Asking the future queen, the former Saintess of the Dragon Temple, and one of the human realm’s top experts, Princess Zhi Yan, to plant a time bomb was truly using a great talent for a small task.
But there was no other way. She was the only one capable of doing this.
The Yelan Duchy’s Dragon Altar for heaven worship was heavily guarded even in the middle of the night. To break in silently, replace a slab inside, and not be discovered by anyone.
Apart from peerless martial arts, one also needed very high mental cultivation.
Although Duke Lan Shi had not yet arrived, the entire Dragon Altar was already filled with mental power masters. To capture the blind spots and gaps in their mental power coverage, truly only an absolute expert like Zhi Yan could manage it.
And Zhi Yan was indeed powerful. Replacing a hundred jin slab took her less than three seconds.
From prying up the original slab, to placing the slab with the timed detonation gunpowder, to sweeping away all traces, it took less than three seconds.
When she returned to the Shadow Pavilion secret base (the inn), she had even brought back the original slab.
“Identical?” Soren asked.
“Identical.” Zhi Yan replied.
Soren tapped the surface of the slab with his finger, then listened carefully to the sound. There was no difference from the slab he had previously prepared with the timed detonation gunpowder.
He was completely reassured. Even if someone were to tap and inspect every slab, there would be no flaw.
Soren suddenly said, “The consequences of assassinating a nation’s ruler must be quite severe.”
Zhi Yan nodded.
Soren said, “Aren’t you worried about anything?”
Zhi Yan shook her head and said, “If you aren’t worried, what am I worried about?”
…
The next day, at nine o’clock in the morning!
Yelan Duke Lord Lan Shi, under the guard of tens of thousands of troops, left the Yelan Palace and proceeded in grand formation towards the Dragon Altar to worship heaven.
Soren stood at the second floor window, gazing into the distance.
Duke Lan Shi’s worship procession passed along the central axis avenue several hundred metres away.
Both the Yelan Palace and the Dragon Altar were on the central axis avenue of the Yelan capital, separated by over ten li, with no need to take a detour.
At this time, both sides of the central axis avenue within several hundred metres had been completely cleared. All common people could only see the grand procession from afar.
The procession of over twenty thousand people stretched for at least two to three thousand metres.
From Soren’s vantage point, he could only see a massive golden canopy, inside which Duke Lan Shi should be. As expected, Duchess Mo Ping was likely also inside.
Around this golden canopy were several hundred warriors, and several thousand to over ten thousand soldiers protecting it.
This guard was completely impenetrable, without a single gap.
If one set out from here to assassinate Duke Lan Shi, even the number one expert of humanity would have a probability of success close to zero.
Dragon power was limited. After killing over a hundred warriors, it would basically be exhausted.
In this world, warriors who lost their dragon power were basically like lambs awaiting slaughter.
It took a full half hour before this procession of over twenty thousand people completely passed. The grandeur was truly immense.
Soren gazed at the scenery of Lan Du, the Yelan capital.
He had been in this city for two days already, but had spent them in a dark room working and recuperating from his injuries. This was his first time viewing the city’s scenery.
This city was somewhat smaller than the Fury Wave capital Zhi Du, but not by much. It was also a huge and prosperous metropolis.
According to records, Lan Du’s population was around seven hundred thousand, approximately seventy percent of the Fury Wave Kingdom’s population, and it ranked among the notable large cities of the entire human realm.
Compared to the royal capital Zhi Du, the exotic atmosphere here was much stronger. Almost over half the people had golden hair and blue eyes, with white skin, brown skin, and even one tenth with black skin.
However, the Lan family, as rulers of the Yelan Duchy, were typical Eastern people, not much different from Soren. On the contrary, the Ashi family had very obvious exotic bloodlines.
Soren could not infiltrate the worship site, so he could only wait in this inn, waiting for that thunderous explosion!
And once the explosion sounded, Soren had to flee immediately. Therefore, this was his last chance to view the scenery of Lan Du.
…
Around ten thirty in the morning.
Duke Lan Shi’s procession had already entered the Dragon Altar in grand formation.
The Dragon Altar was vast and immense, covering over a thousand mu. But buildings were sparse. The only eye-catching structure was this over one hundred metre high Heaven Reaching Stele.
It was built so tall in the hope that it could convey humanity’s wishes to the heavenly dragon, thereby obtaining the dragon’s protection.
Altars like this Dragon Altar existed in almost every nation.
Every ruler had to worship heaven at least once a year.
Over twenty thousand troops surrounded the entire Dragon Altar so tightly that not even water could leak through.
