NOVPUBChapter 127: The Eldest Princess Foots the Bill!
Who’s that beauty beside Master Yan? She looks familiar.
We must be destined… Mu Zhi’an’s gaze swept over Yan Ruyu, her mature beauty alluring, then landed on the woman beside her.
Her golden dress accentuated her curves, her shapely hips and ample bosom drawing the eye, her figure both elegant and seductive.
Her golden hair ornaments added a touch of nobility to her appearance.
She didn’t look like a disciple of the Two Polarities Sect. She seemed more like a princess…
And even an ordinary princess would struggle to carry off such an ostentatious outfit, but she wore it with an effortless grace, her aura both regal and captivating…
As he tried to guess her identity, Yan Ruyu approached, smiling. “Did you find a suitable technique?” she asked, her voice a mental message.
He snapped out of his thoughts, bowing respectfully. “I did, Master Yan. Thank you for your generosity. If there’s anything I can do for you in the future, I’ll gladly assist you…”
She smiled faintly. “I’m glad you found one.”
She wasn’t particularly invested in his words. The gap between Nascent Soul and Foundation Establishment was vast. He wouldn’t be able to help her for at least a few decades.
And her only problem was her bottleneck at the third level of Nascent Soul. It wasn’t something that could be solved with outside help…
Sensing his gaze on the other woman, she said, “This is Yong Ning, the Eldest Princess of the Great Qian Dynasty. She occasionally visits the library to discuss literature…”
The Eldest Princess… The Emperor’s daughter…? He bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Princess Yong Ning. I am Mu Zhi’an.”
She smiled gently. “You’re a disciple of the Two Polarities Sect, Young Master Mu. There’s no need to be so formal…”
Her voice was clear and melodious, her smile warm and welcoming.
She’s different from the royals I’ve met… If it were the Third Prince, he would just snort haughtily, emphasizing his superiority… He returned her smile.
Yan Ruyu glanced around the hall. “This isn’t a suitable place for conversation. Let’s move.”
She waved her sleeve, and they vanished from the third floor, taking Mu Zhi’an with them.
Ye Yu stared after them, his mind reeling.
Even a fool could see that Master Yan was close to Mu Zhi’an… She hadn’t even mentioned his cheating…
But she was a Nascent Soul cultivator!
Why would she lower herself to speak with a mere Foundation Establishment disciple?
Could it be… she was interested in him and wanted to recruit him as an inner disciple?
The thought seemed absurd…
Back in Tianxuan City, Mu Zhi’an had been welcomed by the family leaders and elders because he was the Mu family’s eldest son. They would have treated him politely regardless of his cultivation.
But in the Two Polarities Sect… his background meant nothing. What could she possibly see in him?!
A mere fifth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator, receiving the attention of a high-ranking elder before him?!
He glared at the spot where they had vanished, his heart filled with resentment and injustice.
A jade slip drifted past him, and he snapped out of his thoughts, reaching out and catching it.
He looked down at it.
…Another second-grade technique!
His eyes lit up with excitement.
So what if Mu Zhi’an had tricked him out of a technique?
His great destiny could bring him one second-grade technique, it could bring him another.
And that fraud, relying on connections, he would be exposed eventually!
…
Near the library, a pavilion floated in the air, the view from its windows revealing a vast, misty abyss.
Mu Zhi’an sat at a tea table, facing Yan Ruyu and the Eldest Princess, his thoughts racing.
He hadn’t expected the Eldest Princess to have such extensive connections… knowing even the high-ranking elders of the Two Polarities Sect.
Yong Ning seemed to sense his gaze, looking up at him, her smile gentle and welcoming. “Is something the matter, Young Master Mu?”
He shook his head, chuckling. “Nothing… I was just surprised to see that you two are friends…”
“Master Yan is both a friend and a teacher to me. She’s taught me many things. In a way, she’s my mentor…” she replied, her voice soft. “I came to the Two Polarities Sect to ask her some questions.”
She paused, then added, “But after arriving, I heard about yesterday’s incident…”
“And I heard from Master Yan that you were here, so I asked to meet you.”
Yesterday’s incident… She must be referring to the Third Prince…
He sipped his tea, looking at her, her beauty both elegant and intimidating… “What are your thoughts on the matter, Princess Yong Ning?”
“I’ll pay the one million spirit stones for him,” she replied calmly.
She might have a gentle smile, but she’s definitely the dominant type… He made a mental note of his observation.
In the modern world, she would be a CEO, treating her employees and clients with a polite smile, but her authority unquestionable…
She might seem approachable, but getting close to her would be difficult…
“Are you and the Third Prince close?” he asked.
She shook her head, smiling. “We’ve barely spoken.”
The imperial palace was vast. They only interacted during occasional banquets. They rarely saw each other.
“You’re truly a kind woman, Princess Yong Ning,” he said, his voice filled with mock sincerity, then he glanced at her storage ring.
He didn’t care who paid, as long as he received the spirit stones.
She shook her head, smiling. “Don’t worry, Young Master Mu.”
“I’ll deliver the spirit stones to the Garden of Heavenly Harmony within two days.”
She looked towards the entrance of the library, then continued, “But not now.”
He glanced back and saw the Third Prince standing there, his four-clawed python robe a symbol of his status.
Ning Long.
He looked away, nodding. “It’s fine. I’m not in a hurry.”
She wasn’t close to the Third Prince, yet she was willing to pay one million spirit stones for him… It wasn’t out of kindness. She had her own reasons…
He didn’t know what she wanted, and he didn’t care.
The imperial court was a complex place. It was only natural for their relationships to be complicated…
He would simply wait for the good news at the Garden of Heavenly Harmony.
The Eldest Princess would foot the bill.
They sat in the pavilion for a while, watching the Third Prince, who was still waiting at the library entrance, then Mu Zhi’an bowed.
“Master Yan, Princess Yong Ning, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”
He paused, then asked, “Where can I find books on formations, Master Yan?”
“You want to learn formations?” she asked, her gaze meeting his, then she remembered his performance in the Trial Forest, smiling. “You do have some talent…”
“I’ll have some suitable books delivered to the Garden of Heavenly Harmony.”
She paused, then added, “I need to confirm the technique you chose from the library.”
He retrieved the Lone Star Sword from his storage ring.
“A second-grade technique?” Yong Ning asked, her eyes widening with surprise.
Yan Ruyu was also surprised, studying him with renewed interest.
She had thought a third-grade technique would be the best he could hope for, but his destiny had attracted a second-grade…?
“Your destiny is quite strong,” she said, smiling, her impression of him improving.
“I was just lucky,” he replied modestly.
He had simply encountered Ye Yu and taken advantage of the situation…
She reached out, her spiritual sense sweeping over him, recording the technique.
He had been at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment during the trial, and now he was at the sixth… It seemed he was both talented and diligent…
She nodded, her gaze filled with approval, then she was about to withdraw her hand when her spiritual sense brushed against his Vessel, and she froze, her expression shifting subtly.
Two Vessels…
Normally, a cultivator could only have one Vessel. Spiritual energy could only condense into one.
There was only one explanation for him having two.
He was a Celestial Vessel.
She looked at him, understanding dawning on her.
Junior Sister Lan must have known about this and kept it a secret.
As for why…
She touched her lips, her eyes filled with a knowing smile.
…
