strictlysupreme Chapter 989: The Coup and Questioning, the Dust Settles?
Chapter 989: The Coup and Questioning, the Dust Settles?
"Oh?"
Prince Bi Cang smiled, but there was no warmth in his smile; instead, there was an inexplicable chill.
"You really want to see it?"
"Please grant my request, Great-Grandfather." Ji Xuanmo bowed calmly, his eyes showing no sign of compromise or concession.
With the throne at his feet, he would not tolerate even the slightest possibility of failure.
Although Elder Zong's appearance exceeded his expectations, considering his preparations, there might still be a chance to fight back.
Furthermore, if the situation becomes favorable, Elder Zong may not necessarily go all out.
"What if I refuse?" Prince Bicang asked, his expression deep and unreadable.
“Then I will be impolite.” Ji Xuanmo’s eyes were firm.
Regardless of whether the name on this scroll is his or hers, the name on it can only be his.
“The child has grown up after all, and I can’t control him anymore.” Prince Bi Cang sighed dejectedly, then his expression suddenly turned cold, his aura as deep as an abyss: “Take him down now!”
"Yes!"
The two people inside the hall, Elder Dou and Elder Zong, responded in unison. At the same moment their voices rang out, the two attacked simultaneously.
The combat power of a half-step Grand Cultivator is at its peak. The sight of two of them attacking at the same time is indescribable.
The moment the two started fighting, Ji Xuanmo's expression turned extremely ugly.
Although he had prepared for the worst-case scenario, he did not expect it to happen so quickly.
If my great-grandfather was like this, I'm afraid the name on this scroll isn't really his!
Otherwise, even if disappointed, they would never have been so resolute.
At this moment, Ji Xuanmo didn't know whether to feel fortunate or disappointed, but the momentum like rolling thunder and boulders was already pressing down like a giant mountain.
Inside the main hall, the protective barriers flickered wildly, clearly struggling to withstand the terrifying pressure.
"Let's do it!"
Ji Xuanmo roared to the sky, his expression completely devoid of the scholarly air he had previously cultivated. His face was ashen, and black demonic patterns instantly appeared.
Facing two powerful cultivators who were still in their prime, he dared not hold back in the slightest.
hum~ hum~ hum~
As the demonic runes writhed, streaks of spiritual light continuously emerged, transforming into numerous techniques.
At the same time, Aoki Fuko and the others standing outside the hall also immediately sensed the urgent call and rushed into the hall.
At this point, the idea of insubordination is a thing of the past.
For them, there is only the word "profit".
If we succeed tonight, we will be honored beyond measure; if we fail, we will be doomed forever!
At this moment, no one dared to go all out. Even Elder Yan, who had recently betrayed the party, symbolically began to take action.
"Form ranks!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Waves of energy surged like clouds as the Xuanjia Guards, with their iron-blooded bodies, withstood the impact of the Celestials.
"Fight the Heavens!"
The warriors, spear in hand, roared and howled, their blood and qi surging like billowing smoke.
A terrifying tremor rose outside the hall, but the battle inside was even more brutal.
"Demonic arts?" A look of doubt appeared on the face of Prince Bi Cang.
With his discerning eye, he could easily discern that the method Ji Xuanmo used was a demonic art. He was suspicious not only of Ji Xuanmo's cultivation of demonic arts, but also of the origin of those arts.
The battle inside the hall did not turn out as one-sided as previously expected.
Ji Xuanmo's cultivation level was not as recently as the outside world expected, having just entered the second realm. Rather, it was profound, indicating that he had been immersed in the second realm for a long time. Although he had not yet reached the perfection of the second realm, he was not far behind.
With the help of demonic arts, he was able to withstand the terrifying attacks of two half-step Grand Masters for a short time.
"Elder! The struggle for the throne hinges on today; right and wrong, success and failure, all hang in the balance!"
Ji Xuanmo's face was as black as ink, slithering like a worm as he used every persuasive word to convince Elder Zong to change his mind.
As one of only three near-master cultivators in the Bicang Prince's mansion capable of influencing the situation, Elder Dou's stance has always been clear: he prioritizes the will of the Bicang Prince. Given the close relationship between Elder Dou and the Bicang Prince, he dares not make any rash moves, fearing that even the slightest action might arouse suspicion.
