Chapter 403 - 286: Life-or-Death Peril, Blood-colored Cone_4

Overall, the gains far exceeded the initial expectations.

Cloud cover enveloped the scene as the red sun began to rise.

"By the time, Cui Ye’s case should be nearly wrapped up, I need to check it out."

He still had a mission, accompanying the Regent’s Mansion to raid the Cui Family residence.

Accompanying the raid, not because he had his eyes on the property, but to make an appearance to avoid suspicion.

"I need to visit my master once more, there are some things I need to give him."

"..."

...

Qin Capital, Imperial City, Eastern Palace, Xuanren Hall.

The Crown Prince sat on the throne, with the Fifth Prince and Seventh Prince at his sides.

"Elder brother, yesterday on my way back from the Heavenly Inquiry Tower, I was ambushed. The assailant was Elder Jin Qi of the White Jade Sect..."

The Seventh Prince recounted the entire incident.

"White Jade Sect’s Jin Qi...?" The Crown Prince pondered aloud, "The White Jade Sect is close to our fourth brother, and fourth brother has frequent dealings with our second brother..."

"Elder brother means that our second brother sent someone to assassinate our seventh brother?" The Fifth Prince’s emotions were stirred, "Seventh brother, come with me to see the Emperor!"

"Fifth brother!" The Crown Prince stopped the Fifth Prince, "Do not act rashly."

"Elder brother, if not for the appearance of a mysterious expert yesterday, our seventh brother would likely have..."

"I understand," the Crown Prince furrowed his brow slightly, "but now is a critical time. Even if we tell the Emperor, without concrete evidence, he won’t take any action against our second brother."

"The Emperor would think it’s sibling discord, that I, as the eldest brother, am deliberately targeting the second brother."

"..." The Fifth Prince and Seventh Prince fell silent.

"Seventh brother, you need to endure for now. I will ensure justice for you."

"Thank you, elder brother."

"Hmm." The Crown Prince suppressed the matter and continued, "As for that mysterious expert, they’re not from the Astronomical Bureau’s Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm."

"Not from the Astronomical Bureau? Could there be others outside the Imperial City who have cultivated to the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm?" The Fifth Prince asked in surprise.

"The world is vast; anything is possible." The Crown Prince suddenly chuckled, "Fifth brother, seventh brother, find a way to locate this person."

The Seventh Prince noticed the Crown Prince’s expression and immediately realized, "Elder brother wants to recruit such an expert into the Martial Immortal Alliance?"

"Heh heh, a Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm expert outside the Astronomical Bureau is indeed rare."

The Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm is the pinnacle of experts in the Qin Dynasty, and most are within the Astronomical Bureau.

The Astronomical Bureau only obeys the Emperor Qin, even the Crown Prince cannot command them at will.

Upon hearing there was a Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm expert outside the Imperial City, the Crown Prince was naturally intrigued.

"Elder brother, rest assured, I will definitely find this person." The Fifth Prince also understood the significance of a Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm expert.

The Crown Prince nodded and continued, "Regarding the battle at Changtai Post Station, what were the losses of the Martial Immortal Alliance?"

"..."

Upon this topic, both the Fifth Prince and Seventh Prince fell silent.

"Elder brother, this mission was overly aggressive; why did we contend with the King of North Snow..." The Fifth Prince asked with a serious expression.

At Changtai Post Station, the Martial Immortal Alliance sent fifteen Meridian Unlocking Realm experts, and only three returned.

Of the two leading Huang Forbidden Army Cavalry Captains, only Yang Rong came back, the loss was undeniably severe.

Yet they couldn’t understand how their elder brother knew the King of North Snow was seeking treasures at the Heavenly Inquiry Tower, which led to an ambush.

This maneuver undeniably provoked the King of North Snow, who held significant power in North Snow County, and was clearly not a wise move.

The Crown Prince’s expression turned grim. After a long pause, he sighed, "Seventh brother, fifth brother, do you think the Emperor is unaware of the First-Grade Cold Family and the Martial Immortal Alliance?"

"Elder brother?" The Fifth Prince and Seventh Prince both looked at the Crown Prince with fright in their eyes.

"Was yesterday’s Blood Evil Sect assassination at the Emperor’s behest?" The Fifth Prince asked in a low voice.

The Crown Prince gently nodded, "Otherwise, why would two Cavalry Captains from the Huang Forbidden Army have been dispatched?"

"Elder brother..." The Seventh Prince hesitated to speak, "Is the First-Grade Cold Family and Martial Immortal Alliance actually father’s doing..."

"Seventh brother!"

Before the Seventh Prince could finish, the Crown Prince interrupted, "Loose lips sink ships."

With this, the Fifth Prince and Seventh Prince could no longer remain unaware.

The ministers believed the First-Grade Cold Family and Martial Immortal Alliance were the establishments of the Crown Prince and themselves, but they never imagined...

"Fifth brother, seventh brother, during yesterday’s ambush on the Blood Evil Sect, aside from the Martial Immortal Alliance, Yang Rong and Xi Peng Cavalry Captains were involved, as well as Master Tang," the Crown Prince added.

"Master Tang?!"

The only person who could be called Master Tang by the Crown Prince in the entire Imperial City was Tang Guang, a Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm expert from the Astronomical Bureau.

"The Blood Evil Sect somehow learned of our plan and laid a counter-trap, sending out a Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm expert as well!"

Another Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm?!

The Fifth Prince and Seventh Prince’s hearts were shaken.

"Not only was there a Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm expert from the Blood Evil Sect, there was also rumored to be a Primordial Qi Seed Realm warrior in secret!"

"A Primordial Qi Seed Realm warrior?!" The two were struck once again.