"Prince Yan!"
Chen Jiuyang's eyes flickered with sharp light. Could this renowned Prince Yan, the Dragon Country's foremost power on the surface, contend with that ancient monster who had lived for who knew how many years?
Chen Jiuyang asked with concern, "Can Prince Yan rescue Prince Gong?"
One Prince Gong had already fallen into the hands of that ancient monster from the Lotus Sect. If Prince Yan were to also suffer defeat...
"Amitabha!" Old Monk Zuokong said, "Prince Yan is the most outstanding martial arts talent of our Han people in thousands of years, second only to the Martial Saint Guan. There is no other."
"His martial arts cultivation has long reached an unfathomable level. Prince Qian need not worry."
"Indeed," Old Daoist Wuwei chimed in. "If not for Prince Yan's emergence during the War of National Destiny sixty years ago, our Dragon Country would have suffered countless more casualties."
"The martial arts destiny of our Dragon Country for thousands of years is concentrated on Prince Yan, which is why the current situation exists, where strong nations and enemies dare not rashly invade the Dragon Country."
Chen Jiuyang's heart trembled. He had not expected Prince Yan to be so formidable.
"If it comes to killing that old monster, even Prince Yan cannot achieve it. However, repelling that old monster and rescuing Prince Gong's soul should be without issue."
"Judging by the time, the Sword Bearer must have arrived at Prince Yan's military camp to invite him. Let's not delay. Since Prince Qian is also here, please have Prince Qian activate the national destiny dragon scale again. Old Monk and I will perform a secret technique to lock onto the location of Prince Gong's soul," Old Daoist Wuwei stated.
"Alright."
Chen Jiuyang's main purpose in coming to City 318 was to treat Prince Gong. He, Old Daoist Wuwei, and Monk Zuokong went to Prince Gong's bedside.
Princess Consort Gong, Gong Luoque, and Gong Liexian appeared somewhat nervous and anxious.
Chen Jiuyang activated the golden dragon scale phantom in his sea of consciousness.
"Buzz!"
At this moment, Chen Jiuyang's soul once again left his body. His gaze fell upon the mountain, before the wooden house, where he saw Prince Gong's soul transformed into a golden fish.
The terrifying old monster of the Lotus Sect was watering the flowers.
The old woman, with a demeanor both benevolent and ferocious, suddenly turned her head, as if seeing Chen Jiuyang from thousands of miles away. She revealed a chilling, bone-chilling smile:
"What a fragrant scent. Good child, I will find you sooner or later and devour you."
"Let me see where you are. You escaped last time. This time, I will definitely find your location."
Just then, Old Daoist Wuwei in Prince Gong's mansion's eyes widened abruptly. He quickly formed hand seals, simultaneously activating a ancient-looking green talisman, and declared loudly:
"The Grand Celestial Four Divine Star Array!"
The green talisman immediately radiated a sacred light, which then enveloped Chen Jiuyang's body.
Phantoms of the Four Divine Beasts – Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise – emerged, followed by illusory stars, a total of one hundred and eight star phantoms.
"Hmm?" The old woman, with her benevolent yet ferocious expression, was about to pinpoint Chen Jiuyang's location when she suddenly discovered that Chen Jiuyang's aura had been concealed and had vanished.
The terrifying old woman paused for a moment, then continued watering the flowers and plants with a benevolent expression.
"Yi! Lin!"
Monk Zuokong, holding a golden alms bowl, channeled his true qi. Golden qi condensed within the bowl, becoming liquid-like. The ancient Buddhist inscriptions on the golden alms bowl radiated light. After a moment, Monk Zuokong's forehead was covered in sweat, and he said solemnly:
"Found him!"
"At Mount Gashanloba, a thousand kilometers away!"
"Hoo!"
Immediately, Old Daoist Wuwei and Monk Zuokong ceased their secret technique and woke Chen Jiuyang. The two of them, after performing the secret technique, were already gasping for breath, almost unable to breathe.
It was clear that the secret technique performed by these two old men was an over-level exertion, bearing a tremendous consumption burden.
