Immortalis

Hong Wan II

Cao Zhao arrived at Prince Li's residence one step ahead of Shen Qingshi.

To track Shen Qingshi, he had sprinkled fine broken-wing powder before every notice bearing Sweet Nectar.

This substance was originally used in rearing Messenger Bees—the Zhaoming Division would apply broken-wing powder to destroy the bees' hind wings, preventing them from flying long distances. But few knew that once this powder adhered to a surface, it became extremely difficult to remove, making it suitable for tracking purposes.

Anyone lingering before the notice board for more than three breaths would inevitably get the powder all over themselves. And Cao Zhao was confident that the message he left for Shen Qingshi would be compelling enough to make her pause there momentarily.

Based on his understanding of Shen Qingshi, he had initially expected her to kill the Messenger Bee upon reading his message—to avoid being tracked through the Sweet Nectar residue... which was precisely why he had resorted to using broken-wing powder.

However, contrary to Cao Zhao's expectations, Shen Qingshi did not destroy the Messenger Bee. Consequently, by tracing the Sweet Nectar on the bee, he could deduce they were heading toward Shuzhou.

And as expected, Shen Qingshi was leading him toward Shuzhou.

Though Cao Zhao didn't know her intentions, since she would eventually come here anyway, he thought it wouldn't hurt to arrive early and take a look.

Prince Li... it had been a long time since they last met.

To avoid drawing attention, Cao Zhao had informed no one of his trip to Shuzhou. Prince Li had long resided in Shu territory. Though he held the title of prince, he wielded no power or influence. Even if Cao Zhao showed up unannounced, a third-rank Brightening Envoy like him had nothing to fear from the prince.

How pathetic—to be so afraid of implicating himself that he couldn't even save his own daughter.

Standing at the gate, Cao Zhao was filled with scorn. He stated his purpose, and the old servant of Prince Li's residence immediately rushed inside in a fluster to deliver the message.

In the past, Emperor Yongzhao would occasionally send Zhaoming Guards to investigate Prince Li's residence but never found any transgressions. It was also rumored that during the two years the prince had been demoted to commoner status, his health deteriorated due to the cold, leaving him with a chronic chill that made him seldom venture out and unlikely to produce heirs. Over time, the emperor gradually set his mind at ease.

Now, with unrest beyond the borders and the Northern Desert growing restless, Prince Li's lineage had become his protective talisman. The emperor, unwilling to confront the Northern Desert directly, left him untouched. Thus, even after the incident at White Rainbow Tower, Prince Li faced no severe reprimand.

Shen Qingshi, having followed Cao Zhao in the palace, should have known that even if Prince Li acknowledged her as his daughter, he could never protect her.

Then why would she come to Shuzhou?

Cao Zhao had revealed her origins solely to lure her into lingering before the notice, never imagining she would actually seek out Prince Li.

As Cao Zhao lost himself in thought, someone from Prince Li's residence came out to escort him inside. But he had taken only a few steps when he sensed something amiss.

Prince Li's residence was far too shabby.

The servants' clothes were patched all over, and the buildings appeared dilapidated, practically drafty from all sides. Though this seemed to match Prince Li's destitute circumstances at first glance, the deliberate display of it all...

Having interrogated countless individuals in Zhaoming Prison, Cao Zhao had witnessed many who, even facing death, dared to collude and act out lies before him. It was said that Bi An Envoys were adept at reading people's hearts. Thus, in mere moments, he discerned the meticulous calculation behind the master of this estate.

Prince Li's residence was like a staged performance.

The servants' patches were almost all on the front of their garments, and the buildings showed no signs of maintenance. If Prince Li truly lived here with his ailing body, he should have been dead long ago.

Qingshi, is this what you wanted me to see? Have you uncovered something?Or perhaps, even now, I am also your pawn?

At this moment, Cao Zhao suddenly understood why Shen Qingshi hadn't destroyed the Messenger Bee, instead clearly telling him she was coming to Shuzhou.

Though already cornered, she was actually using his hand to investigate Prince Li.

And now Prince Li indeed seemed to have some problems... But why would he put on this act? And why would Shen Qingshi, as his own flesh and blood, want to expose him?

Before meeting Prince Li, Cao Zhao looked up beyond the dilapidated courtyard wall. The moon was exceptionally bright tonight. Shuzhou wasn't large—even searching house by house, it probably wouldn't take more than two days to comb through the entire city.

Are you here, Qingshi?

