"What, do you think I'm heartless?"
Jiang Wuji chuckled.
Though Jiang Wuji was smiling,
there was no warmth in that smile.
"Second Progenitor, you mean Prince Wuning?"
"Precisely."
Jiang Wuji's tone was calm.
The emperor gripped the Dragon Throne tightly.
His chest heaved violently.
He could scarcely believe it.
"Second Progenitor, Prince Wuning is the white jade pillar holding up the heavens for our Jiang Clan!"
"And what of it?"
The smile abruptly vanished from Jiang Wuji's face.
"For the Jiang Clan, for my imperial father, anyone can be sacrificed!"
"Even me. Even you."
"Since Wuyang is my imperial father's descendant, he cannot be an exception."
The emperor fell silent.
"It isn't that I'm heartless. Wuyang was gravely wounded by a Celestial Person from the Upper Realm. His injuries cannot possibly heal anytime soon. And now Li Ni is watching us like a tiger eyeing its prey. Our Jiang Clan has no time left to waste."
"Emperor, our Jiang Clan has been planning this for over six thousand years. So many of our descendants have stepped forward as those before them fell. Our Jiang Clan cannot lose, nor can we afford to."
The emperor closed his eyes.
His entire body trembled.
He knew the Second Progenitor was telling the truth.
That was the most devastating part.
Silence hung over the hall for a long time.
Finally, the emperor's hoarse voice rang out through the hall.
"Very well."
Jiang Wuji nodded.
"I'll handle Wuyang. I leave everything else to you. You must hurry."
"I... understand."
A great hall to the west.
It was brightly lit.
The thick smell of medicine filled the entire hall.
Prince Wuning, Jiang Wuyang, sat cross-legged on a couch, his upper body bare, one side of his chest deeply caved in.
His face was filled with