Young Noble Be Monster Slaying

Chapter 599: The Dragon-Keeping Eunuch

"The reason Chu Liang won the Assembly of Immortal Sects was because of that crucial immortal art, Physical Dragon Transformation. If His Majesty were willing to request that immortal art for you, with your talent, how could you possibly lose to him?"

A stunning woman in a palace dress moved gracefully, like a willow swaying in the breeze. Beside her walked a refined young man, their steps in sync as they chatted.

"Your praise is unwarranted. My talent could never compare to the champion of the Assembly of Immortal Sects," the young man said with a light smile. "While you may not accept my loss to Chu Liang, I, however, do."

He spoke with calm detachment, his voice devoid of emotion, appearing completely unbothered by his loss at the Assembly of Immortal Sects.

"His Majesty often compliments you in front of me, Thirteenth Prince. He says that you are humble and never compete with others. You are the one who gives him the most peace of mind," the woman in the palace dress said softly. "It seems that’s truly the case."

"Oh? Father often compliments me?" The refined young man blinked, as if about to ask something, but then thought better of it. Instead, he said, "That’s all thanks to His Majesty’s excellent teachings."

"Of course, His Majesty speaks of you the most," the imperial consort said with a light chuckle. "He sees everything clearly—how his sons handle things and interact with others. He knows who is most capable, talented, and ambitious. He knows it all. Our emperor is wise and perceptive. If there is something good for you, how could he overlook it?"

"Father is truly a wise and enlightened ruler," the young man said with a smile.

"Alright, you should go in and see him now." When they arrived at the Night Dragon Hall, the imperial consort gestured toward it. "I won’t interrupt your audience with your father."

"Thank you, Consort," the young man said, offering a slight bow.

The two in question were, of course, Gong Yu’er, the current favorite imperial consort, and the Thirteenth Prince, who had just returned from participating in the Assembly of Immortal Sects.

After the Assembly of Immortal Sects, the Sixth Princess and the Thirteenth Prince, as participants in this year’s assembly, were required to present themselves before the emperor to report and receive his guidance.

Gong Yu’er just so happened to be heading in the same direction and walked with the Thirteenth Prince for part of the way.

Later that night, the Thirteenth Prince emerged from the Night Dragon Hall. As he walked alone, he couldn’t help but lose himself in thought, drifting into deep contemplation.

The imperial consort’s words had taken root in his heart, gradually sprouting and intertwining into tangled vines.

Just moments ago, his father had indeed praised him. He hadn’t reprimanded him for his lackluster performance at the Assembly of Immortal Sects, and even mentioned arranging future duties for him.

If his father had, as the court and the public believed, already decided to make his second brother the Crown Prince, he wouldn't have shown such an attitude.

He had always presented himself as someone who doesn’t compete. However, he knew he needed to show his father his ambition. He had to gradually present himself as someone who wouldn’t let the emperor feel too at ease, ensuring that his father wouldn’t favor his second brother entirely.

If he wanted to demonstrate his ambition after this assembly, he knew just the way to do it—the Dragon-Keeping Eunuch.

While the Dragon-Keeping Pool was a forbidden area within the palace, the emperor’s children were permitted to seek the Golden Dragon’s cultivation legacy. However, the Golden Dragon could not be forced to share its knowledge.

Like Ling Ao, who sought the gift of cultivation legacy at the Dragon-Fishing Pool on Mount Shu, showing genuine sincerity could earn one the blessing of a True Dragon.

However, out of every hundred kids of the imperial family who went to the Dragon-Keeping Pool, ninety-nine would come back with nothing.

However, if even one succeeded, it meant they possessed great destiny and gained significant recognition.

For the children of the imperial family, seeking the gift of cultivation legacy at the Dragon-Keeping Pool was often like a gamble.

The Thirteenth Prince, wishing to present himself as someone who didn't care about the throne, had never gone before.

But the imperial consort's words that day stirred something within him.

He thought it was time.

And so, he went straight to see the Dragon-Keeping Eunuch.

The Dragon-Keeping Eunuch was tasked with all matters related to the care of True Dragons and originally held little power.

But ever since Yao Dengxian was promoted to the position of Dragon-Keeping Eunuch and reached the eighth realm of cultivation, everything had changed.

Having a monster who had attained the Heavenly Origin to protect the imperial court was of immense importance to the entire imperial city.

Since then, the Dragon-Keeping Eunuch’s status had risen to the highest echelons, becoming one of the most influential figures in the imperial court.

Yao Dengxian eventually rose to become the foremost of the Four Great Warriors, and a single cough from him could make half of the imperial city tremble.

Having attained the Heavenly Origin, Yao Dengxian was no longer bound by the hierarchy of emperor and subject. If he chose to remain in the imperial city, his status would be that of a guardian of the imperial family, incomparable to that of ordinary officials.

Thus, before the Thirteenth Prince even went to seek the gift of cultivation legacy at the Dragon-Keeping Pool, he needed to pay Yao Dengxian a visit.

After waiting briefly outside the palace pavilion, a young eunuch emerged with a message from the Dragon-Keeping Eunuch.

"My grandfather[1] says you may proceed on your own to seek the gift of cultivation. It’s late, and he is already resting..."

