Chapter 1794 - 901: Shocking Upheaval (Part 2)

The gray sky faintly showed a blood-red scar, a mark left from the rupture of the Daluo Law Realm. That lunatic Zhao Changsheng used himself and countless Life Souls as offerings to forcibly tear open this rift, making it possible for the Immortal Gods to descend to the Lower Realm.

Yu Chanzi said, the times have changed.

Indeed, they have changed.

The old gods are reviving, the new gods are rising.

The Sui Lun True Monarch has risen on the belief in firearms and steam, while the court’s Xuan Sacrificial Officer and the Mei Mountain Taoist have improved the magic fire gun. Even the forgotten Barbaric Gods are beginning to stir restlessly.

Such chaos, for me, is also an opportunity.

Li Yan grasped the Hook Paper, feeling the power flowing within it.

This Hook Paper, obtained from Guanzhong, has grown to the point where it can devour the Evil God’s Residual Thought in the Daluo Law Realm. If it continues like this, who knows what it might become.

In the distance, hurried footsteps were heard.

Li Yan looked up to see several people from the Xuan Sacrificial Officer rushing over.

He wasn’t surprised by this sight.

Typically after a battle, the people from the Xuan Sacrificial Officer would come to clear the scene.

After all, some things they don’t care for, but are considered spiritual materials by the Mystical Sect.

But this time, something was different.

The faces of those from the Xuan Sacrificial Officer were pale, and they were gasping for breath.

The leader was a middle-aged Taoist in his forties, usually calm, but now his eyes were red, and his lips trembled as he collapsed to the ground before he could even finish speaking.

"Young Hero Li, something big has happened!"

Li Yan frowned and reached out to support the Taoist: "Daoist, don’t rush, speak slowly."

The Taoist’s entire body trembled, and his voice was choked:

"His Majesty... has passed away!"

"What?"

Li Yan’s pupils contracted.

Sha Lifei almost dropped the firearm he was holding, and Wang Daoxuan gasped in shock.

"What did you say?" Sha Lifei grabbed the Taoist’s collar, "The Emperor... no, how could His Majesty suddenly... wasn’t he fine just a couple of days ago?"

The Taoist was almost unable to stand from being shaken, and a young Taoist next to him quickly explained: "During today’s morning court, His Majesty was discussing post-war matters about Japan when he suddenly... suddenly vomited blood and collapsed. By the time the imperial physicians arrived, he had already stopped breathing."

"An assassin?" Wang Daoxuan asked in a deep voice.

"No traces were found." The Taoist wiped his tears, "The physicians from the Imperial Hospital investigated for half a day and only said that his pulse was chaotic. He died from bleeding from the seven orifices, showing no signs of poisoning or external injuries."

Li Yan gripped the Hook Paper tightly, his thoughts racing.

The Emperor’s death, what does it mean?

An ordinary emperor’s death would provoke chaos, let alone this one.

Though not a cultivator, he wielded his power and methods to keep various factions across the land from causing trouble.

Even the Mystical Sect was helpless against him.

Despite his numerous flaws and countless victims under his reign, making many hate him deeply, even Li Yan stayed away from him.

But his death is a major issue, especially amidst the upheaval in the Heavenly Dao.

All the vassal kings, factions, and frontier forces will stir restlessly. Coupled with the current rupture of the Daluo Law Realm and the signs of celestial descent, the Divine Land is likely to erupt in a bloody storm.

"What about the Crown Prince?" Li Yan asked.

"The Crown Prince has already entered the palace, but... but news from the Capital says some oppose the Crown Prince’s ascension." The Taoist’s voice lowered, "It’s said the Captain Bureau caught several assassins, claiming... claiming the Emperor died from a curse."

"A curse?"

Wang Daoxuan’s eyebrows furrowed deeper, "What curse?"

"Unclear, just know the Captain Bureau locked down the information, even we in the Xuan Sacrificial Officer have no clue." The Taoist shook his head, "The Capital has already ordered, requiring the Mystical Sect across the land to lock down and arrest any suspicious individuals. Also... also, they demand all sect leaders to immediately come to the Capital to discuss major affairs."

Li Yan looked at Wang Daoxuan, and they exchanged a glance, seeing the gravity in each other’s eyes.

This matter is anything but simple.

The Emperor’s death, precisely at this crucial moment.

Coincidence?

Or perhaps, someone took advantage of the upheaval between heaven and earth to secretly lay out a plan?

...

The early spring rain, as fine as weaving threads.

Yet it carries the chill of deep winter, enveloping the canal heading north.

