You said you were going to make games, how did you become the richest man without doing anything?

Chapter 446: Cardinal Court (2 in 1 order)

At this moment, Princess Tana suddenly let out a scream of pain.

She clutched her abdomen, her face etched with agony, her delicate body thrashing about on the ground. A thick black mist slowly emerged from her body, quickly enveloping her completely. The strange black mist, like a ferocious claw, gripped Tana tightly, twisting her body in agony.

Zhong Wuye was startled and rushed forward. By this time, Tana's makeup had completely faded, and her once otherworldly, porcelain-skinned face was now distorted into a look of immense pain. Her eyes were filled with fear, her petite body trembled uncontrollably, and her hands waved wildly in the air, like a dying person.

Zhong Wuye watched in amazement as the black fog grew thicker, making it even harder for Tana to breathe. He tried to help her, but was blocked by an invisible force. Just as she was about to suffocate, Qin Huan suddenly took a big step forward, muttering something, and quickly dispelled the black fog, saving Tana temporarily.

"This is an ancient formation restriction. This girl has been placed under such a formation. It's really too terrifying!" Qin Huan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said solemnly. Zhong Wuye quickly helped Tana up and asked with concern: "What is going on? Who did such a wicked thing to her?"

Qin Huan said, "We are now isolated and helpless! Princess Tana is now trapped in such a difficult situation. We are really helpless. Why not go and ask the people in the Cardinal Academy for advice? They are the most prestigious royal institution with students all over the country. Maybe they can find a solution."

Zhong Wuye listened and nodded in agreement. Speaking of which, the Cardinal Academy, as the highest temple of science in the empire, is home to countless talented people, so it is very likely that there is a way to break this formation.

So the three of them set off quickly and headed towards the Cardinal Court.

……

The Cardinal Court was located in the center of the Imperial City, occupying several peaks. However, all that could be seen along the way were magnificent buildings, seemingly outlining an immense "Heavenly Pavilion" on the peaks.

From afar, the thousands of towering palaces are all made of plain white tiles, shining brightly under the reflection of the bright sun, reflecting thousands of rainbow-like rays of light; the most eye-catching one is a loft located on the top of the main peak. It is shaped like a huge spaceship, with an astronomical telescope several meters high on the top, which looks majestic and elegant.

Surprisingly, the Cardinal Court was surrounded by a plain several kilometers wide, dotted with bizarre instruments and devices. Some resembled muskets, their barrels slender, their muzzles pointed heavenward; others resembled small spaceships, their wings firmly anchored to the ground; and still others were so large they were barely discernible even from a distance. All of this demonstrated the Cardinal Court's unfathomable intellectual and technological prowess.

He went straight to the main gate of the Cardinal Court and saw that the stone tower was dozens of feet high and as thick as three people could hug.

The gate is also carved with auspicious clouds and lion hoof patterns, demonstrating the sculptor's exquisite craftsmanship. On either side stands a colossal figure: one a giant lion, roaring to the heavens, a majestic sight; the other a majestic flying lion. A dragon and a dog intertwine, resembling a dragon soaring through the sky. Each beast, with its eyes piercing with fury and imposing, exudes a majestic presence that inspires awe.

……

Pushing open the majestic gate of the Cardinal Court, one sees a straight and wide bluestone road.
At that moment, a young man dressed in black approached, bowed, and said, "Are you the guests who wish to see the dean? There are three traps set up here. Only by passing through them can you gain the right to see the dean."

After saying this, the young man led them forward, and soon they came to a portal made up of heavy stone doors.

Zhong Wuye looked at the extremely tall stone door, hesitated for a moment and asked: "What mechanism do you have to pass through? Is it difficult?" The young man shook his head, smiled mysteriously, and said: "It's not difficult, not difficult. But you still have to be careful, and remember not to take it lightly." After that, he stepped aside and pointed to the stone door.

Seeing this, Zhong Wuye had no choice but to step forward and push open the stacked stone doors. Inside was a dark hall with nothing else. Just as Zhong Wuye stepped in and hesitated, the stone door slammed shut.
She quickly turned around to look, and saw that the gate was surrounded by countless shocking hidden weapons, some of which had even been extended out and could be shot out at any time.

At this critical moment, Qin Huan acted decisively, pulling out a folding fan and gently shaking it. A powerful gust of air suddenly surged and spread, dispelling all the hidden weapons. Tana, standing nearby, was also alert. She pulled out a strange orb from her bosom. It emitted wisps of dark red light, attracting everyone's attention in the darkness.

Soon, the entire hall gradually brightened, and an eerie red light illuminated the entire space. Zhong Wuye was shocked: it turned out that this hall was filled with countless hidden eaves, mechanisms, and hidden weapons, forming an extremely complex maze with a huge formation, countless doorways, and unique paths. It seemed that passing this level would be no easy task.

