https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-42-The-Divine-Hall-s-Four-Divisions/13024397/
Chapter 43: A Perilous Situation
Chapter 43: A Perilous Situation
Zhi Yuan leaned against a coffin in the underground palace.
He felt that the peculiar events of the day warranted a good rant to Jin Li.
"Jin Li, I have some good news and bad news to tell you. Which one do you want to hear first?"
In the imperial palace, Jin Li, who was busy dealing with official documents, noticed the radiant glow emanating from Ling Long and Xi Shi.
A smile involuntarily curved her lips.
The troubles of Nan Qian Kingdom seemed to dissipate like smoke and clouds.
"Let's hear the good news first."
"The good news is that I got married."
"Married???"
"The bad news is, I married a Wedding Robe!"
"..."
Zhi Yuan briefly recounted the day's events to Jin Li.
After listening, Jin Li, for some reason, felt a sense of relief.
"With Xiao Jia, my monster-slaying efficiency will definitely improve, and it won't be long before I can break through the Robe Forbidden Zone.
How about you? What's your situation?"
Jin Li frowned upon reading Zhi Yuan's message, her brows forming a dark cloud.
After the previous emperor's passing, all the royal descendants were massacred, leaving only Jin Li as the sole survivor.
It could be said that Nan Qian Kingdom was entirely under Sima Ting's control.
However, Sima Ting, in the name of legitimacy and to avoid suspicion, and also considering the Tian Qi Shang Jiang, who commanded troops outside and had already established himself as a powerful regional leader, and the Tian Yun Sheng Men, did not directly usurp the throne.
The recent challenge from the royal advisor of Nan Feng Kingdom was part of Sima Ting's conspiracy.
But due to the Xuan Yuan Jin, Qin Yi's breakthrough to Imperial Power, the challenge ended in a crushing defeat for the royal advisor of Nan Feng Kingdom, thwarting Sima Ting's scheme.
Even so, the power Jin Li commanded was vastly inferior to that of Sima Ting.
It could be said that even before the previous emperor's passing, he had already been stripped of his authority.
Her ascension to the throne was merely symbolic.
Among the six divisions, only Li Bu's wise Kong Qi remained outside Sima Ting's control.
The true power she possessed was limited to Qin Yi, an Imperial Power cultivator, and two thousand imperial guards.
Unfortunately, even if Sima Ting were lured into the palace, it would be difficult for Qin Yi and the imperial guards to eliminate him.
Not to mention, Sima Ting's eldest son, Sima Riyue, was even more ruthless than his father.
Sima Ting still maintained a sense of decorum, but Sima Riyue would not.
"My situation is still challenging. The power I hold is too little," Jin Li sighed.
The Xuan Yuan Jin could indeed enhance the strength of its members.
The rate of improvement was also rapid.
However, it was not enough for Jin Li to quickly turn the tables.
Unless she had several years, or even a decade, of peaceful development, and more Imperial Power cultivators under her command.
In Nan Qian Kingdom, there were only three known Imperial Power cultivators besides Qin Yi.
Sima Ting had two Imperial Power cultivators under his command, and there might be more hidden ones.
Moreover, Jin Li dared not openly send her trusted followers to the Xuan Yuan Jin.
Doing so would undoubtedly attract Sima Ting's attention.
Sima Ting's power was so overwhelming that it had become inflated, which was why Jin Li had been able to leave the imperial capital and visit the Xuan Yuan Jin previously.
But with Qin Yi displaying her Imperial Power, Sima Ting would undoubtedly be cautious, making it much more challenging for Jin Li to leave the palace again.
"Your situation is even more difficult than that of Han Xian Di," Zhi Yuan couldn't help but complain.
During Han Xian Di's reign, at least the various feudal lords and the common people still acknowledged the royal family's authority.
But what about Jin Li? She was now merely a lucky charm.
