Chapter 183 Rain Bell (Part 1) "Amazing."

Upon hearing this, Lin Feiran suddenly remembered the rotating bead.

Based on what I saw in the secret chamber that day, if the lineage of the Human Emperor wants to cultivate, they must rely on the spiritual power of that precious pearl. Now, among all the princes, if only Shen Qi can cultivate, then isn't the pearl inside his body?

...Wouldn't that mean he'd become the next incarnation?

Chen Qi, Chen Qi?

Lin Feiran asked, "Chen Qi is your alias, so what is your real name?"

Seeing her gaze shift and her question raised again, Shen Qi sighed slightly, but a smile remained on his face.

“My real name hasn’t been called in a long time, so long that I’ve almost forgotten it. You can just call me Shen Qi, or Shen Tu Qi… Apart from the people in the palace, everyone only needs to know Shen Qi.”

He lowered his eyes, turned around and sat down on the stone bench beside him. His right hand swept across the table, and a magic circle appeared, enveloping the two of them.

Lin Feiran turned his head and saw that many people had such an array pattern on their tables.

"This was carved by Venerable Ding Yi. He said that both mortals and cultivators could attend the banquet, and this table was created to ensure fairness, so that mortals could speak freely without worrying about cultivators overhearing them."

After explaining, Shen Qi asked Lin Feiran to sit opposite him and began to talk about the past with lowered eyes.

"After that night, I returned to my residence in a daze. Although I was surprised, I was even more afraid and uneasy."

If I were to stumble upon such a secret and they found out, I would surely die... But what good would it do to live?

To my shame, my mother had recently passed away, leaving me all alone. If it weren't for wanting to thank you, I fear I would have already contemplated suicide out of fear.

He glanced at her cautiously, but Lin Feiran was simply waiting for him to continue.

"Later, I was uneasy about this matter, and I felt even more uncomfortable when facing the Holy Palace Lady. I couldn't even speak properly. Not long after, the Grand Eunuch stopped letting me see her."

When I was twelve, I suddenly fell seriously ill. My father summoned me and said he would send me to Nanping Island to recuperate.

On the way, I suffered from recurring fevers for over a month, and fainted several times. It wasn't until I arrived at my residence in Nanpingzhou and saw the physicians at the local Imperial Academy that I was diagnosed with spiritual energy entering my body. They said it required guidance through cultivation techniques, and that once I entered the Dao, this would no longer occur.

At that time, the venerable monk of the Imperial Academy saw that he was intelligent and had a good affinity with the Dao of Wonderful Brush, so he asked him what his name was.

Shen Qi was already in a daze due to the matter of cultivation, and had no energy to answer. It was his old servant who stepped forward to reply.

“Qi, Venerable One, his name is Shen Qi.”

A chill suddenly ran down his spine. He turned around abruptly and saw only the old servant's unwavering eyes and a barely perceptible hint of pity within them.

That year, Shen Qi, who was only twelve years old, already knew his future.

"But I am still very fortunate. Fortunately, I went to the secret room with you and learned the truth. This allowed me to focus on my cultivation at the Imperial Academy. Although I was clumsy, I lived each day happily and felt grateful for each day that I had lived another day. I spent many years in carefree meditation."

Otherwise, I fear I would have remained trapped in the shell of Shen Qi for many years, worrying about why I was so unlucky and why I was not favored by my father.

Lin Feiran stared at him for a long time, then suddenly asked, "Have you ever thought about breaking free from this predetermined future?"

Shen Qi was taken aback, then his deer-like eyes closed slightly, and he smiled: "I've thought about it, but how can I do it? Let alone the whole world being his, even a single star field is beyond my reach. I can't do what you do."

However, that is indeed something you would say, Wenran.

I am very happy to see you in Luoyang today.

Knowing his identity, Lin Feiran showed not a trace of disgust or dislike on her face. Whether in her childhood or now, she had never changed.

