Immortal Dynasty Hounds

Chapter 97 Princess Xin begins to strengthen the defenses of Shenjing City
"Ah."

The moment he stepped through the gates of the Jiutian headquarters, Lian Shanxin suddenly sneezed.

"What's wrong?" Qi Shiyun asked with concern.

Lian Shanxin touched his nose and muttered, "I have a feeling that someone is talking about me."

"That's normal. Right now, the whole capital city is probably talking about you." Qi Shiyun said with a hint of pride.

This is the chosen one she personally nurtured.

Compared to Lian Shanxin, the previous ninety chosen ones are somewhat insignificant.

Zhuo Biyu warned, "Axin, there may be other demonic cult members who are plotting against you."

"why?"

"You have offended the elders of the Demonic Sect, and the Demonic Sect will not let this go. I don't know what's wrong with the Demonic Sect, that they have invested so much power in the capital city."

At this point, Zhuo Biyu frowned slightly.

Although she was an undercover agent for the Demonic Sect, Xue Guanyin didn't actually tell her the inside story.

Zhuo Biyu only knew that the Demonic Sect had grand ambitions, but it seemed that Thousand Faces had thwarted them.

The internal management of the Demonic Cult is too chaotic.

Zhuo Biyu increasingly felt that following the Demonic Sect was not a wise choice.

Hearing Zhuo Biyu say this, Lian Shanxin didn't take it seriously. He had an inside man in the Demonic Sect, so he wouldn't fall for it easily.

Be especially careful of the Blood Guanyin.

This female demon is too powerful; even Xiaoqian can't handle her.

"It's alright. This is the capital city after all. People from the Nine Heavens don't need to hide from the demonic sect's evil people."

Having entered the Ninth Heaven, Qi Shiyun's courage grew considerably: "Ah Xin, you can come find me when you want to go out. If I have time, I'll go out with you. I also need to go out and cause trouble."

"what?"

Lian Shanxin thought he had misheard.

Then Qi Shiyun continued speaking as if it were a matter of course: "How can our lineage improve its strength if we don't cause trouble? Don't be afraid of high winds and rough waves. The bigger the winds and waves, the more we will thrive."

Zhuo Biyu: "..."

Tian Ji: "..."

"Come on, I'll take you to pay your respects to Master first. As long as you win Master's favor, you can do whatever you want in the capital city."

Qi Shiyun was still aware of the situation; she knew that the prerequisite for causing trouble everywhere was having a powerful backer.

But soon, the two were dealt a heavy blow.

"Qi Tanhua, Master Xie has gone into seclusion."

Yin Cunli first respectfully reported Xie Maizhu's whereabouts to Qi Shiyun, and then looked at Lian Shanxin with a complicated expression.

Zhuo Biyu approached Qi Shiyun and whispered a reminder: "Crazy Qi, do you still remember what Eunuch Wang said on the way to Shenjing City?"

"Master is attempting a breakthrough, a step towards immortality." Qi Shiyun hadn't forgotten.

Tian Ji's expression also turned serious: "Crazy Qi, you are now Xie's lifeline, but that only depends on whether Xie becomes a Grandmaster. If Xie becomes a deity, he will no longer be bound by such constraints, so you should restrain yourself a bit."

Lian Shanxin sensed something was wrong and his heart tightened.

Does a successful breakthrough by a player mean they're no longer considered a top player?

That can't be right. Even if there's no life-or-death bond, there's at least an emotional bond.

Qi Shiyun also said the same thing: "My relationship with my master is like that of a mother and daughter."

Tian Ji shrugged: "In short, we can't be too reckless. Master Xie definitely aspires to become an immortal."

"Qi Tanhua, is this the 'Heavenly Eye' who has just become famous in the capital?" Yin Cunli interrupted their conversation. "Aren't you going to introduce him to me?"

Lian Shanxin glanced at Yin Cunli with surprise, sensing a hint of hostility in the other's tone.

Tian Ji and Zhuo Biyu exchanged another glance, both noticing the schadenfreude in each other's eyes.

Qi Shiyun slapped her forehead and took the initiative to introduce, "Lian Shanxin is a prodigy I discovered in Jiangzhou, whom I brought into our Heavenly Chosen lineage. Ah Xin, this is Yin Cunli, who is considered your second senior brother."

"Second senior brother?"

