CHAPTER 10: WAS QI YUAN TELLING THE TRUTH?

As much as Lady Qin preferred for Jin Li not to be in that position, she knew it wasn’t feasible.

"Treacherous ambition!" She furiously glared at Sima Ting. "How dare you collude with the Northern Khan Court?! Such a crime deserves death!"

The Northern Khan Court and the Southern Qian Empire were long-standing mortal enemies, with a deep blood feud. Every autumn harvest, the Northern Khan Court's iron cavalry would invade and raid the Southern Qian Empire for food and supplies.

"This is the difference between you and I," Sima Ting declared. "There’re only interests between nations. Only martial cultivators care about grievances and hatred. Lady Qin, know your place and hand over the Imperial Treasury key, or..."

His voice was laced with threats.

As the late great general’s wife, Lady Qin held the Imperial Treasury key. It could unlock the Heaven-Fate Lock, allowing one to retrieve the Heaven-Fate Imperial Seal. To usurp the throne, Sima Ting needed the seal—for only with it could he rightfully claim the Empire Destiny of the Southern Qian Empire.

"Don’t even think about it," said Lady Qin.

Sima Ting glared at Lady Qin and said nothing more. After all, she was still the late great general’s widow.

General Tianqi—the front line’s commander—had been like a brother to the great general. If Sima Ting killed Lady Qin, things would become troublesome. Still, since she was someone the empress relied on, he couldn’t let her go unscathed. That was why he injured her so severely, leaving the empress bereft of her fangs and claws.

"You’d better watch yourself, Lady Qin." Sima Ting said. "The Crown Prince of the Southern Feng Empire will arrive three days from now on. The appointed duel would be ten days later. How will you respond to that?"

Then, Sima Ting flicked his sleeve and left.

Fury flashed across Lady Qin’s eyes, only to quickly fade into bleak sorrow.

Not only was she gravely injured, her foundation was also damaged. It was near impossible to fully recover in such a short time.

They’d surely lose the duel.

***

A servant placed some books on the jade desk. "Your Majesty, here are seven volumes of books dedicated to the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone."

Jin Li nodded and picked one up for a thorough read. "Hmm."

Her curiosity about the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone was stirred by Qi Yuan’s tale earlier that day, and deepened by Aunt Qin’s grave injuries.

In three days, the Crown Prince of the Southern Feng Empire would arrive in the Southern Qian capital. His nation’s state preceptor had challenged Aunt Qin to a duel, set for ten days later. Meanwhile, Aunt Qin was severely injured. If she lost, the Southern Qian Empire would suffer a humiliating defeat, and Jin Li would be in grave danger.

Ten years ago, her father’s death had thrown the empire into turmoil. The Southern Feng Empire deployed two hundred thousand troops at the border, clearly seizing an opportunity to attack. As a result, Sima Ting went to the border to negotiate a deal on the Southern Qian Empire’s behalf.

However, it was nothing more than a trap for Jin Li. If they lost the duel, she’d have to marry the Crown Prince of the Southern Feng Empire. When the agreement was made, she hadn’t yet ascended as empress, so it was seen merely as exchanging a princess for peace.

Now, the circumstances had changed. How could an empress be wedded off to a foreign prince? This was Sima Ting’s scheme. Hence, they had to win the duel—and that meant healing Aunt Qin’s wounds first.

Among the four forbidden zones, the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone was known for its rare spirit herbs. Perhaps they could find medicine to treat her.

Reading through a few volumes, Jin Li read that the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone contained rare spirit herbs with various effects, such as for wound healing, life extension...

Her eyes lit up as she flipped the pages. "Nine-Petal Qiluo?"

According to ancient records, the spirit herb, also known as the Emperor Medicine, bore nine petals, each releasing a different fragrance.

"With this herb, not only can Aunt Qin fully recover, she might even break through to the Emperor realm!"

The records came from a peak Emperor realm cultivator who’d entered the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone by chance. He tried to harvest the spirit herb, but was attacked by a Demon King. Outnumbered, he managed to escape, but never got the chance to return.

Are there many Demon Kings in the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone? What about Demon Emperors? If there are only Demon Kings, perhaps we could sneak in and harvest the herb, Jin Li pondered.

"Too bad the books contain no record of how one could enter the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone."

Each of the four forbidden zones posed its own difficulties. For the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone, the hardest part was simply getting inside.

"Could it be that I just have to bring a ladder like Qi Yuan said?"

Thinking of him, a smile unconsciously curled her lips.

Of course, that’s just ridiculous. Completely illogical.

Then again, what reason did he have to lie to her? She trusted him completely. Otherwise, she wouldn't have had her servants gather all the information about the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone. She continued reading the remaining volumes carefully.

Suddenly, a line caught her eye. She read aloud, "A strange creature dwells within the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone, shaped like a fox's tail or a brush. It is mad and chaotic, fondest of ambushing at night."

This entry, too, came from that peak Emperor realm cultivator.

Jin Li froze as she recalled what Qi Yuan had mentioned previously.

"Definitely Madbrush. It was super sneaky, too... At night, it’d turn into a brush and ambush you, without a shred of honor or fairness."

"Could it be the same demon?" A flurry of thoughts rushed through her mind. "The one who recorded this was a peak Emperor realm cultivator. Moreover, this was an offer to the Southern Qian Empire. These notes were kept in the Hidden Library and never spread beyond the palace. How would Qi Yuan know about it? Is he actually a member of the imperial family?"

Jin Li felt anything but calm. "No, wait!"

He even knew the demon was called Madbrush! Then, has Qi Yuan really been inside the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone?

She took out the Linglong Xi Jade and hurriedly sent a message.

Jin Li: Did you really go into the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone? That part about entering with a ladder wasn't a joke, was it? I have an urgent matter and I must go inside.

Since Qi Yuan would often joke around, she was afraid he wouldn’t take her seriously. Hence, she emphasized that she’d enter the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone. She was risking her life.

Qi Yuan wouldn’t joke about this, right?

However, Qi Yuan didn't reply.

"If only the Garment Tomb Forbidden Zone weren't so far away..." Jin Li sighed, then her gaze hardened. "Men. Make preparations. I'll leave the palace tomorrow."

There was no time to waste. She had no other choice, as staying in the capital would only mean waiting for death.

Suddenly, a thought occurred and she instructed another order. "Dispatch a squad of the Qilin Guards to the Garment Tomb Forbidden Zone. See if anything strange is happening there!"

Qi Yuan had said he went to the Garment Tomb Forbidden Zone. If he were truly as powerful as he claimed, the Garment Tomb Forbidden Zone would have already shown signs of disturbance.

***

Meanwhile, inside the Garment Tomb Forbidden Zone...

Qi Yuan was carrying a giant golden sword. While facing strange and bizarre creatures ahead, curiosity flickered in his eyes.