Hearing her uncle's words, Qingluan felt a warmth in her heart and agreed to return. She was still thinking about the love her master had shown her since childhood, and wondered where he had gone on his travels. She couldn't ask him about the situation earlier, but she would have to inquire about his well-being next time. Why was her uncle in the palace? With these questions in mind, Qingluan lightly leaped into the Yunhuang Palace's sleeping quarters. The palace maids were all waiting in the outer hall, and Qingluan turned off the lamps to rest.
A few days later, a leaf was found on the windowsill of the Yunhuang Palace's sleeping quarters. It was a secret signal from Uncle Tianyuan, inviting Qingluan to meet him at the Yuntian Palace that night. The Yuntian Palace was a palace that had been abandoned for many years, making it a good place to hide.
That evening, Qingluan went as promised, only to find that her martial uncle wasn't alone; four other people were standing quietly in the darkness. Qingluan went in and bowed to her martial uncle, saying, "Martial Uncle, I've come."
"Oh, girl, you've arrived. Let me introduce you to a few people. These are the four stewards of Dark Night Tower: Dark Sky, Dark Dance, Dark Gluttony, and Dark Charm. From now on, you will be the master of Dark Night Tower. All the people and property of the four Dark Night divisions will belong to you!" Uncle Tianyuan said kindly, taking something out of his pocket and handing it over. "This is the master's token. If you drop a tear into it, it will recognize you as its master and stay with you for life."
Qingluan reached out and took it, but didn't open it immediately. She was somewhat shocked: "Uncle-Master, what exactly is going on?"
The Dark Night Tower is renowned throughout the four kingdoms, with its four divisions each overseeing one of its four functions: trade, intelligence, weapons manufacturing, and stealth. The Dark Night Tower's business spans the four kingdoms, its wealth rivaling that of a nation, far surpassing even a king's. However, the exact extent of its wealth remains unknown. The Dark Night Tower's intelligence system is its most outstanding; rumors suggest that for the right price, one can obtain even the emperor's undergarments. Going a step further, possessing certain secrets can make many willingly submit to its command. The Dark Night Tower's weapons manufacturing essentially monopolizes the market due to its superior quality and excellent reputation; all four kingdoms purchase weapons from the Dark Night Tower. As for the final function, stealth, no one knows what it entails. It may be capable of anything, exceeding anyone's imagination. All that is known is that some who opposed the Dark Night Tower have mysteriously disappeared, and some difficult problems can be solved simply by the Dark Night Tower's intervention…
The Dark Night Tower is extremely mysterious. Although everyone knows its reputation, no one knows where it is. The fact that the four deacons of such a mysterious organization appeared here together is far beyond Qingluan's imagination.
Seeing Qingluan's confusion, Uncle Tianyuan continued to explain, "The Dark Night Tower was actually founded by your master. In his youth, he was unrestrained and loved to travel the world and make friends. He unintentionally created an organization, which has grown and expanded over the decades. Now, the Dark Night Tower's strength has far surpassed his original goals. Since you are his disciple, it is only natural that the Dark Night Tower was handed over to you. I will explain the reasons to you in detail later. When my senior brother went out last time, he entrusted me with temporarily managing the Tower Master's token, which he would give to you when we met. Now I have finally fulfilled my promise."
Uncle Tianyuan smiled with satisfaction and said to the four shadows behind him, "Why don't you come and pay your respects to the new master!" Indeed, the four people had barely made a sound since Qingluan entered, not even a breath could be heard. They were like shadows, which showed that their martial arts skills had reached a state of perfection. Qingluan was filled with respect.
The four men bowed to Qingluan and said, "Your subordinates pay their respects to the Lord!"
The light was dim, and it was only possible to vaguely make out that there were three men and one woman. Two of the men were older, appearing to be over forty, while the remaining man and woman were both very young, probably around twenty years old. Master Tianyuan explained that the two older men were Anxiao and Antao, the younger woman was Anwu, and the man was Anmei. Anxiao was in charge of weapons manufacturing, Antao was in charge of trade, Anwu was in charge of intelligence, and Anmei was a hidden steward.
