Chapter 496: 495. Chapter 490: Abandoned by All and Betrayed by Kin

495. Chapter 490: Abandoned by All and Betrayed by Kin

Many celestial court officials looked at Ji Changsi as if he were a Bai Chi—someone dared to approach Ding Huan because the Great Emperor wasn't afraid of Lou Wushang Great Emperor.

You, a sect leader who fled from the Great Immortal Realm, dare to seek alliance with Ding Huan? Even if nothing happens here, once Ding Huan leaves, Lou Wushang Great Emperor will come for you first.

"Thank you, Sect Master Ji," Ding Huan quickly replied.

He was internally exasperated.

He knew perfectly well why Ji Changsi had stepped forward to take a side—Ji Changsi was somewhat righteous, but this guy was a gambler.

He saw Ding Huan and Brother Xingpan arrive at the celestial court, and a host of powerful figures seemed ready to back Brother Xingpan—the celestial emperor might soon change.

Another possibility was that Ji Changsi had become too entangled with Ding Huan; even if he didn't stand up now, after Ding Huan left, this man would surely be purged by Lou Wushang Great Emperor.

He saw this clearly—he might as well gamble everything now for a chance at future prospects.

But he genuinely never intended to help Brother Xingpan reclaim the throne and lead everyone to retake the Great Immortal Realm.

Yet he couldn't say so now.

"Brother Xingpan, don't you know we're currently negotiating how to repel the demon and beast tribes?" Lou Wushang Great Emperor realized his disadvantage as an outsider was now fully exposed.

Even though he never laid a hand on Brother Xingpan, many still resented him.

Ding Huan chuckled: "Lou Wushang, you speak grandly, yet you're offering women to foreign tribes to beg for mercy. Is this your negotiated solution? You're a pathetic emperor—better step down."

Lou Wushang Great Emperor glared at Ding Huan, regretting he hadn't forcibly taken Ding Huan last time: "Ding Huan, you're just a lone cultivator—you have no right to speak here."

Ding Huan said calmly: "I acknowledge you as emperor—you have the right to say that. I don't acknowledge you as emperor—then what are you?"

With that, Ding Huan stomped on the forehead of Wu Wudu below: "Speak—where did you imprison the woman from Chiyunu Sect?"

Wu Wudu struggled: "Let me go, and I'll tell you."

"Then don't speak—I'll just soul-search you," Ding Huan said, and a violent spiritual force surged straight into Wu Wudu's mind sea.

"I'll tell you—in my world!" Wu Wudu cried out desperately.

Ding Huan reached out and seized Wu Wudu's ring—it was another True Spirit World.

Wu Wudu's ring bore a seventh-grade celestial seal, which Ding Huan shattered outright with Yellow Flower Kill.

Half an incense stick later, Ding Huan tore through the ring's seal and swept his hand— a woman appeared on the ground.

Ding Huan frowned: "How is it you? Where's Wen Zhixi?"

He hadn't expected it to be Hua Xiaoqian.

He didn't like this woman much.

Hua Xiaoqian hadn't yet grasped what was happening when Ji Changsi hurriedly explained: "Elder Hua, Brother Ding is asking if your fellow cultivator Wen Zhixi is here?"

Hua Xiaoqian now realized this was the Celestial Court's Precious Hall—she'd heard of the place, but never imagined she'd stand here, in such a lofty setting.

Then she saw Ding Huan, and on the ground, Wu Wudu, drenched in blood, barely clinging to life.

Had she been rescued? Had Wu Wudu been captured?

Regardless of the situation, Hua Xiaoqian quickly said: "Zhixi left long ago—I don't know where she went."

Ding Huan frowned.

After a moment of clarity, Hua Xiaoqian hurriedly added:

"Wu Wudu learned my Chiyunu Sect possessed an Immortal Spirit Body, so he captured me and forced me to help him find Zhixi.

He claimed it was for the celestial court's safety—he had to sacrifice one person."

"Is that true?" Ding Huan exhaled in relief—Wen Zhixi had entered the Chaos Zone and hadn't been captured.

Wu Wudu weakly affirmed. Ding Huan's foot pulsed with Dao energy, and in the next instant, he tore apart Wu Wudu's life force.

Immediately, a law flame engulfed Wu Wudu—he didn't even cry out before vanishing into nothingness.

The Celestial Court's Precious Hall fell utterly silent.

Ding Huan is ruthless—he killed a Star Lord as if swatting a fly.

"Brother Ding, why not seize this chance to eliminate the demon and beast tribes and reclaim the Great Immortal Realm?" Brother Xingpan rubbed his hands, glancing awkwardly at Ding Huan.

He desperately wanted humanity to dominate the entire Pangu Great World, but he knew Ding Huan had little interest in this.

Now he understood: even after seizing the throne, Lou Wushang Great Emperor hadn't truly controlled the celestial court.

These people here stood on the surface—but each had their own agenda.

The Dao Ancestor had forcibly installed Lou Wushang as emperor, but had no time to stay and help him consolidate power.

After the Dao Ancestor left, Lou Wushang Great Emperor could only use gentle methods, crafting the absurd Nine Courts Celestial Edicts to preserve the court's dignity.

Brother Xingpan saw Lou Wushang's weakness and decided to strike now, to crush the races that had seized the Great Immortal Realm.

Ding Huan considered it.

If he left today, he'd be safe—but Lou Wushang Great Emperor would retaliate against everyone he knew, even Brother Pingwei wouldn't be spared.

That's why Ji Changsi had stepped forward—he had an escape route; others didn't.

Ding Huan spoke loudly: "The Great Immortal Realm was always part of the celestial court, yet Lou Wushang Great Emperor sits idle, unworthy of the throne.

