Chapter 304: The Sword Saint’s Successor

Chapter 304: The Sword Saint’s Successor

Ye Nan Tian said, "Fine. If I lose, I’ll give you one High-Grade Mystic Stone and a Sword Art Tome."

The Little Prince burst into laughter. "Ye Nan Tian, in your eyes, is a Divine Dragon hatchling and my Divine Dragon Golden Crown only worth one High-Grade Mystic Stone and a Sword Art Tome? Do you think the princes and nobles of the imperial court are all paupers?"

Ye Nan Tian naturally knew what he offered paled in comparison to the Divine Dragon hatchling and the Divine Dragon Golden Crown. He drew the sword at his waist.

As the war sword left its sheath, a purple sword aura shot into the sky, piercing through the clouds.

"How about adding this Purple Cloud Flying Sword? Do you think that’s enough weight?"

It was indeed a rare Ancient Sword, containing Sword Essence and surging with sword intent, resembling a purple dragon ready to soar through the clouds at any moment.

This was a Seventh-Grade Mystic Artifact-level War Sword.

Clearly, Ye Nan Tian was confident enough in his Martial Path prowess to wager his own sword.

However, for the Little Prince, born into the Divine Dragon King's Residence, a Seventh-Grade Mystic Artifact held no allure. He shook his head and said, "If a Seventh-Grade Mystic Artifact could trade for the Divine Dragon Golden Crown on my head, wouldn’t that mean anyone could become the prince of the Divine Dragon King's Residence?"

What Ye Nan Tian truly coveted wasn’t the Divine Dragon Golden Crown but the Divine Dragon hatchling—a rare, heaven-sent treasure that was nearly impossible to encounter. He said, "Then what do you suggest I wager instead?"

Ning Xiaochuan was also curious about this. After all, the Little Prince daring to stake the Divine Dragon Golden Crown was definitely not out of goodwill—he had likely been scheming against Ye Nan Tian from the start.

The Little Prince smirked. "To my friend, the Divine Dragon hatchling is his closest companion, more precious than his own life. To me, the Divine Dragon Golden Crown is also more important than my life. Unless you can offer something equally invaluable... For example, your fiancée, Nie Lanxin. Miss Nie is hailed as the Tianyin Sect’s first beauty. In my eyes, only she is worthy of me staking the Divine Dragon Golden Crown against you."

No one would ever wager their fiancée in a bet. This was indeed a clever way to resolve the trouble. Ning Xiaochuan nodded inwardly—it seemed the Little Prince had planned this from the beginning and never truly intended to put the Divine Dragon Golden Crown at stake.

Shi Jinyu chuckled. "That’s not a bad idea. It even makes me want to place a bet myself."

Ye Nan Tian’s expression darkened. "Yu Qing, are you provoking me?"

The fact that Ye Nan Tian directly addressed the Little Prince by name showed just how furious he was.

The Little Prince, Yu Qing, laughed. "Even if I am provoking you, what can you do about it? Even if we fought ten more times, we’d likely still end in a stalemate."

Nie Lanxin spoke up, "What if you add me into the equation?"

A cold glint flickered in Nie Lanxin’s eyes, and a point of light shimmered between her brows. Profound Qi mist swirled around her fair, delicate palms, ready to unleash earth-shaking power at any moment.

Her figure was voluptuous, with full curves at her chest and hips. The veil over her face fluttered in the wind, revealing a glimpse of her flawless, peerless beauty.

If Nie Lanxin and Ye Nan Tian were to join forces, the Little Prince truly had no confidence in escaping unscathed, yet he showed no fear. He laughed and said, "If you two insist on teaming up, then the princes and nobles of the imperial court will have no choice but to unite against you. But I fear it will be you who suffer in the end. If by any chance Miss Lanxin’s delicate skin is scratched, this prince’s heart would surely ache."

Nie Lanxin’s Jade Fingers clenched tightly, her golden pupils burning with Flames as she gritted her pearly teeth. "Are all the princes and nobles of the imperial court as frivolous as you?"

