Chapter 1276: Unknown Land

After leaving the ancient tomb, Zu An and his group returned to the nearest town and checked into an inn to rest.

Qiao Heng, who had sustained serious injuries, had already checked into a room to rest.

Princess Soren, meanwhile, found Zu An. "So, you are the mysterious person who defeated Prince Golden Crow," she said. "No wonder you were unwilling to reveal your identity before."

Her face was as luminous as jade, and her eyes clear as water. When she spoke, her laughter was enchanting, making her truly radiant. Coupled with the Demoness's fair skin and striking figure, even Zu An, who was accustomed to beauty, had to admit that this woman was indeed very charming.

Zu An smiled apologetically. "This is the Demon Race territory after all, so it was indeed a bit inconvenient. I hope the Princess doesn't mind."

Princess Soren looked at him expectantly. "So, can you tell me now?"

Seeing his hesitation, she smiled, pursing her lips. "After all, we've been through life-and-death situations together. Aren't we friends? Are you unwilling to even tell me your name? Don't worry, as a friend, I would never reveal your information to other demons."

"Actually, I wasn't worried about that..." Zu An chuckled and then told her his name.

He was primarily afraid that Yu Yanluo and the other two women would misunderstand that he was flirting with her, but then he thought, *I haven't done anything, so why am I feeling so guilty?*

"Zu An?" Soren murmured the name, committing it firmly to memory, a hint of joy appearing on her face. "That's a very unique name. My name is Soren Shi. You're welcome to visit the Demon Race anytime. While I can't represent the entire Demon Race, I can represent the Soren family. From now on, wherever you are, you will be the most distinguished guest of our Soren family."

Zu An was somewhat surprised; her tone suggested she held a very unusual position within her family. He smiled and nodded. "If the opportunity arises, I will certainly visit the Demon Race."

Princess Soren pursed her lips, hesitated, and then asked, "Are you accompanying Queen Medusa to the Royal Court for the Demon Emperor's Assembly?"

"I'm escorting her for a section of the journey, but I may not go into the Royal Court myself," Zu An replied. There was no need to hide this.

Hearing this, she first breathed a sigh of relief, then showed a hint of regret. "It's wise for you not to go to the Royal Court. Although it may sound disrespectful, you defeated Prince Golden Crow, who is the next Demon Emperor. Even if the current Demon Emperor were exceptionally magnanimous, he wouldn't simply ignore this. In front of representatives from all the other races, he might very well use you to assert his authority."

"Thank you for your concern, Princess," Zu An replied. Yu Yanluo and the others had analyzed the situation similarly for him, and he had to admit Princess Soren's intentions were genuinely good. "However, while Prince Golden Crow's strength is decent, it's not enough to overpower all contenders, is it? The Demon Emperor can stand up for him while alive, but after his death, will the strong experts of all races submit to him?"

"You might not know, but while Prince Golden Crow's current strength is indeed insufficient, every successive Demon Emperor undergoes a succession ritual," Princess Soren explained. "Before the previous Demon Emperor passes away, he transfers all his cultivation to the next Demon Emperor. At that time, Prince Golden Crow will naturally be able to suppress all contenders."

Zu An was stunned. "It seems I'll have to be careful if I encounter Prince Golden Crow again."

*If that guy inherits the Demon Emperor's full cultivation, what chance do I have fighting him?*

Princess Soren smiled, pursing her lips. "You do need to be careful, but there's no need to worry too much. Once he becomes the Demon Emperor, he'll have many responsibilities and won't be able to easily leave the Royal Court. It's even less likely he'd come to the human realm to seek revenge, as the human realm has its own Emperor."

Although Zu An understood the logic, the thought of having to avoid someone he had previously defeated still left him quite displeased.

At this point, Princess Soren hesitated for a moment, then asked, "The human realm is vast. Where do you usually reside, young master?"

Zu An instinctively teased, "What, does the Princess plan to come to the human realm to find me?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt a twinge of regret. *Didn't I vow to uphold male virtue? Why am I teasing her?*

Princess Soren paused for a moment, a blush spreading across her jade-like face. But her reaction was quick. "Yes, I've always heard that the human world boasts magnificent and vast landscapes. I've always wanted to explore it, but I've never been there, so I'm naturally a little apprehensive. Now that I finally have an acquaintance who could be a guide, of course I'd come to find you."

