World's First Traitor System (425)

Chapter 425 - The Living Earth Emerges

"Ming Dynasty, Jiajing reign, sixth month, third day of the Bingyin year."

"A fisherman returned from overseas, having landed on an immortal island, picked immortal fruit, and presented it to the Wanshou Emperor."

"The Wanshou Emperor, that is, Jiajing."

"The Emperor and his attendants observed it. The immortal fruit emitted a strange fragrance, with a faint red light flickering. Grand Secretary Yan Song, on behalf of the Emperor, tasted it. It was sweet and non-toxic, possessing a spiritual efficacy comparable to a Heaven-grade elixir."

"The Emperor was delighted and richly rewarded the fisherman."

"The fisherman further stated that on the immortal island, there were countless spiritual roots and immortal fruits. Because mortals dared not linger, he had only picked one fruit from the shore and returned."

"The Emperor said to his attendants, 'The fruit is not an immortal fruit, but the island is. Because of this immortal island, the plants and trees have become spiritual.' "

"The Emperor further stated, 'All soil in the world is mundane, save only for Xirang of the ancient Empress Nuwa. The island is not an island, but Living Earth. I shall personally go and retrieve it.' "

Fan Li finished reading the letter in his hand and breathed a long sigh of relief.

Immortal fruit?

Immortal island?

Living Earth?

Excellent methods, excellent schemes, excellent calculations.

A spiritual fruit comparable to a Heaven-grade elixir was certainly not a fabrication; otherwise, how could it deceive Emperor Jiajing and the entire court of Great Ming?

It was truly thanks to Yao Guang, that she could even find such a wondrous spiritual fruit.

That fisherman was likely also genuine.

A citizen of Great Ming, truly loyal to Emperor Jiajing. Because of his loyalty, he had unhesitatingly presented the greatest opportunity of his ordinary life to Emperor Jiajing.

However, the mere mention of "Xirang" was enough for Fan Li to know this was a conspiracy.

Using honesty to conceal hypocrisy! Using truth to mask lies!

This was the so-called 'selling deceit by not deceiving'!

"Second Brother, we should richly reward the trading company's spies lurking in Great Ming. They even managed to uncover such confidential information," Fan Chun said with a smile. "An overseas immortal island, even Emperor Jiajing wants to make a personal expedition. Truly incredible!"

Fan Li smiled wryly and shook his head.

"Rewards are certainly necessary. But I suspect that the Great Ci Dynasty, and even Wei, Han, and Wu, have also received this intelligence."

Fan Chun was taken aback.

"Second Brother, that's impossible, right? To obtain this intelligence, eight of the trading company's spies in Great Ming died. Eight more died along the way, bringing the intelligence back to Peng City. The trading company paid a huge price to obtain this intelligence."

The price was indeed heavy.

But intelligence obtained at a heavy price wasn't necessarily true.

Fan Li thought for a moment, then said, "Those who are still alive should be richly rewarded. And the families of the spies who died for this mission must receive ample compensation."

"Second Brother, rest assured," Fan Chun said with a smile. "Our Fan Clan never mistreats its own. The compensation the trading company provides is several times higher than that given by other dynasties."

Fan Li sighed silently.

He looked at the intelligence in his hand, thinking, how many skilled spies, with profound cultivation, had sacrificed their lives for these few pieces of worthless paper?

In the room, a brazier burned.

Fan Li casually tossed the intelligence into the brazier. The charcoal fire, like a serpent, instantly wrapped around the paper, devouring it completely.

"Second Brother, what do we do next?" Fan Chun asked curiously.

Emperor Jiajing was making a personal expedition, and the location was an island outside the borders of Great Ming.

Once an Emperor left his territory, he could not use the [Pangu's Giant Body] technique.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Who could resist?

"Next... of course, we mobilize the troops and prepare for war."

As he spoke, Fan Li retrieved a map and slowly unfurled it.

Fan Chun was surprised.

He discovered it was, surprisingly, a map of the Great Ci Dynasty. There were many markings, including troop deployments, the location of the Chao Ge imperial city, and the New Pure Land.

