The three of them listened to Xu Nian, their expressions all turning rather grave.
"Steward Xu, we have only one request."
"If Misty Rain Pavilion truly cannot help us find Xiao Yan, could you perhaps release a message on our behalf?"
"Say that as long as Xiao Yan is willing to show himself and meet us, we are willing to prepare a Nirvana Realm Evil Infant as a gift of introduction," the Divine Sect's Third Elder, Wang Han Cuo, said.
In their view, Xiao Yan had won Misty Rain Pavilion's duel and taken away an Evil Infant at the peak of the Nirvana Realm.
That very likely meant that high-realm Evil Infants held great allure for him.
Perhaps this would make him willing to show himself.
Xu Nian remained composed and nodded. "Releasing a message is naturally possible."
"However, under whose name should it be released?"
Xu Nian's question hit the nail on the head.
The three of them, strictly speaking, belonged to three separate factions.
Wang Han Cuo was the Divine Sect's Third Elder and represented the Divine Sect.
The Black Iron King was a prince of the Great Xia Dynasty. Though he bore a different surname, he was still one of the dynasty's powerful nobles.
As for County King Guanshan, Bei Song, he had the Grand Tutor's Mansion behind him.
If Misty Rain Pavilion were to release a message, whose name among the three should it use?
"Steward Xu, must the party releasing a message through Misty Rain Pavilion reveal their real name?" the Black Iron King asked.
"Of course not."
"If the three of you intend to release it anonymously, Misty Rain Pavilion can naturally do that as well," Xu Nian replied with a smile.
"Then anonymous it shall be," Wang Han Cuo said expressionlessly.
"Very well."
"The rules of Misty Rain Pavilion should be clear to all three of you."
"No need for your reminder." The Black Iron King directly tossed out two storage bags, each packed to the brim with spirit stones.
Xu Nian opened them and took a look. "This is rather too much. Do the three of you have more information to purchase?"
Wang Han Cuo smiled calmly. "Indeed. There is one more matter we wish to verify with Misty Rain Pavilion."
"Please speak," Xu Nian said.
"We have heard that because of the Great Xia Emperor's unusual cultivation technique, he must undergo the Five Decays of Heaven and Man once every five hundred years."
"His combat power even falls below the Nascent Soul Realm, and this state lasts for around half a month."
"Moreover, his next Five Decays of Heaven and Man will come several months from now."
"Is this true?" Wang Han Cuo openly asked.
One had to know that if his words were spread, they would be enough for the Great Xia Emperor to charge him with intending rebellion.
Yet the Black Iron King and County King Guanshan, both nobles of the dynasty, remained astonishingly calm.
Upon hearing this, Xu Nian's expression gradually turned serious. "The matter you wish to verify will cost at least five times what you have provided."
"We have no shortage of goods." Wang Han Cuo took out a storage ring and placed it directly before him.
Xu Nian checked it over. The price was sufficient.
"Good."
"I can responsibly tell the three of you that what you asked is indeed true."
"However, his Five Decays of Heaven and Man will not last half a month, but only seven days."
After giving his answer, Xu Nian swept everything from the table into his pocket.
"Thank you."
The three stood and departed.
"Take care, gentlemen. We welcome your next visit," Xu Nian said politely with a smile.
Once they had left, the smile on Xu Nian's face slowly vanished.
Then, a deep and resonant voice sounded within the reception room. "It seems they are preparing to make their move."
Xu Nian said, "The Great Xia Emperor is no fool. He must have long prepared for the Five Decays of Heaven and Man, perhaps even entering Imperial Ancestor Mountain."
"But with only the three of them, even with the help of their factions and the forces behind them, it will be difficult to kill the Great Xia Emperor."
Xu Nian felt that if they intended to rebel during the Great Xia Emperor's Five Decays of Heaven and Man, their chances of success were far too slim.
Besides, those old monsters of Imperial Ancestor Mountain were the true pillars that held the Great Xia Dynasty steady.
With them there, any rebellion would be nothing more than courting death.
"You are wrong."
"Neither those three nor the Great Xia Empress are targeting the Great Xia Emperor."
"They are targeting the neutral factions within the Imperial City, as well as the forces hostile to them."
"As long as the Great Xia Emperor is absent, even for only seven days, the power and authority the Empress holds will be enough to turn the entire Imperial City upside down."
"By the time the Great Xia Emperor's Five Decays of Heaven and Man have passed, it will already be too late."
Only then did Xu Nian suddenly understand. "So that is it. No wonder when I told them that the Five Decays of Heaven and Man lasted only seven days, their expressions hardly changed."
"Seven days are enough for the Empress to mobilize the Divine Sect's strength. Combined with the authority held by her own faction, she can bring most of the powerful nobles who control the Imperial City under her command, gradually hollowing out the Great Xia Emperor's power!"
"Master, judging from this, it will not be long before this Imperial City faces a tremendous upheaval drenched in blood and filled with savage winds."
The owner of that voice was the mysterious master of Misty Rain Pavilion, hidden so deeply from the world.
It was said that even now, apart from Misty Rain Pavilion's few core upper echelons, no one had ever seen this master's true face.
"There is no need to care."
"What becomes of the Great Xia Dynasty has nothing to do with us."
"No matter how chaotic the Imperial City becomes, no one will dare drag Misty Rain Pavilion into it."
"By the way, how is the investigation into Xiao Yan progressing?"
Xu Nian revealed a bitter smile. "Master, not only have we searched the Great Xia Dynasty, I even had headquarters investigate the entire Origin World. There is not a single place called Wutan City."
"Therefore, Wutan City can be confirmed as a place he fabricated, and there is an eighty or ninety percent chance that Xiao Yan is also a false name."
"Otherwise, it would be impossible for our people to find not even a single clue."
The master of Misty Rain Pavilion said, "Then investigate by another method."
"Investigate each and every one of the two attendants by his side, as well as everyone matching his build."
"As long as he has not left the Imperial City, he will definitely be found."
Xu Nian accepted the order. "Yes, Master. I understand."
Not long afterward, Misty Rain Pavilion released an anonymous message that spread throughout the Great Xia Dynasty.
A mysterious person had offered a Nirvana Realm Evil Infant as a gift of introduction for Xiao Yan, solely to meet him.
The moment this news emerged, it stirred no small commotion within the Imperial City. Countless people discussed just which powerful figure could be so generous.
For a single meeting, they were directly offering him a Nirvana Realm Evil Infant.
Across the entire Great Xia Dynasty, there were only a scant few people capable of such extravagance.
Moreover, that person was very likely a Venerable Realm expert.
There was nothing wrong with that assessment.
Wang Han Cuo and the other two alone could never have produced a Nirvana Realm Evil Infant.
Only the support of the forces behind them could make it possible.
Before you continue