Lianshan Xin remembered that of all Xie Maizhu's disciples, only Qi Shiyun survived.

and so……

Yin Cunli extended his right hand to Lian Shanxin: "It's a pleasure to meet you. I am the second chosen one personally selected by Qi Tanhua."

The gloating in Tian Ji and Zhuo Biyu's eyes became increasingly obvious.

Tian Ji added, "The first one has already committed suicide."

Zhuo Biyu then added, "Yin Cunli was also Qi Fengzi's savior and a devoted follower."

Lian Shanxin glanced at Qi Shiyun again.

Qi Shiyun did not deny it.

Then Lianshanxin understood.

This guy sees himself as both a competitor and a love rival.

"Nice to meet you."

Lian Shanxin grasped Yin Cunli's hand, and after carefully examining Yin Cunli, he suddenly let out a scream and fell backward to the ground.

"Ah-Shin?"

Qi Shiyun and the other two became tense.

Qi Shiyun immediately hugged Lian Shanxin tightly, then glared at Yin Cunli: "What kind of vicious thing did you do?"

"I……"

Yin Cunli looked completely bewildered: "I just shook hands with him."

Zhuo Biyu looked at Yin Cunli's black hands and sneered, "Your hands have turned black, and you still say it was just a handshake. Yin Cunli, you've become increasingly domineering because you saved Qi Fengzi once. People who don't know the situation would think that you're in charge of the Chosen Ones."

"I really didn't do anything." Yin Cunli was almost in tears.

But looking at his blackened hands, his eyes were also filled with confusion.

Seeing that Yin Cunli didn't seem to be acting, Tian Ji had a sudden thought and made a calculation with his right hand.

Damn it.

Master is right, divinations that are detrimental to unity should not be performed.

"Crazy Qi, settle Ah Xin in first. I'll find someone from the Heavenly Doctor lineage to treat him."

Tian Ji stepped in and smoothed things over.

Qi Shiyun glared fiercely at Yin Cunli: "You'd better pray that A-Xin is alright. I've told you so many times, infighting within the Heavenly Chosen lineage won't increase your cultivation. Always jealous of talent and ability, what great things can you accomplish?"

At this moment, Lian Shanxin, who was in Qi Tanhua's arms, opened his eyes and winked at Yin Cunli.

Fearing that Yin Cunli might still be rational, he even whimpered and changed his head-resting position.

Qi Tanhua's embrace was so warm.

Bigger is justice.

Yin Cunli and Lian Shanxin exchanged a glance, finally realizing they had been framed. Enraged, Yin Cunli laughed: "Lian Shanxin, you deliberately framed me?"

"Enough! Aren't you embarrassed enough already?" Qi Shiyun couldn't take it anymore. "Do you have to make this a big deal? Don't you have any sense of the bigger picture?"

"I……"

Yin Cunli felt incredibly frustrated.

However, since Qi Shiyun had put it this way, he could no longer intervene.

He could only watch helplessly as Lian Shanxin lay in his goddess's arms, deliberately showing off to him.

Then they watched helplessly as the four people left.

He was left standing there, bewildered in the wind.

After Qi Shiyun's figure completely disappeared, Yin Cunli's expression gradually returned to normal.

"Your chosen one lineage is quite united."

A woman dressed in black emerged from the corner at some point, looking at Yin Cunli with a half-smile.

Yin Cunli's voice was cold: "I don't understand what you're talking about."

The woman in black chuckled, "Your superiors sent you to test the strength of Lian Shanxin, but you were framed and didn't even lift a finger. This isn't the result they wanted."

Yin Cunli sneered, "If they want to test us, let them do it themselves. I'm not going to be the first to stick their neck out. He can even see through a thousand faces. If I were to make an enemy of him, how many lives would I have? Don't you have any secrets you don't want outsiders to know?"

"So you deliberately revealed your hostility? So he would be on guard in advance." The woman in black looked down at Yin Cunli's hands and asked in surprise, "You didn't prepare this poison yourself, did you?"

Yin Cunli's lips twitched: "I did prepare it, and he added some too, so now it's a mixed poison. That kid's cunning enough, he looks like he'll live a long life."

The woman in black said, "...Your chosen one lineage really knows how to play games. How are you going to explain this when the higher-ups question you?"

