However, just as Yun Xiao was about to grab the Purple Energy Flower Lotus with his right arm changing its move, a bright white light suddenly burst forth, identical to the one that had severed the stem of the lotus earlier.
But this time, the target of the bright white light was not the Purple Energy Flower Lotus but Yun Xiao’s arm, and the light came swiftly; Yun Xiao had just raised his arm when he felt a sharp force piercing through the air.
Even though Yun Xiao highly valued the Purple Energy Flower Lotus, he would not joke about his own arm. In his sensing, if his right arm were to be slashed by that white light, he might end up like Cao Ju from the Cao Family, losing his hand.
With no hesitation, Yun Xiao made a decisive decision. Despite feeling extremely reluctant, he prioritized saving his arm; he twisted his arm in mid-air and barely managed to dodge the deadly strike of the white light at the critical moment.
As Yun Xiao skillfully dodged the strike of the white light, a surprised exclamation suddenly came from not far behind him, and then he saw the white light, seemingly possessing spiritual qualities, gently tapped on the Purple Energy Flower Lotus and swerved around him.
Yun Xiao watched as the purple and white lights flashed past his side, realizing he no longer had time to snatch back the Purple Energy Flower Lotus, so he immediately turned around, faced with a figure in white shining with an unusual aura.
This figure was quite young, dressed in white, and not particularly tall or distinguished-looking, but there was a hint of nobility between his brows, indicating an extraordinary status.
At this moment, one of the hands of the young man in white was holding the stem of the Purple Energy Flower Lotus, but Yun Xiao’s gaze was not on the lotus but fixated on the other hand of the white-clothed young man.
In this hand, a uniquely shaped white weapon made Yun Xiao quite puzzled; it looked somewhat like a sickle, but lacked the serrated edge, and its entire body shone brightly, more resembling the crescent moon at the dawn of the Eastern Horizon.
Despite Yun Xiao’s previous life’s vast experience, he rarely saw such an extraordinary weapon, and he knew that the white light that had forced him to retreat and snatched away the Purple Energy Flower Lotus was the achievement of this very weapon.
Looking at the sharp edge of the crescent-shaped weapon, Yun Xiao did not regret his decision just now because he believed that had the white crescent weapon actually slashed him, his right arm would probably no longer exist.
"Hehe, quite lucky indeed, the Purple Energy Flower Lotus, even within my royal family, is indeed rare!"
The young man in white, seemingly unconcerned with Yun Xiao’s somewhat gloomy gaze, brought the Purple Energy Flower Lotus he was holding in his left hand to his nose and sniffed it, the words coming out of his mouth containing an indescribable joy.
Hearing the mumblings of the young man in white, Yun Xiao’s heart stirred, and he immediately shifted his gaze to the left side of the youth’s chest, where, to his shock, there seemed to be a crescent moon embroidery in silver thread.
Yun Xiao hadn’t noticed it earlier merely because the silver emblem blended with the white robe was not very conspicuous, but this discovery prompted a sense of alertness in his heart.
Piecing together the self-murmuring of the young man in white, Yun Xiao had every reason to believe that this distinguished young cultivator was from the Xuanyue Empire’s royal family, and his status among the young generation of the royal family was definitely not low.
The Xuanyue Empire’s Royal Family were the absolute rulers of the entire empire, and even powerful sects like the Jade Pot Sect wouldn’t dare to offend them lightly, for they possessed not only powerful cultivators but also countless imperial soldiers.
Even a Meridian Union Realm Spirit Vein Realm cultivator, who can face ten or a hundred enemies, would face a grim fate if thousands of low-level practitioners surged at them, no matter how strong their power may be.
Moreover, the Xuanyue Royal Family had been governoring the Xuanyue Empire very prosperously in recent years, and it is said that the current ruler of Xuanyue Country is a wise and brilliant king, making him a rare wise ruler, under such circumstances, naturally, no one dared to provoke anyone from the royal family.
Had it been under any other circumstances, Yun Xiao might have refrained from making enemies with the people from the Xuanyue Royal Family, but this time, the young man in white had snatched away the Purple Energy Flower Lotus that was almost in his hands.
Moreover, he almost lost an arm, if he could swallow this grievance, then he might not have been the Long Xiao Battle God who had dominated the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud in his previous life.
As Yun Xiao was about to speak, the young man in white spoke first, raising his head as if he found it somewhat unbelievable, and he said, "What? This prince spared your life, and you’re not leaving?"
This condescending tone irritated Yun Xiao considerably, so he did not act too polite but instead pointed at the purple lotus in the other person’s hand and said firmly, "Return the Purple Energy Flower Lotus, and I will leave immediately!"
"Ha, what did this prince hear?"
Upon hearing this, the young man in white was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter, his voice lowering as he said, "You mere ant of a boy, I am Xuan Zhi, the Third Prince of the Xuanyue Empire. This prince kindly spared your life, and you do not show gratitude. Do you wish to die?"
