195: Yao Jingyuan of Lishan Sword Sect
The Border Army camp.
The central military tent, located at the core of the camp.
Unlike the grim and noisy outer encampments, this place was quiet, yet it was filled with a suffocating, heavy pressure.
There were not many armored guards stationed around the tent, because the people sitting inside were already the most impenetrable line of defense in the Northern Territory of Dagan.
In the center of the large tent sat a massive sand table, upon which mountains, rivers, mountain passes, and cities were all miniaturized. Small red and blue flags were scattered across it, simulating the dangerous situation of the two armies confronting each other.
Several figures stood surrounding the sand table.
Their presence was as deep as an abyss, and divine light flickered in their eyes; they were clearly all Cultivators with extremely profound cultivation.
Among them, one person's energy was the most astonishing: a middle-aged man carrying an ancient sword on his back.
He wore simple clothes, his face cold and stern as iron, like an unsheathed sharp sword. His fierce Sword Intent was contained but not revealed, slicing through the surrounding Void Realm.
This person was named Yao Jingyuan, an Upper Three Ranks Sword Grandmaster from the Lishan Sword Sect!
On the main seat on the other side stood a young man dressed in a bright yellow python robe.
In the entire Da Gan, there was only one person who could wear such attire.
The Crown Prince of Da Gan, Crown Prince Zhao Ce.
He was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, his face like jade, and his whole body radiated an innate imperial nobility.
However, at this moment, a thick, lingering gloom gathered between his brows, and he looked quite irritable.
"The Witchcraft Poison that Old Qin has been afflicted with is a secret, untransmitted technique of the Northern Barbarians' Black Death Department. The poison is sinister and ruthless, eroding the bones and dissolving the soul."
Yao Jingyuan said, "Old Qin is a Martial Arts Grandmaster with vigorous Qi and blood and a powerful physique. Otherwise, if it were an ordinary Cultivator, they would likely already be in critical condition."
Crown Prince Zhao Ce nodded upon hearing this, "I naturally know this."
He took a deep breath, suppressing the irritation in his heart, "It is not that the medicinal herbs needed to detoxify are missing from the national treasury, but they are all too young in age to completely eradicate the Witchcraft Poison."
Qin Zhengqing was not only the commander-in-chief of the three armies but also one of his supporters.
If something were to really happen to Qin Zhengqing, the impact on him would be quite significant.
The Governor of Yunzhou was also in the tent, standing at the very edge, trying his best to minimize his presence.
Logically speaking, as a dignified Governor of Yunzhou and a regional official, his status was already quite high.
However, the identities of the people in the tent were each more intimidating than the last; everyone could suppress him.
Now, he only prayed that nothing would go wrong, that he could safely survive this war, and that keeping his official hat would be a stroke of good fortune.
Just at this moment.
"Report!"
The sudden report from outside the tent broke the silence inside.
"Reporting to Your Highness, the three Directors of the Yunzhou Fengxian Division and the remaining Judge Lu Changfeng claim to have an urgent matter to report."
Inside the tent.
Crown Prince Zhao Ce raised his eyebrows slightly upon hearing this, a trace of impatience flashing in his eyes.
A mere Director of a provincial Fengxian Division, what urgent matter could they have?
Could it be that they want to come and get familiar again?
"Fengxian Division?"
The Governor of Yunzhou felt his heart skip a beat, and his expression instantly turned ugly.
Why did these guys come at this time?
What was being discussed here were matters of national importance regarding the war between the two armies, involving the safety of the Border Army commander-in-chief—how confidential was that?
What kind of emergency could these minor Directors, who were responsible for monitoring ghosts and gods, possibly have?
Could it be that some disaster or anomaly had occurred somewhere?
"Simply ignorant of the gravity of the situation!"
The Governor of Yunzhou cursed inwardly, and fine cold sweat seeped from his forehead.
If he angered the Crown Prince or the few high-level experts and they blamed him, he, as their direct superior, would certainly suffer the consequences, and he might even be charged with the crime of failing to manage his subordinates properly.
"Your Highness, these people are acting recklessly. It must be some trivial matter that has disturbed your ears. This official will go and dismiss them immediately…" The Governor of Yunzhou hurriedly stepped forward and bowed, saying.
Crown Prince Zhao Ce waved his hand, interrupting him.
"Wait."
Crown Prince Zhao Ce said, "The people from the Fengxian Division have always been steady. If there were no real emergency, they would never dare to barge into the central military tent. Since they are here, let them in."
"Yes."
The guard acknowledged the order and lifted the tent curtain.
Very quickly.
The three terrified Chief Supervisors of the Fengxian Division, along with Judge Lu Changfeng, walked into the tent with their heads bowed.
As soon as they entered, the four of them knelt on the ground in unison, prostrating themselves.
"This official pays respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
"What matter has caused such panic?" Crown Prince Zhao Ce's voice was cold.
The Chief Supervisor did not dare to raise his head at all and said tremblingly, "Your Highness, we have just received an urgent report. The White Lotus Sect demoness Su Qingqian has gathered a group of experts and infiltrated the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, intending to…"
His voice paused, as if he did not dare to say it.
"Intending to do what?" Crown Prince Zhao Ce was already irritated; seeing this, his voice became a bit more severe.
The Chief Supervisor and the others shuddered and hurriedly said, "Intending to assassinate the Ninth Prince, Prince Ning Zhao Ming, who entered the mountains to search for medicine!"
Boom!
As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a giant rock crashing into a calm lake, instantly stirring up huge waves throughout the entire tent.
The Governor of Yunzhou felt his legs go weak and almost collapsed onto the ground.
Only a few words echoed in his mind.
It's over.
The Prince has been assassinated!
And it's in the territory of Yunzhou!
This is definitely a heaven-piercing matter!
Even the Mountain Sect Elder and the other Upper Three Ranks existences had slight changes in their expressions upon hearing this.
However.
After the shock, the tent fell into a deathly silence.
No one spoke; a pin could be heard dropping in the tent.
Everyone in the tent was a shrewd person.
Naturally, they were all very clear about the affairs of the Da Gan Imperial Family.
It was no secret that Zhao Ming had designs on the throne.
Now that Prince Ning Zhao Ming was in deep danger, targeted by the demon people of the White Lotus Sect…
For the Crown Prince, perhaps this was actually a good thing?
The Mountain Sect Elder and others could not easily intervene in royal affairs.
The few great generals in the army dared not speak casually and turned their gazes toward the Crown Prince Crown Prince Zhao Ce.
Crown Prince Zhao Ce's expression was somewhat subtle.
Deep within his pupils, a hardly noticeable glimmer of dark light flashed and vanished.
It seemed to be a kind of… coldness tinged with a bit of secret joy.
If you had just stayed honestly in the capital, I really wouldn't have found it easy to move against you.
But you just had to run to this chaotic Yunzhou, and even burrow into the Yao Race territory of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, and then get targeted by the demon people of the White Lotus Sect.
If you were to just die in the mountains like this…
This thought only circled in his mind for a moment before Crown Prince Zhao Ce forcibly suppressed it.
He was the Crown Prince, the future Emperor of Da Gan.
Under the public gaze, he had to be a benevolent Crown Prince who cherished his siblings and constantly upheld the dignity of the Imperial Family.
Therefore.
"Bastard!"
A roar suddenly erupted from Crown Prince Zhao Ce's mouth.