Chapter 638: Ninth Prince of the Realm

Zhang Lie hadn't thought about matters from this perspective before, but it was clear the prince had a point.

Since this world had a king of the realm, he would surely possess the most information out of anyone in the world. All the news and secrets of various worlds would naturally concentrate in the palace.

The ninth prince thought for a moment, "I can't just bring any random person into the palace, let alone the royal study. Of course, a prince's master would easily be able to access these places."

"Ha! Do you think you can hire me, Zhang Lie, on the basis of this information alone? Surely you have some treasures of your own as well."

The ninth prince scratched his head in embarrassment. "I do have a few, but I doubt you'll be interested in them, Master. The only thing that you might want is this."

The ninth prince retrieved a familiar piece of a tattered map from a hidden slit in his belt.

"This is—"

The ninth prince explained, "This is the only treasure I possess that may catch your attention, Master."

Zhang Lie asked, "Where did you obtain this?"

The ninth prince hesitated midway through proffering this map to Zhang Lie. "My mother, the empress, gave me this right before her death. She told me that this map had extraordinary origins, and even my father was unaware of its provenance."

Zhang Lie snatched the piece of the map up. "This is more than enough to send you back to the capital, but insufficient for me to help make you king."

The ninth prince thought for a moment. "Master, if you aren't interested in land, gold, titles, or women... well, the royal treasury has an herb that can elevate your biological status."

"Hoh? That sounds extraordinary." Thinking that Zhang Lie didn't believe him, the ninth prince continued,

"The herb is a fiery-red flower, like a burning piece of the heavens. It possesses immense energy. Father obtained two sprigs from an unknown source, and he's already consumed one."

Upon hearing the ninth prince's description, Zhang Lie was unable to remain calm. He shot upright. "Is the flower about the size of your face? Does it exude red light—do the petals look like burning flames, does it scorch the air all around it?"

The ninth prince frowned. "I only had a single look at the treasure. It was preserved by my father's power, and I wasn't able to get too close a glance. What you said sounds reasonable, Master, but how do you know so much of it? Have you seen this herb before?"

"For this flower, I'll make you king."

Zhang Lie's eyes glowed with light. He could hardly have imagined that a primordial starflower would have made its way to this planet—it was one of the primary ingredients that Zhang Lie was planning Potion #5 around.

Upon hearing Zhang Lie's response, the ninth prince immediately bowed. "Thank you for your assistance, Master."

Zhang Lie urged, "We'll leave immediately once you're done eating."

The ninth prince gulped down his portion of meat, hungry after his ordeal, whereas Zhang Lie had just enough meat to acquire his missing gene fragments.

Zhang Lie: a disaster-grade lifeform

Framework: Foundation, Lv. MAX; Ninecarp Transformation, Sixth Form: River Dragon Techniques: Rippling Walk (pinnacle), Three-Wave Crescendo (pinnacle), Calm Waters (advanced), Fists of the Silent Sea (pinnacle), The Boundless Blade (pinnacle), Eclipse (pinnacle), Syzygy (pinnacle), ?Ninesoul Dragonblade (advanced), ...

Genes: Basic, 160; Mutated, 150; Superior, 30; Peak, 10

Soulshards: White Grub (superior), Blood Ant (superior), Potbellied Toad (mutated), Eternalspring Cocoon (superior), Dragonwolf (superior), Moonlight Wyrm (peak), Golden Roc (peak), Mistmeld Clam?(disaster)

He had the ninth prince ride on Whiter. The ninth prince was very shocked to see that a third-level beast was only suited to be his master's mount—just how strong did his master have to be?

Zhang Lie asked, "Do we need to search for your remaining guards?"

The ninth prince shook his head. "My older brothers wouldn't take the risk of leaving any of them alive."

The ninth prince's tone was calm and logical, but it highlighted his family's terrible cruelty. Either his guards were purged, or they had been compelled to work for his brothers instead.

White and Whiter moved rapidly. They arrived in a neighboring town within moments, and White and Whiter's presence shocked the aliens within.

Zhang Lie and the ninth prince were forced to leave them outside the town. To Zhang Lie's surprise, the ninth prince possessed no money, and Zhang Lie had to sell off a few of the Yeluo potions.

Thanks to their superb effect, he was able to fetch a high price for them from the local apothecary.

He bought the ninth prince a change of clothes. When the ninth prince walked out of the dressing room, Zhang Lie stared at him with such shock that it looked as though his eyes were on the verge of popping out of their sockets.

The ninth prince's face was pale white, his eyes clear and limpid like water, with intelligence and maturity unbefitting his age. His features were exquisite, his limbs slender and delicate. All the women of the world would be jealous of his appearance.

"You're... cross-dressing?"

The ninth prince nodded. "I've simply touched up my appearance a little."

"Is this something that interests you?" Zhang Lie couldn't help but wonder just what he had experienced within the palace to end up with such an unexpected hobby.

The ninth prince touched his hair. "Well, I don't dislike this get-up, but it's hardly just a matter of personal interest. My brothers' eyes and ears are everywhere to be found, and I need to disguise myself to avoid unnecessary trouble."

Zhang Lie shook his head. "Return to your original appearance. Dress like a prince."

The ninth prince seemed flummoxed.

Zhang Lie rolled his eyes at him. "If anyone were to find out that you dressed as a woman to survive, you'll be a laughing-stock when you make it back to the palace."

"The ends justify the means," the prince retorted.

Zhang Lie shook his head. "Change."

He wanted to use the ninth prince as bait for the other eight princes' men to get a sense for the methods they tended to use.

To his credit, the ninth prince understood Zhang Lie's reasoning within moments.

"Master, I understand! You're trying to make it seem as though I have a strong backer, so strong I can appear in public after the assassination attempt without any disguise. That will cause my brothers to think twice before trying again."

Zhang Lie laughed. "I don't need to pretend to be strong."

The ninth prince frowned. "Master, you mean—"

"Do as I say, immediately!"

The ninth prince returned to the dressing room a young girl and emerged a young man.

"Very good. Let's set off."