King of Creation
Chapter 150 - 148: The Reward from the Eldest Prince

Chapter 150: Chapter 148: The Reward from the Eldest Prince

"Ye Zhen, the surprise you’ve given this prince is quite substantial!"

With a frosty face, Third Prince Zhu Kun stepped out of the grand hall and suddenly stopped to speak to Ye Zhen.

"I’m very honored!"

"I hope you’ll still be able to laugh in the future!"

With a cold snort, Third Prince Zhu Kun strode out of the hall and left the banquet ahead of schedule.

"I will, certainly will!"

Ye Zhen’s resolute voice caused the figure of Third Prince Zhu Kun to abruptly halt, then he hastened away.

You, Zhu Kun, had your man Lie Kuangsha go all out to kill me, if I don’t give you a surprise, then who should I give it to?

Due to Ye Zhen’s outstanding performance, the atmosphere of today’s banquet took a divine turn.

Initially, the banquet’s mood was somewhat apprehensive due to the meddling of Third Prince Zhu Kun, which concerned all the attending princes, nobles, and leaders of various factions.

However, Ye Zhen’s violent slaying of Lie Kuangsha swiftly stabilized their uneasy hearts.

Because to a certain extent, Ye Zhen’s violent slaying of Lie Kuangsha represented Qiyun Sect’s move to strike against Third Prince Zhu Kun and signaled Qiyun Sect’s firm support for Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan.

It had given the supporters of Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan a calming pill.

After Third Prince Zhu Kun’s departure, the princes and nobles who had previously looked down on Ye Zhen stood up in turn to toast to Ye Zhen, especially after learning that Ye Zhen was not yet eighteen years old, they praised him even more as a genius.

Ye Zhen faced them without fear, drinking cup by cup, greatly displaying his generous nature.

Even the hostile Prince Anchang, Zhu Qianshu, was pressured into following the crowd and toasted Ye Zhen.

Nobody noticed that Princess Huayang, who had been kneeling beside Ye Zhen serving food and drinks, now looked at Ye Zhen with completely different eyes.

In her gaze, it seemed as if Ye Zhen was the only person left.

Sometimes, while pouring the wine, she would forget to serve the Black Water Pill King, while Ye Zhen’s cup would be instantly filled whenever it was empty.

The Black Water Pill King didn’t mind and just poured his own wine, his gaze occasionally drifting toward the large sea bowl under the table.

The increasingly large amount of Tiger Saliva in that sea bowl was the Black Water Pill King’s favorite.

"Heh, it’s full, you better keep it safe!"

Ye Zhen retrieved a bowl full of Tiger Saliva from under the table and handed it to the Black Water Pill King, "If you ever need more in the future, just come and take it. As long as this fellow can spit it out, you won’t be left wanting."

"Good, good!"

With a smile on his face, the Black Water Pill King casually pulled out four or five Human-Level top grade Demon Cores and fed them to the listless-looking Cloud Winged Tiger, "Little guy, you’ve worked hard..."

Sniffing the scent, the Cloud Wing swallowed the handful of Demon Cores in one gulp, to Ye Zhen’s amazement.

"Don’t worry, a Demon Beast’s endurance is about ten times stronger than that of a Martial Artist. Moreover, these are just Human-Level top grade Demon Cores.

By the way, if you get your hands on Earth Rank Demon Cores, or want to refine some other pills in the future, just come and find this old man. I’m not someone petty. Ha ha, I’m off now!"

With hearty laughter, the Black Water Pill King left with his hands behind his back, and all the attending princes and nobles rose to send him off.

Shock appeared simultaneously on the faces of Princess Huayang and Elder Bao, who were beside Ye Zhen.

Compared to Ye Zhen’s performance tonight, the promise the Black Water Pill King gave Ye Zhen upon his departure was even more astonishing.

In the entire Black Water Kingdom, Ye Zhen was the first to receive such a promise from the Black Water Pill King!

Following the departure of the Black Water Pill King, today’s banquet also reached its end.

The delighted Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan saw off each prince and noble personally, with great honor and glory.