Her eyes were charming and affectionate, yet when she spoke, her clear, watery pupils seemed to hold no other meaning.

Zu An had to admit that this woman was very intelligent. She had resolved the awkwardness so naturally, while simultaneously expressing sufficient goodwill.

"I'm mostly in the capital, but Brightmoon City and Cloudmount Prefecture aren't out of the question either."

Princess Soren nodded slightly, committing his words to memory. After they chatted for a while longer, she stood up to take her leave. "Thank you so much for saving me this time, young master. However, I have other matters to attend to and may need to depart first."

Zu An was slightly taken aback but didn't try to detain her. He simply said, "Have a safe journey."

Princess Soren bowed to him. "Until we meet again, if fate allows."

With that, she departed gracefully. She actually wanted to spend more time with Zu An to deepen their connection, not necessarily because she was genuinely in love with him, but because any prominent family would want to win over such a powerful individual. Moreover, she had developed some genuine fondness for him during their journey together.

However, she was also very sensible. With so many stunning beauties accompanying Zu An, approaching him at this moment would only be counterproductive, so she gracefully withdrew.

Besides, there might be a chance to meet him again in the human realm in the future.

Not long after Princess Soren left, Princess Changning arrived, looking very solicitous, and brought many unique Demon Race delicacies for Zu An to try.

Unable to refuse her hospitality, Zu An simply humored her.

Meanwhile, Yun Jianyue had been about to find Zu An to discuss something, but upon seeing Soren Shi arrive and Kong Nanqing also going to him, she became very displeased. She turned and glared at Yu Yanluo. "Aren't you going to manage your man? Other women are just coming and going freely from him. Is his room a public latrine?"

Yu Yanluo's expression froze, and it took her a moment to recover. "Why don't you manage him yourself, Sister Yun?"

Yun Jianyue frowned. "I'm not his woman, so why would I manage him?"

Yu Yanluo, however, remained calm and collected. "So many women seeking Ah Zu proves his immense charm, which only further demonstrates how good my judgment is, doesn't it?"

Choked by her nonchalant attitude, Yun Jianyue turned to Yan Xuehen, who was standing nearby, to vent her frustration. "What are you laughing at?!"

Yan Xuehen calmly replied, "I'm laughing because someone is more anxious than the emperor, like an eunuch."

"You ice woman, you're asking for a beating!" The two quickly started fighting again, but Yan Xuehen was clearly at a disadvantage and was soon pinned down.

Just then, the door creaked open. Zu An walked in and stared blankly at the scene before him.

Both women blushed. Their current positions were indeed a bit indecent. They simultaneously rose and tidied their clothes.

Yu Yanluo secretly chuckled but still asked, "Why did it end so quickly?"

Zu An's expression was odd. "Why does that sound so misleading?" he wondered. "I'm not sure, perhaps she grew impatient hearing me constantly inquire about Kong Nanwu."

Having dealt with the Peacock Clan's experts in Cloudmount Prefecture, and knowing that Kong Qing had let go so easily because of Kong Nanwu, the three women were aware of her existence.

"This Princess Changning does have a bit of a temper," Yu Yanluo said, shaking her head. Unwilling to gossip, she left it at that. "By the way, what's the deal with that treasure map Marquis Sui gave you? Sister Yun is incredibly curious, like a cat scratching inside. If you hadn't come, she probably wouldn't have been able to hold it in much longer."

"Nonsense!" Yun Jianyue said, her tone revealing a strange hint of guilt. "Don't tell me you aren't curious."

Zu An smiled. "I haven't had a chance to look at it yet either."

As he spoke, he took out the map. It was impossible to tell what animal's hide it was made from, yet it gave off a feeling of being impervious to water and fire.

The three women gathered around him, their subtle fragrances mingling, each a distinct beauty in her own right.

However, their expressions quickly changed as they saw the content on the map: "The Unknowable Land!"