Looking at the person in front of him, Shen Qi's eyes trembled slightly, and his mind relaxed for no reason. He felt a sense of relief and fearlessness at finally being able to reveal everything to her.

"My affairs are unimportant, merely a matter of life and death. I am content that I have been able to enter the path of cultivation and witness another world. Why don't we talk about yours?"

He leaned slightly forward and offered his advice in a low voice.

"You may not know, but although the Holy Palace Consort does not like to show herself, she is an extremely powerful cultivator. All the magic formations in the entire palace were set up by her alone, so there is no benefit in forcing your way in."

Back then, you and I discovered something that they were unaware of. Why don't you come with me, and I'll again use the pretext of paying my respects to request an audience with the Holy Lady... Children like us, if we grow up and want to see her again, she will surely be willing."

He was reserved and shy, like a deep, still pool. He didn't reveal his feelings on his face, but just looked at Lin Feiran, wanting to lend her a hand.

Lin Feiran was unaware of the turmoil in Shen Qi's heart. After hearing his plan, he pondered for a moment and then said...

"They may not know you, but they already knew about what I stumbled upon; otherwise, my memories wouldn't have been sealed."

She succinctly glossed over the matter of the seal, but Shen Qi was dumbfounded: "This... now that your seal has been broken, you still dare to break into the palace? Aren't you afraid of them...?"

Shen Qi's expression changed slightly. He pressed his fist against his palm and shook his head.

"No, no, given my father's temperament, if he knew that your seal had been broken, he would never allow you to live in this world. He certainly doesn't know that now! But if I rashly take you there..."

While Shen Qi was struggling with his decision, Lin Feiran was looking around, examining the layout of the place, and pondering Shen Qi's suggestion.

Now that Murong Qiudi has returned to the city, the palace is even more heavily guarded. If he were to act as a go-between, things would be much safer, but it would alert the likes of the Emperor. Although she could sneak in alone, she would still find it difficult to avoid the numerous magical formations. Just then, she suddenly met a pair of dark eyes.

The man stood alone on the second floor of the flower hall, dressed in a simple light blue Taoist robe, his black hair half-tied up, his lips slightly pursed. He had been gazing at this place for an unknown amount of time, but he only looked and did not go forward or leave.

In the past, she might have been surprised, but after meeting him many times, she had gotten used to it.

Wei Changzai would appear in some inconspicuous corner, or in some place where he shouldn't be, and then stare at you with such a naked and incomprehensible gaze, yet say nothing, like a ghost.

Lin Feiran paused, then naturally shifted his gaze to observe the guards lined up around him.

The reason was simple: Wei Chang's previous act of apologizing to her with such fervor and ostentation had truly shocked Lin Feiran. Compared to that, her quiet, ghostly demeanor seemed perfectly normal.

The flower hall is just a place for people to rest temporarily. Today's welcoming banquet should be held in the nearby Zhuoquan Hall. Therefore, most of the people in the hall are the eunuchs and maids who attend to the guests, and there are not many guards.

As Lin Feiran was pondering how to escape, he overheard several princes gathered nearby discussing something.

"I heard that Her Majesty the Holy Palace will also be attending today's welcoming banquet. It's quite a rare occasion," a thin-faced man said. "I haven't seen her for many years, and I still feel a deep longing for her. I miss her dearly."

Another person with narrow eyes said meaningfully, "Her Majesty has been working hard to cure this strange illness lately, and her reputation is quite high. If you can gain her favor, you might be able to show your face to the Emperor, right?"

The princes were only raised in the palace in their childhood. When they reached the age of majority, they were sent out of the palace to become idle princes. Without exception, the number of times they could meet the emperor and have a long talk with him was very limited over the years.

The fact that invitations were sent to everyone for this welcoming banquet, and that all the officials attended, left them with much to ponder.

Everyone had their own agenda, and they changed their tune halfway through the conversation, only chatting about trivial matters of romance.

