Kinship

Ascension City, Western Gate. While the sun is still up in the sky, people came in droves as they tried entering the city. The people who were coming in were both cultivators and none cultivators.

None cultivators were mainly here for some sort of vacation while cultivators came here so they can have a better environment for cultivation. The Piercing Heaven Empire was a top-tier power in the Blazing Wing Continent.

The empire is certainly a place where they might meet wondrous encounters.

There were guards who were posted in front of the gates. All of them had the cultivation of pinnacle-energy palace stage. They carefully observed the situation of the gates so any form of mishap might occur can be prevented to some degree.

Scraaa! A screech of a bird resounded all over the front gates of the city. Everyone was surprise and raised their heads. From afar they were able to see an Azure Condor flying towards their direction.

Many panicked as they thought that a savage beast has made its way towards the Western Gate of a human empire just so it find food.

The guards were just about to make their moves to protect the people when they realized that people were actually riding behind the Condor. It was actually a mount. Seeing the mount, the guards finally remembered something important.

[The Second Prince has returned.] They all thought as they remembered that Chang Yun had actually went out by the order of the Emperor.

An Azure Condor suddenly came from the skies and people who were present immediately gave way. They saw the unworried expression of the guards so the people coming in also realized that this Azure Condor was not dangerous.

The Condor landed in front of the Western Gates. The guards immediately started approaching them as soon as Chang Yun landed. They bowed towards him after confirming his identity. They even saw the infamous 'Mischievous Princess' the gards were familiar of.

"We greet Second Prince Chang Yun and the Second Princess Chang Ping."

The people who were around heard what the guards said and they started recognizing the handsome youth wearing the flashy yellow robe.

"It's the Second Prince of the empire? Didn't he go to the Northern Faith Academy? What is he doing here?"

"I don't know, but holy shit. The Second Prince had already reach pinnacle-energy palace stage already? He's only eighteen right? He has limitless future ahead of him."

"That's right, with him and the Crown Prince around the future of the empire is sure to be secure."

The talks of the people were all directed at the genius of the imperial family, Chang Yun. Wang Ling was by the side listening to everything with tranquility on his face.

His mind was quickly digesting the information he's able to gather about Chang Yun and the Chang Ping who was beside him and was still looking at him with reverie.

[So this guy was the Second Prince of the Piercing Heaven Empire? That's rather surprising but at the same not taking to account that he came to get me from the YinYang Heavenly Pool.

But what surprised me is that this girl is the princess? She was so weak willed back at the YinYang Forest and her strength is also subpar.]

Wang Ling secretly gave Chang Ping a look before raising an eyebrow. This girl was a princess? Then why is she so weak? The royalties of the last era were all domineering and powerful.

A princess have the ability to jump cultivation bases and face with opponents who are stronger. Even the weakest princess can face someone that has a cultivation base that is a level higher.

Princess Chang Ping almost died from a Demon Blood Hound. Being a late-sky root stage cultivator and the opponent at pinnacle-sky root stage, she should have managed to kill that beast without much problem.

Wang Ling raised his brows for a bit. Thinking about the current situation he decided to throw the matter on the back of his head. This doesn't have any connection with him, brooding over it is not his job.

Shrugging his shoulders, Wang Ling started observing the situation of the Western Gate.

He wanted to stay as inconspicuous as possible as to not incur any form of attention from the people. It was not the time to become the center of the spotlight.

Chang Yun raised his right hand. And made the guards raise their heads.

"Be at ease. You need not greet me like this. Go and take care of the Azure Condor, the princess and I will enter the city together with the people with me."

"Understood, Second Prince Chang Yun."

He then suddenly remembered something and started talking to Wang Ling.

"The city forbids any aerial type beasts. We have to go on foot from here on. We will reach Elder Wang Shu Qing's residence in a little bit so please be patient." Chang Yun explained to Wang Ling. Wang Ling nodded his head as he walked closely behind him.

Chang Yun and the other three entered the city after that little confirmation with the guard.

"Second Prince Chang Yun, may you have a good day. Second Princess Chang Ping, to you as well."

"Hey, do you know that person who was with the Second Prince? He didn't seem like a servant or an attendant." One of the guards who noticed Wang Ling's existence suddenly asked the other one beside him.

"No idea, he might be a guest of the Second Prince." The other guard responded.

…

Wang Ling entered together with them and walked leisurely with the Chang Yun guiding him and Chang Ping following closely behind him while still lost in reverie.

While Wang Ling was walking around with Chang Yun, he showed him a lot of places that might get his attention. Sadly, Wang Ling didn't respond so amazed and he rarely spoke.

Along the way, Wang Ling learned various things. He was happy to learn but as for the impressive things Chang Yun was showing him, he was simply unimpressed. He was someone who had seen a lot of heaven defying thing on his past life so it was rather hard to surprise him with sceneries.

