2 The Genius Scholar of Ironfort

Prince Neebo woke up disoriented and confused. It seems like Easton had once again brought him someplace before he could mess things up again. Sitting upright from his cot, he found an old book by the table right across him. The young Prince stared aimlessly at it and let his weary mind wander off in a singular thought, his past.

Looking back, before he was the infamous Prince that he had become. Prince Neebo was actually a very curious and loving child, beloved by everyone in Ironfort. Oblivious to the lavish life he is privileged with, what the Prince truly valued was his room full of ancient scrolls and text, and his relationship with his family. He was given a moniker "The Brilliant Prince", and everyone in the kingdom would celebrate in joyful excitement about what the future might hold, the glory and conquest, as the 7th Prince shall take hold and become a future pillar of the kingdom.

In contrast to how he spend his days now in entertainment and causing ruckus; before, he would lock himself up inside his room and study ancient knowledge for days. To be exact, the Prince was very interested about the stories of the legendary Immortal cultivators in a world teeming with extraordinary wonders and boundless mysteries, filled with creatures that is capable of destruction even to those who was known to be as Great Kingdoms across the land.

In the depths of his heart, the Prince yearned to rediscover that sense of curiosity and love for knowledge that had once consumed him. He desired to tap into his own potential and find a way to bring about positive change, not only for himself but for his family and the people of Ironfort who had suffered from the divide caused by this competition to hold power and authority.

His thoughts ran with passion, until he recalled the day after his father declared how the next ruler of Ironfort shall be chosen. As the most beloved Prince of Ironfort, the Brilliant 7th Prince, He has the most potential to become the great ruler of Ironfort. And his brothers and sisters just couldn't let this probability go. He was the greatest threat to their goals and ambitions of power and authority.

Thus, that day, he recalled what happened. He was awaken by loud noises, coming from inside the palace. The rumblings of people rushing in and out of the hallways have stirred a massive alarm.

He made his way into the source of all the commotion and it led to where he spends most of his time with, the room full of ancient scrolls and texts. What he saw before him that day was a scene of utter devastation and heartache. The room was burning from the inside.

That was the day he felt his greatest heartache.

And in that year, it was just just the beginning and the end for the Brilliant 7th Prince of Ironfort. He discovered that it was his siblings who was the mastermind all along to the burning of his precious ancient scrolls and texts.

His already broken self was once again broken, but a thousand times more.

The 7th young Prince was never the same again, after that year.

Prince Neebo's actions became a reflection of his inner turmoil. He reveled in the chaos he could create, finding temporary solace in the distractions it provided. But deep down, he longed to reclaim the passion for knowledge and the sense of purpose he once had.

As he stared at the old book on the table before him, a spark of hope flickered within the prince. Perhaps this book held the key to unlocking his true potential, to rediscovering the brilliance that was overshadowed by pain and loss. With trembling hands, he reached for the book and began to read.

The pages contained the tales of a legendary scholar from a distant land known as Ironhaven. This scholar, renowned as the Genius Scholar of Ironhaven, possessed a profound understanding of ancient wisdom and the power to bring about heaven defying changes in the world. Inspired by this story, Prince Neebo felt a glimmer of determination awakening within him.

Deep inside Prince Neebo, he felt a strong wave of heat congregating at a singular point inside his body. Despite being fully awake and sparked by the memories of the past that was written in those ancient text that the Prince had read. He felt that this was a situation that was likely the same to what was described on the ancient texts, as the state of sudden enlightenment.

"Is this the Dao?" Prince Neebo thought curiously. Since he was young, he was very fond of Immortal cultivation legends. He collected ancient texts and scrolls that talks about the stories and how to become one; hoping someday he would be fortunate enough in breaking through mortality.

Among the ancient texts the young Prince Neebo had collected, was a very strange breathing technique that was describe to as a key in unlocking mortality. Prince Neebo was very interested about it, and from that day on; he began to apply the breathing technique in his daily life. And it seems that his body is showing signs of reactions towards the breathing technique that he had grown accustomed to.

While the heat inside the Prince's body congregated to a singular point painlessly, the waves that was coming in seemingly cleanses the Prince's body from impurities. Washing away his fatigue and stresses. Going into a state of trance, he felt light and relax.

