Chapter 204: The Crown Prince's Thoughts

Huh~

The long fist was delivered; the dragon, whose divine might was like a prison, shattered at the sound, turning into countless specks of light that drifted away with the wind.

It turned out that a single punch shattered the dragon!

That, however, was the Meng Family's ultimate skill—the third form of the Dragon Chant Sword Technique, Dragon Roam Void!

Even though Meng Qian did not employ Mysterious Force to unleash it, the power was still beyond what a mortal flesh could resist. Moreover, Ye Qingran hadn't even used a weapon; she fought with her fists!

Her hands—could they be made of iron?

Countless gazes all froze.

Yet Ye Qingran seemed unfazed. Her body kept advancing like a Rainbow arcing down; amid Meng Qian's horrified, desperate stare, she pressed two fingers together, pinching the tip of the long sword in Meng Qian's hand, and with a deft move, the sword slipped from Meng Qian and landed in Ye Qingran's hand.

The long sword swayed, and in the next instant, its sharp tip changed direction, pressing against Meng Qian's throat.

A cold blade like ice!

"You lost."

The cold voice, as if from Jiu You Diyu, was more terrifying than the death god's verdict.

Meng Qian's eyes widened, as if she forgot how to react.

She, lost?

Lost to Ye Qingran, whom she had despised for nearly twenty years!

Below the Xuanwu Platform, Meng Yuan's complexion had already changed the moment Ye Qingran shattered the dragon.

Even he, barehanded and without Mysterious Force, wouldn't dare claim he could catch Meng Qian's Dragon Roam Void. As her father, he understood his daughter's strength all too well.

But, Ye Qingran…

Meng Yuan's eyes were clouded with an inexplicable gloom.

Ye Huanhuan's cheeks puffed up from biting them tightly.

She was unwilling! Why does Ye Qingran always manage to turn danger into safety?!

Dongfang Xuan and Mu Qingrou's expressions were also extremely displeased.

On the contrary, Dongfang Qingxuan's eyes sparkled with spirit, his gaze burning as he stared at the graceful figure on the stage.

She stood tall and elegant, the long sword pointed at Meng Qian's throat; her flawless face bore no extra expression, like a celestial maiden descended from the nine heavens, aloof and ethereal, exuding an untouchable, cold aura.

Looking back at Meng Qian, the sword tip pressed to her throat, she was plunged into extreme shock. The contrast between the two was especially stark.

She, could she truly be so dazzlingly sharp?

Dongfang Qingxuan felt a different emotion well up in his chest; watching that radiant, dazzling woman, his heart fluttered involuntarily.

He suddenly felt immense regret, wondering why he had agreed to Ye Qingran's request to call off the marriage.

Had he firmly refused back then, perhaps she would still be his woman, Dongfang Qingxuan!

But it's not too late for everything, right?

Ye Qingran hasn't married yet; he could take her as a secondary consort after marrying Ye Huanhuan. Given her years of admiration for him, she surely wouldn't refuse, right?

Although her body is no longer pure, he no longer cares about that. He has only one thought: he desperately wants Ye Qingran!

Ye Huanhuan suppressed her hatred and loss, lifted her head to speak to Dongfang Qingxuan, but unexpectedly found him gazing at the Xuanwu Platform; following his line of sight, she saw Ye Qingran.

In her brother Qing Xuan's eyes, there was unabashed desire.

He had never looked at her like that before!

A sudden surge of boundless jealousy flared in his heart, crazily wanting to burn Ye Qingran to ashes!

Ye Huanhuan clenched her fist, her nails digging into flesh, her expression no longer concealed, twisted and feral.

"Ye Qingran, you should die!"

…

"I lost. I won't renege on my promise; take this arm, you can have it!"

After a while, Meng Qian finally regained her voice, lifted her left arm, her complexion as pale as paper.

Before Ye Qingran could speak, a deep voice rang through the air: "Hold on!"

As the words fell, a figure descended—a middle‑aged man with a square face, a braided beard, a resolute visage, and a towering build; it was none other than Piao Qi Jiangjun Meng Yuan.

"Miss Ye, could you, for the sake of this general's face, let the young lady go this once?"

