In the spacious main hall of the Star-Plucking Sacred Court.
The Wine Immortal Daoist and the white-browed old man had been waiting here for a long time.
"Tempering the body with starlight usually takes a long time. For those with poor talent, thirty-five days is also possible. Why don't you wait in the private room? I'll call you when he comes out," the white-browed old man said to the Wine Immortal Daoist with a smile.
The two of them had been standing there for a full hour. If they continued to wait like this, who knew when it would end.
"No, he should be out soon," the Wine Immortal Daoist shook his head. How could mere starlight possibly trouble Xu Mu?
"Alright." Seeing the Wine Immortal Daoist's insistence, the white-browed old man didn't say anything more. However, he became increasingly curious about Xu Mu. What kind of person could make a Boundary Ranking expert from White Cloud Monastery, the Wine Immortal Daoist, trust him so much, even willing to endure waiting here?
"Stomp, stomp, stomp—"
From the top of the spiraling staircase in the Star-Plucking Sacred Court, the sound of unhurried footsteps suddenly echoed.
The Wine Immortal Daoist and the white-browed old man both turned their heads, seemingly expecting to see someone there.
But soon, they were disappointed.
Descending from above was not Xu Mu, but the noble young man who had discussed many principles with Xu Mu in the library.
He was indeed very noble.
The Wine Immortal Daoist stared at the young man, looking at those familiar yet indifferent eyes. He seemed to feel as if he had seen him somewhere before, but he couldn't recall where.
Just as he was about to observe more closely, a middle-aged man in a majestic black robe embroidered with a nine-clawed golden python blocked his view.
The man was tall and also expressionless, but exuded an imposing aura without being angry. He stood in front of the noble young man, silently meeting the Wine Immortal Daoist's gaze, with a hint of threat.
The Wine Immortal Daoist froze, then met his gaze for a moment. In the next instant, for the first time, he sensed a hint of danger.
What kind of person could make a Boundary Ranking expert at the half-step Human King level perceive danger?
Naturally, it would be someone at the same stage as him, or even at a higher realm.
The Wine Immortal Daoist and the python-robed man stood facing each other quietly, their eyes calm yet sharp, like a deep ancient pool, tranquil on the surface but concealing hidden dangers.
Neither of them spoke. The white-browed old man seemed to sense something as well and remained silent.
The space was silent.
At this moment, the noble young man frowned and spoke, "You're blocking my way."
The python-robed man glanced deeply at the Wine Immortal Daoist, then moved a step to the side, clearing the path for the young man.
The noble young man walked out calmly, heading towards the outside of the Star-Plucking Sacred Court. The python-robed middle-aged man followed closely beside him, his aura like a deep abyss, firmly blocking the Wine Immortal Daoist's gaze.
Soon, the two of them left the Star-Plucking Sacred Court.
The atmosphere in the space instantly became relaxed.
"Phew, you scared me to death. I thought you two were going to fight," the white-browed old man said, wiping the sweat from his forehead with lingering fear.
The Wine Immortal Daoist stared in the direction the two had left and asked inexplicably, "Who was that?"
"The middle-aged man in the nine-clawed python robe is the Grand Tutor Yuan Pu of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Like you, he's a half-step Human King on the Boundary Ranking, but his ranking seems to be even higher than yours."
Hearing the white-browed old man's words, the Wine Immortal Daoist's hand, which was reaching for his wine gourd, trembled involuntarily. He was somewhat surprised.
He had certainly heard of Yuan Pu's name, and was very familiar with it, as there were only a hundred seats on the Boundary Ranking of the Great Primordial Realm.
Yuan Pu's ranking on the Boundary Ranking was higher than both the Wine Immortal Daoist and Yaohuo, being precisely the twentieth.
The Wine Immortal Daoist himself was seventy-fourth.
"No wonder. That guy gave me a dangerous feeling. Looking at him, I felt like I could be crushed at any moment," the Wine Immortal Daoist said, smacking his lips, without any reservation.
He had previously told Xu Mu that simple Boundary Ranking could not represent actual combat strength. For example, he himself and Yaohuo of the Demon Extermination Division had a ranking difference of nearly thirty places, but their strength was comparable.
However, at Yuan Pu's level, those who ranked in the top twenty were all renowned powerhouses on the continent. The Wine Immortal Daoist was fifty-four places behind him, and there was bound to be a gap, perhaps a significant one.
"That guy is not someone to be trifled with, and he has a bad temper. That's why I was keeping an eye on things here."
