In the early morning, the white soup was rich and had a light fragrance. Xia Xiao took a bath like many other people who advanced to the finals.

Under the candlelight, Xia Xiao came out, dragging water on his feet, making a few splashing sounds. After washing away the dirt, he didn't want to get bloodstained, but his heart was still heavy, wanting to kill his old enemy. Xia Xiao remembered Zhu Heng's nose, eyes, and face clearly in his mind, just waiting to tear them apart and destroy them.

Seeing the palace maid outside the screen trying to enter, Xia Xiao said calmly:

"I can do it myself."

"yes."

Her gentle voice was like petals floating on soup, without causing even a ripple.

The clothes he wore when he came were bright and beautiful, with off-white cloud patterns and a wide belt. Although they were handsome, they were not as loose and comfortable as the dark robe he wore now. It was just that the color was a little more melancholy, and there was no crown, like some special ceremony.

Xia Xiao wiped his body with the towel and put it on. Black is the sacrificial color of Daxia, representing the end of life and the reverence for death. This kind of thing can be explained in any way. All colors are proof of life. After death, it is like the world in the coffin, all white and gray, like old bones.

After fastening his belt, Xia Xiao stood in front of the mirror and looked at himself. The light was dim, but he still looked the same, a little thin, and when he clenched his teeth, the muscles on his face were particularly obvious.

Walking out from behind the screen, Xia Xiao pushed open the door.

It was exactly the first hour of the morning and the sky was still dark. Xia Xiao was dragging his long robe, followed by two palace maids, like an emperor still among the people.

There was a creaking sound from the next room, and Shu Shuang walked out immediately.

Although there was no light around, Xia Xiao still waited with a smile, and then walked out of the exquisite courtyard under the guidance of the palace maid.

The journey is long, and more and more contestants are gathering together. They are young and promising, and whether they pass the final selection or not, they will become the key training targets of Daxia. From the moment they put on this suit, they are destined to rise to great heights!

Xia Xiao and Shu Shuang walked in the middle and rear of the two columns, following the lanterns in front of them as they passed through the palace corridor and stepped onto the flying bridge corridor, like a black ghost in the dark sky.

The darkness before dawn is the longest and most frightening, but in the end, after walking through the layers of roofs, Xia Xiao and his party walked into the hall on one side of the Temple of Heaven under the arrangement of officials and ministers. The hall was spacious, and Xia Xiao and his party stood behind the ministers and generals.

The candlelight in the hall was bright. Although it was quiet, there were still ministers whispering and looking towards Xia Xiao. He also scanned the crowd, but did not look at them, just looking for Huiyue.

"There."

When Xia Xiao said this, Shu Shuang secretly admired his good eyesight and followed his gaze. There seemed to be no place for him to stand here, so she was worried. But under the candle, Huiyue stood quietly. She didn't expect that she could stand here, so she was a little timid, but the bearded man next to her said that it would be fine as long as she stood next to him.

This morning, someone helped her to wash her clothes and bathe her, and covered her bruises with light powder. This kind of treatment is not common.

The man next to Huiyue was stern and serious as a whip. He was the minister Su Zhongmou, also Su Huan's father!

Seeing him, Xia Xiao smiled and nodded as a greeting. Su Zhongmou nodded slightly in appreciation, feeling comforted. He never formed a group with others to seek power, but since the Xia family was so loyal, he naturally had to help. After two years, Xia Xiao finally lived up to everyone's expectations. If General Xia saw it, he would also smile and be proud for a while.

The waiting time is always longer than the ceremony time. Soon, at dawn, a minister of the Ministry of Rites made a loud announcement.

"The spirit has been calmed down, please welcome His Majesty."

The ministers knelt down together, not daring to look around. The emperor, who had already changed into the stone-blue sacrificial robe, looked very energetic and walked into the hall in complete silence.

Standing in front of the dragon throne, Si Yi glanced at hundreds of ministers, feeling heavy in his heart, but also excited. He felt heavy because there were treacherous ministers who had not been removed, and excited because the treacherous ministers would be removed! The emperor was worried about not only the country and the people, but also the evaluation of himself by future generations, that these treacherous ministers would ruin his government.

Under the flickering candlelight, he glanced at Xia Xiao. From now on, he would have to guide the performance.

I brought all your maids here, you should also fight for your dignity!

"Daxia is in a time of national crisis, so keep everything simple. Let's all get up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty—"

All the officials stood up before Si Yi sat down. This dragon throne was always as cold as ice, and it was never comfortable to sit on, but it was spacious.

When it comes to ancestor worship, Xia Xiao's understanding is still limited to kneeling and lighting incense, but how can a country's worship be that simple?

