Have the Crown Prince and Princes Relocate

Chapter 43: Have the Crown Prince and Princes Relocate

"What? Say that again?"

Upon hearing this news, Jian'an Emperor Zhao Yongxu was utterly shocked, unable to believe it for a moment.

The Seven Stars Heaven Severing Formation within the Daliang Imperial Palace had been constructed when the First Wei King's cultivation and prestige still stood at their peak. To protect the Imperial Family's bloodline, he had gathered every formation master in Wei Country to forge this grand palace-protecting formation, one whose range could encompass the entirety of Great Liang City at its greatest extent.

As long as the Son of Heaven presided over the court and used National Destiny and Wish Power to draw in the light of the sun, moon, and stars, activating the formation, even a martial warrior of the Creation Realm would find it difficult to break through.

It was an essential pillar safeguarding the Zhao Clan of Wei Country.

Even though this palace-protecting formation had never truly been activated since its completion.

Yet where imperial lives were concerned, every Great Wei emperor throughout the generations had never dared slacken the formation's maintenance. It was even optimized every year, with the vital locations of its formation eyes altered.

Zhao Yongxu had never imagined that the formation eyes could be sabotaged.

This was no small matter; its consequences were no less grave than an enemy nation's army descending upon Great Liang City.

Feng Dabao dropped to his knees and repeated, "The palace-protecting formation of the Daliang Imperial Palace—its formation eyes have been sabotaged!"

At those words, the last shred of hope Zhao Yongxu had held shattered. He confirmed the fact that the Seven Stars Heaven Severing Formation had already been destroyed.

After a brief moment of daze, Zhao Yongxu quickly calmed down.

The enemy had destroyed the formation eyes so cleanly and decisively, with an exceptionally clear objective. That meant they had obtained the locations of all, or at least part, of the Seven Stars Heaven Severing Formation's formation eyes.

His eyes narrowed as he carefully recalled certain details concerning the Seven Stars Heaven Severing Formation.

Zhao Yongxu vaguely remembered that the last alteration to the formation eyes had taken place three years ago, and the Palace Guard Division had been given full responsibility for that change.

Someone in the Palace Guard Division must have leaked the locations of the formation eyes. Otherwise, this could never have happened.

The Palace Guard Division handled imperial affairs and was a vital force in protecting the Imperial Palace's security, the second line of defense for the emperor's safety.

Now that something had gone wrong with the formation, someone in the Palace Guard Division had also harbored treacherous intentions. Added to that were the many Assassins from Han Country who had recently been continuously active, endlessly murdering members of Wei Country's imperial household...

It was as if an invisible hand were pushing events from the shadows, link after link, advancing from shallow waters into the depths.

After so many plots and acts of sabotage, the palace walls of Daliang in Wei Country no longer held safety within them!

Zhao Yongxu was not the only one to realize this. Upon receiving news that the Seven Stars Heaven Severing Formation had been sabotaged, the ministers of Wei Country quickly came to the same conclusion.

Hong Daowen, Left Vice Minister of the Secretariat, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the alliance of Chu, Zhao, and Han has already stretched its hand into Daliang of Wei Country. They surely intend to throw our rear into chaos and shake the army's morale. The Imperial Palace is no longer safe. I ask that Your Majesty seek refuge at the Zhengyi Sect."

The other ministers also stepped forward in succession. "Your Majesty, please seek refuge at the Zhengyi Sect."

Go to the Zhengyi Sect?!

For some reason, amid the counsel of so many ministers, Jian'an Emperor Zhao Yongxu's turbulent heart gradually settled.

He glanced at Feng Dabao, who was kneeling on the ground. "Get up! Kneeling now is useless. Hurry and investigate this matter thoroughly. Who did this? Then arrange for formation masters to repair the formation eyes. Repair as much as you can."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Feng Dabao nodded. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for sparing this servant from blame. This servant will surely get to the bottom of this matter."

With that, Feng Dabao rushed out in a hurry.

