Chapter 81: Changes in the Palace of Middle Harmony
Translator: 549690339
On the cusp of officially joining the cult and becoming a core disciple responsible for proselytizing, Jiang Li decided to drop the act.
He had gathered enough information for the moment, knowing the two conditions required to obtain the power of merit. The first was to kill, and the second was to believe that the Respected God-hidden was the only one. After hearing the storytelling of the ‘Story of Moksha’s Suffering’, Jiang Li found no reason to continue this charade with them.
“The Sect Hierarch? Why are you asking about him?”
“I admire how the Hierarch can have a good sleep and dream of the Respected God-hidden. I want to ask what kind of posture he uses to sleep. I’d like to give it a try.”
“Insolence!” Master Feng shouted angrily, as this man dared to disrespect the Sect Hierarch.
Before he could finish his sentence, Master Feng saw Jiang Li lightly press his hand, the space solidified, these people were unable to move, they couldn’t even blink!
It was not only the few people in front of Jiang Li, but the entire secret terrain was solidified by him!
“Uncle Jiang, we haven’t joined the cult yet,” Ji Kongkong said, still eager for more.
“If you join the cult, your father will pursue me and try to hack at me, only to be beaten up by me in return. You wouldn’t want to see your father in that state, would you?”
Ji Kongkong blinked his eyes, feeling that the scenario Uncle Jiang described was quite amusing.
“Come on, rewind time a bit, tell me where the killer you saw went after he came here?”
Ji Kongkong disappeared and reappeared, anxiously telling Jiang Li, “I saw that man come to the hall, rip through space, and then leave this place…” Ripped through space and left?
Jiang Li pondered. What Ji Kongkong said was straightforward, but this was not something an ordinary cultivator could achieve. Tearing through space could not take him directly back to the Nine Provinces world, but required a long distance flight in the Void. Even a Tribulation Crossing Cultivator might not be able to safely return to the Nine Provinces!
There were only a handful of Tribulation Crossing Cultivators in the Nine Provinces. Jiang Li was well acquainted with all of them. Who could it be, or could it be a Tribulation Crossing Cultivator that he didn’t know about?
Going from the Body Integration Realm to the Transcendance Tribulation
Stage required the experience of a cataclysmic celestial tribulation. The entire Nine Provinces continent would sense this, it was impossible for someone to break through quietly.
No, that’s not right, there is one method.
Jiang Li suddenly remembered that the power of merit could directly elevate a Body Integration Realm cultivator to the Transcendance Tribulation Stage, bypassing the celestial tribulation!
The celestial tribulation tests cultivators, while the power of merit rewards cultivators. Both can offset each other!
Just as Jiang Li realized this, Ji Kongkong continued to say, “…Also, I saw the future. This place will become a Void.”
As Ji Kongkong spoke, the entire secret terrain made a cracking sound and suddenly split open!
This is bad!
Jiang Li instantly understood what was happening. He shielded Ji Kongkong, but before he could protect the higher-ups of the God-hidden Cult, the secret terrain completely shattered and disappeared!
The collapse of the secret terrain happened so fast that it was over in less than a blink of an eye!
Jiang Li only managed to protect Ji Kongkong. All the people and objects in the secret terrain were exposed to the Void. Before they could scream for their lives, they were torn to pieces by the chaotic winds and left no trace behind. Only the mysterious figure of the Respected God-hidden remained intact in the chaotic winds, simply drifting with the winds.
The secret terrain was equivalent to a small world, extremely tough. Even a Transcendance Tribulation Stage cultivator would not be able to destroy the secret terrain in an instant.
This can only be achieved if the opponent had planned it for a long time and made extensive preparations!
Protecting Ji Kongkong, Jiang Li’s face darkened terribly. He planned to return to the Nine Provinces, but his speed was slow.
This was a conspiracy against him. If he were alone, he could easily return, but he had to protect Ji Kongkong in the chaotic winds, which slowed him down.
The adversary had calculated that he would seek the Zhou family’s help. There was no difference between Ji Zhi and Ji Kongkong. Both needed his protection in the Void.
The enemy didn’t intend to kill him, just to delay his return to the Nine Provinces!
