It's really you.

Upon seeing Qin Gonggong's figure, Ji Yu smiled again and said, "Father's strategies are truly profound. Qin Gonggong has gained the trust of Emperor Haoyue. This time, we will surely succeed." Ji Yu had a victorious smile on his face.

"A single ruler alone cannot make a significant impact," he added.

As soon as Qin Gonggong reached Ji Yaotian, he urgently exclaimed, "Zhen Guogong, my lord, something terrible has happened. Empress Consort has been executed."

Ji Yaotian was shocked by the news. "What? When did this happen?" His body trembled, as Dance was his most beloved daughter. How could this happen so suddenly?

"Zhen Guogong, just before you entered the palace, Emperor Haoyue heard the news that Lady Li is still alive. He immediately went to the dungeon and administered poisoned wine."

"My Dance, why didn't you wait for me to save you?" Ji Yaotian felt deeply struck by grief. It was the second time that someone with white hair had sent someone with black hair, and Ji Yaotian was emotionally devastated.

"That damned Jun Yujing acted so swiftly."

Ji Yu was infuriated, trembling with anger and exuding a murderous aura.

Looking at Zi Tan not far away, Ji Yu commanded, "Zi Tan, kill them all."

"Yes, young master," Zi Tan, a slightly chubby man, responded. He was also a master of profound energy.

"Let's go to Jiaoyang Hall."

Ji Yu was determined to personally kill Emperor Haoyue today and settle his grievances. Ji Yaotian agreed with Ji Yu's plan.

As they walked, Ji Yaotian asked, "Has everything been prepared in Jiaoyang Hall?"

"Zhen Guogong, please rest assured! The poisoned incense burner has already been lit. By this time, Emperor Haoyue should have been affected by the poison. The Third Prince and around twenty undercover guards are protecting him near Jiaoyang Hall. Our chances of success are uncertain."

Qin Gonggong felt a little worried, as he was concerned that people from Yuncheng might intervene. After all, Emperor Haoyue was Mu Yunxuan's uncle.

"Why worry? My forces far surpass their strength. That Jun Yujing is nothing but a useless waste, and a group of undercover guards is no match for us."

Ji Yu spoke with confidence. The Ji family had more than just this level of power, and their true trump card was yet to come.

Inside Jiaoyang Hall, Yao Guifei and Jun Yujing anxiously paced around. They hadn't received any good news from outside, and Emperor Haoyue couldn't help but feel worried.

"Jun Yujing, Dance served you for over twenty years, and you killed her with a cup of poisoned wine. How can you bear such a burden?"

Ji Yaotian's voice penetrated through the door. Soon, three figures appeared in the room.

Jun Yujing stood up cautiously and looked darkly at Ji Yu and the others.

Yao Guifei's face showed a trace of fear. The members of the Ji family had barged in just like that, and she instinctively shrank behind Emperor Haoyue.

Emperor Haoyue looked coldly at them, and when he saw Qin Gonggong standing behind them, he understood everything. Qin Gonggong turned out to be their person, despite the years of his generosity. He had stabbed him in the back.

"Hmph! Ji Yaotian, do you have the audacity to say that? Back then, you intentionally released the demon beasts, causing chaos in the capital and bringing harm to the people. You even killed my beloved wife and took away my son. And now, you dare to speak so arrogantly here."

Emperor Haoyue's eyes were filled with coldness as he revealed their true intentions.

"Hmph! Ji Yaotian, do you have the audacity to say that? Back then, you intentionally released a horde of demonic beasts, causing chaos among the people of the Haoyue Kingdom and taking advantage of the opportunity to deliver a fatal blow to me. You killed my most beloved woman and took away my son. And now, you dare to spout such nonsense here."

Upon closer investigation, he realized that the Ji family was behind it all. Everything that happened back then was orchestrated by Ji Yaotian.

"Hmph! Now you discover it, but it's too late. If anyone is to blame, blame yourself for being so infatuated with Lady Li back then. How could you compare a woman with no background to my Dance? The Zhen Guogong's family has served the royal family for generations, and none of our Ji family's daughters could become empress. None of the other families' daughters should even dream of it."

Zhen Guogong laughed cunningly. If it weren't for his actions back then, Dance would never have been able to ascend to the position of empress. Perhaps that position would have been securely occupied by Li Manqi.

"Father, enough with the pointless talk. Seeking revenge for our sister is the priority," Ji Yu seethed with anger. His sister had always doted on him, and now that she was gone, he would only be content by personally killing Emperor Haoyue.

"Hmph! Do you think I have no defenses against you? Do you find it strange that you could easily enter Jiaoyang Hall without anyone stopping you?" Emperor Haoyue sneered. He knew they were planning a rebellion, and if he had no preparations, then he would have been an emperor in name only after ruling for so many years.

Hearing this, Ji Yu and Ji Yaotian exchanged a glance, and even Qin Gonggong displayed a hint of puzzlement in his eyes. Ji Yaotian looked back at Qin Gonggong, who shook his head, indicating that he was unaware of the situation.

"What do you mean?" Ji Yaotian finally realized that when they entered, there was no one to block their way.

"Hmph! I have always trusted Qin Gonggong, but tonight, his behavior was peculiar. Originally, I was planning to leave the palace, but I forgot about something and returned to Jiaoyang Hall. I happened to find Qin Gonggong poisoning the incense burner. I made a decisive move and went to the dungeon to kill the empress first, then I sat here quietly in Jiaoyang Hall, waiting for your appearance."

