The Invincible Supreme Medical God

Arriving at the castle, Yan Xiaobao was surprised to see the guards bow respectfully to him. They did not block his path; instead, they offered to find a servant who could lead him to the Third Prince's quarters. "It seems everyone knows what transpired during the banquet," Yan Xiaobao thought, nodding to the guard in gratitude as they sought out a servant to guide him. Left to his own devices, he would not have been able to locate the Third Prince without assistance.

"There is one thing humans do far better than beasts, and that is gossip," Lan Feng remarked from deep within the Dantian Cave, his words teasing a chuckle out of Yan Xiaobao. "I disagree," the young man replied. "When I lived in the Divine Domain, beasts could chatter as idly as humans, if not more." He grinned, and Lan Feng shrugged. "They must have started gossiping during the four thousand years since I left," Lan Feng retorted stubbornly. Despite wanting to continue the exchange, Yan Xiaobao noticed a servant rushing toward him. The man stopped abruptly, bowing deeply before panting desperately, his hands resting on his knees for a moment before he managed to stand upright again.

"Your master, I beg you to follow me to His Highness," the servant gasped out, gesturing for Yan Xiaobao to follow. The servant's hurried pace relaxed, and his strides were now comfortable for Yan Xiaobao. It was clear the young man was not a cultivator—his power level seemed deliberately low, as cultivators carried the inherent threat of assassination risk. For that reason, only guards were permitted to cultivate, their vigilance akin to that of one paired with a watchdog.

Even in Yan Xiaobao's own residence, all the servants were experts in the Lower Dantian realm. These experts had achieved their cultivation levels naturally, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth with no active effort to cultivate. In the city's civilian districts, schools taught young men and women to cultivate, often starting between the ages of ten to fifteen. By the age of fifteen, they typically began careers as guards or mercenaries. A select few experts embarked on journeys to explore the world, aspiring to make their mark in history as adventurers.

Though Yan Xiaobao was lost in thought about the guards and servants, he kept pace behind his guide. Suddenly, the man leading him stopped. They had walked through parks, gardens, mansions, and halls, finally arriving at a grand estate—three times the size of Yan Xiaobao's newly acquired mansion. The grounds, however, were considerably smaller, lacking a massive park in the rear; instead, at the corner, Yan Xiaobao glimpsed a modest garden.

The servant made no gesture or statement before leaving in haste, bowing quickly to Yan Xiaobao before disappearing. As the servant cast a fleeting glance over his shoulder, a flicker of terror was evident in his expression. Yan Xiaobao shook his head in mild amusement; the young servant was clearly afraid of him. Allowing a small laugh to escape his lips, Yan Xiaobao refocused his attention on the door. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he walked forward, stepped up to the door, and knocked lightly.

When Yan Xiaobao knocked, the door creaked open slowly, revealing an elderly man standing behind it. The man bowed to Yan Xiaobao, though only slightly, carrying himself with an aura of significance. Anyone observing him would recognize he was no ordinary person—likely the prince's personal steward, charged with overseeing all servants of the estate.

"His Highness will surely feel relieved to see you accept his invitation," the elderly man said in a trembling voice, gesturing for Yan Xiaobao to enter the estate ahead of him. The two walked through the opulent mansion in silence, exchanging no words beyond the initial greeting. After passing through several rooms, they eventually reached the rear of the estate, stepping into the garden—a place Yan Xiaobao had only glimpsed briefly from the outside. Contrary to his expectations, the garden was not as small as it had appeared. It was of decent size, though still dwarfed by the sprawling park attached to Yan Xiaobao's own residence.

The garden was neatly manicured, with grass trimmed with care and stones thoughtfully arranged to create a serene atmosphere. Tall trees encircled the area, providing privacy. As Yan Xiaobao surveyed the garden curiously, his gaze landed on a set of chairs and a table in the distance. Seated in one of the chairs was the Third Prince of the Sun Kingdom, Shao Ye. The man looked as regal and striking as he had during their last encounter. Handsome, his skin smooth and porcelain-like, Shao Ye's hair was meticulously styled, tied back just as it had been at Yan Xiaobao's lavish banquet. This time, he wore white robes adorned with black trim and snake patterns instead of his previous black attire. He was as stunning as ever, a faint smile gracing his lips, his eyes glowing brightly—his excitement about receiving Yan Xiaobao was evident.

