186: Block outside the city

Originally, she had thought Gu Changsheng would make some outrageous demands.

After all, the most popular rumors everywhere were about a poor boy unexpectedly gaining an Opportunity and marrying a Dynasty princess, Your Highness.

She hadn't expected it to be so simple, merely becoming a follower.

“Is there nothing else?” Yun Liu asked suspiciously.

“That is all.”

“Good, then you shall be the first follower under my Yun Liu… What is your name?”

“Your subordinate, Su Mu, pledges to follow the princess until death.”

Gu Changsheng, following the oath-taking method from his memories, bent his right arm and placed it across his chest, bowing.

Immediately, his Soul Sea churned, and the obsession that had been bound deep within his Soul gradually dissipated like smoke.

It felt as if a layer of shackles had been shed, bringing an inexplicable sense of lightness.

In his perception, the entire world became clearer.

From this point on, Gu Changsheng truly gained complete control over this body.

‘Very good… Next is to devour the power of the golden beast bone, strengthen the body, and summon the main body to descend… ’

…After a period of rest, Gu Changsheng followed Yun Liu to other cities to suppress the rampant beast tides.

Ten days passed.

Luan Mountain City was surrounded by a beast tide, led by a four-tier Strange Beast from the cliffs, as large as a mountain range, putting the city in dire peril.

Gu Changsheng and Yun Liu joined forces and bravely slew it.

Twenty days passed.

Gao Yun City was in crisis, with three four-tier Strange Beasts attacking. The city fell, and tens of thousands of Ghoul Humans struggled to survive.

Blood-colored patterns rose on the battlefield, and a cold greatsword of white bone sliced through the Void Realm, saving the entire city.

Thirty days later… inside a tent.

Yun Liu reclined on a beautifully woven animal fur rug, wiping the blood-stained greatsword of white bone. Her black armor was heavily damaged, but her aura grew even sharper.

Beside her, Gu Changsheng sat cross-legged, holding a Strange Beast skull in his arms. A mysterious light emanated from his palm, continuously devouring the Strange Beast power within the skull.

“This isn’t normal… The rate at which the beast tide is erupting is several times faster than in the first half of the year…”

Yun Liu’s expression was grim as she spoke each word carefully.

The shadow of the Nightmare Ring Serpent awakening pressed down on her like a mountain, making her breathing heavy.

“The crisis is silently approaching…”

“I must persuade my father, the Gui Ren King, to use the full power of the Dynasty to gain a glimmer of hope.”

Yun Liu said solemnly.

Hearing this, Gu Changsheng opened his eyes.

A complex look was in his eyes.

During this time, while suppressing the beast tide, he had also obtained a lot of interesting information from various city lords.

For example… Yun Liu was born of a concubine, and despite her astonishing talent, she was not favored.

In fact, because her talent far surpassed that of her peers, many princes of the Dynasty regarded her as a thorn in their side, secretly plotting to hinder her cultivation.

Otherwise, with her royal Bloodline, how could she have no attendants or followers besides a black dog?

‘The trip to the Dynasty will likely not be smooth.

I need to prepare early.’

…Half a month later.

A majestic, towering city appeared before their eyes. The hundreds-of-feet-tall profound iron gate gleamed with cold light, adorned with solemn and murderous Strange Beast reliefs, like a natural chasm blocking the two outside.

This was the Royal City—Xiong Tie City.

This city was built upon a giant spiritual iron ore vein. Yun Liu’s ancestors had once used a Strange Beast secret method to confine the true spirit within the mine, refining it into the world’s greatest army—the Iron Futu—to suppress this world.

At this moment, the usually bustling city had its gates tightly shut. A team of black-armored soldiers stood in Formation outside, all holding weapons, their expressions cold and murderous.

“Presumptuous! I want to enter the city, Tie Can, how dare you block me!”

A hint of anger appeared on Yun Liu’s face. Her sword flashed, swiftly cutting off the crimson tassel feather from the silver-armored general’s helmet, startling the opponent and making him break out in a cold sweat.

‘This strength… no wonder the First Prince sees her as a thorn in his side…’ Tie Can looked at Yun Liu, who held the greatsword of white bone, his eyes full of apprehension.

Thinking of the person backing him, he suddenly felt a surge of confidence.