If she were to truly demonstrate power that threatened Sima Ting, he would likely cast aside all pretense and directly use thunderous means to eliminate Jin Li, without regard for legitimacy or face.
"How's your task going?" Jin Li gradually managed to communicate with Zhi Yuan on the same channel.
"I also encountered a powerful opponent, who seems to be even stronger than a Heavenly Deity.
"The Heavenly Deity?" Jin Li couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "Is it the same Heavenly Deity from the legends?"
"I'm not sure," Zhi Yuan replied, having only seen records of the Heavenly Deity in the Robe Forbidden Zone's underground palace. He wasn't certain if it was the same deity from the myths.
"Then be careful," Jin Li said, "Don't forget, we still need to meet up in person!"
Zhi Yuan shrugged, "Unfortunately, I can't leave the forbidden area right now. Otherwise, I'd go and cut down Sima Ting for you, and that would be the end of it."
"But that might lower your mission evaluation and reduce your rewards significantly," he added.
At present, Zhi Yuan only had access to the Xuan Yuan Jin and the Robe Forbidden Zone on his map.
He estimated that he would need to complete the Robe Forbidden Zone to unlock the other two forbidden areas.
Once he finished exploring all the forbidden zones, Zhi Yuan believed he would be able to unlock the other maps and finally meet Jin Li in person.
Zhi Yuan also wanted to see what this female netizen he had been chatting with for almost a year looked like.
He hoped she would be pretty.
But even if not, it was fine.
Her personality didn't seem to have any particular traits, but Zhi Yuan found their conversations incredibly comfortable.
She didn't have the haughtiness of a queen, nor was she pretentious or mischievous.
This kind of personality was already a very good confidant for Zhi Yuan.
After all, in this life, being able to meet such a girl who could calmly accompany you through the passing of time, watching the clouds and the sun rise and set, feeling the flow of time without the sense of fleeting youth, and instead, experiencing the serenity of the years—that was already quite worthwhile.
"Your important matters come first," Jin Li said, a warmth spreading in her heart, "And the same goes for you. Although... I can't really help you with anything."
Since birth, she had never experienced what could be called familial love, nor had anyone truly cared for her.
Her father, the Emperor, had been marginalized by the Chancellor, and he spent his days drinking heavily and in a constant state of anger, showing no concern for her.
She had never even met her mother.
The only person who had been kind to her was Qin Yi, and now she had Zhi Yuan as well.
"Last time you told me about the Robe Forbidden Zone, it was a great help to me.
Unfortunately, I can't do the same for you now."
Zhi Yuan sent the message and then stared at the buried Garment Division soldiers in front of him.
An idea came to mind.
"If I take control of the Robe Forbidden Zone, these Garment Division soldiers should become mine, right?"
Although these soldiers didn't seem particularly strong to Zhi Yuan individually, an organized force of them should be able to sweep across the land, right?
Except for the forbidden areas...
...
The Chancellor's Mansion was like a palace.
Sima Ting sat in a high position, squinting as he continuously fiddled with a carved walnut, deep in thought.
His eldest son, Sima Riyue, had a fierce look on his face, "Father, let's rebel! This is getting boring!"
Sima Ting looked at his son, his expression unchanged, "You may leave. I have matters to discuss with your uncle."
This son was nothing like him.
If it weren't for his mother's clan's connection to the Tian Yun Sheng Men, he...
As Sima Riyue left, Sima Ting turned to the scholar-like man beside him.
"Brother Wen, have you found out why Empress Jin Li entered the Imperial Power realm?"
"Is there someone else behind the Empress, targeting me or the Tian Yun Sheng Men?"
The scholar was named Wen Yong, a trusted Imperial Power cultivator of Sima Ting.
This Imperial Power cultivator was from the Tian Yun Sheng Men and was quite skilled in curse-killing techniques.
Even the previous Emperor, protected by the Tian Yun Jade Seal, had been curse-killed by Wen Yong.
This demonstrated the power of his curse-killing techniques.
(End of Chapter)
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