NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 363: A Web of Intrigue
Chapter 363: A Web of Intrigue
The three of them arrived at the emperor’s study.
There sat the new emperor, the Fifth Prince, slumped on the dragon throne. His face was pale, his eyes bloodshot, as if he had aged thousands of years in a single day.
It hadn’t been long since he had ascended the throne, and already such a catastrophic event had occurred. The Empire had suffered immense losses, and the pressure on him as the new ruler was unimaginable.
Chi Sui, Zhao Ming, and Xu Lian exchanged glances before silently bowing in respect.
The emperor’s gaze turned to them, cold as the depths of winter. His voice cracked with exhaustion. “Explain yourselves.”
Xu Lian stepped forward. “Your Majesty, back then, this humble servant successfully refined two Metamorphosis Elixirs. The Quasi-Supreme took the elixirs to submit them to the imperial court. According to tradition, after refining the elixir, I proclaimed a holiday and allowed my subordinates to claim their rewards. Then I returned to the capital with the Second Senior Sister and the Junior Sister. Only then did I hear the devastating news that the exclusive cultivation resource zone had been plundered.”
Chi Sui and Zhao Ming followed suit and recounted their experiences in detail. They were both within their respective Zones, diligently working on refining the Metamorphosis Elixir, when the Quasi-Supremes guarding their Zones suddenly departed for unknown reasons. Shortly thereafter, an overwhelmingly powerful expert broke through the protective barriers of the zones, stormed inside, and with a single wave of his hand, expelled everyone present. The intruder then proceeded to plunder the rare medicinal herbs and exotic beasts within.
The emperor listened silently, his face etched with fatigue. He opened his mouth to speak, but found himself at a loss for words.
What could these three disciples do against an expert with the strength of a Quasi-Supreme? Even Chi Sui, despite being a Sage-level cultivator, would have been powerless in the face of such an adversary.
Deep down, the emperor knew that it wasn’t entirely their fault. The pressure he faced, however, was suffocating. The Emperor was furious and personally demanded answers within three months. Yet the Emperor lacked the authority to hold the three Quasi-Supremes accountable for abandoning their posts. All he could do was to vent his frustration on these three masters.
“Don’t give me any excuses about how the three Quasi-Supremes neglected their duties! Are you saying that you yourselves have no responsibility?” The Fifth Prince’s face twisted in rage, with bulging veins on his forehead. “I entrusted the three of you with overseeing the exclusive cultivation resource zones, placing great hope in your abilities. And this is how you repay me?”
His voice rose sharply. “Why weren’t other alchemists’ zones targeted, but all three zones under your supervision were looted? What does that tell us?”
He didn’t wait for an answer. “It tells us that you’ve been negligent in your duties! Your lax management has given the thieves an opening!”
Chi Sui, Zhao Ming, and Xu Lian kept their heads bowed in silence, enduring the verbal beating.
The Fifth Prince’s piercing gaze was fixed on Xu Lian. “Especially in Qin Feng’s zone! The Quasi-Supreme had only been gone for a short while, and the thieves already knew. Why? How could they time their attack so precisely?”
His voice thundered through the room. “This proves that there must be spies among your subordinates! And you-you were completely oblivious! As the overseer, what exactly did you do?”
By now, the Fifth Prince was roaring furiously.
Xu Lian replied quietly, “This humble servant is guilty.”
The emperor closed his eyes, his expression heavy with disappointment. “I placed great trust in the three of you and gave each of you the supervision of an exclusive cultivation resource zone. However, you’ve disappointed me so much that I don’t want to see your faces anymore. Go to the Ministry of Justice and reflect on your failures.”
With that, a group of imperial guards rushed into the room.
Chi Sui, Zhao Ming and Xu Lian offered no resistance – they dared not. The Supreme of the Empire was no mere figurehead, and each of them had families to consider. Silently, their faces filled with despair, they were escorted to the Ministry of Justice.
Meanwhile, the thousands of apprentice alchemists and tens of thousands of gardeners who had knelt outside the palace gates were also rounded up and thrown into the imperial dungeons. Their survival depended entirely on the mercy of their superiors. Corporal punishment was inevitable.
The news of the Qian Dynasty’s three exclusive cultivation resource zones being completely looted spread like wildfire across the land. The empire’s top factions couldn’t help but laugh at the spectacle.
“They put so much faith in those three, and look where it got them,” one elder sneered.
Another chuckled darkly. “Even with all their resources and manpower, they couldn’t stop a single thief. Truly pathetic.”
But amid the mockery, whispers of admiration for the audacity and precision of the heist began to circulate. Whoever had orchestrated this scheme had executed it flawlessly, leaving no loose ends behind.
