There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 45 features a historical figure!
After sorting through his thoughts, Chen Qing calmed his surging inner energy, made a few calculations, and then, with a look of surprise, said to Lü Feng and Yin Lin'er, "This comprehension has taken three days! I wonder if the Empress has already made her move?"

"I haven't heard any movement," Lü Feng said with emotion. "The Emperor's ascension to heaven and earth is a great act of merit, and he has bestowed upon us a golden rain of creation. In this Jade Capital, from princes and nobles to commoners, who wouldn't take advantage of this moment of interaction between heaven and earth to comprehend the profound mysteries?"

Yin Lin'er interjected, "The streets have been very quiet these past few days, and even the usually arrogant Sky Patrol Guards have stayed indoors! I heard that there are spiritual energy vortexes in the Sixth Prince's residence day and night, probably because he is comprehending the Daoist principles left behind by the Emperor."

“It seems they are too busy to do anything else for the time being, but…” Chen Qing continued, “With the Immortal Emperor’s ascension, the original plan is no longer feasible, and the Rain of Creation has already stopped.”

Lu Feng sighed and nodded, saying, "That's right. The aftereffects of the ascension have been lingering for the past two or three days, and there has been no movement from any side. But things will not be peaceful in the next few days. We must find another way to find the Crimson Stone, and we cannot delay!"

"Alchemy is important, but if the Empress Dowager takes power, even if she refines a great elixir, it will probably be of no use." Chen Qing's gaze swept over the majestic palace in the distance. "However, when the Immortal Emperor was in power, the Empress Dowager still had to rely on his majesty. Now that the Immortal Emperor has ascended, where is the foundation of the Empress Dowager's power? The Sixth Prince covets the throne, but is this Lingxiao Throne truly his for the taking?"

Lu Feng was taken aback, then said, "How could the Emperor not make arrangements before ascending to immortality?" He suddenly realized, "That's right, the Great Dao is transcendent, and worldly power is nothing but fleeting smoke. Now that he has ascended to immortality, why would he care about the disputes here?"

Chen Qing nodded slightly. The spiritual light in his Niwan Palace flowed, reflecting the last glimpse of the Immortal Emperor severing his ties to the mortal world when he ascended to immortality. He couldn't help but wonder, if it were him, what choice would he make?
But he immediately shook his head; that moment was too far removed from his own life.

"You want to take advantage of this situation?" Lu Feng thought for a moment, then shook his head with a wry smile. "With our meager skills, we don't even qualify to be pawns! Besides, the people in this Jade Capital are unpredictable these days; who can be trusted?"

As he spoke, his expression turned serious, and he earnestly advised, "Young friend Chen, at this time, it is best to bide your time and conceal your abilities! Although you are blessed with good fortune, your foundation is still shallow. Listen to my advice, and temporarily avoiding the limelight is the best course of action! How could we possibly get involved in such matters? I will take you out of the city now, with your talent..."

"No matter how talented we are, how can we contend with the Immortal Dynasty?" Chen Qing stared out the window, his eyes deep. "Leaving the city is easy, but has Elder Lü considered this? If the Sixth Prince ascends the throne, a single edict could leave us nowhere to hide; the Empress has been cultivating the Immortal Dynasty's power for many years. How long can we hide? This is not the best strategy; it's like drinking poison to quench thirst!"

His current form is an incarnation from a dream, and he is actually unafraid of life and death.

Moreover, Chen Qing was as clear-headed as a mirror: Elder Lü's suggestion seemed prudent, but little did he know that there was another player at play, the mysterious "Xuanming Hermit." The Sixth Prince and the Empress's machinations might very well have been a stepping stone for someone else!

This secret of foresight is the key to breaking the deadlock, but how to make the right move still requires careful planning.

At this moment, a glimmer of inspiration flashed in Chen Qing's mind, and figures from the past swept through his thoughts like a revolving lantern.

Suddenly, a figure froze—

He was dressed in fine clothes, with a hint of cynicism in his eyes.

"Could it be that you already have a plan in mind?" Lu Feng stared at Chen Qing with his empty eye sockets, but then reminded him, "The other parties are not benevolent either. Making contact rashly could be like jumping from one fire pit into another!"

Instead of answering, Chen Qing asked, "Old Master Lü has lived in Yujing for a long time. Do you know about Young Marquis Lu Qiyuan? Does he have a residence in the city?"

“Lu Qiyuan?” Lü Feng looked surprised. “He’s a notorious playboy! Relying on his father, the Marquis of Donghai’s, reputation, he runs rampant in Yujing. He often lives in Lanyue Villa, which is the Marquis of Donghai’s property in Yujing. It’s located in Jinlinfang and is very impressive.”

Chen Qing was taken aback: "The Marquis of Donghai?"

Lu Feng nodded: "The Marquis of Donghai possesses a vast sea territory, is as wealthy as a country, and his Zhenhai Warships are renowned throughout Dongling."

