Transformation Diagram: Starting as a Skinny Dog

Crack~~

Accompanied by four elderly Qi Cultivators being suddenly blasted by a punch from the middle-aged man in royal robes, the Thirteen Sealing Yang Array that trapped Zu Dengfeng and others was instantly broken.

Whoosh!!

Zu Dengfeng and others immediately dashed out of the hall, arriving at the middle-aged man in royal robes first, all staring at him with shock and reverence, they saluted:

"Greetings, Prince Yong!"

"Greetings, Prince!"

At this moment, whether it was Zu Dengfeng, the Martial Arts Top Scholar, Ying Yunqian, the Main Sacrificial Officer of the Martial Temple, or the elders from other Jianghu Sects within the hall, they were all exceedingly respectful.

Only because, at the moment when those four old Qi Cultivators spoke, they all knew who the newcomer was.

Feeling a bit ashamed.

They, as native cultivators of Ji Country, did not recognize the prince of their own country.

Instead, the four old Qi Cultivators from the enemy country recognized Yang Han at first sight.

But upon close examination, they couldn’t be blamed too much, as the fame of Prince Yong began to rise during the chaotic times over a hundred and sixty years ago. Back then, he followed the Grand Ancestor Emperor as a young boy to conquer the world, not only clashing with domestic heroes but also having many conflicts and contests with Yuan Country’s camp.

As a result, those four elderly Qi Cultivators recognized Yang Han at a glance.

Moreover, since the current Emperor Ji ascended the throne, Yang Han had been confined in the capital with no contact with outsiders. Until the incident of the Holy Dragon Treasure Vault in the Northeast erupted, Emperor Ji finally summoned his brother to command the armies of the world.

"Just a few old geezers close to the grave, relying on some Pure Yang Treasures, managed to trap you. It’s a disgrace to your reputation as the Martial Arts Top Scholar of those days."

The middle-aged man in royal robes spoke indifferently.

Full of reprimand towards Zu Dengfeng.

Zu Dengfeng looked down, full of shame, and said nothing.

Fortunately, the middle-aged man in royal robes did not say more.

Instead, he turned to Chen Ku with a scrutinizing inquiry:

"On you, there’s the aura of Yang Shou?"

Chen Ku was still lingering in the awe of the middle-aged man in royal robes who had just blasted four Ascension Realm Qi Cultivators with a punch, his heart muttering and complaining:

"Four Ascension Realm, even if they have one foot in the grave, they’re still filled with Evil Qi. Killing them would be great..."

But then, he was suddenly questioned by the person in front of him.

Yang Shou?

Chen Ku was momentarily stunned.

Fortunately, his reaction was swift, immediately recalling that Yang Shou was none other than the Champion Marquis.

He cupped his hands and nodded:

"Reporting to the Prince, this student once defeated the Martial Arts Mark of the Champion Marquis back home at Qiu Dragon Mansion and acquired his Immortal Blade for protection."

The middle-aged man in royal robes heard this, his eyes flashed with understanding, and he said:

"No wonder."

Then, he looked deeply at Chen Ku and said:

"Though I arrived late, my Qi Mechanism sensed some happenings. For someone with the talent of the Tenth Realm to fight and kill the enemy’s Ascension Realm Xiao Li, your natural talent and intelligence are comparable to Shou’er of those days."

"The Prince praises too much..."

Chen Ku modestly responded at once.

Inwardly pondering the intimate term "Shou’er," recalling the past when the Champion Marquis seemed to have followed this prince under the command of the Grand Ancestor Emperor of Daji.

At that time, the current Emperor Ji was still a son of an influential family responsible for stabilizing the rear.

As he wondered if he should say more.

Tap tap tap tap~

Suddenly, from below at the entrance of the Martial Arts Heaven and Earth Hall, came the sound of thousands of troops marching.

Causing Zu Dengfeng and Chen Ku to slightly change their expressions.

At this moment, Yang Han casually said:

"Heard urgent news from Li Shentong, Divine Martial Mountain is under attack, and he is being stalled by some Ascension Realm elder. So I instructed the Eighth Prince Yang Hao to bring a drop of my blood to break the impasse. Now, the situation is stable, and this is the arrival of the Eighth Prince. You may go down to greet him."

