# Chapter 636: Crown Prince
Murong Yefeng was two years younger than Zhang Ruochen, and his talent was also extremely high, being the number one genius of the Murong Clan.
The head of the Murong Clan had sent him to be Zhang Ruochen's study companion, which was actually also an opportunity to train him, allowing him to get close to Zhang Ruochen, build a good relationship with him, and eventually take over the position of clan head in the future.
If the future head of the Murong Clan could become friends with the future emperor of the Holy Bright Central Empire, it would naturally bring endless benefits to the Murong Clan.
Murong Yefeng's relationship with Zhang Ruochen was indeed extremely good, and Zhang Ruochen had never treated him as just a study companion.
At that time, Zhang Ruochen, Chi Yao, Murong Yefeng, and Kong Lanyou had attended classes together in the academy and trained in martial arts together. Among them, Murong Yefeng was the youngest, so he naturally received the most care.
If there was one person Zhang Ruochen could still call a friend from his previous life, it would probably be Murong Yefeng alone.
Therefore, when Zhang Ruochen learned that Orange Moon Star Envoy was a descendant of the Murong Clan, he immediately thought of his old friend from the past.
Eight hundred years had passed. He wondered if he was still alive.
After a long time, Zhang Ruochen finally pulled himself back from his thoughts and asked, "What is Murong Yefeng to you?"
Seeing Zhang Ruochen's strange expression, and connecting it to her previous suspicions about him, Orange Moon Star Envoy withdrew the sacred energy from her hand and said, "He is the Supreme Ancestor of the Murong Clan."
"Is he still alive?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
"I'm not sure either."
Orange Moon Star Envoy shook her head and continued, "The Supreme Ancestor hasn't appeared for over three hundred years. Even some of the elders of the Murong Clan don't know whether he is alive or dead."
After hesitating for a moment, she finally voiced the speculation in her heart, saying, "Zhang Ruochen, actually, I've always had a question I wanted to ask you."
"Go ahead," Zhang Ruochen said.
Orange Moon Star Envoy said, "Your name is Zhang Ruochen. Eight hundred years ago, the crown prince of the Holy Bright Central Empire was also named Zhang Ruochen. This can't just be a coincidence, can it?"
Zhang Ruochen countered, "What do you think?"
"Eight hundred years ago, there was a case. The Holy Bright Crown Prince died under mysterious circumstances, shaking the entire world at the time."
"Two rumors emerged. One said he was killed by his fiancée, Princess Chi Yao, which later triggered the fifty-seven-year war between the Holy Bright Central Empire and the Qingchi Central Empire."
"Another theory claimed he was killed by his cousin, Princess Kong. That's why, after Emperor Ming disappeared, Peacock Mountain Manor immediately took control of the Holy Bright Central Empire and became its ruler."
"Even historical records state that the Holy Bright Crown Prince and Emperor Ming were killed by a carefully crafted conspiracy from Peacock Mountain Manor. The reason Emperor Qing of the Qingchi Central Empire and Princess Chi Yao attacked the Holy Bright Central Empire was entirely to avenge them."
"Although opinions vary, no one ever found the bodies of the Holy Bright Crown Prince and Emperor Ming. No one knows what the truth really is."
Orange Moon Star Envoy continued, "Our Murong Clan's Supreme Ancestor once spent a hundred years investigating the truth but ultimately found no results."
"In the end, the Supreme Ancestor had no choice but to lead the broken and incomplete Murong Clan into the Black Market, fleeing from the pursuit of the imperial court and the Bright Hall."
Zhang Ruochen's eyes narrowed, and he suddenly looked up, saying, "Why would the Bright Hall pursue the Murong Clan? Isn't the Bright Hall formed from the remnants of the Holy Bright Central Empire? Why didn't you join forces to fight against Chi Yao?"
