# Chapter 377: Turmoil in the Imperial City
The festive atmosphere brought by Yun Che and Cang Yue's grand wedding had not yet fully dissipated when shocking news began to spread from the imperial palace...
On the second day after Yun Che and Cang Yue's wedding, Cang Wanhe suddenly ordered the arrest and imprisonment of the Crown Prince and the Third Prince in the heavenly prison. He then personally listed dozens of their crimes, which shockingly included "conspiracy to rebel" and "patricide." Three days later, Crown Prince Cang Lin and Third Prince Cang Shuo were publicly executed by beheading, and their factions were completely arrested and eradicated.
In the previous months, Cang Wanhe, whose health had recovered and who had regained great authority under Yun Che's influence, had been behaving extremely calmly. But he suddenly erupted after Yun Che and Cang Yue's wedding, displaying all the iron-blooded ruthlessness of an emperor, as if he had been preparing for this all along. For a time, the other princes, as well as those forces and officials who had previously sided with the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, all felt their positions threatened and trembled with fear. Now that Cang Wanhe had Yun Che as his backing, his deterrent power was no less than that of the three great sects—they simply could not muster the courage to resist or defy him. Fortunately, after executing the Crown Prince, the Third Prince, and their factions, Cang Wanhe made no further moves. Only then did these people breathe a great sigh of relief and frantically pledge their loyalty to Cang Wanhe through various means, wishing they could split open their chests and show him their hearts.
The power that Cang Wanhe held had, in this short time, reached its peak since he ascended the throne. In the Cang Feng Empire, the three great sects were always above the imperial clan. The imperial authority of all previous emperors had been constrained and overshadowed by the three great sects. But Cang Wanhe's current authority was unmatched by any of his predecessors, all because of Yun Che—the son-in-law who seemed to have descended from heaven.
Just as everyone thought Cang Wanhe's thunderous methods had ended, a terrifying rumor suddenly began to spread throughout the city...
The rumor was that the Crown Prince and the Third Prince had used a method called "Soul-Devouring Same-Life Gu" to harm the emperor. This was the truth behind the emperor's years of sudden illness, which had caused the three sects and the entire empire's experts to be helpless. Otherwise, how could the emperor, a Xuan practitioner at the Earth Xuan Realm, suddenly fall ill with an incurable ailment, with his profound strength rapidly declining? If it weren't for Yun Che's awakening of the Phoenix bloodline to cure him, the emperor would have died long ago. The crown prince and the third prince's methods were truly despicable and heinous!
This news quickly spread, and everyone who learned of it was furious, cursing the already dead crown prince and third prince once again... However, during this time, the one called "Medical Saint," who had been brought from a thousand miles away to treat the emperor for many years, became so terrified he could not sleep or eat. This person was named Gu Qiuhong, the first divine physician of the Cang Feng Empire. In the Cang Feng Empire, he was called the "Medical Saint," a name that carried immense weight. He had always been the imperial physician, and for many years, it was he who had been responsible for treating Cang Wanhe's strange illness. Now, a rumor had spread that Cang Wanhe had been poisoned with the Soul-Devouring Same-Life Gu, and Gu Qiuhong immediately realized he was in deep trouble.
"Soul-Devouring Same-Life Gu" was a kind of Gu poison. It was something he had created using a secret method more than ten years ago, and he had personally applied it to Cang Wanhe... Yes, it was he, Gu Qiuhong, who had secretly poisoned Cang Wanhe's body. And as for the person behind him, it was naturally the Crown Prince. As the empire's first divine physician, he could easily make a person appear to have a natural illness without anyone suspecting it. But now this secret had been exposed. Although the Crown Prince had been executed, he, as the actual perpetrator, was now living in constant fear. He had tried every way to investigate the source of this rumor, but to no avail. This only made him more and more uneasy. Now he was hiding in his residence, not daring to step out, feeling as if the executioner's blade was hanging over his head.
At that moment, Yun Che had already arrived in front of a small building within Gu Qiuhong's manor.
Gu Qiuhong was sitting at a table, drenched in cold sweat, his hands trembling. As the number one divine physician in the empire who had lived for over a hundred years, he had never been so panicked. The Soul-Devouring Same-Life Gu was a forbidden ancient art he had discovered by chance. Its effects were strange and terrifying. Even if a hundred divine physicians gathered together, they would never find its source. But now, such a secret had been exposed. The only explanation... was that the emperor had already known the truth all along, and this was his way of dealing with him! But why hadn't he acted yet? Could it be that he was just giving him a few more days to live?
