129: Chapter 129 The Heart-Eating Gu Poison Scheme, The Shocking Secret of Puppet Refining

At this moment, the expression of Emperor Yuanwu, Chu Yuan, was so gloomy it seemed like water could be wrung from it.

He held Chu Li's hand, sensing the chaotic True Qi within his son's body, which carried a dense and malevolent aura.

This was the very culprit that had crippled Chu Li's cultivation.

That power was extremely rigid and Yang-aligned, as if it could burn everything to ashes; it was certainly not something an ordinary Cultivator could possess.

His gaze was sharp as a blade, piercing straight into the night sky.

The name Gu Tian echoed in his heart like a curse at this moment.

Dragon Qi churned around Emperor Yuanwu, and golden light shot into the sky, illuminating the entire Qinzheng Hall plaza as if it were daylight.

A monstrous pressure, belonging to a Dharma Manifestation expert, instantly swept outward.

It crushed the surrounding guards and imperial troops, causing them to tremble in terror, kneel, and not even dare to breathe.

Seeing that Emperor Yuanwu was on the verge of a rage, Chu Li could not help but feel smug.

At the same time, he spoke up again to add fuel to the fire.

"Father, my injuries are a small matter."

"But the dignity of our royal family has been trampled underfoot by that Gu Tian. I implore Father to act for the sake of the Great Chu nation!"

Chu Li kowtowed again, weeping and wailing.

He knew deeply that enraging Emperor Yuanwu was the most fatal blow to Gu Han.

Before Qinzheng Hall, the Dragon Qi was vast and mighty, and Emperor Yuanwu, Chu Yuan, was furious to the point of his hair standing on end.

The golden True Qi was like a raging fire burning the sky, dyeing the night into a brilliant radiance.

Bloodthirsty killing intent churned in his eyes, and as his palms turned, it was as if he wanted to tear Gu Han into a thousand pieces.

"Gu Tian, you deserve death!"

Emperor Yuanwu's voice was like thunder.

The Dragon Qi around him condensed without dissipating, resembling a war god descended from the Nine Heavens.

Seeing this, Chu Li's eyes filled with even more malice; he knew that the Emperor's fury would be Gu Han's doom.

Just as Emperor Yuanwu was about to mobilize the imperial guards and issue an edict to the Zhenwu Division to apprehend Gu Han, a steady, mountain-like dark figure appeared silently before the hall.

He took one step, silent and soundless, yet instantly extinguished the violent Dragon Qi surrounding Emperor Yuanwu.

Chu Tiankuo!

Upon seeing the newcomer, Emperor Yuanwu's tense face relaxed slightly, and a flash of surprise crossed his eyes.

He had not expected this royal Old Ancestor to appear at this moment.

"Old Ancestor."

Emperor Yuanwu bowed respectfully.

Chu Tiankuo merely nodded slightly.

Chu Tiankuo's gaze swept over Chu Li, who was slumped on the ground, acting like a madman. A trace of imperceptible disgust flashed across his brows.

He said nothing more and merely lifted his hand gently. A soft yet irresistible force lifted Chu Li from beside Emperor Yuanwu.

"Li'er, return to your residence first."

Chu Tiankuo's voice was low, carrying unquestionable majesty.

"His Majesty will decide on this matter."

Chu Li had wanted to roar, but was suppressed by this force, with only a few unwilling whimpers escaping his throat.

He cast a resentful glance at Chu Tiankuo and then turned his gaze toward Emperor Yuanwu, hoping for protection.

However, Emperor Yuanwu had already guessed the reason for Chu Tiankuo's arrival.

Emperor Yuanwu instructed the eunuch beside him in a deep voice:

"Someone, go to the treasury and fetch the sacred healing medicine, the 'Nine-Turn Golden Core,' and send it to the Second Prince's residence immediately."

"Send a few imperial physicians along with it."

"Ensure the Second Prince's injuries are healed."

"Otherwise, you will be held accountable."

The eunuch received the order, his figure turning into a streak of light as he hurriedly vanished into the night.

Seeing this, even though Chu Li was unwilling, he could only be supported by the guards and stumble away.

His back appeared exceptionally desolate in the night, and his twisted face still retained a monstrous hatred for Gu Han.

Once Chu Li's figure had completely disappeared from view, Chu Tiankuo retracted his gaze and turned to Emperor Yuanwu.

"Your Majesty, the matter regarding Gu Han is far-reaching."

Chu Tiankuo's voice was low, carrying a profound meaning.

