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Chapter 448: Chapter 448: The Second Major Event

"Yes, Your Majesty. Except for Mr. Corpse, who disappeared with the Mingyuan Pill, everyone else is still in the capital. They have no intention of leaving," the elderly eunuch replied.

"Your Majesty, could Zhong Shan and Mr. Corpse have abandoned the Zhong Family Army and left?" the hidden expert asked.

"Unlikely. He still needs to take Princess Ling'er with him. As long as she is here, Zhong Shan will come back," the elderly eunuch explained.

"You, go and ensure Princess Ling'er's safety. Do not let any more incidents occur!" Nie Fancheng ordered, revealing he had another card to play.

"Yes!" the hidden expert responded immediately before retreating and disappearing.

"You are to gather all available information on Zhong Shan and Mr. Corpse. I want detailed records of their family history, at least three generations back, without any omissions," Nie Fancheng instructed the elderly eunuch.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" the elderly eunuch acknowledged, sensing the gravity of the situation.

"Your Majesty, did you notice something unusual?" the elderly eunuch asked.

Taking a deep breath, Nie Fancheng replied, "Yes. Did you see that rune earlier?"

"Yes," the elderly eunuch nodded.

"That rune shouldn't exist in this world. It doesn't belong to this realm!" Nie Fancheng said gravely.

The elderly eunuch's eyes widened in shock, understanding why Nie Fancheng was so concerned.

"Reassign Zhong Shan's troop to a new location and wait for his return," Nie Fancheng commanded.

"Yes!"

Soon, the Zhong Family Army was relocated to a new residence.

Meanwhile, countless powerful figures in the capital of Lihuo slowly recovered from the earlier shock, their minds racing with thoughts.

Where was the Elixir of Immortality? Had it been stolen? Was it the Perfumed Buddha? That scoundrel! If not for her, the elixir wouldn't have been lost.

Many harbored intense hatred towards the Perfumed Buddha. She had indeed shown up earlier, making her the prime suspect.

However, many astute individuals believed the elixir was still in the hands of the Zhong Family Army, still with Zhong Shan. After all, they had seen the army calmly relocating as if nothing had happened.

Such calmness suggested the elixir hadn't been lost. So where was it? In the new residence? Impossible. Who would be that foolish with so many eyes watching?

But if the elixir was with the Zhong Family Army, finding Zhong Shan was the key. As long as Zhong Shan was found, the elixir would be with him, as it originally belonged to him.

Zhong Shan? It seemed there hadn't been any news of him for a while.

In a tavern in the capital of Lihuo:

"Do you know where Zhong Shan is?"

"Zhong Shan isn't at the new residence."

"Zhong Shan has been missing for a month. He must have escaped with the Elixir of Immortality."

"Are you out of your mind? If Zhong Shan had escaped with the elixir a month ago, what did you see a few days ago?"

"With so many eyes watching, if not for the Perfumed Buddha causing trouble, the elixir wouldn't have vanished from under everyone's noses. It probably wasn't Zhong Shan who took it."

"However, the item will eventually be in Zhong Shan's possession. Find him, and you'll find the Elixir of Immortality."

"But Zhong Shan is missing!"

"No, I know!" A voice suddenly came from the corner, where a man in white was sitting.

"Swish!"

Everyone's gaze turned to the man in white, and many prepared their magical artifacts, ready to seize him if necessary.

Seeing their reactions, the man in white felt a chill in his heart and immediately regretted his impulsive words.

"I know Zhong Shan will come back!" the man quickly explained.

"Oh? What makes you say that, young man?" someone asked.

Everyone else looked at him intently.

"Don't you remember the blessing messages? Who were they written for?" the man in white said.

"Oh, I remember now! It was for Princess Ling'er, for the martial competition four months later when Zhong Shan planned to propose!" someone suddenly exclaimed.

"Exactly, there's about a month left. Zhong Shan will definitely come back for the competition. When that happens, the Elixir of Immortality will reappear," the man in white said immediately.

"Right, Zhong Shan will return in about a month!" the other person said excitedly.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

The upcoming martial competition suddenly drew the attention of millions. The entire capital of Lihuo focused on this event, all eyes on Zhong Shan's marriage. Zhong Shan's plan from years ago to attract widespread attention and take Ling'er with him was taking a significant step forward. Widespread attention? It had now become the focus of billions!

This was the first major event happening in the capital of Lihuo.

As for the second major event, it was far more serious, though hidden from public view.