The Prince of Bicang back then was not the Prince of Bicang today. His physical body was old and frail, and his lifespan was nearing its end. He could not exert much of his great cultivation power.
Since Elder Dou had no way of knowing, Elder Zong and Elder Yi became the key figures.
However, Elder Yi had no intention of seizing power, and Ji Qingyu had long been on good terms with Ji Shulan, so maintaining neutrality was already difficult enough. Therefore, his attention naturally turned to Elder Zong.
In fact, he had contacted Elder Zong no less than several times, and on the last occasion, he had even managed to persuade him.
While the other party may not necessarily support him in any way, they will tacitly allow him to turn a blind eye to certain key matters.
And that's what gave him the confidence to come here today.
He brought all the experts with him today, including Qingmu Fugong and another second-realm Celestial.
As long as Elder Nengzong remains silent and waits for the group of people outside the hall to rush in, even though Elder Dou's combat power is formidable, their current state is sufficient to suppress him.
In his demonic state, his combat power is even greater than that of a typical second-stage cultivator at the peak of cultivation, approaching that of a half-step Grand Cultivator. With the accumulation of powerful treasures, he could even fight Elder Dou to a standstill by himself.
With the help of Aoki Fugong and the others, the battle is going well, and they will surely be able to suppress Old Dou.
If Elder Dou is suppressed, then the overall situation will be...
It can be decided in a moment.
The only unexpected element in this situation was the Prince of Bicang. However, he had previously used a secret method to sense his great-grandfather's physical condition in detail, and the result was that his body was decaying, his essence was dissipating, and he had only a few days left to live.
The fact that it has been able to hold on until now is the ultimate manifestation of that great cultivation of the soul.
Under such circumstances, how much fighting power can we expect from him?
Then, the messages that kept coming back from the spies he had planted in the Bi Cang Palace could corroborate each other, and it was probably true.
Even if something unexpected happens, he has prepared a surplus of combat power. As long as he is bold and careful, he can definitely take a gamble.
Of course, even though he is old and nearing the end of his lifespan, he still attaches great importance to a celestial cultivator who has been famous for many years. Countless tests and mental exercises have been conducted today.
Several other factors contributed to his current situation. First, Ji Dongqing's treasonous plot provided an opportunity for him to approach this place without much effort. Second, he harbored the hope that he would be the successor favored by his great-grandfather.
If my great-grandfather had chosen him, things wouldn't have turned out this way.
The corresponding conflicts can then be avoided.
just
Things didn't go as planned.
Now, the crux of the problem lies with Elder Zong.
And all of this must be done quickly.
Otherwise, even if Ji Shulan were to withstand the great cultivator's attack upon his arrival, he would likely suffer a crushing defeat.
Fortunately, before his trip tonight, he learned of the conspiracy and had already set up a few obstacles for Ji Shulan, so it wouldn't be so quick for her to come over!
Therefore, there is still a chance.
However, despite all his calculations, he never expected that the person his great-grandfather admired would actually be Ji Shulan!
How could a woman succeed to the throne?
How can the entire Prince's mansion, composed of clan elders and blood relatives, possibly be trusted?
What if he favors his male favorites and tries to interfere in politics?
What will happen if the bloodline continues for a long time?
Ji Xuanmo's heart was filled with resentment and anger.
His face was dark and worm-like, and he kept sending telepathic messages, offering a price to win over Elder Zong.
"Elder, you helped me ascend to the throne. Once the throne is secured, I will certainly allocate resources to obtain a key spiritual item for your breakthrough. This is a promise, sworn by my Dao heart, I will never lie to you!"
"Now that this matter is settled, no one outside will know, which will ensure Elder Zong's reputation remains intact. All of this stems from Ji Dongqing, so Elder Zong need not worry about it."
"Furthermore, Elder Zong is a member of our clan, and I should treat him as a relative, providing him with the best possible supplies for the Prince's residence."
"."
Ji Xuanmo continued to launch a winning over offensive. He had previously been in contact with Elder Zong and had all sorts of intelligence to back him up, so he understood where the other party's weaknesses lay.
