"Stop right there!" ten soldiers came out from the Iron Kong-Que and surrounded Zhang Wu Ji's flying tool. All of them is equipped with a Silver Colored Armor with a peacock feather on their tip, which indicates their status as the guards of Royal Family.

"State your identity and speaks your reason for presence!" one of the soldier in his 19th Stage of Inner Qi Warrior questioned Zhang Wu Ji with his spear pointed at him. His attitude is imposing, but from his strength alone, Zhang Wu Ji knows.

(This is not the convoy belonged to the Master Teacher Zhao Yun!)

"You're the outsiders coming into the Seven Star Sect. Don't you recognize the black robe with seven stars on my sleeves?" even if he's not an official ruling this Seven Star County, it doesn't mean that the royal guards have the right to question him in such manner!

(No matter what, I am one of the Master Senior of Seven Star Sect! Meeting the sect headmaster's direct disciple is meeting the headmaster himself!)

Zhang Wu Ji retaliates through his words. This atrocious manner from Zhang Wu JI angered the Royal Guard's captain, but if he as the strongest among them still failed to force this person to yield, then how will the others have the ability to do so?

And making this matter worst, the opposing side is riding an Iron Kong-Que like them. Based on his status alone, he's nowhere lower than any of the Royal Army Commanders. Yet, he dares to question the youth by pointing his spear at him with an intention to kill.

"Ming Qiang... Retreats." a soothing voice seems to belong to a lady came out from the Iron Kong-Que they ride. But when the owner of this sound came out, it was a man. A feminine looking man in a set of red colored clothing.

"This young brother, I am sorry for my guard's rude behavior when talking to you. Please forgive him as our identity is a little too sensitive to be stopped by another party. May I have your name please?" the feminine looking man politely greets Zhang Wu Ji and ask to forgive his soldiers from that rude manner.

"I am Zhang Wu Ji. Ninth Master Senior of the Seven Star Sect." he introduces himself after being asked in such way. At least, it was a return of respect because no matter how feminine he looked, a person under the protection of a group of Inner Qi Warrior's Royal Guards is nothing ordinary in his status.

"I see, I see... This prince name is Zhao Ying, I am the ninth prince of the Southern Imperial Kingdom." he introduces his status nonchalantly without any indifferences in his way of speaking. But as he pronounces his words, the aura belonged to a royalty came out to pressurized everyone surrounding him.

"Zhang Wu Ji pays respect to the ninth prince." he bowed at the prince immediately as a ceremonial gesture.

"Brother Zhang, less ceremonial gestures. Can this prince know where did you get the Iron Kong-Que from?" although he was a prince, Zhao Ying did not display the disposition belonged to somebody from the royalty. After the introduction, his aura returned to the friendly nature.

"Answering to Ninth Prince, Wu Ji forge this Iron Kong-Que himself. Of course, the design regarding how to produce this Flying Ark comes from the Mystic Engineer Establishment's Headmaster, his honored Celestial Designer Windchaser himself." Zhang Wu Ji answered.

"Amazing! Amazing! Wait... I just noticed that you say your name is Zhang Wu Ji? The Trash Martial Body senior brother Zhang Wu Yuan always mentioned?" he was praising Zhang Wu Ji's skill for a moment before he caught his name correctly.

"If there is no other Zhang Wu Yuan by the side of Master Teacher Zhao Yun then, the Trash Martial Body's youngest brother will be me, Zhang Wu Ji," he cleared the puzzled mind of the ninth prince with his words. As for the guards, the word he's Zhang Wu Yuan's youngest brother allows them to feel at ease.

"No wonder. Now I know why senior Brother Zhang Wu Yuan always mention about you after he comes back from the Counties Gathering. Why is brother Zhang here? Are you in the middle of an errand?" the ninth prince questioned him in a friendly manner after he felt closer with this youth.

"Answering the prince, Wu Ji just return from handling some Sect related matter. I am on the way back to the Wen Wu City's Apprentice Hall. I wonder if the ninth prince is interested in a visit?" Zhang Wu Ji admires the way Zhao Ying bring himself in front of him.

Different from what he expects from a royalty, Zhao Ying's disposition is warm and friendly, unconsciously bringing others to trust this person without further question. As a reply to his friendly gesture, Zhang Wu Ji assumes that this ninth prince is someone worth to befriend.

"A visit to the Apprentice Hall? That's interesting. Interesting! Ming Qiang! Do this prince have some time to allocate for this visit?" Zhao Ying asked his guard's leader for an answer. His face is filled with anticipation, but deep inside his mind, what he was expecting is to see how good is Zhang Wu Ji.

As a prince, how can he possess no wild intention to obtain the seat of the emperor? With the position of Crown Prince is empty at this moment, the fight for this seat turn critical amongst the prince and princess. And his appearance in this county? What else except headhunting for experts to support him?

"My prince, we do have extra time for a short visit before we reach the Herb Valley Sect. Would you like to redirect the Iron Kong-Que to follow this Young Master Zhang?" Ming Qiang addressed Zhang Wu Ji in a proper title after he knows his identity as a relative of their Master Senior Zhang Wu Yuan.

"Of course! We will accept Brother Zhang's invitation and head to Wen Wu City. I wanted to see how amazing is their City wall that will not collapse after bombarded by so many Rhinoceros Roar by the bandits! I also wanted to see how amazing is the Apprentice Hall." Zhao Ying added.

"Brother Zhang, please lead the way." Zhao Ying allowed Zhang Wu Ji to take the lead in their trip.

