Chapter 79: The Arrogant Third Prince

The royal palace was vast.

Not only did it boast resplendent golden palaces and majestic towers, but it also had lakes, mountains, and even... a mountain within its grounds.

This mountain was ancient, filled with mysteries. It was said that the royal family had chosen this spot for their capital precisely because of this mountain.

When Qin Zi and Qin Chuan arrived at the royal palace, they were greeted by a large group of people already waiting for them.

These individuals were all dressed in luxurious clothing, exuding an extraordinary aura.

At the forefront stood a burly middle-aged man, wearing a five-clawed golden dragon robe. There was no doubt that this was the current emperor!

"Welcome, both of you," the emperor said with a warm smile, as if he were a completely amiable person with no temper.

"Your Majesty is too kind," Qin Chuan replied, taking a closer look at the emperor of the Nine Suns Kingdom. He appeared somewhat unremarkable.

Only at the seventh level of the Tongtian Realm!

However, it might be precisely because of this mediocrity that he could ascend to the throne... After all, the royal family was deliberately downplaying their strength!

They had to maintain such a disguise to confuse their enemies and buy more time for the family's development.

As for how far the family had progressed in the shadows, no one knew—not even many members of the royal family themselves...

"The Ancestor has instructed us to directly take Qin Zi to the Spirit Pool. Would you like to accompany him, or would you prefer to rest in the palace?" the emperor asked with a smile.

"I'll go with him," Qin Chuan responded calmly. It was always safer to keep an eye on his son, especially in a place like this.

This family was far from simple; caution was the key to survival.

"Very well, follow me," the emperor said, seemingly unsurprised by Qin Chuan's decision. In fact, the offer to rest in the palace was merely a polite gesture.

After all, he had no desire to don the "green dragon robe" of a cuckold.

Soon, they arrived at the base of the large mountain. Standing at its foot, one could truly feel its grandeur.

Though not particularly tall or massive, the mountain exuded an imposing aura, like a celestial sword piercing the sky.

Through the lush vegetation, one could spot ancient carvings on the cliffs—sword marks left by swordsmen from an unknown era. Even now, they radiated an undispersed sword intent, filling onlookers with awe.

"Thud!"

A muffled sound suddenly echoed from above.

The group looked up, just in time to see a faint golden barrier flash in the sky before disappearing.

Beyond the barrier, a mist of blood appeared, along with a few charred feathers fluttering down slowly...

"Heh, just a bird from outside trying to enter Nine Suns Mountain. It got shredded by the mountain's protective array."

The emperor smiled as he explained to Qin Chuan, "This formation was set up by several of our ancestors two thousand years ago. Even a Saint Realm expert wouldn't dare charge through it recklessly. If they did, they'd either die or be gravely injured."

Qin Chuan said nothing.

Father and son silently followed the emperor, accompanied by a retinue, ascending the ancient stone steps step by step.

After a long climb, they reached a plateau halfway up the mountain, where an imposing stone forest stood.

Massive gray-white stone pillars towered above them, etched with runes of various colors, emanating a strange and dangerous aura.

"The Spirit Pool is inside the stone forest. I'll take Qin Zi in from here," the emperor said to Qin Chuan, subtly implying that it wasn't appropriate for Qin Chuan to enter further.

His tone was polite but firm.

"Very well," Qin Chuan nodded and found a stone lotus platform outside the stone forest, where he sat down.

"Father, I'll be going in now," Qin Zi said before following the emperor into the stone forest. Soon, his figure disappeared from view.

Sitting on the stone lotus platform, Qin Chuan closed his eyes to rest. He wasn't cultivating but instead engaging in his usual musings—thinking about the best ways to "set up" his son for maximum benefit.

These were things he pondered frequently.

After all, opportunity favored the prepared. Only by planning in advance could he make those critical moments count...

The palace attendants standing nearby remained silent, standing respectfully. They all knew that Qin Chuan was an esteemed guest of the Ancestor—a figure of incredibly high status!

…

Soon, Qin Zi arrived at the Spirit Pool, led by the emperor.

It was a circular pool, about thirty meters in diameter, filled with pale golden water that radiated incredible spiritual energy.

Around the pool stood several statues of exotic beasts, and atop the heads of these statues sat several dirty, elderly men.

These old men were disheveled, their clothes long decayed and covered in thick layers of dust.

It seemed they hadn't moved in ages.

"Esteemed ancestors of the royal family, I've brought Qin Zi here as instructed by the Ancestor," the emperor said respectfully.

"Let him enter," an ancient voice echoed, though it was unclear which elder had spoken.

The golden waters of the pool parted like a curtain, revealing another, deeper pool at the bottom. This one was only about fifteen meters in diameter, and three figures were already inside it.

Two men and one woman.

All of them were young.

Among them, Qin Zi immediately recognized the first youth—it was the very same Crown Prince, Yang Qitian, whom he had defeated at Fenglei Valley!

Seeing his enemy again in this setting was awkward, especially since Qin Zi was now essentially a guest in his foe's house.

It made him feel a little uncomfortable.

But to his surprise, the Crown Prince, whom he had publicly humiliated and defeated, smiled kindly at him.

"What?"

Qin Zi froze, unsure of how to react. He could see that Yang Qitian's eyes held genuine goodwill.

This wasn't normal at all!

Still, it was hard to retaliate against a friendly face, so he awkwardly returned the smile.

The young woman in thin silk robes also opened her eyes and nodded at Qin Zi, acknowledging his presence.

However, the last young man remained seated in the pool, eyes closed, with an indifferent expression.

"Splash!"

Qin Zi stepped into the Spirit Pool, causing golden ripples to spread outward. Instantly, a pure energy surged through his body, so overwhelming that he let out a moan of pleasure.

"Ah~"

The sound was utterly embarrassing, and the moment it escaped his lips, Qin Zi's face turned beet red.

Glancing over at the others, he saw the Crown Prince chuckle softly, while the young woman smiled as well.

However, the indifferent young man's body tensed, and he opened his eyes, glaring at Qin Zi. Coldly, he said, "Get out."

"What?"

Qin Zi's embarrassed expression froze, and for a moment, he didn't know how to respond.

Then, a surge of anger rose within him. He was a guest here—how could he be treated with such disrespect?

Telling him to get out?

Is that how you treat your guests?

Still, he didn't immediately explode. After all, as a guest, he had to maintain some decorum.

Taking a deep breath, he replied, "The Ancestor of your royal family invited me here."

The young man's expression remained unchanged. He even closed his eyes again and said dismissively, "Leave."

"You!!"

Qin Zi clenched his fists in fury, barely restraining the urge to fight. But he reminded himself that this wasn't his turf.

Though this youth was insufferable, his elders had been kind to Qin Zi, and he didn't want to create a scene that would embarrass both sides.

So, he quietly sat down in the pool—ignoring the irritating guy seemed the best approach.

However, the moment he sat down, a cold pressure enveloped him, and the young man's indifferent voice rang out once more.

"It seems you didn't take my words seriously."