Night

Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night for Di'an City.

Although the mastermind behind everything already knew that from the moment Emperor Xien died, everything would be dust to dust tonight, that didn't mean everyone else knew it.

This is the first time in over a thousand years since the founding of the Great Yan Imperial Capital capital has faced a crisis of collapse.

Everything needs to be thoroughly investigated.

The Imperial Guards, the various levels of the Celestial Heavenly Supervision Bureau, and the Demon Beast of the City Defense Bureau, who had set out from their camps, belatedly imposed martial law on every street.

It wasn't that they reacted too slowly, but rather that the earth-shattering battle on the dome ended too quickly.

Like a shooting star streaking across the sky.

Brilliant, but fleeting.

However, Xu Yuan was unaware of all that was happening outside the mansion.

Because Lou Ji cut off his Wi-Fi.

The moment the connection between their Will Soul was severed, Xu Yuan's seemingly omniscient and omnipotent vision vanished instantly.

Xu Yuan silently gazed at the Sword-Ray that still stretched across the sky, his eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions.

What he saw tonight had a great impact on him.

As a powerful Body Fusion had once slain a saint, Xu Yuan realized a reality for the first time.

Even among sages, there are differences.

If he, with his Strange Ghost body, were placed in tonight's battle, he probably wouldn't last three breaths before dying.

Barbarian King?

It's nothing but a disgrace to a saint.

Thinking to himself, Xu Yuan shook his head gently again.

Nothing is absolute. After all, in Cangyuan, the Barbarian King, as a world boss, is not considered difficult, but he is still above average. The fact that he and Li Qingyan were able to kill him before was probably partly due to the fact that he had just broken through to a higher realm.

What are you standing there for?

My thoughts were interrupted by a slightly reproachful voice.

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan looked up and saw a fair, delicate hand already touching his forehead.

Lou Ji snapped her fingers, and with a crisp thud, Xu Yuan landed hard on his backside.

Rubbing his aching temples, Xu Yuan was about to say something when Lou Ji gave a soft snort and turned to leave.

Her slender waist swayed gently, and the light gauze flowed along her full hips.

Xu Yuan hurriedly got up, dusted himself off, and followed, asking in a low voice as he walked:

"Sister, did you see that sword strike clearly just now?"

Even through Lou Ji's perspective, he couldn't see how his maternal uncle unleashed his final sword strike, so he wanted to ask.

Lou Ji glanced sideways with her delicate almond-shaped eyes and casually replied:

"What I saw, you saw too."

Xu Yuan hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice:

"With different levels of understanding, even with the same perspective, what one sees should be different, right?"

After a brief silence, Lou Ji let out a soft chuckle:

"I can't see clearly."

"Huh?" Xu Yuan asked in surprise, "You can't see it either?"

Lou Ji sighed softly:

"If I can see Feng Jiuxuan's last sword strike clearly, it means I have a high probability of dodging it. Unless I, sister, can break through to the Saint Realm, it's impossible for me to see Feng Jiuxuan's sword strike clearly."

Xu Yuan suddenly fell silent upon hearing this.

He realized that the reason this older sister couldn't break through to the Saint realm was because of the hidden injuries she suffered because of him.

Lou Ji was very perceptive and keenly noticed the boy's feelings beside her. She raised her hand and patted his head.

"My sister isn't a martial arts fanatic; as long as her cultivation level is sufficient, that's enough."

"Alright, your uncle's business is done, but tonight is just beginning."

"Um"

Xu Yuan responded softly, suppressing the turmoil in his heart for the time being.

Once his thoughts returned to normal, Xu Yuan carefully considered his words and said softly:

"Sister, tonight's events have slightly slipped out of our control."

Xu Yuan put it very tactfully.

It's not just slightly.

The moment the spell array formed from the golden holy blood took shape, the situation had already completely spiraled out of the Prime Minister's Estate's control.

If Di'an City were to be destroyed, the resulting political impact would be devastating to that old man's grand plan for the world.

The Xien Emperors all rose from the ranks of the Prime Minister's Estate. No matter how powerful his father was as Prime Minister, he still had to pay the price.

These are the rules governing the exercise of power within the existing framework.

Unless your Prime Minister's Mansion directly rebels and overturns the table, making enemies of everyone in the world, you'll have to obediently accept it.

As far as Xu Yuan knew, the Prime Minister's Estate was not prepared to act as "King Xuan of Qi" at this stage.

