Chapter 615: Go Awaken the Evil Root Cause
Qi Huang took out the Recording Mirror to continue observing, wanting to see if her heart-to-heart talk had any effect. After “Xue Jing” returned to her residence, she contacted her father and recounted the day’s events.
“She knew you were going to harm her, yet she didn’t attack you? Is she afraid of my retaliation?”
Xue Jing’s father suspected.
“Just as she said, if she really intended to marry Lu Yi, she could have killed us and immediately fled to the Lu family for refuge, with no fear of retaliation from our backing. This only proves that everything she said is true.”
Xue Jing analyzed calmly.
“That makes some sense. In that case, it’s really hard for us to make a move against her! What are your plans now? Your identity has been exposed, and she has clearly stated her position. Are you still going to stay at the HongHua Sect?”
Her father inquired.
“I still have one thing I want to figure out. The power of the Immortal Tablet is known to everyone. Cheng Hong Ling’s clone claims she can counter it. I really want to know what method she used. If I can figure that out, then I can completely escape from Lu Yi’s clutches.”
Xue Jing said thoughtfully.
“My daughter, your father understands your eagerness to escape the Lu family, but one must always guard against others. No one can guarantee that Cheng Hong Ling’s words are one hundred percent true. Moreover, your identity has been exposed, and staying there is very dangerous. Instead of that, why not return first and wait? If next year on the sixth day of the sixth month she doesn’t marry into the Lu family and isn’t suppressed by the Immortal Tablet, we can then find a way to inquire about it.”
Her father persuaded earnestly.
“But…”
Xue Jing was somewhat unwilling.
“No ‘buts.’ This is an order.”
Her father said sternly.
“Yes!”
Xue Jing had no choice but to agree.
His few women discovered that the situation of all of them was the same as Xue Jing’s. For the sake of caution, their families urged them to return as soon as possible.
Qi Huang breathed a sigh of relief.
This proved that her strategy had worked. She chose to be direct about the matter, partly to show her attitude, and partly to prevent these women from continuing to lurk. Although these women were more beautiful than one another, they all meant no good. It was always a problem to have them staying at the HongHua Sect, and she didn’t have the energy to deal with these troublesome vixens now.
In the following days, these troublesome little vixens left one after another. They planned to return home and observe. If Qi Huang truly had a way to deal with the coercion of the Immortal Tablet, they would return to the HongHua Sect.
Qi Huang continued to strengthen her main body, striving to reach the Shentong Realm before the sixth day of the sixth month next year.
One evening, the Cheng family of four had just finished dinner when an unexpected guest arrived. It was the Sixth Princess of the Dynasty, Lin Ran.
Both Cheng Hong Ling and Qi Huang had a good impression of the Sixth Princess, so they warmly welcomed her in.
“Your Highness, we have just finished dinner. If you don’t mind, please have a little something. I’ll warm it up for you.”
Jiang Liniang said respectfully. Although her daughter was a cultivator, she herself was an ordinary person, so she instinctively lowered her stance when facing royalty.
“Auntie, there’s no need to trouble yourself. I’ve already eaten.”
Lin Ran politely declined. As a cultivator in the Huashen Realm, she didn’t need to consume grains.
Jiang Liniang didn’t insist and walked out considerately.
“I remember at the Evergreen Convention, Your Highness was attacked and injured. I wonder how your recovery is?”
Qi Huang politely inquired.
“Thank you for your concern, Junior Sister. I recovered long ago.”
Lin Ran thanked her politely, then said somewhat apologetically, “I’m truly sorry I couldn’t make it to our appointment on time.”
There’s nothing to apologize for.
Those were irresistible factors.
Qi Huang comforted her understandingly.
“Thank you for your understanding, Junior Sister.”
Lin Ran showed a relieved expression.
“I wonder if Your Highness has found the culprit?”
Qi Huang curiously asked.
Lin Ran smiled self-deprecatingly, “No.”
“Then he got off too easily! To dare attack a princess of the current court, once caught, I’ll drag him to the market and feed him to the dogs.”
Qi Huang said, full of righteous indignation.
Lin Ran clearly didn’t want to dwell on this issue, so she changed the subject, “Thank you for your concern, Junior Sister. Actually, I’ve come to ask you for a favor.”
“I knew Your Highness wouldn’t visit without a reason. Just say what you need, but I can’t promise to agree.”
Cheng Hong Ling quickly interjected, knowing that if she didn’t step in, her clone would be unable to resist temptation.
“My father has advanced the conscription age to twenty-seven. Junior Sister should know about this, right?”
Lin Ran inquired indirectly.
“Of course, the common people are complaining. Even the deaf can hear it.”