Orange Moon Star Envoy snorted coldly, saying, "Back then, after Emperor Ming disappeared and the crown prince was assassinated, the entire Holy Bright Central Empire fell into chaos. The master of Peacock Mountain Manor, Kong Shangling, allied with a large number of court officials, seized control of the government with lightning speed and entered the Ming Emperor's Palace."
"At that time, the head of our Murong Clan, Murong Chengde, was one of the Three Dukes of the Holy Bright Central Empire, holding the position of 'Grand Tutor.' The Murong Clan head was extremely dissatisfied with Kong Shangling's actions, considering them treasonous. He believed that a new member of the Zhang family should be installed as the new emperor. Unfortunately, he was suppressed by Kong Shangling, and countless disciples of the Murong Clan were persecuted."
"Later, the Holy Bright Central Empire was ultimately breached by the army of the Qingchi Central Empire. Both Peacock Mountain Manor and the Murong Clan became conquered subjects."
"When the Qingchi Central Empire's army breached Ming Emperor City, the disciples of the Murong Clan fought until the very last moment, with over seventy percent of the clan members dying in battle. Only when forced did they retreat to the Eastern Domain's Evil Lands and hide in the Black Market."
"Kong Shangling and the members of Peacock Mountain Manor led the remaining remnants to form the Bright Hall, continuing to resist Empress Chi Yao in the Central Domain."
"Back then, if it weren't for the protection of the Evil Emperor, the Murong Clan would have been completely annihilated. Di Yi is a descendant of the Evil Path. The reason the Murong Clan fully supported him as the young master was to repay the Evil Emperor's kindness."
Although Orange Moon Star Envoy had never witnessed the glory of the Holy Bright Central Empire, she had often heard her ancestors speak of it, passed down from generation to generation.
Zhang Ruochen had been observing Orange Moon Star Envoy's eyes the entire time and could tell that she wasn't lying. Every word she spoke should be the truth as she knew it.
If what she said was true, then could the disappearance of his father, Emperor Ming, really be related to Peacock Mountain Manor?
But Zhang Ruochen had met Kong Lanyou once and could also see that she still remembered their past feelings. It didn't seem like she was being insincere.
Orange Moon Star Envoy was, after all, only a junior of the Murong Clan. What she knew might not necessarily be the truth of the matter.
Eight hundred years ago, Kong Lanyou was just a teenage girl. Even if Peacock Mountain Manor coveted imperial power and had truly devised a conspiracy to harm Emperor Ming, it definitely had nothing to do with her.
But when Chi Yao killed Zhang Ruochen, she was indeed there watching.
Who was telling the truth? Who was covering up the facts?
Or perhaps both Orange Moon Star Envoy and Kong Lanyou were telling the truth, but behind the truth, there were some unknown hidden circumstances?
"The human heart is truly hard to understand."
Eight hundred years ago, the case of "the crown prince's assassination and Emperor Ming's disappearance" in the Ming Emperor's Palace remained as perplexing as ever eight hundred years later.
Zhang Ruochen's vision was filled with fog. If he wanted to find the truth, he could only rely on himself to slowly uncover it.
With his current cultivation level, both the Murong Clan and the Bright Hall were behemoth-like existences that could easily kill him.
If he rashly revealed his identity before investigating the truth, it might plunge him into an inescapable situation.
"At the very least, I should wait until I reach the Half-Saint realm before attempting to contact them proactively," Zhang Ruochen silently made a decision.
Only by reaching Half-Saint would he truly have the ability to protect himself.
Orange Moon Star Envoy stared intently at Zhang Ruochen and said, "Eight hundred years ago, the Holy Bright Crown Prince was assassinated, but his body disappeared without a trace. Zhang Ruochen, you are the Heir of Time and Space. Since you can control time and space, could it be that you came from eight hundred years ago to eight hundred years later?"
Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, "Do you really think the power of time is that easy to control? With my current cultivation, let alone crossing eight hundred years of the River of Time, I couldn't even cross a single instant."
"Then what about your master?" Orange Moon Star Envoy asked.
"My master?"
