Xia Jade's Shock

The sunlight was blinding, and a gentle breeze rustled through the treetops, bringing a long-lost sense of vitality.

However, the coiled dragon pattern 'Xia' jade pendant lying quietly on the grass felt like a scorching hot iron, searing itself into Cheng Xi's vision. Empress Dowager Xia! Ying Zheng's nominal grandmother, the biggest backer behind Zhao Ji, and the representative of the Zhao state faction in the Qin court!

This jade pendant was by no means an ordinary ornament. Its jade was warm and lustrous, the coiled dragon patterns were intricate and ancient, and it even faintly emitted an extremely weak, yet protective, spiritual energy fluctuation. This was likely a token gifted by Empress Dowager Xia to Ying Zheng, or perhaps even... a form of protective charm or communication device!

Why did Ying Zheng carry Empress Dowager Xia's token with him when he came to visit the ailing Cheng Xi? Was it a coincidence? Or... did he already have some unknown connection with Empress Dowager Xia and the Zhao state faction?

Recalling the historical trajectory of the Yongcheng Incident, the scandal between Zhao Ji and Lao Ai, and Ying Zheng's experience as a hostage in the Zhao state before returning to Qin... countless thoughts coiled around Cheng Xi's heart like venomous snakes!

Beneath the profound depths of this future Ancestor Dragon's mind, how many faces truly lay hidden?

"Hmm?" Ying Zheng seemed to just notice the pendant had fallen, his brow furrowing slightly as he bent to pick it up. His long, slender fingers brushed over the intricate coiled dragon patterns on the pendant, his movements natural and fluid, as if he were merely picking up a trivial trinket.

"Just an old piece of jade, please forgive my carelessness, Royal Brother," Ying Zheng's voice was calm and unperturbed. He casually tucked the pendant back into a hidden pocket in his robes, his gaze sweeping over the startled Yan Lingji and the pale Cheng Xi. "This place is not suitable for lingering. Let's return to the camp quickly."

His demeanor was too calm, so calm it was almost deliberate. Cheng Xi suppressed the tempest in his heart, showing no outward reaction, merely nodding silently. Yan Lingji also struggled to her feet, tightly gripping the subdued green jade sword sheath, warily observing their surroundings.

The three walked back towards the temporary camp in silence. The atmosphere was as oppressive as the dead calm before a storm. The terrifying shadow of the Secluded Valley's corpse tide had not yet dissipated, and now it was overlaid with a deeper layer of suspicion by this 'Xia' character jade pendant.

Upon returning to the camp, the Elite Guards visibly relaxed when they saw Ying Zheng return safely. However, when they noticed the unfamiliar woman in red behind Ying Zheng (Yan Lingji) and the black grease and bone dust on his black robes, which were unlike the mud and soil of the forest, a hint of surprise flickered in the commander's eyes.

"Great King!" The commander of the Elite Guards stepped forward to salute, his gaze sweeping over Yan Lingji.

"It's nothing," Ying Zheng raised his hand to stop his questioning. "Pack up your belongings, and we depart immediately. She," he gestured towards Yan Lingji, "will come with us." His tone was unquestionable.

"Yes!" The commander dared not ask further and immediately carried out the order.

The carriages and horses were quickly prepared. It was the same carriage as before, and Ying Zheng still rode his horse, with the Elite Guards providing strict escort. Yan Lingji was arranged to share a carriage with Cheng Xi.

Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was heavy. Yan Lingji clutched the green jade sword sheath and curled up in a corner. Exhaustion and pain soon lulled her to sleep, but her brow remained furrowed, as if she could find no peace even in her dreams.

Cheng Xi closed his eyes, feigning sleep, his consciousness sinking into his sea of consciousness.

[System Energy: 13% (Consumed by Secluded Valley)... Passive Scan: Empress Dowager Xia's Jade Pendant (Weak Spiritual Energy Fluctuation/Guardian Rune/Remote Sensing Imprint Detected)... Associated Judgment: Token of Zhao Faction...]

Remote Sensing Imprint! Cheng Xi's heart tightened! Just as he suspected! This jade pendant was not only a token but also a means of tracking and communication! Ying Zheng's every move in Zhongnan Mountain was likely under the "watch" of this jade pendant! Empress Dowager Xia... or rather, the Zhao state faction behind her, had such deep control and surveillance over Ying Zheng?

And what about Ying Zheng himself? Was he willingly a puppet? Or... was he playing along?

Recalling Ying Zheng's fierce words in Zhangtai Palace, "A fierce tiger out of its cage, how can it be confined to a single gate," Cheng Xi leaned towards the latter. This future First Emperor would never willingly be controlled by others! Carrying Empress Dowager Xia's jade pendant was likely a tactic to lull them, to gather intelligence!

But the appearance of this jade pendant undoubtedly dragged Cheng Xi himself into a deeper vortex. If Empress Dowager Xia and the Zhao state faction knew that Ying Zheng had a Royal Brother with unusual abilities by his side...

"Royal Brother," Ying Zheng's voice came from outside the carriage, interrupting Cheng Xi's thoughts.

