Chapter 245: The War Escalates (1)

The vast Great Flame Empire contained countless great cities, but only one could truly be called its heart, Emperor’s Hold.

It was a city in the sky, built upon the summit of Nine Dragons Mountain.

At least, that was how the old Xu Yuan had thought of it in Azure Point. Reality, however, always differed from the game by just a little.

After centuries of expansion and renovation, Emperor's Hold had spread from the mountaintop all the way down to its base, and it was still creeping farther outward.

The majestic Nine Dragons Mountain had been swallowed by layer upon layer of buildings. There were elegant towers and waterside pavilions, landscaped gardens and scenic terraces, as well as densely packed commoner districts.

With the golden throne in the Golden Throne Hall at the summit as the central axis, several enormous imperial avenues wide enough for giant demonic beasts cut through the city. Four towering walls divided the vast metropolis into the Palace Ring, Imperial Ring, Inner Ring, and Outer Ring, arranged from the inside out and from highest to lowest.

Seated atop the black eagle pavilion, Xu Yuan gazed into the distance. Through the hazy curtain of mist and rain, countless flying demonic beasts converged from every direction, like a hundred birds gathering before the phoenix.

Looking down, he saw streets packed with bustling citizens. Endless caravans unloaded their cargo at the city gates, feeding every manner of supply into this enormous beast of a city.

The black eagle pavilion flew onward. Once it entered the Imperial Ring, the immense sky belonged to them alone.

Under the laws of the Great Flame Empire, flight was forbidden over the Imperial Ring, whether by flying demonic beasts or high-ranking cultivators.

As the familiar sprawling estate from his memories drew closer, Xu Yuan slowly withdrew his gaze and looked toward the blue-robed man seated opposite him.

Xu Changge spoke calmly, a faint smile hidden in his voice. “Well? Now that you’re back in the capital, do you think the city has changed?”

Xu Yuan thought for a moment. “I don’t think I saw the Heavenly Palace Pavilion just now.”

Xu Changge stared at him.

“And I noticed a few new pleasure houses near the Sleeping Dragon River. They looked pretty grand, though...” Xu Yuan pointed toward the river running through the Imperial Capital. He coughed. “Anyway, yes. Quite a lot has changed.”

Xu Changge raised a hand to his forehead. He glanced at the sky and let out a slow breath. “Father should be at the estate today.”

Xu Yuan nodded, unsurprised. The imperial court did not convene every day. Most of the capital’s important officials normally worked from their own offices within the Palace Ring, though Xu Yinhe generally preferred handling affairs from his estate.

After a brief pause, he asked, “By the way, Xu Changge, which identity am I supposed to use now that I’m back in the capital?”

Xu Changge raised his eyes and glanced at his third brother. “Which one do you want to use?”

Xu Yuan chuckled. “Either one works for me.”

Xu Changge sighed. “You came back because of the marriage agreement. Just make sure you don’t blow your cover.”

Xu Yuan grinned and immediately peeled off the human-skin mask. “You got it.”

The black eagle pavilion gradually began to descend.

“Right. I traveled north with the Third Prince before this.” Xu Yuan remarked.

Xu Changge did not look surprised. “I know. I saw him on the way here.”

Xu Yuan tapped the table, first covering himself against any possible misunderstanding. “Xu Changge, I want to ask you something. I don’t mean anything by it.”

Xu Changge gave his third brother a helpless glance and nodded. “Ask.”

Xu Yuan carefully considered his wording. “Who was that elder sister in red just now? The Third Prince saw her, and he knew she had come for me.”

Xu Changge’s gaze remained calm, and no emotion could be heard in his voice. “She is the Young Heavenly Master of the Heavenly Master Sect.”

“The Young Heavenly Master?” Xu Yuan froze for a moment. “Wasn’t the Young Heavenly Master supposed to be a man?”

Xu Changge replied evenly, “Is it so unusual for a woman to disguise herself as a man while traveling the world?”

Xu Yuan thought for a moment, then shook his head. “Not especially. But fooling the whole world for more than a decade is.”

“That is indeed unusual.” Xu Changge smiled faintly. With a complicated look in his eyes, he turned toward the window and took a small sip of tea. “So you don’t need to worry that the Third Prince will connect her appearance to you.”

Seeing that expression, Xu Yuan nearly laughed, but managed to hold it in. Instead, he asked with a serious face, “In that case, she won’t reveal my identity either, will she?”

Xu Changge glanced at him and gave a two-word answer. “She won’t.”

At that, Xu Yuan burst out laughing. Still laughing, he rose, walked over to Xu Changge, and patted his elder brother on the shoulder.

Xu Changge remained seated upright, teacup still raised in his hand.

Xu Yuan pulled out a meditation cushion and sat beside him. Then he took a wine cup, poured himself a drink, and spoke in the solemn tone of a concerned elder. “Xu Changge, I took a good look at the situation just now, and there are a few things I think I ought to tell you.”

Xu Changge watched him settle in, his expression calm. He said nothing.

Xu Yuan coughed lightly. “I know you might not enjoy hearing this from your third brother, but matters of the heart aren’t cultivation, much less a fight to the death. Just because your fists are bigger—”

BUZZ! A low hum rang out.

A black figure was hurled from the black eagle pavilion and plunged into the wetland lake inside the Chancellor's Manor with a heavy splash.

Xu Yuan’s head emerged through the curtain of rain striking the lake. He looked up at the black eagle pavilion roaring away overhead and sighed helplessly. Too proud for his own good. Serves him right if he stays single for the rest of his life.

Soaked from head to toe, Xu Yuan climbed out of the lake and found someone already waiting on the shore. He was not surprised. If there was one thing the Chancellor's Manor never lacked, it was experts.

The figure was a woman holding an umbrella. She offered him a towel. “Third Young Master, a towel.”

“Thank you.” Xu Yuan glanced at her face, then instinctively looked toward the opposite side of the lakeshore.

There stood a nine-story pavilion. The Chancellor's Manor’s library. The woman waiting for him by the shore was the maid who tended the library, the same personal attendant who had served his mother while she was alive. She was also a third rank Grandmaster.

“Mhm.” Xu Yuan accepted the towel and nodded with a smile.

The woman smiled gently, handed him the umbrella, and dipped into a respectful bow. “The Chancellor is waiting for you in the inner residence. This servant will take her leave.”

With that, she stepped onto the surface of the lake and walked through the curtain of rain toward the library pavilion.

Xu Yuan watched her depart, then shook his head. Holding the umbrella in one hand, he dried his hair with the towel as he made his way toward the inner residence.

The Chancellor's Manor in the Imperial Capital was enormous, even larger than the Xu residence in Stillwater. The Emperor had personally ordered several nearby streets demolished to build the place for his old man, right in the middle of the Imperial Ring, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold.

Compared with the residence in Stillwater, the Chancellor's Manor in the capital was far livelier. Aside from the usual maids and attendants, the estate was filled with people dressed in court robes or finely embroidered garments.

Some had come to pay their respects and deliver gifts. Some were here to submit memorials. Others belonged to the vast network of advisers and officials serving under his father.

Xu Yuan had not understood it before, but looking at it now, the Chancellor's Manor was practically a second imperial court within the capital.