36: The Prince of Zhenbei's Test

This was clearly an open conspiracy.

If she lost, it wouldn't just be five cities; more importantly, it would be a devastating blow to her prestige.

The populace would be dissatisfied.

The imperial court would be dissatisfied.

Her time on the throne would effectively come to an end.

A martial arts competition against the foreign tribes was one thing...

The key issue was that she had no capable people under her command.

A direct confrontation.

At this moment, she controlled the Imperial Guards and the Imperial Forest Army; furthermore, her grandfather had come out of retirement. Combined with her legitimate status, if the Prince of Zhenbei truly wanted to seize power and usurp the throne, she wouldn't be entirely without recourse.

Now, however, he had placed her in a complete dilemma.

Unless she could be given more time to Cultivate some experts.

The Great Qian Dynasty had many experts.

However, almost all of those experts had sided with the Prince of Zhenbei.

Unless she were to take action personally.

“I wonder if Brother Changsheng has any good ideas.”

She could only keep her anxiety suppressed for now, waiting until the next time she entered the Dream World to ask him.

“Am I perhaps not suited to be the Empress?”

Suddenly, such a thought surfaced in Li Qingyue's mind.

Inside the King of Zhenbei's Residence.

The Prince of Zhenbei sat high up with a gloomy expression, while his son sat below him, speaking with smug satisfaction: “Father, this move is truly brilliant. I want to see how that Li Qingyue responds.”

The Prince of Zhenbei waved his hand and said, “One must not underestimate anyone. This time, I underestimated her and was outmaneuvered. My Dantian was destroyed, my cultivation lost, and while I spent many days recuperating, she seized the opportunity to take control of the Imperial Guards and the Imperial Forest Army. She even invited that old fossil Qin Ye out of retirement.”

“Otherwise, I wouldn't have resorted to this inferior tactic of inviting the foreign tribes to participate in a wager. The enmity between our Great Qian Dynasty and the foreign tribes is as deep as the sea; I have gone too far this time.”

The son of the Prince of Zhenbei was named Li Tai.

With a face full of murderous intent, he said, “Father, since ancient times, the winner takes all. As long as we can seize the throne, what do a few dark methods matter?”

“Enough, say no more,” the Prince of Zhenbei said.

“You may leave now. I have matters to discuss with the strategist.”

“Yes, your son takes his leave.” Li Tai stood up and departed.

Watching Li Tai's departing back, the Prince of Zhenbei spoke to an old man dressed as a scholar who had been sitting nearby: “Strategist, do you think I have acted wrongly in this?”

The strategist was Liu Wen.

He was also the Prince of Zhenbei's right-hand man.

The fact that the Prince of Zhenbei possessed his current power and influence was inseparable from Liu Wen's strategic planning.

The Prince of Zhenbei regarded him as his right hand, relying on him even more than his only son, Li Tai.

Liu Wen shook his head and said, “Your Highness need not dwell on it. Just as the young lord said, extraordinary times require extraordinary measures. This situation was also caused by my own carelessness. Although five cities have been lost because of it, once Your Highness ascends the throne as Emperor, you can simply take them back.”

“Furthermore, Your Highness has already made full preparations by dispatching a large army to hide within those five cities. If the competition is truly lost, we will immediately migrate the populace, leaving behind five empty cities, thus reducing the losses to a minimum.”

Upon hearing Liu Wen's consolation, the Prince of Zhenbei's mood finally improved.

He continued to ask, “Strategist, tell me—how can the same medicinal formula be a peerless divine medicine when taken by someone below the level of a Martial Arts Grandmaster, yet be a dose of poison for a Grand Martial Arts Master? Who in this world could possess such shocking medicinal methods?”

“This...”

Liu Wen smiled bitterly and said, “I honestly do not know.”

“However, if one were to truly speak of it, perhaps only those high and mighty Immortals could achieve this.”

“Immortals.”

