The stolen magic is a bit magical

"Huh?" The maid's expression changed drastically: "A three-thousand-year-old senior? You're really going for it? Do you have such heavy tastes?"

"Fortunately, it didn't go that far, it was just... touching!" Princess Flash blinked gently, and the veil in her eyes slowly disappeared.

Fortunately, she didn't see such a shocking scene this time, so she wasn't seriously tainted and didn't need to go back to the Worry-Free Spring to wash her eyes. However, she dared not look at what happened next.

Because that scene was entirely predictable.

Having already touched her, Princess Shining knew exactly what to do next.

Luckily, I caught a glimpse of it early enough. If I had been a quarter of an hour later, at the exact moment he was urging his horse on, and then witnessed that most exciting scene, I would probably have had to go back to Wuyou Spring to cleanse my eyes for the next two weeks.

What she didn't realize was that what the eyes see isn't necessarily the truth.

It's impossible for Lin Xiaosu and Hu Ji to get to that point tonight.

What she could never have imagined was that her careful and exquisite use of the Mirror of Immortality to spy on the room ultimately failed to escape Lin Xiaosu's counter-surveillance.

The fact that Princess Shining is in the Worry-Free Spring of the Lanning Prince's Mansion is known to Qingying through her intelligence system.

But so much time has passed, and he doesn't know if Princess Shining is still in the palace.

But it doesn't matter. As long as he goes into the palace, he will know whether the princess is still there or not.

As he sat down in Jingxian Pavilion and picked up his teacup, his primordial spirit left his body and precisely locked onto the Worry-Free Spring, sensing its energy and "personally" seeing the Flash Spirit Princess he was looking for.

Knowing that she was there, his grand plan three days later became logically complete.

But he didn't expect that this girl was incorrigible and dared to use the Mirror of Immortality in front of him.

Moreover, he used the Immortal Mirror Technique when his spatial laws were sealed.

The spatial law is different from the yin-yang law. The spatial law itself divides space, and its sealing power is much stronger than that of the yin-yang law. Princess Shining can detect the yin-yang law, but she cannot detect the spatial law at all.

Therefore, the moment she cast her Mirror of Immortality spell, she was "running away" in Lin Xiaosu's perception.

Based on the fundamental principle of "If you dare to target me, I'll teach you a lesson," Lin Xiaosu planned to make her fall into a familiar trap again, so she increased the stimulation from her hands.

This shock threw Hu Ji's Dao Realm into chaos, causing the Yin and Yang to split apart, and also dealt another heavy blow to Princess Shanling's Immortal Mirror Technique.

Princess Shining has left.

He can now continue with peace of mind.

The orchid is no longer alive.

A decent woman who hasn't experienced that kind of thing in three thousand years is like dry tinder—dry to an excessive degree. If she were to ignite a raging fire, it would be very difficult to extinguish.

Hu Ji felt like she was going crazy.

Finally, Lin pointed out...

"The Gate of Creation has been opened," Lin Xiaosu said. "Can you feel the scenery inside?"

Hu Ji slowly opened her eyes and looked at him quietly. She didn't answer for a long time, as if she hadn't come to her senses yet.

Lin Xiaosu gently lifted her hand, and a thin blanket covered her body.

Hu Ji gently closed her eyes: "I sensed it, I sensed the change in my bloodline, perhaps... perhaps it really has created a miracle."

"That's good. You can rest for a bit, I'll go next door."

"Stay!" Hu Ji's voice was very soft: "Don't forget, these next few days are a dangerous period, you can't be separated from me."

Lin Xiaosu sat on the edge of the bed: "Fairy, just now..."

“I know, that was just cultivation…it has nothing to do with romance,” Hu Ji gently interrupted.

The two fell silent in the darkness.

Hu Ji lay quietly on the bed.

Lin Xiaosu sat quietly on the edge of the bed.

The night seemed very long, as the Hu Ji wandered and struggled endlessly throughout her three thousand years of cultivation.

The night seemed very short, lasting only a short time between the rising and setting of the sun in Lanning City.

As dawn broke, Lin Xiaosu stood on the rooftop, squinting as she gazed at the beautiful sunrise.

A gentle breeze carrying fragrance wafted from behind him, reaching his nose.

