Chapter 497 498: Assassinate Emperor Jia You!
Chapter 498: Assassinating Emperor Jiayou!
"By my order, lock down the entire city!"
At Lü Yang's command, the Imperial City Bureau immediately sprang into action. Soon, cultivators of the Incense Qi Divine Path could be seen riding streaks of light, sealing off the inner and outer regions of Tianwu City.
This wasn't reckless action on his part.
It was a direct order issued by Emperor Jiayou through the [Immortal Nation's Dao Statutes]. On the surface, it appeared the emperor still held Lü Yang in high regard, yet Lü Yang sensed imminent danger.
'The Imperial City Bureau was established less than half a year ago, originally only responsible for maintaining order within Tianwu City—at most occasionally raiding the mansions of a few corrupt officials. Now suddenly being ordered to lock down the entire city may seem like a grand display, but in reality, it scatters our limited forces into disarray.'
This was clearly an attempt to divide the Incense Qi cultivators of the Imperial City Bureau, making them easier to suppress.
'If I enter the palace now, Emperor Jiayou will likely strip me of my official position immediately, and the Imperial City Bureau along with the Incense Qi Divine Path will be reorganized.'
This wasn't hard to understand.
After all, as long as Emperor Jiayou remained, his mid-stage Golden Core cultivation would be enough to suppress any chaos. No matter how powerful the Imperial City Bureau became, it would remain as fleeting as the moon's reflection in water or flowers in a mirror.
But once Emperor Jiayou—and even the Three Dukes—disappeared, the Imperial City Bureau, capable of rapidly producing Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators through incense divine power and controlled by the True Dragon Clan, would become a source of turmoil. While it might not overthrow the Dao Court, it would undoubtedly exacerbate the chaos in Jiangdong—an outcome that couldn't be tolerated.
Yet Lü Yang remained unruffled.
While heading toward Tianwu Hall, Lü Yang secretly sent out a fragment of Hong Yun's dongtian through a wisp of divine sense, handing it over to an accompanying official along the way.
This official had long been under his covert control through [Puppet on Strings].
His name was Chen Yuanli, hailing from the Dutian Department. Like Ning Haohe, the Commander of the Dutian Department, he was a disciple of one of the Three Dukes—the Grand Guardian—with mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation.
'This task falls to you.'
In the next instant, Lü Yang activated [Puppet on Strings], using Chen Yuanli as a puppet to open the dongtian fragment and establish contact with [Ang Xiao]'s divine sense.
Soon, [Ang Xiao] responded:
"Fellow Daoist... impressive methods!"
The emergence of [Worry-Free Heaven] had evidently affected [Ang Xiao] in the Netherworld, simultaneously filling him with an indescribable, bone-chilling dread.
At this moment, he had only one thought: 'Thankfully, I reacted quickly!'
[Worry-Free Heaven] had taken away all the True Lords, and combined with Lü Yang's false grasp of [Overturned Lamp Flame], had it not been for him preemptively securing [Earth in Sand] and [White Wax Gold]—ensuring he could maintain his late-stage cultivation even if Chen Earth reversed—he would likely have become prey on their chopping block by now!
What terrifying scheming!
With this realization, [Ang Xiao]'s wariness of Lü Yang instantly soared to its peak, and his suspicions deepened: Could this man truly be the World-Honored One?
The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed!
Meanwhile, Lü Yang had no time to dwell on [Ang Xiao]'s thoughts and cut straight to the point: "Senior, do you recall our agreement? It's time for you to act."
His tone urgent, Lü Yang swiftly laid out his demands: "At this moment, Emperor Jiayou of the Dao Court and the Three Dukes are gathered in one place, on the verge of seclusion. I need you to unleash that sword strike you've been hiding upon them—ensure they leave behind not a single word, and ideally, inflict heavy damage."
"..."
In a flash, [Ang Xiao] grasped Lü Yang's intentions: 'Such audacious ambition! He intends to deliberately incite chaos and use it to usurp the Dao Court?'
'If I strike, the blame will fall squarely on me.'
Despite this, [Ang Xiao] didn't mince words and replied bluntly: "What's in it for me?"
"What does Senior desire?"
