novelraw Chapter 250 - 188: Emperor-Orange Aspect: Celestial Exiled Immortal, Fall of Prince Jin’s Mansion
Chapter 250 - 188: Emperor-Orange Aspect: Celestial Exiled Immortal, Fall of Prince Jin’s Mansion
[Fusion Fate Grid]: Retains the strengths of the original Fate Grids, and their effects will not disappear. Greatly enhances two Fate Grids of the same rank, promoting them by one rank, but their Refinement Level will be lowered.
[Please select the Fate Grids to fuse: ??? + ??? = ???]
’Fusion Fate Grid?’
Lu Mingyuan was slightly stunned when he saw these words.
He had obtained many Fate Grids by now, covering a wide range of areas.
However, the frequency with which he used each Fate Grid varied, dooming their advancement to be slow.
’So now, I can fuse two Fate Grids?’
Lu Mingyuan instantly understood.
He began to agonize over which two Fate Grids to fuse.
Since it would enhance the Fate Grids’ effects and also raise their rank, it was an undeniable gain with no downside.
However, they had to be Fate Grids of the same rank; one of a higher rank and one of a lower rank could not be fused.
’So, what’s the optimal solution? Naturally, it’s to strengthen the high-level Fate Grids and maximize their strengths.’
After much thought, Lu Mingyuan decided to fuse his Venerable Purple Level Fate Grids.
Fusing two Venerable Purple Level Fate Grids would result in one Emperor Orange Fate Grid!
After all, even now, he only had a single Emperor Orange Fate Grid!
"Trapped Dragon in the Abyss" was his highest-ranked Fate Grid.
’If I could get another Emperor Orange Fate Grid, that would be perfect.’
’But which two Venerable Purple Fate Grids should I choose?’
Before he knew it, he now had four Venerable Purple Fate Grids.
They were: "Nine Orifices Exquisite," "Qilin Martial Lord," "Imperial Family," and "Celestial Heart Wisdom Eye."
The ones he used the least were "Nine Orifices Exquisite" and "Imperial Family."
One enhanced his mind, granting him a Zen Heart immune to lust, a Daoxin that feared no Heart Demons, a Game-Mind Art that resisted arrogance and complacency, and a Blood Heart to overcome fear. The other enhanced his charm.
Though he used them infrequently, each one was crucial and indispensable. All in all, they still weren’t quite sufficient.
Strengthening them would be for the best.
It was the same for "Imperial Family." Lu Mingyuan already considered himself quite handsome and felt he didn’t need to rely on charm to win people over. But if he could strengthen it further, perhaps it would produce other magical effects.
And so, Lu Mingyuan decided which two Fate Grids to fuse.
’Then I’ll fuse "Imperial Family" and "Nine Orifices Exquisite."’
Once he confirmed his choice, the Six-Yao Turtle Shell in his mind emitted two dazzling, star-like clusters of purple light. They then intertwined, merging into an even larger sphere of light.
Lu Mingyuan felt a thrill of anticipation as he watched.
’I wonder what new Fate Grid I’ll get.’
It felt like playing the lottery or opening a mystery box.
’No matter what, an Emperor Orange Fate Grid is definitely more powerful than a Venerable Purple one.’
Soon, the light softened, and its color shifted from purple to orange.
A new notification appeared.
[Fate Grid Fusion complete. The Life Master has obtained the Emperor Orange Fate Grid—"Celestial Exiled Immortal".]
[Emperor’s Orange Life Chart - Celestial Exiled Immortal. Refinement Level increased to 42%.]
Lu Mingyuan’s eyes lit up when he saw this Fate Grid.
[Refinement Level reached 21%. Unlocked Life Chart Trait - Exiled Immortal (Middle Level).]
[Refinement Level reached 42%. Unlocked Life Chart Trait - Glazed Heart (Middle Level).]
[Emperor’s Orange Life Chart (Celestial Exiled Immortal): In the Celestial White Jade Capital, with its Twelve Floors and Five Cities, an Immortal caresses my crown, bestowing eternal life. With the face of a deity and a heart of glazed glass, my status is transcendent; I have obtained eternal life.]
