The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, perched atop Little Purple Gold Mountain, stood as a sentinel over the highest point in the Imperial Capital. From the ninth floor of white jade steps, one could see the entirety of Tianqi City sprawling out below, with grand avenues, energy towers, and sprawling districts stretching to the horizon.
A resplendent and prosperous era, indeed.
To the south, the Unyielding Palace lay like a crossbow laid horizontally, quietly resting at the heart of the city. Seen from above, the palace and its gardens, with their undulating terraces and lush flora, seemed to weave through the mist like serpents.
The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion was a place of utmost importance to the Empire. When there were no ceremonies, both the mountaintop and the pavilion remained sealed off. Even the Heavenly Secrets officers who served the Imperial House lived in the lower halls at the foot of the mountain.
The afternoon sun cast its rays on the long stairway leading to the summit, the square where all major clans gathered for grand rites, and the nine-story, twenty-seven-layered Heavenly Secrets Pavilion. This domain was so still it seemed to be a frozen picture in time.
On the seventh level, a spacious hall without partitions was illuminated by large windows on all sides. Apart from a set of sofas placed near the central elevator, there was no other furniture, indicating that this level served primarily as a transitional rest area.
By a long window to the south, an ordinary bamboo chaise lounge, typical for summer cooling, stood out oddly against the grand decor of the hall.
At this moment, the sunlight, at its peak, shone on the person reclining in the chaise, casting a faint glow on his white hair. Yet, upon closer inspection, one could see the grayness hidden within, a sign of the decay beneath the opulence.
Suddenly, a ray of light flickered, and a hologram slowly emerged from the shadows, gradually forming the image of Habus.
This lifelike projection stood a few meters away, silently watching Lin Xitang, who was dozing on the chaise.
The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion remained as silent as ever.
It wasn’t until the primordial sundial advanced two ticks that Lin Xitang opened his eyes, still wearied. He first gazed out the long window, then, sensing something, turned to meet Habus’ gaze.
Habus bowed slightly, “General Lin, good afternoon.”
Lin Xitang, still reclined, coldly replied, “I am unworthy of such formalities, Your Highness… or should I say, Your Majesty.”
Habus smiled, waving a finger, “It’s just a high-dimensional projection, only able to pinpoint within ten meters of the medium. It’s far from the might of Queen Lilith of the Night.”
The medium used for positioning referred to the ancient wound in Lin Xitang’s body, but the power behind Habus’ words was beyond most people’s understanding.
Such a projection, even if it was merely a shadow, implied deeper spatial laws and control, far surpassing the long-range insight techniques of the Duke of Wei.
Lin Xitang didn’t argue. The Blood Prince’s strength had always been a mystery even within the ranks of the bloodline and the Eternal Night Council. “This is the Imperial Capital of the Great Qin, the source of dawn, a place even the Night Queen has not dared to tread.”
Habus chuckled, “Is the Heavenly Secrets divided by night and dawn? If not for the void primordial force here, I couldn’t have appeared.”
Lin Xitang’s eyes narrowed, a subtle chill flashing in them. The mountain top of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion was equipped with special primordial force arrays, indeed powered by the void. However, the secrets of the pavilion were highly classified, known only to a few, making Habus’ knowledge suspicious.
Habus, perceptive, sensed Lin Xitang’s thoughts and changed the subject, “You must have heard about the impending opening of a new world, a development that may shift the balance of the Eternal Night Council. The Holy War, once imminent, has been indefinitely halted due to this.”
Lin Xitang listened, his expression unchanged.
Habus suddenly paused, frowning, “You cannot sense the new world.” It was a statement, not a question.
Lin Xitang responded mildly, “My power is insufficient…”
Habus abruptly cut him off, “The prophets of the Eternal Night have never had a Sovereign, nor have the Heavenly Secrets officers of mankind had a King. If your race’s thousand-year history is too short, the demon race, born with this world, hasn’t produced a single sovereign prophet. You haven’t broken through, not because you can’t, but because doing so would strip you of your abilities. So, you choose not to?”
Lin Xitang’s gaze sharpened, “Prince Habus, is this the reason for your visit today?”
Habus’ amiable expression faded, his ancient bloodline features stark and sharp in the sunlight.
