Inside the room, Xia Wanqing looked at him and asked, “What just happened?”

“What?” Xu Zimo looked back at her.

“That ribbon.”

“The ribbon, I don’t know what material it’s made of, but it’s sharp, isn’t it?” Xu Zimo said.

“You’ve offended the Second Prince this time. That wasn’t very wise,” Xia Wanqing said.

“Life doesn’t always follow reason,” Xu Zimo replied.

“In fact, the Second Prince came to Martial Heaven Sacred Ground this time with another purpose,” Xia Wanqing said.

Xu Zimo looked at her with doubt.

“The struggle for the position of Crown Prince is extremely brutal. It requires not only personal strength but also support from many outside forces,” Xia Wanqing said. “He wants to gain the support of our Martial Heaven Sacred Ground. If he ascends the throne, then our sect could rise again within the Star River God-Dynasty.”

“Did your grandfather agree?” Xu Zimo asked.

“Grandfather said the fight for the throne is like dragons and tigers clashing. A single misstep brings consequences that can’t be borne. Our Martial Heaven Sacred Ground is a declining lineage, we can’t casually get involved,” Xia Wanqing said.

“He’s still considering.”

“Not getting involved is the right choice,” Xu Zimo said. “Otherwise, your whole sect might end up under the Chen Clan’s name. Look at Li Xiaoyuan, hasn’t he already become the Second Prince’s lapdog?”

“You’d better take care of yourself. Offending the Second Prince is dangerous,” Xia Wanqing said.

After chatting for a while, Xia Wanqing left.

Xu Zimo slowly extended his hand. Strands of imperial might coiled around his palm.

The feeling of having power was wonderful.

He walked out of the courtyard and looked at the Seven-Winged Demon Dragon guarding the entrance.

With a light touch of his right hand, a streak of flowing light flew into its brow.

“This is your reward,” Xu Zimo said.

As soon as he spoke, the Seven-Winged Demon Dragon let out a thunderous roar.

Its entire body was shrouded in demonic clouds, dragon chants resounding one after another, each higher than the last, echoing from the courtyard.

It was transforming, its wings grew larger, its claws sharper.

Its pitch-black body became even deeper in hue. In an instant, it advanced from the Imperial Meridian Realm to the Empyrean Meridian Realm.

“When we reach the Star River God-Dynasty, I’ll be counting on you to fight,” Xu Zimo said. “As for those people, if I were to strike, it would be like bullying children. Too boring.”

The Seven-Winged Demon Dragon quickly nodded, growling lowly in assent.

On the way back to the courtyard, Li Xiaoyuan angrily said, “That brat is too arrogant. We must teach him a lesson. It’s only because of that evil dragon he dares act like this.”

The Second Prince, Chen Luo, raised his hand, quieting him.

He turned to the woman in white beside him and asked, “What happened just now? I recall you haven’t been injured in a long time.”

“This world is truly vast,” the woman in white replied.

“What do you mean?” Chen Luo asked, puzzled.

“He was warning me,” the woman in white replied.

“What right does he have?” Chen Luo was stunned.

“I’m only here to protect you. But you’d better not stir up unnecessary trouble. Otherwise, even I won’t be able to shield you,” the woman in white said.

“Everything can wait until we return to the empire,” Chen Luo nodded slightly.

They set out for the Star River God-Dynasty the next day.

Xia Wanqing had already finished packing, and Xu Zimo had nothing to prepare.

This trip to the Mystic Realm of the Nine Nights Immortal Sovereign included seven companions.

Aside from the Second Prince, the woman in white, and Li Xiaoyuan, there were Xu Zimo and Xia Wanqing.

Xia Wanqing also brought Shangguan Lan along. The group was led by the Sixth Elder.

Originally, the Grand Elder was supposed to lead, but because he had conflicts with Xu Zimo’s group, the sect master sent the Sixth Elder, who belonged to another faction.

The group rode Swift Wind God-Horses, moving swiftly toward the Mystic Realm.

“It’s been more than a year since I last went to the imperial capital of the Star River God-Dynasty,” Shangguan Lan sighed.

Since the Sovereign Mountain Range was quite a distance from the capital, they rarely left except for official matters.

“This time, we’re going only for the Mystic Realm,” Xia Wanqing reminded.

“Then, Senior Sister, after the Mystic Realm is done, could we stay in the capital for a few more days?” Shangguan Lan asked.

“If Miss Shangguan wishes, I’ll be your host. The capital has much to offer,” the Second Prince, Chen Luo, said with a smile.

Meanwhile, Li Xiaoyuan kept his eyes fixed on Xia Wanqing the whole way, frequently offering concern and small talk.

Xia Wanqing grew a little annoyed. She glanced at Xu Zimo beside her.

Ever since they left the sect, Xu Zimo had been sprawled out on the Seven-Winged Demon Dragon, fast asleep.

The demon dragon’s body could shrink or expand, and now it had adjusted to a perfect size, its gait steady as a mountain.

Lying atop it, Xu Zimo was quite comfortable.

Xia Wanqing nudged his foot with her own.

But Xu Zimo ignored her, rolled over, and continued sleeping.

In truth, his consciousness was already within the God World.

As for those outside? Talking with them was pointless nonsense.

It was far more useful to converse with Paimon and the others.

In the Outer Heavens, there were nine heavens: the Mortal Ascension Heaven, Godfiend Abyss Heaven, Grand Desolate Heaven, Calamity Immortal Heaven, Inferno Crucible Heaven, Azure Mystic Heaven, Ghost God Heaven, Mirage Tides Heaven, and Absolute God Heaven.

Among these, Mortal Ascension sat at the lowest.

The Absolute God Heaven was at the highest.

Each Heaven had its unique traits, except the Mortal Ascension.

It was more like a jumbled collection of all things.

Paimon told Xu Zimo many things about the Ancient Demons’ past.

He explained about the exile of the Primordial Demon Cave, and the method to summon it back.

Those God Crystals obtained from the Ruins of Divinity had greatly benefited Xu Zimo.

The God Crystals constantly nourished his soul, allowing him to continuously perceive the Grand Dao, almost touching it.

And the power of the War God had let him sense the five stages of a Grand Emperor ahead of time, making comprehension much easier.

Xu Zimo slowly opened his eyes.

The group had already descended the Sovereign Mountains and arrived in a small town.

By now, night had fallen, and they planned to rest here for the night.

“When did a town spring up beneath Sovereign Mountains?” Shangguan Lan asked in surprise.

“How come I never knew?”

“Judging from the look of it, it must be newly built,” Xia Wanqing also said in surprise.

The three characters “Wind-Rain Town” came into view.

The town wasn’t large. After searching for a while, they found only one inn.

The Sixth Elder went ahead and asked for seven rooms.

But the inn had no attendants, only the shopkeeper himself.

He smiled and said, “Apologies, but there are only three rooms left.”

“How can that be? There aren’t many people in this town. Why are there no rooms?” Chen Luo frowned.

“Precisely because the town is remote, this inn is the only one here. And its scale is small. Might you discuss among yourselves?” the shopkeeper said with a smile.

“Three rooms? How can we fit in those?” Chen Luo frowned.

As royalty, he naturally required his own private room.

Everyone looked at each other. Only Xu Zimo strolled around the inn.

He then raised his hand and tapped on a wooden board beside him.

Bang, bang, bang!

It echoed.

“You’ve built quite a nice little town here,” Xu Zimo said.