64: Chapter 64 Donning the Yellow Robe

[The King of Yan has passed away.]

[The day the news spread, the entire Yan City was shaken.]

[Chu Sheng stood at the heights of the Qian Residence in Yan City, watching the smoke rising into the sky from the direction of the palace, his heart completely calm.]

[What was meant to come has finally arrived.]

[The Qian Family acted the fastest.]

[Family Head personally led troops into the palace, and under the pretext of "clearing the ruler's side," executed several opposing ministers on the spot.]

[Zhao Lie led his army to resist, but was intercepted halfway by the forces of the Beast Sect.]

[Second Master Qian had reached a deal with the Beast Sect, and hundreds of demonic beasts charged into the Zhao Family's military formation, tearing and trampling, turning the place into a river of blood.]

[The Sun Family and the Li Family initially watched from the sidelines, but seeing the Qian Family's growing power, they could no longer sit still.]

[The ancestors of both families came out of seclusion simultaneously, two auras of True Transformation Realm rising into the sky, heading straight for the palace.]

[Family Head also appeared at this moment, standing in mid-air, confronting the ancestors of the Sun and Li Families above the palace.]

[A battle of Condensing True Essence broke out.]

[Chu Sheng looked up and saw three figures interlacing above the palace, with every collision blasting out ripples of spiritual energy.]

[Roofs were torn off, walls collapsed, and screams rang out one after another.]

[In the face of such a battle, cultivators of Qi Induction were as fragile as paper.]

[Chu Sheng saw with his own eyes a seventh-grade Qi Induction cultivator struck by the shockwave, his entire body exploding into a mist of blood before he could even scream.]

["Retreat!"]

[The roar of Second Master Qian came, "Everyone, retreat from the royal city!"]

[Chu Sheng rushed out with the crowd, looking back halfway—]

[Above the palace, two more figures joined the battle.]

[They were the Zhao Family Ancestor and... the Supreme Elder of the Beast Sect.]

[Five auras of True Transformation Realm intertwined, changing the color of the sky and causing the clouds to churn.]

[This battle lasted for three days and three nights.]

[Most of the royal city was reduced to ruins, and the casualties were countless.]

[In the end, Family Head fled with injuries, the Zhao Family Ancestor had an arm severed, the Sun Family Ancestor was critically injured, the Old Ancestor of the Li Family retreated early, and the Supreme Elder of the Beast Sect disappeared without a trace.]

[The outcome was undecided, but the Qian Family had already lost.]

[They failed to help the Third Prince ascend to the throne; the other three families united and forced them back.]

[The Third Prince was struck by a stray arrow in the chaotic army and died on the spot.]

[The Crown Prince, Ji Yuanzhao, was deposed by the Qian Family on the grounds of colluding with foreign enemies and plotting rebellion.]

[He was imprisoned in Youdu, far away from the royal capital.]

[The Qian Family felt that the deposed Crown Prince was no longer a threat, and killing him now would only incite public anger, so they simply sent him elsewhere.]

[When Chu Sheng heard this news, he was on his way to Youzhou.]

[He reined in his horse and looked back in the direction of the royal capital.]

[There, the smoke of war had not yet dissipated.]

["The Crown Prince..." he muttered, "No, the deposed Crown Prince."]

[Half a month later, in Youzhou.]

[A dilapidated palace was located in the north of the city, its walls peeling and overgrown with weeds.]

[Chu Sheng used some spirit stones and successfully snuck in.]

[Passing through several courtyards, he finally saw that person in a run-down study.]

[Ji Yuanzhao.]

[The former Crown Prince, now a prisoner.]

[He was wearing a green shirt, sitting by the window, holding a cup of tea in his hands.]

[The tea was coarse, and the cup was broken, but his posture remained composed, as if he were holding nectar and sitting on a golden throne.]

["You've come," he said softly, without turning his head.]

[Chu Sheng's footsteps paused.]

["Does Your Highness know that I was coming?"]

[Ji Yuanzhao turned around, looked at him, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.]

["I guessed that you would definitely come."]

[Chu Sheng was silent.]

["Your Highness," he took a jade bottle from his bosom and presented it with both hands.]

["This is the condensing true pill I refined, a second-rank medicinal pill."]

[Ji Yuanzhao's gaze sharpened.]

[A second-rank condensing true pill. This meant that Chu Sheng's alchemy had already touched the threshold of the third rank.]

[He took the jade bottle, opened it to look, then closed it and placed it on the table.]

["Good," he nodded, "You have been thoughtful."]

[Chu Sheng did not step back but stood in place, watching Ji Yuanzhao.]