The Prince of Zhenbei's eyes grew deep, filled with endless yearning.

“No, I must find out for sure whether this really involves an Immortal.”

For some reason, a sudden chill of horror arose in the Prince of Zhenbei's heart at that moment.

If an Immortal really was involved, how would he fare?

Since Shangguan Feiyan was killed, Li Qingyue had purged everyone around her, which caused him to completely lose his surveillance over her.

“Strategist, I'm afraid I must entrust this matter to you.”

Liu Wen nodded and said, “I also happen to want to know if our Empress truly has any connection with an Immortal.”

As he spoke...

Liu Wen vanished from the spot.

Watching Liu Wen's departing figure, the Prince of Zhenbei's gaze was profound as he said with some regret, “A pity, Li Qingyue. Now is not yet the time for you to die. Otherwise, crushing you would be as easy as crushing an ant.”

Who could have imagined?

The Prince of Zhenbei's strategist, Liu Wen, had always given the impression of a refined scholar, but in reality, he was the famous Evil King, possessing the Peak cultivation of a Martial Arts Grandmaster.

Furthermore, he was known as the Undying Evil King, the strongest Grandmaster.

Inside the Imperial Palace.

Li Qingyue was handling government affairs.

Suddenly, she sensed a dangerous aura approaching. Since she had stepped into the Martial Arts Grandmaster Realm with the Great Qiankun Primordial Spirit Art, the quality of her True Qi, the strength of her Soul, and her physical toughness were all comparable to a Grand Martial Arts Master; the only thing she lacked was perhaps her cultivation Realm.

Despite this...

Even without relying on the soul-capturing bell, she could fight against a Grand Martial Arts Master.

Not to mention, after using the soul-capturing bell...

Killing a Grand Martial Arts Master would be as easy as slaughtering a chicken or a dog.

The fact that someone had stealthily infiltrated had long been detected by her keen senses.

Li Qingyue immediately set down the documents in her hand and spoke with a calm voice, “Since you've come, then show yourself.”

“Hahahaha!”

Suddenly, a burst of laughter rang out, and the Void Realm vibrated.

A dark shadow burst inside.

This person was none other than the Undying Evil King, Liu Wen, who had just come from the Prince of Zhenbei's side to test Li Qingyue.

Li Qingyue said with surprise, “You are the capable strategist by my Royal Uncle's side, Liu Wen. I never expected that Your Excellency would also be a martial arts powerhouse.”

“The technique you just used should be the Demonic Shadow Clone, right? Could it be that you have a connection with the Undying Evil King? Or rather, you *are* the Undying Evil King?”

“Royal Uncle truly is capable, to have actually subdued even the Undying Evil King.”

Liu Wen shook his head and said, “I have not submitted to the Prince of Zhenbei. He and I are merely using each other for what we need.”

“As for Your Majesty, I'm afraid even the Prince of Zhenbei wouldn't have imagined that you have actually reached the Martial Arts Grandmaster Realm as well. At your age, I was far inferior.”

“Could it be the rumors are true? Has Your Majesty truly encountered an Immortal?”

Li Qingyue said, “If I say yes, I wonder how the Evil King will conduct himself?”

“Will you submit to me, or... kill me?”

The Undying Evil King shook his head and said, “To gain my submission, that will depend on whether your strength is sufficient.”

The moment he finished speaking...

The Undying Evil King instantly vanished from the spot, his hands forming seals. It was precisely his famous ultimate technique: the Undying Evil Seal.

He struck out with both hands, and a pitch-black giant hand, like a ghostly claw, lunged toward Li Qingyue.

Li Qingyue had long been eager to try her skills.

After learning the Great Universe Primordial Hand, she had only used it in the Dream World. Although she had cultivated it to the Minor Achievement stage, it always gave her a sense of unreality.

It was just like when Li Changsheng killed someone for the first time.

But she later discovered...

The Dream World and the real world seemed to be no different at all.