Chapter 680: Chapter 681 I Have an Objection
“How dare you be so bold!”

“Do not forget that the Grand Emperor still presides within the Imperial Palace, and he is already aware of your conspiracy. Should you kneel and beg for mercy now, I can grant you a dignified death!”

“This is a good opportunity to rectify the court. None of you who harbor intentions of rebellion will escape!”

The young Emperor’s face could not have been uglier, as his own eunuchs turned against him in the heat of battle, his heart filled with both shock and rage.

When the Grand Emperor arrives, he would personally execute these traitors before the whole world.

However, as he was speaking, his face suddenly turned rigid.

“Well said, you are indeed of my royal blood, and today is indeed the day to rectify the court. However, it may not be the rebels who will die,” said an aged figure stepping slowly into the hall from outside, a man so old and shrunken, his face lined with wrinkles, that he hardly looked human anymore – yet the eyes that glowed within his face were bursting with energy. Dressed in imperial robes and moving with the grace of a dragon and the strength of a tiger, every gesture he made seemed tinged with an ineffable aura, as though the fate of a nation itself blessed his movements.

Seeing the newcomer, the young Emperor should have been overjoyed, but instead, a sense of dread swept over him.

For the aged hands of the figure were clutching a human head that stared back with eyes wide in astonishment – it was none other than Prime Minister Zhang Liang, who had gone to summon the Grand Emperor.

“What happened?”

“Great-grandfather, why are you holding the Prime Minister’s head?”

“The Prime Minister was so loyal, why did you kill him?”

The young Emperor asked in a panic, sensing that something was terribly wrong.

“Because your great-grandfather feels it’s time for a change of dynasty. The Chen Family’s rebellion was permitted by your great-grandfather, you have been too wanton and have done nothing for the development of the Central Plains. You’ve been stalling over and over again even when it came to the resources owed to your great-grandfather. Our dynasty does not need an Emperor like you.”

“Considering you are a scion of the royal family, I can grant you a dignified death.”

“Grandson, how would you like to die?”

The robed elder’s expression was indifferent, his demeanor chillingly cold.

During the young Emperor’s reign, his own resources had dwindled greatly, preventing any progress in his strength. It was not that he suspected the young Emperor was embezzling those resources; rather, the young Emperor simply had no thought of accumulating wealth to honor him. Such an Emperor was not needed.

“I am the true Son of Heaven, the king of all under heaven; how can you do this?”

From the throne, the young Emperor was pale as death, his pupils trembling. Faced with the old man before him, he felt his body being torn apart.

“If you are the king, then I am a god!”

“When a deity speaks, all under heaven dare not disobey!”

“Since you are of the royal blood, I will leave you a whole corpse!”

A fierce light flashed in the old man’s eyes, and those present saw a golden figure floating out from between his brows, emitting a terrifying aura as it entered the young Emperor’s body. A breath later, the golden figure flew back into the elder’s brow, and at the same time, the young Emperor’s eyes lost their luster, he collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

The court officials were silent, having never seen such a bizarre method before. A golden figure emerging from someone’s brow was certainly the work of an Immortal.

To take a life in utter silence and discretion was indeed alarming.

“The Grand Emperor’s mana is boundless, his divine power supreme, his might shakes the world!”

“Our imperial ancestor has ascended to the Immortal Realm, heaven bless the Central Plains!”

“An imperial Immortal presides over the Central Plains, slaying a befuddled ruler, eradicating traitorous ministers, bringing fortune to all under heaven. On behalf of the people, we thank the Grand Emperor for his grace!”

All the civil and military officials were not fools, and by now, it was clear what had happened. In unison, they prostrated themselves on the ground, their high voices praising continuously without end.

No wonder the Chen Family dared to lead an attack directly into the Golden Imperial Hall. It turned out they had the support of the Grand Emperor.

Seeing which way the wind was blowing, the civil and military officials instantly changed sides to support the Chen Family, not daring to show the slightest defiance to the Grand Emperor. The example of the young Emperor who died with his eyes still open was right before their eyes!

“Today, our Chen Family Head shall ascend the throne with the Grand Emperor’s blessing.”

“The young Emperor was foolish and incapable, addicted to beauty without concern for state affairs, refusing to repent even in the face of great danger. Now, he has been persuaded by our Chen Family, volunteering to abdicate and make way for the wise, and has taken his own life in the Golden Imperial Palace. Does anyone object?”

“If there is anyone among the civil and military officials who is dissatisfied, speak now.”

Chen Yuanyuan slowly walked out from the crowd with a charming smile. She had not dared to move amidst the earlier chaos, but now that the situation had stabilized, she stepped forward to take charge.

“We dare not!”

“The Chen Family Head is virtuous and capable, wholly devoted to the people. He is naturally fit to be Emperor, his ascent to the throne is the will of the people!”

“We shall devote ourselves wholeheartedly to assist His Majesty in court from henceforth. Should we betray our word, may the heavens strike us with lightning!”

“Long live the Emperor, may our dynasty thrive for eternity!”

the civil and military officials exclaimed in unison.

The matter was settled. With the Grand Emperor personally intervening, no one dared to seek their own death.

“Thank you all for your kind support. Today, I boldly request that the Grand Emperor witnesses this moment. In the future, I shall strive together with you, my ministers, to lay an everlasting foundation!” Chen Dian said, laughing heartily.

“Don’t forget what you promised this old man; the hundred virgin girls must be sent quickly,” the old man said with a sinister smile, his voice transmitted discretely with Inner Strength. The woman named Long Xue was indeed naturally stunning, but what a pity she was too fiery and her cultivation level too weak to endure much; she didn’t last a few days before she was killed. He needed to find more virgin girls to indulge himself. His figure flickered, ready to leave the hall.

But just at that moment, a loud voice spread throughout the Golden Imperial Hall, causing him to halt in his steps.

“I object, I am very dissatisfied, have your Grand Emperor come out!”

“Who?”

“Who is it that dares to insult the Grand Emperor?”

“Showing contempt for imperial authority, what should be the crime?”

“I volunteer to capture that fool who doesn’t know whether he’s alive or dead, and leave him to the Emperor to deal with!”

No sooner had the voice faded away than the hall erupted in turmoil. After witnessing the Grand Emperor’s ruthless move, someone still had the audacity to speak insolently—did they think their life was too long?

Several elite palace guards immediately stepped forward to show their loyalty, hoping to leave a good impression on the new king.

“Well done, barely holding the border but you, warriors of the Refinement Void Realm, lived on shamefully with that foolish Emperor inside the Imperial City. No wonder the Southern Barbarians dared to attack the Central Plains—you are all a bunch of cowards, timid as mice!”

Li Xiaobai, carrying Chen Yu, walked slowly into the Imperial Palace’s grand hall, scanning those around him. His gaze swept over the gloomy old man. He had witnessed everything that happened earlier; the Grand Emperor was indeed a Martial Artist of the Void Merging Realm, but compared to him, he was far too green.

Seeing Chen Yu in Li Xiaobai’s hands, Chen Yuanyuan’s pupils abruptly constricted within the crowd.

“Audacious villain, how dare you disrespect the Grand Emperor! What should be your crime?”

“Release my elder brother at once, sever your cultivation level, and you may keep your corpse intact!”