[Exiled Immortal (Middle Level): Your appearance is ageless, like that of a celestial deity. Your charm is unparalleled. No one can speak ill of your looks. Everyone will develop a strong sense of goodwill toward you and will easily be persuaded by your words.]
[Glazed Heart (Middle Level): You are born with an untainted Glazed Heart. The seven emotions and six desires cannot sway your judgment. You are immune to Heart Demons and obstructive thoughts.]
Lu Mingyuan was surprised to see the Refinement Level jump so high.
He knew it must be because the Refinement Levels of "Imperial Family" and "Nine Orifices Exquisite" were already quite high; one was at 20% and the other at 65%. Added together and averaged, the result was roughly 42%.
After examining it carefully, Lu Mingyuan confirmed that the "Celestial Exiled Immortal" Fate Grid was indeed a fusion of the other two.
It possessed both the powerful charm enhancement from "Imperial Family" and the effects of "Nine Orifices Exquisite."
His "Glazed Heart" allowed him to be unaffected by emotions and desires; it was like an ultimate amalgamation of the four previous heart-related abilities.
’Besides, the "Celestial Exiled Immortal" Fate Grid couldn’t possibly have only two traits.’
Having obtained so many Fate Grids, Lu Mingyuan knew that the higher a Fate Grid’s rank, the more traits it possessed.
’There must be other effects besides "Exiled Immortal" and "Glazed Heart" that I haven’t unlocked yet.’
"Your Highness, the Noble Consort is getting impatient. It’s time to go."
As Lu Mingyuan was lost in thought, Zi Yun returned to the bedchamber and reminded him in a quiet voice.
"Coming."
Lu Mingyuan stretched languidly.
As he stepped out of Qingzhu Hall, he happened to see a mature, noble-looking woman in a red dress at a window of the neighboring hall. She was watching for him, her face filled with unconcealed worry.
’I almost forgot about her.’
Upon seeing her, Lu Mingyuan smiled faintly and immediately sent a voice transmission:
"Sister-in-law, leave the door open for me tonight."
Yang Yingchan was relieved to see Lu Mingyuan appear before her safe and sound. But upon hearing his words, her face instantly flushed red. Nevertheless, she gave a slight nod.
"Mm."
Lu Mingyuan laughed heartily and headed toward Yaoguang Palace.
Someone was already waiting for him at the entrance.
Feeling as if he were coming home, Lu Mingyuan soon caught sight of Wang Zhaoyan.
Not only her, but his two wives were also present, having clearly been waiting for some time.
Wang Zhaoyan stared as Lu Mingyuan walked in through the hall doors. The longer she looked, the more dazed she became.
’This son of mine is getting more and more handsome.’
’Everyone, both inside and outside the palace, says my precious son is handsome. They say he’s not just as good-looking as those famous handsome men among the populace, but even a cut above.’
At first, she had just taken it as flattery. How could she not know what her own son looked like?
But gradually, she discovered their words weren’t false at all.
Lu Mingyuan’s appearance truly seemed to have improved by leaps and bounds.
Before, his features were delicate, making him merely rather dashing—a playboy at best.
But now, it was a different story. Even she, his own mother, felt as if she were looking at a stranger.
Her close friend, Noble Consort Wan, was so smitten that she had repeatedly tried to arrange a walk in the garden with her son, only to be refused each time.
It wasn’t just Wang Zhaoyan; Qi Muxue and Huo Hongling had noticed it too.
The affection in Qi Muxue’s large, clear, and flawless eyes deepened. For some reason, her stunningly beautiful face suddenly flushed crimson.
’We’ve been married for so long already.’
’Why do I still feel this pleasant surprise when I look at my husband’s face?’
Huo Hongling had never paid much attention to appearances. Her mind was entirely focused on the Martial Dao. In the past, if she ever felt attracted to anyone, it was to the brawny soldiers on the training grounds. Perfectly toned arm muscles—that was her type.
But now, she too was stunned by Lu Mingyuan’s appearance.
"Greetings, Mother. Your son has come to pay his respects!"
