The Saiyan In The Cultivation World.

The empire was in an uproar. The demon beast's attack on Redcliff City had sent shockwaves across the land, leaving even the most composed officials stunned. Those who had stayed behind, eagerly watching to see how Zhou Lianchen would act, were equally dumbfounded by the sheer scale of the chaos.

The assault was unlike anything the empire had seen in years. The sheer number of beasts and the unprecedented ferocity of their attack had forced many experts to step forward, abandoning their secluded cultivation to lend their strength. Even the Emperor himself was compelled to act, dispatching a substantial force to Redcliff City to provide land support and stabilize the situation.

Amid the chaos, the prince returned to the palace, slipping back unnoticed by most. He had been gone for five days, yet no one seemed to realize he had disappeared. It wasn't surprising, after all, the prince was known to keep to his studies, rarely drawing attention to himself. His absence, like his presence, had gone largely unremarked.

However, whispers began to circulate as the timing of his return coincided with the aftermath of the Mo Clan's calamity. Questions arose, quiet but persistent. Where had the prince gone during those five days? And could he have played a role in the devastating attack on the Mo Clan?

While no evidence pointed directly to him, the coincidence was enough to fuel speculation. For those paying close attention, the prince's enigmatic return only deepened the mystery surrounding him.

The Mo Clan, despite the ferocity of the demon beast assault, didn't suffer a total collapse. Reinforcements had moved in swiftly, providing crucial land support and pushing back the relentless tide of beasts. While many members of the clan lost their lives in the chaos, the core members, the heart of the Mo Clan, managed to survive.

But just as the world began to catch its breath, another shock rippled through the empire, leaving everyone reeling once more.

The Mo Clan's vault had been completely emptied, a devastating blow they initially tried to keep hidden. However, when the Mo Clan ancestor discovered the theft, his overwhelming killing intent gave the truth away. Pressed for an explanation by the gathered experts, some of whom possessed strength surpassing his own, he had no choice but to reveal the robbery.

The Mo Clan ancestor, a Level 4 Nascent Soul cultivator, was already a formidable figure. Yet, among those who had arrived to aid the clan, there were individuals at Level 5 Nascent Soul. Their presence demanded accountability, leaving the Mo Clan no room to conceal the humiliating truth.

The revelation sent shockwaves through the gathered forces. The loss of such a vast treasure trove, coupled with the unprecedented demon beast assault, painted a grim picture for the Mo Clan's future.

This was a devastating blow to the Mo Clan. Every clan's treasure vault was a symbol of their long history and accumulated power. For such a vault to be emptied was more than a loss of resources, it was a symbol of impending downfall.

Among the treasures stolen, the Mo Clan's most beloved artifact stood out: a necklace imbued with extraordinary power. Known as the Orb of Darkness, it was capable of swallowing nearly anything that came into contact with it. This artifact considered the pride of the Mo Clan, had been guarded under numerous layers of protection within the vault. Yet, despite these defenses, it had vanished, along with everything else, even the dirt on the vault's floor.

The complete disappearance of their treasured possessions left the Mo Clan reeling, their legacy shaken to its very core. In the aftermath, all eyes turned to Lianchen. Though no solid evidence linked him to the incident, suspicion hung thick in the air.

The timeline was damning. On his birthday, the prince boldly announced that he would take action if the three clans failed to comply with his demands. Shortly after, he disappeared without a trace. Then came the attack on the Mo Clan: the demon beasts, the chaos, the theft of their treasures, all of it seemed too perfectly aligned to be coincidence.

To the onlookers, it was undeniable. If anyone dared claim that Zhou Lianchen had nothing to do with this, they wouldn't believe it, even with a gun to their head. The whispers grew louder, and his name became the epicenter of one of the most shocking events the empire had ever witnessed.

The suspicions deepened when investigators turned their attention to the Su and Lu Clans. To everyone's astonishment, those clans discovered that their vaults had also been completely emptied. Treasures accumulated over centuries had vanished without a trace.

Now, the connection was impossible to ignore. The three clans Lianchen had publicly named were the only ones targeted. No one else had suffered losses. Who could believe this was a mere coincidence? To many, it was clear: Zhou Lianchen had orchestrated this, and his involvement was no longer a matter of speculation, it was a certainty in their minds.

Unable to restrain themselves any longer, the Su, Lu, and Mo Clans stormed the Lianchen mansion, demanding the return of their stolen treasures. Their fury was palpable, their voices echoing through the grand halls as they confronted the young prince.

But the sight that greeted the Su and Lu Clan ancestors nearly sent them to an early grave. Zhou Lianchen sat calmly, adorned with treasures unmistakably from their vaults. Rings, necklaces, and other priceless artifacts that they had painstakingly safeguarded for centuries now glittered casually on his person.

To add insult to injury, Lianchen had the audacity to serve them tea brewed from high-grade resources sourced directly from their vaults, resources so rare and potent that even they had never dared to use them frivolously. The aroma filled the air, a silent taunt that cut deeper than words.

The scene left the clan heads speechless, their fury battling with sheer disbelief. Zhou Lianchen's composure only added to their humiliation, a stark reminder of just how powerless they were against him.

"Greetings, and welcome to my humble mansion," Lianchen said with a pleasant smile, his tone light and cordial as he gestured for his guests to sit. The Su, Lu, and Mo Clan members, however, were far from calm, their gazes locked on the young prince.

"I must admit," Lianchen continued, his smile widening, "I'm not particularly fond of jewelry or such things. But while out on a simple walk, I happened to stumble upon these delightful trinkets." He gestured casually to the array of treasures adorning his body, the gems and ornaments practically sparkling under the room's light.

The audacity of his statement left his guests utterly stunned. Lianchen, sitting before them with a seemingly innocent demeanor, shone brightly, almost blindingly, from the sheer number of treasures he adorned. The contrast between his casual tone and the priceless artifacts that once resided in their vaults was both maddening and deeply humiliating.

The Su and Lu Clan members were so enraged they nearly coughed up blood on the spot. Their hands trembled with suppressed fury as they struggled to maintain composure. Every fiber of their being screamed to leap forward and teach the insolent brat before them a lesson he wouldn't forget.

But they couldn't. Not here, not now. The eyes of the empire were upon them. Many of the prominent figures who had attended Lianchen's birthday celebration were intently watching the confrontation unfold, including the Emperor himself. Their humiliation was not only personal but public, making the sting all the more unbearable.

"Please, enjoy the tea," Lianchen said with a grin, gesturing to the steaming cups placed before by Lan Mei. "It's the best of the best money could buy… well," he added with a sly chuckle, "I suppose money couldn't actually buy such things."

His words dripped with mockery, and he savored the furious glares they threw in his direction. The tension in the room was thick, and Lianchen's playful demeanor only fanned the flames of their barely contained rage.