145: 167 168 145: 167 168 Chapter 167 : The Fatal Gamble for Power The two Faxiang realm elders from the Great Chu Dynasty had co so openly and brazenly — not just to support a crown prince, but to confirm whether the Great Qi really had lost its ancestral power.
If the dynasty still had all five of its old ancestors, they’d apologize, say it was rely to support the Third Prince, and politely retreat.
But if their suspicions were true — and only two remained?
Then Great Qi’s ti was up.
As the two released their oppressive auras, the Great Qi ancestors sensed it imdiately and appeared in the great hall.
“I don’t know what business brings two old friends to our palace today?” asked one of the Great Qi’s elders, the Fourth Ancestor.
The Great Chu elder’s smile grew broader upon seeing only two.
“We’re here to support the Third Prince’s ascension.” The Fourth Ancestor frowned.
“This is an internal matter of Great Qi.
There’s no need for your involvent.
You may leave now.” “And if we refuse to leave?” the Great Chu elder retorted without yielding.
Instantly, the entire hall’s atmosphere turned suffocating.
No one had expected this to happen.
It was just a succession debate — how had it co to this?
This was the brink of war.
The Fourth Ancestor’s voice turned cold: “So… you ca prepared.
Do you intend to start a war between our nations?” The Great Chu elder sneered.
“Co on.
We’re all old acquaintances.
Don’t pretend anymore.
Even if I don’t know the reason, it’s clear — your Great Qi only has two Faxiang elders left, doesn’t it?” This sentence hit the court like a hamr.
All the princes, princesses, ministers — everyone froze in horror.
Faxiang elders were the foundation of the three great dynasties.
Even if cities were lost and demonic cultivators ran rampant, as long as those elders lived, the nation stood strong.
But if they fell… They glanced at the emperor and the remaining two elders.
Their grim silence was all the confirmation needed.
Three Faxiang elders had died.
Now it made sense why the Great Chu dared to co to court — not to help the Third Prince, but to dismantle Great Qi.
Before anyone could act, more figures appeared one by one in the hall — all were Faxiang realm powerhouses.
Not just from Great Chu — but from Black Feather Dynasty as well.
Ten of them.
Ten against two.
They stared silently at the stunned Great Qi elders.
This wasn’t political interference.
This was a military coup.
“You…!” The two Qi elders pointed at them, their faces filled with fear and shock.
This was exactly what they had feared when the other three elders died — that the remaining dynasties would find out.
And now, it had co true.
“We’re here… to send you two on your way.” The ten moved at once.
The two elders, knowing they had no chance, fled in opposite directions.
But it was no use.
The enemies had planned for this — surrounding them from all angles.
In just the ti it took to burn one incense stick, the two were killed — their souls dissipated, their bodies destroyed.
Facing five on one, lasting even that long was a feat.
The ten elders returned to the hall and turned their eyes on the Emperor, looking down at him like an insect.
“Imdiately declare the division of Great Qi — half to Black Feather, half to Great Chu.” The Emperor clenched his jaw.
“Never!” A man can be killed, but not humiliated.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than his body burst apart from internal backlash.
The Emperor of Qi was dead.
The Great Chu elder looked toward King Zhenwu.
“Impossible.” Boom!
Another death.
Like the god of death, the elder looked upon each with icy indifference.
Each word sealed another fate.
Finally, his gaze landed on the Third Prince.
“Ascend the throne at once.
Obey our terms.
Split Great Qi as instructed.
If you do… we will spare your life.” The Third Prince’s expression twisted in turmoil.
When the Great Chu elder first approached him, he thought this was his chance — the Crown Prince seat was all but guaranteed.
Now the throne was within reach — but it ant nothing.
He would be a puppet, and a king of ashes.
He wouldn’t even last long.
History would rember him as the man who watched a nation fall and did nothing.
And yet… to refuse was to die now.
I don’t want to be Crown Prince anymore.
I don’t want the throne.