He slowly turned around and saw Hu Ji.

Today's Hu women seem to fit a certain description: newly nourished by rain and dew.

At least in Qingying's eyes, this cousin seemed to have received the favor of the emperor.

Otherwise, why would there be such a big change compared to yesterday?

Yesterday she seemed like a celestial being from the heavens; today she seems to have fallen to the mortal realm.

The woman felt confused under his gaze.

Not only was her mind in turmoil, but her bloodline was also in disarray. It seemed that a hidden bloodline had been injected into her bloodline system, causing mysterious changes every moment.

With these mixed feelings, she spent two days and two nights with Lin Xiaosu.

These past two days, they've been going out for a spring outing and enjoying tea on the rooftop, seemingly doing nothing.

Finally, the day before the agreed date, they embarked on their journey to the Thousand Poisons Sect's banquet.

Heading west from the bustling city of Lanning.

Every step felt like a descent from heaven to hell.

The population is decreasing rapidly.

Poison gas, rapidly increasing.

Upon reaching the lakeside, it was already deserted for miles around, with skeletons exposed in the wilderness. No, the skeletons weren't even standard skeletons; they had an eerie, deathly pallor. If you touched them lightly, the skeletons would turn to ash, which would be swept away by the strong winds of the lakeside and vanish without a trace.

All around, the water was green.

The mountains are green.

Red flowers are everywhere.

It’s like a paradise on earth.

However, all of this is an illusion; this is not paradise, but hell.

"Let's go!" Lin Xiaosu took a step forward and headed towards Tianji Lake.

Fish swam in the lake, and the surface shimmered. The three of them, like immortals on water, headed towards the sacred celestial land in the center of the lake, a place filled with pavilions and towers: the Thousand Poisons Sect.

As they approached the sect, the lake water in front of them suddenly rose out of nowhere.

Lin Xiaosu's gaze shot to the bottom of the lake. His Heavenly Eyes of Wisdom pierced through the thousand-meter-deep water, and he saw a gigantic shadow...

"A poisonous dragon guarding the island!" Hu Ji's gaze darkened. "It should be a seventh-realm demon beast!"

Seventh-realm demonic beasts are equivalent to Dao Masters in the human race.

Qingying's heart skipped a beat.

Should we attack the island?
Fighting against seventh-realm monsters right from the start?

Even the guardian beasts of a branch can rival those of the Realm of Execution. This is the foundation of a top-tier sect like the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect.

Lin Xiaosu raised her hand, and a sword-shaped official seal appeared in her palm.

An official seal appeared in the sky, and above the long lake, a golden light appeared, within which a large character swept across the sky.

"Observe!"
Only one word!

Yet it carried with it boundless imperial majesty.

Because this is the seal of a third-rank official.

The third-rank official seal was the highest official rank of the Great Wilderness Dynasty when it went out to inspect, and it naturally had its own majestic imperial power.

The official seal shone with golden light across the entire island, and the huge character "察" (cha) resembled a pair of giant eyes opening in the sky.

Three figures soared into the air and landed on the crest of a giant wave hundreds of feet high in front of them.

As soon as their feet touched the ground, the giant wave quickly subsided, and the poisonous dragon in the lake slowly calmed down.

All three were dressed in purple.

Purple robes are the symbol of a sect's top elders.

The man in the middle has white hair and a white beard, and has an air of otherworldly elegance, but his face is as youthful as a young man's, without a single wrinkle, truly embodying the meaning of "white hair and youthful face".

A voice drifted into Lin Xiaosu's ears: "Elder Chen Yunsheng."

The Grand Elder bowed slightly: "The word 'Observe the Sky' signifies the authority of a third-rank official. Could it be that Lord Su, the Snow-Clad Marquis, has personally come?"

This is the benefit of displaying one's official seal.

The official seal being displayed signifies a legitimate visit.

Within the Great Wilderness Dynasty, all sects are treated with respect.

"It is indeed I, the Marquis!" Lin Xiaosu said. "And who are the three of you?"

"I am the First Elder, Chen Yunsheng, and these two are the Third Elder and the Seventh Elder," the First Elder said. "My Lord, please enter the island!"

"Please, Elder!"

Stepping into the Thousand Poisons Sect's mountain gate, one goes straight to the sect's main peak.

