When Jiang Shengyu finished speaking, many of the court ministers began whispering among themselves.
Even the soldiers' expressions showed hesitation and doubt.
Seeing this, Xu Tiannan immediately barked out, "Do not listen to his nonsense! I am the Crown Prince! The Emperor is dead! The imperial kinsmen of the main branch are all dead! Other than me, no one has the right to ascend this throne!"
As soon as Xu Tiannan shouted those words, Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao leapt down from the dais, landing at his side in support.
The vast, oppressive auras they released instantly suppressed everyone present. Even Kong Deming couldn't help but furrow his brow.
Ultimate Douluos?
These were the Holy Spirit Cult's two Ultimate Douluos! Why were they here?!
Kong Deming could contend with one, but not with two working together. If Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui joined forces, even he would have no choice but to retreat before their might.
This was a situation far beyond his expectations!
Kong Deming immediately looked toward Jiang Shengyu, but both Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong remained perfectly calm, showing no sign of panic. Seeing their composure, Kong Deming relaxed—his children were grown and clearly had their own plans.
With two Ultimate Douluos standing behind him, Xu Tiannan coldly swept his gaze over the wavering ministers and soldiers. His voice was sharp and icy as he demanded, "Does anyone have an objection?"
Jiang Shengyu smiled. "I'm afraid I still do."
Xu Tiannan froze for a moment, then burst into an enraged laugh. "Marquis Tianyue! I've always respected you as the Sun and Moon Empire's prodigy, but don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit! Keep your life if you want a chance to realize your ambitions in the future."
"My chance is right in front of me."
Jiang Shengyu shook his head and winked at Xue Di.
Seeing that look, Xue Di sighed helplessly. "I knew you'd make me do this, brat."
"Please, Qing Nü, lend me a hand!" Jiang Shengyu said with a grin.
"Hmph… fine!" Xue Di snorted softly and no longer concealed her power.
An overwhelming surge of soul power burst forth. The sky darkened under rolling thunderclouds, snowflakes began to fall, and the world itself seemed to freeze. Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao both felt a dreadful pressure bearing down upon them.
This was the aura of a Ultimate Douluo—
No… something beyond a Ultimate Douluo!
"A ferocious beast! This is the aura of a ferocious beast!" Ye Xishui stared fixedly at Xue Di, murmuring in disbelief, "Snow… You—you're the Snow Empress, Queen of the Extreme North?"
Xue Di didn't bother to answer. Her expression remained cold and indifferent; only when her gaze fell on Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong did any warmth appear. To her, all other humans were the same—hateful, or even more hateful.
And the two before her clearly belonged to the latter category.
Among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts, the top three each possessed power far surpassing the rest. To this day, not a single human Ultimate Douluo had ever reached their level!
The only reason Ye Xishui could once fight evenly with Di Tian was because Di Tian hadn't truly intended to kill her—he had merely been holding her back so she couldn't attack Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong.
Long Xiaoyao's brow furrowed tightly. He quickly stepped forward, grabbing Ye Xishui's hand. "Xishui, the Snow Empress's power is too great. And with Kong Deming here as well, we should retreat."
"Let go of me!"
Ye Xishui shook off his hand, her tone icy. "So what if she's a ferocious beast? It's not like I haven't fought Di Tian before."
"Then did you win against Di Tian?" Jiang Qingtong, standing behind Jiang Shengyu, asked coldly.
Her words froze Ye Xishui in place.
At that moment, Jiang Shengyu began toying with the black scale in his hand again. The moment Ye Xishui saw it, her expression turned grim, her heart filled with bitter unwillingness.
They had been so close—so close to taking control of the entire Sun and Moon Empire!
Damn it!
"How infuriating! But… we'll have our day." Ye Xishui sneered coldly, then turned and left with Long Xiaoyao, not sparing Xu Tiannan a single glance. His life or death meant nothing to them.
We'll have our day?
Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong watched them leave, sneering.
There would be no next time. Once this matter was settled, the first thing he intended to do was to eradicate the Holy Spirit Cult!
As the two departed, Xu Tiannan's face went deathly pale. He roared in fury, "You two traitors! I knew it—evil soul masters can never be trusted! Xu Tianyuan! Xu Tianyuan!"
Without Ye Xishui's support, Xu Tiannan was like a furious, declawed lion. His only remaining reliance was Xu Tianyuan, a Rank Nine Soul Engineer, and the Royal Dragon Soul Engineer Legion.
But Xu Tianyuan had already been struck down by Kong Deming and lay incapacitated. The members of the Royal Dragon Legion, seeing the situation, hesitated as well, unwilling to act rashly.
The remaining ministers exchanged uncertain looks and slowly withdrew, distancing themselves from Xu Tiannan's side. Unless a miracle occurred, his defeat was inevitable.
"No… you can't do this! I'm the Crown Prince! The only heir of the royal bloodline! The Emperor—it can only be me!" Xu Tiannan screamed, his voice hysterical, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at the officials around him.
Jiang Shengyu slowly raised his hand. A lotus of flame bloomed in his palm, twin-colored flames intertwining and colliding, forming a pattern like yin and yang—like the chaos of creation itself.
"The throne of the Sun and Moon Empire," he said calmly, "shall be taken by me."
Xu Tiannan froze for a moment, then laughed mockingly. "You? Jiang Shengyu, and what gives you that right? What qualification do you have?!"
Looking at Xu Tiannan's scornful face, Jiang Shengyu sighed softly and turned to glance behind him—at the shimmering, rippling reflection of the moon in the water.
"My martial soul is Moon in Water—a variant of the Silver Moon martial soul. Have you not realized what that means?"
Xu Tiannan was stunned.
The ministers, however, were overjoyed!
Such overwhelming talent, such strength and support—and now, revealed to be of true imperial bloodline! Without question, he was the perfect heir to the throne!
"Who knows when your branch split from the royal line?! Why should your bloodline compare to mine?!" Xu Tiannan shouted in desperation.
Jiang Qingtong stepped forward and declared, "He and I are not siblings—we are lovers. My martial soul is Violet Radiance Extinguishing Dragon, the purest and most orthodox of the royal lineage's inheritance. What more do you have to say?"
Kong Deming and Jing Hongchen, along with the other Rank Nine Soul Engineers, said nothing—yet their silent stance behind the two made their allegiance clear.
The ministers were quick to act, ever skilled at reading the winds. Seeing the tide turn decisively, they all knelt and bowed their heads toward Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong, their voices thundering through the square.
"Long live the Sun Moon Empire! Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"
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