I Have Infinite Skill Points-Chapter 514: The Eldest Prince Panics

"BOOM, BOOM, BOOM—!"

A series of loud bangs erupted. Wang Lan suddenly lifted his head to look into the distance. "Yu Ruoyun and South Summon Kingdom have engaged. Let’s go; we’re providing support."

"Major General Wang," a voice cautioned, "although I find South Summon Kingdom very displeasing, I must remind you that South Summon Kingdom is still a human compatriot country until judged otherwise by the United Nations. If we go too far, we will be tried by the World Court."

"If they strike at us, can’t we defend ourselves and counterattack?" Wang Lan retorted.

"Of course," the voice replied, "but the best method is to directly deter them and avoid a large number of casualties. Moreover, even if South Summon Kingdom really conspires with the Paradise Bird, the conspiracy is primarily with the upper echelons of South Summon; the lower-level warriors aren’t that closely related."

Wang Lan nodded silently. Instantly, Star Power surged around him. The gates of the Star Palace opened, and the Phoenix Saint Cloth burst out, deconstructing and fitting around his body. Then, flames erupted around him, and a phoenix’s cry resounded through the heavens.

To deter South Summon Kingdom and avoid too many casualties, I have no choice but to make an entrance that will shock everyone. In phoenix form, I can transform into a phoenix, and among my three mimicry forms, the Five-colored Phoenix is the most awe-inspiring.

With another phoenix cry, a spectral image of a Five-colored Phoenix enveloped Wang Lan, gradually solidifying. Overwhelming might, accompanied by the Divine Beast’s pressure of the phoenix, rushed forth. Even Master Chenghai, walking behind Wang Lan, felt his heartbeat slow for a moment as he stared blankly at the sky.

"SKREEE—!"

The cry echoed between heaven and earth. Yu Ruoyun and the Star Martial Warriors of South Summon Kingdom were on the brink of clashing when, suddenly, the phoenix’s cry filled the sky, and both sides simultaneously paused.

They all looked up towards the northern sky, where a splendid phoenix swooped down from the horizon. The phoenix, a Divine Beast, naturally carried divine pressure; even its mere spectral image could cause a profound impact on the soul. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

The phoenix circled and danced in the sky above everyone before the spectral image dissipated, transforming beside Yu Ruoyun into a figure clad in a silver Saint Cloth. The silver-white Saint Cloth was adorned with bright golden stripes. Outside the cool-looking Saint Cloth, five-colored flames burned.

This arrival was like a God of Heaven descending to Earth, leaving the Star Martial Warriors below bereft of the ability to think.

"He’s also an invading enemy! Kill him—!" someone shouted from the crowd.

"Hmph!" Wang Lan’s gaze seemed to penetrate the void, instantly spotting the instigator. With a raise of his hand, a stream of Sword Qi shot out like a falling star.

SHINK! The Sword Qi pierced the man’s chest, killing him on the spot.

"You!" The Gemini Stars were enraged. Although the newcomer emanated terrifying pressure, they could barely resist it and were not afraid. But Wang Lan had dared to murder someone right in front of them; how could the Gemini Stars turn a blind eye?

"Brothers, combine Star Martial Skills!" one of them yelled.

"Stop—!" a fierce shout rang out.

Behind the crowd, another group of Star Martial Warriors rapidly approached—a dense mass that seemed to number in the thousands.

Great Prince Mocha charged to the very front but was stopped by the army of Star Martial Warriors led by the Gemini Stars.

"Great Prince, it’s dangerous ahead! Please stay in the back!" one of them urged.

"Shut up! Out of my way!" Mocha commanded.

Although the Star Martial Warriors were reluctant, they dared not defy the Great Prince’s order. In the end, they parted to make way for him.

"Princess Yu Ruoyun of the Jade Country Royal Family! And Jade Country’s youngest Major General, the renowned son of the Flame Emperor, Lord Wang Lan!" Great Prince Mocha strode forward, tilting his head back as he questioned them. "I truly didn’t expect that South Summon Kingdom’s best friends, the two strongest prodigies of Jade Country’s younger generation, would disregard the friendship between South Summon and Jade Country and invade South Summon’s Pioneer Space."

