Chapter 400: Devouring it All Alone (Second Update)

*Skree!*

A clear, long-reaching cry of a crane suddenly echoed from the distance!

Elder Ye and the others turned to look, only to see a white crane with a black neck and a red crest flying toward them!

A Fifth-Grade Magical Beast—the Black-Necked Red-Crowned Crane!

This was a magical beast kept by the Imperial Family of the Yaochen Kingdom!

Emperor Jiawen was currently riding on its back!

Under normal circumstances, the Imperial Family rarely summoned the Black-Necked Red-Crowned Crane, but with the incident at the Imperial Mausoleum, Emperor Jiawen could no longer afford such considerations.

This allowed him to arrive quickly, trailing Elder Ye by only a short moment.

Emperor Jiawen had already formed several hypotheses during his journey, but when he saw several figures standing atop the summit of Sijin Peak, his heart sank heavily.

—Aside from himself, no one else was qualified to ascend to the summit of Sijin Peak. But with so many people gathered here now, the situation was clearly far worse than anticipated.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Elder Zhong Qi and the others bowed, their hearts filled with trepidation.

Given Elder Ye's exalted status, he naturally did not need to do so.

Thus, as soon as the Black-Necked Red-Crowned Crane landed, Elder Ye immediately stepped forward and asked

"Your Majesty, has the key to the Sijin Peak barrier been stolen?"

Emperor Jiawen jumped down from the Black-Necked Red-Crowned Crane. Hearing this, his face filled with astonishment

"It hasn't!? I have been keeping it safe all this time; it is right here with me!"

Elder Ye and the others exchanged glances.

"Your Majesty, are you certain?" Elder Ye asked again.

Emperor Jiawen raised his hand, and a strange pattern flashed momentarily in his palm.

The key was indeed still on Emperor Jiawen's person!

"What exactly is happening? Elder Ye, why do you ask such a thing?" Emperor Jiawen was equally bewildered.

Elder Ye said in a heavy voice

"Two individuals quietly opened the barrier of Sijin Peak and activated the Imperial Mausoleum; they have already entered. The entire process was extremely discreet, and it wasn't until they reached the summit that Zhong Qi and the others noticed something was wrong. Therefore, we suspected they had stolen Your Majesty's key. But seeing as it is not the case..."

The amount of information contained in these words was overwhelming. Emperor Jiawen froze on the spot, dumbfounded, his voice trembling

"Wh-what!? The Imperial Mausoleum has been opened—"

Before he could finish, a glance from the corner of his eye finally caught sight of the rotating disc not far away!

He had been in such a rush just now that he had failed to see it!

Emperor Jiawen felt as if something were choking his chest; the stifling sensation made it almost impossible to breathe.

The Imperial Mausoleum of the Yaochen Kingdom had existed for a thousand years, and it only opened upon the passing of successive emperors.

But now, in the midst of peace, it had actually been opened!?

"Who... who was it!?"

Emperor Jiawen's face turned ashen, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

Elder Zhong Qi and the others immediately knelt.

"Please calm your anger, Your Majesty! We... we did not see the appearances of those two. This subordinate is incompetent; please punish me!"

Emperor Jiawen took a deep breath, finally managing to suppress the fury surging wildly in his heart.

The matter had already happened; what use was punishment now!?

"Search for them immediately! You must find these two!"

Elder Zhong Qi and the others broke into a cold sweat.

Elder Ye sighed and helped explain

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Mausoleum has been opened. Ordinary people cannot enter it. I am afraid you must act personally before we can go inside."

Emperor Jiawen rubbed his brow

"I neglected that point... Wait, if that is the case, then how did those two get in!?"

Everyone fell into a collective silence.

If they could even open the barrier of Sijin Peak, what was there they couldn't do?

The opponents had clearly come prepared!

Emperor Jiawen realized this as well, which only made him more irritable.

Heavy troops had been stationed outside Sijin Peak at all times, yet someone had managed to slip through so easily!

This felt like a direct slap to his face!

He walked over to the rotating disc, his brow furrowed deeply.

Aside from when the late Emperor was buried with his concubines, he had never seen this disc rotate again.

To think that such a thing would actually happen...

Emperor Jiawen took a deep breath and slowly raised his hand.

In his palm, that strange pattern surfaced once more.

Suddenly, a silver light flashed upon the disc!

However, very quickly, that light abruptly dissipated!

Emperor Jiawen's expression changed drastically!

He actually could no longer open the Imperial Mausoleum!?

***

In the forest outside Sijin Peak, someone was moving rapidly.

It was precisely Situ Xingchen and Rong Jin.

Rong Jin looked up, took a breath, and said

"Sijin Peak is just ahead."

Situ Xingchen followed his gaze.

Among this continuous range of undulating mountains, Sijin Peak remained the most prominent.

It was precipitous and steep, possessing a magnificent aura.

Though they were still some distance away, she could already feel a heart-shaking pressure.

The hand inside her sleeve tightened.

So the barrier outside Sijin Peak was actually this powerful...

This was likely to be quite troublesome...

Just as she was about to continue forward, Rong Jin suddenly called out to her.

"Xingchen, wait!"

Situ Xingchen turned back to see Rong Jin staring at Sijin Peak with a serious expression.

"If you go any further, you will reach the perimeter of Sijin Peak. You cannot go any further."

Situ Xingchen was puzzled, a hint of confusion appearing in her eyes.

Rong Jin explained

"That area is usually guarded by many sentries, and now that something has happened at the Imperial Mausoleum, they must have increased the manpower. Perhaps Imperial Father has already arrived by now. Under these circumstances, you will definitely be discovered if you go. For safety's sake, just wait for me here!"

Situ Xingchen was stunned by these words.

She had gone to great lengths to help Rong Jin escape the Crown Prince's Manor, covering him all the way here, and now he actually wanted her to stop and wait for him here?!

Where was the logic in that!

She forced a smile

"Your Highness, please rest assured. Xingchen will not cause you any trouble. The situation ahead is unknown; it might be dangerous for you to go alone. It would be better if Xingchen accompanied you!"

Rong Jin's expression, however, showed some hesitation.

Situ Xingchen spoke softly, as if teasing

"Is Your Highness acting this way because you are worried that once we arrive, Xingchen might act against you?"

"Of course not!"

Rong Jin refuted her immediately, but his eyes wavered, looking quite guilty.

"I... I am just worried that if the two of us go together, it might cause unnecessary trouble. I am still the Crown Prince, after all; it is normal for me to be here given the incident at the Mausoleum. But you... Xingchen, we are not yet officially married. If you are discovered, I fear it would not be good..."

Situ Xingchen sneered inwardly.

Rong Jin's words were certainly grand and righteous!

Had he forgotten that he himself was still under house arrest in the Crown Prince's Manor!?

If he were discovered, he wouldn't be in much better shape than her!

He just wanted to go alone!

Rong Jin felt as though Situ Xingchen's gaze seemed to see through everything, making him feel quite uncomfortable.

But in the next moment, Situ Xingchen still said

"Then Xingchen will wait here for Your Highness."

Rong Jin looked up and saw that a faint smile still lingered on Situ Xingchen's face, as if she hadn't noticed anything.

He breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile

"I will be back very soon!"

With that, he departed with large, brisk strides.

Situ Xingchen watched his retreating figure and let out a soft, mocking laugh.

Thinking he could just burn the bridge once he crossed it and keep everything for himself?

As if such a thing were possible.

(End of Chapter)