"The grandest celebration in Yanhuang City right now is the Empress's wedding.
All seventy-two vassal states of the Central Continent are in attendance—this is likely the most magnificent event in the Dragon Han Celestial Dynasty in nearly a century.
Yet, I sense an inexplicable unease. With seventy-two nations gathered in Yanhuang City, their elites will all be here to celebrate.
But it also seems like a perfect opportunity for hidden forces to blend in with the crowd, moving through every corner of the city.
After extensive investigation, I've preliminarily concluded that someone is plotting a long-planned conspiracy to disrupt the Empress's wedding ceremony.
However, we lack crucial intelligence. The movements of these hidden figures are elusive, and I haven't been able to obtain further details yet."
"Hmm..."
After hearing Ji Bingyan's analysis, Shen Zhao fell into deep thought.
After a long silence, he hesitantly asked, "Could this really be related to the Xiongnu?"
"It's almost certain. The enmity between the Xiongnu and the Dragon Han Dynasty was buried a millennium ago.
The Empress slaughtered millions of Xiongnu citizens in a single battle, solidifying her position as the Dragon Han Emperor. Though the Xiongnu outwardly submitted, how could they ever abandon such a deep-seated hatred?"
For years, the Xiongnu Royal Court had been seeking an opportunity to avenge their past humiliation against the Dragon Han Celestial Dynasty.
However, as time passed, the power gap between the two nations widened, leaving the Xiongnu with no chance of victory in a direct confrontation.
Yet, the emergence of the Vajra Sect proved one thing: the Xiongnu now possessed enough confidence to challenge the Celestial Dynasty at this critical juncture.
But what was the source of this confidence?
"Something's not right."
Shen Zhao frowned, instinctively sensing that he had overlooked a crucial detail.
He meticulously reviewed the threads of his thoughts, desperately searching for any missing links.
"That pathetic Lin Feng was broken by me just a few months ago. Even if he's involved now, the timeline doesn't match the emergence of that alt account. He couldn't possibly be the mastermind."
"The Xiongnu dare to cause trouble at the Dragon Han capital's grand ceremony? Are they truly so confident in their success? Then what is the source of their confidence?"
"Setting aside the age-old enmity between the Dragon Han and the Xiongnu, who is the true mastermind behind this plot, and what is their real objective?"
"Moreover, the relationship between the Dragon Han Celestial Dynasty and the Wind and Rain Pavilion is rather delicate."
"I still have too little information. I need more intelligence to analyze this."
Seeing Shen Zhao's troubled expression, Ji Bingyan asked cautiously, "Lord Prefect, what is troubling you?"
"You don't need to call me Lord Prefect anymore. I'm not your Lord Prefect now. I'm just thinking about some matters."
"Then I'll call you Lord. If it weren't for you back then, I'd probably have had to marry and raise children, living an ordinary woman's life in obscurity."
Shen Zhao rose and glanced at the faint, fish-belly white light appearing in the east. His palm repeatedly tapped the ribs of his fan.
After a long silence, he suddenly said, "It seems I must go to the palace. I need to meet Song Yanran personally."
Ji Bingyan was shocked. "Lord, Song Yanran now sees you as a thorn in her side. Wouldn't going there be walking right into a trap?
Moreover, with your current strength, are you certain you can handle the Purple Micro Empress, who is at the peak of the Great Emperor realm?"
"Don't worry. When the stakes are high enough, the heavens and earth itself can become chips in the game.
As an emperor, Song Yanran can't possibly be consumed by lewd fantasies and only want to fall in love.
If she were, she wouldn't be the Dragon Han Purple Micro Empress, who shakes the Central Plains and dominates over a trillion living beings.
And even if it comes to that, if we must fight directly, Chu Liuxiang might not be a match for Song Yanran..."
Shen Zhao smiled faintly and unfurled his folding fan. "But Chu Liuxiang is Shen Zhao, yet Shen Zhao is not Chu Liuxiang. The two should never be compared."
His confident demeanor and world-dominating aura radiated his absolute self-assurance.
Ji Bingyan didn't try to persuade him further. Having served her Lord for a lifetime, she knew that once his decision was made, it was absolute.
Moreover, their Lord had been unable to defeat Li Cangqiong, the World Lord of the Nine Netherworlds, who commanded the power of six Great Emperors and had reached the Half-Step Divine Human Realm. A female Emperor of comparable strength to the Asura Great Emperor should pose no real challenge.
"Then how can I assist you, my Lord?"
"Stay outside the city and monitor all Xiongnu movements closely. Don't miss a single detail. I don't believe the Xiongnu would involve only the Vajra Sect in such a grand scheme."
"Understood, my Lord."
After reassuring Ji Bingyan, Shen Zhao immediately set off for Yanhuang City.
Just then, the sky suddenly turned a deep crimson.
Moments later, a torrential downpour of blood fell from the heavens.
Shen Zhao and Ji Bingyan froze in shock, rooted to the spot.