Chen Qing's mind flashed through the scattered records about the Marquis of Donghai in "Tales of the Immortal Dynasty"—

[There is the 'Coral Palace' of the Marquis of the East Sea, built on a foundation of ten thousand acres of coral, with crystal palaces where revelry takes place every night; artificial mountains are sculpted from thousand-year-old black ice, with a living spring flowing backwards on them, and spirit fish swimming among them...]

He was a representative figure of the extravagant lifestyle of the Immortal Dynasty after the Immortal Emperor ascended to immortality!

Did he actually foresee the future Marquis of Donghai?

It's unknown whether the "Marquis of the East Sea" recorded in the "Tales of the Immortal Dynasty" is Lu Qiyuan himself, or his descendant. "However, his fame and his father's considerable power certainly increase the odds!"

"You want to ask him for help?" Lu Feng frowned. "Although this man once had feelings for the princess, the current situation is treacherous, and he is a notorious opportunist who acts recklessly and has a bad reputation. The risk is too great!"

Chen Qing didn't reveal his thoughts, but said, "Right now, you and I are trapped in the Qin Lu, with our ears and eyes closed. How are we any different from blind and deaf people? The threat from the Empress and the Sixth Prince is like dark clouds overhead, and a storm could come at any time. Rather than waiting for the thunder to strike, we should take the initiative to seek out a glimpse of the wind."

Lu Feng remained silent for a long while before his hoarse voice rang out, carrying a hint of determination: "So be it! Either way, it's a gamble with our lives! What do you plan to do? Although Lan Yue Villa is not a den of dragons and tigers, it is heavily guarded. Lu Qiyuan must have experts by his side. There is absolutely no way to force our way in."

"Force my way in?" Chen Qing chuckled. "That's the worst possible strategy. What I want is for him to invite me in on his own initiative. However, leaving the manor this time might attract some attention, so we still need to be prepared to relocate."

"They invited you on their own initiative?" Lü Feng was taken aback.

Jinlinfang, Lanyue Bieyuan.

Chen Qing stopped and looked up.

The gate, three zhang high, stands majestically, carved entirely from ancient submerged wood. Two lion-like creatures, carved from deep-sea blue crystal, sit on either side, their eyes inlaid with luminous pearls that shimmer with a faint light.

Above the door is a purple jade plaque with the four characters "Lan Yue Bie Yuan" written in silver and iron strokes, and the sound of waves can be faintly heard.

"Halt! This is the Marquis's residence, no idlers allowed!"

The guards at the gate, clad in fish-scale armor and exuding a fierce aura, immediately shouted at Chen Qing as he stopped to look him over, their hands already on the water-splitting daggers at their waists.

Chen Qing didn't say much, but flipped his palm and showed a red token, which was the Red Fire Token that Young Master Lu had given him after hearing about the plan to pacify the people and absolve the guilty.

"Om-"

The token's crimson markings suddenly shone brightly, and the surrounding moisture instantly evaporated!
The two guards turned deathly pale instantly!

"The Crimson Fire Token?!" The two men immediately lost all arrogance. "Please forgive us, esteemed guest! We were blind! Please follow me!" One of them bowed and practically crawled to lead Chen Qing inside.

After passing through the doorway, a bright and spacious view suddenly appeared before me!
The entire courtyard is built around a spirit pool, with its shimmering blue waters, rare and exotic fish swimming among the corals, and a warm jade rainbow bridge spanning the water.

"This is truly an eye-opener! Compared to this, Bai Shaoyou seems quite simple." Chen Qing stepped onto the Rainbow Bridge. The bridge surface was warm and smooth, with a subtle warmth seeping into the soles of his feet. "This extravagant style must be a family tradition."

On both sides of the Rainbow Bridge, golden carp leap out of the water, blowing colorful bubbles.

The guards leading the way dared not breathe too loudly as they escorted Chen Qing to a white jade terrace.

On the stage, Lu Qiyuan lay languidly on a soft couch, with maids in light gauze kneeling to his left and right, some massaging his legs, others peeling glistening spiritual fruits for him.

"Your Highness! A distinguished guest has arrived with the Crimson Fire Token and requests an audience!" a guard announced loudly from outside the terrace.

Lu Qiyuan was enjoying the maid's gentle massage with his eyes closed when he heard this and suddenly opened them. When he saw who it was, he jumped down barefoot and laughed as he greeted them: "Hahaha! Chen Xu! It really is you! I knew you would come!"

His voice was strong and full of vigor, with a touch of pride: "With the Holy Emperor's ascension, the princess is already at her wit's end. You should have sought refuge with a wise ruler long ago! You've come to the right place! With your abilities and my power, the Jade Capital is vast, where can't you go? Wealth, honor, and longevity are within your grasp!"

　Please bookmark this page if you're passing by, and if you're reading, please check back every day to follow along. I'm a newbie and I'd be very grateful!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)