30: Chapter 30 Storms from All Directions

People from the ten top-tier factions have arrived.

This news was like a massive boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples.

But very few people knew about it.

Ordinary citizens were still gossiping about the aftermath of the Minister of Rites Zhou Yan case in the streets, court officials were still living in fear and keeping their heads down, and those noble scions who had been intimidated by Crown Prince Xiao Xuan were still hiding in their mansions, not daring to step out.

No one knew that this seemingly calm capital had already been infiltrated by seven undercurrents from top-tier factions.

East of the city, Yuelai Inn.

The Heaven-grade room.

An old man in gray robes stood by the window, his gaze piercing through the night, landing in the direction of Yongan Ward.

Behind him stood a young man with sword-like brows and star-like eyes, his aura restrained.

"Master, we have been here for three days. What exactly are we waiting to see?"

The gray-robed old man did not turn around.

"People."

The young man asked.

"Look at whom? That new Crown Prince?"

The gray-robed old man nodded.

"The Great Yan Dynasty has been established for three thousand years. Although it is only a first-class power, its foundation is deep. Especially those Old Ancestors at the Perfection of the True God Realm—even our Great Xia Empire dares not underestimate them. Now, after half a year of internal strife and the fall of five princes, the newly appointed Crown Prince is said to be a good-for-nothing who has hidden in his mansion for nineteen years."

He paused, his lips curling up slightly.

"Interesting, isn't it? A good-for-nothing managed to defeat all five of his brothers."

The young man said.

"Does Master mean that he is not a good-for-nothing?"

The gray-robed old man laughed.

"Could a person who can defeat five brothers be a good-for-nothing?"

He turned around and looked at the young man.

"Pass down the order to continue investigating. I want to know all the details about this Crown Prince."

South of the city, a separate courtyard.

People from the Great Shang Empire were staying here.

Unlike the caution in the east of the city, the people here were more ostentatious.

A middle-aged man sat in the courtyard, with wine and food laid out before him, drinking alone.

He was Seventh Prince Shang Lie of the Great Shang Empire, at the Early Stage of the True God realm, who had come by imperial decree to "observe."

Calling it observation was actually probing the bottom line.

The Great Yan had been in internal chaos for half a year, and its national strength was depleted; it was the perfect time for surrounding powers to make their moves. Whoever could first uncover the true strength of the new Crown Prince would be able to gain the upper hand in future power struggles.

"Your Highness," a man in black emerged from the shadows, "we have found out."

Seventh Prince Shang Lie put down his wine cup.

"Speak."

The man in black said.

"That Crown Prince is named Crown Prince Xiao Xuan, twenty years old. He was unremarkable before the age of ten, lived in seclusion after ten, and established his own mansion at eighteen. In his mansion, there are guards at the Void God Perfection, an old servant at the Middle Stage of the True God Realm, and dozens of talented people. The recent downfall of the five princes was all orchestrated by him from the shadows."

Seventh Prince Shang Lie raised an eyebrow.

"An old servant at the Middle Stage of the True God Realm? Where did he come from?"

The man in black said.

"We cannot find out. It is as if he just appeared out of thin air."

Seventh Prince Shang Lie was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

"Interesting. A good-for-nothing prince hiding an old servant at the Middle Stage of the True God Realm. This person is not simple."

He stood up, walked into the courtyard, and looked at the night sky.

"Continue investigating. I want to know the origin of that old servant."

The man in black said.

"Yes."

West of the city, a restaurant.

People from the Tianxuan Sect were staying here.

Compared to the ostentation of the Great Xia Empire and the Great Shang Empire, the people of the Tianxuan Sect were more low-key.

They had booked the entire third floor and did not allow anyone to disturb them.

In a private room on the third floor, a white-haired old man sat cross-legged with a game of chess set out before him.

He was Tianjizi, a Grand Elder of the Tianxuan Sect, at the Late Stage of the True God Realm, who had lived for over four hundred years.

There were very few things in this world that could make him take action personally.

The internal chaos of the Great Yan Dynasty was one of them.

"Elder," a young Disciple pushed the door and entered, "we have found out."

Tianjizi did not look up and continued to stare at the chessboard.

"Speak."

The Disciple said.

"The old servant beside that Crown Prince is named Jiang Ziya. At the Trial Assembly, he sat with Grand Elder Gu Qianqiu and they talked happily. Grand Elder Gu Qianqiu personally saw him off the mountain."

Tianjizi's hand, which was about to place a piece, paused slightly.

"Grand Elder Gu Qianqiu?"

The Disciple said.

"Yes. The Grand Elder of the Lingxiao Sect, at the Late Stage of the True God Realm."

Tianjizi was silent for a moment, then slowly said.

"That old fellow, Grand Elder Gu Qianqiu, has never spared a second glance for anyone in four hundred years. The fact that he could talk happily with that person means that person is not simple."

He raised his head, his gaze deep.

"What is the origin of that Jiang Ziya?"

