I Accumulate Spirit Roots for My Next Life

Chapter 447 - 293: Boardwalk

Li Jizhou solemnly expressed his gratitude towards Duke Zhen’s attitude.

Within the Jiuli Dynasty, besides the royal family represented by Saint Emperor Li Yuan, the Duke Zhen family, who had once followed Jiuli Ascended Immortal Monarch, and the Hua family from Saint Emperor Li Yuan’s birth mother, were both formidable forces.

They once held real power, but after Saint Emperor Li Yuan ascended the throne, he became arrogant and distrustful, leading both families to resign from all positions, leaving only their noble titles without meddling in court affairs.

Yet, their resources should not be underestimated.

After bidding farewell to everyone, only Li Jizhou remained in place.

After everyone left, Li Jizhou used the Memory Ball to record the scene of the Red Flame Demon Race’s annihilation, especially the hundred-zhang corpse of the Thunderfire Demon Venerable.

Meanwhile, in the Golden Hall of the Jiuli Dynasty, the ministers were furious.

"Your majesty, Jin Zhaoyu colluded with the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp, illegally sold Red Phosphorus Gold Ore to the Red Flame Demon Race, a heinous crime deserving of divine punishment, his whole family should be executed."

"The enmity of the Red Flame Demon Race devouring thirty thousand of our Jiuli Dynasty citizens is irreconcilable, every member of our royal family has the right to execute them. Jin Zhaoyu is a traitor of the dynasty; without his execution, public outrage won’t be appeased."

"Saint Emperor, the people are already outraged. If Jin Zhaoyu is not dealt with soon, there might be a rebellion!"

...

Since the incident involving Jin Zhaoyu was exposed, it has been nearly two months. Initially, the Saint Emperor suppressed the news.

Later, Seventh Prince Li Jizhou volunteered himself, wading into troubled waters, leaving him very disappointed.

To this day, Seventh Prince has been in Qingzhou for more than a month without any news.

The result Li Yuan hoped for from Old Qi’s act of sacrificing family bonds for righteousness seems unlikely to happen.

Moreover, the assassination bounty published by Consort Rong with heavy funds has never succeeded; she suspects Seventh Prince has colluded with Grand General Gongsun Dang and is secretly protected.

In desperation, she contacted the court, starting to pressure the Saint Emperor.

Aiming to use Jin Zhaoyu to completely undermine Seventh Prince.

On another front is Dragon Aspect, after more than a month of surveillance reports, Seventh Prince’s whereabouts in the swamp are unpredictable, more so when he went alone to the demon territory.

Additionally, for such a long time, Seventh Prince hasn’t delivered any results regarding Jin Zhaoyu’s matter, causing profound disappointment in Dragon Aspect’s family towards Seventh Prince.

They even cannot guarantee whether this Seventh Prince will die unexpectedly in the next moment.

Thus, to be safe, during this period, they actively contacted court ministers to seek orders for the Crown Prince.

Even going so far as to introduce an undercover to clear up the assassination matter from back then for the Crown Prince.

Up to now, Saint Emperor Li Yuan has already hesitated.

However, Dragon Aspect did not inform Consort Rong about this matter.

Li Yuan is fully aware of Consort Rong’s intentions to exert pressure on him through the ministers, and knows her plans.

Therefore, he is somewhat displeased with the Ninth Prince.

But he has slightly leaned towards the Crown Prince.

"Old Qi, Old Qi, you greatly disappoint me." Li Yuan sighed inwardly, looking at the agitated ministers below him with a blank expression.

"Draw up the decree!" Finally, Li Yuan’s gaze was solemn and he spoke decisively.

"Jin Zhaoyu’s insurrection, his disregard for grace, audaciously collaborated with the sworn enemies of our Jiuli Dynasty, the vile Red Flame Demon Race, secretly selling vital materials. His crime deserves execution, chopping off his head!"

"Long live the Saint Emperor!" The ministers bowed.

"Saint Emperor, ministers have another proposal!" In actuality, the ministers did not care about whether Jin Zhaoyu lived or died.

In court battles, often those pushed to the front are minor issues, whereas the real major issues are hidden behind.

Such as, the struggle for the imperial legacy.

That’s what matters most.

Convicting Jin Zhaoyu was merely a setup for what follows.

