The man might not have known his identity, but he certainly did. This was the very person referred to as "Lord Dragon God." If his status were truly low, then they might as well all be dead...

Austin’s face took on a greenish tinge. He glared at the young girl standing helplessly to the side and snapped, "Tell your boss to crawl out here immediately!"

"Ah..." The girl froze for a moment, then immediately bolted back into the inn.

A moment later, a fat man came scrambling out, tumbling down the steps. Seeing Austin standing before him, the man’s legs began to tremble violently. "Th-Third Highness!"

Though Austin was only the Third Prince, any discerning eye could tell that the future of the Finlay Empire would inevitably fall to him. Since his return from his expedition a year ago, for reasons unknown, the Mage Guild had begun supporting him with rabid intensity. Elders who had previously backed the First and Second Princes simultaneously switched their allegiance. But the Third Prince’s methods were undeniably potent; in just one year, he had seized control of nearly all existing power structures. It was said that the moment the current Emperor passed, the throne was guaranteed to land in the Third Prince’s lap.

Thus, in both the populace and the court, the Third Prince was the Crown Prince, the future Emperor of the Empire. Hearing that the future Emperor was throwing a tantrum outside, the portly innkeeper rushed out as if possessed.

"Have you grown horns and claws? Hurry up and prepare the best suite for Lord Cao Yu!" Austin roared in anger.

The fat man had naturally heard some details from the girl before he came out. He quickly stammered, "Yes, yes... I... I have already prepared the finest room! Please, Lord Cao Yu, come this way!" The innkeeper’s speech was disjointed due to his nerves.

Chen Feng knew Austin was putting on this display primarily for him. Still, the execution was flawless, bringing him significant satisfaction.

Following the fat man, Chen Feng and Austin stepped into the inn.

After a cursory look, Chen Feng understood why the establishment was divided into a VIP section and a common area. The VIP section was undeniably luxurious; each suite comprised an independent courtyard, fully equipped with every amenity, not to mention over a dozen servants assigned to it.

Led by the innkeeper into a small courtyard, Chen Feng surveyed the environment and sighed internally—this suite was even more opulent than the "Rookie’s Inn" where he had previously stayed.

Seeing the look of satisfaction cross Chen Feng's face, Austin knew his goal had been achieved. He smiled and explained, "This inn was originally constructed by the royal family to host envoys from various nations. When it was no longer needed for that purpose, it was converted into an inn."

Chen Feng nodded slightly.

Austin escorted Chen Feng into the room and dismissed the fat man. Once they were alone, he leaned in and asked, "Senior, how... how did you emerge from the Cold Pool back then? After I left the Nine Nether Canyon, I waited at the exit for a whole week and never saw you!"

Chen Feng brushed off the memory of his exchange with the True Dragon, Luo Bo, and decided not to dwell on it. Standing inside the room, he practiced the maneuvers he had recently mastered, trying several times to execute Dong Zhang's Death Tornado, but without success.

After practicing for a while, he felt completely drained. Although someone of his cultivation level could ride a carriage all day without issue, being confined to the cramped carriage shell had left his body feeling stifled and unwell. He made his way to the washing area, took a thorough rinse, and collapsed onto the bed to sleep...

Stepping out of the inn, Austin’s expression instantly became grim. He clenched his fists tightly, making a firm resolution in his mind: "No matter what, I absolutely cannot afford to offend this Cao Yu. I must cultivate a good relationship with him!"

He recalled the dramatic shift in attitude displayed by Elder Rodriguez, one of the four great elders of the Magic Association, after his return from Dragon Mountain. It was entirely attributable to his acquaintance with this young man. If he hadn't secured the support of Elder Rodriguez, how could he have gained his father’s trust, suppressed his two elder brothers, and acquired his current level of authority in only half a year?

Merely knowing this Cao Yu had earned him the backing of the Magic Association. If he could truly forge a close bond with him, wouldn't that mean... gaining even greater support?

The thought ignited a fierce warmth in his chest. Suddenly, he turned to the empty space behind him and commanded, "Follow behind Lord Cao Yu. Whatever he intends to do, you must assist him unconditionally. If necessary, you are authorized to mobilize troops!"

