Chapter 325: Chapter 223: The Mastermind Behind the Endless Pavilion, the Crown Prince?

Within the prison.

Many hidden eyes and ears lurked nearby, and someone had sealed off the area to prevent any prying.

"So you’re saying Prince Jin was killed by the Crown Prince, Lu Mingyuan? And that he repeatedly targeted the other princes, even causing the death of the Third Prince?"

Lu Yunqing’s expression was calmer than ever before as he finished listening to everything Gongyang Hu had to say.

In just Half an Hour, Gongyang Hu had given Lu Yunqing a complete and thorough account of the organization known as the Infinite Faction.

This included its founder, National Master Xun Yu—a mysterious figure who had reached the Fourteenth Realm, created the Dragon Slaying Skill, and was said to be comparable to a Saint.

He also mentioned the seven chieftains of the Endless Pavilion, spread across the Central Plains World. The identities of three were known, but the other four remained a secret.

Without a doubt, while the Infinite Faction was nowhere near as powerful as the Confucian Temple or the Taoist Sect, it was still a significant power into which Xun Yu had poured his heart and soul.

It was powerful enough to rival Li Sheng’s own faction within the Confucian Temple.

Initially, Prince Jin, Lu Guangjing, had been the sixth-generation chieftain of the Infinite Faction in the Imperial Capital. But things began to change, and after Prince Jin’s death, a new leader took his place.

This new leader was the seventh chieftain in the Imperial Capital, succeeding Prince Jin.

This person was none other than the current Crown Prince, Lu Mingyuan.

Gongyang Hu gave a vivid, immersive account of everything Lu Mingyuan had done, describing in clear detail how he had toppled Prince Jin and all the events that had transpired in the Wilderness Grotto Heaven.

It was hard to tell how much of it was true and how much was false.

After hearing him out, Lu Yunqing asked in a low voice,

"Do you have any proof?"

Gongyang Hu gave a resigned smile. "I am all alone here. What proof could I possibly have? It’s just my word against his. Your Highness can choose to believe it or not. If you don’t, there’s nothing I can do."

"But one thing is certain: Prince Jin is dead, and King Chu’s body is barely cold. This definitely has something to do with the Crown Prince!"

"Back then, among all the princes, only Lu Mingyuan had the opportunity to kill them. Other than the Seventh and Ninth Princes, he was one of the last to arrive at Yingsha Ancient City."

After listening, Lu Yunqing didn’t make an immediate decision. Instead, he stepped aside to think alone.

At that moment, the Sword-Carrier Slave, who stood guard, sighed and said,

"Your Highness, whether it’s true or not doesn’t matter anymore."

"All we need to know is that this is our only chance to bring down Lu Mingyuan."

"Now that Lu Mingyuan resides in the Eastern Palace, he has become reckless, arrogant, and obstinate. The court officials are furious but dare not speak out. Only by bringing him down will we have a chance."

"Only then will Your Highness have a chance to see Princess Consort Ning again."

’My love...’ A conflict flickered in Lu Yunqing’s eyes.

’He had come here fully prepared.’

’Just as this Mo Family titan from a century ago had said, the truth didn’t matter.’

’What mattered was how he could now claim that position for himself.’

In his eyes...

His Imperial Brother was not handling the role of Crown Prince well.

He opposed the Court at every turn.

It was almost as if he were doing it on purpose.

Alienating everyone around him was undoubtedly an unwise move.

Gongyang Hu wore an anxious expression, awaiting the verdict on his fate.

Finally, Prince Chongwen returned to stand before him.

"I can spare your life, but you must prove your worth."

Lu Yunqing said coolly.

Upon hearing this, Gongyang Hu was overjoyed and cupped his hands. "Of course!"

"To be able to serve Prince Chongwen is the honor of a lifetime..."

But before he could finish, Lu Yunqing pulled the sword from the Sword-Carrier Slave’s hand and ran it through Gongyang Hu’s chest.

Gongyang Hu’s eyes widened as he stared at Prince Chongwen. He never imagined the prince would turn around and take his life.

With his Cultivation bound by chains, he was no different from an ordinary person and was easily killed by the sharp blade.

However, at that very moment, the Sword-Carrier Slave made a grasping motion with his hand and plucked a mass of Divine Soul from the top of the skull. Gongyang Hu, now a Spirit Body, stared at his own corpse in a daze, realizing he hadn’t died completely.

He had just become one of the Undead.

Lu Yunqing sheathed the Long Sword and pointed at the floating spirit, stating coldly, "You’re no saint yourself. I’m sure you were among those who schemed against my Princess Consort back then."

"Who you are doesn’t matter, and your presence in the Celestial Prison is negligible. But it’s better that you die in here, so you don’t cause me any trouble later on."

Clearly, Lu Yunqing didn’t want to be implicated in the crime of a prison break.

If Gongyang Hu died inside the prison, it wouldn’t cause any problems.

It was the cleanest solution.

Gongyang Hu’s face turned ashen. He never expected this was what "serving" the prince meant. When had Prince Chongwen’s methods become so ruthless?

Now a Spirit Body, he recalled the National Preceptor’s parting words, and an uncertain light flickered in his eyes.

...

The Great Yan Imperial Palace was resplendent, a dense tapestry of structures tiered one on top of another. It stretched for hundreds of miles, like a Divine Palace Immortal Hall from the Nine Heavens.

A streak of rainbow light shot past the Imperial City’s main gate.

Huo Hongling was wreathed in a crimson glow of Primordial Qi, like flames dancing across her captivating figure. With a slender, jade-like hand, she caught a Communication Light Talisman and crushed it.

After learning what had happened at the Drunken Flower Tower, she snorted. "How audacious of the White Lotus Ancient Sect. To think they’d dare come to the Imperial City of the Great Yan Dynasty. They truly have no respect for Great Yan."

POP.

After crushing the Communication Light Talisman, Huo Hongling stood up, paced back and forth, and after a moment, made up her mind. She headed for the barracks guarding Xuanwu Gate.

The Grand Commander of the Imperial Guard at Xuanwu Gate was a man named Lin Xiangyun. He had many Imperial Guard Commanders serving under him, and his Cultivation had reached the peak of the Sea-Viewing Realm. Among the commanders stationed at the major city gates, he ranked as the ninth strongest, with combat power comparable to that of a Dragon Gate Martial Artist.