It wasn't until Qingluan gradually became familiar with them that she learned Anxiao and Antao were actually over fifty years old and were elders of the Dark Night Tower. However, their personalities were somewhat different: Anxiao appeared very serious and rarely smiled, and he usually strictly supervised weapon manufacturing, but he was kind-hearted and often secretly helped others. Most of his subordinates were orphans he had rescued from various places. He ensured that these orphans were well-fed and clothed, taught them a skill, and those who wanted to stay joined the Dark Night Tower, while those who didn't wanted to join left after they had learned their skills. Antao, on the other hand, appeared to be a smiling old man, but he was actually very cunning. During his time in charge of Dark Night Trade, he rapidly accumulated immense wealth through his extraordinary abilities. Many wealthy merchants were unscrupulous, and after he learned of their evil deeds, he would always ask them to "voluntarily" contribute some of their wealth to the Dark Night Tower, all through legal means, of course. It is said that Anxiao and Antao were notorious bandits in the martial arts world thirty years ago, committing numerous evil deeds. Their master, upon learning of this, went to eliminate them. After a three-day, three-night battle, he subdued them and arranged for them to join the Dark Night Tower. Their reverence for their master made them the most loyal force within the Dark Night Tower, and they unanimously upheld their master's mission of saving the world. Although Anwu is a woman, her abilities are not to be underestimated. She appears to be twenty, but is actually over forty, a fact related to her internal energy cultivation, though the price she paid was a life without children. Under the tutelage of the previous steward, she mastered the knowledge required for the entire intelligence system in just two years, surpassing her master's abilities. The previous steward, impressed by her talent, stepped down and recommended her to be the new steward. Under her leadership, the Dark Night Tower's intelligence system developed remarkably. Anmei, just over twenty, is a genius admired by everyone in the Dark Night Tower; his appointment as steward at such a young age speaks volumes about his exceptional abilities. However, he was somewhat mischievous, much like a child. Of course, this was Qingluan's opinion. If she knew that people in the martial arts world, whether old or young, would tremble with fear at the mere mention of Anmei's name, she probably wouldn't have said that. Of course, they weren't afraid of Anmei's talent, but rather of his ruthless methods to achieve his goals, which had clearly caused many people to suffer losses.
Qingluan dared not be presumptuous and returned the greeting, saying, "All of you deacons are Qingluan's seniors. Qingluan dares not presume to be the master. I only hope to fulfill my master's important task and hope that the four seniors will give me more guidance!"
Although the four claimed they wouldn't dare, their eyes and brows betrayed their satisfaction. The two older ones were pleased that the old master had a worthy successor, the woman was intrigued by Qingluan's beauty, and the third, Anmei, winked and gave a mischievous smile. Those familiar with him knew this was his sign of liking someone; if he disliked someone, he was usually expressionless, even somewhat "frozen." However, this was clearly not the right time for them to express their affection or curiosity, so they remained silent, simply standing quietly to the side.
Before Qingluan could process this enormous shock, her Uncle Tianyuan said something that surprised her even more.
Uncle Tianyuan asked Qingluan, "Are you wondering why I'm in the palace?"
Before Qingluan could answer, he continued, "Because the Emperor of Zhou is my disciple!"
...
Several days had passed, and Qingluan still found it unbelievable. The Zhou Emperor, Jun Yifeng, was actually her senior brother, and the Dark Night Tower was founded by her master! Her Uncle-Master Tianyuan's words still echoed in her ears: "Girl, you and Yifeng are a perfect match. Not only are your destinies both incredibly noble, but you also complement each other perfectly. Just your appearances and personalities are extremely compatible. It wouldn't be bad if you could become a couple. However, it depends on your wishes. If you're willing, I'll talk to him, and the Empress's position will definitely be yours. You can work together to create a prosperous era. If you're not willing, you can simply form an alliance. You'll assist him in unifying the country, and he'll help you avenge yourself by destroying the Qi Kingdom. You can relinquish your status as a concubine at any time. What do you say?"
Qingluan recalled seeing Jun Yifeng on the day of the talent show; he was a gentle and refined young man. Her master knew her disciple's character best, so he should be a good one as well. However, Qingluan only wanted to avenge her parents, so she replied, "Master, I don't want to think about these things right now. I only want to avenge my parents. I am willing to form an alliance!"
Uncle-Master Tianyuan sighed and said, "Alright, fate cannot be forced. You can form an alliance first, and we'll talk about the future later! Although I am Yifeng's master in Zhou Kingdom, I am only an ordinary official in the Imperial Observatory on the surface, so we won't be able to meet often in the future." He paused for a moment, as if considering his words, and then added, "The matter of Dark Night Tower can only be known to you. No one else can know, understand?"
