Chapter 1: with translation of chapter title

Wànlíng Chéng.

I am Ma Youliang, fortunate to have seen Princess Nixiang's celestial beauty! Princess Nixiang's grace is unparalleled, capable of toppling nations, truly peerless!

A handsome, suave young gentleman stepped out of the crowd and spoke loudly.

Afterward, people came out one after another, loudly praising Princess Nixiang, extolling her to the heavens, unprecedented in past or future!

These people were all heavenly pride of the younger generation, each possessing outstanding looks and exceptional bearing.

Princess Nixiang was already accustomed to such praise, yet even so she still enjoyed it and never grew tired of it.

"You flatter me; I have heard that the Spirit Realm is rich in natural treasures, and Wànlíng Chéng is especially blessed with spiritual vitality—I have come today to take a look."

"If the princess does not mind, I would be honored to guide her on a tour of Wànlíng Chéng!"

"I am a native of Wànlíng Chéng, well versed in its legends and scenery—princess, let me be your guide!"

"I..."

In order to win the chance to accompany her, the well‑bred young gentlemen who had been polite a moment ago flushed red and nearly came to blows.

Seeing this, the crowd not only didn't blame them, but thought it quite ordinary.

After all, Princess Nixiang is top‑tier in both looks and status—who wouldn't like a beautiful woman with a background?

"Thank you for your kindness. However, before I enjoy myself, there is still something I must do."

Huh?

The crowd looked curiously at Princess Nixiang, wondering what she was about to do.

Princess Nixiang swept her gaze over the crowd, the corner of her lips curling into a cold arc.

"Princess, forging an imperial decree is a capital offense—are we really going to do this?" the maid who appeared quite capable beside the princess whispered, furrowing her brows slightly.

"What of a death sentence? As long as I can kill Ye Qingran, I am willing to pay any price!" Madness flashed in Princess Nixiang's eyes; she could never allow what she now possessed to be taken by another.

"But the shamaness…" the maid tried to interject, but a glance from Princess Nixiang made her swallow her words.

"Don't mention her to me! If she were a bit more ruthless, she would already be the empress of the Divine Clan!"

Suddenly, Princess Nixiang let out a light laugh, saying, "Besides, Father Emperor dotes on me in every way; even if I committed heinous crimes, he would not punish me."

Saying this, Princess Nixiang produced a yellow scroll.

"Wànlíng Xuégōng, where is Ye Qingran?"

Her voice, infused with mysterious force, reached everyone's ears, leaving each person stunned.

What Princess Nixiang said concerns Ye Qingran?!

Before Wànlíng Xuégōng, countless disciples gazed toward the direction where Ye Qingran was, whispering among themselves.

"What's going on? What is the relationship between Ye Qingran and Princess Nixiang?"

"From Princess Nixiang's tone, this doesn't sound good! Could Ye Qingran have offended Princess Nixiang?"

"Princess Nixiang is a princess of the Divine Clan, yet Ye Qingran actually offended her—does she have a death wish?"

Ye Qingran lifted her gaze to the figure above the central square of Wànlíng Chéng, raising her eyebrows slightly.

Princess Nixiang's actions this time were unexpected to her, yet also understandable.

Back then, Hua Luo, on the Path to Heaven, declared before everyone that she was very likely the daughter of the Divine Clan's god‑emperor; given the Lan family's hatred toward her, Lan Shu, upon learning this, would certainly inform Princess Nixiang upon returning to Xuyu.

Thus, Princess Nixiang's knowledge of her existence is hardly surprising.

After Princess Nixiang's words fell, a long silence ensued; the crowd held its breath, waiting for Ye Qingran's reply.

"Ye Qingran, will you show yourself voluntarily, or shall I have someone fetch you? The choice is yours!" Princess Nixiang sneered, already certain of victory; her descent upon Wanling City today was driven by a resolve to kill Ye Qingran no matter what.

At this moment, Qin Feixue and his party rushed over, faces full of worry, "Instructor Ye, what's going on?"

They were utterly bewildered, unable to understand how Ye Qingran could have offended the Divine Clan's princess.

"It's fine, don't worry." Ye Qingran said, stroking the heads of Xiao Hu and Xiao Chen, "You and your older siblings stay here; Mother will be back shortly."

"Mother, please stay safe."

Xiao Hu and Xiao Chen also sensed that this opponent was not easy to deal with, and they solemnly urged Ye Qingran.

Ye Qingran smiled with relief, turned her head toward Princess Nixiang, and parted her lips slightly.

"Ye Qingran, here!"

Ye Qingran's voice rose like a soaring crane, carried on the wind to the heavens and into everyone's ears.

Princess Nixiang's gaze shot toward the direction of the sound like lightning, locking onto Ye Qingran almost instantly.

It's not for any other reason—she is simply too beautiful, too dazzling, making it hard not to notice her at first glance.

Princess Nixiang's eyes reflected Ye Qingran; although she had seen Ye Qingran's likeness in a portrait, the real person and the image were still worlds apart.

If the portrait was already stunning enough, the actual person was even more breathtaking, possessing a liveliness and spirit that the portrait could not capture.

"Damn it!"

She whispered, her killing intent so intense it was about to overflow!

Under the gaze of all, Ye Qingran flickered into the void, appearing at a moderate distance from Princess Nixiang, and they locked eyes.

Clad in white that outshone snow, lacking Princess Nixiang's splendor and elaborate makeup, Ye Qingran had skin like ice and snow, bones like jade, spirit like autumn waters; combined with her ethereal aura reminiscent of a secluded orchid, she not only failed to pale beside the princess but actually overwhelmed her presence.