…

"Elder Sister! Great news!"

Sage Ruler Jin De, clutching a piece of intelligence, hurried to Yao Guang.

"The fish has taken the bait! That man is about to act!"

Empress Yao Guang sat upon the Dragon Throne, her demeanor solemn, her bearing majestic.

Even as Jin De presented the intelligence like a treasure on the imperial desk, she only revealed a faint smile.

"Grand Secretary Yan Song is responsible for preparing supplies and supervising the construction of large ships for the sea voyage."

"Second Grand Secretary Xu Jie is composing green prayers, begging Heaven to bestow blessings and good fortune."

"Grand Commander Lu Bing has personally selected three thousand six hundred elite Embroidered Uniform Guards to serve as Emperor Jiajing's escort. The Imperial Guard will remain stationed in the palace to avoid raising suspicion."

"Crown Prince Wanli, due to his previous defeat in the battle against Li Yu, has been ordered to reflect at home and is not allowed to leave the Crown Prince's residence without permission."

"And most importantly. Imperial Noble Consort Xue Susu has been ordered to accompany the Emperor!"

Sage Ruler Jin De's face flushed with excitement.

"Elder Sister, to obtain this intelligence, we lost sixteen spies. Bringing the intelligence back to Great Ci, another sixteen died along the way. Emperor Jiajing, to prevent news of his expedition from leaking, truly went to great lengths. The laughable thing is, how could he know that the spies of Great Ci are willing to sacrifice their lives for Elder Sister!"

After Jin De finished speaking, Empress Yao Guang's dignified and noble face also showed a few more traces of a smile.

"Their deaths are worthwhile."

Four simple words, and nothing more.

The Empress slowly rose from the Dragon Throne.

Her gaze passed over the palace walls, flew out of the imperial city, and gazed towards the horizon.

The Empress seemed to be able to see, thousands of miles away, the man who was the only one in the world qualified to fight her.

The man's figure slowly emerged in the Empress's eyes. He was still so powerful.

He was like a towering, sacred mountain, which, since the creation of the world, had never been summited by mortals.

The Empress smiled, her smile confident with a hint of excitement.

In an instant!

The Empress soared out of the palace!

Space and distance, in the face of her powerful cultivation, seemed like a small stream that could be crossed with a single step.

Sage Ruler Jin De and Sage Ruler Miaoyin hurried out of the palace, looking up at Empress Yao Guang, who floated in the air like a deity, high above.

In mid-air, the fierce wind whipped her dragon robes, making them flutter.
The Empress clenched her fists, and the cracking sound of her knuckles echoed throughout the entire Chao Ge imperial city.

Powerful spiritual energy, like a tornado, instantly swept through the entire imperial city.

Flying sand and stones made it impossible for people to open their eyes and look directly at the Empress.

A sword and a seal appeared out of thin air in Yao Guang's left and right hands.

She raised her eyes to the sky and suddenly, without warning, struck out with her sword!
In an instant!

All sound ceased!

Within a ten-mile radius of Chao Ge City, not a single sound could be heard.

In the eerie silence, the citizens of Great Ci clearly saw the sky gradually crack open, revealing a huge gash!

Yao Guang of Great Ci could cleave the sky with a single sword!

Just as countless people were shocked beyond words, they saw the Great Ci's Imperial Seal slowly fly from the Empress's palm.

The seal flew towards the cloudy sea in the sky and suddenly imprinted itself!

"Receiving the Mandate of Heaven!"

"May it last forever!"

Eight large characters, as deep as the sword scar, were branded in the sky, as if proclaiming the unshakeable, supreme imperial position of Empress Yao Guang.

Finally.

The Empress slowly shifted her gaze away from the horizon. She looked down at the people below, as if announcing to the world, and also as if speaking to herself.

"I have waited far too long for this day. Notify the Emperors of Wei, Han, and Wu. I have schemed for many years, successfully luring Jiajing into my trap. Now, it is time for the three Emperors to demonstrate the sincerity of the alliance. I hope that in the final battle, no one will be absent."