Yingtian Prefecture.

Inside the main hall, a group of martial artists sat drinking and eating, enjoying themselves immensely.

Among this group of martial artists, a few people were flitting around like social butterflies.

These few individuals were very observant, mingling with many martial artists, occasionally inquiring discreetly if the others had any problems they could help solve.

However, they were often met with cold responses.

After hustling for a whole morning, a few of them exchanged glances and sneaked into a corner of the main hall.

"Old Three, you’ve been following the Shang Family Castle line. Have you discovered any side quests?"

"No, with Shang Zun and Slippery, when I mentioned helping him with his vendetta, he just laughed it off and brushed it aside casually."

"It’s the same on my side. These old folks from Jianghu are too cautious. Without years or decades of camaraderie, they won’t believe someone would risk their lives to help them for nothing."

"Damn, it’s so frustrating. Our Ma Bang is a well-known organization in the Mid-level Spirit Realm, yet we’re so stifled in this Celestial Hero World! I just want to draw my weapon and fight him."

"Calm down, we’ve now joined Prince Kang Zhao Gou’s camp, and it’s the right move. Once Zhao Gou ascends the throne, those of us who contributed will transform into military leaders and commanders. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"Speaking of contributions, that ’Youyan Guest’ took the main credit. Damn it, letting the natives take the first merit is such a waste."

"No choice, after all, he’s a Lord Level powerhouse. Even if our whole Ma Bang went against him, we wouldn’t be a match..."

As they were chatting softly, "Old Three" suddenly noticed an extra person standing nearby.

He thought it was a native. After taking a closer look, he frowned and said, "Brother, you look unfamiliar. Are you here from afar to support the king?"

The Awakened from Ma Bang were unconcerned. Although their conversation contained many words revealing their identity, like "native" and "camp," natives who haven’t uncovered the World Mystery wouldn’t hear these words.

Following Old Three’s gaze, the others took a couple more looks.

"He must be new. I was in the main hall all morning and hadn’t seen such a handsome native before." They whispered among themselves, assuming the native couldn’t hear them.

The new white-robed youth slightly cupped his hands and spoke to Old Three, "I heard the Ninth Prince Zhao Gou is here, so I came to take a look."

"Shh, shh! You mustn’t casually mention Prince Kang’s name."

Old Three quickly hushed him, "You should address him like I do, as Prince Kang. In just a couple of days, you’ll have to call him His Majesty."

"Oh. Can you take me to see Prince Kang? I’ve just arrived in Yingtian Prefecture and haven’t met him yet," the white-robed youth asked.

"Prince Kang is usually in the back garden. We rarely see him. But you’re in luck today; after lunch, Prince Kang will come to greet everyone. Find a seat in the main hall and have a meal while you wait," Old Three warmly suggested.

Old Three had a vague feeling that this white-robed youth had an extraordinary demeanor, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly how. In any case, it was best not to offend such a native.

...

Back garden.

Zhao Gou, accompanied by Misheng and Ye Zi, was seeing off the Youyan Guest.

"Senior Youyan Guest, when you go to Bianjing, please bring back my brother, the Twenty-Eighth Prince. He’s young, and I’m worried about his safety in the territories occupied by the Jin people."

"Don’t worry, Your Highness. I’ll return shortly."

The Youyan Guest said lightly, "If the Twenty-Eighth Prince has been beguiled by that scoundrel Bai Yujing and wants to compete with you for the throne, I’ll kill Bai Yujing and bring back the Twenty-Eighth Prince for you to discipline harshly."

Suddenly, a voice rang out unhurriedly:

"You don’t need to go."

"Who goes there?" The Youyan Guest’s expression slightly changed as he looked up.

Sitting comfortably on the corner of the pavilion’s flying eaves was a white-robed youth, surveying the scene below as if on a spring outing.

The reason for the Youyan Guest’s changed expression was simple—despite his keen hearing (or rather Perception), he hadn’t detected when the white-robed youth had appeared!

Misheng and Ye Zi exclaimed simultaneously, "Bai Yujing!"

"Is he Bai Yujing?"

"Yes, he is Bai Yujing!"

As they spoke, the Youyan Guest suddenly leaped up like a great bird towards the pavilion, raising his hand to grab!

The air twisted as a surging suction power emerged.

Bai Pu’s frame moved without wind, soaring into the sky.

Underneath his feet, each was supported by a cluster of Magic Sand.

It must be said, Magic Sand was extremely useful. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

However, while levitating with Magic Sand was feasible, using it for high-speed flight in the air, like a flying disc mount, wasn’t realistic. Supporting Bai Pu, the Magic Sand’s stored Magic Power would quickly deplete, unable to sustain for long distances.

The Youyan Guest’s open hand tightened, and the pavilion’s flying eaves exploded with a thunderous sound as if filled with explosives, crushed by an invisible Vigorous Qi hand.

"Crossing the Void?"

Seeing Bai Pu’s maneuver, the Youyan Guest was a bit astonished, "You seem no more than eighteen or nineteen years old. How did you master such a technique?"

He had never seen such Lightweight Skills, as if divinely inspired.

"Your martial arts are impressive. If you’re willing to abandon Prince Kang and assist the Twenty-Eighth Prince instead, I’ll yield my position to you," Bai Pu offered.

In Bai Pu’s eyes, the name Youyan Guest was visible.

The dark gold virtual frame denoted Lord Level.

The attributes were: Power 85, Agility 120, Endurance 80, Spirit 45.

After more than five seconds of observing, Bai Pu also noted Youyan Guest’s overall combat power—

4325.

The combat power was almost double that of the "Iron Beggar" Luo Qianhui, indicating that the real combat difference was astonishingly vast, akin to the gap between Qiu Chuji and Huang Yaoshi.

Perhaps it would take seven Luo Qianhuis forming a formation to stand a fighting chance against Youyan Guest head-on.

"Enough with the talk!"

The Youyan Guest’s attack missed, and as he descended, he stopped probing and slapped the sword case behind him. Instantly, a pitch-black longsword appeared in his palm.

The sword scabbard was pitch black, the hilt entirely dark, and even the blade after unsheathing was jet black.

This was the Supreme Profound Sword, reputed as an Ancient Divine Weapon.

"I want to see if you really possess these unfathomable martial arts!"

The Youyan Guest raised a hand and swung his sword, sending a sharp Sword Qi flying, much like a Fighting Qi Slash from the Demon Fighting World, assaulting Bai Pu from afar.

Bai Pu was unwilling to waste the Magic Sand in vain. He put away the sand and activated the Gang Step Secret Skill to sidestep and evade.

However, this Sword Qi was fired by Youyan Guest using his True Qi. Though its destructive power might be slightly inferior to a Fighting Qi Slash from the Demon Fighting World, its maneuverability was far superior.

With a slight flick of Youyan Guest’s wrist, the Sword Qi that had barely missed Bai Pu spun around, darting toward Bai Pu’s back.