"Anyone? Not even my senior brother can know?" Qingluan asked, puzzled.
“That’s right, especially him!” Uncle Tianyuan’s expression was somewhat solemn.
"Why?"
"Qingluan, you are still young and do not know how unpredictable the heart of an emperor is. If he knew that you possess such a powerful force, there is no guarantee that he would not become suspicious of you in the future. Although he is my disciple, he is also the emperor. How can the emperor allow others to sleep soundly on his bed? Qingluan, you must remember your master's teachings and use the power of the Dark Night Tower for good. You must not do anything unjust!"
"Qingluan understands!"
☆、Nine、Jun Yifeng
"My lady, an imperial edict has arrived!" Cai Die said hurriedly at the door.
"Understood, I'll come out right away." Qingluan quickly tidied her appearance, put on her outer robe, and went to the main hall to receive the imperial decree.
It turned out that Jun Yifeng wanted to see Qingluan and summoned her to the Imperial Study at noon.
After an early lunch, Qingluan rode in a sedan chair to the Imperial Study. On the way, Qingluan guessed that her Uncle-Master Tianyuan had probably already spoken to Jun Yifeng about her, and that he wanted to assess her capabilities to see if she was qualified to form an alliance with him. A confident smile graced Qingluan's face. "Bring it on!"
Supported by the woman in green, Qingluan stepped down from the palanquin and told her to wait at the entrance before entering the Imperial Study. The Imperial Study lived up to its name; aside from a desk and a chair for receiving officials, it was entirely filled with bookshelves overflowing with books. Later, Qingluan learned that these were only the books Jun Yifeng frequently consulted; the rest were stored in the library, which was even more impressive.
Stepping inside, Qingluan saw Jun Yifeng reviewing memorials. She quickly stepped forward to greet him. When Jun Yifeng saw her enter, his face still held its usual gentle and harmless smile, like a warm spring flowing into her heart, making Qingluan feel much more relaxed.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
"You are Qingluan? Get up. From now on, you don't need to bow when you come to see me!"
Jun Yifeng was dressed in a white casual robe, which perfectly highlighted his gentle and refined temperament. This homely attire made him seem approachable. Qingluan noticed that he didn't refer to himself as "朕" (the imperial "I"), and immediately felt much closer to him. Moreover, Jun Yifeng didn't ask her how or why she entered the palace, which also made Qingluan feel very favorable towards him.
"Master said you are exceptionally intelligent. Guess what I want to do most right now?" Jun Yifeng said in his usual calm tone.
Qingluan smiled, "He really came!" and replied, "To unify the world and rule over all directions!"
"Oh? Do you think I can do it?" Jun Yifeng greatly admired Qingluan's humble yet confident attitude.
"Not now, but perhaps later!"
A glint of interest flashed in Jun Yifeng's eyes: "Why not now?"
Qingluan remained calm and slowly explained: "The right time, the right place, and the right people are all essential factors for those who have gained the world throughout history. At present, the emperor's foundation is not stable, there are powerful ministers inside and strong enemies outside, so we can only say that the time is not yet ripe!"
Jun Yifeng seemed somewhat shocked, but quickly regained his composure: "Master said you have the talent to govern the world and can help me unify the world. Tell me, under the current circumstances, how can I accomplish this great undertaking and end this chaotic world?"
Qingluan calmly sorted out her thoughts, looked out the window, and began to explain her long-held ideas: "To repel external threats, one must first secure internal stability. The Emperor must overthrow the two powerful ministers in the court and seize power for himself before he can focus on the world. Originally, there were four kingdoms: Zhou, Qi, Xia, and Shu. Now, with Xia destroyed, only three remain. Zhou, after several generations of diligent governance, has reached its zenith and is capable of expansion. Now, all we need to do is manage it well and create favorable public opinion to ultimately win the hearts of the people. Although Qi has annexed Xia..." The Qi Kingdom has greatly increased its strength, but the war has also taken a heavy toll. Currently, its national power is depleted, especially since the Qi King is tyrannical and has long lost the hearts of the people. It has lost two of the three advantages: favorable timing, geographical advantage, and popular support. If we join forces with the Shu Kingdom, we can surely eliminate it. As for the Shu Kingdom, its emperor has ascended the throne as a young child. Although his abilities are unknown, he is physically weak and plagued by illness, so we believe he will not pose a threat in the future. However—the Shu Queen Dowager is shrewd, capable, and exceptionally talented. She is currently in her prime, and the kingdom is powerful. We cannot gain any advantage now; we can only proceed cautiously and wait for the right opportunity!
