novelraw Chapter 402 - 221, Kill Xi Yunling, Usage of The Other Shore’s Ghost Spring (5k big - , asking for subscription)_2
Chapter 402 - 221, Kill Xi Yunling, Usage of The Other Shore’s Ghost Spring (5k big - , asking for subscription)_2
"I... I don’t know."
"I beg you, Immortal, spare this humble commoner’s life."
The Merchant Team Manager looked puzzled. He hadn’t even heard of Smoke Cloud Stone before.
All the bandits in the Righteousness Hall were also terrified, kowtowing and begging for mercy.
"You truly don’t have it?" Xu Xing psychically apprehended the Merchant Team Manager, feigned a soul-search, then frowned deeply and muttered to himself.
"I shall see this good deed through and save your life." Xu Xing shook his head, waved his sleeve, and whisked the Merchant Team Manager away from Black Wind Mountain.
"Is this Cloud Capital?"
"Thank you, Immortal, for saving my life!"
When the Merchant Team Manager regained his senses and saw he was already at the gates of Cloud Capital City, he was overjoyed and quickly prepared to thank Xu Xing.
However, when he turned around, he found that Xu Xing had already vanished without a trace.
「... ...」
News that Princess Chi Yang’s Residence possessed Smoke Cloud Stone quickly spread like wildfire throughout Cloud Capital.
That night, an Imperial Decree arrived from the Imperial Palace, issued by Emperor Jiande, the Lord of North Yue Country. It commanded Princess Chi Yang to enter the Imperial Palace for an audience that very night, permitting no delay.
"Chi Yang," Emperor Jiande began, his hair, tied in a bun, streaked with white. His gaze fell upon Princess Chi Yang, who stood below in the hall. Beneath his calm expression, a trace of impatience lurked in his eyes. "Is the news about the Smoke Cloud Stone true or false? I want an accurate answer directly from you. Our Royal Family already has True Men and True Monarchs. We only lack a Dao Lord to break free from the control of the Six Major Sects."
He was old. Emperors, when they grew old, feared death, and he was no exception. Now I urgently need a monumental merit! Then I can ask the family Ancestor to extend my lifespan, help me achieve longevity, and even reforge my Dao path.
"Father Emperor, it’s one thing if outsiders don’t believe your daughter, but how could you..." Princess Chi Yang looked surprised. Although she had a general idea why Emperor Jiande had summoned her to the Imperial Palace, she still found it hard to believe when she actually heard his words.
"The matter of the Smoke Cloud Stone is false; someone must be spreading slander. If it were true, how could your daughter conceal it from you, Father Emperor, and the Royal Family, without reporting it?" Princess Chi Yang’s delicate face flashed with a hint of hidden resentment, and she gritted her teeth as she spoke.
In my opinion, this scheme is clumsy. However, the Smoke Cloud Stone is of immense importance; it’s related to the opportunity to form a Nascent Soul and is closely watched by many True Monarchs and sects. Therefore... even mere rumors are enough to overwhelm me. A Princess, no matter how esteemed, is no match for a True Monarch, let alone the Six Major Sects. Even Father Emperor’s Imperial Throne was only passed to him, a direct descendant, because the cultivation geniuses in the Royal Family didn’t need it.
"Is it just a rumor?" Emperor Jiande looked disappointed and waved his hand. "Since it’s a rumor, let it be. You may return to your residence."
Princess Chi Yang was just one of his many children and not particularly valued by him. Although her cultivation talent was good, it was irrelevant to him. He was old and wouldn’t live to benefit from any patronage she might offer in the future. Therefore, even though he perceived the hidden dangers within Princess Chi Yang’s Residence, he had no intention of getting easily involved.
"Yes, Father Emperor." Princess Chi Yang felt a surge of disappointment upon hearing this. However, she had no choice but to obediently comply.
She slowly withdrew from the imperial chamber, boarded her phoenix-drawn carriage, and headed back to her residence.
However, upon returning to her residence, she was stunned.
At this moment, the Reception Hall of Princess Chi Yang’s Residence was packed with people, all representatives from various factions and powers.
Besides the Six Major Sects, there were also some small sects and cultivating families.
Each of the Six Major Sects had even sent a True Monarch, showing the great importance they attached to this matter.
"The Smoke Cloud Stone is of great importance; it relates to the Nascent Soul Condensing Pill... If the Princess forcibly seizes this opportunity, be careful you don’t bring disaster upon yourself."
"As long as the Princess hands over the Smoke Cloud Stone, Our Sect is willing to bestow upon you a seventh-grade Gangsha Meridian to help you condense your Purple Mansion..."
The statements from the representatives of the Six Major Sects employed a mix of persuasion and pressure, implying threats and sounding quite aggressive.
The Smoke Cloud Stone, though a valuable resource, was not yet critically scarce for the Six Major Sects. However, the Six Major Sects had always been wary of the North Yue Country’s Royal Family, seeking to prevent this cultivating family from growing too powerful and turning against them. Thus, they preferred to believe the rumor rather than dismiss it.
"Princess... if you are willing to hand over the Smoke Cloud Stone and help our Ancestor form a Nascent Soul, this bottle of Yellow Court Pill will be gifted to the Princess..."
Some small sects began to offer benefits, hoping to exchange the Smoke Cloud Stone with Princess Chi Yang.
Compared to the sensitivity surrounding a member of the Royal Family forming a Nascent Soul, an Ancestor from a small sect doing so was far less likely to cause alarm.
If I simply state that I don’t possess the Smoke Cloud Stone, they probably won’t believe me...
Seeing this scene, Princess Chi Yang didn’t rush to deny anything. She calmed herself and began to think of a countermeasure.
"Uncle He," Princess Chi Yang sent a sound transmission via divine consciousness, questioning the housekeeper of the Princess Manor who stood waiting in the hall, "this gathering of the Six Major Sects at the Princess Manor—who initiated it? Which sect is leading?"
She had a gut feeling that this incident might be a deliberate move by the Six Major Sects against their Royal Family. They were likely looking for a pretext to weaken and suppress the Royal Family’s development.
"It’s a True Monarch from the Immeasurable Sect, surnamed Chang, I hear..." the housekeeper replied in a low voice.
"Immeasurable Sect?" Princess Chi Yang’s eyes flickered. She looked at the youth in a green robe sipping tea in the Reception Hall, her mind racing.
To resolve this crisis of public opinion, relying on my own explanations is impossible. Unless one of the Six Major Sects vouches for me... Let Master Xi come forward.
Princess Chi Yang sighed and instructed the housekeeper to ask Xi Yunling to come out.
The only ones who can deal with the Six Major Sects are the Six Major Sects themselves. At least, that’s how it is within the borders of North Yue Country. The Smoke Cloud Stone... it isn’t mine. It belongs to Master Xi. I am merely safeguarding it for him...