50: Chapter 50 Xia Ruotian

Star-Plucking Tower, top floor.

The tea was slightly cool.

Gu Sheng twirled the celadon cup in his hand.

"Human Emperor of Great Xia, Xia Ruotian." Gu Sheng threw out a name.

Ji Ruxue's hand tightened on her sword. "The strongest in the history of the Great Xia Dynasty. Rumor has it that he reached the Peak of Half-Saint fifty years ago and has been in seclusion ever since."

"Half-Saint?" Gu Sheng scoffed. "That's just something he put out to fool ghosts."

He tapped the System in his mind: "Pull up Xia Ruotian's panel."

[Retrieving...]

[Name: Xia Ruotian.]

[Identity: Human Emperor of Great Xia.]

[Cultivation: Early Stage Saint (Hidden State).]

[Character Tags: Old Schemer, Patient, Strategic Vision.]

[Host, this old guy hides deep. The entire Central Province thinks he's about to die of old age, but in reality, he crossed that threshold long ago.] The System's mechanical voice carried a hint of schadenfreude. [In one day, his second son had his Nascent Soul crippled in the Hundred Thousand Mountains, and his third prince had his legs crushed in Heavenly Saint City. Don't you think he's smashing cups in the palace right now?]

"If he were the type to smash cups, he wouldn't be called an Old Schemer." Gu Sheng finished the remaining tea in his cup.

"Revered Master." Ji Ruxue spoke. "Crippling two princes will surely provoke a reaction from the Great Xia Dynasty. The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion is in Heavenly Saint City; will we be targeted?"

"Targeted?" Gu Sheng stood up, walked to the window, and looked down at the bustling street. "I'm hoping he comes to target us. If he doesn't come, how can I sell intelligence? How can I collect protection fees?"

Great Xia Imperial Palace.

Yangxin Hall.

The scent of dragon saliva incense was faint.

Xia Ruotian was wearing casual clothes, sitting in front of a chessboard, playing against himself.

Black and white interwove, filled with murderous intent.

A dark guard leader dressed in black knelt three zhang away, his forehead pressed against the gold bricks.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Second Prince had his Nascent Soul crippled by people from the Xuanming Hall in Baicao Valley. The Third Prince had his legs broken on the main street of Heavenly Saint City by someone claiming to be from the Everlasting Gu Family."

After the dark guard leader finished speaking, he held his breath, waiting for the thunderous rage.

Xia Ruotian picked up a white stone and placed it on the board.

A crisp sound of placing a piece.

"Xuanming Hall, Everlasting Gu Family." Xia Ruotian's tone was calm, showing no joy or anger. "The second one went to the Hundred Thousand Mountains to seize the foundation of Baicao Valley. The third one went to the main street to snatch someone else's sword. Being unskilled and getting crippled, that just makes them trash."

The dark guard leader did not dare to respond.

"What has been found out about the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion?" Xia Ruotian asked.

"The shopkeeper of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, Su Jiuer, possesses a mesmerizing art that is nothing short of divine. The blind man outside the door wiped out four Late Stage Soul Transformation dark guards with a casual ripple. Suspected to be in the Creation Realm." The dark guard leader reported. "Additionally, Lu Changtian of the Hidden Family Lu went to the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion today, and subsequently went to the Star-Plucking Tower."

Xia Ruotian's hand paused as he placed the stone.

Lu Changtian.

Wasn't that old immortal about to kick the bucket? A few days ago, purple Qi came from the east above the Lu Family, the omen of a Saint being born—could it have been him?

"Everlasting Gu Family." Xia Ruotian muttered the name. "The Golden Great Era is approaching, and all sorts of monsters and demons are crawling out. This Gu Family must have a deep foundation to be able to make Lu Changtian visit in person."

"Your Majesty, should we send the Dragon Cavalry Guard to arrest them?" The dark guard leader asked.

"Arrest them?" Xia Ruotian threw the chess piece back into the bowl. "Arrest who? A mysterious force suspected of having a Saint backing them? The foundation of Great Xia is meant to deal with the struggles of the Great Era, not to avenge two useless sons."

He stood up and walked to the entrance of the palace.

"Issue an edict. Second Prince Xia Qingfeng and Third Prince Xia Qingyu have acted recklessly and brought shame upon the royal family. Strip them of their titles as princes, demote them to commoners, and confine them to the Imperial Clan Court."

The dark guard leader looked up abruptly.

