Chapter 463 - 157: Trampling Her Pride, Rushing to Immortal Ascension Island, What Is She?

Jiang Lan found it odd when he learned of this matter. After all, this was something that had never happened in the original plotline—or to be more precise, it was never mentioned.

The character of Huangfu Hao had never appeared in the original plotline either.

However, the Demon Abyss plotline did feature a formidable character he couldn’t afford to ignore... Tantai Qing, and her fiancé, a Child of Fortune.

That night, Jiang Lan spoke with his father, Jiang Lintian, for a long time. Jiang Lintian told his son everything he knew about Huangfu Hao and gave him three Talismans shrouded in a hazy mist—one black, one white, and one gray.

Jiang Lan could distinctly feel the vast power contained within them, a power that felt capable of slaying gods and devils, of burning mountains and boiling seas.

The next day, he took the personnel his father, Jiang Lintian, had arranged and had You’Er summon Ao Yin, Kong Xuan, and the others. They then proceeded to the rendezvous point to await Xia Jin’s arrival.

Emperor Xia had already instructed Xia Jin that Jiang Lan would have full authority over the investigation of the Demon Calamity in the Demon Abyss. Xia Jin was only to manage the matter of the Barbarian Race’s incursions in Southern Wilderness Province.

Nanmo Province and Southern Wilderness Province were adjacent, and Xia Jin’s fief was also in that region.

Getting to Immortal Ascension Island from there wouldn’t take long to set out to sea, so it was conveniently on his way.

Soon, a War Flying Ship marked with the scars of corrosion and rust lifted off from a palace complex deep within the Imperial Capital. With a tremendous RUMBLE, it vanished from sight in the blink of an eye.

Outside the Imperial Palace, Emperor Xia leaned on a balustrade, gazing into the distance. She only retracted her gaze after a long moment.

Not far behind her, a woman in white stood silently, apparently also pulling her gaze back from the sky.

"This is my Imperial Presence Token. Within the borders of Great Xia, holding this is as if I myself were present. You may wield it to supervise and handle the matter of the Demon Calamity."

"The few Great Dukes outside the Demon Abyss were all personally invested by the late Emperor. Their sole duty is to guard the Demon Abyss; they will not meddle in other affairs."

"However, with this Token, they will be at your disposal."

Emperor Xia looked at the woman in white and, with some reluctance, passed the Token from her waist to her.

Immortal Ascension Island was, after all, a special case. In addition to the three great Guardian Families, four Great Dukes had been invested when Great Xia was founded. They were to guard the island for generations, assisting the Guardian Families.

Those Four Great Dukes held a unique status and position; they might not even obey a direct imperial edict.

"So this is the opportunity to work with him you mentioned? You wait until he’s already left the Imperial Capital to tell me?" Jiang Ruxian looked at Emperor Xia with a faint, knowing smile as she accepted the Token.

Emperor Xia’s expression didn’t change. "Jiang Lan’s mind is preternaturally sharp. If I had informed you beforehand, he would have likely sensed something was amiss. In that case, he would have refused."

Jiang Ruxian chuckled. "Are you afraid he’ll find out that you sold him out?"

Emperor Xia remained expressionless, neither confirming nor denying it.

Jiang Ruxian didn’t seem to mind. With a wave of her fair hand, a fissure split the Void before her. She took a single graceful step and, trailing a fragrant scent, transformed into a streak of light that swiftly vanished into the rift.

’Traversing the Void as if it were nothing... At Jiang Ruxian’s speed, she’ll probably reach Immortal Ascension Island even before Jiang Lan does.’

’Still, this is for the best. It solves my most pressing problem, allowing me to focus my full attention on the Barbarian Race.’

Only after watching Jiang Ruxian vanish did Emperor Xia let out a soft sigh. Even so, a lingering sense of unease and irritation settled in her heart.

She and Jiang Lan were, after all, a legitimate, married couple.

And now, she had gone behind his back, revealed his movements and destination to another woman, and even given that woman an Imperial Token to create an official opportunity for them to work together.

’What does that make me?’

"Spring Orchid, if Jiang Lan finds out about this... do you think he’ll blame me?"

After a moment of thought, Emperor Xia suddenly turned to her handmaiden, Spring Orchid, who stood quietly at her side with hands clasped, and posed the question.

Spring Orchid started, then instinctively replied, "Feng Jun treats Your Majesty exceptionally well. I am sure that even if he finds out, he will not blame Your Majesty. He will surely understand."

Emperor Xia was taken aback by this answer.

"He treats me well?" she asked.

The question left Spring Orchid at a loss for words.

In her eyes, at least, Jiang Lan’s treatment of Emperor Xia was nothing short of excellent. He had helped her on numerous occasions. He was personally heading to Immortal Ascension Island precisely because Emperor Xia couldn’t spare the energy to deal with the latent threat of a Demon Calamity erupting from the Demon Abyss.

If the Demon Calamity were to truly erupt, that place would become terrifying beyond imagination. It was a place fraught with mortal danger, where one could perish at any moment.

Given Jiang Lan’s status, he could have easily continued to live a life of leisure in the Imperial Capital, just as he had before.

Why would he need to take such a risk?

And who was he doing it all for?