C24 Conspiracy

"Is the Crown Prince facing any troubles?"

Song Kuan, who had been quiet until now, suddenly spoke up with a chuckle.

Without changing his expression, the Crown Prince turned and replied with a smile, "They're just minor worldly concerns. There's no need to trouble the Supreme Celestial with them."

With that, the Crown Prince clapped his hands, and a bevy of lithe women emerged from the garden, flocking around Song Kuan.

"Supreme Celestial, I have other affairs to tend to. Please excuse me," the Crown Prince said, a hint of apology in his tone.

"No worries, no worries at all."

Seeing the women approach, Song Kuan's face flushed with excitement.

Abandoning the decorum of the Celestial Gate, he laughed heartily and plunged into the crowd of women, eliciting a chorus of playful scolding.

The Crown Prince and Liu Bao slipped away silently, leaving Song Kuan to his diversions.

They made their way to the Crown Prince's study, activated a hidden mechanism, and entered the secret chamber within.

"Remember, you mustn't breathe a word of this to anyone. Even if a Supreme Celestial from the War God's Sect inquires, you're to keep silent!" the Crown Prince commanded as soon as they were inside the chamber.

Liu Bao, a bit slow on the uptake, asked, "Your Highness, why keep silent? That young man is quite formidable. With the help of a Supreme Celestial, capturing him would be effortless."

"Fool!" snapped the Crown Prince. "If we involve a Supreme Celestial and Lu Yu has treasures on him, do you think we'd get a share?"

Liu Bao was no simpleton; he quickly grasped the implications.

"Your Highness, are you suggesting that Lu Yu possesses treasures?" Liu Bao's eyes gleamed with avarice.

With a cold smile, the Crown Prince said, "Is there anything in Longjing that escapes my notice? With all the intelligence your Eastern Factory gathers, you can't tell me you don't know what Lu Yu was like before?"

After a moment's thought, the Crown Prince added, "If he's been biding his time, he's certainly been overdoing it for years. And this young man... he's as if he's become someone else entirely. I suspect he must have stumbled upon some extraordinary stroke of luck!"

"Consider this: a mere Houtian First Level individual capable of slaying a Xiantian expert, even posing a threat to someone of your caliber at Xiantian Sixth Level. What an extraordinary stroke of luck that must be!"

Liu Bao's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Your Highness, let's seize all the treasures from that youngster immediately!"

The Crown Prince gestured dismissively. "If even you, at the Sixth Level of the Xiantian Realm, can't best him, we need to devise a meticulous strategy."

"Your Highness, we could summon all the masters from the Hall of Funeral Offering. With all the Xiantian experts converging, no matter how formidable Lu Yu is, his demise is certain!" Liu Bao proposed.

The Crown Prince pondered briefly before shaking his head. "We cannot make our move in Longjing. Too much commotion would not only be difficult to justify to the court, but it might also draw the attention of the Supreme Celestial."

Without hesitation, Liu Bao offered, "Your Highness, if that's your concern, I have a solution."

Noticing the Crown Prince's gaze, Liu Bao's face twisted into a malevolent grin. "We can eliminate Lu Yu during the War God's trial!"

Each year, Daliang, as a mortal nation under the War God's Sect, pays homage to the War God. Following the homage, a trial is held, bringing together the scions of Longjing's great families to test their martial prowess.

Before his campaign, the Emperor had already selected the site for the War God's trial: Sky Qiong Mountain, located a hundred miles from Longjing City. The mountain is a haunt for Demonic Beasts and even greater demons, places where even Xiantian experts tread with caution.

Yet, Sky Qiong Mountain is also rife with boundless treasures, with countless rare medicinal herbs and artifacts to be found. Despite the perils, it draws crowds like moths to a flame.

A cold, fierce light flickered in the Crown Prince's eyes. "The War God's trial is in three days. You will divert the Supreme Celestial's attention and ensure she does not participate. I will take command of the Worship Hall's finest and lay in wait for him at Sky Qiong Mountain!"