Seeing such a friendly demeanor, Yan Xiaobao was filled with uncertainty. The prince had already proven himself shrewder than ordinary men, and Yan Xiaobao sensed that he possessed something—a keen perception and intelligence—that even Mr. Xu admired deeply. To discern Yan Xiaobao's nature, the prince must have extraordinary senses, indicating layers of hidden motives beneath the surface, despite being merely a King-level expert.

The prince must have gathered extensive information about Yan Xiaobao, as he clearly understood that Deng Wu and Wang Julong were part of Yan Xiaobao's faction—two individuals who had strong desires to see the Third Prince dead. Despite this knowledge, Shao Ye greeted Yan Xiaobao with a warm, open smile and stretched out his arms as though welcoming a dear friend. The prince's cordiality unnerved Yan Xiaobao; his gut feeling warned him that the man was not as naive as he appeared. Born into privilege, Shao Ye undoubtedly bore the scars of conspiracies, internal strife, and survival-driven battles.

"Be cautious; his aura is sharper than Wan Qiao's. This man is ruthless, steeped in a scent of blood," Lan Feng commented, prompting Yan Xiaobao to make an internal nod of agreement. Outwardly, Yan Xiaobao donned a brilliant smile as he embraced the Third Prince like a long-lost friend. "I greatly appreciate your allowing me the honor of visiting your private residence," Yan Xiaobao remarked politely, withdrawing from the embrace and offering Shao Ye a respectful bow. The gesture made the smile on Shao Ye's face grow even brighter.

"No need for formalities. Please, don't stand on ceremony. Call me 'Ye'... I'm genuinely impressed by your accomplishments, your extraordinary adventures, and your incredible combat skills despite your youth," the prince remarked, motioning for Yan Xiaobao to take a seat. Yan Xiaobao sat gratefully.

"Your Highness is too kind," Yan Xiaobao said with a smile. "Please, call me Ye!" the prince insisted, to which Yan Xiaobao nodded in gratitude. "Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer," he recited an ancient proverb to Lan Feng and Phoenix, nodding slightly to them. Both figures remained vigilant, even though outwardly they appeared serene, never letting down their guard. Yan Xiaobao was convinced that the prince, for all his current friendliness, harbored motives as intricate as his own. Although he doubted the prince would attempt anything so brash as to eliminate him in broad daylight in the garden, Yan Xiaobao maintained a cautious optimism. He waited for an opportunity to glean insights that might aid his pursuit of vengeance as he conversed with the Third Prince.

In the exchange with the Third Prince, Yan Xiaobao needed to stay alert and guarded, preventing any unintentional leaks of information. The prince's line of questioning was sharp and varied, ranging from the Beast Army to the Divine Domain, even delving into the battles surrounding the Siban Empire. Mixed within these inquiries were subtle probes into Yan Xiaobao's allegiance to his friends and the circumstances that had brought him to Muchuan City. Despite the sheer number of topics covered, the dialogue remained balanced overall. Yan Xiaobao attempted to pose his own questions, but the responses he received were vague and noncommittal. As time passed, neither man succeeded in uncovering the other's vulnerabilities. The most Yan Xiaobao learned was that Shao Ye appeared to be a courteous prince devoted to his citizens, cherishing his siblings and holding deep respect for his father. He portrayed himself as a calculating but benevolent individual, contrasted starkly against brothers who orchestrated assassinations and targeted entire innocent families. Yan Xiaobao, on the other hand, came across as a world traveler whose random encounters beyond his control led him to Chenyuan. While there, he shared a few human war strategies with beasts but accomplished nothing particularly noteworthy.

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