The Situation

Wind Abyss Southern Domain.

A water-blue palace floated above the river, drawing in water-spirit Qi with an array. Jade bells hanging from the corners of its eaves rang clear in the wind, in harmony with the river's surging waves.

"Young miss, in the Northern Region, within Great Yin, seven nodes along an underground ice-marrow river have been located. At three of them, the spiritual treasure water-cold jade marrow has formed alongside it. People have been assigned to mine it in secret."

"In the Eastern Region, within Great Qi, a marsh spirit spring has been found upstream of the Lan River. A marsh treasure is suspected to have emerged there.

"But Great Yin and Great Qi are on the verge of war. The army under Sima Ruiming stretches for a thousand miles, its banners blotting out the sky. Our people cannot get close for the time being."

"There is also news of the Ye Clan. Ye Jinyu has emerged from seclusion. The phenomenon accompanying Foundation Establishment was astonishing: heaven and earth were shrouded in chaos, a scene of profound darkness. With rare spiritual treasures of heaven and earth, Ye Jinyu forged a Dao foundation of astonishing, unfathomable power.

"The remaining Azure Luan forces under Ye Jinyu have been consolidated under the name 'Azure Plume.' Qing Lingxi commands them, and seventy percent of the Demon Race in the Southern Domain has already submitted."

"Furthermore, they are recruiting Rogue Cultivators, whether from Cangxuan or the Ruin Realm, selecting them solely for their talent and ability, regardless of origin."

Xie Qingying listened with her eyes closed. The blue bird on her shoulder occasionally brushed against her hair.

"What does Ye Jinyu intend to do?"

"Hmm... there seems to be an intention to invade the Northern Region. The Ye Clan is mustering its forces, sleeping on their spears, ready to march."

Xie Qingying opened her eyes, their depths shimmering like water. "The Northern Region... Great Yin? The Ye Clan and the Sima Clan are unexpectedly in step. What exactly is the reason?"

A trace of suspicion rose in her heart. Just as she was about to give an order, an announcement came from outside the hall. "Young miss, Young Master Sima has sent an envoy."

A short while later, a middle-aged cultivator in a black robe embroidered with gold entered the hall. He was at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and his manner was respectful without losing its arrogance. He was Sima You, Sima Ruiming's trusted retainer.

"Greetings, Miss Xie." Sima You cupped his hands.

"His Highness Ruiming heard of the hardships you have endured in the Southern Region and naturally worried about you. With the recent malicious rumors and slander stirring up trouble, he also feared they might harm the friendship between our two clans.

"So he specially ordered me to bring these modest gifts to comfort your heart."

He waved his sleeve, and two treasure boxes carved from thousand-year-old cold jade appeared. Their lids opened of their own accord.

In an instant, the water-spirit Qi in the hall surged.

The Nine-Leaf Waterheart Lotus lay quietly in one jade box, wreathed in Spiritual Qi.

The Shark-Silk Cloud Garment unfurled, water-blue light flowing across it. Embroidered with Azure Luan chasing the moon, it was exquisite beyond compare. Rippling, murmuring images streamed over it, as though rivers, lakes, and seas revolved within.

"The Nine-Leaf Waterheart Lotus!" a Xie Clan disciple exclaimed softly.

"The Nine-Leaf Waterheart Lotus grows at the bottom of a ten-thousand-year-old cold pool. It sprouts one leaf every hundred years, and all nine take nine hundred years to open. Taking it can purify the soul, dispel heart demons, and even help one break through to the Purple Mansion. Of all treasures under heaven, those that improve comprehension like this are the rarest."

Sima You smiled. "The young master said this treasure is mild and gentle, making it perfectly suited to your cultivation of a [Marsh]-attribute Cultivation Method.

"He hopes you will put it to good use and advance your cultivation soon, without letting outside affairs trouble you. In particular... do not let irrelevant people disturb your peaceful cultivation."

"His Highness also said, 'My lovely beloved, my heart longs for you without end. Your radiant immortal beauty occupies my thoughts, leaving them restless.' He hopes you will soon visit the Qi capital in the Eastern Region, Fairy."

Those final words about irrelevant people seemed to be pointed at someone.

Xie Qingying naturally heard the implication. Her smile undiminished, she said calmly, "I'm sorry for troubling Young Master Sima to take such care. I have indeed been studying a water art recently, and I am in need of a spiritual treasure of this kind."

"However..."

As her words took a turn, a maid behind her produced a jade bottle that had already been prepared.

