Wait a minute, where is my master?

Dark clouds blanketed the sky, as a torrential downpour began.

Today at noon, a publication titled "Shock! Emperor of Great Xia Abruptly Announces Abdication, Successor to be Seventh Princess Xia Yunzhao!" suddenly spread throughout the Nine Provinces.

The event caught everyone off guard, and major powers had no clue what Great Xia's Imperial Dynasty was scheming within its gourd.

Those who were inclined to gossip attempted to buy insider information from Tingfeng Building, but they were told that it wasn't that Tingfeng Building didn't want to make money, it's just that everything they knew was already detailed in that publication. After hearing this, the meddlesome folks went back and scrutinized the publication, only to find that apart from the well-known history of the Great Xia Dynasty, the rest were just comments from well-known writers in the Cultivation World commissioned by Tingfeng Building.

For instance, a Cultivator who wrote under the pen name "Fragrance Arises from the Bitter Cold" stated, "I had contact with this Seventh Princess during an external mission, and she was not bad. Aside from being somewhat weak, there's nothing to criticize, and I think she can be a good ruler."

Another Cultivator, writing under the pen name "Auction Connoisseur," held a different view, "Xia Yunzhao is too young and lacks popular support. Even if Emperor Xia wanted to pick a successor, he should have chosen from his two brothers. Both of those men, whether in temperament or strength, are top-notch choices, especially Prince Mu."

And so on...

After reading for quite a while, the gossiper realized it was all useless chatter. The most useful piece of news in the entire report was that Xia Yunzhao would have her coronation ceremony on the first of August and due to the hasty nature of the event, cultivators from various factions would not be invited to attend.

"What in the world is Xia Xuanmin thinking?"

The mischievous Demon Sect's Third Elder set the publication aside and said to the pitch-black eyes before him.

"I don't know what he's planning, but the day Xia Yunzhao ascends the throne is precisely when we designated our plan to commence."

A hushed voice emanated from the dark eyes.

"What's there to fear? Since Great Xia didn't invite any major powers to the coronation, we'll just go ahead with our plan as intended."

Yan Meishan's face showed unconcern as she idly doodled on a piece of skin.

"Won't our collaborator be unhappy with this arrangement?"

"Are you referring to Prince Chun?"

"Yes, assassinating his father and brothers on the day of the coronation then his sons and nephews also? That would make him lose face."

The Third Elder paused her painting, looking at the black eyes while speaking, "Who cares if it's embarrassing for him or not? The plan has reached this stage, it's just a shudder away from completion." Without waiting for the other's reply, she giggled flirtatiously and added, "Heh~ We are the Demon Sect after all. He should be prepared for anything if he dares to cooperate with us. Besides, do you really plan on leaving the dynasty to him?"

The pitch-black eyes flickered on the wall before responding, "Tsk, indeed."

The original agreement between the Demon Sect and Prince Chun was for them to help him succeed the Great Xia throne legitimately. In exchange, once he ascended, he would have to give them one-third of Great Xia's national dragon energy.

What kind of succession could be superior to the Demon Sect's invasion, the death in battle of the former Emperor and ruler, followed by the heroic efforts of his young son to stabilize a collapsing empire? Isn't that the perfect narrative?

That's why these past years, Prince Chun had provided ample convenience to the Demon Sect.

But well, this sort of agreement wasn't the only promise the Demon Sect had made. Medicine King Valley, the Prime Minister, Princess Consort Zheng, and the surviving members of the commercial Jin family had all received similar promises from the Demon Sect.

And look at the situation now.

The Prime Minister's seventh-day mourning period has already passed.

...

In Shangjing City, within Mu Royal Mansion.

At noon, the black clouds over the city made the torrential downpour resemble a battlefield charge – fierce and magnificent.

It was the same backyard garden, the same pavilion, only today there were two people standing, and one kneeling.

The Mu Royal Mansion had its weather-proofing prohibitive formation, which, however, was not activated at the moment.

Therefore, the garden's exotic flowers and plants were battered ruthlessly by the rain, and the precious animals that usually roamed among them had disappeared to who knows where. Prince Mu, standing in the pavilion, looked at the sixth-grade night watchman kneeling in the rain, his mood as tumultuous as the current weather.

As a prince, he wasn't required to attend the Great Xia court assembly every time. Furthermore, as a Cultivation Dynasty, it did not have daily morning courts like those mundane minor nations.

Yet today, bright and early, he received an imperial edict from his good-for-nothing younger brother ordering him to attend the court. Although King Neimu inwardly looked down upon his brother, he still heeded the edict.

Not for the person, but out of respect for the position beneath that person's rear.

To his surprise, when he arrived at the Great Hall, he saw all the civil and military officials cleanly assembled, including the long-absent Prime Minister Qin and his third brother, Xia Huangchun.

Prince Mu inquired and learned that everyone had received the same edict that very morning, summoning them to the court assembly without exception. At that moment, he sensed something significant was about to unfold – otherwise, why muster such a grand spectacle? As expected, his brother, dressed in imperial robes, promptly announced his abdication.

Before Prince Mu could rejoice, the other declared that the Imperial throne of Great Xia would be passed on to the Seventh Princess Xia Yunzhao!

Upon hearing this news, civil and military officials alike were astonished, with some immediately standing in opposition.

Then, Xia Xuanmin appeared, leading the Seventh Princess.

The opposing officials swiftly retracted, and silence fell across the Great Hall like the soft drop of a pin. Civil and military officials stood as quiet as chickens.

