Chapter 90 - 89: What a wonderful place.

Chapter 90: Chapter 89: What a wonderful place.

Far beyond the Eastern Region, above the endless sea of clouds, stood the Imperial City of the Great Yan Kingdom.

It was a city that stretched for hundreds of kilometers, its towering walls and countless buildings rising above the clouds as though an entire kingdom had been built upon the heavens.

Palaces stood alongside bustling markets, enormous bridges connected distant districts, and cultivators flew between buildings while carriages drawn by spiritual beasts travelled along the broad streets below.

From high above, the city appeared peaceful, its magnificent appearance heightened by the enormous scale the city possessed.

Yet as the perspective descended through the clouds and drifted between the crowded streets, another scene began to emerge.

People were talking.

In teahouses, merchants exchanged rumors with their customers wantonly.

At street corners, cultivators gathered in small groups, whispering among themselves.

Even the servants carrying baskets through the markets occasionally whispered about it.

The Eastern Region had become the center of attention.

"Have you heard the news from the Eastern Region?" The young merchant leaned across the table, practically vibrating with excitement. "The Chen Family has discovered an ancient tomb beneath that enormous field of flowers! And they’re opening it in thirty days!"

The old cultivator gave him a sideways glance. "Hmph. Last week, you told me a mountain had turned into gold. Forgive me if I don’t believe everything that comes out of your mouth."

"But this time, it’s official! The Chen Family announced it themselves!"

The merchant’s excitement earned him a raised eyebrow from the well-dressed man sitting beside them.

Unlike the other two, he had barely touched his tea, his attention fixed on the conversation.

"An ancient tomb, open to the public..." He tapped a finger against his cup. "That is a curious decision. With three Ancestors of the Chen Family overseeing the Eastern Region, they could keep the inheritance for themselves. Why invite competitors to share it?"

"Perhaps the Chen Family has become generous?" the merchant offered hopefully.

The old cultivator barked out a laugh. "Generous? You think a family that rules the Eastern Region got to where it is by handing out treasures? Use your head, boy."

The merchant scratched his cheek, his enthusiasm faltering. "Then... what are they after?"

"That’s the question worth asking." The well-dressed man finally took a sip of tea. "And the tomb isn’t the strangest part."

"A mysterious cultivator fought Ancestor Chen Yan for several days before retreating."

The merchant nearly spilled his tea. "He fought an Ancestor Chen Yan? And survived?"

"Survived and escaped," the old cultivator corrected gruffly. "Don’t make it sound as though he won. But I’ll admit, anyone who can exchange blows with a High Lord for days isn’t someone I’d want to meet in a dark alley."

The well-dressed man set down his cup. "What interests me is why the other two Ancestors remained on the sidelines. Perhaps they trusted Ancestor Chen Yan to handle the opponent. Or perhaps they were guarding against someone else."

The old cultivator’s expression hardened. "You think there were more enemies hiding nearby?"

"I think three Ancestors don’t gather in one place without reason. And I doubt the Chen Family would announce a tomb opening so casually if nothing else were at stake."

The merchant glanced between them, his earlier excitement giving way to unease. "The masked cultivator said something about an approaching calamity, didn’t he? People are talking about that too."

"Yes," the well-dressed man replied. "And with the demons suddenly retreating from the southern border, I find the timing rather unfortunate."

The old cultivator fell silent, his fingers tightening around his teacup. He had lived long enough to know that trouble rarely announced itself so plainly.

The merchant, however, was already thinking of something else. "Thirty days..." he murmured. "If the tomb is real, even a small inheritance could change my family’s fortunes."

"Then go," the old cultivator said bluntly. "Gather your people and chase your fortune. Just don’t come crying to me if you end up buried alongside the ancient lord."

The merchant grimaced, while the well-dressed man merely smiled faintly.

"Well, gentlemen, I’m afraid I must take my leave. There are a few matters I still need to attend to."

The well-dressed man rose from his seat and offered the other two a courteous nod before leaving the teahouse.

He walked through the bustling streets at an unhurried pace, passing merchants hawking their wares and cultivators gathering in small groups to exchange the latest rumors.

Occasionally, he caught fragments of conversation about the same topic the three just now had discussed.

Each time, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, though the expression never lingered long enough to attract attention.

After several turns, he entered a narrow alley between two buildings, where the noise of the street faded into a distant murmur.

Without slowing his steps, he continued deeper into the alley.

Then, his body began to change.

