By the time Luo Xing returned to the Cheng Mansion, Luo Han and Dai Zifu had also come back.
“How did it go?” Luo Xing asked the two women. “Any findings?”
Luo Han shook her head slightly. “Senior Sister and I investigated within the Imperial Capital, but we found no traces related to the heretical cultivators.”
Hearing this, Luo Xing turned his gaze to Dai Zifu.
Had this woman done anything weird to his sister today?
Seeing Luo Xing look at her, Dai Zifu thought he was asking for her opinion. “Indeed, as Junior Sister said, there were no clues regarding heretical cultivators or demonic sects.”
Luo Xing: “…”
I didn’t ask you that… Forget it.
“Xiao Xing, what about you?” Luo Han then asked. “The Tianyan Royal Family…”
Luo Xing pondered for a moment and finally decided to share his suspicions.
“So you suspect the Crown Prince?” Dai Zifu asked.
“Just a suspicion,” Luo Xing said with a furrowed brow. “I’ve already asked the Third Prince to investigate in secret.”
(Zhao Chengze: “Wait, did you consider how I feel? He’s the Crown Prince!”)
“But…” Luo Han was puzzled. “If it’s the Crown Prince… why would he do this?”
He was already the heir apparent, second only to the emperor. Once Zhao Qian abdicated, he would ascend the throne directly. Why would he take such a huge risk to stir up trouble? What benefit could it bring him?
Luo Xing: “…”
Don’t say that… The Crown Prince is a high-risk position in ancient times…
“In that case…” Dai Zifu seemed to think of something, her brows furrowing. “Could it be…?”
“Senior Sister?” Luo Han asked immediately. “Have you thought of something?”
“I’m just speculating,” Dai Zifu said. “Although there are rules in the mortal world that forbid imperial families from interfering in the matters of the cultivation world or privately cultivating cultivators, still…”
There were always exceptions.
For example, in the Central Continent, there were not only high-level cultivation sects but also cultivation families and cultivation dynasties.
“Is that so?” Luo Xing was surprised.
What?
This wasn’t mentioned in the original novel.
Oh…
Right, I almost forgot.
In the original Han Li Jie, more than eight hundred thousand out of a million words were about Ye Li tormenting Luo Han, and the setting was mostly in Nanling, with some in the Western Wasteland or Eastern Yi.
As for the Central Continent, the center of the mortal world…
The original never went there.
So Luo Xing knew nothing about the Central Continent.
“Mm.” Dai Zifu nodded slightly. “Whether it’s a cultivation dynasty or a cultivation family, their strength is not much weaker than orthodox cultivation sects.”
Cultivation families were like deep-rooted giant trees, connected by bloodlines, continuing endlessly from generation to generation.
Cultivation dynasties, on the other hand, were behemoths that perfectly combined secular imperial power with cultivation strength.
The dynasty used national resources to support cultivators, while cultivators used their power to protect the dynasty.
“So…” Luo Xing said tentatively, “Senior Sister, are you suspecting that the Crown Prince wants to imitate the cultivation dynasties of the Central Continent and turn Tianyan into such a dynasty?”
Dai Zifu nodded. “That possibility can’t be ruled out… If the Crown Prince really did all this…”
But the key was that Tianyan was just a mid-level empire in Nanling, and it survived only under the protection of the Stellar Sect.
Otherwise, any demonic sect or heretic organization could massacre the entire empire. How could it have survived until now?
Luo Xing: “So this is a very difficult thing to accomplish?”
Dai Zifu: “If the Tianyan Royal Family could have a cultivator at the Harmony realm, it might be possible.”
And whether a cultivation family or cultivation dynasty, it required nearly a thousand years of development to reach such a scale. Tianyan had only been established for a little over a hundred years; it simply didn’t have that kind of strength.
If Crown Prince Zhao Chengze really intended to do that, it would be no different from seeking death.
