After Eighteen Years of Silence, I Behead the Royal Ancestor with a Single Sword - Chapter 1:

Chapter 1: Transmigrated for Eighteen Years, Fifth Prince of Great Xia

Great Xia Empire.

Royal Capital, Royal Palace.

“Little sister, you sit at the bow… while your brother walks along the shore…”

A young man dressed in a python-patterned robe lounged lazily against an artificial rockery, basking beneath the warm sunlight. A blade of foxtail grass dangled from the corner of his mouth as he casually hummed a tune.

“It’s been eighteen whole years. Holding back for this long is really making me restless!”

The young man in the python robe was named Xiao Ling, the Fifth Prince of Great Xia. However, buried deep within his heart was a secret no one else knew.

He was not originally from this world. In his previous life, he had been an ambitious young man on Blue Star with no house, no car, and no girlfriend. Then, because of an accident, he transmigrated to this world.

In the blink of an eye, nearly eighteen years had passed.

The current Emperor of Great Xia had four princes and one princess. Born into a royal family, the princes should normally have fought bitterly over the throne, scheming against one another until blood flowed. Great Xia, however, was an exception.

The princes and princess shared an excellent relationship. There was none of the usual opening scenario filled with fratricidal struggles, endless rebellions, and murderous intrigue.

At least Xiao Ling did not have to become some crooked-smile Dragon King.

After all, as the Fifth Prince of Great Xia, he was already a true son of the dragon.

The Eldest Prince, Xiao Yuan, excelled in both civil and military affairs. Ten years ago, the Emperor of Great Xia had already appointed him Crown Prince.

The Second Prince, Xiao Fu, possessed outstanding martial talent. He guarded the southern frontier of the empire, resisting invasions from the barbarians of the wastelands.

The Third Prince, Xiao Chen, was cold-faced and deeply calculating. He commanded the empire’s secret guards, monitoring the royal court and territories while gathering intelligence on enemy empires.

The Fourth Princess, Xiao Yun, might be a woman, but she was no less capable than any man. She had married one of the empire’s great generals, and together they guarded an important stronghold in the western reaches of the empire.

As for the Fifth Prince, who was also the original owner of Xiao Ling’s body…

He was famously mediocre throughout the entire empire. He spent his days idling around and frequently caused all sorts of mischief throughout the Royal Capital, so his reputation was hardly admirable.

His martial arts aptitude could only be described as utterly hopeless. Even with the abundant resources of the royal family at his disposal, he had only reached the 1st stage Bone Tempering Realm.

That was right.

This was a world ruled by martial arts. Powerful martial artists could split mountains and shatter boulders, soar through the skies, and traverse the earth with terrifying strength.

From lowest to highest, the cultivation realms were Qi Refining Realm, Bone Tempering Realm, Soul Condensation Realm, Spirit Transformation Realm, Divine Palace Realm, Dharma Manifestation Realm, and Transcendence Realm. Each realm was further divided into ten stages.

(1st to 3rd stage were Early Stage, 4th to 6th stage were Middle Stage, and 7th to 9th stage were Late Stage.)

Under the same conditions and at roughly the same age, Xiao Ling’s elder brothers and sister had already reached the Soul Condensation Realm.

That alone was enough to show just how terrible his aptitude was.

[Ding!]

[A random mission has been issued.]

[Proceed to the Royal Palace’s Peach Blossom Pond and perform broadcast calisthenics.]

“Here we go again!”

Xiao Ling helplessly climbed down from the artificial rockery and headed toward the Peach Blossom Pond within the Royal Palace.

Like many other transmigrators, Xiao Ling had also obtained a system. It had accompanied him ever since his birth, issuing various system missions every so often.

The missions were bizarre beyond imagination. There was nothing the system could not come up with.

Pee while his emperor father was holding him high in the air!

Run a lap around the Golden Throne Hall while wearing crotchless pants!

Steal and eat the fruit offerings from the Royal Ancestral Temple!

…

Fortunately, the atmosphere within the Great Xia royal family was harmonious, while his father and siblings were tolerant enough to endure his antics. Had he been born into any other royal family, the grass over his grave might already have grown frighteningly tall.

Before long, Xiao Ling arrived at the lotus pond within the Royal Garden, following the system’s directions.

According to the mission requirements, he immediately performed an entire routine of broadcast calisthenics beside the pond.

The passing royal guards and servants merely glanced at him before continuing on their way. They had long since grown accustomed to such sights.

Their Fifth Prince always came up with some strange and inexplicable stunt every once in a while. By now, nothing he did surprised them anymore.

[Mission completed.]

[Congratulations, Host. Reward obtained: two months of cultivation.]

Hearing the system announce his reward, Xiao Ling did not feel the slightest bit excited.

[The reward has been stored in the System Space. It can only be withdrawn after the Host fulfills the required conditions.]

‘What a damn ridiculous rule!’

Over the past eighteen years, Xiao Ling had completed countless random missions issued by the system and accumulated all kinds of rewards.