Yin Cunli bowed deeply towards Xie's secluded cultivation room: "If the higher-ups believe that someone else can replace me in the Heavenly Chosen lineage, I am ready to serve at any time."

He has worked hard to climb to his current position as the leader of the chosen lineage under Qi Shiyun. If he doesn't hold military power and make himself influential, how can he live up to the hardships he has endured along the way?
……

boom!
Upon arriving at her room, Qi Shiyun threw Lian Shanxian directly onto the ground.

Before even landing, Lian Shanxin sprang to his feet in a somersault.

"Not pretending anymore?" Qi Shiyun asked.

Lian Shanxin shrugged: "It's not that I'm pretending. Yin Cunli is clearly targeting me. Even Tian Ji could hear the hostility in his tone."

Tian Ji: "? Brother, what do you mean?"

Lian Shanxin didn't explain his meaning, but asked curiously, "Is Yin Cunli faking it or is he really? Normally, if the Second Elite wanted to deal with me, he wouldn't have revealed his hostility so obviously, right?"

"Half fake, half real, Yin Cunli is His Majesty's man."

Qi Shiyun casually revealed the important secret of the chosen one lineage.

This startled both Zhuo Biyu and Tian Ji.

"His Majesty's men?"

"you know?"

Zhuo Biyu and Tian Ji spoke one after the other.

Qi Shiyun's tone was very casual: "What's so strange about that? Do you think His Majesty didn't mix in any spies from the Heavenly Sword lineage and the Heavenly Calculation lineage?"

Tian Ji had nothing to say.

He seems to be the sand that Emperor Yongchang mixed in.

Now... it's a long story.

"It's perfectly normal that His Majesty would want to hold such a sharp divine sword as the Nine Heavens. Our chosen lineage is especially vulnerable within the Nine Heavens. It would be ideal if we could completely bring it under our control. My master and I knew from the beginning that Yin Cunli was His Majesty's man, but that's not important. What's important is that Yin Cunli is a smart man. Even if he's gone, someone else will come along, so it's better to keep him."

At this point, Qi Shiyun looked at Lian Shanxin and explained, "He probably didn't want to be your enemy, so he sent you a signal to be wary in advance. If Yin Cunli really wanted to harm someone, he wouldn't do it like this; he would do it secretly without making a sound. Several chosen ones have died this way."

Although Lian Shanxin was startled, he remained calm. He realized this as well and nodded slightly: "The fact that he had poison on his hands means that he didn't originally intend to fight me. He was probably acting under orders, but he didn't want to offend me completely, so he just went through the motions."

Tian Ji was dumbfounded: "He really has poison on him? Did my divination fail me?"

He only realized that Lian Shanxin himself had poisoned him.

Considering that Lian Shanxin's father ran a clinic, it made perfect sense that Lian Shanxin knew poisons, and Tian Ji never doubted that he had miscalculated.

But now it seems that he didn't calculate everything.

"No, why can't I figure out Yin Cunli?" Tian Ji questioned.

Zhuo Biyu explained, "Isn't the reason obvious? Yin Cunli's strength surpasses yours, or he has a powerful figure behind him who can shield your Tiansuan lineage from divination. This perfectly matches what Qi Fengzi said about his background."

Tian Ji's mouth gaped slightly, somewhat frightened: "Why is your chosen one lineage so complicated?"

Qi Shiyun sneered, "Do you think the Heavenly Calculation lineage is simple?"

Tian Ji scratched his head: "I think it's pretty simple."

Lian Shanxin couldn't help but laugh.

Given your background, it's impossible for the Tian Suan lineage to be so simple.

"With a thousand-year-old heritage, the Nine Heavens have fought with the outer court and coexisted with the royal family. It's perfectly normal for the internal situation to be a bit complicated." Lian Shanxin said, quite unfazed. "I'm just curious about one thing: who ordered Yin Cunli to test me?"

All three eyes were fixed on Lian Shanxin.

They also began to think about this issue.

Zhuo Biyu's heart leaped into her throat: "Axin, where did you give yourself away that allowed His Majesty to discover your weakness?"

Lian Shanxin carefully reviewed the situation for three minutes.

Then his face turned pale, and he suddenly stood up: "It's still Zeng Ningbing's problem."

"How to say?"

“My divine eye can see through a thousand faces, so it shouldn’t be unable to see through Zeng Ningbing’s royal bloodline. Although this cannot be completely confirmed, for His Majesty, who is supreme, doubt is a crime.”