"Then I won’t disturb Warrior Yao any further. I’ll go in myself," the Thirteenth Prince replied politely.

Led by the young eunuch, he stepped through the gate inscribed with the words "Dragon-Keeping Pool."

Though it was called a pool, upon entering, one found it to be a world unto itself. With a single step, a vast landscape of towering mountains unfolded. The air buzzed with spiritual energy, celestial birds soared overhead, and the land was rich with the scent of heavenly treasures.

It was truly a rare and extraordinarily blessed mountain range.

This was the dwelling of the Golden Dragon. The Thirteenth Prince slowly made his way into the mountains.

Within the mountains, a golden-scaled waterfall cascaded down, behind which lay the Golden Dragon’s lair. If the seeker was blessed with fate, they would only need to circle the hill, and the Golden Dragon would appear. Without such fortune, however, the seeker would be left to depart on their own. Making noise or causing a disturbance was strictly forbidden.

It had been over a century since any child of the imperial family had received the Golden Dragon’s teachings. The Thirteenth Prince had no real expectations for himself. This act was simply a way to show his father that he possessed ambition, and that alone was enough.

However, as soon as he stepped into the mountains, a thunderous clap echoed through the air, as if the secrets of the heavens had been unlocked.

With a deafening crack, golden light erupted from the waterfall on the mountain. A mighty dragon's roar followed, and the Thirteenth Prince was stunned, collapsing unconscious on the spot.

Roar—

...

The night before the Qinghong Banquet was filled with joy and celebration. The Mount Shu Sect team gathered at the palace atop the mountain, and all of Chu Liang’s friends and family who were in the capital of Yu came to join in the festivities.

The only one absent was Chu Liang’s teacher. Di Nufeng had already greeted everyone before eagerly heading to the Imperial City to dine with her father.

Knowing about the bet between Di Nufeng and her father, Chu Liang understood that the dinner with Mingde was not about food, but rather a declaration of war.

Yet after three rounds of drinks, Jiang Yuebai suddenly disappeared from the banquet.

Chu Liang looked around, puzzled, before standing up and leaving the table. Eventually, he found Senior Sister Jiang sitting alone on the palace rooftop, gazing at the moon.

"Why are you here?" Chu Liang asked softly.

The frosty moonlight bathed their figures in an icy glow.

"Just needed some fresh air," Jiang Yuebai replied gently.

Chu Liang sat down beside her, glanced at her, and said, "You don’t seem to be in a good mood."

"Hmm..." Jiang Yuebai hesitated before answering, "I didn’t tell you before, but I’ll be leaving after the Assembly of Immortal Sects."

"You’re leaving Mount Shu too?" Chu Liang asked in surprise. "But you’re the head disciple."

It wasn’t unusual for young disciples to leave their sect after the Assembly, but for a head disciple, the usual expectation was to eventually become a peak master. So, there was really no reason for her to leave.

"This was decided long before the assembly," Jiang Yuebai said after a moment of silence. "It was decided when I met with my father. He said... he’d be willing to take me with him from now on."

Huh? The Whale-Riding Immortal’s face flashed across Chu Liang’s mind. So that old rascal’s planning to take Jiang Yuebai away?

He frowned and asked, "But he’s always wandering aimlessly. What could you—"

"He was never wandering aimlessly. He’s been searching for a way to rescue my mother," Jiang Yuebai replied.

"Your mother?"

Chu Liang recalled that her mother was someone who had walked out of the Divine Ruins but was later taken back by the people from the Divine Ruins Monastery, who then annihilated the rest of the Jiang family...

"Both of you are going to the Divine Ruins?" he immediately asked.

Anyone who entered or interacted with that place would be in grave danger. It was no surprise that the Whale-Riding Immortal, despite being at the eighth realm, still acted with such caution in all his endeavors.

"Going to the Divine Ruins isn’t difficult," Jiang Yuebai said. "But the Divine Ruins isn’t a small realm. It’s far larger than the Nine Provinces and the Four Seas combined. It’s a place with countless layers of danger and hidden worlds. Without a precise route to navigate through these dangers, locating the Divine Ruins Monastery would be impossible."

"But even if you find the Divine Ruins Monastery..." Chu Liang asked, "can you really save your mother?"

"We have to try," Jiang Yuebai turned her gaze to him. "If it were me trapped in the Divine Ruins Monastery, what would you do?"

Chu Liang fell silent.

If Senior Sister Jiang were taken, he would stop at nothing to find her, no matter what, even if the heavens collapsed.

"Then..." After a long pause, he finally asked, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"When I leave, you’ll be the head disciple," Jiang Yuebai said, looking at him intently. "As the champion of the immortal sects, you’re far more suited for the position than I am. You must strengthen Mount Shu’s power. When I find my mother, I’ll come back to find you, and then—"

Jiang Yuebai didn’t finish her sentence.

Because, at that moment, Chu Liang suddenly leaned in and kissed her.

This was the first time he had been so bold. If they were destined to part, he could only savor this fleeting moment.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally pulled apart.

"You—"

Jiang Yuebai was about to say something.

Suddenly, a beam of golden light shot across the sky, crashing into Chu Liang with a deafening roar. His vision went dark, and in an instant, he lost consciousness.

1. This really says adoptive grandfather in the raws. ☜