Chapter 443: Chapter 269: The Heart Demon Rekindles, Demoness Against Fairy, The Envy of All Beauties

"What? The Great Nether Empress has infiltrated the Imperial Capital?"

Lu Mingyuan, who had been at his imperial desk anxiously reviewing memorials and confirming the budget for a military expedition, received the news immediately. His brows furrowed, and his heart leaped into his throat as he looked at Sui Yuqing.

"What is she doing in the Imperial Capital?"

’That madwoman. Instead of staying in her Great Nether Court, she came all the way to the Central Plains World?’

Then, Lu Mingyuan set down the memorial in his hand and asked urgently, "Is Mu Xue all right?"

"Rest assured, Your Majesty, the Empress is unharmed."

Sui Yuqing clasped her hands and bowed slightly, her voice as crisp as a yellow oriole’s song, like the gentle gurgle of a flowing spring.

Lu Mingyuan immediately set aside all his work and walked down the steps, but a glance at the memorials behind him made him stop short.

An elderly Cabinet minister, dressed in a wide, vermilion official’s robe and a black gauze cap, slowly walked in from outside. His eyes were sharp as he spoke.

"Your Majesty may go. I will handle things here."

"Can you manage it alone?"

Lu Mingyuan looked at the Minister of Defense before him, rubbed his temples, and sighed.

"It seems we really do need to expand the Cabinet."

"Mr. Liu, pass down this order: for this year’s autumn examinations, set aside the assessment of Confucian Family classics. The focus will be on practical matters of statecraft."

After giving his instructions, Lu Mingyuan turned to Sui Yuqing and said calmly, "Lead the way."

Sui Yuqing replied, "The Empress has been taken to Fengning Palace."

"Good."

Knowing the location, Lu Mingyuan took the lead and walked ahead alone.

Sui Yuqing followed close behind.

However, from Sui Yuqing’s perspective...

Using the Taoist Sect’s Qi Observation Skill, she could see faint, thin, golden threads of vapor rising from Lu Mingyuan’s back. These threads connected to the Dragon Vein deep within the earth, supplying him with an immense amount of Destiny. This power protected the Emperor at all times, preventing Demon Fiends from approaching or harming him.

This was why an Emperor in the Mortal World could rule over millions.

Even the Great Nether Empress, when she attacked the Song Dynasty, could only strike at the Second Prince; she couldn’t make a major move against the Emperor of the Song Clan.

Even for a cultivator of the Upper Three Grades, attacking an Emperor in his own capital would come at a tremendous cost.

For example, back when Lu Mingyuan faced Emperor Yong’an on the Great Flame Dragon Wall, if Great Yan’s Destiny had not completely submitted to him, his temporary Martial Saint cultivation alone would have been insufficient to shake Great Yan’s Fortune.

Later, Emperor Yong’an was corrupted by the power of an Evil God and sacrificed the National Fortune. The Celestial Demon Divine Pearl absorbed a massive amount of Great Yan’s Destiny, which in turn caused the Great Yan Dragon Fortune to abandon him. This was the fundamental reason for his defeat.

Otherwise, the outcome of that battle would have remained uncertain.

Of course, this power could only be used for self-preservation, to ensure survival. Wielding it in combat required the support of a powerful cultivation.

The blessed Destiny surrounding Lu Mingyuan was like a vast ocean of golden divine light. Its aura surged to the heavens, forming a nine-clawed Golden Dragon that roared across the Nine Heavens.

’Such powerful Destiny.’

’This is a True Dragon Emperor.’

Sui Yuqing mused to herself.

She realized that Lu Mingyuan’s Destiny was now several times stronger than before, completely surpassing her own.

It was even richer than Emperor Yong’an’s had been at his peak.

Compared to Lu Mingyuan, the Destiny of an ordinary Emperor in the Mortal World was like a star next to the bright moon.

To Sui Yuqing, Lu Mingyuan was like the candle flame to a moth.

An inexplicable Karmic Fire ignited and blazed rapidly within her heart.

’Damn it! Why is it acting up now?’

