Chapter 1496: Venturing Into The Tigers Den

Far beyond the horizon.

Yi Feng soared through the clouds, his eyes slightly reddened. Yet, he was acutely aware of the heavy responsibility he bore, not daring to dwell on the thoughts of his beloved. He could only grip the long sword in his hand tightly, using it as a reminder to himself.

As he continued to channel his cultivation to flee further, the small mountain village had long been left behind at the edge of the sky. Yi Feng's expression grew increasingly solemn. Even though his heart was filled with countless turbulent emotions, they were quietly suppressed by a chilling resolve.

Soon, he was about to step into the territory of the Eastern Spirit Empire.

Eastern Spirit Empire, Imperial Capital.

The long street stretched like a dragon, with shops lining both sides in orderly rows. People of all kinds came and went, including high-ranking officials and extraordinary cultivators wielding weapons.

In the imperial capital of this empire, extraordinary individuals could be seen everywhere. Ordinary citizens had long grown accustomed to this, and few paid attention to the passersby.

However, on this day, the well-informed residents of the capital began to stop and look back.

At the center of their gaze, a man stepped onto the long street.

This man had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, with long black hair cascading down like a waterfall. He held an ancient long sword in his hand, exuding an extraordinary and ethereal aura. As he walked slowly through the bustling market, he stood out like a crane among chickens.

Many people looked at this swordsman with admiration.

Before the onlookers could get a good look, the black-armored imperial guards of the Eastern Spirit Empire rode forward to clear the way. The crowd on both sides of the street was pushed aside by the guards.

Only the white-robed swordsman stood alone on the empty street.

Then, a gilded carriage steadily approached and stopped in the middle of the street. The beasts pulling the carriage emitted a terrifying aura, startling the onlookers on both sides.

When someone hurriedly jumped down from the luxurious carriage, the surrounding whispers grew even more intense.

"The Sixth Prince?!"

"Greetings to the Sixth Prince!"

As the crowd on both sides bowed and greeted with fervor, the richly dressed young man who had jumped down from the carriage had eyes only for the white-robed swordsman. After a moment of surprise and joy, he strode forward and greeted him warmly.

"Senior!"

"It really is you!"

"I never thought we would meet again. Today, I must fulfill my duty as a host and repay the kindness you showed me back then!"

The enthusiastic greeting and warm words stunned the surrounding onlookers.

Seeing the young man's slightly excited demeanor, Yi Feng also deliberately showed a hint of surprise and tactfully clasped his hands in response.

"So, you are actually a prince of the Eastern Spirit Empire..."

"I was just passing through this city and never expected to meet you here."

Although Yi Feng already knew the other's identity and had intentionally come to approach him, he still needed to maintain his act to avoid arousing suspicion.

Ouyang Yu, the Sixth Prince, didn't seem to think much of it. He smiled and nodded, then turned to welcome Yi Feng.

"So, Senior was just passing through. What a coincidence!"

"Regardless, it's rare for us to meet again. I, as the prince, will not let you leave so easily. I must fulfill my duty as a host and repay the kindness you showed me back then!"

With that, he took Yi Feng by the hand and led him toward the luxurious carriage.

Yi Feng half-heartedly resisted but eventually followed him into the carriage and left.

Not long after.

A grand banquet was held at the prince's residence, with Yi Feng as the guest of honor. The Sixth Prince, Ouyang Yu, held him in high regard, and they chatted and drank merrily throughout the feast. This special attention drew the eyes of the many experts and officials present.

Yi Feng did not reveal any flaws, secretly observing everything in the prince's residence.

It had to be said, this was indeed the residence of a prince of the Eastern Spirit Empire. The furnishings and treasures were beyond description, and the extravagance of the banquet surpassed ordinary imagination. Rare spiritual fruits could be seen everywhere.

Even more astonishing was the fact that the prince's residence was filled with experts. Just among those seated at the banquet, there were seven Infant Source Realm cultivators!

Cultivators of this level could easily establish second-tier sects, yet they were willing to serve in the prince's residence. This spoke volumes about the profound foundation of the Eastern Spirit Empire and Ouyang Yu's skill in winning people's hearts...

Having just entered the tiger's den, Yi Feng felt considerable pressure and became even more cautious.

Although he responded fluently throughout the banquet and showed no flaws, he still did not dare to be overconfident. Even after the banquet ended and he was led to a guest room to rest, he remained vigilant.

Similarly, Ouyang Yu did not trust him as much as he appeared to. As soon as Yi Feng's presence was revealed in the imperial capital, he had already sent people to investigate his background and origins.

