Changping City Falls
The news spread quickly: thirty-six important figures fought a great battle at Mansion No. 30 last night, and Qin Shi Huang single-handedly defeated them all, shocking the entire Dubian Town.
Early in the morning, cultivators began to block the entrance of the Mysterious Bookstore along the long street. Unfortunately, the Mysterious Bookstore was closed for the day, and the thirty-six important figures were also off work.
Although the thirty-six important figures were not seen, various rumors continued to circulate, with some believing that one of them had perished in last night's battle.
There are also rumors that this was a scheme deliberately set up by the Mysterious Bookstore to make these people kill each other, ultimately achieving their goal of controlling the entire Azure Dragon Continent.
After all, these thirty-six people represent eighty percent of the power in the Azure Dragon Continent. If you control them, it's equivalent to controlling the vast majority of the Azure Dragon Continent.
The rumors spread like wildfire, and many people even began to believe them. Gradually, the entire Dubian Town started discussing the topic.
Inside the No. 30 residence, Yan Xun and Crown Prince Yan gathered together early in the morning. Neither of them had slept all night, and both were preoccupied with their own thoughts, creating a somewhat heavy atmosphere.
"What should we do now?" Crown Prince Yan asked worriedly. So many people failed to kill Qin Shi Huang last night, which meant that their plan to assassinate Qin Shi Huang had been completely thwarted. Now, the only thing they could do was leave it to fate.
"I never imagined that Qin Shi Huang's strength was so terrifying. He was Spirit Saint First Stage realm, yet he was able to hold his own against five top experts. His Emperor's Aura is truly extraordinary." Yan Xun sighed, glancing at Crown Prince Yan intentionally or unintentionally.
The Emperor's Aura is extremely rare throughout the entire Azure Dragon Continent. Before Crown Prince Yan, only Qin Shi Huang possessed the Emperor's Aura. Later, Crown Prince Yan successfully comprehended the Emperor's Aura in the Mysterious Bookstore, and with the help of the power of the Emperor's Aura, he activated the national treasure artifact and regained the throne.
This shows how important the Emperor's Aura is to a ruler.
"Although the Emperor's Aura is domineering, it is not invincible. It is certainly impossible for someone of a lower cultivation level to fight five opponents at once. Qin Shi Qin Shi Huang must have other methods hidden within him." Crown Prince Yan shook his head and said. He himself also possessed the Emperor's Aura and understood what it was. Based on his own feeling of possessing the Emperor's Aura, he deduced that Qin Shi Huang could absolutely not do what he did last night.
"I heard that when Qin Shi Huang was seriously ill some time ago, the owner of the Mysterious Bookstore went to the Afang Palace, and Qin Shi Huang recovered. A few days later, he ordered an attack on the Yan State," Yan Xun said thoughtfully.
"You mean..." Crown Prince Yan looked suspicious, then shook his head and denied it, saying, "No, Mysterious Bookstore has always maintained neutrality. And even if Mysterious Bookstore wanted to interfere in the affairs of the continent, it shouldn't help Qin State. The Empress of the Chu Kingdom has a good relationship with it, and Mysterious Bookstore's rapid development is also related to the Empress's help. If it were to help, it should help Chu Kingdom."
Even before ascending the throne, the Empress had already partnered with the Mysterious Bookstore in Dubian Town. The largest Wantong Trading Market in Dubian Town, the Wan Tong Market, was originally established by the Empress specifically to serve the Mysterious Bookstore. In terms of their cooperative relationship, the Empress and the Mysterious Bookstore could be considered to be extremely close.
"That's not necessarily true. Haven't you noticed that Qin Shi Huang has gone mad?" Yan Xun slowly drank a cup of water, put it down, and said in a deep voice, "Although Qin State is strong, it doesn't yet have the power to destroy the other four states. Previously, Qi State had been cheering for Qin State, but now I King Qi Wen's attitude is ambiguous. He may not be willing to be Qin State's lackey. Qin Shi Huang is now acting willfully, ignoring the advice of his officials and insisting on waging war against Yan State. Everyone knows Qin Shi Huang's intentions. If Yan State is destroyed, the next step will be the other three states."
