Sludge suction system

That day, as the eastern sky was just beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn, the faint rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds, casting a hazy veil over the earth. Hua Yu, already prepared, set off for the Great Fish Kingdom's palace, filled with anticipation and eagerness. She had only one thought in her mind—to find out as soon as possible where the mysterious totem fragment was hidden.

Finally, the magnificent palace gates came into view. Hua Yu quickly stepped forward, announced her identity to the guards, and stated her wish to see the Emperor. Upon seeing that the visitor was none other than Miss Hua Yu, who was deeply favored by the Emperor, the guards dared not show the slightest disrespect. One of them hurriedly turned and went inside to report. Before long, a palace eunuch rushed over and respectfully led Hua Yu through numerous palace gates and corridors towards the Emperor's study.

Upon entering the imperial study, Hua Yu knelt and paid her respects to the emperor according to etiquette. After completing the ceremony, she could no longer contain her anxiety and eagerly said, "Your Majesty, I have come here today with another request!" Before she finished speaking, she couldn't help but slightly raise her head, cautiously observing the emperor's expression, trying to catch a clue from his face.

The emperor sat upright on his dragon throne, a hint of delight on his face. He parted his lips slightly, his voice calm yet authoritative, and said, "Miss Hua, I presume you have come for the national treasure of my Great Fish Kingdom—the fragment of the Great Fish Totem?"

Hearing the emperor so directly reveal her purpose, Hua Yu was first startled, but quickly regained her composure and hurriedly replied, "Indeed, Your Majesty is wise and powerful, able to guess my thoughts at a glance. I beg Your Majesty to have mercy and tell me the whereabouts of this totem fragment!" Her words were full of earnestness and pleading.

However, the emperor did not answer her question immediately. Instead, he slowly stood up, put his hands behind his back, walked to the window, gazed at the rising sun outside, sighed deeply, and said with emotion, "It seems that the ancient prophecy has finally come true... Fate cannot be defied!"

Upon hearing this, Hua Yu's heart tightened, and she hurriedly asked, "What does Your Majesty mean? I wonder what the content of this prophecy is? May Your Majesty tell me a little about it?"

"In the royal family of our Great Fish Kingdom, a mysterious prophetic song has always been passed down, the content of which is roughly as follows:"

Totem relics, their magical power subtly revealed.

A mysterious woman was born.

To take it away, the royal family offered their blood.

Only through this sacrifice can the shackles be broken.

Blessed by grace, a century of peace and tranquility.

Those destined for this world are steadfast in heart and devout in will.

He transformed himself into a keystone, and wrote a covenant in blood.

On the altar, the heroic souls turned to smoke.

When the totem shines brightly, all calamities will be averted.

The dynasty lasted a long time, prospering for a century.

Sweet pastoral songs, leisurely life for the people.

When the cycle of reincarnation arrives, a new chapter will be written.

This prophecy has been passed down through the ages.

"What does that mean exactly?" Hua Yu was completely baffled.

The emperor turned around, his gaze fixed intently on Hua Yu. "This means that as our nation's magic gradually dissipates, the giant fish totem will exhibit strange phenomena, and the country will face turmoil. At this time, a mysterious woman will appear, reopen the altar, and save the totem fragments whose magic is waning. However, she will have to pay a heavy price..." The emperor hesitated, unsure whether to continue, staring blankly at Hua Yu.

"So Your Majesty means that I am the mysterious woman who saved the Great Fish Kingdom? What price must I pay?" Hua Yu pressed.

"The Great Fish Kingdom has always relied on the totem fragments for its survival. Recently, the magic power of the totem fragments has been severely depleted, and I've been worried that the prophecy will come true. The moment I saw you, I had a strange feeling. I knew that you were that mysterious woman, a deity sent by heaven to save my Great Fish Kingdom. However, the Imperial Advisor hasn't told me exactly how to save the totem fragments. Perhaps I should summon the Imperial Advisor to discuss how to deal with this crisis." The emperor quickly ordered the palace servants to summon the Imperial Advisor.

The heavy palace gates slowly opened, emitting a deep creaking sound, like the groan of an ancient beast. A figure in crimson purple stepped out from the shadows filled with the faint scent of sandalwood. The sunlight seemed to be afraid, only daring to cast a few stingy rays of light on the hem of his robes.

