Chapter 246: Why Speak of Profit

The Yingyue Sect's location is not merely a mountain gate; it is also a royal court.

The Yingyue City outside the mountains is also the largest and most prosperous capital of the Tian Shuang Kingdom.

The Tian Shuang Kingdom is indeed an established state; even though its nature leans closer to a sect alliance, Si Han is at least addressed as the King, not merely the Sect Master of the Yingyue Sect.

He possesses the basic powers of a monarch, at least qualifying him to organize a sect alliance army for joint external campaigns. This was the case with the Frozen Moon Cold River campaign; the alliance Si Han organized consisted of top three-grade sects, including five or six First Grade Sect Masters.

The result was no military achievements at all; he lost the Bone Dragon himself and returned injured. Lu Xingzhou felt that even if Gu Zhanting did not act behind the scenes, the Tian Shuang Kingdom would still suffer a turmoil.

After all, Si Han lacks the suppression power over other sects that the Great Qian Imperial Family possesses, nor does he have the Great Qian people's recognition of the Gu family's thousand-year rule. There are so many First Grade powerful sects; on what grounds should you alone be the King?

Of course, without support from behind, such a turmoil would not be so easy.

The Yingyue Sect is, after all, the strongest sect in the Tian Shuang Kingdom; Si Han is at the peak of the First Grade, a figure extremely close to the Super Grade. The sect has far more top three-grade experts than others, and his prestige is extremely high, which allowed him to use the banner of "jointly resisting the Demon Race" to unite the various sects and establish a kingdom.

Even if others could take advantage of Si Han's injury to breach the royal court and kill him, they could not suppress the entire Yingyue Sect, and why would other First Grade sects recognize you, someone who strikes while the iron is hot, as the King?

Without the Super Grade strength to crush others openly, it is just this awkward.

But as long as there is Super Grade support behind, such matters become much simpler.

Taking advantage of Si Han's current weakness, Gu Zhanting only needs to dispatch a royal Super Grade expert to prop up a puppet sect to suppress the leaderless Yingyue Sect; or choose a puppet within the Yingyue Sect to support, letting him replace the position of the Yingyue Sect Master. This would effectively control the Tian Shuang Kingdom.

"So we have arrived just in time?" The two hovered high above, looking down. The place where killing intent erupted was inside the Yingyue Sect; the Yingyue Royal City was not under attack and remained peaceful.

"It is an internal turmoil," Lu Xingzhou said. "Gu Zhanting has chosen a simpler method..."

Ye Ting Lan said, "How do you know for sure Gu Zhanting is involved? Couldn't it be an internal ambitious person acting on their own?"

"Because if it were done internally, such an internal rebellion would inevitably require long-term collusion with internal support; otherwise, what use is there in suddenly rising up to kill him just because Si Han is injured? Will others recognize you as the Sect Master?" Lu Xingzhou countered, "Do you think Si Han has become so incompetent that he was unaware of the widespread collusion of ambitious people within the sect, yet still carelessly launched an expedition to the Frozen Moon Cold River?"

Ye Ting Lan shook her head; Si Han could be considered a man of great strategy, having established the Tian Shuang Kingdom himself, so generally he would not be so incompetent.

Logically, the majority within the sect should support Si Han.

Furthermore, although Si Han returned this time without achievement, his own sect suffered no losses; the loss was merely the Bone Dragon Si Han had just acquired. This "mistake" is simply not enough to be driven out by a collective uprising.

"Therefore, the only way to quickly suppress everyone and successfully install a traitor is for a Super Grade to be involved; if it isn't Gu Zhanting causing trouble, then who is it?"

As they spoke, the two were already hovering outside the Yingyue Sect's protective mountain formation.

The situation inside the Yingyue Sect came clearly into view.

Before the Sect Master's main hall, three or four corpses already lay on the ground. Si Han stood outside the hall door, his voice hoarse as he said, "Disaster arises from within the walls, causing our sect's experts to wither. Is this the result you pursue?"

