Reincarnated into World of Nine Heavens and Ten Earths

 The two, Long Chen and Grandmaster Yun Qi, looked at each other in shock as they spread their Spiritual Energy through the stone because of the shocking reality that not only was the Spirit Stone of high purity, enough to be rated a medium-grade, but it also spread over a wide area surpassing 1,000 meters, Long Chen's Spiritual Strength range, and even 20,000 meters, Grandmaster Yun Qi's Spiritual Strength range, which indicated that there was a Spirit Stone mine that covered at least the entire Capital City or even beyond within the Phoenix Cry Empire.

The sheer amount and density of Spirit Stones was beyond imagination. As Shi Feng and the others entered the hole for Water-well, their eyes widened in shock, their faces reflecting a blend of awe and unrestrained excitement. Despite their initial lack of access to the path of cultivation—except for Shi Feng—they had invested their time in acquiring a vast array of historical and social knowledge, making them quite astute. Their understanding of the significance of Spirit Stones was clear: the quality and quantity of these stones could elevate the Phoenix Cry Empire from a minor realm to a powerful entity comparable to the great sects across the continent. The realization hit them like a tidal wave; they stood on the brink of monumental change.

The group gathered to discuss the mine's future, debating its management and how to harness its potential without drawing unwanted attention. Grandmaster Yun Qi surveyed the Spirit Stone zone with his Spiritual Strength, a concentrated frown etched on his face. They had barely scratched the surface of their discussion when a sudden commotion drew their attention. Grandmaster Yun Qi, pale and trembling, began to cough up blood. Long Chen sprang into action, catching his master before he collapsed, his face a mask of urgent concern.

"Master, what happened to you?" Long Chen's voice was taut with worry as he helped Grandmaster Yun Qi to a seat outside the hole.

Yun Qi's eyes, though pained, held a stern determination. "Long Chen, I am fine. Don't worry about me. Close the hole's entrance immediately," he commanded, his tone brooking no argument. Long Chen obeyed without hesitation, sealing the entrance with a swift, powerful motion.

"There seems to be a strange existence deep within the Spirit Stone mine," Yun Qi continued, his voice grave. "Something very powerful. I heard a voice—it said, 'Save the Emperor and enter the Imperial Tomb.' The voice was not malevolent but benevolent. However, its spiritual strength was overwhelming, far too strong for me to withstand."

The revelation stunned everyone, including Long Chen. The very idea of a powerful entity residing within the confines of their small empire was astonishing. Such a presence should not exist in a place like this. However, Long Chen's mind raced, recalling the unpredictable nature of the universe: 'No two worlds are the same, nor are their journeys identical. Experiences may be similar, but they are never the same.' He quickly formulated a plan, recognizing the critical implication of the phrase 'Save the Emperor.' which meant that Emperor Chu Tiankuo was still alive but on the brink of death, they had no time to lose.

Long Chen urged his master to focus on recovery and outlined a strategy to infiltrate the Imperial Palace and save the emperor. Shi Feng's father would arrange a meeting with the Empress. After a brief but intense discussion, everyone understood their roles and dispersed to carry out their tasks. Shi Feng approached his father, requesting an audience with the Empress for Grandmaster Yun Qi and his disciple. Meanwhile, Fatty Yu and the others began gathering maps and historical documents related to the Imperial Tomb, enlisting the help of their families.

Long Chen and Grandmaster Yun Qi worked tirelessly to prepare for the mission. They refined various Anti-toxin Pills, Recovery Pills, and all manner of life-saving and poison removal elixirs, including the famed '1000-Poison Recovery Pill.' For three days, they labored without rest, their focus unwavering. The air in their workshop was thick with the scent of potent herbs and the sound of clinking vials.

On the third day, with preparations complete and their identities concealed under Pill Adept robes, Long Chen and Grandmaster Yun Qi entered the Imperial Palace. The message of their arrival spread quickly, and soon the Empress, along with the princes, princesses, and other concubines of the emperor, gathered at the throne room entrance to greet them. The absence of Emperor Chu Tiankuo was palpable, his empty throne a silent testament to his condition.

