Battle Through the Heavens: Beauties Abound Starting with Yunlan and Her Disciples

87: Section 87”Don’t always act so aloof, as if this has nothing to do with you! As members of the Jiama Royal Family, we are, after all, the rulers of this empire! We ought to shoulder the responsibility of protecting the empire and its people!”

The Crown Prince laughed upon hearing this, even rolling his eyes ungracefully. ”Enough, enough, stop trying to put me on a pedestal! And stop trying to shoulder responsibilities that don’t belong to us!”

He said in a cold, indifferent tone, ”In this position, one should attend to its duties. How much power does our royal family actually enjoy in this empire? Why should we rack our brains over this mess?!”

”You...!” Yao Ye trembled all over, enraged by her own brother’s cold and heartless words!

She reached out, subconsciously gripping the shoulder of Yun Xiancheng beside her, as if that was the only way she could draw a sliver of strength. She shouted angrily at the Crown Prince, ”I can’t be bothered to speak with you any longer! I will go find Father Emperor myself and talk to him!”

With that, she ignored the Crown Prince’s gloomy expression, pulled Yun Xiancheng along, and walked straight into the palace, heading quickly toward the study where the Emperor usually handled government affairs.

However, the closer they got to that study, the tighter Yun Xiancheng knitted his brows. His keen sense of smell had caught a faint... stench of decay.

This smell was certainly not something that should be in an ordinary palace. The two arrived outside the study doors.

Princess Yao Ye took a deep breath, preparing to push the door open and enter.

Yun Xiancheng, however, suddenly reached out to stop her. He shook his head with a grave expression.

Then, he slowly raised his hand and used his Dou Qi to gently push open the heavy doors. The moment the doors opened, a much stronger stench of decay rushed toward them.

Immediately following, a hair-raising scene came into view—seated upon the dragon chair that symbolized supreme imperial power was a figure dressed in bright yellow imperial robes. It was a highly decomposed corpse.

The skin had long since turned a ghastly black-purple, the muscles were atrophied, and the eye sockets were deeply sunken, emitting a nauseating stench. This rotting corpse still maintained a seated posture, and in one withered hand, it clutched a royal brush tightly. Even in the moment before death arrived, he had still been reviewing imperial memorials.

No matter how calm and composed Princess Yao Ye was usually, at this moment, witnessing the horrifying scene of her father’s tragic death—and seeing that he had even turned into a rotting corpse—she could not help but tremble. She subconsciously clutched tightly to Yun Xiancheng beside her, her face filled with horror and a trace of bewilderment.

”It’s alright...” Yun Xiancheng gently patted her back, soothing her in a soft voice, ”Calm down, Yao Ye. Had we not already anticipated this situation just now?”

Well, Yun Xiancheng admitted that regarding this Jia Ma Emperor—a ”super background character” whose name had not even appeared once in the original work—he felt absolutely no ripples in his heart. He did not even feel a shred of sympathy. But Yao Ye was different. Regardless of how distant or dissatisfied she was with her father, he was, after all, her biological father. However, she was ultimately different from the previously grief-stricken Xiao Yan. The relationship between the Jia Ma Emperor and her had long been filled with rifts and indifference. While the shock of this death was immense, it did not cause her to fall into a hysterical collapse.

After a long time, Princess Yao Ye slowly loosened her arms from around Yun Xiancheng. She raised her head; the horror and bewilderment in those beautiful eyes gradually faded, replaced by a complex, indescribable self-mockery.

”Hehe.” She laughed softly, though her smile carried a trace of bitterness, ”I had thought... that seeing this with my own eyes would make me very sad, that I would be in unbearable pain.”

”It seems... it’s just like this.”

She turned her head and took one last look at the nauseating rotting corpse upon the dragon chair. Her gaze became exceptionally calm, carrying a sense of relief. ”He hated me to the bone and viewed me as a thorn in his side. Why should I cause myself unnecessary emotional turmoil over his death?”

At this moment, this young princess seemed to have completely stepped out of the shadows of the past, severing that father-daughter bond that had long existed in name only.

