A Meeting Of Royalty

A platoon of soldiers marched on the wide paved highway made from stone. This was one of Hu Wenxi's attempts to streamline travel by paving existing routes with clearly defined roads with regular patrols. This way merchants will have a safe road to depend on without running into wild beasts.

This platoon of soldiers all wore the sigil of the imperial family, that of a dodecagonal diagram with 12 symbols written in. This was the sigil of Hu Wenxi's branch of the Hu clan ie the royal family. A regular Hu clansmen did not use this sigil. As such any passerby will identify that although the uniform of these soldiers looked similar to Hu clan soldiers, they were in fact direct followers of the emperor.

The soldiers moved in formation and surrounded a rich carriage pulled by two strong Kirins which followed after them. It was obvious that they were escorting the carriage along the road. A plain looking man in fancy armour rode at the front of the party, he carried a sword with him and had a fierce expression. He also wore a Chinese crown showcasing his identity as a prince.

This man was Hu Tong Shan, the second prince of the empire and also a marshal in the army. Although he was only 30 years old he had enlisted and worked in the army for a good number of years. He had been in service for nearly a decade and had experience fighting bandits and monsters.

The average power level of an upper realm was much higher then a lower realm. Although mortals with no cultivation were still the majority, the number of cultivators were much higher. In fact a Xiantian expert who may be rare in lower realms are fairly common in upper realms. This was why a powerful army was needed to pacify dangerous areas of the empire.

The incident with Sam had left some fiendish residue remaining in the world. Although Hu Wenxi cleared out the corruption, some may be left over. This was why the army had been in constant motion in the past year. Hu Tong Shan had taken to duty and left to patrol the empire around the eastern provinces near Celestial Star kingdom.

It was there that his own platoon met up with the royal party. The second prince was equally shocked and nervous to discover his elder brother in the area. Hu Jin Shen the crown prince was famous as well as being his father's proudest achievement. The crown prince was handsome, talented, smart, and powerful all things Hu Tong Shan felt he lacked.

For as long as he remembered Hu Jin Shen had received more attention then he did. After the crown prince was of superior position then him. His mother Nan Cui He was also the most ordinary of all his stepmothers. She would've been a common mortal if he brother hadn't been a legendary doctor and alchemist.

Although Nan Cui He had cultivation, this was to simply give her a long life. The concubine had no combat abilities, spells, nor weapon knowledge. Hu Tong Shan as the second son was always in the shadow to his big brother in everything. That's why he had a desire to leave the capital as soon as possible only returning for major events.

Previously his own cultivation was too low to participate in the tournament and watched from afar with his mother and elder sister. He saw his brother earn glory after glory. Jin Shen was only around 20 years older then him, this was barely anything to a cultivator and yet he was so much more powerful then he was.

Truth be told the second prince didn't participate because he knows he will be eliminated very quickly. He couldn't help but be also jealous of Yun Xiao Che ho breezed the competition despite is much lower cultivation. The young man sighed, he shouldn't be making these pointless thoughts. It didn't matter if he was prince right now he was a marshal of the empire.

The prince pulled his horse back and rode towards the carriage. He knocked several times before the door opened. What greeted him was a beautiful young 14 looking girl. She wore a purple flower on her head and was dressed in purple silk Chinese princess robes. "Second brother" she exclaimed happily reaching out and pulling Hu Tong Shan in, "Come in".

"Little sister, don't make things difficult for your brother" sitting by the window on the other side was the famous Hu Jin Shen. The legendary crown prince whose might stood at the 3rd meridian Crossing Tribulation realm. This was enough to establish a 4th rate power in the empire. For a young man barely 50 this was very impressive.

"Hello Tong Shan, I hope we didn't cause you too much trouble" Hu Jin Shen greeted amicably showing for Hu Tong Shan to sit. The prince accepted and sat down. "Its no problem, as an imperial soldier escorting members of the royal family" Hu Tong Shan replied with all the stiffness of a soldier. Hu Jin Shen winced slightly at the sight, why does his little brother have to be so cold.

"Ah? You're a prince too" Hu Lan Yue exclaimed unhappily, "You should be here with us". The young princess crossed her arms childishly. Hu Jin Shen shook his head and said, "Little sister, you're not a child anymore. You should behave in a more dignified manner".

Hu Tong Shan also nodded but Lan Yue humphed and pouted her cheeks. "I act however I want" she explained. Both princes were pretty used to this, their sister was spoiled by her mother since young but she was a good girl. "Besides I don't see you acting prim and proper all the time, your always out playing with your friends doing who knows what". This caught Hu Jin Shen off guard and he laughed nervously.