Jun Yifeng was incredibly surprised, a strange vortex appearing in his eyes, but he remained calm as he asked, "Then how can we persuade the Shu Kingdom to form an alliance with us?"
Qingluan, oblivious to Jun Yifeng's unusual behavior, continued gazing out the window and said, "The young emperor of Shu is physically weak. If we can offer him the Tianshan Snow Lotus, which strengthens his body, this matter can be accomplished!"
Silence fell over the Imperial Study. Jun Yifeng was in utter shock, but his face remained calm. He was amazed by Qingluan's intelligence, amazed that her plan coincided with his own, and amazed by her insight into the times and her sharp and decisive actions... Such a person was just a woman!
Qingluan was also engrossed in her own thoughts, still pondering how to make the plan even better.
Each with their own thoughts, the time it takes for an incense stick to burn passed, and Jun Yifeng's clear laughter rang out: "Haha... Junior Sister, you even know that the only Heavenly Snow Lotus in the world is here with me. You truly live up to Master's praise!"
Qingluan covered her mouth and smiled, then said softly, "Actually, I didn't know. I just thought of this method and was considering how to find it. Now, there's no need to search at all!"
Jun Yifeng made no attempt to hide his admiration for Qingluan, saying, "Indeed, a brilliant plan, exactly what I wanted! I heard from Master that you didn't want to be my concubine, but only wished to assist me. Have you changed your mind now?"
Qingluan glanced at Jun Yifeng's smiling face, her heart racing. Indeed, her Uncle Tianyuan said he was of pure character and had inherited her uncle's true teachings, making him a trustworthy man to whom she could entrust her life. But—he was the emperor, destined not to be devoted to her wholeheartedly. Even if he offered her the position of empress, it would only be a shared one with another. If it weren't for revenge, she would never have entered the palace. Now that she had a legitimate opportunity to leave this place, she naturally couldn't miss it. Thinking of this…
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty!" Qingluan said decisively.
Jun Yifeng's eyes held a hint of complexity, but Qingluan, with her head down, didn't notice.
Jun Yifeng said, "Alright, in that case, I'll think about how to settle you. You can go back now!"
A few days later, it was Consort Xian's birthday. She invited all the concubines in the palace to a gathering. Most remarkably, she even invited the Emperor, who never participated in palace affairs, to the birthday banquet. The concubines who received Consort Xian's invitation were overjoyed, especially those who had been neglected for a long time. This was a golden opportunity to get close to the Emperor and showcase their talents. So everyone racked their brains, thinking about how to outshine everyone at the banquet, stand out from the crowd, and win the Emperor's favor. Suddenly, the Imperial Household Department received order after order to make new clothes and jewelry, a testament to the Emperor's unparalleled charm! However, it could also be the allure of power and wealth.
After the Empress's maid delivered the invitation, Xia Xiazi, the Emperor's confidant, also brought a secret letter from the Emperor. Qingluan took it, opened it, silently read it, and then placed the letter in the brazier. Watching the flames leap up and instantly engulf the letter, she said to Xia Xiazi, "Go back and report. Tell him I will act according to the circumstances!"
Although he didn't quite understand Qingluan's meaning, Xiaxiazi knew that the most curious people in the palace also had the shortest lives. Therefore, he didn't react at all and simply bowed and withdrew.
Qingluan had some doubts, wondering why Jun Yifeng wanted her to contradict Wei Lanyi at the Xianfei's birthday banquet. However, since she and Jun Yifeng had already reached an agreement and become allies, he shouldn't harm her, so she should just do as he said.
The Zhongling Palace of Consort Xian was decorated with great elegance. Unlike Consort De, who preferred ostentatious luxury, Consort Wei Lanyi preferred simplicity, but not in a monotonous way; rather, it was a kind of understated luxury. Although there were no jewels or jade artifacts in the palace, the porcelain and decorations placed everywhere were all of great origin and extremely rare.
