Han Xiao's legs began shaking rapidly with each passing moment, each second feeling like a year as the pressure intensified.
Ji Ying could handle the pressure easily, given her advanced cultivation and familiarity with her muscle-headed uncle's oppressive aura. Seeing Han Xiao's unyielding nature, she frowned and shouted, waving her arm to send a gust of wind his way, "That's enough, Ji Hao! You drunken fool, did you hit your head somewhere to use your full aura pressure on someone in the Basic cultivation stage? As a royal, I'm ashamed of you. Hmpf!" She snorted, turning away in disdain.
The gust of wind dissipated as it collided with her uncle's aura, but Ji Hao quickly came to his senses and retracted his internal pressure.
Looking at Han Xiao, who was now drenched in sweat, Ji Hao let out a hearty chuckle, "Little fella, you've got some guts to withstand that with such a meager cultivation base. I'll overlook your mistake for coming here. I'm Ji Hao. What's your name?" He still thought the youth was a commoner, not feeling any remorse for his earlier actions, which he saw as a rightful punishment.
Han Xiao, with a serious face, responded coldly, "Han Xiao, Seventh Prince of Han Nation!"
"What? You... Han... prince?!" Ji Hao's eyes widened in shock. He glanced at Ji Ying, silently blaming her for not revealing the prince's identity sooner. Realizing the gravity of his actions, he knew that if this incident got out, the Han Nation wouldn't stay silent, as bullying a royal junior from another nation was a serious offense.
"Hmpf! Don't blame me for your own mistake. You didn't even give me a chance to explain myself," Ji Ying scolded her uncle, then turned to Han Xiao with a playful wink, signaling him to follow her lead. "Uncle Hao, this is serious. If Prince Han Xiao sends a letter to the Han Palace about today's incident, the elders will be very disappointed in you. They might impose a severe punishment."
Ji Hao knew his niece well; this was always her way of extorting something whenever someone made a mistake. He also knew that neither muscle flexing nor sweet talking worked on her.
"Alright, just tell me what you want," he said with a resigned sigh.
Ji Ying placed her palm against her chin and pretended to brainstorm, "Um... mmmm!"
"Come on, just spit it out, or I'll bite the bullet and face my punishment," Ji Hao urged.
Han Xiao, who had been a bit angered earlier, felt relieved as he watched the conversation between the uncle-niece pair unfold. 'This princess is really something else. She knows how to take advantage of the situation. Let's see how all of this plays out,' he thought.
Ji Ying continued, "Fine! Just give me a free pass from my receptionist duties."
"Hah, you want me to arrange for someone else to do your job and let you shirk your tasks?" Ji Hao sneered. "Have you lost your mind? You're here as a punishment for stealing a royal forbidden scroll. That's non-negotiable. I'm not getting involved in that."
"Sure, then it's even better. I'll just visit three royal restaurants and spill the beans about an idiot prince bullying a junior prince from another nation."
Ji Hao knew she wasn't kidding, and the threat was serious. He sighed, "Fine, I'll arrange for someone to cover your shifts. But if your father finds out, don't even think about mentioning my name, or..."
"Or what?" she screamed.
"I'll never see you again," he finished.
"Fine, if something like that happens, I'll leave your name out of it. Are you happy now?" she retorted.
"Whatever. Enough with your extortion. Now you can both leave before the headmaster shows up and makes things difficult for me," Ji Hao said, wobbling his fingers to shoo them away.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but my little friend here is here to practice his weapon-crafting skills on this floor," Ji Ying responded boldly.
Ji Hao frowned, about to unleash a tirade, when Ji Ying tossed a golden token at him. He briskly caught it and exclaimed, "Shit! Did you steal this too? Argh, little girl, why are you making my life so difficult? Were you born into our family just to mess with me? Why? Why, why?"
"Old drunkard, stop jumping to conclusions! This thing belongs to my great-great-grandpa. Why would I mess with something this serious? Plus, I'm not that stupid, okay!" Ji Ying retorted, pouting. "This card belongs to my little brother, Han Xiao. If you don't believe me, try contacting the Prime Minister."
Caressing the golden token as if it were a priceless relic, Ji Hao asked, "Prince Han Xiao, is my niece speaking the truth?"
"Yes, sir. The token was a gift from someone I know," Han Xiao responded calmly.
Ji Hao heaved a deep breath, a look of resignation crossing his face. "Alright, with a token like this, you have the liberty to access any facility within our kingdom indefinitely, without the need for credits or formalities."
He added, "Very well then. I'll personally escort you to the finest facility we have for cultivating your weapon-crafting skills."
Ji Hao led Han Xiao and Ji Ying brought across the seventh floor of the leaning pagoda.
Han Xiao looked around and saw that the walls were adorned with ancient tapestries depicting legendary battles and mythical beasts, bathed in the soft glow of enchanted lanterns. The air was thick with the scent of rare herbs and metals, a testament to the countless hours of crafting that had taken place here.
At the center of the floor was a grand arched doorway, intricately carved with symbols of power and protection. Ji Hao pushed the doors open, revealing a vast room filled with every tool and material imaginable for weapon crafting. Workbenches lined the walls, each equipped with an array of hammers, tongs, and chisels. In the center stood a magnificent forge, its hearth already burning with an otherworldly blue flame.
"Welcome to the heart of our cultivation hall," Ji Hao announced with a hint of pride. "This is where our finest weapons are forged. Prince Han Xiao, this room is now at your disposal."
Han Xiao stepped forward, his eyes wide with awe at the sheer scale and grandeur of the room. He could feel the powerful energy resonating within the walls, ready to be harnessed for his own crafting endeavors. As the doors closed behind him, he knew that this was the beginning of a new chapter in his journey, one that would shape his destiny in ways he had yet to imagine.