Kays Translations

Just another Isekai Lover~

Chapter 174: The Ten Absolute Soul Locking Formation

It is said that Li Xian naturally had no idea what had happened after he left. At this moment, he was sitting in a carriage, swaying gently on his way to the Imperial Palace.

The palace guards had already been replaced, and Li Xian had no memory of them; however, with Li Xian and Xia Qingqing returning, they were still able to pass through without any obstacles. The maid leading the way was someone Li Xian recognized—she was the maid who had once asked about Xia Qingqing’s whereabouts in a roundabout way.

Li Xian had a deep impression of this maid; her skilled method of collecting pearls and her flawless speaking technique made Li Xian realize for the first time that not just anyone could enter the palace.

Following the maid, they arrived at a place called “Han De Hall,” where the smell of herbs and an indescribable decaying scent could be detected from a distance. Li Xian was particularly sensitive to this scent—it reminded him of the “Five Frailties of Heavenly Beings”—after experiencing them, the human body gradually withered like decaying wood.

When he saw the emperor, Li Xian was truly—unable to believe his eyes. Was this an embalmed corpse?

“Your Highness!” Xia Qingqing cried out in a sharp, sorrowful voice, immediately rushing to the emperor’s bedside. The imperial physicians beside them were still busy in a frantic attempt to stabilize him.

The maid who had been guiding Li Xian carefully helped the emperor, letting him rest against her chest.

The emperor opened his dry, even wrinkled eyes, hazily scanning his surroundings, clearly unable to see clearly anymore.

Remove Ads for $1

“Your Highness, Your Highness, it’s Qingqing. I’ve come back to see you.” Xia Qingqing held the emperor’s hand, her voice desperate and helpless. In that moment, Xia Qingqing was no longer the strong princess, but a helpless little girl. The tragic reality of the kingdom’s fall and her family’s ruin was about to unfold before her eyes.

Watching things worsen helplessly, without the power to stop it, was far more painful than directly facing the bleak outcome.

Finally, the emperor reached out and grabbed Xia Qingqing’s hand. “Qingqing, Qingqing, you’re back, you’re back. Has that brat Li Xian bullied you?”

In that moment, the emperor was no longer an imposing ruler, but simply a dying man. All that remained was a father’s love and concern.

“My husband treats me very well, Your Highness, don’t worry. Qingqing is happy now.” Xia Qingqing clutched the emperor’s hand, tears falling like pearls from a broken string, dropping onto his clothes, onto the bed. She carefully avoided letting the tears touch the emperor’s hand, which seemed as dry and gnarled as wood.

“Call me ‘Father,’ won’t you? The emperor is too tired.”

“Father…”

“Good, good, Qingqing, be good. It’s my fault, I wasn’t able to give you a good life. Go back and tell Li Xian that if he dares to let you suffer, even as a ghost, I will not forgive him.”

Li Xian felt his brow twitch—damn, even if he becomes a ghost, he’s the Ghost Emperor. But he couldn’t keep silent any longer. “Father-in-law, your son-in-law is here with Qingqing to see you.”

“Li Xian, come, let me see you.”

Li Xian stepped forward and placed his hand in the emperor’s.

The emperor held Xia Qingqing in one hand and Li Xian in the other, suddenly feeling a bit emotional. “In my life, I’ve only done one thing right—finding a good husband for Qingqing. Li Xian, Qingqing is a child with a hard life, you must never make her sad.”

“Don’t worry, Father-in-law. As long as I, Li Xian, am alive, I will never let Qingqing suffer any grievance.”

“I believe you,” the emperor said, gently placing Li Xian’s and Xia Qingqing’s hands together, and then Li Xian and Xia Qingqing placed their other hands on the emperor’s dry, frail hands.

The scene was very heartwarming.

But then…

The emperor suddenly spoke. “Li Xian, in the past, every time you came to the palace, you would bring good things. What have you brought this time?”

Li Xian felt a bit foolish—this really is a person obsessed with money! But, it was a small, dark joke.

Xia Qingqing forced a smile, slowly opening a wooden box. Inside the box was a jade box. When she opened the jade box, a chorus of exclamations filled “Han De Hall.”

“Spirit Stones!”

Xia Qingqing carefully placed the spirit stones into the emperor’s palm. The emperor fumbled with them for a moment, then sighed deeply. “Useless. This is the Five Frailties of Heavenly Beings, not a common cultivation issue.”