After the introductions, Long Chen, now going by the alias Shen Long, stood alongside his master. Grandmaster Yun Qi wasted no time, broaching the subject of the emperor's health. His words were met with suspicion from the assembled generals and ministers, their eyes narrowing as they scrutinized the newcomers. Shen Long addressed the room, explaining that a person on the brink of breaking through to the Xiantian Realm should not be taking years to advance. The delay in Emperor Chu Tiankuo's breakthrough to the Meridian Opening Realm was highly unusual.

The logic was irrefutable, and suspicion gave way to concern. The Empress, her regal composure barely masking her anxiety, asked for the reason behind their visit. Grandmaster Yun Qi responded, "To help Emperor Chu Tiankuo recover and regain control of the empire." Shen Long added, his voice tinged with aggression, "And to stop the corruption among the nobles, who have been exploiting their power for personal gain. We will not allow them to interfere with our guild."

Their statements sent a ripple of fear through the throne room. Nearly 90% of the ministers turned as pale as paper, their guilty consciences laid bare. The atmosphere grew tense as the weight of their crimes seemed to press down on them.

The air in the throne room was thick with tension, every eye fixated on the unfolding drama. Shen Long's declaration had stirred a cauldron of anxiety and dread among the ministers, their faces betraying the fear gnawing at their hearts. The specter of the emperor waking up, learning of their nefarious deeds, and discovering the plight of the Long household – the family of his trusted friend Long Tianxiao – loomed large. The realization that their actions might lead to their execution, or at the very least, their complete downfall, was a chilling thought. Panic simmered beneath the surface, and as they bristled with indignation and fear, their thoughts raced towards retaliation. They could not allow Grandmaster Yun Qi and his disciple, Long Chen, to visit the emperor; it was a risk too great to take.

Just as the ministers were about to voice their opposition, Long Chen's voice rang out, cutting through the room like a blade. "Also, the Wild Marquis Zhou Weiqing has to bring his son to ask for forgiveness from Long Chen." The words hung in the air, laden with accusation and authority.

Marquis Zhou, his face contorted with rage, bellowed, "What kind of nonsense is this? What do you want from me and my son?" His voice echoed through the hall, a mix of anger and incredulity.

Long Chen's eyes flashed with a dangerous light. "What do I mean, you ask? I mean about how you and your son colluded with Guan Cheng and destroyed the rules of Alchemist. And if you don't dare to compromise…" He let the sentence hang ominously, his words a dire warning.

Without waiting for a response, Long Chen released his Beast Flame. In an instant, a massive, fiery serpent materialized in the throne room, its blazing form radiating an intense heat that made the air shimmer. The ministers recoiled in terror, their faces pale with fear. The sight was both mesmerizing and horrifying, the serpent's eyes glowing with a malevolent light.

At this moment, a man stepped forward, his demeanor calm yet slightly feminine. He released his aura, a palpable force that filled the room. "Young sir, though you are a pill adept, you and your master are nothing more than Pill Cultivators, not enough to fight against the cultivators. As for the fact, we already have made connections with another pill refiner, a dignified Pill King named Wei Cang. So, behave yourself as it wouldn't be a problem for us to deal with you guys. And ask for forgiveness from her highness as you have dared to show-off fighting intent in the Throne Room of the Palace."

The name 'Wei Cang' seemed to act as a trigger. Rage and killing intent erupted from Long Chen and Grandmaster Yun Qi simultaneously. Long Chen's Beast Flame, which he had been suppressing, surged with uncontrollable power. The flame intensified, its ferocity causing the man who had spoken to be flung across the room. He collided with the wall with a sickening thud, coughing up blood as he slid to the floor.

Long Chen's voice was a low growl, barely restrained. "Pill Emperor Wei Cang? That bastard, eh? Marquis Ying, I thank you for telling us about him." His eyes flickered with deadly intent as he turned to his master, who was visibly shaking with suppressed power.

"Master, no need to hold back," Long Chen said, his voice steady and cold.

Grandmaster Yun Qi's expression hardened as he unleashed his sealed cultivation. The room was instantly flooded with Xiantian Qi, an overwhelming force that pressed down on everyone present. Faces drained of color, and breaths became labored under the oppressive weight of the energy.

