If not for Juzi, his head would have been blown apart by the assassins.
It was precisely this act of risking her life to save him that made Xu Tiannan treat Juzi as his most trusted confidant.
When Juzi entered the study, she bowed respectfully.
"Your Highness."
Xu Tiannan said, "Juzi, you saved my life. There's no need to be so formal."
But Juzi remained deferential. She understood him well—though his words sounded modest, Xu Tiannan valued respect deeply, especially now, when his position as Crown Prince wavered precariously.
Putting on a look of gratitude, Juzi replied, "Your Highness, Juzi is unworthy of such regard."
A faint smile curled at Xu Tiannan's lips. Then he moved on to business.
"Juzi, what of the doctor?"
Juzi answered solemnly, "The doctor has been silenced."
Xu Tiannan nodded. The doctor, having treated him, might have discovered his… unspeakable condition during the process. That secret could never be allowed to leak out.
If it did, his father would strip him of the Crown Prince's title without hesitation.
He continued, "And did you meet with the leader of the Xishui Alliance?"
Juzi nodded. "I did. After some discussion, I delivered the letter you gave me. He read it and said he would give you a reply in three days."
At those words, Xu Tiannan's heart tightened.
He knew very clearly: if he wanted to hold onto his position as Crown Prince, he could not rely on himself alone.
The assassination had left him crippled—not only were his legs gone, but his power base was also severely weakened, with two Contra-level subordinates dead.
In truth, Xu Tiannan had no confidence he could fend off his ruthless brothers and keep the title.
He needed outside aid.
And behind the Xishui Alliance stood the Holy Spirit Cult—the perfect candidate.
He remembered well: when his father Xu Jing had seized the throne, though his own strength and forces were formidable and he had Elder Kong's hidden support, the Holy Spirit Cult's assistance had been indispensable.
But once enthroned, Xu Jing had grown wary of the cult, constantly suppressing it from the shadows to prevent it from growing strong enough to threaten the Sun Moon Empire.
Thus, the Holy Spirit Cult remained an underground force, largely unknown to ordinary people.
Xu Tiannan stroked his chin, musing,
"Since Father has suppressed them, the Holy Spirit Cult must be hungry for allies. In that case, why shouldn't I strike a bargain with them? With their support, my claim to the throne will be unshakable."
Satisfied, he said aloud, "Juzi, you've done well. Take me outside for some air."
Juzi moved behind him and pushed his chair, guiding him toward the Crown Prince's garden.
Beneath the outskirts of the Demonic Forest lay the headquarters of the Holy Spirit Cult.
Nangong Wan, leader of the Xishui Alliance and the cult's Second Elder, had returned immediately after receiving Xu Tiannan's letter.
The letter proposed cooperation between the Crown Prince and the Holy Spirit Cult—too important for him to decide alone.
Though Nangong Wan was a Titled Douluo-level powerhouse, head of the Xishui Alliance, and a ninth-rank Soul Engineer, within the cult, his status was not even in the top ten.
The highest authorities of the Holy Spirit Cult were the Supreme Pontiff Ye Xishui and the head of the Worship Hall, Long Xiaoyao. Both were Limit Douluo at rank 99.
Below them stood the official cult master, Zhongli Wu, and his wife, Deputy Master Feng Ling.
Then came the Worship Hall's enshrined elders, who answered only to Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui—not even Zhongli Wu or Feng Ling could command them.
Only after all of these did the cult elders rank.
Nangong Wan's position as Xishui Alliance leader owed not just to his cultivation but also to his stable state of mind, unconsumed by murderous impulses like many other evil soul masters.
His appearance helped as well: dignified, with neatly tied white hair and a kindly smile that made him seem the very picture of a good man.
Such a face was perfect for dealing with Mingdu's factions—unlike other evil soul masters, whose sinister aura made negotiation impossible.
Soon, Xu Tiannan's letter was in the hands of Ye Xishui.
As for Zhongli Wu, though he bore the title of cult master, he held little true power. Like the Emperor Jiaqing overshadowed by Qianlong, so long as Ye Xishui remained, Zhongli Wu was but a figurehead.
Ye Xishui opened the letter, her voice cold.
"This Xu Tiannan resembles his father, Xu Jing. Like father, like son. Both seek to use my Holy Spirit Cult for their own ends."
Her impression of Emperor Xu Jing was poor. True, she had once supported him because the previous emperor had persecuted the cult.
And without her aid, Xu Jing might never have taken the throne.
Once in power, he had shown surface-level courtesy—even having Kong Deming build her the Death God Tower soul tool.
But whenever it came to the cult's larger interests, he had always refused her flatly, offering no sincerity at all.
Were it not for her wariness of Kong Deming's immense power, the combined might of the Sun Moon Empire's five Guardian Hands soul engineer legions, and their devastating ninth-rank fixed-mounted soul shells, she would already have taught Xu Jing a harsh lesson.
Her son, Zhongli Wu, spoke up curiously,
"Mother, what does the letter say?"
She tossed it casually to him.
After reading it carefully, Zhongli Wu pondered a moment, then said,
"Mother, our Holy Spirit Cult's foundation in the Sun Moon Empire is shallow, and Father secretly suppresses us. This hinders our growth.
If we support Xu Tiannan and he ascends the throne, we can demand that he establish the Holy Spirit Cult as the state religion. Then our growth will be rapid and unstoppable."
Ye Xishui considered, then nodded.
"Very well. Wu'er, I'll entrust this matter to you."
"Yes, Mother."
Just as the Holy Spirit Cult prepared to strike an accord with Crown Prince Xu Tiannan…
A rumor began to spread across Mingdu—swift and terrible in its reach.