Chu Kuangrenâs eyelid fluttered a little before he gradually woke up with a long yawn. It was a rejuvenating sleep.
Princess Linglong was already dressed up with the help of her servant. Chu Kuangren looked at her from the side and could not help but radiate a bright smile across his face.
Princess Linglong wanted to act as if she did not notice Chu Kuangrenâs reaction at first. Alas, she was still charmed by her fiancé.
Her fiancé was just so endearing.
Princess Linglong could feel her heart melt especially at that glowing smile of her fiancé.
âMy fiancé, whatâre you still looking at? Quickly get changed.â
âPrincess, youâre looking a little unusual today.â
âUnusual?â
Princess Linglong looked into the mirror and asked, âWhat do you mean unusual?â
âYouâre unusually beautiful.â
Speechless, Princess Linglong burst into laughter. She did not expect that the dignified Black Heaven Sect Leader would have this side to him.
âYou may return first,â said Princess Linglong to the servant.
âAlright.â
After the servant left, Princess Linglong looked helplessly at Chu Kuangren and said, âWell, youâre lucky sheâs my most loyal personal servant. Otherwise, if words about your mischievous behavior spread, your reputation as a Sect Leader will be tarnished.â
âSo what if it is? I donât care.â
Chu Kuangren said nonchalantly.
Then, with help from Princess Linglong, Chu Kuangren put on his attire and the couple exited her residence, heading to the coronation venue.
âWelcome, Your Majesty!â
A group of royal officials greeted Princess Linglong at the venue.
Donned in her royal robe, Princess Linglong carried herself in a dignified manner as she made her way to the entrance, with two servants carrying the train of her robe behind her.
Watching from aside, Chu Kuangren was puzzled by the designs of such ceremonial attires. To him, it was unnecessarily complex.
He had spent much effort in removing the attire last night. If it was not for the coronation, Chu Kuangren would have ripped it apart.
âLight the incense and pray to the heavens!â
âI, Gu Linglong, the Seventeenth Ruler of the Royal Azure Dynasty, hereby plead for the heavens to bless the Royal Azure Dynasty for many years to comeâ¦â
After a short prayer, the Royal Azure Dynasty Ruler passed a royal seal over to Linglong as a symbolic gesture of passing the rulership over to his daughter. With that, the coronation was concluded.
âGreetings, Your Majesty!â
âGreetings, Your Majesty!â
The group of officials bowed, signifying Linglongâs position as the kingdomâs new ruler!
â¦
âWhat do you mean the Nine-Headed Snakelet Pearl is gone?!â
After the coronation, Linglong and the former Royal Azure Dynasty Ruler received some rather grim news.
Chu Kuangren was also stunned.
âNine-Headed Snakelet Pearl? Whatâs that?â
âRoyal Fiancé, the Nine-Headed Snakelet Pearl is one of the Royal Azure Dynastyâs treasures. It was forged from the soul of Nine-Headed Snakelet, an ancient ferocious beast. The item has always been sealed in the depths of this palace.â
At that, Linglong frowned. âSince the Nine-Headed Snakelet Pearl is gone, whereâs the protector of the item?â
âYour Majesty, Elder Liu is⦠heâs dead.â
The patrol guard who raised the alarm replied.
Elder Liu was the projector of the Nine-Headed Snakelet Pearl and a cultivator of the Supreme Honorable realm. As such, not many within the Royal Azure Dynasty Palace were capable of killing him.
âHurry up and investigate whoâs the culprit behind the scene.â
Linglong said as she began to crack under pressure.
It was only her first day as the newly throned queen of this kingdom.
This was a huge blow to her reputation.
If Linglong did not settle this matter promptly, it would severely affect her reputation as the new ruler of the kingdom.
âThereâs no need to investigate further. The culprit is Gu Changge.â
At that moment, an elder walked into the palace.
The former Royal Azure Dynasty Ruler hastily walked up to him and asked, âSage, youâre here. Why did you say that Changge did it?â
The elder was one of the Sages in the Royal Azure Dynasty.