However, Ye Zhen and Elder Bao were asked to stay behind.

"Elder Bao, Young Hero Ye, this little prince has prepared a modest gift for the two of you. Please accept it with a smile,"

As Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan spoke, two trays of gifts were presented before Ye Zhen and Elder Bao.

10,000 taels in banknotes, 100 Low Grade Spirit Crystals.

This gift was neither too heavy nor too light.

Of course, that was for Ye Zhen, who nearly had 4,000 Low Grade Spirit Crystals to his name.

After exchanging a glance, Ye Zhen and Elder Bao simultaneously accepted the trays. With a swipe of their hands, the banknotes and Low Grade Spirit Crystals disappeared.

This gift, Ye Zhen and Elder Bao felt completely justified in accepting.

Clap, clap!

With the sound of Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan clapping, four beautiful yet somewhat naive-looking court-dressed maidens were brought before Ye Zhen and Elder Bao.

"Elder Bao, Young Hero Ye, a long night is hard to endure, so this little prince has specially prepared a pair of beauties for each of you to accompany through the night."

As Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan spoke, the four maidens split into two pairs, each approaching Elder Bao and Ye Zhen.

"Ha ha, very kind of you, Prince. Thank you,"

Elder Bao accepted the pair of beauties with a hearty laugh and a carefree attitude.

"The Prince’s kindness is well received in my heart, but this, I truly cannot accept!"

During the banquet, Ye Zhen had indeed behaved rather frivolously, but it was just the nature of a young man.

It was like unconsciously giving a few extra glances to a beautiful woman on the street, similar to appreciating a beautiful scene.

But that was all it was, simply admiring the beauty.

Upon hearing Ye Zhen’s words, the complexions of the two young girls, who had just approached him, turned pale. Both the Eldest Prince and Elder Bao were taken aback by surprise.

Only Princess Huayang, who accompanied the Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan, had eyes brimming with delight.

"Young Hero Ye, is there something that dissatisfies you? Do you find their beauty lacking?"

"No, no..."

"Then, Young Hero Ye? Oh, rest assured, Young Hero Ye, although they come from the Prince’s Mansion, they are undoubtedly virgins..."

"Prince, my heart is devoted to cultivation, and I have received Your Highness’s kindness."

"Prince, Ye Zhen is focused on martial arts, and currently does not wish to be encumbered by the distraction of women!"

At a loss for how to decline the warm offer from Zhu Xuan, it was Elder Bao’s timely interjection that helped Ye Zhen refuse this generous gift.

"This Ye Zhen, surely in the future won’t be a common figure in the pond. It seems the gift today was too light... I must properly plan something else..."

Outside the mansion, watching as Ye Zhen climbed into the carriage, the Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan suddenly said.

"Big Brother’s judgment is definitely not wrong..."

Princess Huayang gently agreed with a murmur on the side, but her beautiful eyes were tightly fixed on Ye Zhen’s carriage, not moving until it disappeared at the end of her sight, only then did she regain her senses.

At that moment, Princess Huayang realized that the Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan had been staring at her for quite some time.

"Haha, I never expected that a banquet could stir my Ninth Sister’s heart."

"Rest assured, Ninth Sister, your Royal Brother will definitely facilitate this matter for you!"

With that, Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan laughed heartily and returned to the mansion, while Princess Huayang’s pretty face instantly turned a fiery red!

...

Although the debt-collection task arranged by Elder Bao was successfully completed, this sect mission required a one-month stay at the Black Water Dao Grounds, so Ye Zhen had to stay the full month.

During this time, Ye Zhen visited the Spirit Martial Market multiple times but failed to acquire any Earth Rank Demon Cores.

Earth Rank Demon Cores were too rare and extremely valuable. If refined into Demon Spirit Essence Elixirs, even a martial artist at the Spirit Summoning Realm who took one could save at least half a year of harsh cultivation.

They were often snapped up as soon as they appeared.

After leaving his contact at the Wanbao Pavilion, Ye Zhen could only return to the Dao Field to engage in arduous cultivation.

