Chapter 391: The Emperor Takes Turns, Can Xi Xi Sit Too? Should I Call You Li BanSheng or Divine Mon

Chapter 391: The Emperor Takes Turns, Can Xi Xi Sit Too? Should I Call You Li BanSheng or Divine Monkey? [Monthly Vote Request]



Crack! Crack! Crack!

Leaden clouds piled up, thick and heavy for ten thousand miles, and within them, the spring thunder rumbled like dragons and snakes.

The booming sound was like heavenly might, descending upon every corner of the mortal realm.

On the White Jade Square.

The empress's dignified face, her red lips slightly parted, and her cold voice echoed without cease.

Listening to this resounding voice, Li Che holding Xi Xi's hand, couldn't help but pause slightly, his face instantly turning gloomy.

His gloom was like dripping water, and in the depths of his eyes, an extremely sharp light even emerged.

Crown Prince Consort?!

Li Che's heart filled with coldness, and his expression, which had been gentle, instantly turned extremely cold. He had never imagined that at the end of the Peach Feast, such a disturbance would occur.

Bestowing upon Xi Xi the position of Crown Prince Consort?

The key point was that there wasn't even a Crown Prince... yet Xi Xi was being promised to become the Crown Prince Consort?

Such a lofty bestowal truly made Li Che's inner rage uncontrollable.

Whenever it involved his daughter, Li Che's anger knew no bounds.

Having obtained the Dragonlet Champion, and receiving such a bestowal, was Li Che still expected to bring his daughter to express gratitude?

By his side, Xi Xi's eyebrows furrowed, and she hugged Li Che's leg. "Daddy, Xi Xi doesn't want to be a Crown Prince Consort!"

Li Che looked down, and his expression immediately softened. "What Crown Prince Consort? We don't care about such things. With Daddy here, Xi Xi, don't worry. No matter who says it, if you don't want it, it won't happen."

Hearing this, Xi Xi exhaled in relief, placed her hand on her waist, and puffed out her little belly. Her face was filled with contentment.

No matter who spoke these words, as long as Daddy said it, Xi Xi felt at ease and secure.

Because Xi Xi knew that Daddy would never hurt her!

As the emperor's decree was issued, the attitudes of all the cultivators on the White Jade Square changed.

The leaders of the various Divine Sects revealed expressions of curiosity.

The leader of Tiandan Divine Sect, Gu Changqing, the leader of Qibao Divine Sect, Ning Caishen, and the leader of Haoran Academy, Bai Buyi, all had ambiguous smiles on their faces.

They secretly guessed that the emperor's decree was most likely to suppress the Quanyuan Divine Sect.

Li Nuoxi is the Young Leader of Quanyuan Divine Sect, and her status is very high. If she becomes the Crown Prince Consort, it would be a blow to Quanyuan Divine Sect's prestige. Moreover, once she becomes the Crown Prince Consort, she would become a member of the Great Jing Imperial House."

There would inevitably be a rift between Quanyuan Divine Sect.

Would Lu Taibai allow such a thing to happen?

So, Lu Taibai would most likely turn hostile. This was the Divine Capital, and if he turned hostile... could Lu Taibai leave?

Should it be said, with Li Nuoxi as a burden, could he leave?

The leaders of the various Divine Sects had already made their guesses. When Lu Taibai demonstrated his control over the power of the Dao Calamity Sword, and was refining his Dao position, the Great Jing Court would likely take countermeasures.

At the very least, that Layman National Master Xie Yunsen would not sit idly by.

Xie Yunsen sat in the Lotus Pavilion, receiving letters from the eleven divine paths of Great Jing every day. The letters contained information about the various Divine Sects.

Because the Lotus Pavilion was established by the Great Jing Emperor specifically to target the eleven Divine Sects.

With Lu Taibai about to step into the Half-Step Divine Tribulation, once Quanyuan Divine Sect produced a Dual Divine Tribulation, it would pose a significant threat to Great Jing.

As for the founder of Quanyuan Divine Sect, almost everyone knew that he had not died but was avoiding the tribulation in the Enigma Tower.

Gu Changqing and others thought that the Great Jing Court would delay for a while, secretly sending people to deal with Lu Taibai and keep him in the Divine Capital.

However, they never expected that as soon as the Peach Feast ended, the emperor would impatiently reveal his fangs.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Lu Taibai slammed the cup in his hand forcefully onto the table.

The jade cup instantly sank into the table, and spider web-like cracks appeared, spreading and intertwining.

