Chapter 75 The Beauty Abducted by the Queen 16

Desire is what you can't get; desire is what you want.

"Is my entanglement with Wanqi Yanjing solely due to the influence of the Yigu Langhua Pendant?" Jiang Yiqing murmured to herself.

"Yi Qing, don't you still believe it?" Jiang Yuxiu's face darkened, and she said to Jiang Xian, "I'm grateful to the Imperial Preceptor for clearing up my sister's doubts. There shouldn't be anyone in this world who knows the viciousness of the Yi Gu Lang Hua Pei better than you, right?"

"..." Jiang Xian's eyes dimmed, and she said, "I can't say irresponsible things, but Princess, I can tell you that every queen of Qin Kingdom has had a lover she cherished, but they have never firmly chosen each other."

"What?!" Jiang Yiqing exclaimed, "How can there be such a heartless species?!"

Jiang Xian continued, "The Empress of Qin Kingdom is blessed by the spirit of Heaven and possesses spiritual power beyond that of ordinary people. Even the one with the worst aptitude can become an immortal after cultivating for one or two decades. Among those who ascend to immortality, none of them abandon their former partners. Even those sitting on the throne do not linger on past affections."

Jiang Yiqing asked, "There must be some reason for this, right?"

"The reason lies in the bloodline of the Wanqi clan. The first phoenix to cultivate into an immortal was named Wanqi Huangyan, the Langhua Emperor who ruled the Southern and Northern Seas in the Nine Heavens. When the Emperor descended to the mortal realm to gain experience, he founded the Qin Kingdom. The Wanqi clan, blessed by the Emperor, were born with unparalleled spiritual power. But strangely, once they fell in love, the Wanqi clan could no longer ascend to immortality. After discovering that the phoenix bloodline was inherently ruthless, the ancestors of the Qin Kingdom created the celestial artifact, the Yigu Langhua Pendant. Throughout the dynasties, they poured all their infatuation and obsession into the Yigu Langhua Pendant, choosing to sever all ties with their loved ones. However, since obsession is not easily resolved, the Yigu Langhua Pendant attracts those who love the Wanqi clan, like a tempting net. After their clansmen have experienced the love, hate, and entanglements brought by their obsession, they will ultimately sever their ties with their swords."

After Jiang Xian finished speaking, she smiled, a smile containing a hint of self-mockery: "So, Princess, matters of the heart are nothing but illusions to them, a mere experience in the mortal world. If you take them seriously, who knows how heartbroken you will be in the future."

"..." Jiang Yiqing was speechless: "Is this the sacred body of the Path of Ruthlessness?"

"The Path of Heartlessness?" Jiang Xian said, "That's right. They abandon their lovers to prove the Great Dao. Yet they love to feign infatuation, as if they were the most devoted lovers in the world. Princess, you've had contact with Wanqi Yanjing, so you must have felt this way too, right?"

Thinking of Wan Qiyan Jing's repeated persistence towards her, and how she couldn't bear to face her after saying such harsh words, it would be a lie to say that she wasn't moved at all. That magnificent and dazzling phoenix was truly a sight to behold, and if she hadn't had that dream, she might have already succumbed to Wan Qiyan Jing's allure and stayed by her side.

"...This junior dares to make a guess: why is Master so familiar with the affairs of the Wanqi Clan?" Jiang Yiqing couldn't help but ask the question that had been bothering her.

From Jiang Xian's words, it can be inferred that there is no possibility between her and Wan Qiyan Jing. So, was her dream just an illusion or a miracle?

“Thirteen hundred years ago,” Jiang Xian said, “I had a past connection with a sage from the Qin Kingdom.”

"Is it at Mingjingtai?" Jiang Yiqing blurted out.

Jiang Xian looked somewhat surprised and said, "The princess knows this too?"

"Ah, I..."

Jiang Xian didn't question how she knew, but instead showed a hint of nostalgia: "Thirteen hundred years ago, when the Crown Princess of Qin Kingdom was on a diplomatic mission to Zhai Kingdom, I first met Wanqi Sangyan. The next day, she came to me and said she had fallen in love with me at first sight. I actually believed her, but the difference in our cultivation levels was enormous, so I painfully rejected her, saying that one day I would definitely meet her in the Nine Heavens. Later—I did it. I spent a thousand years with her at the Mirror Platform. In the end, she still willingly buried herself in the Nine Profound Phoenix Pool and chose to abandon me."

"Has Senior Wanqisangyan unfortunately passed away?" Jiang Yiqing asked.

"The phoenix is ​​dazzling, yet it is a tragic creature. It receives the blessings of heaven and earth and bestows blessings upon its descendants, but the price is that the previous phoenix lord must bury himself in the Nine Profound Phoenix Pool before the next phoenix lord can be reborn from the ashes and regain supreme spiritual power. For the sake of the eternal continuation of the Qin Kingdom, all the empresses have done so."

"..." I initially thought these ruthless cultivators were too cold-blooded, but fate has created a closed loop, so I can't blame them. It's just that everyone makes different choices.

"I once foolishly believed that she would always be with me in heaven." Jiang Xian smiled sadly, seemingly still harboring unresolved feelings: "However, she ultimately left me, choosing her world and her descendants. When I learned that she had buried all her feelings for me in the strange bone jade pendant, I found it truly laughable!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuxiu was already furious. She said, "My sister is not a tool for the Wanqi clan to play with. I beg the Imperial Advisor to take action and untie the entangled chains binding her, so that Wanqi Yanjing will never be able to seduce her again for all eternity!"