"No, you haven’t noticed the friend beside me. He is a Minor Marquis from a noble family, his status incomparably distinguished. He is solemn and never dallies with women. If Miss Nie prefers his type, you’re welcome to chat with him and deepen your connection. I certainly won’t mind," the Little Prince Yu Qing said with a grin.

Nie Lanxin couldn’t help but glance at Ning Xiaochuan. Was he really a Minor Marquis?

The descendants of the imperial nobility often left others with the impression of being profligate sons.

Take Yu Qing, for example. Despite his extraordinary Martial Path cultivation, he still carried none of the dignity befitting a noble. Wherever he went, tales of his romantic escapades followed.

Thus, disciples born of sects held no favorable views of the noble offspring from the Imperial City. They saw them as second-generation heirs who relied solely on their ancestors’ accumulated wealth and resources to bolster their cultivation, rather than being true geniuses.

But Ning Xiaochuan gave off an entirely ordinary impression—unlike someone from the imperial court, and certainly not the flamboyant type typical of noble scions.

Ning Xiaochuan said calmly, "If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now."

With that, Ning Xiaochuan strode away, the Small Red Dragon in tow.

Once it was known he was a Minor Marquis, no one dared to obstruct him openly. At least on the surface, no one would dare to forcibly seize a mystic beast battle pet belonging to a Minor Marquis.

However, the value of a Divine Dragon hatchling was immeasurable. Now that word had spread, there would inevitably be those who would strike from the shadows, ready to kill to seize the beast.

"Brother Ding, wait! I’m heading the same way," Shi Jinyu called out. His body, like a giant leather ball, bounced down from the upper floor and sprang after Ning Xiaochuan. Despite his portly frame, his speed was anything but slow.

The Little Prince Yu Qing also followed, leaving alongside Ning Xiaochuan and Shi Jinyu.

They did not leave Hualong City immediately but instead arrived at a secluded Pavilion within the city, belonging to the Divine Dragon King's Residence.

Yu Qing ordered the Servants to bring food and fine wine, warmly entertaining Ning Xiaochuan. Ning Xiaochuan couldn’t refuse—after all, Yu Qing had helped him out of a tight spot today, sparing him from a potentially brutal fight.

"Brother Ning, did you come to Hualong City hoping to tame a true dragon and become a Dragon Warrior?" Yu Qing asked.

Shi Jinyu shot Ning Xiaochuan a glance, silently noting to himself, "So his surname is Ning." It wasn’t unusual—concealing one’s identity was common practice in the Martial Path world.

"I already have a Divine Dragon hatchling. Naturally, I don’t need another battle pet," Ning Xiaochuan replied with a smile.

The Small Red Dragon scampered across the table, grabbing a wine jar and guzzling it down. Its belly swelled larger and larger, bloating like a balloon.

Ning Xiaochuan asked, "Just who is this Ye Nan Tian?"

Yu Qing said, "His background is anything but ordinary. Since he has already seen through the true form of the Divine Dragon cub, he will absolutely not let this go. His master is an incredibly formidable figure, one even the Martial Venerables respectfully address as the Sword Saint."

"The Sword Saint, Yu Wenluo?" Ning Xiaochuan was utterly astonished.

The name of the Sword Saint was known to everyone in the Yulan Empire—a legendary master who had reached the pinnacle of the Martial Path.

The Sword Saint, Yu Wenluo, was a figure shrouded in legend. As the Supreme Elder of the Yiyuan Sect, the foremost among all sects, it was said he had lived for nearly two hundred years.

The Sword Saint, Yu Wenluo, stood alongside the Demon Emperor, Duanmu Han; the Great Golden Roc King, Yu Zhengwo; and the Daoist Ancestor, Tai Chu Wen Hua, as one of the four supreme experts of the era.