"Also." Xia Ruotian looked toward the center of Heavenly Saint City. "Crown Prince Xia Qingyue, take charge of the state affairs. Within the territory of Great Xia, all matters concerning the Everlasting Gu Family and the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion shall be handled entirely by the Crown Prince. No one is to interfere."

"By your command." The dark guard leader withdrew.

Xia Ruotian stood with his hands behind his back.

Gu Family. Heavenly Secrets Pavilion.

Since you want to stir up trouble in the Central Province, then let Xia Qingyue test your depth. The throne of Great Xia is not so easy to sit on.

Star-Plucking Tower.

[Ding. Xia Ruotian has demoted Xia Qingfeng and Xia Qingyu to commoners. Crown Prince Xia Qingyue has obtained the authority to oversee the state.]

[Changed the succession pattern of the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty. Obtained 20,000 destiny points.]

Gu Sheng looked at the prompt on the panel and smiled.

"This old fox, he really knows how to ride the current."

"What is Revered Master smiling about?" Ji Ruxue asked.

"Smiling because the Emperor of Great Xia is a smart man." Gu Sheng sat back in the Revered Master's chair. "Not only did he not send anyone for revenge, but he also confined those two useless sons. He even pushed Xia Qingyue out to be a shield."

Ji Ruxue pondered for a moment. "He is testing us."

"Exactly. He is watching to see if the Everlasting Gu Family is qualified to be a partner of Great Xia." Gu Sheng stretched. "Since he wants to see, let's show him something stimulating."

"System, open the shop. I need something that can hold the fort."

[What type does the Host want? Magic Treasure? Formation? Or Cultivation Technique?]

"Formation. The kind that can cover the entire Heavenly Secrets Pavilion."

["Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Immortal Execution Formation" (Fragmented Version). Price: 5 million exchange points. Can withstand a full-force blow from a Peak Saint, and comes with a counter-attack effect.]

"Buy it."

Five million was deducted from Gu Sheng's account. A Formation Plate fell into his hand.

He threw the Formation Plate to Xuan Kong.

"Go to the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion and set this up."

Xuan Kong took the Formation Plate, scanned it with his Divine Sense, and gasped.

"Young Lord, this Formation..."

"Go set it up. Tell Su Jiuer that from tomorrow on, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion will raise its prices. All intelligence, double the cost." Gu Sheng ordered.

Xuan Kong received the order and left.

Hundred Thousand Mountains.

Baicao Valley.

The fragrance of medicine lingered.

Su Qianxue sat cross-legged beside the spiritual spring in the back mountain. The Spiritual Qi turned into tangible white mist, surging into her Meridians through her nose and mouth.

Danqingzi's Soul body floated in mid-air.

"Concentrate. The spiritual spring of Baicao Valley is formed by the accumulation of ten thousand years of medicinal dregs, and its medicinal power is overbearing. Use the Taiyi Divine Needle to protect your heart pulse." Danqingzi advised.

Su Qianxue followed his instructions.

The barrier of the Foundation Establishment Great Circle shattered inch by inch under the impact of the massive medicinal power.

Golden Core Stage.

A Spiritual Qi vortex formed above her head. A round Golden Core condensed within her Dantian.

Su Qianxue opened her eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air.

"Early Stage Golden Core." Su Qianxue clenched her fists, feeling the abundant power within her body.

"Barely passable." Danqingzi snorted. "I didn't think much of the resources of this Baicao Valley back then, but now it's your gain. Old Man Mu's life has been saved; where do you intend to go next?"

Su Qianxue stood up and looked north.

"Heavenly Saint City."

"Why go there? That place is a powder keg right now." Danqingzi frowned. "The Great Xia Imperial Dynasty, Hidden Families, and various Holy Lands are all gathered there. You are just a newly Core Formation Loose Cultivator, why join in the fun?"

"Luo Qingxue of the Xuanming Hall said that the waters of the Central Province are deep." Su Qianxue's eyes were clear. "But the deeper the water, the bigger the fish. The person I want to find and the revenge I want to take are all there."

Danqingzi was silent.

"Very well. I also left some things in Heavenly Saint City back in the day. Since you are going, let's go and reclaim my turf."

Su Qianxue turned and went to the bamboo building to bid farewell to Mu Qingteng.

Half an hour later, a sword light soared into the sky, left the Hundred Thousand Mountains, and headed straight for Heavenly Saint City.