novelbin Chapter 454 - 259: Liu Ying Ziyi: Are We Fake Besties?
Chapter 454 - 259: Liu Ying Ziyi: Are We Fake Besties?
Changqing Continent was formed by the eruption of a massive underwater volcanic cluster and has existed for less than fifty years, while Li Long Continent has been around for over ten thousand years.
Its year-round mortal population exceeds one hundred billion. If the numerous surrounding islands under Li Long Continent’s jurisdiction were included, that number would be three times as large.
The territory of this de facto Nascent Soul power, combined with those of eight other Golden Core powers—including all their mines, Spirit Fields, Medicinal Gardens and Ranches, cities, ports, workshops, and industries—were now all spoils of war for the Ling Family.
As a result, the annual output of various resources from the Ling Family’s territory was exceptionally abundant, making it a veritable treasure trove.
At this very moment, Ling Qiyue, Tang Qiu Yao, Qin Yun, and the other women were all swamped with work; even Song Xuelan and Ling Menghuan weren’t idle.
The Ling Family had suddenly acquired a vast territory, and successfully absorbing and integrating it all required handling an overwhelming number of tasks.
Ling Changqing, on the other hand, was comparatively free. After wandering about for a bit, he made his way to the lavish and elegant Inner Garden Flower Hall.
"...You’re back, my love?"
Ling Qiyue spared a moment from her work to greet him before burying her head and getting back to her tasks.
On the long White Jade Table before her, documents in the form of Jade Slips and Jade Books were piled high, all official matters requiring her personal attention.
Tang Qiu Yao, Qin Yun, and Ling Yulu each had their own duties to attend to; even Yu Ruoshuang and the others were not idle.
Outside, Ling Family Elders would periodically request an audience, needing to consult the Patriarch in person about various matters.
After a moment’s thought, Ling Changqing found a spot beside Ling Qiyue and sat down to help shoulder the burden.
They were busy until nightfall, at which point things finally came to a temporary halt.
"Alright, the major issues have been handled. The next few months should be a little easier, shouldn’t they?"
After finalizing the last Jade Scroll, Ling Qiyue let out a soft sigh. Even with the powerful Divine Soul of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, she couldn’t help but feel a hint of fatigue.
"You’ve worked hard, my dear,"
Ling Changqing said with a smile, proactively getting up to massage her shoulders.
"My love, do we need to expand our territory any further?"
Liu Qianlan asked softly, activating a Magical Projection Light Mirror as she spoke.
An image of the coastal waters of the Yuzhou Continent and its many sea regions appeared before them. The Feiyu Sea Region was positioned on the side closest to the vast, open ocean.
Several other sea regions of varying sizes separated the Feiyu Sea Region from the Yuzhou Continent, and there were plenty of others in the remaining directions as well.
Relatively speaking, the Yuzhou Continent’s coastline was not particularly long, so fewer than fifty sea regions were considered within its traditional sphere of influence.
In contrast, the neighboring continents of Yaozhou and Shunzhou had much longer coastlines, each boasting over a hundred subsidiary sea regions in their coastal waters.
Ling Qiyue glanced at it once before shaking her head. "There’s no need for now. Conquering more is easy, but we don’t have enough people to manage it."
"I agree,"
Ling Changqing said with a smile. It would take the Ling Family several years just to sort out their affairs in the Chixue Sea Region; they couldn’t possibly absorb any more territory.
"Alright, then it’s settled."
Liu Qianlan continued, "Now that the family has a Grade Four Spirit Vein on our land, we won’t need to rent a temporary Cave Mansion Hall outside whenever one of the sisters breaks through to the Nascent Soul True Monarch Realm."
The cost of renting a temporary Cave Mansion Hall was a secondary concern; the real issue was the difficulty of maintaining secrecy. It never felt completely safe.
Now that the Ling Family had their own Fourth grade Spirit Vein Cave Mansion, the women could all stay home to cultivate in peace and break through to the Nascent Soul True Monarch Realm.
...
「Southern Qingyao Continent, Yuzhou.」
This place was quite far from Yuzhou, Yaozhou, and Shunzhou. For Cultivators below the Divinity Transformation Realm, traveling between these regions was not convenient.
Unlike the other Yuzhou, which was rife with major powers locked in open and covert conflict, over seventy percent of this vast Yuzhou’s territory now fell under the rule of the Da Xia Divine Dynasty.
The remaining thirty percent of the territory was divided among several powerful Sects, Noble Families, and Clan powers. In name, at least, they too were vassals of the Da Xia Divine Dynasty.
In recent years, however, the newly ascended Da Xia Goddess Empress had grown dissatisfied with her current domain. She employed various means to directly annex thousands of the stronger vassal powers, incorporating all of their lands and subjects into the Divine Dynasty’s territory.
According to the latest tallies, the Da Xia Divine Dynasty’s domain now comprised eighty percent of Yuzhou’s total land.
