Seeing Lin Qi'an's imposing arrival, the Southern Python Guards sneered.
Earlier, Crown Prince Zhao had specifically instructed them that if he attempted to enter the secret realm, they should block him without giving any face.
The Nanyue King, being a prince with the same surname as the imperial family, was the emperor's brother! Why should they fear Beiyang?
The Sword Emperor might be powerful, but his fame had been established three thousand years ago! Over these millennia, countless prodigies had emerged, and the era of the Sword Emperor's dominance had long passed.
Otherwise, why would he have willingly remained in the north for so many years, only doing things like seizing treasures for his children, and never engaging in battles with other emperor-level experts?
"What's going on here?" Lin Qi'an asked.
"Your Highness, it seems that the Southern Python Guards, the Nanyue King's personal troops, are blocking the various sects from entering."
"A Ziyou Holy Land elder tried to sneak in using a stealth technique but was discovered and killed on the spot. They are determined to monopolize the secret realm!"
After listening, Lin Qi'an nodded. Looking down, he quickly spotted the purple-dressed girl among the crowd, looking pitiful and tearful.
"Xuení, what's your opinion?" Lin Qi'an asked.
"Me...?" Su Xuení was pleasantly surprised.
The Crown Prince was asking for her opinion and didn't see her as an outsider!
"Xuení believes that since this area is the Nanyue King's territory, they are clearly trying to reclaim face for the Imperial Prince by blocking you. If you force your way in, there will likely be a conflict." She then smiled knowingly, her beauty captivating.
"However, it's not in your nature to back down if they try to turn you away."
Lin Qi'an's dominance was well known to Su Xuení. Even a high-ranking general of the Imperial Dragon Army had been dismissed with a single word from him.
"Not bad, you do understand me," Lin Qi'an smiled slightly. "Let's go."
He led Su Xuení forward, with the white-clad Sword Guards following closely behind, heading straight for the Southern Python Guards' blockade.
The surrounding sects and cultivators were almost in an uproar!
"What? Is the Crown Prince going to force his way in?!"
"This is the Nanyue King's territory! It's not Beiyang! Isn't this too reckless?"
"The Crown Prince is really bold, not giving the Nanyue King any face?"
"Didn't you hear? The Crown Prince recently dared to kill members of the Imperial Dragon Army. Is there anything he won't do?"
"Nanyue's Crown Prince versus Beiyang's Crown Prince. This is going to be interesting..."
Everyone discussed, their eyes fixed on the white-clad figure, wondering how he would handle the blockade. Would he force his way through? Negotiate? Or retreat?
Most did not favor Lin Qi'an; this was not his territory. Nanyue's capital was nearby, while Beiyang was far away, and the forces they could mobilize were not on the same level!
However, the Crown Prince's arrival made the sects and holy lands that were about to leave stay to watch. Among the Ziyou Holy Land, there was a glimmer of hope.
"Do you think... the Crown Prince will stand up for us? After all, the Ziyou Saintess is good friends with the Tianchi Saintess!"
"Don't get your hopes up... Even if something happened to Tianchi Holy Land, the Crown Prince would think twice."
"Not to mention a distant relative's distant relative… I guess they'll just negotiate and find a compromise."
Zi Lianyou looked longingly at the handsome figure in white, wishing she could stand beside him like Sister Xuení, instead of suffering such humiliation.
"Beiyang Crown Prince, please halt!"
Finally, the two sides confronted each other. A general with a broadsword at his waist stepped forward, his aura robust, a Transcendent Realm expert!
"The Crown Prince orders that no one may enter Jiumang Mountain. We, the Southern Python Guards, are here to enforce this. We hope the Beiyang Crown Prince will understand and leave."
The speaker was Wei Ting, a battle-hardened general of South Yue!
He gestured for Lin Qi'an to leave, thinking his attitude was quite courteous. If it had been any other sect, they would have drawn their swords by now, not spoken so politely.
"Indeed, they're even blocking the Crown Prince!"
This result was expected by most people. But they couldn't predict what would happen next.
The white-clad Crown Prince smiled.
"I give you ten breaths to get out of my sight." His tone was calm but extremely domineering!
Hearing this, gasps spread across the mountain range. The Beiyang Crown Prince was indeed domineering!
Wei Ting's face darkened, his right hand gripping the hilt of his sword, his voice thundering.
"Beiyang Crown Prince! This is Nanyue territory. I hope you recognize the situation and don't make a mistake!"
Lin Qi'an stood with his hands behind his back, speaking calmly: "Ten. One."
"Time's up. I gave you a chance."
"Kill."