Ji Xia stared in bewilderment at the scene before him.

He had just sat up from the bed, his head throbbing with a painful intensity, and found himself surrounded by a dense crowd of people in the room.

At the front stood an elderly man with a sharp gaze, his hair graying but still full of vigor, staring at Ji Xia with an expression of pure anger.

Next to the elderly man, a female general in black and red armor, her long red hair cascading down her shoulders, stood silently, her sharp eyes fixed on him.

But Ji Xia quickly realized the gravity of the situation.

The female general was holding a sword in her hand.

Given her stance, it was clear that the sword was most likely not just for decoration.

"Your Highness! You're awake?" The elderly man's voice was filled with a strange sorrow, as if he were regretful that Ji Xia had even woken up.

"Where am I?" Ji Xia shook his head, trying to clear the excruciating pain and confusion.

He had just uttered these words when a strange, soothing stream of memory flooded his mind, like a cool spring washing away his pain.

I am Ji Xia, the Crown Prince of Tai Cang Kingdom?

He clearly remembered that just before all this, he was sitting in his office, thinking about the company's bidding project for the next day, carefully reviewing the company's strengths and weaknesses. Suddenly, the ground shook, the walls cracked open, and everything spun around before he blacked out. When he woke up again, he found himself here...

I've traveled through time?!

As the memories slowly returned to him, Ji Xia finally pieced together the truth—he had indeed transmigrated, arriving in a world called Tai Cang, where he was now the Crown Prince.

Crown Prince?

Ji Xia felt a little uncertain, but as more memories resurfaced, flashes of images filled his mind.

This was not the Earth Ji Xia knew. It was a brutal, untamed world, full of countless races and nations, each struggling for survival. Humans, in particular, were one of the weakest races in this world.

Tai Cang, the kingdom he now belonged to, was one of these small human nations.

To the south was the Dogmen Kingdom, to the west was the Zhou Qing Kingdom, and to the north lay the dangerous Fuchong River, where monstrous creatures lurked, eager for a human snack.

As for the east?

The east was far more terrifying—a massive, slumbering mountain called the "Great Emperor" lay there.

This mountain, for reasons unknown, had developed consciousness. According to the historical records of Tai Cang, six hundred years ago, a kingdom called the Ant Leader Tribe, which had settled nearby, was wiped out when the Great Emperor, in its sleep, accidentally turned over in its slumber and crushed the entire kingdom under its weight.

Ji Xia could hardly believe it. A mountain with consciousness? How could such a thing exist?

But as the memories flowed in, he came to terms with the reality. In this world, such things were possible.

"Your Highness, have you lost your memory?" A melodious voice interrupted his thoughts. He turned to see the female general, the one in black and red armor, standing before him.

As her voice brought him back to the present, more of Ji Xia's memories began to return.

The female general was none other than Ji Qianqing, a legendary figure in Tai Cang. She had grown up in the kingdom and, at just fifteen, joined the Tai Cang army. Within a mere nine years, she had been promoted to the position of General. She had proven her worth in countless battles against the Dogmen and Zhou Qing kingdoms, where she had displayed incredible leadership and bravery.

Had it not been for the recent catastrophic meteor strike that devastated Tai Cang, the kingdom would have been in a much stronger position to face off against these neighboring nations.

In addition to her military feats, Ji Qianqing was also known as the youngest cultivator in Tai Cang, having reached the Ninth Heaven at the age of twenty-four. Such a talent was rare among the human race.

But now, this legendary general was standing before Ji Xia, sword in hand, gazing at him with an unreadable expression.

Ji Xia was thoroughly confused by the situation. His previous training as a logical, level-headed person helped him stay calm. He lowered his head, carefully contemplating the circumstances.

"Your Highness is fine, it seems. Ministers and generals..." Ji Xia began, his voice steady as he tried to regain his composure.

"Your Highness," interrupted an older voice, "the questioning just now was a bit lacking. Now that you are awake, we should continue our discussion."

Ji Xia fell silent as more memories rushed in, and another voice rang out.

"Your Highness, even if you have truly gone mad, you must still hand over the Tai Cang Imperial Seal!"

Ji Xia froze, the weight of those words sinking in.

"Tai Cang is weak and in peril, on the brink of destruction. Your ancestors decreed that only a worthy successor may take the throne. If someone unworthy ascends, our people will perish! The lives of over 600,000 innocent civilians are at stake..."

Looking around the room, Ji Xia saw the sorrowful expressions of the ministers, all dressed in black, and the generals in dark armor. They seemed utterly disappointed in him, as though he had failed them.

"What should I do now?" Ji Xia wondered, observing their grief-stricken faces. He could see the anger, but what hit him most was the profound sorrow.

Realizing the situation, Ji Xia immediately adjusted his demeanor. His face became heavy with remorse.

His voice trembled as he spoke: "Ministers, I... I never meant for things to turn out this way..."

"You have committed a heinous crime, and you dare mention the late King?" The elderly man suddenly shouted in fury, tears streaming down his face. "How could you betray the late king's legacy?!"

Ji Xia froze. "The late King... betrayed?" he repeated, barely able to process what he had just heard.

The elderly man sobbed bitterly: "The late King spent his entire life fighting for Tai Cang, so that our people would never suffer from the cruelty of other races. Yet, he didn't die at the hands of these foreign invaders. No, he died because of a cursed accident! And now... now you have shattered any hope he had for the future!"

Ji Xia felt utterly helpless, trapped in a situation that made no sense to him. As more memories flooded in, he finally understood the full picture.

A month ago, a meteor struck Tai Cang, landing directly in the military camp of the Cang Wei Army, Tai Cang's primary defense force against the neighboring kingdoms. The impact annihilated the army, and the immense pressure from the meteor shattered the spirits of anyone nearby.

When the meteor's energy dissipated after nine days, the damage was already done. Tai Cang was vulnerable, and the Dogmen Kingdom, sensing the kingdom's weakness, began massing troops at the border.

In desperation, Tai Cang's king sent six envoys to the Dogmen, but each one was killed. Finally, the Dogmen agreed to a truce, demanding 600 boys, 600 girls, and the treasured Tai Cang Jade as tribute in exchange for three more years of peace.

The Tai Cang King, unwilling to sacrifice so many lives, was heartbroken when the people of Tai Cang, especially the youths, volunteered to die in place of their kingdom. However, just before the decision could be made, Ji Xia, in his reckless curiosity, broke the Tai Cang Jade—a treasure meant to store spiritual energy—and thus ended all hope for a peaceful resolution.

And so, Ji Xia's actions had indirectly caused the kingdom to lose its last chance for survival.

"Did I... kill my father?" Ji Xia sighed in resignation, looking at the crowd before him.