Throughout history, countless monumental events have been triggered by incidents that, when viewed from the grand scope of time, seem incredibly trivial.
Take the "Case of A'Yun" in the Northern Song Dynasty—a minor legal dispute over a broken engagement that somehow sparked the massive political upheavals of Wang Anshi's Reforms. Or look at the "Dispute of Beiliang," where a petty quarrel between village women over mulberry leaves became the fuse that detonated the War between Wu and Chu.
Just like now.
Absolutely no one could have realized that an ordinary, run-of-the-mill Vtuber graduation stream would somehow involve a dazzling treasure lost for a millennium—the Heirloom Seal of the Realm.
"Impossible. It shouldn't be."
In the conference hall, someone muttered to themselves, "Shouldn't the real Heirloom Seal have vanished without a trace back in the Later Tang era? How could it appear in that little girl's hands?"
"How else? The Mausoleum of Genghis Khan, obviously!"
Bailu flicked her dragon tail irritably, the appendage making a soft swish against the polished floor. "The Seal was only missing, not destroyed. The Mongol Empire that Genghis Khan built incorporated half of Shenzhou into its territory. Is it really that strange if he managed to loot the most important artifact in the land?"
"Wait a moment."
Yanqing furrowed his sword-like brows. "Didn't Grandmaster Phoenix say before that she had already recovered all artifacts related to Shenzhou from within the Khan's Mausoleum? How did this one slip through the cracks?"
The young Sword Preeminent was unaware of the timeline. While Fu Hua—along with Fuli—was indeed among the first batch to enter the Mausoleum Bubble Universe, she did search for artifacts.
However, if one were to carefully comb through the sequence of events, they would discover that the first people to start looting treasures were actually Kiana and Bronya. Fuli came next, and due to her steady and cautious nature, Fu Hua was the last to begin her search.
Yes, it was just that brief delay. Through a strange twist of fate, they missed each other, and the item slipped by.
And as for Kiana?
The Heirloom Seal of the Realm is the physical manifestation of the Mandate of Heaven; it generally only reacts to the people of Shenzhou. In anyone else's hands, its only function is... a very durable walnut cracker.
The goofy girl who got her hands on this item casually shoved it, box and all, into her 4th-Dimensional Skirt (her subspace storage) and promptly threw the matter to the back of her mind.
What makes this amusing is that anyone with historical knowledge—be it Fuli; Mei, the walking encyclopedia; or even Bronya, who knows just enough history to pass a test—would have recognized the Heirloom Seal at first glance. They would have realized it was the "One Ring" of Eastern history.
As it turned out, Kiana—that fish who famously slipped through the net of compulsory education—was the one who picked it up. This led to the treasure gathering dust in her inventory for ages. Fate, it seems, loves a good prank.
She didn't even know this thing was the supreme artifact countless emperors yearned for day and night. She simply pulled out a genuine artifact from the Khan's Mausoleum during a "heated gamer moment" and slammed it on the desk, asking her chat stream to appraise it.
But considering that for a European luck-sack like her, everything is an inevitability, she actually revealed it at exactly the right time.
Otherwise, if the Hyperion had missed out on the massive stage of the "Luminary Wardance Ceremony" and its bountiful rewards, what a huge loss would that have been?
Wait, does slamming the Jade Seal on the table count as destroying cultural relics?
Obviously not, because it still had the box underneath acting as a buffer.
Just wait until Fuli and Fu Hua play some "little games between men and women" in the future; that involves actual demon-slaying and "comforting the Dao"—now that is what you call destroying cultural relics.
"Never mind if it's possible or not. The reality is, she has already pulled the Seal out."
A chilly voice suppressed the noise in the room. Situ Qinghong remained expressionless, though she was secretly delighted.
Serves you right!
Let's see you bunch of unreliable bastards treat a Council Meeting like a team-building exercise and eat hotpot again! I dare you!
The young woman let out a soft hmph and continued, "Even though Baize cut the livestream the instant the Seal appeared, it's inevitable that some viewers saw it. So, wipe those stupid looks off your faces and hurry up and discuss a proper protocol for how to handle this."
"Discuss? Discuss what?"
A burly man, who prided himself on being a die-hard Robin solo-stan for thirty-two years, slammed his fist onto the conference table. "That is a precious national treasure lost for a thousand years! Since it has seen the light of day again, it naturally must be returned to its rightful owner!"
"Oh?" Situ Qinghong raised an eyebrow. "And your meaning is?"
"We snatch it back!"
Forceful. Resounding.
Before his voice had even faded, dozens of gazes stabbed into him simultaneously, looking at him as if he were brain-dead.
The man was about to flare up in anger, but his eyes darted around, and he suddenly remembered something.
Damn it! I forgot that kid Fuli is the Marshal's little lover and bedwarmer!
Marshal of Taixuan—Hua's position within the Taixuan Front.
"Uh... well..."
The towering eight-foot man shrank back, scratching his head awkwardly. "Then... how about we ask the Old Ancestor to make a trip to the Hyperion and ask for it back for us?"