"What kind of phenomenon is this...?"
"A Great Emperor's death?"
Staring at the celestial anomaly, Shen Zhao fell into deep contemplation.
Suddenly, he shook his head. "Something's not right. Bingyan, pinpoint the exact location of the Great Emperor's demise. Try to send the findings back to the city to meet me before the Dragon Han Imperial Court guards arrive."
Without waiting for Ji Bingyan's reply, Shen Zhao took flight, accelerating toward Yanhuang City. He had already begun to discern some clues.
Meanwhile, Song Yanran stood atop the Star Gazing Tower, her expression changing as she watched the crimson rain falling from the sky.
"Is this the Great Emperor's demise?"
Her face paled, and she bit her lower lip, her expression grave. She slammed her palm against the white jade balustrade.
Had one not looked closely, they would not have noticed her delicate frame trembling violently.
***
Inside Weiyang Palace, Di Feijing, returning after an all-night vigil, quietly slipped into his chambers. He glanced around to confirm nothing had changed before letting out a sigh of relief and closing the door with a yawn.
Just as he was about to collapse onto his bed for a much-needed sleep, a sudden, chilling breeze swept across his neck.
He shot upright, only to find a Gray-Robed Daoist standing rigidly at the door, completely swathed in gray robes.
Startled, he opened his mouth to speak: "You..."
"The matter is nearing its conclusion. You haven't let Song Yanran suspect anything during this time, have you?"
"N-no, nothing. Everything has proceeded according to your instructions. I've been doing my utmost to please the Empress."
"Good. After your wedding to the Empress, you will become the emperor of the Dragon Han Celestial Dynasty. Such wealth will sustain you for a lifetime."
Di Feijing's heart pounded at these words.
*Damn it, this old bastard is really trying to drive my entire clan to the grave! The emperor of the Dragon Han Celestial Dynasty? I'll probably be feasting at the Eight Cold, Eight Hot banquet before I even get to sit on the dragon throne!*
*You've crossed the line, old man. If you want me dead, I won't go down without a fight.*
Seeing Di Feijing's stunned expression, the Gray-Robed Daoist asked, "What's wrong? You don't believe me?"
"Of course I believe you, of course I do," Di Feijing said with a servile smile. "It's just that I'm afraid I'm truly not up to being the ruler of a nation."
"You needn't worry about that. Our power far exceeds your imagination. As long as you obey us and follow our instructions, the throne of the Dragon Han Celestial Dynasty will undoubtedly be yours."
Di Feijing plastered on a smile, but inwardly he cursed, "May your ancestors rot in hell for eight generations! Even if this scheme succeeds, I'll still be nothing but a puppet. I'd rather cooperate with Chu Liuxiang, escape this cesspool, reunite with my family, and live a quiet, ordinary life, never again involved in these messy affairs. As for you, you should start planning your own funeral—I hope the grass over your grave never grows higher than your kneecaps."
"What must I do?"
"The usual. Just make sure Song Yanran doesn't suspect anything. The more critical this stage becomes, the more you must avoid revealing any clues."
"Ah, in that case, I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you."
"What do you mean by that? Are you daring to betray me?"
"No, no, please don't misunderstand. It's just that someone has seen through my false identity and has been harassing me relentlessly lately."
The Gray-Robed Daoist was taken aback. "Who is it?"
"A man named Chu Liuxiang. He's beaten me twice already, calling me a kept man unworthy of the Empress. He's determined to expose my true identity during the wedding ceremony."
"Chu Liuxiang?"
The Gray-Robed Daoist murmured a few words to himself before saying, "Leave this matter to me. After today, Chu Liuxiang will exist no more in this world."
With that, the Gray-Robed Daoist transformed into black smoke and vanished on the spot.
***
"Brother Chu, I've lured the man to your location as instructed. I've kept my promise, haven't I? Now it's up to you to perform your act and get rid of him. Hurry up and kill that bastard—I'm waiting here to witness the bloody spectacle!"
***
Upon returning to Yanhuang City, Shen Zhao was about to head straight for Weiyang Palace.
But as he passed through East Street, a volley of silver needles suddenly flew out from around the corner.
With a flick of his folding fan, he swept all the hidden weapons aside.
Before he could react, over a dozen female swordswomen surrounded him.
Shen Zhao focused his gaze and recognized them as assassins from the Wind and Rain Pavilion.
"Ladies, have I offended you in some way?"
"We're paid to eliminate targets. I'm afraid you must die today."
As soon as she finished speaking, the assassins drew their swords in unison, forming a battle formation.
Shen Zhao rubbed his nose, completely ignoring the swarm of ants before him. His attention was already fixed on a woman in a two-story tiled house five hundred meters away, by the window.
The woman wore a sleek, form-fitting leather outfit, exuding an air of martial prowess. She held a top-grade Heavenly rank spirit bow, slowly drawing an arrow radiating icy energy from her quiver. Nocking it, she aimed at her distant target.
-----------------------
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