Unfortunately, without exception, every single reward had been locked away inside the System Space. Until he turned eighteen, he could not use any of them.

How could that feeling be described?

It was like having a juicy piece of meat right in front of his mouth. He could smell it, but he was forbidden from taking even a single bite.

Fortunately, as the Fifth Prince of Great Xia, coupled with the fact that there was no vicious scheming or murderous rivalry among the princes, surviving safely until the age of eighteen had never been particularly difficult.

‘Only three days left. After my coming-of-age ceremony three days from now, the seal on my system will finally be lifted!’

Anticipation surged through Xiao Ling’s heart. He had been waiting far too long for this day.

“Your Highness, I finally found you!”

A pure-looking young woman came running toward Xiao Ling.

The young woman was beautiful, dressed in a long green gown. Beneath the flowing fabric, one could still make out a pair of long, smooth, well-proportioned legs. Most eye-catching of all was the fullness that seemed almost ready to burst free, unmistakably suggesting that she had been very well nourished while growing up.

She was Lin Rou’er, Xiao Ling’s personal maid. She had followed him closely ever since childhood.

They rose together at sunrise and toiled together at sunset.

Looking at Lin Rou’er, Xiao Ling smiled and asked, “Why are you in such a hurry? Did something happen?”

Lin Rou’er replied, “Your Highness, your coming-of-age ceremony is in three days. Her Majesty the Empress has sent people over to take your measurements for your ceremonial attire.”

‘Measurements again?’

Xiao Ling felt somewhat helpless.

Everything about life in the palace was good except for one thing… there were simply too many rules.

Over the past several days, preparations for his coming-of-age ceremony had come one after another. His ceremonial clothing alone had already been adjusted and checked no fewer than ten times.

Fortunately, he only intended to become an idle prince. If he had to live like Crown Prince Xiao Yuan, his days would undoubtedly be far more troublesome.

Once the coming-of-age ceremony arrived and he claimed all the rewards he had accumulated from the system, he would have to convince his royal father to grant him a fief.

Then he could live freely and leisurely, far away from all this troublesome royal etiquette. Wouldn’t those days be wonderfully comfortable?

“Let’s go.”

Xiao Ling walked over to Lin Rou’er and openly swept his gaze across the two proud curves on her chest.

‘Those really are some excellent genes. Much more natural than anything modern technology could create.’

Under Xiao Ling’s blatant gaze, Lin Rou’er’s cheeks immediately flushed red, and she hurriedly shifted aside to avoid him.

Xiao Ling chuckled, “You little girl. You’ve taken plenty of advantage of this prince on ordinary days, yet I’m not even allowed to look?”

“That was only because it was part of this servant’s duties…”

Thinking about all the times she had helped her prince dress and attended to his daily needs, Lin Rou’er pouted as she muttered her response.

The two had been together for many years, so she had long since grown accustomed to her prince’s personality.

After teasing her for a few more moments, Xiao Ling finally left with her.

…

Deep within the Royal Palace, a middle-aged man dressed in a long robe embroidered with dragons sat upon the dragon throne. Although he merely sat there without moving, an invisible pressure naturally radiated from his body, filling the hall with an imposing majesty.

He was the current Emperor of Great Xia, Xiao Tianhuang.

Emperor Xiao Tianhuang sat silently upon the dragon throne, his expression heavy and somber, as though some troubling matter weighed upon his heart.

Seated to his right was Crown Prince Xiao Yuan.

For some time, neither father nor son spoke. The entire hall was enveloped in a cold, solemn atmosphere.

Seeing the troubled expression on his father’s face, Crown Prince Xiao Yuan finally asked, “Royal Father, Fifth Brother’s coming-of-age ceremony is only three days away. Why have you seemed so troubled these past few days?”

After hearing the Crown Prince’s question, Emperor Xiao Tianhuang remained silent for a moment. Then, with a complicated expression, he looked toward his son and slowly said, “The borders have become somewhat unstable. The surrounding empires may appear peaceful on the surface, but beneath that calm, undercurrents are already stirring.”

Emperor Xiao Tianhuang paused briefly before continuing, “Moreover… the lifespan of our Great Xia royal ancestor is nearing its end. Your Fifth Brother’s coming-of-age ceremony may draw representatives from the surrounding empires here to probe our situation.”

‘The royal ancestor!’

As the Crown Prince, Xiao Yuan naturally knew exactly what that existence meant.

Although the borders of Great Xia occasionally experienced unrest, there was a reason the empire had enjoyed lasting stability and why the surrounding empires had never dared to invade recklessly.

It was precisely because of the royal ancestor.

Deep concern weighed upon Emperor Xiao Tianhuang’s heart.

Great Xia might still appear powerful today, but behind that imposing exterior, it was constantly being suppressed by the surrounding empires working together. With no sufficiently powerful successor emerging to stabilize the empire, Great Xia had already begun showing faint signs of decline.

If something were to happen to the royal ancestor now, Great Xia’s situation would become even more precarious.