"This is Heavenly Heart Marsh Dew, cultivated by my Xie Clan with Marsh-attribute spiritual treasures. It happens to conflict with the Nine-Leaf Waterheart Lotus. As for this magical garment, my Xie Clan has resources of its own and is hardly short of clothing... Please return them to Young Master Sima, Envoy."

Her words were as flat as water and courteous, with hardly a trace of closeness.

Displeasure and anger flashed in Sima You's eyes.

But he kept smiling.

"What do you mean by this, Miss? Do you intend to draw a clear line between yourself and my Sima Clan?!

"The young master also had something he ordered me to convey.

"Miss Xie, your status is naturally honorable, but you must remember that you are bound by a marriage agreement and conduct yourself with propriety. Do not associate too closely with all manner of idle people. Such rumors harm the reputation and dignity of both our clans!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall froze.

Xie Qingying raised her eyes and swept him with a gaze like an icy spring.

"Oh? So Sima Ruiming is blaming me? And who are these idle people supposed to be?"

Sima You did not answer. He raised his head and said meaningfully, "His Highness naturally has eyes and ears everywhere. Though he sits in the Eastern Region, he knows everything happening across the entire Wind Abyss Ruin Realm, and understands it all.

"In particular, your cooperation with that Young Master Ye in the Azure Luan Secret Realm in the Southern Region... It has spread far and wide, and it does not sound very good."

"I see." Xie Qingying suddenly smiled, her lovely gaze full of charm.

"Tell Sima Ruiming that I know how to conduct myself. We cooperated to seize treasures, each taking what we needed. Through all the struggles of conquest, that is all there has ever been to it.

"If I must avoid suspicion even over such ordinary dealings, then there is no need for me to have come to the Wind Abyss Ruin Realm at all."

She rose, the hem of her skirt stirring like ripples on water.

"Thank you for making the long journey, Envoy. Please return now. Take the gifts with you; I still have important matters to attend to."

She dismissed him outright.

Sima You's expression stiffened. Suppressing his anger, he forced himself to cup his hands and left her with a threat.

"Then... I shall take my leave. I hope you will not regret this, Miss..."

After the envoy left, a Xie Clan elder in the hall frowned. "Young miss, Sima Ruiming holds an esteemed position and admires you. Moreover, the Sima Clan has always been on good terms with our Xie Clan.

"Wouldn't this make a powerful enemy of him? No matter how one looks at it, it goes against the clan's plans for its interests..."

"Wasn't that a little too hurtful to him..."

"What Sima Ruiming cares about right now is his own face, and that laughable desire for control."

Xie Qingying sat down again. The blue bird on her shoulder gave a soft cry, and her tone was particularly cold.

"In his eyes, my joining hands with someone else when I am his betrothed dao companion has damaged his dignity and deprived him of his right to control me, causing gossip and rumors to spread everywhere.

"And since it was the Ye Clan, which has always been at odds with the Sima Clan, he is bound to be shamed into anger, yet pretend to be magnanimous.

"He will surely take revenge on Ye Jinyu, then prove that he, he is the better match... This is just the right time for the snipe and clam to fight while the fisherman profits..."

"Then, young miss, you intend to..."

The elder heard the meaning beneath her words and asked in a low voice.

"I know the methods of emperors. Mingyang prizes might, and follows only the kingly and hegemonic paths."

Xie Qingying gently stroked the blue bird on her shoulder with her fair hand, making it chirp in particular contentment.

"How could I not know Sima Ruiming's character? Instead of coming himself, he sent someone with fine gifts to ease matters. There is something suspicious about that.

"Given his character, when faced with such a matter in the past, unless something had surely tied him down, he would certainly have come at once to question me. He would never have let it rest without turning heaven and earth upside down."

"Then what could it be that would make Sima Ruiming, a legitimate son of Firmament Heaven, go to such lengths to concern himself with a Ruin Realm's court?"

"The inheritances of the kingly and hegemonic paths-even in the Cangxuan Ancient Realm, only the Wei Imperial House possessed one or two back then! How could a Ruin Realm have kept them?

"The kingly and hegemonic paths, the majesty of an emperor-how very much they resemble Mingyang's Divine Ability inheritance...

"Is it [Emperor's Descending Might], [Sovereign's Supreme Reign], or both?

"This realm was originally no more than a high-grade Ruin Realm. In so few years, on what grounds has it come just one step away from advancing its origin and breaking its shackles?"

The elder's eyes narrowed, and the elder nearly cried out in alarm.

"Could it be... Wei Wu Mingyang's Decoy Tomb!?"

"Do not speak so loudly... for fear of startling... the people in heaven."

Xie Qingying raised a finger to her lips, making a gesture for silence.

"What exactly is the Ye Clan plotting? Does Ye Jinyu know about it?"