After swallowing the immortal pill, if he were not dead, then the so-called prophecy of the "Meteorite Golden List" would be meaningless.
"Huh?"
The Sword God, ranked first on the Famous Swords Ranking? Could it be the wielder of the Netherworld Sword, the one who outranked even His Majesty’s own sword?
Upon hearing this, Zhang Han was stunned for a moment, but he quickly composed himself. He cupped his hands and said, "As you command. Thank you, Your Majesty."
In truth, he was quite curious about the "Sword God" himself. What kind of person could manage to outshine the First Emperor Ying Zheng on the Famous Swords Ranking?
As he pondered this silently, the voice of the First Emperor Ying Zheng, filled with confusion, reached his ears.
"Zhang Han, why are you still kneeling? Is there something else?"
"Ah?" Zhang Han looked up, lost in thought. Suddenly remembering something, he nodded immediately and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, I do indeed have one more matter to report."
"Oh? What is it?" the First Emperor Ying Zheng asked.
Zhang Han replied in a low voice, "When I returned to Xianyang, I heard that the streets were all talking about Young Master Qin Lan beating up Zhao Gao. It is said that he gave him quite a severe thrashing."
He then proceeded to recount in detail the reports he had heard from the streets.
Ha-ha… Ha-ha…
Upon learning this, the First Emperor Ying Zheng threw his head back and laughed heartily. "That is just like Lan’er’s personality. Don't let his usual devil-may-care attitude fool you; he has far more backbone than any of the other princes. Making the Chief of the Vehicle Office wipe the floor with his own personal garments—only Lan’er would think of something like that."
These brief words were enough to show his affection and indulgence toward Qin Lan. It was this very news that lightened his heavy heart just a little.
The First Emperor Ying Zheng waved his hand. "Very well, Zhang Han, you have said your piece. No need to stay kneeling; find a place to sit and wait for the Sword God to arrive."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Zhang Han stood up, glanced at the main hall, and consciously moved to stand beside Gai Nie, nodding in greeting. At this moment, upon hearing that Zhao Gao had been beaten, a triumphant smile appeared at the corners of Gai Nie's mouth. Clearly, he felt quite avenged!
*Tap, tap, tap...*
*Tap, tap, tap...*
A while later, clear footsteps and a child’s voice rang out from outside the hall. "Your son, Hu Hai, comes to pay his respects to Father Emperor."
014: Searching for him in the crowd a thousand times, only to find the Sword God by one’s side.
Following the sound, a young man appeared. His frame was somewhat slender, his features delicate, his face an inverted triangle, and his short black hair hung over his shoulders on both sides. He knelt halfway to offer his respects to the First Emperor Ying Zheng.
This was the eighteenth son of the First Emperor Ying Zheng—Hu Hai. Surprisingly, his eyes were of two different colors: the left pupil was ice blue, and the right was amber gold, making him look both strange and unique.
"Hmm?" The First Emperor Ying Zheng was slightly surprised to see Hu Hai arrive at the Black Dragon Hall first. However, he did not show it, merely beckoning him over and saying softly, "Hai’er, find a seat and sit down first."
"Thank you, Father Emperor," Hu Hai replied politely.
After Hu Hai sat down, the First Emperor Ying Zheng asked casually, "Hai’er, have you noticed the unusual celestial phenomena tonight?"
Hu Hai replied, "Reporting to Father Emperor, this matter has shaken the whole world; I have indeed noticed. The announcement of the Famous Swords Ranking and the rewards left me quite shocked."
"Were you at home at the time?" the First Emperor Ying Zheng continued.
Hu Hai nodded. "Yes, Father Emperor. The heavens changed, and the sky was bathed in red light. I was fast asleep at the time and was startled awake. After the Famous Swords Ranking was announced, the Chief of the Vehicle Office came to my residence to inform me that you wished to see me, so I hurried over immediately."
The First Emperor Ying Zheng nodded upon hearing this and said nothing more. He picked up his teacup and took a gentle sip. Little did anyone know, the moment the cup obscured his gaze, a sharp flash of light flickered in his eyes, though it quickly returned to normal.
The conversation between the First Emperor Ying Zheng and Hu Hai seemed simple on the surface, but for Gai Nie and Zhang Han, it held deeper implications. Gai Nie, in particular, wore an expression of *schadenfreude*. In his memory, Qin Lan’s mansion was the closest to the Black Dragon Hall. Zhao Gao, responsible for delivering messages to the princes, should have notified Qin Lan first, as he was the eldest. But instead, he had notified the youngest, Hu Hai. The fact that Hu Hai arrived first at the Black Dragon Hall meant that Zhao Gao had prioritized him, which went against the Qin laws of "precedence of rank."
