Chapter 457: Solution?
Chapter 457: Chapter 457: Solution?
Fen Ling turned to the group, her crimson eyes serious.
"I will allow you to examine him. But please be careful... the plague is highly contagious through spiritual energy contact... especially around the soul sea."
Lan Suyao nodded as she stepped forward first, placing her hand above the Emperor’s chest and channeling her spiritual sense.
"Excuse me..."
But after a few moments, her brows furrowed slightly.
She withdrew her hand and reached into her storage ring before taking out a strange, ancient-looking artifact with a palm-sized crystal compass engraved with intricate Azure Moon Sect runes.
The compass hummed softly as it floated above the Emperor’s body, spinning slowly while emitting pulses of pure spiritual energy.
"This is the Meridian Tracing Compass." Lan Suyao explained calmly. "It can map the flow of the malevolent energy through the meridians and detect where the source is anchored."
With that, Lan Suyao began to make some hand gesture and activate the compass.
The compass spun faster, its runes glowing brighter.
Small holographic lines of light appeared in the air, showing the black curse energy spreading like a parasitic web through the Emperor’s body, particularly concentrated around his dantian and soul sea.
Li Feng stood slightly behind them, acting as support while subtly using his own terrifying senses to scan the Emperor’s condition.
But then, he shook his head inwardly.
’This one inside the old guy is indeed different from the others... and far nastier.’
The plague inside the Emperor was not only more concentrated but also carried a strange, adaptive quality... almost as if it was alive and learning how to resist external purification.
It was clearly a higher-grade version of the plague that currently ravaging the rest of the dynasty.
Lan Suyao’s expression grew more serious as the compass continued spinning.
The holographic projection showed the black plague energy writhing like living tentacles, particularly aggressive around the Emperor’s soul sea.
The Regent Empress Fen Ling stood motionless beside the bed, her crimson eyes fixed on the examination.
Her expression remained dignified and calm the entire time, almost as if the man on the bed wasn’t her husband.
Suddenly, she glanced at Li Feng again, her gaze probing.
Then, moving with silent grace, she stepped closer to him and leaned in slightly, her voice low enough that only he could hear.
"Envoy Li Feng... you seem to have noticed something. Do you have any thoughts?"
"Eh?"
Li Feng, who was lost in thought, was slightly surprised by the sudden private question.
He turned his head and found himself face-to-face with the mature, breathtakingly beautiful Regent Empress.
Up close, her presence was even more overwhelming... the faint scent of fragrant incense mixed with her natural imperial aura, her flawless pale skin, sharp yet alluring crimson eyes, and the elegant curve of her lips.
The deep neckline of her crimson-and-gold imperial robes revealed a tantalizing glimpse of her full, pale cleavage, accentuated by golden chains and phoenix jewels resting against her skin.
For a moment, even he was slightly dazed.
’Damn... this Empress is on another level.’
But Li Feng wasn’t like his past self.
He had already experienced many beauties in all kinds of shameless positions, so he snapped out of it remarkably fast.
He quickly regained his composure and replied in a low, respectful whisper, maintaining his humble subordinate act.
"Your Majesty is perceptive. This junior did sense something unusual with the plague. It feels... alive and adaptive... almost like it has its own will. However, Senior Sister Lan and Envoy Yue Lan’s methods are far superior. This subordinate will simply assist them to the best of his limited ability."
At his words, Fen Ling’s crimson eyes flickered with even deeper interest.
She had even noticed the quick, subtle glance he had stolen at her cleavage.
If it were any other man, such audacity would have earned him an immediate execution.
Yet this guy actually dared.
But instead of anger, a strange mix of amusement and intrigue bloomed in her chest.
’So even a hidden genius of the Azure Moon Sect can’t completely resist the charm of a woman’s mortal body,’ she thought, her crimson lips curving into a faint, almost playful smile. ’Or perhaps... he is testing me as well?’
She leaned in just a fraction closer, her voice a soft whisper meant only for him.
"Then I will be counting on you... Envoy Li Feng. Do not disappoint me."
Li Feng blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the intimate whisper and the subtle, almost teasing tone in her voice.
But at that moment, Lan Suyao finished her examination.
She withdrew her hand from above the Emperor’s chest and stored the Meridian Tracing Compass back into her storage ring.
Her expression was serious as she turned toward the Empress.
"Your Majesty," she said in a calm but grave tone, "the situation is worse than we anticipated. Judging by the readings from the special compass, the plague inside His Majesty is a higher-grade variant... far more concentrated, adaptive, and intelligent. It even has rooted itself deeply in his soul sea and is actively resisting external spiritual energy."
Lan Suyao shook her head slightly.
She knew all too well how delicate any affliction involving the soul sea could be, because she had personally experienced it before.
If not for Li Feng, she might have already perished-
At that thought, Lan Suyao glanced at Li Feng.
A strange idea suddenly surfaced in her mind, and the corners of her lips curved into a rather peculiar smile.
’Maybe if he dual cultivates with the Emperor...’
Li Feng suddenly felt a chill run down his spine as if a predator was staring straight at him with hungry eyes.
He turned his head and immediately noticed Lan Suyao’s strange smile directed right at him.
And he instantly understood the meaning behind her gaze.
His face paled slightly as he frantically shook his head.
’Hell naw... Absolutely not! I know exactly what that crazy woman is thinking! No way in hell am I doing that with some old emperor, even to save his life!’