I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 232 Stirring up the storm
The night was deep, and a corner of the rear garden of Prince Duan's mansion was unusually quiet.

Behind the artificial hill, a winding bluestone path leads to the waterside pavilion.

Inside the waterside pavilion, Prince Duan sat with his hands behind his back, his expression somber.

Ning Yi stood to one side, his brow slightly furrowed;

On the other side, an old man dressed in black knelt quietly. His face was thin and his hair was gray. He was none other than Wei Lao, the trusted advisor of Prince Duan.

After a moment of silence, Elder Wei raised his head and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince's suffering such a heavy blow is truly a blessing from heaven."

According to newly received information, the Imperial Guards unearthed lightning sand beneath the Rising Dragon Platform and found pre-buried copper coins at the top of the Rising Dragon Hall.

The last time Thang Long Dae was open for ancestral worship was when the Crown Prince went to the ancestral temple to perform the rites on behalf of His Majesty.

Apart from that, Thang Long Dai has not been open to the public since.

Who buried the lightning sand? Who installed the copper wire to guide the lightning tribulation? It's practically obvious.

A glint flashed in Prince Duan's eyes. "The more this is the case, the less I feel that it is not the Crown Prince's doing. He looks harmless, but in reality, he is extremely cunning."

If he set a trap for the Emperor, I don't think the Emperor would have survived to leave the Ascension Platform.

The Imperial Guards are the inner guard force, and the inner guard force is the Third Prince's men. If he frames me, my elder brother, the Crown Prince, will truly have no way to defend himself.”

Ning Yi said, "Father is right, but the world does not know the Crown Prince and will only believe what they hear."

The evidence before us proves that the Crown Prince is the prime suspect, and His Majesty's confinement of the Crown Prince is tantamount to announcing to the world that this is what he himself thinks.

"Hehe, no matter what, the Crown Prince has no choice but to take the blame."

Old Master Wei said, "What the young master says is true. The current political situation is not just about how we see it, but also how the world sees it and what His Majesty thinks."
In any case, the opportunity has arrived.

His Highness Prince Zhao is a restless and ambitious man. Taking this opportunity, Your Highness should form an alliance with Prince Zhao and enlist his help.

Prince Duan frowned. "Knowing that the third prince is no good, why did Elder Wei still offer such advice?"

Wei Laodao said, "Don't be fooled by the fact that the Crown Prince is under house arrest. He has been overseeing the country for many years and has a deep foundation. Many great Confucian scholars have endorsed him. Without joining forces with the King of Zhao, it will be difficult for us to shake the Crown Prince."

As for whether the King of Zhao will contend with the Prince, that's a matter for later; let's focus on the present.

Prince Duan pondered for a few moments, then nodded and said, "Regardless of whether it was the Third Prince's scheme or not, I still want to thank him."

The Emperor's consciousness is often confused, his internal energy is disordered, and his lifespan is nearing its end.

The world will eventually change hands.

"If it weren't for the attack on my father's Ascension Palace today, and the fact that the Crown Prince has been regent for many years, his power has grown, and all civil and military officials are under his command, even if I held military power, I would still find it difficult to shake his foundation."

Prince Duan rose, walked slowly to the railing, and looked down at the water.

The moon's reflection in the pond shattered, and when the wind blew, it scattered like blood.

He put his hands behind his back and said in a deep voice, "Now that the Crown Prince is under house arrest and the court is in turmoil, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has finally arrived."

"Lord Wei, secretly summon all departments and seal off the Crown Prince's residence. No one is allowed to transmit any information without authorization. Tomorrow morning, I want to see the memorials from the civil and military officials of each prefecture, requesting that the Crown Prince temporarily abdicate his position as regent and be replaced by the Prince of Zhao."

Old Master Wei paused for a moment, “Your Highness’s plan is brilliant, but what I am worried about is the civil officials and important ministers in the court, who are mostly loyal to the Crown Prince.”

These great scholars are all imbued with martial virtue; if they insist on interfering, we will find it difficult to win.

A cold smile appeared on Prince Duan's lips. "Those old foxes are very clever."

He paced slowly, tapping his palm lightly with his folding fan. "They know best what Father Emperor is wary of. Before Father Emperor passes away, they will never get involved in the struggle for the throne. They will only talk about etiquette and social order."

"Once we defeat the crown prince, they'll change their minds and support the new emperor."