So Ye Nan Tian was actually a disciple of the Sword Saint, Yu Wenluo. No wonder his martial prowess was so extraordinary, earning him the title of a young prodigy. His origins were indeed anything but simple.

Ning Xiaochuan narrowed his eyes and said, "Ye Nan Tian is the disciple of the Supreme Elder of the Yiyuan Sect. Nie Lanxin is the disciple of the Tianyin Sect's leader. The Yiyuan Sect and the Tianyin Sect are the first and second-ranked sects, respectively. If these two sects form an alliance, wouldn’t they pose a threat to the Imperial Court?"

Yu Qing chuckled. "The Yiyuan Sect and the Tianyin Sect claim their alliance is to resist the Demon Sect’s southern advance. But in truth, their real goal is likely... exactly as you said, Brother Ning—enough to threaten the Imperial Court."

He continued, "The current state of the world is turbulent. The ancient civilizations of the northwest are amassing their military forces along the borderlands, waiting for the Yulan Empire to descend into chaos before marching south to sweep across the land."

"On the other hand, the Demon Emperor, Duanmu Han, emerged from a decade-long seclusion and immediately convened the Demon Sect Grand Assembly. A southern march on the Imperial City is now an inevitability."

"The alliance between the Yiyuan Sect and the Tianyin Sect will force all other sects to bow before them. The combined strength of their forces would be enough to rival the Imperial Army. They could hold back the Demon Sect’s invasion or even push straight into the Imperial City, severing the very foundation of the Yulan Empire’s fate. Their ambitions are treasonous!"

"The empire has flourished for eight hundred years—wealthy, prosperous, and revered by all nations. But now, beset by internal strife and external threats, it risks collapsing overnight, ushering in an era of chaos unseen in centuries."

Yu Qing’s expression was grave, devoid of his usual profligate demeanor. He sighed. "Most crucially, the Yulan Empire’s pillar, the Master of the Martial Palace, has departed. If he still presided over the palace, who would dare threaten the empire’s foundation? I’ve heard you have a special connection with the Master, Brother Ning. Do you know where he has gone?"

"He has left the Yulan Empire in search of higher realms of the Martial Path. A transcendent being like him is beyond our current comprehension. Now, the Emperor’s Martial Palace is under the leadership of the Spiritual Void Venerable. Whether she can withstand the pressure and turn the tide remains to be seen." Ning Xiaochuan wore a pensive expression.

Yu Qing frowned. "The Spiritual Void Venerable is still too young."

Indeed, the Spiritual Void Venerable was still too young. While she might be unrivaled among her peers, she was far from matching the likes of the Demon Emperor or the Sword Saint.

Ning Xiaochuan said, "If the Yulan Empire collapses, the first to bear the brunt will be our Marquis Houses. In the eyes of everyone, our Marquis Houses have accumulated wealth for millennia, amassing vast fortunes, owning mines and military forces, and possessing over half of the Yulan Empire's cultivation resources. We enjoy noble privileges others can only envy, which will inevitably make countless people covetous. Once the empire falls, we will surely face relentless pursuit from Martial Artists across the land."

Yu Qing nodded, his expression grim, and said, "Exactly. That’s why all our Marquis Houses must unite as one, forming an unshakable block. No matter how powerful external forces may be, they won’t be able to shake the empire’s foundation. Of course, it would be even better if we could strike first."

Ning Xiaochuan raised an eyebrow and asked, "What do you mean, Little Prince?"

Yu Qing chuckled and said, "The Yiyuan Sect and the Tianyin Sect want to form an alliance through marriage. Well, we should make sure they don’t get their way."

"You’re still scheming against Nie Lanxin?" Ning Xiaochuan said.

Yu Qing patted Ning Xiaochuan’s shoulder and laughed heartily. "A man who doesn’t dream of sleeping with the most beautiful woman in the world isn’t a real man. Brother Ning, are you really so devoted to Miss Yu Ningsheng that you have no thoughts of other women? I find that hard to believe."