Chapter 74: Prince's Audience

They had just entered the Grand Hall when a terrifying oppressive pressure enveloped everyone inside.

"A strongman beyond the True Essence Realm!" Ye Liuyun thought silently. "Could it be that man in the black robe? But this aura doesn't seem like his!"

He was pondering this when, on the main seat in the Grand Hall, a person had already taken a seat, though no one knew when.

The man wore a python robe, a jade crown on his head, and his expression was imposing. That oppressive pressure also emanated from him.

At the side of the man in the python robe, Song Tao, Qi Xiong, Lu Wei and others stood nearby.

"So this is the Heavenly Fortune King! He has already surpassed the True Essence Realm?" Ye Liuyun thought to himself.

"May I see the Prince." The group bowed together.

"No need for formalities!" the Heavenly Fortune King relaxed the pressure and said kindly to the crowd.

"Song Yi, how did your contest turn out?" he asked warmly.

"Only Ye Liuyun defeated Hou Cheng and attained the Holy Son position," Song Yi replied.

"Ye Liuyun? Where is he?" the Heavenly Fortune King asked.

"Prince!" Ye Liuyun stepped forward and bowed to him.

The Heavenly Fortune King, seeing his age, was surprised and asked, "How old are you this year?"

"Fifteen!" Ye Liuyun replied.

"Only fifteen! Lu Wei, your judgment is truly sharp! I will accept this Holy Son!"

When he had just spread the oppressive pressure, he sensed that Ye Liuyun's Soul resistance far exceeded that of the others. The others' legs trembled, while Ye Liuyun was merely contemplating, taking it no notice.

Speaking, he gestured, and Lu Wei walked toward Ye Liuyun, handing him a Holy Son Token.

"I indeed didn't misjudge you!" Lu Wei praised.

"Thank you, senior, for recognizing my talent!" Ye Liuyun bowed sincerely in gratitude.

"There's no need to thank me; you earned it yourself!" Lu Wei helped him up and stepped back.

"Ye Liuyun! Song Tao has come to confess his guilt to me, because the anti‑bandit operation caused heavy losses to the preparatory camp. You know the whole cause and effect of this matter; how do you think it should be dealt with?"

The Heavenly Fortune King spoke again.

"Isn't the Prince setting a trap for me? If I answer poorly, how will I survive later!" Ye Liuyun's mind raced at that moment.

"Your Highness, I, being still young and inexperienced, dare not speak rashly. Please, Prince, make the decision on this matter!" Ye Liuyun replied.

The Prince silently praised, "Unproud, unimpetuous, calm in danger—truly rare."

Looking again at Ye Liuyun's expression, he felt even more satisfied. "Though this youth is still young, his mind is steady. No wonder when facing a Sea Transformation Realm strongman, he remains unflustered."

"It's fine, just speak freely!" the Heavenly Fortune King insisted on hearing his plan, wanting to gauge his ability.

Ye Liuyun thought for a moment and also felt the Prince was testing him. If he answered well, he would be given great responsibilities; if not, the Prince would no longer value him.

He immediately stopped delaying, bowed, and said:

"This incident was caused mainly by three reasons."

"First, the incident occurred suddenly; a Martial Cultivator of the Sea Transformation Realm appeared, truly beyond everyone's expectation. Yet the preparatory camp's external training was always known to carry risk."

"Second, the deceased disciple was greedy for achievement and rushed ahead. I had clearly warned of the danger and even suggested sending one or two scouts first, but they ignored it. Thus their death also bears their own responsibility."

"Third, Lord Song Tao indeed underestimated the opponent's strength and should receive some punishment."

His utterance of "Third" made many listeners break out in cold sweat.

Lu Wei kept smiling at him. He knew Ye Liuyun's nature and that he would never kick a man when he's down.

Song Tao was also composed; he had already prepared for the worst and could accept any outcome.