"Hmph, what Pill King? What dignified? What power does he have against a Pill Emperor at Xiantian Realm?" Long Chen's mocking voice cut through the silence like a knife. He stared at Marquis Ying, who was writhing in pain, his body half-burned from the proximity to Long Chen's Beast Flame. The sight was pitiful, and the realization of their dire predicament began to dawn on the assembled ministers.

The shock reverberated through the room. A Xiantian Realm powerhouse was a legend, a figure of immense power that the Phoenix Cry Empire had not seen for over five hundred years. The records spoke only of the founding members of the royal Chu Family achieving such heights. The ministers, now paralyzed with fear, realized that they were utterly powerless against a Pill Emperor and his formidable disciple.

Long Chen's gaze swept across the room, his eyes locking onto the empress, whose face glistened with a sheen of sweat. Her eyes betrayed a deep, palpable fear. His gaze then moved to the princes and princesses, each of them frozen in a mix of shock and terror. "I am not requesting you but notifying you, your highness," Long Chen declared, his voice resonating with authority. He took a calming breath before continuing, "I along with my master wish to be taken to the Emperor's room. Also, send prince Chu Feng and princess Chu Yao. I have some matter to deal with them."

Having made his intentions clear, Long Chen turned to his master, requesting him to temper his overwhelming prowess. The atmosphere, though still charged, eased slightly as Grandmaster Yun Qi reined in his formidable energy. Moments later, the empress, accompanied by the four individuals Long Chen had summoned – himself, Grandmaster Yun Qi, Chu Feng, and Chu Yao – led the way to a grand door beneath the castle. This door was guarded by four cultivators, each at the peak of the Blood Condensation Realm.

Upon confirming the Royal Tablet in the empress's hand, the guards bowed deeply, their expressions a mix of respect and relief. 

Within the room there were a few herbalists and pill refiners with Pill Adept robes who were tending to the the emperor. His body was half dipped in a medicinal bath and his acupoints were pinned with needles as poison was being slowly extracted. But no matter what his condition was very worse, his breaths were almost reaching state of end. Grandmaster asked everyone except Long Chen, Chu Yao and Chu Feng to leave the room and so did others follow him.

After that analyzing the condition of Emperor, Grandmaster Yun Qi started his treatment while Long Chen attended Chu Yao and Chu Feng who were acting all rowdy though their eyes and body showed fear. As Long Chen got nearer, he opened his robes and said, "No need to worry, I am here to help you both cure you problems."

To gain their trust Long Chen discussed a lot about the problems in the Chu Siblings bodies also showing the proof to them for which the two were shocked to know about their condition and so, Long Chen then starts to prepare for destroying the Foreign Qis within both, Chu Yao and Chu Feng. Hence, he chooses to start with Chu Yao.

Trusting Long Chen, Chu Yao obediently swallowed that Star Fusing Pill .

With Chu Yao sitting in lotus style on the ground, Long Chen placed his hand on the middle of her back, using his Spiritual Strength to keep a close eye on the state of her body .

Following Long Chen's directions, Chu Yao, as a inborn talent of Qi manipulation, controlled flow of Star Fusing Pills Qi through her meridians almost perfectly and slowly increasing the speed till the speed of flow was pushed to the max after which she started sending the energy(Qi) to her Dantian wildly like surging waves. Along with the medicinal energy, Long Chen's Spiritual Strength, was added that aided the process of solving to work flawlessly. 

Those Nine Foreign Spiritual Qis that had been nourished by Chu Yao for so many years were immediately crushed into pieces and merged into her Dantian .

BOOM!

Following the breaking of those nine spiritual seeds, Chu Yao's Dantian immediately became filled with endless energy . It caused Chu Yao who was originally at the Seventh Heaventhstage of Qi Condensing Realm to immediately break through continuously:

'Eighth Heaventhstage of Qi Condensing Realm'

'Ninth Heaventhstage of Qi Condensing Realm'

'Great Circle of Qi Condensing Realm'

....

She broke through continuously to the 'Third Heaventhstage of Blood Condensation Realm'.

