Chapter 197: Chapter 159: The Qilin Child’s Charm! Targeted by the Eldest Princess?

Having read the hexagrams, Lu Mingyuan’s thoughts grew complex.

These three National Preceptors were attending the Banquet of Ten Thousand Nations with obvious ill intent, and they even had some connection to the Demon Race.

The Demon Race was surely plotting something in the shadows, seeking to avenge their past defeats and reclaim their lost standing.

For the past century, the Demon Race had not dared to make a single move. The main reason was that the road to the Wilderness World in the Western Border was lined with the heavy troops of many dynasties, chief among them the Great Yan. Furthermore, the nearby Ten Thousand Buddha Continent was the territory of the Buddhist Heaven. Bodhisattvas and Arhats perpetually stood guard over this Western Pure Land, making it exceedingly difficult for the Demon Race to break through the defenses of the Buddhist Sect and the various dynastic armies.

To the east of the Ten Thousand Buddha Continent was the Celestial Mountain Confucian Temple, located on the Haoran Continent, north of the Central Plains World.

While he certainly couldn’t choose the two hexagrams of great misfortune, they revealed a great deal of information indirectly.

At this Banquet of Ten Thousand Nations, the various countries were putting on an act—arrogant at first, deferential later. Among so many nations, probably few wished Great Yan well. They all wanted to take its place. The most powerful among them were primarily the Nanli Dynasty, the Great Sui Dynasty, the Great Frost Dynasty, and the Great Wu Dynasty.

The Great Frost Dynasty was at least considered to be within the Central Plains World; the other dynasties were all outside the Central Plains.

The second hexagram meant that if he did nothing, a great calamity would soon occur. He himself would be safe for a short time, but everyone at the banquet would fall victim to the Demon Race’s scheme, leading to irreversible consequences. ’Could it be that everyone will die?’

Otherwise, how could the world fall into such chaos? Only by amassing their strength for a century and invading the Central Plains with an overwhelming army could the Demon Race stir up such turmoil.

One had to understand that the people gathered in Changle Palace were an extremely important group in this world. They were the prodigies and representatives from the major dynasties, as well as the pillars of the cultivator community. If they died, the resulting impact would be enough to sweep through the major dynasties, giving the Demon Race the opportunity they sought.

If the Central Plains World fell into turmoil, the fate of the Great Yan Dynasty, as the Master of Heaven’s Will, would naturally decline.

If Great Yan were to be destroyed and its National Fortune to wane, he would not fare well either.

Only by taking action himself, allying with the Taoist Sect, and striking first, all while advancing his Realm, could he hope to turn the tide.

He just didn’t understand how he, a mere Eighth Realm Martial Artist, could possibly save Great Yan.

No matter what, he would incur the hatred of the Demon Race. That much was unavoidable.

Having thought through the critical points, Lu Mingyuan refocused his gaze on the scene in Changle Palace.

Just then, several more luxurious sedan chairs arrived, surrounded by a host of Great Yan Imperial Guardsmen, weapons in hand, looking stern and solemn.

Lu Mingyuan’s gaze was sharp, and he glanced behind him.

“Hm?” Lu Mingyuan immediately spotted his maternal grandfather’s figure. A group of Cabinet Ministers was entering one by one, each dressed in a crimson robe with a crane pattern and a black gauze cap. Their presence was immense. As the ruling officials of the Court, they had to exude an imposing aura in every gesture, lest they show any weakness in front of the foreign nations.

The position of Ministerial Scholar could not be held by anyone less than a Tenth Realm Confucian Scholar. Every Confucian Cultivator Above the Tenth Realm could be called a National Hero, signifying that they were among the most outstanding Confucian Scholars in the nation.

As he stepped through the gate, Wang He’fu saw Lu Mingyuan sitting in his seat. He smiled and gave a slight nod.

Lu Mingyuan waved back in greeting to his grandfather.

’This year’s Demon Slaying Conference is truly a rare grand event,’ Lu Mingyuan thought. ’The Court Cabinet, important officials, and the Three Academy Cultivators all have to send representatives. Authority should have originally rested with the Emperor, but now it has shifted to the Cabinet, led by the Chief Minister.’

“Sixth Brother, it’s been a while. After a year in the Cold Palace, your complexion seems to be getting better and better.”

Lu Mingyuan looked up toward the source of the voice and saw a handsome young man in a dark python robe seated diagonally in front of him.

It was none other than Prince Jin, Lu Guangjing, who was currently looking at him with a smile.

’He’s actually taking the initiative to greet me?’

Sensing that he was up to no good, Lu Mingyuan replied coolly:

“Thank you for your concern, Second Brother.”

The cold reply did nothing to dampen Lu Guangjing’s desire to talk.

“I hear you’ve been practicing martial arts recently. Don’t tell me you’re planning to use the Martial Dao to attain longevity, just to get through these next thirty boring years?”

Lu Guangjing’s inquiry was earnest, not at all like a taunt, his tone filled with deep concern.

“Sixth Brother will do as he pleases. Aren’t you overstepping a bit, Second Brother?”

Before Lu Mingyuan could answer, Lu Yunqing had already interjected with a cold voice from the side, cutting their conversation short.

Lu Guangjing, having been interrupted, wasn’t annoyed. He spread his hands, a look of innocence on his face. “I was just asking, with no intention of interfering. Eighth Brother, why is your tone so aggressive? Could it be that you hold a grudge against me, your elder brother?”

Lu Yunqing had grown much smarter and didn’t take the bait of being accused of disrespecting his elder. He responded coolly, “How would I dare hold a grudge against you, Second Brother? The staff from Prince Jin’s Mansion are already reaching so far as to manage affairs in the Imperial Palace. I simply don’t wish for Second Brother to stray onto the wrong path.”

Seeing how blatant he was being, the many Guards behind Lu Guangjing glared at him with rage.

Among them were many faces Lu Mingyuan recognized, including two A-Grade Tributors from the Endless Pavilion. Only Lord Shadow Scout was absent, presumably because his recent activities had attracted Prince Jin’s attention.

Not to be outdone, the attendants beside Lu Yunqing took a step forward as a warning.

If the other side made a move, they would not sit back and wait for the slaughter.

For a moment, the auras of the two princes clashed as if they were tangible, their strengths seemingly on par. Literary Qi streamed from Lu Yunqing’s fingertips, and the Golden Righteous Qi brewing within his Literary Palace was ready to erupt at any moment.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep