Though the newcomer looked utterly decrepit on the surface, his blood and vital energy were extraordinarily abundant within, especially around his heart meridian and fatal points. Even an ocean would not have been an exaggerated comparison.
Such a man hardly looked as though he were dying.
Unless-
A bolder possibility surfaced in Chen Yi's mind-had another Barbarian replaced the Barbarian Emperor and assumed his identity?
This-
Who would dare?
The purpose-
Something stirred in Chen Yi's mind. A golden light flashed before his eyes, and the illusory Light Screen appeared. He examined it closely.
"The Barbarian Emperor summoned the tribal chiefs to discuss matters and announce his successor-then it's simple-"
"Whoever becomes the successor today is the one who had someone impersonate the Barbarian Emperor."
After a pause, another possibility occurred to Chen Yi.
The Barbarian Emperor was not gravely ill at all. Everything was an illusion he had created.
"If so, his purpose bears thinking about."
He rose with the other Barbarians and stood quietly outside the entrance.
A chorus immediately rang out from inside the Golden Tent. "We pay our respects to the Emperor!"
"Heh, heh, old brothers, no need for formalities. Sit down and talk. All of you, sit down."
The Barbarian Emperor spoke slowly, his voice weak and breathless. "Ink King, have someone bring them chairs."
Longge Mowang answered and immediately left the Golden Tent to give a few instructions to Hu Ning, the commander of the guards in golden armor.
Before long, a hundred guards filed in carrying golden wooden chairs, providing seats for every tribal chief, Asa, and the Left and Right Kings.
After exchanging a few courteous gestures of deference, the princes took the seats of honor, ranked just below Muhage and Erilisen.
The Barbarian Tribe's leaders had all gathered. Tall and short,