Cao Zhao couldn't help but smile. At this moment, he genuinely felt that Shen Qingshi had been well taught by him, truly worthy of being called his prized student.

But, Qingshi, have you truly considered the price you'll pay for using me as a pawn?

"If Prince Li isn't at his residence, given Cao Zhao's nature, he would immediately suspect him of treason."

At a desolate house in the outskirts of Shuzhou.

Looking at the distant city, Shen Qingshi said with great certainty, "Even if Prince Li is at his residence, Cao Zhao would likely still detect something amiss... Having spent years in Zhaoming Prison, he's extremely suspicious of others. From the moment he realized I was truly heading to Shuzhou, he should have already begun doubting Prince Li. And Prince Li has been barely surviving under the surveillance of the Southern Zhao Ming Division all along. Once Prince Li shows any problems, Fu Hong and Shen Xin will be held accountable. Even just to overthrow his political rivals, Cao Zhao would definitely investigate Prince Li thoroughly."

Three full days had passed. While Zhou Huai hadn't even recovered yet, Shen Qingshi had already completely calmed down.

Facing the master who raised her and the father she had never met, she merely stated facts calmly, as if speaking about someone else's affairs.

Three days ago, it wasn't until they held Tian Ting and the Meteor Star that Yang Wujian finally deduced the true nature of the Cicada Molt.

He speculated that many years ago, what Guanri was doing in that Alchemy Room was continuously experimenting—making people swallow the Meteor Star to see if it could survive within their bodies.

The reason they chose young girls was probably because Prince Li had long known he had two illegitimate daughters drifting elsewhere, and those with his bloodline were more likely to accept the Meteor Star.

The exact details of this matter can no longer be thoroughly investigated. The only thing they know for certain is that a century ago, when the Northern Desert Khan entered the Meat Well and didn't die, it wasn't because he was some so-called chosen one, but because the Northern Desert royal lineage possessed unique physiques—some of them could coexist with the Meteor Star.

The Tian Ting beneath the Meat Well was devoured by the Meteor Star. Although occasional fragments could be carried out by wild beasts, most were scattered among the ore like heavenly maidens scattering blossoms, making it impossible for beasts entering the well to bring them out even if they broke their teeth.

Ordinary people would lose all reason upon entering the Meat Well due to Tian Ting. However, the Meteor Star was an Otherworldly Object that fed on Tian Ting. Therefore, those who coexisted with the Meteor Star wouldn't immediately lose themselves in hallucinations when entering the Meat Well, but... the Meteor Star within them would become active due to its craving for Tian Ting, thus causing extreme pain to the host.It can be said that being parasitized by the Meteor Star is a struggle with it for control of the body. Shen Qingshi was not entirely unaffected by hallucinations; rather, her resistance was stronger when she was conscious. However, once a sufficient amount of Tian Ting reached the surface, even if it was encased in a lead box, its influence on her would surpass that on others as long as her consciousness weakened. This would invade her dreams night after night, causing her to experience the same hallucinations as ordinary people.

And all of this was caused by Guanri.

Fifteen years ago, Guanri had repeatedly failed until the Golden Jade Hibiscus Sword, carrying Prince Li's child, stumbled upon them by chance.

Prince Li was the son of Princess Rilie, and Shen Qingshi carried Prince Li's bloodline. Thus, Shen Qingshi naturally became the only successful Flesh Conduit.

As for why Guanri forced her to take the Two Principles Pill, compelled her to kill, and stripped her of all emotions, there was only one possible explanation.

Forcing her to develop a death wish was merely a facade to deceive the Son of Heaven. From the very beginning, Guanri intended to send her into the palace.

Fifteen years ago, just after the military unrest had subsided, the newly enthroned Emperor Yongzhao established the Northern and Southern Zhaoming Divisions, appointing two young generals who had fought alongside him to the positions of Brightening Envoys.

It was no secret that the Zhaoming Divisions recruited children from among the common people to enter the palace. Many people on the streets had seen lavishly dressed Brightening Envoys recruiting.

Although Shen Qingshi was a stone maiden, she was still a woman, making it naturally difficult for her to become a Zhaoming Guard. The various atrocities Guanri committed in the Alchemy Room back then were, in fact, merely training her in advance, solely to help her establish herself better within the Zhaoming Division and gain the emperor's favor.

The palace already had records of the Underground Heaven and longevity. Moreover, fifteen years ago, Guanri made a grand spectacle, creating a huge hype for the non-existent final chapter of the Longevity Heart Sutra, abducting people everywhere and causing panic in the martial world. By the time the news reached the palace, even lies had become truth.

