In a quiet courtyard of Princess Claire's Manor, the air was filled with the sound of a man's tearful complaints.
Soren Wu knelt before Princess Claire, sobbing and listing Ian Song's countless crimes. In his telling, Ian was a ruthless villain who killed without blinking—an absolute monster.
"Auntie, you have to stand up for me! My father is dead—you're the only real family I have left in this world. If you don't care about me, then living just isn't worth it!"
Seeing Soren cry even harder, Princess Claire's eyes flashed with a hint of disappointment. Her Thirteenth Brother was already useless, but his son turned out even worse. Still, he was her blood—her real nephew. However much of a failure he was, she couldn't let an outsider bully him.
Thinking this, her eyes softened a bit. She said gently, "Soren, get up first."
"If Auntie won't avenge me, I'll kneel here until I die," Soren said stubbornly, wiping his tears. But deep in his eyes, there was a flash of venom: Ian Song, you slaughtered all the guards of my Prince Meadowfield Estate and made me a laughingstock in the capital. I’ll make sure you die for this.
"Get up. As your aunt, I'll handle this for you," Princess Claire sighed softly.
"Thank you, Auntie! Thank you!" Soren burst out with joy, kowtowing several times in quick succession.
"Someone, take the little prince to rest!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
After Soren left, Princess Claire turned her gaze to her old servant. "Has the invitation been delivered?"
"It’s already been sent to the Song Residence, and they agreed to attend the banquet tonight on time," the old servant replied truthfully.
"Good."
Princess Claire nodded, her pale fingers slowly stroking the sword’s blade. In her eyes, a faint killing intent flickered.
That afternoon, at the Song Residence.
Raina Quinn hurried in to report, "Young Master, someone outside claims to be your senior-brother and requests an audience."
"Oh? Really?"
Sweeping out his spiritual sense, Ian immediately saw Chase Cheng sitting in the Reception Hall, sipping tea.
With a flash, Ian appeared in the Reception Hall and greeted him with a smile. "Senior-brother, what brings you here?"
"What, am I not welcome?" Chase Cheng teased.
"Of course you're welcome! Having my senior-brother visit my humble home is an absolute honor!"
"You!" Chase Cheng shook his head good-naturedly. "I heard you’ve offended Princess Claire?"
"Mm," Ian nodded.
"That woman is no pushover!" Chase's expression darkened. "Do you want me to go warn her for you?"
"No need," Ian shook his head.
"Don't get careless. That woman was born with a sword bone—her strength is terrifying. Even most mid-Tribulation experts might not be her match!" Chase grew even more serious as he spoke.
Hearing this, Ian felt a chill run through his heart. Claire was even stronger than he'd imagined. But soon, a surge of fighting spirit rose within him: "She may be strong, but I’m not afraid. I want to see whether her sword is sharper, or mine kills better!"
"Well said!"
Chase looked at him with genuine appreciation, but then his tone shifted. "Having guts is good, but don’t throw your life away for nothing!"
"So you really think I’m doomed, senior-brother?" Ian rolled his eyes, half amused and half helpless.
Chase said, "It's not that I doubt you, but the gap between your realms is just too great!"
"Then how do you compare to her, senior-brother?" Ian suddenly asked.
"I'd say it's fifty-fifty!"
Chase spoke with real confidence. Though only late Fusion stage, his body already ran on immortal yuan force, and he cultivated the Phoenix Heaven Church’s true inheritance. His combat power was truly terrifying.
It’s just that the Phoenix Two Lines keep a low profile and dislike conflict, so they’ve always remained obscure.
"Why not give me some pointers, senior-brother?" Ian suggested.
"All right!" Chase’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he nodded.
A quarter of an hour later, the Reception Hall collapsed with a thunderous crash, and two figures soared into the sky, hovering in midair.
"Little junior, you really surprised me!" Chase looked at Ian in astonishment.
"I only did so well because you held back, senior-brother!"
Ian Song humbly thanked him, though his clothes were torn in several places. Throughout the spar, he'd been suppressed by Chase Cheng, looking a bit worse for wear but emerging unscathed.
Of course, that was mainly because he still had cards up his sleeve. But even if he went all out, he might not have beaten Chase, since Chase was also holding back. After all, they were just sparring, not fighting to the death.
"Alright, I'll head back now. With your strength, you might not be able to beat that woman, but keeping your life shouldn't be a problem!"
After seeing Chase Cheng off, Ian went straight into the Divine Temple, cranked the time dilation back up to a thousandfold, and started digesting the gains from their fight.
By evening, the Imperial Capital was ablaze with lights.
A low-key spirit-beast carriage rolled out from the Song Residence, heading for Princess Claire’s Manor.
News that Ian Song was actually attending the banquet spread through the city at lightning speed, tugging on countless hearts.
Inside the carriage, Ian sat relaxed, spirit, energy, and mind all tuned to a peak, ready to fight at any moment.
Driving was Old Man Tanner, whom Ian had just released from the Divine Temple.
After days of intense cultivation inside the Divine Temple, Old Man Tanner’s realm had steadily climbed to the absolute peak of late Fusion, unable to advance further for now—so Ian simply brought him out.