Chapter 56: Chapter 52: Not Much Lifespan Left, The Talk of Dragon Fortune

Qianyuan Hall.

The inner hall was resplendent and magnificent, filled with an imposing majesty. A Spirit-Blooming Lamp burned within, its flame consuming a piece of blue stone. Wisps of blue smoke rose and coiled throughout the room.

This was a Nian Ci Fragrant Stone. When burned, it released a unique fragrance that could focus the mind and calm the heart, helping to ward off Demonic Thoughts. It was an essential item for Cultivation, harvested from the Lotus Cave Heaven—a place where a Bodhisattva had passed into nirvana. Such a stone was nearly impossible to obtain, and the fact that it was being used as mere fuel spoke volumes about the status of the hall’s master.

“COUGH! COUGH!”

Emperor Yong’an sat on the dragon bed, wracked by a series of violent coughs. It felt as if a thousand insects were biting at his throat, an unbearable, tickling itch.

At this moment, the Emperor of Great Yan looked completely different. His hair was stark white, with shimmering silver strands spilling out from beneath his Jade Crown. His face was covered in wrinkles like dried tree bark, his skin was dull, and age spots dotted his cheeks. He looked utterly devoid of life.

He caught sight of this reflection in a Copper Mirror, picked up a white porcelain bottle from the table, tipped out a pill, and swallowed it in one gulp.

The next second, something miraculous happened.

His once-wrinkled skin immediately regained its elasticity, and his white hair turned black again. He had transformed back into a majestic, middle-aged man.

“This Beauty Pill only lasts for a month. What a shame.”

Emperor Yong’an glanced at the porcelain bottle and couldn’t help but close his eyes.

’I never thought things would get this bad.’

Just then, a young man’s low voice drifted in from outside the hall.

Emperor Yong’an cracked open his eyes, squinting at the young, white-robed Celestial Master outside the hall, who was bowing slightly.

“Xu Changqing, Celestial Master of the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master’s Mansion, requests an audience with the Holy Emperor.”

“Your Celestial Master’s Mansion still dares to show its face before me?”

Emperor Yong’an’s voice was icy, his authority palpable even without any outward display of anger.

Xu Changqing’s expression was respectful, but his tone was serious. “The Celestial Master’s Mansion deeply regrets what happened to the Fifth Prince. However, to conclude that the Dao Alliance was behind it based solely on the Taoist Qi used by the assailant is a bit too arbitrary. Besides, the person who assassinated the prince was expelled from Dragon Tiger Mountain long ago. The Celestial Master’s Mansion was not aware of this matter.”

Emperor Yong’an sneered, his expression mocking. “Are you afraid I’ll shut down your temples, cutting off your incense and your Dao Practice? Is that why you’ve concocted this excuse to placate me?”

Xu Changqing shook his head, bowing a little lower. “The Three Religions and the Central Plains Dynasty have ruled the world together since time immemorial. It is a rule that has never changed. It would be best for the Holy Emperor not to damage our harmonious relationship. Great Yan is the legitimate lineage of the Celestial Mandate, sharing its fate with the Taoist Sect. Why must things be this way?”

“Moreover, this humble Taoist has come bearing a gift for the Holy Emperor, as an apology to quell Your Majesty’s anger.”

“Oh? And what might that be?”

Xu Changqing produced a silver porcelain bottle from his sleeve. It was covered in engraved Daoist Talisman runes, suggesting it contained something so important that it had to be suppressed by a small Array.

“This is…”

“The Ten Thousand Cranes Longevity Pill. This item is exceptionally miraculous. It is refined from the Jade Liquid condensed by an Immortal Crane over a century, the Celestial and Earthly Treasure Ginseng Fruit from the Five Elements Temple, and more than ten other life-extending substances. It is a small token of the Dao Alliance’s sincerity.”

Upon hearing this, a sharp glint flashed through Emperor Yong’an’s eyes. “How many years can it extend one’s life?” he asked.

“Ten years.”

Xu Changqing replied with a smile.

“Only ten years?”

Emperor Yong’an’s brow furrowed.

Ten years was far too short for him.

Xu Changqing explained patiently, “If an ordinary person or a Cultivator in the Lower Seven Realms were to take this, it would extend their life by a hundred years. A Middle Fifth Grade Cultivator could gain sixty years. But Your Majesty is different.

“First is your Cultivation. As a Sea-Viewing Realm Martial Artist, you should have a lifespan of two hundred years. However, you attempted to cross the Dragon Gate three times and failed each time. Your fate has been exhausted, which has further shortened your life.

“Second is your status. Your Majesty is the Emperor of Great Yan. In your early years, you waged campaigns in all directions, pacified the realm, and ushered in a golden age. Your Dragon Fortune was vast, and your destiny was long. But at the same time, over the past decade or so of fighting the vile dragons of the Demon Country and engaging in numerous inconclusive wars with mixed results, you have also consumed a great deal of Dragon Fortune. Therefore, what you lack is Dragon Fortune and destiny, not true lifespan.

“Even with these two factors combined, it still wouldn’t be a problem for the Holy Emperor to live for more than a hundred years.

“But the real problem is the third point. Not long ago, during the eastern campaign against the Eastern Yi Small Countries, your royal person was assailed by their Deity, the Eight-headed Demon Snake. You used your Dragon Fortune to protect yourself, causing further turmoil in the National Fortune. The expenditure of Dragon Fortune was immense, causing your Dragon Qi to plummet even further. Then came the surprise attacks from the Demon Country’s army, forcing you to use your Dragon Fortune for protection multiple times, bringing about the worst-case scenario.”

“This humble Taoist speculates that the Holy Emperor’s remaining lifespan is… not much.”