Unless it has some kind of trivia about the new era, he wouldn't really bat an eye to any place that can be considered as a tourist attraction.

The sun was about to set when Chang Yun finally reached the place where he should take Wang Ling. He had already given him a tour of some parts of the city like he was instructed by Elder Wang Shu Qing and had brought him here before the sun could set.

In front of Wang Ling was a terribly extravagant mansion. It was ordained with needlessly bright ornaments and had nine columns lined up in front of the mansion.

The mansion in front of him was even larger than the royal library of the Azure Skies Kingdom. Wang Ling turned to look at Chang Yun and asked.

The only thing good about this place is that it's a secluded ground. There's not much people who pass by this place.

"Is this really the place where my father is staying?"

Chang Yun responded with a vibrant nod of his head. Wang Ling was left to sigh. He felt fatigue was going through him at this moment and said his farewells to Chang Yun.

"Thank you for your help, Second Prince Chang Yun."

"It is nothing Young Master Ling, also, you do not need to refer to me as Second Prince. You can just refer to me as a Chan Yun, Young Master Ling."

"I supposed so, but I cannot refer to a prince by that terms so easily. How about I call you Brother Chang Yun? You can also drop the Young Master and just call me your brother."

Upon hearing this Chang Yun was full smiles and gladly accepted what Wang Ling had said.

"If that is the case I shall call you 'Brother Ling' from now on." Chang Yun said with a smile on his face. For him to be on good terms with the 'genius' First Young Master of the Wang family was nothing but a topic that should be celebrated.

Wang Ling and Chang Yun's party was just about to part ways when Chang Ping suddenly took a step forward. She stood there looking at Wang Ling with expectant eyes.

Wang Ling was left to wonder what the princess of the Piercing Heaven Empire wanted from him. She had said her thanks to him when they were still mounted with the Azure Condor so there should be nothing to talk about anymore.

Wang Ling who was left confused wanted to ask the young princess what this is all about when she suddenly drop on her knees and kowtowed to the ground and spoke with utmost sincerity.

"First Young Master Wang Ling, your sword was the most exquisite and graceful sword I have ever laid eyes upon. Please, I implore you to take me in as your student and teach me the way of the sword."

When Chang Ping was saved by Wang Ling, she was able to take a glimpse of his magnificent swordplay. She didn't know what he was practicing but she could that his sword was pure.

In her eyes, Wang Ling's sword was pure, untainted, straightforward, and most importantly… strong.

She was someone who was not blessed in the ways of cultivation. But she was confident on her sword. Mastery of a weapon can supplement the lack of cultivation or so they say.

Chang Ping had been looking for a teacher all this time, but she had not seen anyone that she felt could lead her to greatness. Only Wang Ling made her feel that the sword was a true weapon that could split the heavens.

Chang Ping's words was straight and sincere and Wang Ling knew this. But he didn't want to take any student, not now, not ever. Taking in a student was something he wanted to avoid.

Looking at the sincere looking Second Princess of the Piercing Heaven Empire. Wang Ling was made to sigh. For royalty to kneel in front of someone else was something that can be considered as a huge thing.

If other people other than Wang Ling and Chang Yun see her kneeling on the floor like this, many implication will happen. The knees of the royal family should never touch the ground so easily.

This alone made Wang Ling see that she was serious about this student thing. However, Wang Ling could only shake his head and say to Chang Ping.

"I cannot take any student. I have no teacher that I learned from so I don't know how to teach anyone. I am also weak, my cultivation is even weaker than you, being your teacher will only bring shame upon the name of the imperial family."

Wang Ling's words were made to make it as smooth as possible as to not hurt the young girls heart and affect her mind, but it was clear that his words foretells one thing. And that is…. NO!

His own cultivation must come first before others. To guide others means he will lose time for himself. Every minute and ever second that passes is important for him, he was weak right now and must advance in cultivation quickly.

Chang Ping raised her head to look at Wang Ling and pleaded.

"Please give me a chance, I will not disappoint you. The sword is something I want to pursue, I just want to be strong."

Seeing her pitiful image, Wang Ling sighed as he remembered his former self who strived to be stronger. Although his past self was nothing but a lowly orphan and the one in front of him was a true royalty. He could feel that this girl in front of him truly wanted to become strong.

For what reason? Wang Ling didn't know nor did it really matter.

Wang Ling crouched on the floor and then looked at Chang Ping with a serious look on his face. His eyes resonated with Chang Ping's, he felt kinship with her desire for strength and while exchanging gazes with her, he spoke.

"Second Princess Chang Ping, I don't accept students."

Wang Ling felt kinship with her but his own strength comes first.