Over a thousand warriors guarded every crucial position.
Over several hundred mental power masters, mental cultivators of the Dragon Temple, monitored every corner of the Dragon Altar with their mental power.
On the vast square, over ten thousand troops stood as straight as nails, arranged in perfect formation.
In the centre of the square was the worship platform with ninety-nine steps.
And the hundred metre high Heaven Reaching Stele stood atop this worship platform.
…
Eleven thirty!
The astronomical official shouted loudly, “Ascend!”
Instantly, Yelan Duke Lord Lan Shi, accompanied by several hundred civil and military officials, climbed the ninety-nine steps step by step, neither fast nor slow, solemn and dignified.
Duke Lan Shi alone walked at the very front.
As the duchess, Princess Mo Ping of Xiliang, though not favoured by her husband, could not change the fact that she was the mother of the nation. She followed three steps behind Duke Lan Shi.
As the secondary wife, Ji Hui had to lag nine steps behind.
Several hundred civil and military officials followed ten steps behind.
In this strict hierarchy, the entire ruling class of the Yelan Duchy escorted Duke Lan Shi onto the worship platform!
…
Eleven forty-five!
Duke Lan Shi finished the ninety-nine steps and arrived at the worship platform.
The worship platform covered three hundred square metres.
In the centre stood the hundred metre high Heaven Reaching Stele, below which was placed a great cauldron with burning incense.
And that jade stone floor before the great cauldron was the one Soren had replaced, concealing thirty jin of timed detonation gunpowder within.
Looking at it, there was truly no abnormality, no trace whatsoever.
However, at this moment Duke Lan Shi was still over ten metres away from that jade stone floor.
On the entire worship platform, there were only him and Duchess Mo Ping.
Several hundred civil and military officials waited ten steps below, including secondary wife Princess Ji Hui.
The astronomical official shouted loudly, “Music!”
Instantly, several hundred musicians on the other set of steps played solemn music.
Solemn and beautiful!
At the same time, Duke Lan Shi began the grand ritual of three kneelings and nine prostrations!
“Kneel!”
Duke Lan Shi knelt down and kowtowed three times towards the Heaven Reaching Stele. Three metres behind him, Duchess Mo Ping also knelt and kowtowed.
“Rise!”
Duke Lan Shi stood up, and Duchess Mo Ping also stood up.
“Advance!”
Duke Lan Shi took three large steps forward, and Duchess Mo Ping followed.
“Kneel!”
Duke Lan Shi knelt again and kowtowed three more times.
Thus, every three steps, one kneeling, three kowtows.
After three kneelings and nine prostrations!
Duke Lan Shi had arrived before the great cauldron beneath the Heaven Reaching Stele, standing precisely on the jade stone floor that Soren had replaced.
Duchess Mo Ping was three metres behind him.
What he was standing on was the time bomb Soren had made.
According to plan, it would detonate at high noon, twelve o’clock!
…
The time was now eleven fifty-five.
Five minutes remained until detonation.
At this moment, all solemn music stopped!
All officials stood in solemn silence.
Over ten astronomical officials stared fixedly at the hourglasses, watching the final grains of sand flow away.
And the sun moved bit by bit. The shadow of the Heaven Reaching Stele grew shorter and shorter.
At high noon, twelve o’clock, the sun would hang directly overhead.
At that time, because the Heaven Reaching Stele pointed directly at the sun, illuminated from directly above, there would be no shadow whatsoever.
This was regarded as the time closest to heaven, and therefore the most suitable time for worship and prayer.
Time flowed away second by second.
The entire venue was deathly still, waiting for the final moment to arrive.
Four minutes.
Three minutes.
Two minutes.
One minute!
The time arrived. High noon, twelve o’clock.
The sand in over ten hourglasses had completely run out.
The sun shone directly on the Heaven Reaching Stele. There was no shadow whatsoever.
The timed detonation gunpowder Soren had made did not explode on time.
Duke Lan Shi knelt on both knees, took out the prayer for heaven worship, and began to recite it loudly!
“Great and glorious heaven above, illuminate my land! Vast and verdant divine dragon, protect my people! Gather the spirit of the earth, send sweet rain and wind. Each finds their place, all creatures thrive. Each finds their place, from ancient times to now…”
It was truly difficult for Duke Lan Shi. Though physically weak and plagued by illness now, he recited this prayer for heaven worship with such clear resonance and cadence that the several hundred civil and military officials on the steps heard every word clearly.
Only Duchess Mo Ping, several metres behind him, could see his slightly trembling hands.