While Ji Xuanmo was launching his psychological offensive, outside the main hall, shouts of battle echoed, and the roar of blood and qi surged continuously.
Aoki Fukun and the others also continued to break through the formation.
Although the Xuanjia Guards were far weaker than them, they could hold out for a while when they were in formation.
"Elder, the decision on the throne rests entirely on your shoulders. You should think it over carefully! Your great-grandfather was renowned, but he is now a rotten tree. Can't you, Elder, decide what is more important?"
Ji Xuanmo shouted urgently, surrounded by surging black light and numerous precious treasures, his expression already somewhat grim.
Fighting two opponents alone, even with demonic techniques, was ultimately too strenuous. After all, his own cultivation level hadn't even reached the half-step realm. Even with numerous treasures, it was difficult to sustain such an attack for long.
"enough!"
The Prince of Bicang, who had been sitting at the head of the main hall and had not spoken since the start of the battle, suddenly opened his mouth.
A divine soul power, as clear as blue water, instantly spread out.
Ji Xuanmo's soul trembled, as if ripples on clear blue water, momentarily freezing in place, completely stunned.
At that moment, the two attackers used their skills to launch a pincer attack from the left and right.
Just as the attack was about to reach Ji Xuanmo, he suddenly snapped back to his senses, as if waking from a dream.
Seeing the overwhelming force of the attack, he instantly felt despair.
He glared hatefully at the two men in front of him: "If you want me dead! Then we'll die together!"
boom!
His entire being was ablaze with energy, black light boiling over, and in an instant, it erupted with tremendous power.
"Oh no!" Old Dou exclaimed, his eyes instantly turning serious.
But the prince was behind him, and he did not back down at all. Instead, he used his precious treasures to hold his ground and launched a fierce attack.
Elder Zong, whether intentionally or unintentionally, was a step slower and did not immediately launch an attack. Instead, he seemed to be using Elder Dou as cover.
Rumble!
A tremendous roar resounded like swirling clouds, causing the protective barriers within the palace to crumble and dust to fall continuously from the ceiling.
"puff!"
Old Dou, who had barely managed to withstand Ji Xuanmo's counterattack, turned pale and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Ji Xuanmo's attack was too terrifying; even he suffered a significant shock injury in a direct confrontation.
Fortunately, with his full effort, the terrifying black light waves were calmed and suppressed, preventing the palace from being completely destroyed.
Just then, before the tremors of the clouds had subsided, a streak of dark light flashed past and headed straight out of the hall.
Ji Xuanmo, who had previously appeared resolute and willing to fight to the death, now transformed into a streak of light and desperately fled towards the outside of the palace.
"Where do you think you're going!" Old Dou reacted immediately, but it was too late to make a move. Ji Xuanmo's escape speed was extremely fast, and his hasty attack couldn't stop him for even a moment.
"Where there's life, there's hope! Everything else is secondary; only living matters."
Ji Xuanmo's brow was shrouded in a dark light, and his entire body writhed as if worms were constantly draining his life essence.
These secret techniques come at a great cost, but he couldn't care less about life and death at the moment.
Just as he was about to approach the palace gate, leave the hall, and escape, a giant azure shadow tore open from the inside of the hall, transforming into a giant azure hand with bulging veins, like the roots of an ancient tree and the coiling of ancient vines.
The five fingers, like ancient trees breaking off cliffs, slammed down with a deafening, explosive sound.
Ji Xuanmo barely sensed the abnormal fluctuations, and before he could even turn around to sense them, he was grabbed by a giant hand.
Click!
The bones creaked in my palm, like a moth pinned to the ground, unable to struggle any longer.
At the head of the main hall, the Prince of Bi Cang's brow shone with a brilliant blue light, his chest heaving as he breathed heavily.
"I'm too old, I'm no longer useful."
But as he gasped for breath, his eyes flashed with a sharp glint in them.
"But you're not someone a junior like yourself can humiliate at will."
As he finished speaking, the Prince of Bicang lowered his gaze and landed on Elder Zong. Elder Zong was startled, lowered his head and bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Majesty's majesty is as great as ever."
Prince Bicang did not respond, but turned his gaze to Elder Dou and asked with concern, "How are your injuries?"
