The figures flanking the elder in the brocade robe immediately showed anger. Their eyes narrowed in resentment as they stared fixedly at Zong Shou.

Stepping forward from the group was a man in his forties, who coldly fixed Zong Shou with a gaze. "While the young lord's status is noble, he seems utterly ignorant of courtesy. Does he not know the difference between elder and junior, or superior and inferior?"

Zong Shou merely smiled, unconcerned, and proceeded to step down from the carriage as if he were alone, casting a faint glance toward the elder in brocade.

The host, Xu Zhengyuan, looked slightly awkward and called out to the man beside him, "Lian Cheng, hold your tongue! The young lord is the Crown Prince of Qiantian Mountain; he has committed no offense!"

He then bowed toward Zong Shou, saying, "I beg the young lord's forgiveness. I have been occupied with matters outside the city these past half-month and have been unable to disengage. Only today have I managed to return to meet you. Is the young lord leaving the city? Why not grace Cloud Saint City with your presence for a few more days?"

Chu Xue, seated in the front, immediately curled her lip. These officials are truly hypocritical, she thought, they are clearly forcing him out, yet they put on a show of inviting him to stay.

Unable to help herself, she sharply cracked the whip with a sudden, jarring snap in the empty road. This startled the Cloud-Treading Steeds, causing them to immediately grow restless and agitated.

Zong Shou seemed not to notice, his eyes unblinking. "The City Lord is too kind. Though Cloud Saint City is fine, it is ultimately not my homeland. No matter how beautiful the scenery, my heart cannot truly settle here, hence my intent to return."

Xu Zhengyuan nodded slightly upon hearing this. "What Crown Prince Zong Shou says is reasonable. Then I shall not press further. I have brought a few humble gifts; I hope the young lord will accept them. Should the young lord happen to see the Heavenly Being Lei Dong in the future, I ask that you convey my apologies. Xu Zhengyuan has his own difficulties and was truly helpless. If there has been any lapse in my hospitality over the past half-month, I ask for the young lord's understanding..."

Zong Shou gave a knowing smile. No wonder this man had waited until the outskirts of the city to meet him. He was clearly afraid Zong Shou would speak ill of him to Lei Dong.

His gaze shifted, and he noticed that the common servant beside the City Lord was still holding a wooden tray. Neatly arranged upon it were one hundred Tier Three Beast Crystals and three talismanic weapons. Furthermore, there were two jars sealing captured spirit beasts.

The jars were tightly sealed, but judging by the faint aura, they contained soul beasts of around Tier Two.

Calling them "humble gifts" was clearly a misnomer. Yet, to call them grand would be an exaggeration.

He secretly shook his head. Zong Shou felt no real dissatisfaction. He genuinely looked down on the offerings, but the fact that the man brought these items and delivered them personally showed an intent to establish goodwill.

If anyone was to blame, it was himself. The reputation of being a good-for-nothing was simply too widespread.

Moments later, Zong Shou’s eyes locked onto the City Lord's left arm. His brow twitched slightly. "City Lord, your left arm—did it suffer injury from sword intent? Why not seek someone to remove it?"

Yin Yang had mentioned that the City Lord of Cloud Saint City had suffered an injury in his early years that had never healed; it was most likely this one. Flesh and blood seemed utterly desiccated, clearly having had its vital energy forcibly severed, effectively rendering it useless.

Lian Cheng’s expression flickered again, his eyes sinking slightly. The other servants faintly showed anger. This youth was stirring up trouble where none was needed, explaining why the situation had devolved this far.

Xu Zhengyuan, however, took it in stride. Though somewhat displeased, he patiently explained, "The young lord's eyesight is indeed excellent. My left arm was damaged by residual sword intent. It was the result of my own reckless behavior in my younger years. I have invited many people to remove it over the years, but the one who injured me was not only a Heaven-rank Martial Grandmaster, but the sword intent he imbued was also rather peculiar. Even Lord Lei Dong could find no way to remove it; it has remained this way..."

Zong Shou frowned. The sword intent remaining within Xu Zhengyuan was indeed somewhat strange.

However, in later generations, he had seen similar martial intent manifestations countless times. In reality, it was not a significant problem.

Though spiritual energy had declined in later ages, most of the peak martial arts developed during the era of the Divine Emperor had been preserved. Many secret traditions of reclusive sects had filtered down to the common folk, and he had benefited greatly from them.

After careful contemplation for a moment, Zong Shou smiled again. "Over this past half-month, the City Lord has offered me some shelter. I, Zong Shou, dislike owing favors. Today, I shall help the City Lord remove this sword intent, and we shall be clear..."

Xu Zhengyuan started, then immediately felt a wave of amusement. His injury was beyond the ability of even a Heaven-rank Grandmaster to fix. Yet, this child, barely thirteen and seemingly incapable of cultivation, was presumptuously claiming he could remove the sword intent within him.

The surrounding servants shared this sentiment. Their earlier looks of indignation had turned to viewing Zong Shou as an idiot. They figured the young lord wasn't truly disrespectful, just mentally deficient.

Lian Cheng sighed, "Young Lord, my master's injury was deemed incurable even by Lord Lei Dong, who stated only a Spirit Martial Venerable with nine perfected Celestial Orbits could possibly resolve it. Does the young lord truly believe he can surpass Lord Lei Dong? My master appreciates the kindness, but please do not trouble yourself..."