After an hour, Prince Neebo gently examined his body. Not sensing any kinds of injury, Prince Neebo felt a different kind of change within himself.

He felt sober and reborn anew. He felt stronger and more aware of his surroundings. He felt like the legendary beings told in those ancient stories he had been reading before.

If what was described in the ancient scrolls was accurate and true, that there were stages and levels in assessing the level of power an Immortal had. Based on what he knew, there were 3 known stages in cultivating the Dao: The Qi Condensation stage; Foundation Establishment stage; and the pinnacle of cultivation, the Core Formation stage.

If his knowledge is right, he had broken past Mortality and has entered the Qi Condensation stage. The stage where the cultivator condenses his very own Core Sea through absorbing the Qi found in his surroundings.

"haha! who would've thought that i would be able to condense my very own Core Sea by facing the past that i have been stubbornly running away from." Prince Neebo celebrated.

after some time, Prince Neebo made a fist of frustration. "This, is how I shall move on from running away from my past. This punch, shall be the punch that will break the chains of my bitterness, free. This punch, is the punch that will carry me towards a new beginning!"

Prince Neebo then struck the door of the cabin that he was in, breaking out from his confines and into the world that awaits his return.

Boooooooom!

The punch carried a massive power, defying what a mortal punch could be. This was more than just a punch, it was more like a cannon that was used for besieging castles and fortresses. A punch so heavy, Prince Neebo feels that the weight of it is about 20kg.

Amidst the dust that have yet to settled, Prince Neebo felt extremely satisfied in his new found powers.

But before the Prince could revel in his own achievement in gaining supernatural abilities, he was greeted with the world in complete chaos. In front of him, was the Ironfort fortress a kilometer away from where he was standing. The air was heavy with the stench of smoke and blood, and the echoes of screams and clashes still reverberated through the air.

As he had gained an improve sight from his evolution, he could clearly see destruction. It seems to be that the fortress had been subjected to a merciless attack.

Once again, he was attacked by the past that he thought he had gotten over with. The embers of destruction still lingers along what was believed to be sturdy walls of Ironfort. A wave of shock washed over Prince Neebo as he staggered on his footing.

He could still people screaming, but faintly.

His senses, sharpened, could clearly detect a few survivors from the horrors of destruction.

He could clearly and easily determine a merciless onslaught from the outcome of the battle. The bodies of the residents of Ironfort, the innocent, brave and powerless souls of those who had fought and resisted hangs from the debris-filled ruin.

Prince Neebo's mind was disoriented and confused. He could still lightly recall that he was being carried by Sir Easton, and he was confident that the state that the kingdom was, before he left with Sir Easton, was in a peaceful and silent state.

But as he was recalling everything that he can, he was pointed to a memory were the kingdom felt like there was something amiss. All the shops and stalls have closed very much earlier than usual that night. And his drunk self was annoyed of it. He passed by people who was in a state of rush and a little bit of panic, but not because of his presence, but because of something his drunken self couldn't be bothered with.

It seems like it was telling a sign that something was about to happen, yet he was not worried about anything but his self at that moment.

"I don't believe what I am seeing!" gnashing his own teeth, Prince Neebo was in denial of the reality before him. "This must be a dream!"

"You're not dreaming, Brilliant Prince of Ironfort! HAHAHA" a sinister voice interrupted Prince Neebo. A young man adorned with lavish black armor and a royal yellow robe approached.

"WHO ARE YOU?!" devastated, Prince Neebo's furiously inquired

"Bow down!" the lavish young man ordered

Boom!

Prince Neebo dropped heavily into the ground.

"WHO ARE YOU?! HO...HOW ARE YOU.... DOING THIS!!" in utterly disbelief, Prince Neebo raged in his helpless state. 'What power could contain the newfound powers i have attained?' Prince Neebo thought.

The lavish young man nodded towards a sage looking elder beside him that had reached out his right hand towards Prince Neebo, the lavish young man sneered at Prince Neebo's state. and he leaned towards Prince Neebo and mockingly said,

"You're asking me who I am?"

"I am your master, you piece of shit!" then spitting into Prince Neebo's face.