The room was quiet enough to be heard.
Bai Yuyue, not receiving an answer, bravely looked up only to find Bai Shengyi gazing out the window. He followed Bai Shengyi’s gaze and frowned.
“Is the Young Master looking at the Fifth Prince?”
“The Fifth Prince?” Bai Shengyi asked with a hint of confusion. Qin Yu had already ascended the throne as Emperor; how could Qin Zhao have become the Fifth Prince?
Also, was that disheveled, downtrodden person truly Qin Zhao?
That would be wonderful! She would wake up laughing in her dreams!
“Yes, because the Fifth Prince had previously caused the Sun family and the Golden Sparrow Kingdom to suppress our Great Ning Dynasty, the late Emperor stripped him of his princely title. After His Majesty ascended the throne, he did not restore his titles, so everyone has continued to call him the Fifth Prince.”
What Bai Yuyue didn't say was that calling him the Fifth Prince was already considered good. Some people directly addressed him as "Qin Zhao," "Qin Zhao," in a rather informal manner.
Who didn't know that the Fifth Prince had not only offended the current Emperor but also the formidable Alchemist Bai?
As the two spoke, a group of scoundrels approached from not far away and directly bumped into Qin Zhao.
The leading scoundrel fanned his mouth with his hand, saying, "My, my, where did this beggar come from? You stink! Can’t you see I’m on my way? Get out of the way quickly!”
Qin Zhao’s face darkened, and he said through gritted teeth, "Hu Yi! Don't go too far!”
"Oh my, it turns out to be the Fifth Prince.” Hu Yi took two steps back, cupped his hands with a laugh, and said, “Fifth Prince, please don’t be angry. Who told you you were dressed so poorly? It’s understandable that we didn’t recognize you at first, right?”
After Hu Yi finished speaking, the others behind him burst into laughter.
Humiliation!
Blatant humiliation!
Qin Zhao clenched his fist, veins bulging, and said gloomily, “Hu Yi, you’ve only been taught by You Shantang for a few days, and you’re already so eager to offend this Prince. Aren’t you afraid that I’ll have the Sun family cause trouble for you?”
Just an orphan without roots; if he didn’t have the support of the outer sect of Shenqi Academy, would he dare to be so arrogant?
“Will the Sun family cause trouble for me over a good-for-nothing like you?”
Hu Yi looked as if he were being told a joke.
“Fifth Prince, we must be more realistic.”
Hu Yi was one of the orphans who had benefited from You Shantang.
His situation was somewhat similar to Bai Shengyi’s. At fifteen, he hadn’t tested for spiritual roots, and his entire family was expelled from the clan. His parents had also died due to the difficulties imposed by Qin Zhao, who was then Prince Gong.
If You Shantang hadn’t given him the opportunity to practice martial arts and re-test for spiritual roots, he might never have embarked on the path of cultivation in his life.
He was also an extremely ardent fan of Bai Shengyi. Therefore, upon learning that Qin Zhao had previously manipulated Bai Shengyi, with new grievances added to old ones, Hu Yi never gave Qin Zhao a good look whenever they met.
However, Qin Zhao didn't deserve a good look either.
A man who couldn't cultivate and relied on elixirs to maintain his appearance and favor; if it weren't for the fact that the third daughter of the Sun family was distraught without him, the Sun family might have kicked him out long ago.
“Hu Yi!”
Qin Zhao raged impotently.
Just then, he caught sight of a familiar figure emerging from the "Nian Nian You Yu" restaurant out of the corner of his eye.
A name involuntarily slipped out: “Bai Shengyi?”
“Fairy Shengyi?”
Hu Yi looked over in confusion, then his gaze brightened, suppressing deep joy and surprise.
However, he didn't approach. Instead, he glared warningly at his brothers behind him, who were stirring, telling them not to disturb the fairy.
Then, with a wave of his hand, he constructed a simple barrier to shield their area from sound.
