After being exiled for eighteen years, the prince returned to the capital as a veritable immortal.

"His Majesty!"

Ji Yu's voice, filled with excitement mixed with trepidation, echoed back to the imperial court.

The anxious ministers perked up and began to listen intently.

With the city shrouded in a death fog, and the Emperor's grandson not expected to arrive anytime soon, everyone was filled with anxiety.

"His Highness Prince Yi defeated Zhu Anshi and renamed the Martial Arts Alliance the Great Qian Immortal Alliance, placing it under the direct jurisdiction of the imperial court."

The hall fell silent; no one could believe their ears.

All eyes turned to the Sixth Prince.

The sixth prince also looked incredulous and raised his hand to cast a spell.

Play Ji Yu's voice again:

"His Highness Prince Yi defeated Zhu Anshi and renamed the Martial Arts Alliance the Great Qian Immortal Alliance, placing it under the direct jurisdiction of the imperial court."

After confirming they hadn't misheard, a cheer erupted from the main hall:

"it is good!"

"Your Highness Prince Yi is mighty!"

"The Martial Arts Alliance is now under the jurisdiction of the imperial court!"

"Congratulations, Your Majesty, on subduing the Martial Arts Alliance! This is an unprecedented feat!"

"Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

"Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

……

The ministers were extremely excited.

They knelt down with a "whoosh" and kowtowed to the Empress to offer their congratulations.

Previously, the Martial Arts Alliance was very powerful, seemingly intending to dominate the imperial court.

They frequently provoked the imperial court, and the Great Qian Dynasty could only back down and compromise.

The ministers had been harboring resentment for many years.

Now, His Highness Prince Yi has taken over the Martial Arts Alliance in one fell swoop.

From now on, you must obey the orders of the imperial court.

The Martial Arts Alliance no longer dared to provoke the imperial court.

These ministers could also instruct others on how to act through the imperial court.

Just thinking about it makes me excited.

……

"Prince Yi, have they returned in time?" The Sixth Prince asked the question that the entire court of emperors and ministers were most concerned about.

"His Highness has already descended the mountain and is on his way back to the imperial court."

Ji Yu's voice was almost choked with sobs, "But, this servant can't go back."

"Why can't you come back?" the Sixth Prince asked telepathically.

"Your Highness insists that I become the leader of the Immortal Alliance."

Ji Yu pleaded, "Your Majesty, please tell Prince Yi to replace the Grand Marshal with the new leader of the alliance."

"Your Majesty, I must serve you faithfully!"

I go!

Ji Yu actually became the leader of the Immortal Alliance.

The thought of a lowly Golden Core cultivator leading a group of Celestials and Half-Immortals must be incredibly stressful.

This matter.

Only the grandson of the emperor could do such a thing.

The Martial Emperor replied, "If Prince Yi appoints you, then stay there and be a good leader of the alliance."

"Your Majesty, this servant..."

Ji Yu's voice trailed off, powerless.

The sixth prince, the second prince, and the fifth prince all had a strange look in their eyes.

A touch of envy, a hint of regret...

The leader of the Immortal Alliance.

Which spiritual practitioner doesn't yearn for it?

Zhou Yi actually gave this opportunity to a eunuch.

The three of them thought to themselves that if such a good opportunity came their way, they would definitely seize it without hesitation.

After all, the Immortal Alliance governs all cultivation sects.

That is the greatest force in the world.

With the position of leader of the Immortal Alliance and his royal lineage, he is undoubtedly the next emperor.

The imperial court and the cultivation world are both firmly in their grasp.

He must be the number one person in the world, unprecedented and unparalleled.

Zhou Yi was actually willing to give up this opportunity.

Really...

I don't know whether to call him carefree or foolish.

Anyway, none of the three of them could do it.

However, let's look at it from another angle.

With a bunch of extraordinary and demigod-like figures under their command, the three of them were afraid that their leader wouldn't budge.

With this thought in mind, the three felt relieved.

The Fourth Prince, however, looked regretful and heartbroken, and said:

"Oh dear, I should have gone to Tongtian Peak with Prince Yi back then."

"If I go, I can become the leader of the alliance."

Everyone looked disgusted.

A mere Qi Refining Realm nobody dares to dream of becoming the leader of the Immortal Alliance.

I really don't know where he got the courage.

……

The next day.

Golden Throne Hall.

The ministers arrived much earlier than usual.

The hall was filled with chatter, everyone talking about Zhou Yi.

After fermentation yesterday.

The news that the Martial Arts Alliance had been renamed the Great Qian Immortal Alliance and placed under the jurisdiction of the imperial court spread throughout the capital.

Everyone spread the news, and the whole world rejoiced.

Cultivators are above ordinary people, holding the power of life and death over them.

Compared to the Martial Arts Alliance, the common people still prefer the imperial court.