This great wilderness world was magnificent and splendid. Although he liked it, the etiquette was too long. Even if everything was kept simple at this time, it still made him a little irritated. But Xia Xiao had no choice but to follow behind, acting neither hot nor cold, and doing everything to the best of his ability.

The ceremony in the palace began with the emperor's words, not ended. After that, the ministers followed the emperor out of the palace and bowed and saluted on the steps of the Temple of Heaven, and this was repeated.

This was a tiring and protracted battle. Si Yi kowtowed and knelt down to the solemn and heavy music. He gradually felt sore in his waist and back, but he still had to complete all the etiquette. Fortunately, he was not fighting alone, and the ministers behind him were with him.

Walking up to the altar, Si Yi finished his final salute, staggering and struggling to straighten his back. The old officials behind him were panting, their faces flushed and sweating.

Eunuch Mu was there to support Si Yi, but as soon as he opened his mouth, what he said was beyond the expectations of Si Buwen behind him.

"Uncle, get ready, your era is coming to an end."

As the oldest person in the royal family, Si Buwen felt a chill down his spine and was unable to speak. At the Temple of Heaven, during the ancestor worship, did Si Yi mean to crush him into the ground?

If it were in the past, Si Bu Wen would have had room to fight back, but this time it was difficult to turn the situation around, and he didn't dare to talk back.

"Prepare the lunch and have all the ministers go to the front hall."

Eunuch Mu turned his head, and the young eunuch beside him immediately turned around to pass on the order.

Xia Xiao followed the ministers and helped Shu Shuang massage her slender waist.

"It's our turn to perform next."

"come on."

Shu Shuang spoke softly and glanced at Si Yi who was still in the Temple of Heaven. He seemed to be thinking about something.

Now that Daxia was in trouble, Si Yi was facing a crisis. If Daxia was destroyed by Nanshang, and the territory was lost, and the Xia people were extinct, then even if he went to the underworld, he would not be able to face his ancestors.

Looking at the ministers under the Temple of Heaven, Si Yi's eyes flashed with a very deep light. In addition to himself, he also had to rely on them for this country, but the premise was to eliminate the pests.

Si Yi went down the Temple of Heaven. Shu Shuang watched him intently and bumped into Xia Xiao.

"What's wrong?"

Shu Shuang didn't know why Xia Xiao suddenly stopped, but she soon realized it was because of him!

In front of him, only ten meters away, Zhu Heng stood with his eyes downcast, feeling a little frustrated, but also full of hatred. He never expected that the person he had casually reported coming from afar was true, and he never expected that Xia Xiao, who could not sense the fluctuation of vitality, would walk back here from Longgang.

Zhu Tiankang was defeated, Si Ying was defeated, and what comes next is not just defeat, but death!

"We'll see."

Xia Xiao pulled Shu Shuang over and passed by Zhu Heng, who stood there in a daze, sighing and looking up at the sky, feeling a chill in his heart. One wrong step, all wrong steps, looking back was already indifferent.

Xia Xiao walked in the crowd for a long time and heard someone calling him.

The voice was a little strange. Xia Xiao turned around and smiled. At this time, Xia Xiao's smile was not out of joy, but respect. He had seen the man in front of him during the spirit hunting in Rongcheng. It must have been a long time. Although they had no communication, he knew that his name was Du Chun.

"Brother Du."

Xia Xiao bowed, and Du Chun quickly held his arm. He could bow to Xia Xiao, but he couldn't let the latter do so. Even though Du Chun was gifted and already a one-star great talisman master, he knew the difference between his status and Xia Xiao's.

"Brother Xia, there's no need to be so polite. Let me introduce you. This is Li Dong."

His arm drew an arc and pointed at the man beside him, who was also a young talent. To be able to reach this point, apart from other things, his strength must be strong.

He smiled and nodded to show his friendliness, and Li Dong did the same.

"Brother Xia, after learning about you from Brother Du, I deeply admire you."

Li Dong was not flattering, but was sincere in his heart. He looked at Xia Xiao with a pair of eyes full of respect. If he asked himself, could he survive like Xia Xiao? He would definitely find it difficult to nod and say yes. Xia Xiao was naturally talented, but not everyone had this kind of perseverance. No matter what you do, the seemingly fragile persistence is the most important thing.

“I was forced to do so.”

Xia Xiao said as the four of them entered the corridor and headed towards the front hall. Compared to the neat team before, it was a little scattered now, with people all over the corridor, but it was no big deal, as today was supposed to be a festive day.

After chatting for a while, Li Dong asked curiously:

"Brother Xia, today is a good opportunity, do you want to..."

"Exactly!"

Xia Xiao and Li Dong looked at each other. When the latter was amazed, Xia Xiao glanced ahead and said:

"It's a loss."