Chapter 402: Chapter 120 Who Agrees, Who Disagrees
"Moreover, the junior is not without gains."
Jiang Li called softly, "Where is Bull-headed Li Mi?"
"Bull-headed is here."
A response came from outside the hall, and Bull-headed Li Mi, with both hands holding the soul-collecting bag, walked in with his head held high and chest out.
Despite being inherently timid, Bull-headed was quite capable of handling big scenes. Even under the scrutiny of many experts, he still managed to maintain his composure and walked steadily to Jiang Li’s side.
"Divine Travel Grand Protector Su Li, a spy from the Taiping Sect, is also the one who attacked Lord Cui."
Jiang Li reached for the soul-collecting bag, saying, "This wretched man has been slain by the junior, and his residual soul is here."
"Li Qinglian’s array for space shifting which she derived from the Book of Luo has been traced by my palace. Someone refined the array into a magic artifact and used it to shift Cui Jue."
Tianxuan continued the topic, "Previously, my palace was busy dealing with the master of the Book of Luo, struggling against him with the Echange Skill, which is why I could only send Jiang Li nearby to locate Cui Jue."
Master and disciple glossed over the situation in just a few words, leaving Zong Zheng speechless.
Although Jiang Li was a step late, he ultimately slew a criminal, a fifth-rank, and could not be asked to do much more.
On the contrary, everyone present was amazed at Jiang Li’s feat of a sixth-rank killing a fifth-rank, so much they almost gasped.
Tianxuan also made clear that it was the master of the Book of Luo causing mischief in the shadows, obscuring the Heavenly Mechanism. Being able to counter him and send help promptly was commendable; she couldn’t be expected to do much more.
Thus, the master and disciple shifted responsibility flawlessly, leaving no room for reproach.
Then, back to the main topic.
"Cui Jue has been killed, and his Dao Fruit taken. If the Taiping Sect rises now, which prince can handle the responsibility and govern the state to suppress the rebels?" Tianxuan looked around and said, "Today, we must settle this matter. Or would the gentlemen rather wait for the rebels to revolt before hurriedly selecting a Prince Regent?"
Her tone was mild, yet her determination was unmistakable; a decision had to be made today.
It seemed like only the death of a fifth-rank, but in reality, Cui Jue was crucial in dealing with the rebellion.
When two forces clash evenly matched in power, but one side has ten more seventh-ranks than the other, such ranks might not sway a battle between fifth and fourth-ranks, but they can affect those of the sixth-rank. A victorious sixth-rank can free up forces or form arrays to support fifth-rank fighters.
While a sixth-rank alone wouldn’t overcome an enemy’s fifth-rank, merely providing restraint or reinforcing their own fifth-rank can significantly increase chances of victory.
Similarly, a fifth-rank can bolster their own fourth-rank forces. Even a slight increase in chances of victory could determine the final outcome.
In large-scale warfare, even the unclassified soldiers, if numerous, can drown ninth and eighth-ranks, subsequently affecting higher ranks.
Of course, a real battle is never so simple to calculate; it’s ever-changing, not merely an exchange of blows. There could be instances where a fourth-rank finds an opportunity to kill thousands in one strike.
But numbers do affect battle dynamics, especially among well-trained, array-forming troops.
Thus, even in this world, war still involves groups, not just high-level experts dueling.
However, if the top-tier power isn’t balanced, there’s nothing much to discuss. No matter how numerous, they can’t withstand the slaughter of higher-ranked warriors.
The Book of Life and Death is indeed a deadly weapon against lower ranks; a stroke of the Soul-hooking Pen claims a life outright. It doesn’t need to eradicate everyone, just eliminate leading figures of the lower ranks to allow one’s own forces to overwhelm the enemy.
Without Cui Jue’s Dao Fruit, there’s a significant disadvantage in a major battle.
Since the Taiping Sect has acted against Cui Jue, it indicates their inevitable rebellion.
