Chapter 109: The Revelation of Heavenly Secrets [An Extra Chapter for Alliance Leader Left Severed Hand]

The sky grew dark.

Cheng Zhi used wood-elemental arts to track down Xu Shiqing and his group. Taking Xu Shiqing aside, he led him outside the palace walls to meet Zhou Yi. After Zhou Yi offered some praise for Xu Shiqing’s recent actions, he asked, "It is said that ten years ago, the late Emperor wished for the Prince of Wu to inherit the throne, but the Prince chose to guard the frontiers for the sake of the Liang State, instead recommending the current Emperor to ascend. How much do you know about this Prince of Wu?"

Xu Shiqing pondered for a moment, his expression laden with emotion. He sighed before replying, "Indeed. At that time, the current Emperor was the Prince of Literature. Although he was the eldest son, he was not born of the Empress. While he had a faction of supporters in the court, the old Emperor clearly favored the Prince of Wu and insisted that he should be the successor. The civil officials, however, argued that while the Prince of Wu possessed great valor, he lacked the necessary statecraft, and thus the court was filled with voices of opposition."

Zhou Yi nodded. It was much as he had suspected; the current Emperor had likely played his own political games. Otherwise, the civil officials would not have been so stirred up.

"We are going to the Prince of Wu’s residence. By now, the imperial decree has surely arrived. Once we reach there, Elder Xu, you must recount the fall of Qingcheng Mountain; it will carry more weight coming from you. I will then handle the negotiations with the Prince."

The group nodded. Sophia took charge of carrying Cheng Zhi and Xu Shiqing. When it came to the chubby man, he landed in front of Zhou Yi, looking visibly embarrassed.

"Boss, please don't hold it against me. Your techniques are truly extraordinary—you carried Cheng Zhi as if he weighed nothing. I only weigh a little more than him, just a little!"

Zhou Yi rolled his eyes at him. "Shut up. You need to lose some weight."

With that, he grabbed the chubby man by his belt and began casting seals with his fingers. He carried him over the hillside toward the nearby estate of the Prince of Wu. His speed was even greater than Sophia’s, and the chubby man turned pale with terror.

"Boss, slow down! I’m afraid of heights!"

Zhou Yi did not stop; he continued chanting incantations, too busy to respond. With a few leaps, they reached the residence of the Prince of Wu.

The sky had turned completely black. The front courtyard was lit, and it seemed many were waiting at the gate, though the main entrance remained shut. Having gained experience, the group headed straight for the study. It was bright as day inside. They landed on the roof, and Sophia took up a position to keep watch.

Zhou Yi closed his eyes, sensing the room below. A burly man sat before a desk, his eyes sharp as a hawk’s. Behind Zhou Yi, Xu Shiqing slipped slightly on a roof tile, creating a faint, crisp sound.

*Clack.*

Down below, the Prince of Wu suddenly looked directly toward the spot where Zhou Yi and his companions were hiding.

"Friends from afar, since you have come to my estate, please, come in!"

Hearing this, Zhou Yi realized the Prince of Wu was a formidable character; most people would have ignored that slight noise, yet he had pinpointed their location instantly. They could have taken others to meet him, but it was unnecessary. Since they had come to see him, Zhou Yi glanced at Sophia, signaling her to remain on guard, and then descended to the door, carrying Xu Shiqing with him.

The study door opened. The guards standing watch drew their blades at the sight of Zhou Yi and Xu Shiqing, but the voice of the Prince of Wu echoed before they could act.

"Withdraw. Leave this courtyard. Do not approach without my command."

The guards dared not speak and quickly retreated. The Prince of Wu stepped out himself, his gaze falling upon Zhou Yi.

"A late-night visit? Please, both of you, come into the study to talk."

Zhou Yi nodded slightly. "Pardon the intrusion."

He stepped into the study first. Since Zhou Yi had humbled him at Qingcheng Mountain, Xu Shiqing held absolute respect for him and hurried to follow. Zhou Yi sat opposite the Prince, while Xu Shiqing stood behind Zhou Yi with his hands lowered, the hierarchy clear.

"I, Zhou Yi, the new sect leader of Qingcheng Mountain, pay my respects to the Prince of Wu."

The Prince of Wu laughed heartily. "I should have guessed your identities. And this must be Elder Xu. You once treated my mother the Empress; I owe you my thanks, Elder!"

Xu Shiqing bowed quickly. "You are too kind, Your Highness!"

The Prince then looked at Zhou Yi with interest. "You visit in the dead of night—what is your counsel, Sect Leader Zhou?"

