As the carriage door was opened by a servant, Lucian stepped out into the Eris’s personal Palace courtyard.
Eris’s personal maid stood waiting, her hands folded before her. She bowed deeply when she saw him.
“Young Master Lucian, Her Majesty is still busy with important matters,” she said softly, “So she told me to help you in the meantime”
The maid thought for a moment before adding, “And Princess Iris is still in her closed door meditation.”
Lucian nodded, saying, “Then let’s go to mother-in-law’s private garden. And make sure to prepare some food as well.”
“As you command,” she bowed once more and led the way.
Yet, they were only halfway to the garden when a male servant came running toward them!
“Huff…! Y-you must be Young Master Lucian,” the middle-aged servant bowed deeply, gasping for breath.
Lucian arched an eyebrow, “Who are you?”
The male servant hurriedly replied, “I am but a lowly servant of His Highness, the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince instructed me to inform Young Master Lucian to come to the Eastern Palace to discuss important matters regarding your upcoming journey.”
“Oh!” Lucian was immediately interested.
The Crown Prince’s invitation was sudden, but not unexpected.
He turned to Eris’ maid and was about to tell her to wait here, but she quickly spoke first,
“Young Master, Her Majesty told me to follow you wherever you go.”
Lucian could only nod, and said to the Crown Prince’s servant, “Very well. Lead the way.”
The middle-aged man bowed deeply before turning to guide them.
After half an hour, they finally arrived at a magnificent palace.
After walking for another half an incense stick, they saw a wooden door with beautiful carvings. On either side of the door, two winged-tiger statues, carved from jade stone, were placed majestically. As they approached, the statues’ eyes seemed to glow.
Commander Wei floated cross-legged in the air before the door, guarding the entrance with his eyes closed.
Sensing their presence, he opened his eyes and then the door, saying in a deep voice, “His Highness awaits you.”
“You should wait here,” Lucian told Eris’s maid, and she immediately lowered her head in compliance, taking a step back to stand silently.
As Lucian walked past, he gave a ‘respectful’ nod to Commander Wei. Commander Wei, however, paid him no mind and closed his eyes again.
Lucian just smirked and calmly entered the room.
However, upon entering, his eyes sharpened with intense interest!
Inside, Crown Prince Weishang was sitting on a throne-like chair, reading a book. He didn’t look up immediately when Lucian entered.
Before him sat Elder Zhu who was also deeply focused on a jade scroll that emanated faint spiritual light.
Behind the Crown Prince stood a figure Lucian had never seen before!
Yet as soon as he saw this figure, he felt his blood surge intensely, especially the Demon Bloodline within him, as though an unquenchable hunger had been awakened!
This mysterious figure’s face was obscured by a simple white mask with no distinctive features except for the eye section, which was pitch black, making it impossible to see the eyes behind it.
Based on the slender figure, Lucian could at least tell that this silver-haired figure was most likely a woman.
She wore a light blue robe adorned with deep blue cloud patterns.
And she only had a single wristband on her left arm — a thin silver band with faint runes that occasionally glowed with a soft azure light.
Lucian dared not use his Soul Sense to probe this mysterious woman.
Yet at the same time, he had a strong feeling that perhaps she was the one related to his System Sub Quest.
He quickly turned away his gaze, gathered his composure, and made a respectful fist salute, saying, “I have seen His Highness, the Crown Prince. I hope you have been well.”
Weishang did not respond immediately, his focus still on the book in his hands.
After a long time, when he finished reading the entire page, he placed a bookmark and then closed the book.
Turning to Lucian, he smiled gently and said, “It is good to see you again, Sect Master. Eh! Why are you still standing?”
Lucian cursed inwardly but on the outside he had a respectful smile as he took a chair and sat down.
Weishang’s smile grew broader as he said to Sylvia, “Sylvia, pour us some wine.”
The unknown woman, Sylvia, trembled slightly amd swiftly stepped forward from behind the Crown Prince’s chair.
After pouring wine for Lucian, she moved to pour wine for Weishang and then returned to her place behind him.
Weishang sipped from his wine cup slowly and then pointed towards the masked woman standing behind his chair.
“She is Sylvia and the one you have to assist to inherit this Inheritance,” he spoke, tossing a palm-sized jade slip toward Lucian, who caught it swiftly, “Inside, you’ll find all the details and the location of the inheritance ground.”
Lucian did not rush to scan the jade slip, nor did he ask any questions about the woman, as if his only concern was completing Weishang’s request!
As Lucian placed the jade slip inside his space ring, Weishang laughed coldly inwardly. Seeing this arrogant guy behave so subserviently satisfied his vanity greatly.
“Have you considered which Imperial faction you want to follow, Sect Master?” Weishang asked, swirling the wine in his cup.
Lucian shook his head, “Mother-in-law and I have yet to discuss this matter in detail.”
“Mother-in-law, huh!” Weishang chuckled, “I was really surprised when she announced in the Royal Court that she’d be entering the Tribulation Realm.”
Weishang’s eyes flashed with a peculiar light, “After all, she hasn’t left the Tianyu Empire in over a hundred years.”
Lucian remained silent and continued to sip wine.
The Crown Prince’s expression flickered, “With Royal Mother also gone, do you want me to send someone to protect your little sect? Your sect might face some troubles during your absence!”
Lucian’s heart turned cold at these words, but he calmly replied, “There’s no need for concern, Your Highness.”
Weishang laughed, “I think you misunderstood my meaning, Sect Master.
Apparently some cultivators from the Silver Moon Empire accidentally found a Mid grade Six Rank Spirit Mine in our territory. The Royal Court is quite restless about this matter.”
“So I’m afraid by the time you come back, there might not be any Azure Sword Sect left to defend,” Weishang said, a cold smile on his lips. “Who knows what could happen if a war were to break out between two Empires, right?”
This is clearly threat. If he fails to help this masked woman obtain her inheritance, the consequences will fall upon his sect and women.
Noticing Lucian silent, Weishang coughed, “Forget it. If your sect needs help, I’ll send someone.”
“As for the Imperial faction,” Weishang continued while refilling his own cup, “I think you should choose the Fourth Imperial Prince as he is the only one who won’t be going to the Demon Continent territory.”