Chapter 199: Chapter 160: Nanli Princess, a World in a Finger Snap, Each Displaying Their Divine Techniques

“People who look alike are a dime a dozen in this world. If the Eldest Princess is going to stare at every single one like this, things will get chaotic.”

Lu Mingyuan put on a very unhappy expression, crossing his arms and chiding her.

Luo Qiufu smiled faintly and drew back, placing a delicate hand on her chest. She gave Lu Mingyuan a slight bow, her chest inadvertently pressing against the table to form a startling curve. Cupping her hands, she said, “I have mistaken you for someone else. Your Highness, if you require some form of compensation, please speak freely. Anything I can give, I will certainly not slight you over.”

No matter what, the man before her was the Sixth Prince of the Great Yan Dynasty and held the title of Prince Huai’an. She felt a certain affinity for him, and leaving a good impression in Great Yan was never a bad idea.

She had heard about Lu Mingyuan being confined to the Cold Palace for thirty years, but she didn’t think much of it.

After decades of trials and tribulations, the final verdict on one’s guilt was still just a matter of a single word from the Emperor.

She had experienced a situation similar to Lu Mingyuan’s. The only reason she was able to secure her position as Regent was through the accumulation of years. In terms of talent, she couldn’t compare to her younger sister; in terms of seniority, she was certainly no match for her father. Her success was due to good luck—she had outlived her father and outlasted her sister, allowing her to smoothly take power in the end.

On the contrary, she felt Lu Mingyuan was someone with great potential. And it absolutely wasn’t because he was handsome—she had to be clear on that point.

It was true that Prince Huai’an’s aura couldn’t compare to the other Princes, but there was an unconventional quality about him that she found very attractive—one that even Lu Yunqing and Lu Guangjing couldn’t match. Therefore, she wouldn’t doubt her own feelings.

Hearing her words, Lu Mingyuan’s mind stirred. ’There’s no reason not to take a freebie when it’s offered.’

“I’ve heard that the Golden Crow Country has many Swordsmith Masters and Casters. The Eldest Princess must surely have no shortage of Magical Treasures.”

The corner of Luo Qiufu’s lips curved slightly. “I’m not lacking, no. But as a Prince of your stature, Your Highness can’t possibly be short on Magical Treasures either.”

Seeing that she was trying to back out, Lu Mingyuan smiled faintly. “Everyone knows how incredible the Golden Crow Country’s forging techniques and its black gold are. I would like to see how the Magical Treasures of the Golden Crow differ from those of Great Yan.”

The Golden Crow Country was famous for its Magical Treasures, and it was certainly home to a great number of forging masters. The orders they received each year were enough to keep them busy well into the next. Why not fleece this sheep while he had the chance?

Luo Qiufu genuinely hadn’t expected this. She had only made a casual offer, assuming he would politely refuse. Now it seemed she would actually have to part with a Magical Treasure. ’This Prince Huai’an… is he really so shameless?’

“Since Your Highness holds the wares of my Golden Crow in such high regard, then I suppose I must make a small sacrifice. What kind of Magical Treasure would Your Highness like?”

Lu Mingyuan spoke softly, “How about a Flying Sword for offense and a Jade Seal for defense?”

“A Flying Sword? A Jade Seal? Does Your Highness also use a sword? Or perhaps you are asking for someone else? It’s not a problem, either way.”

Luo Qiufu nodded. Two Magical Treasures was not an excessive request.

In truth, Lu Mingyuan was asking for his two wives.

He hadn’t picked out their New Year’s gifts yet, and now Luo Qiufu had just delivered them to his doorstep. What a coincidence.

Now, in Luo Qiufu’s mind, the bearing of the Prince before her was inferior to Yang Jian’s. He had an air of being unreasonable when he had the upper hand.

Even though Yang Jian had later betrayed her, defected to her sister, and orchestrated a fake rescue, the stunning feeling of the moment he had acted was something that could never be replicated. Even if it was all an act, she had been willing to fall for it.

Little did she know, Lu Mingyuan was doing this on purpose.

’I’m deliberately lowering her expectations of me. I can’t let her associate me with Yang Erlang.’

’I should have less contact with the Eldest Princess in the future. Otherwise, I risk exposing my identity.’

