This scoundrel is a bit of a swordsman.

Chapter 205 Building Your Own Power

"You don't need to blame him. It's a good thing that Murong Fenghua left. She has the bone-devouring poison that was given to her back then, and she has been enduring it and lying dormant for so many years. Fortunately, this kid's appearance rekindled her inner fire, otherwise she would have been ruined."

Consort Xian spoke again, addressing the Eldest Princess.

"You and my mother are not..."

"Truth and falsehood are intertwined; who can truly discern the truth in this capital? I am a contingency plan left behind by your mother. Her decisive departure was also a calculated move against me. She was certain I wouldn't stand idly by. That damned woman, she didn't even consult me!"

Xiao Xingchen was somewhat speechless. The people of Yong'an City were all scheming; none of them could be underestimated. Not to mention the Eldest Princess, who, though outwardly calm, was inwardly turmoil upon hearing these things for the first time.

Whether it was her mother being poisoned or various schemes, things were somewhat beyond her control.

"Take your time to process this. You'll get used to it. I asked you to come see me because I was afraid you'd get stuck on it. Murong Fenghua isn't dead. As long as you both work hard at your cultivation, you'll definitely have a chance to meet again in the future. As for you..."

Consort Xian changed the subject and looked at Xiao Xingchen.

"I know I'm in the eye of the storm right now, and I don't want to die, so I'll keep a low profile." This time, Xiao Xingchen took the initiative to back down, but saw Consort Xian shake her head.

"No, you should be high-profile. Being made a prince at a young age is a time of youthful arrogance. Choosing to be low-key at this time would be a bad idea. Since His Majesty has given you this status, you should make good use of it."

"what do you mean?"

"It's time to build your own team. It's not unreasonable for a King to have his own people; it's only natural. If you had your own people before, it might have aroused suspicion, but now, the timing is perfect. There are many things that one person cannot accomplish alone."

The Consort Xian's words shocked everyone present. In the Great Qian Dynasty, there was strict control over private armies. Therefore, even the Eldest Princess and the Crown Prince could only secretly maintain their forces and dared not make any arrogant arrangements or build their own factions openly. This statement seemed simple, but it actually involved many aspects. The first question was, how to legalize these people?

Xiao Xingchen had already planned this out, and Ling Feiyuan was probably still waiting for him; she was likely getting impatient by now.

"I understand. I will get started on those things, but since I'm new here, I still need more manpower..."

"Didn't I arrange everything for you?"

Consort Xian smiled and said,

This startled Xiao Xingchen, who looked puzzled.

"Idiot, that's the anthill! That's where we recruit our soldiers. Otherwise, where do you think we all came from?" Ruoxue reminded him, which made Xiaoxingchen's body tremble. Right, Ruoxue had this intention when she took him there last time.

The eldest princess also frowned, somewhat puzzled that a anthill could find manpower.

To make Xiao Xingchen take this matter more seriously, Consort Xian had to give her another reminder.

"Everyone regards anthills as lowly places, but little do they know that they are also natural barriers. Many powerful figures who have caused trouble in the outside world or who are unable to show their faces in public choose to lie low in anthills. I dare say that if you can truly subdue the people I have chosen for you there, then you will have the ability to run rampant in the Great Qian Dynasty, and even help you ascend to the Ninth Heaven. I have already told Ruoxue the specific list, so do not underestimate them."

"The fortune teller from last time was one of them. Didn't you already meet him?"

Xiao Xingchen was taken aback, then her face fell.

"I almost forgot. Damn it, who is it that tricked me? I almost forgot that I was just someone else's wedding dress."

When the old story was brought up again, he was shocked to realize that the crisis had not yet subsided, and that a powerful figure was waiting for him to become a pawn in the scheme. This matter had been completely unresolved for a long time.

If Ruoxue hadn't brought it up again, he probably would have forgotten about it.

"That old man is truly extraordinary. Over the years, he has been able to scheme against various countries, causing countless people headaches. Such people are all exceptional individuals, so don't underestimate him. Besides this fortune teller, I also suspect that there are several other old men with remarkable backgrounds, but I don't need so many experts, so I haven't made contact with them yet. After the storm has passed for you, I suggest you go to the Ant Nest for a while to deepen your relationship."

"As for Ling Xue, my advice to you is: look up at the vastness of the universe, look down at the abundance of all things, and never confine yourself to the territory of one country. You are different from the Crown Prince. His upper limit is already determined, so the furthest he can go is the throne of the Great Qian. However, you are completely different. You are fully qualified to go much further. Don't let the leaves in front of you blind you. The Great Qian is in a corner of the world. Even the Martial Emperor is just a puppet under the Dao. This position is not worth having."

