Chapter 370: The Secret of the Moon Ascending Royal Family

Yu Zhizhi kept her head bowed. The man before her hadn’t responded since she’d uttered the three words, "I like you."

She mustered her courage and finally looked up, only to see him turning away.

"Alpha, go bring the sacrifice."

The Lizard Servant answered, "Yes, Your Highness. And... this young lady...?"

’This wasn’t some ordinary S-Class female, but an incredibly precious and Rare SS Level! You couldn’t find another one in the entire Moon Rising Empire.’

’If Miss Rabbit could really become the Crown Princess Consort...’

’All things considered, no female was more suitable!’

"Of course she’s staying. We need to properly cultivate our relationship." The man returned to his throne. For the first time, he found the barrier an eyesore. The moment he raised his eyes, the ice partition cracked and shattered to the floor like glass.

The crystal-clear ice partition shattered, refracting a faint light before landing on the floor as a carpet of glittering shards.

Yu Zhizhi could see her fragmented reflection in them.

The color had drained from her face...

’Did the Crown Prince believe it? Such an obvious lie...’

’But no matter what, he agreed to let me stay...’

’Oh, thank goodness! This is great!’

’As long as I can stay, I have a chance to complete my mission!’

Her earlier panic having subsided, Yu Zhizhi couldn’t resist stealing a glance at the man seated before her.

He lounged on the throne with his legs crossed. He wore a well-tailored white shirt with an ornate, aristocratic collar. The top button was undone, offering a glimpse of his collarbone and a gold pendant.

The man’s long, golden hair cascaded to his waist, looking even softer than she’d imagined. His features were extraordinarily handsome, his skin unnaturally pale. He looked nothing like a member of the ferocious Tiger Clan...

When she hadn’t dared look at him, the version she had conjured in her mind based on his aura alone had been far more terrifying than the man she saw now.

The Crown Prince of the Moon Rising Empire was now propping his chin on one hand, his gaze fixed on an iridescent windowpane to the side, seemingly lost in thought.

The sound of footsteps came from outside. Yu Zhizhi turned to look and saw the Lizard Servant leading a Beast Clan female into the hall.

Yu Zhizhi shuffled to the side.

"Your Highness, the sacrifice has arrived." The Lizard Servant bowed, his gaze involuntarily drifting toward Miss Rabbit at the side.

’Ah, so they’re getting along?’

’It seems His Highness truly intends to keep this Rabbit Clan Lady.’

The man remained motionless as his gaze slowly shifted to the new sacrifice. His golden-brown eyes were filled with scrutiny, but deep within them lay only profound indifference.

He carefully inspected the sacrifice’s quality.

He gave a slight nod. "Acceptable."

’This sacrifice is far better than the little rabbit.’

The Lizard Servant quickly replied, "Then I will take her away at once."

He helped the kneeling sacrifice to her feet.

Terror was written in the Beast Clan female’s eyes. She rose, cowering, and followed the Lizard Servant out of the main hall.

Yu Zhizhi was stunned.

’Why was the sacrifice taken away?’

’Then again, I still don’t even know what the sacrifices are for...’

As she was lost in a daze, the man on the throne had already risen to his feet. "Follow me."

Yu Zhizhi answered softly, "Yes."

She hurried after him.

He suddenly spoke again. "Maintain a distance of at least one meter from me at all times. Do not come any closer."

"...Yes."

Yu Zhizhi followed the man through a door behind the throne. They entered the Extreme Ice Corridor, which was deep and frigid. She clutched her wind-breaking robe tighter, having to jog just to keep up with the Crown Prince’s stride.

’Where are we going?’

Yu Zhizhi was a little confused. The Extreme Ice Palace had no lamps, only Luminous Pearls for light. She watched the man’s back ahead of her. The wind caught his long, golden hair, creating the illusion it might drift back and touch her face. She quickly stopped, afraid of breaking the one-meter rule.

The farther they went, the stronger the tremors became.

But the Crown Prince showed no sign of waiting for her.

After pausing for a few seconds, Yu Zhizhi quickly broke into a jog to catch up.

HUFF... HUFF...

’Jogging the whole way is exhausting.’

’And we haven’t seen a single soul.’

’It’s as if he’s the only one living in this vast palace.’

’The servants... the sacrifices... maybe they’re all just illusions.’

Yu Zhizhi finally caught up to him, entering a bone-chilling chasm. The cold intensified, but luckily, she had a warming spirit card. She slowly infused it with her spiritual power to activate a Spirit Art, and her body grew much warmer.

The Crown Prince, meanwhile, had stopped at the edge of a formation of ice crystals.

It seemed to be a viewing platform of some sort.

Yu Zhizhi stopped cautiously. She estimated the distance. ’Hmm, about one meter.’

She stood on the opposite side of the platform and looked down.

Ever since entering the Extreme Ice Palace, she had heard a faint, high-pitched screeching. From this spot, the sound was much clearer.

Yu Zhizhi saw the mouth of a cave shimmering with a brilliant golden light, its interior seemingly piled high with all kinds of treasures.

Gradually, something began to crawl out.

It was a small creature, about the size of a Pangolin, its body clad in ice-crystal scales and coated in a thick layer of frost. It had its wings folded, but upon closer inspection, it looked just like a miniature Western Dragon...

A dragon?!

’Does the Dragon Clan exist?’

’I don’t think I’ve ever heard of them...’

But compared to the Demon Dragons of legend, this Ice Crystal Dragon was far too miniature.

Yu Zhizhi couldn’t bring herself to believe it.

Outside the cave, a box attached to an iron chain was slowly lowered.

The Ice Crystal Dragon happily spread its wings and scurried over.

The box opened.

Yu Zhizhi saw a glistening red, still-bleeding heart...

She froze for a long moment.

It suddenly hit her. ’This must be a freshly carved-out heart! Was it the sacrifice’s heart?!’

Yu Zhizhi instantly clapped her hands over her mouth. The Beast Clan female had been alive just moments ago, and now... her heart had been torn out...

’So what about the one brought in before? Did the same thing happen?’

’Will all sixteen sacrifices sent this time meet the same end?’

The man watched the little Ice Crystal Dragon below, a rare hint of a smile in his eyes. "By this time next year, it will be all grown up."

Yu Zhizhi’s eyes were wide with horror. She was speechless for a long moment.

The Crown Prince glanced at her and saw that the little Rabbit Clan female was scared witless.

He sneered.

"You should feel honored. No one has seen it but you."

Yu Zhizhi’s face was ashen. There was nowhere to hide on the viewing platform, and she had to grip the railing in front of her just to stay on her feet.

"How... how can there be a dragon?"

This was beyond her comprehension.

’I’ve read so many books about this world, but I’ve never seen any record of dragons.’

’Or... is it only Moonrise that has them?’

The man’s golden-brown eyes stared at her for a long moment, the corners of his lips curling into a meaningful smile. "The Moon Ascending Royal Family possesses the Strength to summon dragons. It’s just that this Strength had vanished for nearly a thousand years."

"And now...?" Yu Zhizhi looked at the man beside her as realization dawned. "Crown Prince, have you awakened this talent?"

The Crown Prince of the Moon Rising Empire, Cang Lan, looked down condescendingly at the female from the Rabbit Clan. He spoke slowly, "This is a secret of the Moon Ascending Royal Family, one that no one outside the Royal Family has ever known. And you—"

"You are the first."