After the Martial Arts Alliance is brought under the control of the imperial court, it certainly won't be as arrogant towards the common people anymore.

Thank you, Your Highness Prince Yi.

Wherever people talk, they are sure to be discussing Zhou Yi's heroic deeds.

Last night, fireworks went off for half the night again.

Zhou Yi returned to Beijing quite late yesterday.

The Emperor specifically instructed that he should not be disturbed and should get a good night's rest.

Even the matter of the dead fog has been temporarily put on hold.

As they talked, they waited for Zhou Yi to come to court.

I waited and waited, but no one came.

When the time for the court assembly arrived, Emperor Wu ascended the throne, and everyone waited together.

Even when the sun was high in the sky, Zhou Yi was nowhere to be seen.

"Wow, you're waiting for Prince Yi?"

The fourth prince suddenly realized, "He doesn't come to court. If something happens, we'll have to go and call him."

"..."

The assembled officials were speechless for a moment.

Empress Wu allowed Zhou Yi to skip court sessions.

But having accomplished such a great feat yesterday, shouldn't we be rewarded?

They shouldn't have come; they were just showing off.

Should we accept everyone's flattery and favors?

Empress Wu turned to the eunuch and said:

"Quickly, go and invite Prince Yi to court."

Yes.

I must attend the morning court session today.

Even if Zhou Yi didn't care about the reward, the outer perimeter of the imperial city was still shrouded in death fog.

……

Zhou Yi entered the main hall.

After paying their respects to Empress Wu, the ministers bowed and paid their respects:

"Greetings, Your Highness Prince Yi! Long live the Prince! Long live the Prince!"

This……

As soon as the words were spoken, everyone immediately realized that it was inappropriate.

A grandmaster's lifespan is limited to five hundred years, so calling him "thousand years old" is naturally a blessing.

A celestial being, half-immortal, with a lifespan of a thousand years.

With Zhou Yi's near-immortal status, his lifespan is certainly over a thousand years.

Everyone unanimously calls him "Long Live the Emperor".

This is a curse wishing someone an early death.

If we don't call him "Your Majesty," what should we call him?

Long live?

The Emperor is sitting on the dragon throne.

Are you trying to incite Zhou Yi to rebel by shouting "Long live Zhou Yi"?

Imperial Censor Xu Jie said:

"Your Majesty, I suggest that when paying respects to Prince Yi, the first two 'thousands of years' should be omitted."

"Approved!" Emperor Wu nodded.

The ministers bowed again:

"Greetings, Your Highness Prince Yi, may you live a long life!"

……

Zhou Yi looked up at the high dragon throne.

The Martial Emperor was also looking down.

Their eyes met.

Yes, that's the look in your eyes.

Zhou Yi was absolutely certain.

When he was in the dragon vein, the gaze that was watching him was that of the high and mighty Martial Emperor.

He had already realized it by then.

The Martial Emperor had immense control over the dragon veins.

Zhou Yi was about to speak.

Emperor Wu preemptively said, "Prince Yi beheaded Zhu Anshi, subdued the Martial Alliance, and made unparalleled military achievements."

"A reward of one million taels of gold!"

hiss--

The ministers and princes gasped in shock.

The million-dollar reward nearly emptied the imperial treasury.

However, no one thought it was too much.

after all.

Compared to the immense achievement of subduing the Martial Arts Alliance, everyone would feel that any reward, however large, was deserved.

This wasn't all, the Martial Emperor continued:

"As a further reward to Prince Yi, grant him a fiefdom of three states!"

hiss--

This reward is a hundred times more valuable than a million taels of gold.

It should be noted that Zhou Yi's previous fiefdom consisted only of Liangzhou.

After being granted three additional prefectures, his fiefdom was much larger than that of the other princes.

however.

The ministers outwardly offered their congratulations with smiles, but inwardly they were extremely surprised.

Such a generous reward seems to indicate that Zhou Yi is highly valued.

Actually.

This shows that he is getting further and further away from the throne.

If Emperor Wu intends to pass the throne to Zhou Yi, the entire world will be his.

There's absolutely no need to increase his fiefdom.

Increasing his fiefdom also means that they have no intention of making him the crown prince.

After Zhou Yi expressed his gratitude, he opened his mouth to speak.

The Martial Emperor spoke first once again:

"Prince Yi, the city is shrouded in a death fog; we need you to go and investigate."

"promise."

Zhou Yi accepted the order and left the palace.

After a brief exchange of glances, the Martial Emperor's eyes flickered, clearly avoiding Zhou Yi's gaze.

"Is sending Gu Chu out of the city an act of escapism?" Zhou Yi asked himself silently.

Things have come to this point.

He no longer intended to delay any longer.

In the case of the Crown Prince's massacre of his entire family, what role did Empress Wu actually play?

Today, the truth must be revealed.

and.

He has made up his mind to unlock the dragon vein and release the sealed upper limit of cultivation realm.