The Beginning of All Things

After Liu Qingni left, everyone secretly glanced at the silent Zhong Tinglan. The ever-steady, mature, and composed Zhong Tinglan now wore an unmistakably ugly expression.

"My lord."

He Yan hurriedly spoke to remind him.

Only then did Zhong Tinglan slowly close his eyes, then open them again. In a deep voice, he said, "It is nothing."

With that, he swept his gaze over Yan Shengheng's head, gave He Yan a look to handle it, then ignored everyone around him and turned to leave.

Not long afterward, He Yan pushed open the door and entered Zhong Tinglan's private side hall.

"What did you find?" Zhong Tinglan sat upright in the seat of honor and asked coldly.

"My lord, Liu Qingni left this time under the Director's secret orders and brought back a Sixth Prince whose identity has yet to be confirmed."

He Yan spoke solemnly, reporting every detail he had uncovered to Zhong Tinglan.

Zhong Tinglan remained expressionless. After a long while, a cold smile appeared on his face.

"No wonder she had been so full of confidence today, daring to defy me in public. So she thought she had found the Sixth Prince and gained herself a backer!"

"Putting aside whether that so-called Sixth Prince is real or fake..."

"Even if he is real, what is he worth? He is no more than some crude bumpkin raised in the countryside! Is he worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as the Zhong Family?!"

Zhong Tinglan muttered to himself, his gaze becoming increasingly terrifying until it seemed to turn into a pitch-black abyss.

"He Yan!"

"Your subordinate is here."

"Su Chang'an is still imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison. Send someone to approach him in secret and deliver this information about the so-called Sixth Prince."

"Yes." He Yan immediately answered respectfully before withdrawing.

Only Zhong Tinglan remained in the hall. He walked slowly over to the artificial rockery, his gaze settling on a carefully tended red lotus blooming with bewitching splendor.

After a long silence, longing and fervor finally welled up in his eyes.

"Su Yueji..."

"A flower is like a beauty. Yet no matter how lovely the blossoms, they can never compare to even half a beauty's grace."

His eyes drifted shut as the image of his first meeting with Su Yueji surfaced once more in his mind.

Back then, the marketplace had been packed with a surging crowd. With only one distant glance, he had fallen completely, unable to cast her from his thoughts ever since.

That Liu Qingni did not know the height of heaven or the depth of earth. If he had not heard that she was close to Su Yueji, did she really think he would acknowledge this marriage? A discarded child of the Zhong Family—was she worthy of becoming Zhong Tinglan's wife?

"Sixth Prince..."

He suddenly opened his eyes.

A crude country bumpkin, even with the title of Sixth Prince, would still have neither power nor influence. In the end, at most, he would be an idle prince.

But so long as one was human, one would have greed.

If Zhong Tinglan pretended to submit to him and used the Zhong Family's name to stir his ambitions for the throne...

Once a person had tasted the flavor of power, they could never again be content with mediocrity.

Then, by keeping him at arm's length and controlling him step by step, Zhong Tinglan refused to believe he could not seize hold of this so-called Sixth Prince.

And once he controlled him, would Su Yueji not be in the palm of his hand as well? After all, the other party seemed to have only this one relative left!

Great Jin's Heavenly Prison.

A middle-aged man passed through a dim corridor when rows of towering figures clad in armor suddenly emerged along the black walls, their faces hidden behind dark masks.

Cold and deathly still, iron-blooded and ruthless!

Every one of them possessed a deep, unfathomable aura, and the rippling pressure they gave off proved just how terrifying they were.

"Stop where you are!"

An icy, iron-blooded shout rang out. The next instant came the unified sound of blades being drawn, as grim longswords left their sheaths and cold light flashed in every direction.

Endless killing intent locked tightly onto the middle-aged man. Those snow-bright blades bared their edges, seeming ready to cleave into him at any moment.

Faced with such a situation, the middle-aged man immediately raised the token in his hand.

"Hm?"

Before the black wall, the leading figure's gaze flickered slightly as he recognized the token. He stared at the middle-aged man for a moment before finally making a light gesture with his right hand.

A thunderous chorus of clanging rang out as the rows of armored imperial guards along the wall sheathed their longswords once more, their killing intent temporarily receding.

"You have only the time it takes one incense stick to burn. Once the time is up, anyone who has not left will be killed without mercy!!!"

The middle-aged man nodded hurriedly and quickly moved out of their sight, his back already drenched in cold sweat.

