Chapter 2 - Conspiracy

The black night fades away, and the dawn light travels through every corner of the world.

The Yong Prince's Mansion has a meticulous and grand layout, with exquisite water pavilions, towers, and green pavilions intertwined, combining the richness and prosperity of the royal family with the elegance and simplicity of the common people.

The maidservants were busy with their tasks, and six guards in black armor with swords on their waists patrolled step by step.

Inside the Phoenix Tower, Wu Jian had awakened from his sleep. The woman had already left, but the faint scent of orchids remained in the bedding, refreshing his lungs.

Wu Jian recalled the residual energy of the arrows. He closed his eyes and tried to activate the "Astral Qi" technique.

Instantly, layers of silver Qi surrounded his body, forming a huge vortex barrier. The screen beside the bed moved without wind, and the surrounding tables and chairs shook slightly, making a sharp creaking sound.

The silver Qi rushed through his meridians and flowed into his organs, erasing the bloody and violent energy left by the arrow, and gradually transforming it into a sword-like Qi.

With each strand of Qi eliminated, Wu Jian would spit out a small amount of black blood. In no time, a pool of black blood had accumulated on the floor in front of the bed, emitting an extremely foul smell.

Thus, the "Astral Qi" circulated in his body like a ball of light.

Two hours later, Wu Jian opened his eyes, and his pupils slightly contracted. He lifted his right hand and sucked the ceramic vase on the table with a gust of silver Qi.

The vase seemed to be held by an invisible giant hand, suspended in mid-air and unable to move.

Wu Jian could feel the vase's existence. He raised his eyebrows and clenched his right hand in the air.

"Crack, bang."

"Boom!"

The suspended vase exploded into pieces in an instant, and ripples of Qi waves swept through the room, smashing the tables, chairs, and screens into pieces.

"The 'Astral Qi' is indeed powerful. With its terrifying self-healing speed, from being heavily injured and dying yesterday to now being able to use one-third of my power, I may be completely healed in a few days." Wu Jian's face was still calm, but his heart was extremely surprised as he murmured to himself.

Recalling when he first obtained the ancestral secret book of the Wu family when he was a child, the first page was interpreted as follows:

"Astral Qi": This technique is a profound Qi-based divine art of the Mysterious Gate. It contains Qi-based internal strength and techniques. The Astral Qi used in this technique is a kind of extremely yin and soft energy that gives rise to the purest and most yang Pure Yang Qi, which circulates continuously, making it indestructible. It is known as the Indestructible Vajra Qi Art and has a self-defense and rebounding effect.

At the pinnacle of the Great Perfection realm, it can be used in combination with the Astral Qi to transform Qi into a sword, as sharp as a divine weapon, and kill with a flying sword, combining offense and defense. It can also protect against poison, heal injuries and diseases, and stop bleeding.

At the pinnacle of the Complete Perfection realm, one can use the power of heaven and earth for offense and defense, and be immune to all kinds of poison, becoming like an undying being.

"Thanks to the Qi sphere left by my father, I was able to receive all of his innate True Qi. Coupled with my own hard work since childhood, my 'Innate Qi' is now close to perfection. My True Qi cultivation has also reached the pinnacle of mastery in the world."

Upon further thought Wu Jian began to feel that his father's death was suspicious.

At that time, 100,000 iron cavalry from Northern Liang suddenly marched south and attacked Yu City. The Emperor of Qiguo, ordered the nearest prince, Prince Yong of the Everlasting Prefecture, to gather 100,000 elite soldiers to fight back.

Prince Yong was unparalleled in martial arts among the nine provinces, and was the bravest and most skilled among the nine princes. the Everlasting Prefecture's military and financial resources were also among the top three states. Its military strength was divided into ten parts, four of which were under Prince Yong's command, while the other six were under the command of the Eternal Eight Banners.

This distribution of military power was established by past Qiguo Emperors to prevent princes from rebelling. The Eternal Eight Banners were also under the command of the prince's mansion, but in case the mansion rebelled against Qiguo, the Eight Banners had the right to refuse orders and even counteract the mansion.