"Yes..." A faint voice echoed from the air, followed by a slight ripple of energy that vanished instantly, as if it had never materialized at all...

The night passed without incident. Chen Feng opened his eyes to find the dawn had broken.

Stretching languidly, Chen Feng sat on the bed and cultivated his Vortex Power for a short while. Just as he descended, a sharp knocking echoed at the door: Thump, thump.

"Lord Cao Yu, there is... someone waiting for you outside..."

Opening the door, he saw the innkeeper—that round, stout fellow.

"Oh, understood," Chen Feng replied, paying him no further mind. He took the washing implements handed to him by a servant and began his morning ablutions.

Chen Feng was meticulous in his hygiene, spending a solid fifteen minutes on the task. Yet, the fat man remained standing in place, showing no sign of leaving.

"Go on ahead first and tell him I’ll be right there," Chen Feng said calmly.

The innkeeper wiped the cold sweat from his brow and, gathering his courage, asked, "Does Lord Cao Yu happen to know who is seeking him outside?" The innkeeper had made a point of remembering the name Austin had used the previous night.

"Oh, besides Austin, who else? I don't know many people in Maya City," Chen Feng replied casually, pulling on the black suit laid out for him.

"...Knowing that Prince Austin is waiting outside, and yet he remains so unhurried... what exactly is this person’s identity?" the innkeeper muttered internally, cold sweat tracing a path down his neck. The unknown was terrifying. It was like a commoner suddenly encountering the head of state, only to be shocked to see the head of state bowing to another individual. The commoner would naturally feel a wave of fear towards the person receiving the deference.

Once fully dressed, Chen Feng slowly followed the fat man toward the front.

The inn’s main hall was vast. The upper floors contained the standard rooms—what was known as the common area. The independent courtyard where Chen Feng stayed was the designated VIP section.

Leaving the VIP section, Chen Feng entered the main hall. He spotted Austin standing far in the center, surrounded by a few people. From their backs, they appeared to be the same group he had seen entering the VIP area the day before. Beside them stood one more person: the Fourth Princess, Grace, whom he had held hostage on Dragon Mountain.

Seeing Chen Feng approach, Grace looked as if she had spotted a long-lost relative. She immediately jumped up and ran toward him, crying out, "Lord Cao Yu!"

Six months had added height to her figure, and the lingering hint of childhood innocence had vanished from her face. As she ran, her pale lavender gown billowed around her, making her strikingly beautiful.

Grace’s cry instantly drew the attention of Austin and the others, and numerous gazes followed her toward the approaching Chen Feng.

"Grace?" Chen Feng was visibly taken aback as she rushed over.

"Why has your hair turned red?" Grace asked the first thing that came to mind.

Chen Feng’s hair had turned red only after he had an argument with the True Dragon, Luo Bo, and his Vortex Power went haywire out of anger over Xiao Hu’s death. Grace, therefore, knew nothing about this transformation.

Hearing the question, Chen Feng found himself unsure how to answer, so he merely smiled and asked, "Does it look good?"

"It looks... good..." Grace blushed deeply, then quickly added, "Are... are you well recently?"

Chen Feng caught the genuine concern in her voice and felt a pang of emotion. He smiled and replied, "I’m alright!" He had considered saying something like, "You’ve gotten taller," but the words caught in his throat. Perhaps Chen Feng was naturally reserved; expressions of care were difficult for him to articulate.

It was then that Chen Feng felt a hostile gaze directed his way. Looking up, he saw the young mage he had encountered the previous night—Aedric, the champion of the Finlay Empire’s Rookie Tournament.

"Grace insisted on coming as soon as she heard you arrived, but I feared you might be asleep, so I let her come today," Austin said, walking over with a smile.

Chen Feng glanced at Grace. Her face was flushed a deep crimson, the blush contrasting beautifully with her pale skin, lending her an unexpected allure. It seemed the young lady had grown significantly in half a year; if she was a bud before, she was now silently beginning to bloom.

Chen Feng recalled their first meeting: him climbing into her carriage and taking her hostage. Yet, instead of fear, she had uttered strange words: "Where are your clothes? Why are you only wearing leaves? It will be cold tonight!" "I’m not playing tricks. I saw it—it was Steven, no—but you shouldn’t have killed him! That won't benefit you!" "Don't be nervous. My cultivation is very low; I pose no threat to you! I know you hijacked me only to escape, and I will have my brother release you!"