"We violated the friendship between our countries?" Yu Ruoyun countered. "Then please tell me, what do you call South Summon Kingdom cooperating with the Paradise Bird to unearth the Time-Space Gemstone, attempting to open the Portal of the Demon World and summon the Demon Clan army to invade? What exactly has South Summon Kingdom violated then?"

"Cooperation with the Paradise Bird? Unearthing the Time-Space Gemstone?" Prince Moka scoffed. "I, this prince, have no idea what you’re talking about!"

"Great Prince, Jade Country is framing us!" one of the Star Martial Warriors behind him cried out, his voice thick with emotion as others echoed him. "It seems Jade Country intends to annex South Summon Kingdom by fabricating such charges! Are you trying to destroy South Summon Kingdom?"

If you had framed us for any other crime, it would have been manageable, one of the South Summon warriors thought bitterly. At worst, there would be arguments, perhaps a mediator, and then things would settle. But to accuse us of betraying humanity and siding with the Demon Clan...

What kind of accusation was that? It was enough to destroy their nation!

Instantly, all the South Summon Kingdom Star Martial Warriors present were incensed. They had initially thought it was a misunderstanding. Sure, Jade Country had invaded their Pioneer Space and humiliated them, but how many times had South Summon Kingdom been humiliated before? They were practically used to it.

However, this accusation wasn’t mere humiliation; it was a direct threat of annihilation. A wave of panic spread through them, quickly coalescing into furious rage.

Just then, a figure hurried over. The arrival of Master Chenghai immediately drew Moka’s attention.

"Master Chenghai from Vine Country..." Moka mused, his eyes narrowing. "So that’s it. It seems Jade Country has reached an agreement with Vine Country, is that right? So you’ve sold out South Summon Kingdom? How do you plan to carve us up?"

"Prince Moka, are you still going to feign ignorance?" Master Chenghai retorted. "Your blatant, back-and-forth mining of Space Stones in the Chaos Mist to the north—do you really need to play the innocent party here?"

"Mining Space Stones?" Moka looked back in surprise. The Gemini Stars frowned slightly but still nodded.

One of them confirmed, "The mining of Space Stones was ordered by His Majesty the King."

Prince Moka’s expression turned ugly. Space Stones were strictly prohibited by the United Nations; their mining was forbidden. As the prince of a small nation, Moka knew well that survival meant obedience: doing whatever the powerful countries demanded.

If a powerful nation is pleased, they might casually toss over a bone that’s barely a morsel to them, but for a small country, it could be a feast. Mining Space Stones... that’s incredibly foolish, Moka thought.

But...

"Lord Wang Lan," Prince Moka argued, "even if South Summon Kingdom mined Space Stones, we haven’t sold them to other countries! And just because we mine Space Stones, does that automatically mean we’re betraying humankind and colluding with the Paradise Bird? Isn’t your logic a bit absurd?"

He pressed on, "Speaking of mining Space Stones, which country doesn’t have people secretly mining them? How was Jade Country’s top Star Martial family, the Duanmu Family, annihilated by you all? Wasn’t it precisely because they were dealing in Space Stones?"

"There are people in Jade Country mining Space Stones too! By your logic, does that mean Jade Country is also colluding with the Paradise Bird and has defected to the Demon Clan?"

"Hmph! Still trying to argue?" Wang Lan scoffed. "Two years ago, we announced to the entire world that the Time-Space Gemstones left by the Demon Clan in the Human World are hidden within large Space Stone deposits. These Time-Space Gemstones can open the Portal of the Demon World and are the very reason the Demon Clan invades every hundred years!"

"Any single Time-Space Gemstone can open the Portal of the Demon World. And I just saw that among the Space Stones you’re currently mining, there *was* a Time-Space Gemstone—one that has already been taken!"

"The evidence is conclusive, as solid as iron! Does South Summon Kingdom still dare to deny it?"