“I can do that.” Jiang Xian looked at Jiang Yiqing and said, “But this might drive Wan Qiyan Jing even crazier. That’s how people are. They want what they can’t have.”

“Then I will personally send her into the Nine Heavens Phoenix Pool!” Jiang Yuxiu looked earnestly at Jiang Yiqing’s face and said, “Yiqing, you think so too, right? That kind of person is not worth your sincere treatment.”

Compared to the demonic nature of Wan Qiyanjing, Jiang Yuxiu's sincerity was obvious. Jiang Yiqing could not bring herself to betray the original owner's intentions and hurt her beloved sister, so she could only nod.

But why did her heart become even more moved after hearing Jiang Xian's words?

Is the strange bone pendant still affecting her emotions?

“Since you’ve made your decision, I’ll lend you a hand,” Jiang Xian said.

For the next few days, Jiang Yiqing stayed at Tianxingtai. Jiang Xian cast a complex spell on her. After that, even when she thought of Wanqi Yanjing, although she knew what had happened between them, her heart no longer stirred. The budding seedlings of emotion were once again covered by heavy soil and thick snow.

When Jiang Yiqing emerged from seclusion, Jiang Yuxiu came to celebrate with her in person, and Ning Yinxi also came.

Jiang Yiqing politely said, "Teacher Ning."

Ning Yinxi smiled and said, "I almost thought you wouldn't come back, Princess. The choice you've made is undoubtedly the best one. The Third Princess will definitely do everything in her power to protect you."

The palace servants at Tianxingtai prepared fine wine and delicacies for them. The three of them sat together, and Jiang Yiqing asked where her master was. They said that Jiang Xian did not drink wine, so she would not attend the banquet.

"This must have taken a toll on the Imperial Preceptor's spiritual energy," Jiang Yuxiu said with a guilty expression. "I will certainly offer her more spiritual food. Now let her rest and recuperate."

Ning Yinxi clearly understood the reasoning behind it, and said, "Princess, from now on you are free. The eldest princess has gone too far by sending you to the battlefield without any regard for family ties."

Jiang Yuxiu said, "If my elder sister tries to use Yiqing to achieve any unspeakable secrets again, I will definitely not let her off."

"The Third Princess truly dotes on the princess; it's truly enviable," Ning Yinxi said with a smile.

Jiang Yiqing felt a little embarrassed. She had really wanted a kind older sister, but Jiang Yuxiu's kindness to her had exceeded her expectations.

She suddenly remembered what Wan Qiyan Jing had said about going after Jiang Yuxiu, and a sudden pain shot through her heart.

"Speaking of which, the Imperial Preceptor said that Yiqing's spiritual power has greatly improved. How is that possible? Yiqing, did you secretly work hard without your elder sister knowing?" Jiang Yuxiu asked teasingly.

Jiang Yiqing gave a dry laugh. She didn't have any spiritual roots. If she did, it would be because she had accumulated her cultivation entirely through dual cultivation. She was definitely too embarrassed to say that.

"I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Your Majesty."

Jiang Yuxiu stroked Jiang Yiqing's hair and said, "Now you can rest assured, Your Majesty. The stronger Yiqing becomes, the less likely anyone will dare to look down on you."

Ning Yinxi watched the two of them enjoying their peaceful moment, but a sense of worry lingered in her heart. Chaos had broken out outside; Wan Qiyan Jing, leading his demonic forces, had repeatedly threatened to ignite war. However, she couldn't very well bring up Wan Qiyan Jing's affairs in front of Jiang Yuxiu—it would be like rubbing salt in the wound.

"Come on, let's drink. I'll toast you all." Ning Yinxi could only say this to hide her inner turmoil.

“Now that Yinxi has entered the Hanlin Academy, her future is bound to be limitless. I’d like to toast you as well.” Jiang Yuxiu smiled and returned her toast.

"Hanlin Academy? Teacher Ning is indeed amazing." Jiang Yiqing greatly admired Ning Yinxi. Despite being in the world of cultivation, she was able to stand out from the crowd at such a young age. She said, "Teacher Ning teaches me knowledge, my master teaches me cultivation, and my elder sister is with me. It seems that I am the happiest person in the world."

She amused them both, and the atmosphere became quite pleasant.

Jiang Yiqing smiled too, but for some reason, she felt a void in her heart.

When she looked at the area again, it seemed as if nothing had happened.

*

Golden Jade Palace.

The eldest princess gazed at the Qin Kingdom's most precious treasure—the Strange Bone Jade Pendant—sealed within the golden pillars of the palace. It was emitting wisps of black energy.

Some of the spirits, under the influence of the array formed by the divine artifacts of the Zhai Kingdom, backfired on Wanqi Yanjing and wandered into the human world, but most of them were sealed in the pendant.

This demonstrates just how wondrous this strange bone jade pendant is. If one could find a way to harness the power of this ancestral spirit of the Qin Kingdom, not only would the throne be within reach, but conquering the entire world would be a piece of cake.

Why did this item initially appear on Jiang Yiqing? Moreover, according to the elders, Jiang Yiqing did indeed use a technique powerful enough to injure Wanqi Yanjing, so it seems she is not as useless as rumored.

Now that she and Jiang Xian have become sworn brothers, her strength has greatly increased, and the Third Princess's ambition to seize the throne is obvious.

As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. The eldest princess recalled Wanqi Yanjing's suggestion to her and felt that it was not something that could be disregarded.