Zhong Wuye reached into his bosom and took out his weapon: a sword of peculiar shape, with a broad blade, a round and thick back, a gray-green body, crystal clear, and more than a foot long.

She exhaled slightly and raised the sword high. Suddenly, a puff of green smoke seeped out from the sword, lingering and full of spirituality, swirling around in the hall.

Zhong Wuye summoned his energy and turned his sword technique, causing the smoke to grow thicker, as if it had transformed into a mass of substance, swirling like vines towards every hidden weapon, mechanism, and eaves in the hall. The ubiquitous vines spread out swiftly, enveloping the entire maze, while the hidden weapons and eaves remained motionless.

Seeing this, Zhong Wuye's spirits lifted, and he immediately leaped in. His sword whistled, scattering gray shadows as it passed through, severing vines and deflecting the incoming hidden weapons. Zhong Wuye's agility, aided by the Spirit Snake Sword, allowed him to move freely through the air, charging straight for the protruding platform in the hall.

Seeing this, Tana and Qin Huan also hurried to follow. The folding fan Qin Huan carried transformed into an invisible gust of wind, protecting Zhong Wuye from front and back. Countless hidden weapons were blown this way and that, flying and falling, unable to harm him at all. Tana's bead was even more magical. The moment it shone, all the hidden weapons in the sky turned into phantoms and disappeared into thin air.

The three of them fought side by side, forcing their way through the maze of dark currents and soon reaching the top of the winding and rugged stone platform. At this moment, a loud noise was heard, and countless stone doors opened simultaneously in all directions. Thousands of hidden weapons, flying eaves, and sharp arrows shot towards them.

What was also shocking was the strange black shadows that rushed out from every door. Their shapes were completely irregular, like some monsters from hell.

In the blink of an eye, Zhong Wuye was already blocked by Qin Huan and Tana. With exquisite agility and masterful moves, they fought against the endless stream of sharp weapons and demonic figures. In this back-and-forth struggle, after an unknown amount of time, Zhong Wuye suddenly saw a figure appear at the top of the stairs. Wasn't this the young man who had led them here?
……

"Excellent, excellent. I knew you would make it through the first level," the young man said, his face full of approval. Then, with a wave of his sleeve, the swarm of hidden weapons and demonic figures suddenly stopped. Tana and Qin Huan also ceased their attacks and defenses. Zhong Wuye was even more astonished to discover that these hidden weapons and demonic figures were actually composed of countless phantoms, devoid of any substance.
It turned out that the focus of this level was simply to test their martial arts skills and control, to see if they could harness their inner strength to manipulate the treasures to unleash their omnipotent powers. Although Zhong Wuye played a minor role in the first half, he demonstrated his prowess in the subsequent rounds, cooperating with his comrades and showing impressive coordination and reflexes. When they entered the second level, the situation became even more puzzling. Everywhere they looked, they saw a complex web of directions, astronomical diagrams, and ancient-looking inscriptions, overlapping and overlapping. The young man explained that this level would explore the mysteries of yin and yang, as well as the astronomical laws related to time and space.

Such a difficult mystery truly challenged Zhong Wuye. Fortunately, Qin Huan read widely and had a good understanding of astrology and the theory of metaphysics. Tana was also well versed in ancient texts. With the help of the two of them, he finally managed to pass the second level.

By the time they reached the third level, they were at the end of their rope and almost in a hopeless situation.

Passing through an ancient, gilded bronze door, they emerged into a hall of bizarre furnishings, a dazzling display of mirrors reflecting each other. Soon, their shadows appeared in the mirrors, their movements mirroring those of the real people. Zhong Wuye, alert and focused, unsheathed his sword and swatted away several tentative reflections. He didn't know if these shadows would bring harm, but he was not to be taken lightly.

Suddenly, the mirror images launched a simultaneous attack, attacking them with swords, darts, ropes, and sharp weapons. Zhong Wuye immediately activated the Spirit Snake Sword Technique. The sword in his hand erupted in smoke, transforming into several spirit snakes that slithered and entwined the weapons of each mirror image. Qin Huan and Tana also continuously waved their weapons to protect Zhong Wuye and deflect the incoming hidden weapons.

At this critical moment, the hall revealed a strange phenomenon: the mirrors slid aside, revealing an extremely large mirror in the center of the hall. Zhong Wuye vaguely saw his own figure magnified on it, and behind him, a terrifying monster of immense size!
The demonic form resembled a giant, its fangs bared and claws swaying, a terrifying sight. Zhong Wuye's heart trembled, and he exerted his might even more forcefully. The smoke from the Spirit Snake Sword grew thicker, transforming into a raging serpent, roaring and biting at the terrifying demonic form. Finally, with the full cooperation of Tana and Qin Huan, the demonic form was torn apart by the snake formation, disintegrating into a cloud of ash.

