187: Your Highness, please become the new king.

Night.

Gu Changsheng pressed his palm against the city wall. A faint, colorful light emanated from his palm, visible to the naked eye. The barrier, originally like a bronze wall and iron fortress, rippled outwards in expanding circles.

"This method… can truly Breakthrough the Royal City's defenses!" Yun Liu's beautiful eyes were filled with continuous astonishment.

Xiongtie City ranked as the world's largest city.

Its defensive power was such that even a survivor bearing the Bloodline of the Nightmare Ring Serpent would absolutely be unable to Breakthrough.

Yet now, it was easily pierced.

'Su Mu…' Yun Liu looked at Gu Changsheng, her gaze complex.

After a few breaths, Gu Changsheng withdrew his hand, wiping the sweat from his forehead. A gaping hole, about ten feet in size, had appeared in the barrier before him. Through it, the sights within the Royal City were clearly visible.

Hiss… Hiss…

The barrier's power around the hole spread, slowly healing.

"Your Highness, it's our turn to move…"

"Mm."

Two figures swept into the Royal City.

Within the majestic Royal Palace, lights blazed brightly, and sounds of joyous singing and laughter drifted out, a scene of peace and tranquility.

Gu Changsheng, however, keenly sensed something amiss.

'This Qi…'

The Dharma Power crystal burned, and a hint of purple appeared in his pupils.

Above the originally magnificent Royal Palace in his vision, a layer of gray smoke enveloped it, constantly coalescing and spreading, gradually forming the shape of a giant, terrifying black serpent.

Its scales were distinct, and its crimson pupils projected a faint, mysterious light, devouring the essence of the Royal Palace.

"I am of a concubine's birth. Though not favored by my royal father, I wouldn't be blocked outside the city.

Behind this, it's most likely my eldest royal brother's doing.

For this matter, I must enter the hall and report to my royal father."

Just as Yun Liu was about to move, a hand suddenly blocked her way.

"Your Highness, something is wrong with the Royal Palace… We'd best not approach rashly…"

Gu Changsheng said with a solemn expression.

"Hm?"

"My Dharma Eye sees Death Qi… and a hint of the Nightmare Ring Serpent's Qi…"

"Nightmare Ring Serpent!" Yun Liu's pupils constricted.

"Indeed. It's likely a dark scheme laid by the mastermind, with the aim of seizing all of the Gui Ren King's Luck and replacing him… The current plan is to unite trustworthy forces within the Royal Family and slay the mastermind."

Gu Changsheng's eyes sharpened, and the Qi and Blood in his palm surged, transforming into the shape of a strange Blood Serpent.

It was precisely the image of the black serpent lurking above the Royal Palace.

Three days later.

A majestic manor.

"Royal Uncle, why do even you not believe Yun Liu's words?"

Yun Liu looked at the valiant, armored middle-aged man before her, her face filled with anxiety.

"Yun Liu, it's not that Royal Uncle doesn't trust you, but… what you're saying is simply too sensational.

Harm the Great King?

Who in the Dynasty would have such guts?"

Yun Lei shook his head, forced a bitter smile, and his gaze shifted to Gu Changsheng beside him, his expression gradually chilling: "Yun Liu, in cultivation, you are a Genius.

But you don't know the wickedness of human hearts.

Don't be used by those with ulterior motives."

The implication was self-evident.

"Royal Uncle…" Yun Liu was about to argue.

Yun Lei's expression suddenly changed: "Enough!"

"You two shall stay in the side hall for now. Tomorrow, I will personally go to the main hall to see the Great King. Then, everything will be clear."

A moment later, looking at the departing figures, a hint of gloom appeared on Yun Lei's face: "Yun Liu… I didn't expect you to have the ability to enter the city.

This matter must be reported to the First Prince."

Side hall.

Yun Liu's face was ashen.

These three days, the two had secretly visited several forces that originally supported her, but the results were either withdrawal or outright disbelief.

"Something must have happened in the city during my absence from the Royal City…"

Suddenly, Gu Changsheng's gaze swept around warily, and he said in a deep voice, "We must leave this place."

"Leave?"

"That's right. Your Royal Uncle has a problem.