The white-browed old man looked at the Wine Immortal Daoist and jokingly added, "Old friend, you didn't really think I was here for you earlier, did you!"
The Wine Immortal Daoist glanced at him and sneered disdainfully, "I don't care who you came for. I'm here for that kid."
"By the way, speaking of kids, who was the young man Yuan Pu was escorting earlier? Is he his son?"
The white-browed old man shook his head, "Of course not. That person is the Third Prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty, named Zhou Yuan."
"Third Prince." The Wine Immortal Daoist was stunned, scratching his head. "I haven't traveled to the Zhou Dynasty for a long time. Have they developed to this extent now, sending a Boundary Ranking expert like Yuan Pu to guard even a third prince?"
"Of course not." The white-browed old man glared at the Wine Immortal Daoist impatiently, and then continued, "I really don't know if you're genuinely foolish or pretending to be. Yuan Pu is following Zhou Yuan because of Zhou Yuan himself, not because of his status as a prince."
The Wine Immortal Daoist became interested and asked with a smile, "Oh, is he very capable?"
The white-browed old man nodded seriously, "He is exceptionally capable."
"You might not know, but Zhou Yuan, as a third prince born of a concubine, has a prestige in the Great Zhou Dynasty that surpasses all other legitimate princes. Even the Crown Prince Zhou Ying is overshadowed by him."
"It is rumored that Zhou Yuan, unafraid of hardship, led militia to build granaries, open mountain passes, and control floods. He is also well-read, proficient in the Six Arts and Classics, and adept at imperial strategy. His cultivation talent is also extremely high. Even the legitimate princes who look down on his birth cannot help but praise him as a dragon among men."
"Furthermore, Zhou Yuan has gathered many talents under him. His rise to this point is not solely due to his own efforts, but entirely due to the will of the people. Officials have actively gravitated towards him, including the Grand Tutor of the Zhou Dynasty on the Boundary Ranking. Although his wings are not yet fully grown, his influence has already surpassed all other princes."
"So capable." Hearing this, the Wine Immortal Daoist couldn't help but raise his eyebrows in surprise.
Just by listening to the description, he almost thought Zhou Yuan was an immortal reincarnated. After all, no one is perfect, but this person seemed too perfect, which defied common sense.
The white-browed old man also sighed, "Moreover, the Emperor of Zhou's health is deteriorating, with frequent relapses of old ailments. Perhaps soon, that day will come."
"At that time, who knows where the throne will go? Will it be the Crown Prince, who has been preparing for many years, or Zhou Yuan, whom the people support, or perhaps some other prince?"
"That's not something you need to worry about," the Wine Immortal Daoist said, shaking his head. He wasn't really interested in these matters.
He only asked about Zhou Yuan because the latter was of similar age to Xu Mu, and he wanted to make a comparison in his mind.
"What? You're not curious about Zhou Yuan, or why the Grand Tutor Yuan Pu was willing to make way for him, but instead care more about your junior?" the old man smacked his lips, looking at the Wine Immortal Daoist. "With your attitude, you're truly making me very curious about him."
"Curiosity is useless. He has been chosen by our White Cloud Monastery. No one can snatch him away," the Wine Immortal Daoist said seriously to the old man.
The white-browed old man froze for a moment, then teased, "If I were to snatch someone, I'd snatch Zhou Yuan. I really don't think your junior can compare to that prince."
Hearing this, the Wine Immortal Daoist spoke very solemnly, "Then I must tell you, if one day Zhou Yuan and my junior meet, he might not even spare Zhou Yuan a glance."
"Or rather, there are very few people in the world whom he would deign to notice."
The Wine Immortal Daoist spoke with a serious expression, but it was actually somewhat exaggerated.
Xu Mu was a genius, but clearly not to that extent. The Wine Immortal Daoist was deliberately speaking so to annoy the old man.
"Hey, you this person..." The white-browed old man raised his hand, about to say something, when he heard the sound of hurried footsteps from the stairs again.
They both looked up, and soon, Xu Mu's figure appeared in their sight.
"Oh no!" Xu Mu was seen rushing down the stairs in a hurry, then darting to the other side of the hall. Looking at the more than three hundred passages around him, he sighed with some regret.
"Still a step too late."
"What's wrong?" The Wine Immortal Daoist walked up to Xu Mu and asked curiously.
"I met a very interesting young man in the library. We talked about many things, but in the end, I forgot to ask his name."
Xu Mu sighed, "He was truly interesting. I wonder if I'll ever have the chance to meet him again."
