At the end of the River of Blood, it seemed to be shrouded in a swirling black mist. The river that flowed from the fog was but a gentle trickle, on the verge of drying up at any moment.
Qian Ye flew towards the source, vaguely seeing several marks floating and sinking in the river. These were the emblems of the Second Generation Ancestors; some still glowed brightly, while others had dimmed.
Each mark Qian Ye saw brought a strange feeling. They were not merely clan emblems but each represented a method of wielding power, a path to becoming a powerful entity.
The distance of the marks from the source varied, as did their sizes. Perhaps these differences hinted at the power disparities among the Second Generation Ancestors.
He also noticed that the distances between the marks were not fixed. In the slow flow of the river, some distances widened, while others narrowed. Given enough time, perhaps their arrangement would change entirely.
Suddenly, Qian Ye thought of an ultimate question: Was there truly the fabled first drop of blood at the end of the River of Blood? And what would it look like?
If he could just reach the source and pass through the mist, would this ultimate question finally be answered?
Excited, Qian Ye quickened his pace, flying towards the black fog. But then, he suddenly sensed a great danger, causing him to startle!
Looking up, he saw the black fog surge, and out leaped a monstrous beast. The creature was bizarre, ugly, and twisted, with no symmetrical parts, exuding an inexplicable dissonance. It seemed born from the chaos and evil of the universe, repelling all who beheld it.
It charged straight at Qian Ye. Frightened, he realized he had nothing, not even a body, to stand against it. He dodged desperately, but his speed was no match for the beast. In a flash, it caught up, and a mouth filled with chaotic, sharp teeth appeared before Qian Ye, swallowing him whole!
Qian Ye’s consciousness once again fell into darkness.
In the Tianji Pavilion of the Imperial Capital, a group of Tianji Masters emerged, their expressions solemn and weary. Carriages were waiting in the square to take them away one by one.
As the crowd dispersed, the last to emerge was a woman, her attire simple yet elegant, her long hair unadorned, and her beauty beyond compare. It was Empress Li.
A eunuch approached and bowed, “Your Majesty, the Emperor is waiting for you in the ‘Flamegrass Garden.'”
Empress Li paused, took a cloak, and replied, “Very well.” She then boarded the carriage and left.
“Flamegrass Garden” was nominally a garden but was actually one of the lesser palaces in the Imperial Palace. When the Emperor was just a prince, he resided here.
After his ascension, this place remained unoccupied, maintained as it was. The Emperor occasionally visited, but never allowed any consorts or royal children to enter.
Although Empress Li had never entered, she knew there was a room kept exactly as it was when the former Empress lived. The death of the former Empress was a great taboo in the Empire, so no one dared to touch it. Even the most daring Concubine Zhao, who usually jumped around in the harem, ignored this special place.
The “Flamegrass Garden” was cramped. After passing the screen wall, the main hall was right in front. The courtyard had no elaborate scenery, only the soil was covered with flamegrass, growing wildly like weeds.
These were deliberately left untouched, allowed to grow freely, relying on their own vitality to root in every inch of soil. The delicate flower stalks bore small white blossoms, swaying gently in the breeze, like stars twinkling in the sky.
The entire “Flamegrass Garden” was silent. The eunuch leading Empress Li stopped at the gate.
Empress Li walked in alone. Born into an ancient family, even during her youth, she had never lived in such a confined space.
The Emperor was in the left wing of the main hall, which was set up as a study. However, a large embroidery frame stood by the window, and a neatly arranged sewing kit lay on the couch, as if the lady of the house might return at any moment.
Empress Li looked at the embroidery frame, curious. As a child, she had displayed extraordinary talent, learning skills that were not traditionally for women.
However, looking at the room, half of it was clearly a man’s study, and the other half was a woman’s embroidery room. She felt a bit dazed; was this how ordinary married couples lived?
The Emperor stood before a painting, a colorful ink work with a composition and inscription symbolizing the joy of a new marriage. This kind of court-commissioned art was hardly a masterpiece.
Empress Li walked over and recognized the familiar handwriting. Wasn’t this the work of the Imperial Teacher?