Lian Shanxin, as the top detective in Jiangzhou, knows that seeing through a thousand faces does not mean seeing through Zeng Ningbing's bloodline.

If this were in my previous life, it wouldn't have been considered evidence to prove Lian Shanxin's guilt.

But this is Yu the Great.

When you encounter a suspicious emperor, you don't need any evidence at all.

Emperor Yongchang was already quite merciful to be willing to prove it.

All three were persuaded by Lian Shanxin and realized the seriousness of the problem.

Tian Ji muttered, "The Second Prince's accusations will naturally arouse His Majesty's suspicions. In addition, with Ah Xin's talent being exposed, His Majesty is indeed very likely to overthink things, unless it can be proven that Zeng Ningbing is not a princess at all."

“It’s unlikely. Elder Zeng is His Majesty’s confidante, that’s already confirmed.” Zhuo Biyu said in a deep voice, “Whether Elder Zeng has had children with other men over the years is easy to find out. Chi Zhongwu is not dead, so we can’t even fake Elder Zeng’s experiences.”

Qi Shiyun looked at Lian Shanxin: "Axin, your joining our lineage is also a crime in His Majesty's eyes. If you were from another lineage, His Majesty might think you wouldn't have the guts. But no one knows better than His Majesty how audacious the people of our lineage are. I understand, His Majesty wants to know if you have mastered the true meaning of slaying dragons. Fortunately, you didn't fight Yin Cunli just now."

Upon hearing this, Lian Shanxin's heart stirred: "That's right, once the true meaning of slaying the dragon is exposed, the evidence will be irrefutable. However, His Majesty is truly a benevolent ruler."

He means it.

Although the top leader had ignored him at the gates of Shenjing City, only mentioning Qi Shiyun, Tian Ji, and Zhuo Biyu.

Now they've sent someone to test him.

But given his status as the top leader, the fact that he still wanted to investigate him instead of killing him directly made Lian Shanxin feel ashamed of himself.

"Your Majesty's mercy is my opportunity. Of course, I must thank Thousand Faces."

Lian Shanxin activated the "Soul-Capturing and God-Snatching Scripture" again, revealing his "innate allure," and then looked at Tian Ji.

"Brother Tian, ​​you should go and pay your respects to Master Tiansuan as soon as possible."

Tian Ji understood what Lian Shanxian meant: "Don't worry, Master made it very clear when he cast the divination for His Majesty before, and it won't change. If His Majesty sends someone to ask again, the answer will still be the same—the dragon's offspring are born with a charming nature."

"Also, Brother Tian, ​​I expect to become quite famous in the capital these next few days, which will make it a bit inconvenient for me to travel. Just now, at the city gate, Qianmian asked to meet me. If I travel in my true form, I'm afraid His Majesty will send someone to test me again. Brother Tian, ​​could you lend me a hand?"

"How can I help you?" Tian Ji asked.

"Brother Tian, ​​please give me a drop of your true blood," Lian Shanxin said solemnly. "Brother Tian's strength surpasses mine, but the 'Myriad Manifestations True Scripture' is exceptionally wondrous. If I have Brother Tian's essence blood as a guide, I can transform into Brother Tian's appearance for a short time and deceive everyone. In this way, Brother Tian can also hide his identity and appear in another place to do what you want." Tian Ji's heart stirred.

Lian Shanxin deliberately led the conversation: “Brother Tian, ​​although the four of us are united, we must all have our own little secrets. If you want to create an alibi, once you have your essence blood, you can come to me for help, and I will definitely do my best to assist you.”

"Ah Xin, from now on you are my half-brother." Tian Ji grabbed Lian Shan Xin's hand.

An alibi is a huge temptation.

Not only Tian Ji, but even Qi Shiyun and Zhuo Biyu were tempted.

Qi Shiyun thought to herself that if she had an alibi, it would be much easier for her to become the third-ranked scholar in the future.

Zhuo Biyu thought to herself that if she had an alibi, she wouldn't be afraid of being discovered when she met with her "family" in the future.

Lian Shanxin turned "The True Scripture of All Things" into "The True Scripture of Open Source".

To make the members of the Yixin Association more united.

"This is my true blood."

