Wang Jian made his way into the grand chamber, where the Emperor awaited his presence. The room was adorned with opulent tapestries and glistening chandeliers, reflecting the prestige and power that resonated within its walls.
"Jian, We are truly delighted to hear of your triumphant exploits," spoke Emperor Wang with a calm yet joyous tone. "You have not only vanquished the vile demons that dared trespass into our territory, but you have also garnered the favor and acceptance of the esteemed Queen of the Butterfly Spirit Race. And to receive her personal mark... Such an honor! Those who bear such a mark etch their names into the annals of history."
Wang Jian met his father's gaze with a serene smile. "It was my duty as the seventh prince of the Empire to rid our lands of those malevolent demons. However, I do regret that I was unable to deliver justice upon that devilish princess and the treacherous Ye Chen."
The Emperor's response was measured, his voice carrying a hint of understanding.
"There is no need for remorse, son. You have done your utmost, and that is enough for us."
With a nod, Wang Jian paused for a brief moment before pressing on.
"Father, I have come to request the release of my mother from the confines of the Azure Rocks Silent Dungeon."
A furrow formed on the Emperor's brow, yet he maintained his composure.
"While it is true that Concubine Liqin's transgressions were grave—using her status as my concubine to mobilize experts in defense of your faction—'we' could have pardoned her. However, your actions against the Black Hand, the Shadow Fang Brotherhood, and the Steel Viper Mercenaries are not to be taken lightly. The scale of the slaughter you left in your wake, sparing only a handful of survivors, has incited the council, our other concubines, and even our Empress to seek justice against you. We do not wish to punish you, son, so the weight of your punishment must be borne by your mother, Concubine Liqin."
Wang Jian's eyes widened in response, a cold smile creeping upon his lips.
"You seem unusually unfair, Emperor. You must recognize that while I resided within the Sacred Dominion, I was instrumental in fostering stronger relations between the Empire and the Butterfly Spirit Race, even having a close relationship with the Saintess of the Church. It was during that time that my siblings took advantage and launched ruthless attacks against my faction. I merely retaliated, exacting vengeance upon those who sought to dismantle all I had built."
His voice grew stronger, resonating through the chamber.
"Furthermore, regarding the experts my mother mobilized, I am prepared to pay any price for their recruitment. Moreover, let us not forget that it was not my mother who committed the crimes alone. My second sister, Wang Ying, should face severe punishment for colluding with a demon-affiliated expert and even transforming into a demon at the crucial juncture of our expedition to the Sacred Dominion."
The Emperor's gaze turned frosty, his words cutting through the air like an icy wind.
"Mind your tone when addressing 'us,' my son. 'We' are the Emperor of this realm! And do not assume that 'we' are ignorant of your clandestine activities. 'We' are well aware of your secret dealings with the Crimson Cult. The fact that you have aligned yourself with a banned organization under our very noses infuriates me. However, 'we' have turned a blind eye to it, merely to spare you from severe repercussions. The punishment Concubine Liqin has received pales in comparison, don't you agree?"
Wang Jian's eyes widened in disbelief, his carefully constructed facade momentarily shattered by the Emperor's revelation.
He hadn't anticipated that news of his collaboration with the Crimson Cult would reach the Emperor's ears so swiftly.
Yet, upon reflection, he realized the natural progression of events.
If the upper echelons of the Crimson Cult were already aware of his affiliation, it was only a matter of time before whispers reached the Emperor's vast network of spies, which extended far and wide throughout the Empire.
"…I am grateful for your mercy, Emperor," Wang Jian uttered through clenched teeth, his voice a mere whisper. "I shall take my leave then."
With a final nod, Wang Jian turned on his heel, concealing the storm of emotions raging within him.
News of Wang Jian's audience with the Emperor and his failure to secure his mother's release from the accursed dungeon spread like wildfire throughout the vast expanse of the realm, capturing the attention and speculation of the populace.
While the conversation between Wang Jian and the Emperor remained shrouded in secrecy, the public couldn't help but weave their own narratives, fueled by the absence of Bai Liqin's liberation.
These murmurs only deepened the already existing perception of a complex and strained relationship between the Emperor and Wang Jian, hinting at the Emperor's dissatisfaction with his own son.