The Heavenly Fortune King's heart stirred. "Both Song Tao and Lu Wei hold him in such high regard; he truly is not ordinary! Now Song Tao's responsibility is reduced to one third." Thus he settled his mind and continued listening.

"Yet, when danger arose, Lord Song Tao stepped forward, risking his life to rescue the preparatory camp disciples, and afterwards voluntarily confessed his guilt. This can already offset part of the punishment."

"The remaining punishment, the disciples believe, can allow Lord Song Tao to make amends in the future."

The reason Ye Liuyun defended Song Tao is that he acknowledges Song Tao's character.

And he also guessed that the Prince thought the same, but the Prince was too embarrassed to voice it. Otherwise, Song Tao would have already been punished.

The Heavenly Fortune King nodded inwardly, for he indeed thought so. Yet if he voiced it, it would seem like the Calf Guardian's interference.

Then he asked Song Tao, "Do you accept this resolution?"

Song Tao hurriedly replied, "I think the handling is too lenient!"

The Heavenly Fortune King pretended to nod. Since it was his turn, he added a little more, just for show.

Thus he said, "In that case, you shall be fined half a year's salary…"

In short, he said a lot, appearing to impose a heavy penalty, but in reality it was harmless.

Song Tao finally gave thanks and stepped aside, his eyes gratefully meeting Ye Liuyun.

With Song Tao's matter settled and the Holy Son selection concluded, Ye Liuyun followed the Hall Guards back to the Heavenly Fortune King's Royal Mansion.

He is now a Holy Son, so he naturally will reside in the Royal Mansion!

The Hou Cheng who was defeated by Ye Liuyun lost his Holy Son status and was sent straight to the Golden Armor Guard Camp as a first‑class Golden Armor Guard, serving in the army. This was mainly because he never caught the Prince's eye; otherwise he wouldn't have been expelled outright.

Ye Liuyun's days in the Golden Armor Guard Preparatory Camp ended here!

The most surprised were Yu Wenlong and Lin Feng. They were classmates, and they hadn't expected Ye Liuyun, within such a short time, to become a Holy Son they looked up to!

Perhaps this is the difference between geniuses and ordinary people!

After arriving at the Royal Mansion, Ye Liuyun was immediately summoned by the Prince for a bloodline test.

He asked curiously, "Prince, why conduct a bloodline test?"

His first impression of this Prince wasn't very good; the Prince presented him a difficult problem right away, showing him to be a cunning old fox.

Yet, thinking about it, anyone who can sit in the Prince's position must be like that.

And the Heavenly Fortune King selects talent in this way, being both a Golden Armor Guard and a Holy Son; perhaps he has larger schemes.

He still doesn't know the Prince's character, so it's best to remain a bit cautious.

Prince then reacted, asking, "What? Do you suspect I have some scheme?"

"Never!" Ye Liuyun, of course, would not voice what he was thinking.

"Hehe, you are the sharpest‑minded among all Holy Sons, so some concerns are natural! The reason I cultivate so many talents is that I hope to send them to the Holy Martial Academy, and then my position will be more secure. Does this explanation satisfy you?" Prince said with a smile.

"Holy Martial Academy?" Ye Liuyun certainly knew the Holy Martial Academy—wasn't it the academy where Lin Xueying studied? The inner‑gate disciples are all from the Sea Transformation realm academy.

Could the Prince really send us Holy Sons there?

Heavenly Luck King assumed he was unaware of the Holy Martial Academy, so he explained:

"The Holy Martial Academy is the hall all Martial Cultivators aspire to. There are higher‑level techniques, better cultivation resources, denser Heavenly Earth spiritual energy, and superior masters."

"So I will not take you as disciples, only as Holy Sons. When you get there, you may seek a master."

"However, the Holy Martial Academy places great emphasis on bloodline aptitude, believing that those with superior bloodlines progress faster later and are more worthy of cultivation. That's why I want to test your bloodline and see how your aptitude measures up."