"It's nothing." Old Dou shook his head, his face pale. "With some rest, he should recover."
The sudden intervention of the Prince of Bicang completely reversed and calmed the situation in the hall.
Although Ji Xuanmo was not a half-step Grand Cultivator, the power he displayed in that instant during his previous burst of enhanced state was no less than that of a Grand Cultivator.
However, the Prince of Bicang easily suppressed him. Although he was exhausted and panting afterward, his overwhelming power made the elders feel awe and uneasy.
Under the Prince's imposing presence, Elder Zong and Elder Dou acted together, quickly quelling the commotion outside. Under the Prince's watchful gaze, Elder Zong dared not hold back, completely concealing his previous intentions.
Although Ji Xuanmo's team members were not ordinary people, they had little room to resist in front of two half-step Grand Cultivators.
Aoki Fusuke, the only one with a chance to escape the encirclement, was forced to surrender due to the deliberate targeting by Liu Zonglao.
Normally, a martial arts master like Qingmu Fugong, who has reached the second realm of perfection, would not be killed unless he committed a particularly serious crime. This would be an extremely serious loss for the Bi Cang County Prince's Mansion.
Today, the losses in combat power due to Ji Dongqing's matter are already too great. If Ji Xuanmo and his group are added to the mix, the foundation of the entire Bicang County Prince's Mansion will inevitably decline.
Such matters should be handled with utmost care. Even if there are serious concerns, they must be considered carefully in light of the actual circumstances.
Of course, the specifics will depend on the consideration and decision of Prince Bicang and the crown prince who may succeed him.
The approach varies depending on the circumstances.
In addition, Aoki Sōkō's own attitude and stance are also extremely crucial influencing factors.
If there is hope of preserving their fighting strength and transforming it into the foundation of the Bi Cang County Prince's Mansion, they may be able to regain their freedom under the imposition of many restrictions.
However, their status is no longer what it used to be.
This is the price of defeat, but of all the prices, it is not the most severe.
Mr. Wen, Elder Ge, and Elder Yan, who had recently defected from Ji Dongqing, also completely succumbed to the tide of events and became prisoners.
As for their fate, everything will have to wait until the new prince and the successor to the throne are decided before we can consider and plan for it.
However, it is foreseeable that their ending will not be too pleasant.
Political struggles and power grabs always end in cruel consequences for the losers.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, I am utterly loyal."
Old Yan's face was ashen, and he staggered, as if all his energy had been drained away.
"Your Highness, spare me! Spare me!"
Some people were crying and sobbing, their faces filled with sorrow.
Among these people, some were caught up in the tide of events, while others...
That is, speculation for profit.
Unfortunately, their speculation ultimately ended in failure.
Ji Xuanmo, who seemed to have the most chips and the greatest hope, ultimately met such a tragic end.
These people may not know all of Ji Xuanmo's plans. Some of them were even unaware of what was happening when the plan was launched.
But a stance is a stance, regardless of the reasons.
When things succeed, the benefits are shared; when things fail, there's no need to mention the innocent.
At this time, there were less than two hours until dawn, and not long after the announcement of the successor to the throne.
In fact, Ji Dongqing's treacherous judgment and Ji Xuanmo's failed coup attempt have made it clear who will inherit the throne.
The outcome is already self-evident.
Those inside and outside the palace who knew the situation had already begun to have their own ideas.
There are many things to consider for tomorrow's grand ceremony. Although there have been changes within the palace, fortunately, the ancestral land of Biling Mountain has not been greatly affected.
It's mainly the aftershocks of the momentum and the impact of the shockwaves.
Even if the impact is minor, it has already occurred. These issues need to be addressed promptly to prepare for the grand bloodline ceremony and the arrival of guests after dawn.
On Mount Biling, everything was being cleaned up in an orderly manner.
During the cleanup, everyone had different thoughts and were still shaken.
Under these circumstances, Princess Bicang, Ji Qingyu, accompanied by Elder Yi, arrived at the imperial palace and met Prince Bicang in one of the palace buildings.
Previously, the main hall, though not completely collapsed under the protection of the protective barriers, had been severely damaged. Therefore, it was only natural for Prince Bicang to move here.