"Hong Yun's Metal Essence!"
[Ang Xiao] stated his terms. Ultimately, he didn't need Lü Yang's help to activate [Overturned Lamp Flame]—the key lay with Hong Yun.
'As long as I obtain Hong Yun's Metal Essence, he won't be able to falsely grasp [Overturned Lamp Flame], posing no threat to me. With Hong Yun's Metal Essence in hand, I can find my own way to draw [Overturned Lamp Flame] into the Netherworld. Everything hinges on Hong Yun's Metal Essence—securing it means I won't lose out.'
The next moment, Lü Yang responded:
"Agreed!"
His tone was resolute, without hesitation... Yet [Ang Xiao] sneered upon hearing this: "Who do you take me for? Do you think I'd believe a mere verbal promise?"
"What would it take for Senior to trust me?"
"Deliver first—"
"Impossible!"
Lü Yang likewise sneered: "Senior underestimates me too much. Do you truly expect me to trust your word? I suspect you'd take the goods and flee!"
A stalemate ensued.
However, [Ang Xiao] soon proposed a new arrangement: "Leave Hong Yun's Metal Essence in a designated location. After I deliver the sword strike, I'll retrieve it."
This wasn't a transaction.
It was a contest of skill: Hong Yun's Metal Essence would be placed elsewhere, and both sides would rely on their own means—whoever retrieved it first would emerge victorious in this duel.
"Agreed!"
Lü Yang agreed without hesitation, though inwardly, he sneered: 'Still dreaming of obtaining Hong Yun's Metal Essence? The moment you unleash that sword strike, I'll obliterate your divine sense within the dongtian fragment. By then, you'll have no means to interfere in the mortal realm—even if Hong Yun's Metal Essence were placed right before your eyes, you'd lack the ability to take it!'
"Deal!"
On the other side, [Ang Xiao] also sneered inwardly: 'Use that sword strike against Emperor Jiayou and the Three Dukes? How could I waste a late-stage Golden Core strike so frivolously?'
The trade was merely a pretense—[Ang Xiao]'s true target was Lü Yang's original body!
'Since he dares scheme to usurp the Dao Court, he must hold a high-ranking position. In that case, when Emperor Jiayou announces his seclusion before the officials, his original body will surely be present!'
That would be the perfect moment to strike him down.
And once dead, whether Hong Yun's Metal Essence existed or not would no longer matter.
Thus, the two entered Tianwu Hall, each harboring ulterior motives. Soon, they saw four increasingly ethereal figures at the head of the hall.
The moment Lü Yang stepped into the palace, he sensed Emperor Jiayou's gaze upon him.
Without hesitation, Lü Yang strode forward and performed a grand salute, proclaiming: "Subject Du Huan pays respects to Your Majesty! I beseech Your Majesty to revoke my official position!"
Once again, he seized the initiative.
Emperor Jiayou was visibly taken aback by this, never expecting Lü Yang to speak up before he could broach the subject. Could this man truly be a paragon of loyalty?
Yet the emperor quickly regained his composure.
Loyal or not, once he and the Three Dukes entered seclusion, the Dao Court couldn't afford to have a True Dragon in a high-ranking position. He wouldn't leave such a hidden danger for the Dao Court.
Of course, morale still needed appeasing.
After all, this was seclusion, not actual death.
Moreover, Lü Yang's attitude was indeed commendable. Thus, though Emperor Jiayou had resolved to strip Lü Yang of his position, he feigned magnanimity:
"Now this is what I call devotion to the state!"
"Truly, a model of loyalty!"
After this praise, Emperor Jiayou prepared to divest Lü Yang of his official position. But before he could speak, Lü Yang contacted [Ang Xiao] through [Puppet on Strings].
"Strike now!"
In the next instant, Chen Yuanli—the Dutian Department official controlled by [Puppet on Strings]—rose to his feet. Under the stunned gazes of countless officials around him, he shouted:
"For the Crown Prince!"
"Clang! Clang!"
A sword's hum resounded as [Ang Xiao]'s divine sense within the dongtian fragment in Chen Yuanli's hand activated, unleashing the sword light he had concealed earlier.
In an instant, the sword light drowned out everything!