âNot long ago, Gu Changge breached into the Nine-Headed Snakelet Pagoda and took the Nine-Headed Snakelet Pearl away, killing its protector in the process. I immediately set out on capturing him when I found out, but unfortunately, Gu Channge used a mysterious item to escape under the radar.â
The Sage reported solemnly.
âBetrayer, that betrayer!â
The former ruler was fuming with anger. He was about to bolt out of his palace to search for Gu Changge when the Sage halted him.
âCalm down.â
âDonât stop me, Sage. I must bring this b*stard home,â said the former ruler angrily.
âFather, please calm down. There are still some questions in this story that we donât have the answers to yet.â
Linglong said.
âWhat else is there to ask? This b*stard mustâve taken the Nine-Headed Snakelet Pearl away in defiance of not becoming the next ruler of this kingdom.â
âFirst of all, even if Gu Changge was dissatisfied, why did he resort to such a method to retaliate? Secondly, there are so many treasures in the palace. What makes the Nine-Headed Snakelet Pearl so special?â At that instance, Chu Kuangren finally spoke.
The former ruler and Sage immediately looked at each other.
Then, Linglongâs eyes turned solemn as she said, âCould it be related to the Nine Head Clan?â
âNine Head Clan, the arch-enemy of the Royal Azure Dynasty?â
âPrecisely. The beast that the Nine Head Clan worships is none other than the Nine-Headed Snakelet. Over the years, theyâve tried several times to infiltrate the palace and steal the pearl but to no avail,â Linglong explained.
âIn that case, is it possible that Gu Changge will take the Nine-Headed Snakelet Pearl to the Nine Head Clan?â Chu Kuangren suggested.
âThatâs definitely possible.â Linglong nodded. âIâll send a troop into the Nine Head Clan and bring Gu Changge home.â
âThat wonât be right. Youâve just been crowned and your kingdomâs foundation has yet to stabilize. Youâre almost guaranteed to lose in a war with the Nine Head Clan,â said the former ruler.
âIâll pay them a visit then.â
Chu Kuangren said calmly.
The rest turned to look at him.
âItâs not like I have much better things to do anyway. Let me go have a look. If Gu Changge is indeed in their clan, Iâm sure theyâll do their best to entertain me.â Chu Kuangren laughed as he said.
The rest looked at each other silently
âWell, Brother Chu, if itâs you, then it definitely wonât be a problem. In that case, Iâll be in your debt for this one.â The former ruler of the Royal Azure Dynasty bowed and said.
âNo worries.â
Chu Kuangren smiled.
Without loitering for too long around the palace, Chu Kuangren set out on his journey the next day.
â¦
In the Nine Head Clan.
A young cultivator in black clothes was inspecting a pearl that was glowing with radiant light. Inside the pearl was a nine-headed serpent that would occasionally let out an audible shriek.
It was the lost Nine-Headed Snakelet Pearl that had been taken from the Royal Azure Dynastyâs palace.
âBrother Li, the Nine-Headed Snakelet Pearl is now in your hands. So, if you donât mind, I wish to discuss my enrollment into the Craggy Ocean Towerâ¦â
Behind the black-clothed cultivator was Gu Changge.
The cultivator let out a peal of laughter and said, âBrother Gu, since youâve helped me this much, be rest assured that youâll be joining the Craggy Ocean Tower in no time. Iâll even speak to the Sect Leader to make you a Daoist upon your entry. I believe this will be far better than becoming some snobby ruler.â
Upon hearing his offer, Gu Changgeâs eyes lit up. He almost could not contain his excitement. âThank you, Brother Li!â
The Craggy Ocean Tower was in one of the unknown lands. It was a location that wielded far more power than the Royal Azure Dynasty.
To Gu Changge, decimating the Royal Azure Dynasty was just a matter of time once he became a Daoist in the Craggy Ocean Tower!
âOnce I become a core figure within the Craggy Ocean Tower, the Royal Azure Dynasty will be under my control. Hmph, to hell with the rulership. Who gives a sh*t!â Gu Changge grunted.