Although he concealed it well, a hint of Killing Intent flashed in his brows.

Moreover, when you said that someone was secretly harming the Gui Ren King, I noticed that the speed of his Qi and Blood flow changed for a moment.

This person cannot be trusted."

Yun Liu's face struggled, but she finally nodded in difficult agreement.

Just as they were about to move and leave secretly, tight, urgent footsteps came from outside.

Bang—

The door burst, shattering into countless fragments.

A golden-armored commander holding a bone saber burst in, followed by ranks of Royal Palace elites.

"Imperial Guard Commander Tie He…"

Yun Liu's pupils constricted.

"By order of the First Prince, Yun Liu is controlled by Strange Insects, causing chaos in the Royal Court, and is guilty of death."

"Kill!"

Tie He's Qi and Blood erupted, his body shrouded in a bloody tiger's shadow, roaring as he charged.

The surrounding military formation's Qi and Blood connected as one, continuously merging into Tie He's Qi and Blood. Visibly, Tie He's aura surged dramatically.

'Qi and Blood combined attack secret art…'

Gu Changsheng waved his hand, striking the Void Realm. The vigorous Qi and Blood gathered into a Dragon, shaking the surroundings and stirring up a sky full of dust. From within the haze, a five-colored escape light shot out.

Void Realm.

Imperial Guards riding two-winged flying Dragon Strange Beasts surrounded them from all directions, pursuing them at high speed.

"Dragon Rider Imperial Guards… It seems my eldest royal brother has already taken control of the entire Royal City…"

A hint of despair appeared on Yun Liu's face.

In terms of strength alone, with her Tier 4 combat power, combined with her unique Bloodline Power, she feared no one of the same tier in a one-on-one fight.

But the Imperial Guards were different. They were the elite of the entire Dynasty, with a minimum strength of Tier 3.

With their Qi and Blood combined attack secret art, fighting above their tier was not an issue.

"Don't panic… We may not be without a chance of victory… By my reckoning, it should be about time…"

Gu Changsheng looked towards the direction of the Royal City's Black Iron Gate.

Bang—

A black dog covered in black scales suddenly swelled in size, its body burning with a faint bloody light. Its body was as large as a mountain, and it charged through the guards, heading towards the mechanism controlling the city gate.

"Damn it! Where did such a Strange Beast come from in the Royal City!"

"Hold them! It's trying to open the Royal City's defenses!"

"Kill!"

Crack—

The black dog shook off the crowd, and its short tail suddenly whipped out, striking the mechanism like an iron whip. Immediately, the Black Iron Gate slowly trembled and began to rise.

Outside the city gate, there were countless warriors in armor, a vast, surging crowd.

These were the City Lords from various regions. They rode on giant Strange Beasts, shouting with raised arms.

Beside them lay bodies, scattered haphazardly, all city guards from outside the city.

"Bai Lu Kai, City Lord of Baishi City, with eight thousand elites, has specially come to the Royal City to clear a path for Your Highness Yun Liu!"

An old man in silver armor, riding a white deer, cracked his long whip, and shouts behind him shook the heavens.

"Jing Xing, City Lord of Jingyun City, with all twelve thousand members of his clan, is willing to die for Your Highness Yun Liu!"

"Ziyun City…"

The shouts converged into a single roar, and the fierce Evil Qi overwhelmed the Royal City's defenders. The city guards retreated in panic, their faces filled with terror.

Too many!

The numbers were too great!

Tie Shan, standing on the city wall, turned pale. In his vision, there was a vast, surging crowd, dust flying, and new forces constantly joining the army.

"This is bad… The City Lords are rebelling…"

Gradually, the roar of shouts reached the sky.

Yun Liu looked back to see armies from countless cities pouring into the Royal City, driving back the Royal City's defenders step by step.

Even the Dragon Rider Imperial Guards who had been pursuing them were forced to go and provide support.

"They…"

Yun Liu's expression was complex.

"Your Highness, in the past six months, I have traveled with you to rescue cities facing beast tides, saving countless millions of citizens.

Human hearts are made of flesh.

This great momentum is with you.

Your Highness, please become the new King."

Gu Changsheng smiled slightly.