“You little rascal,” Lionel thundered, his voice echoing across the clearing. “You dare force your way into the portal without the permission of us elders? Do you have a death wish?”

  But before Uriel could collapse, a figure flashed forward, planting himself between prince and elder. His qi blazed at the peak of Core Formation, and Lionel’s crushing pressure broke against him like waves against stone.

  “You lowly scum dare to suppress a member of the royal family—do you have a death wish?”

  Gasps erupted as the midnight?blue uniform of the Azure Royal Guard came into view, the silver phoenix crest gleaming across his chest. — a symbol only granted to those sworn to protect the royal bloodline. The sight of it sent shockwaves through the cultivators.

  “That’s the royal guard’s insignia…”

  “Impossible—does that mean the boy is a prince?”

  “No wonder he dares to approach the portal without permission.”

  Uriel’s eyes widened in shock—this royal guard was his own retainer, Wren. He had been among those left behind during the ambush, and Uriel had believed them all slain. Relief surged through him, though he masked it quickly beneath a calm facade.

  Wren bowed low, his voice steady beneath the azure light. “Your Majesty, your servant apologizes for allowing harm to befall you. I will accept punishment later. But for now, command me—let me cut down this arrogant fool who dares act mighty before you.”

  Lionel’s gaze fixed on Uriel, who had already swallowed a healing pill and looked steadier than before. He pondered for a moment, then a sly smile curved his lips. “Ah… so you’re that twentieth prince. Even so, I remain an elder of the Blue Raven Sect. Do you truly think you can cut me down without repercussion? Do you even have the strength?”

  The crowd’s whispers shifted instantly—from mockery to grudging awe:

  “The twentieth prince… I heard he's seen as an eyesore to the royal family.”

  “Even disregarded, royal blood commands respect.”

  Wren’s aura flared, but Uriel raised a hand. “Stand down.” He had no time for pointless squabbles. Every moment wasted here was another moment lost in the pocket realm — and he had already lost a day. But before he could go, he needed to confirm something with Wren. “Where are the others?”

  “Your Majesty… they—” Wren began.

  “I see.” Uriel’s chest tightened, but Wren’s expression said it all. They were gone. Grief could wait; survival could not.

  “Alright,” Uriel said quietly. “I’ll be heading off now.”

  “I wish you a safe and successful journey in the pocket realm, Your Majesty,” Wren replied, bowing low.

  Uriel nodded, then turned to Nathan. “Aren’t you coming?”

  Nathan’s jaw clenched. He wanted to smack the boy for drawing attention to him, but it was too late. All eyes were on him now, people whispering and gossiping. At least it worked in his favor — he had found a way into the pocket realm early.

  The elders of the major sects sized Nathan up. They did not know who he was, but his garments marked him as someone of high standing. What unsettled them most was that they were unable to sense his cultivation. Was he another prince of the Azure Region? If so, they dared not offend the royal family without cause.

  Together, Nathan and Uriel walked toward the portal, but their path was blocked by Richard, an elder of the Bleu Iron Sect. “His Majesty is allowed to go in, but this person cannot be admitted without his identity being clarified.”

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  “He’s with me. That’s all the clarification you need,” Uriel said firmly.

  “Twentieth Prince, surely you understand the rules,” Lionel added. “Only disciples of the ten major sects and the royal family may enter early. If you bring in outsiders, what precedent does that set?”

  “My companion here is also a representative of the royal family. Do you doubt my words? Do you dare offend the royal family?”

  The clearing fell silent. Even the most arrogant elders hesitated, their expressions tightening. To question him now would be to question the throne itself.

  Elder Lionel’s jaw clenched, his face darkening. “Of course not, Twentieth Prince.” He moved aside reluctantly, though his eyes burned with suppressed fury. This insolent brat… if not for the crowd, I would cut him down where he stood.

  But here, it was not possible. Still, he vowed he would find an opportunity to teach this brat some manners.

  Uriel wasted no further breath. Together, he and Nathan stepped into the portal, this time without hindrance, vanishing into the azure light.

  The moment they crossed the threshold, the world shifted. Qi surged like a tidal wave, vast and unrestrained, flooding their meridians. Uriel felt himself ascend to the eleventh stage, flames roaring in his veins. Nathan’s silver qi surged higher still, reaching the twelfth stage.

