.
.
The Sky Dragon Ship cut through the heavens like a streak of black lightning.
It was nearly three hundred meters long, forged from Starsteel and pulled by nine Flood Dragons.
Its appearance alone caused countless cultivators below to stop in their tracks.
"The Noctis Imperial Family..."
"Why would the Crown Prince leave the capital personally?"
No one knew.
Inside the command chamber, Lucien stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the endless mountains.
A transparent panel floated before him.
Main Quest
Target: Sylvia Evermoon
Destiny Rank: SS
Current Status: Independent
Investment Recommendation: Save her life before the Hero.
Reward Prediction: 15×–60×
Lucien's eyes narrowed.
"So she's in danger."
He didn't hesitate.
"Increase speed."
The captain immediately bowed.
"As you command, Your Imperial Highness."
The nine Flood Dragons roared as the Sky Dragon Ship accelerated.
Meanwhile...
Inside the Hidden Spirit Cave...
Lin Tian and Sylvia stood opposite one another.
Between them bloomed the Seven-Star Soul Orchid.
Neither was willing to give it up.
Sylvia spoke first.
"I discovered this cave three days ago."
"It belongs to me."
Lin Tian shook his head.
"Heavenly treasures belong to those with ability."
Before either could make another move—
BOOM!
The cave trembled violently.
A gigantic serpent, nearly fifty meters long, burst from beneath the ground.
Its scales were dark green, and its eyes glowed crimson.
The pressure it released made both of them step back.
Sylvia's expression changed.
"An Emerald Abyss Python..."
"A Peak Foundation Core beast!"
Lin Tian gritted his teeth.
He had only recently entered the Spirit Gathering Realm.
Against such a monster...
He stood little chance.
The python hissed before charging toward Sylvia.
She drew her jade sword.
Moonlight Qi erupted around her.
Clang!
The sword struck the serpent's scales.
It barely left a scratch.
The python swung its tail.
Sylvia crossed her sword in defense.
CRACK!
She was sent crashing into the stone wall.
Blood trickled from the corner of her lips.
Lin Tian wanted to help...
But another strike forced him backward.
The beast was simply too strong.
At that exact moment...
A shadow descended from the sky.
The ceiling of the cave exploded.
Stone fragments rained everywhere.
A calm voice echoed through the dust.
"You call yourself a guardian of this mountain..."
"...yet you bully two juniors?"
Everyone looked upward.
A young man in black imperial robes slowly descended.
Long black hair.
Crimson-gold eyes.
An aura that dominated the entire cave.
Behind him stood dozens of elite imperial guards.
The python instinctively retreated.
Its beastly instincts screamed one warning.
Danger.
Sylvia looked at the newcomer in shock.
"The... Crown Prince?"
Lin Tian's pupils contracted.
Why was he here?
Lucien didn't even spare the protagonist a glance.
His attention remained fixed on the python.
"You have two choices."
"Kneel..."
"...or die."
The beast roared in fury.
It refused to submit to a human.
Lucien sighed.
"I gave you a chance."
He slowly drew the Void Emperor Sword.
The instant the blade left its sheath...
The cave filled with terrifying Void Qi.
Space itself seemed to fracture.
One slash.
Nothing more.
A black arc flashed across the cave.
Silence.
The python froze.
A thin crimson line appeared across its neck.
A heartbeat later—
Its enormous head slid from its body.
BOOM!
The giant corpse collapsed, shaking the entire mountain.
Everyone present stood speechless.
A Peak Foundation Core beast...
Had been killed with a single strike.
Lucien calmly sheathed his sword.
"Clean up the corpse."
The imperial guards moved immediately.
Only then did Lucien turn toward Sylvia.
He extended a hand.
"You seem injured."
Sylvia hesitated.
She had heard countless rumors about the Noctis Crown Prince.
Cruel.
Arrogant.
Merciless.
Yet...
The man before her had just saved her life.
After a moment's hesitation, she accepted his hand.
The instant their hands touched—
Ding!
Investment Successful.
Target: Sylvia Evermoon
Investment: Saving her life.
Relationship: Neutral → Favorable.
Affection: 0% → 18%
Potential Return: Calculating...
Lucien smiled inwardly.
The first investment...
Had begun.
From the side, Lin Tian watched the scene in silence.
For reasons he couldn't explain...
A strange feeling settled in his chest.
It was as if something that should have belonged to him...
Was slowly drifting beyond his reach.