Tian Ji forced out a drop of true blood, but unfortunately he was not a grandmaster, otherwise this drop of true blood could have contained his martial arts heritage.

Lian Shanxin carefully preserved Tian Ji's true blood in a specially made jade bottle to prevent it from losing its vitality.

The top-ranked guy wants to investigate me? Well then, let the investigation come on strong!

With his innate allure and true dragon bloodline, Lian Shanxin is curious to see what the number one on the leaderboard will do.
So what if I kill your daughter?
Lian Shanxin realized that if you don't want others to know, you shouldn't do it in the first place. Since he had already done it, he would admit it.

He simply couldn't believe that the top leader would kill a real prince for a dead, nameless daughter.

"Ah Xin, can you impersonate me?" Qi Shiyun asked.

Lian Shanxin explained, “Qi Tanhua, the difference in our strength is too great, and there is also a difference between men and women. If I can disguise myself as Tian Ji and remain undetected for half an hour, I might only be able to disguise myself as you for a moment.”

“That works too. Sometimes just showing your face will do.” Qi Shiyun’s eyes lit up: “I’ll give you a drop of blood too.”

Zhuo Biyu silently handed over a jade bottle, on which was marked her name: "Mine."

Lian Shanxin: "...We truly are good friends who are united as one."

Even among the four of them, not a single one has a pure heart.

"By the way, should we obediently stay in Jiutian and wait for the investigation?" Lian Shanxin asked. "Qianmian gave me an address and said he wanted to see me. I'm afraid he'll get impatient waiting if we pretend to be friendly with this kind of big devil."

Zhuo Biyu was very understanding: "Ah Xin is in a bad situation, so the three of us should be more understanding and cooperative with him."

That way, if my identity is ever exposed, the three of you will have to understand and cooperate with me.

Zhuo Biyu wholeheartedly supports her like-minded friends.

Lian Shanxin was deeply moved; this was the warmth of her family.

However, in Jiutian, the support from her family was of no use.

Qi Shiyun shook her head and said, "The imperial edict says that we must remain in seclusion in the Nine Heavens to reflect on our mistakes and accept investigation. The results will be submitted to the Emperor for review in three days. Since that's the case, we definitely cannot leave the Nine Heavens within three days unless the investigation is ended early. Ah Xin, Yin Cunli failed to find out your true strength this time. I estimate that others will come to cause you trouble. Remember, no matter who comes, do not use the Dragon-Slaying True Intent."

"Qi Tanhua, even ordinary people wouldn't recognize the true meaning of 'Slaying Dragon'."

"I don't know him, but His Majesty knows, and the real experts in the royal family know him. Moreover, verifying this is too easy."

……

into the night.

Lian Shanxin had just settled down and hadn't fallen asleep yet when he heard a familiar voice.

"Ah-Xin, it's me. I've come out for a bit. The Heavenly Empress wants to see us."

The speaker was Qi Shiyun.

Lian Shanxin opened the door and saw that Qi Shiyun and the other two were already standing in the courtyard.

"The Empress Dowager has summoned me?"

"Yes, I guess they're asking about our Jiangzhou affairs. Tian Ji, watch your mouth."

Qi Shiyun gave Tian Ji a special reminder.

In her opinion, among the four, Tian Ji had the worst mental fortitude.

However, Tian Ji was in a good mood and full of confidence: "Don't worry, my master said that they have persuaded His Majesty that they will not go on a killing spree because of this."

"Then we must be careful, lest we give others something to gossip about," Zhuo Biyu reminded her.

"I understand, Qi Fengzi. You'll be the first one in later. Remember to give the same statement we agreed on."

"Don't worry, as long as you don't get into trouble, none of us will get into trouble," Qi Shiyun said in a deep voice.

The diva did not summon all four of them at the same time, but she gave them an opportunity to collude beforehand.

Lian Shanxin pondered it and also sensed the attitude of raising something high and then letting it go gently.

The Empress certainly didn't want anything to happen to Jiutian, but His Majesty's orders had to be carried out.

That's why this arrangement came about.

After realizing the mystery behind it, Lian Shanxin felt certain.

This is why it's so easy to get an official position if you have connections in the central government.

Qi Shiyun was the first to go in.

Zhuo Biyu is the second one.

Tian Ji was the third.

Each person took about fifteen minutes.

After they came out, they all looked noticeably relaxed.