The two paid no further attention to the dead monarch and turned to walk out of the study, which was permeated with the scent of death.

”Come to think of it,” Princess Yao Ye turned her head to look at Yun Xiancheng beside her, her eyes revealing gratitude, ”If you hadn’t been by my side today, I fear I truly wouldn’t have known what to do.”

She gazed at Yun Xiancheng’s handsome profile, a flash of nostalgia suddenly crossing her eyes as she said softly, ”Actually, I had heard of you when I was seven or eight years old.”

”Back then, the entire Imperial Capital was abuzz with rumors that Sect Master Yun Yun of the Cloud Mist Sect had picked up a gifted young disciple from outside and treated him like a precious treasure.”

”Hmm,” Yun Xiancheng nodded. ”During those days, I was indeed focused on my cultivation on Yun Lan Mountain and rarely went down.”

”Then, take a guess,” a hint of playful cunning flashed in Princess Yao Ye’s eyes, ”how do people on the outside describe you?”

”I don’t know,” Yun Xiancheng shook his head.

Princess Yao Ye chuckled softly, then recited slowly in a tone filled with a mix of dreaminess and longing: ”On Cloud Mist Cliff, cranes soar through the clouds; once, a youth was seen stepping upon the moonlight. Dressed in white robes tailored from snow, he caused even the mountain spirit to mistakenly set aside her golden hairpin.”

Upon hearing this poem—which was clearly artistically embellished to depict him as an immortal descended from the heavens—Yun Xiancheng, thick-skinned as he was, could not help but smile. He quickly waved his hand and said, ”Princess, you flatter me. It’s too exaggerated, far too exaggerated.”

Yao Ye looked at Yun Xiancheng’s face, which appeared even more breathtakingly handsome because of that smile, and for a moment, she felt dazed. Such an unparalleled beauty! At this very moment, he was smiling because of her words. A corner of her heart seemed to be gently touched by something, and she could not help but lower her head, whispering infatedly in a voice only she could hear, ”With one smile, the blue sky loses its luster; how could the mortal world dare to claim such beauty?”

At this very moment, Princess Yao Ye quietly made a decision in her heart. In fact, back on the viewing platform, when she heard the conversation between her grandfather and Sect Master Yun Yun about ”fighting over a son-in-law,” she had already vaguely prepared herself to marry Yun Xiancheng.

She did not dislike Yun Xiancheng. On the contrary, for a man with such breathtaking looks, an extraordinary temperament, and the air of an immortal descended from the heavens, one had to ask... what woman in this world could truly dislike him?

Furthermore, this ”immortal” was not merely a vase with only a pretty exterior. He understood her; he understood her ambition to achieve great things. He understood her, understood her perspective on war, and perhaps even... saw it more clearly than she did. He did not dislike war; he even seemed to enjoy it.

He was also righteous and hated evil, daring to take two companions and brazenly storm into a family that possessed a Dou Ling Expert, just for the sake of his ”junior sister’s” brother. In front of everyone, he exposed their despicable crimes, pierced through their hypocritical act, and highly praised that ”youthful spirit” belonging to young people, unbound by worldly conventions!

It is said that the guests who survived that day at the Mo Residence in Yan City all gave extremely high praise to Yun Xiancheng, the Young Sect Leader of the Cloud Mist Sect who ”acted on behalf of Heaven”! This matter had long since spread to every corner of the Jia Ma Empire as if it had grown wings. It even inspired many high-spirited, righteous young men in various places to compete in imitating him. Riding on this momentum, they took the opportunity to wipe out one or two local families that had committed countless evils and had long since incurred the public’s wrath in several cities of high prestige within the empire!

Such a man... one who possessed beauty, wisdom, strength, courage, and boldness all in one—who could dislike him? Admittedly, Yao Ye already knew that Yun Xiancheng was already surrounded by beauties, like orioles and swallows. He and that junior sister Nalan Yanran had likely already done those most intimate things, right? Perhaps junior sister Xiao Yan had, too... but what did that matter? As a unique individual who was like a god descended to earth, it was only natural for him to have many followers and many female confidantes.

