"Someone!"
Emperor Xia called out.
His Personal Eunuch hurried in, bowing and kneeling to await his command.
"Go to the Imperial Hospital. Fetch the box of Dragon Tiger Bone Strengthening Pills that were tributed by the Western Regions some years ago. Bring them all," Emperor Xia commanded, a ruthless glint in his eyes.
It was a Top Level Mortal Pill refined from the essence of rare Demon Beasts and dozens of precious medicinal herbs. Its properties were potent and fierce, specifically for replenishing all kinds of Vitality, strengthening one’s virility, and fortifying the body’s foundation. He rarely took it, as he had no need for it, but now seemed like a time to try.
The eunuch acknowledged the order and left. He quickly returned with a White Jade Pill Box. Inside lay three elixirs the size of longans, crimson red all over, with faint tiger-like stripes. Their medicinal fragrance was rich and assailed the nostrils, carrying a wave of searing heat.
After a careful inspection, Emperor Xia took one out and swallowed it without hesitation.
The Elixir entered his stomach and immediately transformed into a scorching torrent, surging through his limbs and bones, enveloping many parts of his body.
That familiar feeling of vigor and surging Qi Blood seemed to return, and a warm current rose from his lower abdomen.
His Spirit was slightly lifted, and the flush on his face deepened.
’It seems I’ve really overexerted myself. I just need to recuperate with strong medicine. That, combined with my poor mood, must be the cause of this problem.’ Emperor Xia felt a little more settled. He secretly decided to take this pill regularly in the future while also hastening his search for a true opportunity. Once he broke through to the True Monarch Realm, his lifespan would double, and all his problems would be solved. He would wipe away all these troubles.
He had no idea, however, that the Netherworld Power lurking deep within his meridians was like a treacherous viper, silently absorbing the potent medicinal effects of the Dragon Tiger Bone Strengthening Pill to nourish itself, becoming even more concealed and difficult to deal with.
The recovery he felt was merely a temporary illusion stimulated by the medicine’s potency. It was like the final flare of a dying candle, overdrafting his most fundamental Vitality.
But because it was so well-hidden and had infiltrated him at a fundamental level, not even the Imperial Physicians—let alone Emperor Xia himself—could detect its presence.
Besides, too many things had happened recently, so Emperor Xia had no reason to be suspicious.
And so, while Emperor Xia was troubled by his exhaustion and busy dealing with a court beset by internal and external crises...
...subtle, unknown changes were quietly taking place in various parts of the Deep Palace and in certain corners of White Jade City.
「In Lizheng Hall, at Qiwu Pavilion.」
Pan Mo’s body had completely recovered. Furthermore, the Essence Qi that nourished her after the Heart-devouring Poison was neutralized had turned her misfortune into a blessing, allowing her Cultivation to step firmly into the Fourth Grade Realm.
One morning, in a hidden compartment of her dressing table she had never noticed before, she was surprised to find a small bottle of Jade Marrow Pills and a thin volume—notes on the Water Rhythm Sword Technique, written in a graceful, elegant script.
Jade Marrow Pills were Top Level Mortal Pills, greatly beneficial for a Fourth Grade Martial Artist consolidating their realm. The notes, on the other hand, were a brilliant annotation of a Top Level Mortal Technique, explaining profound concepts in simple terms. It was as if they were tailor-made for her, perfectly suited to her situation.
There was no name, no indication of its origin. It was as if it had appeared out of thin air.
Pan Mo clutched the elixirs and the book, stunned for a long time. She gazed toward Wenhua Hall, a complex glimmer shimmering in her eyes.
’It must be that mysterious expert again.’ As for the Crown Prince... she didn’t dare to think too deeply about it. She just quietly put the items away, the conviction to follow him in her heart growing ever firmer.
In the remote palace courtyard where Yan Jiuge lived, something also happened.
This strong-willed woman was practicing her family’s Fire Attribute Cultivation Technique and nearly suffered a Qigong Deviation when she discovered a crimson Warm Sun Jade Pendant under the Meditation Mat in her Practice Room.
The Jade Pendant was warm to the touch, emitting a pure and gentle Fire Attribute energy. It not only instantly soothed the rampaging Qi Blood in her body but also increased her Cultivation Speed by more than thirty percent, nearly reaching the level of a Spiritual Artifact.
