Chapter 1053: Petty Schemes

No wonder this girl speaks so boldly! So she's a princess!

The male disciple leading the group also realized it at this moment.

"If I could win the princess's hand, then getting any cultivation resources would be a breeze; why bother chasing that junior sister!"

He glanced at Feng Xiaoxiao ahead and compared her in his mind with Xia Tianqiong, feeling that Xia Tianqiong still had more feminine charm.

At this moment he was already fantasizing about climbing the dragon and attaching to the phoenix, then soaring effortlessly.

His steps unconsciously slowed, gradually falling to the rear of the formation.

"Yuanlai senior brother, why are you dawdling? Hurry up and go!"

Feng Yuanlai's fantasy was shattered by Feng Xiaoxiao's shout.

"Oh!"

He replied with a nod and hurried two steps forward.

But his brows furrowed again.

The Feng Clan indeed has the right to marry the princess. However, he lacks that qualification; only those few Heavenly Pride‑rank disciples could, so it certainly wouldn't be his turn.

If he had a background, he wouldn't need to chase Feng Xiaoxiao.

Feng Xiaoxiao is the granddaughter of Elder No. 2, which is why he schemed.

Now his mind is on the Ninth Princess; even when Feng Xiaoxiao calls him, he feels she's leaning on her grandfather and ordering him around.

Thus after quickening his pace for two steps, he slowed again.

After walking forward a bit more, they encountered a boar of the Zao Hua Eighth Layer. Feng Yuanlai strained to kill that boar.

"Junior sister, let's rest first!" Feng Yuanlai suggested. "I expended a lot just now; if we encounter a higher‑realm beast again, we might suffer insufficient True Essence."

Feng Xiaoxiao had originally been eager to catch a beast to use as a mount. This boar before them could only serve as food.

Hearing Feng Yuanlai's words, she also felt she shouldn't let everyone risk themselves for her, and immediately agreed.

The Elder Tong who guarded them naturally had no objections.

He is only responsible for protecting their safety; how they train is their own business.

However, Ye Liuyun and his group were eager to draw out the trailing shadow, pressing deeper into the mountains, and soon encountered those Feng Clan disciples again.

He also wanted to seize the chance to see if there was an opportunity to infiltrate the Feng Clan.

He gathered Lei Ming, Long Nv, and Ye Tiandao into the Space World, then proceeded straight along the original route.

Further ahead, the beasts' realms were above Zao Hua Seventh Layer, which Lei Ming and his companions couldn't handle, so they were sent back to rest.

At this moment, Huo Hu suddenly sent a Transmission Voice to Ye Liuyun: "The black snake we just released has already spotted that shadow member and is now trailing us."

"Great!" Ye Liuyun heard that the shadow indeed followed, and felt even more at ease.

Meanwhile, Elder Tong also noticed Ye Liuyun's party and walked toward them.

But he didn't have the disciples avoid them.

Ye Liuyun's group lacks the strength to rob them; the Feng Clan doesn't fear the imperial power, so he has no reason to avoid the Ninth Princess.

Moreover, the Ninth Princess's realm is only Zao Hua Ninth Layer, so he wanted to remind her that moving further ahead would bring danger.

The Feng Clan disciples at this moment also noticed Ye Liuyun and Xia Tianqiong, glanced over, and wanted to take a few more looks at the princess.

"Junior sister, the princess is here; don't you want to take another look?" Feng Yuanlai provoked Feng Xiaoxiao: "Their realms aren't high; if they walk with us, it's safer and you'll get to chat more with the princess!"

Feng Xiaoxiao was young and simple‑minded; upon hearing that, she promptly nodded.

"Okay, once they arrive, I'll speak with them."

Feng Yuanlai's scheme succeeded, and he felt secretly pleased. He praised Feng Xiaoxiao, saying she was sensible and cared for others, flattering her to a dizzying degree.

Sure enough, when Feng Xiaoxiao and the others approached Ye Liuyun's group, they leapt forward and invited them to join.

"You have few people and aren't safe. Since we're heading the same way, why not go together?"

Feng Xiaoxiao's words were originally addressed to Xia Tianqiong.

But after speaking, she saw Xia Tianqiong looking at Ye Liuyun for advice.

Seeing Feng Xiaoxiao's sincere demeanor, Ye Liuyun didn't sense any deceit and immediately nodded in agreement.

This scene was observed by Elder Tong, who found it oddly curious.

"This youth is only at Zao Hua Third Realm, which by principle shouldn't match the Ninth Princess. Yet the Ninth Princess's look at him doesn't seem to be consulting a guard."

However, he is scheming deep down and never shows it.

He merely expressed welcome toward the Ninth Princess and Ye Liuyun, and his words and attitude showed no contempt for Ye Liuyun.

Feng Xiaoxiao wouldn't overthink; upon seeing the Ninth Princess agree, she immediately pulled her back.

Feng Yuanlai and the other male disciples were busy watching the Ninth Princess, completely ignoring Ye Liuyun.

In their eyes, Ye Liuyun must be a guard!

And a guard of very low realm, utterly insignificant!

You can tell just by their attire.

They and the Ninth Princess wear Divine Rank battle armor, whereas Ye Liuyun dons low‑grade Exotic Scale Armor—a clear patchwork.

As for Lei Ming and the others not appearing earlier, they assumed they were the Ninth Princess's maid, who only emerges to assist in battle, so they paid no mind.

Because they had just noticed that among those people, one was a slave.

The Slave Seal on Ye Tiandao's face was so obvious that it was clear he was a slave.

Elder Tong also briefly warned Xia Tianqiong that moving further ahead would be dangerous.

But seeing that Xia Tianqiong paid little heed, he thought the imperial princess would surely have covert protection and wouldn't venture into such danger herself, so he said nothing more.

Feng Xiaoxiao and the Feng Clan disciples gathered around Xia Tianqiong, leaving Ye Liuyun aside.

Ye Liuyun didn't mind, sitting alone to recover Mysterious Origin.

Seeing him cultivating, Xia Tianqiong didn't disturb him and started chatting with Feng Xiaoxiao, quickly becoming familiar.

Feng Xiaoxiao asked foolishly, "Although your realm is higher than ours, how dare you go alone into the depths of the Beast King Mountains? How dangerous? Ahead are only the ferocious beasts of the Ninefold Creation!"

Xia Tianqiong could only tell a lie: I want to catch a senior‑rank ferocious beast as a mount.

"Senior‑rank ferocious beast?"

Feng Xiaoxiao, also influenced by Xia Tianqiong, immediately wanted to catch a senior‑rank ferocious beast as well.

However, their realms are slightly lower; whether they can catch one depends on luck, and she isn't very confident.

"We also came to catch ferocious beasts! Not sure if we can catch a senior‑rank one!"

"Don't worry, junior sister, it's on me!" Feng Yuanlai interjected at the right moment.