Old Master Wei nodded, "Your Highness understands. Then send the Crown Prince to contact the Prince of Zhao. There's no need to say anything else, just say one thing: fair competition."

Ning Yi was taken aback. "Elder Wei, is this considered a promise?"
At least some promise should be made.

Wei Laodao said, "King Zhao is a shrewd man. What can we promise him? Promise to divide the world equally after the matter is accomplished? He would have to believe that."

When dealing with shrewd people, just tell them the truth.

For fair competition to exist, the conditions for fair competition must first be met.

Now, the crown prince is still standing in our way; only when he falls can there be conditions for fair competition.

The King of Zhao understood.

Ning Yi nodded and hurried away.

…………

Night fell over the Prince Zhao's mansion in the southwest corner of Chang'an. The gates were tightly shut, and the lamps hanging from the mouths of the bronze beasts swayed in the wind.

King Zhao sat upright behind his desk, his face like that of a young man in his early twenties. He wore a dark blue robe and his expression was composed yet tinged with weariness. The teacup in front of him had gone cold, but his fingertips were still unconsciously tapping the surface of the table.

Sitting opposite him was Liu Jingyan, his most trusted strategist, a middle-aged man with a thin face and sharp eyes.

"Your Highness, what is your opinion on this matter?"

Liu Jingyan lowered his voice to a very low level.

King Zhao lowered his gaze slightly, “My father was struck by lightning. The discovery of copper coins and lightning sand at the Ascension Platform proves that this was an assassination attempt, not divine retribution.”

The question is, who did it?

Liu Jingyan replied, "It seems that the Crown Prince is the most suspicious, but the more suspicious it is, the less I believe him, and Your Highness probably doesn't believe him either."

King Zhao nodded. "If he were truly the Crown Prince, he would never have done something so clumsy. It seems more like the work of the Second Prince."

The Crown Prince has been overseeing the country for many years and has long since consolidated his power. If he does not make a move now, he will have no chance once his father dies.

He was desperate, but alas, the Emperor is old and senile, allowing the second son to get away with it.

Liu Jingyan asked in a deep voice, "Then what does Your Highness mean?"

King Zhao turned around and said softly, "Each relies on their own abilities."

At that moment, footsteps sounded outside, and a guard outside the door announced in a low voice, "Your Highness, the Heir Apparent of Prince Duan requests an audience."

King Zhao said, "See? We don't need to worry. There are others who are more anxious than us."

………………

The Crown Prince's villa is located on the foot of Xing Mountain in the eastern suburbs of Chang'an. At the foot of the mountain, a stream meanders and a stone bridge spans the mountain. In the distance, the golden tiles of the palace roofs can be seen shimmering in the clouds.

Xue Xiang's temporary room was built by the water, and he could see the reflection of the weeping willows on the opposite bank when he opened the window.

It was late at night, but he still hadn't gone to sleep.

On the table in front of him was a bronze lamp, its wick bright and its light warm.

The wind outside the window rustled the bamboo shadows, casting dappled patterns into the room and onto the pages of the book.

Xue Xiang was sitting upright at his desk, his fingertips gently turning the pages of a book titled "Essentials of Rites".

Suddenly, soft footsteps were heard outside the door, followed by a knock.

"Mr. Xue, His Highness has bestowed a reward upon you."

The door was pushed open, and a middle-aged eunuch dressed in a dark blue official robe walked in with several young eunuchs.

The eunuch had thin features and graying temples, but his eyes revealed a calmness and composure that came from long exposure to power.

He bowed respectfully and ordered his attendant to put down the tray he was carrying.

The trays were filled with the finest items:

A white jade robe embroidered with gold, the patterns of clouds and dragons drawn with fine gold thread, the luster as soft as flowing silver;
A pair of blue silk shoes, with soles padded with gyrfalcon down feathers, feeling like snow to the touch;

The jade cup contained osmanthus and white fungus soup that had just been sent from the Imperial Kitchen. The soup was white and had a sweet aroma.

There was also a small brocade box lined with white fox fur, inside which lay a sandalwood pen with a shimmering, luminous spirit stone inlaid at its tip.

Xue Xiang put down his book, looked up, and smiled slightly, "I have done nothing of note, how can I accept such a great gift?"

The middle-aged eunuch quickly bowed and said gently, "Sir, you flatter me. These are all His Highness's gifts."

Sir, you are a renowned scholar, and Your Highness has long admired you greatly.