Zhou Yi smiled faintly. "To be frank, Your Highness, we arrived in the capital today and went straight to the palace. We wished to uncover the connection between the Black-Robed State Preceptor and the Imperial Concubine. Much of the news is hearsay; only by verifying it ourselves could we be certain. However, we have learned of some secrets. Although the Emperor of Liang destroyed Qingcheng Mountain, this Liang State was built by the predecessors of Qingcheng Mountain alongside many other sects. If the nation is on the verge of collapse, we cannot simply look away."

The Prince of Wu poured a cup of tea for Zhou Yi and placed it before him, his expression growing somber. "I returned from the Chu border only last night. I know little of this State Preceptor, only that she is a woman my Imperial Brother brought back, having appeared suddenly a year ago."

Zhou Yi glanced at Xu Shiqing. The old man, ever adept at reading the room, quickly stood up and spoke: "I happened to be drinking tea on the street at the time and witnessed it myself. This Imperial Concubine was truly a woman of peerless beauty. His Majesty could not take his eyes off her. I know not how she transformed into the State Preceptor. Many in the court opposed it. Even Senior Minister Shen, who supported His Majesty most, spoke out. But His Majesty seemed like a different person, devoid of his former grace and tolerance. When Minister Shen resigned, His Majesty accepted it immediately, declaring that the imperial will was set and that anyone who obstructed it would be executed."

The Prince of Wu gasped, his shock genuine. Clearly, he was truly ignorant of the situation in the capital, and he leaned forward. "And then? What happened at Qingcheng Mountain?"

Xu Shiqing fell silent. Zhou Yi had expected him to tell the story, but the old man only sighed, lowering his head. Just as Zhou Yi was about to speak, Xu Shiqing raised his head to look at the Prince. His eyes were bloodshot, and tears streamed down his face as his lips trembled.

"Since Your Highness asks, I will speak. Initially, the cities of Yingzhou and Wanzhou sent a joint dispatch to Qingcheng Mountain. It seemed that signs of demonic entities had been discovered in the Luoxia Valley, between Qingcheng Mountain and Yingzhou. Afterward, the Sect Leader summoned the disciples back to prepare for the attack. That was when the Black-Robed State Preceptor arrived to discuss the layout.

"Six days ago, a troop from Yingzhou blocked the exit of the valley. We attacked from the mountains, trying to slay the demons, but the more we killed, the more appeared. The soldiers who died turned into demons themselves—impervious to blades, spears, and axes. The Sect Leader realized the truth: these demons were merely puppets controlled by the Black-Robed State Preceptor, and she was the true Demon King, a living corpse. Left with no choice, the Sect Leader activated a forbidden formation, trapping all the demons and the State Preceptor within a barrier, and perished with them..."

By the end, Xu Shiqing was sobbing. There was genuine emotion in his voice; perhaps some lingering regret, for they were now parted by death.

The Prince of Wu pressed his lips together and looked at Zhou Yi, clearly unaware of how Zhou Yi had become the sect leader.

"Your Highness, you do not know—before the old Sect Leader passed, he calculated that I should succeed him to purge the forbidden arts of the Nether Mountain and eliminate the root of this disaster."

The Prince of Wu looked puzzled. "Nether Mountain?"

Zhou Yi pondered for a moment before recounting the events within the palace. Since the Emperor of Liang was acting so recklessly—neglecting state affairs to investigate whether that "living corpse" could be resurrected—it was beyond normal comprehension; he had clearly descended into madness.

"...That is why I must reach Nether Mountain as soon as possible. The old Sect Leader sacrificed his life to destroy the Black-Robed State Preceptor. If she is resurrected, all his efforts will have been in vain. It would not just be Liang, but the states of Wei and Chu that would suffer. Yet, within the court and the capital, everyone is gripped by fear. If pillars like General Han and Chancellor He lose hope in Liang, where will the nation go? Qingcheng Mountain has no desire for political power; if we had wanted it, we would have accepted the rewards offered by the Great Ancestor over two hundred years ago. But now, the country is tilting toward ruin. I hope that Your Highness will raise a call to arms, or at least stabilize the Liang State. This was the final wish of the old Sect Leader."

As he finished, Zhou Yi knelt on one knee. Xu Shiqing was startled and quickly knelt as well. These words were truly treasonous—he was inciting a younger brother to kill his own kin and usurp the throne!

The Prince of Wu did not tell them to rise. He remained silent for a very long time before looking at Zhou Yi.

"The old Sect Leader has surely leaked the secrets of Heaven!"