Chapter 374: Chapter 224: Celestial Venerable Tomb Burial (2)

Going is a must.

If the rumors are true, the Hidden Guard will surely go, and even Li Yuan might personally attend. By then, if there are no accidents, the Dao Fruit will be collected, and if I happen to be there, there’s a high chance I will be awarded the Dao Fruit.

After all, though the Dao Fruit sounds mysterious, it’s only useful for Qi Cultivation practitioners who have perfected their Dao Foundation. For other cultivators, it’s not very useful.

"Young Master..." Sable looked worriedly in the direction of Liangzhou, and finally followed quickly in resignation.

"Ah Zi, we’re still within the inner six provinces, so stop twitching your ears, alright?" Hong Luan teased as she glanced at Sable’s ears.

----------

"Nonsense! Utter chaos! Before leaving, I repeatedly reminded and urged, only for it all to fall on deaf ears!" Consort Rong fumed as she looked at the secret report.

Princes on tours should not be accompanied by elders, so Consort Rong did not go.

At this moment, looking at the rumors sent back from the populace, seeing the Ninth Prince’s impressive demeanor, extraordinary skill, and fearless courage, she only felt her heart grow cold.

She naturally knew what kind of prince Li Yuan wanted to succeed the throne.

Moreover, she repeatedly reminded the Ninth Prince.

As a result, as soon as he left the inner six provinces, he acted so wantonly?

Under the rule of the Saint Emperor, how could there be so many mountain bandits and evil cultivators?

Clearly, she already knew that the Saint Emperor’s impression of the Ninth Prince had waned a bit.

The Saint Emperor has Hidden Guards monitoring the world, so such matters must have reached the Saint Emperor’s ears immediately.

"Insolent child!" Consort Rong cursed in resentment, but there was nothing she could do.

Fortunately, the Ninth Prince is only eleven years old, still very young, and can use his innocence to offset some of the impact.

This time, what the Ninth Prince did was far more serious than the Crown Prince’s past benevolent acts.

If it weren’t for his young age and his exceptional talent with the myriad laws of the Spirit Body, any other prince in his position would likely be completely cut off from the hope of the throne.

At this moment, a palace maid hurriedly brought another Token from the maid beside the Ninth Prince.

Consort Rong checked the Token with a sullen expression.

"Bang! Who is it? Who is deliberately targeting my son?"

After reading the Token, she suddenly flew into a rage.

The Token stated that the Ninth Prince had always remembered Consort Rong’s teachings, acted low-key and steady, but as soon as they left the inner six provinces, mountain bandits, cultists, and evil cultivators came to them.

After several incidents, the young blood of the Ninth Prince was stirred up, making him somewhat uncontrollable.

Moreover, they claimed that those mountain bandits and evil cultivators had all been dealt with, and they hadn’t proactively spread the word, yet it got out.

"Crown Prince?" After reading the Token, Consort Rong understood everything.

She immediately suspected the Crown Prince.

After all, the Ninth Prince is the Crown Prince’s biggest competitor. As long as the Ninth Prince’s impression drops further in the Saint Emperor’s heart, given the Saint Emperor’s current lifespan, he might pass down the Jiuli Map to the Crown Prince ahead of time.

"But he did the same thing back then!" Consort Rong shook her head.

To the Crown Prince, the Ninth Prince was the greatest threat, and so did Consort Rong.

Now within the Crown Prince’s Palace, Consort Rong’s spies were everywhere, yet there had been no secret meetings lately.

"Could it be the Seventh Prince? Could I have been wrong?"

Although the Seventh Prince’s influence was weak, and his maternal clan had little capability, after considering the Crown Prince’s ruling out, the Seventh Prince was the only one left.

Moreover, his grudge against the Ninth Prince was no less than the Crown Prince’s.

"Hmph! Best not to let me find out it was you pulling the strings, or else... ha~" Consort Rong’s eyes turned cold, filled with a hint of cruel allure.

------

Crown Prince’s Palace.

"What on earth is Old Qi doing? Old Jiu has already become famous across the land, yet he remains obscure!" Crown Prince Li Zhi strained to maintain his composed expression to avoid losing his composure.

But the agitation in his heart could not be suppressed.

Old Jiu had already gained fame nationwide, seemingly doing better than he did in the past.

More valiant, more unstoppable.

"Still no trace of the Seventh Prince? Keep searching for him, you must find him. Bring the Spirit Stones, tell him, he must do better, or else Father will not have any place for him!"

"Yes!" As his subordinate just left, Long Yueming’s figure suddenly appeared outside the door.

"Greetings, Crown Prince!"

