Wind and Rain in the Royal Capital

Wind and Rain in the Royal Capital...

In the heart of Chu's capital city, within a lavishly adorned villa nestled in the Royal Palace, a contingent of armored soldiers stood sentry outside, exuding an aura of well-honed discipline.

Within a chamber within this villa, the Emperor of Chu lay upon his bed, teetering on the precipice of life and death. His vitality had waned to the point where he appeared to straddle the fine line separating existence from the beyond, as if the next breath might usher him into eternity.

"Wuwei," the Emperor murmured, his voice frail and weak.

"Father," Chu Wuwei replied, his gaze fixed on his ailing parent, a sense of sorrow gnawing at his heart. In the face of death, whether Emperor or commoner, all were equal. It was no wonder why countless people in the world pursued cultivation. Not only did it grant strength and power, but it also extended one's lifespan upon breaking through certain realms of cultivation. Furthermore, there were legends of individuals who had achieved eternal life.

"After I pass, assist your younger brother. We must uphold the honor of the Royal Clan of Chu," the Emperor implored, his lifeless eyes locking onto his eldest son.

"But Father, why can't the eldest brother be the successor?" A voice of dissent emerged from someone standing beside Chu Wuwei. Even if it meant facing his father's disapproval, he felt compelled to advocate for his elder sibling.

In his view, Prince Chu Wuwei was the perfect candidate to ascend the throne of Chu. As for Chu Tianjiao, his third brother, he held reservations about him.

The Emperor of Chu cast a glance at his second son, Chu Mang, and heaved a silent sigh. Each of his three sons possessed exceptional qualities.

The eldest, Prince Chu Wuwei, may not have had innate cultivation abilities, but he was a paragon of wisdom and had no appetite for worldly power. His intellect soared to unparalleled heights, and among the three princes, he had garnered the genuine love and admiration of Chu's populace, even more so than Chu Tianjiao. If not for his inability to cultivate, he would be the perfect heir.

The second Prince, Chu Mang, was impulsive and rough around the edges, yet he boasted the greatest talent for cultivation and wielded unmatched combat prowess among the three brothers. In all of Chu, few could match his radiance. If only his remarkable cultivation talent could be transferred to Chu Wuwei, that would be true perfection. Alas, imperfections marred the nature of every individual in this world.

The Third Prince, Chu Tianjiao, was undoubtedly the son he doted on the most. His exceptional talent for cultivation, intelligence, and demeanor made him an ideal candidate for the throne, except for one glaring flaw—he was exceedingly ambitious.

"Silence," Chu Wuwei reprimanded, casting a stern glance at Chu Mang, who averted his gaze, avoiding his father's eyes. In the Emperor of Chu's heart, he sighed deeply. These were his three sons, and how could he not love them all?

"Father, rest assured that as long as I'm alive, I will ensure the continuation of our bloodline," Chu Wuwei declared calmly. His response prompted the Emperor to fix a scrutinizing gaze on him, as if expecting him to say more. However, Chu Wuwei remained firm in his stance. He had vowed to safeguard the survival of their bloodline, but he had made no promises to support his youngest brother, Chu Tianjiao. The implications of his words were not lost on Chu Tianjiao.

The Emperor of Chu shifted his gaze away, closing his eyes as his breath grew increasingly faint.

Soon, news of the Emperor's demise reverberated throughout the Royal Palace. Outside, scores of nobles waited anxiously. The once-mighty Emperor, who had once commanded the destiny of the realm, had finally closed his eyes in eternal slumber. Henceforth, the fate of the Chu Country would be shaped by the younger generation of the Royal Clan.

Funeral arrangements had already been meticulously planned.

Chu Wuwei and Chu Tianjiao stood atop the villa's highest vantage point, overlooking the sprawling Royal Capital.

Behind them stood a man, a peak Yuanfu cultivator who served as Chu Tianjiao's trusted protector. Although his name might not have been widely recognized in the kingdom, Chu Tianjiao knew that few could rival his power in all of Chu.

"Eldest brother, I intend to ascend the throne," Chu Tianjiao finally broke the silence after a prolonged moment.

Chu Wuwei nodded in agreement, but Chu Tianjiao continued, "Father always wanted me to seek your counsel on important matters. Eldest brother, what steps should I take after I become Emperor?"

"Our Chu Country stands on the brink of peril today. If you aren't cautious, it may cease to exist," Chu Wuwei responded composedly. "Resolve conflicts, cease all hostilities against the Qin Clan, and issue an imperial decree recognizing Qin Wu as his father's successor. He shall henceforth be known as the Wu King. Allocate land and entrust several cities to his governance. As for the so-called extermination of the Emperor Star Academy, it is merely a show for the Nine Mystical Palace. Those individuals may become Chu's future pillars; do not harm them."

"Eldest brother, do you underestimate our Royal Clan's prestige? Apologize to the Qin Clan after their rebellion? What will the citizens think? It's like slapping our own faces! The Emperor Star Academy has been our nemesis for ages. Coexisting with them is impossible. Our best move now is to wipe them out completely before they can rise again. This way, no one will suppress our Royal Clan or the Royal Academy ever again," Chu Tianjiao declared, gazing at the vast skies, his voice calm but pulsing with ambition.

"Is that so?" Chu Wuwei asked, his tone composed. "Let's set aside others for a moment. What if Qin Wentian of the Emperor Star Academy ascends to the Heavenly Dipper Realm before you do? Given Chu's current strength, how would you protect your throne?"

