Chapter 970: with translation of chapter title

Wànlíng Chéng.

「I am Ma Youliang, fortunate to see Princess Niyang's immortal visage! Princess, your grace is unparalleled, capable of toppling nations, truly peerless! 」

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

Thereafter, people came out one after another, loudly praising Princess Niyang, extolling her to the heavens, unprecedented in past and future!

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

Princess Niyang had long grown accustomed to such praise; nevertheless, she still enjoyed it and would never tire of it.

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

「If Princess does not mind, I would be honored to guide you through Wànlíng Chéng! 」

「I am a native of Wànlíng Chéng, well versed in its lore and scenery—Princess, let me be your guide! 」

「I...

In order to win a chance to accompany her, the well‑bred young gentlemen who moments ago were polite turned red‑faced and nearly came to blows.

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

After all, Princess Niyang is peerless in both appearance and status; who wouldn't love a beautiful woman with background?

「Thank you for your kindness. However, before I enjoy myself, My Palace has one matter to attend to. 」

Hmm?

The crowd looked curiously at Princess Niyang, wondering what she intended to do.

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

「Princess, forging an Imperial decree is a capital offense—are we really going to do this? 」 the attendant beside Princess Niyang, who appeared rather capable, whispered with a slight frown.

「What of a death sentence? As long as I can kill Ye Qingran, I am willing to pay any price! 」 Madness flashed in Princess Niyang's eyes; she could never allow anyone to take away what she now possessed.

「But the shamaness... 」 the attendant tried to interject, but a glance from Princess Niyang made her swallow her words.

「Don't mention her to me! If she were a bit more ruthless, she would already have become Empress of the Divine Clan! 」

Suddenly, Princess Niyang gave a light laugh, saying, 「Besides, Father Emperor dotes on me endlessly; even if I committed heinous crimes, he would not punish me. 」

Saying this, Princess Niyang produced a yellow scroll.

「Wànlíng Xuégōng, where is Ye Qingran? 」

Her voice, laced with Mysterious Force, reached everyone's ears, leaving each listener stunned.

What Princess Niyang said concerns Ye Qingran?!

Before Wànlíng Xuégōng, countless disciples of the academy gazed toward where Ye Qingran stood, whispering among themselves.

「What's going on? What is the relationship between Ye Qingran and Princess Niyang? 」

「From Princess Niyang's tone, this doesn't sound good! Could Ye Qingran have offended Princess Niyang? 」

「Princess Niyang is a Divine Clan princess—how dare Ye Qingran offend 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 Niyang's conduct this time was unexpected yet understandable.

Initially, Hualuo, on the Path to Heaven, declared before everyone that she was likely the daughter of the Divine Clan's God Emperor; given the Lan family's hatred toward her, Lan Shu, upon learning this, would surely inform Princess Niyang upon returning to Xuyu.

Thus, Princess Niyang's awareness of her existence is hardly surprising.

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

「Ye Qingran, will you show yourself willingly, or shall I have someone fetch you? The choice is yours! 」 Princess Niyang sneered, already certain of victory; today her descent upon Wànlíng Chéng was bound to end in Ye Qingran's slaughter.

At that moment, Qin Feixue and company rushed over, faces full of worry, saying, 「Instructor Ye, what's going on? 」

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

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

「Mother, please stay safe. 」

Xiaohu Xiaocheng also sensed that this opponent was not easy to deal with, and solemnly urged Ye Qingran.

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

「Ye Qingran, here I am! 」

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

Princess Niyang's gaze shot toward the source 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 Niyang's eyes reflected Ye Qingran. Although she had seen Ye Qingran's likeness in portraits, the real person and the image were still worlds apart.

If the portrait already astonishes, the actual person is even more breathtaking—possessing a liveliness and divine charm that no painting can capture.

「Damn it! 」

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

Amidst the gaze of all, Ye Qingran flickered into the void, at a moderate distance, locking eyes with Princess Niyang.

Clad in white that outshone snow, her attire lacked Princess Niyang's splendor and elaborate makeup, yet her icy skin, jade bones, autumn‑water spirit, coupled with an ethereal air like a secluded orchid, not only failed to pale beside the princess but actually overwhelmed her presence.

If Princess Niyang is a peony blooming in a prosperous era amidst 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 lovely, yet it remains vulgar amidst the mortal world; the snow lotus, however, transcends the mundane, standing apart and peerless.

The crowd glanced at Princess Niyang, then at Ye Qingran; deep inside, the scales of beauty had already tipped.

Princess Niyang has lost.

Even with the Divine Clan's backing, she cannot make up her innate shortcomings in looks and bearing, which still fall short of Ye Qingran's; were that support given to Ye Qingran instead, the gap between them would become a chasm.

Princess Niyang naturally sensed this gap as well; she gritted her teeth and flung open the golden‑glimmering 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 Niyang, am hereby ordered to execute her! 」

Hiss—

Upon these words, the crowd erupted in an uproar.

Ye Qingran has slain a meritorious official of the Divine Clan; her crime deserves myriad deaths!

Gazes filled with shock fell upon Ye Qingran, brimming with complexity.

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

Ni Chang asked coldly.

"If one wants to accuse me, there is never a lack of pretext; you claim I slew a Divine Clan meritorious official—do you have any evidence?"

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

"Is the Divine Emperor always right?"

"That is, of course!"

Ye Qingran gently shook her head, "Then I can only say, the so-called Divine Clan is nothing more than this!"

The so-called Divine Clan, nothing more than this?

Ye Qingran's words once again made everyone draw a sharp breath of cold air!

Does she know what she is saying?

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

"Well done, Ye Qingran; today I will surely slay you here!"

"Who dares to move against her!"

Lu Yunfeng let out a fierce shout, leapt forward, and arrived beside Ye Qingran.

"Third Prince of the Beast Clan?!"

Seeing Lu Yunfeng, Ni Chang's expression shifted slightly; she had not expected to see the Beast Clan's Third Prince here, let alone that he would 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 gave a dismissive smile, "Is that so? Lu Yunfeng, perhaps you have just returned to Xuyu and are unaware that 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 if you add me as well?"

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

"Who are you?" Ni Chang frowned, scrutinized Qiu Yue Lang, and did not recognize him.

Yet Qiu Yue Lang's action 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 unreservedly stands with Ye Qingran?

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 ripple of pale blue water flowed over his body, and when the ripple faded, Qiu Yue Lang had taken on another form.

A form utterly unlike his previous one!

Behold Qiu Yue Lang now: his ink-black hair turned blue, his eyes deep as the sea, his nose bridge high and proud like mountains, his clothes transformed into an exquisite blue-white armor, a stellar trident gleaming fiercely, his whole person radiant, like an emperor of the ocean!

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

Sea Clan Crown Prince?!

This identity caused everyone present to freeze their gazes!

In Xuyu's five great realms, what people hear most are the Moyu, Shen Domain, Beast Clan, and Ling Domain; the remainder is the Haiyu! The Haiyu is vast and boundless, its area the largest among the five realms, and the Hai Clan rules it, utterly mysterious—ordinary folk rarely catch sight of the Hai Clan.

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

Even Qiu Yue Lang's master, Wanqi Zifeng, at this moment slapped his thigh in utter astonishment, "This brat, he's deceived me terribly!"

Ye Qingran also did not expect Qiu Yue Lang's true identity to be so shocking! That said, Qiu Yue Lang in his Hai Clan form is utterly captivating!

"I remember now!"

A flash of inspiration crossed the mind of Qiu Yue Lang, who had reverted to his Hai Clan form; he jerked his head up, overjoyed beyond measure!