However, a strange case has occurred recently, and His Highness is implicated in it, making it inconvenient for him to receive guests.

Furthermore, Your Highness is deeply grateful for the kindness shown to the Princess at Prince Duan's villa, and has specially sent me to express my gratitude.

This is just a small gift, nothing more.

Furthermore, His Highness has instructed that the gentleman may freely request and use all offerings and supplies within the residence, without being bound by palace etiquette.

After saying this, he bowed again and then withdrew.

Xue Xiang closed the book, got up and walked to the window, gazing blankly at the swaying bamboo shadows outside the courtyard.

Suddenly, I heard light, hurried footsteps at the door.

He turned his head and saw Su Ning arrive.

She no longer dressed as a man, but instead wore a palace dress.

Her hair was styled in a high bun, with tassels hanging down to her cheeks. She wore a long, crimson dress that cinched her waist and hugged her body. Gold threads shimmered softly under the lamplight, and a faint fragrance wafted from the hem of her dress with every movement.

"What a beautiful and charming princess!"

Xue Xiang secretly praised him.

Su Ning bowed and said, "It is inconvenient for a woman to travel the world. Please forgive my rudeness earlier, Brother Xue. Today we are officially acquainted. My name is Ning Shu."

"My other name is Xue Xiang."

Xue bowed.

Ning Shu smiled gently, her gaze falling on the books on the table. "This is a collection of my father's writings. My father also loved poetry and prose, but most of his works were mediocre."

He was skilled in politics and literature, and some enthusiasts collected his works and published them; I bought a set when I saw them.”

Xue Xiang smiled and said, "I have read it carefully, and it is very wonderful."

When writing about politics, the most important thing is to be concise and appropriate, without being embellished or ornate.

His Highness the Crown Prince succeeded. His writings were like a finely crafted machine, meticulously analyzed and rigorously structured. Although not eloquent, they were first-rate articles on politics and governance.

The person capable of producing such an article is undoubtedly a genius.

Ning Shu smiled slightly and returned the greeting, saying, "If my father knew that I could receive such praise from Brother Xue, a man of great talent, he would surely be very proud."

After exchanging a few more words, the two sat down opposite each other behind the bamboo table by the window.

Ning Shu then got to the point, “Brother Xue, I originally thought that although the Crown Prince’s Palace was facing difficulties, it was still manageable. I invited you to help me, and after we got through the crisis, I was able to fulfill your wish to ascend to the Dragon Platform.”

In retrospect, the disaster that befell the Crown Prince's residence was beyond expectation.

Forcing Brother Xue to stay here will only harm him.

so……"

Xue Xiang waved his hand to interrupt, saying, "Princess, there's no need to worry. My plan is shrewd enough."

If I can help the Crown Prince's residence survive this calamity and gain the right to use the Rising Dragon Platform in return, this trip will have been worthwhile.

Conversely, if the Crown Prince's residence were to truly fall, neither Prince Duan nor Prince Zhao would likely dare to rashly harm me.

After all, everyone knows that I have a remarkable master.

Therefore, instead of worrying about me, Princess, you should tell me the truth so that I may see if there is anything I can do to help.”

Ning Shu nodded. "I've spent the whole day gathering intelligence."

Here are a few points that you may consult, Brother Xue: First, the Prince of Duan and the Prince of Zhao have joined forces.

Prince Duan controlled the troops in the capital region, while Prince Zhao controlled the inner guard forces.

Now, the two of them have joined forces to seal off the entire city of Chang'an flawlessly. Everything—entry and exit, troop deployment, and communication—must pass through their hands.

Xue Xiang raised an eyebrow slightly, "Once the city is sealed off, the Crown Prince's residence will be trapped."

Ning Shu nodded, "Not only that, the second thing is that His Majesty dismissed the two Grand Secretaries."

Both of them were prominent Confucian scholars and ministers who had publicly supported my father for many years. They had always been in charge of the rites and regulations and were the most stable pillars of the court.

His Majesty suddenly dismissed him without giving any reason, issuing only an imperial edict to immediately strip him of his official position.

On the surface, it appears to be a matter of seizing official positions, but in reality, it's about weakening the crown prince's power.

The bamboo shadows outside the window swayed gently, as if a breeze had passed by.

Ning Shu held up a third finger, "The Crown Prince's confinement period has been extended again."

"How long?" Xue asked.

"No time limit yet."

