Laughter still echoed in my head as I lay sprawled out on my bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying the day's events like a greatest-hits reel. Kael and Lina had practically fallen over laughing as we left the training grounds, reliving every mortifying moment of my "royal performance." That elder's face? Priceless. I could still see his mouth hanging open when I pulled the "Crown Prince" card on him. Not to mention Kael's grin that screamed, I'm never letting you live this down.
"If the elder wasn't bald, he'd be losing his hair by now," I muttered, grinning to myself. Kael had gone to his room and Lina was with her friends, leaving me with my thoughts. For once, the solitude didn't feel so bad.
The room around me was quiet, almost too quiet. My candle flickered, casting shadows that danced across the walls, and somewhere in the distance, the faint hum of other disciples settling down for the night drifted in. Here I was, lying in a borrowed bed on a floating island, supposedly a "core disciple," and still reeling from the absurdity of the day.
That's when it happened. Just as I started to close my eyes, thinking about how ridiculously lucky I was to get away with this "prince" shtick, the familiar ping of the system jolted me awake:
"Immediate wish available. Please state your wish."
My eyes shot open. Immediate wish? Already?wait, I forgot, it must be that wish system provided as a compensation, the last wish had been a bit of a rollercoaster, so I hesitated, considering what would really come in handy this time. How about Something that could cement my "royal" status maybe?
A wild idea formed, and I couldn't help but smile, a bit of disbelief creeping in. Taking a deep breath, I cleared my throat dramatically, making sure the system knew I meant business. "I wish that I really am the Crown Prince of the Azure Empire on the Western Continent, with all the history, privileges, and respect that come with it."
I waited, bracing for the denial I fully expected. But after a pause, the system responded:
"Wish accepted."
I blinked, letting the words sink in. Accepted? Just like that? It actually worked? The system had granted my wish with no questions asked.
A grin spread across my face, and a surge of excitement replaced the disbelief. I had to know just how real this wish had become. The idea of changing world history with a few words seemed impossible, but if this was legit, there'd be proof. Somewhere. And if I knew this place well enough, that proof was sitting in the depths of the sect's library.
The plan was simple. Well, if sneaking out of the disciples' floating island and into the library's floating island counted as "simple." Every disciple was strictly supposed to stay on the main floating island unless we had official permission to cross over. But if I was truly the Crown Prince now, surely I could bend a few rules?
I crept out of my room, keeping close to the shadows. The night was still, the only sounds the faint rustling of leaves and the distant hum of the island's Qi-infused energy. The path to the library's floating island was narrow and dimly lit, the bridge stretching across the void like a thin thread. One misstep, and I'd be plummeting into… well, wherever that darkness led.
"Nothing like a midnight stroll," I muttered, clutching my robe tighter. "If anyone asks, I'm just… exploring. Crown princes do that, right?"
The library's doors loomed ahead, massive and imposing, with ornate carvings etched into the stone that seemed to pulse in the moonlight. Inside, the smell of old parchment and ancient wood hit me, mixed with a musty scent that practically screamed untouched for centuries. Rows upon rows of scrolls and jade slips lined the shelves, the walls dimly lit by the soft glow of Qi-infused lanterns.
I began scanning the shelves, looking for anything that might confirm my suspicions. After what felt like forever, my eyes fell on a set of books labeled The Empires of the Western Continent. Holding my breath, I pulled down the volume marked The Azure Empire.
The book's pages were worn but surprisingly detailed, filled with information about wars, dynasties, and rulers that had shaped the empire. Names of rulers scrolled past, their accomplishments and their failures meticulously recorded. But my hands shook slightly as I flipped through the book, my eyes searching for one particular section.
Then, there it was. Current Hier/Crown Prince.
I froze.
There, written in elegant calligraphy, was my name: Crown Prince Michael of the Azure Empire. I blinked, feeling the weight of the words settle over me. It wasn't just a name on a page—it was me, described in the kind of detail that only someone with a lifetime in the empire would know. My hair color, my piercing blue eyes, even references to my "upbringing in the royal palace." The history had rewritten itself as if I had always been royalty.
My mind was racing as I skimmed through more. Then, another detail caught my eye, one that made my heart skip a beat. The Crown Prince of the Azure Empire is assigned two of the empire's most loyal guards, cultivators of the Incarnation Realm, to watch over and protect him at all times.
My mouth went dry. Loyal guards, Incarnation Realm… this wish was no joke. Could it really be true?
Fuck it, For the heck of it, I muttered, "Guards."
Nothing would actually happen, right? There was no way—
Two figures materialized before me, as if they had stepped out of the very shadows themselves. Clad in black robes, hoods pulled low over their faces, they dropped to one knee, fists clenched to the floor.
"Order, Your Royal Highness," they intoned, their voices deep and unwavering.
I nearly dropped the book. They were real. Solid, intimidating figures, who were clearly waiting for some kind of command. I blinked a few times, my brain struggling to catch up.
"So… this is real," I muttered, half in awe, half in terror.
They didn't respond, only awaited my next words in silence. Their sheer presence radiated strength. I wasn't even understanding just how powerful the Incarnation Realm was.
"Um, rise?" I managed to say, my voice wavering a lt despite myself.
The two guards rose in perfect unison, towering over me, each one exuding a quiet but deadly authority. These weren't mere gards. These were cultivators, warriors. Protectors. And now… they were mine.
This… is way more than I bargained for, I thought, heart pounding. I'd changed reality itself, changed an entire lineage and empire, all because I couldn't resist the allure of playing prince. It felt surreal, yet here it was, proof kneeling in front of me.
Feeling both awed and slightly terrified, I whispered, "You can, uh, dismiss yourselves."
They nodded, vanishing as swiftly as they had appeared. I slumped against the bookshelf, trying to wrap my mind around everything. I'd gone from nobody to actual royalty, with history, guards, and status that didn't exist a day ago. And now I had power—power that couldn't be explained simply.
But there was one thought that nagged at me, one that left me grinning like an idiot: If I'm really the Crown Prince, imagine what I can do with these ridiculous perks.