This time, the crowd didn't just look at him sideways; they looked at him with cold, dead eyes.
Well said.
Situ Qinghong sneered and finalized the decision. "The organization has decided. You will go personally to report this matter to Grandmaster Phoenix."
You go do it. I certainly can't bring myself to lose face like that.
"No, no, no, no! Spare me, Counselor Situ!"
Weisheng turned cowardly on the spot, obviously realizing what a terrible idea he had just proposed.
"As the symbol of the longest-lasting imperial power and one of the intended axis points of the South Heaven Gate Project, the Seal must definitely be retrieved."
Jiaoqiu gently waved his feather fan, his tone lukewarm but cutting straight to the heart of the matter. "Forceful seizure is out of the question, but we can exchange it for some valuables of similar worth or trade shares. Even if we take a slight financial loss, it doesn't matter."
The South Heaven Gate Project: An artificial reconstruction of the "Heavenly Court" to invest gods with titles, shielding Shenzhou like clouds covering the sky.
Now, regarding the "Heavenly Court" (Tian Ting): In pop culture, people assume it belongs to Daoism.
In reality, its essence is a Confucian rite centered on supreme Imperial Power, offering sacrifices to the "Red Equatorial Heaven"—the Supreme Deity.
The popular figure of the "Jade Emperor" was essentially Daoism trying to rebrand the Confucian concept of the Supreme Deity. Much like how Buddhism absorbed Vishnu, or how Christianity rebranded pagan gods as demons—it was a classic case of theological marketing warfare.
And throughout thousands of years of history, never has there been a single object that could interpret the true meaning of "Imperial Power Mandated by Heaven" better than the Heirloom Seal of the Realm.
Even though it disappeared early in history, subsequent dynasties still created counterfeits time and time again to declare their legitimacy.
In other words, this object is the missing battery key for the South Heaven Gate Project.
"Counselor, should I make the trip?"
Yunli bit off the last hawthorn from her tanghulu, tossed the stick away, and volunteered.
Her amber eyes shone with eagerness. "Last time at the border, I let those three guys slip away. It's the perfect chance to get payback, with interest!"
Yunli?
Situ Qinghong quickly weighed the options in her mind.
Limit-breaking strength, armed to the teeth with top-tier equipment... if things went south, she could at least escape. But her personality was a ticking time bomb.
Her gaze shifted to Lingsha, who was standing beside Yunli. The latter nodded slightly, a gentle smile on her lips, indicating she could go along to handle the diplomatic communications.
The young strategist felt relieved. "Alright then, this trip will be handled by you—"
"Hold, Counselor Situ."
A cold, confident female voice, carrying an unquestionable majesty, suddenly echoed above the conference hall.
"For this negotiation... how about this seat goes personally?"
The voice arrived before the person appeared.
Despite it being a very rude interruption, a smile of relief actually appeared on Situ Qinghong's face. "Since you are personally attending the appointment, Qinghong naturally has no objections... Does the General intend to go alone?"
"This seat will bring Qingque along. She will serve as a guard, and it will also be convenient to supervise her."
Stifled chuckles immediately broke out across the venue. Clearly, everyone knew the slack-off nature of Master Diviner Qingque.
Only Yunli, having been cut out of the mission, was a bit unhappy. But soon, the corners of her mouth curled up in schadenfreude, secretly thinking: Little Que's lazy days are over!
"Then, this topic is concluded."
Situ Qinghong waved her hand, dismissing the light screen in front of her.
As her gaze fell on the frozen image of the Jade Seal, a strange thought suddenly flashed through her mind:
The symbol of Shenzhou's imperial power hasn't been seen for a millennium. Yet, the moment it re-emerges, it falls into the hands of a compatible candidate for Fuli's 'Primeval Lord of Heaven' priesthood. To call this a coincidence... it's frankly a bit too suspicious.
The young woman seriously suspected that even without this incident, the Heirloom Seal of the Realm would have hopped its way to that man sooner or later.
However... the first topic of the meeting was Acheron (Huangquan), and now it involves Imperial Power (Huangquan)—Pfft! The pun writes itself.
Having finished the knighting ceremony, "Prisoner" Fuli returned to the Hyperion, travel-worn and weary, only to feel like the sky was falling.
After listening to Mei's calm narration, he wordlessly instant-transmitted behind Kiana, who was attempting to sneak away. He grabbed the girl's slender ankle with precision and mercilessly hoisted her upside down.
"Ah! Wah! A-Li, what are you doing?!"
"What else are you hiding? Hand it all over!!!"
Gritting his teeth, Fuli shook his hands vigorously up and down, as if he really intended to shake every last item out of her 4th-Dimensional Skirt.
"Nothing! There's really not a single drop left! Uwu..."
The white-haired Tuna, dangling upside down like a scallion, looked utterly aggrieved. "I gave everything I could to Mei! A-Li, I'm getting dizzy, put me down, okay?"
