Chapter 259 - 110: Your Twisted Tastes Are Detestable, The Barbarian Race’s Plot, The Exotic Stone from Overseas

In addition, there were the Medicine King Valley, the Thousand Mechanism Sect, the War Hall, the Celestial Talisman Hall, and the Ronghua Palace.

For instance, the Imperial Medical Bureau was backed by the Medicine King Valley, and the Celestial Craftsmanship Creation Institute was secretly supported by the Thousand Mechanism Sect...

These Sects and Dao Lineages had existed since the founding of Great Xia, their fates inextricably linked with the empire’s.

Behind the Royal Family, there was also Hidden Dragon Mountain.

Emperor Xia appeared weak, but it wouldn’t be so simple for his father to destabilize the Great Xia dynasty and usurp the throne.

The true beginning of chaos and turmoil for Great Xia would only come when all these factions and forces finally emerged from the shadows.

Right now, Jiang Lan had neither the mind nor the energy to dwell on these matters. His personal strength might seem considerable, but in the grand scheme of things, it was virtually impossible for him to control everything from behind the scenes. At least, not yet.

’I need to increase my strength, harvest fortune, and secretly build up my own power...’

’Only then will I have the ability to maneuver freely in the grand game to come.’

Therefore, before heading to Yangchun City to meet the Sixth Prince from the original plot, Qi Qingxuan, Jiang Lan planned to first intercept a trusted subordinate who could work for him.

At this point in time, he searched his memories and indeed found that only one person was suitable.

If Lin Fan hadn’t died, he would have become his most loyal follower.

Besides, if he calculated the time correctly, the Imperial Capital’s semi-annual auction was about to begin in the next couple of days.

In Yangchun City, the Sixth Prince, Qi Qingxuan, had likely already been noticed by a remnant of the Hong Kingdom—Princess Shang Mingyu.

Shang Mingyu, a remnant of the Hong Kingdom in the original plot.

The Hong Kingdom was one of the Hundred Kingdoms surrounding Great Xia, located near the nations of the Outer Sea. It was annihilated by Great Xia many years ago for making sacrifices to and worshiping an Evil God.

’Come to think of it, Shang Mingyu’s true identity should be that of a descendant of the Shang Kingdom’s Royal Family. The Hong Kingdom was founded by remnants of the Shang Kingdom.’

’She holds a Supreme Treasure called the Ball of Grand Aspiration. It was an artifact forged by the Hong Kingdom before its destruction through sacrifices to the Evil God they worshipped. It can absorb grand aspirations and faith to condense incredible power...’

’Beyond that, it can also deduce destiny and fortune, possessing numerous mystical abilities.’

Jiang Lan was intimately familiar with this part of the plot. He knew that Shang Mingyu’s Ball of Grand Aspiration actually contained the Great Aspiration Skill left behind by the Ancient Emperor of the Shang Kingdom.

In the original plot, Shang Mingyu would assist Qi Qingxuan in opposing Emperor Xia, intending to foster a new dragon to devour the old one. This would plunge Great Xia into chaos and turmoil, giving her a chance to restore the Shang Kingdom.

...

「Meanwhile, in the Jingyang City East District.」

Within a sprawling complex of pavilions and palaces.

In a dark and gloomy Earth Palace, one Jue Oil Copper Lamp after another flickered, their light wavering between bright and dim.

The passageway was silent, save for the footsteps of figures clad in black robes and hoods, their bodies completely concealed as they walked slowly by.

In the depths of the Earth Palace stood a high platform engraved with intricate, blood-red patterns.

Surrounding it were numerous altars—ancient and mysterious, they had a rust-like sheen, as if covered in long-dried blood, and were accompanied by a faint, metallic scent.

"Is everyone here?"

Atop the high platform stood an aged figure, withered like a dry branch.

His hands were clasped behind his back, and he too wore a Black Robe. His eyes were deeply sunken, glowing with a strange and terrifying light.

A single glance from him was enough to make one’s scalp tingle and skin crawl, as if being stared down by a terrifying Demon Beast.

Song Youwei was also dressed in a loose black robe. Her fair, pretty face was hidden behind a Human Skin Mask that made her look sallow and ordinary. She stood below the platform, but very close to the front.

Like everyone else, she kept her head bowed, her hands crossed over her chest in a prayer-like gesture, seemingly muttering some kind of ritual incantation.

"Elder, most of the members have arrived. A few are still on their way to Jingyang City and, for various reasons, couldn’t make it in time for the minor rite."

A black-robed person beside the withered figure said respectfully.

Hearing this, the withered figure nodded. His terrifying gaze slowly swept over the congregation before him, and then he spoke in a hoarse voice, "The holy flame never dies; the Holy Sect never perishes. The Blood Immortal pities the world, delivering all living beings..."

As he chanted, several people behind him worked together to present one prepared Treasure Bottle after another, pouring the blood from within into the surrounding altars.

Faintly, the altars began to tremble softly. One after another, blood-colored patterns lit up, and ancient, profound, blood-red Runes flashed within them—dazzlingly brilliant, yet exuding a heart-pounding crimson glow.

And those blood-red Runes continuously shot into and illuminated all the sect members present.

Everyone’s forehead and cheekbones became crystalline and translucent, allowing one to see a corresponding crimson light flashing within, which served to verify their identities.

Song Youwei’s expression was calm. She knew the Blood Immortal Sect had mobilized many of its members for this plot.

Besides the Elder at the Seventh Realm before her, other Guardians were still on their way.

Everyone who could participate in this minor rite was an important figure within the Blood Immortal Sect.

If any error had occurred during the illumination, it would have meant instant death.

Even she hadn’t dared to be the slightest bit careless. The Blood Immortal Sect’s methods were bizarre; they could judge the piety of a member’s faith by the intensity of the blood light projected during the ritual.

If any outsiders had infiltrated, or if anyone’s faith was not pure enough, they would be obliterated on the spot. This was to ensure the secrecy of this council’s plot.