She swallowed imperceptibly and closed her eyes slightly. With her fair hand holding the Duster, she formed the Sixth Turn of the Clear Heart Dao Seal with the other, secretly circulating her power to suppress the Karmic Fire within her.

The bottomless, dark Karmic Fire CRACKLED and burned violently, fueled by the desires of her Heart Demon. It grew ever stronger, and she knew she wouldn’t be able to deal with it any time soon.

The seething Karmic Fire gradually formed a woman’s face, one that looked identical to Sui Yuqing’s, but with a completely different expression and temperament. Its face was crazed as it laughed maniacally, utterly devoid of a Fairy’s grace. Its voice was bewitching as it spoke.

"If you want to achieve Breaking Realm, you must use the Destiny of this Emperor of the Mortal World before you. Haven’t you always wanted to ascend to the Human Immortal Realm and condense the Three Flowers?"

"Hahaha! If you want to do it, then just do it~"

"You’ll never know the pleasure of dual cultivation until you’ve tried it!"

The demonic, enchanting voice echoed relentlessly in Sui Yuqing’s ears.

’Shut up!’

Sui Yuqing rebuked it in her mind, fortifying her Dao foundation. She achieved Unity of Heart and Spirit and continuously chanted a Spell.

She finished reciting the Yuqing Supreme Calming Spell.

Then she began chanting the Mahavairocana Sutra.

However, it seemed to have little effect.

"Sui Yuqing, what are you afraid of! With your beauty, you think you can’t attract a young man who’s barely in his twenties?!"

"If you don’t make a move, his heart will be stolen by that little junior sister of yours!"

A flush crept up Sui Yuqing’s face, and her mind grew hazy. But she quickly bit her lip, and the salty taste of blood on its tip shocked her back to clarity. She raged internally.

’You fiend, stop blocking my path of cultivation!’

"No means no!"

The last sentence, she actually shouted aloud.

Her words reached Lu Mingyuan, who was walking ahead of her.

Lu Mingyuan turned around, thoroughly confused. He asked puzzledly,

"Fairy, what’s wrong?"

"What do you mean, ’no’?"

The two of them were gradually approaching Fengning Palace when, at that very moment, the previously rampant Heart Demon seemed to encounter something even more terrifying and went into hiding.

Sui Yuqing found this strange. She forced a smile and said, "It’s nothing. I was just sending a voice transmission to a disciple from the Daoist Academy."

"I meant that the Capital City’s defenses are still not good enough, to have let the Great Nether Empress sneak in."

Lu Mingyuan didn’t suspect a thing. He nodded in agreement, "Indeed, the Imperial Capital’s defenses must be strengthened."

Although, in his opinion...

The defenses of the Great Yan Capital City were already quite formidable, stronger than those of other Dynasties, at least.

The elite Great Yan Imperial Guard was world-renowned.

The Three Academy Cultivators hailed from various prominent Immortal Influences, and experts were as numerous as clouds.

In addition, there were multiple Mountain and Water Deities standing guard, as well as the Heroic Spirit Incense and Fire Martial Temple for Great Yan’s ancestors.

There was also a top-tier Twelfth Realm Tributor like Zhao Xuanwu, plus numerous Imperial Experts.

As for the Piano Demon and the Old Fisherman, he had already imprisoned them, and they were awaiting sentencing after the autumn.

He recalled how much effort it had taken him to fight his way from the Outer City all the way to the Imperial Palace back then.

That Demoness’s strength was mysterious and unpredictable, and she had countless unseen tricks up her sleeve. It was a helpless situation that she could slip into the Capital City.

How many people like her could there possibly be in the entire world?

The two of them passed through a vermilion palace wall and finally arrived at Fengning Palace, where they saw Qi Muxue.

At that moment, Qi Muxue was draped in a snow-white, thick cloak, her jet-black hair cascading like a waterfall. She stood before a large ink-wash mural of Great Yan’s mountains and rivers, studying it intently. Her eyes regarded every mountain and river of Great Yan with a sense of novelty.

"Your servants greet the Holy Emperor."

Zi Yun and Hong Wan, who were attending to her, greeted Lu Mingyuan upon his arrival.

"We are all family here, no need for such formalities."