The existence of the Prime Minister's Estate was not that of a separate local warlord, but rather, like the roots of a plant, it permeated every aspect of the Great Yan. This allowed the Prime Minister's Mansion to grow rapidly and become powerful within a few decades, but it also meant that a large portion of its Prime Minister's Mansion were bound together by various exchanges of interests.

If they become enemies with the world, these people will most likely be cut off at lightning speed.

At that time, it might be a feast for everyone except the Prime Minister's Mansion.

And compromise,

That would mean that the internal conflict between the imperial court and the sects would be transformed into an external conflict.

The Great Yan Dynasty will fully intervene in the war on the Dongying Island, the exploration of the Xien will begin, and an expedition will be put on the agenda.

If these things happen, then the father's grand plan for change will become a distant dream.

Thinking of this, Xu Yuan suddenly felt a sense of relief.

The timeline in his mind was only one thing away from becoming reality: Feng Jiuxuan's earth-shattering sword strike.

Lou Ji quieted down for a moment, gently shook her head, and said:

"A loss may turn out to be a blessing in disguise; just remember this lesson."

Humans don't learn from history, but people do.

Xu Yuan sighed softly:

"After tonight, many people may begin to pay more attention to the Xien on the Dongying Island."

Lou Ji glanced at Xu Yuan, her voice returning to its relaxed tone:

"You and the Third Prince have a good personal relationship, don't you? This can be considered helping him indirectly."

Although Di'an suffered no actual losses, the fact that the Sage of the Xien had caused such a commotion in the heart of the Great Yan meant that, even if it was just for appearances, the Xien's troops stationed on the Dongying Island would be given more attention.

Xu Yuan grinned:

"What follows is just wrangling, but after tonight, I think those people from the sect will be quite interested in Xien."

The cultivation methods of the Great Yan are constantly evolving, and the power of the Emperor of the Xien was clearly displayed tonight. Sects will inevitably covet those cultivation methods.

Lou Ji waved her hand and said softly:

"It's too early to talk about this now. We should wait until after New Year's Eve. For now, let's deal with those people according to plan."

Xu Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly.

This was the initial plan.

A battle of wits ensued between two sages, resulting in the sudden death of a guest advisor.

The list prepared by Ran Jianli has been provided.

Within the Di'an City, the Prime Minister's Estate will assassinate the high-ranking Heavenly Oversight Pavilion listed on that list.

Inside the Prime Minister's Estate, the Black Scale Guard planned to take this opportunity to deal with some of the older, disobedient officials.

A dark and stormy night for murder.

Fatty Zhou didn't want to come to Di'an City, but he had no choice.

As a survivor of the assassination attempt against Xu Changtian, Fatty Zhou should have been enjoying a peaceful retirement in the Iron Profound Sect, feigning illness.

But things don't always go as planned. His act of deserting in the face of battle was reported to the Pavilion Master by the Half-Saint named Luo Bingli.

In order to maintain his position within the Iron Profound Sect, Fatty Zhou had no choice but to reluctantly come to the turbulent Di'an City to atone for his crimes.

Tonight is the last day of the Prime Minister's Mansion.

This should have been his last day in Di'an City.

But unsurprisingly, another unexpected event occurred.

He watched as a Sword-Ray suddenly shot into the sky from within the Prime Minister's Mansion.

Watching the two figures speeding and battling in the sky.

Watching the terrifying golden light envelop Di'an.

Then they watched as one of them beheaded the other.

At this moment,

In this luxurious and decadent ancient building,

Fatty Zhou, embracing his beautiful concubine, watched as the blood-stained man in white slowly walked towards him, carrying a severed head.

Outside the city of Di'an, a wide river, twenty zhang wide, flows by, dividing the Di'an's prosperity into two parts: the bustling city and the tranquil countryside outside.

A serene pavilion stands on a hillside beside the river.

As the snow fell heavily, the landscape was covered in silver, blending the river, city, and countryside into one. Under the illumination of the Sword-Ray, the snowflakes were exceptionally beautiful.

Such a beautiful scene deserves a beautiful woman.

But within the tranquil pavilion, there were no beauties, only a strikingly handsome young man dressed provocatively.

He stared at the riverbank with a look of terror in his eyes.

Watching the streaks of blood stain the clear river surface red, only to be instantly washed away by the swift current.

The second elder of the Bamboo Mountain Sect has died.

The handsome young man dared not make a sound, for fear of alerting the ruthless man by the river.

