Inside the inner courtyard of the Jingning Royal Mansion.
Lu Heng and the others followed the mansion guards to a luxurious room.
The room was furnished with exquisite furniture. The tables and chairs were inlaid with shell-like materials, exuding an air of nobility.
The walls were adorned with numerous paintings and calligraphy, depicting figures and flora, showcasing the owner's refined taste.
"Please wait here for a moment, sirs." The guards stood outside after escorting them in. Lu Heng could sense that these guards were all at the sixth level of Enlightenment, indicating the considerable strength of the Jingning Royal Mansion.
Shortly after, a maidservant arrived to serve them tea and pastries. After everyone had withdrawn, Wuchenzi grabbed a pastry and said, "The pastries made by this mansion's chef are much tastier than those sold outside. You all should try some."
He then began to eat without any suspicion of poisoning.
Lu Bai looked at Lu Heng and asked via telepathy, "Master, can I eat?"
Seeing Lu Heng nod in agreement, Lu Bai then went to the table where the pastries were placed, sat down, and began to eat.
"Does your younger brother have trouble speaking? Shall I, an old man, take his pulse?" These alchemists were also skilled in pharmacology and could treat common ailments.
"No need. My brother's vocal cords are damaged, so he cannot speak for the time being."
"Vocal cords?"
"Oh, it's the throat. When he was young, a master examined him, and that's what the master said."
"This master doesn't seem very masterful if he calls the throat 'vocal cords.' Perhaps I should take his pulse instead." Wuchenzi said enthusiastically.
Wuchenzi looked at Lu Bai's fair skin and handsome features with some pity, thinking that heaven was fair to everyone; what it gave you, it would surely take back.
He himself, though not particularly handsome, possessed alchemy skills that few could match on the Divine Origin Continent.
"Master." At this moment, the voice of the guard outside drew the attention of everyone in the room. Lu Heng turned his head towards the door, and a young man in a blue robe stepped into the room.
"Little Prince." Wuchenzi stood up and nodded at the approaching young man as a greeting.
Lu Heng and Lu Bai were unfamiliar with the local customs. Lu Heng, seeing Wuchenzi's action, also stood up and nodded at the newcomer. He indeed couldn't sense any cultivation abilities from the young man.
"Yes, please sit. There's no need for excessive formality here. I don't adhere to such rules." The young man walked to the main seat and sat down.
He glanced at Lu Bai, who was still engrossed in the pastries, raised an eyebrow, and said to the guard outside, "Have the kitchen prepare more pastries and send them over."
"Yes." A guard responded and retreated.
"Since you are here, I will get straight to the point. I have already heard from the Prince about the matter of the Little Prince consuming the crystal and being unable to break through. I did not see the Little Prince himself that day.
Upon seeing the Little Prince today, I indeed cannot sense any cultivation abilities from you.
May I ask if the Little Prince could recount the experience in detail to me?"
The young man smiled, waved his hand at those below, and then someone closed the door from the outside.
Seeing this, the young man then said, "This is not an urgent matter. Master Liaowu has not yet introduced these two individuals."
Wuchenzi glanced at Lu Heng and his cousin in the room and said with a smile, "This is Lu Heng, and that is his cousin, Lu Bai. To be frank, all these crystals belong to this young friend Lu."
As he spoke, Wuchenzi nudged Lu Heng with his chin, indicating that he should also speak, as he himself did not know the specific origin of the crystals.
"Greetings to both Young Masters Lu. I am honored to meet the owner of these crystals." The young man sized up Lu Heng, his smile carrying a hint of ambiguity.
"I am also greatly honored." Lu Heng bowed politely. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. In this ancient society, he preferred not to be too unconventional and attract attention.
"May I speak with Young Master Lu alone?" the young man asked, fixing his gaze on Lu Heng.
"This... I brought young Lu here regarding the matter of the crystal not working. I have some knowledge of medicine. If it's not inconvenient, may I take the Little Prince's pulse?"
"The imperial physician in the mansion has already examined my pulse today. Apart from the inability to cultivate, my body is normal, and there is no blockage in my meridians. Master Liaowu is a renowned physician for His Majesty, so I would not dare to trouble the Master." The young man said with a smile to Wuchenzi.
"This..." Wuchenzi glanced at Lu Heng beside him, feeling a bit anxious. He had brought Lu Heng here not to cause trouble for him. With his reputation on the Divine Origin Continent, even if the young prince could not cultivate, it would be fine. At worst, they could refund the demon crystals purchased from the royal mansion.
"It's alright, I'll stay here. However, it's inconvenient for my cousin to leave. He is mute and cannot be separated from me." Lu Heng was indeed afraid that Lu Bai would reveal his transformation from a demonic beast if he left his side. If his secret were exposed, it would only lead to more trouble.
After a moment of thought, the young man looked at Lu Bai, who was still eating pastries, and smiled, "Then it shall be as Young Master Lu wishes. However, Master Liaowu will have to excuse himself for a moment."
"Then I will wait in the adjacent room." Wuchenzi nodded at Lu Heng, and then a guard opened the door and escorted him out.
The door was closed again, and the young man sitting at the head of the table also stood up and walked to the table beside Lu Heng.
"Your cousin seems to really like our pastries. I'll have more sent for you to take back when you leave."
"Okay."
"Then let's talk about this crystal. This is a Level Four crystal." The young man took out a Level Four crystal from his embrace and placed it on the table, smiling warmly at Lu Heng.
When the young man mentioned the crystal's level, Lu Heng's eyes widened abruptly, and he looked at the young man with a hint of defensiveness.
Although the people here could now identify this item as a crystal, it was only because they had mentioned its name to buyers during sales. Only the young man before him could identify it as a Level Four crystal.
"How did you know?"
"Ah, Heaven king covers the earth tiger." The young man said somewhat theatrically.
"Which era are you from?" With the secret handshake of transmigration revealed, Lu Heng was certain that the young man before him, like him, was from the apocalypse, and specifically from the era after Level Four zombies appeared.