Druid Fairy

Chapter 209 The Chess Game in the Palace
Inside the Golden Palace, civil and military officials stood with their heads bowed, even their breathing was carefully controlled.

The new emperor was only eight years old. He wore a large twelve-chapter robe, which looked somewhat comical. His little face, which was trying hard to imitate majesty, was tense.

Sitting on that dragon throne, which symbolizes the highest power in the world, his feet couldn't even touch the ground; he could only hang helplessly in mid-air.

Beside the dragon throne, a heavy, bright yellow beaded curtain hung down, separating the inside from the outside.

Behind the beaded curtain sat the Empress Dowager, who was ruling from behind the curtain.

Her face was calm and serene, but her phoenix eyes, which occasionally opened and closed, gleamed with a sharp, insightful light.

The chief civil officials were several highly respected senior ministers. They looked solemn, but in their hearts they were secretly worried about the future of the dynasty.

Among the military generals, the Duke of Zhenguo, clad in purple-gold armor, resembled an iron tower, imposing and dignified. The fierce and bloodthirsty aura emanating from him, honed through countless battles, invisibly provided a sense of stability to the court officials.

Half a step behind the Duke of Zhenguo, Li Mengjin's figure was like a drawn sword, its sharpness concealed, yet no one dared to underestimate him.

He wore the flying fish robe of the Grand Commander of the Golden Scale Guard, with silver threads embroidering wind and rain patterns on the hem of the robe. The "Shadow Fang" at his waist was simple and unadorned, yet it made every gaze that looked at it feel a strange tremor in their heart.

Li Mengjin's eyes were slightly closed, oblivious to everything around him. His mind was immersed in a wondrous state of harmony with heaven and earth. But the hand that seemed to be casually resting on the hilt of his sword was like a lurking tiger, ready to pounce and deliver a fatal blow at any moment.

"Announcement—The Great Qian Dynasty delegation is hereby granted an audience—"

The eunuch's deliberately drawn-out greeting broke the silence in the hall.

All the officials couldn't help but tense up.

The heavy palace doors slowly opened, and the afternoon sunlight streamed in, outlining a dozen tall and imposing figures.

They wore exotic costumes that were completely different from those of the Great Yu Dynasty. Their robes were embroidered with dragons and beast totems, and they exuded a fierce and unruly aura as they walked.

The young man at the head of the group was none other than the eldest prince of the Great Qian Dynasty, Qian Tianjue.

His face was as handsome as jade, his eyes as bright as stars, and a perfectly timed smile played on his lips, which made him appear both approachable and exuded an innate arrogance. He wore a royal robe embroidered with a four-clawed purple dragon, and as he walked, the sounds of wind and thunder could be faintly heard, indicating that his cultivation was also extremely extraordinary.

Qian Tianjue's gaze swept across the entire hall in an instant.

Looking at the young emperor on the dragon throne, who was pretending to be calm, a hint of contempt flashed in his eyes.

"Qian Tianjue greets His Majesty the Emperor of Great Yu and Empress Dowager." The eldest prince walked to the center of the hall, bowed slightly, and performed a respectful but not servile greeting. His attendants behind him did not even bend their backs, but instead held their heads high with arrogance, surveying the heart of this dynasty that had just experienced a bloody internal strife.

This almost rude attitude immediately angered many of the senior officials of the Great Yu Dynasty in the hall, who almost stepped forward to reprimand him.

"Your Highness is a guest from afar, there is no need for such formalities."

From behind the beaded curtain, the Empress Dowager's calm voice came, revealing neither joy nor anger, "Our Great Yu Kingdom is still in mourning, and we have not been able to entertain you adequately. I hope the Prince will forgive us. May I ask what brings the Prince here?"

"Public affairs should be secondary, private affairs should be primary."

Qian Tianjue smiled, a smile as warm as a spring breeze, but his words were as sharp as a blade. "I have heard that your country was on the verge of collapse, but fortunately a peerless genius emerged out of nowhere, suppressing the demons with his own body and turning the tide. Such heroic deeds have already spread throughout the seven kingdoms. I admire him greatly and have prepared a small gift to visit this Academy Envoy Li Mengze to express my respect."

He paused, then turned his gaze to the petite figure beside the Empress Dowager, carefully protected by a palace maid—Li Mengyue.

"Of course, I have heard that Your Highness, the Holy Maiden who protects the nation, possesses the rare Taiyin Holy Body, which has the supreme divine power to purify all evil spirits in the world. Such an auspicious omen is also a blessing for the human race. I also wish to see it with my own eyes, so that I can report back to my father and let all the people of my Great Qian Dynasty admire the Holy Maiden's demeanor and be blessed by her grace."

Upon hearing this, the air in the entire hall instantly plummeted to freezing point!
A murderous aura spread out invisibly.

