“I asked you to hunt, but the target isn’t Dragon City Mo River.”
Emperor Yu’s fingers lightly tapped on the chessboard, his gaze falling on a black piece that had dropped off the board, and he smiled, saying,
“Sometimes, the outcome of the game isn’t decided on the board, but rather outside of it.”
“That elder Lu Yuan from the Dragon Gate made his move, cooperating with the Candle Flame God in an attempt to take Liangzhou. According to secret reports from the front lines, the Candle Flame God hadn’t planned to make a move, but was forced to show himself because that child was too troublesome.”
“However, the master of Dragon Gate and many elders from the Sacred Palace didn’t participate in this battle.”
“Where do you think they all might be?”
Jiang Qingshan’s heart stirred, quickly coming up with an answer, yet he shook his head and said, “This younger brother is dull, please enlighten me, older brother.”
Emperor Yu spoke indifferently, “The older generation of the Li Family didn’t show themselves, which means they must have realized the issue. Besides wanting to encroach on Liangzhou, they also want to take advantage of the situation to make a big score and flatten the Divine General Mansion as well!”
“With three major forces making their moves, everything is out in the open. Luckily, the Li Family is smart and didn’t rashly leave.”
“Now that they are gathered in Qingzhou, it is exactly when their own territory is at its weakest—this is the perfect time to hunt!”
Jiang Qingshan’s eyes narrowed slightly, “Older brother, are you suggesting that I go and eradicate their lair, pulling out their roots?”
“Northern Yan has been unchallenged for over a dozen years; the Sacred Palace should pay a price!”
Emperor Yu nodded slightly, looking at the vivid peach blossoms in the courtyard, “I have evergreen seasons here, but outside the courtyard, autumn has arrived.”
“It’s been many years since I hunted with you; I wonder how your hunting skills have held up. Have you regressed?”
Jiang Qingshan’s face showed a hint of a smile, “I am certainly no match for older brother, but if I hunt a mountain, I will make sure there isn’t a single survivor left!”
“Then I shall await your return for a drink!”
Emperor Yu laughed.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Qingshan stood up, bowed respectfully, and formally accepted his command.
After seeing Jiang Qingshan off,
Chu Jiuyue walked slowly back to the pavilion, saw Emperor Yu still staring at the chessboard, lost in thought, and said,
“Your Majesty, are you thinking about that child?”
Emperor Yu’s gaze became focused, landing on him, “Do you think that the fate of our Dayu Divine Dynasty is truly declining?”
Chu Jiuyue’s face changed slightly, hurriedly saying, “Your Majesty, the Dayu Divine Dynasty is blessed by the former emperor and will surely prosper for eternity. How can there be any decline?”
“If it hasn’t declined, then why, over a decade ago, did the ninth son of the Li Family die young, with not even his bones left in foreign lands?”
“And why that child, at just fifteen, found himself in peril? They were both the future hope and backbone of our Dayu Divine Dynasty, but it seems as if the heavens are unwilling to give them time.”
Emperor Yu gazed into the distant blue sky outside the courtyard and murmured, “If only that child had another ten years—even just ten more years would have been enough.”
Chu Jiuyue fell silent for a moment. Your journey continues at M V L
Thinking of the secret dispatches from Liangzhou, he knew these words were true.
At fifteen, reaching the Three Immortal Realms, and with cultivation so solid it was almost unimaginable, to slay the Demon King and even battle in the Ultimate Study Realm was truly incredible!
Such exceptional talent could be described as having the posture of a Saint without exaggeration.
Perhaps, it was for this reason that he managed to draw the attention of the master of the Great Void Realm, who abandoned the bigger picture on the battlefield to pursue him alone… Chu Jiuyue thought to himself.
“Your Majesty, about the situation at the Liangzhou Mo River…”
Emperor Yu fell silent for a long while before he finally said,
“Send for the ninth brother, have him go in person at any cost, and bring him back!”
Chu Jiuyue’s pupils contracted slightly. Was he actually planning to release that madman?
“Your Majesty, but if we do this…”
“Are you afraid?”
Emperor Yu looked at him dispassionately, his expression already calming, “If he comes out, I suppose the first stroke of his sword would strike me, but no matter, I can bear it for that child.”
“Your Majesty…”
Chu Jiuyue was shaken, never expecting Emperor Yu to make such a risky move.
The ninth prince… was not someone to be taken lightly!
In this vast imperial palace and the city beyond, to all the nobility and royalty, that existence was a topic shrouded in silence.
In those days, he was nearly a madman who nearly split the imperial city with a single stroke!
…
The battle of Liangzhou ended, with undercurrents stirring everywhere.
The royal army of five hundred thousand still stood guard in Liangzhou, waiting for the situation beyond the Mo River to unfold.
After consultation with two princes, Li Tian Gang joined forces with the Liangzhou Army, sending out two hundred thousand elite troops toward Dragon City Mo River.
They set up camp outside the Mo River, forming a military formation, ready to rescue Li Hao and Li Xiaoran whenever they emerged and also to counter the master of the Great Void Realm; striking the enemy would be a good outcome.
Although two hundred thousand troops wouldn’t harm the Dao Domain, it wasn’t just any army—many masters were hidden among them.
News of masters heading over or making excuses had already fallen into the hands of Li Tian Gang and others, therefore strategic arrangements were made in advance.
But as time passed,
no quarrel broke out outside the Mo River, instead, there was great upheaval in the Northern Yan Region.
Prince Qing led an army of a million and took the Sacred Palace, leveling the secret lands of its Sacred Mountain, destroying the gates, killing countless demons.
Now, the Sacred Palace’s treasured domain, its spirit springs cut off, its peaks ruined, has turned into a wasteland.
This news spread among the demons, and soon reached the ears of those gathered in Qingzhou.
“Dammit, that Green Mountain Taoist Master is vicious!”
“He actually led the charge himself. I heard the Palace Master of the Sacred Palace was seriously injured and managed to escape.”
“The other elders of the Sacred Palace have returned, but it’s probably too late.”
Hidden in a secret place in Qingzhou, there were many fierce figures, all elders from the Dragon Gate.
When the situation in Liangzhou turned around, some elders of the Sacred Palace realized that the ambush plan in Qingzhou was going to fail.
Once Liangzhou stabilizes, the old members of the Li Family will have no reason to leave the Divine General Mansion.