The speaker was Donghuang Yu.
Donghuang Yu hailed from the Winged Tribe—descendants of humanity's most powerful ancient branch. Strikingly handsome, a pair of white feather markings graced his forehead, radiating martial prowess.
In the capital, his arrogance was legendary. Apart from the Five Princes, few cultivators earned his regard. He'd once declared: "Only those matching my movement arts deserve my conversation."
A subtle gleam lit Beigong Qingtian's eyes. It begins. He exchanged a glance with the "wronged" Beigong Xue, who lowered her head.
The pitiful princess peeked at Donghuang Yu through her lashes, eyes shimmering with feigned gratitude. Inside, she bubbled with glee.
Donghuang Yu's pulse quickened. Beigong Xue never gave us a second glance! This 'gratitude'... a sign!
The other three princes cursed inwardly. Donghuang Yu seized the moment!
Ye Fan turned, cold amusement in his heart. A banquet of traps. Petty tricks. But if crushing these flies tonight spared him future annoyances from the princess? Worth it.
"Donghuang Yu speaks true." Ye Fan's voice cut the tension. "A princess's mentor must be extraordinary. Before tonight? None of you were worthy."
Audacity. The words ignited fury across the hall.
Even Beigong Qingtian blinked. Is he mad? Drunk on borrowed power? Provoking them all?
Beigong Xue's eyes widened, inner joy blooming. Oh, boast! Boast all you want! Let's see you crawl out of this! Tomorrow, I'll tell Father how you shamed us!
Me? Your student? I'm the Realm's Most Exquisite Fairy! Unteachable!
"Arrogance!" Donghuang Yu snapped. "Prove you back it!"
"Now, now!" Beigong Qingtian smoothly intervened, fanning flames. "Brother Ye means no insult! Truly! He doesn't scorn you just for being princes... or merely because he's a prince himself..."
Ye Fan almost rolled his eyes. Subtle, Third Prince. Very subtle.
"You challenge me?" Ye Fan asked Donghuang Yu, a plan forming. My cultivation crawls. Normal training takes too long. In my past life, I was an alchemist... With funds for rare herbs...
And Ye Can, Ye Gui need resources. Plus building a spy network... Why not fleece these fools?
"Yes!" Donghuang Yu pressed. "Unless fear binds you? I won't force a coward."
"This mentor's seat is precious." Ye Fan tapped his chin. "If I lose, I lose it. Win? I gain nothing. A poor wager. I decline."
"Spineless!" Donghuang Yu jeered. "Resign now! Spare us your disgrace!"
"I'll keep it." Ye Fan smiled thinly. "Want to challenge? Bring stakes. The mentor's seat is high value. What's your wager? Empty boasts? If you've no coin, crawl back to your wet nurse. Bark less."
"YOU DARE?!" Donghuang Yu's face purpled. "Stakes? Fine! I'll break your pride!" He slammed a jade token onto the table. "A Heaven's Mansion Pardon Token! Grants exemption from one admission rule!"
Gasps rippled.
Ye Fan's heart leapt. Heaven's Mansion! One of the Four Great Academies of the Eastern Spirit Realm! Above mere kingdoms! Admissions approached.
And within it... the Eternal Fallen Heavenly River Water! In his past life, that treasure empowered the academy's top genius, Ning Hongchen, letting him dominate the Eastern Spirit Realm.
They'd clashed in a secret realm. Though Ye Fan was stronger, Ning Hongchen stole his hard-won prize, humiliating him. Only desperate escape saved his life.
This life... that river water is mine.
"Deal." Ye Fan's voice rang clear. "I lose? I resign tomorrow. You lose? The token is mine."
"Splendid!" Beigong Qingtian clapped. "A duel of capitals' elites! A rare spectacle! I'll arbitrate!"
"With Your Highness judging, I'm content." Donghuang Yu bowed, then hesitated. "But the contest's nature... Since mentoring Her Highness requires all-around excellence... May I set the terms?"
Not lack of confidence, he assured himself. But the token... too precious. That bastard's taunts got to me.
"Name them." Ye Fan waved dismissively.
"We duel in movement arts!" Donghuang Yu declared. "His Highness's Martial Pause Lake is perfect! Stakes and lotus pads dot its surface!"
"Disrupt the other's rhythm! Whoever touches water—loses!"
"Brother Donghuang has keen eyes!" Beigong Qingtian beamed. "The lake was forged for mastering Three-Inch Steps! It holds a gravity-vortex formation! Enter, and iron weights drag you down!"
"To tread lotus without wetting a sole? Among the young... impossible."
Murmurs of agreement rose. Everyone knew the Donghuang Clan's signature art—Treading Snow Without Trace—made its user light as a feather.
The Prince's "impossible" subtly praised Donghuang Yu: Others fail. He won't.
As for Ye Fan? A forgotten talent. Pre-shattered Dantian, perhaps. Now? A mad dog biting anything near.
Ding Chunqiu and Qian Hong smirked, anticipating his disgrace.
The two stood on wooden stakes at the lake's edge, facing each other across the moonlit water.
"Ye Fan." Donghuang Yu's voice dripped scorn. "A traitor who sold his clan for a title. A fox borrowing a tiger's might. That you stand before me today... laughable."
Silver energy shimmered at his feet. A mere sidestep birthed phantom afterimages.
"Remember this moment! It's your life's peak!"
"For today..." His eyes turned glacial. "...you face an enemy beyond your trash-tier reach!"