Everyone present understood the deeper meaning in his words. This wasn't a visit; it was a blatant test!
Visiting someone who is in seclusion refining their Dao fruit, or paying homage to a holy woman of high status whose fate is tied to the nation, is an extremely impolite and offensive act in any place!
"presumptuous!"

The Duke of Zhenguo could no longer restrain himself. He took a step forward, and the iron-blooded aura around him suddenly erupted, making the temperature of the entire Golden Palace seem to rise a few degrees.

His eyes widened, and his voice boomed, "Academician Li has quelled the rebellion for the country and merged with the Dao. He is currently in seclusion, comprehending the supreme mysteries. This is the highest secret of our Great Yu Dynasty. How can you foreigners just see it as you please? Her Highness the Holy Maiden is tied to the fate of the nation and is an auspicious totem of our Great Yu. How can you desecrate her so easily!"

"Please calm down, Your Excellency." Facing the Duke of Zhenguo's murderous aura, which was enough to change the color of mountains and rivers, Qian Tianjue was not afraid at all. Instead, he took a step forward and took out a box made of ten-thousand-year-old cold jade from his sleeve.

As soon as the box was opened, a refreshing medicinal fragrance instantly filled the air. The immense vitality contained within caused the leaves of the several imperial orchids in the hall to unfurl at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Your Excellency misunderstands," Qian Tianjue said loudly. "It is precisely because Imperial Physician Li was severely injured while ridding the world of this scourge that I could not bear to part with him. I specially requested this supreme elixir—the 'Nine-Turn Grass'—from the treasury of my Great Qian Kingdom to present to the hero. My intentions are purely good, only for the hero's well-being. Why does Your Excellency refuse it? Could it be..."

His voice suddenly changed, "Could it be... that Academician Li's injuries have become so severe that even the 'Nine-Turn Grass' cannot save him? If so, it would truly be a tragedy that the heavens are jealous of talent, a great loss to the human race!"

What a vicious and cunning scheme! They've placed themselves on a moral high ground.

If you don't let me see you, it means you have a guilty conscience, which is tantamount to admitting to the world that Li Mengze is really going to die, and then the last deterrent of the Great Yu Dynasty will be gone.

If I see you, it will be a good opportunity to find out the truth, and I might even take the opportunity to make trouble!
In an instant, everyone's attention was focused on Li Mengjin.

Li Mengjin slowly opened her eyes.

There was no anger, no anxiety in those eyes, only a deathly stillness that seemed to freeze the world.

He walked out slowly, stood in the center of the hall, met Qian Tianjue's seemingly sincere but actually provocative gaze, and said coldly, "Brother, very good."

His tone carried an absolute confidence that stemmed from his very blood and soul, an confidence that could not be questioned.

"As for the Holy Maiden," his gaze shifted to Li Mengyue, his icy eyes instantly softening into a gentle warmth, "her radiance shines only to protect the people of Dayu. Others are neither qualified nor worthy to look up to her."

"Oh?" Qian Tianjue raised an eyebrow, his smile widening. The old man behind him, whose aura was obscure, suddenly flashed a sharp light in his eyes.

"Commander Li, you have quite the arrogance," Qian Tianjue said leisurely. "However, words are no proof. Today, I truly wish to witness firsthand what extraordinary qualities the legendary Taiyin Sacred Body possesses." Before he finished speaking, a sharp light flashed in the old man's eyes, and a chilling, mentally oppressive divine thought, like an invisible poison needle, disregarded space and distance, silently piercing towards Li Mengyue!
This attack is enough to instantly shatter the soul of an ordinary Qi Refining cultivator, turning them into an idiot!

However, before Master Qingxu could make a move, Li Mengyue made hers.

Facing the divine sense attack comparable to a full-force strike from a Nascent Soul cultivator, she showed no fear. She simply raised her head slightly, and her eyes, which were originally clear as water, turned pure silver-white at this moment, like two moons hanging high in the heavens.

"Buzz!"

An invisible, holy yet icy divine power of the Yin God spread out from her center!

The invisible spiritual poison needle melted away silently, like ice and snow in spring, the moment it came into contact with the divine power of the Taiyin, without even causing a ripple.

Not only that, the temperature of the entire Golden Palace suddenly dropped, and a layer of beautiful yet cold silver frost flowers spread out from Li Mengyue on the shiny gold brick floor!
The old man who made the move let out a shrill groan and staggered back three steps, each step leaving a deep black footprint on the gold brick. His face turned deathly pale, and a trace of black blood oozed from his seven orifices. His eyes were filled with horror and disbelief as he looked at Li Mengyue!
His soul suffered a fundamental and severe injury in this collision!

Qian Tianjue's smile finally froze on his face.

The powerful experts behind him were all on high alert, their magical power unconsciously reaching its limit as they stared in horror at the little girl who seemed like a deity descended to earth.

"Now, have you seen it?" Li Mengjin's voice remained cold, yet carried a hint of barely perceptible pride.