"That's right. You are the Heir of Time and Space. Since you are an heir, there must be a master who taught you the secret arts of time and space, right? Could his power cross the River of Time?"
Zhang Ruochen fell silent.
If he had to name a master who had taught him the power of time and space, that person would probably be Xumi Saint Monk.
With Xumi Saint Monk's mastery over the power of time, it was truly possible that he could have brought his soul to eight hundred years later.
Was it really him?
Zhang Ruochen took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and said, "What exactly are you trying to ask?"
Orange Moon Star Envoy continued, "Are you the Holy Bright Crown Prince?"
"If you think so, then I am," Zhang Ruochen murmured.
Orange Moon Star Envoy trembled as if struck by lightning.
Although Zhang Ruochen had only spoken ambiguously without directly admitting it, Orange Moon Star Envoy knew that if Zhang Ruochen were not the Holy Bright Crown Prince, he would have immediately denied it. He wouldn't have answered the way he did.
The Holy Bright Crown Prince from eight hundred years ago was actually still alive.
If this news spread, it would undoubtedly draw out countless remnants of the Holy Bright Central Empire, and the entire Kunlun Realm would probably be shaken.
"Thump."
Orange Moon Star Envoy immediately knelt on one knee, clasped her hands in a fist, and bowed to Zhang Ruochen, saying, "I pay my respects to the Crown Prince."
Zhang Ruochen glanced at her and said, "You don't need to bow to me. I never said I was the Holy Bright Crown Prince. Besides, even if I were, the Holy Bright Central Empire no longer exists in this world, and there is no longer any Crown Prince."
"No."
Orange Moon Star Envoy said, "Although the Holy Bright Central Empire has fallen, there are still many court officials and remnants active in the Kunlun Realm. If they know you are still alive, they will be overjoyed."
"At the very least, our Murong Clan has always been loyal to the Holy Bright Central Empire without any second thoughts. As long as the Crown Prince gives the order, we will follow to the death and rebuild the Holy Bright Central Empire with you."
The history of the Holy Bright Central Empire spanned sixty-three thousand years, always ruled by the Zhang family. Such a long period of time had naturally cultivated many ministers and servants who were willing to die for their loyalty.
Zhang Ruochen believed that even after eight hundred years, there must still be many people loyal to the Zhang family.
But would it really be a good thing for him to openly reveal his identity as the Holy Bright Crown Prince with his current cultivation level?
Zhang Ruochen shook his head, still holding to his previous conviction. He absolutely could not reveal his identity until he had uncovered the truth of eight hundred years ago.
"Stand up first," Zhang Ruochen said.
Orange Moon Star Envoy stood up, still quite excited, and said, "Crown Prince, please come back to the Murong Clan with me. If the elders in the clan know you are still alive, they will be overjoyed."
Zhang Ruochen shook his head and said, "Without my permission, you cannot tell anyone about my identity, including those elders of the Murong Clan."
"Why?" Orange Moon Star Envoy was quite puzzled.
Zhang Ruochen said, "No reason. Now, swear an oath to the gods that you will never reveal a single word about my identity to anyone. Of course, you can also choose not to swear. But to keep the secret, I will have no choice but to imprison you in the Scroll World."
"Alright, I swear."
Orange Moon Star Envoy was not a foolish person. She quickly understood Zhang Ruochen's concerns and immediately made an oath.
Seeing that Orange Moon Star Envoy had finished swearing, Zhang Ruochen nodded slightly and said unhurriedly, "Now, there are two things I need you to do."
Orange Moon Star Envoy stood to the side, listening attentively.
"First, I want you to return to the Black Market First Class Hall and compete for the position of young master."
"After Di Yi's death, the Black Market First Class Hall will definitely select another young master. You and Red Desire Star Envoy have the best chances. Relatively speaking, I would prefer for you to become the young master."
"Second, the Undying Blood Clan has already broken the seal and escaped from Manji Island."
"I want you to return to the Black Market and immediately spread the news, so that the major powers of the Kunlun Realm can be forewarned and on guard."