Chapter 368: The Eastern Lord

"That noon, the day before killing her!" Qi Tianhou suddenly muttered, recalling the words he had just spoken. Did he just confess?

The court was in an uproar. Although Zhong Shan had earlier accused Qi Tianhou of being the mastermind behind the murder, there had been no evidence to prove it. Many people didn't believe Zhong Shan's accusation. After all, he was accusing Qi Tianhou, Ying Ning's own brother. Who would believe that Qi Tianhou would do such a thing? But with the emperor present, no one dared to act out of turn. They could only take their places and watch the situation unfold, wondering how Zhong Shan would embarrass himself with no evidence.

How could he accuse Qi Tianhou without evidence? If such accusations were accepted without proof, then could anyone in the court be labeled a criminal just based on someone's words? At first, everyone looked at Zhong Shan with a hint of disdain, but as the confrontation between Zhong Shan and Qi Tianhou progressed, Qi Tianhou became increasingly agitated, causing some officials to feel slightly suspicious and hold their breath, awaiting the final outcome.

Did Qi Tianhou really just confess? He killed his own sister? Just for an outsider? To frame Princess Qian You, he actually killed his own sister? It's too terrifying, too ruthless. Could someone from the Gu family really do such a thing?

The entire court was shocked. The Gu family members were also in disbelief. Qi Tianhou, Gu Lin, actually killed his own sister? Unforgivable. The emperor is still on the throne, and he dares to kill his sister. Does that mean any of us from the Gu family could be killed whenever he wants? The Gu family members looked at Qi Tianhou with angry eyes.

The anger towards Princess Qian You immediately shifted entirely onto Qi Tianhou. Among the Gu family members, Fan Yipin glanced at Zhong Shan with a look of admiration and a hint of challenge.

Huan Tulong, looking at Zhong Shan, let out a long sigh and smiled slightly.

Zheng Yi Wang, his gaze shifting between Zhong Shan and Princess Qian You, closed his eyes gently, remaining silent.

Da Xuan Wang, who had been watching Qi Tianhou intently, furrowed his brows and took a deep breath.

Tai Zong Wang, always with a gentle smile like a spring breeze, glanced at Zhong Shan, then at Zheng Yi Wang, and smiled faintly.

Zhan Tian Wang's eyes showed a hint of admiration, a bit of expectation, and a touch of ferocity.

Tian Lao, with a cold gaze, looked at Qi Tianhou and said nothing.

Princess Qian You, at the moment the court erupted, clenched her fists in excitement, looking as if she might jump up at any moment. It was too thrilling, too stimulating, too exciting. At this moment, Princess Qian You, filled with gratitude, felt like rushing over to Zhong Shan, hugging him, and kissing him. This man had fulfilled his promise.

"I remember now, that day Qi Tianhou told me to keep a close watch on the safety of the residence. The residence had never had any trouble before, but he suddenly told me to keep an eye out, which made me very sensitive. That's why, when I heard a loud noise in the courtyard, I went to check while others didn't." Ma Zhui Ri suddenly accused Qi Tianhou.

Qi Tianhou's reputation was instantly tarnished. Ma Zhui Ri, who had been framed by him before, now showed no mercy in accusing him. Ma Zhui Ri's accusation seemed to snap Qi Tianhou out of his stupor.

Qi Tianhou immediately fixed his gaze on Zhong Shan. Zhong Shan, it's always you. From the incident in the sea of flowers to the Wan Yuan Valley, and now the Ying Ning incident, every time, it was you. You destroyed me every single time.

"It's you again, it's you. Qian You was supposed to be mine!" Qi Tianhou said fiercely, glaring at Zhong Shan.

With that, Qi Tianhou drew his purple-gold dragon-patterned staff and, before the entire court, with a face full of hatred, swung it at Zhong Shan.

The whole court was in shock. Who would dare to act recklessly in the grand hall of the Great Luo Celestial Dynasty?

Qi Tianhou's strike was incredibly fast, almost instantly reaching Zhong Shan's face.

Qi Tianhou, with the power of a late Nascent Soul cultivator, wielded a ninth-grade magical weapon, the Purple-Gold Dragon Patterned Staff. Zhong Shan, on the other hand, was only at the tenth level of the Golden Core stage. Many were worried for Zhong Shan.

Would Zhong Shan be worried? What kind of person is Zhong Shan? He had anticipated Qi Tianhou's desperate reaction. Zhong Shan was well-prepared, having made his preparations earlier.

Zhong Shan's current state was fully armed: holding the Holy Sword in his left hand, the Wind God Bow in his right, the Wind God Arrow at his waist, and a Purple Wood Cotton Cassock protecting his chest beneath his clothing.

These were all ninth-grade magical treasures, equipping him to the fullest extent. With the Holy Sword in his left hand, the divine bow in his right, the divine arrow at his waist, and the cassock on his chest, Zhong Shan was ready to face any challenge. He stared intently at the incoming strike from Qi Tianhou's staff.

A ninth-grade magical treasure, the Purple Wood Cotton Cassock had once blocked a strike from a Sovereign Realm Ape Heart. Could it now fail against Qi Tianhou?

