Chapter 1051: The Former Ninth Prince
As the Zongming world's energy continued to increase, rainbow-colored lights appeared in the sky.
Zhang Lie expected that Li Zongming was currently infusing the seven superior worlds' worth of energy into the Zongming world, and chose not to disturb him. He left on the disaster-grade dragon's back and headed to the scaleman world.
Large changes had occurred to the scaleman world, the most major of which was its expansion in size. The disaster-grade dragon found itself barred by an alien.
The dragon howled. Zhang Lie walked out of the palace to see the alien stopping the dragon with a raised eyebrow. The alien cried out in shock, "Master?"
The alien was none other than the former crown prince of the scalemen.
The former crown prince called out, "Master, why didn't you inform us of your return? His majesty has been thinking of you for quite some time!"
Zhang Lie replied, "I just returned."
The former crown prince continued, "I was wondering just who was so arrogant as to—no, no, I mean, who would be riding on such a magnificent beast. Of course it had to be none other than you, Master!"
Zhang Lie replied, "Long time no see, Crown Prince. I'm here with urgent business for your king."
The former crown prince didn't mind that Zhang Lie had addressed him as the crown prince; after all, he knew Zhang Lie's combat abilities very well, and how important Zhang Lie was to his ninth brother. Even if Zhang Lie were to point at him and call him a dog, the crown prince could hardly express his displeasure.
"Is it related to our world's ascension into a superior world?"
"Yes, but also no."
The former crown prince smiled. "Master, your words are as abstruse as ever."
"I have urgent business to discuss with the king. Please guide me there, Crown Prince."
The former crown prince smiled. "Ah, I apologize. I was simply too happy to see you again, Master. Please, follow me."
The former crown prince led the way as he explained, "His majesty has been dealing with all sorts of matters after the evolution of the world, and he's been familiarizing himself with the environment. It's a particularly tiring job, and he wasn't able to sense your return on account of his inexperience. Please don't blame him, Master."
Zhang Lie waved a hand. "It's no issue at all. This is perfectly reasonable."
The former crown prince continued, "It's been a while since you last visited, Master."
"Is that so?"
The former crown prince nodded. "I haven't seen you for a long time."
"Is that so?"
"I even have a child now."
"Congratulations!"
Zhang Lie's responses were perfunctory; he didn't care much about the former crown prince's conversation—or rather, he was completely uninterested in the former crown prince. Zhang Lie's thoughts were entirely on the imminent war.
"May I show you my child, Master?"
"If I'm free."
The former crown prince's eyes were filled with hope. "Would you be willing to give my child a few pointers?"
Zhang Lie's tremendous success with the weak ninth prince was proof enough of his capabilities, and the former crown prince was well aware of them. If his own child could benefit from Zhang Lie's teachings...
As a father, the former crown prince truly wanted the best for his child.
"If I'm free." Zhang Lie didn't have the heart to refuse the former crown prince's fervent hope for his son directly.
The former crown prince quickly showed him to the palace, where he informed the guard, "Please send word that the grandmaster of the scaleman kingdom is here with me."
The guard made a face. "Your Highness, his majesty has just gone to sleep. If he were to be awakened now..."
The former crown prince shook his head. "His majesty won't blame you at all—rather, he'd be full of smiles that the grandmaster is here."
The guard scrutinized Zhang Lie carefully, but hesitated.
It was clear that he had been newly recruited if he were unaware of Zhang Lie, never having learned of him or met him before, and he didn't know just how important Zhang Lie was to the scaleman world.
The former crown prince frowned. "You don't believe me?"
The thought of the imminent war made Zhang Lie brusque and curt. He didn't want to waste time with this pointless issue of formality.
Zhang Lie stepped forward. "Let me in."
The former crown prince held him back. "Grandmaster! This is the royal palace—"
Zhang Lie rolled his eyes. "I fought here more than once. The number of people I killed in this palace, why, their blood could form a river."
The guard looked at him strangely. Just who was this man, to make such ridiculous boasts here within the royal palace? Wasn't he afraid of being called out?
Even so, the former crown prince didn't say anything. He was tacitly agreeing with Zhang Lie's claims.
The guard didn't know what to think. Either he really had done so, or he would face no repercussions upon saying so. In either case, he wasn't someone the guard could handle.
Despite the fact that he hadn't moved, the guard's forehead was beading with sweat.
The former crown prince urged, "Haven't you heard the grandmaster? If you wake his majesty up, you might be blamed, but if you make this grandmaster act, you'll surely be blamed!"
Upon hearing that even the former crown prince was addressing the man as "grandmaster", the guard understood that this man had to be so far beyond him in status that he had never heard of or seen him.
He hurriedly headed into the king of the realm's chambers to send word to the king, who teleported over in his pajamas.
The king cried out with excitement, "Master, are you here to see me?"
Zhang Lie nodded. "Better that you get dressed first."
The king laughed. "I knew you would appear after the scaleman world evolved! I'll get dressed immediately. Please don't leave, Master. I want to show you around this new world."
The king teleported back into his chambers. The guard goggled at the sight—this was the first time he had seen his king, who had achieved a grand deed none before him had ever done, reveal such a childlike expression.
"Alright, Master, let's go!"
The king got dressed ridiculously quickly, perhaps the fastest he had ever done so in his life.
Zhang Lie nodded. The king and Zhang Lie flew through the air, leaving the former crown prince behind. The guard asked, "Your Highness, just who is this grandmaster?"
"He's deeply connected to his majesty. Without his appearance, his majesty likely wouldn't have claimed the throne."
The former crown prince no longer cared to be king, nor that he had been a serious contender before Zhang Lie's interference. If Zhang Lie had never appeared, the king of the scaleman world might well be an alien puppet...
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