"It seems Zhao Gao is in trouble again," Gai Nie thought, feeling pleased. He had long disliked Zhao Gao, so seeing him get into trouble brought him great joy. Zhang Han, noticing Gai Nie’s expression, could not help but smile as he lifted his cup and finished his tea in one gulp.
Time passed quietly. Half an incense stick later, Qin Lan arrived. Seeing that Hu Hai had arrived before him, Qin Lan did not show any dissatisfaction; instead, he smiled brightly, like a hunter spotting his prey.
Qin Lan stepped forward and cupped his hands. "Congratulations, Father Emperor, on rising to the Famous Swords Ranking and obtaining a Heaven-grade superior treasure sword. Great Qin will surely achieve eternal glory under your leadership."
His voice was resonant and his emotions stirred. A Heaven-grade superior sword was something only Great Qin possessed, and these words struck directly at Ying Zheng’s heart. Ying Zheng, who had been gloomy due to the eleven characters on the "Meteorite Golden List," felt much better after hearing this.
"Good, very good, excellent. With these words from Lan’er, Great Qin shall surely last for ten thousand years."
"Father Emperor for ten thousand years, Great Qin for ten thousand years," Qin Lan echoed.
Ying Zheng laughed heartily, then beckoned Qin Lan to come over and sit beside him, asking him a few questions.
"Thank you, Father Emperor," Qin Lan said respectfully. He walked up the steps with steady strides and sat beside Ying Zheng, the two of them beginning to chat pleasantly.
This scene, when seen through Hu Hai’s eyes, made his mouth twitch with jealousy. In particular, the hand clutching his teacup let out a "crack" sound from the excess force. *Why? Why does Father Emperor favor Qin Lan so much?* At that moment, his heart was filled with resentment.
Gai Nie and Zhang Han noticed his expression but merely smiled, continuing to drink their tea. Soon after, Prince Fusu, Prince Gao, Prince Jianglü, and other princes arrived one after another, taking their seats as signaled by Ying Zheng. However, they did not receive the treatment Qin Lan had—they were not allowed to sit directly beside the Emperor.
Seeing this, they felt both envious and jealous. Why did Qin Lan enjoy such preferential treatment while they were sidelined? Furthermore, why were they called in the middle of the night? They were filled with confusion and began whispering among themselves.
"Ninth Brother, you are well-informed. Do you know why Father Emperor summoned us in the middle of the night? Surely he isn't asking us to have a midnight snack?"
"What nonsense are you spouting? Father Emperor summoned us because of the celestial anomaly tonight—the falling meteorites and the appearance of the Famous Swords Ranking. It must be related to that."
"But we didn't make the list. What can we do even if we are here? Are we supposed to compete for a spot on the ranking? I heard the list is updated every month."
"Right, and besides the Sword Ranking, there are other lists. I just wonder if there is a 'Beauty Ranking.' If there is, that would be truly spectacular."
"Thirteenth Brother, you’ve truly lost your mind. Watch your tongue, don't drag us down with you if trouble breaks out."
A long time later, the conversation between Ying Zheng and Qin Lan ended. He lifted his head and scanned the princes in the hall. The princes, who had been whispering in low voices, immediately fell silent and lowered their heads, saying nothing. The hall fell into a dead silence.
Ying Zheng’s expression was solemn as he said softly, "You need not speculate any further. The Sword God ranked first on the Famous Swords Ranking is in Xianyang. I have already sent people to find him and invite him to the palace."
"I summoned you today in the hope that you might distinguish yourselves, capture the Sword God's favor, be taken on as disciples, and learn his true teachings."
As soon as these words fell, Qin Lan’s expression became peculiar. Subconsciously, he reached toward the pill in his robe and the sword at his waist. *The Sword God?* I’m afraid he won't be showing up tonight!
However, these were only thoughts within Qin Lan’s mind. The other princes all stood up and cupped their hands. "Thank you, Father Emperor! We will certainly strive to perform well and win the Sword God’s favor!"
The Black Dragon Hall remained deathly silent. Ying Zheng leaned back on his throne, his right hand supporting his chin, his left hand tapping the table as he fell into deep thought. The eighteen princes bowed their heads in silence; no one dared to speak, and even if their bladders were full, they had to endure the discomfort. They were all waiting for news from the Shadow Secret Guards who had been sent to find the Sword God. This matter was of vital importance to the Emperor, and no one dared disturb his thoughts.
