Longevity: Starting from Refining Gu-Chapter 445 - 257: The Next Era Begins_2

Chapter 445 -257: The Next Era Begins_2

Princes arrived at the imperial side hall one after another, but Ji Ru noticed that she was the only princess present; the other princesses had all claimed illness.

Ji Shang sat down with Ji Ru and said, “You see, I told you should have pretended to be sick too.”

“They didn’t come.”

Suddenly, Emperor Donghua, radiating golden divine light, appeared above the Dragon Chair. Emperor Donghua never spoke directly and merely wrote a few strokes on the white paper before him.

Cao Zhong, the Sect Leader of the Wugen Sect, despite his incomplete body, commanded the hall with a powerful voice and imposing presence, “The Da Yan royal family always treasures time and spares no words for nonsense. You should all know the matter at hand.”

“Now, His Majesty wishes to send a prince or princess to assist in the battle in the Death Realm. Who among you is willing?”

The princes looked around; none uttered a word, clearly understanding the current situation.

To represent Da Yan in the Death Realm now?

Isn’t that a suicide mission?

Even the Ancient Prince Ji Dang failed, what could they possibly achieve?

Moreover, most crucially, Emperor Donghua, having been on the throne for nearly fifty years, entering the Death Realm would effectively mean forfeiting any claim to the throne.

Everyone knew that entering the Death Realm was essentially a death sentence.

The entire hall fell eerily silent.

Enraged, Emperor Donghua’s divine light trembled intensely. Cao Zhong urgently said, “Are the children of His Majesty really such cowards?”

“It’s good this is in the inner palace; had it been in the court, wouldn’t those court officials have berated you to death?”

At that moment, the Eldest Prince was contemplating who to propose, when unexpectedly Ji Ru stood up and approached the center of the hall, bowing deeply.

“Father, your child is willing to go!”

Ji Shang was petrified, the plan was to enjoy the show, wasn’t it?

So this is your way of enjoying?

Excellent, perfect!

Emperor Donghua smiled, “I knew it, among all my children, only Ruyi truly understands my heart and the difficulties I face!”

He pointed at the princes, “You’re all men, yet none of you measure up to your little sister Ruyi!”

“His Majesty asks again, is anyone willing to go?”

“You are all her brothers, will you just watch your sister go to battle in the Death Realm?”

“Are all of His Majesty’s sons cowards?”

After a moment of silence, Ji Shang stood up next to Ji Ru and said passionately, “Father, if you really send Ruyi, it would be a loss of royal dignity. Your son is willing to go!”

Ji Ru looked at Ji Shang in surprise, my foolish brother, why did you get involved!

Although she cursed Ji Shang inwardly, she still felt his affection; he was trying to take her place and go to the Death Realm.

It’s not in vain that I’ve been secretly supporting your claim to the Crown Prince title.

But with your limited abilities, you’re likely just going to your death.

Emperor Donghua waved his pen, and Cao Zhong said, “Hmm? Ji Shang, you do have a sense of responsibility!”

“Since you are willing to go, then…”

Ji Ru urgently raised her head, “Father, please wait!”

“Recently, my brother has been overburdened with governing the people and is in poor health, and he has little experience with warfare; it’s really not suitable. Let your child go instead!”

Emperor Donghua looked at Ji Ru carefully and with interest, “Oh, so you have quite the confidence in your ability?”

Ji Ru replied, “I have once crossed swords with the Immortal Court Divine Son, Li Chonghuan. Although I was defeated, I still managed to hold out for over a hundred moves!”

Hearing this, the princes were all shocked, Over a hundred moves with Li Chonghuan!

What kind of strength is that?

Princess Ruyi, she had been quietly cultivating to such an extent?

Ji Ru continued, “The elders of the Wugen Sect also said that my strength is extraordinary; I am the most suitable for this battle!”

Ji Shang was angry, his sister, why was she so insistent on going to the Death Realm to seek death?

“Father, I challenge Ruyi to a match!”

Emperor Donghua waved his hand, “Go ahead, have the contest outside the main hall, don’t scare your brothers!”

However, it wasn’t long before they stepped outside that Ji Shang came back dejected while Ji Ru entered the main hall beaming, “Brother, I told you, you’re no match for me!”

“Giggling, still want to compete with me?”

Ji Shang was deeply disappointed. On one hand, he felt that his sister’s journey to the Death Realm was surely a one-way trip.

