CHAPTER 682: THE FOURTEENTH PRINCE OF THE HEAVENLY OCEAN EMPIRE

"I’m not coming back with you, Brother. I intend to go on the grand expedition."

Mark blinked at her as if she had grown a second head. "But it’s not safe! I mean... you’re not even in the Immortal Realm yet."

Shang Jiao’s gaze didn’t waver. She replied firmly, "I know. But I’ve made my decision."

Mark took another step closer. "You’re only eighteen, Xiao Jiao. You don’t need to rush this. You’ve got decades to grow, and there’s no need to throw yourself into danger now."

She didn’t flinch. "It’s what I want, Brother."

Mark narrowed his eyes. The determination was real, but he could see there was something wrong with her.

"No," he said, his tone quieter now, more probing. "You’re hiding something."

He knelt slightly, looking up into her eyes with gentleness. "Xiao Jiao, you can tell me. If it’s something I can help with, I will. If not, I’ll try to understand."

His voice lowered further. "Does it... does it have anything to do with the private conversation Blizzard Pegasus had with you?"

Shang Jiao’s breath caught. Her eyes twitched slightly, a flicker of hesitation passing through her facade. Her lips pressed together, and for a moment, Mark thought she might actually tell him.

But then she shook her head gently.

"Brother... I’ll tell you when I’m ready," she said at last. "But right now... what I need is to become an Immortal."

Mark stared at her for a few seconds, then sighed heavily and stood up.

"Alright..." he muttered. "I won’t stop you. But..."

He looked at her seriously.

"Promise me you’ll send word home before you attempt the Lightning Tribulation. I want to know. I want... at least the chance to be there if something goes wrong."

Shang Jiao nodded once, solemnly.

Mark exhaled again. "Also... don’t go on the expedition just yet. I’ll send Alina with you. She might not be as strong as you right now, but by the time you meet her, she will be powerful enough to protect you. If not, at the very least, I will be more assured of your safety with her."

Shang Jiao paused... then smiled. It was small, quiet, but warm.

"Alright, Brother. I promise."

Mark gave her a long look—half relieved, half still worried. But he knew this was a path she wanted to walk, and he couldn’t restrict someone’s freedom of choice.

The following day passed in an almost oppressive silence as Mark prepared himself for the coming clan head trials.

Mark originally intended to leave the clan alone, but with his sister not intending to come back with him, he slightly changed his plans.

Instead of leaving, he decided to take it over so that his sister wouldn’t be used as some puppet ruler. He spent the rest of the day trying to formulate on how to do that, while he still can be with his family.

And in sheer coincidence, on the third day since his arrival, he was summoned by his great-grandfather, the sect head, who is currently at the clan.

He arrived at the Elder Council chamber, where all the elders and the Clan leader gathered. As he entered, his eyes found Lan Xia, standing in a corner with an air of detachment.

But when her eyes spotted him, they suddenly came alive.

Mark didn’t react much and simply nodded politely as he approached the gathered clan elders.

Once Mark had exchanged pleasantries with the clan elders, Lan Yujin, the clan head, spoke in an authoritative voice. "Lan Zhen, we have made a decision. Due to certain unforeseen circumstances, we have decided to push forward with the clan head trials, and they will commence in three weeks’ time."

Mark’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of the trials. He just changed his decision to become the clan head, and suddenly, the opportunity landed on his lap.

He was ready to voice his acceptance, but Lan Yujin continued before he could speak.

"You have already told us your decision to leave the clan, but this is a formal announcement. In three weeks, the trials will start formally. If you aren’t interested, meet me at the sect in three days with a formal retirement letter. If you are interested, then bring a letter of acceptance." Lan Yujin’s words were final.

Mark exchanged another glance with Lan Xia. He could tell she wasn’t thrilled either.

In the end, he only nods.

Three days later, Mark walked into the Sect, nodding to everyone who greeted him on the way.

But as he approached the clan leader’s residence to give his decision, he was told to wait outside. A visitor had arrived from the palace, someone important, and the clan leader was busy with matters of state. Mark could only stand there, outside, and wait.

As the minutes stretched into what felt like hours, his mind began to wander. It wasn’t long before the soft rustling of footsteps interrupted his thoughts.

"Zhen-ge," a familiar voice said.

He turned, and there she was. Lan Xia stood a few paces away, her arms folded loosely over her chest. Her usual blank demeanor just disappeared as soon as she saw him. She hastened her pace and reached him.