"That's why he has to die," Chu Tianjiao replied, his voice filled with determination.

"And if he chooses to leave Chu temporarily? How will you kill him then?" Chu Wuwei inquired again.

"On the day Qiu Mo was captured, he decided to yield to us. He mentioned that if we capture Mustang, based on Qin Wentian's personality, he won't stay away," Chu Tianjiao explained, locking eyes with Chu Wuwei.

Chu Wuwei shook his head and calmly said, "If you're so resolute in your decisions, and your actions put the Chu bloodline at risk, I will replace you as Emperor."

"HOW DARE YOU!" Chu Tianjiao's protector roared in anger, his overwhelming aura surging toward Chu Wuwei, surrounding him.

"IMPUDENT," Chu Tianjiao scolded his protector. "Release him. He is my eldest brother."

"Yes." The protector meekly nodded and let his aura dissipate. Chu Wuwei had nothing more to say and chose to leave. After his departure, Chu Tianjiao's eyes glittered with a menacing determination. He muttered to himself, "Though Father never admitted it, I knew he always believed that you were superior to me in overall ability. I'll prove him wrong."

!

In a secluded courtyard owned by the Mo Clan in the heart of the Royal Capital, Mustang, Fan Le, and Luo Huan found themselves in an uneasy situation. They had chosen to stay in Chu after Diyi's capture, but now they felt trapped. Mo Qingcheng had informed Old Gu, who arranged for them to hide out in this secure location.

Suddenly, while meditating, Mustang's eyes snapped open. He sensed someone approaching. Had the Royal Clan's hunters finally tracked them down?

"Somebody's coming," Mustang announced, his senses tingling. Could it be that the Royal Clan had found them?

"Luo Huan, Fan Le, head to the lake," Mustang ordered abruptly.

"But won't they get more suspicious if I'm not here?" Luo Huan questioned, knowing that Mustang possessed exceptional sensory abilities. The hunters likely had no idea that Mustang had already detected their presence.

Fan Le's expression shifted, his face displaying profound worry. He eventually nodded firmly. "Teacher, Senior Sister, stay safe. I'll figure out a way to rescue both of you."

With that, Fan Le made his way to the nearby lake, fully submerging himself in its depths. This would ensure that his presence remained completely hidden.

Shortly after Fan Le's departure, the entire courtyard was encircled. Mustang and Luo Huan exchanged cold glances when they saw a familiar figure entering.

"Qiu Mo, you spineless traitor," Mustang hissed with contempt.

"A wise man would adapt to the circumstances, but you two made me work hard to track you down. Where's Qin Wentian? Did Mo Qingcheng hide him away?" Jealousy flared in Qiu Mo's eyes as he mentioned Mo Qingcheng's name. The fact that she, a woman of unparalleled beauty, would take such risks for Qin Wentian was a bitter pill for him to swallow. Even the top ten talents of Chu couldn't win her heart.

"Qiu Mo, have you forgotten what happened to Ye Wuque?" Luo Huan retorted, her eyes filled with icy determination.

"Hehe." Qiu Mo's face grew colder, his jealousy intensifying. He knew that Qin Wentian had grown immensely stronger than him.

"Luo Huan, your beauty may not match Mo Qingcheng's, but you are still extraordinarily beautiful. Your figure is so alluring; I can hardly contain myself," Qiu Mo lecherously leered at Luo Huan, licking his lips. Luo Huan could only shudder in anger, feeling utterly helpless.

Qiu Mo's desires were no longer concealed as he boldly stated, "I shall request His Highness, the 3rd Prince, to bestow you upon me." His intentions were clear; even if he couldn't have Mo Qingcheng, he saw the allure of possessing Luo Huan's body.

Mustang responded with a cold edge in his voice, "I'm eager to see how long Chu Tianjiao can cling to his throne before being overthrown." He knew that the most powerful cultivators from the Emperor Star Academy had already formed an alliance with members of the Qin Clan.

News of Mustang and Luo Huan's capture spread rapidly throughout the Royal Capital. This move was undoubtedly orchestrated by Chu Tianjiao to draw out Qin Wentian.

Chu Tianjiao had already decided that Qin Wentian would be his greatest future threat. Geniuses like him were bound to reach the Heavenly Dipper Realm, and Chu Tianjiao couldn't allow that to happen. Qin Wentian had to be eliminated before he could reach his full potential.

Around the same time as Mustang and Luo Huan's capture, word reached the Royal Capital about the resurgence of the Qin rebels. They had organized their forces and formed elite regiments consisting of powerful cultivators from the Emperor Star Academy. Some vice-headmaster level cultivators like Ren Qianxing joined their ranks, making it clear that the Royal Clan's armies were struggling to defend against them.

Furthermore, the Qin Clan's armies displayed shocking might. Yuanfu-level cultivators suddenly appeared among their ranks, especially within the elite regiments. This raised suspicions: had the Qin Clan been concealing their true power for years? Was the strength they had shown so far merely the tip of the iceberg?

Perhaps, the followers of the Wu King from the past had been secretly training their descendants in the shadows, preparing for this rebellion.

Clearly, the storm engulfing Chu had reached its climax. The Qin rebels were revealing their true strength.

Meanwhile, as this turmoil continued to unfold, a young couple emerged from the Dark Forest, making their way back to the Royal Capital. They were accompanied by a snowy puppy, and the trio bore the air of quiet determination.