"The Queen is on our side, there's no problem. Remember to make a good impression on her," Qi Shiyun reminded her.

Lian Shanxin nodded.

After Tian Ji came out and heard his name called, Lian Shanxin stepped into the main hall of the Jiutian headquarters.

Before he could even check his surroundings, Lian Shanxin was completely captivated by the Empress Dowager sitting in the center of the room.

She simply sat there, without speaking or moving, yet an aura naturally emanated from her that took one's breath away. It was a unique charm that blended ultimate beauty with supreme power, possessing both the gentle radiance of an empress and the unfathomable depth of someone who held the power of life and death.

Her nobility was not merely superficial jewels and precious stones, but a regal air deeply ingrained in her very being and permeated every breath, inspiring awe and reverence in all who came before her.

Her presence was the most dazzling and unquestionable symbol of power at the pinnacle of the Nine Heavens Headquarters and even the entire dynasty. When her gaze fell upon Lian Shanxin, an aura of majesty that made people dare not look directly at her enveloped the entire space as if it were a tangible reality.

"Lianshan letter?"

Lian Shanxin composed himself, bowed his head, and said, "Greetings, Empress."

"Raise your head and look at me. The Heavenly Sword praises you as having 'Heavenly Eyes,' where a thousand faces cannot hide from you. If you can see through any of my secrets, I will reward you handsomely."

The Empress Dowager clearly wanted to test whether Lian Shanxin's "Heavenly Eye" was truly worthy of its name.

Since the Empress had made this request, Lian Shanxin looked up and stared directly at her, his eyes filled with no fear, only inquiring curiosity and amazement at her beauty.

The Empress's beauty was unparalleled; her skin was as white as snow, flawless and radiant, as if meticulously sculpted from the finest mutton-fat jade. Her features were exquisitely beautiful, like those of a fairy in a painting, every line perfectly proportioned, creating a transcendent perfection. Most captivating were her phoenix eyes, deep and unfathomable like a cold, ancient well, brimming with wisdom that understood the world and an aura of absolute authority.

These eyes, though not deliberately sharp, naturally possess a commanding presence that makes one afraid to look directly at them, as if they can penetrate the heart and see through all the illusions of the world.

When those phoenix eyes met the Heavenly Eye, nothing happened.

Lian Shanxin was somewhat disappointed that his talent hadn't activated randomly.

In Lian Shanxin's view, using "Skynet" to investigate the Empress was a complete waste. The gap in strength between him and the Empress was too great; it would only deplete the reputation he had accumulated.

"What did you see?" The Empress asked softly.

Lian Shanxin spoke frankly: "I could see that the Empress was absolutely stunning."

The Empress chuckled lightly: "Xie Tianxia always surpassed me on the list of beauties. Save that flattery for your clan leader."

Lian Shanxin's heart stirred.

The leader of the group is so beautiful, how did that perverted guy on the top spot manage to resist?
Or did you just not be able to resist?

"Didn't you notice anything else?"

Lian Shanxin shook his head: "Your Majesty's strength surpasses that of a thousand faces. I can see through a thousand faces, but I cannot see through Your Majesty."

"Have you seen through Thousand Faces? Or are you in cahoots with Thousand Faces?"

It was like thunder exploding in my ears.

The Empress suddenly switched to her majesty mode, filling the entire space with her oppressive aura.

"Answer me, are you a spy for the Demonic Cult?"

Lian Shanxin was terrified and instinctively gathered his martial arts essence to resist the Empress's pressure. His innate charm naturally caught the Empress's eye.

"what?"

A hint of surprise flashed in the Empress's phoenix eyes: "You..."

Lian Shanxin loudly proclaimed, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. This humble servant is sworn enemies with the Demonic Sect."

The Empress looked at Lian Shanxin, who was plain-looking but incredibly charming, and her phoenix eyes held an even stronger strangeness.

Are you from Jiangzhou?

Lian Shanxin was taken aback, not expecting the Empress to ask him such a simple question, and nodded blankly.

"Jiangzhou native... what is the true essence of martial arts that you have mastered?"

"The true meaning of penetrating emptiness."

"anything else?"

Lian Shanxin hesitated for a moment, but still went all out: "I dare not deceive Your Majesty, this humble servant has also mastered the true meaning of bewitching."