Lu Mingyuan waved his hand, his gaze shifting away from Qi Muxue for a moment to look at Zi Yun and Hong Wan, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.

Ever since he had left the Eastern Palace Mansion to lead the army to the border, he had assigned Zi Yun and Hong Wan to take care of Qi Muxue’s daily needs.

The four great maids of the former Eastern Palace Mansion: Zi Yun, Hong Wan, Bai He, and Cyan Shadow.

Now, all of them had left his side.

There was no helping it with Zi Yun and Hong Wan. As his strength grew, he no longer needed their protection; instead, it was Mu Xue who needed their care.

Luo Ying had temporarily left the Court for the sake of her cultivation.

As for Yun Qinghe, she had completed her undercover mission in the Imperial Capital and had to return to the Celestial Master’s Mansion. They had not shared much of a farewell.

These days, Lu Mingyuan was beginning to understand more and more...

...why the kings of old always referred to themselves as "the lonely one."

It really was true.

Sometimes, fate was just that coincidental.

Lu Mingyuan stepped forward, his expression concerned and his tone gentle. "Mu Xue, I heard you were attacked. Are you hurt anywhere?"

"I’m fine."

In the face of Lu Mingyuan’s concern, however, Qi Muxue’s attitude was as cold as ice.

His warm concern was met with a cold shoulder.

That "I’m fine" made his expression freeze.

’I’m fine.’

’That means something is definitely NOT fine!!’

Lu Mingyuan repeatedly questioned himself.

’Is it because I haven’t visited her in too long?’

’Did I make Mu Xue angry?’

Just then, Sui Yuqing noticed that the Empress before her was staring at her.

The meaning in those eyes was as if she were looking at a treasure, like someone who, in the midst of extreme boredom, had surprisingly discovered a rare curiosity.

It was a very strange gaze.

Sui Yuqing was also puzzled as to why the Empress would look at her that way.

’Could it be related to the Heart Demon Karmic Flame from just now?’

Sui Yuqing was exceptionally sharp, and she couldn’t help but speculate in that direction.

Lu Mingyuan quickly composed himself and smiled. "I’m sorry. I’ve just been too busy recently. For the next few days, I’ll stay here in Fengning Palace and spend some proper time with you."

"It’s my fault. After Elder Mr. Qi passed away, I left you all alone at the Qi Mansion. I should have moved you into the palace sooner."

Qi Muxue said indifferently, "Your Majesty need not delay matters of state for my sake."

When she heard Elder Mr. Qi’s name, her eyes flickered for a moment.

As those words left her mouth, Lu Mingyuan’s heart sank again.

’Could it be that just spending a few days with her isn’t enough?’

He could clearly feel the atmosphere in Fengning Palace suddenly grow inexplicably tense.

But it seemed the tension wasn’t directed at him, but was coming from Sui Yuqing and Qi Muxue.

Ever since he had entered the hall, the two of them had been locking gazes.

"The Empress is so gentle and virtuous. Your Majesty is truly blessed."

Sui Yuqing lowered her stunning eyes, her alluring red lips curling into a barely perceptible smile.

Qi Muxue watched her with a blank expression and asked, "This must be the renowned Fairy Ci Hang from the Celestial Master’s Mansion. I heard that not long ago, on the Northern Great Wall, you slayed three Blood Race Marquises and even a Rakshasa King."

Lu Mingyuan nodded. "Yes. I seem to recall that you two have met before."

Qi Muxue said meaningfully, "We have indeed met. I’ve long heard of your great name."

She sighed. "I was wondering why the Holy Emperor was so busy in the palace that he couldn’t visit me. It turns out he was with the Fairy."

Sui Yuqing was rather perplexed by these words.

’How does the Empress know about my deeds?’

’Has she been investigating me behind my back?’

’Don’t tell me I’ve already been added to the Empress’s list.’

’Does she suspect that I’m involved with the Holy Emperor?’

Sui Yuqing felt quite helpless.

This "Qi Muxue" before her...

...was thinking to herself.

’I absolutely cannot allow the relationship between the Celestial Master’s Mansion and the Great Yan Court to remain so harmonious.’

’I have to come up with a plan.’

...