Chapter 9: Wu Shanggui, you treacherous dog! At last, you've fallen into my hands!-Eu já estou prestes a conquistar todos os países! Você ainda acha que o sul bárbaro é uma terra desolada?(Espalhado por todo o céu)

"It... it is the late Emperor's other sister... the Eldest Princess Xilin."

Wu Shanggui offered up the true mastermind behind the scenes, looking at Li Muchen with pleading eyes, hoping that in exchange for the truth, Li Muchen would spare his life.

Li Muchen's mind flashed with the face of that person...

Eldest Princess Xilin—was she not the illegitimate daughter of the Prince of the Northwest?

Years ago, the entire family of the Prince of the Northwest was wiped out, leaving only an orphaned girl in the Prince's estate.

His mother, feeling pity for the orphan, had begged the late Emperor, her imperial brother, to bring the girl into the palace and adopt her as his sister.

The late Emperor had always doted on his mother, his only full-blooded sister, and so he issued a decree conferring the title of Eldest Princess Xilin upon the orphan.

Later, as the Eldest Princess grew older, she somehow fell in love with the Second Prince of the Northern Ji kingdom, who had come as part of an official delegation.

In the end, the late Emperor issued a decree allowing Eldest Princess Xilin to marry the Second Prince of the neighboring Northern Ji kingdom as his consort.

Although Northern Ji was a small kingdom bordering the Great Zhao, it was home to many clans of cultivators, so other great powers dared not easily offend them.

How had this Eldest Princess become the mastermind behind the coup and the rebellion?

A flash of ruthless malice crossed Li Muchen’s eyes. Fearing that the deposed Emperor might not believe him, Wu Shanggui immediately added:

"Your Majesty! The new Emperor is none other than an illegitimate son of the Northern Ji... of the Second Prince of Northern Ji."

"Behind the new Emperor and the Eldest Princess Xilin, the Northern Ji royal family is also secretly working to harm you, Your Majesty."

"The master of Green Wood Mountain was deliberately arranged by the Eldest Princess Xilin to infiltrate the Great Zhao."

"The two-year drought in the Great Zhao was also a man-made disaster caused by the spells of the cultivators from their Green Wood Mountain."

Li Muchen’s gaze gradually cleared. Recalling all that had happened since his ascension, he slowly began to understand...

"No wonder—"

"So, it was my aunt, who shares no blood with me... who was causing trouble behind the scenes?!"

"Tell me more: what method did those cultivators from Green Wood Mountain use to keep the Great Zhao without rain for two years?"

Li Muchen’s question truly stumped Wu Shanggui.

Terrified of losing his life, Wu Shanggui dared not deceive Li Muchen, nor did he dare to spout nonsense.

Unable to comprehend why the deposed Emperor had suddenly become so powerful, or what other trump cards he might hold, he had no choice but to tell the truth.

"Your Majesty, have mercy!! I am merely a mortal. How could the cultivators of the Green Wood Mountain ever let me know the secrets of their magic?!"

"Your Majesty—everything this servant says is the truth!!"

"If you do not believe me, you may investigate. I only beg that, in consideration of my effort to redeem myself, you do not let that giant bird monster devour me."

Wu Shanggui’s body could not move, but his eyes tracked every move of the Vermilion Bird.

He was terrified that the beast might succumb to its nature and swallow him just as it had the three men from Green Wood Mountain.

Li Muchen let out a cold laugh, eyeing Wu Shanggui with disdain: "You? You consider this redeeming your crimes?"

Wu Shanggui panicked immediately. Fearing the deposed Emperor would not let him go, he wailed in despair, begging for mercy again: "Your Majesty! Please, spare my life!!"

"As long as you do not kill me, I will never betray you again."

If he could move, Wu Shanggui would have thrown himself to the ground and kowtowed repeatedly to prove his loyalty.

Naturally, Li Muchen would not be fooled by such pathetic theatrics from a traitor like Wu Shanggui.

Back then, after he was deposed, Wu Shanggui had been among those who cursed him the most viciously in the great hall.

This ringleader was one that Li Muchen would absolutely not let off today.

Seeing the look on the deposed Emperor's face, Wu Shanggui grew frantic.

"Your Majesty—you cannot kill me!!"

"If you keep me alive, I can serve as a witness to testify to the conspiracy of the new Emperor and the Eldest Princess Xilin."

"If I die, you will have no evidence!!"

"Heh!" Li Muchen’s lips curled, his eyes fixed on Wu Shanggui with a sinister glint: "Do you think I need a dog like you to serve as a witness if I want to take back the Great Zhao?!"

Hearing this tone, Wu Shanggui’s heart sank: judging by the deposed Emperor's attitude, he did not intend to let him go.

Wu Shanggui was not resigned to this!!

He had finally attained wealth and status; how could he lose his life before having enjoyed any of it?

He could not die!!

If he could just beg the deposed Emperor to release him, he would return to the Great Zhao and inform the new Emperor of this matter.

He believed the Eldest Princess Xilin and the Second Prince of Northern Ji would not allow the deposed Emperor to grow powerful and threaten the new Emperor's position.

As long as he survived, he could go back and reveal the deposed Emperor’s secrets to Northern Ji.

Although Northern Ji was a small country, it was home to countless clans of cultivators, and there were many far more powerful than the master of Green Wood Mountain.

When that time came, so many powerful cultivators would descend together to crusade against the deposed Emperor and this pathetic Great Tang kingdom, ensuring the deposed Emperor would be left without a place to be buried.

Wu Shanggui gritted his teeth, a flicker of viciousness passing through his eyes.

At that moment, the system’s voice suddenly rang out.

[System Alert: Wu Shanggui has developed the intent to kill the host.]

[Friendly Reminder: Keeping Wu Shanggui alive may trigger a special mission in the future, granting generous rewards.]

[As for whether to kill him or spare his life, the host may decide for himself.]

After this reminder, the system went silent, and Li Muchen’s mind grew quiet once more.

"A special mission? Generous rewards?"

Li Muchen repeated the words to himself, eyeing Wu Shanggui from head to toe, thinking, "Who would have thought this scoundrel's life was actually worth something?"

Fine, he would spare him for now.

It would not be too late to kill this piece of trash after he triggered the special mission and collected the system's reward.

However...??

Li Muchen’s gaze settled back on Wu Shanggui's face.

The mere thought that it was this traitor who had personally led the troops to force his abdication made his teeth ache with fury.

This resentment—it had to be vented!!

A cold chill spread across Li Muchen's face as he smirked maliciously: "It is not impossible for me to spare your life..."

Upon hearing this, a spark of hope lit up Wu Shanggui’s desperate eyes. He tried to move, only to find he was still paralyzed.

"This servant thanks Your Majesty!!"

"I swear that from this day forward, I will be loyal only to you."

"Whatever you command, Your Majesty, this servant will not dare to utter a word of refusal."

"If you wish to reclaim the Great Zhao, I will certainly do my utmost to assist you."

Wu Shanggui felt the heavy weight in his chest lift, and his nerves finally relaxed.

*You deposed Emperor—just wait!!*

*Once I return to the Great Zhao, I will surely bring the top cultivators of Northern Ji to destroy your kingdom once and for all.*

*When that happens, I will certainly make you—*

"Aaaah—aaah—!!!" A scream suddenly pierced the sky.