The majesty of the founding Emperor of Great Xia was not to be taken lightly.

Whether it was Xia Xuanmin's past martial achievements or his iron-fisted rulings in the court, he had truly fought to earn his reputation. You might see him as a kindly grandfather in the presence of Xia Yunzhao, but that's only because he had been devoid of familial warmth for so long. In front of others, he remained the founding Emperor of Great Xia!

Even with his hair having turned a mix of black and white, even with old age etched upon his face.

With Xia Xuanmin present, it was settled that the Seventh Princess would inherit the throne and her coronation was scheduled for the first of August.

At the very least, on the surface, no one dared to say anything.

However, after Prince Mu returned to his mansion, he was so enraged that he ended up killing half of the servant courtyard's staff. It was only after the old manager's persuasion that he calmed down.

The sudden upheaval completely disrupted his plans. Prince Mu was filled with hatred, resenting why Xia Xuanmin had to cause such trouble before his death, resenting why he hadn't died yet, resenting why only one-third of the army chose to side with him.

In short, Prince Mu was extremely angry. But with Xia Xuanmin still alive, he only dared to vent his fury secretly within his own mansion.

It was during this time of anger that Manager Shi brought Xu Qian, who had been interrogated all night, to the Prince's mansion.

In a small pavilion.

After being reminded by the old housekeeper, Manager Shi knew that his master was in a very bad mood, so he was even more careful with his words and attitude.

"Your Highness, this man is the Golden Core cultivator who has a history with that little Taoist.

Our investigation last night revealed that he was originally a part of the Gusu City night patrol organization. He entered the city with that little Taoist, but they split up after getting inside. Afterward, this man went to see Prime Minister Qin and was sent to join the night patrol in Shangjing City by Prime Minister Qin, following the son of the Zhang family."

Prince Mu looked indifferently at Xu Qian, who was kneeling in the rain, and asked, "Then why have you brought him here?"

"Ahem, to respond to your Highness, this lad is a tough nut to crack. We've tried all kinds of methods, but he just won't speak. Since he was sent into the night patrol by Prime Minister Qin, we didn't dare to rashly search his soul, lest he become an idiot and we'd have trouble explaining. Later, this man..."

Old Man Shi wanted to continue, but Prince Mu interrupted him with astonishment.

"You still plan to send this lad back fully intact?"

Hearing this, the elder named Shi hastily bowed and said, "Rest assured, Your Highness. We blinded his eyes, pierced his ears, and sealed his sense of smell. After each torture session, we questioned him through voice transmission, ensuring he doesn't know who kidnapped him."

Prince Mu looked at his subordinate, who bore an assuring look that he had handled everything well, but couldn't restrain himself and kicked him into the curtain of rain.

"Ahem... ahem... Your Highness?" In the midst of heavy rain, Manager Shi's mouth bled, looking perplexedly at his master. He thought to himself, damn it, isn't this how we always dealt with night patrol kidnappings? Wasn't it you who said that we should be careful with anyone with a Great Xia official position?

Inside the pavilion, Prince Mu could no longer maintain his composure.

He yelled at the elder in the mud, "With Master Li's failed attempt to abduct that little Taoist, can you be sure that no one has betrayed us? Now you still plan to send this night patrolman familiar with the little Taoist back, as if you want the other party to easily find out who's behind this!"

The events in the court today, coupled with Xia Xuanmin's public appearance, had caused Prince Mu's emotions to fluctuate excessively.

After hearing the Prince's words, the elder with the Shi surname disregarded the muddy rain, turned over, and knelt on the ground, speaking of insufficient consideration on his part.

It took a while for Prince Mu in the pavilion to calm down again.

He then spoke softly, "Alright, get up, tell me what exactly you brought him here for."

Manager Shi struggled up from the ground, this time not daring to waste words, "To answer Your Highness, this lad endured all night, but in the end, he said he would only reveal the intelligence about that little Taoist in front of the person behind the scenes."

Prince Mu felt a wave of fatigue, wondering if his subordinates had cultivated themselves into fools.

The man in front of him, the Golden Core cultivator, couldn't see nor hear; you could just find anyone to tell him that they were the person behind the scenes. Why bring him here?

But since he was here.

"Forget it, take the prohibition off his mouth, and through voice transmission, tell him that the person behind the scenes is right before him."

In the curtain of rain, Xu Qian, who was drenched and bleeding, with broken fingernails, felt the restraint on his mouth loosen. Then, in his hazy mind, a voice suddenly appeared.

"Speak, my master is right before your eyes."

Xu Qian opened his mouth, and his numb heart began to regain a bit of clarity.

He started to remember.

"Ow, where am I again?

Oh, right, I was changing clothes in the alley yesterday when I was ambushed, damn it.

The other party seemed to come for little Taoist Jin Xu.

So now I am..."

Xu Qian, who had been tortured all night, was not very lucid at the moment.

"You said you'd spill all information about that little Taoist once in front of the person behind the scenes. My master is here now; speak up."

In the darkness, the voice once again echoed in Xu Qian's Sea of Consciousness.

"Ow, I remember now, when I fainted, I did say that indeed."

"Ahem... ahem... cough cough."

The blood in his throat made him cough several times. Then Xu Qian raised his head, unsteadily stood up from the ground, and shouted in the direction in front of him.

"Though I, young master, may be greedy and lecherous, I'm absolutely damned loyal! If you want to know about the little Taoist, wait for the next life! Bastards!!!"

After speaking, he collapsed straight into the mud.

"Damn it, to curse these bastards before death, worth it!"