After seeing Luo Qiufu off, Lu Mingyuan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He had almost thought he was about to be recognized, but in the end, it was just a false alarm.

’A woman’s sixth sense is a little terrifying.’

At least he’d scored two Magical Treasures.

Afterward, many envoys came to toast Lu Mingyuan. He didn’t refuse any of them, accepting all their gestures.

Batch after batch of people came and went. The last was a young girl who looked like a porcelain doll, with gracefully curved, dark brows, a delicate, noble nose, and elegant lips. She looked very young, around ten years old, but she was already a beauty in the making.

Yet from such a young girl, Lu Mingyuan felt an oppressive pressure. Using his [Recognizing People] skill, he saw nothing unusual. It likely wasn’t a disguise; she was just that strong herself.

He found it rather astonishing.

’Could she have taken a Disguise Pill?’

’Can someone so young have such a high Cultivation?’

Standing beside the girl was an old man in a hemp robe with white hair, carrying a long staff wrapped in cloth strips.

Lu Mingyuan felt this man’s aura was close to that of the White-robed Celestial Master. He was not to be underestimated.

“Nanli Princess, Li Muwan.”

The porcelain doll of a girl cupped her hands in a salute.

Li Muwan.

Lu Mingyuan silently committed the name to memory, determined not to underestimate her.

Before long, the time had come for the Demon Slaying Conference to officially begin.

Lu Mingyuan was still very curious about how this conference would be conducted. After all, Changle Palace had no suitable grounds. Slaying demons required putting one’s skills to use, and such a cramped space was not conducive to fighting.

Even the Roman Colosseum from his past life had a large platform with gates to release the beasts.

「At that moment.」

The Prime Minister, seated at the highest position, took a few steps forward, looked around, and announced in a clear voice, “Everyone, the Great Yan’s Demon Slaying Conference is a biannual event established by our ancestors. Its purpose is to train the young talents of all nations and, at the same time, to ensure the Human Race remembers its history—to remember how difficult it was for our many sages and martyrs to slay the Demon Race. It allows the younger generation to fight the Demon Race in advance before entering the battlefield, to truly experience their power. By doing so, they will have a better chance of survival when they eventually go to war. You must all understand the late Emperor’s good intentions.”

“As for the rules of this Demon Slaying Conference, all you heroes should listen carefully,” Prime Minister Yuan Xuangang declared.

“This time, you will be engaged in a life-and-death battle against low-level demons from the Western Border within the Inner Space of the Holy Source Eight Profound Three Elements Formation. If you find you cannot hold on, you need only crush your Token to survive. You need not worry about accidents, because with our many Tributors present, no accidents can happen.”

As he spoke, Yuan Xuangang even smiled at the two Great Yan Tributors, the Fisherman and the Piano Demon.

“Of course, within the Inner Space, outsiders are forbidden from interfering. Even if you die in battle, there can be no complaints. These are the rules of the Demon Slaying Conference, and no one may violate them,” Yuan Xuangang said coldly. “I can tell you now that in every past conference, there have been those who died in this Inner Space, or lost arms and legs. Most of them were foolish and reckless. If you are afraid, or face even a little danger, you can give up immediately. You must not risk your lives for the sake of glory.”

“Those with low Cultivation need not participate. This conference is mainly to witness the heroic and dashing presence of the prodigies from all nations. We will not judge heroes by victory or defeat.”

Even after he said this, not many envoys were willing to give up.

As the saying goes, a weak nation has no diplomacy. The Demon Slaying Conference was one of the few opportunities for smaller nations to display their national power. If they showed great strength, they would be courted by many other countries and could ascend to the ranks of the great powers. The rankings were a crucial moment that determined a nation’s martial might.

If they gave up this chance, they would be scorned and looked down upon by all the Cultivators in the world.

In past years, Great Yan had always won without suspense. Thus, second and third place were extremely important, proving that one’s own country was no weaker than others.

“Very well. Then let the Demon Slaying Conference begin.” After speaking, Prime Minister Yuan Xuangang returned to his seat.

From the Thunder Pool Daoist Academy, two True Monarchs stepped forward, brilliant Taoist Qi shining from their fingertips.

With a flick of a finger.

The Grand Array in the center of Changle Palace activated.

The world in all directions changed, and everything was transformed.

