In Jun Changxiao’s imagination, an empire’s center should definitely be magnificent and imposing, yet the reality was broken bricks and tiles, even the roads were potholed—completely decrepit and long unrepaired!

Most frustratingly, after entering the imperial capital, the main street that came into view had almost no pedestrians and looked completely empty and desolate.

“Mister Jun must be very disappointed.” Yu Feiya said.

“Yes.”

Jun Changxiao admitted frankly, “Very disappointed.”

This wasn’t an imperial capital at all—this was like a slum.

Yu Feiya said, “The major kingdoms have all broken away, and our Azure Mist Empire can now only control this single city. Because there’s no financial revenue, it hasn’t been repaired for several hundred years.”

“Are there no subjects?”

“Only a few tens of thousands of people, and many have left.”

“…”

Jun Changxiao fell silent.

He knew the Azure Mist Empire existed in name only, but he hadn’t expected it would be miserable to this extent—possessing only a single dilapidated imperial capital.

Wait!

If the imperial city was this poor, did the imperial palace’s medicinal storage still have ingredients?

“Princess.” Jun Changxiao said weakly, “Can you produce two thousand First-Grade Flame Stones?”

First-Grade Flame Stones corresponded to Dao Stones in the Upper Realm. Could such a destitute imperial house produce them? It felt… unreliable!

“Would Second-Grade work?”

“No.”

Jun Changxiao had already done tests during this time—only First-Grade Flame Stones contained internal energy that could propel warships.

“I’m very sorry.”

Yu Feiya said shamefacedly, “I only have Second-Grade and Third-Grade Flame Stones. Could using them to offset First-Grade Flame Stones work?”

Jun Changxiao really wanted to say no, but seeing that she was an empire’s princess yet lived in a poverty-stricken imperial capital, he felt compassion and said, “It’s acceptable.”

“Thank you!”

Yu Feiya’s face showed a forced smile, but her heart was filled with bitterness.

Born into the imperial house, she should have lived a life of luxury and comfort, yet she couldn’t even afford medical treatment—how tragic was this?

“Princess.”

Jun Changxiao said seriously, “Bringing me to the imperial capital probably has another purpose, doesn’t it?”

Gou Sheng’s gaze wasn’t sharp, nor did he release any martial dao aura, but inexplicably it made Yu Feiya’s mind waver, and she even felt tremendous pressure.

She lowered her head and said, “I hope to gain Mister’s help to allow the Azure Mist Empire to rise again.”

“…”

The corner of Jun Changxiao’s mouth twitched.

I’m just a medicine seller—what ability do I have to help an empire rise?

Undeniably, with Gou Sheng’s strength, sweeping across the Crimson Prison Realm was no problem. He didn’t even need to act personally—just bringing the eleven warships stationed outside, even just the disciples alone could easily toy with and crush the various kingdoms.

However, this was their internal affair—how could he interfere?

Speaking plainly.

Jun Changxiao saw himself as an outsider, detached from the martial world, not asking about martial world affairs. This was… farewell to the martial world.

Furthermore, even with sufficient energy, reaching the Star Spirit Realm would take at least several years. Who knew how many planes they would pass through along the way—should he help the weak in all of them?

“I apologize.”

Jun Changxiao said tactfully, “I’m just a commoner who only knows how to refine pills. It’s difficult for me to provide help to the Princess.”

Yu Feiya said, “Mister’s pills can cure fire toxin terminal illness. Many family powers and even princes and ministers are deeply afflicted by it. If you help them recover, they will surely assist my Azure Mist Empire in rising.”

Jun Changxiao finally understood.

This woman intended to use his pills to win over various powers.

The method wasn’t bad.

However, wasn’t her thinking a bit too naive?

Jun Changxiao had only been in the Crimson Prison Realm for a short time, but he already had sufficient understanding of the situation. There were no fewer than several dozen kingdoms that had separated, and even if this woman had the ambition to support the collapsing edifice and save the empire from destruction, implementing it would definitely be extremely difficult.

Moreover, would the various warlords just sit by and watch the nominal Azure Mist Empire’s imperial house rise?

“Princess.”

Jun Changxiao said, “This sort of thing shouldn’t be done by a woman, but by the empire’s sovereign and the empire’s princes.”

