Chapter 6

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“Ding, Master, congratulations for successfully checking in and obtaining the loyalty of the Dragnet organization. Core members: Zhao Gao, Six Sword Slave, Xuan Jian, Jing Ni, Yan Ri, Jue Ying, and Sheng Qi.”

Hearing the system’s voice in his ears, Ye Xuan was shocked. The rewards for this check-in were a little too generous.

With Dragnet pledging their allegiance, they would be able to infiltrate Great Xia.

This force was different from the embroidered uniform guards. Dragnet was hidden in the dark while the embroidered uniform guards were out in the open. This way, he could easily obtain any information in the world.

Dragnet was like an inescapable net, and it was pervasive.

He would recruit a large number of prisoners and wandering swordsmen and train them cruelly. The main reason was that they were absolutely loyal to him.

The next moment, twelve figures appeared in front of Ye Xuan. They were the members of Dragnet, led by Zhao Gao.

“Your subordinate Zhao Gao pays his respects to Your Highness.”

Ye Xuan’s gaze swept across the crowd, and he raised his hand slightly to signal them to stand up. “Zhao Gao, you’ve come at the right time. I have a task for you.”

“I’m willing to share your worries, Your Highness,” Zhao Gao replied.

Ye Xuan said, “Xia has the Dark Net, and they want to assassinate me. Go and investigate and destroy the Dark Net. Remember, from now on, there is only Dragnet in this world, no more Dark Net.”

Zhao Gao nodded. “Don’t worry, Your Highness. The Dark Net will be destroyed in a month.”

Ye Xuan was stunned. He didn’t expect Zhao Gao to be so confident. “Go!”

Zhao Gao turned around and looked at the people behind him. “Jue Ying, you stay here to protect His Highness. The rest of you, follow me!”

The 11 of them left and disappeared into the night.

Gao Ying sensed the aura of an expert and rushed to the outside of the hall. “Your Highness, are you alright?”

Ye Xuan replied, “I’m fine. Eunuch Gao, go and rest!”

Gao Ying’s expression was grave. The aura of a powerful expert had appeared several times, but he couldn’t even see a trace of the other party. This only meant one thing, this person’s realm was above his.

In the main hall, Ye Xuan looked at Jue Ying. “From now on, you will stay by my side, hiding in the dark and being my shadow.”

Jue Ying was wrapped in a black robe. Under the huge cloak, his appearance couldn’t be seen clearly. There was no spiritual Qi fluctuation on his body, just like a mortal, but Ye Xuan knew that he was a peak Tongxuan expert.

He had cultivated the most powerful cultivation technique, the thousand shadows divine technique, which could hide his aura.

“Your subordinate obeys!”

Jue Ying turned into a cloud of black mist and disappeared from the hall like a ghost.

Ye Xuan nodded in satisfaction. He had gained a lot from this Eastern Palace check-in. Among the Dragnet members, Zhao Gao was at Mingxuan level seven, Jue Ying, Xuan Jian, Jing Ni, and Yan Ri were all high-level Tongxuan realm cultivators, and Six Sword Slave was at Tongxuan realm level four.

A Dragnet organization had greatly increased his trump cards.

Or rather, one Dragnet could shake an empire.

Ye Xuan restrained his aura and came to the wooden bed. He was immersed in cultivating the Forbidden Emperor Sutra that night.

…..

The next day, at dawn.

Ye Xuan was still immersed in cultivation when a burst of hurried footsteps came from the hall, and he heard Gao Ying’s sharp voice. “Your Highness, something has happened.”

“Your Highness, His Majesty has been poisoned.”

Ye Xuan slowly opened his eyes, stood up, and walked out of the hall. “Eunuch Gao, you said His Majesty was poisoned.”

Gao Ying nodded. “His Majesty has been poisoned, and the situation is critical. Your Highness, please hurry over.”

Ye Xuan was confused as to why he was suddenly poisoned. “Eunuch Gao, how did His Majesty get poisoned?”

Gao Ying replied, “Your Highness, it’s Noble Consort Wan. She’s a member of the Dark Net. Last night, she poisoned His Majesty’s dinner. Now, Noble Consort Wan and two other members of the Dark Net have committed suicide.”

Femme fatale.

Ye Xuan was a little shocked. The members of the Dark Net had infiltrated the palace and even became noble consorts. He didn’t dare to imagine how many people there were in the Dark Net within Great Xia. An organization that could threaten the empire was not simple.