He sighed, “I came to bid you farewell. Once the new world’s gates open, I will be called. It’s an irresistible summons from the source.”
Lin Xitang nodded, “Farewell.” He wouldn’t offer false blessings to an enemy.
Habus’ eyes returned to their calm, his figure slowly fading into the light, disappearing.
The brief exchange left Lin Xitang exhausted. He closed his eyes, unable to sleep.
Habus’ words revealed much. The Holy War within the Eternal Night camp had never ceased, and this ceasefire was rare, a bad omen for the Empire, signaling a renewed suppression of mankind. The new world, a mystery, and Habus’ use of “source” instead of “bloodline” hinted at deeper implications.
In the void, a small, unmarked bloodline speedboat orbited an anchor point, the captain nervously monitoring the primordial instruments. The ship was too close to the central continent, Qins Land, for comfort.
The cabin door opened, and a voice said, “Return to the mothership.” The captain, recognizing Lord Linard, Habus’ adjutant, complied immediately.
Linard prepared coffee, entering the main cabin to find Habus reading confidential documents on crystal plates. Ordinary parchment documents were piled on a corner, presumably all reviewed.
The crew was unaware why the prince had lingered for two hours outside Qins Land, but Linard knew. He, however, couldn’t discern when Habus’ consciousness left or returned, though they had overstayed by a bit.
Linard set the coffee beside Habus, “Your Highness, we head back to the mainland after returning to the mothership?”
“You and the mothership return to the Twilight Continent.”
“Yes, my lord,” Linard, surprised, didn’t inquire further.
“Where is Prince Zhang Boqian of Qingyang?”
“He’s not in the Imperial territory,” Linard explained, “The latest mobilization on the floating land didn’t involve any sovereigns, so we’re unclear about his whereabouts.” Sovereigns are hard to track, especially one as elusive as Zhang Boqian.
Habus, indifferent to the floating land’s war, merely nodded, aware of the Spurck and Mammon clans’ involvement in the Holy Wars.
Linard, seeing no further instructions, bowed and left.
In the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, the sunlight slowly shifted, focusing on the end of the chaise, dusk approaching.
The central elevator hummed, followed by the sound of trained footsteps, moving tables, and placing items.
Lin Xitang, staring out the window, didn’t turn, familiar with the routine of his attendants.
The elevator descended, the attendants setting the meal in silence and leaving as usual.
Lin Xitang lifted his right hand, a simple action made arduous. His pale skin was tinged with a nearly transparent blue, darkening to purple at the fingertips, like eternal ice.
He clenched and released his hand, then tried to stand. Suddenly, a pair of hands supported his arm and back, helping him rise.
“Your Majesty?” Lin Xitang was startled.
“Minister Lin, your health is poor. Here, all formalities are waived.”
Lin Xitang turned to see the Emperor, dressed in common clothes, his aura almost nonexistent, resembling a commoner on the street.
They sat across from each other at a small table.
Emperor Hao said, “Today, Nineteenth came for lessons, and we discussed the fall of the Star Vapulus. I recalled that your first lesson as a tutor was on this very topic.”
Lin Xitang, looking at the meal, remained silent.
After a quick meal, they moved to the sofa, the Emperor preparing tea, a skill all noble families learned. Soon, the fragrant steam rose, the green tea clear as the sky.
“Boiling white nuts from the Great Vortex with sea lotus seeds, the effects are unknown, but the taste is excellent.”
Lin Xitang sipped, feeling a cool energy flow through him, warming his stiff limbs.
Holding the warm cup, he asked, “For the eastern campaign, did Your Majesty decide on the Prince of Linjiang or the Princess of Haimi?”
Emperor Hao, pouring tea, answered, “Princess Haimi. The war has already begun.”
Lin Xitang’s hand trembled, and the Emperor placed a fresh cup before him.
“I request to return to the Northern Office.”
“The court is in chaos; here, no one can disturb you. It’s suitable for recovery.”
“The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion is a sacred place. I’ve been here a month, which is inappropriate.”
“Your presence here is a secret.”
Silence filled the room.
The Emperor, focused on his tea, finished, stood, and offered his hand, “Let me escort you upstairs, Teacher.”
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