Chapter 306: Chapter 214: Mr. Shuijing’s Recommendation, Talent for Assisting the King, Sect Leader of the White Lotus Ancient Sect

Su Youhuai covered his face with his feather fan and asked secretively, "Your Highness, is this from some classical story? Hidden Dragon and Phoenix Chick... I don’t believe I’ve heard that one."

Lu Mingyuan’s mouth twitched, and he forced a smile. "You could call it that."

"Legend has it that before the Middle Ages, there were two peerless and world-renowned scholars known as the Hidden Dragon and Phoenix Chick. They possessed strategic genius, and obtaining either one could bring peace to the world."

’Obtaining either one of them could bring peace to the world?’

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuanxi and Su Youhuai exchanged a glance, seeing the shock in each other’s eyes.

They never expected the Crown Prince to think so highly of them!

To consider them talents capable of bringing peace to the world!

Su Youhuai snapped his feather fan shut. With an extremely serious expression, he clasped his hands and said, "Rest assured, Crown Prince. We will serve you to the death!"

"The same goes for me!"

Shen Yuanxi said, deeply moved.

"Oh, right. This is a letter Mr. Shuijing left for you." Su Youhuai suddenly remembered something, pulled a white document from his sleeve, and handed it to Lu Mingyuan.

As Lu Mingyuan took the document, it dissolved into individual characters that streamed into his ears as a message.

"The Master said that Your Highness would soon face a calamity, and he asked me to offer some assistance and to help Chen Ke achieve his potential. These two both possess the talent for assisting a king, but they have lacked opportunity and have been missing that one final spark. Now that they can assist Your Highness, I hope Your Highness can also guide them. If they do anything inappropriate, I hope Your Highness will not take offense."

After hearing the voice transmission, Lu Mingyuan couldn’t help but smile.

’This Mr. Shuijing... he’s sent his disciples to me for training.’

’Does he really think I’m some Confucianism Saint spreading the faith?’

’But there’s only one Chen Ke in this world.’

Lu Mingyuan took a breath, looked at the two of them, and asked for their advice:

"Next, besides preparing matters for the Eastern Palace, the Holy Emperor also wants to hold a flowing banquet, which the Eastern Palace is also in charge of organizing. The idea is to celebrate with the common people. Do you two have any suggestions?"

"Rest assured, Your Highness. Ever since the flowing banquet was announced to the world this morning, I have already devised three plans. I was just waiting for Your Highness to review them."

Su Youhuai said, full of confidence.

...

「Imperial Capital, Outer City.」

The Emperor had granted a general amnesty, and with the emergence of the Crown Prince, the entire Capital City was immersed in a celebratory atmosphere.

But not everyone could enjoy this joyous occasion.

Caravans of merchants in white robes slowly entered the Capital City’s gates. On the white cloths covering their goods was a large white lotus emblem.

As they passed many shops, seeing this symbol sparked discussions:

"Those are people from the White Lotus Commerce Association. I thought they did business on the Great Sui border. What are they doing here in the Capital City?"

"The White Lotus Commerce Association is the second-largest commerce association in the world, second only to our dynasty’s Yunwan Commerce Association."

"Perhaps they want to expand their business into Great Yan." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"If so, the Yunwan Commerce Association, which has already declined since being taken over by the Court, will probably face a considerable challenge."

In the crowd, a man in a black robe silently watched this scene, his expression solemn as he reported to a tall woman behind him.

"My Lord, the people from the White Lotus Ancient Sect have arrived. It’s confirmed."

Luo Ying concealed her aura and blended into the crowd, studying the sedan chair at the center of the caravan. Beneath the curtain sat a kind-faced, middle-aged merchant who looked very amiable.

Luo Ying narrowed her eyes. "For Duanmu Lian to come to the Capital City personally... what a grand entrance. He’s definitely here for me."

"Duanmu Lian..."