"By the way, senior, he also just came down the stairs. He's about my height, also a young man. Did you see him?"
Xu Mu looked at the Wine Immortal Daoist with hopeful eyes.
Upon hearing this, the Wine Immortal Daoist's facial muscles twitched violently.
The white-browed old man couldn't help but burst into laughter, his laughter so exaggerated and loud that it seemed to shake the sacred court.
"Come with me."
The Wine Immortal Daoist, his face flushed but unashamed, grabbed Xu Mu and turned to leave this cursed place.
Xu Mu blinked his eyes and said in surprise, "What are you pulling me for? Hey, senior, it hurts!"
"We'll talk outside!"
...
After leaving the Star-Plucking Sacred Court, the two took many winding turns before finally stopping in a deserted alley.
Xu Mu looked at the Wine Immortal Daoist with apprehension. The latter had a dark expression, as if he had encountered something extremely dire, which made Xu Mu a little worried.
"Senior, what's suddenly wrong?"
The Wine Immortal Daoist said nothing.
Xu Mu was silent for a moment, then suddenly thought of something and said with sudden realization, "Did something happen with the speech seclusion?"
"This can't wait. Hurry and take me to see, I know medicine!"
The Wine Immortal Daoist's face darkened, and he said helplessly, "What are you thinking? Of course not."
Xu Mu scratched his head, "Then what is it about?"
The Wine Immortal Daoist took a deep breath and stared seriously at Xu Mu, asking, "Let me ask you, did you see Zhou Yuan upstairs?"
Xu Mu was startled, "Who?"
"Zhou Yuan, the young man about your height and age. He is the Third Prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty."
Xu Mu was surprised again, "So he's a prince of the Zhou Dynasty. No wonder he had a sense of inexplicable nobility, and his words were also strange."
Xu Mu mused, "So, he's someone who's going to be emperor."
The Wine Immortal Daoist's expression became somewhat solemn, "Become emperor? What do you mean? Do you think he can become emperor in the future?"
Xu Mu shook his head in astonishment, "I didn't. Didn't you say he's a prince? Don't princes want to become emperor?"
The Wine Immortal Daoist was helpless, "But he's not the only prince in the Zhou Dynasty, and Zhou Yuan is born of a concubine, so he might not necessarily become emperor in the end."
"Oh." Xu Mu nodded, then asked curiously, "So what does this have to do with me?"
"Of course it has to do with you. He's about your age, and he's the prince of the Zhou Dynasty, while you're from the Xia Dynasty."
"The Zhou and Xia Dynasties haven't been at war for a long time, but there are constant minor skirmishes, and war could break out again at any time... Although these are none of my business, the problem is that you are also from Xia."
The Wine Immortal Daoist said, his face extremely serious, "If that Zhou Yuan is really formidable, you need to prepare early, because he might be the strongest enemy you encounter in the future."
Then, the Wine Immortal Daoist conveyed everything the white-browed old man had told him about Zhou Yuan to Xu Mu, and specifically emphasized the fact that Yuan Pu was accompanying him.
After listening, Xu Mu nodded with realization, muttering, "No wonder. I thought that guy wasn't an ordinary person."
"But it's okay. We don't have any enmity for now, and we might even become friends," Xu Mu said with a smile, thinking of Zhou Yuan's remarks.
The Wine Immortal Daoist sighed helplessly, then asked, "You forgot to ask his name, did he ask for yours?"
Xu Mu nodded, "Of course he did."
The Wine Immortal Daoist's expression was solemn, "You didn't tell him your name is Xu Mu, did you!"
Xu Mu shook his head and said seriously, "Of course not. I gave him a false name, and I also told him that I am from the Jiang family of the Hundred Clans, here to participate in the All-Races Assembly!"
The Wine Immortal Daoist breathed a sigh of relief, "Oh, oh, that's good. You must absolutely not tell him your true identity. It's very dangerous for you. The identity you fabricated like this is very safe."
Xu Mu scratched his head awkwardly, "Well... it's not entirely fabricated, it's half true. Because I really am here to participate in the All-Races Assembly this time, under the name of the Jiang family."
Hearing this, the Wine Immortal Daoist stopped walking, remained silent for a moment, and then asked again, "It's harmless. So, what false name did you give him? I'm a bit curious."
Xu Mu heard this and looked at the drifting clouds above the sacred city, smiling as he replied, "The false name is actually very simple. I told him my name is Mu Xu."
"It's just reversing the two characters of Xu Mu."
...