"That's right, Brother Song. Even as a Phoenix Heaven Church Core Disciple, you might not be able to handle Princess Claire. Why not just sell her the Azure Flood-Dragon Sword? You'll get tens of thousands of top-grade spirit crystals, and she'll owe you a favor!"
Brandon Nangong added, his face twisted with regret. If he'd known things would end up like this, he never would've brought out the Azure Flood-Dragon Sword to gift Ian Song. Now that Ian had crossed Princess Claire, who could say whether she'd drag him down with her too?
"Brother Song, sometimes backing down is the wisest move." Paul Zhou hesitated, then spoke up.
After that, except for Warren Wei, the rest of the wastrel heirs all started urging Ian to hand over the Azure Flood-Dragon Sword to Princess Claire.
"Enough!"
Ian Song raised his hand abruptly, and everyone who'd been about to keep persuading him instantly fell silent.
"Tell me more about this Princess Claire."
He let out a sigh.
Jasper Easton let out a heavy sigh and began, "Princess Claire is considered the most gifted female cultivator in the royal family. She reached Golden Core at twenty, Nascent Soul at twenty-five, Out-of-Body at thirty, Soul-Split at thirty-three, Fusion at fifty, and late Fusion by a hundred. That same year, a mysterious Immortal took her as his final disciple, and she switched to the sword path. After ten years of sword cultivation, she emerged again and, in nine sword moves, defeated an early Tribulation old monster. Three years later, she survived her own tribulation and reached early Tribulation realm.
She was only a hundred and thirteen years old then. Because of her extraordinary talent, the Empress valued her highly and enfeoffed her as Princess Qingping, using her Dao title as her formal princess title. Azureglass Immortal is her senior-brother, and rumor has it she was infatuated with him. But Azureglass Immortal cared for nothing but the sword and rejected her confessions time and again, so in anger, Princess Claire left the capital with just an old servant, wandering for over thirty years before returning.
Jasper paused, then looked at Ian Song. "The Azure Flood-Dragon Sword is Azureglass Immortal's only surviving relic. With Princess Claire's personality, she won't rest until she gets it. She's backed by the Empress and that mysterious Immortal master, so even as a Phoenix Heaven Church Core Disciple, you should think twice before crossing her."
It's said that back then, plenty of women admired Azureglass Immortal, and some even dared to chase after him. Princess Claire simply cut them down—those women weren't just anyone, either. One was the Prime Minister's younger sister, Camellia Highgate's aunt. In the end, the whole thing was quietly buried. So don't let her retreat today fool you; if Princess Claire really wants you dead, even Phoenix Heaven Church might just look the other way.
"Alright, I've got it," Ian Song nodded.
"So...?" Jasper said nervously, glancing at Ian.
Ian Song raised his hand. "Give me a moment to think it over."
"Oh, right!" Jasper suddenly remembered something. "Princess Claire is on very good terms with Prince Meadowfield. Earlier, you wiped out his entire household, and as Young Prince Meadowfield's aunt, she’ll definitely stand up for him. So now, you really shouldn't antagonize her!"
"Thanks for the heads-up."
Ian said coolly.
Jasper let out another sigh. "Brother Song, take care of yourself. I'll take my leave for now."
"Take care!"
"Brother Song, I'll be heading out too," Brandon Nangong said awkwardly.
"Go on."
One by one, the other wastrel heirs all got up and left as well, until the room was completely empty.
Ian Song turned his gaze to Warren Wei. "You're not leaving?"
"Pah!"
Warren glanced at Brandon Nangong and the others' retreating backs and spat, "What a bunch of cowards!"
"It's only human nature. Aren't you afraid?" Ian Song chuckled.
"Even if I'm scared, I'd never do something so disloyal!" Warren said, his expression firm.
"Good, I knew I wasn't wrong about you. But you should still head home for now." Ian Song smiled even wider.
"But...!"
Ian Song waved his hand. "There's no point in you staying here. I appreciate your loyalty. From now on, you're my sworn brother!"
"Ah, that's great! Little brother pays his respects to big brother!" Warren jumped up excitedly and bowed deeply to Ian.
Ian nodded in satisfaction. "Good, I'm happy to accept you as my little brother. Now go home, and don't come looking for me for a while."
"Big brother, why not let me stay and help you?" Warren asked.
"Enough. Your little bit of skill won't help here—in fact, it'd just get in the way. Once this is all over, I'll teach you a few things!"
Warren still wanted to argue, but Ian resolutely waved him off, so he had no choice but to leave.
Soon, Ian was the only one left in the private room, but his face showed no sign of panic.
With his power surging, he could already faintly sense the cultivation of the Tribulation stage. Princess Claire seemed to be only at early Tribulation, not yet mid-stage.
Even if he wasn't as strong as her, Ian was confident he could survive her sword. Besides, if she had an Immortal backing her, didn't he have one too?
So, things really weren’t as bad as Brandon Nangong and the others imagined.
A quarter of an hour later, at the Song Estate.
As soon as he returned, Ian Song went straight into the Divine Hall.
He still hadn't refined the Azure Flood-Dragon Sword. If he was going to face a peerless expert like Princess Claire, he'd need a spirit sword worthy of his cultivation. That would greatly boost his strength.
"Buzz buzz!"
When Ian channeled a strand of spiritual power into the sword, the Azure Flood-Dragon Sword trembled in protest, as if it wanted to break free from his grasp and soar away.
"Hmph!"
Ian snorted coldly, sharply increasing his output of spiritual power, and also infused it with a surge of Immortal essence.
Under the dual assault of powerful spiritual force and Immortal essence, the sword spirit inside was instantly suppressed without resistance.
Refine! Refine! Refine!
Ian further increased his output of spiritual power and Immortal essence.
One day!
Two days!
Three days!
Half a month!
"Buzz buzz!"
After half a month, the Azure Flood-Dragon Sword in his hand began to hum joyfully. At last, Ian had fully refined this ninth-grade spirit sword.
With a thought, the Azure Flood-Dragon Sword transformed into a three-foot-long blade.
With a gentle swing, the sword sliced a rift through the void.
"Excellent!"
Ian couldn't help but praise it. Although this sword wasn't as good as the Dark Ink Sword, its potential far surpassed it. If he regularly tempered it with Immortal essence, it might even advance to a quasi-Immortal weapon.
With a thought, Ian exited the Divine Hall.
Half a month had passed inside the Divine Hall, but in the outside world, not even an hour had gone by. Upon leaving, he adjusted the time flow to one hundred times normal, maintaining a thousandfold speed for two months. This cost him a million top-grade spirit crystals, which pained him greatly. Still, the five demon kings had finished refining their demon energy, so even if he released them now, no one could call them demons anymore.
The night passed quietly, and news of Ian Song offending Princess Claire spread rapidly.