Ning Shu's knuckles tightened slightly. "The imperial edict for confinement was transferred directly from the central government. Father didn't even have a chance to defend himself. Even the officials in our Crown Prince's residence are being closely watched. Today, someone has already been imprisoned for leaving his post without permission."

She took a deep breath, her neck tensing slightly. "The last piece of news is the most troublesome. His Majesty... has fallen into a coma again." The lamplight on the table flickered, as if sinking with her words.

Xue Xiang's gaze sharpened. "When did this happen?"

"He hasn't woken up since this afternoon."

Ning Shu's voice was low and deep, "The Imperial Hospital examined him overnight and said that his internal energy was disordered and his mind was unclear. He might wake up in two days, or... he might never wake up."

Xue Xiang was silent for a moment, then asked, "How is His Highness the Crown Prince now?"

Ning Shu said, "My father is confined to the mansion and is not allowed to go out, contact his subordinates, or communicate with the outside world."

Even if I wanted to see him, I had to pass through three checkpoints.

She said softly, "Brother Xue, there are rumors outside that the Crown Prince attempted to assassinate the emperor. Whether it is true or not, as long as His Majesty remains unconscious, Prince Duan and Prince Zhao can rightfully seize power."

Xue Xiang's eyes were half-closed, seemingly calm, but his fingertips tapped lightly on the bamboo table.

Ning Shu lowered her voice, "I suspect... that the Imperial Guards, the Inner Guards, and the troops in the capital region had planned this all along. The thunder sand and copper coins may not really be meant to harm His Majesty, but rather to use the pretext of harming His Majesty to bring my father down."

The current situation is not just a crisis, but a catastrophe.

Outside the window, a thin mist clung to the corridor.

Xue Xiang got up and went to the window, lightly tapping the window frame with his fingertips. His gaze fell on Ning Shu. "Princess, has His Highness the Crown Prince given any instructions?"

Why did Xue Xiang look through the Crown Prince's articles?
He was judging a person by their writings. After all, he had never met the Crown Prince of the Great Zhou, and based on the world's evaluation, he only knew that the Crown Prince of the Great Zhou was very kind and gentle.

After reading the article by the Crown Prince of Da Zhou, Xue Xiang was certain that this was definitely a shrewd and capable person.

Ning Shu raised her hand to straighten her sleeves. "My father has no reaction whatsoever. He just reads books every day, recites the Classic of Filial Piety for His Majesty, prays for blessings, writes letters of apology, and does not read any government reports."

Xue Xiang smiled slightly, turned around and said, "That's good. Princess, you don't need to worry too much. The Crown Prince is wise and His Majesty is sagacious. There shouldn't be any major chaos."

Ning Shu nodded, thinking that Xue Xiang was trying to comfort her.

Upon careful consideration, given the current chaotic situation, there was nothing anyone could do. No matter how talented Xue Xiang was, what could he possibly do?

She gently cupped her hands in greeting, "That's enough for today. I still need to go to the outer courtyard to handle some matters. Brother Xue, please rest well."

After saying that, she turned to leave.

Xue stepped forward two steps and raised his hand in greeting, "Princess."

Ning Shu turned her head, her eyebrows slightly raised.

Xue Xiang said, "I would like to borrow a quiet room in the Crown Prince's residence to cultivate for a few days."

Ning Shu pondered for a moment and nodded, "I will arrange the best underground secret alchemy room in the Crown Prince's residence for you. It is a well-hidden and secure place, where Father often meditates. Originally, it was only for the two of you to use, but now it is most appropriate to entrust it to you."

Xue Xiang clasped his hands in thanks to her, "Thank you, Princess."

Ning Shu raised her hand, signaling for the servants to come over.

The attendant walked briskly, his back slightly bent.

Ning Shu gave a few instructions, then turned to Xue Xiang and said, "The quiet room is ready; you may go with them."

She turned and left after she finished speaking.

Two attendants led Xue through the side hall and then around to another side door.

Behind the door are small steps leading down, with neat surfaces and fine stone patterns, as if they were cut directly from a whole piece of mountain rock.

At the end of the steps was a flat stone ground.

The servant raised his hand and lightly touched a spot on the wall. The stone wall slightly caved in and then slowly opened a hidden door.

The air behind the door was even colder, as if it were blowing from the belly of a mountain.

Xue Xiang stepped inside, his footsteps echoing through the walls like someone striking the stone surface at the bottom of a deep well.

The walls of the refining room were sturdy, the floor was clean, and the furnace, table, and futon were all arranged neatly, with nothing superfluous.

