Director Hua was personally announcing the results to Emperor Weide himself.
"Emperor, this humble one reports a success. My modest Golden Flowery Fragrance Institute was lucky enough to succeed. Through this luck, we were gifted with five Nine-Souls Calamity Ascension Pills. As intended, we will offer the best pill to the gracious Emperor who offered us the services of esteemed Master Sun."
"What is the quality of the pill?"
Although he kept a composed and respectful tone, Director Hua could feel the trepidation in his voice. Not only was he busy with something, but he was also incredibly impatient to learn this news. Most likely, the thought had obsessed him for months now. Seeing the object of his obsession so close only made it grow. Soon, he wouldn't be able to control himself. Of course, Director Hua didn't want to appear seditious at all, so she replied honestly.
"Unfortunately, we couldn't quite produce a Pure pill. However, it's so close that it would probably be considered such by most. Our best success reached almost ninety-five percent medicinal essence and only a few percent of toxins, negligible really."
Director Hua stopped talking. She even stopped breathing. Emperor Weide couldn't see her, but she could hear his voice in her mind through the array formation. However, she knew better than to interrupt his thoughts.
"Director Hua, whether this pill actually helps me or not, your Golden Flowery Fragrance Institute greatly served our Hongchen Kingdom. No matter what happens, this Emperor won't forget it. Master Sun was accompanied by guards I hand-picked myself. They'll be able to ensure the safety of the pill as they bring it to the Imperial City."
Finally, Director Hua had to go against the words of her Emperor. Thankfully, she had cultivated her subservience and respect for a very long time. As such, she knew how to phrase her disagreement.
"Emperor, if this humble one may be so bold, I do not think it is wise for Emperor Weide to consume the pill first. Among our pills, another one reached the Perfect stage, and yet another is very close to it. Those are the pills that our Golden Flowery Fragrance Institute is going to gift to Sect Leader Xuan and Matriarch Huang. Considering that both are ready to step into the Sage realm, this humble one thinks it preferable to study the effects of the pills on them. Spirit Master Xiao and I could personally be present to help them control the medicinal essence and monitor everything. That way, even if they fail, we'll have records to examine everything, increasing the chances of success for Emperor Weide."
Director Hua was following Cao Yun's logic. Hopefully, the young man was spot-on when it came to Emperor Weide. But, even if he was wrong, they would at least be buying some time.
"I appreciate your idea and your concern, Director. However, I must be the pillar of mankind. Unfortunately, Sect Leader Xuan and Matriarch Huang are both too old. Their age might cause the breakthrough to fail. It is preferable for me to test the Nine-Souls Calamity Ascension Pill."
"This humble one admires your courage and nobility. However, this is very risky. If this one can't convince Emperor Weide to delay, then I would at least like to demand the honors of assisting him in his breakthrough. Many alchemists, including myself, are ready to help Emperor Weide as much as we can."
Indeed, Cao Yun had been right. Emperor Weide didn't want Sect Leader Xuan or Matriarch Huang to have a chance to break through before him. Although the chances of success were slim, even with the pill, both of them had already attempted the breakthrough, so they had more experience. On the off-chance that it worked, Emperor Weide couldn't take any risks. As such, he needed to be the first one to attempt it. Moreover, if it failed, he could claim the other pills for himself. Besides, with the absorption of Cao Huiying's Soul Embryo, Emperor Weide was ruled by time. Indeed, he had been preparing her and couldn't delay for several more months. He was so close to decades of planning that he couldn't bear to wait even one more second.
"Director Hua, your proposal is extremely generous. Since it would benefit all of mankind, I will accept it. You may bring your best alchemists to the Imperial City. However, I will suffer no delay. Our war against the Empyrean Asura Theocracy is getting more and more violent. To be absolutely transparent, this failing Emperor is unsure of success. My days and nights are plagued with the fear that the great legacy of Emperor Nuwa will crumble into dust in my hands. Regardless, this must be a success. All your alchemists must be ready to put everything into this task."
"Obviously, Emperor Weide, we are all ready to lay down our lives in service of Emperor Nuwa's ideals."
"Hopefully it won't come to that, though... Thank you, Director Hua. Your achievement is worthy of eternal praise. Your Golden Flowery Fragrance Institute and you personally have tremendously helped mankind. I sincerely fear that this Emperor might never be able to repay such an immense debt."
Then, Emperor Weide stopped talking, and the array formation slowly deactivated.
Clearly, Cao Yun's plans were working. Now, they had a literal invitation, not only in the Imperial City, but directly around Emperor Weide himself during his breakthrough. According to everything they knew, Yong Ke would be nearby. From Cao Yun's understanding, Emperor Weide would take the pill before sacrificing Cao Huiying and absorbing her Soul Embryo. Otherwise, it wouldn't work. As such, he would take the poison while Cao Huiying was still alive. This would be the perfect moment to strike.
Moreover, Director Hua had already received reports from the Huang family. While reading those reports, Director Hua realized that Huang Cixi was even more powerful and influential than she had initially thought.
Indeed, through the Myriad Cherry Blossom Hall, Huang Cixi had invested in and bought many shops and buildings throughout the Imperial City. Over more than a decade, she had placed people she could trust in various key positions. Thanks to the tragedy and desolation of war, many of her people had been able to directly enter the service of the Everlasting Earth Palace. In other words, she had very important members of the security and many servants directly under her influence. Although she had no one directly near Emperor Weide herself, Director Hua was still flabbergasted. It was as if Huang Cixi had already been planning a coup.
Honestly, it was more than likely that Huang Cixi had been preparing for this attack since before she had become the acting matriarch of the Huang family. Thus, Matriarch Huang Yufeng was probably aware of it all. In fact, it was most likely the reason why she had chosen this young woman. Director Hua had only partial reports, but she realized how powerful Huang Cixi was when she read information about her own Golden Flowery Fragrance Institute. Huang Cixi knew more about them than Director Hua felt comfortable with.
