"Huh? What does the Lord mean…"
The Xia Emperor's expression shook, his eyes seeming to hold delight.
Could it be that Feng'er was truly about to become the pride of the Xia family?
"Currently, demonic traces are rising everywhere in Great Xia, and the situation in the Western Frontier is becoming increasingly turbulent. For the Xia family to gain a firm foothold in this era of great contention, you must strive to strengthen yourselves."
Ling Xiao's voice contained divine might, resonating beside Xia Feng's ears like a great bell, startling his heart and mind.
Nonsense.
This Xia Feng was only a Divine General. Although his fortune was terrifying, his talent peerless, and he had returned through reincarnation…
…he was still just a Divine General!
Ling Xiao's soul had long since rivaled a third-grade Divine Emperor's. With the ancient Pangu Stone and the Ghost Clan's Soul-Devouring Pearl guarding it, that level of majesty could shock even the fifth-grade Divine Emperor Xia Huang, let alone a mere Divine General.
"You, step aside. I have matters to discuss with Feng'er!"
Ling Xiao glanced at the Xia Emperor, who immediately bowed and retreated, stopping only after moving a hundred zhang away. He firmly covered his ears with both hands, as if telling Ling Xiao he wouldn't dare eavesdrop.
Idiot, don't you know there's something called divine sense communication?
"This is an Immortal Jin, something I brought from the Upper Realm. Since you and I are fated, I shall bestow upon you a… heaven-defying opportunity. Keep this Jin close to your heart meridian; it can protect your innate Gold Dao!"
Ling Xiao gave a cold laugh, casually waving his hand. The Imperial Vein Spirit Jin instantly turned into a stream of light and landed before Xia Feng.
Correct!
This was the very same Jin Ling Xiao had tricked out of Zhou Minruo's hands, the very opportunity the "Great Xia True Demon" had seized when killing the Great Zhou princess.
But such a divine object—forget people from other dynasties, even most experts within the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty had only heard its name, never seen its form.
Now, Ling Xiao simply gave it a different name and bestowed it upon Xia Feng. Naturally, he couldn't possibly guess its origin.
Someone had to shoulder the identity of the True Demon.
Jiang Yu had shouldered it, but he wasn't from the Great Xia imperial clan and couldn't perform the True Dragon Divine Seal.
Even if he could deceive the world for a short time, eventually the lie would be exposed.
This was when… our Eldest Prince should play his role.
For a reborn Son of Fate like him, with such high fortune himself, wanting to completely eliminate him probably wasn't a matter of a day or two.
Moreover, with his memories of two lifetimes, he might very well know Ling Xiao's true identity.
So, he first needed to be given an identity despised by the world. That way, if he went around babbling about who was the demon…
I wouldn't believe a word of it!
You're the demon yourself, still trying to pin the blame on someone else?
Dammit!
Besides, the timing of Xia Feng's absence from the capital was absolutely perfect.
Thus, what exactly had he done these past few days…
Qiao Shuang?
A very nice name indeed. I wonder if her body is as nice as her name?
Ling Xiao smiled faintly, especially enjoying the shock on Xia Feng's face, which gave him an indescribable pleasure.
"Innate Gold Dao…"
To be honest, Xia Feng was dumbfounded.
As a reborn one who believed in the Way of Laying Low, he never liked flaunting his strength in front of outsiders.
The reason he revealed his Divine General cultivation was merely to have some weight in his father's heart, allowing him to exchange for more cultivation resources.
Not too outstanding, but not mediocre either.
But over the years, he rarely showed off, of course because… his status didn't permit it.
The Empress, the Second and Third Princes, always saw him as a thorn in their side, seizing every opportunity to humiliate him.
His father was also highly wary of him; if he stood out too much, he'd easily get hurt.
So, within the entire Great Xia, probably only Sikong Hun, son of the Loyalty Count, knew he had comprehended the Vermillion Gold Dao Principle.
No other way. Brothers should be open and honest with each other.
Telling him some of his unimportant little secrets naturally made him feel completely trusted.
