137: Chapter 137 A filial son!

Watching Rat-girl's retreating figure, Su Mo's throat bobbed.

But after thinking it over carefully, he decided against it.

The talent for Seeing Through Disguises didn't seem to offer a significant boost to his strength, and since he was on their territory, it was best not to cause extra trouble.

Moments later, Rat-girl led Su Mo and the others through winding alleys until they reached the back door of a courtyard.

She cautiously knocked three long and two short, and the wooden door quietly opened.

“Hurry and come in!”

An Old Turtle poked its head out, and seeing Rat-girl, nodded.

Everyone flashed inside. Guided by the Old Turtle, they entered a cave beneath a rock garden, followed a secret tunnel for a long time, and finally arrived at a lavishly decorated room.

At this moment, the room was already filled with Cultivators of various kinds.

The Second Imperial Prince Chi Yin, seated in the main position, immediately rose with a smile to greet Su Mo and the others:

“Fellow Daoists, how should I address you?”

Heaven Battle subtly swept his gaze over the Cultivators behind Chi Yin and said faintly:

“Zhang San, a Loose Cultivator.”

“Li Si, a Loose Cultivator.”

...Chi Yin naturally understood these were pseudonyms, but he didn't mind. Instead, his smile grew brighter:

“For all you Human Race Fellow Daoists to come and assist, Chi Yin is eternally grateful!”

After being guided to their seats, Su Mo secretly observed the Cultivators present.

Most were in the Soul Transformation Stage, only three were in the Void Refining Stage, and there were none in the Body Integration Stage.

A question flashed through Su Mo's mind.

He wants to compete for the throne with just this many people?

“Second Imperial Prince, let's be clear first: we are only helping you resist the First Imperial Prince's subordinates; we will not directly participate in the struggle for the throne.”

“Furthermore, whether you succeed or fail, the remuneration promised to us must not be short by a single coin!”

A Void Refining Cultivator whose entire body was heavily concealed said coldly.

Chi Yin still wore a faint smile, which, combined with his gentle demeanor, made him seem very approachable:

“Fellow Daoists, rest assured, the promised compensation will not be lessened, nor will I ask you to do anything extra...”

Before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by another Void Refining Stage individual.

“Oh, right! I heard that the Myriad Beast Kingdom's royal family possesses a Supreme Treasure that can enhance one's Cultivation Aptitude. Afterward, may this old man observe it?”

The Void Refining Stage Cultivator's eyes sparkled with shrewdness, a smile played on his lips, yet a chilling aura emanated from him.

Chi Yin's expression stiffened, and his smile gradually faded:

“This Supreme Treasure concerns the Foundation of my Myriad Beast Kingdom. I fear Your Excellency's strength...”

“Is the remuneration of three Body Integration Stage Cultivators enough?”

“Body Integration Stage Cultivators?!”

Chi Yin's pupils contracted sharply.

“Three of my Thousand Miasma Valley Body Integration Elders are waiting outside the city. As long as Your Highness nods, they can enter the city at any time to lend support.”

The Void Refining Stage old man gave a sinister smile, a strange implication flickering in his eyes.

Chi Yin lowered his head, making his expression unreadable.

After a long while, he slowly spoke:

“Very well... If I have the assistance of three Body Integration Cultivators, what harm is there in lending the Supreme Treasure for observation?”

“Hahaha, Second Imperial Prince Your Highness is indeed forthright!”

The sinister old man stroked his beard and laughed heartily:

“Rest assured, as long as a Mahayana doesn't appear, this throne will certainly be yours, Second Imperial Prince.”

“I hope so...”

...“White Snow, why are you out of bed again?”

Crimson Radiance looked helplessly at his wife sitting in the courtyard, his face full of worry.

Qingqiu White Snow sat in the courtyard, her face pale, gazing at the full moon in the sky, her eyes filled with longing.

“Husband, do you think our son and daughter are doing well now?”

Seeing Crimson Radiance approach, she forced herself to show a smile.

A pang went through Crimson Radiance's heart. He tightened the robe around White Snow, held her cold hand, and gently comforted her:

“They must be doing very well.”

“After the new Emperor ascends the throne, I will take you back to Qingqiu.”

