MTLNOVEL Chapter 363: A Monumental Lie_3
Daxia.
Imperial Palace.
In a certain deep palace hall, the Xia Emperor put down the yellowed booklet in his hand, took out a milky white porcelain bottle from his bosom, poured out a blood-red pill, and swallowed it.
As the pill entered his mouth, a strand of white hair at his temples gradually turned black.
Jinyang.
Wang family.
The Wang Family Head hurriedly stepped into a courtyard and knocked on the door of a certain thatched hut.
"Come in."
An old voice came from behind the door, and the Wang Family Head carefully pushed the door open and walked in. He said to an elder with white hair and beard, "Old Ancestor, a few days ago, a junior in the family spent a fortune to buy an ancient book. Grandson noticed something peculiar about this book and came to ask the Old Ancestor to take a look..."
He took out a yellowed ancient book from his bosom and respectfully handed it over.
The elder opened the book. It was an ancient text describing Yin-Yang techniques. Not knowing about the Yin-Yang techniques, he hadn't paid it any mind, but when he turned to a blank page, his gaze flickered slightly.
The Wang Family Head noticed the Old Ancestor's anomaly and asked, "Old Ancestor, this book..."
The elder's eyes dimmed, and he shook his head, saying, "Nonsense, what Lifespan Extension Pill? I've lived over a hundred years and never heard of such a thing. Royal blood? How could it have such effects?"
After hearing the Old Ancestor, the Wang Family Head seemed to realize something. His gaze suddenly sharpened, and he looked at the white-haired elder, slowly saying, "Old Ancestor, in the past six months, more than a hundred members of the Li Imperial Family have died..."
He swallowed and continued, "The Emperor's lifespan should have been nearing its end, but in recent years, every time he appears, it seems as if he's rejuvenated. Everyone knows the Emperor is cultivating long-life techniques, but no one knows how he's doing it. Could it be..."
The white-haired elder's eyes shot out two beams of light, and he suddenly stood up, "What did you say!"
Zhao Country.
National Master Mansion.
The withered elder put down the yellowed booklet in his hand and shook his head, saying, "This book is a fabrication of the Yin Yang School, there is no such thing as a Lifespan Extension Pill. Although the Ancient Yin-Yang Techniques mentioned it, they relied on placing their lifespan on pills, not using royal essence blood to extend life..."
The Supreme Emperor of Zhao said, "But how do you explain the death of nobles in Xia and the rejuvenation of the Xia Emperor..."
The withered elder's lips moved; he really couldn't explain this part.
Could it be that the ancient Yin Yang School really could concoct pills from Imperial blood, but the technique was lost?
But if that's the case, why fabricate a false ancient text?
Gazing at the "ancient text" in his hand, he sensed a strong whiff of conspiracy.
If this matter were to spread widely, every Imperial Family would be trembling in fear. Should the Imperial Family face any change, internal unrest might occur within nations, potentially affecting the entire continent and completely altering its structure...
Though he couldn't calculate much, it was without a doubt the work of the School of Cross and Vertical, fearing nothing but chaos under heaven...
Wei Country.
Capital.
At a certain ancient book stall, a noble young man picked up a yellowed ancient text from the ground stall and asked, "How much is this book?"
The stall owner saw his apparent interest, rolled his eyes, and said, "Young Master has a keen eye; this is an ancient book from centuries ago, recording many lost Ancient Yin-Yang Techniques, the only one in the world. If you truly like it, I'll sell it to you for one hundred taels of Silver..."
A short time later, within a luxurious mansion, the noble young man looked at an elderly man and asked, "Great Ancestor, does the Lifespan Extension Pill truly exist?"
The elder's gaze moved. He doubted the content of the book, but how to explain what happened to the Emperor of Daxia?
Could it be...
Ning Country.
Ning Country is just a small nation, and even as the emperor of the Ning Country, he has just reached the Fifth Realm of cultivation.
However, though Ning Country is small, its location is favorable, far from the continent's center, situated at the border between the two major nations, Qi and Zhao, neighboring another small country, Sheng Country. It has lived in seclusion for hundreds of years, paying tribute to Qi and Zhao, remaining stable for centuries.
But recently, the royal family of Ning, which has been passing down for hundreds of years, has been trembling with fear, unable to sleep day or night.
A certain rumor has started to spread in the country.
It is said that royal blood can be used to refine the Lifespan Extension Pill. Ning Country is no match for the Five Great Dynasties; any family from those dynasties could destroy Ning. If someone believed such a thing, the Ning royal family would be in extreme danger.
No matter which Sixth Realm cultivator, they could easily wipe out the entire Ning royal family.
Before great nations and those powerful individuals, small nation royals have no dignity at all.
Inside the Imperial Palace, the Emperor of Ning and several princes were nervously deliberating matters.
"What should we do about this?"
"It's not just our Ning Country; Qi and Zhao also have similar rumors..."
"Such outrageous rumors—surely no one would believe them, right?"
"But how do you explain what happened with the Xia Emperor?"
"If worst comes to worst, I can abdicate the throne. If relinquishing the throne can save my family, then it's worth it."
"If that day really comes, I'm afraid no one would dare sit on this throne..."
"There's nothing more to say; compared to the throne and the life of the whole family, I know what's more important..."
...
Daxia.
Chang'an.
At the riverbank outside the city, two large umbrellas were set up.
Two squads of guards stood not far behind the umbrellas. After a few gentle taps on a float in the river, it suddenly sank into the water. King Chun lifted his pole, catching a big fish and placing it into the basket.
A smile appeared on his face. He walked over to another umbrella beside him and said with a grin, "I have developed a new bait, and today I will certainly catch more fish than you..."
As King Chun was speaking, his brows suddenly furrowed, and he looked at a strand of silver in Li Xuanjing's hair, saying, "Xuanjing, why do you have white hair?"
Li Xuanjing smiled softly, looking at the gently bobbing float on the river, "It's common for old people to have white hair, isn't it?"
King Chun frowned deeper and said, "You're just overworked, busy with the Ministry of Justice and the Spiegel Bureau. I've advised you countless times to delegate some of your work, but you just won't listen..."
Li Xuanjing smiled and said nothing.
King Chun stood beside him, lost in thought for a long time, and murmured, "I've heard people say that imperial blood can be made into pills to make one young again. How about I give you some of my blood?"