325: Prince Dawu's Warning

Rong Sufei's face flushed, his entire body trembling with intense excitement.

He clearly understood the meaning and function of the Great Wu Seal!

As the symbol of imperial power for the Great Wu Dynasty,

the Great Wu Seal had always been wielded by the Great Wu Crown Prince.

When the Great Wu Crown Prince encountered matters inconvenient for him to handle personally, he would often have his subordinates take the Great Wu Seal to deal with them.

The person holding the Great Wu Seal was as if the Great Wu Crown Prince himself had arrived!

To some extent,

holding the Great Wu Seal was like holding an imperial decree.

Not only that,

the Great Wu Seal itself possessed some powerful effects and functions.

For example, mobilizing the power of the Imperial Domain!

For example, in various regions of the Imperial Domain, performing enfeoffments as the wielder of the Imperial Domain.

Now, Cheng Riyou was preparing to use the Great Wu Seal to enfeoff Rong Sufei!

Thereby directly granting him this region!

As one of the sixteen regions within the Imperial Domain, the Nan Dou Region

the Great Wu Crown Prince, as the wielder of the Imperial Domain, was absolutely qualified to perform such enfeoffments.

However,

the enfeoffment he made would not cause the entire Nan Dou Region to directly belong to Rong Sufei.

It was impossible for Rong Sufei to instantly control the Nan Dou Region and ascend to sainthood with just one enfeoffment.

But this enfeoffment could make Rong Sufei the nominal owner of the Nan Dou Region.

This nominal status was very important!

It would give Rong Sufei an absolute advantage in the Nan Dou Region.

For example, in his current refinement of the earth veins in the Nan Dou Region, he would not only be able to refine the West Island area, but also... refine the earth veins of the entire Nan Dou Region!

Not only that,

his speed in refining the earth veins would reach an unparalleled level.

Most importantly... he no longer needed the popular support of the Nan Dou Region.

Even if all the popular support of the Nan Dou Region was with Xiang Zizhen, he would still be able to refine and control the Nan Dou Region, disregarding popular support!

After all... he was now the nominal lord of the Nan Dou Region!

Rong Sufei's heart surged with excitement over this.

With such a huge advantage, he didn't believe he would still lose!

One could say that the moment the Great Wu Crown Prince decided to bring out the Great Wu Seal to enfeoff him, the outcome was already decided... At the same time,

Xiang Zizhen, who was refining the earth veins, suddenly experienced a strange situation.

Originally, he was refining the earth veins of the entire East Island at an extremely fast pace.

According to his current refining speed, it wouldn't take many days for him to completely refine all the earth veins of the entire East Island!

By then... he would be able to control East Island.

But just as he was refining at high speed,

Buzz!

The earth veins of the entire East Island suddenly changed!

These earth veins suddenly became unfamiliar.

There was a drastic reversal from the earth veins Xiang Zizhen had previously refined.

It was as if they had transformed into a completely new kind of earth vein.

Completely different from the earth veins he had refined before!

Not only that,

what shocked Xiang Zizhen the most was that the parts he had refined had actually reverted to their unrefined state.

The earth veins of the entire East Island were as if they had been reset!

"What's going on!!!"

Xiang Zizhen's expression turned grim.

This situation had exceeded his understanding.

He had already refined most of the earth veins of the entire East Island, but now the earth veins of the entire East Island had been reset!

In that case,

he would have to refine the earth veins of East Island all over again!

However... what shocked Xiang Zizhen was far more than just the reset of the entire East Island's earth veins.

He also discovered that

these reset earth veins of East Island were being refined by someone at an extremely fast pace!

"This... How is this possible!!!"

Xiang Zizhen's eyes widened.

His entire mind instantly churned with monstrous waves!

Logically speaking... currently, no one besides him could refine the earth veins in East Island!

Not even Rong Sufei!

After all, he and Rong Sufei were one on East Island and the other on West Island. Unless Rong Sufei had already completed the refinement of West Island's earth veins and had enough popular support on East Island, only then would he meet the conditions for refining East Island's earth veins.

But Xiang Zizhen knew that

Rong Sufei's situation on West Island was not good.

Few martial artists there were willing to support him.

It was impossible for him to complete the refinement of West Island's earth veins so quickly.

What's more... Xiang Zizhen currently enjoyed immense popular support on East Island.

At this time, the martial artists of East Island would absolutely not support Rong Sufei.

That is to say,

Rong Sufei certainly did not possess the conditions to refine the earth veins on East Island.

And it was even more impossible for anyone else!

But now, Xiang Zizhen could clearly feel that the earth veins of the entire East Island were being rapidly refined by someone!