“Eunuch Gao, what did the imperial physician say?”

“Your Highness, the poison that His Majesty was poisoned by is the devil-brand poison pattern of the Northern Barbarian Poison Sect. This poison is very terrifying.”

Ye Xuan was shocked. It turned out to be the devil-brand poison pattern. It was rumored that this poison was one of the ten most strange poisons. The poisoned person would not be able to circulate his spiritual Qi, and the poison mark would crazily eat away at his meridians and spiritual Qi until the poisoned person was dead.

He had read about this poison in ancient books. According to Emperor Xia’s strength, which was at the peak of Tongxuan, he could only last for two months at most. If he could not get rid of the poison, he would die without a doubt.

If he wanted to detoxify the poison, he needed a divine flame.

The divine flame was a spiritual object of heaven and earth. It could only be encountered by chance and not sought. It was impossible for the entire Great Xia to possess it.

There was a wisp of flame on Cao Zhengchun’s body, but it was not a divine flame but a spiritual flame.

Very quickly, the two came to the Imperial Study. Gao Ying bowed and motioned for Ye Xuan to enter the hall. The latter pushed the door open and entered. He saw Emperor Xia lying on the wooden bed. His face was as pale as paper, and his breath much weaker. This made Ye Xuan feel a little strange.

The devil-brand poison pattern shouldn’t have made Emperor Xia so weak.

Emperor Xia heard the sound of footsteps and turned to look at Ye Xuan. “Xuan’er, you’re here. Come, sit beside me.”

Ye Xuan hesitated for a moment, then came to the wooden couch and sat down. “F-Father… Why did you call me over?”

Emperor Xia said, “I’ve been poisoned, and I became a disabled man. A country can’t go a day without a ruler. I’ve decided to hand Xia over to you. The Northern Barbarian Empire has been preparing for many years. This time, they will definitely not give Great Xia a chance.”

“I know it’s hard on you, but you’re the crown prince of Xia. It’s your responsibility to protect the people of Xia. I don’t want you to be like your mother, sacrificing yourself for Great Xia.”

After saying this, he sighed helplessly. “I let both you and your mother down.”

Ye Xuan’s expression changed. He didn’t expect his mother to sacrifice herself for Great Xia. “Father, wasn’t my mother rescued by someone?”

Emperor Xia said, “Xuan’er, if Great Xia can survive this calamity, I’ll tell you about your mother. At present, the Great Xia Empire has no generals to use. You can go to the ancestral land and find the ancestor. After that, you can find Old General Ji. Only then will the empire have a chance of survival.”

With great difficulty, he raised his arm and handed a token to Ye Xuan. “Xuan’er, this is the emperor’s token of Great Xia. With this token, you are the emperor of Great Xia.”

Ye Xuan looked at the emperor’s token of Great Xia. “Father, you can keep this token with you. I don’t need it. But don’t worry, Father. I will make sure that Great Xia is safe. When the war between Great Xia and the barbarians is over, please tell me about my mother.”

Emperor Xia nodded. “I promise you. Gao Ying, come in.”

Gao Ying entered the hall. “Your Majesty, this old servant is here.”

Emperor Xia continued, “Gao Ying, in the following days, the Crown Prince will be in charge of the country. You will assist him. Do you understand?”

Gao Ying bowed slightly. “I understand.”

Emperor Xia continued, “Xuan’er, I’ll leave Great Xia to you.”

Ye Xuan hesitated. “Father, what should we do about the poison in your body?”

A bitter smile appeared on Emperor Xia’s face. “Don’t worry. I can still hold on for another month.”

Ye Xuan wanted to say something, but he swallowed the words back. “Rest well, Father. I’ll take my leave.”

Outside the main hall, his figure stopped, and he turned to look at Gao Ying. “Eunuch Gao, you should stay by my father’s side to take care of him.”

“Your Highness, you need not worry. Princess Yongle and Consort Yang are taking care of His Majesty.” Gao Ying said in a low voice, “Your Highness, you are supervising the country for the first time and don’t understand the ministers of the imperial court. I can share your worries.”

“Your Highness, do you want to go to the ancestral land or Old General Ji’s army headquarters?”

Ye Xuan shook his head. “Return to the Eastern Palace.”

Gao Ying was speechless.