Chapter 679: Slash You

On the White Jade Plaza, everyone was still staring fixedly at the burning purple incense in the Eldest Princess's hand, but as time passed, the purple incense was about to burn out completely.

This caused the expressions of those in the Eldest Princess's faction to gradually change.

Even the Eldest Princess herself tightened her five fingers, and a hint of anxiety began to appear in her usually calm, narrow phoenix eyes.

Because Dean Pang had not appeared as promised.

Whispers rose on the plaza, and many people looked at the Eldest Princess with some doubt in their eyes, questioning the truthfulness of what she had said earlier.

Did that Dean Pang really give a promise to the old king?

A king's word weighs heavier than mountains. If he truly gave a promise, how could someone of his stature fail to appear at such a critical moment?

Vice Dean Suxin was also watching this scene. Her brows furrowed slightly as she said softly, "That purple incense is indeed from the Dean's hand. I can sense the Dean's energy imprint on it. Luan Yu's words are not false, but the Dean actually failed to appear... It seems the situation deep within the Dark Cave is worse than we imagined."

"After the coronation ceremony ends, we may need to launch a second purification mission."

The rough-looking, alcohol-reeking Mentor Cao Sheng asked, "If it was a promise from the Dean, what stance should we take? Do we need to help?"

Vice Dean Suxin thought for a moment, then shook her head and said, "Dean Pang gave the promise to the old king in a personal capacity, not as the Dean of the Saintly Mystic Star Academy. Because if it were the latter, if it provoked censure from the Academy Alliance, that would also be troublesome. Since that's the case, our Academy must still maintain a neutral stance."

Although emotionally she leaned more toward the Eldest Princess, the current struggle concerned the future of Great Xia. If the Saintly Mystic Star Academy made its stance clear and sided with the Eldest Princess at this moment, that would mean completely abandoning neutrality, and afterward, other forces in Great Xia would also be wary of them. Most importantly, this was something the Academy Alliance would not permit.

Dean Pang, as a king-level powerhouse, could sometimes act willfully, and the Academy Alliance would show some tolerance. But even so, indulging him in meddling in affairs under his personal identity was already the limit. They would absolutely not allow him to use the Academy's name to influence the politics of a dynasty nation.

The other mentors, upon hearing this, simply nodded and continued to watch quietly.

Purple smoke rose, and the last wisp of purple incense turned to ash, drifting down slowly before everyone's eyes.

A burning ember fell onto the Eldest Princess's delicate palm, but she remained unmoved, her gaze somewhat lost as she stared at the handful of ashes.

Was the last hope gone as well?

A sense of sorrow rose in the Eldest Princess's heart. All the efforts of these years had ultimately come to nothing.

"Luan Yu, give up. Dean Pang's failure to appear shows that he perhaps also understands that I am the best choice. I will make Great Xia reach its most prosperous period in my hands." The Regent spoke slowly at this moment, his words earnest.

At the same time, a glint of coldness swept through his eyes. It seemed the person behind him was right—Pang Pang Qianyuan simply couldn't break free from the depths of the Dark Cave, and the Eldest Princess still trying to use him as her last straw was indeed laughable.

But it was fine. Without Pang Pang Qianyuan's appearance, the entire situation would be controlled in his hands.

"Luan Yu, if you still insist on continuing the struggle today, there will only be one outcome: Great Xia will split from this day forth, and the former peace and stability will be torn apart. At that time, countless people will perish, and you will be the greatest sinner."

"I believe that outcome is not what your father would want to see."

"So, Luan Yu, step back. A Great Xia without the Guardian Strange Formation is incomplete." The Regent advised with righteous severity.

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The surroundings were silent, and many gazes were looking at the Eldest Princess, waiting for her choice.

The Eldest Princess's expression was somewhat dazed, and a hint of struggle surfaced in her eyes. How could she not understand that the Regent was morally blackmailing her? But what he said was indeed not false. Once she refused to compromise, today would inevitably be a battle between both sides, and the result would be the complete split of factions loyal to each side. At that time, countless people would die in this conflict.

That would be a severe blow to Great Xia.

Thinking this way, a sorrowful smile inevitably appeared at the corner of the Eldest Princess's mouth. Although she clearly knew this was her royal uncle's tactic to attack her heart, she had to admit that his words had struck her weak spot.

Most importantly, with Pang Pang Qianyuan not appearing, she had lost the means to end things without bloodshed.