Upon hearing this name, Yun Xiao was stirred. In the memories of this life that he had merged into, he had indeed heard of this name. However, now dominated by the soul of the Long Xiao Battle God, why would he concern himself with a prince from an empire on the Hidden Dragon Continent?
"Since that is the case, I must take it myself!"
Yun Xiao did not waste words with Xuan Zhi. After his cold voice fell, his figure had already darted out, his right hand reaching directly for Xuan Zhi’s left hand that held the Purple Energy Flower Lotus.
"How ignorant of life and death. Has the Xuanyue Empire come to be filled with fools?" Seeing Yun Xiao’s action, a murderous intent flashed across Xuan Zhi’s eyes. Such an insolent boy truly infuriated him.
For someone at the Meridian Introduction Realm Late Stage, Xuan Zhi hardly considered him a threat. Despite Yun Xiao’s fierce momentum, Xuan Zhi merely shifted his body slightly. After dodging Yun Xiao’s grasp, his right foot suddenly kicked out, aimed right at Yun Xiao’s abdomen.
But in the next moment, Xuan Zhi was taken aback, for his kick, which he thought would crush the internal organs of this boy, missed completely. Instead, it left him without a point to exert force, making him extremely uncomfortable.
Yun Xiao, who dodged Xuan Zhi’s kick, also broke out in a cold sweat. He had not expected this man to change moves so quickly and mysteriously.
"Meridian Gathering Realm Middle Stage!"
Just from this one exchange, Yun Xiao had already sensed Xuan Zhi’s Meridian Qi Cultivation. This was indeed a talent surpassing the eldest of the Zhao and Cao families, and perhaps only Yin Huan, an Inner Sect Disciple of the Jade Pot Sect, could compare.
Yet, the current Xuan Zhi, obviously younger than Yin Huan, had reached Meridian Gathering Realm Middle Stage at such an age. Truly worthy of being the Third Prince of the Xuanyue Imperial Family, the royal upbringing was indeed extraordinary.
But one thing puzzled Yun Xiao; if the overall strength of the Xuanyue Imperial Family surpassed that of the Jade Pot Sect, why then did this Third Prince Xuan Zhi come to participate in the examination for Outer Disciples of the Jade Pot Sect?
Even if Xuan Zhi passed the Outer Disciple examination of the Jade Pot Sect, could the resources he obtained be more than what was available within the royalty? Pondering in his heart, Yun Xiao seemed to have discovered some intriguing matters.
"Boy, the Purple Energy Flower Lotus is in my hand. If you can take it, then it is your skill!"
Suddenly dodged by Yun Xiao, Xuan Zhi was extremely angry in his heart. However, this provoked his regal pride as the Empire’s Third Prince. Instead of storing the Purple Energy Flower Lotus within his Waist Storage, he continued holding it in his left hand.
It seemed Xuan Zhi had sensed other participants of the Jade Pot Sect examination rapidly approaching from behind. Amidst these watching eyes, he intended to thoroughly subdue this ignorantly arrogant boy.
Driven by his pride, Xuan Zhi’s actions were exactly what Yun Xiao had hoped for. If Xuan Zhi had stored the Purple Energy Flower Lotus in his Waist Storage, taking it back would involve also seizing Xuan Zhi’s Waist Storage, greatly increasing the difficulty.
Without further delay, Yun Xiao ceased the chatter. His Meridian Qi surged as he lunged again, even as the aura of someone at the Meridian Introduction Realm Late Stage intensified the smirk on Xuan Zhi’s face.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh...
The sounds of rushing wind sounded nearby. Soon, the brothers Cao Ju and Cao Jun, along with Zhao Xingwu, arrived first. However, they halted their steps at that moment, and many more young talents continuously entered behind them.
"Eh? Is that... the Royal Family’s Third Prince, Xuan Zhi?"
When a voice echoed from somewhere, everyone instinctively gasped. For these cultivators born and raised in the Xuanyue Empire, none were unfamiliar with this figure.
The Cao brothers and Zhao Xingwu looked especially uneasy, as, for all their calculations, they never expected this prince to be the first to arrive.
As formidable as the talents from the Zhao and Cao families appeared outside, their presence dwindled when faced with the Third Prince of the Royal Family, Xuan Zhi.
This Royal Family’s Third Prince, both in terms of Meridian Qi Cultivation and status, was several times stronger than Cao Luo and Zhao Ningshu, who had not yet arrived. Even if they were lent boldness, they likely wouldn’t dare snatch something from Xuan Zhi’s hand.
Yet, there was such a brazen individual currently clashing fiercely with Xuan Zhi. When Cao Ju, Zhao Xingwu, and the other young talents saw the figure fighting with Xuan Zhi, their expressions became exceedingly strange, obviously mixed with a hint of disdainful laughter.