"The Eldest Prince has recovered most of his injuries and will soon be able to take charge," Meng Family Master took the lead, "I believe, to respond swiftly, the Eldest Prince is the best choice."
"I can even defeat the Eldest Prince. If he is attacked outside the law, wouldn’t he just repeat the fate of the Second Prince?" Jiang Li spoke up, categorically dismissing the idea.
"Second Prince..." Zong Zheng began.
"An incompetent lackey of Lawless Freedom, unreliable, unreliable," Jiang Li added.
Zong Zheng’s face immediately turned cold, and he scoffed, "That’s because there were no guards around the Second Prince. If I had been there, how could I have allowed that madman from Lawless Freedom to act recklessly?"
"Well said," Jiang Li continued, "so we only need a strong person to hold back Zong Zheng, and then Lawless Freedom could assassinate the Second Prince."
"Divine Capital is a sensitive area, not just anyone can come and go as they please..."
Zong Zheng hadn’t finished speaking when Jiang Li interrupted, "Did you catch Lawless Freedom?"
"Bang!"
The armrest of Zong Zheng’s chair instantly turned to flying ash from a Thunder Strike.
Lawless Freedom, Lawless Freedom, can we stop mentioning that damned madman?
"You brat, this is not a place for you to run wild!" Zong Zheng bellowed angrily.
Thunder Light was flashing intensely, and a ferocious and overwhelming aura suddenly erupted.
But as it neared Jiang Li, an apparition of a large cauldron appeared, suppressing the aura, and Tianxuan also gently lifted her hand, with Ming Yue emerging behind Jiang Li.
"I am the Master of the Jiang Family, how can I not speak?" Jiang Li said, sitting in his wheelchair, showing no signs of weakness in the face of Zong Zheng’s fury.
"What Jiang Li means is also what this palace means," Tianxuan stated blandly.
"What does the Gongsun Family Master think?" Zong Zheng shifted his focus.
He realized that Tianxuan had been planning for a long time and now was finally moving to action.
"This matter is simple," Tianxuan replied slowly, "No Emperor has ever been assassinated, why? Because of their superior strength. All we need is someone of high strength as Regent, and we need not worry about assassination."
She stood up, faced everyone, and declared, "I propose that the Princess temporarily take over the court affairs to stabilize the situation. Who supports this, and who opposes?"
Her words swept through the hall like a storm, leaving the audience both stunned and angry.
A third party entered the scene, not a prince, but their presence was aggressive, with a clear intent to prevail.
"If needed, this palace is willing to lend Great Zhou a helping hand," the Princess also said from the main seat.
"Once the chaos is resolved, this palace will return governance, to be taken over by either the Prince Regent or the Emperor."
Being a woman, she theoretically could not succeed to the throne, even if not a prince, so there was no concern about disrupting the succession of the imperial throne.
Conversely, if it were a man, that would indeed pose a problem.
Any princes with divine status could end up staying indefinitely once they arrived, and Great Zhou might face chaos again.
A series of setups, all for this moment to enter the fray.
At that moment, a Yin Qi appeared outside the hall, and a dignified figure was about to enter.
King You had returned.
Seeing this, Zong Zheng immediately wanted to speak out in opposition.
With King You’s support, it was not impossible to set aside this proposal temporarily for further discussion.
However, before King You could enter the hall, a gust of wind appeared outside, and a man tied with an Armored Horse Talisman hurried in. Ignoring the guards by the entrance holding their swords fiercely, he knelt on one knee and reported, "Divine Travel Grand Protector has urgent news. The Taiping Sect wishes to invite all sects of the Mystic Sect to a discussion. Envoy has been sent to each sect, Upper Pure Sect has responded and will soon arrive. Yuxu Temple and Daode Sect are yet to respond. Additionally, Purple Sun Sect, Funiu Mountain, Green Jade Altar, and other sects have already reached the Taiping Sect’s branch in Liangzhou Province."