Why would this person be here?!
Could it be that the world’s tenth-ranked assassin is a confidant of the Chen Kingdom Royal Family?
Li Guanyi’s heart tensed, a sense of crisis emerging, yet his demeanor remained calm as he said lightly, "Oh? Why so?"
The man dressed in dark turquoise official robes chuckled and said:
"Most of the Book Collection Tower is open for the royal family to browse."
"But this inner chamber is only accessible to Princes or those who have made great contributions."
"Haven’t you already chosen a Cultivation Technique?"
"Oh, it’s the ’Vast Sea Strength,’ a technique created 240 years ago by a noble of the royal lineage. It allows one to wield Different Species True Qi in battle. Upon reaching Great Success, every punch or kick often conceals a second, formidable layer of force."
Li Guanyi replied, "It was Duke Chen Chengbi, the elder, who advised me to choose it."
"He said it could rid my body of the Red Dragon Power. Who are you exactly, to know so much about this technique?"
The middle-aged man’s face showed a flattering smile as he cupped his hands and said, "I am Si Qing, just a Small Official of Secondary Eighth Rank guarding the books here, without any real power. By His Majesty’s grace, I’m specially permitted to peruse these martial arts texts, but lacking any cultivation, it’s merely to satiate my appetite."
"Have you been injured, sir? I have some knowledge of medicine; perhaps I could take a look."
Li Guanyi indifferently said, "Hmph, just a few days ago, Yue Qianfeng made a fuss at the palace."
"The Emperor has granted me a jade belt and a vermillion robe; the Imperial Physician has already seen me. Are you more skilled in medicine than the Emperor’s own Imperial Physician?"
Si Qing replied with embarrassment, "That, of course, I am not."
He seemed to accidentally brush against Li Guanyi, then said, "I shall register this for you, sir. After your cultivation, simply return the original text of the technique."
Li Guanyi took the technique and strode out, his gaze fixed on the inner chamber of the Book Collection Pavilion.
The Mystic Turtle Dharma Form on his shoulder watched the inner chamber intently.
It seemed as though something extraordinary inside was attracting it.
Nearing it yet not able to touch.
Li Guanyi saw an almost human-like expression on the face of the Mystic Turtle.
The Dharma Form appeared so eager it nearly spoke human words.
Previously, the Mystic Turtle Dharma Form had only acted twice.
Once was for the "Tiger Roar Bone Forging Skills" created by an Overlord eight hundred years ago, and once was for the Eternal Moon Undying Medicine that Marquis Hou Zhongyu had tempered over an unknown length of time. This third time, it was unknown what lay inside.
Was it a peerless Divine Skill, or some kind of fortune-bestowing treasure?
Or perhaps, like General Xue who left behind a secret realm, did Duke Chen of that era also leave something behind?
The change in the Mystic Turtle Dharma Form also piqued Li Guanyi’s curiosity.
But with the world’s tenth-ranked assassin, hiding his true identity, watching him with a smiling face, and the rules of Chen Country before him, he dared not show the slightest anomaly. He just said lightly, "Very well."
He displayed the perfect degree of proud nobility befitting his status.
Si Qing nodded with an obliging smile. Just then, voices emanated from inside the inner chamber, and then someone was heard conversing as they walked out. It was a boy appearing to be about fifteen or sixteen, dressed in brocade clothes with a golden-threaded headband, exuding unspeakable nobility. However, his eyes were sharp, with a hint of murderousness lurking within.
He was surrounded by similarly aged youths.
All with a scholarly air about them, addressing him as "Your Highness."
The noble young man walked out of the inner chamber, holding a scroll in his hand.
His gaze rose, nonchalant yet contemptuous, sweeping over the bowing heads of the royal youths, and when it finally landed on Li Guanyi, it abruptly paused. The Crown Prince, with a martial air, clad in a vermillion robe and white jade belt, said, "From the Xue Family, Li Guanyi?"
Si Qing had already been bowing repeatedly, his face flustered: "Ah, Your Highness, the Crown Prince, you’ve come out."
"Did you decide on any book?"
The Crown Prince waved his hand dismissively, his gaze remaining steadily fixed on Li Guanyi.
For the onlookers, the fifteen-year-old in the vermillion robe, Li Guanyi, also looked at the young man. Between them, there was an unspoken tension, making the other royal youths somewhat uncomfortable as the air filled with a silent atmosphere.
This was the Crown Prince.
The son of the Regent King, the current Emperor’s piece in the game.
A thought flashed through Li Guanyi’s mind.
In the end, he bowed slightly and said, "Your Highness."
The Crown Prince’s eyes lowered as he nodded.
Li Guanyi thought to himself that their fathers had once taken up sword and spear together, fought over this world side by side, once battled to the death as allies, and once as enemies; and now, here they were, reuniting.
The Crown Prince shifted his gaze, and said simply, "Hmm."
Then he said nothing more, made no effort to recruit or suppress.
Just like that, he left with his faction of young aristocrats. The youths gazed at Li Guanyi with curiosity, coldness, and disdain in their eyes. They all belonged to the civil official and aristocratic lineage, while at that moment, Li Guanyi was from the Royal Family, a merchant, a military officer.
This hostility was natural.
It was the Emperor who subtly planted seeds of mutual hostility in the hearts of the younger generation. Li Guanyi lifted his eyes, took the technique from Si Qing’s hands, and departed from there with poise and composure.
The Crown Prince went to see his mother. As he entered the palace, pushing open the door, he was immediately greeted by a strong sandalwood fragrance. He pursed his lips, pushed open the door, and saw at the center a Buddha Shrine, with a woman kneeling in front of it, her lips moving as she murmured scriptures.
The Crown Prince said, "Mother, today I encountered Li Guanyi from the Xue Family."
But the Empress did not answer.
She continued to chant the remaining thirty verses of the Diamond Sutra. Only after finishing did she open her eyes and say, "Li Guanyi, I’ve heard of him. At fifteen, he reached the Multi-story level and is already a military advisor of the Imperial Guard of the Secondary Eighth Rank. Did you try to win him over?"
The Crown Prince responded, "No."