A corner of the carriage curtain was lifted, revealing Ying Zheng's stern profile. He did not look into the carriage, his gaze fixed on the winding mountain path ahead, his voice low. "What happened in the Secluded Valley stays buried. This woman," he paused, "since you brought her back, you will be responsible for her. Do not cause any trouble."

"Your subject understands," Cheng Xi replied in a deep voice. Ying Zheng was warning him, and also drawing a line. The events in the Secluded Valley were too bizarre, involving spatial anomalies and an ancient battlefield. Once leaked, it would undoubtedly cause a huge uproar. Yan Lingji being "under his care" was both passing the buck and a subtle form of trust—or rather, utilization.

Ying Zheng lowered the curtain and said no more. The convoy accelerated, speeding towards Xianyang.

Several days later, the majestic city walls of Xianyang came into view.

Before entering the city, Ying Zheng reined in his horse and looked back deeply at the carriage Cheng Xi was in, his gaze complex and unreadable. In the end, he said nothing. His black-robed figure, surrounded by Elite Guards, entered the city first, heading straight for Zhangtai Palace to report.

Cheng Xi, with the still-weak Yan Lingji, returned to his own oppressive and familiar palace. The palace servants and attendants were shocked and uncertain when they saw Lord Chang'an bring back a strange woman in red, but under Cheng Xi's cold gaze, no one dared to ask further.

After settling Yan Lingji in a side hall to recuperate and strictly ordering the palace servants not to approach or disturb her, Cheng Xi returned to his own spacious and desolate main hall.

The tension that had been held for so long could finally be relaxed, but the gloom in his heart did not diminish in the slightest. He leaned wearily against the cold bronze lampstand, taking out the Witch Script Wood Fragment, which had caused the spatial teleportation and was now covered in cracks, from his robes. He also took out the life-saving Jianmu Fragment and the deeply hidden Xirang Crystal.

The corpse tide in the Secluded Valley, the Bronze Giant Skeleton Altar, Empress Dowager Xia's jade pendant, Mars Guarding the Heart, the Sky-Piercing Sword Mark... and the Qingping Sword Sheath pointing towards Golden Ao Island... countless images and fragments of information churned in his mind.

He needed to organize! He needed strength!

[System Charging Mode Activated! Guiding Xirang Origin... Energy Conversion Efficiency: 1.5%/hour... Estimated Full Charge Time: 67 hours...]

In his sea of consciousness, the system's light screen lit up. The majestic origin power of the Xirang Crystal was slowly being converted by the Jianmu Fragment, like a trickle of water, flowing into the dry system core.

Just then!

"Creak—"

The palace door was gently pushed open a crack.

A small, thin figure slipped in like a startled rabbit, quickly turning back to close the door. It was a young eunuch, no more than eleven or twelve years old, sallow-skinned and thin, wearing a washed-out old palace uniform. His eyes darted nervously, filled with deep fear.

Cheng Xi recognized him. He was A Mao, the mute servant responsible for cleaning the corridors outside the hall. He was naturally unable to speak and usually existed like a shadow, without any presence.

Seeing Cheng Xi, A Mao fell to his knees with a thud, his head touching the ground, trembling all over. He dared not look up, merely fumbling in his robes and pulling out a small cloth bundle, tightly wrapped in oilcloth, which he held high above his head.

Cheng Xi frowned, "What is it?"

A Mao, unable to speak, could only shake his head desperately. He pushed the bundle forward again, then anxiously pointed in the direction of the hall, and made a shushing gesture.

A flicker of movement in Cheng Xi's heart, he stepped forward and took the bundle. It was slightly heavy, still warm with A Mao's body heat.

He waved for A Mao to withdraw. A Mao, as if granted amnesty, scrambled away and disappeared behind the palace door.

Cheng Xi walked to the lamp and unwrapped the oilcloth.

Inside were not jewels or gold, but a roll of yellowed, worn-edged, old silk book, and a palm-sized, completely black, cold, and heavy... token?

The token was neither gold nor jade. The front was engraved with a cloudy immortal mountain, with what appeared to be palaces hidden on its peak. On the back was a bold, sword-like ancient script that flowed like a dragon and danced like a phoenix—"Mo"!

A Mohist Token?!

Cheng Xi's pupils constricted sharply! He immediately unfurled the old silk scroll.

The writing on the silk scroll was messy and urgent, clearly written in haste:

"To Lord Chang'an: An incident in Yongcheng, a hen crows at dawn! Poisonous Gu has entered the palace, disaster is at hand! Prime Minister Lu is using demonic people to commit treason! Their nest is in the Shady Ravine of Mount Li, using the Imperial Tomb Earth Qi to nurture demonic evils! Mohists who investigate have a zero percent survival rate! I entrust this message to my mute servant, hoping you will investigate early! Grand Master... last words."

An incident in Yongcheng! A hen crows at dawn (referring to Zhao Ji)! Poisonous Gu has entered the palace (Lao Ai)! Prime Minister Lu is using demonic people! Their nest is in the Shady Ravine of Mount Li, using the Imperial Tomb Earth Qi to nurture demonic evils!

The Mohist Grand Master... last words?!

BOOM!

It was like thunder exploding in Cheng Xi's mind!

The wheels of history, shrouded in an eerie black mist, were rolling towards Yongcheng at a speed far exceeding his expectations... crushing down with a roar!