"It is not as simple as Chu Li has made it appear on the surface."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yuanwu's brows locked tightly, and doubt flickered in his eyes.

He knew Chu Tiankuo's character well; if it were not of great importance, he would never appear easily, let alone exonerate Gu Han at this moment.

"Old Ancestor, what does this mean?"

Emperor Yuanwu asked.

The gaze of Emperor Yuanwu, Chu Yuan, was like two sharp swords piercing Chu Tiankuo. He knew the temperament of this Old Ancestor well. If the situation were not serious, he would never have arrived in the middle of the night, nor would he have stopped him while he was in a fit of rage.

"Old Ancestor, Li'er has suffered heavy injuries, and his cultivation has been crippled."

"He has even been struck by an evil Gu and is hanging by a thread!"

Chu Yuan's voice carried a suppressed hoarseness, his fingertips trembling slightly with anger.

"That scoundrel Gu Tian has no regard for royal authority and acts in a perverse manner; he dared to commit such a vicious act against a prince."

"If such a madman is not severely punished, how can we uphold the law, and how can we secure the nation?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Tiankuo's eyes remained calm; he merely raised his hand gently, signaling Emperor Yuanwu to calm down.

His aged voice, yet filled with boundless majesty, rang out before Qinzheng Hall like an ancient bell.

"Your Majesty, what Li'er said is merely one side of the story."

Chu Tiankuo stepped forward slowly, walking to Emperor Yuanwu's side. His gaze looked deeply into the night sky, as if it could pierce through layers of fog to reach the very Origin of the event.

"Tonight's event was not Gu Han causing trouble without reason."

"Rather... it was Li'er who brought it upon himself."

"What?!"

Emperor Yuanwu's pupils shrank, and an expression of disbelief appeared on his face.

He turned abruptly, staring fixedly at Chu Tiankuo, as if trying to find traces of a joke on his face.

His own son had suffered such heavy injuries, and the Old Ancestor was actually saying it was his own fault? This was simply absurd.

One must know that Chu Li was one of Emperor Yuanwu's most beloved princes. Furthermore, Chu Li had always acted very well-behaved in front of Emperor Yuanwu, disguising himself quite deeply, maintaining the posture of a virtuous king.

"Old Ancestor, do you know what you are saying?"

Chu Yuan's voice grew colder, carrying a trace of displeasure.

"Li'er is my own son, of royal Bloodline."

"What fault did he have that led to him being crippled and struck by an evil Gu?"

Chu Tiankuo sighed softly, a flash of complexity in his eyes. It was both disappointment in Chu Li and appreciation for Gu Han.

He did not answer directly but slowly revealed the unknown, bloody truth of what happened inside the Second Prince's residence tonight.

Chu Tiankuo did not answer Emperor Yuanwu's question directly.

"Your Majesty, do you know why Li'er hosted a banquet for Gu Han tonight?"

Chu Tiankuo's voice was low, carrying a solemnity that exposed ugliness.

"He did not truly respect talent, but had long been plotting, intending to commit an illicit act."

Emperor Yuanwu's heart skipped a beat, and a foreboding premonition welled up in his mind.

"Li'er obtained the 'Heart-Devouring Gu' from the Huang Clan."

"He also bribed disciples of the Qinghe Sect with heavy gold to serve as his retainers."

"He even hired the Azure Dragon Martial Hall Master, Li Feng, and the Wang family expert, Wang Fei, to serve as his retainers."

Chu Tiankuo's voice was like an ice pick, chiseling away at Emperor Yuanwu's psychological defenses, word by word.

"During the banquet, Li'er put the Heart-Devouring Gu into the wine."

"Li'er also kept a group of dancing girls skilled in seduction."

"He even set up a great formation in the main hall."

"Furthermore, he invited Gu Han to the banquet not to entertain him."

"But to trap Gu Han in the formation and use the Heart-Devouring Gu to control Gu Han's mind."

"He intended to completely refine this Zhenwu Division Commander into his own Puppet, thereby seizing control of the Zhenwu Division and making it a blade for his imperial struggle."

"Boom!"

Chu Tiankuo's words were like a bolt from the blue, exploding in Emperor Yuanwu's mind.

His body swayed violently, his face instantly turning deathly pale, and his eyes were filled with unbelievable shock.

"Puppet," "Heart-Devouring Gu," "Heaven-Confining Earth-Locking Formation."

Emperor Yuanwu exclaimed in shock, every word trembling.

He could not believe that his own son would actually commit such a deranged act. Controlling the Zhenwu Division Commander as a Puppet—this was simply a naked act of usurping power and seizing the throne.