  Nathan glanced at him, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “So you had a breakthrough too. Congratulations, young prince.”

  Uriel’s eyes widened. “You… had a breakthrough as well?” His shock deepened. He had sensed nothing from Nathan—no ripple, no surge, nothing. The boy’s cultivation remained hidden, silent as the abyss.

  “Yes,” Nathan replied evenly. “Now enough talking. Let’s go find some treasure.”

  Uriel nodded, still unsettled, and together they ventured deeper into the realm, the vast qi pressing around them like the breath of heaven itself.

  The forest trembled with sudden thunder. From the shadows emerged a spirit beast, its fur streaked with arcs of lightning and eyes glowing like stormfire. A Thunder Wolf—an eleventh?stage monster of the Qi Condensation Realm. It snarled, lightning crackling across its fangs, and charged with the force of a raging tempest.

  Uriel met it head?on, summoning a blade of pure flame into his grasp. The weapon burned white, its edge shimmering with heat so intense the air warped around it.

  The first clash shook the clearing—flame against lightning, sparks erupting as stone split beneath their feet. The wolf staggered back, growling, arcs of thunder crawling across its body.

  It lunged again, claws wreathed in lightning. Uriel swung his flame blade, intercepting the strike. The impact sent shockwaves through the forest, fire and thunder colliding in a storm of power.

  The beast struck a third time, jaws snapping for Uriel’s throat. His blade flared brighter, his spirit root roaring. He twisted, driving the weapon upward in a blazing arc.

  The wolf froze mid-lunge, its body engulfed in white fire. Lightning sputtered, fading into smoke. With a final howl, the Thunder Wolf collapsed, its spirit dispersing into motes of light that drifted into the sky.

  Uriel lowered his blade, chest heaving from exertion. The Thunder Wolf was slain after three blows, and yet his reserves remained steady—he had not burned much qi to achieve such a feat. His control was precise, his flame blade sharp, and his strikes carried the weight of discipline rather than waste.

  Nathan gave a low whistle, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Efficient and deadly. Not bad for a pampered prince.”

  Uriel shot him a glare, irritation flashing in his eyes. “Keep talking, and I’ll test my blade on you next.”

  Nathan chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Spare me, Your Majesty. I’d hate for your royal flame to waste itself on a lowly servant like me.”

  Uriel exhaled sharply, dismissing the blade with a flick of his wrist. “Enough nonsense. Next time, I’ll let the beast finish you.”

  Nathan clutched his chest dramatically. “Ah, such mercy. Truly, I am blessed to bask in the prince’s generosity.” He patted Uriel’s shoulder, earning only a scowl before Uriel brushed him off and strode ahead.

  “Let’s just find treasure,” Uriel muttered.

  “Yes, Your Majesty,” Nathan replied with exaggerated reverence.

  Uriel’s jaw tightened. “Enough!”

  “If His Majesty commands, this humble servant will obey,” Nathan said solemnly, though his grin betrayed the tease.

  Uriel groaned, choosing silence over further argument, while Nathan followed with feigned innocence. “I really don’t understand why the young prince is so angry with me.”

  The trees thinned, and before them rose a palace carved of jade and obsidian, its walls shimmering with runes that pulsed like veins of light. The air trembled, heavy with ancient power, pressing against their skin as though the building itself breathed. Nathan’s marble pulsed in warning, while Uriel’s flame spirit root flared instinctively.

  They stepped inside.

  The palace stirred the moment they crossed the threshold. Blades of condensed qi shot from hidden slits in the walls, slicing through the air. Nathan blurred forward with Silver Step, streaking like pale light, shattering the blades mid?flight. Beneath Uriel, the floor collapsed into a pit of shadow?serpents. His white flame roared, incinerating the creatures before they could coil around him. Spears of qi lunged from the walls like predators, but together silver speed and flame fury carved a path through the palace’s defenses.

  At last, the traps subsided. Silence fell, heavy and expectant.

  Mist seeped from the walls, curling around them. The qi thickened, pressing not against their bodies but their hearts. Their vision blurred, and the palace dissolved into shadows.