"The Black Armor Divine Army truly lives up to its name. I heard that when all order in heaven and earth had once ceased to exist, it was the Founding Ancestor who established the Black Armor Divine Army and the Heavenly Mandate Guard, sweeping across the world and founding Great Jin."

"From the moment this imperial guard force was born, it has been the imperial family's strongest butcher's blade and bulwark."

His heart churned as he walked straight to a cell at the deepest point of the Heavenly Prison and stopped.

The cell was simply furnished. A straw mat lay across the floor, and a dim oil lamp burned on a small wooden table.

Before the table sat a young man in white robes, cross-legged in meditation.

The young man had refined features and a tall, straight frame. Though he was imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison, his loose hair remained free of grime, while his entire person brimmed with vitality.

When he slowly raised his eyes, they resembled deep, frigid pools, carrying an unfathomable air of lofty mystery.

Wherever his gaze fell, it was as if the people outside the cell were the ants crawling before him in audience.

"Your Highness, this subordinate pays his respects." The middle-aged man bowed to Su Chang'an.

Su Chang'an slowly opened his eyes and gave the man a faint glance.

"A man of the Zhong Family? Right now, every official in court avoids me like the plague, yet your Zhong Family is scrambling to crawl over here. Are you not afraid of bringing fire upon yourselves?"

The middle-aged man's expression changed. He argued solemnly, "Your Highness is mistaken. There are countless officials throughout the court who support Your Highness."

"The lords have not come, presumably because they fear arousing His Majesty's suspicions and causing further complications on the day Your Highness leaves prison."

"Heh." Su Chang'an smiled faintly. "Stop talking nonsense. What have you come here for?"

The middle-aged man passed a paper scroll through the gap in the cell door. Su Chang'an swept his gaze over it and saw that it recorded a great deal of information about the so-called Sixth Prince.

"What does this mean?" Su Chang'an asked blandly.

"Your Highness, this is merely a small token of sincerity from the Zhong Family," said the middle-aged man.

Su Chang'an laughed. The paper scroll in his hand ignited without flame. Then he glanced at the middle-aged man, his gaze flashing like lightning as an explosive force sent him flying several meters away.

"You want me to become the Zhong Family's dog? Then it seems your Zhong Family has not thought much of me either!"

"Your Highness, we..." The middle-aged man struggled to rise, panic written across his face.

"Get out!"

With that single word, overwhelming killing intent locked onto the middle-aged man as though blood would splash across the Heavenly Prison the next instant.

The middle-aged man was frightened out of his wits. He did not dare say another word, hurriedly prostrated himself to beg forgiveness, then scrambled and crawled toward the corridor exit, not daring to linger for even a moment.

The cell returned to dead silence, while the dim oil lamp flickered.

"The Thirty-Six Tiangang Houses that once followed the Founding Ancestor to establish the realm, basking in boundless glory, have now become parasites. What a joke."

Su Chang'an's expression was cold. They had not only treated him as a fool but also sought to drive him to his death. How could he possibly show them a pleasant face?

"Even the most glorious hereditary honor cannot withstand the corrosion of selfish human desires."

Suddenly, a cold, eerie voice sounded in Su Chang'an's mind.

Su Chang'an's gaze sharpened as he looked toward a dark corner of the Heavenly Prison.

There, a dim shadow silently stepped out from the darkness.

"Your Highness, my lord asked me to send you her regards."

The shadow was black as ink, its form unseen, yet its voice reached Su Chang'an's ears.

Su Chang'an narrowed his eyes and said lightly, "What, has Mother finally remembered that she still has a son like me?"

The black shadow swayed faintly in the firelight, like a plume of thick smoke curling upward.

"My lord has not abandoned Your Highness. Your Highness need only endure for a little longer. Everything will soon be settled."

Su Chang'an neither agreed nor disagreed.

He merely looked on, as though gazing down with cold indifference.

The shadow continued, "The real Sixth Prince has appeared. I did not expect him to truly be alive, and there seems to be an expert protecting him."

"We went to test him, but ultimately suffered losses there."

As he spoke, he handed over a painting.

Su Chang'an accepted it. The moment he unfurled it, his eyes narrowed.

The painting contained Su Qingyang's portrait, along with detailed intelligence about him.

"He really does look like him!"

Su Chang'an sighed softly, a trace of complicated nostalgia seeming to flash through his eyes.

In an instant, his expression turned cold. He asked in a low voice, "Have you found out? Who exposed me and caused me to fall into this prison?"

"It was Su Yueji..." the shadow answered.

