Chapter 828: Painstaking Dedication

Seeing those 'savages' attempt to seize the Sky Measuring Azure-Moon Dragon, everyone on the Crown Prince's side became furious. "Bastards! We killed this Sky Measuring Azure-Moon Dragon. Why should we give it to you? If you're so capable, go hunt one yourselves! We worked so hard to hunt it down, and now you just pop out and try to snatch the spoils of victory? Have you no shame?"

Hearing her subordinates' constant curses, Bi Linglong's face was also grim. The task for this grand examination was to hunt a Sky Measuring Azure-Moon Dragon and obtain its dragon sinew as proof. There was no way she would give it to anyone else.

Meng Pan said coldly, "These 'savages' don't know their place. If they don't listen, just kill them." Zhao Xi's fists also cracked as he clenched them. "Fighting a ninth-rank Sky Measuring Azure-Moon Dragon just now has left me with a belly full of rage. These 'savages' are just what I need to vent some steam."

Zu An went to Bi Linglong's side. "Be careful, something feels off."

"What is it?" Bi Linglong quickly asked. At this point, she dared not disregard any of Zu An's opinions.

Zu An frowned. "I can't quite put my finger on it, but I have a feeling these 'savages' are not simple."

Bi Linglong also fell into deep thought. For so many years, numerous academy students had explored this secret realm, yet no one had ever discovered any 'savages'. Their appearance was indeed very peculiar. However, she wasn't overly suspicious. After all, the secret realm was vast, and the academy hadn't fully explored it. It wasn't impossible for indigenous 'savages' to exist. It was known that humans didn't understand much about secret realms, only that these spatial folds appearing out of nowhere were full of mystery and danger, without knowing how they were formed.

Just then, Liu Xian suddenly took a few steps forward and carefully examined the 'savage' leader standing on the dragon's head. He then burst out laughing. "Isn't this Worshipful Wei from Prince Qi's Mansion? When did you become a savage?"

As soon as he spoke, everyone's expressions changed. Bi Linglong abruptly looked at the 'savages'. They were from Prince Qi's Mansion? Prince Qi's Mansion had gathered experts from all corners of the land, boasting five great Guest Worshipers: Lu Xiao, Wei Pingyang, He Li, Mou Ping, and Han Fengqiu, whom Zu An knew. Han Fengqiu ranked fourth among the five Worshipers, and the weakest among them were all mid-ninth rank. Lu Xiao, for instance, was even at the mid-master realm! Liu Xian's mention of 'Worshipful Wei' must refer to Wei Pingyang, who ranked second and was an early-master realm expert! Zu An was also startled. How could people from Prince Qi's Mansion have gotten in? Were the Emperor and the Crown Prince's faction, guarding the secret realm's entrance, all blind?

The 'savage' leader's expression subtly changed. "What 'worshiper'? I don't know what you're talking about. This dragon corpse is ours. Get lost!"

Liu Xian chuckled, "Who are you trying to fool? I remember when you and I visited Heavenly Immortal Brothel together. You used your superior cultivation to snatch away Miss Lianxiang, whom I fancied. I'd recognize you even if you turned to ash."

Zu An: "..." This guy might be useless in other ways, but when it came to drinking, gambling, and visiting brothels, he was truly a master.

At this moment, Bi Linglong's face drastically changed. "Oh no!"

Just then, the 'savage' leader dropped his previously feigned awkward tone and reverted to his original voice: "Originally, I didn't want to reveal my identity and cause a total war. If your dragon corpse was taken by mysterious 'savages', you'd fail this exam but at least keep your lives. We wouldn't have to risk eliminating witnesses. Wouldn't that have been a win-win? Who knew a fool like you just had to blurt out my identity? Well, now there's no other choice. You all must die here!" As soon as he finished speaking, more subordinates dressed as 'savages' slowly emerged from the forest. Each of them had their hands on their swords, and their eyes gleamed sharply, clearly indicating they were experts.