While her cultivation increased it was condensed and completely stable with the quality of her Spirit Root increasing and her aura of high-ranking Wooden Element Spirit Root showcasing it's worth.

Afterwards Chu Feng's turn came but since it was hard for Chu Feng to himself manipulate the Star Fusing Pill's Qi, Long Chen had to help Chu Feng in the entire process. And similar to his elder sister his Cultivation increased from 'First Heaventhstage of Qi Condensing Realm' directly to 'Eighth Heaventhstage of Qi Condensing Realm' and his Spirit Root also became that of high grade but one that had affinity of wind. He too was overexcited like his elder sister was. Both of them had to be suppressed due to being powerless but now with their power increased they didn't need to act wildly arrogant and foolish but could now be like what they wanted free and simple like they always wanted. 

However, that wasn't the end to their happiness as the joy was enhanced when they felt a hug from behind and it was their father, Lord Chu Tiankuo, the Emperor of Phoenix Cry Empire. The emperor right now talked with his heart filled with fatherly emotions for his youngest children the ones he had the least time to spend with. Seeing which both the master and disciple were feeling well. Just as Chu Yao was about to introduce Long Chen as Shen Long for he didn't reveal his identity.

"Huh!? You are... Long Tianxiao's son Long Chen?", he asked as he figured through the locket that hanging on his neck.

"Huh!? Lord how do you...?", just as Long Chen was about to ask he got a kick on his waist by the Emperor and retaining his position and demeanor, he yelled at Long Chen, who was shocked by the attack, "How dare you call me Lord? Where is the Long Chen that called me Uncle? And if not that call me father-in-law!!!!!" All the people there including Long Chen and excepting the emperor point finger at Long Chen, well he himself points finger in confusion.

Seeing Long Chen's and Chu Yao's confusion he asks about what had happened in Phoenix Cry Empire in the last seven years for which he had been in this chamber recovering. Chu Yao and Chu Feng state about the condition of their Royal Family and all the incidents and activities going on, then Grandmaster Yun Qi states about the problems of civilians and evil of the nobles while Long Chen tells about his family's condition, exploitation of the nobles and his father not having returned home in the past 5 years from the barracks.

Hearing all that Emperor Chu Tiankuo raged in anger after which he asked for help from Long Chen and Grandmaster Yun Qi who without any other doubt willingly wish to help him.

After which as Chu Feng asks curiously for what reason did brother Long Chen had to term his father as uncle or father-in-law, Emperor Chu Tiankuo started to explain about a story in short was of when Chu Yao was a kid about 4-years-old, and after the end of his imperial court's work, he would walk at the evening with her to meet Long Chen and Long Chen's father, Long Tianxiao. At that time Long family was living within the Imperial Grounds.

Both, Emperor Chu and Marquis Long, were very good and close friends since childhood and so was their relation composed and calm. Each day as the two brotherly friends met each other, Chu Yao would play with Long Chen and with time the both got closer. Two years later, on the day of New Year Eve, Long Chen found her crying when she said that she was not being loved and cared as much as she was cared before due to the birth of her brother, Chu Feng, as a result of which to make her happy Long Chen promised never to leave her side and always aide her whenever she needed. Having seen the scene, their parents started to have a argument i.e. between the fathers that Long Chen needs to marry Chu Yao and the decision was by him, Chu Yao's father. After a bit of suffering, Long Chen's father gave up in front of Chu Yao's father, the Emperor. And at that time they had told each one to say a part of poetic rhymes.

That very moment, memories flashed by as Chu Yao said, "The Dragon swims across the four oceans; the Phoenix flies throughout the nine lands."

And Long Chen though didn't know a flash of memory did flicker within him and he spoke continuing the rhyme, "Seas of blood may block us, but we will never give up our path; Dragon and Phoenix will both live to old age!"

