"Absurd, truly absurd! To accuse me of assassinating the King of Southern Territory, it's sheer slander! Who said this? Step forward!"
Before Xiao Yunlong could even enter the royal palace hall, he heard the deep, stern roar of Miao Rencheng, the Lord of Guiyun Ridge.
The voice was angry, even bordering on a roar. He was shouting so brazenly in front of Lu Zheng-tong, completely disregarding the King of the South.
Xiao Yunlong strode in directly and said sternly, "Miao Rencheng, what do you think you're doing? Roaring in front of the King of the South, is this intimidation?"
Miao Rencheng abruptly turned his head and looked over, scoffing, "And who are you, to dare speak to me like this!"
Seeing this, Xuanyuan Qingfeng quickly introduced, "Reporting to the Lord of Guiyun Ridge, this is His Highness Prince Zhenbei, Xiao Yunlong!"
"Oh, so you are Xiao Yunlong!"
The Lord of Guiyun Ridge, Miao Rencheng, not only showed no intention of saluting but even curled his lips and sneered, "I've heard rumors from some friends recently that Prince Zhenbei can't hack it in the Northern Territory anymore, and was driven out like a stray dog. I wonder if it's true?"
At this moment, Yue Bucheng, the Lord of Baiyue Ridge, chimed in, "Indeed, it's quite perplexing. Logically, a king of a territory cannot casually move about in other regions without authorization, as it violates the laws of the Dragon Kingdom. However, I've heard that the Northern Territory now has a Northern Tiger King, making me unsure who the real king is!"
These two ridge lords were singing in harmony, their words and actions filled with thick sarcasm.
"You two are presumptuous! My master is the true Prince Zhenbei. If you dare to speak disrespectfully again, it is a capital offense!" the hot-tempered Tu Fu snarled coldly.
"Capital offense? What a bold statement. This is Southern Territory. Even the King of the South hasn't spoken, so what are you, to dare speak to us like this!"
The Lord of Guiyun Ridge sneered coldly. They dared to disregard the King of the South, so naturally, they also looked down on Prince Bei, Xiao Yunlong.
"Enough, Lord Miao, Lord Yue, the two of you say less. Although the situation in the Northern Territory is turbulent, the Dragon Kingdom has not yet issued any official decree. Therefore, Xiao Yunlong is still Prince Zhenbei. This is beyond doubt!" King Nan Lu Zheng-tong spoke.
"Yes, as long as the Imperial Capital does not have an official approval, King Bei Xiao is still Prince Zhenbei!"
Just then, a refined old man stepped forward and cupped his hands towards Xiao Yunlong, saying, "I am Ke Zhennan, the Lord of Nandao Ridge. I greet His Highness Prince Bei!"
It turned out this was the Lord of Nandao Ridge, and the only one among the five great ridges who supported the King of the South.
"Lord Ke, no need for pleasantries!"
Xiao Yunlong waved his hand, then walked directly to the Lord of Guiyun Ridge and said, word by word, "Putting aside whether I am still Prince Zhenbei for now, I want to show you something first!"
"Look carefully, what is this?" As he spoke, Xiao Yunlong directly took out the King of the South's seal and showed it to Miao Rencheng, the Lord of Guiyun Ridge.
"This... this is the King of the South's seal! How did it get into your hands?" Miao Rencheng was stunned.
"Naturally, it was given to me by the King of the South, and he ordered me to temporarily act as the King of the South and exercise his authority. As a lord of Southern Territory, seeing the King of the South's seal, do I need to teach you what to do?"
Xiao Yunlong stared at him coldly and said, word by word.
Miao Rencheng's expression turned grim, and he gritted his teeth, "Then I'd like to ask, what do you want me to do?"
"Kneel and salute!" Xiao Yunlong said, his words forceful and clear.
Miao Rencheng sneered and snorted, "Even though you hold the King of the South's seal, with His Highness the King of the South present, he doesn't even demand this of us on normal days. By what right do you?"