The Disciple said.

"We cannot find out. He is as if he just appeared out of thin air."

Tianjizi frowned slightly.

"Appeared out of thin air?"

The Disciple said.

"Yes. A year ago, he appeared in a dilapidated Taoist temple in the south of the city. Before that, there were no records."

Tianjizi was silent.

After a long time, he suddenly laughed.

"Interesting, interesting."

He put down the chess piece, stood up, and walked to the window.

"Personally seen off the mountain by Grand Elder Gu Qianqiu, origin unknown, Middle Stage of the True God Realm..."

He muttered to himself.

"This Crown Prince is much more interesting than we thought."

North of the city, an inconspicuous small courtyard.

This was where the third faction was staying.

No one knew where they came from.

In the courtyard, a woman in black stood with her hands behind her back.

Her face was cold, her gaze sharp, and the aura around her was unfathomable.

"My Lord," a man in black emerged from the shadows, "we have found out."

The woman in black said.

"Speak."

The man in black said.

"That Crown Prince has eleven people by his side. They are Zhao Gao, General Lu Bu, Strategist Jia Xu, Xiao He, Chen Qingzhi, Di Renjie, Master Lu Ban, Zhangsun Wuji, Jiang Ziya, Strategist Guo Jia, and Zhang Liang. None of these people are from the Great Yan Dynasty. They are as if they just appeared out of thin air."

The woman in black raised an eyebrow.

"Appeared out of thin air?"

The man in black said.

"Yes. We cannot find any origin."

The woman in black was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

"Interesting. Truly interesting."

She turned around, and the moonlight spilled onto her face, revealing a stunningly beautiful countenance.

"It seems that this Crown Prince has a great secret."

She looked toward the direction of Yongan Ward, and a flash of light passed through her eyes.

"This secret, I am determined to have it."

Yongan Ward, Crown Prince's Mansion.

First level underground.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan stood before a sand table, with Jiang Ziya, Zhang Liang, Strategist Guo Jia, and Strategist Jia Xu by his side.

"Your Highness," Jiang Ziya said, "I have locked onto all seven auras. The people from the Great Xia Empire are staying at the inn in the east of the city, the people from the Great Shang Empire are staying at the separate courtyard in the south of the city, the people from the Great Zhou Empire are staying at the post house in the west of the city, and the people from the Great Qin Empire are staying at the embassy in the north of the city. The people from the Tianxuan Sect are staying at the restaurant in the west of the city, the people from the Dixuan Sect are staying at the Taoist temple in the south of the city, and the people from the Renxuan Sect are staying at the teahouse in the east of the city."

He said it all in one breath, paused, and then added.

"There are also three other auras that I have been unable to identify until now. They are hidden extremely deep, and each time they appear, it is only for a fleeting moment. I can only confirm that they are in the True God Realm, and there is more than one of them."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan frowned slightly.

"True God Realm? Hidden?"

Zhang Liang said.

"Your Highness, those three factions are likely more mysterious than the four great empires and the six great Sects. I suspect they may come from even further away."

Strategist Guo Jia said.

"Even further away? Are there even more powerful ones besides the ten top-tier factions?"

Zhang Liang nodded.

"Yes. Legend has it that in the far west, there are a few hidden factions. They never participate in the continent's conflicts, but their strength is unfathomable. These people may have come from there."

Strategist Jia Xu gasped.

"Hidden factions? What are they here for?"

Zhang Liang shook his head.

"I don't know. But it certainly isn't a good thing."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan was silent for a moment, then slowly said.

"No matter what they are here for, we must be ready to receive them."

He looked at Jiang Ziya.

"Master Jiang, can you keep an eye on them?"

Jiang Ziya smiled slightly.

"Your Highness, rest assured. I can see every move they make. As long as they don't make a move, I will not move. If they dare to make a move—"

He paused, and a flash of light shone in his eyes.

"My fishing rod doesn't mind catching a few more fish."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan nodded and looked at Zhang Liang.

"Zi Fang, how should we respond?"

Zhang Liang pondered and said.

"Your Highness, I believe we can take three steps."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan said.

"Speak."

Zhang Liang said.

"The first step is to let them watch. If they want to investigate Your Highness's background, let them investigate. What they find will only be what we want them to see. They will never find out our real trump cards."

Strategist Guo Jia continued.

"The second step is to let them act. They came to the capital, surely not just to observe. They will contact court officials and test Your Highness's attitude. Let them act; once they move, they will leave flaws."

Strategist Jia Xu continued.

"The third step is to make them afraid. Once they act, we will strike. We will arrest those who need to be arrested and drive away those who need to be driven away. Let them know that the new Crown Prince of the Great Yan Dynasty is not someone to be trifled with."

After hearing this, Crown Prince Xiao Xuan nodded slowly.

"Good. Let's do as the three strategists say."

He looked at Jiang Ziya.

"Master Jiang, thank you for keeping an eye on them."

Jiang Ziya smiled slightly.