Lu Mingyuan walked up to his mother and bowed. When no one responded, he looked up, only to see that they were all staring at him in a daze.
At the same time, he heard three distinct streams of thought.
’My son’s aura is becoming more and more outstanding. He’s truly shed his mortal coil to become a dragon. I wonder how many young maidens and daughters of Noble Families he’ll charm in the future.’
’Did I just not pay attention to my husband’s features before? I feel like it’s the first time we met all over again.’
’His Highness is so handsome. My heart is racing... I really want to touch his muscles.’
Hearing some of their inner thoughts, the smile on Lu Mingyuan’s face widened.
’I didn’t expect the effect of "Exiled Immortal" to be this dramatic.’
Wang Zhaoyan snapped out of her daze and said with feigned nonchalance, "You may rise. Besides paying your respects to me, go and see the Empress Dowager when you have time. Your Grand Empress Dowager’s time is likely near. She hasn’t been out much recently, so go spend more time with her."
Lu Mingyuan’s heart stirred at this news, and he nodded seriously. "I understand."
"Also, it’s excellent that you emerged from the Grotto Heaven unscathed. You must have gained many opportunities. But I wonder if you’ve heard a certain piece of news."
"May I ask, Mother, what news is that?" Lu Mingyuan asked.
Though his mother resided in the Harem, her access to information was exceptional; she often knew the inside story even before the Great Yan Mansion Report.
"King Chu and Prince Jin are both dead," Wang Zhaoyan said, her gaze sharp.
Lu Mingyuan had largely guessed as much, and he nodded. "I heard Fairy Ci Hang from the Daoist Academy mention it."
"At the same time, something else monumental has happened."
"Prince Jin’s Mansion has fallen."
Wang Zhaoyan delivered this news in a nonchalant tone, but it caused the expressions of both Lu Mingyuan and Qi Muxue to shift dramatically.
Lu Mingyuan cupped his hands and asked, "Could you elaborate, Mother?"
Wang Zhaoyan nodded slightly and began to explain, "The Celestial Master’s Mansion came forward with a mountain of evidence exposing the various crimes of Prince Jin’s Mansion. This includes the framing of Human Race Cultivators and the identities of the Death Warriors in their employ... The sum of these crimes is enough to warrant the extermination of any great Noble Family."
Lu Mingyuan frowned. "Mother, are you saying that Prince Jin colluded with the Demon Race to harm our Human Race Cultivators?"
Wang Zhaoyan nodded. "Correct. The Celestial Master’s Mansion investigated the matter thoroughly. They have recordings on a Glazed Magic Ball showing the faces of many of Prince Jin’s subordinates. Furthermore, Prince Chongwen’s Mansion has stepped forward to testify that Prince Jin was harboring a large number of high-crime Cultivators and letting them run rampant."
Lu Mingyuan was surprised to hear this, but not shocked.
When Prince Jin was alive, he could keep everyone in line.
Now that he was dead, all sorts of problems were coming to light, with no one left to cover things up.
Even if Prince Jin’s Mansion has fallen, the Infinite Faction and the Endless Pavilion still exist.
The entire underground network of the Demon Dao couldn’t possibly be wiped out so quickly.
"The Thunder Pool Daoist Academy is already investigating this thoroughly. New evidence will surface soon."
"The case of the Demoness may be related to Prince Jin. I have always suspected his involvement but was frustrated by the lack of evidence. Now that Prince Jin is dead, we finally have a lead."
"So there really was something suspicious about the Demoness case?" Huo Hongling’s eyes widened when she heard this.
Although she had her suspicions, hearing it confirmed by Noble Consort Wang herself was a different level of shock.
"It’s just as my investigation suggested," Qi Muxue said calmly, showing no surprise.
Her father had stopped her investigation halfway through, but being exceptionally sharp, she had guessed the truth long ago.
Wang Zhaoyan smiled faintly and looked at Lu Mingyuan, her gaze calm. "As for the real reason you were sent to the Cold Palace... isn’t it about time you told your wives?"
Hearing this, Lu Mingyuan took a deep breath.
...