Oh, wait, no—I'm a Son of Fate, how can I scheme like this!
I simply thought Sikong Hun was upright and forthright, trustworthy, so I told him my secret!
But!!
How did this Lord see through the power of the Dao Principle I comprehended at a single glance?
This is my biggest trump card!
It's for turning the tables and showing off in desperate situations!
As expected!
This Lord's realm has probably surpassed the understanding of Sheng Zhou!
Before him, it seemed he had no secrets at all!
Thud!
Xia Feng knelt down in a daze, proclaiming loudly, "Thank you, Lord, for your blessing!!"
"Rise! In the coming days, my Great Xia's dragon fortune is at a critical point of recovery. Based on my calculations, more demons will come. Be prepared. That Immortal Jin must be kept close to your heart. At a critical moment, it might save your life!"
Ling Xiao closed his eyes, his voice calm and unfathomable.
"Yes, my Lord!!"
Xia Feng prostrated on the ground, retreating ten zhang before finally rising and leaving.
Watching that slender, upright figure, a smile instantly curled on Ling Xiao's lips.
A reborn Son of Fate, who had also seized the fortune of another Son of Fate—this leek was indeed very fragrant.
But with five thousand Luck Points, wanting to plunder them completely…
The task was arduous and the road long.
---
The Eldest Prince's residence in the Great Xia imperial city was quiet and desolate.
Xia Feng's birth mother had died in difficult labor, fitting the trope where a Son of Fate either loses his father or his mother goes missing.
So, from a very young age, he had moved out of the imperial palace and lived alone.
Moreover, this Eldest Prince had never concerned himself with politics, wholly devoted to the Dao. Thus, he had few retainers, and no one was willing to support him.
"The Eldest Prince has returned!!"
Xia Feng returned to his residence, took out the Spirit Jin bestowed by Ling Xiao, and studied it carefully for a long time, finally concluding one point.
This was an immortal object!!
Wearing it gave a feeling of vibrant vitality and abundant spiritual power!
Truly worthy of an object from the Upper Realm!!
Was it because he had seized the ninth prince's fortune that he gained such an opportunity out of nowhere?
That must be it!
The theory of fortune was profound and unpredictable. The more fortune one had, the more opportunities one would obtain.
If this life were no different from the previous one, wouldn't seizing this fortune be in vain?
It seemed he had worried too much!
Still, with such a powerful expert here, it was easy for unexpected changes to occur!
For the next few days, Xia Feng decided to honestly lay low in the palace and not go anywhere!
Only after the Ancient Dragon Vein fully recovered and this Lord left would it be the right time for him to display his brilliance!
No, even after the Lord leaves, I must definitely keep a low profile and plot step by step.
Otherwise, taking too big a stride is really easy to… overstretch!
Laying low, following the proper order, being steady—isn't that better?
First, secure Great Xia in hand, then plan for that immortal trace at the Cold Moon Immortal Palace.
Once he had enough strength to rival that demon, he could go anywhere in Sheng Zhou!
Anyway, in this life, he was destined to reach the pinnacle of heaven and achieve the supreme.
Even if someone called him a coward for laying low, in the end, if he won, who would care?
In his previous life, he died not because he offended that demon, but because he accidentally obtained a demonic inheritance in a secret realm, which drew the demon's attention!
Otherwise, since they were both from the Western Frontier, what made anyone think he was so outstanding as to know how to seize others' fortune?
If not for the limitations of that demonic seal, which had to be laid at the moment of birth, otherwise… hehehe.
He could just lay low behind the scenes, find a few more Sons of Fate to plant it on, and have a continuous stream of fortune to seize.
It might even be possible to keep laying low all the way to the Supreme realm!
---
Meanwhile, in the Great Xia Imperial Palace.
The Xia Emperor looked up at Ling Xiao with a face full of fear.
"My Lord, do you mean… my son, Xia Feng, is the True Demon?!"
At this moment, the Xia Emperor's eyes held terror and shock, but even more, a kind of inexplicable complexity.