The fake prince was exposed at the beginning, and I took office as emperor on the spot

Chapter 242 The Imperial Advisor Who Convinces Himself (Part 2)

After Sunaga left, the blocked ships continued to enter the port in the original order.

Many ships also approached to express their gratitude to Gu Fangchen. Gu Fangchen, of course, pretended to be impeccable, chatting with the merfolk and showing great knowledge of the entire maritime kingdom and the people in the shipping bureau. There was not a single flaw in her act.

Some people were initially skeptical because they were unfamiliar with the person "Mingluo," but seeing that he answered fluently and that other shipping company personnel testified that such a person did exist, they dispelled their doubts.

On the contrary, he was very envious because he had made a great splash this time and would definitely be promoted by the Grand Elder.

Gu Fangchen's move to borrow power from the merman elder was also due to his influence.

Of course, this was no coincidence, but a deliberate design.

Since Sunaga controls the [Snail Book], she can naturally know the situation within the entire Sea Kingdom. Even though the "Extinction" Path had infiltrated early on, and the Witch Clan's human skin was used as a cover, it could not completely block the [Snail Book]'s perception of the tides.

However, the [Snail Book] is not a book of destiny; it merely records the changes in the tides unconsciously.

If the results given by general causal analysis are rather riddle-like, one has to guess them oneself.

So, the "Snail Book" is just an encrypted version of the riddle.

Sunaga could only vaguely determine what had happened based on the information in the [Snail Book].

Even so, we must still take precautions.

Incidentally, the biggest beneficiary of the smuggling business is also this elder of the Merfolk.

In this "Mirror in the Dust", the position of Grand Elder is extremely dangerous, and there is basically no good ending for anyone.

The same goes for this elder; regardless of whether the player helps the "Extinction" Path or the Merfolk, his final fate is always tragic.

In the former case, the mermaid race was basically wiped out, and the remaining ones returned to a life of enslavement, just like before.

The latter, after Nasuna takes power, will carry out a major overhaul, with the Grand Elder bearing the brunt. His smuggling activities were exposed, making him the scapegoat.

It is clear that the two forces were already irreconcilably opposed.

Therefore, the "Extinction" Path Society chose the Ship Division as their infiltrator's identity. In this way, even if Sunaga discovered their secrets, they could use the power of the Grand Elder to maintain a balance of power.

However, what they were rehearsing was that their identities would be discovered by Sunaga's subordinates.

After all, the spies of the "Extinction" Path have been lurking in the Sea Kingdom for many years, so there's no reason why they would be exposed immediately just because someone else is replaced.

And now, having just entered the Sea Kingdom, Sunaga has come in person, as if she has sensed that something is wrong.

This is very unusual.

Gu Fangchen dismissed the merfolk and squinted at the enormous [Snail Book].

Only by looking at this "snail book" up close can one truly appreciate its immense size.

This part is not included in the storyline experienced by the player.

With all preparations complete for the "Extinction" Path, this route in the "Nine Netherworlds Descend" storyline is essentially a speedrun.

However, laying the foundation in the early stages is much more difficult than simply helping the merfolk.

After all, to join the Demonic Cult, one must gain the trust of the "Four-Phase Calamity Master," enter the upper echelons of the "Extinction" Path, and participate in such major events, which is not easy.

Once the true form of the "Four Phases of Calamity Lord" enters, things will be much easier.

All that's left is the question of how fast to kill.

Even if players arrive, they won't alert Sunaga at the beginning.

"So... the problem lies with me."

After a moment's thought, Gu Fangchen realized that her existence had triggered the change in the plot.

The antiquity of the [Snail Book] may also be related to the "Great Age of the Furnace". Perhaps it was her arrival that caused the [Snail Book] to move, which was then noticed by Sunaga and made her come here in person.

"The more this is the case, the more it proves that I made the right choice in coming here."

Something that never happened in the game, no matter which storyline you followed, has now happened.

That just shows that Gu Fangchen is one step closer to the truth that has not been revealed in the game.

……

Sunaga did not leave.

She stood on high ground, watching the scattered fishing lights weaving across the harbor's waters, her gaze lingering on Gu Fangchen and the others' fleet.

Once they reached the shore and began directing the loading and unloading of goods, he said coldly:

"Once the goods have entered the port warehouse, we will carefully inspect each item."

"Pay close attention to the movements of the crew on all the fishing boats that enter the port today, especially that one named Mingluo. Everyone on board must report their movements to us at all times."

