The Living One Is the Crown Prince; the Dead One Is Not

Meanwhile, at Second Prince Xu Tianyu's residence.

Inside an extremely secluded secret chamber, Xu Tianyu sat at the head of the room, his expression grave as he looked at the three formidable experts seated below him. "Grandfather, Uncle, Old Wang, I summoned you here this time to discuss a countermeasure."

Second Prince Xu Tianyu's maternal family was exceptionally powerful. His grandfather, Song Zhan, and uncle, Song Peng, were both formidable Soul Douluo-level Soul Masters.

That was also why Wang Yan had chosen the Second Prince as the target of his wager.

Song Zhan, the Second Prince's grandfather, slowly spoke. "Now that Xu Tianran has become Crown Prince, a great many opportunists will surely flock to his side. It can be said that with every passing day, Xu Tianran's influence will only grow stronger."

Song Peng, the Second Prince's uncle, wore a gloomy expression and remained silent. The opportunity for the Song Family's rise had come from his younger sister becoming a beloved imperial consort.

Otherwise, the Song Family, whose martial souls were not particularly powerful, would never have had sufficient resources to nurture two Soul Douluo-level experts.

It was precisely because of this connection that the Song Family were naturally Xu Tianyu's most steadfast supporters.

In truth, as long as they could place Second Prince Xu Tianyu on the throne, the Song Family would surely receive abundant rewards.

They could then nurture a Ninth Level Soul Engineer at the Titled Douluo level and become a top-tier family like the Hongchen Family.

From then on, they would share the nation's fortunes. So long as they did not rebel, they would stand unshaken, transforming from chess pieces into players qualified to make moves on the board.

In the Sun and Moon Empire, only Ninth Level Soul Engineers were part of the upper echelon, only they were strategic-level powerhouses. Everyone below the ninth level was merely a chess piece to be manipulated by others.

As a middle-aged man, Song Peng lacked the experience of Wang Yan and his father, Song Zhan. Thus, after learning that Xu Tianran had become Crown Prince, he felt exceedingly grim and under immense pressure.

He understood clearly that once Xu Tianyu failed to ascend the throne, the Song Family would inevitably meet a miserable end.

Just as the overwhelmed Song Peng sat in silence,

Wang Yan spoke to Second Prince Xu Tianyu. "Your Highness, this is the time to act decisively. The longer we delay, the stronger Xu Tianran's forces will become, and the harder it will be to turn things around."

Xu Tianyu turned to look at Wang Yan and found his gaze so cold that it sent a chill through his heart.

At the side, Song Zhan stroked his beard and agreed. "Indeed. Brother Wang's words are most reasonable. We cannot delay. We must eliminate Xu Tianran before he truly grows into his power.

"Otherwise, in a few years, when His Majesty's health no longer allows him to govern and he orders the Crown Prince to oversee the state, we will have no chance at all.

"Once the Crown Prince oversees the state, Xu Tianran will effectively be half an emperor. Even Ninth Level Soul Engineers will have to obey his commands. At that time, we will be fish on the chopping block, left only to be slaughtered by Xu Tianran."

Hearing his grandfather's words, the sense of crisis in Xu Tianyu's heart grew even stronger. He immediately asked, "Grandfather, Old Wang, what should we do?"

Song Zhan and Wang Yan, two old men with one foot already in the grave, exchanged a glance and understood each other's intentions.

Song Zhan said, "Brother Wang, let me say it."

Song Zhan's tone turned chilling. "The living Xu Tianran is the Crown Prince. The dead one is not."

The words immediately made cold sweat pour down Xu Tianyu's back, his scalp going numb.

His grandfather meant to assassinate Xu Tianran!!

One had to know that assassination was absolutely the greatest taboo in a power struggle, and failure brought a devastating backlash. Especially when the target of the assassination was the Crown Prince—there could be no greater offense.

If they failed, he would not even have to wait for the day Xu Tianran oversaw the state as Crown Prince, held great power, or ascended the throne. His imperial father would execute him directly.

Song Peng, who had been silent at the side, was also so shocked to hear that his father intended to assassinate the Crown Prince that he blurted out, "Father, have you gone mad? Assassinating the Crown Prince is a grave crime. If we fail, our entire clan will surely be executed."

Song Zhan looked at his fussing son and snorted in dissatisfaction. "What are you making such a fuss over? Didn't the current emperor also kill his own elder brother before ascending the throne?

"As long as this succeeds, who will care?

"As long as we conceal our identities, handle the evidence properly, and leave no proof behind, then find a few scapegoats, everything will be settled.

"Could His Majesty possibly kill Yu'er as well over a dead Xu Tianran?"

Hearing his father's words, Song Peng could not help recalling the current emperor Xu Jing's path to the throne.

During the Bloody Night, the current emperor Xu Jing had turned the Imperial Palace into a river of blood. He had slaughtered the previous emperor, his children, the imperial harem, and all trusted aides, leaving no one alive. The stench of blood had lingered for three months.

Seeing the hesitation in Xu Tianyu's eyes, Wang Yan said from the side, "Second Prince, the decision is entirely yours. If you do not agree, we will think of another way."

Xu Tianyu frowned deeply and closed his eyes in anguish.

For a time, the entire secret chamber was so quiet that every breath could be heard distinctly.

Second by second, time passed. Half an hour later, Xu Tianyu slowly opened his bloodshot, ferocious eyes.

"I've decided. Kill him! If we succeed, I will become the new Crown Prince of the Sun and Moon Empire.

"If we fail, it is only death. Xu Tianran will not spare me anyway. What difference does it make whether it happens a few years earlier or later?"

After making his decision, Second Prince Xu Tianyu underwent a startling transformation. His spirit, energy, and bearing all rose tremendously.

Hearing Xu Tianyu's fearless resolve to cast life and death aside, Wang Yan, Song Zhan, and Song Peng—the three Soul Douluo-level experts—immediately said, "Your Highness, we shall not fail you!"

Meanwhile.

Ordinary Alliance branch.

Wang Chen wore a black robe and a mask as he sat in his office, quietly reading the latest intelligence from Mingdu.

Looking at the report that Xu Tianran had become Crown Prince, Wang Chen slowly said, "The curtain has risen. Xu Tianran's assassination is likely not far off."

Wang Chen's gaze was deep and unfathomable as six terrifying black Soul Rings rose around him.

He had prepared much for this day.

Over the past three years, his cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds. He was now a formidable six-ring Soul Emperor.

Even that was because, after reaching level fifty, each level required far more Soul Power to advance than before level fifty.

In just three short years, his Soul Power had risen by thirty levels. If he told anyone, they would probably not believe him and would only think he was bragging.

Aside from his increase in Soul Power, Wang Chen's Spiritual Power had also improved tremendously. His Spiritual Power had now reached the Soul Douluo realm.

Moreover, he had successfully cultivated the Battle Skill World Domination, greatly increasing his combat strength.

Beyond his tremendous increase in strength, Wang Chen had similarly expanded his influence.

He had concealed his identity and joined the Ordinary Alliance, and was now one of its upper-ranking members.