[The sky outside the window gradually darkened, dark clouds gathered, and the sound of thunder could be faintly heard.]

[Trigger Choice: The winds of change are blowing, what path to take?]

[1. Wearing the Imperial Robe. Take out the prepared Crown Prince's robe, ask Ji Yuanzhao to ascend the throne immediately, and fight the Four Great Families to the death.]

[2. Express loyalty. Hand over the demon refining pot as a bargaining chip and request Ji Yuanzhao's trust.]

[3. Neutral. Do nothing and wait for the situation to become clear.]

Chu Sheng looked at these three options, remaining silent for a long time.

"Choose 1."

The demon refining pot is a life-bound magic treasure; handing it over means placing one's life in the hands of another, but this is the greatest sign of sincerity.

But no one dares to be certain that their value is higher than an earth rank magic treasure.

Neutral?

At this point, with the dust settled, those who are neutral will be the first to be purged.

Moreover, the Qian Family has likely already discovered that he is missing.

It's just that they don't have the time to deal with him right now.

Once they investigate thoroughly later, he will not be able to escape responsibility.

The first option.

Although the risk is huge and it could lead to a total loss, success would mean reaching the top in one step.

"I hope Ji Yuanzhao doesn't screw me over."

["Your Highness," he suddenly spoke.]

[Ji Yuanzhao looked at him.]

[Chu Sheng took something out of his Storage Pouch.]

[A bright yellow robe embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon; it was the ceremonial robe for the Crown Prince's ascension.]

[This was something he had asked Fairy Yunxia to prepare in secret, at a great cost.]

[Ji Yuanzhao's pupils shrank.]

["You..."]

[His voice trembled slightly, "Do you know what you are doing?"]

[Chu Sheng held the robe with both hands, raising it high above his head.]

["Your Highness has endured for decades, waiting for just this day."]

[He said in a deep voice, "Now the Four Great Families are fighting endlessly and have suffered heavy losses; this is the best opportunity."]

[He looked up, staring directly into Ji Yuanzhao's eyes.]

["You are the true Emperor of Peace!"]

[Ji Yuanzhao stared at the robe, motionless.]

[His expression changed again and again.]

[Shock, complexity, being moved, hesitation... finally, it turned into an indescribable emotion.]

["Aren't you trying to ruin me?"]

["You are gambling heavily."]

[He said slowly, "If I lose, even with your connection to the Dao Seeking Palace, you will surely die."]

[Hearing the Crown Prince change his way of referring to himself, Chu Sheng became even more certain.]

["Your Highness, no, Your Majesty has won for forty years; you will not lose this time."]

[Ji Yuanzhao was silent.]

[After a long time, he reached out and took the robe.]

[The moment he touched it, his whole body trembled, as if something was awakening within him.]

[He stood up, shook out the robe, and draped it over his body.]

[The bright yellow color was exceptionally striking in the dim study.]

["Good!" He suddenly laughed up at the sky!]

[The laughter was like thunder, shaking the dust off the rafters until it fell down.]

["Good! Good! Good!"]

[He said "good" three times, his laughter becoming increasingly wild and unbridled!]

[The storm outside finally broke, the torrential rain washing over this dilapidated palace.]

[Ji Yuanzhao strode to the window, letting the rain hit his face, his body, and the bright yellow robe.]

[The rainwater mixed with what he didn't know were tears or rain on his face, streaming down his cheeks.]

["Do you know how long I have waited? Forty years!"]

[He spread his arms and roared at the storm, "Forty years!"]

Chu Sheng watched this scene silently.

This man finally released all his grievances, endurance, anger, and ambition at this moment.

At the same time, he became even more curious about Ji Yuanzhao's hidden cards; the other princes had the support of the Four Great Families.

Even if Ji Yuanzhao had bets from True Firmament cultivators like Sun Xing and Cloud Sunset, they definitely could not determine the overall situation.

"Where does your confidence come from?"

[The rain poured down, and thunder roared.]

[Ji Yuanzhao stood in the rain, soaked to the bone, yet he laughed with extraordinary ease.]

[After a long time, he turned around, walked to Chu Sheng, and bent down to help him up.]

["What is your name?"]

["Chu Sheng."]

[Ji Yuanzhao nodded, looking at him, his eyes filled with an unprecedented level of trust.]

["A good name, endless vitality, a continuous stream. From today on, you are my, Ji Yuanzhao's, brother."]

[He turned around and looked towards the direction of the royal capital, his gaze burning like a torch.]

["My heart is clear, tell those people—"]

["The Ji family's empire has not yet fallen."]