He watches as foreign tribes devour the Great Immortal Realm, as countless human cultivators are slaughtered, and doesn't blink—even wastes time here over Immortal Rice."

How heartless—how can we, as fellow humans, be so cold and selfish?

I nominate Brother Xingpan as emperor to lead us against the foreign tribes. Those who wish to join us in attacking the aliens and reclaiming the Great Immortal Realm—stand up now."

Brother Xingpan wasn't skilled at this—Ding Huan was.

"I agree…" The first voice came from among the sect leaders of the Great Immortal Realm.

They had no place in the celestial court—the court's territory was vast, but none of it belonged to them.

Every inch of land here was claimed.

"We all agree," these sect leaders formed a force in moments and stood up swiftly.

Earlier, Ding Huan hadn't revealed his stance—they dared not speak, for if Ding Huan left, they'd be dead.

Now that Ding Huan has stepped forward to support Brother Xingpan the Emperor, what is there left for them to hesitate about?

Just look at the attitudes of the cultivators in this Immortal Court's Precious Hall—everyone knows Brother Xingpan's popularity surpasses that of Lou Wushang the Emperor.

"Hah! I, Pei Pei Yishui, support Brother Xingpan the Emperor as Heavenly Emperor." The first to stand was the Northern Daojun, Pei Pei Yishui.

The Southern Daojun, Ju Fei, stepped forward a moment later and quickly voiced his support as well.

Earlier, he had not known that Ding Huan's companion was Brother Xingpan, and even when Ding Huan greeted him, he had dared not show warmth or invite him close—this now filled him with regret.

"I, Brother Pingwei, naturally stand behind Brother Brother Xingpan." Brother Pingwei the Emperor immediately declared his stance.

Previously, he had come merely to speak with Brother Xingpan, without explicitly endorsing him as Heavenly Emperor—this statement now meant he fully supported Brother Xingpan's ascension.

Emperor Jinhe followed suit: "I've always believed Brother Brother Xingpan is the first choice for the Heavenly Emperor's throne, but alas, I am weak and alone—my voice counts for nothing."

"I, Bu Yue, support Brother Xingpan the Emperor as Heavenly Emperor—I've had enough of this suffocating misery."

Hearing Bu Yue stand up and declare his support, Ding Huan was stunned.

Isn't this guy Lou Wushang the Emperor's first lackey?

If even the first lackey has switched sides, doesn't that mean Lou Wushang the Emperor is utterly abandoned?

Indeed, seeing Bu Yue now standing with Brother Xingpan, the remaining Star Lords, Daojun, Commanders, and officials of every bureau and department all stepped forward to support Brother Xingpan the Emperor.

Ding Huan had expected to have to fight to overthrow Lou Wushang, even planning which figures in this Immortal Court's Precious Hall supported Lou Wushang and which supported Brother Xingpan.

He had wondered whether he should strike first and seize Lou Wushang the Emperor outright.

He never imagined the matter would be this simple.

He merely stepped forward to endorse Brother Xingpan the Emperor—and suddenly everyone supported him. It was almost ridiculous.

It wasn't ridiculous—it was simply that Lou Wushang the Emperor, this outsider, had never been accepted by the people of the Pangu Great World.

Lou Wushang the Emperor's face turned ashen: "Ding Huan, what have I ever done to you? Why are you scheming against me?"

He knew well: without Ding Huan, even if Brother Xingpan had come, he could never have won everyone's voice.

Ding Huan sneered: "I'm scheming against you? Do you have any shame? What have you actually done since taking the Heavenly Emperor's throne?

When the alien races invaded, your first act wasn't to strike back—you sealed off the Immortal Court and hid in this tiny corner, crawling through life in cowardice.

That was bad enough, but then you concocted this self-deceiving Nine Courts Immortal Code?

Hah! The Nine Courts Immortal Code is full of unjust laws—unless your eyes are blind, you must see them. When Star Lord Chang Yi of Wu Chengxing slaughtered the Qianyuan Immortal Village, what did you do?

You failed to kill him the first time, and then you just let him go. That wasn't enough—the Nine Courts Immortal Code was already absurd, yet you created an even more absurd law and hid it within the Spatial Laws.

And today—what did you do again? You tried to deceive and trick me into being captured so you could force me to plant Immortal Spirit Rice. Is your face even whiter now?

I, Ding Huan, can plant Immortal Spirit Rice, but I refuse to plant it for you—what can you do about it?"

Lou Wushang the Emperor clenched his fists, his voice icy: "Ding Huan, do you know who appointed me to the Heavenly Emperor's throne? The Dao Ancestor. Do you dare defy the Dao Ancestor's decree?"

Ding Huan replied calmly: "The Dao Ancestor has his own affairs. Even if the Dao Ancestor knew how utterly inactive you've been here these years, he'd likely kick you off the throne himself."

Lou Wushang the Emperor looked around at the people in the Immortal Court's Precious Hall—no one met his gaze; all lowered their heads.

They had no wish to die for Lou Wushang the Emperor, nor to be marked by him.

"Very well. I yield the throne." Lou Wushang the Emperor rose.

Ding Huan looked at Lou Wushang the Emperor: "So, you're just leaving like this?"

"Do you mean to keep me here?" Lou Wushang the Emperor's killing aura surged violently—but the next instant, his killing field was blasted back by Brother Xingpan's field.

Ding Huan's eyes flickered slightly.

He clearly sensed Lou Wushang the Emperor had used no more than three-tenths of his strength, while Brother Xingpan had used half.

That meant Lou Wushang the Emperor's strength was actually higher than Brother Xingpan's.