Chapter 131: Too Many High-Level Cultivators

Chapter 131: Too Many High-Level Cultivators

He quickly threw on his replacement robes and joined the princess at the front, looking down to see the spirit boat approaching the city walls.

The gold dragons coiled around the entrance gate pulsed, making some of the mortals panic before they noticed the massive spirit board floating above them.

“This was not what I had hoped to see,” Princess Jin said in a low voice.

“What do you mean?” William asked as he noticed the occasional cultivator gaping at the spirit boat.

“Spirit boats are not allowed entry into the city. Grandfather will not overtly show such favor to keep the large clans appeased. Either the Lord Protector has taken command, or the clans already know of what happened.”

“Why would it be an issue if the clans know?”

William didn’t get an answer and wouldn’t get one since Princess Jin didn’t seem interested in answering.

“Head to the palace.”

He snapped his head up, looking away from the cultivators staring at them, and narrowed his eyes in the direction where it originated. Even from outside the city, he could spot the palace without issue. There was nothing else that towered over the city quite like the gaudy, gold-decorated palace.

“That was my grandfather’s voice,” Princess Jin said faintly.

He stayed silent, still not really understanding why this was a problem. It was starting to seem like an internal family issue that he had no business knowing, but even that made little sense to him. After all, Princess Jin’s grandfather provided her that life-saving token. Surely, that meant they were on good terms.

The spirit boat had passed over the gate and was slowly floating toward the palace. It cast a large shadow over the mortals going about their daily lives, causing most on the bustling street to grind to a halt. The princess hadn’t been lying when she said there was a strict no-fly zone above the city. The residents wouldn’t have been so shocked if this happened occasionally.

William could see the Phoenix’s Nest to their right and the Treasure Pavilion directly before them. It felt like a lifetime ago that he had seen them. He thought about Mei Lingxi, the overly flirtatious manager of the Treasure Pavilion who had gifted him the Elemental Gauntlet. Something that he still wore on his hand and was just as useless as ever because he didn’t have enough Spiritual Energy.The origin of this chapter's debut can be traced to N0v3l--B1n.

That made little sense unless its effects were more than he had ever imagined.

“Do not make eye contact with anyone unless they are speaking to you. Follow my lead.”

“Yes, what an achievement.” Whoever said that was not nearly as impressed, “But Brother Xue is right. Rise, there is no time for this nonsense.”

William did as ordered, finding that all eyes were on Princess Jin, even Elder Yu’s. She looked at the princess with blatant surprise, the most expressive he had seen the Elder. They must have finally clued into the fact that she had come back from the secret realm many, many major realms above than before.

“Jin’er... how? What happened to you?”

“Grandfather,” Princess Jin bowed slightly, “I was lucky.”

That was an understatement, but William was more focused on the old man the princess called grandfather. This was not the same person as the specter that appeared after the life-saving measure was used. He glanced at Princess Jin before putting it aside. This was not the time to be distracted.

“Lucky is one word to describe it,” the man with the permanent scowl said roughly, “Girl, with how much you benefited, you must know why we aren’t able to contact the serpent inside the Shard.”

“The Lord Protector of the Shard?” Princess Jin asked curiously, “I spoke to him briefly. He directed me to the Oasis of Respite, but I never saw him after that.”

“Liu Feng,” the far too beautiful man interrupted, “Do you really think this is the time? You sense what is in store for the princess.”

“We’ve lost contact with a Shard, Brother Xue!” Liu Feng roared, “That takes precedence over all!”

“Peace, my friend. Maybe she isn’t the only one that has answers.”

William stiffened when they turned to them.

“Princess Jin will be undergoing Heavenly Tribulation within the next hour,” Lian Xue revealed, “It’s best to have her taken to an area where she has the greatest chance to succeed. But the Lord Protector is in the right. He must put the well-being of the Empire before all, even a valued member of the Imperial family. If the princess isn’t successful in her tribulation, we may lose the only source of answers.”

These were all flowery words. Even though the princess told him to stay quiet, it would be foolish to do so when this Lian Xue kept looking at him pointedly. He wasn’t being forced to speak out, but it was hard not to under the invisible pressure.

William moved forward a step, ignoring the warning look the princess gave him while making sure to get Elder Yu’s expression. She seemed indifferent. That was enough for him.

“Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but I have seen whatever Princess Jin has. I will be able to answer whatever questions you might have for her.”