Upon hearing this, Su Chang'an fell silent for a long time. The image of that peerlessly graceful woman rose in his mind. After a while, quiet words fell from his lips.

"So that is how it is. It seems she knew all along. It truly must have been... hard on her!"

"My dear elder sister!"

"You truly are restless! Since you so badly do not wish to see me, then once I leave prison, I will have her married far away!"

The shadow interrupted flatly, "Su Yueji has already entered that person's sect. Your Highness likely has no right to decide where she goes."

"Hm?"

Su Chang'an suddenly raised his eyes. Lightning seemed to flash in his gaze, carrying immense might.

The shadow neither retreated nor evaded, staring directly back at him.

Su Chang'an immediately fell silent, and this time his silence lasted even longer than before. Yet no expression could be seen on his face.

That only made him all the more frightening.

He said, "No wonder. Was the Sixth Prince's return to the capital also that person's intention? What did Mother say?"

"My lord said nothing," the shadow replied.

"However, Your Highness will soon leave prison. His Majesty has agreed to release Your Highness from the Heavenly Prison one month from now, but there is one condition."

"What condition?"

The shadow was silent for a moment before saying, "Erase everything you currently possess, leave the Imperial Capital, and become a commoner."

"And if I refuse?"

Su Chang'an's gaze was like a blade. If the price of freedom was giving up everything he had, then he would rather remain unfree, even if it meant gambling his life.

Upon hearing this, the shadow seemed to smile, as though he had long expected Su Chang'an's answer.

He said, "Or, become a Martial Dao Grandmaster within ten years and quell the East Sea Turmoil. If you can do so, His Majesty will grant you a status above ten thousand men and below only one."

"The East Sea Turmoil?" Su Chang'an smiled, a soundless smile, yet one as cold as ice.

"Talking about being above ten thousand and below one man... It seems Father intends to trap me in the East Sea for the rest of my life, never allowing me to set foot in Taihe Imperial City."

As a prince, he naturally knew the inside story. Especially in the East Sea, where even Duke Yuan had once held command with an axe, the waters ran deep. Other than Grandmasters, anyone who sank into them would not even make a splash.

"There is still a chance, is there not?" said the shadow. He was certain that Su Chang'an would never give up this opportunity.

"What a fine 'there is still a chance.'"

Su Chang'an looked at the shadow, killing intent flashing in his eyes. He knew he had been abandoned. If not for a little talent, he likely would have died without even a whole corpse left behind.

But...

Why!

Clearly, everything had begun with that mother of his. Why did the blame have to fall upon him? Even if he were not the Sixth Prince, he should still have been a prince. Yet now he had become a sacrifice.

"My dear Mother would not help me with nothing at all, would she?"

Su Chang'an calmed down and asked evenly.

"Of course," said the shadow. "My lord said that if you can advance to the Three-Flower Innate Realm before leaving prison, she will permit our Blood Shadow Tower to assist you with all our strength!"

Su Chang'an gave a soft laugh.

"It seems my dear mother has truly calculated every last move of mine to the bone!"

As he spoke, he slowly raised one hand. Terrifying Innate aura rippled from his body. Above the crown of his head and on both shoulders, three illusory lotus flowers began to emerge.

They grew increasingly crystalline, nearly solid, clearly containing unimaginable power within!

"Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations!"

The shadow dropped to one knee, his gaze toward Su Chang'an growing fervent, as though he were looking upon some peerless treasure.

"From this day forth, everyone in the Blood Shadow Tower shall heed Your Highness's command!"

At the Three-Flower Innate Realm, he was only one step away from Three Flowers Crown the Summit. With such talent, breaking through to Grandmaster was just around the corner. By then, the Blood Shadow Tower would surpass Lovesickness Tower and become the strongest assassin organization in the world.

Within Purple Pavilion Manor, carved railings stood beside the water!

The waters of Jade Lake shimmered with rippling light, lotus leaves stretching out in unbroken layers. Whenever a breeze passed over them, rings of ripples spread across the surface.

Su Qingyang leaned against the railing, admiring the view below, yet his mind was immersed in his own blood and qi as he silently deduced a secret art.

He wanted to create a secret art for burning blood and erupting with power.

At the level of a Blood Refining Grandmaster, he had nearly reached a height never attained by anyone before him.

Every blood-refining secret art passed down in the world was like children's play before his vast, boundless blood and qi, utterly incapable of bearing the mighty force within him.

Thus, if he wished to advance further, he could only carve out his own path and create an explosive martial art unique to himself.

