The crowd was anxious. You Xingchen stepped forward to stabilize the morale. Then, he looked up at the dark sky, his face gloomy as he led the team forward quickly.

This time, the journey was relatively smooth. Aside from a few bizarre attacks from the Wu Yu (Black Rain) Clan, they encountered no major incidents.

The only problem was that they encountered many civilians along the way. When they saw that they were from the Qing Si (Azure Guard), they showed expressions of joy and joined the group.

However, in the night rain, more people became a burden. They couldn't be driven away, clinging to them as if they were the last straw. In the end, over a hundred people were drenched to death by the night rain. Among them, three died from the accumulation of dan du (pill toxins) after taking medicine to boost their qi and blood.

For ordinary people who aren't martial artists, the accumulation of dan du from taking pills is unsustainable.

Pushing forward in this half-dragging, half-driving manner, they finally reached the imperial palace.

As soon as he entered the imperial palace, You Xingchen went straight for the Stone Saint Forest!

Because he had heard that the [Palace Lord] and [Protectors] of the Zi Dian (Purple Hall) were all in the Stone Saint Forest.

But along the way, You Xingchen was stunned.

He discovered that some kind of conflict had occurred in the imperial palace. There was blood and corpses everywhere, and each member of the Zi Dian had injuries on their bodies, to varying degrees.

It wasn't until he arrived at the entrance of the Stone Saint Forest and saw the two Zi Dian [Protectors] and a large number of Zi Dian guards stationed there that You Xingchen revealed a look of joy.

"Where is the Zi Dian Palace Lord? His Seventh Highness is not dead at all! I have important matters concerning His Seventh Highness to discuss with him!"

His Seventh Highness?!

The two Protectors subconsciously drew their swords and surrounded You Xingchen and the others.

"It's true what they say: Heaven has a road, but you don't take it; hell has no gate, yet you barge in! You just attacked His First Highness and fled the palace, and now you're sending people to scout for information? Speak! Where did the traitorous Seventh Highness escape to!"

"So, the You family, like the Hong division, has completely betrayed to the Seventh Highness's side! Then there's nothing more to say. Capture them all!"

You Xingchen was dumbfounded on the spot.

What, what, what is going on?

Traitor?

Seventh Highness?

What's what?

Didn't His Seventh Highness just revive in the Seventh Highness's residence? How can you say here that the Seventh Highness attacked the First Highness? The timing doesn't match at all!

Seeing that they were about to attack, You Xingchen, still in a daze, snapped back to his senses and shouted, "Wait! I don't know what you're talking about! All I know is that His Seventh Highness has awakened his bloodline power! The power of the True Phoenix Blood! The four great families should all have ancestral instructions, right? Any imperial prince who inherits the Holy One's bloodline power will become the next crown prince! The four great families must pledge unconditional loyalty!"

Awakened bloodline power? The Seventh Highness?

The two Zi Dian Protectors almost laughed out loud.

"You're confused, You Xingchen, you're confused! I don't know what you saw, or how you were deceived by the Seventh Highness, but I can tell you one thing: the Seventh Highness has absolutely not awakened his bloodline power! Because... just now, in the Stone Saint Forest, the Guardian Stone Lion didn't respond to him at all!"

Bloodline power isn't just about power; it's also the key to controlling the Guardian Stone Lion!

At that time, the Guardian Stone Lion responded to the First Highness, so the choice of the Zi Dian was self-evident.

If the Seventh Highness had truly awakened his bloodline power at that time, he wouldn't have acted that way. Instead, the two princes would have fought each other for control of the Guardian Stone Lion!

Therefore, in the eyes of the two Zi Dian Protectors, You Xingchen was either deceived by the Seventh Highness or was simply talking nonsense!

"Enough nonsense! Capture him immediately!"

The people of the Zi Dian surrounded You Xingchen and his group. Although You Xingchen didn't know what was going on, he still drew his sword to confront them, and the atmosphere became tense.

Just then...

"Let them in."

The First Highness's voice suddenly came from the Stone Saint Forest.

Upon hearing this, the two Zi Dian Protectors exchanged glances before sheathing their weapons.

"Since it's the First Highness's order, you may enter."

You Xingchen frowned, took a deep breath, and led his group into the Stone Saint Forest.

As a forbidden area of the imperial palace, this was the first time even he, a member of the four great families, had entered the Stone Saint Forest.

However, the scenery inside was monotonous. All that could be seen was a dense forest of stones, except for the very center, which was a flat open square.

And in the square stood the legendary... Guardian Stone Lion!

The Guardian Stone Lion, so tall that its top couldn't be seen, inspired fear and trepidation with just a distant glance.

When they arrived at the center of the square, You Xingchen discovered that the square wasn't just occupied by the First Highness alone. The First Highness's trusted advisor, the lame Lao (Old Man), and the Palace Lord of the Zi Dian were also present.

As soon as they arrived, the Zi Dian Palace Lord fixed You Xingchen and his group with a threatening gaze.

Even You Xingchen felt immense pressure under that gaze.

On the other hand, Han Daren (Sir Han) and Qiankun Dashi (Grandmaster Qiankun), who had come with him, one looked up at the Guardian Stone Lion with a hint of nostalgia, while the other curiously examined the surroundings.

"Captain You, I heard what you said outside. You say my Seventh Imperial Brother has awakened his bloodline power? Is that true?"

The First Highness, who had been sitting cross-legged on the ground, slowly opened his eyes and stared intently at You Xingchen, his eyes containing a sharp killing intent.

The First Highness rarely revealed his emotions so openly, but this time, he was truly shaken.

That Seventh Imperial Brother actually awakened his bloodline, achieving what I couldn't achieve in my entire life! This is absolutely impossible!

Moreover, in the previous battles, that fellow didn't show the slightest sign of awakening his bloodline power!

"Was he hiding it too deeply, or did he suddenly awaken it?"

The First Highness's greatest trump card was his own cultivation method, using luck to forcibly create a slight connection between himself and the Guardian Stone Lion.

But if the Seventh Highness awakened his bloodline power, it meant that he could easily seize control of the Guardian Stone Lion!

At that time, all of his advantages would vanish in an instant, and he would become the one being crushed!

Seventh Imperial Brother, I can't let you live!

A fierce glint flashed in the First Highness's eyes.

And at that moment, You Xingchen told a completely different version, a Seventh Highness that was completely different from his understanding.

"You're saying... that my Seventh Imperial Brother really died in the Seventh Imperial Residence, but then he was resurrected and awakened his bloodline power??"

The First Highness was stunned. Could such a thing really be possible?

If this is true, then who is the one who came to me?

Moreover, judging from both the timing and the distance, the two Seventh Highnesses are not the same person!

"Zi Dian Palace Lord, which Seventh Imperial Brother do you think is the real Seventh Imperial Brother?"

The Zi Dian Palace Lord lowered his head slightly. "I believe they are both fake."

"Oh? Then where is the real Seventh Imperial Brother?"

"He never existed," the Zi Dian Palace Lord said calmly.

The First Highness smiled.

"In that case, I will have Lame Lao and you accompany Captain Xingchen to search for the Seventh Imperial Brother's whereabouts and bring him back to the palace."

"As you command!"

"This old one has no objections."