Chapter 668: The World's Number One Schemer

"The

Profound Art of Acupuncture and Moxibustion

is certainly not a simple scripture!"

The empress dowager narrowed her eyes and murmured, "Hanyang, oh Hanyang, what kind of secrets have you hidden within this medical scripture?"

Being able to treat human emperors and kings as a commoner itself is a miracle. If I can unravel the mysteries within it, the Yan Family's position will become as unshakable as a mountain, perhaps even rising higher!

"Grandma empress dowager, why bother being so courteous to that boy? Just capture him, torture him, and force out his secrets."

By the empress dowager's side, the palace maid, Shuying, peeled off a human-skin mask. Beneath it was a young and beautiful woman, with facial features that bore a striking resemblance to the empress dowager.

It turned out that Shuying was not a palace maid, but another junior member of the Yan Family named Yan Shuying. In terms of family hierarchy, the empress dowager was her grandaunt.

Yan Shuying had always been close to the empress dowager, so she casually addressed her as "Grandma empress dowager."

But this grandma was more beautiful and alluring than her granddaughter.

After hearing that the empress dowager was going to meet Ling Feng, who had defeated the envoy delegation of the Tianyang Empire, Yan Shuying had disguised herself as a maid to see for herself if this Ling Feng was as extraordinary as rumored.

"Shuying, remember this. When dealing with men like him, using force is always the worst strategy," The empress dowager squinted her eyes and said calmly.

"

Hmph,

he's just a wet-behind-the-ears boy. It should be easy to win his trust and obtain the secret of

The Profound Art of Acupuncture and Moxibustion

from him."

"No, you're mistaken."

The empress dowager shook her head. "Though he's young, he is highly vigilant! Don't underestimate him. After all, he is the heir to the Medical Saint!"

"

Hmph,

you're talking as if he's that formidable. I doubt he's anything more than a cocky teenager."

Yan Shuying, apparently still holding a grudge because Ling Feng didn't show her respect when he entered, continued to harbor resentment against him.

"You're still a young girl yourself."

"Anyways, no matter how skilled he is, he can't compare to Jinghong," Yan Shuying said as she pouted. "Let's not mention that downer."

The empress dowager shook her head with a smile, her deep eyes flashing with a glint of light.

For over twenty years, she had been unable to grasp the mysteries of the

Profound Art of Acupuncture and Moxibustion.

Now that the heir of the Medical Saint had surfaced, perhaps this was her opportunity!

...

Before long, Ling Feng left the imperial city. Along the way, he remained silent, his thoughts swirling like a tide.

This empress dowager doesn't harbor any good intentions.

Considering that my grandfather has once refined youth-preserving pills for her, and that Yan Cangtian has been in decline for decades because of her, this woman is definitely extraordinary.

But why did she summon me? Is it to merely talk about my grandfather's past?

No, it can't be. She must have gleaned some valuable information from me.

After thinking it over, Ling Feng's eyes twitched.

"It's the

Profound Art of Acupuncture and Moxibustion!

"

Ling Feng couldn't help but gasp. Despite his constant vigilance, he had inadvertently exposed the fact that the

Profound Art of Acupuncture and Moxibustion

was an extremely important text.

While others might view it as just another medical scripture, for him, it held much greater significance.

It was precisely because of his brief slip-up that the empress dowager likely assumed the book held some world-shaking secret.

Seems like not only Yan Jinghong but the entire Yan Family has set their sights on me

.

Ling Feng snorted. Were it not for Yan Cangtian and the Cangqiong Sect serving as his backers, the Yan Family would probably have made a move against him already.

"

Ah, the empress dowager! Calling her the number one schemer in the world wouldn't be an exaggeration.

"

Ling Feng pursed his lips, quietly sighing to himself.

Still, this was something he would never dare to say in front of Yan Cangtian. After all, that was the woman Yan Cangtian had once deeply loved.

It was no wonder that Yan Cangtian refused to show his face in front of the Yan Family. The empress dowager was part of that very family.

"Today's events need not be shared with Elder Yan. Better not shatter his image of his perfect lover." Ling Feng sighed softly, feeling somewhat grateful to that wretched woman, Su Lin.

If it hadn't been for Su Lin[1] and her father exposing the darkness of human nature to him, he might have foolishly believed that the empress dowager was a kind elder, completely oblivious to her schemes.

Scheming women... are terrifying!

...

By the time Ling Feng and Tuoba Yan returned to Tianxuan Garden, the sun had already set. After a brief rest, Ling Feng directly entered the Five Elements Heavenly Palace.

Of course, he had to bring Tuoba Yan along.

Ling Feng went straight to the Fire Elemental Realm to meet the despicable donkey.

"

Heh, heh.

Kid, quickly hand over half of granddaddy divine donkey's promised reward!"

The despicable donkey chuckled mischievously, clearly having coveted the Mystical Yellow Flame's fire seed for some time.

"I promised you half, so you won't be shorted."

Ling Feng rolled his eyes and split the Mystical Yellow Flame's fire seed in two, sending half floating over to the despicable donkey.

Nom!

Without hesitation, the donkey swallowed the flame. Since it had the body of a demon emperor, it had no issues absorbing the fire seed, and refining it wasn't difficult either.

Ling Feng, on the other hand, had to be more cautious, wrapping himself in Earth Vein's True Fire before daring to handle the small fire seed.

"Hey, despicable donkey, you overheard what happened in the empress dowager's palace, didn't you?" Ling Feng casually asked.

"

Hmph,

what do you mean 'overheard'? I was just passing time by listening. Is that a crime?" The donkey grinned slyly, enjoying gossip as much as ever.

"With your centuries of experience, what do you think of the empress dowager?"

"She's got problems. Big ones!" The donkey replied with a serious expression.

"

Oh?

What kind of problems?"

"Your grandfather had terrible taste. Wasting youth-preserving pills on such an ugly woman! If he had given them to this divine beast instead, I could have kept my handsome and perfect looks. What a waste!"

Ling Feng's mouth twitched.

I should have known better than to expect the donkey to say anything constructive.

Also, its preference probably aligns with a donkey's, doesn't it?

"I'm asking whether you think she was lying," Ling Feng said, exasperated.

"Eighty percent truth, twenty percent lies. But there's something strange about her power. Even this divine beast can't see through her cultivation."

"What?" Ling Feng's eyes widened.

The despicable donkey can't see through the Empress Dowager's strength?

Could her power be greater than the donkey's?

"It's not raw power. It's something peculiar, related to human emotions and desires," the donkey wiggled its long ears. "But this divine beast didn't pay close attention. Anyway, stop bothering me. I need to focus on refining the Mystical Yellow Flame!"

"..."

Ling Feng rubbed his forehead and put thoughts of the Empress Dowager aside.

The donkey has a point. Right now, refining the Mystical Yellow Flame should be my top priority!

1. The one and only girl from the first chapter that kick started this whole novel ☜