NOVEL WEB Chapter 48 - Marching Into the Inner Palace!
Chapter 48: Marching Into the Inner Palace!
“Whew…” Yang Yi let out a long breath. Finally, he had undergone two additional rounds of bitter cultivation, each lasting ten years, focused respectively on medical skills and the Ghost Gate Eighteen Needles. By now, he had mastered the Eighteen Needles to the extent that he could even use them offensively, turning them into concealed weapons capable of both saving lives and taking them.
“My great work is complete!” Yang Yi stretched lazily, a hint of satisfaction tugging at the corners of his lips. “Next, it’s time to march into the inner palace.” At this point, he still had nine years of bitter cultivation time left, but he had decided to set it aside for now. Splashing clear water as he rose, Yang Yi stepped out of the wooden tub and casually scooped Qinglian into his arms. She gave a soft gasp, burying her face against his chest. What followed, naturally, was another night of dragon and phoenix revelry.
When all was done, Yang Yi exhaled contentedly, gazing at the two women now sleeping soundly. His heart was full. But soon, something crossed his mind, and with a single thought, the figure of Ying appeared before him once more. Ying, who had just fallen into a deep sleep, awoke abruptly amidst waves of pain. Groggily opening her eyes, she saw Yang Yi standing before her again.
“Are you insane?” she gritted through her teeth. “I had just fallen asleep! Why not just kill me already?!” Even a clay figure would have a temper, let alone a living person. Though she was a death soldier, that did not mean she lacked emotions. “Just fell asleep?” Yang Yi chuckled lightly and motioned toward Meng Jiangnv and Qinglian, both still fast asleep. “Take a look at them.”
Ying instinctively turned her gaze and froze. It was impossible. In her mind, she had only just closed her eyes moments ago. No matter how deceived her consciousness might be, her body couldn’t lie—she felt no trace of recovery. “Enough talk,” Yang Yi said casually, not giving her time to react further. He had more important matters to attend to. Yet he noticed, much to his surprise, that her loyalty was slowly increasing.
Ying remained silent. Yet she was no longer a wooden puppet. Occasionally, she spoke, albeit unwillingly, as if suppressing herself. When everything finally ended, Ying remained quiet, but when Yang Yi handed her a robe, she spoke in a low voice: “My life belongs to Meifei.”
“Meifei?” Yang Yi arched an eyebrow. “Who’s that?” But Ying fell silent again. “So… you intend to tell me one secret per time?” Yang Yi snorted.
“I only know she is a capable agent kept by the Chancellor,” Ying replied after a long pause. “I, too, am a death soldier under the Chancellor’s command.”
“Zhao Gao?” Yang Yi narrowed his eyes. Each time Ying revealed a secret, her loyalty increased slightly. This time, it ticked up again. “Yes.” Ying nodded.
“What is your mission?” Yang Yi asked curiously. “I don’t know.” Ying shook her head. “But it must have something to do with the First Emperor.” Yang Yi sighed. “So, not only are there tomb guardians, but even the emperor’s concubines and the death soldiers are divided among three factions.”
After asking a few more questions, Yang Yi couldn’t help but sigh. As expected, anything related to the First Emperor was never a trivial matter. “All right. Get some proper sleep this time,” Yang Yi said gently. “I won’t touch you. When you wake, we’ll march into the inner palace together.”
His voice had softened considerably. Ying’s loyalty had now reached sixty-five—a qualified level. Without saying a word, Ying looked at Yang Yi deeply before drifting back to sleep. She only hoped that he would keep his word. She was truly afraid.
“The Azure Dragon’s Seven Mansions…” Yang Yi murmured. “Is that the great secret tied to the First Emperor’s body?” He was piecing this together based on Ying’s answers. Whether or not it was true, he couldn’t be sure. “Forget it. Even if I know, so what? Whatever is meant to be mine will be mine.”
Shaking his head, Yang Yi retrieved venison, seasonings, and cookware from the system space. He intended to prepare a feast. A full stomach would be necessary for the battle to come—he could already foresee that the next stage would be an intense slaughter. As the rich aroma of roasting meat began to rise, Meng Jiangnv and Qinglian slowly awoke. Seeing Ying sleeping beside them, they exchanged a faint smile before moving to help with the meal.
Soon after, Ying, with her strong constitution as a martial artist, awakened naturally. An hour of deep sleep was enough for her. Upon waking, her eyes immediately sought Yang Yi. A complex expression flashed across her face, but she silently washed up and joined the feast. “Let’s go.” Yang Yi stood after the meal, storing everything back into the system space. “Today, we march into the inner palace.”
Meng Jiangnv and Qinglian exchanged a glance and quickly followed. After a moment’s hesitation, Ying, too, stepped after them. “First Emperor,” Yang Yi murmured, standing at the exit of the passageway. Staring at the towering walls looming in the darkness like a slumbering beast, his voice carried boundless ambition. “I am now one step closer to you.”
“Be careful, my husband,” Meng Jiangnv warned softly. She was unaware of how powerful Yang Yi had become and couldn’t help but remind him. “It’s nothing.” Yang Yi smiled faintly.
“There are traps and mechanisms all over this square,” Ying spoke up after a brief pause. “And when you approach, the guards atop the walls will activate the defenses.” Yang Yi said nothing. He stepped forward a few paces and released his Qi Shield. A golden aura radiated around him, forming a five-meter-wide Qi dome. The oppressive force it emitted was suffocating.
“Peak Qi Realm?” Ying’s heart trembled violently. She stared at Yang Yi, unable to believe her eyes. How could someone barely in his twenties possess such terrifying cultivation? Yet what Yang Yi did next utterly shattered her understanding of the world.
“Break for me!” Yang Yi’s voice rang out as he formed hand seals. His foot lifted slowly, and the Overlord Bones within his body glowed faintly with mysterious runes.
Boom!
As his foot slammed heavily into the ground, the massive square trembled faintly. In the next instant, it was as if a colossal earth dragon stirred beneath the surface—countless bluestone tiles were upturned and flung skyward.