Chapter 256: Deceiving Empress Mingyue

Chapter 256: Deceiving Empress Mingyue

"King Weiwu? Nothing but a dead dog."

Qin Xuan tossed the unconscious King Weiwu to the side with disdain, as if he were throwing away a dead dog.

He rubbed his aching knuckles.

I have to say, this bastard's body is truly tough!

While he had shattered King Weiwu's bones, the recoil had also pulverized the bones in his own arm.

If not for the Nirvana Fire healing him in time,

he would have crippled both his arms just to break two of King Weiwu's bones.

One must realize, this was under the premise that King Weiwu didn't dare to fight back.

As he was now, trying to challenge a quasi-emperor with his raw physical strength alone was still a bit too difficult.

Haa— Exhaling a breath of turbid air, Qin Xuan swept his messy hair back and looked at the assembled officials in Xuanzheng Hall, who didn't even dare to breathe loudly. He coldly berated them, "What's the matter? Just a moment ago, you were all shouting so vigorously."

"You wanted to tear me into ten thousand pieces!"

"You wanted to force me to hand over the Alchemist Emperor. What's wrong? Now, are you all mutes?"

Qin Xuan's gaze swept across them, and whenever he locked eyes with someone, that person would lower their head.

Rows of Clan Chiefs from Aristocratic Families and members of the royal clan all lowered their arrogant heads.

They dared not meet Qin Xuan's gaze, let alone speak out in rebuttal.

The ancient prison-suppressing tower was still there, glowing brilliantly, and they feared that if they spoke, they would fall into Qin Xuan's trap.

Then they would be sucked into the ancient prison-suppressing tower, unable to live and unable to die!

However, these people were once again shocked by Qin Xuan's combat power.

Previously, they could accept Qin Xuan beating a Saint King Realm expert to a pulp.

After all, fearing the power of the ancient prison-suppressing tower, it was reasonable that a Saint King Realm expert would not dare to retaliate and would end up knocked unconscious.

But King Weiwu was a quasi-emperor, and a Body Refining one at that.

His muscles and bones were like extraterrestrial meteorite iron, comparable to a top-grade Sacred Artifact, or even a quasi-emperor artifact.

Such a magnificent existence had actually had his bones shattered inch by inch by Qin Xuan.

What kind of immense power was this!?

Even for someone at the Peak of the Saint King Realm, wanting to do this would be a fantasy.

Even if King Weiwu just stood there, someone at the Peak of the Saint King Realm would struggle to break his defense!

Yet Qin Xuan had truly done it right before their eyes!

Could it be that this guy, while in the Quasi-Saint Realm, already possessed the terrifying combat power to defeat the Saint King Realm without relying on a quasi-emperor artifact?

These powerful figures, who held authority in all quarters, all secretly gasped, terrified by the thought, and felt a chill run down their spines.

In their hearts, they all cursed him as a monster, a harbinger of disaster!

"A bunch of fence-sitters, swaying whichever way the wind blows."

Qin Xuan looked at this group of royal clan members and people from Aristocratic Families who had been jumping up and down, now that they had finally quieted down.

He didn't push things too far.

If by chance one of them was a spy planted by Empress Mingyue, killing them would be counterproductive.

Putting away the ancient prison-suppressing tower used for intimidation, Qin Xuan bowed to Empress Mingyue and said, "I couldn't hold back for a moment; I ask for Your Majesty's forgiveness."

As soon as the ancient prison-suppressing tower vanished, the assembled officials began again:

"Your Majesty, this brat is vicious! He beat the head of the Qu family and shattered King Weiwu's bones inch by inch."

"This brat is extremely tyrannical and bloodthirsty; he must absolutely not be allowed to hold the position of Tutor to the Ming King!"

"This brat is rebellious and has offended the royal dignity; he should be severely punished!"

"..." Accusations and slanders rose one after another.

Just as Qin Xuan's ears began to callous from listening and he was about to bring out the ancient prison-suppressing tower again,

Empress Mingyue, seated high above, finally spoke slowly and unquestioningly, "All of you, withdraw. If the Tutor to the Ming King is guilty, I will judge it."

"Your Majesty!" Some ministers still wanted to speak.

Qin Xuan held the ancient prison-suppressing tower, and with a single look, the assembled officials scattered like a flood.

Even the unconscious King Weiwu and the others were dragged away with them.

