You don't want your secret to be revealed by others, right?-Chapter 448 - 41, Demon Ancestor

"Your Highness possesses the Divine Artifact and the Phoenix Crown, and you are the foremost genius of the Human Clan."

The head of the Divine Pivot Institute seriously looked at Lin Yue and solemnly said, "Duanmu Yan has now transformed into a member of the Demon Clan. If he had the chance, why wouldn't he harbor thoughts of eliminating Your Highness? Moreover, his strength rivals that of princes, and his methods are so peculiar; it is still best for Your Highness to be cautious."

Lin Yue pondered for a moment and said, "He must have seen me just now, yet he didn't make a move?"

"Indeed, this is quite strange."

The head of the Divine Pivot Institute slightly nodded and said, "I originally thought that upon seeing Your Highness, he might abandon those five men to prioritize dealing with Your Highness. Unexpectedly, he actually ignored Your Highness?"

"Do you know this would happen yet still invited me?" Lin Yue couldn't help but glance at him, "Is this the reason you invited me?"

Although he still had some tricks up his sleeve, he was also somewhat apprehensive.

Even the head of the Divine Pivot Institute, using his most powerful Lifebound Treasure, couldn't withstand Duanmu Yan's techniques, indicating that the protective power of his Lifebound Treasure couldn't resist such dreamlike peculiar methods.

He would likely have to rely on himself.

Although that Duanmu Yan was just an avatar, he was a Saint through the Heavenly Reversal Path; even an avatar had repelled the three elders of the Divine Pivot Institute!

Those were three Saint-level powerhouses!

Thus, the dreadfulness of Duanmu Yan needed no further explanation.

"Ha-ha, I couldn't hide it from Your Highness."

The head of the Divine Pivot Institute laughed and said, "Duanmu Yan and Your Highness already had some grievances, and Your Highness is the foremost genius of our Human Clan. I originally thought that, no matter what, Duanmu Yan would confront Your Highness first, but..."

He shook his head with some regret.

"Head Gongsun."

Lin Yue couldn't help but say, "Knowing that Duanmu Yan wants to kill me, you still invited me here?"

"Your Highness, you are wronging your old servant." The head of the Divine Pivot Institute immediately shook his head and said, "It was the Second Prince's order. Otherwise, knowing the danger, how would I dare to invite Your Highness?"

"Second Prince's order?"

Lin Yue was slightly shocked and said, "Does the Second Prince have confidence I can save my own life?"

"The Second Prince gave me this item." The head of the Divine Pivot Institute took out an ordinary-looking cyan jade pendant and said, "The Second Prince said, if Duanmu Yan truly dares to make a move on you, crush this jade pendant near Your Highness."

"Why didn't the Second Prince give it to me directly?" Lin Yue was somewhat puzzled.

The head of the Divine Pivot Institute said helplessly, "I didn't know if Your Highness would accept the invitation to the ceremony. If Your Highness didn't come, this jade pendant was intended for use on those five Fengtian Order holders."

Lin Yue slightly raised an eyebrow.

So that was the arrangement.

Moreover... from what the Second Prince said, he seemed to think Duanmu Yan wouldn't make a move against him?

He roughly understood the reason.

"In any case, I've handed over the jade pendant to Your Highness," said the head of the Divine Pivot Institute, continuing, "However, even with the Second Prince's methods, Your Highness still needs to be careful."

"Understood." Lin Yue nodded slightly.

He also understood that if the Second Prince's left-behind methods were enough to deal with Duanmu Yan, he would have acted already.

This jade pendant was likely a measure to save his life.

Otherwise, if Duanmu Yan indeed wanted to kill him, based solely on his own strength, how could he possibly have any means of resistance?

Even if it was just an avatar, it was still a power far beyond his own.

"Your Highness has not yet formed the rudiment of the Path, yet you managed to kill the Ascetic in the Long Night Meteor Array."

The head of the Divine Pivot Institute sized up Lin Yue and said, "It seems that the True Skill created by Your Highness is quite formidable, mainly relying on that Divine Artifact, right?"

Lin Yue didn't argue and slightly nodded, "Correct."

The Twelfth Prince and the Seventh Princess kept silent, and outsiders didn't know he had killed the Ascetic in one move; naturally, they couldn't gauge his strength accurately.

Moreover, he was currently using the Visage of All Beings to disguise his aura at the level of a Great Cultivator's Perfect Stage, making others believe he had not yet formed the rudiment of the Path.

First, to hide his cards, allowing enemies to misjudge his strength.

Second, to prevent the Twelfth Prince from discovering his rapid advancement, thereby suspecting him of killing Princess Zangyan.

"The Divine Artifact is indeed powerful, but Your Highness, it is best not to carry it until your strength is sufficient; otherwise, if Duanmu Yan takes it, the strength of the Demon Clan will increase significantly," said the head of the Divine Pivot Institute, shaking his head.

"I understand," Lin Yue nodded slightly.

"Good that Your Highness understands," said the head of the Divine Pivot Institute.

"If there's nothing else, I'll return to the mansion."

Lin Yue didn't say much and headed straight for the exit of the palace.

...

In Di Hong City, a huge Prince Mansion known as Xian Wangfu, grand and extensive like a city fortress, was situated in Qinglufang.

This was the mansion of Prince Xian.

Beneath the mansion, there was an extremely secret underground chamber where murky grey currents swirled, completely blocking all prying eyes.

At that moment, Duanmu Yan was sitting at a table in the chamber, looking amusedly at the person across him and shaking his head slightly, "Prince Xian, why bother? Even though we are both avatars, meeting in such a secretive place, must we still hide so thoroughly?"

The person seated across from him was shrouded in a strange black mist, with even their shape being unclear.

Only an icy, ethereal voice emerged from the black mist:

"Quit the small talk, Duanmu Yan. You've really hidden yourself well... Before our deal, why didn't you mention you had become a member of the Demon Clan?"

Duanmu Yan smiled and said, "Whether I am a member of the Demon Clan, does it matter? I have eliminated two batches of Fengtian Orders on behalf of Your Highness, and in the future, when Great Yong faces famine after famine, Prince Xian will step forward for disaster relief. The merit is not diminished at all, and it won't affect the national fate, right?"