"The Crown Prince's retinue?"
Li Xun quickly recalled the scene before entering the Phoenix Origin Secret Realm.
Indeed, behind the Crown Prince stood three figures, all young, led by a man in a green robe. Their identities appeared quite mysterious.
What Li Xun didn't expect was that those individuals had connections to Ning Cheng.
"Ning Cheng working with those three is nothing more than seeking allies to compete for the Qiongqi blood. It seems Yao Feng just happened to run into them." Li Xun glanced at his junior brother beside him.
It was likely that even Ning Cheng hadn't anticipated Yao Feng having a disciple from the Profound Sun Sect accompanying him. After defeating Yao Feng and acquiring the Qiongqi blood, Ning Cheng must have thought to release the Profound Sun Sect disciple in an attempt to draw Li Xun out.
"Do you think a mere drop of Qiongqi blood will be enough to defeat me?"
Li Xun summoned his Royal Spirit Boat and helped Jiang Jue aboard.
"Junior Brother, point the way and take me to where this happened," Li Xun said.
Ning Cheng wasn't someone Li Xun considered a threat. However, the three figures behind the Crown Prince were worth being cautious of.
Before entering the Phoenix Origin Secret Realm, those three had concealed their strength, likely using some kind of aura suppression technique.
Based on Li Xun's estimation, their cultivation was probably around the Profound Elixir Realm, not significantly higher. After all, everyone entering the Phoenix Origin Secret Realm was under twenty-five years old.
With such a short time to cultivate, even peerless geniuses would find it challenging to reach the Divine Power Realm.
Li Xun's caution stemmed from the possibility that those three might have hidden cards up their sleeves. If he recklessly barged in, he could easily suffer a loss.
"Senior Brother, the place where Yao Feng fought Ning Cheng is six hundred miles ahead," Jiang Jue said, pointing forward.
"Understood," Li Xun replied with a nod.
Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away.
A colossal skeleton lay sprawled on the ground, towering into the clouds. Its entire body was jet-black and shrouded in a dense aura of malevolence.
Even after countless years, the sheer presence of the skeletal remains was intimidating, making it hard to imagine how terrifying the creature had been in life.
At the moment, Ning Cheng was meditating beneath the skeleton. Beside him lay a beast with a jade-green body and wings sprouting from its ribs. Both man and beast were immersed in cultivation.
With every passing moment, their strength grew rapidly.
The beast, in particular, bore a striking resemblance to the legendary Qiongqi—six parts, at least. Even while meditating, it exuded an ancient, unyielding terror.
"Not bad. That beast of Ning Cheng's already carries three parts of the ancient Qiongqi's essence. If it matures in the future, it might even serve as an asset to me."
Not far away, a young man in green robes watched the beast with satisfaction.
"Ning Cheng is fortunate to have caught your attention, Your Highness," a subordinate standing beside him remarked with a smile.
The man in green robes chuckled but made no comment. Shifting his gaze, he looked toward Yao Feng, who had been restrained and had his cultivation sealed.
"There are indeed some prodigies in the Great Zhou Territory. That Yao Feng isn't bad. If he were to submit to me, it could be a beneficial arrangement," the man mused.
When Yao Feng was subdued, Ning Cheng had intended to kill him outright. After all, they were enemies. If Yao Feng weren't killed here, it would lead to endless trouble once they left the Phoenix Origin Secret Realm.
However, at the last moment, the man in green had stopped Ning Cheng.
His journey to the Great Zhou had two purposes: entering the Phoenix Origin Secret Realm and recruiting talents to serve him.
Like the Crown Prince of the Great Zhou, this man was a prince—but from the Great Chu.
To ascend the throne of the Emperor one day, he would undoubtedly need brilliant individuals at his side.
"Your Highness, in a while, you might also consider recruiting Li Xun of the Profound Sun Sect. His talent is extraordinary. In just over two years, he's already reached the Profound Elixir Realm."
"With some nurturing, he might become a loyal follower of Your Highness."
Another subordinate spoke, smiling.
"I would like to recruit Li Xun," the man in green said lightly, "but I've heard he already accepted a jade token from Ji Hong."
"Barring any surprises, Li Xun should already belong to him."
The Ji Hong he mentioned was none other than the Crown Prince of the Great Zhou.
If not for Ji Hong gifting Li Xun a jade token, he would have already extended an olive branch to Li Xun.
Even now, entering the Phoenix Origin Secret Realm, the green-robed man's ideal partner was still Li Xun, not Ning Cheng.
However, he had acted a step too late and had to settle for second best by choosing to collaborate with Ning Cheng.
Even so, in his mind, working with Ning Cheng didn't mean abandoning the possibility of recruiting Li Xun. Earlier, he had instructed his men to release a Profound Sun Sect disciple specifically to see if it would lure Li Xun to him.
If Li Xun indeed arrived, they could negotiate. After all, whatever was said within the Phoenix Origin Secret Realm would remain a secret from the outside world.
If Li Xun was sensible, that would be ideal.
If not, he wouldn't hesitate to assist Ning Cheng in eliminating Li Xun. If someone could not be used by him, they would inevitably become a future threat.
At present, the relationship between the Great Zhou and the Great Chu appeared harmonious, but war could break out at any moment.
Allowing Li Xun to grow stronger would only spell trouble for the Great Chu in the future.
"How can Ji Hong compare to Your Highness?"
One of his subordinates flattered him. "If Li Xun has any sense, he'll surely know which side he should pledge allegiance to."
"Let's hope so," the green-robed man responded ambiguously, nodding slightly.
He understood his circumstances better than anyone else. Ji Hong, after all, was the sole son of the Great Zhou's Emperor.
As for himself, his situation was vastly different.
Over the course of two millennia on the throne, his father had sired over two hundred children. The eldest prince was already over two thousand years old, while the youngest was merely three. Even the empress had been replaced dozens of times.
In the Great Chu Dynasty, he ranked over a hundredth among the princes, with neither status nor background to distinguish himself.
If not for the fact that most of the influential factions in Great Chu had already been aligned with his elder brothers, why else would he have traveled countless miles into the Great Zhou's territory to recruit subordinates?
Fortunately, this journey had yielded promising results. He had not only discovered the location of the Vermilion Bird's blood but had also secured Ning Cheng as a capable subordinate.
If he could successfully recruit Li Xun, this trip to the Great Zhou would be nothing short of perfect!
"By now, that escaped Profound Sun Sect disciple should have been gone for almost a day. If he's lucky, he should have run into Li Xun already," the green-robed man thought to himself.
Before this thought fully formed, the jade token on his waist suddenly glowed with a bright red light.
His eyes first narrowed with vigilance, then brightened with joy as he spoke:
"Friend Li Xun, since you've come, why not show yourself?"
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