Chapter 386: Chapter 236: Head-On Confrontation

In my past two lifetimes, I fell to the bottom, relying only on myself.

In this life, as a prince of the Dynasty, naturally, I possess the dignity and means of a prince. If I ascend to the Saint Emperor’s throne, I can mobilize the entire Dynasty’s cultivators to aid in my journey to the Immortal Path!

Hong Luan’s Divine Soul, with its extraordinary bloodline abilities, suppresses the already near-death Artifact Spirit of the Profound Celestial Treasure, and it isn’t much harder than suppressing the Primordial Spirit of the Liangzhou Governor.

When Hong Luan’s vertical eye closed, Li Jizhou’s Divine Soul probed in, and the Artifact Spirit no longer resisted, obediently acknowledging ownership.

"Boom!"

At the moment of acknowledging ownership, a powerful aura enveloped Li Jizhou within the Divine Soul of the Blood-Drinking Saber.

The dense atmosphere of blood fiend and the violent aura of slaughter caused Li Jizhou to shudder inexplicably.

It resonated from afar with the Celestial Venerable Dao Fruit in the Storage Ring.

"Guards outside the tent!" Li Jizhou immediately ordered.

The commander of the three armies followed the order.

"You all come with me into the Dharma Realm!" He instructed Hong Luan and the other four women once more, using his Divine Soul to activate the Celestial Venerable Dharma Realm.

In an instant, space fluctuated, and brilliant light flashed before their eyes.

Upon reopening his eyes, he found himself returned to the Huangquan Blood Evil Realm where he had previously been trapped.

However, this time, as the controller, he experienced something entirely different.

The blood fiend aura of this world was entirely under his control, capable of exerting power not beneath that of a Nascent Soul with a slight attempt.

This was still due to his insufficient current realm, unable to fully master the power of this place.

If he entered the Nascent Soul, perhaps he could invoke the might of Refining Void.

The only regret is that the Celestial Venerable Law has already solidified. Even beyond Divinity Transformation, he cannot physically descend here and can only explore with his Divine Soul.

After multiple attempts and complete mastery, Li Jizhou led the four women out of the Dharma Realm.

At this moment, Gongsun Dang returned.

After a brief inquiry, he learned that Gongsun Dang was teleported to an area in the Northern Domain where divine souls are isolated. Though not dangerous, it took some time.

When Gongsun Dang learned of Li Jizhou’s actions, leading the three armies in the Dharma Realm to reverse slay the Golden Corpse of Divinity Transformation, and then boldly and decisively slaying the Liangzhou Governor to seize the Profound Celestial Treasure that stored the Celestial Venerable Dharma Realm...

He looked at this Seventh Prince with newfound respect.

Such wisdom and bravery, majesty and valor, even surpassing the current Saint Emperor!

A wise gamble!

"Your Highness, now it seems the whole world knows of your deeds. Escaping might prove difficult. How should we deal with the Dragon traitors?" Originally, the plan with Li Jizhou was that upon the Seventh Prince’s disappearance, the Saint Emperor would have only the Ninth Prince left, potentially prompting an early inheritance of the Quasi-Immortal Artifact, the Jiuli Map.

That would force the Dragon Aspect to make an early move.

But now, the Seventh Prince leading the three armies breaking the Dharma Realm and slaying the Liangzhou Governor can no longer be hidden.

Faking death or disappearance is naturally impossible.

Li Jizhou smiled, looking at Hong Luan.

Hong Luan understood, and her vertical eye opened once again, as the Liangzhou Governor’s Primordial Spirit painfully emerged.

Yet it remained covered by the golden light of Hong Luan’s vertical eye.

"You little thief, you refuse to keep your word, may you die a miserable death!" The Liangzhou Governor’s Primordial Spirit, as soon as appeared, angrily cursed at Li Jizhou.

"Bold, how dare you speak disrespectfully to His Highness!" Gongsun Dang’s face darkened, and a whip formed from the Primordial Spirit lashed out past.

"Hiss!" The Liangzhou Governor’s Primordial Spirit instantly grimaced in pain.

This was when he noticed Gongsun Dang’s presence.

"Grand General, you must stand up for your humble servant. The Seventh Prince is vicious by nature, without reason, he..." the Liangzhou Governor instinctively wailed.

