The Mysterious Crystal

That point aside, he was curious why his uncle wanted to protect Arza's family. He felt not only the risk was low, but his family was also a commoner with no great feat.

Was it really because of Xu An? Showing his kindness to his favorite nephew as an act of showing off?

That's possible… Xu An said in realization. With his uncle's strange personality, it was possible!

"Uncle Xu, thank you. Although I don't know why your uncle wanted to protect my family despite the fact that the benefits aren't that much, I'm grateful for it." Arza smiled and eyes filled with gratitude.

"Don't sweat it. My uncle isn't those fools who act only if there is a benefit. Let's go to the party," Xu An suggested and Arza closely followed behind him.

As they walked in the hallway, Xu An pondered about a way to increase his cultivation.

His only source of absorbing qi was that flower and other sources seemed useless for his body.

It was like the qi from the flower was gas and other sources were water while Xu An was the vehicle. It couldn't run if it was filled with water.

He hadn't managed to eat the last petal yet as the time to go to the party was close.

So his progress stagnated after he ate that flower petal as he didn't know what human seeds were.

Right now, finding what it was was his goal. Maybe some people here knew a thing or two about it? The world was vast after all.

Reaching the main hall where the engagement party was held. It was filled with beautiful men and women dressed in a way that increased their charm.

They were nobles, influential people of different organizations, wealthy merchants, and talented cultivators.

The main hall was grand and vast. A golden chandelier dangling on the ceiling and food on the table. People were talking and the atmosphere was peaceful.

Soft giggles once in a while sounded in the air.

Xu An entered the main hall without attracting attention or at least that was what he was hoping for.

His appearance was still the same. Long hair without the rounded glasses, a yet matured face, and rhombus shape on his forehead. His facial features were otherworldly.

It thumped every ladies' heart once they saw his face.

Crap, I forgot to change my appearance, Xu An regretted in his mind.

Xu An ignored the gaze as he went to the table and ate a few sweets like pancakes and muffins.

The sweet sensation spoiled his tongue. His worry was swept away because of it. His face was that of delight as he chewed the sweet and he was captivated by it that he ignored the gazes of everyone.

He ate those sweets with a foolish look as they emitted sparkles. That look of his didn't plummet his handsome face, as he stuffed the sweets into his mouth. His cheek puff and that made him adorable like a chubby baby.

Even the ladies' had the urge to pinch his cheek.

Xu An didn't realize he showed his weakness in front of everyone and even if he knew, he didn't care. He did what he liked, not what others wanted him to do.

For him, this was the true meaning of freedom.

Within seconds, the sweet delicacies vanished into his stomach and Xu An didn't realize this. He reached out his hand to grab a muffin but there was nothing.

Realizing it there was nothing, he examined the crowds and saw a servant. Approaching him, Xu An requested the servant for more and he nodded.

"That's the young master's elder brother? His look is good but his capability is no different than ordinary mortals." A woman whispered but it didn't escape from everyone's ears.

"Shh! If the young master heard what you had said, you would lose everything!" The woman's friend quickly warned her.

It was obvious the woman was an ordinary mortal that forgot she was in a party of cultivators with sharp ears everywhere.

Xu An ignored the woman's insult as he swept over his gaze to the crowd. Their faces were familiar as he had a good relationship with them.

"May I know this lady's name?" A guy with formal attire of black and white greeted the woman who insulted Xu An, asking her name.

The woman was slightly in a daze as she didn't expect someone would approach her. Furthermore, the man before her was someone influential.

"Isn't he the seventh prince?"

"I've heard he helped the Infantry to hunt dangerous explorers with a bounty above 40 million Yakhu and succeed!"

"As expected of the blood of an emperor!"

Praises, one after another rang out in the air and Xu An quietly watched from the side as he waited for his snacks.

The seventh prince, had talents in cultivation and his achievements are in no way lower than his siblings, Xu An said to himself.

The seventh prince had good looks, power, and money. He had everything but he wasn't arrogant.

But everyone knew one thing that this prince lacked.

"Your highness! My name is Trina, the child of Azaruk Renga," she replied as she bowed gracefully, lifting her skirt.

"Azaruk Renga, a merchant who rose from the bottom to top. He has a great personality and is proficient in his career.

"I salute him," said the seventh prince with a smile.

Being praised by such a person filled her heart with joy. Although he didn't compliment her, she was proud of her father.

Whose daughter wouldn't be happy if their father was being complimented like that?

"However," the prince paused and Trina got a bad feeling. He continued without waiting for Trina's response as he said, "it's unfortunate that he works with a wanted explorer. He smuggled weapons into small countries, causing a spark between kingdoms that led to a big war. What a waste of talent," said the seventh prince coldly and Trina stood there with her gaze cast down her toe.