After receiving the order, Prince Yong felt the situation was sudden and led the 40,000 soldiers under the prince's mansion and the 60,000 soldiers under the Eternal Eight Banners to fight against the Northern Liang's 100,000 iron cavalry.

What happened next was beyond everyone's expectations. Prince Yong died in battle outside Yu City's Dragon Abyss, half of the 100,000 troops were killed in a trap, and three of the eight Eternal high-level masters died while the other five were wounded.

This battle shocked the world, and Emperor Qiguo was greatly angered. But instead of punishing Prince Yong for his death, he ordered a lavish burial for the soldiers who died in battle and exempted the Everlasting Prefecture from ten years of taxes.

After this battle, the Everlasting Prefecture's ranking directly fell to last place. When Prince Yong's wife received the news of his death, she became depressed and died within a year.

According to reason, Prince Yong had more than 30 years of cultivation, at least reaching the mastery level, and with the invincible skill of "Innate Qi", he should have been able to defeat most enemies of his time.

Furthermore, there were eight Eternal high-level masters who had reached the pinnacle of Innate Qi mastery, 100,000 elite soldiers of Qiguo, and if the battle could not be won, they could retreat to defend Yu City. How could it end with Prince Yong's death at the Dragon Abyss?

Prince Yong did not leave any letters about the battle, but left the Qi sphere filled with his innate True Qi to the remaining five Eternal high-level masters. They brought it back to the mansion and gave it to Prince Yong's wife, who later passed it on to Wu Jian.

"Qi spheres like this can only be made by the Number One Swordsmithing Clan in the world," Wu Jian thought to himself.

"Eternal Eight Banners, Yu City, Dragon Abyss, Number One Swordsmithing Clan, Emperor Qiguo, Northern Liang Kingdom - what roles did they play in the events at that time?"

"To those involved in the events at that time, I hope you have a long life. When I come to collect debts one by one, hehe," Wu Jian's face was covered with frost

"I'm coming in!

Oh no, why are the tables and chairs overturned, the vase shattered, and there's a pool of blood? Are you okay, Jian'er?"

Ye Qingfu walked in from the door, seeing the furniture scattered around and rushed to the bed, anxiously asking about Wu Jian's condition.

Ye Qingfu wore a lotus-colored palace dress today, holding the food in her hands, with a touch of makeup, her black hair pinned up, and her face slightly tired. It was obvious that she had not slept well these few days.

Wu Jian lay down and waved his hand, "Don't worry, Qingjie. I just used my inner strength to expel the bruising, and I feel much better now. My hands can move again."

Ye Qingfu took a small step forward and placed the food by the bed. She straightened her skirt, and a scent of orchids wafted by. She sat gently on the edge of the bed, holding Wu Jian's hand, and furrowed her brows, saying, "You, lie down obediently. I'll take care of you. Otherwise, it feels strange to stay idle in the mansion all day long."

As she spoke, she helped Wu Jian sit up and leaned against her chest, with her right arm around his neck. Then she picked up the food, scooped a spoonful, bent down, and said, "Hoo, hoo, open your mouth, Jian'er."

Watching the beautiful red lips open and close, getting closer and closer, Wu Jian's head felt hot, and he tilted his head slightly towards those beautiful lips.

As their lips finally met, a jolt of pure, electric ecstasy surged through Wu Jian, lighting up every nerve ending like a cascade of fireworks. The warmth and softness of her lips against his felt like a silken embrace, sending shivers down his spine and leaving him weak. The taste of her, a tantalizing blend of sweet and sultry, lingered on his tongue, etching itself into his memory for a lifetime.

"Uh-oh," Ye Qingfu sobbed, stiffening her body directly, feeling the soft sensation from the kiss on her lips, her snow-white face instantly turning red, and her delicate ears burning hot...

"Crack!" The bowl containing the food fell and shattered into pieces.

"Jian'er, you, you!" Ye Qingfu didn't finish her sentence, covering her face and stumbling out of the room...

Wu Jian's face was full of disgrace. He closed his eyes, thinking that if he couldn't see it, he wouldn't be ashamed...