Volume 14, Chapter 900 – The Empress’s Choice

Qi Huang waited in the imperial capital of the Fengming Immortal Kingdom with the two women. Just like that, half a month passed. During this period, the Fengming Empress kept trying to persuade Fang Yuan to come forward and clarify the matter, but he never compromised.

The Empress was growing anxious. After all, the Fengming Immortal Kingdom had only one Tianjizi. If anything were to happen to him, the kingdom’s destiny would end right there.

After much deliberation, she decided it was better to stabilize the situation first. She entered the study and personally drafted a public notice, declaring that the Tianjizi’s prophecy had deviated and that everything was just a misunderstanding.

“Your Majesty, you absolutely mustn’t! If you do this, who will ever believe our national adviser’s words again? How is that any different from losing him altogether?”

A palace official hastily advised her.

“It’s fine. As long as I believe him, that’s enough. Between two harms, you choose the lesser. Once the Immortal Alliance arrives, it’ll be too late for anything.”

The Empress explained with clear wisdom.

Soon after, the notice was posted, and it immediately stirred another storm in the Fengming Immortal Kingdom.

“What? The prophecy was wrong? Even the national adviser could make a mistake?”

“Isn’t he a Tianjizi? How could he get a prophecy wrong? Was everything before just nonsense?”

“I said from the start he was a swindler pretending to be a mystic! Claiming cultivators of the Immortal Realm would face some death calamity? Where is it? Who could pull that off? Only fools like you would believe his nonsense!”

“No worries. Now that he’s been wrong once, no one will trust him again.”

Gossip spread through every alley and street as idle onlookers fiercely attacked Fang Yuan, and gradually, the public uproar died down.

“Looks like your scheme fell apart. Once this settles down, you’ll have no grounds to take Fang Yuan away.”

In the inn, Cheng Hongling spoke up mockingly.

“Things aren’t that simple. Based on what I know of the Immortal Alliance, they won’t let this go. They’ll definitely blow this up and use the Fengming Immortal Kingdom as a stepping stone to show off their might. Just wait and see.”

An Xuan had a different take.

“Let’s hope so.”

Qi Huang’s eyes sparkled with expectation.

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Sure enough, An Xuan’s ten thousand years of “life” hadn’t gone to waste. The Immortal Alliance arrived swiftly, and not just with a few… they brought several hundred people. Leading them was Elder Yan Yi, a powerful cultivator at the fourth layer of the Heavenly Immortal Realm, which showed how seriously they were treating the matter.

The Fengming Empress knew her stance would decide the Tianjizi’s fate, so she personally led her entire court to welcome them at the palace gates, completely discarding her dignity as a ruler.

Yan Yi showed no respect whatsoever. Wearing a scowl, he entered the palace with the high-ranking members and disciples of the Immortal Alliance in tow. Then he arrogantly took the dragon throne and immediately began interrogating Fang Yuan.

“Not long ago, your nation’s Tianjizi spread the word that June 18th, nineteen years from now, would bring a great calamity to the Immortal Realm, where all cultivators and immortals would perish. That caused widespread panic throughout the realm, didn’t it?”

Yan Yi looked down upon the gathered members of the Fengming Immortal Kingdom.

“Yes! I was the one who said it!”

Fang Yuan, his hair white as snow, stepped forward without the slightest hint of fear.

“You said it? Do you even know what June 18th, nineteen years from now, signifies? What you said clearly suggests that the Celestials plan to slaughter all cultivators in the Immortal Realm. That’s practically treasonous.”

Yan Yi’s gaze was sharp as a blade.

“But this is what my Fang family ancestors told me. Doesn’t your Immortal Alliance’s Grand Elders know about this?”

Fang Yuan tried to explain.

“Our Grand Elders have never received such information. That alone proves your claim is baseless.”

Yan Yi struck back mercilessly.

“Impossible! My ancestors wouldn’t lie to me!”

Fang Yuan protested passionately.

“So you’re saying our Grand Elders’ ancestors are worthless?”

Yan Yi immediately threw a rhetorical trap.

“I…”

Fang Yuan wanted to argue back but couldn’t find the words.

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“Grand Elder!”

The Empress stepped forward, curtsied deeply, and said, “I believe this matter need not be pursued further. I’ve already ordered a notice to be posted, stating that the national adviser’s prophecy was mistaken, and that it was all a misunderstanding. The situation has already calmed down.”

“I’ve heard about that. Your handling was timely enough, or else I wouldn’t have been so polite.”

Yan Yi gave himself credit, then abruptly changed tone, “But to say the situation has completely calmed is premature. On my way here, I still heard people discussing it. The consequences of his words go beyond that. He slandered the Celestials and damaged their reputation. If we don’t handle this sternly, who will respect the Celestials in the future?”

“All I said was that June 18th would bring a calamity to the Immortal Realm. When did I ever slander the Celestials?”

Fang Yuan defended himself based on reason.