The Emperor said, “Master Lin came from a humble background and entered military school early, so his skills in the six arts were mediocre.” He chuckled, “Do you remember? When he became my tutor, his first words were that his calligraphy was inferior to Zhang Wang’s.”
Empress Li smiled naturally, but her mind was in a haze. She had never heard about Lin Xitang’s personal matters from the Emperor, and it felt different from her imagination.
The Emperor turned to her, “Empress, I know you’ve been busy. Are the affairs in the Tianji Pavilion resolved?”
Empress Li, startled, composed herself and replied, “The sacrificial rites have concluded. Unfortunately, despite our efforts to further disrupt the enemy’s Tianji, we gained no more insights. We still cannot determine what the dark races want from the New World.”
The Emperor nodded, “The Demon Emperor’s unexpected visit was hard to conceal. Still, this is good. The young ones’ battles are over, now it’s our turn.”
Empress Li frowned, “Since Song Zining’s rise, the Eternal Night Council’s seers have shown clear signs of avoiding battle. This time, I sense it more acutely.”
She paused, then added, “I also feel that the dark side’s Tianji is tightly sealed, more so than ever. There are many famous seers in the history of the Eternal Night Council, and based on normal lifespans, not all are currently active. If some are in deep sleep, awakening them would be a formidable force. I even suspect that a great seer has awakened.”
The Emperor nodded, “It’s not surprising, given the longevity of their race.”
He sighed, “Master Lin predicted major changes within the dark races when the Holy War ended. Now, with the awakening of long-sleeping dark powers, it’s not surprising.”
Empress Li, surprised, asked, “Isn’t it because of the New World?”
The Emperor replied, “Not just that.”
Empress Li, after a moment of thought, sighed, “I am indeed far from Master Lin, unable to see this.”
The Emperor said, “This wasn’t Tianji, but he was in the Tianji Pavilion at the time.”
Empress Li listened quietly, knowing only a little about those events and not daring to tread on the Emperor’s territory. But today, the Emperor had brought it up, suggesting there was more to come.
The Emperor walked to the embroidery frame, touched the unfinished embroidery, and said, “When I was young, I hated how my father treated us, watching us fight each other. During the ‘Imperial Harem Incident,’ I wasn’t a target, but when the killing began, who cared to distinguish between friend and foe? Master Lin saved me from the final two days and one night of madness.”
Empress Li shivered, wondering if she could maintain her composure. But the Emperor didn’t turn to look at her.
“Later, when my father passed the throne to me, many clever people told me that Master Lin had saved me intentionally with his Tianji skills,” the Emperor laughed, “Even some Tianji masters said so.”
Empress Li knew how ridiculous such claims were. Tianji Masters were not gods, and predicting everything was impossible.
Touching a corner of the Tianji often led to incomplete judgments, and such cases were common. Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been the “Tianji Chaos” years ago. Lin Xitang silenced all major Tianji factions because he proved almost infallible.
Moreover, the Tianji was not static. Like the fate threads of the dark races, the future was just a possibility, and the present was one of many. All beings sought the Tianji, not to accept fate, but to change it.
And if the fate was changed, was the future they saw still the future?
“The truth of that night is clear to me, and I don’t need anyone to enlighten me. Everyone was wrong. My father’s sending me to the small study before the palace coup was not a strategic move, but a realization that he had forgotten a son. The Empress Consort forgot to arrange a tutor for me.”
“Even after the coup, my father didn’t necessarily choose me as his heir. My qualifications were lacking, and without maternal support, I would have struggled against the Imperial Clans. I sought the throne myself, after seeing Uncle Lin Jiang forcing Master Lin to kneel and apologize.”
Empress Li shivered.
The Emperor turned, still with a mild expression, as if recounting someone else’s story, not his own.
He looked at Empress Li, “Only after sitting on the throne did I understand why my father allowed the harem conflicts to escalate into a bloodbath. Love and power cannot coexist. Power has degrees, and love, too, has degrees. How do you balance them, especially when intertwined?”
“For Wu Yue, for you, for all the concubines and children, I am neither a good husband nor a good father. I have done everything I despised in my father. Fortunately, none of the women who entered the palace after Wu Yue were there for love.”
Behind every noblewoman was a family, and behind every concubine position was a contract. With the Emperor’s humble origins, he had no women around him as a prince.
