The Human Emperor Chapter 2467 - Side Story Chapter 40: The Sage Emperor of the Great Tang!

As Li Taiyi’s voice echoed, a golden sword, radiating a light countless times brighter than the sun, burst forth from the void. It cleaved through time and space, instantly obliterating the colossal dragon that Li Xuantu had summoned.

“Aaaah!”

With a pained howl and a cascade of blood, a disheveled figure plummeted from the giant dragon.

As he descended, the armor encasing his body disintegrated into fragments.

Li Xuantu crashed violently onto the ground, marking the definitive end of the battle.

Roars of triumph swept through the palace. The eyes of Gao Lishi, Wang Jiuling, Wang Haibin, Abusi, Zhangchou Jianqiong, and Zhang Shougui blazed with elation.

“He succeeded! His Highness has truly achieved it!”

Throughout this coup, the First Prince, Li Xuantu, had initially held the advantage. However, in the end, they had managed to salvage victory from the brink of defeat.

Li Taiyi registered the thunderous cheers and offered a faint smile.

The conflict was concluded, and he had succeeded in mitigating the casualties incurred.

Yet, before Li Taiyi could fully savor the triumph, a peculiar sensation washed over him.

“Who’s there?”

Li Taiyi’s head snapped around abruptly, his body erupting with Stellar Energy as he propelled his palm backward.

A shadowy figure had sprung from the darkness, launching a sword thrust towards Li Taiyi.

Fist met sword, and the immense force sent Li Taiyi staggering back several paces. Simultaneously, the spectral figure utilized the momentum to execute a backward flip.

“Li Chengyi!”

Upon recognizing the assailant, Li Taiyi recoiled in shock.

He had never remotely anticipated that the one launching a surprise attack from the shadows would be the Second Prince, Li Chengyi.

Li Taiyi and Li Xuantu were the sole contenders for the throne this night. Li Chengyi had long been dismissed from consideration, and at the outset of the turmoil, he had vanished, effectively becoming a non-entity.

However, to everyone’s astonishment, he had not only failed to disappear but had been lurking nearby all along. Furthermore, the recent assault demonstrated that Li Chengyi was far from the rumored state, having concealed a terrifying cultivation level.

“First Brother, Third Brother, is all this truly necessary? Imperial Father has already issued a decree designating me as the heir, commanding both of you to lend me your utmost support. It’s a pity you two are squabbling over an empty title.”

Li Chengyi let out a sinister chuckle, showing no immediate inclination to resume his attack.

Li Chengyi appeared entirely transformed from his previous demeanor, as if all constraints had been shed, revealing his true, imposing presence.

His form pulsed with power, making him seem on par with Li Taiyi.

Moreover, he was flanked by over ten black-clad experts. These individuals emanated peculiar energies, all of them undeniably supreme cultivators.

Despite the formidable abilities of both Li Taiyi and Li Xuantu, neither had ever encountered these individuals before.

But mere moments later, all eyes shifted back to Li Chengyi.

“What preposterousness are you spouting?”

Even the grievously wounded Li Xuantu couldn't suppress his agitation, furiously retorting. However, mere seconds after speaking, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

“First Brother, there’s no need for such agitation. I assure you, I’m not making this claim without solid proof.”

Li Chengyi flashed a grin, presenting two items to the princes.

“This is the Imperial Jade Seal of the Great Tang. You recognize it, don’t you? And this is an edict personally penned by Imperial Father, bearing his royal seal. It is explicitly stated, in black and white, that I am to ascend the throne and that all officials are to offer their assistance. First Brother, Third Brother, surely you won’t defy an imperial decree, will you?”

“Preposterous!”

Li Xuantu finally grasped that he, along with Li Taiyi, had been ensnared in Li Chengyi’s elaborate scheme tonight.

He had been under the firm conviction that the Imperial Jade Seal was in Li Taiyi’s possession. Now, it seemed Li Chengyi had secretly obtained the seal and kept it hidden from him all along.

It was abundantly clear that he had been meticulously plotting.

“You mustn’t say that. The one holding Imperial Father’s decree and the Imperial Jade Seal is the true Son of Heaven of the Great Tang. Furthermore, I have already summoned the officials, including the Grand Preceptor and the Grand Tutor. All the appointed officials have already arrived... Esteemed officials, please reveal yourselves!”

As he uttered these words, Li Chengyi turned his gaze towards another section.

Everyone watched as the Grand Tutor, the Grand Preceptor, key officials from the Six Ministries, and numerous other court dignitaries emerged.

“Grand Preceptor, Grand Tutor, I am aware of your long-standing favor towards my First Brother. However, this is Imperial Father’s decree, and we must not disobey it, correct?” Li Chengyi inquired politely.

“Your Highness, rest assured. Our personal preferences have never been a factor. As long as we verify this to be the legitimate decree of the former Emperor, Your Highness shall rightfully be the Son of Heaven of the Great Tang. Neither the First Prince nor the Third Prince possesses the authority to defy you,” the two responded sternly.

These pronouncements caused every member of the Eastern Palace faction to scowl deeply.

“Take it!”

Li Chengyi flung the imperial decree forward with a wave of his hand, though he kept the actual seal firmly in his grasp. Retaining the seal ensured he could not be deceived by anyone.

“Third Brother, you don’t intend to reject this decree, do you?”

A sinister chuckle escaped Li Chengyi as he turned his gaze towards Li Taiyi. Their rivalry for the throne had been fierce, yet ultimately, he had outmaneuvered them both, securing the throne without shedding a single drop of blood.