Consort Xian explained that these words were not only a reminder to Xiao Xingchen, but also a way to enlighten Huangfu Lingxue. The meaning was clear: the Crown Prince was not your enemy, and there was no conflict between your interests. It was a well-intentioned and thoughtful gesture.

“If you had said these words to me yesterday, I would have thought you had ulterior motives, but not from today onwards. My sword is the only factor that determines the height of my life.”

Upon hearing the princess's reply, the group nodded in unison. A ghost sword immortal—their skill ceiling is terrifyingly high.

"Very good. The situation outside is already in chaos. The two spirit swords that appeared today must be among the most outstanding individuals in the world, and they will surely become our formidable enemies in the future. As far as I know, there are several more such figures. Therefore, your goal must be clear and specific: to break out of the Great Qian, break through the Nine Heavens, and enter the Outer Heaven. This is your short-term goal. Remember, the Great Qian is only your starting point. As for where the end is, it all depends on how far you can go."

"That's for sure. Since the sky outside is so vast, I must go and explore it."

Huangfu Lingxue said firmly, "In that instant, the trajectory of my past life had changed. The princess who was determined to ascend the throne no longer focused her attention on the dragon throne, but looked towards a more distant place. All of this was a change brought about by Xiao Xingchen unintentionally. And with his several actions, this change was like the flapping of a butterfly's wings, triggering a series of chain reactions. Everyone related to him began to embark on a completely different life journey."

"I still have a question: does Your Majesty know the inside story of the Poetry Festival?"

Xiao Xingchen suddenly asked,

"The Poetry Immortal Gathering, could there be some hidden story behind it? I don't know. This matter has always been handled by His Majesty and the Second Sage, and no one else has been involved. This is what I find strange. Many things can be done by simply giving orders, but so far, the rules of the Poetry Immortal Gathering have not been announced."

Consort Xian looked puzzled, but this only made Xiao Xingchen more certain of his thoughts.

"In that case, I understand. The Poet Immortal Gathering is very likely a trap. I don't know the specifics yet, but Your Majesty can remind your people that if possible, you should not go and join in the fun."

"Why do you think so?"

"Think about it, what would a poet like him have to hide? Holding such a gathering would definitely involve a large number of people, and every step would be instructed. But now it seems that Emperor Wu has hidden everything. Doesn't this seem like he's trying to cover something up?"

"It shouldn't be that bad. It's just reciting poetry, what trouble could it possibly cause? Aren't you worrying too much?"

Ruoxue had doubts. After all, the Poetry Immortal Gathering was just a place for literati to recite poems. How could such a thing have changed?

"I also hope that I am overthinking it. However, in fact, this Poet Immortal Gathering has another name, the Houtu Sacrifice. What exactly is Emperor Wu going to worship? If we don't find out, it will be like a sharp blade hanging over our heads."

"So, are the people you asked me to find also for this matter?" the princess asked.

"Yes, these people are crucial to you at this Poetry Festival, so it's essential to gather them all together."

"You're overthinking it. With Meng Qianfan's arrogant attitude, he would never cooperate with us."

"And that steamed bun shop, my men have been staking out it for ages but haven't found the person you're talking about. Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

"I don't think so. I think it's there."

Upon hearing this, Consort Xian frowned deeply, seemingly lost in memories of the Poetry Gathering, so much so that she appeared oblivious to Xiao Xingchen's next words. As she reminisced, a glint suddenly flashed in her eyes, like a shooting star streaking across the night sky.

Suddenly, he spoke up, saying, "A very strange thing has happened in the Imperial Palace. I wonder if it is related to what you have said."

"Hmm? What has Your Highness remembered?"

"I'm in charge of overseeing the inner palace, and recently I've noticed a significant loss of servants. Their disappearances are quite suspicious. I sent people to investigate for a long time, and they finally discovered that they all vanished from an abandoned palace within the imperial palace. What's most surprising is His Majesty's attitude; even I am not allowed to enter that hall. In your opinion, is His Majesty perhaps conducting some kind of ritual? Is that perhaps..."

"Human sacrifice?"

"No way, wasn't human sacrifice banned a long time ago?"

Ruoxue screamed in alarm.

"That's something you haven't witnessed. Chen Haoran was a human sacrifice, and so was that Immortal Tower. Human sacrifices have never stopped."

Although it is difficult to determine at the moment whether it is related to that main hall, it is certain that there is something wrong with that main hall.

Once we figure out who is inside the main hall, we can slowly unveil the many mysteries surrounding the ritual.

“I understand. I will try to find out what is inside the main hall.”

Consort Xian agreed without hesitation, and she was also full of curiosity about that grand hall.