Hearing this name, the black-robed man’s heart trembled slightly.

The leader of the White Lotus Ancient Sect was none other than Duanmu Lian, who was also the Infinite Party Leader of the Great Sui Dynasty.

The White Lotus Ancient Sect has existed for several thousand years.

They are rooted among the common people, and despite being suppressed by successive dynasties, they could never be fully exterminated.

Whenever a dynasty is in decline, they rise up in rebellion.

The White Lotus Scripture is a cultivation technique that bewitches the hearts of people. It can boost a follower’s strength in a short amount of time, leading to the White Lotus Ancient Sect having a vast number of believers, though they are mainly concentrated in the Great Sui Dynasty.

The White Lotus Sect Leader, Duanmu Lian, met Xun Yu a hundred years ago and is one of the seven great leaders of the Infinite Faction.

In the Great Yan Dynasty, Prince Jin’s Mansion was the main branch, while the White Lotus Ancient Sect was a sub-branch.

Now, the main branch has been destroyed, and Prince Jin is dead.

This naturally attracted the covetous eyes of the various sub-branches.

If the White Lotus Ancient Sect were allowed to take over the Endless Pavilion in the Imperial Capital, then her ambition to become the capital’s leader would undoubtedly be shattered.

Delaying any further would undoubtedly cause other sub-branches to set their sights on the prize that was the Imperial Capital.

Master Bai Yue of the Jade Toad Continent’s Nether Moon Celestial Sect Branch.

The Valley Master of the Ashen Dragon Valley Branch, Celestial Dragon Master.

...

All of them were famous leaders of righteous sects, but who would have thought that these people, righteous on the surface, were all members of the Infinite Faction.

Luo Ying said pensively, "Right now, we must attract the Court’s attention. We can’t let the White Lotus Ancient Sect infiltrate the Capital City."

"Attracting the Court’s attention... that method is too dangerous," the black-robed man said, his face showing his worry.

Luo Ying’s slender figure was visible beneath her black robe. She said lightly, "Our current strength is insufficient. We’re already stretched thin just dealing with the three underground factions in the Imperial Capital. We can only use the Court’s power to deal with the White Lotus Ancient Sect."

"What do you intend to do, My Lord?"

"The flowing banquet," Luo Ying said, her gaze profound.

The black-robed man seemed to have a sudden realization. "Lord Ying, you intend to make a move during the flowing banquet, so that everyone in the Capital City will know of the White Lotus Ancient Sect’s existence?"

Luo Ying nodded. "It’s our only shot. The flowing banquet is an event that all the citizens of the Imperial Capital are looking forward to."

Just as she was sizing up the caravan, a Divine Sense suddenly detected their own.

The black-robed man discovered that a ball of white mist had appeared before his eyes...

To be precise, it was the silhouette of a person standing within the white mist. He couldn’t make out their gender or age, but he could feel that they were unfathomably deep.

The moment his gaze locked onto that ball of white mist, a mountainous, sea-toppling spiritual pressure surged out from within it.

BOOM.

He felt as if an ocean had appeared before him, and on its surface, a colossal wave hundreds of feet high surged toward him.

Behind the wave, a white lotus bloomed, and from its center, a pair of eyes appeared.

The surrounding space seemed to freeze. The black-robed man was locked in place by the other’s Spiritual Power, completely unable to move. All he could do was watch helplessly as the colossal waves rushed toward him.

Suddenly, a slender, jade-like hand reached out from the water, grabbed his right hand, and pulled him back.

Instantly, the black-robed man broke free from the Spiritual Power’s lock, and the pressure on his body vanished without a trace.

The black-robed man’s back was drenched in cold sweat. "Such powerful Spiritual Power... I only glanced at him, and he discovered me."

Luo Ying said lightly, "That is the White Lotus Scripture. It has the power to seize one’s Divine Soul."

"Let’s go. We’ve been discovered. We shouldn’t stay here any longer."

...