Meng Yuan stood a few steps away from Ye Qingran, clasped his fists, and slightly lowered his posture.

Ye Qingran sized up the resolute general before her, and after a moment smiled: "Truly enviable, Miss Meng, to have a doting father protecting you."

Meng Yuan, sensing the implication, smiled and said, "Your father's followers, General Yun, are everywhere under heaven; I am convinced that even if General Yun were gone, no one would dare move a hair on Miss Ye."

Ye Qingran lightly bowed, "Since Grand General Meng says so, Miss Meng, I can decline this arm. However, Grand General Meng, you owe me a favor."

Seeing Ye Qingran readily agree, Meng Yuan naturally took on the favor, "From now on, Miss Ye, whenever you need my assistance, just command me."

"Fine, that's easy."

…

Ye Qingran's magnanimity did not let Meng Qian feel much of the joy of surviving the calamity.

She had always boasted herself as Heaven's Pride Maiden, unmatched in martial prowess; today she was defeated by the very Ye Qingran she despised, her pride shattered into dust. In her eyes, Ye Qingran's choice to spare her arm seemed like a twisted humiliation.

Nevertheless, she wasn't oblivious; when her father personally pleaded with Ye Qingran to spare her once, she managed to keep the arm.

As the saying goes, keep the green hills and you won't lack firewood; Meng Qian suddenly said, "Ye Qingran, today's humiliation, I will avenge!"

Ye Qingran glanced at her disdainfully, "You don't have that chance."

Murder and purge the heart!

Watching Meng Qian and Meng Yuan father and daughter depart, the onlookers below were still dazed.

They subconsciously thought that no matter how powerful Ye Qingran was, she could never match Meng Qian; yet Ye Qingran proved with action that she not only defeated Meng Qian but even caught her strongest move barehanded!

Which meant that Ye Qingran, with absolute strength, instantly killed Meng Qian!

How could this be possible? Ye Qingran isn't trash?

You guys, don't forget, she is after all a descendant of General Yun!

Saying that, I finally seem to see General Yun's shadow on her...

Zhuang Xian handles affairs with high efficiency; Ye Qingran said she wanted to establish the Jiuzhou Second Corps, and he began arranging it that same day.

From selecting the site to recruiting personnel, he personally handled everything, and finally, before the Mid-Autumn Festival in mid-August, he completed the preliminary task.

The training ground was set in a manor in the East Suburb, covering a vast area; inside, following the experience of the Jiuzhou Corps, various training facilities were constructed and equipped with the corresponding apparatus. Not far outside the city lies Jiu Fu Lin, also convenient for practical combat.

The first batch selected for the Jiuzhou Second Corps numbered fifty in total; the roster and corresponding information had long been presented to Ye Qingran. Among these fifty people, aside from Qin Feng, Ye Qingran did not know any of them.

However, they all shared similar experiences.

Jiuzhou Corps East Suburb Training Ground.

"Miss, everyone is already waiting at the Training Ground." Zhuang Xian bowed slightly to the newly arrived Ye Qingran, then led her toward the Training Ground, with Han Xing Leng Yue following behind.

The two children were taken away by the National Master, who said he wanted to cultivate feelings with them.

Ye Qingran also rarely took a day off, devoting herself wholeheartedly to her own matters.

In the spacious Training Ground, five rows of people stood neatly, all wearing identical black martial uniforms, with their names embroidered on the chest.

These names are not their real names, but merely code names.

Among them there were both men and women, the number of women not exceeding the fingers on one hand; all were quite young, ranging from sixteen to twenty-five years old.

Yet on most of them, one could see little of the vigor and youthful recklessness expected of their age; instead, there was the numbness left by life's hardships.

Of course, there were also a few carefree troublemakers.

They were all recruited by Zhuang Xian from Donglin and neighboring countries; naturally they knew Zhuang Xian's prowess. They even thought Zhuang Xian was their boss, but they never expected that at this moment Zhuang Xian would be deferentially respectful toward a young woman.

Just what is this woman's background?

Ye Qingran's gaze swept over the fifty people; combining the information Zhuang Xian gave her, she basically had a rough understanding of them.

"Do you know why you were chosen?"