The servant stopped at the door and bowed respectfully. "Sir, the quiet room is open. If needed, you can call someone by pulling the stone bell here."

Xue Xiang nodded and waved away the servants.

The servant withdrew outside, and the hidden door closed again, isolating all sounds from the outside world into another realm.

Xue Xiang raised his hand and touched the stone table next to the stove; it felt slightly cool.

He activated his Dark Night Eyes to confirm that the refining room was clean and free of any ambushes.

With a thought, he returned to the Blessed Land of Literature.

When it comes to cultivation, he prefers to do so in the Wenxu Blessed Land.

Xue Xiang sat on the Wenxu Platform, and a water ripple spread out from the center of the platform in circles.

He raised his hand and took out a demon core from his pocket.

The demon core was black, with a very faint luster on its outer shell, and the spiritual energy inside seemed to be extremely compressed.

He steadied his breathing, placed the demon core into the Nebula Box, activated the Spirit Guiding Technique, and the spiritual energy slowly dissolved.

A new round of training has begun.

…………

The Cangqiu Mountains rise in layers, their peaks as red as blood iron, resembling a crouching dragon lying on the ground when viewed from afar.

Among the peaks and ridges are the stone houses of the Ling tribe, all carved from rock, with animal bone pillars standing on the eaves, their patterns faintly translucent.

The valley is filled with the breath of nature, as if ancient veins are slowly breathing from the earth's core. The mountain wind sweeps across the stone path, stirring up patches of red sand, giving the entire Cangqiu a rough and ancient atmosphere.

Atop the mountain stands an ancient temple, its walls carved from a single massive stone, the lines bold and rugged, exuding an ancient charm.

The palace window was half-closed, and a beam of light fell on the window frame.

A woman stood by the window, slender and graceful, with delicate features and a serene air.

She held onto the stone window with one hand, her dark, lustrous hair clinging to her neck, her sleeves drooping slightly, as if she were being gently lifted by the mountain breeze.

Her gaze swept over the layers of mountains, lost in thought.

Not far away, a man stood beside a pillar in the palace, his gaze fixed on her back.

The man had prominent brow bones, a well-defined profile, and shoulders and back as steady as a rocky ridge.

He didn't say anything, just gazed at her silently.

Suddenly the palace doors opened, and three elders of the Spirit Clan entered together.

All three were exceptionally handsome, and even with their graying hair, they possessed a unique and refined charm characteristic of the Spirit Clan.

The leader raised his hand in a gesture of respect, his steps steady, his gaze falling respectfully on the man. "Reporting to the High Priest, the Path of Destruction has sent us a mission. If we are willing to accept it, we can obtain the blood of the Ancestral Dragon, which will give us hope of restoring the Ancestral Spirit Wall."

The other two elderly men also bowed, their expressions solemn.

Upon hearing this, the High Priest did not speak hastily, but turned and walked towards the window, stopping beside the woman. "My lord, what do you think?"

The woman slowly turned her head. "I will listen to the High Priest."

Her fingertips were still resting on the window frame, her posture serene.

Needless to say, this woman is Liu Zhiwei, the current ruler of the Cangqiu Spirit Clan.

While cultivating in Yunmeng City, she was summoned by her natal bloodline to enter the Spirit Clan Trial.

Every step of the trial was fraught with danger. She never expected to reach the end, but she escaped death several times amidst opportunities and perils.

Later, the high priest discovered that her spiritual blood was extremely pure. At that moment, the eyes of all the elders of Cangqiu Peak fell on her, and the drama of her life was rewritten.

On the day the High Priest personally placed the Cangqiu Seal between her eyebrows, the spiritual energy in the hall surged, and countless powerful figures bowed down in worship.

She became the ruler of Cangqiu.

Despite her seemingly prestigious position, she was quite clear-headed.

With the high priest in front, she had no choice of her own.

No matter how powerful the Lord of Cangqiu is, he cannot suppress the will of the High Priest.

Her appointment was the decision of the High Priest, and her power was the High Priest's shadow. If she disobeyed in the slightest, tens of thousands of spirits on the Cangqiu Ridge would choose a new master with just a word from the High Priest.

Fortunately, the High Priest treated her well, carefully imparting to her both cultivation resources and spiritual abilities.

He treated her with the utmost respect.

Of course, even so, in her heart, she didn't want to be the Lord of Cangqiu at all.