Within Xuanzheng Hall, only the three of them and a group of palace maids remained.

Seeing Empress Mingyue's cold expression, Ning Waner hurriedly pleaded, "Your Majesty, Qin Xuan was just angry for a moment; I beg Your Majesty to forgive him!"

Causing trouble in Xuanzheng Hall, beating a powerful official, insulting King Weiwu, shattering King Weiwu's bones, and furthermore offending the imperial dignity!

Such crimes would not be too harshly punished even if he were executed on the spot.

Empress Mingyue dismissed those around her and ignored the muddled Ning Waner. Instead, she looked at Qin Xuan and smiled, "Just now, if King Weiwu had attacked, could your little tower truly have sucked him in?"

Qin Xuan shook his head, "Naturally, it couldn't, but Your Majesty certainly could."

Empress Mingyue's gaze was fixed, "You are that certain?"

Qin Xuan shrugged indifferently and said helplessly, "The rumors are intensifying; isn't that the very situation Your Majesty wants to see?"

Yes! Was this not the very situation she wanted to see?

Empress Mingyue stopped speaking, her gaze becoming distant.

She wanted to lure out those with ulterior motives, to sweep the universe clean, and leave a clear, bright sky for Zhou Chen.

Yet after managing things for so many years, she never expected that half of the court would still be filled with such treacherous officials!

Nearly half of the powerful officials and Aristocratic Families were still fence-sitters.

No, they shouldn't be called fence-sitters. These were people who openly leaned toward Prince Zijing.

Those who did not appear in Xuanzheng Hall today were the ones truly waiting for a better price, waiting for the wind to rise before deciding which way to lean.

Empress Mingyue was very tired, both physically and mentally. She did not want to bear such a heavy burden, but reality forced her to do so.

She even had to pretend to be carefree, as if nothing were wrong.

The melancholy in her heart lasted only a moment. Empress Mingyue quickly recovered. When she looked down at Qin Xuan again, she was still that aloof Empress, and she said, "There is no one here now. Is it not time for you to release the Alchemist Emperor?"

"No matter what, he is an Alchemist Emperor of the Ziyang Empire. Losing such a figure in my Imperial Dynasty is enough to act as a fuse."

Qin Xuan lowered his head, pondered for a moment, then raised his eyes and said helplessly, "But he is already dead! If Your Majesty didn't want him to die, you should have said so earlier. If you didn't tell me, how was I supposed to know Your Majesty didn't intend to kill him? He killed your confidant; I thought Your Majesty would want him to die without a burial place!"

"Such a powerful expert, having been captured with such difficulty—if I don't kill him, and he's released in the future, won't I have to be on edge whenever I walk down the street?"

"Moreover, couldn't Your Majesty use this opportunity to show the Ziyang Empire the backbone of the Imperial Dynasty?"

"The Great Emperor Ziyang used the Alchemist Emperor to test you; if you release him, wouldn't that just confirm the rumors that Your Majesty is trapped?"

"Once the Ziyang Empire steps in, the matter will no longer be limited to a struggle between imperial families."

He didn't believe Empress Mingyue would let the Alchemist Emperor go. It was nothing more than wanting to keep this Alchemist Emperor under her own control.

"If you don't believe me, Your Majesty, look." Qin Xuan opened the internal view of the ancient prison-suppressing tower.

In the God-Demon Realm, the 'illusion' of the Alchemist Emperor's tragic death, which Qin Xuan had deliberately created, was exposed before Empress Mingyue and Ning Waner.

As long as it was inside the ancient prison-suppressing tower, even a Great Emperor could not see through the illusions he created. Empress Mingyue was no exception.

"This little tower..." Empress Mingyue examined the space inside the tower, her brows slightly furrowed, and she paused for a moment.

She no longer mentioned releasing the Alchemist Emperor, but instead changed the subject, "The Alchemist Emperor is dead, and his assets are astonishingly rich. I do not ask for much: twenty star pills, and I will wipe this matter away for you."

Qin Xuan rolled his eyes wildly, "You might as well kill me."

Empress Mingyue frowned, "How many star pills did the Alchemist Emperor have on him?"

"Three. I gave one to Ning Waner, and Ning Waner gave it to another quasi-emperor." Qin Xuan lied without blushing, "I can give Your Majesty at most one; I need to keep the remaining one to save my life!"