Emperor Yong’an’s expression remained unchanged. “This secret is known to almost no one,” he said coolly. “Yet your Dao Alliance seems to have calculated it quite clearly.”

Xu Changqing gave a faint smile and didn’t take the bait, continuing, “Though this Ten Thousand Cranes Longevity Pill can only extend your life by ten years, it also contains the Dao Alliance’s Incense Smoke, which can moderately replenish your Dragon Fortune. Most importantly, it will give Your Majesty a fourth chance to cross the Dragon Gate.

“Truly?”

Hearing this, Emperor Yong’an’s eyes finally lit up.

“But of course.”

Xu Changqing smiled with great confidence. “Half a month ago, the Holy Emperor attempted to ennoble the Ninth Prince to suppress the National Fortune and prevent turmoil. It seems now that while it had some effect, it was very limited. The safety of Great Yan still depends on Your Majesty himself.”

“The Taoist Sect’s sincerity this time is truly abundant.”

Emperor Yong’an’s expression returned to normal. “Speak,” he said calmly. “What are your conditions? Which mountain have you set your sights on this time?”

“There are no conditions. We only wish for the Holy Emperor’s health and well-being.”

Xu Changqing bowed slightly. There was no trace of a grin or jest in his voice, only sincere concern, as if his words were the honest truth.

Emperor Yong’an narrowed his eyes at these words. He couldn’t figure out what the Dao Alliance was plotting. ’To be honest,’ he thought, ’I have so many sons that losing one doesn’t make much of a difference. After all, no matter how important a son is, how can he be more important than my own life?’

Ten years wasn’t a long time, but it wasn’t short, either. And right now, he needed those ten years.

The Taoist Sect’s move of taking a step back to advance was played brilliantly.

Logically, they could have easily kicked him while he was down, demanding several Treasure Mountains. There would surely be no shortage of worldly Opportunities, and they could have requested the enfeoffment of a few Mountain and Water Deities. It was a perfect chance to expand the Taoist Sect’s territory.

Those mountains, imbued with spiritual energy and natural beauty, might be of limited value in the eyes of a Martial Artist, but to a Cultivator of the Three Religions, they were the key to ensuring their lineage and incense offerings would endure forever.

’When did the Dao Alliance become so honest?’

Xu Changqing tossed the porcelain bottle. As if affected by a Floating Skill, it flew automatically to Emperor Yong’an’s desk. He then cupped his hands and said, “Holy Emperor, this humble Taoist has said all he needs to. I shall take my leave.”

Emperor Yong’an clutched the porcelain bottle, the ambition in his eyes still insatiable.

Ten years was still not enough.

What he wanted was eternal life.

「Elsewhere.」

As Xu Changqing walked out the door, a scruffy man in a bamboo hat appeared outside the hall. He held a bamboo staff, his right hand was wrapped in white cloth, and the pungent smell of alcohol hung heavy about him.

The two men looked at each other, and both broke into a smile.

Zhao Xuanwu was the first to speak, grinning widely. “Xu Changqing, oh, Xu Changqing. So you’re back from the border too, you punk.”

Xu Changqing responded with a light chuckle.

“And so are you, Elder Zhao.”

The man before him was not to be underestimated. He was one of the Four Great Tributors of Great Yan, known as the First Slash of Great Yan. His status was Transcendent; even the Emperor of Great Yan had to show him some respect.

The term “Tributor” implied being supported and revered, much like a deity in a temple. It referred to a person of great ability who condescended to accept a position and would take action when required.

Zhao Xuanwu waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t call me Elder, it makes me sound old. Just call me Brother Zhao. It’s so much better out there on the frontier. All you have to do is kill, kill, kill. I just got back and I’m already swamped with trouble. I have to take a disciple and go around collecting protection fees… Being a Tributor is exhausting.”

“Take a disciple?”

Xu Changqing picked up on that keyword and couldn’t help but ask.

“Brother Zhao, you took a disciple? Who might it be?”

“Not really a full disciple, more like a Registered Disciple. I think he’s one of the Holy Emperor’s sons… Lu Mingyuan or something. Anyway, forget it. The Holy Emperor is waiting for me. We’ll talk later.”

“Alright.”

As Xu Changqing left the main hall, he repeated the name over and over.

“Lu Mingyuan…”

He employed a Secret Technique, his fingers beginning to pinch and calculate.

…

「Qingzhu Hall.」

When Lu Mingyuan returned to the Cold Palace, he found Wang Zhaoyan already sitting in the courtyard, waiting for him. She was accompanied by several Palace Maids, each with her own unique charm.

“Mother, what are you doing here?”

he asked, confused.

Wang Zhaoyan beamed. “Didn’t we agree? I’m here to bring you some maids. And while I’m at it, I’ve also arranged some marriage prospects for you to see if you like any of them.”

“Is there a girl you like? If so, you can tell your mother. As long as she’s a young lady from a prestigious, scholarly family in the Imperial Capital, Mother can snatch her up for you.”

Lu Mingyuan was taken aback and gave a wry smile. “Mother, isn’t this a bit much? Isn’t it too early to get married?”

“Early? Still early? You’re already twenty-five! If you don’t get married now, what are you waiting for?”

Wang Zhaoyan put on a reproachful look and lectured him seriously, “No matter what, you’re Prince Huai’an now. You need heirs to carry on the family line. Are you really planning to stay alone in this Cold Palace for thirty years? Can’t you let your mother hold a grandchild sooner?”

For some reason, hearing his mother press him about marriage and her reckless talk of snatching someone up for him, the first person who came to Lu Mingyuan’s mind was, surprisingly, Qi Muxue.

And her gentle, quiet smile.

…

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