The reputation of the Crown Prince of Prince Zhen'bei was already widely known in these parts, a name that carried immense prestige.
Moreover, this Crown Prince possessed extraordinary strength—whenever he stepped out, his domain would unfurl without fail!
Wherever he passed, no one dared come within ten meters of him, a testament to his terrifying power!
Yet now, someone actually had the audacity to approach the Crown Prince? Even going so far as to provoke him?
The onlookers watching cautiously from a distance were utterly shocked!
"Ah, this person must be new here. Careless, truly careless."
"He probably doesn’t know the reputation of our Crown Prince. Offending him—does he even stand a chance of leaving here alive?"
"Let’s just watch the show. It’s none of our business anyway—why bother worrying?"
The bystanders dared only observe in silence, not even speaking too loudly, afraid that the Crown Prince—with his keen hearing—might overhear and turn his wrath upon them.
"A mere first-level Divine Transformation Realm cultivator, and yet you dare put on airs in front of me?"
"Do you truly believe the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion is easy to bully?"
"You lot, go teach him a proper lesson."
"This man has abducted the Crown Princess. We must rescue her from her dire plight!" declared the Crown Prince with righteous indignation.
Huh?
Dire plight?
Rescue?
Gu Xian'er was so furious she nearly choked. You are the real disaster here!
"As you command, Your Highness!"
Among the Crown Prince’s subordinates were several formidable individuals, all at the Divine Transformation Realm.
At his order, they immediately charged toward Chen Chang'an.
Chen Chang'an merely smiled calmly, paying them no mind.
Before the three could even reach him, Gu Xian'er had already struck—her speed and power so overwhelming that their hearts trembled.
So strong!
Before they could react, their bodies were sent flying like broken kites.
The Crown Prince hadn’t expected Gu Xian'er to be this formidable!
A prodigy!
She was absolutely a prodigy!
"The Crown Princess’s martial prowess is peerless, truly extraordinary."
"Where is your family? I shall go propose marriage at once," the Crown Prince said excitedly.
"Propose marriage?"
"Are you even worthy?"
Gu Xian'er had long since lost her patience. Without another word, she struck—a single palm strike sent the Crown Prince flying.
"Your Highness!"
Seeing their master injured, the subordinates paled in horror. This was a catastrophe!
"You have some nerve, daring to harm the Crown Prince! If anything happens to him, the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion will never let you go!"
"Just you wait! Just you wait!"
Knowing they were no match for Gu Xian'er, they didn’t dare linger. Hastily, they carried the unconscious Crown Prince back to the mansion to regroup.
Gu Xian'er remembered Chen Chang'an’s teachings—to eliminate the root of the problem. Just as she was about to finish them off, Chen Chang'an stopped her.
"Young Master, why?" Gu Xian'er asked, puzzled.
"Let them return. They’ll lead the way for us."
"We’re going straight to the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion," Chen Chang'an said with a faint smile.
"Understood."
With that, Gu Xian'er held back.
The bystanders watched in stunned silence as the Crown Prince was beaten unconscious—a sight they’d never witnessed before.
"It’s over, this is truly over!"
"Everyone knows how much the Prince of Zhenbei dotes on his son. If he learns his heir was beaten half to death, he’ll go mad!"
"Who’d have thought these two would be so reckless?"
"Perhaps they simply don’t know just how powerful the Prince of Zhenbei is!"
Meanwhile, within the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion, the Prince was deep in cultivation when hurried footsteps disrupted his focus. Frowning, he demanded, "What is the meaning of this disturbance?"
"Y-Your Highness, disaster has struck!"
"The Crown Prince… he’s been severely injured!"
What?
Injured?
The Prince’s expression darkened instantly, his aura erupting with terrifying intensity. In a flash, he stormed out of his chambers.
Upon seeing his son’s condition, his face turned icy.
"Such insolence!"
"To dare harm my son in my own domain!"
