Chapter 2955: Everything as Usual

How could that be possible?

Since the antidote formula for the "Lian Chang" secret medicine was cracked, both sides have lost all mutual trust.

Allies who have completely lost the foundation of mutual trust now regard each other as their most feared opponents, and will soon become political rivals.

"In the coming ten days, we must be even more vigilant," Nie Xiaolou said to Hong Chenglüe, "After ten days, General Qingwu will be a meritorious official of Bekja!" Hong Chenglüe nodded and led his team away.

At this moment, the State Preceptor of Donggong also flew away, with dozens of white birds trailing behind, graceful in the night.

Nie Xiaolou watched their retreating figures: "The State Preceptor of Shuangye did not come."

Today's ceremony saw the Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter Palaces all in attendance, each with over a hundred personnel. But the State Preceptor of Shuangye was absent, and the Autumn Palace only sent a representative to pay respects.

"He went to deal with the remnants of the Baoling rebels. After Baoling's fall, a good portion of the nobility fled their homeland, seeking refuge in Lingxu City." The State Preceptor of Xia Palace noticed Nie Xiaolou's furrowed brow and asked, "What are you worried about?"

Nie Xiaolou whispered: "In recent nights, observing the stars, the main star has swayed and fallen, dark and unclear—this is not an auspicious sign."

In a few days, the Emperor will ascend the dragon. I hope everything proceeds smoothly during this period.

"Is there any sign of a solution?" Without needing to observe the stars, the State Preceptor of Xia Palace already knew Bekja now faced peril and an unknown future.

"Not yet seen."

"Don't mention it here," the State Preceptor of Xia Palace immediately said, "In just an hour, it will dawn. If you have nothing to do, why not come to my palace and continue that unfinished game of chess?"

Nie Xiaolou glanced at her: "That game was from three years ago—I remember you were forced into a desperate situation, and I thought you didn't want to play again."

"Nonsense." As soon as the matter of honorable combat was brought up, the State Preceptor of Xia Palace glared at him, "I have long had a solution; today I will surely defeat you until you are scattered like fallen blossoms and flowing water!" Nie Xiaolou laughed loudly: "Fine, fine, let's go, let's go."

His chess skill even surpasses that of the State Preceptor of Qingyang; for the State Preceptor of Xia Palace to win against him would be no easy task.

Moreover, playing chess is merely a pretext; what the State Preceptor of Xia Palace truly wishes to discuss with him is state affairs.

The current chaos in Bekja and the turmoil in the human world are precisely the real issues these grand state preceptors must address.

Thus he brought along dozens of attendants, joining the State Preceptor of Xia Palace's retinue of over a hundred, and they proceeded together to the Xia Palace.

After their figures disappeared at the end of the road, someone in the Lin Zi woods whispered softly:

"Hurry and inform the sovereign—the itinerary of the State Preceptor of Qing Palace has changed, and he has gone together with the State Preceptor of Xia Palace to the Xia Palace!"

"Yes!"

Soon, the reply came:

"The sovereign says, abandon this target!"

"Ignore him?"

"Yes, ignore him!" The State Preceptor of Qing Palace himself is already difficult to deal with, and now with the addition of the State Preceptor of Xia Palace, and having to act on someone else's territory, they have made no preparations whatsoever.

Most importantly, there is only a little over an hour until dawn—time is urgent, and it's too late.

If this matter is botched, it's better not to do it at all.

"Fruit..."

"Everything else remains as before—the main plan must not change!"

Although the sovereign also feels regret, the main plan is more important and must be prioritized; we cannot lose the big picture over small gains.

Nie Xiaolou is a major troublemaker; we'll find a way to resolve him later.

Because the Dragon God Vigil lasted all night, the Wang Ting of Bekja is on rest the next day. After such a major affair is concluded, everyone's mindset inevitably relaxes, and they disperse, disperse. The Demon Emperor still returns via the air route to the palace on Tianxin Island, followed by two close guards.