"Minister Long, you’ve come just in time, look, Old Jiu has become famous!" The Crown Prince hastily handed the Jade Talisman to Long Yueming.

Long Yueming waved his hand, not taking it: "Your Highness, I came late at night because of this matter."

"You have also realized the problem?"

Long Yueming nodded.

"Then what can be done? Father has been indecisive for so long, even though I’ve already formed a Golden Core Dharma Aspect, he still hasn’t passed me the Jiuli Map. I think Father has long been inclined towards Old Jiu!" The Crown Prince was agitated.

"Alas!" Long Yueming hesitated, then heavily sighed.

"Minister, stop sighing and think of a way!"

"Now... the Ninth Prince’s reputation has spread, and the Saint Emperor is likely preparing to reward him, it might already be..."

"This... You mean Father... No, no, even if Old Jiu earns the Saint’s favor this time, he hasn’t solidified his Golden Core yet. It’s uncertain if he can surpass my Dharma Aspect domain, Father wouldn’t pass it to him!" The Crown Prince’s expression shifted, but he quickly regained his composure, not easily swayed by Long Yueming.

Long Yueming was unfazed, took two quick steps closer, and whispered in the Crown Prince’s ear: "The Saint Emperor failed to reach the Harmonization Dao again, his lifespan is now less than a hundred years!"

"What!" The Crown Prince was horrified.

According to tradition, the Jiuli Map should be passed down at least a hundred years in advance.

In that case, it might not wait for the Ninth Prince to solidify his Golden Core before the Saint Emperor must decide.

From the Saint Emperor’s current attitude towards the princes, Old Jiu had the most hope!

The Crown Prince always relied on his Dharma Aspect domain, so as long as the Ninth Prince had not solidified his Golden Core, it was uncertain.

He felt pressure, but not urgency.

But at this moment, what Long Yueming said caused him to panic instantly.

"No, no! Minister, teach me. I can’t let down my mother’s expectations!" The Crown Prince hurriedly grabbed Long Yueming’s arm.

Long Yueming frowned.

He looked directly at the Crown Prince Li Zhi for a long time: "This matter might gamble the lives of my family’s dozen members! I... I dare not take that gamble!"

The Crown Prince heard this, as if grasping at a straw, pleaded: "Minister, please speak frankly!"

Long Yueming’s eyes flickered, and suddenly he made a slashing motion.

"Boom!"

The Crown Prince’s heart was greatly alarmed.

While the Saint Emperor Li Yuan was controlling and obstinate, he greatly valued harmony within the royal family.

He forbade fratricide, father-son conflicts above all.

So, the Crown Prince had never thought of this method before!

Once his initial shock subsided, his face froze.

But, a voice in his heart told him,

In the current situation, this is the only way.

Otherwise, the Saint Emperor might soon pass it down to the Ninth Prince.

Once passed down, the outcome is irrevocable.

He would then become the greatest joke in the Jiuli Dynasty.

After waiting desperately for sixty years, following the Grand Tutor’s teachings in the first fifty, cultivating virtue, focusing on cultivation, barely paying attention to external affairs, only to have the reward snatched away.

What was wrong with that?

"Minister, help me!" The Crown Prince was now in a position where he wanted to kill the Ninth Prince, but he had no one to do the deed.

Long Yueming repeatedly backed away.

"I said nothing; I know nothing!"

With those words, his figure vanished.

"You!" The Crown Prince was in despair and roared, and then at the next moment, saw the words that appeared at the place where Long Yueming vanished — Cold Moon Residence.

His expression changed slightly, and then expectation flashed in his eyes.

However, after Long Yueming left, he gradually calmed down, and his resolve wavered.

Until the next day, news came from the court, numerous ministers submitted praises for the Ninth Prince’s youthful promise and ambition.

The Saint Emperor announced an immediate reward for the Ninth Prince!

The Crown Prince Li Zhi hesitated no longer, ordering a search for Cold Moon Residence.

-----

Li Jizhou left the vicinity of Cangzhou with the two women a month later.

During this time, he had been keeping an eye on news regarding the Crown Prince, occasionally communicating with Consort Zhen this would be asked.

Yet nothing had transpired.

However, the fame of the Ninth Prince spreading across the land was an undeniable occurrence, even earning praises from the Saint Emperor.

Yet, the so-called reward was merely a verbal commendation, with nothing else.

"Could I have misjudged? Could I have overestimated Consort Rong and the forces of Marquis Rong’s Mansion behind her?"

Just as Li Jizhou was doubting his own judgment, explosive news quickly spread nationwide — the Ninth Prince was assassinated in Jizhou, and the hidden guardians were wiped out!