"Grandpa Prince." After bowing gracefully and solemnly, Ji Qingyu rushed over and asked, "Are you alright?"
"It's nothing." Prince Bi Cang opened his cloudy, misty eyes and revealed a doting smile, making his already wrinkled face appear even more wrinkled.
With his advanced age and the nurturing grace of heaven and earth, unless deliberately allowed to do so, even in old age, his appearance and condition would not be like this. But clearly, what Prince Bicang experienced was not a normal death from old age.
Shortly after Ji Qingyu arrived, Ji Shulan, who had just finished dealing with important matters, also rushed over.
"Your Highness!"
"Greetings, Your Highness!"
"."
Along the way, everyone in the palace greeted Ji Shulan with respect.
Ji Shulan, dressed in a cloud-blue long dress, her skin glowing with radiance, nodded in response despite her hurried departure.
"Your Highness Shulan, spare me! Spare me!"
"Your Highness, blood is thicker than water!"
"."
Besides the constant greetings, the journey also sparked several disturbances. These disturbances all stemmed from the factional elders and blood relatives who had participated in the factionalism and were detained.
Ji Shulan pursed her pink and white lips, her eyes fixed straight ahead, as if she hadn't seen anything.
Within the palace grounds, flying was strictly forbidden. Out of respect for the Emperor Gaozu, she did not fly; otherwise, she probably wouldn't have witnessed this scene.
Under these circumstances, Ji Shulan finally saw the Prince of Bicang, who was already lying on the couch.
His previous intervention caused this frail old man, who didn't have much time left, to fall into a state of weakness again after a brief period of excitement.
His physical condition is worse than before.
Without the control of a physical body and the support of life essence, even the purest and most powerful spiritual energy will eventually be exhausted and weakened if it is not replenished.
Every time one portion is used, one portion is gone.
Even with the help of magical objects and secret medicines, their effectiveness has long since diminished to the point of being negligible.
"Emperor Gaozu,"
Ji Shulan hurried a few steps to the bed, then bent down and knelt down.
"Shulan is late!"
"It's not too late to come. It's good that you're here." Prince Bi Cang barely opened his eyes, revealing his cloudy and degenerated eyeballs, and smiled when he saw Ji Shulan.
"Sister Shulan." Ji Qingyu stood to the side and greeted Ji Shulan.
But at this moment, Ji Shulan's mind was not on this. She simply looked at Prince Bicang and nodded, which was her response to Ji Qingyu.
"Shulan."
Prince Bi Cang reached out his hand, trembling, as if trying to grasp something. Ji Shulan quickly reached out and grasped Prince Bi Cang's withered and aged hand. Compared to before, Prince Bi Cang's hand seemed even more decayed.
"Great Ancestor, Shulan is here." Ji Shulan's eyes were red-rimmed, her expression sorrowful.
"Shulan, remember... remember what I told you." Prince Bicang strained to open his eyes, his cloudy, misty gaze fixed on Ji Shulan, his hands clenched tightly, like an old man giving his final instructions before his death: "After I die, you... cough cough cough cough..."
Before the Prince of Bicang could finish speaking, he began to cough violently.
"Great Ancestor." Ji Shulan hurriedly stood up, wanting to pat the back of the Prince of Bicang.
But Ji Qingyu, who was standing to the side, beat her to it. She looked around and quickly spotted the medicine in a celadon jade bowl not far away.
I've only drunk half of the medicine; I haven't finished it yet.
Ji Shulan hurriedly picked up the jade bowl, took out a spoon, and carefully scooped up a spoonful, bringing it to the lips of Prince Bicang.
Prince Bi Cang's breathing was heavy; his violent coughing seemed to have worsened his condition. His lips trembled slightly as he swallowed the medicine Ji Shulan offered him.
After taking the medicine, whether it was a placebo effect or something else, Prince Bicang seemed to have improved somewhat, and his cough had also subsided considerably.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say what he hadn't finished, but as soon as he opened his mouth, a mouthful of black blood suddenly spurted out.
His expression instantly turned ashen, deathly pale.
"Your Highness—!"
Inside the palace, cries of alarm rose from the crowd, filled with fear and unease. (End of Chapter)