The sound of the explosion was like the thunderous roar of heavenly thunder.

Lu Taibai's silver hair fluttered, his sleeves billowed with the wind, and the sword energy had already started to buzz and ring out, clanging loudly.

However, he had not made any move yet, nor had he spoken. His cold eyes swept past, waiting for something.

Turning hostile was inevitable, and Lu Taibai could also guess what was going on.

It was most likely that the old fox, National Master Xie Yunsen, had given the emperor some kind of potion to force him to use Xi Xi as a medium to pressure Lu Taibai to turn hostile at the Peach Feast today.

However, since it had come to this, what was Lu Taibai still concerned about?

In the main banquet area of Quanyuan Divine Sect.

Everyone's head was buzzing.

Zhang Ya's face also turned pale, her body slightly swaying, and her eyes revealed a look of panic.

For others, having a daughter marry into the royal family and become the Crown Prince Consort, destined to be the mother of the nation, was an extremely prestigious honor, a blessing cultivated over eight lifetimes.

But... Zhang Ya didn't want this blessing!

In the Lotus Pavilion.

Lu Chi was struck as if by thunder, stunned and motionless, his whole body stiff as a board.

Almost everyone's gaze shifted to the two figures, one large and one small, on the White Jade Square.

The quiet White Jade Square had a stifling and eerie atmosphere.

The spring rain pattered on the white stones, making a soft muffled sound.

After half a moment of silence, accompanied by Li Che holding Xi Xi's hand and slowly raising his head, the silence was finally broken.

Li Che's gaze shifted, first falling on the empress, and then turning towards the emperor, who sat on the high throne, his breath unfathomable and terrifying.

However, Li Che had not yet spoken.

The empress turned her head and looked at the emperor, "Your Majesty, are you serious?"

Countless gazes shifted, all focusing on the emperor, whose face was obscured, his majesty like a towering mountain.

The breathing of the First Prince, Second Prince, and Third Prince became rapid.

Everyone was staring at the Emperor, seemingly trying to ascertain the meaning behind his words and the implications of his decree.

Li Che was also staring at the Emperor.

Under the watchful eyes of all, the Emperor slowly stood up. His towering figure exuded arrogance and freedom, his bright yellow imperial dragon robe fluttering in the spring breeze, and the spring rain instantly splitting like a curtain.

Beneath the misty aura of his towering divinity and vital energy, his eyes shone like the sun and the stars.

He spoke, leaving no room for doubt.

"The word of a ruler is not a jest."

Rustle—!!!

The Emperor's words were like a huge stone thrown into a lake, causing a tumultuous upheaval.

Instantly, from the White Jade Square to the Second and Third Cities of the Divine Capital, whispers and discussions erupted everywhere.

Li Che exhaled, feeling that Xi Xi's hand, which was holding his, trembled slightly. As if in response, his heart also throbbed violently.

Li Che's eyes were cold and calm, gazing at the Emperor whose words left no room for doubt. His black hair whipped around, and he looked at the Emperor with a detached gaze.

He gently pushed Xi Xi behind him, standing like a towering mountain, shielding his daughter from all the wind and rain.

He spoke, his voice as light as a breeze.

"We, father and daughter, refuse this reward."

His words also left no room for doubt.

In the face of the Emperor's pressure and the overwhelming aura of the entire venue, Li Che spoke calmly.

"My daughter said she doesn't want to be the Crown Prince Consort."

"So naturally, she won't be."

His words hung in the air.

The entire square's atmosphere froze.

Lu Taibai's sleeves swelled with sword energy, and he instantly landed on the White Jade Square, coming to Li Che and Xi Xi's side.

"Your Majesty, if my disciple doesn't wish it, there's no need to force her."

"Otherwise, defying the imperial decree... what does it matter?"

"If Your Majesty wants to target me, come at me directly. Why target a child?"

"And the Crown Prince Consort... a six-year-old girl? It's truly ridiculous. Your Majesty hasn't even decided on the Crown Prince, so why create a phantom Crown Prince Consort?"

"Your Majesty, if you think so highly of Xi Xi, why not give her the throne?"

Lu Taibai's silver hair flew,,, and the Dao Essence Cataclysm Sword was brewing fiercely in the mud pill at his brow!

"Insolent!!!"

"Lu Taibai, how dare you!!!"

"Lu Taibai, you dare to be so rebellious!!!"

...

