Chapter 94: The Young Master Invites You to Continue Speaking

This was Lu Fan's first period of secluded cultivation. Over the course of a full day and night, he meticulously crafted a new secret realm within the Transmission Platform, seamlessly integrating the "Dragon Nurturing Grounds" with this newly forged domain. It was an immense undertaking demanding exacting precision. If the Wolong Ridge Immortal Palace secret realm was but a modest experiment, then this newly constructed realm was a masterstroke of grand ambition. Lu Fan's design stipulated that, upon completion, this realm must be capable of birthing cultivators worthy of advancing into the Bodied Storage Realm. As for the realm itself, Lu Fan had yet to deploy it, preserving it within the Transmission Platform, awaiting the opportune moment.

Opening his eyes, a gentle breeze stirred his flowing white robe. He exhaled softly and raised a hand to massage his temples. The construction of such a realm exacted a tremendous toll on his spiritual energy, especially as he perfected this large-scale domain, leaving his mind slightly dazed. With a casual gesture, a bronze wine cup from the elaborately carved redwood table floated toward him. The wine inside had long since cooled; during his seclusion, Ning Zhao dared not disturb the warm liquor. Draining the cup in one gulp, the cold, sour bitterness cleared Lu Fan's mind.

Then, as his spirit stirred, words drifted in on the breeze from beyond the island, entering his ears one after another. His brows arched.

Beneath the jade pavilion of Baiyu Capital, Nie Changqing stood with sword at his side, exuding an overwhelming aura of martial intent. He guarded the pavilion steadfastly, allowing no one to cross even half a step, a vigilance shared equally by Ning Zhao and Yi Yue. In the distance, Ni Yu sat upon the stone slab, a pouch brimming with elixirs at her side, quietly consuming them one by one. The Young Master had instructed her to cultivate while taking them—and she truly did.

Jing Yue stood nearby, clutching a yellow pearwood sword case, his gaze fixed with envy on Ni Yu's pills. Having ingested a Qi Gathering Pill, Jing Yue had successfully condensed his qi and stepped into the Qi Pill Realm. The exquisite sensation was unforgettable.

Suddenly, the oppressive aura that had weighed down the island dissipated. Everyone looked up in surprise toward the second floor of the Baiyu Capital pavilion, where the young man in white leaned against the railing, listening to the wind and smiling faintly at the crowd below.

"The Young Master has emerged!" Ning Zhao and Yi Yue exchanged glances, their hearts lifting. If the Young Master did not emerge soon, Beiluo City might descend into chaos.

Ning Zhao's white skirt fluttered as she floated up to the second floor, pushing the wheelchair down from the pavilion. "Young Master, the Sovereign has personally come from the Imperial Capital to meet you but was stopped by us and now awaits in Beiluo City..." she reported.

Lu Fan sat calmly in his wheelchair, elbows resting on the armrests, gently massaging his temples. "I am aware," he replied serenely.

Ning Zhao paused, then he suddenly said, "Ning, fetch me a fishing rod."

Ning Zhao blinked in surprise; Nie Changqing, who carried his butcher's blade, raised an eyebrow. "The Young Master wishes to fish?" Nie Changqing asked.

Lu Fan nodded slightly, gazing out over Beiluo Lake, its surface shimmering under the gentle breeze. This very lake was the site of Lu Fan's first "Dragon Nurturing Ground."

Without further question, Ning Zhao swiftly went to find a fishing rod.

"The Sovereign awaits, will you not meet him?" Nie Changqing asked, white robes billowing.

Lu Fan closed his eyes briefly, rubbing his temples. "Let me finish my task first," he said softly.

Nie Changqing fell silent. The atmosphere grew tranquil, broken only by the whispering lake breeze and the rustling of the blooming chrysanthemums swaying in the wind.

Suddenly, an eerie cracking sound pierced the calm.

Lu Fan opened his eyes, shifting his gaze toward the source. Ni Yu's eyes widened as she took a sugar-coated Qi Gathering Pill from her bulging pouch and popped it into her mouth with a crisp snap—she appeared to be eating candy.

Startled by Lu Fan's gaze, Ni Yu's hand trembled as she nervously offered him a pill. "Young... Young Master... would you like one?"

Lu Fan's lips twitched, waving her off. "You eat well, eat plenty, and when you're done, find a place where no one is around..."

Ni Yu was momentarily dazed.

Soon after, Ning Zhao returned. Lu Fan took the fishing rod, which was quite ordinary. He grasped the sharply curved hook with his pale fingers and gradually applied force, straightening the hook into a sleek, razor-sharp barbed hook.

"Young Master... how does one fish with a straight hook?" Ning Zhao asked in confusion.

