Chapter 287 - 115: The Aura is Formed, Am I Being Set Up Too?, The Future Ruler of Great Xia

"Before you were born, Zhou Yun was a palace maid serving your mother, Princess Consort Xuan. She did this to prevent you from being harmed by treacherous officials at court."

"Following your mother’s orders, Zhou Yun married the current Qi Family Patriarch early on. She used a Secret Technique to delay her child’s birth, all to facilitate a swap on the day you were born..."

"You are the current Emperor Xia’s older brother, the rightful Prince of Great Xia."

"What..."

Hearing these words, Qi Qingxuan’s head buzzed. It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck him from a clear sky, leaving him stunned and rooted to the spot in utter disbelief.

’I’m the current Emperor Xia’s older brother?’

’My mother was the former Princess Consort Xuan?’

The news was so shocking and unbelievable that he couldn’t process it all at once.

"Who... Who are you?"

After recovering slightly, Qi Qingxuan looked at Jiang Lan, an uncontrollable tremor of shock rising in his heart.

’Logically, shouldn’t this information be a world-shaking secret? How does he know all this?’

’And why tell me so openly?’

"Who I am is not important. Sixth Prince, you only need to know that you are the rightful emperor of Great Xia."

"Your aura has now taken shape, and you are blessed with Dragon Fortune. It won’t be long before you start attracting attention."

"And there will be no shortage of people with ulterior motives among them. I’ve come to help you," Jiang Lan said with a faint smile.

Hearing this, Qi Qingxuan’s heart eased slightly, and he began to relax.

He thought of Shang Mingyu. She had once said she intended to support him, and at the time, he hadn’t understood why she was so certain he could achieve great things.

Now, after hearing the explanation from this mysterious man in white, he finally understood... He was true royalty, of the direct lineage of the Royal Family—in fact, the rightful first in line to the throne of Great Xia.

’So that’s what she meant... the merit of backing a future emperor.’

"I see. Thank you for the explanation, sir."

Thinking this, Qi Qingxuan cupped his hands slightly.

His temperament was indeed different from that of an ordinary person; he quickly accepted the flood of information and regained his composure.

He also lowered some of the wariness and suspicion he initially felt toward Jiang Lan.

’His power is unfathomable. If he wanted to harm me, he probably wouldn’t have bothered explaining so much.’

"Sir?"

Jiang Lan seemed to chuckle, not particularly minding the title.

"As a member of the Royal Family’s direct lineage, there’s a reason your bloodline hasn’t manifested. You haven’t been able to cultivate all these years, but your diligent study of the Society and Country Scripture has laid a rather solid foundation for your body..."

"The current Emperor Xia cultivates the Royal Family’s Imperial Extreme World-Suppressing Scripture; his achievements are peerless and his power is unfathomable. The Society and Country Scripture you’ve been reciting is actually the preface to the Royal Family’s Imperial Extreme Scripture."

"However, compared to the Imperial Extreme World-Suppressing Scripture, the Imperial Extreme Scripture is much harder to begin. It requires one to nurture Sheji Qi within the body, which is difficult to form without many years of diligent study."

"Though you have studied the Society and Country Scripture for many years, you are still far from producing Sheji Qi. I intend to help you seize the throne of Great Xia."

"This is a strand of Sheji Qi that I happened to condense from a certain kingdom. It can help you start on the path of cultivation ahead of schedule and surpass the one who came before."

With that, Jiang Lan raised his hand. A strand of brilliant, bright yellow energy—pure, dense, and righteous—materialized in his palm, seemingly illuminating his very flesh and bone until they glowed translucently.

"Are you willing to accept it?"

He looked at Qi Qingxuan, asking with great interest.

Qi Qingxuan was still reeling from Jiang Lan’s words. He never imagined this was the reason his mother had wanted him to study the Society and Country Scripture so diligently.

However, this was the first time he and Jiang Lan had met, and he knew nothing of the man’s identity or origins, yet the man was willing to help him to this extent.

A part of him worried that there might be some ulterior motive.

But the strand of bright yellow energy seemed to have completely captivated his mind.

From within it, he could almost hear the faint sound of chanting and prayer, as if an Ancient Celestial Emperor was performing a sacrifice to the heavens, praying for the protection of his land and people.