Its celestial canopy palace cannot possibly accommodate the entire ceremonial army, so the troops disperse upon landing.

The Demon Emperor took some food, rested briefly, then returned to the celestial canopy palace to prepare for absorbing the purple aura that comes with the sunrise.

It is now at a critical stage in the pre-ascension phase of the dragon ascent—every strand of solar true fire must not be wasted. At that time, this will be used for refining its body.

At this moment, the celestial canopy palace is as quiet as when it left; the Demon Emperor walks along the small path through the garden, seeking that dragon brain incense tree.

The celestial canopy palace is windy, but this corner of the imperial garden is sheltered and gathers energy, conducive to condensing dew. The two horizontal leaves at the base of the dragon brain incense tree's canopy have already collected the morning dew dripping from the branches and leaves above, which can be consumed as natural borneol crystals. When the sun rises, this dew will vaporize and disappear, so now is the best time to consume it.

The Demon Emperor does not know how many times it has walked this path. But this time, it felt as if someone stood beneath the tree, frantically waving their hands to prevent it from approaching. And this figure seemed very familiar, as if...

But when the Demon Emperor looked again, there was no human figure—only a few drifting mists in the garden.

It felt a slight sense of loss.

Yes, the celestial canopy palace is heavily warded; no evil spirits or ghosts can enter.

However, this emotion came quickly and faded just as fast; the Demon Emperor dismissed the idle imagination, lifted its head, and drank the rootless water from the dragon brain incense leaves, then proceeded toward the Coiled Dragon Pillar.

Nothing abnormal.

It extended its divine sense and could confirm there was no one else here—not a single person.

Until reaching the main hall, where guards stood at the entrance and each of the four corners, with flowing clouds and mist shuttling back and forth.

It is now near May, and at this height, the great hall at dawn remains empty and cold, with a chill invading the person.

On the ground at the center of the main hall, there is a faintly shimmering formation—this is the spirit-gathering array.

The Spirit-Gathering Grand Array of Mount Xushan was once destroyed by He Lingchuan, and after the Heavenly Palace, great effort was expended to rebuild it. The formation in the Celestial Canopy Hall belongs to a formation within a formation, capable of further drawing and concentrating the spirit energy of Bekja City beneath the Demon Emperor's feet.

With these formations assisting, even in the earliest years when heaven and earth's spirit energy was most depleted, the Demon Emperor never lacked what it needed.

Different beings have different ways of secluded cultivation. Humans prefer to find a quiet room, cutting off noise and danger; but the dragon clan has no such qualms, and would rather face heaven and earth directly on famous mountains and rivers to better absorb the essences of the sun and moon.

Like Nie Xiaolou, the Demon Emperor has been contemplating the dynamics of the heavenly gods all along this return journey, and since the Celestial Canopy Palace is a place it visits daily, who, after returning home, doesn't just sit down anywhere? Who would first walk two circuits, carefully inspecting the house?

The Demon Emperor would not.

It glanced once, felt everything was as usual, and naturally proceeded into the main hall.

The two guards behind it automatically performed a salute and withdrew.

Having arrived at the place, the Emperor no longer needs them.

The Demon Emperor let out a yawn, then coiled upon the great pillar at the center of the main hall.

This is its exclusive position.

Due to years of coiling, the hard pillar stone is already covered with grooves from the pressure, even scratched by dragon scales into one line after another. Such a pillar would be cold and hard to approach for ordinary people, but the Demon Emperor knows how to find the most comfortable posture.

It has just finished coiling its body, placed its tail against the base of the pillar, narrowed its dragon eyes, and is about to begin swallowing clouds and exhaling mist.

For it, this is both rest and cultivation.

The clouds and mist on Heart Heaven Island carry the sweet fragrance of many flowers and grasses, refreshing the spirit and delighting the mind; the demon emperor has grown accustomed to it after devouring it for decades.

But for some unknown reason, it always feels its tail is a bit off, not as harmonious and comfortable as when it usually rests upon it.

What's going on?