Chapter 36: The Kingdom's Fracture
The war map room within Lin Xuan's inn felt like a heartbeat of strategy, its wooden walls lined with scrolls that rustled faintly in the breeze from an open window, the air carrying the rich scent of ink and the warm hint of burning incense. The map sprawled across a central table, its parchment creased and marked with red ink that traced Ironfang's relentless advances, the kingdom's borders fraying like worn fabric under the strain. The soft glow of oil lamps cast a gentle light, their flames flickering across Lin Xuan's face as he leaned over the map, his crimson eyes narrowing with the weight of his 5th Layer Qi Transformation. The Celestial Unity Crest on his back pulsed with a quiet rhythm, a subtle guide as he directed the Soul Lamp Hall's efforts. "Ironfang wants to bleed us with daggers in the dark…" he murmured to himself, his voice a low rumble of thought, "…let's see how they fare under a collapsing kingdom."
His hands moved with purpose, assigning tasks through spiritual echo stones that hummed softly in his grip, their surfaces warming as he relayed orders. Xiao Fen, now a capable lieutenant, reported from the Ji Clan border, her voice steady and clear through the orb. "The Wudu Clan poison shipments are cloaked with sound-concealment talismans," she noted, her alchemical insight adding depth to the intelligence. Lin Xuan nodded, his mind weaving a web of counter-strategies as he dispatched scouts to monitor the routes, the warehouse base alive with the rhythmic thuds of recruits practicing Void Pulse Kick under his guidance, their forms growing more confident with each repetition.
Across the city, the Hei Clan's internal chaos deepened, a festering wound that Lin Xuan had helped nurture. Mid-level elders fell mysteriously—some found with foam at their mouths, others collapsing without a mark, the Wudu neurotoxins' silent work leaving a trail of suspicion. The clan's investigations stumbled in the dark, their dark qi probing the streets like desperate fingers, their envoy's presence a growing shadow that Lin Xuan watched with a calculated eye. In the inn's war room, he met Ji Yunjing, the prince's 2nd Layer Profound Heavenly Realm aura a towering presence, his silk robes adorned with the Ji Clan crest catching the lamplight. Lin Xuan offered subtle support, sliding encrypted messages across the table that hinted at Ironfang's plans, earning a cautious nod of trust from the prince. "Your insight aids us," Ji Yunjing said, his bow slight but sincere, his eyes reflecting a wary respect. Lin Xuan returned the gesture, his crimson eyes glinting. "Junior Brother stands with Dawnriver," he replied, the alliance a fragile yet promising thread.
Outside, the courtyard buzzed with Liu Yang's training, his 7th Layer Body Refining qi stirring autonomously as he shaped blood armor, the crystalline red shield encasing his torso with a fluid grace. The Human Emperor's bloodline glowed through his efforts, his young face set with a determination that mirrored Lin Xuan's own, the armor's stability a sign of his maturing strength. Lin Xuan watched, a blend of pride and concern tightening his chest, his thoughts interrupted by the arrival of Bloodshade Abyss scouts. Their crimson robes blended with the dusk, their 5th Layer Qi Transformation auras curious as they approached, drawn by rumors of his blood arts. Using Illusion Diversion, Lin Xuan masked his presence, his form dissolving into the evening shadows as he deflected their probe, his mind already sketching a counterstrike. "Their interest is a blade we can turn," he mused, the war map's details sharpening in his vision.
The night unfolded on Dawnriver City streets, the cobblestones worn smooth under the feet of evening vendors, the air alive with the hum of commerce and the occasional laugh. Liu Yue joined Lin Xuan, her raven hair swaying gently, her moonlight eyes reflecting the strategic depth of their journey. "Junior Sister, the fracture begins," he said softly, his voice carrying a quiet intensity. The Hei Clan's unrest and Bloodshade's curiosity loomed like storm clouds, but Lin Xuan's resolve burned bright, the kingdom's fate resting on the edge of his next move as the streets faded into the night.