Chapter 268: Chapter 266: Crown Prince "Why hasn’t the carriage arrived yet?" Su Yu couldn’t help but complain, and the others also showed expressions of concern. They had been waiting since morning until noon, unsure why the carriage to escort them was delayed. At that moment, sudden noises came from outside. A young noble dressed in luxurious clothing, surrounded by a dozen people, strode confidently into the courtyard. He wore a golden crown and a purple-gold brocade robe, with handsome features and a proud demeanor. Previously, when Lou Yi met the noble Shen Haoyu in the Yan Kingdom, his demeanor was still inferior compared to this youth. Beside him, two white-haired elders served as guards, with rosy complexions and not a single wrinkle, robust physiques, and radiating heat. Their vitality surprised Lou Yi greatly. They were clearly top-tier Martial Arts masters, comparable to Martial Artists and Black-skinned Martial Artists. A black-clothed youth whispered, "It’s Prince Qiu!" "What?!" Everyone was shocked. Prince Qiu was the youngest brother of the Zhao Kingdom’s emperor, and his territory Qiu City was right next to Jin City. His son naturally held an incomparable noble status, rivaling princes and princesses, and could only be admired by those present. Upon arriving in the courtyard, Prince Qiu’s guards immediately brought him a chair to sit on. He didn’t even glance at Lou Yi and the others, reclining on the chair with closed eyes. "Such a pretender..." Su Yu, next to Lou Yi, muttered under his breath. Unexpectedly, the two elders beside Prince Qiu, with sharp senses, turned their piercing gaze toward him. Startled, he turned pale and quickly shut his mouth. ’Clop clop clop!’ Moments later, the sound of hoofbeats could be heard outside Seeking Immortality Hall. Soon after, seven or eight people ushered in a young girl. The girl looked sixteen or seventeen, wearing a light green long dress, with a slender figure, skin like snow, and an exquisite yet aloof face carrying an air of coldness, keeping others at a distance. The grandeur of her arrival clearly indicated her extraordinary background. "That’s... General You’s daughter!" The black-clothed youth who recognized Prince Qiu exclaimed again, identifying the green-dressed girl’s identity. General You was a prominent general in the court, renowned for his achievements in the war against the Chu Kingdom, favored by the Zhao Kingdom emperor, highly influential. "Qingyi has arrived." Prince Qiu, originally feigning sleep, actually stood up and greeted the green-dressed girl actively, "I’ve heard from my father recently, Qingyi, that you possess a top-grade Yin Spirit Root. Congratulations. Entering the immortal sect together, we should support each other more in the future." "You flatter me, Your Highness." You Qingyi, General You’s daughter, replied lightly, her tone distant, unchanged despite Prince Qiu’s position. Prince Qiu smiled slightly, not taking offense. Suddenly, two girls appeared hand-in-hand at the door, looking almost identical, clearly twin sisters. One wore a pink silk dress, the other a white one, both with slender figures, sweet and appealing appearances. Though individually they were slightly inferior to General You’s daughter You Qingyi, together they were more captivating, even drawing Prince Qiu’s gaze several times. With this, all disciples heading to the Corpse-Driving Sect had arrived. Led by Daoist Li, three carriages departed from Seeking Immortality Hall, heading swiftly in the same direction. However, Prince Qiu and General You’s daughter each occupied a carriage alone, bringing along several attendants, receiving far superior treatment than others. Whereas Lou Yi, Su Yu, and the other disciples were cramped in the third carriage, pressed against each other, with almost no space to stretch their legs. "Damn it, why do they each occupy a carriage!" Su Yu protested indignantly. "Well, their status is different from ours," the black-clothed youth who recognized Prince Qiu and General You’s daughter sneered, "besides, they’ve paid for it, at least several hundred taels, could you afford it?" Hearing this, Su Yu didn’t dare utter another word, though he still seemed dissatisfied. Moments later, the carriage halted, and an elderly but vigorous voice sounded outside: "Miss Xu, my prince invites you to join him for tea." Following this, the two sweet-looking twin sisters descended from the crowded carriage and boarded Prince Qiu’s vehicle. "It’s good to be beautiful," Su Yu sneered. "A handsome man isn’t bad either; some nobles prefer that. It’s just a pity you haven’t met one," someone jested. Everyone laughed, filling the carriage with a cheerful atmosphere, leaving only Su Yu looking pale. The horses pulling the carriage were tall, their bodies covered with bright red hair, as if brushed with oil, moving much faster than ordinary horses. After a day and a night, the carriage reached the entrance of a small grove, several hundred miles from Jin City. There, more than a dozen similarly styled carriages awaited. On the adjacent grounds stood thirty to forty young men and women, presumably arriving from other cities. The waiting individuals had separated into two distinct areas. One group wore fine clothes, exuding extraordinary aura, obviously distinguished sons and daughters from various regions. The other group wore ordinary attire, most appearing timid and lacking confidence, standing more dispersed. They weren’t necessarily trying to gather together; they simply didn’t dare to mingle with those distinguished sons and daughters. Upon seeing Prince Qiu and General You’s daughter, the distinguished ones waved to them. "Your Highness, long time no see!" "Sister Qingyi, come over here!" Prince Qiu swung his long sleeves, smiling as he advanced, exuding flamboyance with every step. Even amidst these distinguished sons and daughters, he was the absolute center of attention. You Qingyi, with her high-cold disposition, seemed like a snow lotus blooming on a glacier. Though not as overtly dominant as Prince Qiu, she remained a striking figure in the crowd. Compared to them, Lou Yi appeared inconspicuous, quietly standing among the ordinary group, listening to the conversations of the second generation. "Your Highness, entering the immortal sect this time, will you no longer inherit Prince Qiu’s titles?" a noble youth teased. Prince Qiu laughed heartily: "Mundane wealth is but fleeting smoke, gone in an instant. Though I start anew in the Corpse-Driving Sect, I believe in myself, that one day I will achieve great success in the immortal path. Then, achieving longevity and roaming the kingdoms, wouldn’t it be delightful?" The prince’s ambition was impressive, his tone confident, coupled with his handsome appearance, he was truly charming. Many there displayed admiration, with a few noble girls even showing infatuation, longing to throw themselves into his embrace. Lou Yi stood among Jin City’s team, even the twin sisters focused intensely on Prince Qiu, making Su Yu beside him display a sour expression. Some are born noble, as the center of attention, favored by the world, without reason. Just then. A swath of gray appeared overhead, growing nearer, revealing itself as a tattered cloth, edges frayed, with numerous openings. Standing on the gray cloth was an elderly man in black, with grim features, gray temples, nearly gaunt face, exuding an eerie aura. "Uncle Master!" "Elder Peng!" Daoist Li and other leaders of Seeking Immortality Hall from various regions showed respect, bowing to the old man. ...