Unknown to everyone, Xu Lian’s plan had unfolded exactly as intended. Every piece of the puzzle fit together perfectly – every step meticulously calculated, every move timed to perfection.
“Hmm, so the Qian Dynasty’s exclusive cultivation resource zones are so easy to raid? If I had known that, I should have tried it myself.”
“The Qian Dynasty has been too complacent for too long. It’s high time to shake them out of their comfort zone.”
These sarcastic remarks reached the ears of the Qian Dynasty’s upper echelons, further fueling their anger. Quasi-Supremes and Sages mobilized en masse, leaving no stone unturned as they investigated the matter, determined to uncover the culprits behind the plundering of the three exclusive cultivation resource zones.
The Supreme of the Empire personally issued a statement: “Whoever you are, whatever faction you represent, plundering our exclusive cultivation resource zones on such a massive scale is tantamount to declaring war on our dynasty! Once identified, there will be no mercy!”
Seizing the opportunity to fan the flames, several high-ranking factions with long-standing grudges against the Qian Dynasty immediately stepped forward to claim responsibility.
“It was me!”
“Hey, I did it too!”
“The Qian Dynasty’s cultivation resources are truly excellent!”
Pfft… Xu Lian, who was being held in the Grand Court of Justice, nearly choked on his laughter after hearing these claims from a guard. These old fools were shamelessly trying to take credit for something they clearly had nothing to do with.
The Qian Dynasty ignored this provocation. At this moment, nothing mattered more than uncovering the truth. The entire court mobilized, treating this as the most critical case in recent history. Departments such as the Ministry of Justice and the Grand Court worked together to investigate every possible lead.
Thousands of alchemist apprentices and hundreds of thousands of gardeners, all imprisoned in the imperial dungeons, were interrogated one by one, subjected to harsh questioning and even torture. However, no conclusive evidence emerged.
Chi Sui, Qin Feng, and Xu Lian, however, were not subjected to such treatment. As master alchemists capable of refining the Metamorphosis Elixir, they were considered “highly skilled technical workers,” and their value outweighed any immediate need for punishment. Moreover, Chi Sui was a member of the royal family, Zhao Ming was the eldest son of the Marquis Zhao household, and Xu Lian was the second son of the Marquis Qin household-all individuals with significant influence in the empire. Mistreating them would send a poor message to others who might consider serving the dynasty.
In particular, Xu Lian’s ability to refine two elixirs from a single batch of materials had caught the attention of the empire’s higher-ups. His strategic value rivaled, if not surpassed, the shock of losing three exclusive cultivation resource zones. While the loss of those zones was a severe blow, it hadn’t crippled the Empire. In contrast, Xu Lian represented a game-changing asset: someone who could double the production of Metamorphosis Elixir .
So instead of harsh treatment, Xu Lian was given preferential accommodations. He was housed in a luxurious cell, attended by maidservants who catered to his daily needs. Aside from the temporary restrictions on his freedom, life inside the prison was indistinguishable from life outside. He ate gourmet meals, drank fine wine, and lived in relative comfort.
This arrangement made even Chi Sui envious. As for Zhao Ming, there was no question – he was seething with jealousy. Unlike Chi Sui, who maintained his composure, Zhao Ming couldn’t help but feel resentment at the disparity. While their cells were clean and tidy, they paled in comparison to Xu Lian’s opulent accommodations.
When Marquis Qin and his eldest son, Qin Song, arrived at the Grand Court of Justice to visit Xu Lian with heavy hearts and red-rimmed eyes, they froze in disbelief. What was this? Was Xu Lian living in luxury during his imprisonment?
They glanced at Chi Sui and Zhao Ming’s humble cells, then back at Xu Lian’s lavish quarters, completely dumbfounded by the stark contrast.
Chi Sui chuckled awkwardly. “Your family has produced an exceptional alchemist – one who can refine two Metamorphosis Elixirs from a single batch of materials.”
Marquis Qin, humbled in the presence of Chi Sui-a Sage Realm alchemical master-quickly replied, “It’s all thanks to Master Chi Sui’s teachings…”
But when the full implications finally sank in, Marquis Qin’s pupils contracted sharply and he gasped, “What?! Two elixirs from one batch of materials?!”
It was only now that Marquis Qin realized the magnitude of what this meant. If other top-tier factions found out about this, they wouldn’t laugh at the Qian Dynasty’s losses – they’d be scrambling to poach Xu Lian!
Qin Song also understood the immense value of this. His body trembled with excitement. Obviously, the Marquis Qin household wouldn’t just avoid repercussions – they would rise even higher in the empire’s hierarchy.