On one side, it terrified Director Hua, especially considering the age of Huang Cixi. Thankfully, the Golden Flowery Fragrance Institute and Spirit Masters Xiao and Hua herself had developed a lot of goodwill with Huang Cixi. Indeed, they were the reason why she was alive and now had a Pure Golden Dantian.
On the other side, Director Hua was ecstatic. After all, it meant that Cao Yun's plan had almost no chance of failing. In order to preserve the unity and stability of the Hongchen Kingdom, they would have to hide his crimes, but also his assassination. Since a large part of the Imperial City was being controlled in secret, directly or indirectly, by Huang Cixi, and Sun Liao could take over most array formations, they could seal it almost perfectly. Although they couldn't hide the death of the Emperor indefinitely, simply buying some time to prepare the transition was a great option.
If everything was going as planned, they had various paths they could follow. They could blame his death on the breakthrough itself, but it could be bad for morale unless Sect Leader Xuan and Matriarch Huang succeeded, as it would lessen the blow. But the main idea was to obviously blame the Empyrean Asura Theocracy since they had already attempted to attack the Imperial City. Cao Yun had all the tools needed to make it look like a powerful asura or even Empyrean Asura himself had attacked. Thanks to that, so long as they kept the stability of the Hongchen Kingdom, they could rally everyone. Mankind already hated the Empyrean Asura Theocracy. If they played their cards right, they could improve morale and increase the war effort against the Empyrean Asura Theocracy. Besides, Cao Yun also had plans for the demons.
Director Hua could potentially see an end to this war in the years to come. However, she didn't want her hopes to hide her vision. Until Emperor Weide was killed, all of that was just fantasy. Despite everything planned, she actually began to doubt whether they would be able to perform this assassination. Even Cao Yun's poison might not be enough. Even Sun Liao's array formation might not be enough. Even Cao Yun's full cultivation might not be enough, taking into account his asura cultivation. After all, beating a 9th-grade Spirit Warrior and killing a 9th-grade Spirit Warrior were barely even in the same realm.
With all those doubts, Director Hua reaffirmed her decision. There was no going back. The pill was poisoned. If she wanted to go back, she would have to betray her own sister as well as her most talented disciple. Besides, she sincerely feared that Huang Cixi would know of her intentions before she even manifested them. Director Hua went a bit paranoid, to be honest. Unfortunately, Huang Cixi could have confirmed to her that her paranoia was absolutely warranted.
-
In another part of the Golden Flowery Fragrance Institute, Song Guixiang was bathing in a very sweet nectar. The sensation was absolutely divine. Besides, he had exceptional beauties attending to his every whim. Honestly, Song Guixiang could have stayed in this medicinal bath for days, for months, for years, all his life. Suddenly, he was taken out of his reverie by a very impatient voice. At first, he thought that it was just in his mind as usual. But this time, his master was here in person. All the naked or barely clothed women around him got scared upon hearing the fury in that voice.
Before Song Guixiang could turn his head, a powerful force grabbed him and took him out of the bath. In an instant, he was kneeling before Director Hua. Various clothes flew toward the women. The wind was so strong that even those who were wet from the bath got dried up on the spot.
"Out!"
They all ran outside, and Song Guixiang didn't dare lift his chin up. He remained kowtowing before his master, not even trying to move or to put on any clothes. His spatial ring flew in the air, and a lot of money and ingredients appeared on the ground. He didn't try to explain anything. Honestly, he had hoped that his master would be too busy with other matters to realize what had happened.
"So, you're the one who opened bets on the refinement?!"
Although Director Hua appeared furious to any onlooker, Song Guixiang knew her well enough. He had always known the limit of her tolerance. As such, he was able to stop his pranks and his quirkiness before they actually became an issue. That being said, he genuinely liked pushing the limit as far as he could. Thus, he didn't try to deny anything.
"Master, this is proof of my confidence. I was so certain of the success of this refinement that I abused those who doubted our Golden Flowery Fragrance Institute. Losing their money was absolutely deserved. One could even argue that I punished potential traitors. In fact, I really saved our institute. Instead of being punished, I should, in fact, be rewarded. But since I didn't want to disturb Master while she was so busy, I decided to award myself the reward. Like that, I didn't have to distract anyone from more important matters than my pathetic person."
"We do agree on one point, at the very least. I'll let you guess which one. Anyway, I don't have the time nor the inclination to punish you for this. However, we have a very important mission. Unfortunately, you're not as good an alchemist as you should be. You always do just enough to be at the level you think is appropriate. While I am away, I want you to strive to surpass me. Thus, I have prepared guards for you."
"Guards?!"
Suddenly, two burly men entered the room. Song Guixiang felt a drop of sweat dripping down his temple.
"Until you've actually become a 5-star Heaven alchemist, you will be forbidden from meat, from wine, and from women."
"... Ma... Master... That's... I can't... I..."
Each time he tried to say anything, he saw a flame in his master's eyes. He knew that he couldn't change her mind at all. With enough time, he was confident he could become a 5-star Heaven alchemist. However, he had no idea how much time it would take... He would be living like a monk for the foreseeable future. As he was still trying to process what was happening, Hua Fenfei took all the wine and meat in the room into her own spatial ring.
Since his hopes and dreams died before him, Song Guixiang simply fainted. The guards grabbed him and brought him to his bed. Now that he was unconscious, Hua Fenfei looked at him with affection. She had quite literally raised him since he was a child. He was almost like a son. If she didn't survive the mission, she hoped that he would become a better alchemist than her. The guards were ordered to make him flee if they received a specific order.