Chapter 67: Heaven’s Loss

A troop of about three thousand men quietly departed from the northern gate of Peng City. Within the ranks were six carriages, guarded with the utmost vigilance. Those riding in them must surely be of exalted status.

Yet, if anyone knew the truth, they would be astonished. Among those bound for the tomb of the last Qin emperor, there were eight distinguished individuals. Three Han envoys: Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan. Three ministers of Chu: Fan Li, Fan Chun, and Yan Yuan. Beyond these six, the most honored were the Empress of Chu, Liu Man, and her revered master, the Saint Lord of Qingqiu from the Pure Land of Brahma.

Eight nobles, but only six carriages? One carriage must be a little crowded within.

“Princess, please conduct yourself with propriety. You are a married woman,” Fan Li muttered, his lips trembling slightly, clearly infuriated.

“Hehehe, Fan Li, you call me ‘Princess’ rather than ‘Empress,’ which shows even you don't take my marriage to His Majesty seriously. On what grounds, then, do you say I am a married woman?”

The carriage was exceedingly spacious, akin to a mobile chamber. The soft couch could be used for sitting or reclining. Yet Princess Changle insisted on sitting right next to Fan Li, as if they were a pair.

Fan Li discovered that so long as they were out of the public eye, Princess Changle behaved like any ordinary girl or wife, utterly lacking the dignified bearing of imperial women.

He cast a helpless glance at the Saint Lord of Qingqiu.

This woman, ethereal as an immortal, was indeed composed and proper, seated facing north with her back to the south like a divine statue.

The Saint Lord of Qingqiu sensed Fan Li’s gaze, but she spoke calmly and refused to intervene.

“Changle has graduated as my disciple. She must bear the consequences of her own words and actions. Unless she threatens the Pure Land, I never interfere.”

Fan Li was at a loss for words. Princess Changle, however, chuckled softly, as if she'd anticipated her master’s response.

Suddenly, a familiar chime sounded in Fan Li’s mind—a system task had arrived.

“New task issued: Wreak havoc in the imperial harem.”

No! Just hearing the title, Fan Li couldn’t help but glance at Princess Changle beside him.

“Task details: Since ancient times, treacherous ministers have not only meddled with state affairs but also with the imperial harem. Please embrace your role as a traitor and win over at least one woman belonging to an emperor.”

Damn! Fan Li nearly forgot the full name of his system: The First Treacherous Minister System in History.

Such bizarre tasks were indeed in line with the system’s nature. The problem was, Xiang Ning had only one empress and one imperial consort. Even if Fan Li wished to fulfill the task, his options were limited.

Imperial Consort Lü Fubao? She was a harmless, well-behaved girl, ever since entering the harem, always proper and obedient.

Moreover, her father Lü Chunqiu was not only a highly respected sage of Confucian Dao, but also Fan Li’s irreplaceable right-hand man.

To harm Lü Fubao? Fan Li wouldn’t even dare imagine it.

As for the woman before him... she seemed even more intent on completing the task than Fan Li himself.

“Wealth cannot corrupt, nor can power coerce me. At worst, I won’t do this worthless task,” Fan Li thought to himself.

“Task reward: Two Substitute Dolls.”

Damn!!!

Fan Li almost cursed aloud.

He had worked himself to exhaustion to finally earn two Substitute Dolls. Now, for such a trivial task, the reward was another two?

Does the Treacherous Minister System only care about whether the task is treacherous enough, regardless of difficulty?

“If I ask Qingqiu to leave for a while and spend an hour with Changle, would I get the reward?” Fan Li wondered.

The thought barely crossed his mind before he felt as if “wealth cannot corrupt” and “power cannot coerce” slapped him on both cheeks.

How utterly shameful!

He looked at Princess Changle, who was grinning mischievously, her expression like that of a thousand-year-old fox spirit, staring back at him.

Fan Li felt chills down his spine under her gaze.

Forget it! A woman’s heart is a fathomless ocean!

If he truly undressed, this woman might flee faster than anyone—not to be trusted!

“I’ll endure it!”

Fan Li tried to resist, but the temptation of two Substitute Dolls was overwhelming. He couldn’t help but sneak a few more glances at Princess Changle.

“Fan Li,”

Suddenly, the Saint Lord of Qingqiu spoke.

“Ah?” Fan Li looked at her, confused.

Qingqiu said calmly, “Though I ought not meddle in your private affairs, as a minister of Chu, any entanglement with the Empress could bring disaster upon you. The Pure Land cannot permit you to be slain by others. So, please respect yourself.”

“I…”

“Hahahahaha!”

Princess Changle completely disregarded royal decorum, laughing so hard she toppled into Fan Li’s arms.

Fan Li was utterly speechless.

Several days remained before they reached the tomb of the last Qin emperor. Would he have to face these two extraordinary women every day?

Fortunately, Qingqiu changed the subject.

“Fan Li, from what I observe, your innate talent should not be so dull. Why is your cultivation progressing so slowly?”

Fan Li forced a smile. “Is it slow? It’s much faster than before.”

His two clones practiced day and night, and the Fan family business continually provided spiritual medicines. Now, Fan Li had reached the sixth rank of body refinement.

But in the eyes of the Saint Lord of Qingqiu, the sixth rank was little different from ordinary mortals.

Fan Li recalled something and replied, “When I was young, I was ambushed by a mysterious master and left with chronic internal injuries, but these were healed not long ago.”

Before the injuries were cured, Fan Li couldn’t cultivate at all, unable to even gather a trace of spiritual energy. Now, though his progress was slow, he was at least a true cultivator.

“Give me your hand.”

Fan Li dared not refuse, extending his right hand.

Qingqiu gently touched his wrist with a finger; with her cultivation, she should have been able to discern his issues instantly.

Yet her finger lingered for an unusually long time, and her brows furrowed.

Nearly the time it takes for an incense stick to burn passed before Qingqiu withdrew her slender, jade-like finger.

“Master, is Fan Li in grave danger?” Princess Changle immediately asked.

Fan Li glanced at her in surprise, but said nothing.

“He once suffered the ‘Heaven’s Loss’ technique,” Qingqiu said.

Heaven’s Loss?

Fan Li had no idea what kind of technique or secret art this was, but it sounded ominous.

“The Heaven’s Loss?!” Princess Changle exclaimed.

Her reaction only deepened Fan Li’s curiosity.

“Heaven’s Loss is an extremely venomous secret art—not difficult to perform, but the price is great, and it is easily defended against. Yet, if successfully cast, its harm is severe.”

Princess Changle explained with a sigh, looking at Fan Li with unexpected sympathy.

“No wonder—you were struck in childhood. With a technique like Heaven’s Loss, anyone who has reached the Golden Core stage or higher could easily resist it.”

Fan Li frowned and asked, “What exactly is Heaven’s Loss?”

“The so-called Heaven’s Loss is also known as ‘harming others with no benefit to oneself.’”

“A person has three souls and seven spirits. The caster sacrifices one of their own spirits to strike their target.”

“Whether successful or not, the caster inevitably loses one spirit.”

“As for the victim, their soul is left with a hidden wound.”

“A hidden wound to the soul is unlike a physical injury—exceptionally difficult to heal. Fan Li, your soul’s hidden wound remains unhealed. No wonder your cultivation is so arduous.”