Since the sect leader was in seclusion and could not leave, the sect's holy son greeted the guests on his father's behalf.

This holy son, named Li Xu, was young and handsome, judging from his appearance alone. His cultivation was also extraordinary, reaching the peak of enlightenment and halfway to mastery.

Guests and hosts were seated according to their assigned roles.

Serve tea.

Qingying looked at the emerald green tea in front of her, her heart pounding.

Is the tea from the Thousand Poisons Sect safe to drink?
Even a child could not have imagined it.

Lin Xiaosu completely ignored the teacup placed beside her and slowly raised her gaze: "The reason I came to the island this time is actually to treat you to a meal."

"The Marquis is personally hosting this banquet? This is a great honor for our sect!" The First Elder laughed. "May I ask what brings the Marquis to this banquet?"

"For the sake of the 70 million people of Lanzhou."

The smiles on the faces of the elders froze instantly. The First Elder said, "My Lordship, please speak plainly!"

Lin Xiaosu said, “In Lanzhou, the Nightmare Grass is rampant, half of the people in the prefecture have been displaced, tens of millions of people have died and their souls have vanished, and the remaining seventy million people are still struggling to survive under the corrosive influence of the poisonous grass. I have been traveling around the world and have always been unable to bear seeing the people in such a state of suffering. Therefore, I would like to discuss with your clan and the Prince of Lanning a strategy to stop the spread of this poisonous grass.”

The Grand Elder said, "When the Marquis traveled south, his compassion for the world was already known to all. Although our sect is far in the north, we have long been aware of it. However, this herb..."

He hesitated slightly.

Lin Xiaosu said, "This herb is just a poisonous herb. Your sect cultivates its Dao through poison. Surely you can't deal with a mere poisonous herb?"

The Grand Elder said, "My Lord, you must not underestimate this herb. The Nightmare Herb is no ordinary herb. It is a remnant of the Heavenly Dao and is not to be underestimated."

"A remnant of the Heavenly Dao?" Lin Xiaosu frowned.

“That’s right!” The Holy Son Li Xu spoke up: “Ancient texts record that the spread of this grass is the will of Heaven. It is generally used in countries where the Holy Way is difficult to manifest. Ancient texts record it as: “When imperial power is a problem, the Holy Way is difficult to manifest, and this is the punishment of Heaven.”

Lin Xiaosu turned her gaze to the Holy Son: "Does the Holy Son mean that your sect is not incapable of taking action, but rather that it dares not to?"

The Holy Son nodded slowly: "Our sect has entered the Dao through poison. What poison in the world cannot be cured? Of course, it is not that it is impossible, but... this action is the will of Heaven, and our sect dares not act against Heaven. However, since you, Lord Marquis, have the world in your heart, our sect also respects you greatly, and there is a way to do it."

"May I ask what method you use?" Lin Xiaosu's eyes lit up, showing great interest.

The Holy Son said, “Ancient books record a historical event, also about Nightmare Grass. It happened in the ancient Lu Kingdom. Nightmare Grass ravaged the entire country, all because of the king’s tyranny. Afterwards, the king issued an edict of self-reproach and abdicated in favor of a more virtuous ruler. The Nightmare Grass then came to an end… As the saying goes, ‘The mistakes of the past are lessons for the future.’ Why doesn’t Your Excellency seek the answer from historical records?”

Qingying's heart pounded wildly.

She finally understood the message of the meeting.

According to the Thousand Poisons Sect, the culprit behind the Nightmare Grass is not them, but His Majesty.

Your Majesty is immoral, and Heaven will punish you accordingly.

The nightmare grass descended, bringing calamity to Lanzhou.

And this disaster probably won't only affect Lanzhou.

As a cultivation sect, they dare not defy the will of Heaven, therefore, it is inconvenient for them to take action.

However, there are ways to solve this problem.

As long as His Majesty issues an edict of self-reproach and abdicates in favor of a worthy successor, the Nightmare Grass will naturally disappear.

This……

This has actually turned into a power struggle for the throne?
Is this the meeting that the Marquis personally arranged?

Is the outcome of the talks to force the Marquis to oppose His Majesty?

Was it to serve as their ultimate grand scheme to change emperors?

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiaosu slowly raised her gaze and looked up at the distant sky...