Emperor Haoyue looked coldly at them. It was a common weakness of emperors to fear waking up one morning to find their reign overthrown. How could he sit idly by and let others reap the rewards?

"Ah, so you've learned to scheme over these years. Among all the emperors throughout history, you have successfully secured your throne the most smoothly."

Ji Yaotian spoke thoughtfully, "At this point, there's nothing more to say. The only way out for our Ji family is to win."

Ji Yaotian could think of it, and naturally, Ji Yu could too. They could only survive if they emerged victorious.

Ji Yu waved his hand behind him, and a group of masked figures dressed in black appeared outside Jiaoyang Hall.

As soon as the shadows descended, Emperor Haoyue subtly signaled to his hidden guards.

Quickly, Ji Yu's men were surrounded from all sides.

Ji Yu took a moment to assess the strength of the covert guards, and a hint of surprise flickered in his eyes. When did Emperor Haoyue gather such a group of peak cultivators at the Divine Profound stage in secret?

Jun Lintian also glanced sideways at Emperor Haoyue. If it weren't for the Ji family's rebellion this time, Father Emperor probably wouldn't have exposed them. Father Emperor had hidden them well enough.

"Kill!"

Emperor Haoyue commanded coldly.

Ji Yu condensed his profound energy in his hand and launched an attack toward Emperor Haoyue.

Jun Lintian acted swiftly, countering Ji Yu's cultivation with his own.

Ji Yu landed on the ground, somewhat shocked as he looked at Jun Lintian. They had never paid much attention to Jun Lintian's presence, but they didn't expect his cultivation to advance so rapidly.

Divine Profound, Eighth Order—how was it possible? How could someone at the peak of the Golden Profound stage ascend to the peak of the Divine Profound stage in just a few months, even surpassing him by three stages? How was that possible?

Emperor Haoyue squinted as he observed his son. Tian'er had indeed undergone significant changes recently.

"Hmph!" Ji Yu snorted coldly, taking out three pills that enhanced cultivation and swallowed them. With the boost from these pills, his cultivation would surpass Jun Lintian by one stage. He refused to believe he couldn't kill Jun Lintian.

Qin Gonggong stood behind Ji Yaotian and watched the confrontation between Ji Yu and Jun Lintian. Slowly, he straightened his body, and within the sleeve of his hand, a silver, icy-cold dagger appeared. Unexpectedly, Emperor Haoyue had already noticed him.

Suddenly, taking advantage of Emperor Haoyue's distraction, Qin Gonggong swiftly lunged forward, aiming the dagger directly at Emperor Haoyue's heart.

Consort Yao, standing behind Emperor Haoyue, felt that this was her chance to prove her worth.

Emperor Haoyue had long been wary and was about to intervene, but his body was forcefully pushed aside by someone.

As he saw Consort Yao rushing towards him, a flash of astonishment and fear crossed his mind.

"Ah..." Consort Yao looked at the location of her heart in terror.

A dagger had completely pierced her body.

"No." Consort Yao shook her head. It wasn't supposed to be like this. The situation wasn't as she had imagined.

"Consort Yao."

"Mother Consort."

A tinge of anguish flickered in Jun Lintian's eyes. Why was Mother Consort being so foolish? What could she possibly achieve at this moment?

Qin Gonggong glanced at Consort Yao, his eyes filled with doubt. How could this woman sacrifice herself to shield Emperor Haoyue from the arrow?

"Consort Yao, why are you being so foolish?"

Emperor Haoyue caught Consort Yao's faltering body and held her in his arms.

Consort Yao tried to speak but found her throat unable to produce any sound. She knew she was nearing her end. She raised her jade-like hand and pointed it towards Jun Lintian.

She couldn't rest assured about Tian'er. She couldn't.

Emperor Haoyue seemed to understand her intentions.

"Consort Yao, rest assured, I will take care of Tian'er."

That was the only promise he could make to her.

Upon hearing this, Consort Yao slowly closed her eyes, and her hand fell heavily to the ground.

Jun Lintian looked at Consort Yao in pain, and his eyes grew even more filled with a sense of killing intent.

But Ji Yu was entangling him tightly, leaving him no room to act.

"Qin Feng!" Emperor Haoyue called out to the window.

"Your Majesty."

"Kill them all."

Before Emperor Haoyue's words could fully settle, a loud bang! Ji Yu sent Jun Lintian flying with a palm strike, crashing into some tables and chairs on the ground, ending up in a disheveled state.

Consort Yao's death had a tremendous impact on Jun Lintian. He was momentarily distracted, allowing Ji Yu to succeed.

Looking at the situation before him, Ji Yaotian smiled smugly.

He signaled to Qin Gonggong.

Understanding his signal, Qin Gonggong was about to make a move when suddenly, a remarkable killing intent emanated in the air.

Everyone sensed this intense change in the atmosphere and turned around in surprise.

They saw Mu Yunxuan and his group.

Ji Yaotian was greatly astonished. How could the Lord of Yun City be here?

Ji Yu was also incredulous when he spotted Su Zimo. There was no need to speculate the reason for Mu Yunxuan's appearance here.

"Father Emperor, are you alright?" Jun Shaochen quickly moved to Emperor Haoyue's side.

Emperor Haoyue regained his senses and shook his head. "Chen'er, Father Emperor is fine."

Following the gaze of the crowd, a figure dressed in red entered their view.

Emperor Haoyue's face filled with excitement.

He emotionally uttered, "Manqi, it's really you?"

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