northernbook Chapter 249 VIP
Chapter 249 VIP
Wicked Land —
The scenery of the evil land is the opposite of that of the fairy mountain. The valley is filled with scattered houses that look very dilapidated.
There were no residents in the house.
The fourth princess tried to push open the door of a villager's house, but found that the door was tightly closed.
A crow suddenly flew out of the yard with a strange cry, startling Yue An.
If there hadn't been people around, Yue An would have screamed.
“This place is gloomy and dark, perfect for you,” the Third Prince said calmly, joking with A-Chong.
Fortunately, I had the foresight to bring a body cultivator with me. Body cultivators are not suppressed by the Profound Qi realm, so there is no need to look for Immortal Spirit Fruits.
Now even his own sister has to rely on him. Ah Chong looks powerful, but when suppressed by the Buddhist beads, he's just a useless piece of trash.
He even felt that he was more suitable than his sister to compete for the throne, at least in terms of foresight, his sister was not as good as him.
"Third Brother, we should have arrived at the center of the small world, but there's no one here. I'm afraid there are other dangers," Yue An analyzed.
"Fourth Sister, I think you're overthinking it. Shi Zhen said that there's neither human nor demonic energy here, so it's safe."
The Third Prince scoffed.
Shi Zhen is the name of that body cultivator.
Yue An frowned. Ever since she arrived in this place, her own brother had been constantly contradicting her.
If Helian Chongguang hadn't been suppressed to the Spirit Sect Realm, would his third brother have refuted him like this?
He was still her brother, so Yue An didn't react.
This place is so quiet.
It was still daytime, but it was located in a valley, where sunlight could hardly reach, and it was shrouded in fog, making the light dim.
The group walked around the cursed land, and the only unusual thing was a dead tree in the center of the valley.
"A very strange place."
Ah Chong rarely speaks.
"Let's find the medicine first," Yue An ordered.
"I've wanted to do this for a long time. We're looking for medicine anyway, and this place is so strange, there must be some good medicine here." The Third Prince stretched and said, "Little sister, if your brother finds more than you, don't be jealous. We're all family."
Yue An: ...
The Third Prince led Shi Zhen away in a grand manner.
“I can kill him.” Helian Chongguang appeared silently behind Yue An and whispered.
Yue An was shocked: "Are you crazy? That's my brother."
“I mean Stone Town.”
"Father and the ancestors are watching. Don't even think about it. What good would it do us to eliminate Shizhen now? I don't want to make a fool of myself in front of everyone."
“Your brother looks down on you because he has that body cultivator by his side, and even thinks he can be better than you.”
"do not talk!"
"If your brother gets ahead of you in the end because of Shizhen, what will you do?"
Yue An was taken aback.
"We'll see when that time comes."
Yue An's eyes darkened as he whispered his instructions.
……
The Seventh Prince found some immortal fruits and restored Ming's cultivation. He was preparing to return to the mountain to take revenge when he discovered that the stone lamp had been destroyed without leaving a trace. He was so angry that he cursed.
Left with no other choice, he went to that wretched place.
But Ming still had a hunch, leaving a small black stone outside the stone lamp. As the two lit the stone lamp and disappeared, the small black stone fell to the ground with a thud, and returned to silence as the stone lamp went out.
……
Back at Aunt Kang's house, Chu Yu felt uneasy.
The lights in Lin Niangzi's house were also turned off, and the fairy mountain was pitch black and completely silent.
She stayed in the courtyard, closed her eyes, sat cross-legged, and began her cultivation.
After an unknown amount of time, Yue Ling came out. Chu Yu noticed the movement and opened his eyes.
Time flies, and it was already dawn.
"Ah..." Yue Ling yawned: "I didn't rest well."
Her eyes were dark and bluish, and she looked even worse than before she rested.
"It would be better not to sleep at all," she said, dissatisfied.
At this moment, the little wolf jumped out from behind Yue Ling and pounced into Chu Yu's arms.