Afterward, Shen Qingshi, as a branded Flesh Conduit, was specially permitted by the emperor to remain in the palace. This was the first step in drawing the current Son of Heaven into the scheme.

From beginning to end, no one ever cared about Shen Qingshi's life or death. If she died after consuming the Meteor Star, so be it. If she failed to survive the Zhaoming Guard training, so be it.

Zhou Huai never expected that the three of them, despite their vastly different origins, had all lived their lives immersed in lies since childhood.

Yang Wujian had been unusually silent these past two days. He didn't even know how to comfort Shen Qingshi.

After all, almost all the suffering in Shen Qingshi's life had been inflicted upon her by the Longevity Palace.

Once it was revealed that she harbored the Meteor Star within her, it wasn't hard to guess what Guanri intended to do.

From start to finish, he never actually intended to send Shen Qingshi into the Alchemy Furnace of the Longevity Palace. Because Shen Qingshi, as a Cicada Molt, was herself a "grand gift" prepared for the current Son of Heaven... This was also why Guanri fabricated the story of the Pure Yin Body, making Shen Qingshi avoid heat sources—fearing that the true nature of the Meteor Star would be exposed prematurely.

The Meteor Star was no ordinary entity; it did not die when exposed to fire. Even if Shen Qingshi, as its host, were burned into a small pill, the Meteor Star would still remain alive within it.

And the fate of anyone who consumed the Meteor Star was obvious.

Whether it was Tian Ting or the Cicada Molt, both were Evil Entities that claimed lives. Yet now, after fifteen years of scheming by the Longevity Palace, countless lives had been sacrificed, turning this lie into reality...Emperor Yongzhao only believed what he saw and heard with his own eyes and ears. But if everything he witnessed and listened to was merely a carefully orchestrated performance staged by others, how could they possibly awaken the current Son of Heaven to reality?

Even Yang Wujian, who always had countless ideas, now found himself unusually at a loss.

He didn’t know when the emperor of Northern Xiang had discovered that the Underground Heaven was a fraud, but he believed that the last emperor of Northern Xiang had indeed descended into the Meat Well. Realizing that the fate of Northern Xiang was irreversible, that emperor had decided to set a malicious trap for the then-prosperous and powerful Datong.

Whether it was the Meat Well, the Longevity Palace, or even the sister he deliberately left behind in Datong—all were part of this trap.

After that, Northern Desert only needed to wait.

They waited for an emperor who was sufficiently powerful and ambitious enough to ascend the throne—then it would be time for this chess game to begin.

Yang Wujian reflected that both Tian Ting and the Cicada Molt were now in their hands. If it weren’t for Cao Zhao’s extreme suspicion, which had inadvertently allowed Shen Qingshi to escape, Guanri would likely have succeeded by now.

But… where could they flee?

Once they were captured and brought back by the Zhaoming Division, the survival of Datong would hang by a thread.

“How ruthless they are… killing so many people, all to turn something nonexistent into reality—and they actually succeeded.”

Zhou Huai sat slumped in a corner of the room, clutching his disheveled hair, his head throbbing with pain.

Over the past few days, they had tried every possible method. Shen Qingshi had even contemplated taking her own life, but none of it could change the emperor’s convictions.

Even if Shen Qingshi died, they would burn her body. And even if her body were destroyed, Guanri would probably teach them how to create a new Cicada Molt.

As long as the emperor’s blind faith in immortality remained unshaken, this ordeal would have no end.

After a long silence, Shen Qingshi, who had been standing by the door, turned around and said softly, “Cao Zhao knows we’re here. He will surely set up an inescapable net to capture us… My escape has given the other three divisions of the Zhaoming Division a pretext to attack him. If Cao Zhao fails to seize this opportunity and bring us back, he might even face mortal danger.”

The relentless blows of recent days had aggravated Yang Wujian’s old injuries, and he couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. “Shouldn’t you be worrying about yourself right now?”

Zhou Huai also sighed. “We both know Cao Zhao is no saint. Even if he discovered Prince Li’s treachery, he probably wouldn’t risk his career to speak the truth before the emperor… Who knows, he might have already planned how to serve a new master if the world were to turn upside down.”

Shen Qingshi remained remarkably calm. After a moment of contemplation, she suddenly said, “We probably still have two or three days. We can flee, or we can take a gamble. I want to ask you both—how do you wish to choose?”