233: Chapter 233 Meeting the Ninth Princess

In space, a giant warship floated quietly.

The hull was several kilometers long, entirely silver-white, flowing with a faint halo.

The golden emblem of the Imperial Royal Family was engraved on the bow, shining brilliantly under the light of the stars.

This was the Ninth Princess's exclusive vessel—the Apocalypse.

Lin Yun followed Qu Yanran through one hatch after another, walking into the interior of the warship.

Beneath his feet was a soft energy carpet; stepping on it was noiseless.

Exquisite murals were embedded on the walls of both sides, depicting the history of the Imperial Royal Family.

There was a faint fragrance in the air, not perfume, but a very High Grade energy incense that made one feel refreshed with just one breath.

“The Ninth Princess is waiting for you in the drawing room.”

Qu Yanran stopped in front of a large door and glanced at Lin Yun, her expression somewhat complex.

“Go in.”

The door opened silently.

Lin Yun took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The drawing room was large, yet there was only one person.

The Ninth Princess, Hua Caili, sat by the window with her back to him.

She had already shed that golden battle armor and changed into a simple and elegant white dress.

Her long hair no longer moved on its own without wind, but hung smoothly behind her, the ends slightly curled.

The layer of sacred golden radiance around her had also been completely withdrawn; she looked just like an ordinary beautiful woman.

But Lin Yun knew she was not ordinary.

Even with her aura restrained, that innate nobility and majesty still flickered faintly.

Hua Caili turned around.

Lin Yun's breath hitched slightly.

Without the enhancement of the golden glow, her beauty was instead more real and even more moving.

That face was as exquisite as heaven's most perfect masterpiece; every feature was just right, one point more would be too much, one point less would be too little.

Her skin was as white as jade, with a faint rosy tint.

Her eyes were no longer golden, but a deep ink-black, like the brightest stars in the night sky.

She looked at him, the corners of her mouth curling slightly upward:

“Sit.”

Lin Yun came back to his senses and hurriedly bowed:

“Student Lin Yun greets the Ninth Princess.”

“There is no need for such ceremony.”

Hua Caili raised her hand to signal him to sit, her tone flat yet carrying a hint of softness:

“This is not the imperial court; you don't need to be so formal.”

Lin Yun sat down as told, but his heart remained tense.

This was the Empire's Ninth Princess, a Rank 6 powerhouse, a terrifying existence who suppressed a Rank 5 Star-Devouring Creature with a wave of her hand.

To say he wasn't nervous would be a lie.

Hua Caili looked at him, a flash of interest in her eyes:

“Are you very nervous?”

“A little,” Lin Yun admitted honestly.

“Oh?” Hua Caili raised an eyebrow slightly. “Someone who dared to snatch treasure from a Rank 5 Starlight Grass is actually nervous facing me?”

Lin Yun smiled bitterly:

“The Princess must be joking. Toward the Starlight Grass, I was ‘fearless through ignorance,’ but toward the Princess, I am ‘keenly aware of the gap.’”

Hua Caili gave a light laugh and didn't continue the topic, instead picking up the teacup on the table and taking a small sip.

Watching her movements, Lin Yun's heart suddenly stirred.

System, inspect.

[Name: Hua Caili]

[Beauty Rating: 98]

[Martial Arts Talent: Heaven-Grade Low Grade]

[System Rating: Heaven-Grade High Grade]

[Marriageable]

Lin Yun's pupils contracted slightly.

98 points!

This was the highest-scoring woman he had encountered so far!

Although his wives were also very beautiful, all with beauty scores exceeding 90, still...

Qiao Shiyu and Bai Lulu were 95 points.

The highest was Su Yingxue; she had a special Physique: Ice Skin and Jade Bones. Although it hadn't awakened yet, her beauty score was 96.

She was the highest-scoring and most beautiful person Lin Yun had met before.

And now...

The Ninth Princess, Hua Caili...

98 points.

Besides the beauty score, what shocked Lin Yun even more were the Martial Arts Talent and System Rating.

Heaven-Grade Low Grade Martial Arts Talent!

Heaven-Grade High Grade System Rating!

Is this the Empire's Ninth Princess?

Truly worthy of a Rank 6 powerhouse, terrifyingly powerful.

Lin Yun felt emotional in his heart, but his face remained impassive.

Hua Caili set down her teacup, her gaze falling on him as if she wanted to see right through him.

Lin Yun felt a bit uncomfortable under her gaze and was about to say something when Hua Caili suddenly spoke:

“Ninth-Stage False Core.”

Lin Yun paused.

Hua Caili looked at him, her tone flat:

“Your true cultivation is the Ninth-Stage False Core.”

Lin Yun was startled, but he quickly calmed down.

He wasn't surprised.

After all, the other party was a Rank 6 powerhouse; seeing through his true cultivation was only natural.

“The Princess has a Wisdom Eye,” he admitted frankly. “Student is indeed already at the Ninth-Stage False Core.”

A flash of admiration appeared in Hua Caili's eyes:

“Not bad. To reach the Ninth-Stage False Core at Rank 2 is unprecedented in the entire history of the Empire.”

She paused, her tone shifting:

“However, as far as I know, it hasn't been long since you broke through to the Sixth-Stage False Core. To rise to the Ninth-Stage in such a short time, you didn't just rely on resources, did you?”

Lin Yun was prepared, his expression natural:

“Student dares not hide it. This is all thanks to my Revered Master.”

“Revered Master?”

Lin Yun nodded, following his pre-arranged story:

“Student's Revered Master is a hidden expert whose identity is inconvenient to reveal. Revered Master said Student has the Fertility Holy Body, and now that the activation progress has reached ten percent, he bestowed some treasures to help Student raise the Void Core to the Ninth-Stage.”

“Fertility Holy Body...”

Hua Caili murmured the words, a strange look flashing in her eyes.

Lin Yun was already this formidable, yet the Fertility Holy Body was only ten percent activated?

If it were fully activated, what would happen??

“Your Revered Master is quite generous,” Hua Caili said indifferently.

Lin Yun smiled and didn't respond.

Hua Caili stared at him, her gaze deep, as if trying to see through all his secrets.

Lin Yun was nervous inside, but he remained composed on the outside.

He was gambling.

Gambling that Hua Caili wouldn't press further.

After all, every powerhouse had their own secrets.

Fabricating a 'Revered Master' was reasonable and logical.

As for whether Hua Caili believed it or not, that was her business.

Silence lasted for a few seconds.

Hua Caili suddenly withdrew her gaze and spoke faintly:

“Little Blue said you stole something from it.”

Lin Yun's face was full of question marks:

“Little Blue?”

Hua Caili reached out, a flash of light appearing in her palm.

A small plant appeared in her palm.

It was entirely dark blue with slender leaves, about the size of a palm. It looked harmless, even somewhat cute.

But Lin Yun recognized it at a glance.

Starlight Grass!

The Star-Devouring Creature, Starlight Grass!

He subconsciously took a step back, the hair on his body standing on end.

Hua Caili glanced at him, her tone flat:

“Don't be afraid. It has already been subdued by me.”

Lin Yun froze:

“Subdued?”

Hua Caili nodded and placed Little Blue on her shoulder.

The little grass lay there obediently, its leaves swaying gently, as if acting spoiled.

“The Imperial Royal Family has a type of Secret Technique that can imprint one's own Divine Thought into the Soul of another creature, thereby enslaving it.”

“An enslaved creature will completely obey its Revered Master's orders from the bottom of its heart.”

She paused:

“This Secret Technique is extremely difficult to Cultivate. I only succeeded after reaching Rank 6. Moreover, I can only enslave one.”