As Lu Taibai's words fell, it was like a thunderclap, causing an uproar.

The Second Prince and Third Prince both stood up instantly, slamming their fists on the table and shouting in anger.

Several high-ranking officials also scolded.

The Emperor's eyes darkened.

Lu Taibai's words were indeed quite rebellious. What did he mean by giving the imperial throne to Xi Xi?

That was the position of the ruler of the nation, not something to be given away so easily?!

The atmosphere instantly became tense, terrifying auras intertwining on the White Jade Square, distorting the air as if a thunderstorm was about to descend!

Lu Taibai's sword intent was resolute, his sleeves folded behind his back, his eyes blazing with brilliant light.

He did not back down, looking at the Emperor coldly.

Amidst this confrontation,

A delicate voice suddenly rang out.

Xi Xi tugged at Li Che's sleeve, speaking in a lowered voice, curious.

"Father... the position the Grandmaster mentioned, can Xi Xi sit on it too?"

"Is it comfortable?"

"If it's possible, Xi Xi doesn't want to be the Crown Prince Consort. Xi Xi wants to be..."

Her voice was not loud,

But the gathered strong individuals, including those from the Great Deity List and Heaven's Gate Pass, were all present.

Thus, Xi Xi's words echoed like thunder, drawing startled gazes.

The words "Xi Xi, the Empress" almost reached her lips but were forcibly held back.

The sharp, blade-like gazes of the many powerful figures truly frightened Xi Xi.

Li Che's mud pill at his brow trembled, and his Heaven Earth Soul expanded.

He shielded Xi Xi from the oppressive gazes, gently patting her head.

This little girl really dared to think.

However, Li Che no longer needed to give the Emperor any face.

They had already targeted Xi Xi.

Regardless of their intentions, whether to force Lu Taibai to defy the imperial decree and find a reason to attack the Heavenly Origin Divine Sect,

Once they targeted Xi Xi, a confrontation was inevitable.

Li Che had never been overly concerned or fearful of imperial authority, lacking the innate fear of such power.

So, he smiled lightly, "That position... is for the virtuous to sit. If Xi Xi wants to sit there, she must strive to become a virtuous person."

Upon hearing this, Xi Xi's eyes lit up.

"Then Xi Xi still has a chance?"

Xi Xi asked.

Beside them, Lu Taibai couldn't help but burst into laughter at this peculiar father-daughter conversation.

Though they came from humble beginnings, they showed no fear of imperial authority, even daring to discuss the possibility of sitting on the imperial throne in the face of the Emperor's overwhelming pressure.

Truly rebellious!

But, worthy of being his personal disciple!

On the high platform,

The Emperor's eyes blazed with coldness, his brows furrowing. Xi Xi's words, for some reason, made his heart skip a beat.

"Insolent!"

"Lu Taibai and Li Che, are you defying the imperial decree?"

The Emperor said sternly.

"The cost of defying the imperial decree... do you understand it?"

Li Che looked at Lu Taibai.

"Grandmaster, one must face the consequences of one's actions. This matter is not related to the Heavenly Origin Divine Sect. I am the one defying the imperial decree, and it is my personal matter."

Li Che said, unwilling to involve Lu Taibai.

Their goal was to force Lu Taibai to stand up, but if Li Che wished, with his current strength, he could easily take Xi Xi and his wife Zhang Ya far away.

He had the confidence for it.

Lu Taibai's sleeve flicked, and a silver-like Taibai Sword slid out, held in his hand.

"Enough talk. Honestly, it's the Heavenly Origin Divine Sect that has involved you, not the other way around..."

"The court has wanted to deal with the Divine Sect for a long time. Today it's the Heavenly Origin, tomorrow it might be the Mystic Talisman, Seven

Action: "Lu Taibai spoke indifferently.

Then, his gaze shifted and landed on the Layman National Master, whose hair was half black and half white, standing in the Lotus Pavilion.

"Xie Yunsen... This must be another one of your schemes, right? If you want to deal with Quanyuan, do it openly. If you want to force me to defy the Emperor's decree with such means, you're giving the Great Jing Imperial Court an excuse to deal with the Heavenly Origin Divine Sect at the same time..."

"And it won't provoke resistance from other divine sects because Quanyuan defied the decree first, right?"

Lu Taibai spoke coldly, and the sword intent on his body rose even higher. The silver light was like a moon disc, almost cutting through the air!

As he spoke, the expressions of the various sect leaders subtly changed.

