Chapter 287: Divination: Great Calamity

Hua Changxi openly provoked trouble in the square, first slapping the face of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and then suppressing the Holy Protection Guard, causing undercurrents to surge once again within the Medical Bureau.

All factions were shocked by her strength yet wary of her recklessness and willingness to sacrifice everything.

Especially Hua Changxi's final words acted like water dropped into hot oil, exploding into terrifying waves within the hearts of many.

Xue Xian dared not respond further and led the Embroidered Uniform Guard back to the imperial palace to report, slinking away in disgrace.

With the departure of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the crowd in the square gradually dispersed.

At the entrance of the Old Courtyard, Gu Xing watched Hua Changxi fly back to Danyuan Peak; his expression was grave, his eyes flashing with deep worry.

Seeing this, Sun Nu felt quite puzzled: "Changxi certainly deterred all factions today; presumably, they won't dare to openly make things difficult for her in the future."

Gu Xing shook his head and sighed: "For a person to go far, they need few enemies and many friends. Do you think Hua Changxi has many friends or many enemies?"

Sun Nu grew worried as well: "Did Changxi do wrong today?"

Gu Xing shook his head again: "Displaying strength appropriately is necessary, but confronting the imperial family so directly... I hope the cards in her hand are sufficient."

To the noble families and powerful clans, the imperial family is a colossal entity; Hua Changxi stands alone, slender and weak, yet she charged straight at them—one cannot help but break out in a cold sweat for her.

Furthermore, the imperial family's provocation this time could be called an open scheme.

Hua Changxi's final declaration did indeed put the imperial family in a bind, but the premise is that she truly possesses the means to deal with it; otherwise, one misstep would mean offending everyone in Jingcheng.

The various trials Hua Changxi has experienced are merely the tribulations of the insignificant.

When the insignificant seek to rise, they face too many obstacles; they must either compromise and retreat, ceding benefits to turn enemies into friends, or possess strength far surpassing all others to crush them completely.

Hua Changxi... clearly has no intention of yielding, but does she have the strength to crush all factions?

In the Deliberation Hall of the Heaven Division, Wei Zhenjie listened with great interest to Huo Yunxiao's report on the events at the Medical Bureau square, expressing considerable approval for Hua Changxi's method of standing firm against both the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Holy Protection Guard.

"The three holy lands of Talismans, Artifacts, and Arrays still show no signs of revival; what they lack are people like Hua Changxi."

"Although the Central Holy Land and the Alchemy Holy Hall have become chaotic due to the forceful intervention of the imperial family and noble clans, the proliferation of factions has also created various disorders."

"While the current chaos will trigger various problems, it is still better than stagnation; at least amidst the turmoil, individuals can emerge, and there is a possibility of breaking old rules."

"The other three holy lands are fine in every way except that they advance too slowly; I hope this large-scale recruitment of apprentices can inject new vitality into them."

Huo Yunxiao looked at Wei Zhenjie and smiled: "Hua Changxi has become smarter this time; she actually knows how to manipulate the imperial family, telling Xue Xian she is willing to take on the maintenance of public order in the capital. The imperial family wants to control even local areas; how could they allow others to touch the capital?"

Hearing this, Wei Zhenjie's eyes flashed: "Hua Changxi does not seem like someone who speaks without purpose; where does her confidence come from?"

Huo Yunxiao replied: "Indeed, once Hua Changxi spoke those final words, she bluffed quite a few people."

The factions were mainly frightened by Hua Changxi's repeated breakthroughs of predicaments; in any case, one cannot judge Hua Changxi by conventional standards because she has performed too many unexpected actions.

Wei Zhenjie fell silent for a moment: "I truly hope the imperial family will be tougher this time." He very much wanted to see what trump cards Hua Changxi actually held.

In the Spirit Realm Pavilion, Xia Zhen held the same view, also hoping the imperial family would employ thunderous methods to suppress Hua Changxi; he wanted to see how she could possibly counterattack.

In the forbidden grounds of the imperial palace, the Retired Emperor, the Emperor, Prince Fu, and Prince Shou were watching an elderly imperial clansman with graying hair, their expressions grave.

At this moment, the imperial clansman sat cross-legged with his eyes tightly closed, chanting incantations, while directly in front of him floated a tortoise shell emitting an ancient aura.

Suddenly, the tortoise shell began to vibrate, and the previously calm expression of the imperial clansman turned painful.

"Clatter~" The tortoise shell fell to the ground.

Simultaneously, the imperial clansman let out a "Pfft" and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

"Elder Six."

The Retired Emperor and the others were greatly alarmed; Prince Shou and Prince Fu quickly rose and stepped forward to support Imperial Clansman Elder Six.

Ignoring the severe injury his body had suffered, Elder Six tremblingly picked up the tortoise shell; upon seeing a conspicuous crack appear in its center, his complexion changed drastically.

The Retired Emperor and the others saw it as well.

"Elder Six, what is the result of the divination..."

Elder Six looked at the Retired Emperor and the Emperor, struggling to spit out two words: "Great calamity!"

Hearing this, the first unable to bear it was Prince Shou: "How is this possible?!"