‘A Protest Against Yu Yin’? A very interesting piece indeed, Zhao Nian.”
Empress Yu Yin sat high on her cold throne, overlooking the courtiers in the hall. Her slightly pale face was expressionless, devoid of joy or anger.
A few hours earlier, the Minister of Rites had issued an order on behalf of Yu Yin to summon the officials to the Palace of Middle Harmony for a meeting.
The Minister of Rites supported the former Tianyuan Royal Family. This could not have been Yu Yin’s intention, but that of the former Tianyuan Royal Family.
Everyone knew that this was to unmask the confrontation. The king’s victory or defeat would be decided today. Despite the death of General Che Wu, the army he brought back was still being mobilized by other generals who claimed they were acting on a royal decree. The authenticity of this decree, however, was uncertain.
Officially it was a court meeting, but in reality, it was about taking sides.
Sure enough, as soon as the meeting started, the Minister of Rites brought up the matter. He stated that people all over the kingdom had spontaneously posted ‘A Protest Against Yu Yin’. He read it aloud in the hall and finally loudly suggested that Empress Yu Yin should comply with public opinion and return the throne to the royal family.
He did not specify the former royal family.
“Please, Empress Yu Yin, heed public opinion and return the throne to the royal family.”
“Please, Empress Yu Yin, heed public opinion and return the throne to the royal family.”
After the Minister of Rites finished speaking, several ministers echoed his words. Other ministers hesitated for a moment, then also joined in the chanting. The weakness of the Empress was apparent to all.
Of course, there were also those who stood by and believed that if the Empress could withstand the rebellion and heal from her injuries, she would only become stronger.
They didn’t care who became the Emperor of Heaven Origin, they simply wanted to follow the strongest.
“Zhao Nian! Are you planning a rebellion?” the Minister of Personnel stepped forward, angrily accusing the Minister of Rites, “The former royal family was weak and indecisive. Do you want such a person to be the emperor?
“It’s not about what I want, it’s about what the people want,” the Minister of Rites responded calmly, “The Empress is cruel and unkind. It is appropriate that Prince of Peace, who has both firmness and flexibility, should be the one.”
“Heed public sentiment?” The Empress of Heaven Origin rarely smirked, and coughed lightly. She possessed a sickly beauty, but no one had the heart to appreciate it now.
The Empress was indeed at her weakest. The Minister of Rites was relieved to realize this. Under normal circumstances, had he spoken such words, the Empress would have executed him on the spot.
“You don’t represent public sentiment, nor do I care about it. The Tianyuan
Emperor Dynasty has stood for over ten thousand years in the Nine Provinces. It has always been survival of the fittest. Since when do we heed to public sentiment?”
A handsome man donned in golden armor strode into the grand hall. The guards outside seemed to have no effect, it was the leader of the former royal family, the Prince of Peace, who was not allowed to attend the meeting.
“Zhao Nian, I told you long ago that the Empress wouldn’t play along with this.
We’d be better off resorting to arms.”
“Prince of Peace, I couldn’t agree more.” The Minister of Rites showed respect to the Prince of Peace and bowed before stepping back.
“You’re not qualified, anyone else cares to try?” Yu Yin dismissed the Prince of Peace with a wave of her hand, unimpressed by someone who was also in the Body Integration Realm.
The Prince of Peace was furious, “Since the Empress insists, how could Kang
An resist your overwhelming force!”
With the Prince of Peace’s command, figure after figure stood shoulder to shoulder with him.
“The Supreme Elder of the Five Thunder Orthodox Sect pays his respects to the Empress of Heaven Origin.”
“The Qiong Qi King of the White Marsh Emperor Dynasty pays his respects to the Empress of Heaven Origin.”
“The Sect Leader of the Long Sky Sect pays his respects to the Empress of Heaven Origin.”
“The Master of the Yunmeng Ze Lake pays his respects to the Empress of Heaven Origin.”
“God’s Might General pays his respects to the Empress of Heaven Origin.”
The Empress of Heaven Origin rose from her seat, her pale and beautiful face flushed with excitement. It was as if she was angry because of their betrayal, or excited because of their arrival..