Hearing this, Xie Yunsen slowly stood up, his plain clothes dampened by the spring rain. He held an oil-paper umbrella, appearing frail and vulnerable.

But no one dared to truly regard him as weak.

Xie Yunsen looked at Lu Taibai innocently, "The Heavenly Origin Sect Leader is overthinking. Making Li Nuoxi the Crown Prince Consort is the Emperor's reward! What a grand reward, as she might even become the Junior Temple Administrator of the Queen Mother of the West's Enigma Temple in the future!"

"She'll have a great chance to resonate with the Temple Deity of the Three Pure Ones' Enigma Temple, and even a chance to obtain the Ten Thousand Year Peach!"

"This is a heavenly blessing! How could you question the Emperor's intentions?"

Xie Yunsen shook his head and sighed.

"Grandmaster Taibai, speaking so recklessly, this is the greatest sin of all."

"The Emperor is the ruler of the Great Jing's eleven paths, the sovereign of the nation and its people."

"How dare you speak so recklessly!"

As Xie Yunsen spoke, his tone turned stern.

Despite his weak cultivation, he exuded an incredibly powerful sense of oppression.

Lu Taibai scoffed, but he had anticipated Xie Yunsen's tactics. This cunning National Master's words were never to be trusted.

However, Xie Yunsen's gaze swept over Li Che, carrying a hint of regret.

"Li Bansheng, you shouldn't have refused the Emperor..."

Xie Yunsen spoke softly and then patted the side of Lu Chi, who stood beside him in a daze, completely lost in confusion.

Lu Chi's body trembled.

He looked at Xie Yunsen in confusion.

"The Fourth Prince has told me everything..."

Xie Yunsen narrowed his eyes.

"Back in Flying Thunder City, the Fourth Prince lived with your family for a while. So, he knows your identity, Li Bansheng."

"He told me what you look like with the mask..."

"Should I call you Li Bansheng, or... the Netherworld Monkey?"

The rain suddenly intensified, pounding on the White Jade Square.

The halberd flashed, and countless white mists formed on the black roofs of the Divine Capital's buildings.

As Xie Yunsen spoke, the entire White Jade Square fell silent.

Xie Yunsen gently rubbed Lu Chi's head, and Lu Chi's face showed signs of struggle.

Marrying the Crown Prince Consort...

The Emperor had just granted the marriage...

"I... I..."

Lu Taibai's heart was in turmoil.

In the White Jade Square, Li Che exhaled and glanced at the Layman National Master, Xie Yunsen. What a cunning person, even scheming against a child.

But Li Che also had no kind expression towards Lu Chi.

"So, you're the National Master? Without evidence, don't go around making baseless accusations. When the Divine Monkey obtained the Mindful Golden Iron Rod in the Enigma Temple on Shen Diao Ridge, I was also being tested. Unfortunately, I was one move away from victory..."

Li Che spoke calmly.

"At that time, many sect disciples witnessed it, but without evidence, it's just empty talk. You can't slander me without proof."

"How can the words of a child be taken seriously?"

"Besides, Lu Chi and Xi Xi had already fallen out, and it's normal for children to say harsh words when they have a disagreement."

Xie Yun Shen held an oiled paper umbrella, smiling lightly, "Oh, perhaps it was just angry words between children, but I'd like to ask Li Bansheng to stay and allow Governor Ye of the Temple Guard to investigate..."

"Investigate... Hmph."

Lu Taibai burst into laughter.

"By then, even if you're innocent, they'll twist the truth and paint you as guilty!"

"Pay them no heed."

Lu Taibai's gaze was sharp, his killing intent overwhelming. In the clash of sword auras, a sword cloud enveloped Li Che and Xi Xi.

"Let's go!"

Boom!!!

The sword aura surged like wild grass, and in the clanging sound, it soared into the sky, piercing the clouds.

The Emperor stood tall on the grand terrace, his face obscured, but his expression was visibly dark and ominous.

His golden yellow robe billowed, and his eyes grew colder by the moment.

Xie Yun Shen had brought up something he hadn't even considered.

Li Che... was the Netherworld Monkey?

That Grand Supervisor had foreseen that the holder of the Mindful Golden Iron Rod would ascend the city walls of Heavenward City and bring chaos to the Grand Canal Empire!

"The National Master speaks with reason. Let Governor Ye investigate. If Li Bansheng is not the Netherworld Monkey, I will personally offer compensation."