This story began before Zhong Shan's audience with Nie Fancheng. When Zhong Shan first arrived in the capital of Lihuo, he visited Nie Qingqing's residence to see Tian Ling'er and spent those days recounting their past stories to her.

On the first day of storytelling, Mr. Corpse immediately recognized the Suzaku that Zhong Shan had conjured using a spell, prompting Zhong Shan to devise a series of long-term plans.

Over the next two days, Zhong Shan mixed a few fake Gathering Fire Rice grains into Suzaku's Gathering Fire Rice.

Now the time had come. Hidden in a certain location, Mr. Corpse began casting a spell according to Zhong Shan's calculated timing.

With a slight movement of his hands, he quickly activated the spell.

The effect was immediate.

At Princess Ling'er's residence, Nie Qingqing accompanied Tian Ling'er.

"Sister, Zhong Shan still hasn't come. Why not?" Tian Ling'er pouted, feeling aggrieved.

"He will come back!" Nie Qingqing consoled her.

"There was chaos at the Southern Ming Tribute Hall yesterday, and he didn't show up. They say the Elixir of Immortality is gone. What will Zhong Shan do now?" Tian Ling'er said.

"Aren't you worried about your senior brother?" Nie Qingqing teased.

Hearing Nie Qingqing's words, Tian Ling'er's face turned red, and she said shyly, "Senior brother is just my senior brother, but Zhong Shan is... Zhong Shan is..."

"What is he? Is he your husband?" Nie Qingqing teased further.

"Sister!" Tian Ling'er said, playfully hitting Nie Qingqing, her face turning bright red as if it had been steamed.

"Hahaha!" Nie Qingqing laughed.

In her heart, Nie Qingqing was also impressed by Zhong Shan. His gifts were truly remarkable. Over these days, Tian Ling'er had been holding onto the book "The Adventures of Zhong Shan and Ling'er" and had not let go of it for a moment.

"But, what if... what if he doesn't come?" Tian Ling'er asked again, worry evident in her voice.

"Do you trust him?" Nie Qingqing asked.

"Yes!" Tian Ling'er nodded emphatically.

"If he said he would participate in the martial competition, do you think he will come?" Nie Qingqing asked.

"He will definitely come," Tian Ling'er replied immediately.

At that moment, the little Suzaku on the table in front of them suddenly began to chirp frantically.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp!"

"Little Red, what's wrong?" Tian Ling'er quickly picked up the panicking bird.

The Suzaku continued to chirp loudly in panic, and as Tian Ling'er held it, she suddenly noticed something alarming.

"Ah, Little Red!" Tian Ling'er screamed.

She realized that a handful of red feathers had come loose in her hand. The Suzaku was losing its feathers, more and more falling out uncontrollably.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp!"

"What do we do? What's happening? What's wrong with Little Red?" Tian Ling'er cried out.

In a matter of moments, the Suzaku was almost entirely bald, save for the long feather on its head. The bird looked terrified and bewildered, as if it had been stripped bare.

Tian Ling'er was frightened, Nie Qingqing was shocked.

"Sister, what do we do? Little Red has lost all its feathers. Will it die? Why is this happening?" Tian Ling'er screamed in terror.

During her time in the capital of Lihuo, apart from Nie Qingqing, the Suzaku had been Tian Ling'er's closest companion. Now, with this sudden condition, how could she not be terrified and worried?

"Don't worry, don't worry. I'll find someone!" Nie Qingqing quickly said and ran out.

Tian Ling'er was left holding the pitiful, featherless Suzaku, looking extremely worried.

Meanwhile, in a secluded corner, Mr. Corpse exhaled a long breath.

"Reversing time? Reversing time can be accelerated. Little Suzaku only has six months left to live. I hope everything goes well for His Majesty," Mr. Corpse muttered, glancing at the Mingyuan Pill in his hand with a faint smile.

At the same time, on Phoenix Island, within the Phoenix Palace.

In a sun-drenched location with rolling magma, Wu Jiutian sat cross-legged above the flowing magma. Her eyes were closed, absorbing the energy from the magma.

Suddenly, Wu Jiutian's eyes shot open, filled with endless killing intent.

The temperature in the palace plummeted. The terrifying killing intent from Wu Jiutian's eyes caused the magma below to freeze instantly. The entire pool of magma turned to ice with just a glance, emanating from her sheer fury.

"Boom!"

On Phoenix Island, lightning suddenly flashed, dark clouds covered the sky, and a massive amount of lightning and fire spewed from the clouds, demonstrating the overwhelming anger of the island's master, Wu Jiutian. Her powerful rage caused immense disturbances in the surrounding environment.