I just want to go back to how it was… to just being a prince.
The Ninth Prince felt the sa.
He had imagined victory, even failure — but never this: A ruined dynasty.
A dead emperor.
The enemy in their palace.
It was just a battle for the throne… How did it turn into the destruction of the entire kingdom?
Sixth Princess Song Yushu had already closed her eyes.
She understood.
Great Qi was finished.
No one in the royal family would survive.
Her mind flashed with the faces of those she cared about — her mother, her wet nurse, a few generals who were like ntors and friends… And Su Xinyan.
Her daughter Fang Ying is so adorable.
If I survive… I’d like to have a daughter like that.
And then, her thoughts turned to Fang Ting.
That man — strikingly handso, ethereal in temperant, and brilliant in talent — had always carried himself with quiet humility.
He protected his wife and daughter, and grew his clan with diligence and strength.
Once, she had thought little of him.
Now… he seed almost perfect.
What a pity… I’ll never see him again.
All around the court, ministers and nobles looked devastated.
Great Qi had fallen.
Their chances of survival were slim to none.
Still fighting for the throne?
What throne?
If I’d known, I wouldn’t have co today… The Great Chu elder grew impatient.
“You have three breaths to decide.
Ascend the throne — or die.” The Third Prince’s mother was the Great Chu emperor’s sister — yet none of them cared.
And just as despair reached its peak — when all hope seed lost— A voice rang out from the palace gates.
“I do not consent to his ascension.” It wasn’t loud.
But every person in the hall heard it clearly.
Eyes went wide with shock.
At this point… who still dares speak?
Who has the right — or the courage — to say such a thing?
All eyes turned.
A man stood at the doorway.
Tall.
Sharp-eyed like starlight in a deep sky.
A warm, calm smile on his face.
An otherworldly aura, like an exiled immortal descending to earth.
He was none other than— Fang Ting, patriarch of the Fang Clan in Lingyue City.
Chapter 168 : Rise of the Hidden Kingmaker Inside the grand hall, when everyone saw Fang Ting, their first reaction was surprise—followed imdiately by disappointed sighs.
We thought it might be a savior… but it’s just him?
Even though the Fang clan had been on the rise and Fang Ting’s talent had surpassed even that of the Ninth Prince, how could he possibly kill ten Faxiang-level cultivators?
He’s out of his mind.
Of all the tis to show up—he chose now?
To die?
Only Song Yushu’s eyes sparkled with a flicker of hope.
Could he be here… to save ?
The Great Chu elder let out a cold sneer.
“We were just about to finish up here and pay a visit to the Fang clan—to wipe them out, and look who walks in.” Before they ca, they had already investigated thoroughly.
Aside from the imperial family, the Fang clan in Lingyue City was the most dangerous force in all of Great Qi.
Three monstrous prodigies had erged from their lineage, each with frightening talent.
And the patriarch, Fang Ting, had always kept his power hidden the deepest.
A family like that had to be eliminated—only then could their empire’s control be secure.
So even if Fang hadn’t co, they would have gone to destroy him anyway.
Fang Ting simply smiled—calm and fearless.
“No matter.
Sooner or later makes no difference.
Since I’m here, you can die early.” To a fool, that line might seem laughable.
But anyone with a working brain would start to wonder— Could he have sothing up his sleeve?
“Boom!!” The Great Chu elder struck out with his hand, aiming to kill Fang Ting instantly.
But from the mont Fang arrived—everything had already been decided.
“Swoosh!
Swoosh!” In the instant the elder moved, beams of yellow light flashed across the room.
In that one breath of ti— All ten Faxiang elders died.
They fell without resistance, their vitality completely extinguished.
Not even a full second passed.
Ten supre elders—the very peak of the three dynasties—had dropped dead like stray dogs on the street.
And Fang Ting hadn’t even lifted a finger.
Everyone in the hall was frozen in terror, eyes wide.
What… what just happened?
