Free Web NovelChapter 134: Chapter 134: The Vein Must Be in Our Hands
The moment the Ninth Princess appeared, she instantly became the most dazzling person there. All eyes turned to her, everyone scrambling for a glimpse of her beauty. She was like a resplendent, delicate flower blooming atop the mountain.
Many of the young nobles cast envious glances toward Shen Daoxing.
After all, for the sake of the Ninth Princess’s happiness, the Emperor of the Martial Kingdom had privately dropped more than a few hints to these very same young nobles, but they had all refused.
Now, they were kicking themselves with regret.
"This is Ninth Sister’s true face?"
Beside them, the Eldest Prince and the Seventh Prince exchanged a look of astonishment.
"A beauty for a hero. Shen, Ninth Sister, you two are truly a match made in heaven. Congratulations! Congratulations!"
The two of them were the first to step forward to congratulate Shen Daoxing and the Ninth Princess.
"Congratulations! Congratulations!"
Seeing this, the various princes, dukes, and nobles nearby also came forward one by one to offer their congratulations.
Soon, the two were surrounded by the crowd.
Not far away, Princess Anyun watched the Ninth Princess, who was the center of everyone’s attention, and gritted her teeth.
’That should have been my place. I should have been the most dazzling one there.’
’Why? Why? Why is it Ninth Sister and not me?’
Princess Anyun stomped her foot in anger, her heart filled with regret.
’If only I’d taken the time to get to know Shen Daoxing beforehand,’ she thought. Princess Anyun craned her neck to look at him. ’He’s actually quite handsome, and even more powerful than Xia Junze.’
Unfortunately, it was too late for regrets now.
"Let the Ancestral Mausoleum Blessing begin!"
The High Priest’s deep voice rang out.
The High Priest then approached a smooth cliff face. Dipping a willow branch into a vermilion pigment, his arm moved gracefully, and ancient, complex runes slowly materialized on the rock.
The High Priest’s lips parted, and he began to chant. A stream of ancient, mysterious syllables spilled from his mouth, their sound mesmerizing and drawing in the spirits of all who listened.
In the next instant, a brilliant red light flared from the cliff face, revealing an ethereal, crimson gate.
The location of the Ancestral Mausoleum was the Royal Family’s greatest secret, kept completely hidden from outsiders. The rear mountain where they held their annual ancestral rites was merely a decoy, a false tomb. No one knew the true location of the Imperial Mausoleum, save for a few key members of the Royal Family. It might not even be in this region at all.
To protect this secret, entry and exit for the Ancestral Mausoleum Blessing were handled exclusively via a teleportation Array.
"Ninth Princess, Young Master Shen, please step forward!"
As the red gate appeared, the High Priest slowly looked toward Shen Daoxing and the Ninth Princess.
Shen Daoxing glanced at the beautiful woman before him, at once familiar and yet a stranger, and gave a nod. He then took the Ninth Princess’s hand, and they slowly walked into the crimson gate.
The world spun before Shen Daoxing’s eyes, and then everything went black.
...
「Meanwhile, just as the Ancestral Mausoleum Blessing ceremony began.」
Not far away, atop another high mountain, two figures were standing on the peak, looking down.
One was the Martial Kingdom’s Old Ancestor, a withered old man.
The other was King Zhenwu, Gu Tian.
From their vantage point on the peak, the entire scene on the rear mountain of the Ancestral Mausoleum was but a speck in their sight.
But to the withered old man’s piercing gaze, every detail was crystal clear.
"So this is that Shen Daoxing, the outsider chosen by the Dragon Vein?"
The withered old man remarked coolly, his eyes fixed on the scene below.
"That’s right!"
King Zhenwu nodded.
"Not bad at all. He conceals his brilliance without dulling his edge. He’s a promising young talent, one with the patience for true cultivation. It’s no wonder the Great Wu Dragon Vein chose him."
The withered old man nodded, a profound look in his eyes.
Seeing the hint of appreciation in the old man’s eyes, King Zhenwu asked in surprise, "Old Ancestor, are you just going to let this matter go?"