On the other hand, he was shocked to realize that he was truly no match for his sister, feeling that he still knew too little about her.

Cao Zhong, who was attending to Emperor Donghua, asked sternly, “Ruyi, what are your requests for going to the Death Realm? His Majesty will satisfy them all.”

Ji Ru knelt down and respectfully said, “I only wish for the Father Emperor to send the younger generation of the Wugen Sect with me, and additionally, I would like to visit the royal Scripture Pavilion once more.”

Three breaths later, Emperor Donghua waved his pen and firmly wrote the character ‘Granted,’ then vanished from the spot instantly.

Death Realm.

Before the White Bone River at the ferry crossing, Biyou Dragon Girl, wearing mourning attire, suddenly heard soft footsteps.

“Li Chonghuan, why aren’t you guarding the city? Why are you here?”

Li Chonghuan gently waved his paper fan. “In a few days, I will break through to the Mystic Gate Realm. Having nothing better to do, I came to see you off.”

Li Chonghuan crouched next to Biyou Dragon Girl, picked up a bundle of paper money, and placed it in the fire basin. The ash swirled up in the breeze, drifting around them.

“Actually, you don’t have to follow this path.”

“Why not emulate me, return to the human world? If you worry that the Dragon Clan no longer has a place for you, Immortal Court always has a spot for you.”

Biyou Dragon Girl shook her head. “Since you understand my intentions, there’s no need to persuade me further.”

“After Ji Dang died, I no longer have the heart to follow others.”

“After he awoke, I followed him to pacify the Demon Clan of the West Desert and battled at the Mystic Gate.”

“We never lost in the Death Realm; as long as he was there, we would surely be victorious.”

“If Taiyi hadn’t shown such strength in his first battle after his return, I might have still held a glimmer of hope that Ji Dang wasn’t dead.”

“But after Taiyi returned, with three hundred Dragon Cavalry, he decisively defeated three thousand soldiers of Da Yan and instantly slayed the dragon.”

“Such strength, only possible by personally slaying Ji Dang.”

Li Chonghuan said, “Actually, I’m quite curious, why didn’t Ji Dang marry you?”

Biyou Dragon Girl replied, “He said, ‘How can I establish a home when the world is unsettled?'”

“I believe him, I believe he will become king, and after becoming king he will marry me as his queen.”

“That will definitely be the grandest wedding in the world.”

Saying this, Biyou Dragon Girl opened her bundle to reveal a red wedding dress and drew her sword, “Li Chonghuan, you should leave earlier. The muddy waters of the Death Realm no longer hold any benefits.”

“We should all learn to accept, accept the death of Ji Dang.”

With that, she took out Ji Dang’s spirit tablet and worshipped heaven and earth with him.

Biyou Dragon Girl swung her sword, splattering fresh blood on Ji Dang’s spirit tablet. Her body quickly grew cold and fell into the White Bone River, swallowed by endless bones in a moment.

Only on the riverbank, a smear of bright blood remained on Ji Dang’s spirit tablet.

Li Chonghuan stood up, waved his hand producing a flame, and ignited Ji Dang’s spirit tablet.

Amid the blazing fire, Li Chonghuan looked up to the sky and declared, “The era of Ji Dang has ended.”

“The era of Taiyi has begun.”

“Human world countless lives and deaths, like a vast dream, better to return home.”

“Taiyi, our story is just beginning. I’ll wait for you to make your move on the chessboard in Da Yan.”

“As for now, it’s time to return to the human world to share in the feast of the Dragon Clan.”

Beside Naihe Bridge, a majestic Dragon City was newly constructed by Ying Shenji after entering the Death Realm.

Located near the Six Dao Ghosts, it provided the closest safe distance to observe the movements of the Six Dao Ghosts.

Every day, Ying Shenji would gaze at the bone towers built from the power of the Six Dao Ghosts.

But today, she wasn’t in the mood.

Ying Shenji sat on a gilded dragon bone throne and demanded loudly, “Where else have our troops revolted?”

Yan Xingchen bowed and reported, “Your Highness, the troops from the Da Yan side have almost all revolted, we can no longer suppress them.”

“From what I’ve counted, more than five hundred people have already broken through to the Mystic Gate Realm and left the Death Realm.”

Ying Shenji exclaimed angrily, “Damn it! They should all die!”

“How could it come to this just because Ji Dang died in battle?”

“Does the world really trust our Dragon Palace so little?”

“The Ao Family has truly destroyed the foundation of the Dragon Clan!”