Chapter 55: The Shadowed Court
The royal court of Dawnriver stood as a gleaming bastion of authority, its marble floors reflecting the soft golden light of the midday sun streaming through towering windows, the air thick with the rich, woody scent of burning incense and the undercurrent of tense whispers. The hall buzzed with the rustle of silk robes as nobles and advisors gathered, their faces etched with a mixture of anticipation and unease, the weight of political strife pressing down like a gathering storm. Lin Xuan stood near the throne, his crimson eyes glinting with strategic intent, the robust power of his 8th Layer Qi Transformation a steady anchor amidst the turmoil. The Celestial Unity Crest on his back pulsed faintly, a silent guide as he surveyed the room. "This court's a battlefield of its own," he murmured to himself, his voice a low growl, his mind already plotting the next move.
The Prime Minister, Zhao Heng, a stern figure with an 8th Layer Qi Transformation aura, intensified his resistance, his graying hair and lined face a mask of cold determination as he rallied Xun Clan supporters to challenge Ji Yunjing's decrees. "Your rule is fragile, boy—step down before you ruin us," Zhao declared, his voice cutting through the murmurs, his presence a looming shadow as he gestured to his allies. Lin Xuan, using Illusion Diversion, wove a subtle qi veil around himself, slipping into Zhao's inner circle with the grace of a phantom. He planted forged evidence of bribery—carefully crafted scrolls tucked into a noble's sleeve—his crimson eyes narrowing as he whispered, "Let's see how you squirm out of this." The air thickened with tension, the rustle of parchment a quiet threat.
Outside, Liu Yue coordinated Soul Lamp Hall recruits to secure Dawnriver City's streets, her 5th Layer Qi Transformation qi flowing with Icy Skin mist that curled around her feet, her snowflake mark glowing softly. "Patrol the markets—keep the peace," she instructed, her moonlight eyes scanning the crowd, her raven hair swaying as she moved with authority. Liu Yang, his 2nd Layer Qi Gathering qi growing steadier, patrolled with his evolving blood-forged glaive, its crimson edge glinting as he muttered, "No trouble's slipping past me, Senior Brother." His young face was set with focus, the glaive's weight a comfort amidst the city's unrest.
Inside the court, Ji Yunjing, at the peak of the 3rd Layer Profound Heavenly Realm, convened the session, his silk robes rustling as he rose, his voice firm. "I demand loyalty oaths—prove your allegiance to Dawnriver!" he called, his leadership tested as Zhao's defiance sparked murmurs of dissent. The nobles hesitated, their bows slow and reluctant, the air crackling with the weight of authority. Bai Ningxue, her 7th Layer Qi Transformation aura a soothing presence, moved through the hall, her Thousand Lotus Seal Art shimmering as she purified corrupted qi from Wudu Clan poisons, her voice calm. "This will cleanse the taint—let's move forward," she said, her spirited laugh a brief respite as she worked.
Later, in a quiet corner of the Ji Clan halls, Lin Xuan refined a pill, the Celestial Unity Crest guiding the process as his Vein Fortress Body resonated with a faint red glow, the herbal scent filling the air. "This'll strengthen us for what's ahead," he said softly to himself, his hands steady despite the day's strain. The court's marble echoed with the clink of armor and the murmur of oaths, the shadowed court a crucible of political tension, Zhao's corruption a hidden ember waiting to flare.