Simultaneously, another piece of news swept through the Empire, concerning the Second Princess, Wang Ying.
Whispers traveled like invisible tendrils, revealing that she had severed all ties with those associated with Ye Chen—be it friends or members affiliated with her faction through Ye Chen's influence.
The public marveled at Wang Ying's audacity, for her actions seemingly sacrificed the strength of her faction in favor of upholding her principles.
It appeared as though she placed her ideals above personal gain, drawing admiration from onlookers.
But the truth behind this carefully orchestrated display diverged greatly from the public's perception. Wang Ying's motives were far from altruistic; they were cunning and calculated maneuvers designed to enhance her faction's prestige and allure.
She recognized that attracting more individuals to her cause required her to appear as the lone torchbearer of morality and righteousness within the royal family. To achieve this, decisive actions were necessary.
However, removing the entire group affiliated with her faction through Ye Chen's connections would have inflicted irreparable damage to her faction's strength and influence.
Hence, Wang Ying implemented a strategic approach, directing her subordinates to foster stronger bonds with every member of the group except for the individual associated with Ye Chen.
In this calculated move, only those linked to Ye Chen were cast aside, while the rest remained firmly ensconced within Wang Ying's faction.
Regrettably, the news circulating in the realm painted a different picture—an illusion suggesting that Wang Ying's resolute decision had drastically weakened her faction.
Yet, the truth lay hidden beneath the surface, with her faction's strength remaining largely intact.
Only one clan abandoned her ranks, accompanied by a prominent member—Elder Hua. This departure stemmed from Elder Hua's tangential connection to Ye Chen.
While she and her disciples were not Ye Chen's confidants, they had received invaluable aid from him during a perilous expedition.
Wary of any potential risks, Wang Ying opted to sever all ties with Elder Hua, despite their shared battle against a common enemy on the battlefield.
It was a calculated move, guided by the desire to safeguard her faction's interests above all else.
While the other members of the Royal Family, namely Wang Hao, Wang Jian, and Wang Chen, saw through Wang Ying's calculated move, they refrained from wasting their time refuting the news.
They understood that their words would likely be dismissed as slanderous due to their rivalry with Wang Ying.
Moreover, as the sole female candidate for the throne, she garnered sympathy from many.
During this time, each faction diligently expanded their influence.
The decimation of the Black Hand had dealt a significant blow to Wang Chen, but he worked tirelessly to assemble a formidable team of warriors.
In addition, his subordinates were inching closer to discovering the elusive Mysterious Wind Law Fruit—an opportunity that would catapult Wang Chen's cultivation to the King Realm, placing him on equal footing with his siblings vying for the throne.
Wang Hao focused on strengthening his faction by managing the sects under his command and assigning them specific tasks to bolster his faction's popularity.
He also devised rigorous training exercises to enhance the combat prowess and quality of his subordinate experts.
Meanwhile, Wang Jian found himself engrossed in a whirlwind of activity.
His current priority centered around assembling a team to mine the precious Ebon Void Essence Ore from the Sacred Dominion of the Butterfly Spirit Race.
To accomplish this, Wang Jian handpicked members from the Crimson Mammoth Tribe and enlisted the expertise of the Liu Family.
The physically robust Crimson Mammoth Tribe would handle the arduous task of mining, while the Liu Family's knowledge was indispensable for harnessing the full potential of these ores.
The initial objective was to establish a teleportation formation between Wang Jian's faction and the Butterfly Spirit Race.
Next, Wang Jian aimed to create a network of teleportation channels throughout his entire faction, ensuring swift mobility and strategic advantages. Lastly, the focus shifted to research.
Wang Jian decided that the research would be conducted exclusively within the Sacred Dominion.
A selected group of individuals would dedicate their lives to this endeavor. Their primary mission involved utilizing talismans to establish a spatial connection between the ores.
The chosen ore would possess such a limited quantity that it couldn't be employed for teleportation purposes, but it would serve as a conduit for sound transmission across the spatial medium.
Essentially, this was akin to a telephone communication system without the reliance on electricity.
However, sound transmission was merely the first step in Wang Jian's ambitious plan. He intended to incorporate a recording feature into the communication method.
By utilizing this innovative system, Wang Jian aimed to eavesdrop on conversations and gather information from his chosen targets through the communication stones.
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