Zhao Xi and Meng Pan glared furiously at Liu Xian. This idiot had truly doomed them. They immediately realized that Prince Qi's side clearly didn't want to go too far; merely disrupting their mission would suffice, without risking the Emperor's furious retribution later. But since Liu Xian's big mouth had exposed their identities, they had no choice but to eliminate all witnesses. Otherwise, with so many eyes having witnessed this, it would be impossible to hide the truth once they left, giving the Emperor a legitimate reason to deal with Prince Qi. One must remember that Wei Pingyang was a Master, and the people under him, judging by their aura fluctuations, were all experts. Even at their full strength, they wouldn't be a match for them, let alone after having just endured a bloody battle with the Sky Measuring Azure-Moon Dragon, which had already left them with heavy casualties. They stood no chance.

Bi Linglong, however, remained calmer. She tried to keep her voice level, raising her head proudly as she looked at the man on the dragon's head. "How exactly did you enter the secret realm? It's impossible for the Emperor and my father to have allowed you in." This was also the question on everyone else's mind. Zu An remembered the "curse" of the Gu brothers before their death. At the time, he thought it was just their dying resentment, but now he knew that Prince Qi indeed had another trick up his sleeve. But the crucial point was, how did these people get in? It made no sense.

Wei Pingyang laughed heartily. "Indeed, with your people guarding the entrance, we couldn't get in *this time*. But not being able to get in *this time* doesn't mean we couldn't get in at other times, does it?"

Bi Linglong's heart jumped, and she blurted out, "You are from three years ago..."

"Exactly!" Wei Pingyang stroked the beard on his chin. "Three years ago, when the academy's secret realm opened, Prince Qi found a way to infiltrate us. That time, it wasn't related to the Crown Prince's grand examination, so inspections naturally weren't as strict. Do you know how we've lived these past few years? Living with beasts every day, a life worse than 'savages'. Everyone was going crazy! Fortunately, fortunately, you finally came, ha ha ha ha."

Zu An was dumbfounded. Prince Qi was truly a deep schemer, having set up this entire plot three years in advance. Recently, Prince Qi's Mansion had appeared to suffer setbacks everywhere, but now, thinking back, it might have been a deliberate show of weakness to get the Emperor to agree to this grand examination. What a devious old fox! A shiver ran down Zu An's spine as he considered having offended such a person. He figured Prince Qi's main efforts were focused on dealing with the Emperor and the Crown Prince, so he hadn't had time to bother with him. But once this grand examination was over, if Prince Qi truly decided to act against him, he would be in deep trouble. At this point, he couldn't help but despise the Emperor. Was being the world's number one truly so impressive? He was completely manipulated by Prince Qi. Looking at Prince Qi's tactics, they were truly like a snake in the grass, laying hidden traps for a thousand miles, subtly weaving such a vast net. In comparison, the Emperor was far inferior. Since entering this secret realm, the Crown Prince's team had been led by the nose. If it weren't for him, the Gu brothers and Shi Tong would have been enough to cause the entire team's demise. Wait, speaking of which, the Emperor didn't do absolutely nothing. He also sent him, the Golden Badge Embroidered Envoy, to secretly protect the Crown Prince and Princess. Originally, with his cultivation, he should have been enough to control the situation. Presumably, the Emperor also hadn't anticipated Prince Qi's grand scheme of arranging a Master and a group of experts to infiltrate three years in advance.

At this moment, Bi Linglong spoke clearly, "Wei Pingyang, you have some nerve! Do you think if you kill us here, the Emperor won't investigate? Anything done always leaves traces." Everyone secretly admired her. No wonder she was chosen by the Emperor to be the Crown Princess; her innate composure was truly beyond that of ordinary women. Whether facing the ninth-rank Sky Measuring Azure-Moon Dragon just now or facing a Master realm expert now, she remained the calmest and most courageous person in the scene, subtly instilling courage in everyone.

Wei Pingyang chuckled, "Crown Princess, you don't need to scare me. How could Prince Qi not have thought of these things? Everyone here in this place consists of soldiers who were reported dead or missing in the army over the years. In all official records, they simply don't exist. How could the Emperor possibly find them?"

Bi Linglong's delicate brows furrowed. Prince Qi was truly painstaking in his efforts; these preparations must have been made many years in advance. She gazed coldly at him. "They might not exist in any documents, but what about you? Surely you haven't gone missing or died too, have you?"

Wei Pingyang ceased smiling. "That's none of your concern. Once you're all dead, naturally no one will know of my existence."