How can ten Faxiang cultivators die like this—like they were nothing?
He didn’t even attack!
Didn’t he just fight the Ninth Prince a few years ago?
How can he be this strong now?
Of course—it wasn’t Fang Ting who made the move.
He murmured softly to the air beside him: “Thank you, Kong Lao.” Then he reached out, gathered the corpses of the ten elders, and looked at Song Yushu.
“Sixth Princess, I hope once you ascend the throne, you’ll quickly stabilize the realm.
When the ti is right, co visit the Fang clan.” “Also… I don’t want today’s events leaving this hall.” “Farewell.” Fang Ting’s figure vanished in an instant, as if he had never been there.
Everyone snapped back to reality.
His aning was obvious—he wanted Song Yushu to ascend the throne.
Had this happened before today, no one would have taken it seriously.
But just now—he’d annihilated ten Faxiang elders.
With that kind of power behind her, who dared oppose her anymore?
“Swish!” The court officials, ever masters of shifting allegiances, didn’t hesitate for a mont.
They fell to their knees in unison and cried out: “We greet Your Majesty!
Long live the Empress!
May Her Majesty live as long as the heavens!” The Third Prince and Ninth Prince were left standing awkwardly.
Kneeling felt shaful.
Not kneeling might get them killed.
In the end, they too bent the knee.
Song Yushu remained calm and composed, stepping forward step by step.
With each step, her aura as a ruler grew stronger.
By the ti she reached the top and sat upon the dragon throne, her presence was monuntal—like a golden dragon coiled around her.
It felt as though she had awakened a unique imperial constitution.
The entire court bowed in silence, afraid to even breathe.
The Third and Ninth Princes wore complex expressions.
Monts ago, the Ninth Prince had believed, with all his supporters and even King Zhenwu behind him, that the throne was his.
When the Great Chu elder arrived, the Third Prince thought victory was his.
No one could’ve predicted—this man they had once overlooked, Fang Ting, would determine the future of the realm in a matter of minutes.
And now, the princess they barely regarded had ascended to the highest seat.
Song Yushu’s voice rang out, powerful and clear.
“As of today, our national na shall be changed to Da Qian.” One command followed another.
And soon, the entire realm began to tremble.
Her border troops, loyal generals, and elite cultivators rushed to the capital imdiately.
With her iron will, she launched a massive purge of court and bureaucracy—swiftly eliminating traitors and disloyal forces.
Everywhere, people whispered— “Unbelievable!
The Sixth Princess is now Empress!” “There’s never been a female emperor in any of the three dynasties.
She’s made history!” “But how did she win against both the Third and Ninth Princes?” “Wasn’t the Crown Prince supposed to be crowned for a year before ascending?
Why the rush?” “Where’s the Emperor?
…Is he dead?” Rumors abounded.
But under Song Yushu’s decisive and rciless leadership, all dissent was crushed.
So noble clans were erased overnight.
She placed trusted, capable allies in every key position—from the central court to distant provinces.
Within a month, the Da Qian Dynasty was stabilized without chaos or rebellion.
To the public, it felt like not much had changed—only the na of the ruler and the nation.
As for the Third and Ninth Princes—their downfall was swift and complete.
All who aligned with them vanished with them.
Just a month had passed—yet it showed her profound skill and strategy.
When the situation was secure, Song Yushu kept her word and personally visited the Fang clan in Lingyue City.
By convention, when a monarch visits, citizens should line the streets to welco and bow in reverence.
But when she arrived at the Fang residence— No one reacted.
They treated her like an ordinary visitor.
Not out of disrespect.
But because within the Fang clan, there was only one person they revered— Fang Ting.
No one else mattered.
Well—maybe Little Princess Fang Ying too.
Her words also held weight.
As for Song Yushu?
She wasn’t offended.
She accepted it calmly.
Without the Fang clan, Great Qi would be gone.
I wouldn’t be Empress.
I’d be dead.
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