19: Daqin Yingzheng, Five Elements Spiritual Objects

The morning light spilled down, penetrating the thick clouds, casting a solemn golden glow over this majestic and ancient palace city.

Inside the Golden Imperial Hall of Xianyang Palace in the Great Qin Dynasty, the hundred officials stood with bowed heads, utterly silent.

The atmosphere was so oppressive it was almost solidified.

Upon the Dragon Throne sat a man dressed in a profound black Dragon Robe. His features were handsome and well-defined, and his deep-set eyes seemed capable of seeing through people's hearts and understanding the ways of the world.

He was Ying Zheng, the Emperor of Great Qin.

He did not display the usual imperial rage or anxiety; instead, his well-articulated fingers tapped lightly on the Qilin armrest of the Dragon Throne, one tap after another.

“Tap… tap… tap…”

Each tap was like a heavy hammer striking the hearts of the hundred officials below theYour Highness.

“Speak.”

Ying Zheng finally spoke, his voice calm, betraying no emotion.

“Reporting to Your Majesty,” a chief eunuch tremblingly stepped forward, his shrill voice particularly jarring in the deathly silent hall, “The Great Chu and Northern Yuan borders are arrayed with a million troops. According to reports from our scouts, the Emperor of Great Chu has already sent a declaration of war and will soon ally with the Great Qian Dynasty to jointly attack Northern Yuan.”

“What is the cause?” Ying Zheng’s gaze remained fixed on the boundless sky outside the hall.

“The cause…” The chief eunuch’s voice grew even softer, “It is rumored to be for a young man named Lin Fan. The Northern Yuan Dynasty has ordered Great Chu and Great Qian to cease their pursuit of this person, or else face war.”

“Heh heh.”

Ying Zheng suddenly let out a soft chuckle.

The laughter was not loud, but it caused the temperature in the hall to drop sharply.

“A young man, causing a war between three Dynasties.”

“Interesting, truly interesting.”

He slowly rose, paced to the front of the hall, stood with his hands behind his back, and looked down at the prostrate officials below him, and the vast territory stretching out beyond.

“Such a figure, stirring up the winds and clouds, has emerged from a mere barbarian land.”

“I am quite interested in him.”

“Court dismissed.”

These two unquestionable words signaled the end of today’s morning court.

The officials, as if granted a great pardon, bowed and filed out silently, no one daring to utter another word.

Ying Zheng turned and slowly walked down from the Dragon Platform, heading directly back to his imperial study.

Inside the study, ancient books were piled like mountains, and a massive map hung on the wall, encompassing the mountains and rivers of the Nine Great Dynasties. Red marks dotted it, exuding an aura of devouring the sky and nurturing the sun.

Ying Zheng stood before the map, his gaze lingering for a moment on the border where Northern Yuan, Great Chu, and Great Qian met, then slowly shifted to a corner further to the west.

“Imperial Uncle.”

He spoke faintly, addressing the empty study.

As soon as his voice fell.

A figure appeared behind him without warning.

It was as if he had always been standing there, merging with the shadows.

The newcomer was burly, also dressed in profound black, with an ancient, unadorned face, his aura so restrained it was almost imperceptible, like a deep, unfathomable abyss.

He was the true stabilizing force of the Great Qin Dynasty, Ying Zheng’s Imperial Uncle, the supreme existence secretly guarding this ancient Dynasty.

Great Qin’s hidden power—the Heaven And Man Realm, Ying Wu!

“Your Majesty.” Ying Wu’s voice was hoarse and steady.

“Imperial Uncle.” Ying Zheng did not turn around, his fingertip resting on the Origin of the words “Lin Fan” on the map—Liuzhou City in Great Chu.

“A young man, causing Northern Yuan to go to war with two great Dynasties. This matter is full of strangeness.”

“I don’t believe in the saying ‘beauty brings disaster,’ nor do I believe a young man could possess such great power.”

“Behind this, there must be a hidden truth we do not know.”

In Ying Zheng’s eyes, a sharp light flickered, capable of discerning everything.

“Investigate.”

“Find out the true background of this Lin Fan, and discover who truly stands behind him.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Ying Wu’s figure once again merged into the shadows, quietly disappearing as if he had never appeared.

In the study, only Ying Zheng remained.

