Chapter 1027: The Crown Prince Returns
The death of Yan Honglie caused a massive uproar in Shengming City, stirring even greater waves than the deaths of Guo Lu and Hanying.
The Ten Great Commanders of the Azure Dragon Army commanded a million imperial guards and managed the order of the entire Shengming City. Each one was a figure of immense prestige and power, and even some saintly aristocratic clans had to yield to them.
Who could have imagined that within just a few short days, the Ten Great Commanders would fall one after another?
Many powerful figures could all sense an undercurrent surging fiercely against the Azure Dragon Army and the Lingxiao Heavenly King Manor.
Hanying and Yan Honglie were most likely killed by the same person.
"There must be a figure from the 'Half-Saint Ranking' or the 'Outer Half-Saint Ranking' who has arrived in Shengming City. Otherwise, it would be impossible to kill a commander-level figure so silently and mysteriously." Many people speculated along these lines.
Among the humans of the Kunlun Realm, the total number of experts who had made it onto the 'Half-Saint Ranking' and the 'Outer Half-Saint Ranking' was less than two hundred.
Those who dared to offend the Lingxiao Heavenly King Manor and had a deep-seated enmity with it were even fewer, only a handful.
Some cultivators suspected that Kong Hongbi was the killer.
This was because the Bright Hall and the Lingxiao Heavenly King Manor had always been sworn enemies, with deep-seated grudges. Moreover, there were rumors that Kong Hongbi himself was in Shengming City.
At a stronghold of the Bright Hall, Kong Hongbi heard the news from outside and let out a cold snort. "They actually suspect me."
Guigu Saint General stood beside Kong Hongbi and said, "It is said that because of this matter, a saint-realm ancestor of the Lingxiao Heavenly King Manor and the commander of the Azure Dragon Army are both enraged. They are mobilizing troops and preparing to launch a large-scale purge of the Bright Hall's forces in Shengming City."
"In the past, they didn't make a move because they wanted to cast a long line to catch a big fish. The deaths of three commanders have driven them mad, and they want to use bloody means to suppress this rebellious undercurrent."
Kong Hongbi's eyes showed a disdainful expression. "The Lingxiao Heavenly King Manor and the Azure Dragon Army are only humiliating themselves. Don't force me to go kill a few commanders as well."
Unless absolutely necessary, Kong Hongbi did not want to start a war.
Once the Bright Hall and the Lingxiao Heavenly King Manor clashed head-on, it would inevitably trigger a bloody battle, which would only benefit other forces.
Guigu Saint General immediately dissuaded him, saying, "Young Hall Master, you absolutely must not. Since someone has already made a move against the Lingxiao Heavenly King Manor, why should we personally step in? We can stand by and watch the show, waiting until both sides are weakened, then reap the benefits."
"You are right."
Kong Hongbi gradually calmed down and nodded. Then, a strange smile appeared on his face. "The mysterious expert who killed Guo Lu at the Cai Family Saint Mansion banquet should be Zhang Ruochen."
"It must be him. He arrived in Shengming City together with Chu Siyuan. Other than him, where would Chu Siyuan find another such powerful young expert?" Guigu Saint General said.
Kong Hongbi said, "In that case, we will spread the word and publicize this matter. Moreover, we must tell everyone that Hanying and Yan Honglie died by Zhang Ruochen's sword. Only the Heir of Time and Space possesses such a silent and mysterious method."
"A brilliant plan! Young Hall Master's move can be described as killing three birds with one stone."
Guigu Saint General showed a delighted expression and continued, "First, our Bright Hall can distance itself and avoid a direct war with the Lingxiao Heavenly King Manor."
"Second, we can use the power of the Lingxiao Heavenly King Manor to find Zhang Ruochen."
"Third, we can drag Painting Saint Chu Siyuan into the water. Now that the Empress is no longer in the Central Imperial City and her whereabouts are unknown, the First Central Empire is leaderless. If we can make the Confucian Path and the Lingxiao Heavenly King Manor fight each other, it will definitely be a grand spectacle."
"However..."
"However, what?" Kong Hongbi asked.
Guigu Saint General looked somewhat worried. "Even if Zhang Ruochen is a major criminal of the imperial court, he has no deep enmity with the Lingxiao Heavenly King Manor. Why would he expose his whereabouts and identity to kill three commanders in a row? Even if we spread the word, I'm afraid not many will believe it."
Kong Hongbi smiled, looking like a master strategist. "If there is no deep enmity, can't we fabricate one? As far as I know, the Sacred Bright Central Empire once had a young crown prince, also named Zhang Ruochen."
"However, at just sixteen years old, he was assassinated. Now, eight hundred years have passed, times have changed, and very few people remember that last-generation crown prince."
"But we can use this to plunge Zhang Ruochen into an irredeemable situation."
Guigu Saint General frowned deeply. "What connection could a person who died eight hundred years ago have with Zhang Ruochen?"
"As long as we release the information, someone will inevitably associate it with Zhang Ruochen. How could the Lingxiao Heavenly King Manor and the Azure Dragon Army allow such a person to live? Besides, Zhang Ruochen is no ordinary person. He is the Heir of Time and Space and a major criminal personally ordered by the Empress to be captured..."
At this point, Kong Hongbi paused slightly, a look of shock appearing in his eyes.
However, he quickly regained his composure, let out a long breath, and said, "Even I am starting to suspect that Zhang Ruochen is that last-generation crown prince from eight hundred years ago."
"Impossible."
Guigu Saint General immediately shook his head. "The Bright Hall has conducted a detailed investigation into Zhang Ruochen. He is indeed a prince from a remote commandery in the Eastern Domain, and many people can vouch for his identity."
