The mysterious figure in a black robe stood silently, observing Lin Yue, and said in a deep voice, "It seems this is a trap meant to lure me? Who are you... huh?"
He suddenly exclaimed in shock, "A prince!? You’re actually a prince?"
Lin Yue slightly raised an eyebrow and nodded gently, saying, "You recognized me, huh? It seems you’ve seen a prince before?"
He had already used his art of disguising on someone else, specifically assuming the appearance of the Supreme Elder of the Nanyun Sect; otherwise, it would have been difficult to lure this person into the trap.
Moreover, he had intended to use this opportunity to reveal his identity and test the reaction of other prince factions. He hadn’t anticipated this person discerning his identity so quickly. Clearly, the person had seen a prince more than once. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to identify the prince’s aura.
"Your Highness is actually this weak?"
The mysterious figure said in a low voice, "Could it be that Your Highness is that prince who awakened not long ago last month?"
"That’s me." Lin Yue nodded calmly.
As long as one wasn’t a fool, discovering he was a prince, with the aura of the Five Elements Heavenly Barrier and within the land of Liangzhou, it was clear he was the prince who had just awakened.
The phenomenon of a prince’s bloodline awakening was known throughout the world, naturally becoming common knowledge.
"Your servant has met Your Highness."
The mysterious figure immediately cupped his hands and bowed deeply, then said, "I don’t know why Your Highness went to such lengths to have me come here. What advice do you have?"
"You think I brought you here?" Lin Yue looked at him, "Wasn’t it you who needed a martial cultivator genius, that’s why you sought me out? The genius you’re seeking is me, and now you’ve found him, right in front of you. What do you intend to do?"
The mysterious figure paused in silence and then said, "It seems the Supreme Elder of the Nanyun Sect, Lan Ji, was also someone Your Highness had impersonated, right? The real Lan Ji has already been captured by Your Highness?"
Lin Yue said indifferently, "In a moment, naturally, you’ll be sent to see her."
"Does Your Highness know whom I’m working for?" the mysterious figure asked slowly.
"The Twelfth Prince?" Lin Yue replied.
The mysterious figure was slightly taken aback, then said, "It seems Your Highness, though from a civilian background, isn’t entirely ignorant of the Imperial Family."
He cupped his hands and said, "Since Your Highness understands, that simplifies matters. Compared to the other princes, I am insignificant, but I work for the Twelfth Prince, Your Highness. My life might be worth little, but surely Your Highness wouldn’t want to cause a rift with the Twelfth Prince before entering Di Hong City, would you?"
Lin Yue nodded slightly and said, "I, a prince from a civilian background, without any foundation, indeed cannot afford to offend other princes."
The mysterious figure laughed internally, but nonetheless, showed respect, saying, "Your Highness truly understands."
Lin Yue then turned his gaze to the Great Elder of Red Maple Lake and said, "These two just came over from your sect’s location, have they committed any unlawful acts against Red Maple Lake?"
The Great Elder of Red Maple Lake, still in shock over Lin Yue being a prince, immediately fell to his knees upon hearing this and kowtowed, saying, "Please, Your Highness, judge rightly. These two men killed three true disciples of our sect and even broke the leg of our sect leader in public. I implore Your Highness to deliver justice!"
Though this had been arranged in advance, Red Maple Lake hadn’t expected the visitors to kill at the slightest disagreement, naturally harboring anger and resentment.
Normally, they wouldn’t dare to say a word, merely swallowing their grievances.
But upon discovering that the mysterious young man was actually a high and noble prince of legend, they dared to speak up.
"Oh? There has been killing?"
Lin Yue gazed expressionlessly at the mysterious figure in the black robe and said indifferently, "I respected the Twelfth Prince and intended to let you go. Yet, you didn’t care to respect me and even killed someone under my command. How should this debt be settled?"
"Your Highness," the mysterious figure immediately said, "Your servant wasn’t aware they were under your command, otherwise..."
"Can a plea of ignorance completely absolve the crime?"
Lin Yue interrupted him directly.
The mysterious figure paused in silence and said in a deep voice, "Then what does Your Highness intend to do?"
"It is only natural to pay with one’s life for taking one."
Lin Yue gave him an indifferent glance and waved his sleeve immediately, saying, "Take action, capture these two alive, and execute them on another day."
The mysterious figure shouted in anger, suddenly transforming into a streak of black light, intending to flee.
The figure in the black robe also turned into black mist, flying out of the residence.
Thick white fog suddenly appeared out of nowhere, transforming into a vast mist, enclosing both of them in an instant from every direction.
The two had their energy burst forth, but, like insects trapped in amber, they struggled mightily yet couldn’t escape.
Especially the figure in the black robe, their entire form erupted in a dark haze, the violent power causing the air to explode into huge ripples, bursting with true strength that circled endlessly, yet unable to shake this seemingly thin mist.
Soon, as the fog closed in, ropes made of magical treasures flew within, rendering the two incapable of moving.
As the mist descended, it gradually dispersed, revealing the two completely bound by the ropes.
The mysterious figure in the black robe kneeled with a lowered head on the ground, their robe torn and hood fallen, the thin layer of black fog on their face dissipated.
"Void Fog Phase? Heaven and Earth Law?"
He slowly lifted his head, speaking coldly, "So it was the Sword Seeking Boat of the Tantian Sect? After the Sixteenth Prince’s fall, the remnants of the Tantian Sect chose a new master?"
It was a rather aged and somewhat decayed, rotten face, like rotted wood.
Lin Yue narrowed his eyes slightly.
The other party had recognized it so easily?
At that moment, an elderly figure suddenly appeared beside Lin Yue, surprisingly, it was the Master.