Within the Great Xia Imperial Palace, Xia Feng proceeded without any hindrance.
Although he had altered his appearance, the imperial token in his hand was genuine.
As for how a stranger could possess such a prestigious dragon token?
Dammit!
We're just a bunch of guards on duty. Who am I supposed to ask about such a profound question?
Maybe he's the illegitimate son raised in secret by some imperial relative?
Before long, Xia Feng's steps halted as he arrived in front of the Imperial Study.
For some reason, he felt that the spiritual energy within the Xia Palace today seemed unusually thin.
An illusion?
The Great Xia dragon vein was something the dynasty's ancestors had spent centuries expanding territories and waging wars to find. It ranked among the top in the entire Western Frontier.
Especially that Dragon Trapping Array, which concentrated the dragon vein's spiritual energy within the Xia Palace. Cultivating here was truly twice the result for half the effort.
But now…
"Who's outside the door?!"
The Xia Emperor's voice came from within the hall. Xia Feng stopped overthinking, took a deep breath, and walked in.
"Huh? Who are you?! How dare you barge into the imperial forbidden grounds?! Guar—"
"Father! It's me!"
Before the Xia Emperor could finish, Xia Feng had already reached up, tore off the mask on his face, and revealed his true features.
Regarding Xia Sheng, although the father and son had always appeared harmonious but were divided at heart, Xia Feng had long had his methods.
The Great Xia's fortune now rested on him alone.
His father absolutely wouldn't dare let him die easily!
"Huh? Feng'er?! You… why did you conceal your appearance to return to the Xia Palace?"
The Xia Emperor was taken aback, feeling increasingly that this eldest son of his was… eccentric and unsettling.
In others' eyes, Xia Feng was humble, gentle, and wholeheartedly devoted to the Dao.
But only the Xia Emperor knew that if not for his step-by-step scheming back then, the Great Xia empire would never have fallen into his hands!
How old was he then?
Five? Or six?
Originally, before this, the Xia Emperor also thought this son was destined by heaven, the hope for his Great Xia to unify the Western Frontier.
But when he truly sat on this supreme throne, Xia Sheng finally understood that unifying the Western Frontier was a grand ambition, but the prerequisite was… he had to maintain his own position.
It's yours only if I want to give it to you.
If I don't want to give it to you, would you… perhaps kill your own father too?
Somehow, from some point on, the Xia Emperor began to guard against this eldest son who had helped him gain the empire.
"Father, I've heard about the events in the palace recently…"
Xia Feng's gaze was somewhat gloomy, especially that suddenly arrived great personage, which made him feel a trace of unease.
"Hmm, that scoundrel Jiang Yu was actually a demon hiding in our Great Xia. I heard… you were quite close to him in private?"
The Xia Emperor glanced coldly at Xia Feng, suspicion evident in his tone.
After all!!
Since the founding of Great Xia, no one had ever heard of someone being able to forcibly seize another's fortune.
Moreover, it seemed Xia Feng had known in advance about the timing of the ninth prince's birth.
All these unreasonable things made him apprehensive.
Could it be… he is also…
"Father, that Lord… what is his origin?"
Xia Feng ignored the Xia Emperor's dissatisfaction. In his eyes, his father was nothing but a timid, submissive coward.
In his previous life, he only knew how to drink and enjoy himself, not only having no hope in the immortal path but eventually being sent by Xia Yong to a border city to end his wretched life.
If not for his own careful planning and maneuvering, how could he have ascended to this supreme position?
"Huh? You came back just in time. Come with me to pay respects to that Lord. These past few days, the Lord used his boundless power to seal our Xia clan's Ancient Dragon Vein within the Xia Palace. Such great kindness deserves having statues carved and incense offered, receiving the faith of the world!"
The Xia Emperor snorted coldly and strode out of the Imperial Study.
"Father… is the Lord… Ancestor Xia Chen? He… what does he think about our lineage seizing the throne…?"
Behind him, Xia Feng seemed somewhat hesitant.
