White-Robed Chief

Throughout the process, King Jing was channeling with his black medallion, so he was oblivious to his surroundings and did not look up at the enormous light gate.

The light ball suddenly appeared above his head and entered through his Baihui acupuncture point.¹

He emitted light rays instantly, where his hair rose up, and his purple robe fluttered in the air. Then he floated up to ten meters high in the air and appeared as if he was blown by a huge gust of wind.

The people watched him curiously, then turned to look at the miniature version of Leng Wufeng who stood in front of the light gate.

Leng Wufeng looked beneath him again before he descended along the golden beam and returned into his head.

The golden beam then disappeared.

Followed by that, the enormous light gate in the sky slowly vanished too, but a charming sound could be heard as it did. Upon hearing the sound, the people were completely drawn to and became engrossed.

When Chu Li heard the charming sound, he somehow felt that it was similar to Tian Luo Sect’s Musical Assassination Technique.

‘Looks like Tian Luo Sect has a notable background, it’s probably a heart technique passed down from the Outland. I must study it carefully.’

Later, Leng Wufeng opened his eyes slowly and thanked the twelve High Dukes through fist salutes.

He was in such high spirits that his body was bathed in a translucent layer that appeared gentle as if he was a celestial being. The chancellors admired in awe.

Afterward, Xiao Tieying and the other heirs to the High Duke bowed back at him. Not only were their faces pale, but their bodies were weak as if they had just experienced war. The brilliance from their High Duke Medallions drained their inner energies that they needed to recuperate.

The rays of light from King Jing slowly closed in and darkened before they finally returned to his body. Once they completely disappeared, he fluttered back to the ground.

Chu Li could feel the surge of energy within King Jing. Although it was unlike Leng Wufeng’s, it was quite shocking that his cultivation level rose so much that he was now more superior than Chu Li!

Initially, Chu Li thought that even if his cultivation level was insufficient for him to defeat an Enlightened Master, it was more than sufficient against a Grandmaster. However, now that he witnessed King Jing’s cultivation level, he came to a sudden realization that he needed to work harder.

King Jing opened his eyes slowly, which now looked electrifying. If one were to make eye contact with him, one would feel one’s eyes being burnt, thus nobody dared to look at him in the eye.

Xiao Qi exclaimed softly, “What an impressive cultivation level!”

Chu Li nodded.

Knowing a person by his reputation was not as good as meeting him in person as what one heard may be false, but what one saw was true. The Outland was indeed the Outland, and the power of a light ball was truly amazing. In just a blink of an eye, King Jing was on par with those who cultivated for hundreds of years. Unquestionably, while the people respected the trick used, they were also fearful and envious of it.

Leng Wufeng uttered, “From today onwards, conferred by the Outland, King Jing becomes the crown prince! My subjects, you’ve done a great job, you may leave.”

Chu Li kept staring at the Crowning Altar.

When the twelve High Duke Medallions were activated, a vague aura seemed to be flowing around the carved symbols. As expected, there was something mysterious about them, but it did not look like they affected the activation of the twelve High Duke Medallions. It was as though without the symbols, the twelve High Duke Medallions were still able to incite sufficient force to open the gate to the Outland, and to send Leng Wufeng up there.

Chu Li frowned and pondered.

‘The symbols looked abnormal when the High Duke Medallions were activated and were most unusual when the Outland Gate opened. Once it closed, the abnormalities disappeared.’

‘Are the symbols related to the Outland?’

Next, a flash of light was seen, then Leng Wufeng and King Jing vanished from the altar, and were nowhere to be found.

Xiao Qi suggested, “Second Eldest Sister, let Big Brother rest in the imperial residence.”

“Mm,” Xiao Shi agreed.

The people around the Crowning Altar remained silent as they were shocked by what happened earlier, so nobody dared to speak loudly. Chu Li shook his head and wondered, ‘A scene like that is more effective than words, it leaves the people in awe, and stirs up their loyalty.’

As soon as the twelve heirs to the High Duke left the altar, the internal guards of the Imperial House quickly approached to protect them. This was to prevent others from seizing the opportunity to create trouble, so the guards were there to escort them.