Recalling these moments brought a smile to Chen Feng’s face, and he looked at Grace with a hint of indulgent affection. There was no romantic feeling in his gaze, only the protective warmth of an older brother toward a younger sister. He remembered how compliant she had been when he took her hostage, and how attentively she had looked after him on the journey to the Nine Nether Canyon. She had left him with a very good impression.

However, to others, that look carried a different meaning. The young mage Aedric’s eyes narrowed with venomous intent upon seeing Chen Feng’s expression.

Aedric abruptly bowed to Austin and stated, "Third Highness, forgive my ignorance, but who might this gentleman be...?"

Austin replied, "This is Lord Cao Yu." He then turned to Chen Feng and added, "Lord Cao Yu, allow me to introduce a few of the finest young talents in our Finlay Empire."

Chen Feng raised an eyelid slightly. "Not interested."

He wasn't being deliberately arrogant. He simply hadn't taken a good impression of Aedric the previous night, and seeing him now—especially while speaking with Grace—this sort of person truly wasn't worth his time.

Austin was surprised by Chen Feng’s bluntness, but he managed a hearty laugh. He understood that a person of Cao Yu’s status had the right to be arrogant, but Aedric and the others were different. Hearing those words, they all turned furious. These four had placed among the top finishers in the Finlay Empire’s selection trials; their cultivation was unparalleled among their peers. To be so casually dismissed ignited their anger. However, recognizing Austin’s deference to Chen Feng, they dared not act rashly.

Aedric’s fists tightened, his eyes burning with resentment. He was no ordinary person; he was the son of the Finlay Empire’s Minister of Finance, possessing exceptional magical talent, already reaching the level of a Ninth-Tier Mage at only 22. He had always been the standard-bearer among his peers. He had met the Fourth Princess Grace at a ball the previous year, and her youthful, beautiful image had completely conquered him. Because she had once mentioned liking heroes, he entered the Rookie Selection Trials specifically to pursue her. He endured immense hardship to claim the championship, all in hopes of winning her heart, yet she remained unmoved. Today, Grace’s sudden arrival at the inn had excited him immensely, only to discover her purpose was to see this arrogant red-haired boy! This surge of jealousy caused him to regard Chen Feng with unmistakable hatred.

The exceptionally shrewd Austin immediately grasped the root of the problem. Aedric was accomplished in many ways, but his narrow-mindedness was a flaw. His affection for the princess was an open secret. He had always clashed with Steven (the man Chen Feng killed in Dragon Mountain for coveting Xiao Hu). Seeing Aedric's current demeanor, it was obvious what he was thinking.

Grace also seemed to sense the tension. She looked at Chen Feng and asked sweetly, "Cao Yu, when we reached the Nine Nether Canyon, why did you vanish after I woke up? I worried about you for ages; even Prince Austin wouldn't tell me."

After they camped outside the Nine Nether Canyon, Austin had secretly slipped away in the middle of the night. Chen Feng followed and never returned, so in Grace’s memory, Chen Feng had simply disappeared upon her waking.

Chen Feng knew the events of that night were too complex and bizarre. It was understandable that Austin hadn't told Grace. He replied, "I had an urgent matter to attend to, so I left early."

"Oh..." Grace sensed his evasion but didn't press the issue. She stepped forward and took his arm, about to speak, when Aedric interjected, "Fourth Princess, I have just thought of a wonderful place I’d like to take you. Are you interested?"

Grace was not fond of Aedric. She tugged Chen Feng’s arm and chirped, "He says there’s a fun place. Shall we all go together?"

Chen Feng sighed internally. He had hoped Grace had become more demure, but she was still full of surprises. Her suggestion clearly used him as a human shield to ward off Aedric.

"No, I have important matters to attend to, so I intend to leave," Chen Feng stated flatly, wanting no part in this entanglement.

At that moment, Aedric stepped forward and declared to Austin, "Third Highness, I request permission to challenge this Cao Yu!"

"Challenge?" Austin’s face immediately registered surprise. Internally, he cursed Aedric severely. This man had single-handedly killed over a dozen Ninth-Tier Dragon Knights half a year ago, and his background was clearly exalted. Why would Aedric think of challenging him?