At the palace banquet, amidst the clinking of glasses, the exquisite food and fine wine meticulously arranged by Consort Xian not only satisfied everyone's palates but also presented a breathtaking spectacle. However, most people's minds weren't on the food; instead, they were secretly observing Jun Yifeng's every move, seeking an opportunity to impress him. Consort Xian, Wei Lanyi, and Consort De, Linghu Ling, dressed one elegantly and the other resplendently, sat on either side of the emperor, constantly refilling Jun Yifeng's wine and serving him food, much like the legendary consorts Ehuang and Nüying. The other concubines also vied for attention, their golden hairpins and hair ornaments jingling with their movements, like a captivating melody. The fragrance of cosmetics permeated every corner of the hall, a sweet aroma soothing everyone's excited hearts. Seeing this scene, Qingluan secretly rejoiced in her choice and pondered how to confront Consort Xian.
"Your Majesty, today is my birthday, and all my sisters are gathered here in celebration. Since we are a little bored during the meal, why don't we have my sisters perform some of their talents for everyone to enjoy!" said Consort Xian, Wei Lanyi, in a charming and gentle manner.
Upon hearing this, everyone's expression darkened. Although performing for the Emperor was a good opportunity to showcase themselves, wouldn't Consort Xian's suggestion turn them into mere entertainers for her amusement? The atmosphere became awkward.
But the Emperor actually agreed to Consort Xian's suggestion: "Not bad, my dear consort's suggestion is excellent!" After saying that, he even took Consort Xian's hand. Consort De, who was sitting to the side, turned her head away and refused to look at Consort Xian's smug look.
Hearing the Emperor's golden words, everyone agreed and had no choice but to obey, displaying their special skills: singing, dancing, playing the zither, or blowing the flute... The atmosphere became quite lively. When it was Qingluan's turn, she had an idea. She stepped forward and bowed to Jun Yifeng: "Your Majesty, I am feeling unwell and would like to take my leave!"
Jun Yifeng looked at Qingluan without saying a word.
Consort Xian, Wei Lanyi, was feeling smug when she was suddenly shown disrespect. She immediately revealed her displeasure and said, "Consort Ling, although you have been recuperating, you do not look like someone who is seriously ill. Could it be that you have been deceiving the Emperor all along?" Qingluan remained kneeling on the spot, without saying a word.
"Your Majesty, Consort Ling has deceived you and talked back to me. Your Majesty must do me justice!" Consort Xian pleaded with the Emperor.
Jun Yifeng remained expressionless and slowly said, "Consort Ling has behaved improperly before the Emperor. She is hereby demoted to a palace maid and taken away."
Qingluan raised her head, realizing the meaning of the situation!
Two eunuchs approached, and Qingluan gracefully stood up, turned around, and followed them downstairs.
Before Qingluan could even move from Yunhuang Palace to the maids' quarters, Xiaxiazi came with another message. It turned out that although Jun Yifeng had demoted Qingluan to a maid, he had arranged for her to work in the Zichen Palace, making her a third-rank female official. As the highest-ranking female official in the Zichen Palace, she could freely enter and leave any part of the palace, including the Imperial Study. It was indeed a good arrangement. This way, Qingluan's status as a concubine was removed, and she could often be by Jun Yifeng's side, close to the Emperor without arousing suspicion. From now on, she could focus on helping Jun Yifeng plan for the future! Qingluan fell into deep thought…
Author's Note: The first volume mainly focuses on revenge, so it might be a bit dull. The next volume will be more lively and cheerful, so please be patient and keep reading!
☆、Ten、Origins
Time flows silently like water, never to return.
Jun Yifeng treated Qingluan with great respect, never referring to himself as "I" (朕), and instructing her to call him by his name when no one else was around, without needing to perform any formalities. Through their daily interactions, Qingluan discovered that Jun Yifeng truly possessed the talent of an emperor. He was diligent in thought and tireless in his pursuits, and he appointed people based on merit, trusting them implicitly. The former laid the foundation for his extensive knowledge base, which he would use to conquer the world, while the latter earned him a large number of loyal and devoted confidants. With such a person, how could he not conquer the world?
Qingluan and Jun Yifeng were from the same school and shared similar political views, which quickly made them close friends and confidants. Qingluan could speak freely and openly about Jun Yifeng's opinions without needing to consider his status, even directly addressing his weaknesses. Jun Yifeng, in turn, always readily accepted Qingluan's honest advice and would meticulously inquire about anything he didn't understand, consulting classical texts until he fully grasped the truth. This made Qingluan realize the difficulty of being a ruler!