The Empress recalled Lian Shanxin's intelligence and basically confirmed her guess, but still asked responsibly, "In less than half a month, you have mastered two martial arts essences?"

"Yes, the student may be exceptionally gifted."

“It’s truly a gift.”

The Empress Dowager snapped her fingers.

"Come out."

A prisoner dressed in prison clothes emerged from behind the pillar.

His beard was unkempt and he had no regard for his appearance, but his eyes were very bright when he looked at Lian Shanxin, and there was a hint of murderous intent in his eyes.

"You are……"

The prisoner smiled coldly: "You may call me Your Highness."

"Second Prince?"

Lian Shanxin was startled.

This time I was genuinely surprised.

Did the top-ranking figure call out the second prince to test him?

He guessed correctly.

The Empress Dowager instructed, "Second son, you have already reached the Grandmaster level. Have a go at Lian Shanxin. If you can defeat Lian Shanxin within ten moves, your father will treat you leniently."

The second prince shook his neck and said in a deep voice, "Although I don't know why Father wants me to fight him, why ten moves? Three moves are enough."

"Then let's get started. With me here, nothing will go wrong."

As soon as the Empress finished speaking, the Second Prince pounced on Lianshan Xin like a hungry tiger.

A fierce glint flashed in Lian Shanxin's eyes. Instead of retreating, he advanced, allowing the Second Prince to strike him on the head with a palm while he slashed at the Second Prince's head with his sword.

The second prince was of a higher cultivation level and had more combat experience than him. Without using the True Intent of Dragon Slaying, he could not defeat the second prince.

Even if we use it, it might not work.

Therefore, Lianshanxin went all out and took a drastic approach.

He bet the Empress wouldn't want the Second Prince and him to both suffer heavy losses.

However, before the Empress could make a move, the Second Prince took action on his own.

A dragon roared.

Lian Shanxin's body stiffened for half a second.

In that half-second, the Second Prince's right hand, which had been slapping Lian Shanxin's head, landed on his chest.

boom!
Lian Shanxin was sent flying, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

The second prince did not pursue, but simply stood there arrogantly: "Three moves!"

The Empress slightly raised her right hand, drawing the blood that had spilled from Lian Shanxin's mouth to her fingertips.

"Second brother, you can go back to the Ministry of Justice prison now."

The second prince, still putting on airs, said, "Your Majesty, I..."

"roll."

"Okay, I'll take my leave."

The second prince disappeared swiftly.

The Empress's gaze remained fixed on the blood swirling at her fingertips. Without raising her head, she ordered, "Lian Shanxin, you may now step down."

Lian Shanxin wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and walked heavily out of the main hall of the Nine Heavens.

"You come out too."

After Lian Shanxin disappeared, a middle-aged man emerged from the darkness. He was dressed in a dragon robe, had a square face, a majestic demeanor, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, and exuded the aura of a king.

"I understand why you care so much about this Lianshan Xin, and even came to observe him in person."

The Empress Dowager sneered and flicked the blood from her fingertip at Emperor Yongchang: "Look what you've done!"

Emperor Yongchang received Lian Shanxin's true blood, feeling the bond of blood ties, and subconsciously activated the immortal technique passed down by the royal family, "Chenji Sacred Dragon Bloodline Scripture".

The next moment, a small blood-red dragon could be vaguely seen within the true blood.

"it is true."

Emperor Yongchang was both surprised and delighted.

The Empress Dowager snorted coldly: "He is real, and Zeng Ningbing is real too. Your Majesty, this is truly a cause for celebration."

Emperor Yongchang's smile instantly froze on his face.

The Empress Dowager sneered repeatedly: "A prince who breaks the law is subject to the same punishment as a commoner. Your Majesty, would you like Lian Shanxin to pay with his life?"

Emperor Yongchang: "..."

……

A gentle night breeze caressed Lian Shanxin's face as he walked out of the main hall of the Nine Heavens headquarters.

"Ah Xin, how is it?" Qi Shiyun and the other two immediately surrounded them.

Lian Shanxin looked at the three of them, a slight smile on his pale face: "The light boat has already passed ten thousand mountains!"

Starting tonight, Princess Xin will be increasing the strength of the capital city!
　An 8000-word chapter has been delivered. Thank you to Xiaoyaoshanshui, Tuzairenzhentingshu, and Rider1994 for their generous donations.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)