"I don't know, and I don't care."
Lin Xinglan spoke calmly.
Yang Xiu stared at her in confusion.
Then Lin Xinglan declared proudly, "The future of the Wasteland Realm was already sealed the moment I chose you. The one I choose—whether or not they're Heaven's chosen—will become Heaven's chosen. Because I am Heaven's will!"
Yang Xiu's heart jolted. Then he felt a surge of excitement.
"Remember this, Yang Xiu. For a cultivator, fate means nothing. Power is all that matters."
Lin Xinglan said, "As long as you're strong enough, you can trample everything beneath your feet—including destiny."
"Senior, I understand now," Yang Xiu replied.
It felt like a bolt of clarity had struck his soul. His Dao heart was reborn, steady as stone.
"Your will is strong enough. Now focus entirely on increasing your cultivation."
Lin Xinglan continued, "If you can reach the Xiantian realm before the age of two, how could your crown prince brother possibly compare to you?"
"Yes!"
Yang Xiu was more confident than ever.
He was already nearing the peak of Houtian.
Yang Cheng had likely just entered Houtian, no match at all.
In Splendid Radiance Hall—
Hu Po stepped up to Yun Liyue. "We've looked into it. Over the past half month, Radiant Sunlight Hall had no unusual visitors—except seven days ago, when Princess Changle went there."
"Princess Changle?"
Yun Liyue's gaze darkened.
"She's never had contact with Radiant Sunlight Hall," Hu Po said. "But five days ago she visited, and three days after that came the Sui River flood. And now, today's solar eclipse. That's a little too coincidental."
"Not just this time," Yun Liyue said. "Before Yun Yirou sent the Seven Kill Society to assassinate Cheng'er, Princess Changle had also met with her. Once is coincidence. But twice? You really think that's just luck?"
"What should we do?" Hu Po asked. "Princess Changle's background isn't simple. She's the only surviving heir of the Marquis Loyal and Brave. And she's currently being raised by the Empress Dowager. It won't be easy to deal with her."
"The harder she is to deal with, the more we have to act," Yun Liyue said. "All merit runs out eventually. The Marquis Loyal and Brave's service to the court is her only shield. We'll destroy that first. Then next time she slips, we'll crush her completely."
"Then what crime should we pin on her?" Hu Po asked. "Princess Changle is very crafty. We know she's involved in plotting against the crown prince, but she's never gotten her hands dirty. We can't catch her with any solid evidence."
"If there's no evidence, we'll create some," Yun Liyue replied.
Hu Po's eyes lit up. "Your Majesty, after Princess Changle met with Noble Consort Zhuang, Eunuch Xiao Li from the Palace Procurement Office left the palace. On his way out, he passed by Embracing Moon Restaurant—which is owned by the Zhuang family."
A chill crossed Yun Liyue's face. "Wasn't Caiwei from Tranquil Longevity Palace supposed to be dealt with last year?"
"Yes," Hu Po said. "Caiwei's brother owes a huge debt to a gambling house outside the palace. To save him, she stole jade from Tranquil Longevity Palace and tried to sell it. Another maid found out. In a panic, Caiwei killed her. When you heard about it, not only did you cover up the murder, you secretly bought the jade back and returned it. You also gave Caiwei one year to settle her family affairs."
Yun Liyue said evenly, "Caiwei killed Eunuch Xiao Li. And the person behind it was Princess Changle. What do you think?"
"But Your Majesty, why would Princess Changle want Xiao Li dead?" Hu Po asked.
"Because she conspired with Noble Consort Zhuang to frame the crown prince. Xiao Li was the one carrying out the plan. She was afraid he'd spill the truth. Of course she had to silence him," Yun Liyue said.
"Then why would Caiwei follow her orders?" Hu Po asked again.
"Caiwei's father used to serve under the Marquis Loyal and Brave," Yun Liyue said. "Ten years ago, he died in battle. It was the Marquis who used his connections to get Caiwei into the palace, placing her in Tranquil Longevity Palace as a maid."
Hu Po was stunned.
She hadn't known that.
"Your Majesty," she said softly, "if that's the case, wouldn't Caiwei feel grateful to Princess Changle? Will she really help us?"
"Maybe the marquis helped her," Yun Liyue said, "but she doesn't think she owes him anything. Her father still died, after all. And the palace isn't exactly paradise for a woman."
"Ah, I see now," Hu Po nodded.
The next day—
In the East Lake of the imperial palace.
Caiwei arranged to meet Eunuch Xiao Li.
He was thrilled.
In the palace, it wasn't uncommon for eunuchs and maids to pair up in secret.
Since Caiwei had invited him to meet, Xiao Li assumed she wanted to be his partner.
They met at the lake's edge.
Without hesitation, Caiwei stabbed him.
Shhk!
The blade pierced Xiao Li's chest.
The tip of the dagger stopped just an inch from his heart.
Xiao Li's face twisted in pain. But oddly, he didn't look surprised.