Out of consideration for Qingluan, Jun Yifeng arranged accommodation for her in the Zichen Palace. She still lived alone, and he also had Caidie and Luyi come along to continue serving her, which made things very convenient for Qingluan.
During this time, Qingluan gradually took over Dark Night Tower, of course, secretly without Jun Yifeng's knowledge. At the end of each month, the four stewards would take turns coming to the palace to report to Qingluan and ask for instructions on the matters under their jurisdiction. Their free coming and going made Qingluan sigh at the fragility of the palace guards, but of course she did not want to remind Jun Yifeng that he should strengthen the palace guards.
After gradually becoming familiar with the affairs of Dark Night Tower, Qingluan handled them with ease. No wonder Anmei always stared at her with wide, round eyes: "Lord, you're amazing! It's already a miracle in the tower that I became a steward at twenty-one. Everyone says I'm a genius, a monster, but I think you're more of a monster. How old are you this year?" Qingluan would always smile slightly at this, without saying much. After witnessing Qingluan's prowess, Anmei became very interested in her, and couldn't get rid of her whenever she came, wanting to know what was going on in her head. After getting to know him, Qingluan also got used to his constant clinging to her, feeling that he was like a brother to her.
As elders of the Dark Night Tower, Anxiao and Antao were once renowned figures in the martial arts world, naturally arrogant and unruly. Their loyalty to the old master, the Nameless Taoist, was based on the fact that the Nameless Taoist's martial arts and magnanimity far surpassed their own. They finally understood why the Nameless Taoist didn't personally hand over the Dark Night Tower to Qingluan, but simply entrusted it to Tianyuan. Wasn't he afraid they would be dissatisfied? Now, this question was completely dispelled by them, because they had been impressed by Qingluan's talent and wisdom. Their attitude towards Qingluan had changed from indifference to deep respect, just like their loyalty to the old master. They had made up their minds to be loyal to Qingluan for the rest of their lives.
Anwu was the only woman among the stewards, which made Qingluan never dare to underestimate her. However, Qingluan didn't expect that among the four stewards, it would be Anwu who was the first to pledge her loyalty and actively help Qingluan familiarize herself with and handle the affairs of the building. It can be said that Anwu possessed a long-term vision and a keen sense of opportunism that others could hardly match, so Qingluan relied on her quite a bit. When Qingluan was still unfamiliar with some matters, she made some inappropriate decisions, but Anwu always subtly reminded her from the side, maintaining the dignity of the building master while smoothly handling the matters, which benefited Qingluan greatly. It can be said that Qingluan's wisdom was unmatched, what she lacked was experience, and Anwu's assistance made up for this deficiency, allowing Qingluan to better utilize her strengths.
Using the influence of the Dark Night Tower, Qingluan planted spies in every palace. To facilitate her operations, she also replaced the palace maids serving her with members of the Dark Night Tower. Qingxi and Zhiqiu were both top-ranked spies in the Dark Night Tower, their martial arts skills were unquestionable, and they were adept at reading people and analyzing their hearts, as well as identifying various poisons—qualities that would prove invaluable in the treacherous harem. This was quickly proven true, as they discovered and dealt with poisons or live poisonous creatures in Qingluan's food, clothing, and lodging on several occasions. Qingluan always smiled disdainfully at these things. When it came to using poison, she was second to none. She had a general idea of who wanted to harm her, but she was too busy to care about such petty tricks. Let them have their fun for a couple more days!
The Dark Knights are selected and rigorously trained from among the ordinary members of the Dark Night Tower. Typically, only one in a hundred is selected; the rest either give up due to the arduous training or fail to pass certain tests. While being a Dark Knight is tough, they hold a high status within the Dark Night Tower because they are tasked with special missions and rarely appear. Their presence signifies great importance. When not on missions, they rest, but most use their free time to improve their skills, maintaining or improving their ranking, as this directly impacts their status and benefits. Each Dark Knight has different strengths, and rankings are not solely based on martial arts. Some excel in martial arts, others in poisons, strategy, espionage, or possess extraordinary talent… Lower-ranked Dark Knights can challenge higher-ranked ones, the method and outcome of which are entirely up to them. However, there's no need to worry about anyone going easy on them. Every three years, the Dark Night Tower conducts an assessment of all Dark Knights to re-determine their rankings. This is not only a battle for status but also a battle for honor!