"Sister Xia?" Mark blinked in surprise, by coincidence.

To that, Lan Xia was taken aback. "Zhen-ge, we are about to get married. Can’t you stop calling me that?"

Mark awkwardly scratched his cheek, "Sorry. It just feels weird." But after a pause, he added quietly, "Xia’er."

Lan Xia blushed a little at that address. She averted her gaze.

Meanwhile, inside the sect head’s chamber;

A young man in formal robes was seen sitting before the sect leader. It was the Fourteenth Prince of the Heavenly Ocean Empire. There was a eunuch standing beside him, and he spoke in a tone that left no room for argument as he unfurled the scroll.

Lan Yujin’s brow furrowed in confusion as he heard the decree from the Emperor. "What is the meaning of this? We have a Chaos Realm expedition in two months. And now this? What was His Majesty thinking?"

The Fourteenth Prince did not waste time with pleasantries. He spoke directly in a stern tone. "Patriarch Li, mind your tone about His Majesty. And his decision didn’t just come out of nowhere. The Ravagers were confirmed to be contact with the enemy forces more than once. We can no longer maintain an alliance with them. And the emperor has decided that the Lan Clan must participate in the war against the Ravagers. His decree is final."

As Lan Yujin’s face darkened, the Fourteenth Prince’s expression remained impassive as he continued. "Also, I’m only an envoy who is here to pass you the order. As stated in the decree, only the Lan Clan and the Ice Elves will be involved in the coming conflict. You must prepare your forces immediately."

Grand Elder, Yuxuan’s anger flared at that statement. "This is a trap. You’re clearly setting us up."

The Fourteenth Prince gave a curt nod. "Might be or might not be, Elder. I don’t care. The emperor has made his decision. If you have something to say, tell it to him."

"No way, the Lan Sect will not accept it," said Yuxuan.

Lan Yujian waved his hand as he stroked his beard. "Stop it, Elder Yuxuan. He is just a messenger. No need to say anything to him."

As the Fourteenth Prince stood and left the room, Lan Yuxuan growled. "I know that the Emperor was threatened by the return of our guardian. That’s why he was purposely sending us to the war to reduce our strength. And even if Ravagers turned against the throne, the Empire can use many other forces to go against them. But he only ordered us and the Ice Elves. Everyone knows that we are the very reason the Ice Elves submit to the Empire."

The Sect head nodded, his gaze seemed serious. "I don’t know. I feel bad about this, already."

"Of course, it is bad," Yuxuan said. Qiao Fei stayed as a silent spectator.

The Sect head shook his head, "No, I’m not talking about us. I’m talking about His Highness."

"What do you mean?" Yuxuan furrowed her brows.

The Sect head shook his head, drinking the remaining tea from the cup. "I don’t know."

Meanwhile, Mark and Lan Xia sat on the ground, beneath a cherry blossom tree, against its trunk in a relaxed posture. They had been talking, having casual conversations. Lan Xia was subtly intimate with him, even though they were in public. However, this intimacy didn’t look like that between lovers or a couple, but looked more like best friends who had grown up since childhood.

Just as Lan Xia reached out for a blueberry from the bowl and fed him in the most natural way while tossing one in her own mouth, the heavy footsteps of boots echoed down the stone path. Followed by those sounds, a voice was heard. "Lan Xia?"

Lan Xia looked up.

The Fourteenth Prince of the Heavenly Ocean Empire stood there, his eyes fixed on her. For a brief moment, his expression softened, just a flicker, as if seeing her brought back some old memory or something.

"Lei Tianxu?" Lan Xia blinked.

The Prince smiled, but then his eyes shifted to Mark. His brows creased slightly, and the warmth in his eyes vanished in an instant.

"Lan Xia," he said, his voice firm but clearly trying to sound courteous, "I did not expect to find you here. I was hoping we could speak... privately."

Lan Xia blinked slowly but then waved a hand dismissively. "I’m sorry, but I’m in the middle of something more important."

The Third Prince’s gaze flicked to Mark, who was silently watching the exchange while slowly chewing on the berry.

Lan Xia stood, brushing down her robes. "Allow me to introduce you," she said with a bright but unmistakably sharp tone. "This is Lu Zhen. My soon-to-be-husband."

The Prince furrowed his brows. "Husband?" As his gaze once again shifted to Mark, he spoke, "Lu Zhen? I know who you are. The one who humiliated my younger brother... it’s you, isn’t it?"