
Although this palm strike wasn't delivered with full force, it was still something that First Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm could not easily dodge.
Before he could change his move, a blur of motion appeared beneath Chu Yunfei's feet.
Divine Movement Art!
Before the afterimage had faded, Chu Yunfei had already closed in on Ling Chenglie.
You dare!
Ling Chenglie withdrew his palm, his left arm held horizontally in front of his chest.
Chu Yunfei's right leg was already raised.
Twist your waist.
Extend your leg.
Liquid spiritual energy flowed into his legs along his meridians.
This kick, delivered without using any martial arts techniques, struck precisely at the moment when Ling Chenglie's old strength had just been exhausted and his new strength had not yet been generated.
Bang!
A muffled thud echoed throughout the palace passage.
Chu Yunfei kicked Ling Chenglie in the chest.
The protective spiritual energy within the body fluctuated violently.
Ling Chenglie's feet left the ground, and he flew backwards for seven or eight zhang before crashing heavily onto the stone steps of the palace road.
Click!
The stone slab has several cracks.
The guards on all sides froze in place.
Ling Chenglie originally wanted to use Chu Yunfei to establish his authority.
Instead of standing up straight, a clear shoe print appeared on his chest.
Sun Meng's hands, hidden in his sleeves, clenched tightly.
He saw it very clearly.
Chu Yunfei did not rely on high-level spiritual artifacts, nor did he use any secret techniques that would harm himself.
From dodging the palm print to closing in, and then seizing the opportunity when Ling Chenglie shifted his power, he relied entirely on his agility, judgment, and almost terrifying combat experience.
This doesn't seem like an eighteen-year-old boy at all.
A hint of a smile appeared in Ling Xueyao's eyes, but she quickly suppressed it.
She knew Chu Yunfei wouldn't suffer a loss, but she didn't expect him to be so decisive.
On his first day in the capital, he kicked the Second Prince away in front of the palace guards.
This matter will likely spread throughout the inner palace very soon.
Chu Yunfei withdrew his right leg and glanced indifferently at Ling Chenglie on the stone steps.
" Seventh Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm, and this is all you've got?"
Ling Chenglie pushed himself up from the ground.
The crimson-gold robe was covered in dust, and a glaring footprint remained on its chest.
The physical pain was nothing compared to the humiliation.
He is the second prince of the Great Qian.
He is also Seventh Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm martial artist.
Now, however, he was kicked away in front of so many imperial guards by an unknown nobody who had just entered the First Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm.
Once the news gets out, he will surely become a laughing stock in the capital.
"I will kill you!"
Ling Chenglie's eyes were red.
A surge of violent spiritual energy erupted into the sky, crimson flames burned along his arms, and the stone slab beneath his feet shattered with a deafening roar.
This time, he was clearly preparing to use his real trump card.
Chu Yunfei gripped the Abyss-Devouring Sword, his gaze turning cold.
That kick earlier was indeed due to Ling Chenglie's underestimation of him.
If they were to fight head-on, he could hold his own with his Heaven-Severing Slash and Abyss-Devouring Sword, but winning would not be so easy.
Besides, this is the imperial palace.
If the commotion gets out of hand, it will inevitably lead to more trouble.
However, if Ling Chenglie really wanted to kill him, he would not hold back.
Just as the killing intent between the two arose, a figure appeared in front of Chu Yunfei.
Shen Qianyue did not make a move.
The Divine Sea Realm Sixth Layer pressed down like a mountain.
The spiritual power that Ling Chenglie had just ignited was immediately suppressed back into his body.
boom!
The ground along the palace path subsided again.
Ling Chenglie groaned, his face flushed red, but he couldn't take a single step forward.
Shen Qianyue.
"Your Highness, Young Master Chu is someone the princess brought back."
"If you insist on killing him in front of the inner palace gates, I have no choice but to offend you."
Ling Chenglie stared intently at Chu Yunfei.
" Shen Qianyue, you are merely a royal attendant, how dare you lay a hand on me?"
Shen Qianyue's tone remained unchanged.
"I am acting on His Majesty's orders to protect the princess."
"If Your Highness intends to harm the princess, this old man will naturally intervene."
Sun Meng finally stepped forward and placed his hand on Ling Chenglie's shoulder.
A layer of spiritual energy isolated the surrounding sounds.
"Your Highness, even though Shen Qianyue's foundation is damaged, he is still at the Divine Sea Realm Sixth Layer."
"This place isn't far from His Majesty's secluded retreat. Continuing this commotion will only give the princess the upper hand."
Sun Meng lowered his voice.
"Now that Chu Yunfei has entered the capital, there will be plenty of opportunities to teach him a lesson in the future."
"Let's take a step back today."
Ling Chenglie's chest heaved violently.
He really wanted Sun Meng to take action directly.
However, if the two Divine Sea Realm elders were to fight in the inner palace, the elder from the forbidden area would definitely intervene.
At that time, even the Emperor's seclusion might be disturbed.
After a moment, Ling Chenglie finally suppressed his killing intent and looked coldly at Ling Xueyao.
"Your Highness, for the sake of an outsider, you allowed Consort Shen to unleash his power against me."
"I will remember what happened today."
Ling Xueyao walked to Chu Yunfei's side, her voice cold and clear.
"Second brother, if you don't want to lose face again, you'd better mind your own business."
"If you dare to lay a hand on him again, I will show you no mercy."
Ling Chenglie's face turned pale.
He flung Sun Meng's hand away and turned to walk towards the other end of the palace path.
After walking more than ten zhang, he suddenly stopped.
Ling Chenglie turned around and stared intently at Chu Yunfei, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
" Chu Yunfei, this matter will not be left unresolved!"