All the Dark People in the Dark Night Tower are under the command of Dark Charm. Dark Charm himself was also born into the Dark People. His records remain unbroken to this day. Although he is now a butler, he still holds the top spot on the Dark People ranking. Occasionally, some fearless Dark People will want to challenge him, and he will gladly accept. However, the challengers always leave blushing with shame and vow never to challenge him again, content to remain under Dark Charm's command for the rest of their lives.
Training the assassins was also one of Anmei's tasks. Knowing his discerning eye and abilities, Qingluan trusted the two people he had assigned to her. Qingluan originally hoped to keep such talented people where they were needed more, to better utilize their abilities. Keeping them by her side as palace maids would be a waste of their talents. However, Anmei said, "The safety of the Lord is the most important thing for Dark Night Tower. Their best role is to protect you!" After several repetitions, Qingluan accepted it, because her martial arts skills were indeed lacking.
The night was cool and still, with stars and a bright moon. Qingluan sent Qingxi and the others to rest, and leaned against the window. The moonlight flowed quietly by like water. Qingluan picked up the exquisite stone hanging around her neck and thought of the strange scene that day. It still felt like a dream.
That day, after meeting with Uncle Tianyuan, she returned to her bedchamber. Following his instructions, she dripped a tear into the Linglong Stone. The stone immediately emitted a dazzling nine-colored light and then slowly flew up from Qingluan's palm. The light suddenly became dazzling, and Qingluan subconsciously closed her eyes. But when she opened them, she found that the Linglong Stone was strung on a nine-colored silk thread and hung around her neck. The thread had no joints and could not be cut with a knife. No wonder Uncle Tianyuan said that no one but her could remove it. The only way to remove it was her master, the Nameless Daoist. Before meeting her master, Qingluan did not know how to remove it.
This nine-colored exquisite stone was something Master acquired by chance on a sacred mountain, a place where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathered, during his youthful travels. Legend has it that a celestial maiden descended to earth to pray for the well-being of all living beings on the sacred mountain, leaving behind this celestial artifact on her return to heaven. Since it's a celestial artifact, it must have some special effects, right? However, so far, besides noticing that wearing it has greatly improved my lightness skill and made my internal energy cultivation smoother, I haven't discovered any other differences. With my current level and speed of improvement in lightness skill, I wonder if I'll eventually be able to soar through the clouds like the celestial maiden? Qingluan wondered mischievously. But later experiences did indeed verify that the nine-colored exquisite stone had other wonderful uses; its current inactivity was simply due to the time not being right.
Uncle-Master Tianyuan occasionally came to the palace to discuss matters with Qingluan and Jun Yifeng. Qingluan enjoyed listening to Uncle-Master talk about anecdotes of the Lingxu Sect. Because the nameless Daoist rarely mentioned sect matters to Qingluan, she knew practically nothing about the Lingxu Sect, the sect she had been taught to. Under Qingluan's persistent questioning, Uncle-Master Tianyuan told them a lot about the sect.
The Lingxu Sect has a long and ancient history, dating back to the primordial era when Pangu separated heaven and earth. Legend has it that the sect's founder was transformed from Kunpeng, one of the nine primordial beasts, a divine beast commissioned by heaven to assist the Emperor Star. The nine primordial beasts refer to nine divine beasts that appeared in the primordial world: Baqi, Qinglong, Baihu, Zhuque, Xuanwu, Qilin, Kunpeng, and the three-legged golden crow. Zhuangzi's "Free and Easy Wandering" also states: "In the Northern Darkness there is a fish, its name is Kun. Kun is so large that no one knows how many thousands of miles it is; it transforms into a bird, its name is Peng. The back of Peng is so large that no one knows how many thousands of miles it is; when it flies in anger, its wings are like clouds hanging from the sky." This Kunpeng is skilled in transformation, understands all things, and helps the Heavenly Emperor purify the Jade Palace, and was bestowed the title of Nine Heavens Kunpeng.
The founding principle of the Lingxu Sect is to assist the Emperor and bring peace and stability to the country. Apart from the founder, each generation of Lingxu Sect disciples consists of two disciples, and the lineage has always been passed down through two branches with no exceptions. Only after the death of an existing disciple can a new disciple be accepted. Therefore, the selection process for disciples is extremely rigorous. As a result, each generation of disciples possesses exceptional talent, intelligence, and a pure and virtuous nature, taking it upon themselves to benefit all living beings.
"Why did you choose us as your disciples?" Qingluan asked Tianyuan, resting her chin on her elbow.