Cheng Hong Ling said sarcastically.
“It is our royal family that has wronged the people of the world.”
Lin Ran showed an expression of guilt.
“Sixth Princess, you should understand that this is not something that can be settled with just an ‘I’m sorry.’ I really don’t understand why he keeps advancing the conscription age. As the saying goes, water can both carry a boat and capsize it. If he continues to act so recklessly, something is bound to happen sooner or later.”
Cheng Hong Ling’s tone was more serious than ever.
“Because the Xihui Dynasty is now in friction with several countries, and some have even escalated to war. If we don’t conscript, we might face the ruin of our nation.”
Lin Ran explained.
“Why? Just as the court claims, are those countries coveting the Xihui Dynasty’s territory, resources, or women?”
Cheng Hong Ling pressed.
Lin Ran hesitated, then revealed the truth, “I believed it at first, but after my investigation over the years, I found that most of the conflicts were provoked by my own father.”
“Ah?”
Qi Huang was immediately very surprised and then asked, “Why would he do that? With the national power of our Xihui Dynasty, does he still want to covet other countries’ resources?”
“This is also what I find most puzzling. That’s why I rashly visited this time. I want to borrow Junior Sister’s Recording Mirror to figure out the reason. Because my father’s residence is basically covered by a powerful Spiritual Sense Shield, only this item can be used for investigation.”
Lin Ran explained the purpose of her visit.
“How do you know I have a Recording Mirror?”
Qi Huang asked curiously.
“I’ve heard that you used that thing to report corrupt officials, and you also used it at the Evergreen Convention.”
Lin Ran replied vaguely, then quickly added, “Of course, if Junior Sister finds it inconvenient, then forget it. My request is indeed too difficult to fulfill.”
“There’s nothing too difficult about it. Since it’s for the sake of the common people, I will naturally lend it to you.”
Qi Huang said generously. Although it contained a lot of “evidence” of her surveilling others, it was fine as long as it was all cleared.
“Then thank you, Junior Sister!”
Lin Ran quickly thanked her.
Qi Huang efficiently took out the Recording Mirror, cleared all the stored content, and then handed it to Lin Ran, teaching her hand-in-hand how to spy on others.
“I will return it to you as soon as possible.”
Lin Ran took the Recording Mirror and bid farewell after learning how to use it.
“Do you think she’ll tell us the results?”
Cheng Hong Ling asked.
“It doesn’t matter. I only told her how to use it, but I didn’t tell her about the recording function, nor did I tell her how to delete. When it plays back, we’ll know.”
Qi Huang slightly raised the corner of her mouth.
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Study of the palace, Eunuch Zhong was reporting the investigation results of the Pingshan Mass Grave to Lin Tu.
“Your Majesty, after our people investigated, the Pingshan Mass Grave only awakened a small leader of Golden Corpse realm two years ago. The true root cause of Yin Energy is still dormant.”
Eunuch Zhong reported truthfully.
“Is that so? Golden Corpses are just small leaders, so is the root cause of Yin Energy even stronger?”
Lin Tu showed a satisfied smile.
“Yes, according to this old servant’s analysis, the root cause of that Yin Energy is at least equivalent to the Heavenly Punishment Realm in the Cultivation World.”
Eunuch Zhong speculated.
“Heavenly Punishment Realm! Such masters are only found in the super Immortal Sects of Zhongzhou. It’s enough to destroy the entire Huangtian Capital, including the HongHua Sect!”
Lin Tu sneered repeatedly.
“More than that, if no one stops it, this terrifying evil spirit could flatten the entire Xihui Dynasty. Therefore, this old servant still suggests informing the Immortal Alliance in advance.”
Eunuch Zhong suggested.
“Inform in advance? Aren’t you letting others hold a handle against me? What’s in your head?”
Lin Tu questioned.
“Your Majesty, please forgive me! This old servant is doing all this for the sake of the country and society!”
Eunuch Zhong quickly knelt and admitted his mistake.
“Get up!”
Lin Tu impatiently ordered, then continued, “You take the masters from the Internal Affairs Department to awaken the evil root cause there. I will have Qian Ying cooperate with you. Once things are done, I will naturally notify Elder Zuo immediately.”
“Your Majesty is wise! This old servant accepts the decree!”
Eunuch Zhong accepted the order and quickly left the Imperial Study.
“Huangtian Capital! Huangtian Capital! You’ve damaged the reputation of our Xihui Dynasty for so long. It’s time to thoroughly eliminate these malignant tumors.”
Lin Tu murmured to himself, then added, “And you, Qi Huang, who made me lose face, it’s time you paid the price.”