White Snow leaned on his shoulder and smiled weakly:

“Okay... I'll listen to you, Husband.”

Suddenly, her brows furrowed tightly, and intense cold Qi erupted from her body; even her exhaled breath turned into icy mist.

Crimson Radiance was greatly alarmed:

“White Snow! Has the Cold Poison in your body flared up again?!”

He quickly retrieved a jade bottle from his storage ring, poured out a blood-colored Medicinal Pill, and although he felt heartache seeing White Snow's painful expression, he still fed it to her.

After the Medicinal Pill entered her stomach, White Snow's complexion became even paler, but the cold Qi gradually subsided.

“Husband... did you feed me the Blood Burning Pill again...”

“Mhm...”

Crimson Radiance replied in a low voice.

Although the Blood Burning Pill could suppress the Cold Poison that had penetrated deep into her marrow, it would burn her Vitality Origin.

White Snow leaned weakly in his arms:

“Silly... I know my own body...”

Hearing this, Crimson Radiance held White Snow tightly, circulating the Spiritual Power within his body to raise her temperature.

“It's all my fault... If only I had taken that blow back then...”

“Don't say such foolish things... Being able to protect you and the children, I have no regrets...”

...The night passed quickly.

Yet, undercurrents surged throughout the Imperial City, and no one could sleep.

Because that very night, the old Emperor suddenly passed away!

The news spread like wildfire throughout the Imperial City, and the entire city was placed under strict martial law.

“Imperial Father left very suddenly.”

The Second Imperial Prince Chi Yin slowly spoke before the crowd, his expression solemn.

“Big Brother's forces have already taken control of the Imperial Palace, and they won't even let me in...”

The Cultivators present exchanged glances, all understanding that this was clearly an attempt to seize power by force.

“Why don't we just fight our way in?”

A Cultivator tentatively offered the suggestion.

Chi Yin smiled bitterly and shook his head:

“The Imperial Palace has Restrictions laid down by successive Emperors. Forcing our way in is tantamount to seeking death.”

“Then what should we do? We can't just wait around, can we?”

Just then, a clear bird cry echoed in the air.

“The old Emperor is dead; the new Emperor should be enthroned.”

“The First Imperial Prince invites the two Imperial Princes to enter the palace to observe the Ascension Ceremony—”

Hearing the bird cry, Su Mo was instantly stunned.

Good heavens!

The old Emperor's body isn't even cold yet, and the First Imperial Prince is already preparing to start the Ascension Ceremony?!

What a truly filial son!

Chi Yin frowned:

“Why wasn't it Imperial Father's personal eunuch delivering the imperial decree?”

“Could it be that...”

His expression darkened, and a conjecture surfaced in his mind.

If a eunuch had delivered the decree, it would mean the First Imperial Prince's ascension was written in the imperial edict, making it legitimate.

But the one delivering the decree was the First Imperial Prince's Eagle Guard, which meant that the name written on the imperial edict was definitely not the First Imperial Prince!

A hint of joy flashed in Chi Yin's eyes:

“Fellow Daoists, follow me to take a look.”

The First Imperial Prince seemed very confident in his own strength. Chi Yin led his mighty procession to the palace gates, and surprisingly, no one tried to stop them.

They saw the palace gates wide open, and the sound of music drifted out from within.

The First Imperial Prince, First Imperial Prince, was half-reclining on a Dragon Throne, enjoying the graceful singing and dancing of a group of Fox Girls before him.

“Second Brother, you brought a group of Human Race Cultivators. Are you trying to stage a coup?”

Seeing Su Mo and the others behind Chi Yin, scorn flashed in First Imperial Prince's eyes:

“Just relying on these pieces of trash?”

“A coup?”

Chi Yin let out a light chuckle.

“Big Brother, are you confused? The late Emperor's imperial edict hasn't even been read yet, so where is the coup to stage?”

“Isn't it a bit premature for you to be sitting in that seat right now?”

First Imperial Prince's face darkened. Chi Yin's words had indeed struck a nerve; the name written on the imperial edict was certainly not his.

“Imperial edict?”

“This Prince *is* the imperial edict!”