Opposite him, a middle-aged man in splendid robes stroked his beard and sneered, "They died for you. If you were not greedy for power and honestly yielded your position, would it not be a happy ending for all?"

"And then? Hand over the great power of the Yingyue Sect and even the Tian Shuang Kingdom to outsiders?" Si Han sneered at the black-robed man behind the other, "Old Mr. Gu, half your body is already in the grave; instead of pursuing your immortality, you come to meddle in the secular power of another country. Is this the cultivation of your Gu family?"

The Gu family elder's face was expressionless.

According to Gu Zhanting's arrangement, this was his final step; for him, the main significance was to seize the Bone Dragon. Gu Zhanting sold the Bone Dragon to Si Han precisely to induce his own ancient zombie to still be willing to act and get involved in such broken matters afterwards.

The result was that upon arrival, Si Han's Bone Dragon was already gone; it was said that after he left, a spatial chaos occurred in the glacier, and in the confusion, the Bone Dragon was seized by Ji Wen Chuan.

The Gu family elder simply did not know what the meaning of his appearance at the glacier and here was.

But since he had come, Gu Zhanting's plan to install a puppet in the Tian Shuang Kingdom was still useful; he had to complete it first.

The middle-aged man in splendid robes facing Si Han sneered, "What do you mean by outsiders? Si Han, have you lost your mind, calling anyone a stranger? This is the guest scholar Mr. Gu, whom I have hired."

Si Han: "..."

The Gu family ancient zombie had not appeared in the world for decades; others truly did not recognize him. The other party insisted this was merely a guest scholar he had hired, and he had no recourse.

The middle-aged man in splendid robes added, "You have been holding a position without doing your work, which is one thing, but this time you rashly used weapons, simultaneously offending the Demon Race and the Tian Yao Holy Land. If these two sides attack, it would be a catastrophic disaster for our Tian Shuang Kingdom and the Yingyue Sect. Ask everyone: does Si Han not need to take responsibility for this?"

Behind him, besides the Gu family elder, were several familiar faces Lu Xingzhou had seen at the Frozen Moon Cold River; they were from another First Grade powerful sect in the Tian Shuang Kingdom, the Ting Xue Pavilion. These were the Sect Master and high-level officials of the Ting Xue Pavilion.

For the Ting Xue Pavilion, pushing the capable Si Han out and replacing him with a puppet fool as the Yingyue Sect Master would naturally bring them benefits in the future. As for the so-called Gu family ancient zombie, how many more days could he stay here? He would return to seclusion sooner or later.

By then, who knows how the winds and clouds of the Tian Shuang Kingdom would turn...

Hearing the middle-aged man in splendid robes speak, the Master of the Ting Xue Pavilion responded, "Indeed, King Si, in this incident you acted like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, committing a grave error. If you do not appease the wrath of the Demon Emperor and the Tian Yao Holy Master, it will be greatly detrimental to our Tian Shuang Kingdom." Si Han said coldly, "What kind of responsibility do you require? Should I be handed over to the Demon Race to apologize?"

"We certainly will not bow to the Demon Race, but King Si must apologize to the Tian Yao Holy Land! As for how the Demon Race reacts, the Tian Yao Holy Land will handle it themselves."

Si Han laughed, "I have already submitted a memorial to the Tian Yao Holy Master to apologize; can everyone return now?"

The middle-aged man in splendid robes said, "If you admit your guilt and abdicate, everything can be discussed. If you remain obstinate, do not blame me for not remembering the feelings of master and junior brothers."

Si Han turned his head to look; most of his own sect's high-level officials wore expressions of dissatisfaction and anger, and the majority still stood on his side. But after the previous clash revealed the opponent had a Super Grade, several hot-tempered ones who attacked immediately fell dead on the ground, leaving the rest daring to be angry but not daring to speak.

