Chapter 672

Chapter 672: No Resentful Spirits in Her Hands

Lu Chao Chao abruptly leapt to her feet.

The Northern Abyss Clan!! The Spirit Water Clan? Ahhh, she vaguely remembered them!

Back when the Dragon Clan had erred, and she had to settle the score, she had also investigated the Spirit Water Clan, who relied on the dragons.

The Spirit Water Clan was naturally gifted with water-based spiritual roots, making their rain-calling ability superior to others.

If they had sincerely served the people and accumulated merit through their prayers, that would have been acceptable.

However, they had colluded with the Dragon Clan to manipulate rainfall, deceiving the common folk and profiting from incense offerings—this was an unforgivable crime.

Weather manipulation had strict regulations. The mortal realm depended on the heavens for sustenance, and any misstep in rain-calling could lead to disaster.

Rainfall schedules were precisely determined down to the hour.

Yet, the Spirit Water Clan, seeking greater benefits, conspired with the Dragon Clan to withhold rain, extending dry periods. This left the mortals desperate, reducing their harvests. When the suffering reached its peak, the Spirit Water Clan would appear, offering prayers for rain—

For a price.

For instance, this year, they might demand the sacrifice of livestock at the Dragon King’s temple, along with gold, silver, and even children sent into the waters.

Or perhaps, they might insist on constructing three more temples dedicated to the Dragon Clan.

When Lu Chao Chao uncovered their scheme, she had not only purged the Dragon Clan but had also given the Spirit Water Clan a thorough beating.

She had exiled them from the waters, banishing them to the barren lands of the Northern Abyss.

Furthermore, she stripped them of their former name, forbidding them from using it to continue deceiving others.

When others inquired about them, Lu Chao Chao had carelessly remarked, “Them? They moved away. They are now called the Northern Abyss Clan.”

And thus, they were named.

From then on, they had lived in the harsh and unforgiving northern lands, never daring to emerge again.

Lu Chao Chao guiltily glanced around. Indeed, it was she who had done this!

“Now that a great drought has struck the mortal realm, our clan members finally dared to come forth and pray for rain. Sigh…” The clan leader let out a long sigh, his heart filled with yearning for the Spirit Realm.

“We only wish to accumulate enough merit to return home.”

“That is where we truly belong.”

“Your Majesty, we do not fear your laughter. The elders who committed those past mistakes once hated Lu Chao Chao. Even on their deathbeds, they cursed the Sword Sovereign Sunshine.”

“But our generation was born in the mortal realm, living as mortals do, rising with the sun and resting at dusk. We understand them better now.” Especially since Lu Chao Chao had sentenced them to the northern lands, where the climate was brutal, and survival depended entirely on the weather.

Some of the younger generation no longer believed in the Spirit Realm, nor that their ancestors had once belonged there. They had completely become mortals…

This was an especially bitter truth.

Though the old clan leader still harbored some resentment toward Lu Chao Chao, deep inside, he did not hate her.

The Spirit Water Clan had deceived the people for selfish gain, manipulating rain patterns, causing untold suffering and displacement. Their punishment had been just.

They had once considered themselves superior cultivators, looking down upon mortals from above.

Now, they could finally empathize.

The old clan leader and his people rose to their feet and bowed toward the grand hall’s entrance. “The Northern Abyss Clan wishes to return to the Spirit Realm. We must perform good deeds and accumulate merit.”

“Praying for rain in these times is our best opportunity.”

Lu Chao Chao secretly nodded. This new generation of the Northern Abyss Clan had a good heart.

Outside the hall, a palace servant entered carrying refreshments.

“The princess has been thinking of Your Majesty and specially sent fresh black fruit… It is at its ripest now,” the attendant said with a smile, placing a small plate before Xuan Ji Chuan.

Knowing well what the Emperor liked to hear, the words easily brought a pleased smile to Xuan Ji Chuan’s face.

Ministers sat on either side of the discussion hall.

Lu Chao Chao’s offering was timely, providing both the ministers and the Northern Abyss Clan with a small plate of fruit each.