Chu Yu patted its head, gave it a handful of spirit stones, and put it into the bracelet to rest.
Chu Yu told Yue Ling what Lin Niangzi had said and shared her idea of leaving the evil land. Yue Ling thought about it for a while and then agreed.
The two immediately set off and searched all over the sacred mountain, but found that they could not find the entrance to the cave below.
……
It was the third day, inside the palace.
Everyone got busy.
"In the next few days, guests from all directions will arrive to participate in and witness the investiture ceremony of the Crown Prince."
The eunuch in charge of ceremonies announced.
Several groups of people were dispatched from the palace: one group was busy preparing for the investiture ceremony, another group was responsible for receiving distinguished guests, and yet another group continued to monitor the progress of the medicine-finding conference.
"Your Majesty, why is the matter of choosing an heir being handled in such a hurry?"
After enduring for a long time, the imperial concubine finally mustered up the courage to ask.
Judging from this trend, the inauguration ceremony will probably be held less than a month after the medicine-finding conference ends.
Normally, the candidates should be decided first, and then the Ministry of Rites should select an auspicious day, make preparations, and prepare the list of participants for the ceremony.
This is in accordance with ancestral tradition.
"Haven't you all been urging me to establish an heir apparent as soon as possible?"
Just as he had dealt with the ministers of the previous dynasty, the emperor threw the question back at them, as if the matter of choosing an heir had nothing to do with him.
The Imperial Concubine, unsure how to respond, could only awkwardly laugh and continue, "Whether or not to establish an heir, when to establish one, and who to appoint, will naturally all depend on His Majesty's wishes..."
Before the emperor could react, the two monks suddenly moved, and the clanging sound of the rings on their staffs was extremely jarring.
When the Imperial Concubine learned that the Emperor was angry, she was terrified and turned pale. After a few breaths, she realized that she had spoken out of turn and immediately changed her words: "The selection of an heir is based on the selection of the virtuous and capable, not solely on the eldest son. The best should be chosen. Your Majesty's leniency and strictness are truly a blessing to our country."
The dangerous, tense atmosphere dissipated, and the emperor remained silent. Finally, it was the empress who gave her a look, and only then did the imperial concubine dare to sit down, easing the awkwardness.
The imperial concubine had just been frightened and was only now realizing what was happening.
He must have spoken the emperor's mind, which is why he was so furious.
His ideal heir apparent is probably not in the Lotus Secret Realm.
"Your Highness, you will accompany the Imperial Advisor to receive the guests." The emperor, who had just had an outburst, suddenly issued the decree as if nothing had happened.
As Shen Yuezi was trying to think of a reasonable way to politely refuse, the emperor said, "I am overwhelmed with other matters. You are the eldest prince of the royal family. Do you want to shirk responsibility and have the two ancestors personally receive the distinguished guests?"
This put Shen Yuezi in a dilemma. If he agreed, it would mean that he was acting on behalf of the emperor and doing what the emperor should do. If he didn't agree, he would be subjected to numerous high praises.
Seeing Shen Yuezi's predicament, the emperor suddenly laughed: "Or perhaps, seeing your younger siblings working so hard to find medicine in the Lotus Secret Realm, you also want to go in and try it yourself?"
Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts skipped a beat.
The purpose of this medicine-seeking conference was to select the most suitable candidate from among the potential heirs.
If the eldest prince really agrees to go in, wouldn't that mean he's participating in the struggle for the throne?
One second the emperor was erecting a memorial archway, saying that he selected the virtuous and capable as his heir, not solely by the eldest son, but by choosing the good and following him.
But the next second he did this.
He just didn't want people to criticize him for doing things entirely according to his own whims.
The imperial concubine was both anxious and angry, but she had just been reprimanded by the emperor and dared not speak out at this moment.
“Hey, how about this? After all, you joined halfway through and know more about the rules than your younger siblings, which is a bit unfair. So I'll punish you... to go in alone. How about that? You can't find helpers like your younger siblings do.”
