Chapter 456 155: Ancient Three Saints, Guardian Families of the Demon Abyss, Jealous?

'If I recall correctly, this Xia Jin has some deep connections to the Dust Sect, which is where Ye Ming is headed right now.'

'However, this matter isn't urgent. I'll be in contact with her again, and I can use the Demon Calamity as a chance to slowly dismantle the Dust Sect.'

"What do you think of Xia Jin?"

Just then, Emperor Xia's voice, devoid of any discernible emotion, suddenly came from the side.

Jiang Lan gathered his thoughts, turned to her, and appraised, "Composed and strategic, with a valiant and heroic bearing. She is highly capable."

Emperor Xia crossed her arms and let out a cold chuckle. "I saw you staring at her. I doubt that's what you're really thinking."

"Then what does Your Majesty think I'm thinking?" Jiang Lan asked, seemingly intrigued.

"Xia Jin has sharp, heroic features and exceptional beauty. She has spent years fighting and killing on the borders with the army. Compared to an ordinary woman, she carries an aura of blood and iron. That kind of temperament is rare in the Imperial Capital—in fact, it's rare in all of Great Xia."

"So tell me what you're really thinking," Emperor Xia said with another cold chuckle, clearly displeased that he had been staring as Xia Jin left.

Jiang Lan didn't try to argue. He said seriously, "It's true. A woman like General Xia Jin, who is in no way inferior to a man, is indeed rare. Her temperament is completely different from that of an ordinary woman..."

"And?"

Emperor Xia's eyes were fixed on him, chillingly cold. It was as if she would draw the Xia Yu Sword and stab several large holes in him if he said one more word.

"But compared to Your Majesty, she is still lacking a great deal. Your Majesty is a peerless empress for the ages, the only female emperor to appear in thousands, or even tens of thousands, of years. General Xia Jin is merely a general. Before Your Majesty, she is like a firefly next to the bright moon, utterly eclipsed," Jiang Lan said after a moment of seemingly serious consideration.

Hearing this, the corners of Emperor Xia's mouth lifted slightly. Only then did she give a cold snort, turn around, and return to her throne.

"I almost forgot. Is there something you haven't told me?"

"Do you think I haven't heard the rumors spreading through the Imperial Capital these past few days?"

However, as soon as she sat back down on her throne, Emperor Xia seemed to remember something and shot Jiang Lan another cold glance.

"It seems Your Majesty is paying more and more attention to me lately. Shouldn't you rein in that jealousy a little?" Jiang Lan asked with a smile, turning the question back on her instead of answering.

"Me, jealous of you? What a joke."

Emperor Xia kept her arms crossed, lifting her pale chin slightly in a disdainful manner. "Don't forget the three rules we agreed upon. You'd better remember what they were."

She also understood the implication behind Jiang Lan's words: that she was asking too many questions and trying to control everything.

"Your Majesty can rest assured. I know what I'm doing."

"If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."

Jiang Lan had no intention of explaining his relationship with Fa Miaoyin.

Seeing Jiang Lan's perfunctory attitude, Emperor Xia raised an eyebrow.

However, she recalled what he had said about the Barbarian Race and guessed he probably had a legitimate reason for seeking out Fairy Miaoyin, and it wasn't for the sordid reasons claimed by the rumors in the Imperial Capital.

"Fine, don't tell me. I'm not interested anyway," she said, waving a hand dismissively.

Jiang Lan did as she said and left. He then returned to the side hall, collected You'Er, and headed for his own palace within the Imperial Palace grounds.

As the Feng Jun, he naturally had his own palace. It was just that after the grand ceremony, he had always gone straight back to the Prime Minister's Mansion and had yet to visit this place.

"Fengcheng Hall? What an ugly name."

Jiang Lan glanced at the plaque but couldn't be bothered to order the palace maids to change it.

The hall was magnificent and spacious. Numerous palace maids waited outside. The interior was swept spotless, utterly immaculate, with an Incense Burner giving off a calming and focus-enhancing aroma.

Besides the main hall, there were several side halls and a courtyard in the back. It was more than adequate for daily cultivation and rest.

'I should also check on Qi Qingxuan's recent activities...'

After dismissing the numerous palace maids, Jiang Lan had You'Er cultivate in a side hall while he began to focus on his other plans.

Once the few followers he was waiting for arrived in the Imperial Capital, he would have to set out as well.

He had left numerous contingencies in place regarding Qi Qingxuan, so he could closely monitor his movements for now.

...

「Meanwhile, in a place extremely far from the Celestial Central Province.」

Rolling waves crashed against the dense cluster of reefs, creating a fine mist of sea spray. At a nearby dock, numerous cargo ships, giant vessels, and great warships were moored.

Among them were Black Armored Battleships from Great Xia. They were pitch-black and imposing, forged from some unknown material, yet capable of withstanding the many ferocious Demon Beasts of the Endless Sea. In the daylight, faint strands of runic light could be seen flickering across their hulls, radiating a heart-stopping divine might.

Merchant caravans and cargo ships, escorted by these Black Armored Battleships, traveled between the various islands, the Overseas Kingdoms, and the mainland to conduct trade.

At this moment, many powerful experts were transporting batches of goods onto the island. Several young men and women clad in Black Armor stood on the docks, gazing out at the boundless, stormy waves in the distance.

"Looking at the celestial phenomena recently, the winds and waves are getting stronger. The Elder Pavilion is saying it's a bad omen. The world is in upheaval; storms and earthquakes are happening more and more frequently..."

"Many of the merchant ships heading to Immortal Ascension Island this time were swallowed by the stormy seas along the way, suffering heavy losses. This kind of thing was rare before."

"I heard there's also been a lot of activity over at the Demon Abyss. Some of our clansmen on patrol detected Demonic Qi in the air."

"What? Could the Demonic Qi be leaking?"

"Keep your voice down! Keep it down! You can't just say things like that! If something happens to the Demon Abyss, everyone on Immortal Ascension Island is done for."

Just as these young men and women were talking, a violent disturbance suddenly erupted from the distant waves.

The sea abruptly began to boil as a monstrous wave surged toward the heavens. Within it, several enormous Sea Beasts could be seen swimming rapidly closer, exuding a heart-pounding pressure.

But in the next moment, a blinding flash of light streaked across the sky, like a cascade of moonlight.

The massive wave instantly subsided, and then several patches of crimson blood began to spread across the surface of the sea.

A peerless figure, like that of a Goddess, with her face veiled by light gauze and her black hair dancing in the wind, walked slowly out from between the waves. Her bare feet were like snow, her form like jade. Wherever she passed, the sea grew calm, becoming utterly still, as if even the Power of Heaven and Earth itself could be suppressed.

"It's the Goddess Tantai Qing..."

"They say she went into the Endless Sea three days ago to investigate the source of the strange phenomena. I wonder what she found. Her cultivation seems to have grown even more unfathomable."

"As expected of the undisputed number one of Immortal Ascension Island's younger generation."

"It's just a pity about that person from the Helian Clan..."

"Don't talk about it. We can't speak of that person now."

These young men and women in Black Armor watched from afar as the woman transformed into a streak of divine light and vanished, their eyes filled with nothing but admiration.