However, he couldn't voice these thoughts. He managed, "Is there any need for that?" By imperial law, a challenge was permissible. If both parties accepted, not even the Emperor could stop it. Thus, upon hearing the word "challenge," despite his desire to intervene, Austin could only utter those cautionary words.

Chen Feng looked impassive and asked, "Is it just you, or all four of you? If it’s just you alone, I have no interest."

As soon as these words left his mouth, the other three men were filled with rage and stared at Chen Feng. Aedric, believing Chen Feng was deliberately insulting him, roared, "Just me is enough...!"

"No interest," Chen Feng stated, turning away.

"You..." Aedric’s face flushed crimson. Having been hailed as a genius since childhood, this was the first time someone younger than him had treated him with such disdain.

Austin sighed. He hadn't expected things to escalate this far. Helplessly, he said to Chen Feng, "Lord Cao Yu... please show mercy!"

These words acted as a catalyst for Aedric, igniting a blazing fury. He pulled out his magic staff. "I demand a duel..."

Before he could finish, a sharp pain struck his chest, and the young man was launched backward like a broken kite, soaring horizontally until he crashed out the front door of the hall.

Chen Feng clapped his hands lightly and sighed, "If you want a duel, why all the unnecessary talking?"

"You ambushed me...!"

The remaining three shouted angrily, but as they shouted, they stared at Aedric, who had landed outside, seemingly unconscious, and then back at Chen Feng, standing there with an air of innocence. They couldn't believe their eyes. Even if it was an ambush, his speed... was that humanly possible?

While Aedric was a mage and would naturally be at a disadvantage in close combat, a Ninth-Tier Mage possessed significant mental strength and reaction speed; he should have been able to instantly cast several low-level spells. Yet, he was knocked flying with a single punch before he could utter a single incantation. Was this velocity simply too exaggerated?

One of the three was an Eighth-Tier Fighter. He immediately recognized the implications of such speed, yet he still found it hard to accept: how could a Fighter move that fast?

"Could it be..." A thought sparked, and he tentatively asked, "Lord Cao Yu, you... are you no longer a Fighter?"

"Oh, a Fighter? I stopped being one a long time ago," Chen Feng replied faintly.

This single sentence exploded among them like a heavy bomb. If the other three had been indignant over the ambush, they were now struck dumb. The difference between a Battle Master and a Fighter was vast. A Ninth-Tier Mage and a Ninth-Tier Fighter were roughly equal in strength, but against a genuine Battle Master, they were no match—one punch would suffice. But this individual looked barely fifteen or sixteen years old. A fifteen-year-old Battle Master? Did such a person actually exist in the world?

In an instant, the anger of the three men transformed into stupefied shock. They stood frozen on the spot.

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PS: This chapter was extremely difficult to write; I have a terrible headache and couldn't fully convey what I intended. I apologize that it’s merely adequate. I had hoped to reach the section about returning to Dragon Mountain, but my body simply couldn't manage it; I am exhausted. Please forgive the update being only slightly over 9000 words today. I had promised an extra chapter for 30 votes, but I see the count was 270 when I mentioned it, and now it’s only 294—still a bit short! Old Ya has also slipped from 55th on the monthly ticket rankings. Brothers, if you have monthly tickets, please cast them quickly! There is only one day left for the double period. Old Ya sincerely thanks you all!! I intended to release more chapters during the National Day period, but as you know, I recently moved into a larger apartment, causing many troublesome matters, so my body is somewhat depleted... More than that, my spirit is weary. Fist King once soared to third place when it launched, but the current subscription numbers are truly disheartening. Seeing others achieve success while I hover on the edge of survival is difficult to bear. I repeat my old plea: if you can subscribe, please do so. Thank you all! Even regular users can subscribe now, though it costs a bit more: five cents per thousand words. This means that an entire day’s hard work of writing for Old Ya costs you only fifty cents. Fifteen dollars a month! I'm sure your phone bills are higher than fifteen dollars monthly. I beg you, I plead again, just spend a few cents, and Old Ya won't be in this terrible situation, haha. Thank you all! (To be continued. For future events, please visit www.wwncom, for more chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!)