Xu Changge stood quietly by the riverbank, gently wiping the longsword in her hand, which was stained with a faint, chilling green, with a silk handkerchief.

At his feet, an elderly man with a purplish face and a white beard was dying, murmuring words of begging for mercy.

There were no signs of a battle in the vicinity.

When he arrived, the poison from the young man's body had already entered the old man's body.

With her first sword strike, Lou Ji's bewitching poison disrupted the opponent's senses.

With the second sword strike, the old man became what he is now.

Death and assassinations occurred quietly within the already martial law-bound Di'an City, like a well-organized net descending upon some unexpected corners.

Looking at the quiet and elegant surroundings, Xu Yuan felt a sense of unfamiliarity.

It feels familiar because this is the Prime Minister's Estate.

It felt unfamiliar because the Prime Minister's Mansion was so large that even he, a native, had only been here a few times.

North Profound Courtyard, Xiangqin Pavilion.

The residence of the female guest minister of the Prime Minister's Mansion.

Yes, Lou Ji's residence is also here.

As he was thinking this, Xu Yuan suddenly realized that he didn't seem to be wearing a human skin mask. He subconsciously stopped in his tracks, and before he could even probe his Sumeru Ring with his Will Soul, he heard Lou Ji's cheerful voice:

"Are you trying to deceive yourself by wearing that human skin and walking next to me?"

"."

With an awkward laugh, Xu Yuan asked in a low voice:

"Then shall I go back to the inner courtyard first?"

"To get there, you have to pass the pavilion in the middle of the lake; Ran Jianli there."

"The State Preceptor has come to see Ran Qingmo?"

"Yes."

Xu Yuan was a little nervous.

Tonight I have already witnessed the might of the Sage. Although the Prime Minister's Prime Minister's Mansion is very large, with that old swordsman's cultivation level, he could probably find him with a casual sweep of his Will Soul.

Lou Ji chuckled, pursing her red lips:

"Don't worry, your father is gone. He's watching over him. Just don't go near him."

Xu Yinhe went to find Ran Jianli not just to stop him from making a move, but more so because the Prime Minister's Prime Minister's Mansion was going to clean house tonight.

Family scandals should naturally not be aired in public.

As she spoke, Lou Ji's eyes held a profound sadness:

"Moreover, Changtian, the people we're dealing with today are all veterans of the Prime Minister's Mansion; you should know some of them."

The first person Lou Ji visited was an old woman, a woman known as Granny Long.

Xu Yuan didn't recognize him, but since he was staying at the Prime Minister's Mansion tonight, he must be a very important high-ranking person.

She was vigorous and had a straight back; every move she made exuded nobility and elegance. Judging from her bone structure, she must have been a stunning beauty in her youth.

Even though youth has faded, her former charm is still faintly visible in her eyes and brows.

Granny Long opened the courtyard gate and saw Lou Ji outside. A faint smile immediately appeared on her thin lips.

It's very gentle, with a touch of surprise.

Lou Ji's expression was almost identical to his.

They seemed to be close friends who had known each other for a long time.

Without a word, Granny Long wanted to welcome Lou Ji inside, but her actions stopped abruptly when her gaze fell on Xu Yuan.

Granny Long recognized the identity of the young man beside Lou Ji.

but,

According to the intelligence she received, he had already been assassinated.

Snowflakes, as soft as goose feathers, gently drifted down into the courtyard.

Granny Long silently raised her eyes to look at the sky, her gaze unreadable, then lowered her head and silently turned to walk into the courtyard.

Lou Ji glanced at Xu Yuan, indicating that he should wait there.

The courtyard gate was closed, isolating everything inside.

The snow is still falling.

The courtyard gate opened, Lou Ji calmly walked out.

Xu Yuan looked at her, but didn't ask anything.

The two walked silently toward the next courtyard.

The snow mist that had just risen due to the Sword Qi has now settled back onto the ground, making a crunching sound when you step on it.

Suddenly,

"Ask whatever you want."

"Oh"

Xu Yuan looked at his older sister's calm profile, a thoughtful look in his eyes:

"Is she your friend?"

Lou Ji tilted her head and thought for a moment, seemingly considering how to answer.

After a long pause, she finally spoke softly:

I used to call her "Miss".

Xu Yuan suddenly fell silent.

Lou Ji chuckled softly and said quietly:

"I remember telling you before that I was once one of the lowly people among those sects."

It failed.

I'll try again tomorrow.