She gripped the Jade Pendant tightly, looked out the empty window, bit her lip, and whispered, "Whoever you are, thank you."
She, too, thought of the mysterious expert. Most likely, they were being so kind to them out of respect for the Crown Prince’s past favors.
At the secret stronghold of Song Yuyan’s newly formed Qinhuai Building, things were becoming more and more established.
She was worrying about how to quickly increase her sisters’ strength to deal with potential crises when the sisters on night patrol discovered an inconspicuous cloth bundle at the base of the stronghold’s outer wall.
Opening it, they found over a dozen clearly labeled bottles of Qi-Replenishing Powder, Bone Forging Pills, and other Middle-High Level Mortal Medicine. There were also several Mortal Level Cultivation Technique Secret Manuals suitable for women, focusing on Body Techniques and hidden weapons. The Level of these techniques wasn’t low either; some were even lost Cultivation and Combat Techniques from the old Qinhuai Building. Once again, there was not a single word of explanation.
Song Yuyan carefully examined the medicines and manuals, confirming they were non-toxic, precious, and practical—perfectly suited for their current situation.
She dismissed her attendants and stood alone in the courtyard, gazing toward the Imperial City. The doubt in her cool eyes deepened. "An old acquaintance of the Crown Prince’s Mansion... who are you? Why do you know so much about the Qinhuai Building and act with such dedication? If only you were one of the Crown Prince’s people, how wonderful that would be."
「At the Cao Bang Headquarter, in Yue Yulong’s study.」
While clearing out the belongings of his late father, Yue Zhan, the new Gang Leader unexpectedly discovered a yellowed list in the hidden compartment of an old scabbard. It detailed several secret canal transport routes and the names of their own people at key ports along the way.
These routes could evade the Government Office’s inspections and the territories of certain rival gangs. Yue Yulong vaguely remembered some of the names on the list; they were people his father had secretly placed years ago. He never expected them to still be loyal.
This inheritance came at the perfect time. It was helping him stabilize his control over the Cao Bang and secretly expand its influence—exactly what he needed at the moment.
Yue Yulong stared at the list in silence for a long time before carefully putting it away. He said to his younger sister, Yue Yufeng, "Father’s spirit in heaven is watching over us, or perhaps that benefactor is still helping us in secret, allowing us to overcome this crisis."
Even Mo Qianqiu, who had long since been far from the center of power and held a trivial post at court, happened to dig up a sealed copper box from under his study’s floor tiles while renovating his old residence.
Inside were several rare, out-of-print Go manuals and political treatises from a previous dynasty that he had sought in his youth but could not obtain. There was also a small canister of Clear Heart Tea, known for its effects of clearing the vision and refreshing the mind. Logically, these items should not have been there at all.
The old strategist stroked the scrolls and sighed deeply, his heart a mixture of doubt and emotion. He had clearly guessed something as well.
Some of these gifts were direct, others subtle, and some appeared to be coincidences. But all of them were delivered precisely to the hands of those who needed them, either helping them increase their strength, solving an urgent problem, or stabilizing the foundation of their power... and it had happened more than once.
They all vaguely sensed an invisible hand watching over them from the shadows. Many guessed it was that mysterious expert.
He had countless ties to the Crown Prince’s Mansion, so in a way, it was the Crown Prince who was helping them.
Some guessed it was a force secretly cultivated by the Crown Prince, but considering His Highness’s current situation, they found it hard to believe. More people were inclined to think it was a former powerhouse from the Crown Prince’s Mansion repaying a debt of gratitude... The Crown Prince had been brilliant and mighty back in the day and had indeed saved many people. It wouldn’t be strange for someone to remember his past kindness and come to see him off on his final journey.
It was just that the person’s strength was far too great, and their influence was beyond imagination.
Doubts grew, and gratitude deepened, but suspicion toward the elder Crown Prince seemed to be fading.
An invisible net, woven with threads of gratitude and old friendships, was quietly taking shape under Xia Wuyang’s secret machinations, covering more and more people around him.
Every person in the net was a spark. For now, they were dim, but they held a light within, waiting for the moment to be ignited.

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