Lu Fan smiled silently, offering no reply. Alone in a solitary boat, he sat poised in his wheelchair at the bow, casting the line and hook into the lake with a soft splash, sending ripples across the water.

Nie Changqing, Ning Zhao, and Yi Yue stood on another lone boat, watching Lu Fan fish with his unorthodox hook.

By the shores of Beiluo Lake, chaos had already erupted. Lu Changkong's face was grim, and behind him Luo Cheng glared fiercely at the officials kneeling before them, his eyes brimming with murderous intent. Who were these corrupt officials denouncing? Who was the demon?!

Inside the Sovereign's carriage, all was silent.

"Speak with caution," Lu Changkong warned the ministers writhing on the ground.

An aged eunuch beside the Sovereign snorted softly. "A nation cannot be without its ruler even for a day. His Majesty has lingered in Beiluo for two days now; the Imperial Capital is already in turmoil."

"The bandits have just been repelled; the Great Zhou dynasty must rise anew. How can His Majesty afford to wait here for a demon?"

"Please, Your Majesty, reconsider!" A rotund, richly robed elder wailed, tears streaming. "What merit has Lu Ping'an to justify His Majesty's patience?"

"Though Lu Ping'an holds titles, he is but a subject; the sovereign-subject order must not be broken!" one official after another implored.

Outside Beiluo City, carriages laden with officials thundered in, each striving to persuade the Emperor to turn back. Success would immortalize their names in history. Yet within the carriage, the Emperor remained motionless, only the slight trembling of the vehicle betraying his unrest—noticed by the old eunuch.

At the Thirty Li Camp beyond the former Chicheng, Mo Beike clenched a letter tightly, his heavy eyes quivering.

"The Beiluo Lu Ping'an secluded cultivation, the Sovereign personally waits by the lake, ministers beseeching him with tears..." A faint sneer escaped Mo Beike's lips.

Dan Tai Xuan sat at the head, while Mo Ju lightly fanned himself, both wearing contemptuous smiles.

"The officials of Great Zhou are a band of pedantic fools, skilled in intrigue but utterly ignorant when it comes to matters of state," Mo Ju stated mercilessly.

Dan Tai Xuan reclined, lips curling. "What we vie for now is merely time..."

"Xiang Shaoyun's army rushes from the Western Command, but if we seize the Imperial Capital first, controlling its six great fortifications, we will be invincible—even the famed Western Liang cavalry cannot prevail."

Mo Beike nodded. "The Imperial Capital is like boiling porridge at its peak—soon to explode..."

"Even if the Sovereign summons Lu Ping'an, what then?"

"The tides of history... cannot be reversed," Mo Beike said solemnly.

The Dragon Nurturing Ground, as its name suggests, is a place to nurture heavenly dragons. As the base of Baiyu Capital, Lu Fan infused the island with spiritual energy, spreading it over Beiluo Lake as well. If one were to name the most truly enchanting and sacred place in the world, Beiluo Lake would undoubtedly qualify. Moreover, as a Dragon Nurturing Ground, the dragons it raised could also serve as vigilant guardians—why not?

Mist hovered over the lake's surface. Amidst the spiritual ebb and flow, a dense school of fish swam beneath Lu Fan's boat, fluttering their fins eagerly. Every living thing bears spirit; these fish seemed drawn irresistibly to the bare, sharp hook as if it were the most delectable bait.

Lu Fan remained serene, orchestrating a grand strategic board on one side while gripping the fishing rod. Despite the fish's pursuit, the rod held steady. The mist thickened, blurring the lone boat and the white-clad youth aboard. Ning Zhao, Nie Changqing, and others could no longer discern his form.

After a long while, the fish ceased their fluttering. Lu Fan's faint voice emerged from the mist. "Ning, bring the Sovereign over..."

Onboard, Ning Zhao's dark hair fluttered in the breeze. She tucked it behind her ear, lips parted softly. "At once."

With delicate steps, her embroidered white shoes barely disturbed the lake's surface as she walked toward the shore like an immortal descending.

After Ning Zhao departed, Lu Fan seemed to ponder briefly before continuing, "Old Nie, Yi Yue..."

"Present." Yi Yue bowed swiftly; Nie Changqing stood with sword in hand.

"Beiluo is not the Imperial Capital; they dare not speak recklessly."

"But I have a good temper—let them continue," Lu Fan's calm voice accompanied the sound of chess pieces falling.

Yi Yue and Nie Changqing narrowed their eyes and boarded a boat, departing. Only Lu Fan's solitary vessel remained adrift in the lake's heart.

—The young master, who commands respect and patience, invites you to continue this discourse—