But from his father's words, he had guessed some things.
If that Lord truly cared about the change of rulership in Great Xia, he probably wouldn't be able to see his father now.
But… the Way of Laying Low, of course, requires absolute certainty.
"Hmph! Ancestor Xia Chen? The ancestor is merely a dog under this Lord's command! Understand? We are all the Lord's grand-dogs!! Later, when you see the Lord, remember not to speak carelessly! Be humble, always mindful of your status!!"
The Xia Emperor turned his head and glared fiercely at Xia Feng.
The expression on the latter's face almost instantly stiffened.
It can't be!!
The plot shouldn't develop like this!!
In his previous life, the only great personage who descended upon Great Xia was the reincarnation of the Xia clan's ancestor, Xia Chen.
Since when was there… the ancestor's master?
Quite inexplicably, Xia Feng now wanted to leave the imperial palace immediately.
"Huh? Feng'er? Why are you still dazing? Hurry up and come with me!"
The Xia Emperor reached out, grabbed Xia Feng's shoulder, and headed towards the rear palace.
He intended to let that Heavenly Venerate Lord see whether this eldest son was a demon or not.
Of course, if he wasn't, given Xia Feng's natural talent, he was indeed the hope of the Xia clan.
If he was fortunate enough to become the Lord's servant, it would also be a blessing for Great Xia!
"Father, I just returned to the palace today. Wouldn't visiting rashly…"
"The Lord's magnanimity is as vast as the sea. Why would he care about such minor details? Less nonsense, come with me!"
When the two arrived at the high mountain in the rear palace where the dragon vein was sealed, their eyes constricted sharply.
At the mountain peak, a golden sun bloomed with divine radiance, faintly emitting an aura of primordial vastness.
Within the golden sun, a figure sat cross-legged quietly. Although his features were unclear, he exuded supreme majesty.
"Pay respects to the Lord!!"
A flash of joy surged in the Xia Emperor's eyes.
Although he didn't sense any dragon aura emanating from the golden sun at the moment, such a display was clearly extraordinary!
Obviously, the Ancient Dragon Vein hadn't awakened yet, but its form had already appeared.
He believed it wouldn't be long before Great Xia's national fortune soared, aiming for the top of the Western Frontier.
"Pay respects… to the Lord!"
Xia Feng also bowed his head, his expression humble, but his eyes were filled with astonishment.
If it's not the ancestor, and not that demon, then who is it?
He remembered clearly that demon cultivated the Myriad Daos Demon Art, his methods extremely brutal, and even the aura around him was cold and sinister.
But the person before him, although not a trace of spiritual power emanated from him, that aura of towering above the nine heavens was absolutely incomparable to that despicable demon.
It was like a deity looking down on ants; even an inadvertent glance was enough to cause trepidation.
In his previous life, Xia Feng remembered that the demon could conceal his forbidden identity partly due to the demonic art he cultivated and partly due to his usually flamboyant personality.
He was too arrogant, attracting too much attention, which ironically made people lower their guard.
But here, this Lord sat atop the mountain peak like an ancient bedrock, eternal and timeless, his sharpness concealed!
Every move and gesture was composed, as if he had existed for endless ages.
At this moment, Xia Feng suddenly began to believe that this person perhaps… truly came from the Upper Realm!
But, why would such a personage descend upon Great Xia?
What exactly was he plotting?
"Not bad! This child has wise roots. I see potential in him."
Ling Xiao spoke indifferently, a cold smile hidden beneath the immortal radiance veiling his face.
"Five thousand Luck Points, Vermillion Gold Dao Principle, second-grade Divine General."
Logically, someone who had comprehended such a Dao Principle should be exceptionally sharp and imposing.
But looking at Xia Feng's eyes… the more he looked, the more he felt… he seemed a bit like one who lays low?
That seemingly gentle yet actually gloomy gaze was exactly like a venomous snake or scorpion hiding in the wild.
Interesting. How to make him radiate the most intense light and heat?