First, the Stellar Sect would abandon its protection of Tianyan. Second, the surrounding sects would no longer care about Tianyan’s situation. Even if demonic sects or heretics invaded the Imperial City, no one would intervene.
Even disregarding interference from cultivation powers, the small neighboring countries around Tianyan wouldn’t allow it to do so.
After all, everyone was content being poor. Why should you get to rise?
In that case, even without the cultivation forces acting, Tianyan could be beaten to nothing by its neighbors.
Luo Xing: “…”
The cultivation world is complicated…
The mortal world is so realistic…
“Forget it,” Luo Xing waved his hand. “It’s pointless to speculate now. Let’s see if the Third Prince can find anything.”
If he had the guts…
Judging by his expression when they parted, he seemed pretty distressed…
The next day, there was still no news from the Tianyan Royal Family, and Zhao Chengze hadn’t contacted Luo Xing.
However, Hong An, Cheng Yan, and Jiang Ru returned.
“I’ve asked the Xuanshuang Pavilion,” Hong An said to Luo Xing and the others. “They have no clues or leads either.”
In recent years, the number of mortals in Tianyan who tested positive for spiritual roots had been decreasing.
From ten a year, to five a year, and now to none.
For a country with millions of people like Tianyan, this was extremely abnormal.
The Xuanshuang Pavilion had secretly sent disciples to investigate under the guise of training, but they found nothing.
After all, their Pavilion Master was only at the Soul Formation stage, let alone the other elders and disciples.
After listening to Hong An’s account, Luo Xing told him about their investigation results in the Imperial Capital and shared Dai Zifu’s earlier speculation.
After discussion, everyone decided to wait for the Third Prince Zhao Chengze’s investigation results before making a decision.
If the Tianyan Royal Family really wanted to secretly develop cultivation forces, that was beyond their control.
After all, the Xuantian Sect was not located in Tianyan territory and was not responsible for protecting it. They would just report the findings to the Xuanshuang Pavilion.
But if there was the handiwork of heretics or demonic sects…
That was live sect contribution points and reputation points!
Young sect disciples thirsted for fame!
That night, as expected, Hong An came to find Luo Xing.
Actually, even if he hadn’t come, Luo Xing planned to go find him.
He needed Hong An’s cultivation to check if Er Ya had any aptitude for cultivation and also to test the skill [Sniff].
“Hehehe! Junior Brother~” Hong An shed his serious daytime demeanor, raising his eyebrows and grinning. “Junior Brother, are you not sleeping yet either?”
Luo Xing smiled helplessly. “Alright, alright, I understand. Let’s go.”
Soon, the two made their way to the Zhenyue Tower with practiced familiarity.
The same thick fragrance of makeup, the same enthusiastic, overweight madam.
“Two private rooms, a table of food and wine,” Hong An tossed a low-grade spirit stone to the madam first. “And also…”
He glanced at Luo Xing and grinned. “My junior brother doesn’t like alcohol. Have that girl named Er Ya come and pour tea for him.”
However, after hearing Hong An’s request, the smile on the madam’s face froze.
“Uh… Young masters… this… Er Ya…”
“What?” Luo Xing frowned. “What happened to Er Ya?”
“Ah… this…” The madam forced an awkward smile. “Young master, Er Ya is… feeling unwell today. How about choosing another girl? Our Zhenyue Tower…”
“Feeling unwell?” Luo Xing stepped forward, his tone somewhat forceful. “Then take me to see her.”
Something’s wrong…
Hong An also noticed Luo Xing’s unusual expression and recalled what he had said about Er Ya the other day.
“You didn’t sell her off, did you?” Hong An said displeased. “Madam! What’s wrong with Er Ya?”
“Oh dear! How would I dare!” The madam dropped to her knees in fright. “It’s not that I don’t want to call Er Ya out, but… but that girl has disappeared!”
Upon hearing this, Luo Xing’s face showed shock…
No…
Er Ya?!