175: The secret decree of the Chu Emperor, the merit of the Qingmu Emperor

The originally lifeless Luck Golden Dragon, as if injected with new vitality, burst forth with golden light, instantly solidifying by three parts, coiling above the Imperial Palace.

Although it had not yet recovered to its Peak state, it had at least extended Chu Emperor’s lifespan by seven or eight years.

“What?”

All parties were stunned.

A seemingly fatal situation had actually been reversed.

This was simply…

Prince Jin’s face turned as green as a pig’s liver in anger, and he furiously smashed the table to his right into pieces.

“Who can tell me how this old man is still alive!”

Everyone was silent, no one daring to speak.

It was truly puzzling how someone who should have died had so strangely extended his life, and that no news of this had leaked from the Imperial Palace beforehand.

“Investigate for this Prince, what is the reason that allowed this old fellow to successfully extend his life!”

“Yes!”

The strategists and military officials left like a tide.

Prince Yan’s underground palace.

Prince Yan’s aura was as cold as ice. “My dear Imperial Father, you truly have a long life…”

“Can’t you just die sooner?”

The woman in the plain dress looked puzzled. Heavenly Destiny Observation had clearly calculated that Chu Emperor should have passed away today.

It couldn’t be wrong.

What on earth was the reason that allowed him to Heaven-Defyingly change his fate?

Prince Qi’s Residence.

“Prince Qi, I suppose you anticipated this situation long ago!” Jiang Lao looked at the Luck Golden Dragon, which had solidified somewhat above the Imperial Palace, and was astonished by Prince Qi’s foresight. This was by no means mere intuition.

Rather, it was a control over the situation that had reached an astonishing degree.

“I am not a Divine Being!” Prince Qi said with a slight smile, the corners of his mouth upturned.

At this moment, the fish pond rippled again, as if a calm lake had been disturbed.

With a “splash,” a large fish was flung out of the water like a lotus emerging from the water.

“Oh, it’s a big yellow croaker! We’ll have a feast tonight!” Prince Qi chuckled.

“This large yellow croaker has delicious meat, and it’s indeed good with wine!” Jiang Lao also chimed in.

“It still needs a good chef and a good knife!” Prince Qi placed the large yellow croaker into a basin of water.

Jiang Lao remained silent.

…

Jixia Academy.

A young man and an old man in a scholar’s robe were playing chess. They went back and forth, and as the saying goes, the chessboard is like a battlefield, with both sides contending fiercely and refusing to yield.

A moment later.

The old man in the scholar’s robe placed his white piece down and looked at the young man opposite him: “I yield, Right Prime Minister!”

Right Prime Minister Li Fei shook his head, “I still can’t beat you. As expected of the Chess Sage of the Academy!”

The old man in the scholar’s robe smiled faintly: “You are still young. It’s only a matter of time before you surpass me.”

Li Fei raised an eyebrow slightly, looked at the old man in the scholar’s robe, and showed a worried expression: “Your Majesty’s successful life extension may not necessarily be a good thing for the current Great Chu.”

Although seven or eight years was not a long time, Chu Emperor’s prolonged survival could easily lead to unforeseen variables and changes.

The Great Chu Dynasty was facing an unprecedented change in a thousand years, with winds and clouds rising.

If it could return to its Peak, it would naturally be good.

However, dragging on in this weakened state, it was not just the imperial capital.

Local forces were stirring, and the enfeoffed kings and marquises had become extremely restless.

The great powers of the world.

All wanted to carve out territory and get a share when the Dynasty collapsed.

Not to mention the Demon Clan, a formidable enemy, lurking, with internal and external troubles.

The struggle for imperial power would only intensify.

But Chu Emperor had inexplicably appointed a madman as Crown Prince and enfeoffed three One-Character Kings. Did he intend for the madman to inherit the throne, or was he choosing among the Three Kings?

No one knew his true intentions.

“It’s a mixed blessing!”

The old man in the scholar’s robe said calmly.

What Li Fei said had some truth. The various Sects and powerful families in the world were extremely dissatisfied with the current court and had long been accumulating strength.

Just waiting for the right moment.

At that time.

Great Chu would surely fall into chaos, entering a stage of contention among feudal lords.

All forces would support the people they wanted to put in power, granting them the greatest benefits.

There were even those ancient aristocratic families and immortal Sects with bigger goals, aiming to change the Dynasty.