"How can an A-Rank Limit-Breaker be that fragile?! [Gibberish sounds]"
Fuli was simply furious. "You even dare to hoard the Heirloom Seal of the Realm? Is your next step to stuff the legendary Xuanyuan Sword into your pocket too? Also, didn't I say that all gadgets from the Mausoleum related to Shenzhou were to be given to my cousin? Did you take my words as a passing breeze?!"
"No! No!"
The white-haired Tuna hurriedly explained, "That thing was in a dark, ugly wooden box, but it was placed in the highest and most conspicuous spot! I-I just grabbed it in passing! Later, when I checked it, I realized its art style was wrong, but it had zero Honkai energy reaction. I was afraid you'd be mad that I didn't listen to you, so I didn't say anything..."
By the end, the girl's lips were trembling, looking as if she would burst into tears the very next second.
Seeing her pitiful appearance, Fuli's heart instantly softened.
Fine. The kid went hungry roaming the streets for so many years; she was scared of starvation. It's understandable that she can't help stuffing good things into her skirt when she sees them.
He sighed and loosened his grip. "Anyway, just this once."
"Mhm! Mhm!"
Kiana scrambled to stand firm, patting her chest and promising loudly.
Fuli then turned to Mei. "Any movement from the Taixuan Front?"
"No formal visitation letter yet, but it should arrive within the next two hours."
Mei, who was reading through documents, casually took a bite of an apple. Today, she wore a plain blue long dress, her hair simply tied up, revealing ears and a neck as white as jade porcelain.
"Think about how to maximize our benefits during the negotiation," she said lazily. "The Heirloom Seal... the name is intimidating, but in reality, it's just a symbol of power missing for many years. It might have miraculous effects in specific situations, but it's basically useless to the Hyperion. We might as well trade it for some tangible benefits."
"This is modern society."
Bronya crossed her legs, which were wrapped in black pantyhose, and spoke with her habitual indifferent mockery. "Emperors and such are long obsolete products. Surely the people at the Taixuan Front wouldn't drive history in reverse?"
She added sarcastically, "No way, right? Does anyone actually think they can become Emperor just by holding a carved rock?"
True nobility always belongs to the world itself, not a mere symbol.
"Indeed."
Fuli agreed with this sentiment.
Just as he was about to speak, he caught a glimpse of a sneaky, bulging backpack out of the corner of his eye, hugging the wall in an attempt to slip away from the bridge.
He walked over and discovered it was Kiana, carrying luggage.
"What are you doing?"
"Going to Mount Tai for the Fengshan Sacrifices!"
The white-haired Tuna puffed out her chest, looking righteous and bold. Her azure eyes sparkled with grand ambition. "The Heirloom Seal of the Realm is in Zhen's hands! Naturally, Zhen must inherit the legacy of the ancestors, ascend the summit of Mount Tai, announce my rule to Heaven and Earth, and become the Nine-Five Supreme Sovereign of Huaxia!"
[T/N: "Fengshan" refers to the ancient rituals where Emperors worshiped Heaven and Earth at Mt. Tai to legitimize their rule. "Zhen" is the specific pronoun only Emperors could use.]
Fuli was silent for a full five seconds.
He raised both hands, curled his index and middle fingers, and pressed them precisely against Kiana's temples.
"Nine-Five Supreme! I'll give you Nine-Five Supreme!"
Drill vigorously!
"You still dare to do Fengshan?! You still dare?! Do you think the trouble you've caused isn't big enough yet?!!"
"Ahhh! I was wrong, I was wrong! I won't dare do it again! Uwu!!"
Watching the show from the side, Kallen crossed her arms. "Besides, since when is a Huaxia Emperor white-haired and blue-eyed?"
"Shenzhou people are all white-hair simps on average!" Kiana yelled, unconvinced. "When the time comes, Zhen only needs to raise a call, and loyal martyrs and scholars skilled in both pen and sword will come flocking to assist the dragon—Ow! A-Li, easy! I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die!"
"Zhen, Zhen, Zhen—you dog-legged Emperor!" Fuli laughed out of sheer anger. "And even if they simp for white hair, that's for my cousin's white hair and red eyes! What does that have to do with you, a 'Rakshasa Woman' with Western blood?"
"Oh, right!"
Kiana realized her mistake, then retorted with bizarre logic, "No, wait! By ancient standards, This Lady should be a 'Western Barbarian', and Bronya is the 'Rakshasa Woman' from the frozen North!"
"You're actually proud of that, meow?"
The Great Bronya covered her face, utterly speechless at this idiot's brain circuitry for the umpteenth time.
"I will marry a Shenzhou man in the future, and my name will change to Fu Mei. So, stop referring to me as a 'Wo Nu' (Japanese Woman)."
Mei tossed the completely eaten apple core into the trash, her tone carrying a hint of unquestionable authority. "Also, the visitation card from the Taixuan Front has arrived. The time is set for noon tomorrow."
"And the name of the visitor."
She closed the book on her lap, her attitude rarely showing a hint of urgency.
"Is the Miao Jian General of the Xianzhou Luofu—Fu Xuan."