Bai Shengyi looked at him in surprise, "Are you a student of Shenqi Academy?"
“Yes!”
Hu Yi responded with full vigor, then realized his voice was too loud and sheepishly scratched his head.
The young man who had been arrogant and flippant moments ago instantly transformed into a docile kitten.
Bai Shengyi had merely asked. She had come out because she sensed a subtle unusualness in the world, so she didn't say anything further and continued walking forward.
“Ayi, don’t you remember…”
“Bang!”
Before Qin Zhao could touch Bai Shengyi’s clothes, he was sent flying to the ground by a powerful force.
He cried out in pain. When he looked up again, he saw Bai Shengyi leap into the air, her fiery red robe fluttering in the wind. Her neck was slender, and her posture of flying a sword in mid-air was free and unrestrained.
She suddenly turned her head, her eyes cold and sharp.
She was high above, like a fairy descended to earth, while he lay in the dust, no more than a blade of grass.
“Hey! Why is the Fifth Prince kneeling on the ground? Did Sun Yun abandon him and kick him out?”
Hu Yi suddenly removed the barrier. The crowd looked at Qin Zhao and pointed fingers. Qin Zhao could no longer bear it and scrambled up from the ground, running in the direction of the Sun family!
“Brother Hu, Fairy Shengyi! We saw Fairy Shengyi! Why didn’t you let us approach… What the heck happened?”
Hu Yi’s brothers also came to their senses and began grumbling at Hu Yi, one after another, expressing their dissatisfaction. However, before they could finish speaking, the sky suddenly darkened.
In an instant, the world changed color.
“Crack.”
Everyone heard a faint sound, as if something was shattering inch by inch.
“Something has happened!”
The ancestors of the Ximen family, Chu family, Li family, Xun family, Feng family… and the eighteen great families were all awakened from their seclusion, looking up at the sky in horror, and immediately rushed out.
“Ancestor! Why have you awakened?”
“Quick! Quick, inform the family head, the ancestor has awakened!”
Chaos erupted within the great families, and it was no better in the imperial family and Shenqi Academy.
Within the Great Ning Dynasty.
Qin Yu immediately convened important ministers like the Prime Minister: “Immediately deploy the previously prepared guard team and prepare for patrol duties!”
Capital of Qi Zhou Kingdom.
“His Majesty has decreed a city-wide curfew! Those who disobey will be killed without mercy!”
Golden Sparrow Kingdom Palace.
Crown Prince Jin advised the Emperor of the Golden Sparrow Kingdom: “Father Emperor, this is our opportunity! Are you truly willing to watch as the capital belonging to the Golden Sparrow Kingdom is controlled by those hypocrites in Shenqi Academy? Since the adults are willing to give us a second chance, and the Lou and Mei families are helping us, why shouldn’t we try our best?”
Within Shenqi Academy.
“Venerable Qianying, the Heaven Mending team of one thousand two hundred and thirty-one is assembled! Please give your orders!”
Zhan Jiuzhou and Bai Yun cupped their hands and bowed, standing before Qianying.
Behind them stood one thousand two hundred and thirty-one cultivators, most of them at the ninth level of Golden Core, with a smaller portion at the early to middle stages of Nascent Soul. Their faces were solemn and stern. Knowing that the road ahead was fraught with danger, not a single one retreated.
Qianying’s red lips parted slightly, and she said powerfully, “Everyone, depart!”
At her command, the team split into ten, heading to various parts of the Shenqi Continent.
Concurrently, the majestic and fierce Black Gaze Tiger let out a roar. One hundred Black Gaze Tigers behind it dispersed and integrated into the Heaven Mending team.
“My little ones! It’s time for you to contribute. Don’t disgrace me!”
Chui Ming transformed into human form and walked to Qianying’s side, inquiring, “Where is the little girl? Should we send someone to protect her?”
Qianying shook her head, “We are going to Anping City. Junior Sister will be there.”