"Your Highness, rest assured."

Three days later.

East of the city, Yuelai Inn.

The gray-robed old man of the Great Xia Empire was closing his eyes and resting in his room.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open.

A young man walked in with a solemn expression.

"Master, something has happened."

The gray-robed old man opened his eyes.

"What is it?"

The young man said.

"The people from the Great Shang Empire have been caught."

The gray-robed old man was stunned.

"Caught? Who caught them?"

The young man said.

"The Dragon Shadow Guard."

He paused and added.

"The man in black that Seventh Prince Shang Lie sent to investigate the Crown Prince snuck into the Crown Prince's Mansion last night and was captured on the spot by that guard at the Void God Perfection. The Dragon Shadow Guard moved overnight and took the man in black away."

The gray-robed old man was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

"Good method."

He stood up and walked to the window.

"That Crown Prince is establishing his authority. He is telling us—don't make a move; if you do, you will have to pay the price."

The young man said.

"Master, should we continue to investigate?"

The gray-robed old man shook his head.

"No more. At least, not personally."

He looked toward the direction of Yongan Ward, his gaze deep.

"This Crown Prince is much more ruthless than we thought."

South of the city, a separate courtyard.

Seventh Prince Shang Lie's face was livid.

The man in black he sent had been caught.

The Dragon Shadow Guard broke into his courtyard in the middle of the night and dragged the man in black out of the room. He was right next door, but he did not dare to make a move.

Because making a move meant going to war with the Great Yan Dynasty.

He was here to observe, not to fight.

"Your Highness," a follower said cautiously, "what should we do?"

Seventh Prince Shang Lie took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

"How much does that man in black know?"

The follower said.

"He doesn't know much. But... he knows our identity."

Seventh Prince Shang Lie was silent.

After a long time, he slowly said.

"Wait. Wait to see how the Crown Prince handles it. If he kills the man, it means he is breaking with our Great Shang Empire. If he releases him, it means he is showing weakness."

He paused, and a flash of coldness shone in his eyes.

"No matter what he chooses, we will have something to say."

West of the city, a restaurant.

Tianjizi smiled slightly after hearing the Disciple's report.

"The people from the Great Shang Empire have been caught? Interesting."

He stroked his beard, his gaze deep.

"This Crown Prince is quite bold. He even dares to catch people from the Great Shang Empire."

The Disciple said.

"Elder, what should we do?"

Tianjizi waved his hand.

"Do nothing. Let them fight. We'll just watch."

He looked out the window toward the direction of Yongan Ward.

"This Crown Prince is becoming more and more interesting."

Yongan Ward, Crown Prince's Mansion.

First level underground.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan sat in the main seat, with the man in black kneeling before him.

It was the spy from the Great Shang Empire who had snuck into the Crown Prince's Mansion last night.

"Speak, who sent you?"

The man in black gritted his teeth and remained silent.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan laughed.

"You won't talk? That's fine. I know whose person you are."

He stood up and walked to the man in black.

"Great Shang Empire, Seventh Prince Shang Lie, right?"

The man in black's pupils shrank.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan continued.

"Shang Lie sent you to investigate my background, did you find anything?"

The man in black was silent.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan smiled and walked back to his seat.

"Let him go."

Di Renjie was stunned.

"Your Highness?"

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan said.

"Let him go. Let him go back and tell Shang Lie—this time, I am letting someone go. Next time, I will not be so polite."

The man in black was taken away.

Zhang Liang smiled slightly.

"Your Highness is brilliant. Releasing the person is showing goodwill. Warning him is establishing authority. This move of both soft and hard tactics will leave Shang Lie with nothing to say."

Strategist Guo Jia said.

"And the person sent back will tell Shang Lie that Your Highness knows everything. Shang Lie will be even more wary."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan nodded and looked out the window.

Outside the window, the sun was bright.

But Crown Prince Xiao Xuan knew that the real storm had just begun.

"Let them come."

He muttered to himself.

"No matter how many come, I will take them all."

South of the city, Taoist temple.

Jiang Ziya sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion and opened his eyes slightly.

He looked toward the direction of Yongan Ward, and a smile appeared on his lips.

"Your Highness has released the person... A good method."

He raised his hand, and his thin, withered fingers gently moved in the void.

An invisible ripple spread out, instantly covering the entire capital.

A moment later, he withdrew his hand and nodded.

"The people from the Great Xia Empire are waiting, the people from the Great Shang Empire are angry, the people from the Great Zhou Empire are observing, and the people from the Great Qin Empire are laughing. The people from the Tianxuan Sect are watching the show, the people from the Dixuan Sect are hesitating, and the people from the Renxuan Sect are plotting."

He paused, his gaze falling on the three hidden auras.

"And you... are still hiding."

He smiled slightly.

"Hide then. The deeper you hide, the more you will reveal."

He closed his eyes again.

That fishing rod with a straight, baitless hook still lay across his knees.

The radiance on the fishing rod flickered slightly.