Sweat was already pooling on the table in a large puddle. Gu Qiuhong's spirit was on the verge of collapse under this psychological torment. He wanted to escape, but how could he? There were Yun Che and the emperor from the three great sects above him. If he wanted to escape, there was nowhere in the entire Cang Feng Empire for him to go. He didn't even dare to try... The only thing he could do now was pray that the emperor, for the sake of his reputation as the number one divine physician, would spare him.
"Has anyone ever told you... that calling yourself a divine physician is very disgusting?"
A faintly sarcastic voice came from behind. Startled, Gu Qiuhong jumped up and spun around. When he saw that it was Yun Che, his whole body trembled, his heart convulsed, and he stammered: "You... you... it turns out... it's... Lord Yun. Lord Yun actually came to my humble home in person. I am truly... excited... extremely honored."
Beside Gu Qiuhong were four personal disciples. None of them had noticed when Yun Che had arrived. Seeing Yun Che appear like a ghost, they were all frightened out of their wits, shrinking back, not daring to breathe loudly... As personal disciples, they naturally knew everything Gu Qiuhong had done to Cang Wanhe. These days, they and Gu Qiuhong had been living in constant fear.
Yun Che stepped forward, a mocking smile on his face: "Excited? Honored? But all I see on your face is fear. Are you afraid of me? How strange. We've never had any dealings, and we've only met a few times. Why would you be afraid of me?"
"N-no..." Gu Qiuhong stammered. In just a few breaths, he was already drenched in sweat. Even his fingertips were dripping with sweat. "Lord Yun is the Cang Feng Empire's only imperial son-in-law and is recognized as the number one person in the empire. I am but a humble physician. To be able to see Lord Yun, I naturally... feel reverent awe."
"Oh? A physician? You say you're a physician? I happen to have a question about medicine. May I ask for your guidance?" Yun Che squinted his eyes, a faint cold light flashing deep within them. Gu Qiuhong called himself the "Medical Saint." He naturally didn't know that this self-proclaimed title made Yun Che very uncomfortable, because the master who taught him medicine was also the "Medical Saint" of the Cang Yun Continent. This venomous wretch before him actually shared the same title as his most respected master—this was a complete desecration of the term "Medical Saint."
Gu Qiuhong was already at a loss. He could only nod: "G-guidance? I dare not presume. Whatever Lord Yun commands, I will certainly obey."
"No need to be nervous. I just have a small question I'd like to ask. I'm sure it's very simple for a physician like you." The corner of Yun Che's mouth curled up, his gaze sinister: "Someone close to me has been poisoned with a Gu poison called the 'Soul-Devouring Same-Life Gu.' I wonder if Great Divine Physician Gu has a cure for it?"
The moment the words "Soul-Devouring Same-Life Gu" left his mouth, it was like the Grim Reaper's death knell. Gu Qiuhong's entire body trembled, his legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed to his knees. His voice shook to the extreme: "N-n-no... I don't know. I have... poor medical skills. I've... never heard of any Soul-Devouring Same-Life Gu... Please... Lord Yun... forgive me."
"Oh? You don't know?" Yun Che laughed coldly: "You've lived over a hundred years, yet you don't even know about the simple Soul-Devouring Same-Life Gu? And you still dare to call yourself the number one divine physician of the Cang Feng Empire? You're nothing but a charlatan! If other people pretend to be something they're not, that's one thing. But as a physician who should save lives, if you lack medical skill, medical conscience, and medical ethics, then instead of saving people, you harm them! And you harm many people! Since you're the kind of person who harms others... there's no need for you to remain in this world!!"
"Ah..." Gu Qiuhong's eyes widened. Just as he was about to speak, a red flash suddenly appeared before him...
Chi!!
A phoenix flame blazed past, instantly piercing through Gu Qiuhong's chest, leaving a large hole in it.
Gu Qiuhong's expression froze. With a "plop," he fell to the ground, a pool of blood quickly forming beneath him.
"M-master!" Gu Qiuhong's four disciples were so frightened their faces turned pale. They cried out in terror but huddled in the corner, none daring to approach. When Yun Che turned his gaze to them, they trembled all over, their teeth chattering. Two of them even wet themselves on the spot... Yun Che's methods were truly as vicious as a demon's. Gu Qiuhong was the number one divine physician of the Cang Feng Empire, with enormous influence. Yet Yun Che had spoken calmly one moment and killed him the next, as casually as stepping on an ant.
