Gu Qingfeng's heart stirred as he set down his teacup and gazed toward the empty space in the grand hall.
In the next instant, a figure clad in golden armor appeared abruptly in the hall as if teleporting.
It was none other than the Golden Armor General who had previously guarded the Jade Dragon Secret Realm.
The moment the Golden Armor General saw Gu Qingfeng, his face lit up with joy.
"Gu Qingfeng! It really is you! How did you return? Where is the one who abducted you?"
"This prince was rescued by a mysterious figure along the way. After saving me, the stranger vanished without a trace, so I made my own way back."
Hearing the words "this prince," the Golden Armor General's eyebrow twitched.
Damn, he hasn't even been crowned a prince yet, and he's already referring to himself as one.
"What was the identity of this mysterious person? Any distinguishing features?"
"Since he's called a mysterious person, how would this prince know his identity? The man wore black robes—nothing notable about him."
At the mention of black robes, the Golden Armor General's eyebrow twitched again. His first thought was of Demon Pu, the one who had struck him with a palm strike before.
"Fine, none of that matters now. You must come with me to see the Emperor immediately. His Majesty has been in a furious rage these past few days—he’s issued a strict order that you be brought to him the moment you’re found."
Gu Qingfeng stood up, equally eager. "Then let’s go!"
As the two prepared to depart, the Golden Armor General suddenly asked, "Did you truly obtain the Ageless Pill and the Divine Refinement Method?"
"The legacy contained no Ageless Pill—only the Divine Refinement Method," Gu Qingfeng replied carelessly.
He had no intention of revealing that he possessed the Ageless Pill. How else could he swindle rare medicinal ingredients out of the Emperor?
If they wanted the Ageless Pill, the old Emperor would have to gather mountains of precious herbs for him to "refine" it.
"What?! No Ageless Pill? Then have you mastered the Divine Refinement Method?"
"Of course I have. Enough talk—let’s move." Gu Qingfeng waved impatiently.
"Very well." The Golden Armor General paid no mind to Gu Qingfeng’s insolence—after all, he still hoped to taste the Ageless Pill someday.
And so, the two set off.
As Gu Qingfeng embarked on his journey to claim his princely title, the entire Great Yan Dynasty began to stir in the shadows due to his sudden reappearance.
Countless messages were exchanged in secret, with every major faction deploying their own spies.
The emergence of the Ageless Pill’s inheritor was no small matter. The most powerful figures in the Great Yan Dynasty received the news almost instantly.
......
**Crown Prince’s Mansion.**
The Crown Prince, now past fifty, listened to his subordinate’s report with a darkened expression.
"Your Highness, the inheritor of the Ageless Pill has suddenly reappeared. What are your orders regarding this matter...?"
The Crown Prince fell silent for a moment before speaking in a low voice. "Who is escorting him to the capital?"
"General Qin, Your Highness."
The Crown Prince’s eyes narrowed dangerously. "Qin Rusong—sixth-level Dragon Transformation Realm!
I’ve heard he was recently injured by a peak Dragon Transformation Realm demon while guarding the Jade Dragon Secret Realm. Is this true?"
"Indeed, Your Highness. Are you planning to intercept them along the way? But even wounded, Qin Rusong is still a sixth-level Dragon Transformation expert—few among our ranks can contend with him."
"Contact the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom. Have them send reinforcements."
The subordinate’s face paled instantly. "Your Highness, reconsider! Allying with demons is like riding a tiger—it’s far too dangerous! We must devise another strategy, take our time to—"
"Silence!" The Crown Prince suddenly roared, his face twisted with fury. "Take our time?! That’s all you ever say!
I’ve been Crown Prince for decades! Do you have any idea how I’ve suffered these past years? Every day, I tread on thin ice—cultivating myself while constantly guarding against my brothers stabbing me in the back. Not a single moment of respite, for fear of losing my position!
I waited and waited, enduring until His Majesty’s lifespan finally neared its end. And now, just as my time should come, this inheritor of the Ageless Pill appears out of nowhere!
Damn it all! Every last one of them!
And you dare tell me to take my time?! Should I wait another few decades?!
I command you—take my personal seal and contact the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom immediately! Have them dispatch Dragon Transformation Realm demons to intercept the Ageless Pill inheritor. Whatever terms they demand, accept them all!"
Seeing the Crown Prince’s unhinged state, the subordinate knew further objections would be fatal.
"As you command, Your Highness. But... once the interception succeeds, how should we handle the Ageless Pill inheritor? Kill him or keep him alive?"
The Crown Prince’s expression flickered with conflict.
As the sole inheritor of the Pill King’s legacy—the only one capable of refining the Ageless Pill—killing such a talent would be a waste.
Even if only for his own sake, should he ascend the throne, he would want to extend his life.
Better to imprison the man and force him to refine Ageless Pills exclusively for his use.
But capturing him alive under the watch of a sixth-level Dragon Transformation expert would be no easy task. Worse still, if word leaked that he had colluded with demons, everything would be lost.
After a moment of deliberation, a ruthless glint flashed in the Crown Prince’s eyes. "Prioritize taking him alive. If it proves impossible... eliminate him on the spot."
The subordinate’s expression shifted. "Your Highness, he’s the inheritor of the Ageless Pill! If we deploy more forces, we might still capture him alive. Killing him would be such a waste..."
Truthfully, the subordinate had his own selfish motives. As the Crown Prince’s most trusted aide, if the latter controlled the Ageless Pill’s inheritor, he might one day receive a pill for himself.
The Crown Prince saw right through him and sneered. "A waste, you say?"
"Tell me—what matters more: the throne or the Ageless Pill?"
"T-That is..." The subordinate stammered, unable to answer. In truth, he thought both were important.
The Crown Prince chuckled coldly. "If I never become Emperor, never ascend as the Son of Heaven, what use is living a thousand years? Longevity is meaningless without power! If a beggar lived for millennia, should I abandon my throne to beg for immortality?"
The subordinate gasped. "Your Highness, it’s not the same! You are the Crown Prince—how can you compare yourself to a beggar?"
"Hmph! A Crown Prince who never becomes Emperor is worse than a beggar! At least the beggar dies free and unbothered! If I don’t fight, my dear brothers will. And if I lose, do you think they’ll spare me?
Just as I would show them no mercy, neither will they.
So for the throne—even the Ageless Pill must be sacrificed if necessary!"
The subordinate stood stunned, rendered speechless by the Crown Prince’s words.
After a long silence, he finally bowed. "Understood, Your Highness. I will contact the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom at once."
"Good. And remember—leave no traces. If this is ever investigated, all evidence must point to the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom. This must appear as their own doing."