The entire prayer was less than a thousand words.
The first several hundred words made no mention of military affairs or warfare, only speaking of the divine dragon’s grace, heaven and earth’s grace, and the blessings of all people.
Only in the final several hundred words was this war of national humiliation mentioned!
Hoping the divine dragon would protect them, hoping heaven would protect them, that the Yelan Duchy could wash away national humiliation and reclaim their homeland.
At first, Duke Lan Shi found reciting the prayer somewhat strenuous. But as he recited, he recalled that humiliating great war twenty years ago, and his blood instantly boiled.
Then he thought of his son Crown Prince Lan Tu leading three hundred thousand troops in a fierce assault on Helan Pass, about to breach it at any moment.
Just before leaving the palace, he had just received a report.
Though Rouran City Lord Ashi Liren had personally gone to the battlefield, and though her martial arts were peerless, boosting the morale of Rouran’s defenders, the Rouran City army had been idle for nearly ten years, their combat strength greatly diminished.
These past few days of ceaseless fierce fighting had inflicted heavy casualties on the Helan Pass defenders. They were already at the end of their strength, on the verge of collapse.
Crown Prince Lan Tu’s memorial stated that Helan Pass would fall within three days at the latest!
And once Helan Pass fell, the entire Rouran province would be like unoccupied territory. At most one month would be needed to completely reclaim their homeland.
Thinking of this scene, Duke Lan Shi’s blood boiled!
The humiliation of back then could finally be completely washed away!
He had already issued an edict to Crown Prince Lan Tu, ordering him to capture Rouran City Lord Ashi Liren alive!
He had long heard she was the world’s greatest beauty. Though already physically weak, Duke Lan Shi still wished to have a taste.
The humiliation the Ashi family had brought to the Yelan Duchy back then, today he would repay a hundredfold!
Thus, Duke Lan Shi recited louder and louder, more and more forcefully. Two scenes alternated endlessly in his mind.
One moment, it was the clash of arms and clash of horses twenty years ago, the instant his father Duke Lan Mu died in battle.
The next, it was him violating Ashi Liren, avenging the humiliation of back then.
Not only Ashi Liren, but also the Suo family!
Back then, his father Duke Lan Mu had been personally slain by Count Suo Long beneath the walls of Rouran City!
And this time, the ability to destroy the Ashi family and reclaim Rouran City was because they had obtained the tacit approval of Fury Wave Crown Prince Zhi Li.
When the day came that Zhi Li ascended and destroyed the Suo family, skinning Soren and others alive and boiling them, the Yelan Duchy must also have a share, eating Soren’s flesh alive to avenge the murder of his father!
The prayer was finished!
The time was now twelve oh three!
But the timed detonation gunpowder brick beneath his feet still had not exploded.
Duke Lan Shi rose. Normally he should withdraw at this time. But he turned around, gazing at the several hundred civil and military officials on the steps, gazing at the over ten thousand troops on the square.
He suddenly drew his sword, thrusting it towards the sky, and Duke Lan Shi shouted loudly, “Reclaim our homeland, wash away national humiliation, exterminate the Ashi family to the last person, destroy them to the ninth degree…”
And at this moment…
Beneath his feet, inside that slab, within the timed detonation device’s glass vessel.
“Drip…” A drop of water fell almost soundlessly.
The white phosphorus in the water was completely exposed to air.
At the same time, the water level below the vessel rose, soaking the quicklime inside.
Instantly, a violent reaction occurred. The temperature inside the entire vessel rose, igniting the white phosphorus.
The burning white phosphorus instantly ignited the oil-soaked fuse.
Though there was not much air inside, this combustion was sufficient.
Only half a second later, the fuse ignited the thirty jin gunpowder brick.
“Exterminate the Ashi family to the last person, destroy them to the ninth degree!” The several hundred civil and military officials below shouted loudly.
On the worship platform, Duke Lan Shi’s blood boiled, his killing intent soaring to the heavens!
Then…
“Boom…”
A heaven-shaking explosion, a heaven-shaking flame.
The ground beneath Duke Lan Shi’s feet suddenly exploded!
Duke Lan Shi’s body was instantly blown to pieces.
And Duchess Mo Ping, three metres away from him, her body was sent flying over ten metres like a paper kite, spraying blood madly in mid-air.
The entire venue was deathly still, completely unable to believe the scene before their eyes.
Their ruler had been blown to pieces before everyone’s eyes, dying a sudden and violent death.
And their mistress, Duchess Mo Ping, sprayed blood madly, her flesh mangled, her fragrant life extinguished.