At this point, Yan Xun tapped the table and said meaningfully, "I think the other three kingdoms must know this principle, right?"
"So what? What you're saying is just speculation. Before Qin Shi Huang destroyed the Yan State, nothing is set in stone. You think you can get the other three states to help us? That might not work." Crown Prince Yan wasn't stupid; he naturally understood what Yan Xun meant. But that was the reality. Without certainty, everything was speculation, and no one wanted to offend the powerful Qin State and incur Qin State hatred because of a mere speculation.
Not to mention that the current Qin Shi Huang is a madman. If you offend him, he might turn around and attack you the very next day. Who would dare to mess with him?
"Last night we assassinated Qin Shi Huang, while King Qi Wen and King Zhao Kang were merely spectators!" Yan Xun said with a slight smile.
"You mean, they also want Qin Shi Huang dead?" Crown Prince Yan asked.
"I bet everyone wants Qin Shi Huang dead, right? Even the owner of the Mysterious Bookstore." Yan Xun glanced up in the direction of the Mysterious Bookstore, a wicked smile playing on his lips.
"Bang!"
Suddenly, the courtyard gate opened, and a general covered in blood and clad in armor ran out and knelt directly in front of Yan Xun.
"Your Majesty, the Qin Army has breached Changping City, and 500,000 Qin Army soldiers are advancing straight in. The Yan State is in grave danger!"
"What!" Crown Prince Yan stood up in disbelief, looked at the kneeling general, and asked, "How is this possible? How long has it been, and the Qin Army has already breached Changping City?"
Although this era lacked communication devices, it possessed flying spirit beasts and cultivators who practiced wind-based techniques, enabling them to travel tens of thousands of miles in a day. Therefore, it wouldn't take long for a message to travel from Yan State to the Chu Kingdom. It had only been three days since Qin Shi Huang ordered Qin Shuren to lead an army to attack Qin State. Even considering the entire three days, how could Yan State's 500,000-strong army have failed to hold out in such a short time?
The general was covered in sword and knife wounds, bleeding profusely, but he didn't utter a sound of pain. Instead, he cried out in anguish, saying, "The Northern Liang Army suddenly retreated the day before yesterday, causing chaos in Changping City and the city's defenses to fall. When the Qin Army learned of this, they immediately attacked Changping City. Under such circumstances, we were unable to organize an effective defense, and the Qin Army directly breached Changping City."
"The Northern Liang Army is retreating!" Now it was Yan Xun's turn to be shocked. He shouted, "Impossible! I never ordered the Northern Liang Army to retreat! This is pure slander!"
Although Yan Xun relied on the strength of the Northern Liang nomads, Yan State was ultimately his home. His ultimate goal was simply to use the Northern Liang nomads to help him reclaim Yan State, and he never intended to harm his own country.
"It was an order from the King of Northern Liang!" The general's voice was already trembling with tears.
"Bang!" Yan Xun slapped the stone table, shattering the round stone table into countless small stones that scattered everywhere.
"Damn the King of Northern Liang! How dare he disobey my orders! Where is my father-in-law, Yuwen Hongdu? Didn't he stop the King of Northern Liang?" Yan Xun's face was terribly gloomy. The King of Northern Liang's actions had plunged the Yan State into an abyss of no return. He deserved to die!
"The King of Northern Liang and Yuwen Hongdu have already sworn brotherhood, and the King of Northern Liang has bestowed upon him the title of 'One-Word Parallel King.' The two will jointly rule the entire Northern Liang Great Grassland." The general was nearing his end, his voice growing weaker and weaker. He lay prostrate on the ground, his pitiful gaze fixed on Crown Prince Yan, and whispered, "Your Majesty, please save Yan State! Three hundred thousand Yan Army have been slaughtered by Qin Shuren, and the millions of Yan State citizens in Changping City will likely suffer the same fate!"
"Pfft~" The general coughed up a mouthful of blood and died.