"Of course! Captain Ming Qiang, please follow this surname Zhang." Zhang Wu Ji cupped his hand against the ninth prince and Royal Guard's Captain before redirected his Iron Kong-Que to move. In secret, he touches the Iron Kong-Que and whispered...

(Upgrade...)

(Again...)

With the Iron Kong-Que is upgraded into +5 now, the maximum speed of his ride is now 250km/hour compared to the previous 200km/hour, Zhang Wu Ji traveling speed is slightly faster than the ninth prince. After a while, he left them by a distance, but by intentionally stopped in the middle of their route, Zhang Wu Ji creates more curiosity for the ninth prince.

When they arrived at the Apprentice Hall, both Iron Kong-Que landed right in Apprentice Hall's open square. The supposedly impressing sight is taken lightly by the members in the Apprentice Hall. This scene causes the ninth prince questions himself...

"Why nobody is impressed by the Iron Kong-Que? It was normal for them to see one, but it is two now!" his curiosity almost burst outside his mind, but Ming Qiang advised the prince to not act recklessly. Controlling his excitement, Zhao Ying came down from his Iron Kong-Que along with eleven guards.

"Amazing... This is amazing! Even the ground in Southern Imperial Capital will crack when the Iron Kong-Que landed. How can their ground layered with those bricks remain intact from two Iron Kong-Ques touchdown?" he looked at the flooring that still in one piece.

"Ninth Prince, please forgive this Wu Ji's master and senior brothers for not paying their respect. Everyone is currently in a mission to secure our Seven Star County's and position now." Zhang Wu Ji cupped his hand together again to as for ninth prince's forgiveness.

"Excused. Brother Zhang, please lead the way and let me look around the building. Even the design is amazingly unique!" the ninth prince did not linger in that conversation and quickly requested to be given a tour around this Apprentice Hall.

The problem is, how can this neglecting Master Senior know where is where? Luckily, Li Jing, Li Yin, and Li Tong presented themselves before Zhang Wu Ji. Using their expertise, he ordered them to bring everyone for a tour.

"Ninth prince, this is where the Hall's Blacksmithing Department is located."

"Ninth prince, please look at our Pill Concocting Department..."

"Here is the Herbalist Department with the plantation, we're using..."

"This is the humble Construction Department..."

After two hours walking, resting, and visiting around the whole Apprentice Hall, they completed their mission to bring the group around. With their task is completed, the group is now standing outside of the Personal Residence of the Master Senior Ninth.

The three looked at their master for his next instruction, but unexpectedly, Zhang Wu Ji allows them to dismiss before handling them with seven pieces of Wooden Universal Plate. After the three left, the Ninth prince brings up the main topic in his mind.

"Brother Zhang, I wonder can this prince have a private conversation with you?" he requested.

"Of course, ninth prince. Please follow Wu Ji to his enclosed chamber for important discussion." he leads the Ninth prince to follow him into a smaller but better-decorated hall for his private discussion with the Master Senior.

"I won't twist with my words. I am outside the Imperial County for one mission. This is related to my future position within the Imperial Kingdom." Zhao Ying brought up the issue that has been plaguing his mind for long.

"Ninth prince, please go ahead. If Wu Ji can help, I will do my best to assist you in your ordeal to obtain the position you desire." Zhang Wu Ji replied with an understanding note. As a person that came from a different world, how can he not realized that when it comes to the Imperial Family, the issue will be likely related to the throne?

And from how the Ninth prince is acting, his hunger for the crown position is nothing lesser than how he looks. Or else, why would an honored prince come out from his Imperial County for an insignificant visit across the different state and counties?

He was outside here for the sake of gathering his forces and strengthening his background!

"At first, I am putting not much hope in this Seven Star County because of the internal struggle for highest power. But from what I've seen today, it seems that the rumor is fake." the ninth prince brought up about this matter first to remove the misunderstanding between him and Zhang Wu Ji.

From his impression alone, how can he not catch the fact Zhang Wu Ji is the one and only founder that establish this Apprentice Hall and bring them up until where they stand today? He wasn't an ignorant prince that did not research the background of every potential power in this county.

He knows that the three villages closest to the Wen Wu City are in their way to enter the Town Qualification. Added with the fact Wen Wu City and Apprentice Hall recently destroy the Lan Shan Clan and Orchid Mountain to retrieve the route to Wen Qing City and Imperial County, this further solidifies his position in this county.

"Brother Zhang, I will be honest in this matter..."

"Are you willing to support my cause to obtain the position of the Crown Prince of this Southern Imperial Kingdom?"

"If we succeed, You will be the second in charge when I sit on the throne of the emperor, but if we failed, not only you and me, everyone will be destroyed by the winning crown prince." Zhao Ying's expression becomes serious the moment he brought up this matter.

"Answering to my prince, Wu Ji have no right to decide, unless Ninth Prince willing to support Wu Ji to control the whole Seven Star County as a small gesture of recruitment?" Zhang Wu Ji did not lose himself in the offer given by the ninth prince.

But instead, he asked the prince to give some effort if he wishes to recruit Zhang Wu Ji and his Apprentice Hall to sacrifice themselves for the sake of Ninth Prince, Zhao Ying's Cause!

While the two is having their serious conversation, the disciples that busy cleaning the two Iron Kong-Que is asking questions among themselves.

First of all, where did the Silver Horn Bear goes?

Meanwhile, inside the Ma Hua Town...

A bear is still sleeping by the side of the grassland where the Iron Kong-Que is parked a few hours earlier. He was left alone in this place because his master forgets to bring him back!

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[Author's Note]

Alright, the story is getting closer to the closing of first arc. What will happen in the next few chaps? Guess the way the three limbs are destroyed before Yang Chen Kun?