"Besides I herd Si Si tell me you were visiting a certain young miss of the" before the princess could finish Hu Jin Shen covered her mouth. "MMFF" the princess squirmed in his grasp and bit his hand to no avail. The crown prince's body was very tough. "So what did you come here for?" Hu Jin Shen quickly attempted to change the subject.

Hu Tong Shan nodded and reported, "We're nearing the northern dipper pass, once we cross that there is the glittering radiance star river and we'll see the Celestial Star capital within 6 kilometres after that". Hu Jin Shen nodded and let go of the princess who turned away. The prince couldn't help but think to himself, 'Why did you have to invite yourself'.

There was a certain rule in the palace and that was that no one said no to the youngest princess. The emperor was always cultivating but indulged her whenever he saw her and the empress was always working. She spent more time with her mother and maids then anyone else and rarely went anywhere outside the palace. She saw Hu Jin Shen leaving and snuck her way into the party.

Hu Tong Shan took this chance to ask his brother, "Your highness, why are you visiting the Celestial Star kingdom first? You didn't announce any tour and just showed up at the border a few days ago". Hu Jin Shen gave him an uneasy look and replied, "Classified". Hu Tong Shan nodded and asked no further while Hu Lan Yue looked at her brother. She wanted to ask but Hu Jin Shen gave her a serious look to shut up.

Hu Jin Shen turned to Hu Tong Shan and said, "This is only an inspection of the damages caused by Sam, I wanted to check on the 6 major powers as the acting emperor whilst father is away". Hu Jin Shen gave the second prince instructions to just follow regular protocol for the time being.

Before he left the second prince turned and asked Hu Jin Shen, "If you wouldn't mind me asking, where did his majes…" Hu Jin Shen gave him an annoyed look and he quickly changed his words. "Where did father go?" Hu Tong Shan was also curious on the whereabouts of Hu Wenxi.

The emperor had left the capital two weeks after the Sam incident without notice. It was only later revealed that Hu Jin Shen took up the role of acting emperor and began earnestly ruling in Hu Wenxi's place. During this whole time Qian Mei Hua had barricaded herself in the time acceleration chamber and hadn't said a word. Hence the minister's and officials just turned to following Hu Jin Shen's orders.

Hu Jin Shen sighed, 'the peaceful days for the empire is over'. He said, "Look brother, just do your job for the time being. I'll tell you more late but right now father is doing something important". He reached into his robes and pulled out a sigil and handed it to Hu Tong Shan, "Use that at the check in station in northern dipper pass". He sent is brother off and began thinking to himself.

His father had his own plans and left the empire. He only gave Jin Shen a few instructions and to listen to Blade 1 when he left. Hu Jin Shen codlin't help but feel anxious at this thought. He was already aware of a conspiracy in Celestial Star kingdom. This time he decided to personally intervene and see for himself what's going on.

While this may seem dangerous, several figures were attached to the royal party. This included doctor Nan, Hu Wei, and the grand general Yi Guang. Both were Human Immortals experts and Yi Guang was even a famed solitary cultivator before conquest.

Even the Celestial Star king was not Yi Guang's match. With his spear in hand Yi Guang was nearly invincible, only the Bear demon ancestor, Long Chi Bai and similar figures were superior.

Unknown to all but a few, invisible immortal energy concentrate in the air. A tiny sand rat floated just outside the Thousand Flames upper realm cloaked in myriad ways to remain invisible.

…

In a nearby star system a rip in space opened up. Outstayed a crowned figure in rich robes and an ordinary face. This was Hu Wenxi who had previously left to wander the vast space. Across from him another two figures stepped out. One looked identical to Hu Wenxi except he wore battle armour while the other was an extremely beautiful woman with snow white hair and two horns protruding from her head.

"Took you long enough. You know I felt the backlash from your tribulation. Your could've died and implicated me in the process" Hu Wenxi scolded his double. The other Hu Wenxi scoffed, "It was the only way for me to survive, besides didn't you just do the same thing?" Both figures stood in a stand off before bursting in laughter.

The woman just stood quietly on the side observing. Hu Wenxi looked at her and nodded "Its good to see you again Ao ChangYing". The woman smiled and threw a bottle at the emperor, "For you, I know you don't need it anymore but its a waste to throw it away".

Hu Wenxi nodded and accepted the bottle. He then sent mental transmissions to the two. "That's my thought process so far" Hu Wenxi finally spoke when he's done. The other Hu Wenxi looked around space sending his divine senses everywhere. When he got nothing he replied, "Very well, lets get rid of whatever pest is plaguing our empire". He took a step forward and took off in FTL speeds towards Thousand Flames upper realm. The other two followed after him.

Under the gaze of the distant North Star, the three cultivators made their way home.