The guards around him immediately nodded in agreement and then disappeared into the darkness.

Sunaga took a deep breath, frowned, and looked up at the deep night sky, a lingering unease still hanging over her heart.

I feel like... something is missing.

But when she recalled what had just happened, everyone was right under her nose, it was clear that it was just that Mingluo, relying on the support of the Grand Elder, suddenly stepped forward.

The only thing that could be wrong is this guy's identity.

Of course, it's also possible that this is a smokescreen.

The real problem lies with the other ships...

……

Although there was an extra episode involving Sunaga.

However, Gu Fangchen and his group still successfully set foot on the land of the Sea Kingdom. However, the price was probably because of his conspicuous and troublesome behavior. From today onwards, they will be monitored by the people of Sunaga every moment.

However, it doesn't matter.

It's even a good thing...

Because just now, Gu Fangchen's plan had been completed.

Gu Fangchen stood leisurely to the side, watching the boxes of goods being unloaded from the ship, then looked at the calm sea rippling with waves, and smiled silently.

The original plan of "Extinction" Dao was to wait until he entered the Sea Kingdom, lie in wait for a few days, integrate into it, and then take advantage of the weekly rotation of the ship captains to slowly set up the nodes of the "Trapping Dragon Formation".

Gu Fangchen then made a minor adjustment to the plan.

The main reason why the "Extinction" Dao and the Witch Clan need to infiltrate and integrate is that they do not know much about the current actions of the Sea Kingdom.

Out of caution, time is needed to conduct the investigation.

But this problem doesn't exist for Gu Fangchen.

He has dealt with the Sea Kingdom from both positive and negative perspectives, and even the High Priest may not know it as well as he does.

This buffer time can be eliminated.

Given the urgency of the situation, Gu Fangchen decided to unleash a "flash attack".

Upon entering the Sea Kingdom's barrier, he had already instructed the members of the Witch Clan and the "Extinction" Daoist followers responsible for setting up the formation to jump off the ship and dive into the sea to find the node below.

The few things on the ship now are just illusions created by a mirage.

It is guaranteed that no matter how much Sunaga monitors, as long as there is no physical contact, no clue will be discovered.

Furthermore, since Gu Fangchen has now obtained the power of the "Love" Dao, her mastery of the "Mirage Array" has already reached a superb level, and she has no worries about being seen through. However, the "Mirage Array" is still just an illusion and cannot be used to touch people.

Therefore, Gu Fangchen took the initiative to confront Su Najia, drawing her and everyone else's attention to herself.

This will also conceal the actions of those people underwater.

For merfolk, water and the sea are the places they are most familiar with.

And precisely because they are familiar with it, treating it as part of their own bodies, they no longer cast extra glances at the underwater area.

This is what they call "the darkest place is under the lamp".

Gu Fangchen attracted Su Naga's attention, making her believe that since the problem was with the ship, his mission was already complete.

At this moment, the plan to "annihilate" the Dao is also effectively over.

The next step is to wait for the node to complete and then activate the "Dragon Trapping Formation".

However, Gu Fangchen also has a lot to do.

After settling in, she was summoned by the Grand Elder and given a lecture. However, it was obvious that the old man was praising her in disguise, and he was secretly delighted that Sunaga had been humiliated in front of his subordinates.

Gu Fangchen was punished by being forced to face the wall in contemplation for three days, and also had her salary cut off for one month.

But this money belongs to Mingluo anyway, so what does it have to do with Gu Fangchen?

As soon as he returned to Mingluo's home, he found the merman sent by the Grand Elder to "supervise" his reflection in meditation waiting for him. Upon meeting him, the merman grinned and handed him a grotto ring.

Gu Fangchen scanned the contents with her divine sense and discovered that they were worth at least thirty-six months' salary.

"Lord Mingluo, I will be guarding this place for the next few days. Please bear with me."

The merman nodded and bowed, smiling obsequiously.

Gu Fangchen raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance:

"You're just guarding this door, how do you know I haven't sneaked out?"

The merman waved his hand:
"Lord Mingluo is joking. The Grand Elder only told me to guard the gate, 'Don't let Mingluo leave,' that's what he meant..."

Gu Fangchen nodded:
"So that means I can just not go in? Since I haven't gone in, there's no question of me going out."

The merman was taken aback, then gave Gu Fangchen a thumbs up.

Gu Fangchen turned around and went to another residence in Mingluo.