Empress Li breathed lightly, knowing the coming words were the Emperor’s true purpose for summoning her.
“I know you had ambitions in your youth. With your Tianji skills, you are fit to be the head of the Imperial Tianji Institute. I will inform the Heavenly Kings and grant you this position.”
“But, all your children under your name will have no claim to the throne. Especially, the Li family cannot produce an emperor in this generation. From now on, as long as the Li family controls the Tianji Institute, no Li women will enter the harem.”
Empress Li, calm, bowed, “Yes, I will follow your command.”
The Emperor, slowly, said, “We will discuss the repositioning of the Heavenly Kings. I will lead the battle as a Heavenly King.”
Empress Li looked up, startled.
The Emperor smiled, “This dress is fine, no need to change. Let’s go now.”
In the “Xiaolan Hall,” all eunuchs stood outside, at least ten meters from the door.
The right wing was designed for leisure, with high-backed chairs, a soft couch, a desk, and a zither, not suitable for meetings. But with all the Heavenly Kings gathered, it was fitting, allowing everyone to find a comfortable spot.
The Extreme North King and the Stabilizing Mystery King sat on either side, one sipping tea, the other playing chess, appearing relaxed. The Western Peak King lounged on the couch, likely asleep, as he governed the farthest Western Continent and rarely came to the capital unless it was crucial.
The curtain moved, and Fang Qingkong entered, dressed in a civil official’s robe, his expression still somewhat cold.
Facing the room full of Heavenly Kings, Fang Qingkong showed no surprise. Seeing everyone engaged in their activities, he approached the Stabilizing Mystery King and whispered something.
The Stabilizing Mystery King paused, puzzled, “The ‘Hall of Heroes’? Shouldn’t we ask the Zhao Clan about this? I heard Qian Ye has a daughter on Yong Land. Also, the ship was originally built by the Extreme North King, so he should be consulted. What do I have to say about it?”
The Extreme North King, even with his keen senses, wouldn’t eavesdrop. Hearing his name, he turned, and seeing Fang Qingkong’s expression, he understood most of it.
“Speak clearly, Fang Qingkong, don’t hide like Lin Xitang. I know a bit about this. Your great-grandson used your name, pulled in a Zhang Clan branch, and collaborated with Song Zining to share the benefits of Yong Land.”
The Stabilizing Mystery King, surprised, asked, “Which great-grandson?” Then, “Would Song Zining believe him? He’s not that foolish, is he?”
The Extreme North King stroked his beard, giving Fang Qingkong a meaningful look.
After Lin Xitang’s death, Fang Qingkong took over the highest strategic intelligence. This new God General was not foolish, but his daring to raise this in front of the Heavenly Kings was bold.
Fang Qingkong stood like a log, not speaking.
The Extreme North King smiled, knowing Fang Qingkong wanted them to take a stance. He addressed the Stabilizing Mystery King, “Song Zining asked me, and I told him to do as he pleases.”
The Stabilizing Mystery King nodded, “That is the right course.”
The Extreme North King added, “I also said, the sacrifice of a few is nothing.”
The Stabilizing Mystery King said, “You said it, but now you blame me? These youngsters think they’re the chosen ones, believing the family won’t abandon them. If they think my war achievements in the New World aren’t enough, they should earn their own. If they fail, they can’t blame others.”
The Stabilizing Mystery King, getting agitated, turned to Fang Qingkong, “Who is it?”
The Extreme North King intervened, “Don’t rush. Since Song Zining asked me, he must have a plan. Let him use your name.”
The Stabilizing Mystery King, surprised, agreed, “Alright, let him handle the dark races in the West.”
The Emperor and Empress Li entered, greeting the Heavenly Kings, and the Northern Peak King rose from the couch.
Time was tight, so they dove into the agenda, with Fang Qingkong reporting the recent situation.
The Eternal Night Council’s actions were bizarre. After the Black Sun Valley battle, they began arresting some nobles from the four races, a rare occurrence. Typically, the council didn’t directly act against the four races, letting them settle their own issues.
Regardless of the charges, such arrests involving high-ranking nobles inevitably involved force. The council deployed unknown machines, never seen before in battles.