If Princess Nixiang is a peony blooming atop the prosperous world and aristocratic power, then Ye Qingran is a snow lotus blossoming on the ancient snowy peaks of the divine realm, solitary, ultimate in elegance and purity.

The peony may be beautiful, yet it remains vulgar amidst the mortal world, whereas the snow lotus transcends the mundane, standing aloof and peerless in grace.

The crowd glanced at Princess Nixiang, then at Ye Qingran, and the inner scale of beauty quietly tipped.

Princess Nixiang lost.

Even with the Divine Clan's backing behind her, she could not compensate for her own shortcomings in looks and bearing, which ultimately fell short of Ye Qingran's; indeed, if the Divine Clan's favor were transferred to Ye Qingran, the gap between them would become a chasm as vast as heaven and earth.

Princess Nixiang naturally sensed this gap as well; she gritted her teeth and unfurled the golden‑glowing scroll in her hand.

"By the decree of the Divine Emperor, the criminal Ye Qingran has slain a Divine Clan hero and deserves myriad deaths; I, Princess Nixiang, am specially ordered to execute her!"

Hiss—

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd erupted in an uproar.

Ye Qingran slaughtered a meritorious official of the Divine Clan; her crime deserves ten thousand deaths!

Gazes filled with shock turned toward Ye Qingran, their eyes brimming with complex emotions.

"Ye Qingran, how do you wish to die?"

Ni Chang asked coldly.

"If one wants to accuse someone, excuses are never lacking; you claim I killed a Divine Clan meritorious official—do you have any evidence?"

Ni Chang's face darkened. "Are you questioning the Divine Emperor?"

"Does the Divine Emperor have to be right?"

"That's only natural!"

Ye Qingran gently shook her head. "Then all I can say is that the so‑called Divine Clan is nothing more than this!"

"The so‑called Divine Clan is nothing more than this?"

Ye Qingran's words once again made everyone suck in a breath of cold air!

Does she even know what she's saying?

If such blatantly treasonous words were to reach the Divine Emperor's ears, her fate would surely be miserable!

"Fine, Ye Qingran—I will definitely slay you here today!"

"Who dares to move against her!"

Lu Yunfeng let out a fierce shout, leapt forward, and arrived at Ye Qingran's side.

"The Beast Clan's Third Prince?!"

Seeing Lu Yunfeng, Ni Chang's expression shifted slightly; she had not expected to see the Beast Clan's Third Prince here, let alone have him stand beside Ye Qingran!

"What, Lu Yunfeng—are you going to help her?"

"Princess Ni Chang, let me introduce you properly—this is my sister. If you move against her, the entire Beast Clan will be her backing!"

Ni Chang's gaze flickered, then she smirked contemptuously. "Is that so? Lu Yunfeng, perhaps you've just returned to Xuyu and still don't realize the Beast Clan is no longer what it once was; even if the whole Beast Clan were her backing, what of it? Would my Divine Clan fear you?"

In the present Xuyu, the Divine Clan reigns supreme while the Beast Clan wanes day by day—what does she have to fear?

"Then what about adding me?"

Another figure appeared, standing to Ye Qingran's right—none other than Qiu Yue Lang.

"Who are you?" Ni Chang frowned, sized up Qiu Yue Lang, but did not recognize him.

Yet Qiu Yue Lang's move frightened the instructors and disciples of the Wànlíng Xuégōng into stupor.

"Is Qiu Yue Lang seeking death?"

Knowing full well that the opponent is a Divine Clan princess, he nevertheless steadfastly stands on Ye Qingran's side?

Qiu Yue Lang himself does not know why he would do this!

When he saw Lu Yunfeng step forward, a voice in his mind told him he too must do so!

That feeling was very strange.

Qiu Yue Lang's expression remained blank; as his will stirred, a faint blue ripple flowed over his body, and when the ripple faded, he had transformed into another appearance.

An appearance utterly unlike his former self!

Behold, Qiu Yue Lang now: his black hair turned blue, his eyes as deep as the sea, his nose bridge high and proud like a mountain peak, his clothes changed into an exquisite suit of blue‑white armor, he wielded a mighty star‑spear trident, his whole person shone brightly, like an emperor of the ocean!

"The Sea Clan Prince?!" Ni Chang finally recognized Qiu Yue Lang's identity at this moment!

Sea Clan Prince?!

This identity caused everyone present to freeze their gazes!

In Xuyu, the Five Great Domains—what people hear most about are the Moyu, Shen Domain, Beast Domain, and Spirit Domain; the remainder is the Sea Domain! The Sea Domain is vast and boundless, its area the largest among the five domains, and the Sea Clan are its rulers, supremely mysterious; ordinary folk rarely catch a glimpse of the Sea Clan's traces.

Who would have thought that the true identity of the Wànlíng Xuégōng's first disciple, Qiu Yue Lang, would be the Sea Clan Prince!

Even Qiu Yue Lang's master, Wanqi Zifeng, felt his old anger flare up at this moment, slapping his thigh and exclaiming, "This brat—he's deceived me horribly!"

Ye Qingran also hadn't expected Qiu Yue Lang's true identity to be so shocking! That said, the Sea‑Clan‑formed Qiu Yue Lang is utterly charming!

"I've remembered it!"

A flash of spiritual light passed through the mind of Qiu Yue Lang, now returned to his Sea‑Clan form; he jerked his head up, overjoyed beyond measure!