"Why?" Rocky asked.
"The leader of the Ximen Clan wants to invite the future grandson-in-law to meet the Ximen Clan. But
he definitely has ulterior motives, so remember to be careful. Besides, it looks like Shirley still hates
you, so she might try to embarrass you," Lena replied.
"Well. If I don't go there, then everything will be solved," Rocky shrugged his shoulders.
"But you have to. You are the key to balancing the royal family and the Ximen Clan. Your slightest
action could greatly affect the equilibrium. You have to behave appropriately," Lena warned him sternly.
"Alright. I got it. Would you like to enjoy the moon or chat with me?" Rocky wanted to seize the chance
to spend time with her.
"No, I'm leaving now. I have something else to do. Don't forget what I've told you," Lena said, before
somberly turning to leave.
"The worse thing for anyone is to encounter a beautiful flower in your path but be unable to pick it,"
Rocky sighed, shaking his head.
Uriah also sadly whined in a low voice.
Rocky asked all the maids in his palace to leave his room before taking out one of the two yellow
spiritual crystals the emperor of the Holy Dragon Empire had given him. Uriah took the crystal as Rocky
took two drops of the magical saliva. Then, he began to absorb the spiritual power in the yellow
spiritual crystal, together with Uriah.
After reaching the Earthly Stage, the spiritual power required for evolving the grade was dozens of
times more than the equivalent process at the Mortal Stage. This time, he took one more drop of the
magical saliva. However, the speed of the upgrading was still much slower than when he had done the
same process at the Mortal Stage. Because the yellow spiritual crystal's spiritual power was very
dangerous, he would not make the same mistake as last time and absorb all of the spiritual power. It
had nearly been fatal last time.
One night later, Rocky and Uriah had absorbed the spiritual power of one yellow spiritual crystal
together. But their spiritual power had only increased by a small margin. At this rate, Rocky would only
reach the next grade after absorbing the power from several more yellow spiritual crystals.
Currently, the fastest way to enhance his power was to absorb the spiritual power in these crystals, but
they were a rarity. Besides, the emperor had only allotted him two of them! Rocky definitely had to find
a way to get some more after these two were used up.
Rocky naturally thought about Marcia. He planned to make time to visit her and exchange another vial
of Uriah's magical saliva for some yellow spiritual crystals.
Then Rocky immediately felt uncomfortable as he remembered that he had to visit the Ximen Clan. He
groaned at the realization that he had to meet Shirley again.
Rocky cleaned himself up after the sun rose. After breakfast, his servant reported to him that the
carriage which the Ximen Clan had sent to welcome him was already at his palace.
"I am going to fight a battle. You stay here and I will ask those maids to play with you." Rocky patted
Uriah's head and left the room.
He saw a fancy carriage as he came down the spiral staircase. Four spirit manipulators were riding on
horses. They were dressed in grand uniforms, which were embroidered with the Ximen Clan's emblem.
Rocky could sense that they were at the first or second grade of the Heavenly Stage.
Seeing Rocky emerge from the palace, the spirit manipulators immediately got down from the horses
and bowed deeply. "Your Royal Highness, we are ordered by our leader of the Ximen Clan to come
here to welcome you. Please get into the carriage."
Rocky nodded, stepping into the fancy vehicle.
The four spirit manipulators at the Heavenly Stage escorted him out of the Palace City to the Mansion
of General Ximen.
Rocky closed his eyes to have a rest on the way. He suddenly opened his eyes as he couldn't help but
remember what Lena told him yesterday. He raised his eyebrows and murmured, "If Shirley is really
going to trouble me, I will definitely 'play' her game. It won't be better if she says she wants to annul the
betrothal!" Rocky smiled evilly. A plan was forming in his mind.
After about an hour, the carriage arrived at the Mansion of General Ximen.
Rocky marveled as he saw the structure, which was almost as grand as the Palace City. Now he
realized why the emperor of the Holy Dragon Empire regarded the Ximen Clan as his biggest threat.
"Your Royal Highness, please follow us!" Those four spirit manipulators at the Heavenly Stage led the
way for Rocky as soon as they got down from the horses.
As he entered the Mansion of General Ximen with the four spirit manipulators, he noticed that all the
people around them fixed their eyes on him. It felt like a spotlight was fixed brightly on him.
"Is he Prince Basil? I heard that he was a total loser. But he accidentally fused with the Holy Dragon
Bead and suddenly became a talent!"
"He is so lucky. What's more, now he even becomes the fiance of our beautiful Shirley. What a lucky
man!"
"I heard he had defeated a master at the ninth grade of the Heavenly Stage, but he is only at the
Earthly Stage. I wonder how he did that."
"What you said is all old news, fellow! Let me tell you what's really up. This Prince Basil must have
hidden his power for a long time. Think about it. Everyone knew he was a loser. How was it possible
that he became a talent just because he fused with the Holy Dragon Bead? That Bead was impossible
to fuse with a weakling. So apparently, this Prince had been pretending he was weak the whole time.
He hid his power and waited for a good time to surprise everyone. And he decided it was time!"
Everyone was talking about Rocky as soon as he showed up.
Hearing that this strange prince had come to the general mansion, more and more people of the Ximen
Clan came to see him. Rocky felt like he was being displayed as he passed through the crowd with the
four spirit manipulators at the Heavenly Stage. A lot of female disciples of the Ximen Clan even
shrieked shrilly the moment they laid eyes on him.
'Looks like the people of the Ximen Clan are much more enthusiastic than I imagined, ' Rocky thought
to himself as he smiled. Meanwhile, he looked around and found that this Mansion of General Ximen
was not only large, but also looked like a small city. In this Mansion of General Ximen, all kinds of
buildings were regularly placed in two rows. Between the two rows of buildings, there was a wide road
made of white stones leading to every corner of this general's mansion.
Rocky and the four spirit manipulators at the Heavenly Stage appeared to be heading to a grand
building which looked like a palace. This palace-liked building was the center of the general's mansion.
They walked across a huge square and an arched bridge decked with white jade railings which had
stone lions on them. They arrived in front of the building after climbing a long staircase. This grand
building looked even more spectacular and magnificent than when he first saw it from a distance!
The scenery was completely different behind the red gate. Rocky felt like he had entered a garden full
of colorful and beautiful flowers and vitality. And to think that this was just the front yard! Walking
through a straight path, they finally arrived at the magnificent hall.
Rocky saw that lots of people had already gathered here as he entered the hall following the four spirit
manipulators at the Heavenly Stage. It looked like they were all waiting for him—their beloved Shirley's
future husband from the royal family.
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