128: Chapter 128 A Wrongful Appeal at the Diligent Governance Hall: Gu Han's Perilous Situation Begins

He knew that after tonight, the capital would inevitably be anything but calm.

The Second Prince, Chu Li, had his cultivation crippled.

Once this news spread, it would be enough to set off a monstrous wave.

It would turn the situation in the capital, and indeed the entire Great Chu, upside down.

And he, Gu Han, would be the center of this storm.

He clenched his fists, the Heavenly Prison True Qi flowing through his body, bringing a surging sense of power.

He knew that as he gained a firm foothold in the capital, the challenges he faced would only grow greater.

"Blood God Cult, millennial clans, Sect Holy Land…"

A sharp light flashed in Gu Han's eyes, and a wave of Battle Intent surged in his heart.

"It seems this capital is not just about ease and comfort; it holds countless opportunities to hone my Dao!"

...

On the other side, at the Second Prince's residence, the scent of blood was torn apart by the night wind.

Chu Li lay limp on the cold bluestone ground.

Intense pain surged through his entire body like a tide; the toxins of the Heart-Devouring Gu raged within him, and every heartbeat felt like thousands of insects gnawing at his bone marrow.

His bloodshot eyes stared fixedly at the direction where Gu Han had left, resentment and fear intertwined, almost consuming him.

"Gu Tian"

"I want you dead"

"I want you to die without a burial place"

Low roars like a beast issued from his throat, his voice hoarse and broken.

The dignity of a prince, the future throne—everything had vanished under that casual kick from Gu Han.

This was even more unbearable to him than death.

The princes of the Chu family who ascended the throne had always been powerful Martial Artists.

Gu Han crippling his cultivation was equivalent to severing his path to the throne.

Blocking someone's path was no different from killing their parents; it was a deadly feud.

The Imperial Guards and other retainers in the residence had long been completely intimidated by Gu Han's slaughter.

Only now did they tremble as they gathered around.

Seeing the once high-and-mighty Second Prince lying on the ground like a pile of mud.

Their eyes were filled with complex emotions.

There was shock, pity, and, more than anything, awe for Gu Han.

"Quick... quickly help this Prince to see Father Emperor!"

Chu Li struggled, his fingertips scratching several bloody marks into the ground.

He wanted to proclaim Gu Han's atrocities to the world.

He wanted Emperor Yuanwu to uphold justice for him and tear that arrogant Zhenwu Division Commander into pieces.

Several terrified guards stepped forward, carefully helping Chu Li up.

Every time he moved, Chu Li's face twisted in pain, cold sweat pouring down like rain.

His crippled cultivation made it difficult for him to even stand steady, let alone use lightness skills.

The group, like refugees fleeing, stumbled towards the Imperial Palace.

The night was deep, the imperial city towering, yet in Chu Li's eyes, it had become his only salvation.

At this moment, inside the Hall of Diligent Governance, the lights were bright.

Emperor Yuanwu, Chu Yuan, who was reviewing memorials, wore a bright yellow dragon robe, a hint of fatigue between his brows.

His fingers holding the brush paused slightly.

He vaguely felt an unusual movement over the capital; it was the aura of Advanced Martial Artists clashing with True Qi.

He did not investigate further, assuming it was a small-scale conflict between some Sect experts near the capital, and did not take it to heart.

However, the next moment, a heart-wrenching wail tore through the night sky, piercing the Hall of Diligent Governance like a sharp sword.

"Father Emperor, save me!"

"Father Emperor, you must uphold justice for me!"

This voice was none other than the Second Prince, Chu Li.

Hearing Chu Li's wailing, Emperor Yuanwu rose abruptly, his brows tightening, and he could not help but look outside the hall.

That wail was heart-wrenching, carrying extreme resentment and despair.

Like a ghost, it penetrated the night curtain, stabbing directly into Emperor Yuanwu's eardrums.

Emperor Yuanwu walked down the steps.

He saw the stumbling figure rushing over at a glance.

How could that still be the Second Prince who was usually pampered and high-spirited?

Chu Li was now like a broken body mauled by vicious dogs, his hair disheveled.

His magnificent robes were tattered, stained with large, shocking patches of blood.