At this point, the imperial physician spoke up. “Your Majesty, here are ten spirit stones. They can be used to set up a Ten Absolute Locking Soul Formation. This formation is a method that overdrafts potential and burns the soul, but it can allow someone to live normally for about six months within the formation’s range.

After six months—life will be extinguished, and even if a great immortal like the Grand Luo God comes, there will be no way to save them.”

The Emperor clearly froze for a moment, then suddenly opened his murky eyes wide, his tone firm and powerful, “Set up the formation! Even if I die, I can’t die in my bed!”

“Yes.”

The imperial physician immediately became busy.

No one objected. If the Ten Absolute Soul Lock Formation wasn’t used, with the Emperor’s current state, he probably wouldn’t last more than a month! As for the talk of immortal beings descending or withered trees coming to life, it was completely impossible. Even Yuan Ying stage experts were rare to see, let alone immortals.

The Ten Absolute Soul Lock Formation didn’t seem very complicated—at least it appeared that way. Within just a moment, a small formation took root and settled. The imperial physician quickly instructed everyone to leave the room. Finally, the physician pulled out a yellow talisman, muttering incantations under his breath. Suddenly, a brilliant green light flashed ahead, and a layer of hazy green light enveloped the Hall of Virtue.

“How magical!” Xia Qingqing felt a mixture of anticipation, curiosity, and sadness.

Li Xian was also curious, but the next moment, his mood was ruined.

The imperial physician glanced at the green light in front of him and suddenly shook his head, “What a pity. The quality of the spirit stones isn’t very good. It looks like the formation can only last about four and a half months.”

Upon hearing this, Li Xian became furious. He grabbed the physician’s collar and growled softly, “You old bastard, why don’t you go find me a better spirit stone? If you find a perfect one, I’ll give you a thousand spirit stones like this. Are you up for it?!”

The imperial physician froze, “I just said the truth. Is it really necessary for you to react like this? I was simply stating the facts. Your spirit stones really can’t bring out the full effectiveness of the Ten Absolute Soul Lock Formation.”

Li Xian glared at him, finally snorting coldly, “Old man, I’ll remember you!”

Li Xian didn’t believe that someone who had managed to rise to the position of imperial physician in the palace could be a fool. This person was clearly trying to stir things up. Li Xian despised these kinds of people—those who failed to accomplish anything and only made trouble.

Looking at the old man with disdain, Li Xian coldly snorted again, “Don’t let me find out who you’re biting for, or I’ll stew you! Also, you say this formation can last four and a half months, right? I won’t make things hard for you. If it lasts even less than four months and ten days, don’t let a single one of your family members escape. You can try me!”

Remove Ads for $1

“Li Xian, you… you… I’ll fight you to the end!!!”

The people around quickly came over to separate the two.

Another imperial physician approached, “Young Master Li, this… this… it’s said that medical knowledge cannot cure the deathly illness, and immortals appear to those who are destined. You’ve seen His Majesty’s condition; this might not be… cough cough… we will do our best, but the result might not be as expected.”

Li Xian looked at this person and suddenly asked, “Has His Majesty’s medical care all been under your hands in these years?”

“Yes,” there was no denying this.

“I see. Qingqing, let’s go. We need to see the Empress.”

Li Xian took Xia Qingqing’s hand and turned to leave, leaving behind the imperial physicians with varying expressions.

Once they had walked a bit further, Xia Qingqing cautiously asked, “Husband, what did your words mean just now?”

Li Xian narrowed his eyes, “Qingqing, tell me, if the Emperor is healthy, how did he suddenly fall into the five declines of man?”

“Ah…” Xia Qingqing’s face went pale. After all, she had grown up in the palace, seeing and hearing all sorts of things; with just a small hint from Li Xian, she immediately thought of the most unbearable outcome.

Li Xian gently held Xia Qingqing’s cold hand. “Don’t worry. Paper can’t cover the fire forever. Sooner or later, these people will show their true colors. When we return to Anyang, you’ll form an investigation team to look into this matter.”

“Mm.” Xia Qingqing nodded.

Arriving at the harem, Li Xian felt a chill run down his spine. The guard at the door was the same one from last time—the one Li Xian had described as “old and as tough as tree bark.”

Seeing Li Xian, the female guard drew her sword and thrust it into the stone floor, standing there watching Li Xian.

“Hi, we meet again.”