"It seems I'll have to attend the banquet with you," Lin Feiran said to Shen Qi.

Since the Holy Palace Lady was going to the banquet, she couldn't possibly break in. So she changed her plans again and decided to go to the banquet with her and see what happened.

Shen Qi was somewhat bewildered: "Why did you suddenly change your mind?"

Lin Feiran was slightly surprised: "They were chatting there, and they heard that the Holy Palace Consort was also going to the banquet... Didn't you hear that?"

Shen Qi was also a cultivator, and Miao Bi Dao had achieved some success. Those other people did not form an array like them, so how could they not hear their whispers?

“My father recently sent me several array patterns, and I have to imprint them on my body whenever I go out,” Shen Qi said somewhat embarrassedly. “You probably don’t realize that I am just a mortal right now.”

Lin Feiran's expression shifted slightly, and he suddenly smiled, taking out a notebook from his mustard seed bag.

"You should remember this: those who want my help will leave their names in this notebook."

She turned to a blank page, picked up a pen and wrote the words "save your life," then handed it to Shen Qi.

"How about it? I'll help you."

Shen Qi was slightly taken aback. He raised his hand and touched the notebook. His eyebrows lowered, but a smile quickly appeared on his face.

He simply wanted to leave his real name in this journal to prove that he had also been here.

...

The Zhuoquan Hall opened wide, and a wave of dampness immediately rushed in; it wasn't cold, but rather had a touch of warmth.

The group entered in turn and took their seats. Protective cultivators like Lin Feiran sat in a separate corner, which happened to be very close to the group of somewhat noisy sect prodigies.

A horizontal table was set up, on which were placed spiritual fruits and nectar, all rare delicacies. Lin Feiran had no time to pay attention to them, and until she knelt down, her gaze remained fixed on the front of the hall.

Before the Emperor and the Holy Palace arrived, only Murong Qiudi sat there alone.

Dressed in a blue and white dragon and fish robe, his black hair was tied up with an inconspicuous wooden hairpin, and a cloak was still tied around his shoulders. Yet he still stood tall and straight, looking at a cup of turbid wine on the table, his expression unreadable.

She sat there for an unknown amount of time, motionless like a jade sculpture.

Lin Feiran's gaze swept over the ministers again. Their expressions varied, but none of them showed any joy.

Although it was a welcome banquet, no one stepped forward to talk to Murong Qiudi, and the atmosphere was heavy.

But at Lin Feiran's place, the geniuses from various sects were discussing in hushed tones, whispering among themselves, and the topic always revolved around the list of outstanding talents.

Above the clouds, there are even more outstanding talents, including a hundred young cultivators below the Free and Unfettered Realm.

Wei Changzai had just been pushed off the list by an unknown female cultivator, but within a few months, he broke through to the Advanced Realm.

At his age, breaking through to the next realm was already considered a genius. Before everyone could even sigh in amazement, the female cultivator named Lin Feiran reappeared, overpowering everyone else and taking the top spot on the list of talents once again.

For a time, Lin Feiran became a highly sought-after figure among the sect disciples. However, after asking many people, they could only give a vague impression.

She is incredibly low-key, yet she has a fascinating past.

Everyone knows that she and Wei Changzai were once engaged.

As they murmured amongst themselves, their gazes involuntarily drifted forward. In this slightly noisy corner, only he and the female cultivator at the next table sat quietly, completely undisturbed.

Meanwhile, Lin Feiran was unaware of the probing gazes from behind, her eyes never leaving Murong Qiudi's face.

They looked so travel-worn, and hadn't even changed their clothes, that they had clearly been sitting there quietly for a long time.

Could it be that she has been here all along and has not seen the Human Emperor?

Just then, the palace doors opened wide, letting in a few slivers of spiritual light. Everyone present immediately stood up, the ministers bowed, and the invited cultivators also clasped their hands in greeting. In just a few moments, someone took a seat in the hall.