Fang Qingkong, consulting ancient archives, found some sources for the equipment.
Fang Qingkong said, “When Marshal Lin heard the Holy War ended, he predicted significant changes within the dark races. The opening of the New World masked these, making it hard for us to monitor the exact situation.”
“However, the First Emperor and the Martial Emperor pointed out that if any two of the four dark races united, we face annihilation. But even with the council, they never truly united, giving us room to develop. Yet, this space is not infinite. We must be vigilant of any power shifts, as imbalance brings immediate danger.”
“In the founding era, the dark races typically had four Great Lords, two active, and two in reserve. The number of simultaneously awoken Great Lords was a closely guarded secret, unknown even to each other.”
“Recently, since the dark races ceased direct attacks on the mainland, the number of active Great Lords has significantly decreased.”
“In the past thousand years, the blood race’s holy war against the werewolves eradicated 23% of their clans and reduced another 15% of their population by half. The vassal forces were less affected, but we lack specific data. Additionally, no werewolf has reached the supreme level in a thousand years.”
“With such a record, the blood race challenged the demon race’s authority. A thousand years ago, during the Dawn Wars, the demon race’s war machines were far superior. We attributed their decline to population reasons.”
“Therefore, many believed the blood race would break the balance and attack the Empire after assimilating the werewolves. The grey market’s population exploitation and trade still can’t meet the needs of the lower ranks, preventing the blood race from building large vassal armies like the werewolves and arachne.”
“High-level blood race, being the most similar to us, heavily infiltrated the Empire. Especially during the Floating Land War, a Duke connected with the Everlasting King disappeared, possibly under the command of the Lightless King Medanzo or the Crown of Fire Habus.”
“Since the New World’s gates opened, we’ve prepared for a full-scale war. The council’s recent actions confirm the final crisis is imminent. There’s a new, powerful authority emerging.”
“But I’m unsure who’s in charge, the blood race or the demon race.”
The room fell silent. Empress Li said, “The dark side’s Tianji is tightly sealed, undisturbed by our probes. The core of the New World remains in darkness.”
The Extreme North King, pondering, asked, “Do we have a map of the arrests?”
Fang Qingkong shook his head, “Post-Holy War, intelligence work is much harder. This information is sparse. The detailed one is from the West, occupied by the dark races.”
“West,” the Northern Peak King frowned, “Has the Zhao Clan been informed?”
Fang Qingkong, “Yes, but no mainland invasions yet. We must heighten alerts across the board.”
The Extreme North King nodded, “Agreed.”
The Emperor and the other Kings agreed.
Fang Qingkong continued, “Given the proximity to full-scale war, we need to finalize the strategic contraction plan.”
Strategic contraction involved retreating and protecting the core territories if the mainland was invaded. The last such plan was implemented during the “Bloody Funeral” after the Everlasting King’s fall.
Fang Qingkong flipped through the document, “The least defended area is the West, with only the Zhao Clan and three families. Its defenses are the weakest.”
“However, the East, damaged by the Beast Invasion, has slow recovery. Many families have shifted resources to Yong Land.”
“Thus, the East is the best contraction point. Despite ground damage, the anti-void facilities are operational.”
The Stabilizing Mystery King, “Agreed. One of us should defend the contraction point. I’ll go.”
The Extreme North King, “Fine. The Northern Peak King concurs.”
The Emperor, “Prince Zhang is recovering. I will take the mobile role.”
All eyes turned to the Emperor. Though the Emperors were capable, they rarely ventured beyond Qin Land. The Kings listened silently.
The Emperor, “Prince Zhang’s injuries are serious. More time for recovery is best. Uncle Lin Jiang, from the same lineage, will manage the capital. Prince Zhang will stay, ensuring the Empire’s safety.”
The Extreme North King, “Are you aware of the gravity of this decision?”
The Emperor, “Empress Li will head the Tianji Institute, and her children cannot inherit. No Li heirs. No Li women in the harem if the family controls the institute.”
Silence filled the room.
After a moment, the Extreme North King, “I agree. But we need unanimous consent. We need to consult Qingyang.”
The other Kings nodded.
The Emperor, “Of course, I will visit Prince Zhang personally.”
The meeting concluded.
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