The Grand Elder let out a soft sigh: "The words of the Holy Son are taboo. However, our sect truly respects the Marquis's ambition to serve the world and dares not conceal anything from him."

"Thank you for your sincerity!" Lin Xiaosu gently clasped her hands together and bowed.

"Now it depends on whether Your Excellency has the determination to plead for the seventy million people of Lanzhou." The Holy Son also bowed.

Lin Xiaosu let out a long sigh: "To speak out for the common people and represent the people, how can I back down? Tomorrow, let the three of us have a talk."

"Very well!" said Holy Son Li Xu. "Tomorrow, the Grand Elder and I will definitely arrive on time!"

"Alright, I'll take my leave today." Lin Xiaosu stood up, and the two women behind him also stood up.

"Respectfully seeing off the Marquis!"

"I'm leaving now, everyone please wait!" Lin Xiaosu left the reception room and took off into the air.

They drove across the entire island and landed from the west.

At noon, they returned to the inn they had stayed at in Lanning City.

Upon entering the inn room, Qingying brought out a teapot, and Lin Xiaosu pointed a finger, causing a drop of tea to transform into a soundproof curtain.

"Cousin, what did you gain?" Lin Xiaosu asked directly.

Hu Ji said, "There are three places in the Thousand Poisons Sect with exceptionally strong energy, which are obviously the two standard locations. One is the Sect Master Peak, which should belong to the Sect Master Li Tianyi; another is the abyss below the Sect Master Peak; and the third is the thatched hut halfway up the mountain."

"Hmm, not bad, three at the second level of the Dao Enforcement Realm, just like my detection." Lin Xiaosu nodded: "I've also been paying attention to those at the Dao Enforcement Realm, a total of seventy-three!"

Qingying was incredibly impressed: "My lord, you just sat in the hall and all the top experts in the other sect were under your surveillance. Your sensing ability is truly amazing."

Hu Ji smiled gently: "When your cultivation reaches a certain level, you can do it too. What surprises me is how credible their arguments are?"

Which assertion?

The assertion that Nightmare Grass is related to the moral failings of a monarch.

"What credibility is there to speak of?" Lin Xiaosu said, "This is merely the result of discussions between Prince Lanning and them."

The two women were shocked at the same time.

Hu Ji said, "King Lanning... he... he actually wants to use you to fulfill his dream of becoming emperor?"

This question needs no answer.

Because everyone knows that every prince dreams of becoming emperor; the only difference lies in how they intend to realize that dream.

Qingying took a deep breath: "My lord, there really is a country in the Central Region called the Ancient Continent. Aren't they worried that we will go to the Ancient Continent to conduct an investigation and expose their lies?"

Lin Xiaosu laughed: "If you investigate, you will only come to the same conclusion as them! Because not only does this ancient continent exist, but there are also historical records of a monarch issuing an edict of self-reproach and then abdicating to a more worthy successor."

"Ah?" Qingying exclaimed in surprise.

Lin Xiaosu said, "Now you know, right? There's nothing new under the sun! They didn't just plant Nightmare Grass in the Great Wilderness Kingdom. Their trick of using the Heavenly Dao to change the Imperial Dao isn't something they started here. They've already succeeded before!"

Hu Ji said, "Things are getting more and more complicated. After the two factions, a third party has been introduced. You rose to power with His Majesty's help, and now they want to use you to stab His Majesty in the back. What... what should you do?"

"In the game of life, everyone is a pawn, and everyone can be a player." Lin Xiaosu smiled and said, "They are good at using others' strength against them. I'll play this game with them and see who can use others' strength better!"

next day!

It's almost noon.

The Star-Picking Pavilion was almost full.

Leaders of various sects, great scholars and sages from all directions gathered.

The news of today's tripartite talks has already spread among the people, and everyone in Lanzhou is paying attention.

They may not care who becomes emperor this year, but they absolutely cannot ignore the pressing predicament of their homeland.

Because this predicament remains unresolved, none of them can settle down in Lanzhou.

Therefore, regardless of their past stances or the numerous conflicts and disputes among these families and sects, they are all in complete agreement on this issue and hope that the court can come up with a good solution.

Not only did they arrive, but all the officials from the prefectural government also arrived.