"Please don't be so formal, everyone. Today is just a welcoming banquet to greet Minister Murong."

His voice was gentle and polite, and he had a smile on his face. Although he was authoritative, he did not come across as aloof.

This was the first time that the several prodigies from various sects had paid homage to the Emperor. Seeing how humble the Emperor was, they couldn't help but feel a sense of goodwill towards him.

Lin Feiran sat down as instructed, but when he looked up, he could not see the other figure.

The Holy Palace did not attend the banquet.

Shen Qi raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but look at Lin Feiran. She was just staring at the table, seemingly lost in thought. He guessed that she had her own plans, so he looked away. But he caught a glimpse of a cold gaze along the way, which inexplicably sent a chill down his spine.

He looked back and saw that the person looking at him was none other than Wei Changzai, whom he had long heard of. But he didn't look at him for long. After the two made eye contact briefly, Wei Changzai looked away, as if that glance had just been an illusion.

As their eyes met, Lin Feiran's gaze darkened slightly, her fingertips tracing the rim of her cup as she recalled the palace map Shen Qi had drawn and the soldiers she had encountered after entering the palace, silently sketching out a path of stealth in her mind.

She wasn't one to easily regret things, so since the person hadn't arrived, she decided to leave and go look for them.

The only variable along the way is the magic arrays that are scattered throughout the palace. If you are not careful, you will either alert everyone or be teleported and lost in the palace.

Lin Feiran paused, his gaze shifting to the outside of the hall as he pondered a way to escape.

"Your Majesty," a minister rose and bowed, his voice earnest, "I believe that your heart is truly in the wine to welcome Lord Murong, but there are more important matters at hand. You previously sent word that Her Majesty would attend the banquet to discuss ways to cure the illness. I wonder where Her Majesty is now?"

Lin Feiran and Murong Qiudi looked up together, but the Emperor only smiled.

He remained silent, but the chief eunuch beside him spoke up: "Lord Ning, Her Majesty has been in the furnace for half a month to refine pills to cure diseases. There are still three days until the next batch of pills is refined, and she will not be able to come out of seclusion until then."

"Your Majesty is overworked. Why not release the pill formula? There are many skilled alchemists in Luoyang. With everyone's help and concerted efforts, Your Majesty will not have to do it personally and worry so much."

The person who spoke was none other than Murong Qiudi, who had been silent for a long time.

The atmosphere at the banquet suddenly became strange, and even the group of young people behind Lin Feiran fell silent.

"Since His Majesty has personally hosted this welcoming banquet for me today, I will take this opportunity to talk about the recent situation in the north."

The chief eunuch's expression shifted slightly, and he was about to stop him, but seeing that the emperor made no move, he fell silent and looked down.

Murong Qiudi stood up, looking solemnly at the banquet, without a trace of joy on her face.

"You may not know this, but the snow in the north is so heavy that it has covered the sky and sun. People are now living in misery, and the northern plains, which are even further away, are already deserted. But no one has reported this dire situation. If it weren't for the increasing number of refugees in the city, we don't know how long we would have been kept in the dark."

The main hall was completely silent. Lin Feiran's gaze shifted slightly, and she listened very attentively.

Someone asked doubtfully, "Lord Murong, it's normal for it to snow in the north. Perhaps a year of famine is coming?"

Murong Qiudi raised her hand, and a bronze mirror about the size of a palm flew out from her sleeve, hovering steadily in mid-air.

What they saw in the mirror was only a dazzling blizzard, with howling winds that sounded like roars. Although everyone was sitting in a warm hall, they could all feel the bone-chilling cold, and many shivered.

"That snow came from the northern plains and hasn't stopped yet; this is no ordinary natural disaster."

I rode my celestial horse to the north, intending to cross the snow-capped mountains to explore the Northern Plains. However, at the entrance, there were members of the Secret Sect stationed there. They said they were engaged in a magical battle with the Goddess Sect and didn't want others to get involved. Therefore, they blocked me at the Three Bridges, preventing me from crossing.