The Eldest Princess sighed softly in her heart, then prepared to speak.

"Wait a moment. I disagree with this matter!"

Just as the Eldest Princess was about to speak, a voice suddenly rang out abruptly, breaking the silence of the entire venue. Immediately, startled gazes turned toward where the voice came from.

That was the location of House Luolan Mansion.

There, Li Luo was seen stepping forward with a solemn expression, a simple, ancient straight saber in his hand.

Many people on the plaza had strange expressions, and for a moment, they couldn't help but want to laugh out loud.

You disagree? Who do you think you are? Although House Luolan Mansion's situation is different now, Li Taixuan and Dantai Lan haven't returned yet!

This greenhorn kid really can't read the room! What place is this for a mere Evil Palace realm brat to speak?

"Li Luo..."

On the Golden Dragon Treasure House's side, Lv Qing'er looked at Li Luo who had suddenly stepped forward, a hint of worry flashing through her moist eyes.

"Heh, this newly appointed House Luolan Mansion Lord really has the courage of a newborn calf unafraid of tigers." Vice President Ning Kan of the Golden Dragon Treasure House said with a half-smile, though the words sounded pleasant, they were actually calling Li Luo reckless.

Yu Yu Hongxi, however, glanced at Li Luo somewhat strangely, her willow brows slightly furrowed. For some reason, she faintly sensed a strange aura from the latter at this moment, an aura that even made her feel pressure.

"Did this guy Li Luo suddenly grow a leopard's gallbladder? Although he's at odds with Gong Yuan, even the Eldest Princess is about to compromise now. Him stepping out like this, isn't that putting the Eldest Princess back on the spot?" On the Saintly Mystic Star Academy's side, the mentors also spoke up, their words full of astonishment and suspicion.

"This kid Li Luo is usually pretty sharp. Why is he suddenly acting foolish?" Mentor Cao Sheng also rubbed his chin and said.

Vice Dean Suxin examined Li Luo, a hint of surprise and doubt flashing in her eyes.

The other forces were also watching coldly from the sidelines, with the mentality of watching a show. After all, everyone could see that the Eldest Princess had already been wavering just now, but Li Luo, this hotheaded fool, had rushed out. Was he deliberately trying to make both sides tear each other apart?

"It seems Mansion Lord Li Luo doesn't want peace in Great Xia. But thinking about it, it's reasonable. House Luolan Mansion has deep enmity with the Regent. If the Regent and the Eldest Princess's factions fight to the death, it would actually be good news for House Luolan Mansion, because it could wear down the Regent's faction's strength. But by doing this, you've wasted the Eldest Princess's previous support for you." At this moment, Zhu Zhu Qinghuo of the Extreme Flame Mansion smiled faintly and said.

His words were vicious, intending to drive a wedge between House Luolan Mansion and the Eldest Princess, causing the latter to develop a grudge.

The Regent stood in the air, his face unruffled. His indifferent gaze turned to Li Luo as he said calmly, "Oh? What does Mansion Lord Li Luo have to say?"

"Nothing much to say. I just feel you're bullying people a bit too much. You want to seize the throne, yet you won't let others resist. Do you really think honest people are easy to bully?" Li Luo said with a smile.

The Regent glanced at him, one hand clasped behind his back.

"Then what do you want to do?"

A strange arc lifted at the corner of Li Luo's mouth as he said slowly, "I just want to slash you once."

The moment his words fell, he had already raised the Jin Yu Mystic Elephant Saber in his hand, and then simply slashed down through the air toward the Regent.

Watching Li Luo's posture of raising his saber to slash, the Regent couldn't help but shake his head. A mere Evil Palace realm kid dared to swing a saber at him, a Fifth-Grade Marquis. Why had this Li Luo suddenly become so foolish today?

But just as this somewhat puzzled thought flashed through his mind, the Regent suddenly sensed something was wrong. A premonition of danger abruptly rose in his heart.

At the same time, Vice Dean Suxin, Yu Yu Hongxi, Qin Zhenjiang, Zhu Zhu Qinghuo—these powerful Marquis-level powerhouses—all suddenly turned their gazes toward Li Luo, their pupils contracting sharply, their expressions changing drastically.

Because all of them saw that, accompanying Li Luo's seemingly simple slash.

The sky above the royal palace seemed, at this moment, to have been split open.