Li Taiyi let out a soft laugh before finally speaking. “Chengyi, do you truly believe you have won?

“To ascend to the throne, possession of the genuine Imperial Seal is paramount. A fabricated jade seal will not suffice.”

“What did you say?”

Li Chengyi’s pupils dilated, his face draining of color.

“Chengyi, did you imagine I remained ignorant of your schemes?”

Li Taiyi’s head turned, his sharp eyes piercing Li Chengyi like daggers, instantly freezing him as a profound sense of dread washed over him.

“Allow me to elaborate,” a venerable voice interjected.

The assembled crowd parted, making way for a familiar figure to advance, flanked by several experts from the Imperial Army.

Eunuch Li!

Upon sight of the man, Li Chengyi trembled as if encountering a specter.

“Second Prince, is there still a need for me to detail your transgressions?”

“I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re implying,” Li Chengyi retorted fiercely, though his heart pounded with fear.

“Haaah…”

Eunuch Li released a sigh, shaking his head, his eyes glistening with profound disappointment.

“Your Excellencies, both of you are seasoned officials, intimately familiar with the Imperial Jade Seal. I must implore you to examine the decree and scrutinize the seal imprinted upon it. The authentic jade seal bears three cloud patterns on its lower right corner, while the one presented here possesses only two.”

The Grand Preceptor and Grand Tutor remained silent, but Li Chengyi felt as though struck by lightning, nearly dropping the jade seal in his hand. The Grand Preceptor and Grand Tutor unrolled the decree and gave it a cursory glance, their brows furrowing instantly. “Eunuch Li? How did you ascertain this? It is indeed true. This jade seal bears but two cloud patterns.”

An overwhelming number of peculiar events had transpired this night.

“Grand Preceptor, Grand Tutor, First Prince, Third Prince, heed the decree!”

Eunuch Li reached into his sleeve, withdrawing another imperial decree.

“Second Prince, Emperor Tang did indeed leave a final decree, but it was not the one you hold,” Eunuch Li stated, casting a knowing glance at Li Chengyi.

Li Chengyi’s heart turned to ice, rendering him speechless.

“By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Third Prince Xuan, whose benevolence, righteousness, and wisdom are evident, and who displays utmost respect and filial piety, shall inherit the throne. The Grand Preceptor, Grand Tutor, and all other officials are charged with rendering him their unwavering support. Thus is the Emperor’s irrevocable will!”

“Impossible! Utterly impossible!”

Li Chengyi staggered back, his countenance contorting with agitation, bordering on madness. “A deception! This entire affair is a charade! Imperial Father passed long ago; how could he have issued a decree?!”

Eunuch Li shook his head. “Second Prince, have you yet to learn remorse? Whether it was you, the First Prince, or the Third Prince, His Majesty was cognizant of every one of your actions, including your collusion with nefarious individuals to leverage their power to poison His Majesty. His Majesty was aware of everything.”

These words sent a shiver down Li Chengyi’s spine, his eyes widening in sheer terror.

“How can this be? If Imperial Father knew of all this, then why…”

But Eunuch Li offered no further explanation.

“Third Prince, His Majesty’s judgment of you was not mistaken. With the dawn of the new day, the court officials shall convene a coronation ceremony to enthrone you as Emperor,” Eunuch Li announced.

“No! I am the Emperor!”

Li Chengyi’s eyes flared red as he pointed a trembling finger at Li Taiyi, bellowing orders to the shadowy figures clad in black. “Annihilate them all!”

The dozen or so formidable figures in black dissolved into the shadows like phantoms. “Li Taiyi, you shall perish!” Li Chengyi roared venomously, lunging forward.

Such an assault would have been unthinkable previously, but now, both Li Xuantu and Li Taiyi had depleted a significant portion of their Stellar Energy during their recent confrontation, leaving them far from their peak condition. If he could eliminate them all, who would dare stand in his path to the throne?

“Chengyi, you have proven profoundly disappointing. Since Imperial Father foresaw your every move, do you truly believe he neglected to prepare a countermeasure?”

Li Taiyi shook his head. As Li Chengyi launched his attack, he abruptly raised a hand, slamming it onto the ground, thereby connecting with the colossal Three Emperors Formation hidden beneath the Imperial Palace.

A blinding luminescence, akin to an exploding sun, erupted forth, bathing the capital in daylight clarity.

“Aaaah!”

With a piercing shriek, the shadowy figures in black were disintegrated into dust by the radiant light, and the frenzied Li Chengyi was violently repelled.

The turmoil that had been plaguing the Imperial Palace was quelled with a single strike.

......

The Tang Emperor breathed his last in the twenty-fourth year of his reign.

In that very same year, the Third Prince, Xuan, ascended the dragon throne, proclaiming a new era: 'Divine Dragon'. History would later remember him as the Sage Emperor.

This pivotal event, the coup, etched itself into the annals of time as the Divine Dragon Coup.

......

By the twelfth year of the Divine Dragon era, the Great Tang had triumphed over the Eastern and Western Turks.

......

Two years later, in the fourteenth year of Divine Dragon, the Great Tang forces crushed Ü-Tsang and Arabia.

......

That same year also saw the Great Tang subjugate Mengshe Zhao and defeat Goguryeo.

From that point forward, the Great Tang entered an era of unparalleled prosperity, a golden age unlike any before.