"Who did this?"
"Why haven’t you brought them to me yet?" the Prince roared.
Gu Xian'er had held nothing back. Though the Crown Prince was also at the Divine Transformation Realm, he was no match for her overwhelming strength.
Now, he hovered at death’s door—his injuries grave, his life hanging by a thread. While not fatal, recovery would be near impossible without specialized treatment.
After all, the Prince’s expertise lay in killing, not healing.
"Y-Your Highness, th-they’re here!"
A servant rushed in, his panic further irritating the Prince.
"Calm yourself! Who’s here?" the Prince snapped.
"The ones who injured the Crown Prince—they’ve come to our doorstep!"
What?
They came here?
Now the Prince was intrigued. After attacking his son, they had the audacity to show up?
Had his fool of a son provoked someone formidable?
"Humph. I’d very much like to see who dares to be this brazen."
"Then take a good look. You won’t get many chances."
Chen Chang'an strode in, his gaze calm as he met the Prince’s eyes. The Prince studied him in turn.
An unfamiliar face.
This was the one who injured his son?
First-level Divine Transformation Realm?
The Prince frowned. The Human Rankings had just been updated—a first-level Divine Transformation cultivator should rank within the top ten.
A top-ten contender?
"Who are you?" the Prince demanded.
"Chen Chang'an."
Chen Chang'an?
The Prince, at the Deathless Realm, had an impeccable memory. Yet the name "Chen Chang'an" didn’t appear anywhere on the Human Rankings.
His eyes shifted to Gu Xian'er beside him—equally young, yet at the third-level Divine Transformation Realm.
Strange. Truly strange.
This pair clearly deferred to Chen Chang'an as their leader, yet his cultivation was weaker.
Was he hiding his true strength?
But at his age, concealing his cultivation from the Prince should be impossible!
The only explanation was an extraordinary background.
Yet even so, harming his son on his own territory was unforgivable.
"You have quite the nerve."
"Daring to lay a hand on my son."
"And now you march into the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion—do you truly believe you’ll leave here alive?" the Prince said coldly.
"Afraid? If I were, I wouldn’t have come."
"Good, good! Such boldness!"
"Tell me, what exactly caused the conflict between my son and them?"
The Prince turned to his subordinates for an explanation.
Not daring to withhold the truth, they recounted the events in full.
Hearing his subordinate's reply, the Prince of Zhenbei frowned slightly before turning his gaze toward Gu Xian'er.
"Indeed, not bad."
"Just a bit too ruthless in her actions."
"But that’s no issue. After she marries into my Zhenbei Prince's Mansion, we’ll take our time molding her properly."
Huh?
What did that mean?
The Prince of Zhenbei’s words left Gu Xian'er stunned. No wonder the Crown Prince of Prince Zhen'bei was so ill-mannered—it seemed the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
"Do you really think injuring my son can be brushed off as if nothing happened?"
"I don’t care who you are. Since my son has taken a liking to you, whether you agree or not, you will marry him."
"Otherwise, I guarantee you won’t leave this Zhenbei Prince's Mansion alive," the Prince of Zhenbei said coldly.
"May I ask you a few questions?"
Chen Chang'an’s sudden remark caught the Prince of Zhenbei off guard. Questions? Did you come here just to ask questions?
"Fine, go ahead."
"Your title as Prince of Zhenbei was conferred by the Fengtian Imperial Dynasty’s royal family, correct?"
"Naturally."
"How is your relationship with the royal family?"
"His Majesty treats me as a brother."
"Good. So, if the Fengtian Imperial Dynasty were in trouble, you would never stand idly by, right?"
Hearing this, the Prince of Zhenbei gave Chen Chang'an a puzzled look. What kind of questions were these?
"Of course. Do you doubt me?"
The Prince of Zhenbei began to suspect—was this young man sent by the royal family to test his loyalty?
"Excellent."
"In that case, I no longer need to hold back!"