"I... am willing to accept."

Qi Qingxuan did not hesitate for long before gritting his teeth and speaking directly.

He was not an indecisive person. This mysterious man in white knew so much about his identity and origins, had even specially prepared a strand of Sheji Qi for him, and possessed unfathomable power.

Even if he refused, the man would probably use forceful means to make him accept anyway.

Rather than being suspicious and worrying about everything, it was better to just agree and appear open and decisive.

"As expected of the Sixth Prince. I admire smart people like you."

Jiang Lan nodded slightly, a hint of an appreciative smile on his face.

Then, with a flick of his finger, the strand of bright yellow energy shot like a wisp of smoke into the center of Qi Qingxuan’s brow.

It swiftly pierced his Sea of Consciousness, traveled down his meridians and through his organs, and settled in his Dantian like a seed quickly finding fertile soil to take root and sprout.

At the same time, Qi Qingxuan’s vision blurred, and the grand, magnificent sounds of a sacrificial ritual echoed in his ears.

In a daze, he saw himself dressed in the sacrificial robes of an Ancient Celestial Emperor, wearing a crown, standing on an ancient celestial altar. He was kowtowing and praying before a Large Cauldron with utmost piety.

Countless subjects shouted the Emperor’s name, their voices shaking the heavens.

A warm, dense energy surged from his Dantian. The words of the Society and Country Scripture, which he had recited daily, silently flashed through his mind.

Each character seemed to glow brilliantly, as dazzling as a star, arranged in place and imbued with profound meaning.

When he came to his senses, the shock and joy on Qi Qingxuan’s face were unconcealable. He could finally feel the aura of cultivation.

He no longer doubted Jiang Lan’s words about the strand of Sheji Qi.

"Thank you, sir."

He cupped his hands and bowed seriously to Jiang Lan. He was not yet the Emperor, and while this man before him was mysterious, it seemed he truly intended to support him.

In that case, he naturally wouldn’t fuss over status; proper etiquette could not be neglected.

"There’s no need to be so polite, Sixth Prince. You are the future ruler of Great Xia. If you bow to me like this, I’m afraid I cannot bear it." Jiang Lan just smiled faintly, but a strange glint in his eyes vanished.

’Right now, Qi Qingxuan is polite to me because he lacks power. In the original story, his ambition grew, and he even schemed to take Shang Mingyu as a consort. One can imagine how that ended for him...’

’But I don’t care about any of that.’

’This strand of Sheji Qi originated from that Emperor’s Qi, but it’s just a wisp I peeled off, and I’ve tampered with it quite a bit.’

’Right now, Qi Qingxuan naturally can’t detect anything. If the day truly comes when he inherits the throne, that will be the perfect time for me to reap my harvest.’

"Sir, you appeared today, told me everything, and bestowed upon me the Sheji Qi to help me begin my cultivation."

"Qingxuan will not dare to forget this kindness. When the day comes that I receive the mandate of heaven and ascend to the great throne, I will surely remember the immense favor you have shown me today." Qi Qingxuan’s expression became solemn, and he bowed once more.

Jiang Lan nodded slightly. "With these words from the Sixth Prince, I am relieved."

Qi Qingxuan felt the warm energy inside him. The soreness and fatigue from the bumpy horse ride seemed to have completely vanished.

He marveled silently. ’As expected, having a cultivation base makes you extraordinary.’

At the same time, his ambition began to swell rapidly. He clenched his fists, suddenly filled with soaring aspirations.

Watching the change come over him, Jiang Lan seemed to mention casually, "It would be best for you to keep today’s events deep in your heart, Sixth Prince. That Eunuch Wei may be protecting you for now, but as for the future... things are hard to say..."

Qi Qingxuan was taken aback. In fact, after Jiang Lan’s earlier explanation, he had already begun to suspect Eunuch Wei’s identity.

However, he was no fool. He had never told anyone about Shang Mingyu’s intention to support him in achieving greatness, and that included Eunuch Wei.

For matters like this, the fewer people who knew, the better. After all, it was another trump card he held that others didn’t know about.

"Thank you for the reminder, sir..."

When he came to his senses and cupped his hands to offer thanks, he found that Jiang Lan was already gone.