King of Creation Chapter 1695: 1680: The Emperor's Oral Edict

Capítulo 1695: Chapter 1680: The Emperor’s Oral Edict

“From where… from where did this originate?”

Gazing at the Spirit Shadow, Baili Fei’s expression was a mix of shock and rage. Even a cursory glance was enough to reveal its potential to inflict catastrophic damage upon the Heavenly Temple’s reputation should it ever be made public!

Mu Xu, the Master of the Mu Hall, didn’t immediately answer Baili Fei. Instead, his stern gaze swept over everyone present, jolting them from their daze.

This was no small matter. The Heavenly Temple’s reputation was paramount for attracting followers far and wide, making it imperative to proceed with extreme caution, even amongst the closest allies.

No matter who gained possession of this Spirit Shadow, the Heavenly Temple would find itself in a gravely disadvantageous position.

“Your Highness, Inspector Xio, I must offer my apologies. An unexpected situation has arisen that demands my immediate attention. The matters we intended to conclude today will have to be postponed,” Baili Fei informed Prince Ji Yuan and Xio Qiangu of the West Patrol.

Prince Ji Yuan and Xio Qiangu exchanged puzzled glances, sensing that something of great consequence had transpired within the Heavenly Temple, something they had been kept in the dark about.

Judging by the wary expressions of Baili Fei and Mu Xu, it seemed they were being excluded.

Though curious, they could do nothing more and took their leave.

Not long after their departure, a flurry of covert directives were issued to their most trusted subordinates, all bearing a similar instruction:

“Investigate thoroughly the cause of the recent upheaval within the Heavenly Temple.”

Alas, despite the considerable capabilities of their subordinates, this particular mystery proved impossible to unravel.

Within the confines of the Silent Chamber, Baili Fei meticulously examined the Jade Scroll Spirit Shadow that Mu Xu had passed to him. He then transferred it to the Master of the Thunder Hall, Zhen Yan, whose face mirrored Mu Xu’s utter astonishment.

“Master Mu, from whom did you obtain this? Upon its discovery, surely you apprehended the individual in possession, along with the item itself, for us to…”

Before Zhen Yan could finish his sentence, Mu Xu’s incredulous stare made him abruptly fall silent. He realized the sheer futility of his words.

Had it been possible to take decisive action, Mu Xu wouldn't have sought his counsel. The fact that Mu Xu was now asking for advice clearly indicated an inability to act independently, hence the need to consult them.

“This artifact was entrusted to me by Ye Zhen, the Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy from the West Patrol. Ye Zhen stipulated that should anything unforeseen happen to him, his designated associates would promptly deliver the Divine Record’s Jade Scroll Spirit Shadow to Grand Celestial Official Wu Yu and the personnel of the Ancestor God Temple.

Furthermore, it would be disseminated widely throughout the one hundred and eight jurisdictional cities of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Ye Zhen outlined his stipulations, describing this as his ultimate recourse. He threatened mutual destruction if we persisted in our unjust treatment of him.

Moreover, he enumerated additional conditions, all meticulously inscribed upon the Jade Scroll,” Mu Xu declared, tossing the Jade Scroll containing Ye Zhen’s demands aside in evident frustration.

Mu Xu harbored deep resentment. Green Dawn Peak had long coveted the Yimu Spiritual Communication Technique, and had it not been for Baili Fei’s interference months prior, they might have succeeded in acquiring it.

Now, with unpredictable developments unfolding, even if Ye Zhen proposed an exchange, it was highly probable that Green Dawn Peak would suffer significant losses.

Mulling over this, Mu Xu seethed with anger.

All their endeavors had been rendered utterly in vain.

Not only had they failed to eliminate Ye Zhen and fallen under the sway of the Demon Clan, but they had also plunged Green Dawn Peak into an exceedingly precarious situation.

Initially, the negotiations for Ye Zhen to relinquish the Yimu Spiritual Communication Technique, coupled with a five-year non-aggression pact, were not merely promises but involved leveraging their influence to aid Princess Changle in securing the Barbarian Saintess heritage.

Furthermore, over the preceding years, Green Dawn Peak had made numerous concessions to prevent the Thunder Prison Mountain and Sun and Moon Heaven factions from retaliating against Ye Zhen.

Yet, now, all these efforts had dissolved into nothingness.

How could Mu Xu possibly refrain from exploding with indignation?

Mu Xu provided a concise explanation of the circumstances. Regardless of their individual temperaments, Baili Fei and Zhen Yan possessed ample wisdom and discernment to grasp the gravity of the situation.

They fully comprehended the profound implications of the Jade Scroll Spirit Shadow.

After an extended period of silence, Master of the Moon Hall, Baili Fei, finally broke the quiet, his voice laced with bitterness. “Ye Zhen’s demands, with minor modifications, are acceptable. However, he must first agree to our Heavenly Temple’s two conditions!”

….

Within the opulent Donglai Pavilion of the Luoyi Imperial Palace, Grand Celestial Official Wu Yu hurried in, bowed low, and reported, “Your Majesty, urgent dispatches from the West Patrol indicate the Prophet Demon Master of the Demon God Palace has made an appearance.” An Inner Attendant then took the Jade Scroll from Wu Yu’s grasp.

Emperor Ren Venerate Ji Long offered a dismissive sneer, barely casting a glance at the Jade Scroll. “This intelligence arrived a full twelve hours after the Secret Overseas reports. Xio Qiangu’s audacity grows with each passing day.”

With that pronouncement, Grand Celestial Official Wu Yu knelt once more, his voice heavy with remorse. “Your Majesty, I have been negligent in my duties; I humbly await your judgment and punishment.”

“Arise. As stated, the Xio Family’s deeply entrenched roots, spanning three sovereign generations, have created this power imbalance; it is none of your concern.” Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long scoffed.

“You fail to grasp the situation; Xio Qiangu is using this incident to flaunt his importance, a stark reminder of the Xio Family’s influence.

Should conflict reignite with the Demon Clan, similar delays would not merely impact a single day; even an hour’s hesitation could sway the grand scheme.”

Upon hearing this, Chief Eunuch Yu Chaoen growled, “That arrogant wretch deserves death. Shall I…”

Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long interrupted, “Beyond utilizing the Heavenly Temple, his cultivation surpasses the Dao Realm, bolstered by Spiritual Treasure protection and a legion of bodyguards. Assassination, a truly difficult feat.

Ultimately, court disputes must be settled through court victories to truly rectify the Xio Family’s power imbalance and reclaim West Patrol control.”

With that, Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long solemnly addressed, “Great Attendant, proceed to Prince Xun Ji Zong’s residence and deliver my message: if he remains absent at the upcoming grand assembly, I shall abandon his Northern Region affairs.”

“I obey the decree,” Yu Chaoen bowed, departing swiftly.

“Wud Qing, visit the Chief of Staff and the Mansions of the Nine Great Dukes, conveying my decree: should the Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy post remain vacant, their heirs shall sequentially assume the role, one after another!

Death is for replacement!” declared Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long.

“I obey the decree!”

“Furthermore, with that investigation confirmed, execute it publicly and grandly, lest they believe this Emperor is easily manipulated!” Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long sneered.

As Grand Celestial Official Wu Yu departed, Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long’s laughter echoed, “This time, fortune smiles upon me; with the Luo Prefecture Branch Temple’s massacre, let’s see if you have managed to endure.”

The Luo Prefecture Branch Temple massacre indeed eased Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long’s burden, presenting a pivotal turning point in the matter concerning Ye Zhen.

However, how would Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long react if he discovered that Ye Zhen was, in fact, the mastermind behind the Luo Prefecture Branch Temple massacre?