Xiao Qi fluttered over, then called out, “Big Brother!”

Xiao Tieying looked over upon hearing her, then smiled and waved at her. “Younger Sister!”

Xiao Qi waved back, then stated, “Don’t go back so quickly, come and rest at the imperial residence.”

“That sounds good.” Xiao Tieying hesitated for a while before he nodded, then he said to the four internal guards of the Imperial House, “I shall not cause you any inconvenience, I have the protectors of the imperial residence here, I’ll be fine.”

The four elders with white hair shook their heads.

“Young Duke Xiao, we’ve received orders to escort you back to the High Duke’s Public House, we can’t leave.” One of the elders added, “If there’s somewhere you want to go, we won’t stop you, but we’ll have to follow you.”

“Alright, thank you in advance then.” Xiao Tieying smiled.

Xiao Tieying walked over to Xiao Qi, then looked at her from head to toe. “Younger Sister, you look great.”

Xiao Qi grinned. “Big Brother, why didn’t you tell me that you were coming?”

“I didn’t manage to.” Xiao Tieying shook his head. “We were invited here secretly, nobody knows about this. I only left a letter for your sister-in-law.”

Xiao Qi urged. “Let’s go then, Second Eldest Sister is waiting for us.”

With that, the two of them were escorted by four internal guards of the Imperial House to where Chu Li and the others were.

Chu Li greeted him with a fist salute.

Xiao Tieying was elated.

In actual fact, he often gathered with his sisters as Chu Li always brought Xiao Qi and Xiao Shi back to the High Duke’s Public House for a night or two before they returned to the imperial residence. Hence, Xiao Tieying was not upset whenever they parted.

That being said, he simply felt cheerful that they were able to gather in Fairy’s Capital.

On their way back, Chu Li and Xiao Tieying walked side by side where the protectors were a distance away from them.

“Big Brother, the Public Houses have the right to disapprove of the chosen successor to the throne.” Chu Li pondered, then continued, “If it turns out that King Jing isn’t the one who ascends the throne in the future, will the Public Houses actually object to it?”

“Normally, no.” Xiao Tieying grinned. “Isn’t it the same whoever becomes the emperor? It makes no difference to the Public Houses, why should we raise an objection? Unless the candidate usurped the throne or did it through inappropriate measures, the Public Houses won’t protest against it.”

Chu Li asked, “Does that mean that the Public Houses can designate someone as the emperor?”

“You guessed it?” Xiao Tieying was surprised.

Chu Li responded, “I just had a feeling about it.”

He sensed that the brilliance gathered from the twelve High Duke Medallions had the same magnitude even after passing through the emperor’s medallion, which opened the Outland Gate.

Chu Li then figured that even without the emperor’s medallion, the twelve High Duke Medallions were able to open the Outland Gate. In that case, they could possibly connect to Heaven where they could decide the successor to the emperor’s throne.

Xiao Tieying looked around them, then whispered, “This is a huge secret of the Public Houses, it must not be spread.”

Chu Li agreed. “Since you’re able to control if one gets dethroned or enthroned, indeed, it shouldn’t be spread.”

This was because it would damage the imperial family’s prestige, and the Public Houses would be tabooed.

Chu Li was still eager to know. “The election isn’t easy, is it?”

“When the Imperial Household declines, the Public Houses step forward, but when the Imperial Household is prosperous, the Public Houses stay out of the picture,” Xiao Tieying explained patiently. “The one who elects the emperor must carry the blood of Leng Family. If anyone else were to do it, they’ll have to pay a price.”

Chu Li nodded. “Once the crown prince is set, he’ll secure the throne. Can an accident happen?”

“Of course,” Xiao Tieying said. “If the crown prince isn’t supported by the public, or is irresponsible and unruly, he won’t secure the throne.”

Chu Li nodded. “That’s great.”

Xiao Tieying checked Chu Li out, then asked, “Chu Li, why are you so concerned about the throne? Has King Ping not given up yet?”

He was aware that Chu Li and King Ping had been very close lately.

Chu Li only smiled without responding.

Xiao Tieying sighed as he was speechless.