"No!"
But the withered old man’s tone took a sharp turn. "If this Shen Daoxing were a disciple of our Royal Family, I would genuinely appreciate him. I would even be willing to train him personally. But alas... he is not. And for someone like him, the more of a genius he is, the more dangerous he becomes to the Royal Family of the Martial Kingdom! Therefore, Shen Daoxing must die!"
"But Brother won’t agree."
King Zhenwu paused before speaking.
"Insolence! I am the Old Ancestor of the Royal Family! You think I can’t handle him?"
The withered old man snorted coldly.
Instantly, the ground beneath King Zhenwu’s feet cracked, revealing a huge fissure.
Startled, King Zhenwu leaped away, a tremor of fear running through him as he dodged.
"Hehehehe, what is it that has made Elder Gu so angry?"
Just then, Ren Changfeng’s voice rang out. A moment later, a vigorous, white-haired old man with sharp eyes appeared before them.
The withered old man glanced coolly at Ren Changfeng. "Oh? It’s you, youngster."
Ren Changfeng stepped forward, raised his hands, and bowed respectfully to the withered old man. "Elder Gu, this junior has come today to ask for a favor."
"What favor?"
The withered old man said indifferently.
Ren Changfeng did not speak immediately, but instead glanced at King Zhenwu beside the withered old man before slowly saying, "Please, Elder Gu, tell me the true location of the Martial Kingdom’s Ancestral Mausoleum."
As soon as these words were spoken, the withered old man looked at Ren Changfeng with deep meaning. "Your Celestial City Academy intends to make a move against Shen Daoxing?"
"Precisely."
Ren Changfeng replied coolly, making no attempt to hide his intentions.
"Then do you know that I am the Old Ancestor of the Martial Kingdom’s Royal Family?"
The withered old man asked again.
"I do!"
Ren Changfeng said coolly.
Suddenly, the withered old man’s aura flared and his face darkened. "Since you know, how dare you propose to harm someone of my Royal Family right in front of me?"
"Hehehehe!"
Ren Changfeng laughed, showing no fear. "Elder Gu, I imagine you don’t wish for the Royal Family’s Dragon Vein to fall into an outsider’s hands, do you? Shen Daoxing may be the Martial Kingdom’s Prince Consort now, but he is still, in the end, an outsider. Even if the Ninth Princess bears his child, will that child’s surname be Gu or Shen? Surely you aren’t planning to hand over the Gu Family’s empire to a foreigner?"
As he spoke, Ren Changfeng looked meaningfully at the withered old man. "Elder Gu, you want the Dragon Vein, and I want to kill Shen Daoxing. Our goals are the same. In that case, why don’t we cooperate?"
"Hah, your Celestial City Academy has certainly played its hand well!"
The withered old man laughed as he looked at Ren Changfeng.
"Elder Gu, this is mutually beneficial."
Ren Changfeng also laughed.
But in the next instant, the withered old man’s tone turned glacial. "Get out! Even if Shen Daoxing is to be killed, it will be by the hand of our Royal Family. It is not your place to meddle!"
A moment later, a sharp wave of power erupted from the withered old man, blasting Ren Changfeng away with a BOOM. Ren Changfeng coughed up a mouthful of blood as he flew through the air.
"Elder Gu?"
Stunned, Ren Changfeng staggered to his feet. He wanted to say something more, but just as he stood, another torrent of power surged forward and sent him flying again.
"I said get out! Do you hear me?"
The withered old man’s icy voice rang out.
Ren Changfeng spat out another mouthful of blood and could only depart, filled with sullen resentment.
After Ren Changfeng left, a puzzled King Zhenwu stepped forward. "Old Ancestor, why didn’t you accept his offer? It was such a good opportunity."
The withered old man gave King Zhenwu a cool glance. "Do you really think Ren Changfeng can be trusted? Do you think he has no interest in the Dragon Vein himself? The Great Wu Dragon Vein must remain in our hands."