“Why ask a question when you already know the answer?”

Yan Yi sneered.

“You’re just trying to pin a crime on me.”

Fang Yuan’s face twisted with fury.

“Grand Elder, Fang Yuan is our only Tianjizi in the Fengming Immortal Kingdom. Please, I beg you to show mercy. We will do everything in our power to make amends for his mistake.”

The Fengming Empress quickly spoke up.

“And you think you’re not responsible? As the ruler of the Fengming Immortal Kingdom, you let your subject spread such rumors unchecked. You can’t escape blame either.”

Yan Yi seized the chance to escalate further.

“Then what exactly do you want?”

The Fengming Empress bit her lip, clearly reaching her limit.

“Fang Yuan slandered the Celestials and committed blasphemy. If he wants to live, he must publicly clarify that he is not a true Tianjizi, just a fraud. After that, I’ll take him back to the Immortal Alliance to stand trial.”

Yan Yi first looked at Fang Yuan.

“For the people of the Immortal Realm, I cannot lie with my eyes wide open.”

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Fang Yuan shouted emotionally.

“Is that so? Then I’ll have to punish her for negligence!”

Yan Yi turned to the Fengming Empress. “You, as the ruler, failed to govern properly. That’s incompetence. I truly fear for the future of the Fengming Immortal Kingdom’s people. For the sake of peace and prosperity, it’s best you abdicate. The Immortal Alliance will appoint someone to take over.”

“Heh… Elder Yan truly has a noble heart, invoking the people’s welfare so smoothly. What a flawless set of moves.”

The Empress sneered. “But don’t forget, I’m not a member of the Immortal Alliance. There’s no hierarchy between us. I don’t have to obey anything you say.”

“True… but in the Immortal Realm, strength reigns supreme. You either submit, or you shut up for good. There is no third option.”

Yan Yi’s threat was blatant. His eyes then swept between the two. “Think carefully. Who will make the sacrifice?”

Back in the inn, Qi Huang was stunned. “This is bizarre. Yan Yi could just take both, why give them a choice at all?”

“Both? Not that simple. That Fengming Empress isn’t the weak type. Though she’s less powerful, she has an Imperial Weapon here in the capital. If it comes to a fight, the outcome isn’t certain. Yan Yi’s clever, he knows brute force won’t work. It’s smarter to first weaken her strength, make sure she has no ability to resist.”

An Xuan explained.

“Weaken? What do you mean?”

Qi Huang didn’t quite get it.

“If the Empress abdicates, the Imperial Weapon becomes useless. At that point, she’s just meat on his chopping board.”

An Xuan clarified.

“But how does he know Fang Yuan won’t choose to sacrifice himself?”

Qi Huang pressed on.

“First, subjectively, as the ruler, the Empress won’t let her minister die to protect her. Second, objectively, the Fengming Immortal Kingdom can lose a ruler, but it cannot lose its only Tianjizi. Both of them know that. They both care about their country, so the Empress will definitely be the one to make the sacrifice.”

An Xuan was completely certain, and the events that followed proved her right.

“Elder Yan seems very confident in his strength. True, I’m weaker than you, but don’t forget, this is the Fengming Immortal Kingdom’s capital. I have the Imperial Weapon. If a fight breaks out, who wins isn’t so clear.”

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The Fengming Empress’s eyes turned cold.

“I understand. But can you fight me and the Alliance Leader? Besides, that Imperial Weapon is great for defense, but weak in offense. What kind of Empress would spend her life cowering inside a tiny city?”

Yan Yi spoke with arrogance. Then his gaze turned sleazy. “Of course, if you really can’t accept stepping down, there’s a second option—marry me. Once we’re family, not only will Fang Yuan be spared, but you can stay Empress. I’ll take care of everything. Think it over.”

The Fengming Empress glanced at Fang Yuan, then took a deep breath. “Fine. I choose to abdicate. Just don’t harm the national adviser.”

“Your Majesty, no! I’m not worth such a sacrifice!”

Fang Yuan shouted emotionally.

“You are. You absolutely are. You should understand: Fengming can do without me, but it can’t go on without you. Just stay true to yourself, and continue to bring blessings to our people.”

The Empress smiled gently, like the kind older sister next door, a stark contrast to her usual aura of majesty.

Fang Yuan wanted to speak, but ultimately shut his mouth with difficulty, knowing it was the truth.

Qi Huang was stunned and gave An Xuan a thumbs up.

“Hah! I haven’t lived ten thousand years for nothing.”

An Xuan said, clearly pleased with herself.

“So you really choose to abdicate, not marry me?”

But Yan Yi’s expression was now slightly twisted.

“Sorry, I’m not into ugly men.”

The Fengming Empress replied mockingly.

“Very well! Fine! But words alone aren’t enough. First, hand over the Imperial Weapon, and withdraw your blood essence from it.”

Yan Yi’s face contorted with fury. The Empress’s choice was like a public slap to the face. No one could keep their composure after that.