Tyrant Dragon Secret Order, Pact of the Saber-Tooth

Chu Dynasty, deep within the imperial palace, Zichen Hall.

The hall was brightly lit by candles, yet they could not dispel the biting chill in the air. Emperor Xiang Guang of Chu sat upright on the dragon throne, his knuckles white from the force of his grip. On the sandalwood desk before him, a celadon teacup had been crushed into powder, and tea stains dripped along the edge of the table, blooming into dark marks on the golden-bricked floor.

The death of Zhen Xu was like a thorn, deeply embedded in Xiang Guang's heart. The Secret Agent Bureau was left leaderless, while the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion of Qin De grew increasingly powerful. Every sign led him to believe that Zhen Xu's death was inextricably linked to Qin De. Yet, the more he felt this way, the more troublesome he found the situation—Qin De had managed the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region for decades and possessed deep roots; without absolute certainty, acting rashly would only alert the enemy.

"Summon the commander of the Tyrant Dragon Army, Yi Yan."

Xiang Guang's voice was low and hoarse, carrying an unquestionable majesty. The attendant outside the hall did not dare to delay for even a moment, bowing and retreating. A short while later, a figure clad in dark iron armor stepped into the hall.

The man who arrived was none other than Yi Yan, commander of the Tyrant Dragon Army. His figure was as straight as a pine, his face cold and stern, and his body radiated the blood-soaked Sha Qi of one who had spent years in battle. Unlike the secret agents responsible for intelligence gathering, the Tyrant Dragon Army was the most secretive and sharpest sword in Xiang Guang's hand. Directly subordinate to the royal family, they were tasked with clearing away any obstacles to imperial rule. Its members were all elites selected from the millions of soldiers in the Chu Dynasty, each possessing a cultivation level of at least Xiantian.

"Your subject, Yi Yan, pays respects to Your Majesty." Yi Yan knelt on one knee, his voice ringing with strength.

"Rise." Xiang Guang waved his hand, his gaze fixed firmly on Yi Yan. "Zhen Xu is dead, and Qin De's wings are growing stronger; this matter cannot be delayed any longer. I have summoned you today for a top-secret mission that requires your personal attention."

Yi Yan stood up and stood with his head bowed. "Please give your orders, Your Majesty. This subject will not refuse even if it means death."

Xiang Guang rose from the dragon throne, walked slowly to Yi Yan, and took an exquisite sandalwood box from his robes. The box opened to reveal black silk lining, inside which lay a palm-sized jade shard covered in mysterious patterns—it was one of the Three Heaven-Reaching Charts.

"This is a fragment of the Heaven-Reaching Chart, which I have cherished for many years." Xiang Guang's voice lowered slightly. "I have received secret intelligence that Zhu San, the wealthiest man on the Hidden Dragon Continent, recently sent his men to hunt a Xiantian-level Saber-Toothed Tiger in the Great Wilderness. This tiger is no ordinary beast; it has sixteen sword-like spikes on its back that are incredibly sharp, with power comparable to high-grade mortal weapons. Its claws can also be used directly as blades."

A flicker of surprise crossed Yi Yan's eyes. Having lived in the military for so long, he naturally knew the value of Xiantian beast materials, especially those from a Saber-Toothed Tiger with such unique spikes. If he could retrieve all of its materials, it would be enough to arm an elite among elites.

"Zhu San's business spans the entire continent, and his influence is vast. Although his base is in the Ming Dynasty, the city where he intends to secretly divide this batch of Saber-Toothed Tiger materials is within the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region." Xiang Guang's gaze suddenly turned sharp. "I want you to use this Heaven-Reaching Chart fragment to trade for all the materials of this Saber-Toothed Tiger."

At this point, Xiang Guang emphasized his tone, speaking each word clearly: "Especially those sixteen spikes—not a single one must be missing!"

Yi Yan felt a jolt in his heart and quickly bowed. "This subject understands!"

"Listen well." Xiang Guang continued. "Zhu San is a cautious man, and this batch of materials is currently being prepared to be transported back to the Ming Dynasty in secret batches. You must not draw attention to yourself on this trip; you must complete the transaction before he divides the materials."

He paused, as if remembering something, and added, "This mission is extremely dangerous. The Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region are Qin De's territory; there is no guarantee he won't detect any unusual movement. I order you to have your father, Yi Qingyu, accompany you."

Upon hearing this, a trace of surprise flashed in Yi Yan's eyes, but he nodded heavily. "This subject obeys the decree!"

Yi Qingyu was Yi Yan's father, a former great general who had defended the Chu Dynasty. Although he had retired, he possessed a Xiantian peak cultivation level, his martial arts were legendary, and he had clashed with Qin De several times, knowing the power of the Qin Family like the back of his hand. Having him accompany the mission would undoubtedly provide a double layer of security.

"Your Majesty, that Zhu San is wealthy enough to rival a nation. Why would he be willing to trade such precious beast materials for a fragment of the Heaven-Reaching Chart?" Yi Yan could not help but ask the question in his heart.

A cold sneer curled the corner of Xiang Guang's mouth. "That man Zhu San appears to care only for money, but he is actually wildly ambitious. He cannot be unaware of the legends surrounding the Heaven-Reaching Chart. He thinks that with this fragment, he can glimpse the Heaven-Reaching path, not knowing that the Three Heaven-Reaching Charts are all essential; a single piece is nothing but a useless scrap."

He handed the wooden box to Yi Yan. "The sooner this is done, the better. Go back and prepare immediately, take your father, and head to the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region in secret. Remember, this mission must succeed; failure is not an option. If you let Qin De intercept it, or if even one of the sixteen spikes is lost, you will bring me your head!"

"This subject will not fail the mission!"

Yi Yan took the sandalwood box with both hands, tucked it carefully into his robes, and after bowing once more, turned and strode out of Zichen Hall with long, purposeful steps.

Watching Yi Yan's departing back, Xiang Guang walked slowly to the window, gazing at the heavy night outside, a flicker of malice in his eyes.

"Qin De, I want to see if you can still interfere this time."

He knew clearly that this transaction was not just about obtaining the Saber-Toothed Tiger's materials, but also a test. If Qin De truly intervened, then he would have sufficient reason to disturb that ancestor who had been in seclusion for many years, Xiang Yang.

At this moment, Yi Yan, having left the palace, was galloping on horseback through the streets of the imperial city. He touched the sandalwood box in his robes, his heart feeling heavy. He knew that this mission was far more difficult than any before it.

The Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region were Qin De's territory, and he had to conduct a trade there with the wealthiest man on the Hidden Dragon Continent while avoiding Qin De's eyes and ears; the difficulty was self-evident.

"Father, it seems I must trouble you to come out of retirement once again."

Yi Yan muttered to himself, urging his horse toward the Yi Mansion outside the city. In the night, his figure gradually disappeared, leaving only the dark iron armor to cast a cold, metallic luster under the moonlight.