However, the officials are at the top level, while the rest are in the middle and lower levels.

As the time approached, the discussion became heated.

"Master Deng, do you think today's meeting will have a good outcome?" At the middle table, a middle-aged man asked a man who looked like a great scholar.

As soon as the question was raised, everyone around fell silent, because this great scholar Deng was a highly respected person, well-versed in the classics, knowledgeable in all schools of thought, with disciples all over the world, and extremely influential in the Northwest.

Deng Daru stroked his beard and slowly raised his head: "Similar talks to today's have happened many times in the past, but none of them have yielded any results. Originally, I did not dare to expect anything different this time. However, this Marquis Xueyi is quite different from the court officials of the past."

“Indeed!” Another old man beside Deng Daru said, “Before Xueyi Hou went down to Jiangnan, no one could have imagined that he would be able to completely change the chaotic situation of the sects in Jiangnan. But in the end, this young marquis managed to change the entire Jiangnan region with his own strength! This shows that this marquis is truly capable.”

Another old man spoke up: "What Li Daru said is indeed reasonable, but the situation in Lanzhou is quite different from that in Jiangnan. In Jiangnan, the matter of sects breaking the law is on the table, and what the Marquis needs to do is simply put pressure on the sects. However, in Lanzhou, the matter of poisonous herbs invading is inconclusive. The Thousand Poisons Sect has never admitted that this herb is related to them."

"Although they have never admitted it, are the people of Lanzhou fools?" A loud voice came from the crowd: "The invasion of poisonous herbs has caused heavy losses to sects, families, common people, and the government. Only the Thousand Poisons Sect has continued to expand its territory. Do we still need to investigate where the poisonous herbs came from?"

"Sect Leader Li is right!" said another cultivator. "In this world, we don't judge a book by its cover, but by its results! The results are favorable to your Thousand Poisons Sect, the poisonous herbs fit your sect's fundamental characteristic of cultivating the Dao through poison, and yet you are unwilling to take action to deal with it. If it wasn't the Thousand Poisons Sect's doing, who would believe it?"

"Exactly, this is treating the 70 million people of Lanzhou like fools..." Chaos erupted below.

A young man beside the scholar Li said, "Regarding the origin of the poisonous herbs, I have heard a rumor that the ancient continent of the Central Region experienced a similar incident of poisonous herbs invading thirty years ago. I wonder if any of you seniors have heard of it?"

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed drastically, and the discussion came to an abrupt halt...

Many of them had just heard this rumor.

Rumor has it that...

This Nightmare Grass is a remnant of the Heavenly Dao.

It represents divine punishment.

Why punish the people of the Great Wilderness? Because the Emperor of the Great Wilderness is tyrannical.

How can one be without morality?
The emperor was originally on the verge of death, but he was unwilling to end his life like this. He endured for eleven years in the deep palace, used forbidden karmic arts to steal the life force of the crown prince, and used his own son's life to make himself young again.

This act not only violates the laws of nature but also goes against ethics; it is simply unworthy of being called human.

Heaven, unable to bear it any longer, sent down the Nightmare Grass...

In a private room, a woman had an extremely gloomy face.

She is Princess Shining.

Beside her, naturally, was her inseparable maid.

The maid sighed softly, "Your Highness, this rumor is extremely malicious."

Princess Shining let out a heavy sigh.

Who said no?
This was the most vicious rumor she could ever hear!

Her father was the emperor.

Her elder brother was her only biological brother.

These are all her relatives.

My brother is already dead, yet people drag him out and whip his corpse. How can this be tolerated?

The maid said, "There is another one that I can't figure out. I've worn a lot of clothes in the Lanzhou market these past few months and I've never heard of this rumor before, but today it suddenly broke out, and it seems to have spread throughout the whole prefecture overnight."

Princess Shining's eyes widened suddenly: "You mean, someone deliberately created this?"

"That's all I can think of."

Princess Shanling took a deep breath: "It seems I will have to stay in Lanzhou for a while longer. If I find out who is behind this, I will not let his entire family be executed, or I will never be surnamed Hong again!"

The maid said, "Your Highness, if you wish to find out where this rumor originated, I think there is a most suitable candidate: isn't Marquis Xueyi a top expert in investigating cases?" (End of Chapter)