It was like a Earth Realm cultivator performing a divine ability; even someone as powerful as Chen Jiuyang would be drained after one or two moves, potentially damaging his foundation. How could others fare any better?
"Cough, cough!"
Chen Jiuyang opened his eyes, coughed up a large mouthful of fresh blood, and activated the golden dragon scale phantom within his body. This was not without its price.
However, fortunately, the price was not too great, as Chen Jiuyang's physique was extremely strong.
Monk Zuokong, panting, his face ashen, looked at Gong Liexian. "Amitabha... Prince Gong's whereabouts have been found. Young Princess, please relay the message to the Sword Bearer. Do not delay in rescuing Prince Gong..."
"Indeed. This time, I used the Grand Celestial Four Divine Star Array to conceal Prince Qian's destiny, preventing that old monster from tracing him. However, this old man does not have a second chance to activate this talisman. If that old monster changes its location, it will be difficult to find Prince Gong's whereabouts again."
"Yes!" Gong Liexian's body trembled violently. She quickly turned and left to transmit this news through the channels of the Sword Bearer Legion.
Gong Luoque could no longer suppress the trembling of his body. Twenty years! Prince Gong had been unconscious for twenty years! This was the closest opportunity to saving Prince Gong!
Due to excessive nervousness and anticipation, both Princess Consort Gong and Gong Luoque's bodies trembled uncontrollably.
Chen Jiuyang, having also suffered considerable exertion, swayed unsteadily. He managed to steady himself and said, "I will go back and rest for a while."
"Boundless Heavenly Venerate... Next, we can only wait for news from Prince Yan. This old man will also accompany Prince Qian to rest."
"We have done all we can. Princess Consort Gong, Crown Prince Gong, from now on, we can only leave it to fate and see Prince Yan's actions. Amitabha, this old monk will also go with Prince Qian to rest."
Gong Luoque pursed his lips tightly, only able to escort the three away from Prince Gong's mansion.
Princess Consort Gong looked at Prince Gong lying unconscious on the bed, remaining silent.
...
On this day.
The northern border of the Dragon Country moved.
A figure of imposing might, like an abyss, emerged from the Zhenbei Army. He held a spear wrapped in cloth and headed towards the western part of the Dragon Country.
His speed was like that of a dragon. In half a day, he reached the western border of the Dragon Country.
Someone recognized the young man wearing the gilded phoenix-patterned armor, and then the news spread, shaking the entire world.
"Boom!"
The Dragon Country's Prince Yan appeared at the Dragon Country's border. What was he doing?
Was he initiating a war?
The Dragon Country's Prince Yan was renowned globally. His Heavenly Dragon City-Breaking Spear had sent countless people into a state of dread, making them afraid to look directly at that figure!
The Dragon Country's Prince Yan had not left the Zhenbei Army for twenty to thirty years. This journey, he headed straight for the western border. What exactly was he doing?
With one person moving, countless eyes followed, and it made foreign martial artists at the Dragon Country's western border tremble with fear, not daring to breathe heavily.
It even made Dai Xuluo, the younger brother of India's Godly Kingdom's King Obilo, cower in his city, not daring to move.
Prince Yan alone was comparable to the most powerful army. This was a formidable reputation built with bones tens of years ago.
Decades had passed, and Prince Yan still looked like he was twenty-five or twenty-six years old, only with a few white hairs at his temples.
When Prince Yan, carrying the cloth-wrapped spear, passed by the city managed by Dai Xuluo, Dai Xuluo finally breathed a sigh of relief. He gulped down a mouthful of wine, his eyes filled with ferocity and confusion:
"Since the Dragon Country's Prince Yan is not coming for me, why has he come?"
A day later, Prince Yan's figure appeared before Mount Gashanloba. The cloth wrapping on his spear instantly vanished, and then the sound of a dragon's roar echoed for more than ten li!
"Old hag, return my brother!" The king's enraged voice spread.
A world-shattering battle erupted at Mount Gashanloba, as if the apocalypse had descended. The fight caused the heavens and earth to crack and the stars to fall, leaving countless people speechless, afraid to approach.