His gaze returned to the turbulent map, and a meaningful curve appeared at the corner of his lips.

“Let there be chaos, the more chaos the better.”

“When you all fight to a mutual destruction, my Great Qin’s iron cavalry will also be ready to go out and stretch their muscles.”

… …

At the same time.

Yuelai Inn, Heaven-level Room.

Inside the large cypress bathtub, steam rose, and several precious medicinal herbs floated on the water, emitting a refreshing fragrance that soothed muscles and promoted circulation.

Lin Fan, shirtless, leaned back comfortably against the tub wall, humming contentedly.

The tune he was humming was the catchy, magical song from another world that his Master, Lu Yuchen, had unintentionally taught him.

“Pleasant Goat, Beautiful Goat, Lazy Goat, Boonie Bear…”

His current mood was as light and joyful as the melody.

A few days ago, he had exhausted his magical power to briefly achieve the ability to fly, finally shaking off the pursuit of that old bald monk, Liao Chen.

He had traveled all the way west, crossing the borders of two countries, and arrived at Great Qin, the most powerful of the Nine Great Dynasties.

Here, the sky was high and the Emperor far away; the long arms of Great Chu and Shaolin Temple could not reach.

“Damn it, I can finally catch my breath.”

As Lin Fan scrubbed himself, he recalled the events of the past few days, his mind still filled with confusion.

Had the Northern Yuan Dynasty gone mad?

For a young man they had never met, they actually declared war on two behemoths, Great Chu and Great Qian, simultaneously?

What for?

Could it be that they were attracted to his handsome and dashing appearance?

Lin Fan touched his face, shaking his head narcissistically.

No, this was too far-fetched.

There must be something fishy going on behind the scenes.

“Forget it, if I can’t figure it out, I won’t think about it.”

“The most urgent task is to quickly improve my strength and find a few more spiritual items to completely stabilize my Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation.”

He had already inquired and learned that the Great Qin Dynasty had a strong martial arts tradition, with many extraordinary individuals, and the trade of various Heaven And Earth Treasures was far more frequent than in Great Chu.

Here, he might be able to find what he needed.

Just as he was happily planning his future, outside the door, he heard the laughter and chatter of a few patrons.

“Have you heard? Our Great Qin’s Eldest Princess, Your Highness, is holding a martial arts competition to choose a husband!”

“Who doesn’t know that! Princess Princess Ying An'ge, she’s the most beautiful woman in our Great Qin, and also His Majesty’s most beloved daughter!”

“Tsk tsk, whoever can become this imperial son-in-law will rise to prominence in one step!”

Lin Fan initially paid no attention, dismissing it as ordinary gossip.

However, the next sentence made his ears perk up sharply.

“What’s rising to prominence in one step? I heard that the prize for this martial arts competition to choose a husband is truly astonishing!”

“Oh? What prize?”

“His Majesty personally promised that the winner, in addition to marrying Princess An'ge, will also be granted a… ‘five elements source crystal’!”

“five elements source crystal?!” Another voice exclaimed, “Isn’t that the supreme treasure rumored to contain the Origin power of the Five Elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth? It is said that if a Martial Artist obtains it, they can cleanse their marrow and transform their bones, and their chances of breaking through to the Heaven And Man Realm in the future will increase by thirty percent!”

“five elements source crystal…”

Inside the bathtub, Lin Fan’s breathing suddenly quickened.

He abruptly sat up in the water, splashing water everywhere.

The Origin power of the Five Elements!

This… wasn't this precisely the Five Elements spiritual item that Master had previously mentioned through telepathy, which was essential for his Junior Sister Nanny to forge her Chaos Dao Body?!

Although he didn't know if this “five elements source crystal” was good enough, just by its name, it was definitely not an ordinary item!

If he could obtain it and offer it to Master, allowing Junior Sister Nanny to successfully reach Foundation Establishment…

Lin Fan’s heart instantly burned with fervor.

“I must participate in this martial arts competition to choose a husband!”

A thought wildly grew in his mind.

Although his identity was currently sensitive, exposing himself to the Great Qin imperial family carried immense risk.

But for the sake of his sect, for the sake of his Junior Sister’s Dao path…

No pain, no gain!

A resolute glint flashed in Lin Fan’s eyes.