With a broad smile, Qin Song handed over a box of food through the bars of Xu Lian’s luxurious cell. “Brother, I have ordered these delicacies and fine wines from the Immortal Brew Pavilion especially for you.”
Xu Lian waved dismissively. “Leave them there. I’ve been eating and drinking from the Immortal Brew Pavilion for the past few days – it’s starting to get boring.”
“…” Qin Song’s smile instantly froze. He glanced at the maid beside Xu Lian, who was struggling to stifle her laughter, and wished that the ground would swallow him whole.
However, in the face of such monumental good news, a little embarrassment was nothing. All in all, Qin Song was ecstatic. He began mentally calculating whether he should take a few concubines, perhaps even the Duke Wei household’s eldest daughter – it would significantly expand the connections of the Marquis Qin household.
In the end, Marquis Qin and Qin Song left the Grand Court with beaming faces. Whether it was real or imagined, the sunlight outside seemed brighter than ever before.
As soon as they left, Marquis Zhao arrived in a hurry to visit Zhao Ming. Due to the Empire’s recent restrictions, no one had been allowed to visit until today.
After glancing at Xu Lian’s luxurious cell and comparing it to his own eldest son’s modest accommodations, Marquis Zhao was stunned – and then enraged. Even his usually cunning demeanor cracked as he summoned the warden, berating him, “What is this? Differential treatment! Does my son not deserve a better cell?”
The warden bowed slightly and replied indifferently, “There has been no mistake. This is the order from above.”
Marquis Zhao’s face turned ashen. “From above? Do you mean the Minister of the Grand Court? My relationship with him is no less than that of the Marquis of Qin’s household!”
The warden pointed upward, toward the ceiling. “Our superior cannot make such decisions. This order comes from the very top.”
The very top? Marquis Zhao froze, his expression shifting as realization dawned. Calming himself, he understood that “the very top” likely referred to the Quasi-Supremes-or even the Supreme himself.
What puzzled him, however, was why the second son of the Marquis of Qin’s household had earned such favor.
Hearing the commotion outside, Zhao Ming quickly called Marquis Zhao over and whispered about Xu Lian’s ability to refine two elixirs from one batch of materials.
As expected, Marquis Zhao was stunned. Finally, he understood the reason for the differential treatment. In a sense, the second son of Marquis Qin’s household was worth more than three exclusive cultivation resource zones combined.
This revelation made Marquis Zhao frown deeply. “Ming, you must stop holding grudges against Qin Feng. Our Marquis Zhao household must also mend its strained relationship with the Marquis Qin household. Otherwise, we won’t be able to move forward.”
Zhao Ming understood the gravity of the situation and nodded solemnly. “Understood.”
One by one, visitors came to see Xu Lian. Ning Meixue arrived and when she saw how comfortable Xu Lian was, she was speechless for a moment. But once she understood the reason, she relaxed. Her worries about Xu Lian’s safety vanished.
Then Huangpu Shuyi arrived, promptly dismissed the maidservants, and clung to Xu Lian. Her gaze was filled with longing as she declared that having just one child wasn’t enough-she wanted to bear him several more.
What could Xu Lian do? He couldn’t bear to see others upset. Thus, he and Huangpu Shuyi worked together to fulfill her dreams.
A few days later, the exiled First Prince, who had been banished to a remote county, returned to the capital. He knew that this was his only chance to reclaim power.
With a solemn expression on his face, he carried the late emperor’s portrait and walked step by step from the city gates to the palace entrance, drawing the attention of the entire city. Upon reaching the palace gates, he knelt down and refused to rise, pleading with the empire’s higher-ups to depose the current emperor.
He listed the new emperor’s crimes, the most grievous being his incompetence, which had led to the loss of three exclusive cultivation resource zones. The second accusation was that the Fifth Prince-the current Emperor-had used a Sage-level weapon during the Crown Prince selection trial, thus securing his position through improper means.
“The current emperor has betrayed my father’s expectations and disgraced the empire’s cultivation efforts. He is unworthy of the throne and unfit to rule!”
Inside the palace, the fifth prince, the reigning emperor, was furious. He smashed countless vases and ornaments in his study, his face growing paler by the minute. Deep down, he feared that he might indeed be deposed.
Of course, the First Prince’s actions were guided by a “wise mentor.” And who could that mentor be but Xu Lian? This was yet another piece of his grand plan.
Upon hearing the news, the third and seventh princes, who had also been exiled to remote counties, couldn’t sit still. They rushed back to the capital and joined the First Prince in kneeling before the palace gates.
Although they initially bore no ill will toward the Fifth Prince, his ascension to the throne had driven them away, denying them cultivation resources and leaving them embittered. Such a golden opportunity for revenge was too good to pass up.