The drought had made fresh fruit scarce.

Moreover, black fruit was notoriously difficult to preserve and transport, making it a rare delicacy in Eastern Ling.

As they deliberated over the details of the rain prayer ceremony, they enjoyed the sweet treat, adding to the pleasant atmosphere.

The Northern Abyss Clan, possessing water-based spiritual roots, had brought with them some spirit seeds when they left the Spirit Realm. Though they could not cultivate true spiritual fruits, their crops still held traces of spiritual energy.

Thus, they had little interest in mortal fruits.

However, seeing the Emperor’s delight, they picked up a piece out of courtesy and placed it into their mouths.

The moment their teeth sank into the flesh, juice burst forth.

A surge of rich spiritual energy instantly coursed through their bodies, washing away all fatigue and unease.

The intense fragrance dominated their senses, and the sweetness lit up their eyes.

“This… this is a spiritual fruit!!”

“And one teeming with spiritual energy, nourished by a spirit spring! Even in the Spirit Realm, such fruits are rare treasures!”

“And they are simply offering them to guests?!” The old clan leader’s condescending gaze suddenly turned grave.

Though he now sympathized with mortals, he was still from the Spirit Realm and carried a lingering pride. That innate arrogance had been passed down through generations.

But now…

Now he felt a little awkward.

Among the gifts they had prepared for Xuan Ji Chuan was a fruit cultivated by their own clan, yet its spiritual energy was laughable compared to the black fruit.

Sweat beaded on his forehead.

“If the clan leader enjoys it, then all is well…” Xuan Ji Chuan responded nonchalantly.

His indifference only made the old clan leader more restrained, forcing him to hold back any thoughts of condescension.

As discussions continued over black fruit, Lu Chao Chao grew restless and slipped out of the hall.

Xuan Ji Chuan cast a glance at the palace attendant, who promptly followed after her, ensuring no one unintentionally offended her.

She had not walked far when she encountered the Empress Dowager’s procession.

“Empress Dowager?” Lu Chao Chao was not particularly familiar with Xuan Ji Chuan, and she intended to step forward and pay respects.

The grand eunuch whispered, “Princess, the Empress Dowager is His Majesty’s stepmother. His birth mother…”

“Has long since passed away.”

Xuan Ji Chuan’s mother had come from a humble background but was blessed with unparalleled beauty. She and her elder sister had been known as the ‘Twin Flowers of Eastern Ling.’

Among them, Xuan Ji Chuan’s mother was the fairest of all, renowned as the most beautiful woman in Eastern Ling.

Her father, Official Lin, had been an unremarkable courtier with no achievements to his name.

But having two stunning daughters had changed his fortune, earning him promotions and titles.

His elder daughter had been sent as a gift to the old Emperor of the Southern Kingdom, eventually giving birth to the Third Prince, who had once contended with Lu Chao Chao for the throne.

The younger daughter, the most beautiful of all, had entered the Eastern Ling palace as a consort.

For a time, the old Eastern Ling King doted on her, and she bore him Xuan Yin and Xuan Ji Chuan.

Yet, she was cold-natured, refusing to flatter, and her striking beauty made her the target of envy among the concubines.

A few years after giving birth, she fell from favor.

As the old Emperor aged and his grown sons fought for power, Eastern Ling suffered a crushing defeat in war. Xuan Yin was sent to Northern Zhao as a political bride.

Xuan Ji Chuan followed as a hostage prince.

Lin Pin, left without aid, grew sickly and bedridden, eventually perishing alone in the palace.

Now, the one called the Empress Dowager was his stepmother, Empress Chen.

“Where is the Emperor?” The Empress Dowager, clad in opulent robes, strode forward with a young girl trailing behind her.

The girl looked at the grand hall with a bashful, expectant gaze.

Before the Empress Dowager, the grand eunuch, who usually bent to Lu Chao Chao’s every whim, remained dignified and detached.

“The drought persists, and His Majesty is in counsel with his ministers over the matter. Does Your Highness have urgent business?”