His shoulders shifted, his bones creaked beneath his clothes, and his figure twisted.

His face stretched and contracted as his features rearranged themselves, his skin and hair changing along with them.

The well-dressed man seemed to melt away, his entire appearance replaced by that of a completely different person.

When the transformation ended, a young woman stood in his place.

She brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face, straightened her clothes, and examined her reflection in a nearby window.

Her lips gradually curved into a satisfied smile.

Then, in Chen Yueran’s familiar voice, she chuckled to herself.

"What an amazing job I’m doing, spreading the news!"

She clasped her hands behind her back and strolled toward the far end of the alley, looking thoroughly pleased with herself.

After all, what was the point of creating a grand performance if no one came to watch?

She continued walking and disappeared into the other end of the alley, continuing with her plan of spreading information.

With trouble brewing in both the east and the south, the Great Yan Kingdom was beginning to feel that something was changing.

And the Imperial City was no exception.

The perspective continued through the streets, passing beneath towering gates and across wide avenues until it reached the Imperial Palace at the heart of the city.

Unlike the surrounding districts, the palace grounds were unusually quiet.

Towering walls enclosed a vast complex of halls and courtyards, with golden rooftops.

Armed guards stood at intervals, their armor polished, while servants and officials hurried through the corridors with documents in their hands.

Orders were being carried out, messengers rushed between buildings, and officials were being summoned from their residences.

The palace was preparing for an urgent court assembly.

Along one of the corridors, two ministers walked briskly toward the main hall, their robes swaying.

The older of the two held a folded imperial summons in his hand, his brows furrowed as he read it once more.

"To summon us at such short notice," he muttered. "The time is changing... "

The minister beside him glanced at the document.

"Given what has happened recently, I doubt anyone can afford to remain idle. The Chen Family’s announcement alone would have been enough to warrant a discussion, but the situation along the southern border makes matters considerably more complicated."

"The Chen Family..." The older minister sighed. "They have only recently consolidated their authority over the Eastern Region, and now they announce the discovery of an ancient lord’s tomb. Not only that, but they intend to open it to every eligible force in the region."

"And now the demons are retreating from the southern border. Two unrelated events occurring at nearly the same time would be a remarkable coincidence."

"That is what concerns me. We know too little about either situation to determine whether they are connected, yet both could affect the entire kingdom."

They continued down the corridor, passing several guards who bowed briefly before returning to their posts.

"Have the Four Major Families been informed?" the older minister asked.

"They have. In fact, each has already sent representatives to attend today’s assembly."

The older minister raised his eyebrows.

"Representatives?"

"Foundation Establishment cultivators. All four families have sent them personally rather than relying on ordinary messengers or lower-ranking subordinates."

That answer caused him to fall silent for a moment.

The Four Major Families rarely moved their strong cultivators.

Their willingness to send cultivators of that level to the Imperial Palace suggested that they, too, considered the recent developments worthy attention.

At the end of the corridor stood the entrance to the main throne hall.

Several guards stood before its enormous doors, while officials gathered nearby, speaking in low voices as they waited for the assembly to begin.

The two ministers slowed their steps.

At the end of the long corridor, a palace attendant in formal robes stepped forward.

"By Imperial decree, all ministers and officials are hereby summoned to the throne hall. The court assembly is about to commence. All summoned officials are to enter the hall immediately."

His declaration echoed through the palace, reaching courtyards and passageways where ministers had gathered.

Conversations gradually subsided as officials straightened their robes and proceeded toward the throne hall.

Servants withdrew to the sides, while guards stood motionless beneath the carved pillars.

Somewhere deeper within the Imperial Palace, a man in a loose grey robe wandered through a secluded corridor.

A smiling mask covered his face.

He passed beneath towering pillars and intricate murals without appearing particularly interested in either.

The occasional palace guard crossed the far end of the corridor, yet none seemed to pay him any attention.

Whether they had failed to notice him or simply had no reason to stop him was difficult to tell.

Then the attendant’s declaration drifted through the palace.

The man stopped.

He turned his masked face toward the distant voice, the painted smile remaining unchanged.

At last, he spoke.

"What a wonderful place..."

The words were quiet, almost appreciative.

He tilted his head slightly, studying the ornate beams overhead before shifting his gaze toward the deeper reaches of the palace.

Behind the smiling mask, his expression remained unknown, "It’s time to dance... "

After a moment, he resumed walking, disappearing around the bend without leaving so much as a ripple.