Chapter 566: Thunder Strike |
"Immortal, this...."
The middle-aged man panicked the moment Ning Qi spoke.
No one had expected Li Xiangrou to bring back an Immortal.
They had only heard she came with an immortal before, but that did not make him fear.
An "immortal" is a title bestowed upon people by the Immortal Race, but an Upper Immortal is different — they are born of the Immortal Race.
Their noble status meant they could not be trifled with.
Judging from the aura Ning Qi displayed and the strange phenomena he was triggering around him, he was unquestionably an Upper Immortal.
Who would dare disobey an order from someone like him?
Even the people from the Fang Sword Sect standing ahead would obey.
Ning Qi snorted coldly, clearly tired of hearing him babble. "I'll give you one hour. Otherwise I'll level your imperial capital."
After saying that, he ignored the King of Yue.
"Yes..."
The middle-aged man had no choice but to agree and leave.
He had never imagined encountering such a situation.
After his reluctant assent, he left immediately.
Only after he was gone did Li Xiangrou come to her senses.
"Ning Qi, doing this..."
Although she had thought of returning to force the throne, she had never imagined using such heavy-handed methods.
One wrong word and faces would be torn off.
"You cannot be wishy-washy and hesitate when taking action."
"If you remain weak, even if I help you ascend, you still won't be able to hold onto Yue's territory."
"This is the last time I'm helping you before I leave. How much you can handle from here on depends on your own choices."
Ning Qi said nothing at first, then spoke earnestly: "You must be ruthless. Someone like you can't get things done."
"Your Highness, Young Master Ning is right."
Commander Li came forward and added, "We must show our strength and let them know our might."
"We can't stay weak any longer. They were clearly probing our limits!"
"If Young Master Ning hadn't stepped up, we would've been manhandled again."
"You're right."
"It was my fault."
Hearing the two of them, Li Xiangrou finally woke up to reality. "I know what I must do."
"Good. Let's go."
"To the Golden Throne Hall, and see what's happening!"
Ning Qi nodded and gave Commander Li a look.
"Your Highness, Young Master Ning, please follow me!"
Commander Li immediately understood and led the way.
"Move out!"
Ning Qi nodded and followed.
Li Xiangrou hesitated no more and followed closely behind.
The group rushed forward together.
They passed through the imperial garden and another courtyard,
and finally arrived before a resplendent golden hall.
Imperial Guards stood in formation here, faces solemn. When they saw Commander Li and Li Xiangrou, they did not block them.
Instead they gripped their spears tightly and showed respect.
"Your Highness!"
All along the way, the Imperial Guards respectfully greeted Li Xiangrou. The previous arrogance and disdain were gone.
They quickly arrived at the great hall, where more guards were posted and many eunuchs stood ready, all serious. When they saw Li Xiangrou, they too showed reverence.
"Let's go!"
Ning Qi glanced at the hall's doors and marched right in, with no one daring to stop him.
They strode boldly into the main hall.
At this moment, people were already cleaning. Palace maids bustled around, many tidying up, and the dragon throne seat was empty.
Ning Qi glanced over and pointed at the throne. "Go sit and try it on."
"Huh? Sit now?"
Li Xiangrou hesitated at his words. She had not expected Ning Qi to be so decisive in arranging this.
Although it spared her a lot of unnecessary trouble, the sudden shift in status made it hard to accept mentally.
"Yes, go."
"No one will dare object."
Ning Qi nodded and added, "I'll protect you."
"Very well!"
By now she stopped hesitating. Things had already gone too far to turn back.
If she couldn't pull back, she'd have to face it head-on.
Following Ning Qi, she quickly reached the dragon throne,
turned, and sat down on it.
The moment she sat, she felt a surge throughout her body.
Her breath caught.
So this was the feeling of the dragon throne?
So many people dream of this seat, and now she sat on it?
It felt unreal, like a dream.
Her eyes were full of disbelief.
A few breaths later, she relaxed.
They had forced her into this position. Ning Qi was right: only if she became strong would she command respect.
Otherwise no one would ever submit.
Her mindset shifted in that instant.
Her gaze grew resolute.
The youthful softness in her face began to fade.
In that moment she felt as if she'd traveled through endless years and matured completely.
Many thoughts began churning in her mind. Once she ascended, she would settle scores with them.
While she sat, more people appeared on the steps outside the hall, and their numbers grew.
"Attend the court!"
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a eunuch cried out sharply.
At his shout, the civil and military officials below began filing into the hall.
At the same time, the King of Yue, Li Xiaotian, came walking in from behind.
He glanced at Li Xiangrou sitting on his dragon throne and a flash of chill crossed his eyes, but it then faded into helplessness.
He never imagined his usually compliant daughter would one day force a palace takeover. If he'd known, he would never have summoned her back.
He had intended to keep her under house arrest in the capital. This was a miscalculation.
While he was distracted, the officials had already reached the hall.
"What's going on? How can the Second Princess be sitting on the dragon throne?"
"How dare you! Get down at once!"
"Her Majesty should arrest this traitor!"
Voices rose from below in anger.
Among them was a young woman whose features resembled Li Xiangrou’s; her pretty face was slick with contempt.
"Your Highness, this is bad. It seems Her Majesty was coerced."