However, the greatest enemy of the current Great Chu was the Demon Clan.

They used the Human Race as blood food and had always wanted to swallow the Great Chu’s territory.

Demon Clan powerhouses from several provinces were searching for the lost Demon Ancient Road.

Although the court monitored a portion, a considerable part remained unaccounted for.

The Demon Ancient Road connected to the ancient Monster Realm.

True Demons were everywhere, Spirit Rank Demon Clan were ubiquitous, Heaven-Level Demons were not few, and there were even Demon Commanders who led myriad Demons, and even Demon Kings.

The current Great Chu did not have the Seven Divine Humans to assist it.

Facing a Heaven-Defying existence like a Demon King was tantamount to striking a stone with an egg.

The consequences.

Everyone knew.

But no one would stop and unite to fight the Demon Clan.

To pacify external threats, one must first pacify internal ones.

The danger of the Demon Clan was in the future, while the struggle for power was in the present.

However.

Chu Emperor’s life extension was not without benefits.

It also bought the Great Chu Dynasty seven or eight years to seek change and a glimmer of hope.

After all.

If Chu Emperor were to suddenly die, the Demon Clan would surely take advantage of the chaos.

The common people would once again suffer greatly.

And the Demon Suppression Division, ever since that battle eight hundred years ago, had suffered heavy losses in strength.

One-third of its high-ranking officials had perished.

If the world were to fall into chaos, it would be powerless to maintain the situation.

The collapse of the Dynasty.

Would be in an instant.

“Perhaps Your Majesty already has a plan. We don’t need to worry too much!”

“I hope so!”

…

Inside the Golden Luan Hall, an aged figure sat on the Dragon Throne. His aura fluctuated, but the authority and dominance of a Dragon still flickered in his cloudy eyes.

Suddenly.

A dark figure appeared silently in the main hall. It was the Emperor’s trusted subordinate, the Shadow Guard, Second Commander Xia Yan.

“Your Majesty, the blade you were looking for has been found,” Xia Yan’s voice was low.

As his words fell, a sound like Dragon roars and tiger shouts seemed to echo within the Golden Luan Hall, and a sharp glint flashed in Chu Emperor’s eyes.

“Speak!”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, this person’s name is Chu Jiang. He is a Heaven-Grade Genius in the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division, holding the official rank of Thousand Households, and his Cultivation has reached the Peerless Grandmaster Realm. His conduct is arrogant and domineering, fearless. In Yun Province, he has swept through multiple large Sects. Anyone who dared to challenge his authority was annihilated, and those who colluded with the Demon Clan were no exception.”

As soon as Xia Yan finished speaking, he handed a Jade Slip to Chu Emperor. The Jade Slip contained all of Chu Jiang’s information from birth to the present, including his actions before he became famous and his collusion with the Demon Clan, all in meticulous detail.

Chu Emperor carefully read the Jade Slip, a satisfied expression on his face, and slowly spoke: “This person is indeed an excellent blade, and the key lies in his rapid growth.”

“Pass down my decree: Promote Chu Jiang to Yun Province Pacification Commissioner, bestow upon him the flying fish uniform and the embroidered spring blade, and grant him the authority to execute first and report later.”

“Furthermore, you are to personally deliver this secret decree and this Cultivation Technique scroll to him.”

“As you command!” Xia Yan accepted the order, taking the secret decree and the Cultivation Technique.

The secret decree was written by the Emperor himself, and only Chu Jiang could read it. If anyone else dared to peek, they would face the grave crime of having their entire clan exterminated.

And the Cultivation Technique was directly displayed before their eyes.

It was—the “Azure Wood Emperor Skill”!

One of the three great clan-protecting Cultivation Techniques of the imperial family, second only to the Martial Emperor Scripture. Even its upper part was enough for someone to Cultivate to the Faxiang Realm.

Although Xia Yan was surprised, he did not say much. If the Emperor wished to inform him, he would do so; if it was not something he should know, asking more would be useless and would only cause displeasure.

Immediately, Xia Yan’s figure vanished from the Golden Luan Hall like a phantom.

Chu Emperor, alone, looked into the Void Realm and murmured to himself:

“If a blade is to be sharp, it must be tempered. If it is not tempered, not only will it fail to cut through thorns, but it might even get stuck, wasting a good blade.”

“I have high hopes for you. Do not disappoint me…”