And this refining speed was extremely terrifying, unprecedented!

Even Xiang Zizhen's previous refining speed was completely incomparable to it.

"What on earth is going on!!!"

Xiang Zizhen's face was anxious.

Originally, he was confident in his refinement of the East Island's earth veins this time.

He had never expected such a situation to arise at a critical juncture.

Not only were the earth veins of the entire East Island reset,

but they were also being refined by someone at an astonishing speed.

Xiang Zizhen felt that the most urgent task at hand

was to first figure out who was refining the earth veins of East Island!

Thinking of this,

he immediately investigated the earth veins of East Island.

Thereby sensing the aura fluctuation of the person rapidly refining the earth veins of East Island.

"This is..."

"Rong Sufei's aura!!!"

Xiang Zizhen's entire mind erupted with a violent tremor!

Before this,

due to Rong Sufei having refined most of East Island's earth veins, Xiang Zizhen was very familiar with Rong Sufei's aura.

Previously, when he was refining the earth veins of East Island, he first had to dispel the earth veins that Rong Sufei had refined, and only then could he proceed with his own refinement.

Now, upon sensing that the person refining the earth veins of East Island at a terrifying speed was actually Rong Sufei,

Xiang Zizhen's mind felt as if countless thunders were roaring and exploding.

He was instantly dumbfounded!

All of this was too abnormal.

It had completely exceeded his understanding.

Moreover, a strong sense of anxiety surged wildly within Xiang Zizhen's heart.

At Rong Sufei's current refining speed... at most three days,

he would be able to complete the refinement of East Island's earth veins.

Although he didn't know the specific reason,

Xiang Zizhen could imagine that

since the other party could even refine the earth veins of East Island, they could certainly refine the earth veins of West Island as well.

In that case,

the time left for him was already running out!

Even if Xiang Zizhen also refined at the same time as the other party, his refining speed would be far inferior to Rong Sufei's.

Under intense inner anxiety,

Xiang Zizhen could only seek out his master to inquire about the situation.

Although according to the rules, all those above the Martial Demon Realm were not allowed to participate in this Nan Dou Region competition,

Xiang Zizhen felt that Rong Sufei's current situation was too bizarre, and only a powerful figure like his master could know what was truly happening.

What he wanted now was not for his master to get involved,

but to understand the situation.

Soon,

when Xiang Zizhen relayed the situation here to Chen Yuan,

Chen Yuan also furrowed his brows.

"Only the Great Wu Crown Prince, or the Great Wu Seal, can reset the earth veins..."

He said in a deep voice.

"Great Wu Seal?"

Xiang Zizhen was startled.

He knew a little about the Great Wu Seal.

But he hadn't expected... that the Great Wu Seal could actually reset the earth veins.

"From the intelligence you've provided, all of this... fits the characteristics of the Great Wu Seal."

"Whether it's resetting the earth veins or accelerating their refinement, only the Great Wu Seal can do it."

Chen Yuan sighed.

He had already realized... that all of this was the doing of the Great Wu Crown Prince behind the scenes.

Although from the very beginning, he knew that the Great Wu Crown Prince's stance in this matter was entirely biased towards the Martial Pavilion.

He even hoped that someone from the Martial Pavilion could ascend to sainthood.

But he hadn't expected the Great Wu Crown Prince's resolve to be so strong!

The moment Xiang Zizhen gained an advantage,

the Great Wu Crown Prince directly helped Rong Sufei in secret!

Bestowing the Great Wu Seal to assist Rong Sufei in refining the Nan Dou Region.

At the same time, Chen Yuan also read some of the Great Wu Crown Prince's underlying intentions from this action.

The Great Wu Crown Prince was warning them to give up early and not continue doing such meaningless things.

Chen Yuan knew that

although the Great Wu Crown Prince appeared gentle and refined on the surface, he was actually a quite domineering person at heart.

Since he had decided to give the Nan Dou Region to the Martial Pavilion, no one could defy his will!

Bestowing the Great Wu Seal to assist Rong Sufei this time was, on one hand, to ensure that the Nan Dou Region must be refined by Rong Sufei.

On the other hand, it was also a warning to the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect.

Do not defy my will!

Do not oppose me!

I am the master of the Imperial Domain!

I have the final say in all matters of the Imperial Domain.

Xiang Zizhen's actions in this competition had already displeased the Great Wu Crown Prince.

He felt that Xiang Zizhen was being imprudent.

Since he knew his intentions, he should have complied and just put on a good show.

Instead of genuinely competing hard here.