The implication was clear: Please don't bother with this.

Zong Shou heard this—To remove this sword intent, how could it be so complicated? If one didn't understand the principle, it would be difficult. But if one knew the mechanism, removing it was trivial. Even in his current state, he could manage it with some effort.

He couldn't be bothered to explain to this man and simply walked toward Xu Zhengyuan.

Lian Cheng was slightly startled and abruptly stepped forward, blocking Zong Shou's path.

But then, Zong Shou suddenly pointed a single finger forward. For a split second, countless phantoms appeared before his eyes. Simultaneously, he sensed an ethereal, inscrutable, yet overwhelmingly potent sword sweeping toward him in the air! It gave him the sensation of having nowhere to evade, and no means to escape.

Lian Cheng’s pupils contracted, and he immediately shifted his body to the right. Instinctively, he reached for the saber at his waist, but before he could draw it, a streak of violet lightning flashed, and a finger-shadow darted out amidst the heavy illusions, striking precisely his right shoulder.

His entire body instantly went limp and numb, incapable of mobilizing any vital energy, almost collapsing to the ground. Inside, he was filled with utter shock and terror; his consciousness was a blank slate. As the steward to the City Lord of Cloud Saint City, his strength was beyond the Innate realm, a Martial Master who had opened two Earth Orbits! Yet, he couldn't even block this youth's single finger. From stepping forward to being restrained, less than the time it takes to snap one’s fingers had passed!

Is this Crown Prince of Qiantian Mountain truly the good-for-nothing who hasn't even opened an Orbit? Or is someone impersonating him, perhaps with malicious intent toward his master? Countless thoughts flooded his mind, but even struggling with all his might, the energy in his body continued to drain away.

Xu Zhengyuan was also stunned, watching the half-demon youth pass by Lian Cheng unhindered with a look of intense vigilance.

Without the slightest hesitation, Xu Zhengyuan stepped forward, his powerful vital energy surging around him, like a lion just awakening. His shoulders hunched low, he stared down coldly at Zong Shou. His aura was heavy and dense, sharp and chilling, subtly revealing a murderous intent. He seemed on the verge of explosion, ready to tear Zong Shou to shreds in the next moment!

The next instant, however, Xu Zhengyuan felt an overwhelming mental force suddenly erupt from Zong Shou, several times stronger than before. The figure of the half-demon youth before him blurred into over a dozen afterimages, making his true location almost impossible to discern. Wisps of cloud and mist gathered nearby, appearing and disappearing indistinctly. The surrounding servants, all at the Secret Martial Master realm, turned pale under the pressure of this intent, completely unable to approach.

"Startling Cloud Divine Annihilation Sword Intent!"

Xu Zhengyuan’s pupils instantly constricted. He was about to disregard everything and try to subdue this bizarre half-demon youth with full force, when he heard a faint clang. Zong Shou now held a sword in hand. The shimmering Ray-Tooth Sword, flashing with electric light, pointed from afar.

The cloud-like, mist-like sword intent transformed once more. This time, it was lethally sharp, as if capable of piercing through everything in the world, stabbing directly into the mind. He suddenly felt that every part of his body was a fatal weak spot. The long-dormant sword intent within his body seemed to echo in response, surging out from every part of his frame with startling abruptness. His internal meridians were instantly blocked, his vital energy scattered chaotically.

In that single instant, he was rendered immobile. The vital energy he had gathered around himself began to dissipate and crumble.

Xu Zhengyuan could only move his eyes. He watched Zong Shou walk toward him with calm indifference, his pupils filled with bewildered disbelief. Waves of shock crashed through his chest, impossible to contain. If he hadn't known for a fact that the person before him was truly only thirteen, and that his appearance was unchanged, not like a disguise, he would have almost believed that the sliver of martial intent lingering in his body was all Zong Shou possessed!

From several yards away, he could control the sword intent within his body. What was this youth here for? Was he truly intent on killing him? And was he the genuine Crown Prince Zong Shou? The rumored good-for-nothing with dual meridians? If he wasn't Zong Shou, then why this? If this person wanted him dead, it would be as easy as turning over his hand! Why set up this elaborate scheme to lure him out? If he truly was Zong Shou, why hide himself so deeply?

How could this person be a good-for-nothing? He subdued Lian Cheng and rendered him immobile in the blink of an eye, leaving him to be slaughtered. What kind of good-for-nothing could do that? This was clearly someone possessing supreme skills, hiding his true power!

Zong Shou guessed the man's thoughts merely by observing his expression. He really didn't wish to bicker with him too much, and with a faint expression, he slightly shook his head. "Zong Shou has been presumptuous today; I ask for your forgiveness!"

He placed his hand upon Xu Zhengyuan's wrist and sent a thread of his own aura inside. A moment later, he let out a soft laugh. "Indeed, it is the Zi-Wu Yin-Yang Dafa combined with Withered-Glory Sword Qi. I, Zong Shou, am unskilled, but I can barely relieve the City Lord's worries!"

Regardless of whether Xu Zhengyuan agreed, Zong Shou inserted several fine golden needles. Just as Xu Zhengyuan felt the qi and blood meridians within his body erupting violently with no outlet, believing he was about to die, Zong Shou struck his left arm with the Ray-Tooth Sword. A spurt of blood immediately shot out, splashing ten feet away. Mixed within the blood were strands of sharp (Gang Qi), which instantly pierced numerous holes into the grass below.