Chapter 110: A Sharp Turn

　　Qin Zheng’s words shocked everyone, and Qin Yue’s face turned dark and cold as soon as he heard them.

　　If he allowed his father to announce Qin Yang as the crown prince, the legitimacy of his throne would be questionable when he ascended it in the future. So, he had to stop it from happening.

　　“What do you want, Qin Yue? Are you trying to stop Father from announcing the crown prince?” Qin Yang demanded coldly. The respect for heaven, earth, monarch, parents, and teacher was the most important virtue for a man, so although every man here belonged to Qin Yue, he would not dare to violate that virtue openly.

　　There was a flash of menace in Qin Yue’s eyes when he said, “No, how would I do that? However, before the announcement is made, I wish to ask Father three questions.”

　　Qin Zheng gave him a look and said wearily, “You may ask your questions.”

　　Clang!

　　Qin Yue drew a sword and lifted it up highas he asked in a loud voice, “Father, is the sword in my hand sharp?”

　　No sooner had his voice faded away than the eight hundred thousand soldiers beneath the platform cried out in unison, “SHARP!”

　　Their voices shook the sky; even the platform almost collapsed under the mighty shout. Qin Zheng’s face fell and turned bloodless in an instant while Qin Yang fell silent.

　　Qin Ruxue felt a pang of sadness, but her eyes were not on the platform; she was staring at the gallant figure that stood at the forefront of the army.

　　“Second question…Father, is my army mighty?”

　　Eight hundred thousand soldiers cried out in unison again, “MIGHTY!”

　　A triumphant smile appeared on Qin Yue’s face. He lightly tapped the sword in his hand with a finger, making it ring like a dragon roar, and then shouted, “Last question! With such a sharp sword and mighty army, am I, Qin Yue, your son, qualified to take over the state of Tianshui?”

　　A perfect silence fell. Everyone was stunned, but their eyes shone with excitement as they watched the great historic moment unfold. Pressured by the army’s murderous air, Qin Zheng’s face turned as pale a sheet, and he was shaking all over. He looked like he was about to collapse at any time.

　　Even Qin Yang was stupefied by the display of power.

　　Li Chunyang sighed quietly and looked away. Staring at the calm face of his grandson beneath the platform, he felt joy and thought, ‘The world is their playground now.’

　　Beneath the platform, Chen Dasheng’s face grew serious as he suddenly cried out in a strong voice, “We beg Your Majesty to abdicate!”

　　His cry was immediately picked up by thousands of men. Not only the courtiers, but even all the eight hundred thousand soldiers shouted in unison, “We beg Your Majesty to abdicate!”

　　“We beg Your Majesty to abdicate!”

　　“We beg Your Majesty to abdicate!”

　　The cries echoed and spread thousands of miles away, but amidst them, the capital was unusually quiet, with only columns of imperial guards listening in the empty streets.

　　Qin Yang mustered all his strength and roared, “This is treason, Qin Yue!”

　　Showing no fear at all, Qin Yue took a step forward and sneered, “Father has done too much for this state. Now is the time for him to enjoy his life. As his best son, I need to shoulder the burden for him and take care of this state.”

　　“His best son?” Qin Yang scoffed. “Who would believe that?”

　　“Who dares to not believe that?”

　　“Me!”

　　A discordant voice came from behind. Everyone turned and wanted to see who was so bold to stand out at this moment.

　　Several figures walked slowly up the platform. Their auras were not overly strong, but they gave everyone a feeling of reverence, which made everyone bow their heads slightly.

　　“Master Zhang Qingfan! Master Xu Han! When did you come out of your seclusion?”

　　Qin Yue was taken aback. There was a look of horror on his face and a flicker of rage in his eyes. He did not expect their arrival at such a critical moment.

　　“You are very wild, Qin Yue!” Zhang Qingfan gave him a cold look, which made the prince’s heart sink instantly. He was shocked to discover that Zhang Qingfan’s aura seemed to be different from before. In the past, the alchemist had always displayed his ability to the full extent, but now, he was like a pool of calm water, unfathomable.

　　Zhang Qingfan walked straight to Qin Zheng and bowed as he said gently, “I’m here, Your Majesty.”

　　A hint of a smile emerged on Qin Zheng’s face as he said, “I’m glad you are here. Who are these people?” His eyes rested on the few strange faces behind Zhang Qingfan and Xu Han. They, too, were emanating the same noble air, which clearly showed that they were alchemists.

　　While smiling, Zhang Qingfan introduced the men to the emperor. “This is Master Yuan Hao from the Firecrow Empire’s Alchemist Association, and he is a fourth-tier Alchemy Lord. This is Master Wang Chen, a third-tier Great Alchemy Master and also Lord Yang Di’s personal disciple. This is Sun Zhengzong, also a third-tier Great Alchemy Master. And this is Su Xiang, Master Yuan Hao’s follower and a Martial Grandmaster.”

　　The crowd was dumbfounded as Zhang Qingfan introduced the men one by one. Ignoring the two third-tier alchemists, just the fourth-tier alchemist and the Martial Grandmaster were enough to strike awe into everyone’s heart.