She lifted her head as she noticed a mocking gaze from everyone. Couldn't endure it any longer, she hastily left the party.

The seventh prince smiled and he walked away as if he didn't do anything.

This was the one thing that made the seventh prince far from perfect. He was savage.

The seventh prince came to Xu An's side and ate a pancake with a fork on a small plate.

"That's what she gets for insulting the seventh prince's closest friend."

"What a dumb woman."

A round of mockings sounded in the air before the party went back to its track. They couldn't be bothered by an act of a dumb human.

"Thanks," Xu An casually said. He then pushed his plate to the seventh prince and offered, "want some?'

The seventh prince shook his head.

"You know, you don't have to do that," Xu An abruptly said.

What the seventh prince did was unnecessary. Xu An got used to something like that, as long as what the person said didn't cross his taboos, he ignored it. 

"The young master's elder brother was insulted. I can't let the person get away like that, others might think you are easy to bully with" The young prince gently explained his reasons.

"Your way of currying favors to my little brother never fails to disgust me." Xu An remarked as he stuffed the whole pancake into his mouth.

The seventh prince laughed instead of angry, "like usual. Your straightforward attitude never changes."

Xu An smiled as he put the plate to a servant that coincidentally walked past him.

"Do you know anything about human seeds?" Xu An asked without bushing around the bush.

"No, never heard of it. What for?" The seventh prince shook his head.

"Something a friend of mine asked me and needs for something. I don't even know what it's for." Xu An cooked up a lie on the spot and the seventh prince believed it.

"What's your cultivation base at?"

"At the peak of the Seventh Celestial," the seventh prince replied with a bright smile.

"Already? At such a young age? Say, want to exchange bodies?" Xu An joked after a moment of shock.

"Sure, but you have to conquer the Great Tower first."

"I don't need to change my body if I could do so!" He pretended to be angry.

After a short moment of silence. They both laughed.

The seventh prince had close ties with the Infantry and always gave them his assistance. His remarkable strategy and quick thinking allowed the Infantry to complete missions rather quickly.

The Infantry viewed the seventh prince highly. Should they encounter a hard mission, they wouldn't hesitate to ask him.

Unfortunately, it was not that the Infantry was incapable of handling the missions. It was because of the lack of manpower.

Thus, the seventh prince had little time in his hands. This was the first time in many years he was back to his home. 

He was three years older than Xu An but he didn't care that being older means has seniority.

"It's been a long time since I was here. There are a lot of things we have to catch up with. This reminds me, who is this little fella?

"Is he your kid, Xu An? Never knew you became a father this young. So who's the wife?"

"Hehe, do you want to know that much? Then share who your crush is and I'll tell you about it for free," he said humorously as he laughed.

"Jokes aside, his name is Arza Redwood. I found him on the front gate being bullied by a gorilla.

"Kind-hearted I am. I saved him and brought him here." The edge of his lips curved upward, he smiled smugly.

Gorilla? Arza and the seventh prince were confused. Especially so for the latter, he even imagined a real gorilla wreaking havoc on the gate.

He didn't question Xu An who this gorilla was. Probably someone nothing worthy to mention.

"Is that so, Arza Redwood. I've heard of some people with the same name."

"Yeah, what's with that? I've been curious," Xu An suddenly asked in a curious tone.

"I don't know myself. We aren't allowed to make theories and random guesses of this name.

"Where it came from, why it spread throughout the lands. Let's not talk about it."

This name is more than meets the eyes, I guess problems will flood in like waves if I use my other identity. Though I think they already figured out that I'm a member of this clan, Xu An mused.

"Do you know Chin Sha?" Xu An asked. He only knew a little about Chin Sha.

As someone from the Infantry, the seventh prince surely had some good information about him.

"Chin Sha, an explorer with a bounty of 60 million in his head. A captain of the guild 'Red Cloud'. He is a cultivator at the stage of Fifth Cores of Sky."

Xu An wore a perplexed confusion as he blurted out in surprise, "60 million? Not 5?"

"His bounty rose three days ago. It was found out that he stole an Angelic Crystal from a giant mount belonging to the Infantry."

"Angelic Crystal? I've heard of this and I thought it's only a rumor. I can not believe it's a real thing." Xu An was in disbelief.

"Angelic Crystal? What's that, uncle Xu?" Arza asked.

"It's a magical crystal that contains angelic powers. People can absorb the energy within to gain this power.

"In exchange, they will lose the ability to cultivate," Xu An explained.