Hengsheng nodded, impressed by the capability of the cultivators on this continent.
This Snow Fortress—and the entire mountain range dividing the continent—was in truth a natural formation, not entirely natural, but a massive semi-natural formation crafted by both Heaven and Man.
With the Snow Fortress as the formation core of this massive formation, it could detect entry and exit to the north through the entire mountain range in every possible way; even Hengsheng's dimensional shift ability could be detected by this formation.
Hengsheng still remembered the first time he crossed the border directly into the north without passing through a proper entry point of the Snow Fortress—an army of cultivators from the fortress had poured out like a swarm, trying to find him.
Of course, their search failed, but the accuracy of their response had surprised him. He later learned that the formation had left a hidden mark on him when he passed into the north illegally, allowing the cultivators from the fortress to locate him.
The effectiveness of detection was the reason why this place had stood for 50,000 years against the demonic cultivators.
Without the Snow Fortress, the demonic cultivators from the Blood Fiend Palace would have already run wild across the continent.
This was only the general information known to outsiders about the fortress.
Hengsheng had learned from Xia Zhenxue that the Snow Fortress could do more than just detection, but he didn't know what it was, since Xia Zhenxue couldn't tell him due to the restriction she had with her clan.
Xia Zhenxue led Hengsheng, passing through the fortress's streets filled with numerous cultivators. Most moved in groups; lone cultivators were a rare sight in the fortress, as facing demonic cultivators alone was far too dangerous.
After five minutes on foot through the bustling fortress streets, they arrived at their destination—a house that, on the surface, looked no different from any other in the city.
Hengsheng followed Xia Zhenxue inside. When he passed through the front door, he could sense the shift in the space and the Natural Qi. He immediately detected that this place was covered in the formation.
He was unsure what the formation was since his knowledge in this area was still limited. He only knew a few formations; most of them were upgraded versions of the basic knowledge he had gained in the early years.
Even though the upgrade function could help upgrade the rank of Profession Skill, that was ultimately just the upgrade of a lower rank to a higher rank—it did not grant him new formation blueprints or secret techniques.
This was why his knowledge of the professions was lacking and could not compare to those who learned through the normal process or had a master to teach them.
He never intended to improve them either; he had only learned these professions to avoid ignorance, temper his mind and willpower, not to master them.
"We humbly welcome your return, Your Highness."Inside the house, dozens of figures were already waiting. They bowed to Xia Zhenxue, completely ignoring Hengsheng's presence.
Based on their attire and cultivation base, Hengsheng guessed they were royal guard, far from ordinary servants.
"You may rise. I trust everything is prepared," Xia Zhenxue said.
Hengsheng's brow rose as he saw Xia Zhenxue behave. Her tone changed, becoming different from when she was with the other in the company.
"The council awaits your arrival. Please follow me, Your Highness," said one of the royal guards, stepping forward and offering to lead the way.
Xia Zhenxue nodded and followed the royal guard into another chamber connected to the current one. Seeing this, Hengsheng began to move as well—however, two royal guards stepped in to block his path.
"You may stay here," they said.
Xia Zhenxue noticed this and immediately turned around.
"He is my guest. Didn't I already make that clear?" she said, her tone laced with irritation.
"Apologies, Your Highness. The elder instructed that outsiders must wait outside," said the royal guard leading the way.
Upon hearing this, Xia Zhenxue's expression darkened.
It seemed that the Xia Clan still refused to take her words seriously, even after all these years; they still thought she was a weak little girl who needed to lean on them.
Just as she was about to assert her authority by force, a voice rang in her mind.
"It's okay." It was Hengsheng's voice, sent through sound transmission.
"...Sorry, Chairman, for this inconvenience," Xia Zhenxue said softly. She was quite embarrassed by the Xia Clan's act, and she bowed to Hengsheng without a word before turning away and following the guard into the dark chamber.
After Xia Zhenxue passed through the door, the expressions of the royal guards changed as they turned to face the man who had accompanied the princess of the Xia Dynasty.