As he finished speaking, the middle-aged man in royal robes suddenly vanished on the spot, transforming into a drop of red blood.

"What? The one who blasted four Ascension Realm Qi Cultivators with a punch was merely the power of this single blood drop?"

At this moment, not only was Zu Dengfeng incredibly shaken.

Even Chen Ku found himself somewhat taken aback.

A single drop of blood holds such power.

Then how powerful must the true form of Prince Yong, who once conquered territories alongside the Grand Ancestor, truly be?

Fifteenth Realm?

Chen Ku’s mind entertained such a notion.

Just then, they heard a thunderous voice from below:

"His Highness the Eighth Prince has arrived."

Chen Ku’s heart stirred, suddenly sensing the presence of his External Body, Yang Xi, and looked downwards, suddenly seeing...

Outside the Martial Arts Heaven and Earth Hall, there were five to six thousand soldiers clad in heavy black armor, appearing comparable to the quality of Divine Weapons. Leading them was a yellow-robed youth riding a beast akin to a lion-maned Qilin, and besides him were his transformed self Yang Xi and a majestic general no weaker than Zu Dengfeng.

At once.

With Prince Yong’s reminder, Zu Dengfeng and others already knew who had arrived.

They quickly descended.

Arriving in front of the contingent.

"Greetings, His Highness the Eighth Prince!"

Zu Dengfeng and Ying Yunqian led the salute.

Riding the Strange Beast resembling a lion-maned Qilin, the Eighth Prince first spread his hand, collected the drop of Prince Yong’s blood falling from the Heavenly Dome, and said softly:

"Thank you, Uncle."

Then he absorbed this drop of blood into his brow.

And coldly addressed Zu Dengfeng and Ying Yunqian in a stern voice:

"The Imperial Court is already aware of today’s events. This Prince here on a royal decree, though fortunate that Uncle suppressed the alien race, essentially, it’s due to the negligence of your academy authorities letting the enemy cause such chaos. I have brought the decree of punishment, await your fate."

Zu Dengfeng, Ying Yunqian, and others silently asked for forgiveness, daring not to speak.

The Eighth Prince surveyed Divine Martial Mountain, finally saying:

"Deliver my order, quickly shelter the wounded, help the students heal. The injured should not participate in the grand exam. Uninjured students should continue the exam. Ensure the year’s preparation by the Imperial Court does not become a laughingstock. As for the fortunate demise of wounded students, a retest will be arranged for later, and academic ranks assessed accordingly."

"Eighth Prince, regarding student Chen Ku’s confrontation killing the enemy’s Xiao Li incarnation..." Zu Dengfeng began to speak.

"This Prince knows you’re planning to request merit for him, don’t worry, those who deserve merit will be well rewarded. Now the most important thing is to complete the grand exam." Eighth Prince Yang Hao said.

With that, he didn’t give Chen Ku another look.

As he finished speaking.

He waved his hand:

"Go down and make arrangements."

"Yes!"

In fact, Chen Ku had no particular thoughts, because he had something more important to do. Just as well, with the continuation of the grand exam, no one would disturb him.

After half a day.

The grand exam resumed.

Proceeding according to the contents of the exams in the ten halls, sequentially.

As the only student who chose all halls as electives, Chen Ku had to complete all sections of the exam.

Outside one hall.

Watching the black-clothed youth inside participating in the Destruction Hall exam.

"Is this person really only eighteen years old?" Eighth Prince Yang Hao stood outside the hall, watching the perfect Forbidden Pattern Chen Ku had drawn, eyes wavering.

But what he didn’t know was that the Chen Ku he saw was merely a form led by a thread of his External Body’s consciousness.

The true consciousness of Chen Ku himself.

Had long since transferred through Heart Transformation to another body, arriving within the Hero King Realm, standing before the long-awaited Hero King Realm’s Treasure Vault Hall.

Looking at the treasure vault in front of him that Hero King Pei Dongliu had once plundered from all over Hongjing City, now stored within ’Sheyue Hall.’

Chen Ku gazed at the brass beast devouring lock on the hall, sensing the power of law and prohibition within.

"Finally arrived at this day."

He extended his finger, a force akin to black ring-inscribed Forbidden Technique pouring from it, landing on his fingertip, pointing at the lock.