Only Qin Lan remained calm and composed, picking up a brush and drawing quickly on paper, the sound of "swish-swish" filling the air. Naturally, paper did not exist in the Qin Dynasty—they usually used silk—but this paper was something Qin Lan had introduced.
*Swish-swish-swish...*
*Tap-tap-tap...*
The sound of the brush rubbing against the paper and his knuckles tapping the desk intertwined, appearing exceptionally melodious in the quiet hall.
At the hour of the Tiger (3 AM to 5 AM), chaotic footsteps and low shouts suddenly came from outside the door.
"Please forgive us, Your Majesty! Your subordinates searched all of Xianyang, but could not find the Sword God's tracks!"
The Shadow Secret Guards knelt on one knee outside the hall, waiting quietly for judgment. Inside and outside Xianyang, every inhabited dwelling had been searched multiple times, and the swords of every swordsman had been carefully inspected to see if they matched the rumored Netherworld Sword. Not only had the Shadow Secret Guards been dispatched, but part of the Imperial Guard had also been deployed to assist in the search.
Yet, everything was in vain.
The Sword God, that is, the master of the Netherworld Sword, held immense significance for Ying Zheng. Beyond his status as the head of the Famous Swords Ranking, he possessed two god-grade pills—the Nine-Turn Longevity Pill. This pill could extend one’s life by sixty years, something Ying Zheng desperately needed at this moment.
"This is impossible!" Zhang Han jumped up upon hearing the report, his expression grave as he walked into the hall and knelt. "As the commander of the Shadow Secret Guards, I request Your Majesty's punishment."
His voice was low and urgent, but his heart was filled with shock. By all logic, the radiance of the Famous Swords Ranking’s rewards should have been enveloping the city of Xianyang, and the Shadow Secret Guards had acted immediately; they should have been able to find the target regardless. Could it be that the Sword God was not in Xianyang at all? This was simply inconceivable!
At this moment, Ying Zheng opened his eyes, his gaze lingering on Zhang Han for a long time. After a while, he spoke slowly, his tone low and powerful.
"General Zhang Han, this failure is not your responsibility alone. A swordsman who can rank at the top of the Famous Swords Ranking is clearly no ordinary person. It is only logical that he could evade the pursuit of the Shadow Secret Guards."
"However, the search for the Sword God must not stop. This matter must be like a sword hanging over your head, constantly pressing upon you; you must not grow lax."
His voice rang like thunder, echoing throughout the hall. Hearing this, Zhang Han let out a long sigh of relief and knelt to express his gratitude: "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will surely keep your holy instruction in mind."
"Withdraw." Ying Zheng waved his sleeve.
"Yes." Zhang Han bowed and exited.
Once he had left, the princes in the hall stood up one after another, offering advice all at once. They knew this was a great opportunity to please their father.
"Father Emperor, do not be anxious. With the strength of our Qin State, we will surely find the Sword God's tracks."
"Indeed, and since the Famous Swords Ranking is updated every month, perhaps by the next list, Father Emperor will be able to obtain the god-grade pill."
"Not only that, there are many other lists on the Golden List. Father Emperor will surely rank high on them in the future and obtain the god-grade pill."
Everyone expressed their views, except for Qin Lan and Gai Nie, who remained silent. Qin Lan kept his head down, focused on his painting, the brush tip dancing across the paper. Gai Nie sipped his tea leisurely, a look of detachment in his brows. Gai Nie, in particular, felt a spark of admiration as he watched Qin Lan’s movements. He knew that Ying Zheng held great expectations for the god-grade pill; now that he learned the Sword God had not appeared, it was clear that the god-grade pill was also beyond his reach. The higher the expectation, the deeper the disappointment. Ying Zheng must be experiencing a storm of emotions internally.
At this critical moment, continuing to speak would only increase his annoyance. Therefore, silence was the wisest choice.
At this point, Ying Zheng stood up, his face gloomy and showing faint signs of anger. "You all need not say more. I have my own plans."
"The morning court session is half a quarter-hour away. All of you withdraw to wait outside the hall for further orders. At that time, I will have an important announcement to make."
His words echoed like the roar of a dragon, radiating majesty. With this, all the princes in the hall fell silent and responded immediately: "Understood, we obey Father Emperor’s instruction."