What made Ye Zhen more frustrated was that, after his breakthrough to the Spirit Summoning Realm, the Human-Level Demon Cores had become nearly useless to him, showing almost no improvement in his cultivation upon consumption.

The main reason was the difference in the quality of power.

Demon Cores from Earth Level Demon Beasts were formed mainly by Spiritual Power since they could invoke Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, while the power in Human Level Demon Beast cores was more akin to True Yuan, a condensed form of Primordial Power, which was naturally ineffective for Ye Zhen.

Fortunately, Ye Zhen still had a large quantity of Low Grade Spirit Crystals to consume, which allowed him to continue rapidly enhancing his cultivation.

With Ye Zhen’s Mid-stage Spirit Summoning cultivation, he could refine and absorb eight Low Grade Spirit Crystals each night using his Innate Bloodline.

Ye Zhen had a private discussion with Ren Xihua about the rate of cultivation.

With Ren Xihua’s Top-Grade Six Veins Innate Bloodline, if he had enough Spirit Crystals for cultivation, he could roughly consume nearly seven Low Grade Spirit Crystals in one night.

Of course, for Ren Xihua, this was an extravagance.

According to Ren Xihua, even with family support and sect resources, it was good if he could have a single Low Grade Spirit Crystal per day for his consumption.

Based on Ren Xihua’s rate of cultivation consumption, Ye Zhen once again affirmed that the Half-vein of Divine Skills he possessed truly enhanced his speed of cultivation significantly.

In a certain sense, Ye Zhen was indeed the number one talent of the Qiyun Sect!

One day, as Ye Zhen was cultivating the Gale Wind Shadow Technique, attempting low-altitude flight, Deacon Liu Neng suddenly came looking for him, saying a large group of people were at the Dao Field entrance seeking Ye Zhen.

When Ye Zhen arrived at the Dao Field entrance, he was stunned; men and women, young and old, about dozens of people focused on the Dao Field entrance, and Ye Zhen didn’t recognize any of them.

"This is the Ye Zhen you’re looking for, the young hero Ye!"

The gathered crowd at the Dao Field entrance first gasped in surprise, then all knelt down before Ye Zhen in unison.

"This humble one bows to Ye the Hero, thanking you for avenging my son’s deep grudge!"

"Rong’er, hurry and bow your head!"

A young woman, holding her son of about five or six, also knelt before Ye Zhen, "Remember, it is this benefactor who killed Lie Kuangsha and avenged your father..."

Suddenly, dozens of people knelt down in one go, voices of thanking and bowing to Ye Zhen formed a chorus, and amidst the gratitude, tears streamed down their faces, and the crowd young and old wept together.

"They are all family members of martial artists who were challenged and slain by Lie Kuangsha, somehow they learned you killed Lie Kuangsha and they came over..." Deacon Liu Neng whispered behind Ye Zhen.

After busying himself for quite a while, Ye Zhen finally managed to send away the visitors who came to thank him, and as for the gifts of gratitude they offered, Ye Zhen did not accept a single one, instead, he handed out quite a bit of silver.

For several days afterwards, the matter lingered in Ye Zhen’s heart, and a hard-to-describe sprouting sensation seemed to be taking root.

...

Half a month later, the one-month period for guarding the Dao Field had ended, and just as Ye Zhen was packing up to return to the mountain, Ren Xihua suddenly knocked on Ye Zhen’s door.

"Senior Brother Ye, are you returning to the mountain?"

"Hmm? What’s up?"

Hesitating for a moment, Ren Xihua said, "Senior Brother Ye, the thing is, I have a friend who accidentally discovered a secret realm,"

"A secret realm?" Ye Zhen’s eyes suddenly lit up, resplendent with brilliance.

"Probably, it might be a secret realm or possibly a heritage mansion left by a cultivating martial artist; it’s not clear yet. But after several explorations, he couldn’t enter due to his insufficient personal strength.

He has invited me to explore the secret realm, and we are still a bit short-handed, so I thought of you!" Ren Xihua said. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com), your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.)