CHAPTER 400
Old Deng
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Southern Domain, Human Emperor's Palace, Dongfang Jue's Bedchamber.
Dongfang Jue stood before a bronze mirror, her gaze fixed impassively upon her reflection. Compared to her two senior sisters, she was far too indecisive.
The pillars carved with dragons and phoenixes, painted with blood-red lacquer, held little appeal for Dongfang Jue. She neither found them beautiful nor particularly luxurious.
She yearned for the glory of the God-Slaying King, wielding her blade for the welfare of all living beings.
She always reminded the children never to forget why they wielded their swords.
This time, they would draw their blades for all living beings across the Four Realms.
Victors would bathe in glory, while the vanquished would take root in the earth, nourishing new warriors.
Adorned in the Dragon Emperor's robe, Dongfang Jue never intended to hide or conceal herself.
Walking through the narrow corridor, Dongfang Jue could sense the maidservants' peculiar glances, clearly finding this attire too dazzling.
"Announce the Prince of the North…"
Miss! You're home!
"Old Deng, didn't you see the letter I sent you?"
Even in front of the assembled civil and military officials, Dongfang Jue showed her father no mercy.
Seated upon the throne in the grand hall, the slightly portly man pursed his lips. "Jue'er, how can a young lady…"
"I was saving your life! If you hadn't listened to me, you wouldn't even know how you died!"
The plump man had the very look of a doting father. Dongfang Jue's mother—his beloved queen, or rather, his former queen—had been his greatest treasure.
Dongfang Jue was his only child with the former queen, and Dongfang Shuo simply couldn't stay angry at her.
"Stop this nonsense, Jue'er. Now that you're back, stay a few more days. Your father has missed you terribly these past days!"
Dongfang Shuo grinned, his tone light and dismissive, clearly not taking his child seriously.
Ever since Dongfang Jue slipped away from his guards half a year ago to venture into some mysterious realm, Dongfang Shuo had heard his ministers whispering about Dongfang Jue time and again.
"You've surely heard about the events at Lingxian Mountain near Nanding City, Old Deng. Jue'er, let me tell you this: if you make the wrong choice this time, you'll only regret it later!"
"Jue'er, you participated in that great battle between immortals and demons?"
Dongfang Shuo jumped up from his throne in panic. Was that even a place for a young lady to go?
Seeing this, an elderly man nearby, holding a feather duster and seemingly possessing some cultivation, also approached. He appeared to whisper something to Dongfang Shuo.
Then, Dongfang Shuo's expression visibly changed!
"Jue'er, you actually took some charlatan as your master outside? Didn't I tell you long ago that I'd send someone to discuss your affairs with Master Cheng of the Heavenly Dao Pavilion in due time?"
"Couldn't you even wait that long? Such restlessness is unacceptable! To take a nameless con artist as your master—I hear that man once begged in Nanding City?"
Truthfully, these words nearly made Dongfang Jue's legs go weak with fear!
How could such words be spoken?
That was her master! Who was her master?
“Jue'er's master is Su Cheng, the head of Lingxian Hall. Old Deng, you'd better think carefully about this matter concerning the Immortal Alliance!”
Her eyes narrowed slightly, and Dongfang Jue’s voice carried a hint of anger.
How dare these people!
A heavy stomp echoed on the hall's plush carpet, instantly filling the chamber with a murderous aura. Immediately after came the imposing pressure emanating from Third Grandmother!
With a flick of her wrist, divine power erupted, seizing the old man who had just whispered in someone's ear. Her voice was cold as ice.
"You dare deceive His Majesty! You even spread rumors about this prince's affairs!"
"I'm usually too busy to bother with you lot. Do you truly believe I can't deal with you?"
The old man, his throat gripped by Dongfang Jue, was hoisted high into the air. His legs kicked wildly, his eyes bulging as if they might pop out!
The civil and military officials present all paled at the sight.
"You dare to commit insubordination! Regardless of whether your words are true or false, Jue'er is the Prince of Zhenbei. How dare you presume to speculate about this prince's affairs?!"
Dongfang Jue had never been a good child. She was the most wilful princess, the Northern Frontier Prince whom even Dongfang Shuo could not control.
Right before the assembled officials and Dongfang Shuo, Dongfang Jue strangled the old man to death from a distance.
Dongfang Jue didn't know her, nor could she tell if she was loyal or treacherous.
"Father, that fellow dared to speak, and you dared to believe him?"
Dongfang Shuo was a general, and a general was all he was fit to be. Dongfang Jue knew this, and so did all the civil and military officials.
Though not foolish, Dongfang Shuo was as blind as a bat in this seat of power.
Perhaps he could initially distinguish loyalty from treachery, but once the titles of "wise and mighty" were bestowed upon him, most people would forget to think, forget whether they were truly wise and mighty.
"Jue'er, why are you doing this?"
Dongfang Jue sneered coldly as he casually tossed the old man's corpse out of the hall. "Why? Jue'er is saving you!"
"Jue'er, don't push this too far! If not for your mother's sake…"
Dongfang Jue cut Dongfang Shuo off with the God-Slaying Spear.
The Godslayer Spear was gripped firmly in his hand. The armored guards who had rushed into the hall merely glanced at it before collapsing lifelessly to the ground…
Before immortal arts, humans were unbelievably fragile. Even the guards with some cultivation proved utterly helpless before Dongfang Jue.
Yet Dongfang Jue spared their lives. This had nothing to do with them.
Court officials might wonder why the young princess had become this way, but what they didn't know was that Dongfang Jue was genuinely growing impatient!
Dongfang Jue was Master Su Cheng's direct disciple. What sort of temperament did the master possess? Absolute ruthlessness and decisiveness. One need only observe the gaze Xiao Ai cast upon her master to understand this truth.
The affection they received was theirs alone.
Dongfang Jue could envision the consequences should Chu Youwei persist in her delusions.
Likewise, if Father continued to stubbornly cling to his delusions, the consequences would be unimaginable!
The Immortal Alliance is an inevitable trend. To confront the impending crisis, all mortal realms must unite. To seek isolation is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
"Father, allow me to be blunt: this is no longer an enemy your armies can handle!"
"Truth may be hard to hear, but if Father persists in this course, all of humanity may suffer calamity!"
Dongfang Jue watched as his father's resolve began to waver, only to have a courtier, seemingly fearless of death, speak up at this critical moment!
"The Prince of the North is still young. Being swayed by others while stationed abroad is hardly the princess's fault. Regardless, she is your flesh and blood."
"Indeed, our imperial lineage has ruled for centuries without ever antagonizing the immortal sects."
"Moreover, for centuries, we and the Immortal Sects have maintained separate paths, each minding our own affairs without interference."
"As for this Su Sect Leader you mention—we've all heard of him. Not long ago, he was still picking vegetable scraps in Nanding City!"
The assembled court officials roared with laughter, mocking both the vegetable-leaf-picking master and the princess who had taken a beggar as her teacher.
Dongfang Jue was genuinely furious, though she had only herself to blame! Her maneuvering within the court had diminished the ranks of the upright officials, directly upsetting the delicate balance of power. This allowed these repulsive creatures to seize control of the government!
At this realization, Dongfang Jue laughed too—a hearty, resonant laugh that drowned out the others, leaving the court officials feeling rather awkward.
"Do you think Jue'er is joking with you?"
"Jue'er might as well make this clear to you all: the affairs of the realm rest with my master and my sister disciples!"
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