"That's true."
Kong Hongbi waved his hand. "Follow my plan and immediately arrange this matter. Next, let's see how the various forces will react. Hmph."
In the evening, just as Zhang Ruochen was preparing to assassinate the fourth commander, a shocking piece of news reached the Phoenix Dance Palace, causing a massive stir.
The Phoenix Dance Palace was the largest brothel in Shengming City and naturally the fastest place for news to spread. Thus, the rumors spread by the Bright Hall reached here first.
"The mysterious expert who killed the three commanders, Guo Lu, Hanying, and Yan Honglie, is actually the Heir of Time and Space, Zhang Ruochen?"
"Zhang Ruochen has arrived in Shengming City and is about to go on a killing spree."
"The Heir of Time and Space, who can control time and space and possesses unfathomable abilities, has declared that he will kill all Ten Great Commanders of the Azure Dragon Army."
...
...
Various statements about Zhang Ruochen spread like wildfire throughout Shengming City.
Bai Xuan Shuang and Bai Xuan Yu were also greatly shocked upon hearing the news, and their gazes toward Zhang Ruochen became even more different.
Previously, they only admired Zhang Ruochen, but now they also felt a sense of awe.
Yan Wenqi and Fu Shang had taken the Withered Wood Pill and recovered from their injuries.
When they heard the news, their expressions changed, and they found it hard to calm down. Could the masked expert be the Heir of Time and Space, Zhang Ruochen?
Zhang Ruochen's reputation was immense, and he had accomplished many earth-shattering feats. Not long ago, he had killed two demon sect saints in a row, pushing his fame to its peak.
Upon hearing the news, Qin Yutong immediately caught up with Zhang Ruochen, who was about to leave the Phoenix Dance Palace, and told him about it.
Her star-bright eyes fixed on Zhang Ruochen's face as she asked, "Are you really the Heir of Time and Space, Zhang Ruochen?"
Zhang Ruochen remained very calm. "Does it matter whether I am or not?"
Hearing this, Qin Yutong's heart raced. She could finally confirm that the mysterious man before her was the world-renowned prodigy. However, Qin Yutong had a profound state of mind and remained composed. She asked again, "Why are you helping us?"
Zhang Ruochen fell silent for a long time.
Just then, another piece of news emerged, causing even greater shock, and the cultivators of the entire Shengming City were in an uproar.
Some people, regardless of whether the news was true or false, immediately transmitted it out of Shengming City to the Central Imperial City, various ancient sects, and medieval aristocratic clans.
Because the news was too shocking, enough to shake the world.
"Eight hundred years ago, the crown prince of the Sacred Bright Central Empire did not die. He has returned, and he is the Heir of Time and Space, Zhang Ruochen."
"The reason Zhang Ruochen killed the three commanders of the Azure Dragon Army is for revenge."
"The Empress has long known Zhang Ruochen's true identity, which is why she ordered his capture, not wanting him to grow."
"Zhang Ruochen is the Heir of Time and Space, capable of controlling the power of time and space. He has crossed time, traveling from the past to the future. Soon, the Ming Emperor will also return."
The news continued to spread, and under the manipulation of the Bright Hall, it became more and more detailed.
Hearing this news, even Zhang Ruochen found it hard to remain calm. He couldn't understand who had leaked his identity.
"Could it be Lan You?"
Zhang Ruochen immediately thought of Kong Lanyou.
Because in all of Shengming City, only she knew Zhang Ruochen's true identity.
"What is her purpose? Could it be that because I came to Shengming City and didn't seek her out immediately, she wants to force me out?" Zhang Ruochen closed his eyes, feeling very puzzled.
The Bright Hall knew Zhang Ruochen had arrived in Shengming City. How could Kong Lanyou not know?
In truth, the reason Zhang Ruochen hadn't immediately gone to the Royal Clan Burial Forest was mainly because he hadn't decided what mindset to adopt when meeting her.
As a cousin? As the Sacred Bright Crown Prince? Or as a junior?
He and Kong Lanyou shared kinship, enmity, and each bore the identities of the Bright Hall Saint Ancestor and the Sacred Bright Crown Prince.
Eight hundred years had passed, and too many things had happened. Could they still find the simple emotions of their youth as cousins?
"Using such an extreme method, is she trying to force me to join the Bright Hall?"
Zhang Ruochen really hoped it wasn't Kong Lanyou, but he couldn't think of anyone else who knew his identity.
Moreover, being able to spread the news throughout Shengming City in such a short time required an extremely large force.
Clearly, the Bright Hall was one of them.
Qin Yutong stood opposite Zhang Ruochen, her starry eyes wide open, clearly extremely shocked. Her delicate body trembled slightly.
Zhang Ruochen tried to maintain a calm expression. "I'm going to kill the commander of the Azure Dragon Army's Fourth Battalion, Liao Huacheng. If you have any questions, ask me when I return."
"No."
Qin Yutong blinked, her figure flickering as she turned into a fragrant breeze and immediately blocked Zhang Ruochen's path. "You have to come with me to see Granny Bai Su. You can't do something so dangerous yourself. If something happens to you... how can I bear the responsibility?"
Clearly, Qin Yutong also somewhat believed that Zhang Ruochen was the Sacred Bright Crown Prince, and her attitude toward him had undergone a subtle change.
Just then, Bai Xuan Yu and Bai Xuan Shuang supported an old woman on the verge of death as they hurried over.
(The WeChat public account for "Eternal God Emperor" is feitianyu5, or you can directly search for "Feitian Fish" and follow it for a lot of spoilers.)