The reason for this divination was Prince Shou's request.

There was no choice; public order in the capital is of vital importance to the imperial family, and Hua Changxi is the type of person who does not follow conventional rules; although he very much wanted to ensure Hua Changxi could never recover, he dared not gamble the future of the imperial family on it.

He had not expected the result of the divination to be a great calamity.

After the resurgence of spiritual energy, the imperial family had encountered several crises, yet none of the previous divinations had ever revealed a great calamity; what virtue or ability does Hua Changxi possess to have the power to shake the foundations of the imperial family!

Elder Six looked at Prince Shou: "The five holy lands are the foundation of the Central Continent, the gathering point of the continent's fortune; those favored by the holy lands are absolutely people of great fortune."

"Dealing with someone possessing great fortune, even if one ultimately achieves victory, will incur powerful backlash. Thirteen, no matter what you intend to do, stop immediately."

Prince Shou was extremely unwilling to accept this: "Are we to simply let that lowly person Hua Changxi openly slap the face of our imperial family? Where lies the authority of the imperial house?"

The Embroidered Uniform Guard approaching Hua Changxi was actually ordered by Prince Shou; the Emperor, too lazy to pursue matters that had already occurred, merely looked at Prince Shou: "I heard from Junhao that Hua Changxi is not specifically opposing the imperial family, but rather opposes anyone who obstructs her?"

Prince Shou pulled a long face and hummed an affirmation.

Hearing this, the Emperor turned to the Retired Emperor: "Hua Changxi is Hua Changxin's twin elder sister; Junmo and Hua Changxin were fellow disciples with deep affection; since we cannot suppress Hua Changxi, we should no longer continue to be hostile toward her."

The Retired Emperor said nothing.

Prince Shou retorted: "Are we to simply let Hua Changxi continue to grow stronger within the Medical Bureau?"

The Emperor looked at him with a headache and spoke bluntly: "How Hua Changxi fares in the Medical Bureau actually has little impact on the imperial family; it poses a greater threat to the Xia family. You insist on rushing to the front to serve as the blade; are you trying to show off how capable you are?"

"If you could suppress Hua Changxi, that would be one thing, but look at what you have done: aside from causing the imperial family to lose face, you have only made all factions laugh at the imperial house."

"Given this situation, you still refuse to let go; are you really dealing with Hua Changxi, or are you dealing with the imperial family? Can you not have some sense of the bigger picture? Must you always cling to trivial matters?"

Hearing these words, Prince Shou was so angry his face turned red.

Prince Fu sighed and spoke to relieve Prince Shou's predicament: "That Hua Changxi holds no reverence for imperial power; if she truly gains control of the Alchemy Holy Hall, the imperial family will gain no benefit."

The Emperor stated: "If the imperial family gains no benefit, neither will anyone else." Saying this, he once again looked toward the Retired Emperor.

"From intelligence gathered from various sources, Hua Changxi is not the type who enjoys struggling for power and profit; in most cases, she only concerns herself with her own small plot of land; such a person actually poses no threat to the imperial family."

"With the resurgence of spiritual energy, the imperial family can no longer continue to control the entire situation; the four surrounding continents have successively appeared, and it will not be long before they drift across the sea to the Central Continent; at that time, the struggle will be even more intense, and the situation even more complex."

"The imperial family long ago lost the ability to grasp everything in its hands, and it cannot grasp it anymore."

The Retired Emperor finally spoke, looking at the Emperor: "Do you mean to let the imperial clan abandon the Pill Saint Hall?"

The Emperor shook his head: "My son's meaning is that the imperial clan must start grasping the major and releasing the minor; since some things cannot be stopped, we should strive even harder for what we can hold in our hands."

Speaking thus, he let out a long sigh.

"In ancient times, dynasties struggled to survive. Since the decline of the imperial clan is destined, we must make plans for long-term development in the days to come."

"The road must be walked wide and long; we must abandon past honors to forge more favorable ties. Making enemies everywhere, especially powerful ones, is ultimately not a wise move."

Hearing this, Prince Shou strongly disagreed: "But we are the imperial clan..."

The Retired Emperor raised a hand to cut him off: "Just proceed as the Emperor said." Glancing at the pale-faced Sixth Elder, he dismissed the Emperor and his two brothers.

The Emperor rose to take his leave; though Prince Shou was reluctant, he was still dragged away by Prince Fu.

Once they had left the forbidden grounds, the Emperor said to Prince Shou: "From now on, leave matters concerning Hua Changxi to Junhao to handle. You, Thirteenth Brother, need only manage the Qihuang Pavilion and maintain balance among all factions."

Prince Shou heard this and desperately wanted to retort, but Prince Fu held him back.

Only after the Emperor had walked far away did Prince Shou speak: "He acts far too cowardly as Emperor; he gained the throne merely by being slightly older than you and me..."

"Thirteenth!"

Prince Fu loudly rebuked Prince Shou: "I see you growing increasingly arrogant. With the imperial clan in such dire straits, this is precisely the time for unity. If you continue spouting nonsense, I will definitely report you to Father Emperor and have him send you to the Nether Prison for reflection."