Chapter 324 - 6: Foundation Establishment, the Winds and Clouds Change Color
Chapter 324: Chapter 6: Foundation Establishment, the Winds and Clouds Change Color
The thought that on the very first day she planned to pledge allegiance to Zhong Ming, she was personally leading a powerhouse to his door to defeat him made Chu Hanzhen’s body go rigid. Her limbs grew numb, and a chill shot from the soles of her feet to the crown of her head. ’This isn’t pledging allegiance; this is a blatant provocation!’
’After this, will Zhong Ming and Princess Qingyue ever truly trust me?’
This hellish start made Chu Hanzhen want to cry, but no tears would come.
But what was done was done. She had no way out and was powerless to stop what was happening.
All she could do was pray silently, hoping Princess Qingyue would be magnanimous and, even more, that Zhong Ming would pull himself together quickly after his defeat.
"I understand, Princess."
And so, suppressing her inner turmoil, Chu Hanzhen gave Shen Wanshang a slight bow and began leading the powerful enemy toward the Immortal Martial Daoist School.
As she walked down the main street with Xiyue, Chu Hanzhen noticed that the two of them were drawing countless stares.
After all, as the apple of the Celestial Sea King’s eye, Shen Wanshang’s every move was already under intense scrutiny. This was especially true now, with the formation of the New Army underway, which made public interest in her actions exceptionally high.
Rivals hoping to contend for the position of Military Commander and openly challenge the Celestial Sea King, powerful clans wishing to align with him but still waiting on the sidelines—all of them were observing Shen Wanshang’s every move.
Indeed, this operation’s main objective for Shen Wanshang, besides punishing Zhong Ming, was to display her power and establish her authority. She wanted those who were itching to "betray" them to clearly see the might of the Celestial Sea King’s faction so they wouldn’t dare act rashly.
Since the goal was to make an example of someone, an audience was naturally indispensable.
Therefore, she made no attempt to conceal her actions. In fact, while waiting for Chu Hanzhen, she had deliberately leaked the news, ensuring that even more people were paying attention.
’Is Princess Wanshang about to make a move? I hope Prince Qinghe’s people are strong enough to force the Princess to reveal some of her true power...’
To watch from the sidelines for now, gauge the strength of the Celestial Sea King’s faction, and then decide on a course of action—this was the prevailing thought among most of the faction leaders in Immortal Martial City.
Beyond these observers were Shen Wanshang’s actual rivals, whose calculations were far more elaborate.
In the Heaven-tier Number One private room of Baiyujing, Immortal Martial City’s largest restaurant, a pair of opulently dressed siblings leaned against the railing, gazing into the distance. Behind them stood several dozen followers, each exuding a powerful aura.
Watching the receding figures of Chu Hanzhen and Xiyue, a glint of excitement flashed in the young woman’s eyes. Her tone was arrogant and impatient.
"That outsider is finally making her move! Brother, should we step in and give Qingyue and Qinglian a hand?"
To dare call a Commandery Princess like Shen Wanshang an "outsider" and address Ji Qinglian and Ji Qingyue directly by their first names meant this woman’s status was clearly not low.
And that was indeed the case. Her name was Ji Yao, daughter of the Silver Moon King.
In this turbulent era, whoever controlled the military and its might held the most sway.
Thus, it was no surprise that the Silver Moon King was also coveting the position of New Army Commander. This made him a direct competitor of the Celestial Sea King, and the inherent conflict between a king from the imperial clan and one from an outside family only intensified their rivalry.
Now, upon discovering Shen Wanshang was about to make a move, Ji Yao’s immediate, almost instinctual reaction was to interfere—whatever Shen Wanshang wanted to do, she would not allow.
However, before Ji Hao could respond to her suggestion, a strategist below with narrowed eyes chuckled, clasped his hands, and said, "Princess, please be patient."
"We will, of course, sabotage whatever that Shen Wanshang is trying to do. However, we can act after they have defeated the newcomer, Princess Qingyue, and that so-called Zhong Ming."
As soon as he said this, Ji Yao instantly understood. She might be haughty and brash, but she wasn’t stupid. "You want Qingyue and Qinglian to be indebted to us?"
"More than indebted." As he spoke, a profound glint appeared in the strategist’s narrowed eyes. "When the commandery princesses Ji Qingyue and Ji Qinglian first arrived in Immortal Martial City, they didn’t come to pay their respects to you, their fellow clansmen—the Princess and the Young Master. Instead, they went to win over Master Zhiwei. Clearly, they have their own agenda."
"Furthermore, from the way they carry themselves, they seem quite confident in their own strength. This is perfect. Let Princess Wanshang probe their abilities for us. It will also serve to knock them down a peg and teach them that the power structure of Immortal Martial City is not something they can easily disrupt."
Suffice it to say, Immortal Martial City had no shortage of clever people. The moment Ji Qingyue, Ji Qinglian, and Zhong Ming showed their edge, others sensed that something was amiss.
—Their style of conduct was a world apart from Prince Qinghe’s usual low-profile, forbearing nature.
In fact, this was likely one of the reasons Shen Wanshang had decided to act so decisively.
The difference was her supreme confidence. Having sensed that Prince Qinghe had other intentions, she didn’t bother with a covert investigation. Instead, she directly ordered her expert to attack, intending to use overwhelming might to crush all schemes, steamroll Zhong Ming’s group, and establish her dominance in the process.
Ji Hao, on the other hand, was more cautious. He chose to sit back and watch the tigers fight, hoping to reap the benefits afterward.
Some wanted to wait and see. Others prepared to strike after the fact, to crush the arrogance and ambition of Prince Qinghe and Zhong Ming and, in doing so, make the princesses indebted to them.
And apart from these two groups, yet another power was closely watching the impending confrontation.
This power was—the Demon Race.