This level was incredibly difficult, requiring not only meticulous deduction but also a test of spiritual cultivation. Zhong Wuye and the others had to pay a huge price, using their divine power to break through the numerous illusion arrays. By the time they finally pushed open the door to the inner hall, the three were exhausted and practically breathless.

……

A middle-aged man in a silver-white robe was sitting there, his eyes slightly closed, his expression indifferent. When Zhong Wuye dragged the two of them in, the middle-aged man slowly opened his eyes, his gaze as sharp as a torch, and stared at them for a moment before smiling faintly.

Zhong Wuye felt that this gaze was very familiar, as if he had seen it before. But soon the middle-aged man spoke: "I didn't expect that a group of young people could not even be stumped by the three-layered mechanism of the Cardinal Court. It is truly remarkable. Then I will not keep you in suspense. I am Dean Cangli. Have you guessed the purpose of our visit?"
Zhong Wuye mused in silence, and Cangli spoke directly, "I had long expected such a group to come to my door, because I know Princess Tana's identity better than anyone else. You're using the case at the Grand Tutor's Mansion as a cover to investigate the details of the Blood Rose Gang, right?"

Zhong Wuye was stunned and looked at Tana in surprise.

Seeing this, Cangli smiled and said, "Yes, the Tana beside you is the real princess. As for the person in the Grand Tutor's Mansion, she is just a carefully packaged substitute. The Cardinals have long been aware of the movements of the Blood Rose. Their target this time is actually Princess Tana. We are just trying to seize this opportunity to catch them all in one fell swoop."

Cangli sat there, his hands clasped together, as quiet as an ancient well, as if he had already seen through their intentions.

Zhong Wuye's heart moved, and he bowed and said, "The dean is far-sighted and has anticipated our intention. However, I have a few questions and would like to ask for your guidance."

Cangli nodded, signaling him to continue. Zhong Wuye said, "Since you already know the Blood Rose's movements, why didn't you bring them to justice the moment they entered the country? Instead, why did you allow them to wreak havoc in Chang'an?"

Cang Li replied solemnly, "The Blood Roses are an old rival, with a complex network of influence and branches spanning several countries. If we rashly capture their leader, we will inevitably bring about even greater disaster. Therefore, we must employ a more sophisticated strategy within the game. We must first force them to bare their fangs, revealing their hiding places and forces. This is the only way to capture them all in one fell swoop."

Zhong Wuye nodded, seeming to understand. She then asked, "What about the seal within Princess Tana's body? From what I know, the princess has suffered a lot since she was young. Could it be because of this seal?"

Cangli's expression grew serious as he spoke, "What's sealed within the princess is actually an ancient grudge. When she was born, she was pulled and engraved by a mysterious force. Only by finding the source can we avoid further calamity."

Zhong Wuye couldn't help but feel sad. He looked at Tana who was standing beside him with a serious expression. Although she was stubborn and refused to accept, she also revealed a hint of vicissitudes of life.

Zhong Wuye once again turned his gaze towards Cangli and said, "So what is the information about Xuantian Dragon Territory?"

Cangli shook his head and interrupted him:
"This is a long story. Simply put, the Xuantian Dragon Territory is a place that carries a destiny that stretches back thousands of years, and its events are already well documented. And you, Zhong Wuye, have certain traits in your blood that are bound to be closely connected to it. If you can help me suppress the seal within the princess, I will then pass on this crucial information to you."

Zhong Wuye nodded thoughtfully, her curiosity about the Xuantian Dragon Territory growing. She didn't know her own origins, but how could the characteristics of her bloodline be connected to that place? It seemed she could only lend a hand to Cangli.

At this moment, Tana suddenly spoke, her tone tinged with stubbornness: "But once the seal is broken, that resentment will reawaken, right? And over time, I'm afraid it will also harm my cultivation. So, Dean, please think twice before acting."

Cangli shook his head. "Don't worry. The Cardinals have been studying this for years. Suppressing the seal won't harm your cultivation. Furthermore, even if the evil spirit temporarily awakens, it won't be as arrogant as before, as it will be under our heavy suppression. First, suppress the seal within your body. Only then can we further investigate the origin of this evil spirit."

Tana pondered for a long time before finally nodding. Zhong Wuye and Qin Huan also felt that Cangli's words were true, and since the matter was of great importance, they should counterattack. So the four of them decided to suppress the seal within Tana first and clear Sima Ru of suspicion. Once everything was in place, they would deal with the Blood Rose and inquire about the whereabouts of Xuantian Dragon Domain.

……

So, they decided to attack the Grand Tutor's residence at night to obtain evidence of the Grand Tutor's surprise attack on the diplomatic mission.

(End of this chapter)