Zhao Yongxu swept his gaze across the gathered ministers. After letting out a long breath, he said calmly, "Since the founding of Wei Country, the Son of Heaven has sat in the bright hall, while ruler and ministers alike have died for the altars of the state. There has never been a precedent for a Wei King abandoning the Imperial Palace in the nation's hour of peril, so I will not leave either."

"Your Majesty, while the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn!"

"No need. If I remain in the Imperial Palace, firstly, I can stabilize the court and prevent the army's morale from wavering. Secondly, the Seven Stars Heaven Severing Formation requires the Son of Heaven as its core to activate. I can also protect the people of Daliang. If I leave, I will fall into the enemy's treacherous scheme."

"Your Majesty!"

"My mind is made up. Say no more."

The other ministers looked at one another, their brows filled with worry.

Zhang Qian, Minister of Personnel and Grand Preceptor, stepped forward. "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven of Wei Country and will naturally turn calamity into fortune when faced with danger. But the safety of the Crown Prince and the other imperial heirs is difficult to guarantee. Therefore, this minister suggests that the Crown Prince and the many princes find hidden and secure places to avoid this storm. Once the formation is repaired, it will not be too late to bring the Crown Prince and the princes back."

"This minister concurs." Xiao Boling, Vice Minister of the Department of State Affairs, stepped forward.

"This minister concurs." The remaining ministers followed closely after Xiao Boling, voicing their support for the proposal.

The matter of the Heir involved everyone's interests; they could not afford to be careless.

Jian'an Emperor Zhao Yongxu pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Beloved Minister Zhang speaks reasonably. Someone, summon the Clan Elder to Qianqing Palace. There is an urgent matter to discuss."

"Yes!"

Very soon, having received Zhao Yongxu's summons, Zhao Tingzhang, the Zhao Clan's senior Clan Elder, hurried over in a black python robe.

Zhao Yongxu did not exchange many pleasantries and went straight to the point. "Imperial Uncle, there has been a mishap with the palace formation this time, and the Imperial Palace is no longer safe. I need the Clan Elder to transfer the Crown Prince and the princes out of the Imperial Palace to secure locations. I will have to trouble Imperial Uncle to make the arrangements."

Knowing the full sequence of events, Zhao Tingzhang, the Clan Elder, recognized the urgency of the situation. He did not dwell on the details and immediately replied in a grave voice, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty. This concerns the Zhao Family's descendants and bloodline. As Clan Elder, it is my duty."

After saying that, he raised his head. "Does Your Majesty need to go as well?"

"I have other plans for later. Imperial Uncle need only take good care of the Crown Prince and the princes currently within the palace."

Seeing the resolute expression on Jian'an Emperor's face, the Clan Elder did not offer further counsel. He said solemnly, "This minister obeys the decree."

Clear Breeze Pavilion.

Zhao Hongming paid little attention to the string of major events unfolding outside.

At this very moment, all his thoughts were focused on cultivation.

After three months of painstaking cultivation, he had successfully raised his cultivation to Aperture Opening Ninth Grade, and he had already accumulated enough experience points to advance to the Innate Realm.

With a thought, Zhao Hongming looked at the Heaven's Reward Martial Arts Panel that appeared in his field of vision.

Name: Zhao Hongming

Cultivation Technique: Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique—Aperture Opening Ninth Grade (5631/5500)

Martial Skills: Heaven and Earth Severing Slash—Seventh Layer (700/700), Eight Desolations Secret Travel (2100/X), Mountain Shaking Fist—Eighteenth Layer (180/180)

Breakthrough-Eligible Martial Arts: Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique

Today's Cultivation Time: 7 hours

Physique: Good

Talent Enhancement: 1.9

He had already met the conditions to break through to the Innate Martial Master realm.

Once he became an Innate Martial Master, his Divine Soul would condense and take form, allowing him to grasp preliminary methods of controlling objects.

Not only that, his physical body would be further strengthened.

It was far beyond what his current Aperture Opening level could compare with.

Zhao Hongming clenched his tense fists. After confirming that no one was around to disturb him, his consciousness sank as he commanded, "Heaven's Reward, Breakthrough!"