If Xiang Zizhen had truly refined the Nan Dou Region,

that would be tantamount to slapping the Great Wu Crown Prince's face!

It would severely affect the Great Wu Crown Prince's authority.

After all, in the current Great Wu Dynasty,

no one could defy the Great Wu Crown Prince's will.

Regarding this,

Chen Yuan sighed.

He said earnestly,

"Zizhen, let it go. Every world has its rules, and to survive in this world, you must abide by its rules..."

"Although not being able to ascend to sainthood in the short term is indeed a pity, you will have other gains."

Xiang Zizhen's heart sank.

He understood his master's hint to give up the competition.

He also understood all the underlying connections.

In an instant,

a multitude of emotions such as grievance, anger, frustration, and unwillingness intertwined in his mind.

Let it go?

All these days of effort.

Everything he had done these days, just like that?

Chen Yuan, though unable to see Xiang Zizhen's expression at this moment, knew that he must be feeling very bad.

As his master,

Chen Yuan felt he also had a responsibility for not fully discerning the Great Wu Crown Prince's intentions from the beginning.

Given the Great Wu Crown Prince's personality,

since he had already internally decided on the Martial Pavilion, it was naturally impossible for him to genuinely let them compete.

The so-called competition was actually just a facade to cover up the internal decision.

Regarding this,

Chen Yuan stated that he would fully compensate Xiang Zizhen for everything he had invested in the Nan Dou Region this time.

He also hinted that if Xiang Zizhen could make a concession at this time, the Great Wu Crown Prince would not pursue his previous defiance.

He would continue to regard him as a meritorious official of the Great Wu Dynasty.

Xiang Zizhen fell silent at this.

But his fists were clenched tightly.

So much so that numerous blue veins protruded on the back of his hands.

He could disregard his own efforts these past few days, but he could not ignore Xiao Shi's efforts!

Nor could he ignore the treasures Xiao Shi had brought out to help him!

Although Chen Yuan's side expressed willingness to bear the cost,

Xiang Zizhen felt that these were two different matters.

Besides the loss of treasures,

what Xiang Zizhen found most unacceptable was that their efforts were being trampled upon in such a way!

Although his heart was filled with immense anger and resentment,

the rational Xiang Zizhen knew that

even if he was unwilling to accept it,

the current situation... was beyond remedy.

Under the influence of the Great Wu Seal,

it was impossible for him to refine the earth veins faster than Rong Sufei.

At this moment, there was only one path before him, called "compliance"!

Chen Yuan had already implicitly indicated to him... that in the Great Wu Dynasty, one could only comply with the rules and will of the Great Wu Crown Prince.

No matter what, one could not oppose the Great Wu Crown Prince.

The Great Wu Crown Prince could still regard him as a meritorious official now.

But if he remained stubbornly unrepentant, his meager contributions would not be enough to serve as a protective talisman for himself.

At this moment,

the light in Xiang Zizhen's eyes completely dimmed... "Something seems off..."

Xiao Shi, at this moment, although he didn't know what had happened,

he vaguely sensed an anomaly in East Island.

The most obvious was the saint statue that Xiang Zizhen had previously erected.

Now, the entire saint statue was enveloped by a layer of hazy power.

It seemed to be isolated.

Causing all the blessings brought by the saint statue to become ineffective at this moment.

The moment the earth veins of East Island were reset,

the entire saint statue was also sealed by Rong Sufei through the Great Wu Seal.

He believed that once this saint statue could not function, the martial artists of the Nan Dou Region would no longer continue to support Xiang Zizhen.

Although the popular support of the Nan Dou Region was no longer a necessary condition for Rong Sufei to refine this area,

this was, after all, his future domain.

He would certainly still have to find a way to win back popular support.

It was just that he could refine first, and then slowly manage it later.

After Xiao Shi noticed something was wrong,

he immediately went to find Xiang Zizhen to understand the situation.

However, the moment he saw Xiang Zizhen,

he was instantly stunned.

At this moment, Xiang Zizhen seemed to have lost all his vitality and spirit, like a lifeless walking corpse, his eyes dull and listless, his head drooping dejectedly as he squatted beside him.

Xiao Shi had never seen Xiang Zizhen so dejected.

At the same time, with his understanding of Xiang Zizhen, he also knew that Xiang Zizhen was not a weak person.

The state Xiang Zizhen was in now instantly made Xiao Shi realize that something had happened!

Xiang Zizhen also noticed Xiao Shi's approach at this time.

He weakly raised his head.

Upon seeing Xiao Shi, his eyes instantly filled with intense guilt and pain.

"What happened?"

Xiao Shi asked in a deep voice.