"You four should be Gu Qiuhong's personal disciples, right? Hmph. Do you want to live or die?" Yun Che said expressionlessly.
The four suddenly saw hope of survival. They immediately fell to their knees, kowtowing like pounding garlic: "We want to live, we want to live... As long as Lord Yun is willing to spare our lives, we are willing to be your servants for life..."
Yun Che said coldly: "Gu Qiuhong plotted to harm the emperor, a crime deserving death ten thousand times over. As for you, I can still give you a chance to live... You have been following Gu Qiuhong all along. You must know very well all the ugly deeds and evil acts he has committed over the years using his medical skills and reputation. I'll give you three days. Within three days, compile irrefutable evidence of Gu Qiuhong's plot against the emperor and all his misdeeds, and make them public... He is not worthy of the title 'Medical Saint.' After this, use the medical skills you have learned to save lives and atone for the crimes you committed by following Gu Qiuhong. Never again use the medical arts for evil. Otherwise, I will kill you!!"
Yun Che's words filled the four with unexpected joy. They hurriedly agreed, tears of gratitude streaming down their faces...
Three days later, news spread throughout the city that Gu Qiuhong had conspired with the Crown Prince and the Third Prince to use the Soul-Devouring Same-Life Gu to harm the emperor. Gu Qiuhong's four personal disciples produced numerous irrefutable pieces of evidence. All the ugly deeds and evil acts Gu Qiuhong had committed during his practice were listed one by one, totaling over a thousand items, shocking the entire Cangfeng Imperial City. For a time, the once-renowned Medical Saint was condemned by everyone. Those people and forces who had previously associated with him quickly distanced themselves, "indignantly" denouncing him.
By this time, Yun Che had already bid farewell to Cang Yue and Xiao Lingxi and was riding the Snow Phoenix Beast, flying toward the Ice Extreme Snow Domain.
"Mo Li, I feel like my current cultivation has reached a bottleneck," Yun Che said, lying with his eyes closed on the Snow Phoenix Beast's back.
"A bottleneck? Your cultivation path has been exceptionally smooth. Where is this bottleneck?" Mo Li said.
"I mean, it's been a long time since I've had a method to rapidly increase my strength like before," Yun Che said slowly. "Back then, under the Sword Control Platform of Tian Jian Villa, my profound strength grew explosively over more than a year. But now, not only have the dragon blood and dragon meat almost run out, the enhancement they can give me is also very limited. There are still four months until the Seven-Nation Ranking Battle. After I go to the Shenhuang Empire, I won't just be facing the ranking battle. I urgently need a method and opportunity to break through again."
"Opportunity? Hmph! The path of cultivation should be taken step by step! Your previous practice of forcibly improving by absorbing the power of King Xuan dragon blood and dragon meat over a long period was already extremely dangerous. If not for the protection of the Great Dao Pagoda Art, it would have left many hidden dangers in your body. At your current cultivation speed, even without any external aid, it is already fast enough."
"But my current strength is almost negligible in front of the Fenghuang God Sect," Yun Che said somewhat gloomily. "It seems that in the next four months, I'll have to give it my all. Speaking of which... as my master, it seems you haven't taught me anything for a long time. I don't even know what kind of profound art you practice. Since you are so powerful, the profound arts and skills you practice must be incredibly powerful as well. Why... hmm, don't you try teaching them to me?"
"Naive!" Mo Li said without emotion. "The only ability I have that you can currently cultivate is the Star God Remnant Shadow! Your foundation and level are far too weak. If you try to forcibly cultivate any of my profound arts or killing techniques, it will put your life in danger."
"I am currently cultivating both the Evil God's Profound Art and the Desolate God's Profound Art without any feeling of being unable to bear it. Are your profound arts even more powerful than the Evil God Art and the Great Dao Pagoda Art?" Yun Che opened his eyes, somewhat surprised.
"They are not the same," Mo Li said coldly. "If you truly wish to cultivate my profound art, when your profound strength reaches the late stage of the Lord Xuan Realm and I have reshaped my body, I might consider giving you a drop of 'Heavenly Killing Blood' to allow you to cultivate my profound art."
"L-late... Lord Xuan Realm... late stage?" Yun Che was so shocked he sat up abruptly. "And what is this 'Heavenly Killing Blood'?"
"You don't need to know."
"..."