A black line appeared on everyone's forehead.
With such high talent for cultivation, does the eldest prince need any help?
This penalty is essentially meaningless.
Shen Yuezi, having been arranged for so long, finally had a chance to speak and said with a smile, "Then I'll have to trouble my younger brothers and sisters. I'm going in now, but I'm going to help A-Ling cheat."
"Feng'er, what nonsense are you spouting? Quickly apologize to your father!"
The Queen was startled to hear her son using the word "cheating" so often.
He was bad to him, and even worse to his sister.
Shen Yuezi continued to laugh, "Your son is easily lost on his own. It's impossible to find the medicine in such a large secret realm. Father insists that I go in. Why not watch me look like I don't know the way? That would be so boring. Why not watch your son snatch the medicine? I guarantee you'll be satisfied."
"Father, you must show me the way."
He made his point very clear: if he were allowed in, it would be as if the emperor were publicly helping Yue Ling cheat.
"Useless! Get back to entertain the guests." The emperor glanced at him, but didn't linger. The next second, he blew his beard and scolded him.
This time, Shen Yuezi didn't refuse; she readily agreed, bowed, and turned to leave.
Firstly, he should know when to stop while he's ahead; secondly, if the emperor still doesn't agree, he has many more tricks up his sleeve.
"Change your clothes, put on a different outfit, and you don't look like a prince at all."
Upon hearing the emperor's instructions, the man responded with a "Yes."
……
Shen Yuezi took the register from the eunuch in charge of ceremonies.
"Your Highness, the guests who have come this time are of high status and will probably stay in the palace for a while. As for the accommodation arrangements, I have heard the officials of the Ministry of Rites discuss them, but they are still undecided and need your approval."
The eunuch in charge of ceremonies said politely.
Shen Yuezi changed into a black robe and a crimson gown, with hidden gold threads embroidered on them, which made his figure appear as majestic as a mountain and exuded extraordinary nobility. However, the black sword that he always carried, along with its unrestrained and sharp aura, ostentatiously highlighted the true nature of this sword cultivator.
He glanced at the list and found that the palace where each VIP would be staying had been arranged in advance.
This group of people are the best at reading the emperor's mood. If they want Shen Yuezi to take a look at them at this time, it probably means that they have decided that he is the next crown prince. They are rushing to curry favor with him and ask him to make the final decision, so as to show their obedience. They both please the emperor and get a chance to be seen by the next crown prince.
Shen Yuezi glanced through it and memorized it. The other royal families had all sent important members of their royal families, and even the Heavenly Court had sent celestial envoys. In addition, those cultivation families had all sent important figures.
These people have been on their way for a while now, and they will arrive in Yingdu in just a couple of days.
Each one of them deserves special attention, but getting this group together is bound to be troublesome.
Not only that, turning to the second page, there are also some prestigious sects coming. Apart from the Divine Wind Blade Hall, the other four major sects have also sent named disciples to present gifts. At the top of the list, there is a name shrouded in mysterious energy, but it is not clear who it is.
“This is a distinguished guest,” Ling Chan said. “He is said to be a reclusive master whose true strength is beyond our comprehension. We will probably only know when he arrives.”
“Our Wuyang royal family has practiced medicine for generations, staying away from strife and making friends all over the world. But if this ‘friend’ doesn’t even dare to report his name, breaking the royal family’s rules, we cannot receive him. As for who he is, just ask the royal ancestor.” Shen Yuezi closed the gift book and strode towards the rear hall of the palace.
When Shen Yuezi arrived at the rear hall, he met Master Diming and the two imperial ancestors.
After exchanging greetings, he briefly explained his purpose.
"This is a congratulatory invitation from the Heavenly Chen Immortal Sect," Elder Chunshan explained to Shen Yuezi.
"The five major sects have repeatedly expressed their goodwill towards our royal family. Since they have come with goodwill, we have no reason to refuse them."