Chapter 114: Purple-Clad Girl

Three days passed in a flash.

At the gates of Great Zhou City.

Zhou Yuan looked at Qin Yu, whose eyes were red-rimmed. He scratched his head helplessly, offering continuous words of comfort.

"Alright, alright, Yuan'er isn't a child anymore. He has to go out and experience the world. Why be so sentimental?" Zhou Qing said, also feeling a bit helpless.

"Aunt Qin, don't worry, I'll look after him," Yaoyao said from the side, offering reassurance.

For Zhou Yuan's journey, Yaoyao naturally brought Tun Tun along. After all, she had only stayed in Great Zhou because of Zhou Yuan.

Hearing Yaoyao's words, Qin Yu finally nodded and said, "With Yaoyao there, I feel much more at ease. If he doesn't behave, you just discipline him."

Yaoyao pressed her red lips together and nodded with a faint smile.

Zhou Qing took five black crystal cards from his embrace. They were adorned with intricate patterns and subtly glowed, and he handed them to Zhou Yuan.

"These are Sky Crystal Pavilion's crystal cards," Zhou Qing said. "Each card can be exchanged for 100,000 Origin Crystals at any Sky Crystal Pavilion branch. You'll likely need these on your long journey."

Zhou Yuan took them with a smile, clicking his tongue. "500,000 Origin Crystals! Father, you're truly generous."

500,000 Origin Crystals could even buy top-grade Profound Origin weapons or treasures; it was a huge sum. After all, the little stash Zhou Yuan had saved for years only amounted to 50,000 Origin Crystals.

Zhou Qing gave Zhou Yuan an exasperated look. "Brat, spend it wisely. Our Great Zhou is in a period of development. Your father's hair has grayed a bit trying to scrounge up these 500,000 Origin Crystals for you."

Zhou Yuan chuckled and put the cards into his Qiankun bag.

He looked up and met Zhou Qing's gaze, sensing the deep, hidden care in his father's eyes.

"Well... I'll be going now," Zhou Yuan said softly.

Zhou Qing waved his hand. "Go if you're going. Don't be so sentimental."

Zhou Yuan smiled, embraced Qin Yu beside him, then resolutely mounted his Fire Lion Steed. He looked at Zhou Qing and said, "Father, when I return, your son will reclaim the humiliation you suffered back then!"

"At that time, everything Great Zhou lost will be taken back!"

With those words, he no longer hesitated. He pulled the reins, and with a roar, the steed transformed into a red blur, galloping away along the main road without a backward glance.

Yaoyao waved her small hand to Zhou Qing and Qin Yu, then quickly mounted her horse and followed.

Watching the two figures rapidly disappear into the distance, Zhou Qing's taut expression finally broke. His eyes reddened, and he murmured, "That brat... he's really grown up."

He stretched out an arm and embraced Qin Yu, who was quietly weeping beside him, staring blankly into the distance.

"Yuan'er, on this journey, your father will await the day you soar to greatness and become renowned across the continent."

"I want everyone to know that my Zhou family's Sacred Dragon is not so easily discarded!"

***

Great Wu Dynasty.

Within the grand and solemn royal palace.

On an upper pavilion, bead curtains swayed in the wind, producing a crisp sound. Outside the curtains, a row of maids knelt silently.

Inside the pavilion, a chessboard was laid out, with black and white pieces clearly arrayed.

A piece was gently placed.

The person placing the piece was dressed in a bright yellow robe. He had a handsome face, with a striking crimson mark between his brows, and exuded an aura of authority. This was none other than the Crown Prince of Great Wu, Wu Huang.

"The Saint Remains Domain is about to open. When will you depart?" Across from Wu Huang, a small hand, as pristine and white as jade, gently placed a black piece, accompanied by a faint voice.

Wu Huang looked up at the person before him.

It was a girl dressed in purple. She possessed a stunning, picturesque beauty, with skin as clear as snow. Between her brows was also a striking crimson mark, which, far from detracting from her beauty, lent her an ethereal, almost bewitching quality.

She had a pair of long, narrow phoenix eyes. When she slightly narrowed them, even at her young age, an aura of majesty emanated from her, like a true phoenix untouched by the mortal world.

Her long, dark hair cascaded down past her slender waist, almost touching her delicate feet. Her beauty was utterly captivating.

"I'll depart tomorrow."

Wu Huang said slowly, "I don't have your kind of fortune, to ascend to heaven in one step and avoid so much arduous training."

"Everyone has their own destiny; it cannot be forced," the purple-clad girl said, her gaze fixed on the chessboard, her tone unruffled. "If you can obtain the good fortune within the Saint Remains Domain, you might not be at a disadvantage either."

"That fortune will undoubtedly be mine," Wu Huang said blandly.

The purple-clad girl seemed to let out a soft scoff. "Being too arrogant isn't a good thing. The quality of this generation's young experts in the Boundless Continent is unprecedented."

"That blind swordsman from the Sword Dynasty, who gouged out his own eyes for the sake of sword cultivation..."

"The little princess from the Myriad Beasts Dynasty who commands a hundred beasts..."

"That 'Little Yama King' from the Yama Sect..."

"The martial fanatic from the Ning family..."

"That enchantress from the Zuoqiu family..."

The purple-clad girl rested her chin on her hand, a fervent glint appearing in her phoenix eyes. She said, "These individuals are all prodigies cultivated by various factions who poured everything into them for the sake of the Saint Remains Domain. They are not to be trifled with, and even you might not have much of an advantage against them."

"It's truly a pity... I had originally wanted to stay here and compete properly with these figures."

The purple-clad girl gently shook her head, seemingly regretting not being able to contend with these prodigies.

She was clearly just a girl, yet the occasional warlike spirit and domineering aura that emerged in her words were in no way inferior to a man's.

Wu Huang frowned, staring at the girl before him. A trace of unknown fervent emotion flickered in the depths of his eyes. "That second prophecy from our clan truly makes no sense," he said.

The first prophecy of the Wu family: "Python-Sparrow Devours Dragon; Great Wu Shall Prosper."

The second prophecy of the Wu family: "Phoenix Shall Not See Dragon."

"We were born of the same parents, so why can't we meet?" Wu Huang's voice held a note of doubt.

The purple-clad girl's pretty face remained calm. Her jade-like fingers gently held a black piece, and a glimmer appeared in her phoenix eyes. After a moment of silence, she stated plainly, "The 'Dragon' doesn't necessarily refer to you."

Silence lasted for an instant in the pavilion. The next moment, a violent surge of Origin Qi erupted from Wu Huang's body like a volcano. The chessboard before him instantly disintegrated into dust.

Outside the pavilion, numerous maids and guards knelt, trembling, not daring to utter a sound.

They could all sense the immense fury of the esteemed Crown Prince within.

They rarely saw the Crown Prince, who usually showed no emotion, lose his composure to such an extent.

Wu Huang maintained his kneeling posture, but his handsome face was exceptionally grim at that moment. He stared at the purple-clad girl and said coldly, "What do you mean?"

"Wu Yao, besides me, who else is worthy of standing alongside you?!"