“Your Highness, please forgive me. A few days ago, the Royal City was besieged by a beast tide, and many parasitic Ghoul Insects infiltrated, secretly lurking and devouring the city’s inhabitants.

To prevent external infiltrators, if you wish to enter the city, please proceed to the side hall for a month-long observation period.”

“Nonsense! I am of the royal Bloodline, how dare you block me with such an excuse?!”

“The King has given orders. Please, Your Highness Yun Liu, do not make things difficult for your subordinate.”

“You…”

Yun Liu’s voice faltered.

Beside her, Gu Changsheng watched with cold eyes.

‘A mere gate-guarding general wouldn’t have the guts to obstruct. Who is the person behind this?

The Gui Ren King? The First Prince? Or other royalty…?’

Gu Changsheng looked up at the vast, imposing city, knowing deep down that challenging the Royal City alone had little chance of success.

‘I need to summon my main body to descend as soon as possible…’

…Inside the city.

Star Picking Pavilion.

A middle-aged man in a brocade robe with a powerful aura looked out of the city, holding a cup of wine, a slight smile on his face.

This was the First Prince, Yun Du.

“Yun Liu, the most outstanding talented younger sister in the royal Family… Breaking through to the fourth tier in a hundred years, second only to our ancestor.

Alas, the higher your talent, the more I fear you…”

Yun Du’s eyes grew cold, and he drained the wine in his hand.

Beside him, the golden-armored commander, Tie He, struggled with his expression and spoke with difficulty: “First Prince, if we block Your Highness Yun Liu from entering the city, what should we do if she forces her way through?”

Tie He secretly cursed his bad luck, regretting getting involved in the royal Family’s power struggles.

Unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret in the world.

Moreover, he and his Family had already invested too many resources in the First Prince. If he were to back out, not only would the losses be huge, but he would also needlessly offend the First Prince.

“How to deal with it?”

A hint of mockery appeared on Yun Du’s face, which then grew cold.

“Hmph, the one standing outside is not my blood sister; she is clearly an evil demon controlled by a parasitic Ghoul Insect.

How we dealt with the parasitized city residents before is naturally how we will deal with her…”

“Yes.”

Tie He cupped his fist, turned, and left.

‘Only half a month left until the throne…’

A strange snake shadow flashed across Yun Du’s eyes… Night.

Tent.

Gu Changsheng sat cross-legged, a mysterious aura emanating from him. The golden drop of liquid in his body was continuously refined, now only one-third of its original size.

After a long while, his eyes opened. His Qi and Blood stirred slightly, and a series of crackling sounds came from his body.

Sizzle… Sizzle

Blood Dragons emerged from his body, manifesting on his skin.

“Thirty-three Blood Dragons… It’s getting close… closer to the strength of a half-step Grand Witch level… I can even try to summon it early to get more support from my main body…”

Gu Changsheng stood up, took out the brown porcelain bottle from his waist, and slowly poured out the rich essence blood within. Using his finger as a brush, he inscribed a Strange Beast Formation around him.

His eyes gradually turned white, and his body twisted and danced eerily.

The surrounding Strange Beast Formation lit up with a faint, mysterious light.

After a long time, the Strange Beast Formation’s blood-red light dimmed, losing its spirituality.

“It failed… As expected, my body’s strength is still lacking… However, it wasn’t without gain.”

Gu Changsheng’s Soul Sea churned. The bubble, which had originally shrunk significantly, became full and expanded again. The nearly depleted magic power crystals were replenished during the descent just now.

Even Divine Ability secret techniques were transmitted through the magic power crystals.

Gu Changsheng pointed a finger, and a five-colored mysterious light emerged.

“Five Elements Restriction Breaking Divine Light… Very good… With this technique, opening a breach and entering the Royal City should not be a problem.”

In another tent.

“Damn it, at a time like this, they’re still thinking about power struggles…”

Anxious, Yun Liu paced back and forth.

Every day that passed brought the Nightmare Ring Serpent closer to awakening, making the entire world increasingly dangerous.

Suddenly, the tent flap opened, and a person burst in.

“Your Highness, I have a way to enter the city,” Gu Changsheng said with a solemn expression.

As soon as these words were uttered, Yun Liu’s breathing hitched.