"Rest assured, during the investigation, you won't be imprisoned or harmed. Consider it an extended stay in the Divine Capital."

The Emperor waved his sleeves and spoke in a deep voice.

As his words fell, Li Che, enveloped in Lu Taibai's sword aura, let his black hair flutter in the wind, "If you want to frame someone, you'll never lack an excuse."

"Also... Your Majesty, you're so stingy with the rewards for the Peach Feast, do you think I, a Special Guest Advisor of the Heavenly Astronomical Bureau, would care about your compensation?"

Li Che finished speaking.

The Emperor's face darkened even further.

However, the Emperor didn't say more, and with a light wave of his hand, a powerful aura surged skyward, blood qi surged, as if an ancient beast had awakened in an instant.

Then, three more powerful and overwhelming blood qi followed, erupting from the four corners of the White Jade Square, forming the silhouettes of divine beasts woven from the four blood qi, which hovered and pressed down, creating a terrifying sense of suffocation, causing the spring rain to freeze in the air.

These were the four top commanders of the Divine Capital's Mystic Guards, the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise!

The four top-tier experts under the command of the Grand Canal Emperor!

This was the might of the Grand Canal Court!

Although the Grand Canal had eleven divine sects, in truth, the Grand Canal Court was the true power, and their strength far surpassed that of any single sect.

Boom!!!

Leading the charge, the Azure Dragon, the first of the four commanders, struck out!

Every scale on his body was forged from the essence crystals of the Three Pure Ones rank.

The Azure Dragon, the first of the four commanders, took action the moment the Emperor waved his hand.

Amid the pattering spring rain, a series of thunderous claps reverberated through the White Jade Square.

The Azure Dragon's arm struck out, and his blood qi condensed into a real palm, its five fingers curved like sharp divine spears, forming a dragon claw.

Squeezing and rolling the air currents, tearing through the rain, and emitting an ear-piercing explosion, it spanned the White Jade Square, enveloping Lu Taibai in terrifying pressure.

The dragon claw was lifelike, each scale woven from blood qi, a perfect, flawless work of art.

The Azure Dragon, ranked sixth at Heaven's Gate Pass, spoke in a calm voice.

"Lu Taibai, since His Majesty has spoken, let's keep Li Bansheng here."

Lu Taibai held nothing back, and his blood essence at his brow instantly ruptured, and the terrifying Dao Essence Cataclysm Sword was unsheathed, dripping with blood.

That dragon claw was slowly blasted apart!

The Azure Dragon's eyes narrowed, his expression changing, and a hint of shock flashed in his eyes...

The Dao Essence Cataclysm Sword was indeed formidable!

Boom, boom, boom—

Continuous explosions reverberated in the air above the White Jade Square, unleashing a chaotic storm.

The cultivators in the second and third cities of the Divine Capital were filled with fear.

The air currents blew past, and the cultivators in the main banquet area were sent flying, their horses tumbling, and cries of surprise filled the air.

Ji Mo Li burst into laughter, slowly standing up, his black armor heavy and clanging, releasing a controlled roar, as if his aura had shattered the air in an instant.

"The Netherworld is connected to the death of the Empress, and if you're truly related to the Netherworld, this suspicion is too great. You must stay!"

"Li Che, stay!"

Ji Mo Li spoke.

Including Zhou Chiguo, his four disciples quickly donned their armor, and their bodies instantly grew, expanding like small mountains.

Ji Mo Li turned to the Emperor, bowing, "Your Majesty, my son Ji Hai Hui and my wife, Ao Yu Xin, both died at the hands of Netherworld thugs. If this Li Bansheng is truly connected to the Netherworld, I... must keep him here. I want to learn from him about the other Netherworld thugs."

"For my deceased son and wife, I must have revenge!"

The Emperor glanced at the majestic Ji Mo Li, his expression complex, and his gaze distant.

"Very well."

Ji Mo Li smiled lightly.

The next moment, he clenched his five fingers.

A parasol gun was instantly handed to him by a son as large as a mountain.

Boom—

Gripping the parasol gun.

In an instant, his aura surged, unceasingly booming and expanding, like mountains rising, as if a storm of thunder was approaching.

The tip of the gun pointed.

Pointing at Li Che, enveloped in Lu Taibai's sword aura.

The second chapter is more challenging to write, I'll finish it in one go tomorrow, and on Monday, I'll be counting on everyone's freshly baked recommendation votes! Old Li thanks you! Let's continue the charge tomorrow!

(End of Chapter)

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