novelraw Chapter 204 158: Heaven Collapses, Dao Era
Chapter 204 158: Heaven Collapses, Dao Era
The enchanting woman sitting behind the beaded curtain suddenly felt a chill on her neck, as if a blade was upon her, causing a great sense of coldness.
"The Grand General's martial Dao cultivation has become increasingly profound and unfathomable."
The Four Cultivation Grandmasters mark the pinnacle of the Physical Body Secret Realm, above which lies another realm known as the Divine Power Secret Realm.
It is said to possess terrifying abilities like moving mountains and filling seas, unparalleled and extraordinary.
Grand General Zhao Pijiang, who oversees Celestial Water Prefecture, ignited the fire within himself five years ago, shattering the void and ascending to this level. Immediately afterward, he was conferred with honors by the Dragon Court, and the young emperor who had just ascended personally inscribed the four characters "National Pillar" as commendation.
"The deposed Crown Prince Yong has been replaced by His Highness Prince Sui in the Eastern Palace, unexpectedly becoming the new emperor. Now that there are three dragons in the same court, chaos is inevitable.
The Supreme Emperor still favors the deposed Crown Prince Yong, while Supreme Empress Dowager Galo supports Prince Sui. The dust has yet to settle, and all are choosing sides and placing their bets."
The ethereal void rippled like water waves, and the voice traversed thousands of miles to arrive at the Hidden Pavilion, conveying its will.
The enchanting woman lowered her eyes, seemingly puzzled:
"His Highness Prince Sui already sits on the throne as emperor, has performed the rites to heaven and earth, and is the rightful sovereign. Does the deposed Crown Prince still have a chance to turn things around?"
Every word uttered by Grand General Zhao seemed to carry immense weight, pressing down on everyone present.
"You all do not know the inside story. The Dragon Court governs the world, but it is not a singular family's world. The tales told among the people say that the Five Emperors descended to the mortal realm to help the Supreme Emperor quell the chaos and rectify the disorder in the Red County Divine Land, and this is not mere exaggeration.
In less than sixty years, the Supreme Emperor swept away the remnants of paths and philosophies, with the Five Clans and Eight Nobles exerting great effort, leading to the current prestige of the Eight Pillars of the Realm."
When the Supreme Emperor first seized the world, he divided the Red County Divine Land into fourteen large prefectures, and then granted the wealth of eight lands in their entirety to officials appointed as Grand Pillars of the Realm, effectively conferring titles upon eight foreign kings in one breath.
Such lavish rewards have never been seen before!
"The concubines taken in by the Supreme Emperor all hail from the Five Surnames. Now, Supreme Empress Dowager Galo, the eldest daughter of the Fa Family from the Great Red Celestial Blessed Land, bears an esteemed status, and because she supports Prince Sui, he has been able to rise against the tide.
However, the deposed Crown Prince Yong is also of noteworthy origin. His mother comes from the Xing Family of the Great Cyan Celestial Blessed Land and, after being expelled from the Eastern Palace, she used her family's supreme treasure to comprehend rare martial arts and achieved the cultivation of the Heart of the Ten Directions Battle Saint, an unparalleled physique."
The Hidden Pavilion, led by trusted aides within Zhao Pijiang's military headquarters, did not need to hide these upper-tier secrets:
"Plus, the Supreme Emperor retains a hint of filial sentiment for Crown Prince Yong. Who is the true master of the Dragon Court remains to be seen."
The enchanting woman realized that despite Crown Prince Yong being deposed, he holds three major advantages: first, he has retained the emperor's favor; second, his maternal family holds significant power; and third, his bloodline is noble.
Conversely, although Prince Sui seems to be in control of the Dragon Court and has been crowned emperor, his mother's status is low; she is of the Five Surnames but not the legitimate firstborn, providing no support. Therefore, he seeks favor with Empress Dowager Galo by being cautious and meticulous.
Moreover, Prince Sui is not favored by the Supreme Emperor, who has retreated to contemplation and the study of the Celestial Dao.
The saying goes, "Love the house and its crow, hate the house and its crow."
The relationship between the Supreme Empress Dowager and the Supreme Emperor has always been cold, almost as hostile as fire and water in earlier years, difficult to coalesce.
Prince Sui pledging allegiance to Supreme Empress Dowager Galo was an astute move, yet it doomed him to lack the Supreme Emperor's approval and favor.
"The situation at the Central Hub is indeed complex. If it weren't for the General's Dharma Eye seeing clearly, we might still believe that the deposed Crown Prince was forced into a dead end, with Prince Sui as the true emperor."
The enchanting woman covered her mouth and sighed lightly, knowing that although the new emperor has ascended, as long as the Supreme Emperor remains, power cannot be entirely seized by him; dismissals and appointments are but a matter of words.
"Though he bears the name of emperor, he is in truth a Crown Prince, and each day His Highness Prince Sui sits on the Dragon Court, he walks as if on thin ice, uncertain whether he will reach the other side."
Zhao Pijiang's voice, as deep as a copper bell, boomed within the Hidden Pavilion:
"Two true dragons vie for destiny, we cannot intervene, either fueling the flames or pouring water is left to the Eight Pillars of the Realm. But the Meridian Sword Sect coveting the Profound Mysterious Divine Soldiers is truly an act of treason; if not for fear of Elder Yan Xin, I would have long led the army to destroy the Mountain Gate."
The enchanting woman smiled sweetly:
"Elder Yan Xin's life is nearing its end, the Grand General need not be concerned. The previous generation Daoist of the Meridian Sword Sect betrayed the sect, slaughtering four elders and seven true disciples in one breath, forcing Sect Leader Yan Xin to break through the barrier and personally kill him at the Nu Yun River. The clash of two Great Divine Techniques resulted in catastrophic consequences, even disturbing the void and spiritual energies, causing the Turbid Tide to rage, bringing endless disaster.
Since then, the Meridian Sword Sect's vitality has been severely damaged, essentially a decline, no longer posing a threat to the Grand General."
Far away, thousands of miles, Zhao Pijiang, hands behind his back, seemed seated on a tiger-skin armchair:
"In recent years, the Meridian Sword Sect has suddenly begun recruiting disciples in Yihai Prefecture, an abnormal act that surely harbors a demon.
Rumors outside say that the Daoist Kou Qiuyue, trained by Yan Xin with devoted effort, was seduced by a Fallen Immortal, pursuing a Longevity Secret Realm beyond Divine Techniques, ultimately falling into Turbid Tide, losing his mind, and becoming an evil demon, leading to the betrayal.
Before Kou Ni was killed, it is highly likely he found the legendary Seventh Profound Mysterious Divine Soldier, only to fail to obtain it.
Old Yan Xin's endurance these years, is it truly weakness posing as strength or merely external toughness masking internal fragility?"
The enchanting woman's eyes narrowed as she chuckled softly:
"Does the Grand General suspect old Yan Xin colluded with Kou Ni to scheme for the Seventh Profound Mysterious Divine Soldier?"