Instead, he let out a bitter laugh. "Why? I've done so much for the noble consort. Life or death, I was always loyal. There's no way I'd betray her…"
"Why doesn't she trust me? Why must she silence me?"
Caiwei sensed Eunuch Xiao Li had misunderstood something.
She had planned to strike again and finish him off. But now, she changed her mind.
Maybe this was her chance to earn even greater merit.
She knew she wouldn't survive.
But as long as she did something big, the Empress would surely take care of her family.
"Only the dead can keep secrets."
Caiwei sneered coldly.
She didn't deny Xiao Li's words, which only deepened his misunderstanding.
He now fully believed Noble Consort Zhuang had sent someone to kill him.
He'd once been absolutely loyal to her.
But now, her actions chilled his heart. Resentment began to grow.
"Who's there?!"
A squad of imperial guards arrived on patrol.
They arrested Caiwei on the spot and saved Eunuch Xiao Li.
But Caiwei wasn't surprised.
She had chosen this time and place on purpose.
Since she belonged to Tranquil Longevity Palace, they brought her directly there.
The Empress Dowager herself would interrogate her.
Splendid Radiance Hall.
"Cheng'er, let's go watch a show," Yun Liyue said with a smile.
Then she took Yang Cheng and headed straight to Tranquil Longevity Palace.
"Caiwei, why did you try to kill Xiao Li?" Empress Dowager Meng asked, voice full of pain.
Caiwei had entered the palace at age 13, and had served her for 10 years.
She did have some affection for her.
Caiwei knelt on the floor, gritting her teeth, saying nothing.
"Your Majesty, Eunuch Li is awake," a guard reported.
"Bring him in," said the Empress Dowager.
Caiwei's expression changed drastically.
Soon, Eunuch Li was carried inside.
Gui Mama reported, "Your Majesty, the dagger missed the heart by just one inch. Eunuch Li's luck saved him. If it had gone any deeper, he'd be dead by now."
She was telling the Empress Dowager: this wasn't a staged act.
Caiwei had really meant to kill him.
Eunuch Li snarled, "Your Majesty, I know who's behind Caiwei."
"Who is it?" asked the Empress Dowager.
"It was the noble consort!" Eunuch Li declared.
At that exact moment, Noble Consort Zhuang arrived outside.
Hearing his words, her rage exploded. "You lie!"
She stormed into the hall.
"Mother, this filthy dog dares to slander me! You must have him beaten to death!"
Right now, she wished she could skin Xiao Li alive.
This wretch—after all she had trusted him, he dared betray her?
Yun Liyue's eyes flashed. She hadn't expected such a surprise twist.
Yang Cheng's expression also shifted.
Ding!
[Host has encountered the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion—Divine Maiden Changle—inside the imperial palace. A rare event.]
[The Divine Maiden Changle inherited the legacy of the Ancient Heavenly Secret Pavilion over 500 years ago. She revived the sect and restored its former glory.]
[She foresaw that Yang Xiu was the true child of destiny. Since 500 years ago, she's secretly aided and planned for him.]
[One major reason why the host suffered so much in his past life was because of her schemes.]
[Now that she's seen the host, she won't let him live. Host must survive and strike back.]
[This is an achievement quest. The more severe the counterattack, the higher the achievement score.]
[Note: The Divine Maiden Changle, like Tang Xingyu, is a Shattering God powerhouse. This quest is classified as epic difficulty. Host is granted a grace period of five years.]
[Quest reward: Observation of the Chaos God and Demon Diagram (duration: 10 to 100 breaths).]
The Chaos God and Demon Diagram—this reward was incredibly tempting.
It was a legendary top-tier Dao diagram.
In his past life, countless True Gods fought to the death just to see it once.
Yet hardly anyone succeeded.
But to claim this reward, he had to finish the mission.
The Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion… Divine Maiden Changle?
Yang Cheng sucked in a sharp breath.
He had heard of this powerful figure in his past life.
But only heard of—he had never seen her in person.
That's why he never realized who she really was.
Now the system told him—she was in the palace?
His eyes immediately shifted to Princess Changle.
He didn't need to guess anymore.
He knew exactly who the Divine Maiden Changle was.
In his past life, Princess Changle had always kept a low profile.
Not long after, she left the palace.
So he had never interacted with her.
Never imagined she was the very same Divine Maiden Changle.
In this life, she had remained low-profile too.
If not for what happened today, Yang Cheng wouldn't have noticed her at all.
But now he knew: the Divine Maiden Changle was Princess Changle.
She was one of the main masterminds behind the schemes against him.
Thinking back on it now—Myriad Despair Divine Water, the assassination outside the palace, the Sui River stele, the solar eclipse…
All of these were likely connected to Princess Changle?
A wave of killing intent surged through Yang Cheng stronger than ever before.
His desire to kill Princess Changle, in that instant, even surpassed his hatred for Yang Xiu.
The Divine Maiden Changle was unfathomably powerful.
If she truly was present, Yang Cheng wouldn't be able to touch her—and might even be killed by her.
But right now, the Divine Maiden Changle was still just Princess Changle.