An official beside her worriedly asked, "What should we do?"
"Observe and wait."
Li Fengrou said nothing, watching the scene with calm.
"Silence!"
Li Xiaotian stepped forward and spoke: "I called you here today to announce something."
At his words, the officials quieted and all eyes turned to him.
"I summoned Princess Xiangxiang back to abdicate."
"From this day forth, she will be the Empress of Yue."
"Today I announce this; tomorrow we will perform the ancestral rites and confer the title!"
Li Xiaotian cleared his throat and continued: "My ministers, go prepare well. Tomorrow attend Princess Xiangxiang's coronation."
His announcement set the officials murmuring.
"Impossible. Her Majesty's strength means she could live another few centuries easily."
"Yes, why abdicate suddenly?"
"Was she coerced by that girl?"
The murmurs swelled into louder debate.
"Father, I object!"
At that moment Li Fengrou finally couldn't hold back and stood up, her pretty face grave.
"I object as well!"
Next was Zhao Tianxiong.
"I object!"
"Major general opposes!"
As she and the Protector Duke stood up to oppose, others followed suit.
For a moment the entire hall erupted in opposition.
"Ministers, quiet!"
Li Xiaotian looked at the opposing crowd with a hint of pride masked as helplessness, and silenced them with a raised hand.
All eyes turned to him, awaiting his next words.
"This is the Upper Immortal's will. Do not oppose."
Li Xiaotian shifted the blame squarely to Ning Qi.
The eunuchs behind him smirked, eager to see how Ning Qi would handle the situation.
"An Upper Immortal? He can't meddle in our family matters."
"Exactly. Why force Her Majesty to give up the throne?"
Sure enough, with his words the crowd turned their ire toward Ning Qi.
But Ning Qi had no interest in arguing. With a single look a beam of light shot from his eyes.
It instantly killed those at the front who had shouted the loudest.
They exploded on the spot.
The remaining crowd fell silent at the sight.
They had expected an Upper Immortal to temper justice with reason, but they hadn't imagined Ning Qi would start with such lethal force.
"Kneel."
Ning Qi calmly uttered two words that quelled the hall.
Everyone stared at him, but for a moment no one moved to kneel.
Then Zhao Tianxiong exploded on the spot.
Flesh and blood scattered as his court robes tore apart.
"A small Yue Kingdom dares to defy me?"
"Then die."
Ning Qi's voice grew cold as he prepared to act.
"Stop!"
At that instant, an old man leapt into the hall.
"Master!"
Li Fengrou cried out in excitement when she saw him.
This was her master, Xu Wannian, a being of unfathomable strength, the most powerful expert in Yue.
"Upper Immortal, this is Yue's internal affair. Why intervene?"
Xu Wannian walked in with a grave expression, eyes fixed on Ning Qi.
"I escorted Li Xiangrou back, and you ambushed us several times."
"So why shouldn't I intervene?"
Ning Qi showed no fear and coldly glanced at him. "A mere Fifth-Rank Celestial Immortal dares to boast before me?"
"Kneel before me!"
Xu Wannian showed no intent to kneel. He stood proud before the hall, defiant.
"Hmph."
Ning Qi snorted and moved in a flash.
In the blink of an eye he was before Xu Wannian, his palm extended.
"How arrogant!"
Xu Wannian roared, immediately activating his armor and throwing up his hands to counterattack.
But what happened next stunned everyone.
Under Ning Qi's single claw, Yue's top expert was utterly crushed.
His arm was ripped apart and his chest was about to be pierced.
"Upper Immortal, spare me!"
Li Fengrou begged frantically.
"Upper Immortal, don't be rash."
Xu Wannian panicked and dropped to his knees. He had not expected Ning Qi to be so powerful.
A Fifth-Rank Celestial Immortal, in front of Ning Qi, was like a child—no strength to resist.
Bang!
Ning Qi did not relent. He struck Xu Wannian's chest with a fist and sent him flying like a sack.
As Xu Wannian was about to be flung out of the hall, Ning Qi paused with a single gesture, freezing him in midair.
He slammed a hand down to the ground with force.
"Shatter!"
Xu Wannian was smashed into the ground.
The floor cracked, leaving a pit over three meters deep.
"Ants."
Ning Qi muttered disdainfully, then turned to Li Xiaotian: "Don't try any tricks, or I'll make you vanish from Yue."
"Y-Yes..."
Seeing their top Celestial Immortal trounced like a child, Li Xiaotian lost all energy. This power was beyond even a Great Immortal.
Even if the Protector Duke's ancestors returned, they wouldn't be a match.
"Your servant pays respects to Her Majesty."
Ning Qi's domineering display had terrified everyone present.
Before he could say more, they all knelt and began to pay homage to Li Xiangrou.
She was stunned by the scene. She knew Ning Qi was strong but had not expected such overwhelming power.
Even a Fifth-Rank Great Immortal showed no resistance under him, felled in two moves.
"Hail Her Majesty!"
Seeing this, Li Xiaotian also knelt and bowed respectfully, his face full of panic.
He had never imagined his daughter would bring such a powerful figure into play.
"Rise."
Li Xiangrou heard his voice and finally recovered, instructing everyone to stand.