He was the Grand Preceptor of the Great Fish Kingdom. His face was pale, yet tinged with a sickly pallor. His eyes were long and deep, their darkness seemingly concealing endless starlight, or perhaps harboring a magical vortex capable of seeing through the trajectories of all fates in the world. Beneath his high, straight nose, his thin lips were slightly pursed, the faint curve at the corners of his mouth seeming to mock the foolishness and insignificance of all living beings.

His steps were light yet slow, each step seeming to tread on invisible strings of fate, the subtle sounds like the prelude to a symphony concerning the rise and fall of a nation, its very life and death. His crimson robe swayed gently in the wind, the golden runes embroidered on its hem appearing and disappearing, as if whispering ancient and mysterious incantations. His jet-black hair cascaded down his back, simply tied back with a single jade hairpin, further emphasizing his otherworldly presence. He seemed like an envoy descended from a distant divine realm, carrying an unfathomable mission and imposing presence, stepping onto the ever-changing stage of the mortal world, about to unveil the many veils sealed by prophecy.

The Imperial Advisor slowly spoke, "Your Majesty, I am late."

"Grand Preceptor, no need for formalities, quickly explain the second half of the Great Fish Kingdom's prophecy," the emperor urged anxiously.

The Imperial Advisor looked troubled, as if he had something difficult to say.

Seeing this, the emperor knew that the imperial advisor must have concerns, so he said, "Imperial advisor, there is no need to worry. I can accept whatever the outcome may be. Please speak freely."

The Grand Preceptor finally breathed a sigh of relief and slowly began to speak: "The second half of the prophecy states that when the altar on the Holy Mountain reopens, the totem of the Great Fish Kingdom will be taken away by this mysterious woman, and the Great Fish Kingdom will return to peace and tranquility. However, the condition is that a young man from the royal family must sacrifice himself for this, voluntarily offering his pure soul and precious life to protect the Great Fish Kingdom in place of the totem fragments."

The emperor, seated on his dragon throne, listened intently to the Grand Preceptor's words, his face grave. For a moment, he froze, at a loss for words. His heart was torn. On one side was the Great Fish Kingdom, protected by generations of his ancestors—a land and state forged with the blood and lives of countless forefathers. On the other side was his only beloved son—Lan Yun. At this moment, the emperor seemed to be pulled by an invisible force, caught in a dilemma, unable to make a decision. His mouth opened slightly, but he remained silent for a long time.

Standing to the side, Hua Yu listened quietly to the Imperial Preceptor's narration. Her beautiful, captivating eyes gleamed slightly, as if she had already grasped the profound meaning hidden behind this mysterious prophecy. Although she needed to help Xiao Zha find the whereabouts of the fragments of the Xuan Tian Mirror, the reality before her was so cruel and merciless: in the entire royal family, the only man who could still be considered young was the Fifth Prince, Lan Yun. However, this Fifth Prince was precisely the one she loved! Thinking of this, Hua Yu couldn't help but feel saddened, her delicate brows furrowed, and her heart instantly fell into a deep dilemma.

Time passed by, second by second, and no one knew how long the silence had lasted. The atmosphere in the palace grew increasingly tense and heavy. A thick gloom hung over everyone's face, their expressions either worried and uneasy or melancholy. The oppressive atmosphere was like a giant black hand, tightly gripping the throats of everyone present, making it almost impossible for them to breathe.

At this suffocating moment, a series of steady, powerful footsteps suddenly came from afar, like a bolt of lightning piercing the dark night sky, instantly drawing the attention of everyone in the hall. Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a figure striding towards them with firm and bold steps. As the person drew closer, everyone recognized his face; it was Lan Yun, who had recently reunited with the emperor. He stood tall and proud, his bearing imposing, and strode directly to the emperor. He then knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, “Father, please forgive your unfilial son. But as a prince, it is my duty to serve the country and its people. I am willing to offer my own life as a sacrifice, only asking that you protect the people of my Great Fish Kingdom!” Having said this, he raised his head, and his handsome, resolute face showed not a trace of fear of death.