Their previously indifferent looks shifted into open arrogance and disdain toward Hengsheng's presence.
"I'm warning you—stop whatever you're planning and walk away. Whatever you're aiming for isn't going to happen," one of the royal guards said coldly.
Hengsheng looked at him, then at the other guards. From the killing intent in their eyes, it seemed they genuinely wanted to kill him.
"What are you talking about?" Hengsheng asked, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
Seeing that smirk caused the royal guards to lose their composure. Their aura of the Spirit Integration Realm expert flared violently, trying to intimidate Hengsheng.
One of them stepped forward and shouted.
"Stop pretending, you pimp! You think we can't see through your intentions? You just got lucky and found out the princess's real identity, and now you're trying to take advantage of it—aren't you!?"
Hearing the man's words, Hengsheng was momentarily enlightened.
He hadn't planned to explain himself—mostly because what the guard said was partly true—but their interpretation was amusingly off. They thought he was trying to become Xia Zhenxue's gigolo.
'How funny,' Hengsheng thought.
The chaotic nature within him began to resurface. He started to consider how to make the situation even more chaotic. After just a second of thought, the smirk on his face widened, and then he spoke.
"So, you've seen through my plan? What are you going to do about it?" Hengsheng declared, his face twisted into a full villainous grin.
"Hahaha! Xia Zhenxue's heart and soul are already mine!" He spoke with the wild confidence of a villain in full control.
The royal guards were shocked and stunned by Hengsheng's reaction. They couldn't believe this pimp would drop the facade so easily.
They looked at each other and nodded. Since this man had already revealed his true intentions, there was nothing left to discuss.
"You've made a big mistake messing with the Xia Clan! Die!" one of the royal guards roared, dashing toward Hengsheng and aiming a punch at his face!
Another royal guard tried to stop him—his action was far too reckless.
Their opponent appeared to be only at the Seventh Gate of the True Body Realm, but he was far too calm, too confident, even in the face of stronger cultivators. This kind of action likely meant he had something dangerous hidden up his sleeve.
However, their worry was futile—after all, this pimp turned out to be as pathetic as he looked.
The royal guard's fist flew straight into his face, sending him flying and crashing against the wall.
"Ahhhh! You dare to hit me?!" the pimp cried out in pain, rubbing his swollen face.
"Just wait and see! When Xue'er comes back, I'll tell her! You guys are in trouble!" the pimp screamed like an idiot.
The royal guards relaxed, quietly laughing to themselves. They couldn't believe they had worried this clown might pose any threat.
"Shut up, pimp! Do you even understand the situation you're in?! We're going to kill you!" another royal guard snapped, kicking the pimp in the head.
"AHHH! Don't come any closer!" the pimp cried out, voice pathetic and full of panic.
Another royal guard lifted him and slammed him to the floor.
"AHHHHH!" the pimp screamed again, struggling to ease the pain in his back.
The beating continued without pause. But after a while, the royal guards began to notice something strange.
'Why isn't this pimp dead yet?' they wondered. Even a True Body Realm cultivator shouldn't be able to survive this long against multiple beats from Spirit Integration experts.
"Ku ku ku… You finally noticed, didn't you?" the pimp on the ground began to laugh.
"Why aren't you dead yet?!" one of the royal guards shouted and kicked him in the abdomen, but this time, his foot was caught!
Then the pimp bit him!
"AHH!! Let go!!" the bitten guard screamed, shaking his leg violently. He finally freed himself and kicked the pimp across the chamber, sending him crashing into the far wall.
BOOM!
"Hahaha!" the pimp laughed as he stood up from the floor.
"Didn't I say it already?! Xia Zhenxue's heart and soul belong to me! I've already tied my soul to hers—as long as she lives, I am immortal! HAHAHA!" the pimp laughed maniacally.
The royal guards gritted their teeth. It seemed their princess's fate was already in danger—and they hadn't seen it coming.
"Catch him! We have to find a way to save the princess!" one of the royal guards shouted.
All of them charged toward the pimp at once.