"Humph! A mere governor concealing the Celestial Venerable Dharma Realm, secretly raising a Golden Corpse with malicious intent. Speak, who instructed you? What was the purpose?" Gongsun Dang sternly reprimanded.

"..." Only then did the Liangzhou Governor suddenly realize, the Profound Celestial Treasure had already fallen into the Seventh Prince’s hands, and the secret of the Celestial Venerable Dharma Realm was known.

"Hong Luan!" Seeing his hesitation, Li Jizhou wasted no words, looking at Hong Luan again.

Hong Luan smiled faintly, the vertical eye once more taking him inside.

In an instant, his Primordial Spirit’s howls echoed.

Three breaths later, Li Jizhou pointed toward Hong Luan with a finger once more.

"Speak the truth, and I may allow you to reincarnate again. Otherwise, remain inside for thousands upon thousands of years, enduring endless torment."

"Speak, I will speak, it was the Dragon Court Guardian a thousand years ago who gave me the Blood-Drinking Saber and instructed me then to raise a Golden Corpse."

"And the matter of the Celestial Venerable Tomb?" Gongsun Dang glanced at Li Jizhou, a trace of surprise in his eyes.

"It was also the Dragon Court Guardian’s order for me to deliberately leak the Celestial Venerable’s aura, placing the Celestial Venerable Dao Fruit..."

"The purpose?"

"I do not know, I truly do not know, I merely followed orders!"

"Any other orders?"

"Also, I was to protect the Seventh Prince comprehensively and report the situation at any time."

"Protect the Seventh Prince?" Gongsun Dang looked at Li Jizhou, nodding slightly.

It was exactly as Li Jizhou had speculated, the Dragon traitors indeed did not want anything to happen to the Seventh Prince; otherwise, the Ninth Prince would gain favor.

"And what else?"

"The rest were occasional gifts over the years, nothing more."

Gongsun Dang glanced at Li Jizhou, seeing him unmoved, and continued, "Was there any trace left behind?"

"None!"

"Special Divine Soul Secret Skill communication?"

"Correct!"

Gongsun Dang frowned and looked toward Li Jizhou.

Li Jizhou nodded and glanced at Hong Luan.

Hong Luan understood, once again taking the Liangzhou Governor’s Primordial Spirit back, but this time without subjecting him to purgatory’s torment.

"Your Highness, although the Dragon Court Guardian is from the Long family, the Dragon traitors have long split from the family, and without any evidence, perhaps they might accuse someone of impersonating the Dragon Court Guardian, framing the Dragon traitors."

Li Jizhou nodded, "What the Grand General said is reasonable. Long Ni separated from the family back then to sever ties.

I was previously puzzled why not use outsiders; now I understand.

The Long Ni family secretly passed on the Divine Soul Skill with many secrets, only the Long family can cultivate it, and even the Secret Skill is something as strong as you, Grand General, or the Father Emperor cannot decipher."

Gongsun Dang agreed with a nod.

"So what should we do now?"

Li Jizhou looked toward the direction of the Imperial City from afar, "Having delayed these days, Long Ni’s arrangements in the Imperial City must have already been completed. Even if we reveal it now, the cautious nature of Long Ni would leave no evidence!"

"However, as you said, Long Ni’s emergency arrangements are only to speed up time, but time is still pressing; he still has to maintain a balance between me and Old Jiu.

Thus, the only way is to quickly outpace Old Jiu and gain the inheritance from the Father Emperor as the right path!"

Gongsun Dang nodded, then looked a bit gravely at Li Jizhou before finally admitting, "Your Highness, with your exceptional wisdom, brilliance, and bravery, I wholly submit, but... the Saint Emperor might not be aware of these merits, and moreover... the Saint Emperor likely cares more about cultivation realm and future potential.

Judging from Your Highness’s talent and prior grace, it may appear somewhat weak." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Li Jizhou smiled faintly, confidently saying, "I have already comprehended the Dao; within a month, I can at least establish a Dao Foundation of Earth Grade! Within ten years, I will form a Golden Core!"

"Your Highness, are you serious?" Gongsun Dang was suddenly taken aback.

For a typical Qi Cultivation cultivator wishing to establish a Top-Grade Dao Foundation, it surely requires refining the heart in the world, experiencing worldly matters; without ten or eight years, it is difficult to achieve any realization.

This Seventh Prince, after just being out for a month, had already comprehended the Dao?