Long Chen and Chu Yao both Looked at each other with eyes filled with emotion. Though Chu Feng was confused at first, he rushed to attack Long Chen when he saw both of them hugging each other. He bit Long Chen on the head, on the hand and even with a kick but instead of Long Chen feeling any pain, he himself felt his legs hurt. He almost started to weep seeing that while his father and Grandmaster looked at them with a funny look until he gathered all the Qi within his body at his right Leg and hit Long Chen's 'Little Dragon' and as Long Chen was not focused, the attack was not only successful but stroke with a 'Critical of 1000%' making Long Chen crouch his legs in pain but as he felt better within a few seconds he saw all of them holding their laughter as they saw Long Chen's position of still crouching his legs.

As everyone calmed down, Long Chen stated about the Spirit Stone Mine within the empire, it's purity making it at Middle-Grade and about the amount of it within the Empire hearing which made uncle Chu to drool over the Spirit stones his mind completely excited as the scene of a flourishing era and the time of growth for the Phoenix Cry Empire had finally come to settle in his mind.

After that Grandmaster Yun Qi started to tell about the ancient voice that actually told his master about the Emperor being still alive but in a near death situation and also about the Imperial Tomb.

When the Emperor heard of this, his face went completely serious and solemn. He took in a deep breath and started to say about the History of Imperial Tomb related to the diary he had obtained on his father's funeral within the Imperial Tomb which was written by the 13th Emperor of Phoenix Cry Empire, Ancestor Chu Yan.

According to the diary, there was no Imperial Tomb when the Empire was founded 2000 years ago but was built 1000 years ago. It all had started with the Founding Emperor, Ancestor Chu Long's friend who was a mysterious person and the place the Imperial Tomb is made is the very place where the 'Path' to the 'Legacy of the Ancient One' which was left by that mysterious person. The person also stated that the legacy itself will call for the person when he or she ia infront of the Gate and told others not to be too greedy and enter without a resolute thought of training or else they may lose cultivation.

And it was such that the gate would open only once every hundred years on the 108th Day after the New Year Festival when the Full Moon would above the Imperial Tomb. However, the warning was in vain as after the time of founding emperor everyone of Imperial Chu family wanting to gain power entered the place, while strong their greed was unstoppable and non-ending. Though people entered, none of them returned. 

Lord Chu Yan had also entered because he didn't know the warning as the warning was already forgotten within the river of history. But because his character was good and like very few people in he was not greedy which is why he was allowed to return and not only him but many others even in past who didn't enter for lust of power but due to curiosity and in rashness but like those in the past who had returned, he could neither tell about what had happened inside and what was inside nor could he write about it, like a commandment had been placed on him. As knowing the reason he sealed the the place marking as the current Imperial Tomb.

The first reason of making the place into Imperial Tomb was the fact that countless geniuses of Phoenix Cry Empire and Imperial Chu Family who had entered with him had and in past had died due to which their country had been unable to hold off rebellions and betrayals causing it to breakdown into the current Nine Empires around the Phoenix Cry Empire. 

Abd the other reason was that if the one who will be chosen will come then the voice itself will guide him/her such that there won't be any one else from the Chu family have to die in vain.

All the faces were completely in shock including Long Chen who never had thought such a history of Phoenix Cry Empire to exist along with the Legacy.

He then looked confused and asked, "So uncle, does that mean master was called?" to which Uncle Chu shakes his head saying, "No, it must be you as you had also sent your Spiritual Energy. Afterall, the age requirement is to be under 15-years of age." and as he fell in some thought, he said, "I guess it's a good thing. If what you said of me being in this chamber for around 7 years is correct then this is the 2108th Year according to the Imperial Phoenix Calendar that means this is the very year for opening of the gate and as just two weeks past the New Year which means that we still have two and a half month of time to prepare." 

When he said that there was some excitement within Long Chen which seemed to arise from the Fengfu Star that as well excited Long Chen because he had thought that he could finally solve the problem of Fengfu Star being unable to undergo the 'Eighth Transformation'.

A new thought came within Long Chen as a adventurous trial has arrived in front of Long Chen for which he started to Plan his three month work.

To Be Continued...

(Note: I am sorry if this chapter looked unnecessarily long. It was because I has already formed it before asking for the advice. But don't worry, this will be the only such and after today I will do follow what [Daoist591955] had suggested.)

[Also, Thanks for Reading. Have a Great Day Y'all.]