"Ministers beseech the Saint Emperor to penalize Prince Qing."

"Prince Qing knew full well Jin Zhaoyu’s heinous crime of collaborating and treason, yet he didn’t respond at all, clearly intending to shield him. Such behavior is unfit for Prince Qing!"

"Indeed, without severe punishment, the thirty thousand innocent citizens of Yong’an City cannot rest in peace!"

"Beseech the Saint Emperor to strip him of his title, as a warning to others!"

...

The ministers contacted by Consort Rong collectively stepped out.

This was today’s real purpose.

"Stripping of the title..." Dragon Aspect murmured slightly, glancing at the few ministers who stepped forward, his eyes narrowed slightly.

Consort Rong is in such a hurry? Wanting to completely undermine Seventh Prince.

Currently, Ninth Prince is only fourteen years old and hasn’t built his Dao Foundation yet.

Luckily, the Crown Prince has been brought out again; otherwise, if Seventh Prince is completely defeated this time, Li Yuan might establish Ninth Prince.

Dragon Aspect slowly closed his eyes, not participating in this matter.

Li Yuan frowned, feeling a surge of anger constantly rising.

After failing to harmonize with the Dao, his lifespan is nearing its end, and the Lifespan Extension Pill is no longer effective; he originally had three promising candidates to inherit the throne, but he once felt proud of this.

However now, first the Crown Prince is mentally skewed, surprisingly hiring assassins to kill Ninth Prince, then Old Jiu has weak resolve and timid character, even humiliating him publicly while scared to stay cooped inside the palace without venturing out.

Originally in Liangzhou and Yunzhou, Old Qi accomplished great deeds showcasing rare leadership and courage, but now overseas he hesitates to make tough decisions on behalf of his maternal grandfather and plunges into trouble; it’s simply an act of mercy not suitable for a heir.

This inheritance of the throne leaves Li Yuan hesitating again.

Just then, a slight vibration came from his Storage Ring.

Divine Sense probed, his brows furrowed slightly.

It’s a Communication Talisman from Old Qi.

Li Yuan glanced at the ministers below, righteously voicing their opinions, quietly opening the talisman with his Divine Sense.

Buzz~

Upon finishing reading the message, abruptly his expression froze.

The Red Flame Demon Race completely destroyed and eradicated!

Jin Zhaoyu secretly contacting the Ten Thousand Poison Sect in the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp and Qianji City was to prepare for annihilating the Red Flame Demon Race?

Out of gratitude for the Saint Emperor’s grace, Jin Zhaoyu voluntarily distressed himself for the Saint Emperor; understanding the Saint Emperor’s determination to avenge Yong’an City’s thirty thousand citizens, while prioritizing overall matters, avoiding giving Cangming Dynasty and Great Xia Dynasty exploits, thus continuously tolerating inner resentment.

Jin Zhaoyu worked tirelessly for this, pondering for years before finally devising a method: using Ten Thousand Poison Swamp as a shield, then secretly luring the Red Flame Demon Race to Yong’an City, at the burial ground of the thirty thousand Jiuli citizens, to annihilate them and bring their race to extinction!

Thus, firstly avoiding involvement of Jiuli Dynasty, preventing grounds for large-scale invasions by the Demon Race; secondly, inciting conflict between Demon Race and Ten Thousand Poison Swamp, achieving a win-win.

"This..." Experiencing the shock inwardly, logic told Li Yuan not to believe.

Though the Red Flame Demon Race had few members, there were nearly a hundred Tier Five demon beasts, particularly there was the Thunderfire Demon Venerable, he previously engaged with Thunderfire Demon Venerable. Without a blood battle, it’s difficult to kill strongly.

Even if Jin Zhaoyu genuinely harbored such intentions, even if he could drag Ten Thousand Poison Swamp down as a shield, and could even lure the entire Red Flame Demon Race to Yong’an City... still, how could he kill Thunderfire Demon Venerable?

Without three Refining Void Divine Monarchs, it’s hard to truly kill.

However, when he could not believe, a Memory Ball was transmitted over.

Boom~

He clearly saw the scene of Yong’an City, the ground filled with corpses of the Red Flame Demon Race, that Thunderfire Demon Venerable’s corpse...

Li Yuan abruptly stood up.

His face was radiant with vigor and majestic presence soaring skyward.