Dealing with harem sisters was ten thousand times better than dealing with men. She took the initiative to embrace Yun Xiancheng, raised her head, and asked, ”When will you marry me?”

She suddenly began discussing marriage, as if she were letting her deceased monarch witness the relationship between them.

”Anytime is fine,” Yun Xiancheng said softly.

”Then I will give you the Jia Ma Empire as a dowry,” Yao Ye said.

Hearing this, Yun Xiancheng pinched her nose. ”Having you is enough... you little fool. The empire or whatever else, there’s no need for that.” Governing a country was just too exhausting.

Subsequently, Yun Xiancheng took her hand and said in a gentle voice, ”My beautiful and lovely Empress, please marry me.”

The winner of the second round of the Alchemist Convention was Xiao Yan. The third round would be the competition to determine the final champion, but because the first and second rounds consumed a great deal of energy and spirit, time was needed for the contestants to rest. Therefore, the final round of competition was scheduled for the second pass.

However, during the rest period, a piece of news spread throughout the entire Imperial Capital as if it had grown wings, and it spread wildly across the country. The Jia Ma Emperor was dead. The murderer was a Poison Master from the Izumo Empire.

This news was a shock to the entire Jia Ma Empire, and it was even more shocking for Jia Xingtian, the royal protector. Strictly speaking, the current emperor was his grandson, and Heavenly Moon and Yao Ye, the royal twins, were his great-granddaughters. Although this was not the first time he had experienced the grief of a white-haired person burying a black-haired person, he still went alone to hastily preside over the funeral. The Emperor of the Jia Ma Empire had only a hollow title, and the funeral was conducted in an ordinary family style, perhaps even more frugally.

With the Emperor dead, who would the heir be? Naturally, the Crown Prince. The current Crown Prince was the Emperor’s heir, having inherited his philosophy of governing by non-interference, allowing families, guilds, and sects to develop freely. Naturally, he also enjoyed the deep support of many families. The Jia Ma Empire ought to maintain the status quo. No family would like an heir who wanted to centralize power.

Yao Ye knew she would not receive support, so she had been managing the army from a very early age. Just as young princesses longed to establish merit, young soldiers also longed to establish merit. They got along well. But in the end, the army lacked standing; after all, experts came from the various families. There were very few Dou Wangs who came from purely military backgrounds.

Yet, in this situation, the Crown Prince remained silent, not daring to come forward to preside over the situation. There was no other reason. It was simply because the news had been announced by Yun Xiancheng, who had arrived at the Dou Huang seating area while holding Yao Ye’s hand. The two were inseparable.

Yun Xiancheng had even violated the Cloud Mist Sect’s ancestral teaching against interfering in the empire’s affairs by affectionately calling Yao Ye, ”My Her Majesty the Empress.” Now, the succession to the Jia Ma Empire’s vacant throne had become simple.

176 After the alchemy is finished, you will die.

After the alchemy is finished, I will die.

That old Poison Master from the Izumo Empire, who was disguised as a young man, now had fine beads of cold sweat oozing from his forehead, and his face was filled with horror. His gaze was fixed intently on Yun Xiancheng, who was sitting in the referee’s seat, casually playing with a long sword in his hand. The sword was not unsheathed, but the sword’s aura felt like a thorn in his back.

Damn it! He roared in his heart. Perhaps he had already become an abandoned pawn discarded by the Izumo Empire’s high command! They had sent him here to slap the Jia Ma Empire in the face? Was this how they were doing it? By sending him here to die?!

”Poison Master, get out!” ”Kill this Poison Master!” On the surrounding spectator stands, angry shouts rose one after another, surging like a tide and completely drowning him. It caused his focus, which he had originally wanted to concentrate on alchemy, to instantly vanish.

