Chapter 401: Bearing the Rod and Asking for Forgiveness!

Zhao Chengqian's heart had never pounded so fiercely!

He felt as if his heart was about to explode!

In the silence, Zhao Chengqian felt each second like a year.

"I already know." The cold voice came again.

Zhao Chengqian trembled all over, his clothes soaked with cold sweat: "Please punish me, Father! I didn't expect... didn't expect..."

"This was a test set by me, your emperor. Your coming here means you have passed the test!"

Hearing this, Zhao Chengqian felt as if his soul was about to leave his body. No words could be more pleasing than these.

As the only Boundless Realm expert in the Gale Realm, even a fool knew how terrifying the Wind Emperor was!

And Zhao Chengqian knew deeply that the Wind Emperor's terror was not just his strength; he himself was the most terrifying!

"Thank you, Father!" Zhao Chengqian said excitedly.

"Don't thank me so soon. You caused this trouble, so you must solve it yourself. That old man Xingyuan is someone even I don't want to provoke, yet you dared to pull his beard!"

Though the words were calm, Zhao Chengqian could hear the Wind Emperor's anger.

"Yes, I know I was wrong! Please... please guide me, Father!" Zhao Chengqian broke out in a sweat.

"You... figure it out yourself. This is also a test for you. Now, withdraw." As the voice fell, the hall fell silent.

Leaving the hall, Zhao Chengqian felt as if he had survived a life-and-death battle, his entire body drenched as if pulled from water.

Returning to his residence, Zhao Chengqian secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, he had not clung to hope and had confessed to his father; otherwise, his fate would have been dire!

The Wind Emperor had never harbored the notion that a tiger does not eat its cubs, nor did he ever show mercy to his sons.

This time, he had caused such a huge trouble, especially at the critical moment when the army was about to set out. If this matter could not be properly resolved, he would still die a miserable death.

Thinking of this, Zhao Chengqian's head began to ache.

What should he do to make that old man Xingyuan lift the sanctions against the royal family?

Over the past few days, Zhao Chengqian had made inquiries and learned something of Xingyuan's character.

The old man was usually easy to get along with, but once his reverse scale was touched, his terror was something even the Wind Emperor could not withstand!

Clearly, he had touched his reverse scale!

Zhao Chengqian's thoughts inevitably turned to Ye Yuan. Did he really have to apologize to that brat?

But the moment he thought of Ye Yuan's proud demeanor, Zhao Chengqian shrank back.

He felt that even if he went to apologize, Ye Yuan would definitely not accept it!

Which way should he turn?

In a daze, the night passed.

Zhao Chengqian sat there blankly for the entire night, without moving!

As dawn approached, Zhao Chengqian suddenly clenched his fist and stood up abruptly, as if he had made a decision.

...

The day was fully bright. The streets of the Central Royal City were bustling with crowds, always so prosperous.

Suddenly, everyone dropped what they were doing and gathered around a certain spot.

A young man, bare-chested, with a bundle of thorny branches on his back, walked forward step by step.

Such a public display was rare in the royal city and naturally attracted many eyes.

"What is that man doing? Why is he carrying a bundle of thorns on his back? Is he crazy? Those are sawtooth wood branches, with blades all over them. Tied to the body, they cut into the flesh—almost as painful as a thousand cuts!"

"Shh... do you want to die? That's the Seventh Prince! This is an ancient custom called 'bearing the rod and asking for forgiveness.' The Seventh Prince is going to apologize to someone!"

"Ah? No way, that's the Seventh Prince? Heavens, what kind of person could make the Seventh Prince do such a thing to apologize? Does he not want to live?"

"Heh, who knows? The Seventh Prince is a possible heir to the Wind Emperor's throne. The one who can make him do such a thing must be extremely formidable! Judging by the direction he's heading, it's toward Qixia Mountain. Only that great one is qualified to make the Seventh Prince bear the rod and ask for forgiveness."

"You mean... the Star Abyss Sovereign? What did the Seventh Prince do to anger that great one?"

"Heh, that's beyond our knowledge."

More and more onlookers gathered, and a huge crowd followed behind Zhao Chengqian.

But they all knew the Seventh Prince's power, so they followed at a distance, not daring to get too close.

Zhao Chengqian himself looked straight ahead, walking step by step toward Qixia Mountain.

By the time he reached the foot of the mountain, the crowd behind him was a sea of people, stretching beyond sight.

"Ji Qing, I, the Seventh Prince Zhao Chengqian, have come today to bear the rod and ask for your forgiveness!"

Zhao Chengqian spoke each word deliberately, then knelt directly!

This shout, infused with all his primal power, should have been heard throughout Qixia Mountain.

Behind him, the crowd erupted in uproar!

The esteemed Seventh Prince had actually knelt!

"Who is Ji Qing? I've never heard of such a person in our Central Royal City!"

"I haven't either. Doesn't the Star Abyss Sovereign only have seven disciples? There doesn't seem to be anyone named Ji Qing, right?"

"Ignorant, aren't you? A few days ago, the Xiao and Tong families held a pill competition. The Xiao family was on the verge of defeat, but it was this Ji Qing who turned the tide, defeated the Tong family's top genius Tong Wenchang, and saved the Xiao family! And Ji Qing didn't just win by a narrow margin; he crushed Tong Wenchang so thoroughly that he couldn't even lift his head! I heard he was imprisoned by the Tong family and completely crippled."

"Ah? Such a thing happened? No wonder the Xiao family's shops have been reopening these days—such a major event occurred! So, this Ji Qing is truly a remarkable figure! Could it be..."

"That's right, he has been accepted as a disciple by the Star Abyss Sovereign, becoming his eighth disciple!"

"But... why would the Seventh Prince do such a thing to apologize to this Ji Qing?"

"That I don't know! Tsk tsk, the heir to the Wind Emperor's throne suffering such a great humiliation. The days ahead in the royal city will surely be interesting."

...

On Qixia Mountain, Shi Haoran smiled and said to Ye Yuan, "Little junior brother, the master's move is ruthless indeed, forcing the arrogant Seventh Prince to this state!"

Ye Yuan smiled and said, "He brought it upon himself."

Shi Haoran nodded in agreement.

Ye Yuan had already told everyone what had happened. Killing someone over a disagreement—only someone like the Seventh Prince would do such a thing.

But some people, once killed, are just killed; others, however, are not to be trifled with.

"Heh, this kid deserves it! But, little junior brother, when do you plan to go down?" asked the plump second senior brother Tang Zhi with a smile.

Ye Yuan also smiled: "What's the rush? Let him kneel for a while. Let's discuss alchemy first."