After all, a swordsman of Yi Feng's level suddenly appearing in the imperial capital of the Eastern Spirit Empire was no ordinary matter. Anyone would be concerned.

After everyone had dispersed.

Ouyang Yu spoke with his close confidants in the main hall. There was no trace of drunkenness in his eyes, and his demeanor was completely different from the relaxed and amiable attitude he had shown during the banquet. His words and expressions now exuded authority.

"Have you found out the background of Senior Feng Yi?"

As soon as he finished speaking, several people below him clasped their hands in response.

"Your Highness, according to the intelligence we have gathered so far, this Senior Feng Yi has been living in seclusion in a small village near the border of the two countries for many years. He has almost never ventured into the world. It seems that his saving you back then was a coincidence, and his arrival today is also of unknown origin."

"Perhaps, as he said, it was just a coincidence that he passed through."

"This senior is Your Highness's esteemed guest, so we could not use our spiritual senses to probe him. Therefore, we have not yet confirmed his cultivation level and will need to test him further in the future."

"Your Highness, as you mentioned, this person once used formless sword energy to save you, so he must undoubtedly be a swordsman. Today, I observed him closely and noticed that his aura was completely restrained, with no trace of sword intent leaking out. His comprehension of the sword path must have reached an extremely high level! Such a rare top-tier swordsman, if we can recruit him, will surely help Your Highness achieve great things!"

Listening to their words, Ouyang Yu's eyes gleamed with excitement.

After a few moments of contemplation, however, he calmed down and did not immediately make a decision. Instead, he nodded deeply and issued an order.

"Indeed, what you all say makes sense."

"However..."

"This Senior Feng Yi's appearances have always been filled with coincidences. I find it hard to trust him completely. The grand plan ahead cannot afford any mistakes. Even if his cultivation is unparalleled, we must investigate thoroughly before making a decision!"

Hearing this, everyone bowed respectfully, their eyes filled with admiration.

"Your Highness is wise!"

As the crowd dispersed, many elite imperial guards emerged from the prince's residence and spread out into the night, issuing orders to gather all kinds of information about "Feng Yi."

At the same time, martial arts experts from the jianghu also appeared in various places, investigating everything about Feng Yi.

For the next month or so.

A vast intelligence network operated between the borders of the two countries.

Back in the imperial capital of the Eastern Spirit Empire, the prince's residence appeared calm on the surface. Ouyang Yu treated Yi Feng with great respect, often referring to him as his benefactor. In reality, however, he remained wary, constantly sending people to investigate and probing Yi Feng with subtle questions during their conversations.

Seemingly casual remarks were often filled with hidden dangers!

Fortunately, Yi Feng was always able to deftly navigate these dangers, never revealing any flaws. As the investigations across various regions yielded no results, he gradually earned Ouyang Yu's trust...

Two months later.

Yi Feng was appointed as the chief guest of the prince's residence. After several rounds of feigned reluctance, Ouyang Yu grew even more trusting of him and personally recommended Yi Feng to the emperor, requesting that he be granted the title of Imperial Cavalry Attendant of the Eastern Spirit Empire!

From then on, Yi Feng finally secured a position by Ouyang Yu's side, with the privilege of accompanying him into the imperial palace and meeting the emperor of the Eastern Spirit Empire.

For a time, he enjoyed immense glory, envied by many.

However, beneath this surface of wealth and honor, Yi Feng felt as if he were walking on thin ice. The more he learned about the Eastern Spirit Empire's profound foundations, the more he realized the need for constant vigilance and caution.

Even when he occasionally gathered some intelligence, he could only transmit it after carefully confirming that there was no danger.

Living in such a perilous environment kept his nerves constantly on edge. Yi Feng had no time to think of anything else, focusing all his efforts on navigating the royal family and the many experts around him.

Only in the quiet of the night, when no one was around.

As he gazed at the moon above, Yi Feng dared to think of the beloved figure buried deep in his heart.

"After this, I will leave the jianghu and wander the world..."

The promise they had made still echoed in his ears, as if it had happened just yesterday. Thinking of his beloved waiting for him in the distance, he found renewed motivation.

"The moon rises over the sea, and we share this moment though far apart."

That deep longing transcended the barriers of time and space. Seeing the moon, he thought of her, filling Yi Feng with anticipation.

He believed that as long as he persevered a little longer, he could thwart the impending war and restore the balance between the two nations.

Then, he could return to the small village without any worries, leaving everything else behind and wandering the jianghu with his beloved.

Little did he know...

This separation would last for thousands of years.