Everyone found themselves no longer in Changle Palace, but on top of a towering city wall. Outside the wall was an utterly desolate wasteland, so remote and barren that not even a bird would shit there. Everyone was in the center, observing the open ground, as if they were in a circular watchtower surrounding the empty field.

Seeing this, the envoys from the smaller nations all turned pale, having clearly never witnessed such a grand scene. The representatives from the great powers, which had their own powerful Cultivators, were much calmer.

Lu Mingyuan saw this and instantly understood.

’So the so-called Grand Array is a World in the Palm, a world at the flick of a finger.’

A Twelfth Realm Qi Cultivator had already grasped the Great Dao. In their eyes, the Heaven and Earth Rules were like playthings in their hands. They could change everything around them at any time, turning the mundane into the miraculous.

He just didn’t know if everything around him was an Illusion Realm or truly real.

At that moment, below the city wall.

Inside a prison cart was a three-meter-tall Pig Demon standing upright. It was burly, covered in fat and black fur. A pair of scarlet eyes stared at the crowd on the city wall, filled with hatred and killing intent.

A few envoys from smaller nations who had never seen such a thing turned pale.

Lu Mingyuan, however, squinted, propping his chin on his hand as he watched the scene with an indifferent expression.

’Just a Fifth Realm Little Demon, comparable to a Captain in the army. In the eyes of those small countries, it might as well be a Great Demon Fiend who has claimed a mountain as its own.’

Some countries, though called countries, only had a few hundred thousand people, many of them island nations with minuscule territories.

“Who will be the first to try?”

A Daoist from the Daoist Academy, acting as the referee, was the first to send out the call via voice transmission.

“I’ll go.”

A tall and incredibly brawny Prince from a Dynasty volunteered, stepping forward first.

Lu Mingyuan glanced at that group’s attire. The character for “Wu” was written on their waist tokens.

’So it’s a Prince from the Great Wu Dynasty. A Sixth Realm Martial Artist, at the Grandmaster Realm. He has calluses on his hands, so he’s served in the military. Dealing with this Pig Demon should be more than enough.’

Lu Mingyuan had no interest in the process of slaying the demon.

He was only focused on what unexpected events might occur during this Demon Slaying Conference.

From start to finish, his gaze remained fixed on the three National Preceptors from Yunhu Country.

They were watching with rapt attention, staring at the bloody Trial Arena where the battle with the Pig Demon was unfolding.

But their gazes were strange.

’It’s as if… they hope the Pig Demon will win?’

Lu Mingyuan also discovered that the White-robed Celestial Master and the mature Immortal Lady from the Celestial Master’s Mansion weren’t watching the Trial Arena either. Like him, their eyes were fixed on those three National Preceptors!

’Could it be that they’ve noticed too?’

Lu Mingyuan was somewhat surprised.

「On the other side.」

Sui Yuqing lifted her head, her beautiful eyes flashing with Golden Light. Holding her duster, the spatial structure of the Grand Array was laid bare within her Daoist Celestial Eye.

It primarily connected to the space of the Western Border, cutting off a portion of the space from both Changle Palace and the border, then fusing them to create a temporary Little World. Every move within this Little World was in the hands of the Cultivators, as clear as observing the lines on one’s palm. This was the “World in the Palm” Divine Technique.

It was mainly used by Immortal Great Cultivators. A single move of theirs could destroy heaven and earth, so they often created their own worlds for battle, like a bubble within this world.

However.

Although this Grand Array was under the control of the Daoist True Monarchs, there were still gaps that could be exploited, many invisible little holes.

If the Demon Race found an opportunity to exploit this Little World, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Thinking of this, she raised her duster and perfected the gaps in this world, leaving the Demon Race no opening to exploit.

“It’s time to make our move.”

After reinforcing the Array, she withdrew her Celestial Eye and looked at Xu Changqing, speaking via voice transmission.

It was time to move against those three National Preceptors.

“To avoid alerting the enemy, it’s best to take them down in one strike.”

“Understood,” Xu Changqing replied with a smiling voice transmission.

A green Thunder Talisman appeared in his sleeve.

“BOOM!”

Suddenly, the ground shook violently.

The two exchanged a glance and looked toward the center of the Trial Arena. It was a bloody mess.

The Pig Demon, which should have been crushed in an easy victory, was still standing as if unharmed!

…

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