A hundred li from the planet, the water’s surface ceased to be calm, swirling rapidly, kicking up waves dozens of zhang high.
Even massive stones the size of palaces and mountains flew at dozens of times the speed of sound, carried by the waves, forming a barrier zone.
For a Saint King to recklessly venture in posed immense danger.
Whistling sounds filled the air incessantly.
Sharp gales seemed intent on blowing all the cultivators away.
“Swish.”
The circular nebula above the white jade saint ship suddenly expanded tenfold, enveloping the hull, allowing the ship to pass steadily through the perilous zone, finally arriving beneath the planet.
The cultivators aboard raised their heads, taking in the black planet before them.
Suddenly, two golden beams shot up from the planet’s surface, piercing the atmosphere, transforming into two figures clad in gold-threaded saint armour, gazing down at the white jade saint ship.
From their armour and adornments, Zhang Ruochen recognised their identity, his expression shifting, “The Emperor Ancestor Crown Prince’s Golden Armoured Imperial Guards.”
Zhang Ruochen began to grasp the Fourteenth Prince’s intentions.
One of the Golden Armoured Imperial Guards, seemingly unable to identify the white jade saint ship, called out, “This planet has been claimed by the Crown Prince of the Emperor Ancestor Divine Dynasty, all who approach must leave immediately.”
Bai Shang, the broadsword-bearing man on the ship, sneered, “The Crown Prince is far too domineering, this is Kunlun Realm, not his Giant Nether Star fief—he can’t just claim it.”
“Exactly, we’re here to land on the planet and harvest saint herbs too,” Nie Qingli said.
Soon, the cultivators on the ship erupted in uproar, condemning the Crown Prince’s overreach.
Someone—unknown who—launched a saint sword, unleashing a several-li-long sword beam, striking the two airborne Golden Armoured Imperial Guards, sending them crashing into the water, their fate uncertain.
Then, the white jade saint ship ascended, piercing the black planet’s atmosphere, landing on its vast, rock-strewn surface.
The planet bore numerous saint herbs, their potent fragrance wafting through the air.
The cultivators aboard the ship were ecstatic, turning into streaks of light, rushing out in all directions.
But they soon retreated—or rather, were forced back.
“Rumble.”
Nearly a hundred Golden Armoured Imperial Guards, riding gleaming golden giant deer beasts, wielding war halberds, closed in, each at Saint King realm, radiating astonishing saintly fluctuations.
Their saint armour and halberds bore identical array inscriptions—when activated, they formed a grand array.
The more guards, the stronger the array.
With nearly a hundred gathered, even a Ninth-Step Saint King would think twice.
Zhang Ruochen drew a sharp breath, transmitting, “The Emperor Ancestor Divine Dynasty’s resources are terrifying, a mere Crown Prince commands a Saint King guard unit.”
Consider that Guanghan Realm had only about 3,000 Saint Kings.
Kunlun Realm had even fewer.
In other words, barring Greater Saints or gods, a Crown Prince of the Emperor Ancestor Divine Dynasty could sweep half of Kunlun Realm.
Of course, with Kunlun Realm’s revival, the numbers of Saint Kings and saints were rapidly rising, many previously stalled cultivators achieving sainthood or kingship.
Ji Fanxin said, “The Crown Prince’s mother is the Emperor Ancestor Divine Monarch’s consort queen, daughter of the Sky-Reaching Sect’s leader, his uncles are also power brokers in the dynasty, with such a background, securing a Golden Armoured Imperial Guard unit is hardly difficult.”
Zhang Ruochen smiled, “That Emperor Ancestor Divine Monarch is quite a figure, managing to marry both a Nebula Sect saintess and the Sky-Reaching Sect leader’s daughter.”
“You should see it differently—it’s because he married them that he could rule the dynasty and become the Divine Monarch,” Ji Fanxin said.
Zhang Ruochen looked thoughtful.
Ji Fanxin continued, “In his youth, the Divine Monarch’s talent surely surpassed most, but without the backing of ancient powers, he couldn’t have risen, let alone become a Divine Monarch.”
“The best way to gain support is through marriage.”
“Once he ascended, he represented those powers’ interests, of course, his methods are formidable—after achieving godhood, he’s gradually shaken off the Nebula Sect, Sky-Reaching Sect, and others’ control, instead reining them in to solidify his rule.”
Zhang Ruochen sighed lightly, “To think a world-shaping figure like the Emperor Ancestor Divine Monarch had to compromise and borrow power to rise.”
Ji Fanxin, reading his thoughts, said, “If you want to rebuild the Saint Brightness Central Empire and restore Kunlun Realm’s past glory, you’ll need to unite factions and leverage major powers for even a slim chance of success.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “I’m no longer a cultivator of Kunlun Realm—its glory or decline isn’t my concern.”
