Although she was an outstanding alchemist, she was still young and didn't understand the darkness within the royal family.
If she were to be dragged down with them, it would truly be a loss outweighing any gain.
Bai Ran looked at the Guild Master's serious expression and agreed.
The Alchemists' Guild had only two choices.
First, to submit, align with the royal family, be exploited and plundered by them, becoming their appendages.
Although the Emperor of Qinglong Kingdom had many consorts, he only had two children, leading to rampant rumors of the Emperor's impotence and distant parentage.
While the death of the Third Princess had not yet spread, it would soon become common knowledge.
Furthermore, with the Crown Prince's return at this juncture, he stood at the center of attention.
Most members of the Alchemists' Guild focused solely on alchemy and lacked any significant combat prowess, making direct confrontation impossible.
Therefore, the second option was to target the Crown Prince, win him over, and gradually erode the royal family's power, overthrowing the court.
However, how could they know that the Crown Prince they were meticulously planning to win over was currently held firmly in Bai Ran's grasp?
One day, they would come looking for her, Bai Ran thought with a smile as she departed.
The next day, two earth-shattering pieces of news spread like wildfire, stirring up a storm of gossip.
The Third Princess, Mu Qingdai, was dead! The guards who accompanied her were also missing, and the killer remained unknown!
Even more astonishingly, the Qinglong Secret Realm had vanished! All treasures brought out from the realm were also gone overnight.
The prophecy was true; the destined one had appeared!
The common folk whispered that the Third Princess had accumulated too much sin, and heaven could no longer bear it, thus sending someone to claim her.
"Nonsense!"
Within the imperial palace, on the main seat, a middle-aged man's veins bulged with anger as he smashed objects on his table.
"Your Majesty, please calm your rage," the ministers below knelt trembling, enduring the Emperor's fury.
The death of the Third Princess and the disappearance of the Secret Realm were immense blows to the royal family.
The destined one had likely contracted with the Azure Dragon, becoming the guardian of Qinglong Kingdom, instantly making the Emperor's position precarious.
"The murderer of Qingdai must be that so-called destined one!"
"Bring out the bell! Investigate everyone who entered the Secret Realm!"
The imperial family had guarded a divine artifact, a bell, for generations. No one knew its purpose, only that it could detect the presence of an Azure Dragon.
If someone contracted with an Azure Dragon, the bell would chime, issuing a warning. At other times, no matter how it was shaken, it would remain silent.
Meanwhile, Bai Ran sat leisurely in her room, sipping tea.
"You know the Alchemists' Guild Master came to see me?" Mu Zikun asked.
"And you didn't agree," Bai Ran replied, setting down her teacup and gazing at him.
Being so accurately read, Mu Zikun shivered at the feeling of his thoughts being exposed.
"You refused the Guild Master's invitation, leaving the Alchemists' Guild no recourse but to resist with all their might."
"But I want you to agree."
Mu Zikun was stunned by Bai Ran's directness.
"But my identity must be revealed."
Bai Ran smiled, looking at him.
"Identity?" Mu Zikun asked.
"I am Bai Yue, the Princess of Vermillion Bird Kingdom, and we became friends during your trials."
He looked at Bai Ran, not understanding her motive.
"But..." Mu Zikun hesitated.
His father was a man utterly obsessed with power.
He was indifferent to him, even wishing to get rid of him quickly, lest someone covet the throne.
Thus, when Mu Zikun was ill, he dared not let anyone know, fearing it might reach the Emperor's ears.
It made him doubt, at times, whether he was truly his father's son.
But he was still his father, and the thought of a coup made him uneasy.
"There is another option, and that is for me to ascend the throne."
Mu Zikun was shocked. Bai Ran's eyes were filled with ambition.
"How is that possible!"
"How is it not possible? I am the destined one. If I contract with the Azure Dragon and become its guardian, it would be a natural progression for me to ascend the throne."
Bai Ran smiled, continuing to agitate Mu Zikun.
It was indeed true. Mu Zikun bit his lower lip. But could Qinglong Kingdom allow someone from another nation to ascend?
Bai Ran observed Mu Zikun's hesitation. She had no interest in the throne.
However, if one wanted others to agree to their request, proposing a more unacceptable demand would make them immediately choose the former.
Coupled with his previous concealment of the Emperor's illness, Bai Ran could further deduce the severely strained relationship between father and son.
This was a psychological game, and Mu Zikun was destined to lose.
As expected, Mu Zikun agreed to Bai Ran's previous request.
He nodded and left.
Rumors swirled outside. If the Emperor of Qinglong Kingdom had any sense, he would suspect the destined one had killed Mu Qingdai.
Once the culprit was identified, they might employ special means to track her down.
Although Bai Ran had not contracted with the Azure Dragon, she had seen it. What if the royal family possessed some treasure that could pry into memories?
As the Princess of Vermillion Bird Kingdom, before Mu Zikun ascended the throne, she would not be executed by the Emperor of Qinglong Kingdom, thus securing her life.
The second reason was to let the Alchemists' Guild know of her connection with the Crown Prince, making them beholden to her.
This way, Bai Ran could acquire more spirit stones and treasures.
This game within a game was orchestrated by Bai Ran from the shadows, and no one could escape.
...
The next morning, a group of soldiers knocked on Bai Ran's door, also summoning Qin Mubai and Fang Tianhui.
It seemed the Emperor's patience was wearing thin; he had sent people to investigate on the second day.
Bai Ran raised an eyebrow as she looked at the many soldiers in the room.
"Young lady, please hold this bell and shake it," a soldier said to Fang Tianhui.
A bell?
Bai Ran looked at the small bell before her, realizing it was the Emperor's treasure for detecting the destined one.
Fang Tianhui skeptically held the bell and shook it. It made no sound.
The soldier then handed the bell to Qin Mubai, who, like Fang Tianhui, shook it.
Still, no sound.
Next, the soldier approached Bai Ran and placed the bell in her hand.
However, before Bai Ran could even shake it, the bell emitted a loud chime.
"Destined one!"
The soldiers immediately crowded Bai Ran, surrounding her completely.
"How can this be!" Qin Mubai muttered, sensing trouble, and immediately stood in front of Bai Ran with Fang Tianhui.
However, he was utterly perplexed.
Bai Ran hadn't contracted with the Azure Dragon?
How could she be the destined one of Qinglong Kingdom?
Bai Ran was also confused. She shook the bell. This time, it made no sound.
?
The soldier blinked, stunned. What was happening?
Why was there no sound?
"Young lady, could you shake it again?"
Bai Ran shook it again, but the bell remained docile, emitting no sound.
Could it be broken?
After that, no matter how many times Bai Ran shook the bell, it never chimed again.
It was as if the bell, weathered by time, had become dysfunctional.