Chapter 253 - 109: It’s Alright, He Could Tell She Wasn’t Some Frivolous Woman

’To think someone in this tiny Yangchun City possesses Dragon Energy... Could it be that Great Xia’s days are truly numbered? A new dragon will be born to devour the old one. For me, this is an opportunity.’

After Qi Qingxuan left, Shang Mingyu fell into deep thought, her bright eyes flickering with contemplation.

Generally, one who possesses Dragon Energy is either an heir of the Imperial Family—someone of noble imperial blood—with a destiny so grand it cannot be put into words.

But the current Emperor Xia has never married. Utterly devoted to ruling diligently, she has no heirs.

The previous emperor’s children, for various reasons, all met tragic ends, leaving the current Emperor Xia as the sole survivor.

In other words, the Dragon Energy on Qi Qingxuan was not innate but nurtured after birth.

Such an omen is far from ordinary. This is Heaven-ordained Dragon Fortune. Heaven itself intends for him to vie for the world; he has the makings of an emperor of the Human Race.

’If I didn’t have the Ball of Grand Aspiration, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have been able to see the Dragon Energy he possesses. It’s so well-concealed... He’s a true hidden dragon,’ Shang Mingyu mused.

When two dragons fight, one is bound to be wounded. Great Xia’s Dragon Fortune is currently dim, a clear sign of its decline.

Although Qi Qingxuan, this hidden dragon, has the aptitude, his power and resources are far too weak. If he reveals himself prematurely, he’ll just be devoured by the old dragon for nothing.

Therefore, until Qi Qingxuan grows strong enough to contend with the old dragon, she plans to secretly aid and support him, helping him mature.

When the two dragons are locked in a life-or-death struggle, that will be the perfect moment for her to restore her own nation.

...

「Meanwhile, in Jingyang City, inside the Prime Minister’s Mansion.」

Jiang Lan stood before a bronze mirror, stroking a Bronze Mask in his hand.

As the fluctuations of several Restrictions flashed across it, the once plain and simple Bronze Mask instantly took on a hazy, indistinct, and ancient quality.

’This should be enough to fool people...’

He put on the Bronze Mask. With his hair tied back casually and a hazy mist spreading around him, he didn’t even need to alter his expression or bearing; if Emperor Xia herself were standing before him now, she would be stunned speechless.

After confirming that there were no flaws to expose him, Jiang Lan nodded in satisfaction and put the Bronze Mask away.

He planned to take care of another matter before heading to Yangchun City.

Otherwise, by the time the situation there was resolved, he would likely miss his window of opportunity here.

Ye Shiyin had been with Song Youwei this whole time. Previously, Jiang Lan hadn’t acted because he didn’t know Emperor Xia’s whereabouts and was worried that impersonating the Naxian Alliance’s Alliance Leader would lead to a direct confrontation, so he had left her alone.

Now, just before the Southern Hunting practice, was the perfect time to have Ye Shiyin make contact with the Naxian Alliance. This would also make it easier for Jiang Lan to get Xiao Teng to do certain things for him.

Before leaving the Prime Minister’s Mansion, Jiang Lan followed his usual routine and headed to the Desire Immortal Pavilion, ensuring his movements were tracked by anyone watching.

Only after 7:00 PM had passed did his figure silently vanish from the Desire Immortal Pavilion.

As the Imperial Capital, Jingyang City covered a vast area and was divided into an inner and an outer city. After leaving the Desire Immortal Pavilion, Jiang Lan headed straight for the Outer City.

Emperor Xia had secretly established the Naxian Alliance. To ensure that her network of informants could relay information to her in a timely fashion, she had set up multiple strongholds in every prefecture.

In the Outer City of Jingyang City, she also maintained a very important stronghold, whose overseer was someone she deeply valued and who had been serving her for many years.

The Outer City was vast, filled with clusters of pavilions and halls. In the area near the western mountains, large manors and villas were especially common.

Following his memories of the original story, Jiang Lan appeared before a mountain villa called Bihu Manor.

The villa’s grounds stretched for dozens of li—not an exceptionally large area, all things considered—but it was filled with ancient, lush trees and beautiful scenery.

The master of the villa was named Hu Sanniang, a Sixth Realm expert from the Fox Race.

Just then, seeming to sense a presence within the villa, a beautiful woman cultivating on a soft couch inside one of the pavilions opened her eyes. She was dressed in sheer gauze.

She displayed no discernible characteristics of the Fox Race, save for the faint purple hue of her eyes.

’Who would appear in the manor this late at night? If they’re here for me, why haven’t they announced themselves?’

A flicker of doubt crossed Hu Sanniang’s face. The visitor hadn’t concealed their arrival, which meant they intended for her to notice them.

Due to the special nature of Bihu Manor, members of the alliance often came to visit her, but regardless of who it was, they always announced their arrival in advance.

"Hm?"

’This aura?’

Suddenly, Hu Sanniang sensed something, and a look of shock and disbelief washed over her charming face.

She hastily threw on an outer robe, rose to her feet, and hurried from the pavilion toward the manor’s main hall.

The main hall was brightly lit.

When Hu Sanniang arrived, she saw a tall, slender figure dressed in cyan silk and wearing a Bronze Mask. He stood with his hands clasped behind him, his back turned to her, seemingly awaiting her arrival.

A hazy mist swirled around the tall figure, making him seem as if he didn’t belong to this world, exuding a transcendent and ethereal aura.

"Alliance Leader..."

Hu Sanniang looked at the figure and spoke with hurried reverence, her eyes filled with respect and excitement, not daring to show the slightest neglect.

Although she didn’t know why the Alliance Leader had suddenly arrived so late at night, as someone who had followed him for many years, she naturally recognized him at a glance.

Because she had been entrusted with a great responsibility, she was required to remain and guard Bihu Manor all these years.

Even regarding the recent matter of the Half-Immortal Zhenren, she had been unable, for various reasons, to personally go to the Inner City and make a report.

Come to think of it, she hadn’t seen the Alliance Leader in a very long time.

"When I arrived just now, I saw that your daughter has already broken through to the Third Realm, the Spirit Sea Realm. She is quite diligent and hardworking, just like you."

"I remember when I first met her, she was just a sickly little fox. All these years have passed, and now she has blossomed so beautifully..."