In fact, Si Han felt that if they united their wills to activate the great formation, the Gu old zombie might not fare well; his lifespan was nearing its end, and he absolutely would not risk getting injured here if he wanted to advance another level. Therefore, as long as they dared to fight, they could drive the opponent back.

But it would inevitably cause heavy losses to his own people, leading others to think he was "greedy for power and disregarding the sect's survival."

He had another path; he was not unable to "abdicate." As long as he retained the hearts of the people, he could return later to settle accounts once the Gu old zombie left.

The only problem was that even if he wanted to abdicate and leave, he would surely be intercepted and killed on the road; it would be very difficult to leave alive.

"Sect Master!" A loyal elder behind him whispered, "Do not retreat! We will fight them to the death!"

Someone led the charge, and the other high-level officials who dared to be angry but not speak were stirred by bloodlust: "Indeed, let us fight to the death! What is there to show off about a dying Super Grade? Gu Zhanting does not dare to personally break our formation; can he dare to get injured again!"

The Gu family elder sneered, "Then you shall see if I dare."

With these words, he flipped his wrist, and the fierce purple qi of the Imperial Ultimate Shocking World Scripture reappeared.

With a "Boom," Si Han acted as the arrowhead, and a group of Yingyue Sect high-level officials formed a formation, together resisting the Gu family elder's assault. Many had blood oozing from the corners of their mouths, yet none gave up.

"This is why Gu Zhanting wants to remove Si Han; this cohesion is not easy to achieve." Lu Xingzhou, who had been watching for a long time, finally spoke, "So what about you? If you sit by and let Si Han perish, and instead prop up another puppet, the effect would be quite good. Saving Si Han, of course, would make him grateful, but the gratitude of such a strategic ruler may not be of much use; when interests are at stake, they may still turn against you."

Ye Ting Lan smiled slightly, "I am not Gu Zhanting."

Lu Xingzhou knew she was inclined to save Si Han, yet he still advised, "But indeed the disadvantages outweigh the advantages."

"Some things... why speak only of benefits and harms?" Ye Ting Lan touched his head, "You are no longer a disciple of the Demonic Path; shall Mr. give you another lesson in virtue?"

Lu Xingzhou pouted, "That is Mr. Meng's curriculum, not yours to teach."

Ye Ting Lan had already descended below; the protective mountain formation was as if non-existent to her. During her long observation, she had already discovered the weak points of the formation, and taking advantage of no one being in charge, she rushed straight down.

Lu Xingzhou sighed, reached out to touch the spot she had just patted on his head, and muttered to himself, "Who does not admire heroes... but this comes at a price. Very well, I used to clean up your sister's mess; now I suppose I am preparing to clean up yours as well."

"Bang!" Ye Ting Lan waved her hand, dispersing the Gu family elder's purple qi. The Gu family elder stumbled backward, causing a great roar throughout the hall.

The Ting Xue Pavilion crowd had already been about to join the battle; seeing this sudden change, their faces all changed: "Heavens... the Tian Yao Holy Master..."

Si Han stood behind Ye Tinglan, his expression also somewhat complex: "Greetings, True Person Tinglan."

Ye Tinglan's reaction was actually: "Everyone keep your voices down."

Lu Xingzhou: "..."

Even with my cultivation so low, I can still hear this. Why bother?

Ye Tinglan said lightly: "The Sovereign Si's apology has been received by this Seat. As for how to express this apology, Sovereign Si, give this Seat an explanation."

Si Han glanced at the middle-aged man in brocade robes before him, whose face was iron-green, and smiled: "Then might I invite the True Person into the hall to discuss in detail?"

Ye Tinglan nodded slightly: "Lead the way."

Si Han waved his hand and said: "What are you all staring at? Bring the best wine for this old man!"

The crowd turned and entered the hall, as if the man in brocade robes, the Gu family elder, and the people of Tingxue Pavilion did not exist at all.

As long as True Person Ye Tinglan is here, he suppresses an entire nation; no insect can make a sound, not even the Gu family elder of the Super Grade.

(End of this chapter)