Murong Qiudi paused slightly at this point.

She had already investigated the cultivators who caused trouble at the Flying Flower Society; they were all members of the Secret Sect who had infiltrated the society for unknown reasons. However, this was a separate matter, so she did not bring it up in public.

She turned around, her cloak billowing slightly, and bowed, clasping her hands in a gesture of respect.

"I am naturally grateful for this welcoming banquet, but please forgive me for having no heart to attend. I rushed back today to deliver a letter of request from the northern border generals, asking Your Majesty to order the cultivators of the Star Domain to join us in our mission, to cross the Secret Sect and delve into the Northern Plains to investigate!"

Silence fell upon the crowd. In the mirror, the wind and snow howled, seemingly covering the entire hall with frost.

...

The banquet was stopped halfway through, and everyone except the court officials was invited to dine in a small pavilion on the side.

The topic among the sect's prodigies shifted again, from Lin Feiran to the Secret Sect, and they all began to discuss it excitedly, with differing opinions on both the good and the bad.

Lin Feiran had no intention of wasting time here. Now that he knew the Holy Palace was not in his residence, he had to find the location of that alchemy furnace.

“Chen Qi, do you know where they are refining pills?” she asked, turning around.

Shen Qi pondered for a long time, but still shook his head, somewhat apologetically: "After returning to Luoyang, I have been living outside the palace and know nothing about what is happening inside. Moreover, the location of this alchemy furnace is a highly confidential matter. Apart from my father and Venerable Ding Yi, I'm afraid no one else knows about it."

"Feiran, come with me." He walked from Lin Feiran to the window and looked out into the distance. "The palace may look like it only has these few halls, but in fact, there are many unseen secret places under the construction of the magic array."

Finding it won't be easy... How about I go with you?

I grew up here, and as a child I saw the notes on the Holy Palace Lady's desk. While I wouldn't say I was an expert, I at least grasped some of the ideas.

Lin Feiran hesitated for a moment, then heard Shen Qi say, "Besides, I'm not very lucky, and I might accidentally stumble in again like last time."

"Then I'll trouble you." She immediately agreed.

With such a shortcut right in front of him, it was hard for Lin Feiran not to be tempted.

A smile appeared in Shen Qi's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it by pursing his lips: "It's already very good that I can lend you a hand."

While everyone was discussing the matter enthusiastically, the two quietly went downstairs, seemingly for a stroll, but soon disappeared without a trace.

"If you want to build a secret place where you can refine pills, the West Garden magic array might be located there." Shen Xi pointed to one of the locations on the landscape map in his hand.

Lin Feiran pondered for a moment, then took out the previous fluorescent stone, hid it on the high building, and looked towards the West Garden.

Through the fluorite, she could indeed see that the area was indeed filled with interwoven spiritual light, complex yet orderly, truly the most intricate array pattern. She nodded in agreement and, together with Shen Qi, evaded the patrols and headed towards the West Garden.

The two approached cautiously. Shen Qi picked up his brush and began to draw the array patterns. Just as they were about to try to understand it, he accidentally bumped into a pebble. As he stumbled, a faint light flashed past, and in the blink of an eye, the two arrived at a secret chamber.

Lin Feiran gasped, blinked slightly, and uttered two words: "Amazing."

How could it even crash in?

Shen Qi was a little embarrassed. He looked around and saw that it was almost pitch black. "I'm glad I could help you. But I don't know if this is the alchemy furnace room."

"no."

A voice that didn't belong to either of them suddenly appeared, and Shen Qi immediately flashed behind Lin Feiran and peeked out.

In the dark room, a few fireflies silently lit up, and the person stood not far away, holding the All-Encompassing Compass, facing them.

Author's Note: Red envelopes will be dropping in this chapter too. I feel like I'll be giving out red envelopes forever (X)