”Alright, silence.” Yun Xiancheng’s cold, clear voice acted like a calming anchor, instantly suppressing the noise in the arena. His gaze swept over the contestants of the final round below, and he spoke slowly, announcing the content of the competition: ”The final round of competition is very simple; it only tests your foundations. There are no restrictions; we will only look at the final product.”

”Whoever refines the better pill... will be the champion of this Alchemist Convention.” He was today’s referee.

This was because the Alchemist Guild was overwhelmed due to the Emperor’s assassination, and the Royal Family was busy handling the aftermath. Even Yun Yun had gone to search for other Izumo Empire Poison Masters who might still be in the city. However, Green Savage and the Little Lions had remained by Yun Xiancheng’s side. Firstly, they had no connection to the Jia Ma Empire, and secondly, watching the spectacle was obviously much more interesting than dealing with those messes.

At this time, after the fierce competition of the first two rounds, the vast majority of the contestants had been eliminated. Now, only a few people remained in the arena—that Old fellow in grey robes, the disciple of Pill King Gu He, and... Xiao Yan and Little Princess Heavenly Moon.

To Yun Xiancheng’s surprise, his two ”little fans,” Lin Fei and Snow Charm, had actually successfully made it into the finals! It seemed that the ”Dou Di potential” he had bestowed upon the Young ladies had indeed given them alchemy talent far exceeding that of ordinary people. This was a good thing. As members of his harem, being able to keep up with his pace was the best thing.

”Old Mister, what are you still standing there for?” Yun Xiancheng’s gaze fell upon that Old fellow in grey robes. His tone carried a hint of urgency, yet was also full of mockery, ”Hurry up and refine your pills.”

You brat! A mere five-star Dou Ling, yet you dare to be this arrogant?! The old fellow roared in his heart. He was a genuine Peak Dou Ling, only one step away from being a Dou Wang! Even if you are a genius, does that mean I am not one, too?!

”Idol! There’s no need to be so gentle with him!” someone shouted loudly from the spectator stands.

Upon hearing this, Yun Xiancheng nodded gently to the audience, revealing a charming smile on his face, his eyes filled with a hint of amusement. Consequently, someone who saw his breathtakingly beautiful smile was so excited that they fainted on the spot, causing quite a bit of chaos.

The old fellow watched Yun Xiancheng’s calm and composed demeanor, as well as the indignant crowd around him, and felt a huge, suffocating pressure pressing down on him like a mountain! A strong sense of powerlessness surged in his heart, and his will to refine pills began to falter.

What a terrifying gaze! He had guessed Yun Xiancheng’s intentions—this kid wanted to use this invisible pressure to interfere with him, causing him to make mistakes while refining pills and thus lose the competition! Well, I refuse to let you have your way! The old fellow gritted his teeth and, forcibly bearing this tremendous pressure, began to refine his pills.

Just at this moment, an unexpected scene occurred in the arena.

”Xiao Yan, your Medicine Cauldron is too poor,” Little Princess Heavenly Moon walked over to Xiao Yan’s side and said in a serious tone, ”Use mine.” As she spoke, she took out her own fifth-tier Medicine Cauldron of extraordinary quality—the azure flame cauldron.

Xiao Yan’s Medicine Cauldron was still the cheap one that Yun Xiancheng had casually bought for her back in Wutan City. Although it was not of a high grade, she had never replaced it because it was a gift from her senior brother.

”You’re not going to refine anymore?” Xiao Yan asked, somewhat shocked.

Little Princess Heavenly Moon shook her head, a flash of determination in her eyes, ”This concerns the fate of the nation; we must be steady. Your soul power is stronger than mine, and you have a better chance of winning the championship than I do.”

Little Princess Heavenly Moon’s act of gifting the cauldron instantly ignited the enthusiasm of the surrounding citizens of the Jia Ma Empire! They let out earth-shaking cheers one after another, highly praising the Royal Family’s righteousness and lauding the princess’s selflessness! At this time, when the Jia Ma Emperor had just been assassinated, Little Princess Heavenly Moon’s actions were undoubtedly helping to restore the Royal Family’s reputation and unite the hearts of the people. ”Good!”