All she wanted was to return to Yunmeng, to Xue Xiang's side, to the days when they could still look at each other.

But now she knows that all of this is just wishful thinking.

The ruler of Cangqiu can be reinstated, or he can be replaced in an instant.

If she insists on leaving, it will not only be a matter of her own fate, but also the life and death of the entire Xue family.

The Spirit Race never tolerates betrayal, and the High Priest will not allow the Cangqiu Lord, whom he personally promoted, to return to the human race, nor will he allow her to have any unfinished business with Xue Xiang.

If she goes back, the Xue family will bear the full consequences.

Xue Xiang would also be dragged into a catastrophic disaster as a result.

Therefore, from the moment she stepped into Cangqiu, she suppressed all her thoughts.

She didn't even dare to write a letter to Xue Xiang.

The High Priest stood by the window, his robes trailing on the stone surface, and looked at Liu Zhiwei, saying, "You will eventually become the true master of Cangqiu and even the entire Spirit Clan. You will naturally listen to important matters of the clan."

Liu Zhiwei tucked her sleeves in, gave a soft reply, and went to the center of the main hall.

The High Priest gave a soft "hmm," and the three Spirit Clan elders quickly bowed and greeted him, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

The High Priest said coldly, "I am giving you my final warning: the Lord is the Lord, and he is above me."

Those who dare to disrespect me again, the Cold Prison of Cangqiu will be prepared for you.

"promise."

The three elders of the Spirit Clan respectfully agreed.

The High Priest raised his hand to signal, and the leading old man stepped forward. His name was Yuan Tu, the guardian of the Cangqiu lineage, responsible for managing external news and secret correspondence.

Yuan Tu said in a deep voice, "The news came from the Destruction Path the day before yesterday. The Destruction Path promised that if we were willing to take on this matter, we could obtain the Ancestral Dragon Blood, which would give us hope of restoring the Ancestral Spirit Wall."

The High Priest raised his hand, "My lord does not know what the Path of Destruction is. Please explain the whole story."

Yuan Tu paused for a moment, then quickly said, "The Path of Destruction is a mysterious transnational organization with a long history and difficult-to-find traces. It specializes in undertaking missions issued by various forces."

When sects, ancient clans, secret realms, or dynasties in various regions have matters that they cannot handle personally, they often use the Path of Destruction to send messages.

Their influence extends to many countries, and they even have connections among the demon race. Their influence is so great that neither the human dynasty nor the demon holy court are willing to offend them easily.

This is a gold-level mission issued by the Path of Destruction.

Gold level is the highest level, and only forces deemed to have sufficient strength will receive such messages.

As far as I know, all three major spirit races have received the mission, and the Northern Moon Spirit Race and the Azure Sun Spirit Race have already responded.

In addition, the Witch God Cult and the Demon Alliance also received the news.

The bounty this time is extremely high, and it's not a uniform bounty; instead, different conditions are offered for different factions.

The Path of Destruction clearly knows our recent actions and that we have been searching for the Ancestral Dragon's blood. Therefore, they have offered a reward of the Ancestral Dragon's blood upon our success.

After speaking, Yuan Tu bowed and took a half step back.

Liu Zhiwei heard this clearly and her gaze fell on Yuan Tu's face. "The blood of the Ancestral Dragon can only be produced by the dragon veins guarded by the palaces of various countries. Without attacking and destroying the dragon courts of various countries, how can we easily obtain the blood of the Ancestral Dragon?"

Yuan Tu respectfully said, "Your Majesty understands perfectly. The dragon vein is formed under the national destiny. If the blood of the ancestral dragon is lost, it will harm the national fortune."

However, the share we take is small, and the damage to the nation's destiny is negligible.

The fact that someone is willing to offer this item as a reward proves that they have the ability to obtain the blood of the Ancestral Dragon.

"Do not worry about this, my lord."

Liu Zhiwei frowned. "You mean, someone from the royal family was involved in issuing this mission?"

Yuan Tu's eyes lit up. "My lord is indeed wise. This mission is to assassinate the Crown Prince of Great Zhou."

The Path of Destruction will never reveal who issues the mission; this is the very foundation of their existence.

All we need to know is that the Path of Destruction will not break its promise, and that completing the mission will yield the Ancestral Dragon's Blood; that's enough for us.

I believe both the Northern Moon Spirit Clan and the Azure Sun Spirit Clan think this way.

(End of this chapter)