Mingluo works in the shipping department, so he naturally earns a lot of money and owns two houses. Since the elder's men have been sent to guard this place, he can just go to the other one.

Merfolk were enslaved by the witch tribe in the past, and spent almost their entire lives in the water, diving into the water to collect pearls and search for treasures for the latter. They had no good place to live and rested on the rocks and in caves on the water's edge.

Only a few merfolk, who are valued by the witch clan or chosen as male concubines, are given the same housing and clothing as the witch clan and are allowed to live like humans.

In theory, living in the water is the most primitive way of life for merfolk.

However, due to this influence over thousands of years, even the merfolk themselves felt that living as humans was the noblest thing to do. As a result, most of the time, they would appear in human form and hide their fish tails.

Everything from clothing and food to housing and transportation will be geared towards human needs.

It has to be said, it's quite ironic.

Gu Fangchen returned to the house and immediately began meditating and cultivating.

Now, he has almost absorbed and refined the divine souls in the "Spirit-Nourishing Bottle," and his divine cultivation has officially reached the fifth rank.

He originally intended to use the visualization method of the Heavenly Mandate Path to advance his career.

However, after realizing that something was wrong with the "Tao," he stopped relying on visualization techniques.

Any visualization method that touches upon the Great Dao might pollute him, so he decided to make use of the remaining divine soul in the "Spirit Condensation Bottle".

In addition, his resurrection was equivalent to undergoing a soul tempering at the edge of life and death. After this period of consolidation, he naturally advanced to the fifth rank.

Although the strength of one's soul will naturally increase to the fourth rank after transcending the tribulation, in the current situation, the stronger one is, the more protection one has.

"Speaking of which, since the [Snail Book] is acting strangely, there might be some clues about myself on it..."

Gu Fangchen opened her eyes and gazed thoughtfully at the enormous spectacle in the distance.

The "Snail Book" records the rhythm of the tides, and in fact, it is equivalent to a history book.

Since its birth, it has recorded every bit of information carried by each tide as it swept across the world.

Therefore, Gu Fangchen's background was also recorded there.

However, the content is too vast and complex, covering every detail, making it very difficult to find and translate.

"However, Sunaga has dragon blood."

Gu Fangchen stroked her chin, her eyes flickering.

Sunaga is an ancient first-generation merman, possessing the purest dragon blood, which allows her to summon the soul of a true dragon.

Although it's only an incomplete version and a one-time skill, it is still the soul of a true dragon.

Even Sunaga couldn't find the [Snail Book]; no one in this world could.

However... the true dragon's soul can.

Using this one-time skill, which at most puts you on par with the "Four-Phase Robbery Master," to find out the truth about Gu Fangchen's true identity... it's worth it!
Gu Fangchen made up her mind, but then a thought struck her. She turned around and heard a knock on the door.

"Tuk-tuk-tuk."

The third tone is perfectly standard.

But then the person seemed to hesitate and did not make a sound.

Gu Fangchen broke the silence with a dry cough:

"Grand Preceptor, what is it? Why don't we come in and talk?"

From the moment we landed, it was a whole day long, and because everyone needed to play their own roles, it was indeed not good to have open contact. However, the Grand Preceptor didn't even use telepathy.

It seemed more like he was sulking.

But as to why she was sulking... Gu Fangchen felt it definitely wasn't because she couldn't act like she was very familiar with Banruo Lianyue in front of her.

Moreover, she was angry for only one day before she took the initiative to come to him.

Could it be that the Imperial Advisor can actually soothe himself?

The door was pushed open, and the Grand Preceptor, dressed in a flowing Taoist robe, still possessed an ethereal air. His entire body was as white as a snowman, except for a bright red cinnabar mole between his eyebrows.

Seeing that Gu Fangchen was meditating, she walked up to Gu Fangchen, hesitated for a moment, straightened her Taoist robe, and then sat down next to Gu Fangchen, looking straight ahead with a very serious and solemn expression.

Gu Fangchen: "?"

He turned to look at Xu Fu, somewhat puzzled.

The Imperial Advisor still has a childlike heart; he suddenly came over just to sit next to him.
Xu Fu noticed Gu Fangchen's gaze, pursed his lips, lowered his eyes, and said somewhat stiffly:

“I used the names of those nine preachers as a clue to perform a divination.”

"If we want peace in the world, we must sever the cause and effect. Now, four out of nine remain... leaving five."

“One of them is… ‘Canliao’, which is myself.”

(End of this chapter)