“Father Emperor is imprisoned, and both of my imperial brothers have been killed.” When she said this, Yu Feiya’s tears could no longer be controlled.

“What about the other members of the imperial house?”

“The major kingdoms don’t allow the imperial house to have any intact people remaining. I only survived because I’m a woman and have been chronically ill.” Yu Feiya said.

“…”

Jun Changxiao fell silent.

The imperial house nobility had fallen to such a state—how was this different from being destroyed?

The major kingdoms were fighting each other to the death. When someone completely unified the plane, the Azure Mist Empire could officially exit the historical stage.

…

The imperial capital’s palace was very large, but because weeds grew wildly everywhere, it seemed quite desolate. Occasionally one could see a few soldiers on patrol, but they were completely listless.

Jun Changxiao walked all the way and sighed with considerable emotion, “Princess, to speak bluntly, with the Azure Mist Empire’s current appearance, your wanting to turn the tide is completely impossible.”

“That’s correct.”

Yu Feiya stopped and said, “Previously there was no possibility, but with Mister’s arrival, there is possibility.”

“…”

Jun Changxiao shook his head and said, “I can only cure illnesses, but I can’t cure people’s hearts.”

Admittedly, the pills could help nobles recover, but would they really help the Azure Mist Empire rise because of this reason?

“Mister.”

Yu Feiya said, “Please come with me.”

The two proceeded to the palace’s forbidden area and stopped before a sealed great hall with the three characters ‘Future Pavilion’ written above.

“Future Pavilion?”

Jun Changxiao asked puzzled, “What does that mean?”

“My Azure Mist Empire’s ancestor was able to unify the Crimson Prison Realm thanks to a great sage’s assistance. Before leaving, he left behind twenty-four divination images. Twenty-three images have already been verified, with only one remaining that hasn’t been deciphered to this day.”

“Oh?”

Jun Changxiao said with considerable surprise, “Is it that miraculous?”

“Mister, please.”

“Creak!”

It seemed to have been closed for too long. When the door was pushed open, clouds of dust rose up and a rotten smell drifted out.

Jun Changxiao walked inside. The special array within activated, illuminating the dark environment.

This great hall was quite large. Ink wash paintings were outlined on the walls, with small annotations below. The general meaning was that in a certain year, a certain event would occur.

“Azure Mist Year 1021, a strange beast will appear in the east…”

“Azure Mist Year 2451, internal chaos will occur in the Cloud Sky Kingdom…”

“Azure Mist Year 3425…”

Jun Changxiao walked while looking until he stopped before the twenty-fourth image. His facial expression gradually stiffened because what was written above read: “Azure Mist Year 12020, a great power will appear in Revered Martial City to cure fire toxin terminal illness, supporting the empire’s collapse and saving the imperial house from destruction.”

“Mister.”

Yu Feiya walked over and said, “This is the only divination image that hasn’t been verified. I believe you can now understand why I brought you to the imperial capital.”

“…”

Jun Changxiao didn’t speak but carefully examined the ink wash painting. The shock in his heart grew even stronger because the painting depicted war vessels suspended in the sky and the people outside the imperial capital all kneeling in worship.

“One, two, three…”

Gou Sheng counted them one by one, and his facial expression stiffened again because the war vessels depicted corresponded exactly to his eleven warships!

First predicting the cure for fire toxin terminal illness.

Then predicting eleven warships suspended above the imperial capital.

This.

Absolutely couldn’t be coincidence!

“Thud!”

Just then, Yu Feiya knelt on the ground and begged with tears streaming down her face, “Mister Jun must be the great power mentioned in the divination image. Please save my Azure Mist Empire, save the countless common people caught in the flames of war!”

“Whoosh!”

A gust of wind blew over, blowing off Jun Changxiao’s gray robe and revealing his imposing bearing. It blew off the mask on his face and revealed his heroically handsome countenance.

“Princess.”

Jun Changxiao kept his back to her throughout and said, “If Jun supports the empire’s collapse and saves the imperial house from destruction, could First-Grade Flame Stones be provided as compensation?”

“Mister can have as many as he wants!”

“Whoosh!”

An air wave erupted, lifting Yu Feiya to her feet. Then Jun Changxiao’s voice came from the great hall and resounded throughout the entire imperial capital: “This seat will help with this matter.”