　　And one of them was even Yang Di’s personal disciple! For the people of Tianshui, Yang Di was almost like a god.

　　A moment ago, everyone was in high spirits, but now their hearts began to sink.

　　Li Chunyang’s face fell as well as he looked at Su Xiang in horror. His heart raced when he sensed the faint Primordial Qi emanating from the man, and he knew that was undoubtedly the aura of a Martial Grandmaster.

　　Su Xiang’s eyes were cloudy and slightly closed. As if he had sensed Li Chunyang’s gaze, he sneered and his eyes flashed with a glimmer of light, which shot into Li Chunyang’s chest like an arrow.

　　Li Chunyang grunted and coughed out a mouthful of blood. The fact that he, a one-star Martial King, was wounded by a mere glance filled his eyes with terror.

　　Nobody knew the secret exchange between them. Yuan Hao’s eyes swept across everyone, then he smiled and said, “You are treating us like outsiders when you introduced us like that, brother Zhang. I’m sent here by the Firecrow Empire’s third-tier Alchemist Association to award badges. After yesterday’s tests, brother Zhang and brother Xu had passed the assessments and officially become fourth-tier Alchemy Lords.”

　　“What!”

　　Upon hearing what he said, everyone was stunned as if they had been struck by lightning.

　　It was a great shock to everyone that two fourth-tier alchemists were born at the same time in Tianshui. Even Qin Zheng’s old face was covered in shock. He stared incredulously at Zhang Qingfan, as if asking for confirmation.

　　Zhang Qingfan smiled and said, “I’m just lucky, Your Majesty.”

　　His acknowledgment immediately made all the courtiers feel like falling into an abyss, and when they saw the wild joy on Qin Yang’s face, they felt a great weight pressing down on their chests.

　　Qin Yue was dumbfounded. He already had the success within his grasp; all it would take was Qin Zheng’s abdication. And, he still had the eight hundred thousand soldiers and all the courtiers behind him even now. However, in the face of these few gray-haired old men, his strength and claim seemed so weak and groundless.

　　He suddenly felt a trance at this moment that his pursuit of the throne seemed like a joke.

　　Qin Zheng laughed, but then, it quickly turned into a fit of violent coughing. “It’s been so many years, Qingfan, and you’ve finally broken through!”

　　A smile appeared on Zhang Qingfan’s face, and his eyes were filled with gratitude. “Your Majesty, I remember when I started following you in my twenties, my biggest dream had been to keep exploring the field of alchemy. About ten years ago, I began to feel that my ability fell short of my wishes, and I thought I would just be a third-tier alchemist for the rest of my life. I didn’t expect that heaven was so kind to me and had given me a chance to break through again.”

　　When an alchemist broke into the next tier, not only would his strength be greater than before, but his lifespan would be prolonged as well. If Zhang Qingfan still failed to break through, he would not have much time left. But now, he was given another fifty years to live.

　　The smile on Qin Zheng’s face gradually faded away as he said bleakly, “Too bad that I’m not far away from the end of my life, and I can’t witness your glorious moment.”

　　Yuan Hao was somewhat moved as he watched both men talk about the old days. He said smilingly, “Please accept my congratulations, Your Majesty. As long as either Master Zhang or Master Xu is willing to stay in Tianshui, then your state will be directly promoted to an upper-rank state without the need to fight.”

　　“Qingfan!” Qin Zheng grabbed Zhang Qingfan’s hand hard, his eyes filled with a look of pleading.

　　Looking at his withered arm, Zhang Qingfan sighed in his heart. He was actually older than the emperor. “Rest assured, Your Majesty,” he said, “I’ll stay in Tianshui for the rest of my life. Besides, Master Yunxiao, to whom I am most grateful, is also in Tianshui. So, how can I leave?”

　　“Master Yunxiao?” That gave Qin Zheng a pause, and he looked puzzled.

　　“Yes. It is all because of Master Yunxiao’s guidance that brother Xu and I could make the breakthrough this time.”

　　The courtiers were looking at each other. “Who is this Master Yunxiao? Does Tianshui have such a great alchemist?”

　　Yuan Hao was shocked as well, and his eyes lit up. “Oh? I did not expect there is such a hermit in Tianshui. Can you introduce him to me, brother Zhang? I wish to visit him!”

　　Wang Chen and Sun Zhengzong also looked startled and expectant. It was an extremely rare opportunity for alchemists to learn from each other and ask for advice, and anyone would hope to visit an existence who could make two third-tier alchemists break through to the next level with just a lecture.

　　Zhang Qingfan glanced at all the courtiers and shouted loudly, “Is Master Yunxiao here? Qingfan wishes to express my gratitude for the guidance you’ve given me!”

　　Xu Han, too, stepped forward and said, “Xu Han also wishes to express my gratitude for the guidance Master Yunxiao had given me!”

　　Nobody dared to make a sound when two fourth-tier alchemists were shouting. Everyone was thinking hard, trying to recall anything related to this Master Yunxiao, but they got nothing.

　　Beneath the platform, Li Changfeng murmured to himself, “Master Yunxiao? Why does he have the same name as my son…”