On the remaining twenty percent of the land, the surviving small and mid-sized powers lived in constant fear, terrified that the same fate would one day befall them.
The leaders of some of the smaller powers were already liquidating their assets, ready to flee at a moment’s notice to avoid being captured by the Divine Dynasty’s army and having their entire clan enslaved.
At this moment, within the Capital City of the Da Xia Divine Dynasty, stood the Divine Palace, a structure as magnificent as a celestial citadel. Inside its grand hall, boundless, iridescent light shone brilliantly, clouds of the Essence of Spiritual Qi swirled and rose, and the very air was suffused with a dense and profound Dao Rhyme.
"...Is there still no good news from our agents investigating in Yuzhou?"
A tall, slender, and graceful figure was leaning against the throne, her clear, melodious, and authoritative voice echoing through the vast hall.
She was a stunning, mature beauty with an immense presence, wearing a phoenix crown and an elaborate, cloud-like coiffure. The magnificent, wide-cut Emperor’s Robe she wore, for all its majesty, could not completely conceal her fiery, enchanting curves.
"Your Majesty, the Child of Destiny’s Life Chart is unique. It cannot be divined or perceived in any way. As such, our people have made no progress!"
A deep and resonant voice replied.
The Goddess Empress on the throne frowned and fell silent, clearly displeased with this answer.
Another, gentler voice spoke up at the perfect moment. "There is no need to worry, Your Majesty. The other powers also hunting for the Child of Destiny have found no clues, either. For the Divine Dynasty, that in itself is good news!"
The Da Xia Divine Dynasty hasn’t found the Child of Destiny, but neither has anyone else. This means everyone is still on a level playing field; the existing balance of power has not been upset.
How the situation develops from here will depend on each power’s skill and fortune.
After a long pause, the Goddess Empress sighed softly. "The last time I was in Yuzhou... that must have been the closest I’ve ever come to the Child of Destiny, wasn’t it? I almost had them. A shame..."
A sweet, bewitching voice chimed in. "If Your Majesty’s intuition was correct, then the Child of Destiny was... indeed snatched away by some mysterious expert before you could reach them, correct?"
"But all these years have passed without the slightest hint of anything across the entire Qingyao Continent Cultivation Realm. What on earth could that person be planning?"
"That is merely one possibility. As for the actual circumstances, it is truly difficult to say,"
a mature, steady voice offered.
The Goddess Empress mused aloud, "Then continue the search. The Yuzhou Cultivation Realm is about to be plunged into war. Amidst such turmoil, an opportunity to find a trace of the Child of Destiny should present itself, no?"
...
「Wentian Mountain Range, within the sacred grounds of Lu Hua Palace.」
Within the Cave Mansion Hall of Grand Palace Master Qin Mengxuan.
In an exquisite, octagonal jade pavilion, the noble, elegant, and stunningly beautiful Liu Ying Ziying leaned back languidly in her seat. Her captivating eyes were slightly narrowed, and she remained silent for a long time.
"...First, he is doing very well. Second, I cannot take you to see him—especially not with those young ladies of your family in tow."
Across from her, the radiant Qin Mengxuan closed the Communication Jade Talisman in her hand and spoke with a brilliant smile.
After years of wheedling and insisting, Liu Ying Ziying had finally managed to pry the truth from Qin Mengxuan, little by little.
But that was as far as it went. No matter how she pleaded or pouted, whether she tried being firm or acting cute, Qin Mengxuan simply refused to take her to see Ling Changqing.
"And?"
Liu Ying Ziying opened her soul-snatching eyes, her voice tinged with displeasure.
"It’s been so long, yet you still refuse to yield. Are we even real friends? Even if it’s for his safety, you should at least let me go see him alone."
"It’s because he hasn’t reached the Nascent Soul Realm yet, isn’t it?"
Qin Mengxuan said helplessly, "I told you from the start: as soon as he becomes a Nascent Soul True Monarch, I will take you to see him immediately!"
"But I can’t wait any longer! The young ladies of my family can’t wait any longer, either!"
Liu Ying Ziying said, her voice tinged with anger.
The future of the Yuzhou Cultivation Realm was looking grim. A great tribulation was now inevitable, and no one could be certain what drastic changes lay ahead.
That was why Liu Ying Ziying was so desperate to see Ling Changqing and finalize the fulfillment of their marriage contract.
Only when Liu Ying Meng Luan and the others had entered into a true Dao Companion relationship with Ling Changqing would Liu Ying Ziying’s heart be at ease.
Qin Mengxuan’s beautiful eyes narrowed. She stared at the other Patriarch for a long moment before saying softly,
"Sister, do you have any idea what price I paid back then to earn his trust? If you want to see him ahead of schedule, then you’ll have to do the same thing I did!"
Liu Ying Ziying: "..."