The Lord of Baiyue Ridge also snorted, "Yes, even the King of the South doesn't make such demands normally. I say, Mr. Xiao, you need to understand your own position!"
"I'll say it one last time. If you don't kneel, you will be charged with insubordination. The lighter punishment is fifty strokes, and the heavier punishment is death without mercy!" Xiao Yunlong shouted.
Miao Rencheng suddenly threw his head back and laughed heartily, snorting, "I say, young Xiao, you can't even manage your own Northern Territory anymore and you come to our Southern Territory to throw your weight around. Who are you trying to scare? If you have the guts, try and touch me!"
The Lord of Baiyue Ridge beside him also had a slight smirk on his lips, looking equally playful, cold, and fearless.
The Lord of Baiyue Ridge, Yue Bucheng, had brought four guard experts with him today, and the Lord of Guiyun Ridge had also brought three experts.
Among the three experts behind Miao Rencheng, two looked around sixty years old, with graying hair and beards, their temples bulging with surging inner strength, and faint three-flower formations appearing above their heads, indicating they were quasi-Martial Kings with one foot in the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top realm.
As for the other, his hair and beard were completely white, and he looked much older, at least eighty, possibly even a hundred years old.
Although this person looked thin and unremarkable, Xiao Yunlong could feel a sharp aura emanating from him, as if he were a sword.
Xiao Yunlong guessed that this supreme sword master was most likely one of the four guardians of the Southern Territory's great camp!
It was no wonder Miao Rencheng was so fearless, having brought one of the elder guardians!
The atmosphere in the entire hall instantly became tense. As long as Xiao Yunlong gave the order, Tu Fu, Zhuge Wushuang, and the others behind him would act.
In their eyes, their master's dignity could not be insulted or provoked. These two ridge lords were so arrogant and overbearing, they were simply courting death.
At this moment, King Nan Lu Zheng-tong remained silent, having intentionally chosen to do so.
In fact, Lu Zheng-tong had been mentally prepared, as the conflict between the Southern Territory's great camp and the five great ridge lords had reached an irreconcilable point. However, he had never expected this day to come so quickly.
The two sides were about to clash upon meeting!
Xiao Yunlong raised an eyebrow, about to issue an order.
However, at that moment, a guard rushed in and shouted, "Bad news, Your Highness King Nan! People from the Brahma Kingdom have arrived, many experts! The guards initially told them to wait at the entrance of the great camp, but they rushed in directly and are now heading towards the royal palace!"
"Outrageous! These scoundrels from the Brahma Kingdom dare to storm into our Southern Territory's great camp! Do they think I'm truly finished, that they're so arrogant and overbearing!"
The King of Southern Territory, Lu Zheng-tong, slammed the table and roared, gritting his teeth.
Seeing this, Xiao Yunlong had to temporarily suppress his intentions.
The Lord of Nandao Ridge also said angrily, "The people from the Brahma Kingdom have barged into our home! Your Highness King Nan, this is absolutely unbearable!"
"Indeed, Your Highness King Nan, this is simply looking down on our Southern Territory, too arrogant!" Miao Rencheng and Yue Bucheng also coldly shouted.
Although these ridge lords usually acted on their own accord and did not obey the King of the South's orders, when an external enemy attacked, they could unite against them!
"Of course, it's unbearable! Immediately go and invite the Guardian Lord to come out!" Lu Zheng-tong turned and instructed Deputy Zhou, then got up and walked out.
Ke Zhennan, Miao Rencheng, and the other ridge lords followed closely. Xiao Yunlong and his entourage naturally followed as well.
As everyone just reached the courtyard, they saw a Brahma Kingdom monk, clad in a dark red cassock with his left shoulder exposed, walking directly through the corridor.
The leader among them wore a five-crown hat and held a silver Zen staff, walking with the bearing of a dragon.
The thin, sword-wielding elder guardian of Southern Territory exclaimed in shock, "This is... the Dharma Protector of the Brahma Kingdom's religion! I didn't expect him to come!"