The climate has lost its pattern after the great change in heaven and earth. Though it’s spring, the willow on the riverbank should be budding, but instead, it curls its yellow branches, shivering in the wet and cold wind.

The murky canal water slaps against the ship’s side, while the deep draft cargo ship from the Cao Gang crushes thin ice on the water surface, breaking waves amidst the misty rain.

Inside the cabin, a windproof lantern gently sways with the ship.

The dim yellow glow barely dispels the cold and darkness.

Li Yan sits cross-legged on the straw mat in the corner, the Duan Chen Blade resting across his knees.

Beside him, Wang Daoxuan fiddles absentmindedly with an ancient Copper Coin between his fingers, his brows knit tightly.

Sha Lifei seems a bit restless, repeatedly tapping his finger on the specially made Magic Fire Gun at his waist, producing a subtle tapping sound, his gaze occasionally darting toward the cabin door.

The cabin door opens with a creak, letting in a gust of cold wind carrying the smell of water vapor and river mud.

A Cao Gang fellow, clad in a thick oilcloth jacket, slips in, quickly closing the door behind him.

He takes off his wet bamboo hat, revealing a face reddened by the river wind, and pulls out a flat object carefully wrapped in oil paper, still warm, from his bosom, respectfully handing it to Wang Daoxuan.

"Daoist, just received a Hook Paper letter, it’s fresh from the Capital."

Wang Daoxuan took it and unfolded the oil paper, revealing several sheets of thin paper filled with tiny script.

He scanned it swiftly, his expression growing more solemn.

Li Yan looked up, though he said nothing, the inquiry was evident in his gaze.

Sha Lifei also couldn’t help but lean in closer.

"It’s in chaos..."

Wang Daoxuan’s voice was low, laced with an imperceptible fatigue, "The Capital is indeed in chaos now."

Under the dim lantern light, the intelligence about the Capital was clear.

Crown Prince’s kind nature, with a long-standing good relationship with Qiankun Academy, should have made him the popular choice.

However, his constitution is weak, plagued by chronic ailments, and the Imperial Pharmacy, along with spiritual pills and wonderful medicine offered from all corners, was sent to the Eastern Palace like flowing water but vanished like stones sinking into the sea, even the head of the Imperial Hospital was at his wit’s end, saying "The foundation is flawed and cannot be repaired by medicine."

Like a piece of dripping, juicy meat, it has attracted countless greedy gazes.

The princes lying in wait, needless to say, are causing undercurrents.

And also the Vassal Kings scattered in various places.

When the current Emperor Xiao Qixuan was in power, he subdued them with an iron fist, and these Vassal Kings acted dumb, fearing they would be caught making a mistake.

Now that Xiao Qixuan has passed away, the heavy mountain that pressed upon them suddenly vanished, their long-suppressed ambitions are growing wildly like weeds.

The intelligence identified several names: King Yan from the Northern Land, King Liang from the Western Border, and the wealthy King Wu from Jiangnan... Their close confidants are secretly shuttling between bustling towns and remote post roads under the guise of merchant teams, frequently contacting Chamber of Commerce forces entrenched in various regions.

"Chamber of Commerce..."

Sha Lifei spat, his face full of disgust, "The old Emperor personally nurtured these blood-sucking monsters, and now that there’s no Mountain Guardian Tiger, they can’t restrain themselves."

These mammoth entities, vigorously supported by Xiao Qixuan back then to fill the state treasury and control resources, have already infiltrated into the Empire’s bone and blood.

Grain, salt, iron, Cao Yun... They have footprints everywhere.

Now, with the central government shaking and royal authority weakened, these Chamber of Commerce magnates have detected an unprecedented blend of opportunity and danger and are becoming restless.

The intelligence subtly mentioned that several major Chamber of Commerce leaders seem to be hoarding resources secretly.

The protective forces on certain important trade routes are also quietly being enhanced, their actions unclear and ambiguous.

The cabin fell silent for a time, only the sound of the hull breaking waves and raindrops hitting the cabin roof echoed.

Outside the window, the scenery on both sides of the canal swiftly recedes in the misty rain, occasionally dotted with sparse dim lights from villages on the shore, making the voyage feel lonely and heavy.

Li Yan gently brushed his fingers over the cold sheath of the Duan Chen Blade, his gaze cast into the endless rain beyond the cabin: "The Capital has become a whirlpool, with powers vying, beyond our intervention at the moment. The urgent task is to return to the Academy as soon as possible for the report."

"Just hope... the Academy can still be a place of purity..."