Qian Tianjue took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and stared intently at Li Mengyue, a complex light flashing in his eyes, a mixture of greed, fear, and fanaticism.

After a long while, he bowed in the direction of the Empress Dowager and said, "Your Highness's divine might is indeed well-deserved. I was presumptuous. Since Academician Li is in seclusion, I will not disturb him. I will take my leave now."

After saying that, he didn't linger and turned to leave with his disheveled men.

They actually chose to back down decisively!
In the instant they turned around, Qian Tianyu and Li Mengjin exchanged a glance, and the confrontation in their eyes was more dangerous than any sword fight.

What Li Mengjin saw was undisguised murderous intent and greed, but what he saw was a warning deep within Li Mengjin's cold eyes!

…………

The figures of the Daqian delegation disappeared in a disheveled state outside the palace gates, and only then did the chilling pressure within the Golden Palace slowly dissipate.

The ministers felt as if they had emerged from an ice cave, their backs already soaked in cold sweat.

"Dismiss the court." The Empress Dowager's voice carried a hint of weariness.

The young emperor, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, hurriedly departed surrounded by his eunuchs.

Soon, only the Empress Dowager, the Duke of Zhenguo, Li Mengjin, Li Mengyue, and the Imperial Preceptor Qingxu, who had remained silent as if he were detached from the matter, were left in the main hall.

"That Qian Tianjue will never let this go so easily."

The Duke of Zhenguo frowned deeply. He walked to the black footprints left by the old man from the Great Qian Dynasty, rubbed them with his boots, and felt a chilling aura rush from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.

He said in a deep voice, "This man is cunning and ruthless. He has suffered a setback today, and when he returns, he will surely use even more insidious methods. Our Great Yu has just experienced internal strife and is in dire need of rebuilding. We really cannot withstand another round of turmoil."

"He's not here to cause trouble, he's here to plunder."

Master Qingxu finally spoke. He walked to Li Mengyue's side, extended his finger, and a wisp of soft starlight touched her brow, calming her slightly disordered aura caused by activating the power of Yin. Li Mengyue's face regained some color, and she obediently thanked her master.

"Plunder?" The Duke of Zhenguo was taken aback.

Qingxu nodded, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and slowly said, "He came for that 'Dao Fruit'."

He did not hide anything and explained in a concise manner the ins and outs of Li Mengze's refining of the vengeful dragon and the condensation of the "Life and Death Dao Fruit," as well as the serious consequences that this matter might bring.

"In short, that kid Mengze forcibly refined the 'poison' of the century-old grudge between the Vengeful Dragon and the Dynasty into a 'great tonic pill.' Once he fully absorbs this pill, he will be able to ascend to the heavens in one step and possess unimaginable power."

Qingxu's tone became extremely solemn: "For those true immortal cultivation sects in the outside world, a Dao Fruit containing the rudiments of the Dao is worth more than a dynasty itself."

The Duke of Zhenguo was terrified. He had spent his life on the battlefield and considered himself fearless, but now, listening to the Grand Preceptor describe the future, he felt utterly powerless.

"Then what should we do?" the Empress Dowager asked calmly.

A glint of light flashed in Qingxu's eyes, "This is both a calamity and an opportunity! If Mengze can successfully refine the Dao Fruit, my Great Yu Dynasty will have a true guardian deity!"

His gaze finally settled on Li Mengjin.

"Commander Li, from today onwards, the defense of the capital must be completely changed."

Li Mengjin clasped his hands and said, "Please give your instructions, Imperial Preceptor."

"Ordinary armies are of limited use against true cultivators."

Qingxu pointed out incisively, "You need to establish a special team composed of martial artists and low-level cultivators, which I call the 'Immortal Slayer Guard.' Within the Exorcism Bureau, your elder brother left behind a vast amount of pills, talismans, and magical artifacts, which you can use at will. Duke Zhenguo, for this matter, you will need to select the most talented, resilient, and fearless elite soldiers from the army and place them under the command of Commander Li."

"It is my duty!" the Duke of Zhenguo readily agreed. "My Zhenguo Army may lack other things, but it certainly doesn't lack good men!"

"Furthermore," Qingxu looked at the Empress Dowager, "this old Daoist needs to mobilize the national treasury's resources to set up a simplified version of the 'Zhou Tian Xing Dou Grand Array'—the 'Zi Wei Guardian Array'—throughout the entire capital. Once this array is set up, it will be enough to withstand a full-force attack from a Nascent Soul stage cultivator. However, the materials required are extremely precious, almost depleting thirty percent of the national treasury's reserves."

"Please speak freely, Imperial Advisor."

Without hesitation, a resolute glint flashed in the Empress Dowager's eyes. "I will issue the decree immediately! With the nation in peril, nothing is more important than preserving this last foundation!"

(End of this chapter)