Su Qingyang opened his eyes. In an instant, a layer of blood flame ignited within his pupils. It was vitality burning madly, and in the blink of an eye, three layers of crimson rose up.

An inexplicable aura rippled outward.

Within Purple Pavilion Manor,

someone shuddered, sensing terrifying majesty.

Eunuch Huang, dozing beneath a great tree, suddenly raised his head as dead leaves fell from the branches one after another.

Cold enough to pierce the bone, majestic beyond measure!

He slowly straightened his withered body, his old eyes narrowing.

Rustle!

The blossoms blooming in every direction were instantly shredded to pulp by a vicious gust.

"..."

With a thunderous boom, Su Qingyang's eyes opened and closed, and a massive vertical dragon eye snapped open behind him.

Deep within that dragon eye was a glint of golden pupil. It swept across the entire Purple Pavilion Manor, and then a vast dragon's roar rose.

As the might of that dragon's roar resounded,

A colossal rumble descended like a tsunami. The lake surface within a hundred-meter radius collapsed with a crash, then began to boil outright.

As though an Azure Dragon was raging beneath the water!

Su Qingyang closed the enormous vertical eye. After contemplating it for a moment, he sensed that his strength had increased nearly threefold.

"It can still be layered further. At most, this blood-burning secret art can be stacked thirteen times."

"Since it was further deduced from the [Ten Lords Ten Emperors Blood-Tempering Art], thirteen times is the limit. I'll call it the [Azure Dragon Blood-Burning Art]."

Whoosh!

An old man appeared like a ghost. His gaze swept over the scene and landed on Jade Lake. The lingering powerful aura sent a tremendous shock through the heart of this elder who had lived deep within the palace for so long.

He approached Su Qingyang and asked,

"Young master, do you know what happened just now?"

His tone brimmed with astonishment, and there was faint suspicion directed at Su Qingyang.

"So it's Eunuch Huang!" Su Qingyang smiled and looked down at the lake. "To cause such a huge commotion, it must have been an Azure Dragon turning over just now!"

"An Azure Dragon?!"

Eunuch Huang froze. Though he was old, surely he had not become senile to this extent!

Where in this world could there possibly be a dragon!

"What other explanation could there be? A dragon's roar rang through the land just now. Don't tell me I was the one who blasted it into this state." Su Qingyang lied with a perfectly straight face.

Eunuch Huang fell silent. He glanced at Su Qingyang, making no effort to conceal his suspicion.

"Fine, I won't hide it from you. It really was my doing." Su Qingyang spread his hands helplessly and nodded in admission.

"You... this... Young Master..."

Eunuch Huang opened his mouth, but for a moment, he did not know where to begin.

"Ah, you old fellow! Why do you still have such a heavy curiosity?"

Su Qingyang shook his head helplessly and leaned against the railing. Seeing this, Eunuch Huang also gazed out at Jade Lake for a long while.

"Tell me, what kind of person was my mother?"

Without turning his head, Su Qingyang suddenly asked.

Hearing this, Eunuch Huang carefully studied Su Qingyang's face for a while. After a moment of silence, he said, "Consort Scarlet Radiance was a kindhearted mistress. She treated the palace servants very well."

"Then it seems you already knew where I came from."

"Then I don't want to waste any more time. I am probably that so-called true Sixth Prince!"

Su Qingyang lowered his eyes. His figure was reflected in the lake, along with a flawless face.

Perhaps he had once resembled some woman, but unfortunately, there should only be one person left now.

At this moment, the expression of Eunuch Huang, this chief eunuch, changed rapidly. He hesitated for a long while before saying,

"Young Master does indeed resemble Consort Scarlet Radiance somewhat, but..."

"There are no buts. I don't want to waste any more time. Eunuch Huang, go find someone who can make the decision."

"If my identity as the Sixth Prince can be verified, then all will be well. If not, I'll just treat this trip as having been in vain!"

Su Qingyang looked at him calmly.

Eunuch Huang was stunned for a moment. After a long while, he said with a complicated expression,

"Young Master did not need to be in such a hurry. This servant originally wanted to let Young Master live freely for a few years, to have things a little easier. The imperial family is a great whirlpool; those who plunge headfirst into it always vanish without a trace before long..."

"But since Young Master has already made his decision, this servant has no reason to stop you."

"This servant will report it at once. However, whether this matter can be done still depends on Her Majesty the Empress's wishes."

"Then many thanks, Eunuch Huang."