“The future will be brutal, when you must decide the life or death of billions alone, how will you escape then?”
Ji Fanxin, an outsider, saw more clearly than Zhang Ruochen, the insider.
“Boom.”
“Boom.”
…
The ground shook violently, four golden-armoured giants, each a hundred metres tall, emerged from the guards.
One, exuding thick killing intent, said, “Leave, or die.”
The murderous aura was terrifying, paling the faces of even the saints and Saint Kings present, some trembling, nearly collapsing to their knees.
The Fourteenth Prince stepped out of the white jade saint ship, scanning the scene, calling out, “We’re all cultivators of Heaven Realm, comrades on Kunlun’s Merit Battlefield, yet you’d kill your own allies—are you defying the Heavenly Palace and Merit Temple’s laws?”
The saint-realm cultivators knew they’d been used by the Fourteenth Prince.
But abandoning the planet’s saint herbs and slinking away was unthinkable.
Some chimed in, “This planet belongs to Kunlun Realm, not the Crown Prince’s fief—why drive us out?”
“Who dares kill me? I’m the son of the Wind Realm’s Cloud Emperor.”
“Kunlun’s opportunities are for all to seize—the Crown Prince can’t monopolise them.”
…
The four golden-armoured giants, like ancient beasts, rumbled with thunderous energy, circulating saint qi, ready to strike.
Their unleashed saintly might floored some saint-realm cultivators.
The Fourteenth Prince watched with a smile, beside him, Ling Tong held a scroll, poised to record the scene.
“Hold.”
A gaunt old man with four arms flew out, halting the giants.
This was Que Gonggong, the Crown Prince’s top aide.
The Fourteenth Prince clasped his fists, “Greetings, Que Gonggong.”
“No need for such courtesy, Fourteenth Lord, since these cultivators came with you, they can naturally stay on this planet, but this old servant must warn you—this planet is highly dangerous, wandering recklessly could cost lives,” Que Gonggong said sinisterly.
The Fourteenth Prince smiled faintly, “Why do I only see Que Gonggong and not my elder brother? It’s been a while—I miss him dearly.”
“The Crown Prince isn’t on this planet, Fourteenth Lord may need to wait to see him,” Que Gonggong said.
The Fourteenth Prince said, “Seems my brother’s off chasing that Heavenly Maiden again, I wish him swift success, let’s go.”
He stowed the white jade saint ship, leading Ling Tong, Bai Shang, Nie Qingli, and others out of the Golden Armoured Imperial Guards’ encirclement.
The cultivators who’d ridden the ship, no fools, didn’t follow the Fourteenth Prince, instead scattering into the black mountains with their movement techniques.
Ling Tong said, “These people are truly ungrateful, reaching the planet and then leaving without a word—most of them gone.”
The Fourteenth Prince smiled nonchalantly, “It’s just mutual use, did you think they’d be daft enough to join me against the Crown Prince?”
Nie Qingli laughed, “They probably think the Crown Prince’s forces wouldn’t dare kill them, if not for your presence, Fourteenth Prince, they’d have been wiped out by the guards already.”
The Fourteenth Prince looked thoughtful, “My brother’s likely gone to court the Heavenly Maiden of Tianchu, I hear she’s in Luoshui, probably occupying a planet too.”
Ling Tong said gravely, “I’ve heard that not long ago, Tianchu Civilization’s Old Heavenly Lord recovered from injuries, surviving the Epoch Tribulation, his cultivation surging, with him guarding, Tianchu Civilization will surely prosper for the next epoch.”
“If the Crown Prince wins the Heavenly Maiden’s favour, it’s like gaining Tianchu Civilization’s backing—a tiger with wings.”
The Fourteenth Prince’s expression remained steady, “The Tianchu Heavenly Maiden is one of the Nine Immortal Beauties, even without her title, she’s worth a visit.”
Nie Qingli scoffed, “The so-called *Nine Immortal Beauties Chart* is just a painting by that libertine Hua Chunqiu—it doesn’t mean those nine are Heaven Realm’s most beautiful.”
The Fourteenth Prince, Ling Tong, and Bai Shang, knowing her thoughts, all laughed.
Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin didn’t travel with the Fourteenth Prince’s group, instead heading for the planet’s polar region, where the millions-of-metres-tall stone pillar stood at the centre.
“Someone’s following,” Ji Fanxin said.
Zhang Ruochen smiled, “Likely the Crown Prince’s Golden Armoured Imperial Guards, still intent on driving us off.”
They stopped, waiting a moment, soon spotting golden streaks flying from the horizon, their sonic booms shaking the sky.
Twenty-seven Golden Armoured Imperial Guards and one golden-armoured giant.
Clearly, recognising Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin’s strength, they’d deployed a quarter of their force.