"Impudence!" A sudden angry shout from Gu Shentong reverberated through the hall, like a thunderous decree from the heavens. The shout was so powerful that it shook the hearts of everyone in the hall, even startling Zhong Shan.

Simultaneously, dark clouds gathered over the Taigu Holy Capital, with thunder rumbling as if responding to Gu Shentong's wrath. The citizens of the capital looked up at the sky, filled with awe.

The heavens were angry! The emperor was angry! All eyes turned towards the center of the Taigu Mountain.

The angered shout directly impacted Qi Tianhou, who was paralyzed in place. He stood there, staff in hand, frozen in that moment.

Qi Tianhou's eyes were filled with terror, unable to move, as if encased in ice. But this encasement was far tougher than ice, immobilizing even his spiritual consciousness. The only thing he could move were his eyes.

The emperor was enraged!

Under this divine wrath, no one dared to speak. Everyone remained silent.

Qi Tianhou, filled with fear, glanced at Gu Shentong and then looked fiercely at Zhong Shan across from him.

"Shen Qitian, because of your past relationship with the Great Luo Celestial Dynasty, I bestowed upon you the title of 'Qi Tianhou.' I never imagined that after reincarnating into the Gu clan, you would create chaos among my descendants, killing Ying Ning, and even attempting to deceive the heavens and frame Qian You. You regard my Great Luo Celestial Dynasty as nothing. Today, I will not strip you of your cultivation, but the past favors from the Great Luo Celestial Dynasty are now repaid. I revoke your Gu clan name, 'Gu Lin,' and strip you of the title 'Qi Tianhou.' From now on, you are to leave the Taigu Holy Capital immediately and be out of the Great Luo Celestial Dynasty's territory within six months. Otherwise, I will make sure you reincarnate again!" the emperor said angrily.

As soon as the emperor finished speaking, a massive green beam of light descended from the sky over the Taigu Holy Capital, seemingly a mighty force from the stars, directly striking Qi Tianhou's mansion.

"Boom!"

With a deafening roar, Qi Tianhou's mansion was reduced to dust. Most of the ape-like creatures inside were killed instantly, except for one that escaped in time. This was Yuan Fei, one of the two strongest apes from the Wan Yuan Valley.

Inside the Taigu Holy Hall, Qi Tianhou—or rather, Shen Qitian—was struck by an overwhelming force when Gu Shentong glared at him. Shen Qitian was launched like a cannonball, crashing out of the Taigu Holy Hall and shooting far to the south.

"Poof!"

In mid-air, Shen Qitian regained movement and spat out a mouthful of blood, his body still propelled outward.

Yuan Fei, flying in the distance, saw Shen Qitian emerging and immediately sped towards him.

After five breaths, Shen Qitian finally managed to stabilize himself, but upon looking around, he realized he was already outside the Taigu Holy Capital.

At the peak of Sovereign Realm, Yuan Fei flew desperately, but even at his best speed, he couldn't keep up with Shen Qitian, who was retreating involuntarily faster than he could advance.

By the time Yuan Fei reached him, Shen Qitian was standing on the summit of a mountain, squinting his eyes as he gazed north. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and showed a ferocious expression.

"Your Excellency! What happened?" Yuan Fei asked anxiously.

"We can no longer stay in the Great Luo Celestial Dynasty!" Shen Qitian replied with a deep sense of resentment.

In the west of the Taigu Holy Capital, in a hidden valley, there was a cave where a red-clad woman sat cross-legged in complete silence, as if dead. In front of her lay a black sword. At the moment when Shen Qitian was cast out of the Taigu Holy Capital by Gu Shentong's gaze, the red-clad woman suddenly opened her eyes, which shot out a burst of sword energy.

"Boom!"

Eight enormous sword energies erupted from the red-clad woman's body, instantly shattering the entire mountain.

Amidst the lingering smoke, the red-clad woman stood revealed, her face filled with hatred, and her eyes fixed on the distant direction where Shen Qitian was.

"So, you've finally come out!" the red-clad woman said with a voice full of venom.

Then, with a single step, the red-clad woman transformed into a giant surge of sword energy and shot rapidly in the direction of Shen Qitian.

"Your Excellency, this is bad! Jian Hong is coming. Quick, we must go!" Yuan Fei exclaimed in alarm.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

With the case resolved and Qi Tianhou punished by the Emperor, all the courtiers, regardless of their thoughts, bowed in reverence to the Emperor.

"Zhong Shan, hear the imperial decree!" Gu Shentong suddenly called out.

"Your servant is here!" Zhong Shan responded immediately.

"With the Yinging case resolved in a timely manner, your past military merits are restored. From this moment, I promote you to 'Third Class Duke of the East' and appoint you as 'Vice Minister of Rites,' rank of third class!" Gu Shentong declared.

As Gu Shentong's words fell, a surge of golden light from all directions enveloped Zhong Shan's body. An infinite flow of fortune connected to Zhong Shan, integrating his identity further with the Great Luo Celestial Dynasty's destiny.

Zhong Shan felt an indescribable sense of comfort envelop his entire being. In the sky above the Taigu Holy Capital, among the many statues of officials formed by the nation's fortune, Zhong Shan's statue quickly moved forward in rank.

"Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" Zhong Shan immediately bowed in gratitude.