This thunderous accusation immediately stunned Moka and all the Star Martial Warriors from South Summon Kingdom. In that very instant, Wang Lan saw his opening.

His body seemed to explode forward, transforming into a flitting butterfly. He instantly appeared by Moka’s side and, with a swift movement, took him hostage.

"Prince!"

"Great Prince! Damn it, let the Great Prince go, or else we...!" the warriors cried out.

Seeing Wang Lan seize the opportunity to take Moka hostage, the South Summon Kingdom Star Martial Warriors erupted in a torrent of curses. Moka, however, though captured, showed no concern for his own safety. His mind was racing, replaying Wang Lan’s words.

I knew about the intelligence regarding the Time-Space Gemstone, but I had no idea someone was mining Space Stones in our Pioneer Space. It sounds absurd, truly. As the Great Prince of South Summon Kingdom, with influence over half the kingdom’s Star Martial Warriors, how could I not know that Space Stones were being illicitly mined and sold from our only Pioneer Space?

Previously, when Wang Lan mentioned someone smuggling Space Stones in the Chaos Mist, I didn’t connect it to Time-Space Gemstones. But now... A chill crept through Moka’s limbs.

If what Wang Lan said is true, South Summon Kingdom will be nailed to a pillar of shame, never to recover. But... can this be true? No, it’s impossible! Absolutely impossible!

"Lord Wang Lan," Moka asked, his voice strained, "are you certain someone is mining Space Stones in the Chaos Mist? Are you sure that’s where a Time-Space Gemstone deposit is located?"

"Hmph! Why do you think we came here?" Wang Lan countered. "Why do you think I came with Master Chenghai? The events in Jade Country’s Cloud Sea Space—don’t tell me that you, the Great Prince, are completely ignorant of them?"

"I do know something about that," Moka admitted. "The frontline command post in the southern region of the Cloud Sea Space was ambushed, leading to a complete rout. But... wasn’t that attack carried out by Vine Country?"

"Heh heh heh..." Master Chenghai chuckled mirthlessly. "The Great Prince seems to wish it were Vine Country’s doing, doesn’t he? Unfortunately for you, it wasn’t Vine Country. It was your South Summon Kingdom. In fact, thirty years ago, two of Vine Country’s Golden Cicadas were stolen by the Paradise Bird. The massacre in the Cloud Sea Pioneer Space was the Paradise Bird’s handiwork."

"The Paradise Bird also ’visited’ us in Vine Country, as well as the Titanium Kingdom and the Nest Country. But notably, your South Summon Kingdom was spared. That’s why the three of us—from Jade, Vine, and Titanium Kingdoms—came to South Summon Kingdom to investigate. We discovered that the Time-Space Gemstone was located right at the junction point on the northern border of South Summon Kingdom’s Pioneer Space."

"Because El Nino threatened to cause this Pioneer Space to collide with another, potentially exposing your activities, the Paradise Bird instigated a beast tide. This expanded the territory controlled by Exotic Beasts to ensure no one would discover your little secret."

"But unexpectedly, this very action made Jade Country truly suspicious of you. Ever heard the saying ’hoisted by your own petard’?" Master Chenghai’s words made Moka’s face turn an ashen, ghastly color.

Moka turned to Wang Lan, his voice trembling slightly. "Lord Wang Lan, is what he said true?"

"We have no reason to lie," Wang Lan stated calmly. "You can send someone to the northern defense line to check for yourself. A mining operation that large cannot be hidden. Your people can go down and see. The Time-Space Gemstone at the center of the deposit has vanished. You know the consequences if the Paradise Bird obtains a Time-Space Gemstone."

"How could this be...?" Moka was thoroughly panicked now, profound dread etched on his face. "Lord Wang Lan, you indeed have no reason to deceive me, but... South Summon Kingdom has no reason to betray humanity either!"

"We are living perfectly fine! Why would we betray anyone? We wouldn’t do this! My father, the King, wouldn’t do this! Ask any of these warriors here—would any of them do such a thing?"

"And yet, the deed has been done," Wang Lan said coolly. "Now, please escort us out, Great Prince."