Seeing Emperor Yuanwu, Chu Li broke free from the eunuchs supporting him.

His knees went weak, and he knelt heavily on the cold white jade steps, his forehead splitting open, blood instantly spreading.

"Father Emperor"

"That villain Gu Tian, he wants to kill your son!"

Chu Li's desperate wailing, like a beast skinned alive, echoed in the square in front of the Hall of Diligent Governance.

His twisted face was already filled with pain and resentment, completely lacking the demeanor of a prince from the past.

The wound on his forehead split, and lines of crimson blood meandered down his pale cheeks, adding to his ghastly appearance.

Emperor Yuanwu, Chu Yuan, draped in his bright yellow dragon robe, his already weary brows now gathered terrifying anger.

He looked at the bloody, limp body before him, his fists clenched tight.

This was his son.

He was of the Great Chu Imperial Family's Bloodline.

To be injured to this state by someone was simply a supreme humiliation.

"Li'er, you... what has happened to you?"

Chu Yuan stepped down the jade stairs in one stride, rushed to Chu Li's side, and grabbed his swaying body.

Upon contact, he felt the True Qi in Chu Li's body was chaotic, his Meridians withered; he had actually been completely crippled of his cultivation.

Moreover, a force of extremely rigid and yang-natured True Qi was coiled within his body.

It was precisely the Heavenly Prison True Qi that Gu Han had left in Chu Li's body.

"No... it's not just the cultivation..."

Chu Li trembled, his fingertips pointing to his chest, where a faint blood-colored mark appeared and disappeared.

"That Gu Tian, he, he actually forced the essence of the Heart-Devouring Gu into your son's body"

"Every seven days, it will be like ten thousand ants gnawing at my heart"

"Father Emperor, I beg you, uphold justice for your son!"

"Your son's injury is a small matter, but the face of our Imperial Family is everything"

He pressed his head heavily against Chu Yuan's knees, weeping heart-rendingly.

That hoarse crying, every word weeping blood, each sound was like a lash on Emperor Yuanwu's heart, stirring up stormy waves.

Heart-Devouring Gu!

Such an evil object, actually used by Gu Han to deal with a prince.

Even more terrifying was this:

Gu Han was actually able to extract the essence of the Gu insect and refine it into another person's body.

This method was unheard of, making his ruthlessness even more apparent."

Chu Yuan suddenly raised his head, his sharp gaze shooting directly into the distant pitch-black night sky, as if he wanted to tear Gu Han into pieces.

The True Qi within him began to surge like a volcano.

A majestic pressure instantly enveloped the entire square of the Hall of Diligent Governance, causing the surrounding guards to fall silent in fear, making it difficult for them to even breathe.

"What... what on earth happened?"

Chu Yuan's voice carried anger suppressed to the extreme.

Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying a bone-chilling coldness.

Chu Li saw his Father Emperor was so enraged.

A flash of imperceptible triumph crossed his eyes.

Immediately, it was covered up by fear and pain.

He added fuel to the fire, describing Gu Han as a bloodthirsty, lawless madman.

"Father Emperor, Gu Tian... he is crazy!"

"No, he is a thorough madman"

Chu Li screamed desperately, painting Gu Han as a lawless person.

"Your son, your son just admired Commander Gu's achievements in guarding the capital"

"So I held a banquet at the residence to express the Imperial Family's respect for such a talent!"

His voice was sorrowful, but every word was meant to condemn.

"Who would have thought that Gu Tian is a wolf-hearted, dog-lunged beast"

"He actually took a fancy to a dancing girl and wanted to force himself on her in your son's residence"

"Your son couldn't stand it, so I spoke up to stop him"

"Who knew that the guy would be so ashamed that he became angry"

"He started a massacre in your son's residence, treating the Imperial Family's dignity as nothing, and even used evil arts to cripple your son's cultivation"

"And, he even tortured your son with the Heart-Devouring Gu"

His chest heaved violently, pointing to the faint blood-colored mark, his pupils filled with terror and resentment.

He deliberately made the "holding a banquet" sound upright and honorable.

Distorting Gu Han's "self-defense counterattack" into a "massacre".

Attempting to incite Emperor Yuanwu's monstrous anger.