READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 211: Nine Dragons Fight for the Throne
Chapter 211: Nine Dragons Fight for the Throne
Lin Fengmian thought about it for a moment and realized that this was indeed a risk-free deal.
But he still asked Jun Yunshang, “Miss Fairy, why should I believe that you have a top-grade Void Breaking Pill?”
Jun Yunshang frowned slightly and said, “The top-grade Void Breaking Pill was left to me by my mother. I have left it with my uncle. Once we enter Junlin City, I will retrieve it from him.”
Luo Xue quickly interjected, “Make her swear an oath!”
Lin Fengmian nodded and said, “Will you swear an oath then?”
Jun Yunshang nodded and said, “I, Jun Yunshang, swear that as long as Young Master Ye protects me and gets me to Junlin City by the end of the month…”
“Within three days of entering Junlin City, I will definitely find a top-quality Void Breaking Pill for Young Master.”
She reached into her veil, bit her finger, and raised her hand solemnly, “If I violate this oath, may I be struck down by heaven and earth and serve Young Master as a slave forever!”
Seeing Jun Yunshang’s willingness, Lin Fengmian couldn’t help but smile slightly.
His gaze towards Jun Yunshang became even more favorable, and the already radiant Jun Yunshang now seemed even more dazzling.
A rich woman! A very rich woman!
Although he didn’t know their identities or who his opponents were, all that didn’t matter under the allure of Luo Xue’s formidable strength and the top-grade Void Breaking Pill.
He decided to accept this immense wealth!
He haggled, “If we encounter any enemies on the way that I can’t handle, I need a Spirit Fusion Pill as an advance payment!”
Elder Huang thought about it. Since the top-grade Void Breaking Pill was already given away, it wasn’t a big deal.
He nodded and said, “Agreed! But I hope Young Master will swear a blood oath. If you leave us after taking the pill, you will never progress in cultivation!”
Lin Fengmian nodded and said, “Alright! It’s a deal!”
He followed suit and swore an oath, feeling a mysterious force settle on him.
“What’s going on? I didn’t use my real name, did I?”
Luo Xue explained, “This is a Dao Oath. It recognizes the person, not the name. Trying to cheat by using a fake name is impossible.”
“Cultivators cannot take blood oaths lightly. If they break their promise, they will truly suffer the backlash of the Heavenly Dao.”
Lin Fengmian let out an “Ah” as he finally understood the subtlety. It seemed like the idea of tricking them into giving him the Spirit Fusion Pill and then running away was out of the question.
But with Luo Xue around, it shouldn’t be that bad, right?
With a blood pact between them, there was no way for either side to back out.
Lin Fengmian then turned to the main customer of his trip, smiling and asking, “I am Ye Xuefeng. May I ask your esteemed names?”
Jun Yunshang bowed gracefully and spoke with poise, “Jun Yunshang!”
Elder Huang chuckled, “I am Huang Gongwang, you can just call me Old Huang.”
“Guan Ming!”
“Ye Ling!”
Guan Ming and Ye Ling both had grim faces, sparing no words as they announced their names.
Lin Fengmian nodded slightly, “Please guide me. Now that I’ve joined, I hope you can tell me the whole story.”
He didn’t like to fight without a clear understanding. If it weren’t for the convenient route and the presence of a powerful expert like Luo Xue, he would never have taken on this mission so rashly.
Most importantly, Jun Yunshang’s offer was too generous for him to refuse.
Jun Yunshang smiled charmingly, “Lord Ye, please allow me to introduce myself once again.”
She performed a complex and formal bow, “I am the sixteenth princess of the Junyan Empire, Jun Yunshang.”
Lin Fengmian was taken aback, then asked, “The princess of the Junyan Empire?”
Jun Yunshang nodded, “Yes, indeed.”
Lin Fengmian’s mind began to race, his curiosity ignited.
“So how did you end up here, and why are you being pursued by the Junyan Empire? Did you elope with someone?”
Hearing someone speak so disrespectfully, Guan Ming couldn’t help but get angry, “Bold scoundrel! How dare you insult the princess!”
“Guan Ming, behave yourself.”
Jun Yunshang smiled at Lin Fengmian, “I have no sweetheart, and I certainly did not elope.”
“However, the people who are chasing me are indeed from the Junyan Empire. They are the subordinates of my royal brother, sent to capture me.”
Lin Fengmian’s curiosity only increased.
“Why did your elder brother want to capture you? Why doesn’t your father, the emperor, do anything about this internal conflict?”
Jun Yunshang shook her head and said, “This was an order from Father himself. How could he possibly interfere?”
As she told the story, Lin Fengmian finally understood the circumstances and the reason why the transmission arrays throughout the Junyan Empire were shut down.
It turned out that they had arrived at the worst possible time, right in the middle of the Junyan Empire’s succession battle.
As they knew, the Junyan Empire’s Heaven-Soaring Sword Saint was already in his twilight years and was likely to die soon.
Although he had a long lifespan, due to the constraints of the Heavenly Dao, the stronger one was, the fewer offspring they had.
The Heaven-Soaring Sword Saint had only sixteen children, three of whom died in infancy, and four of whom died due to failed breakthroughs, including the previous crown prince.
Jun Yunshang was his youngest daughter and one of his most beloved daughters.
After the death of the crown prince, the Heaven-Soaring Sword Saint delayed appointing a new one for a long time. Now, with his life span nearly depleted, he issued an imperial edict.
Nine princes and princesses, regardless of their age, cultivation level, or the strength of their maternal clans, were all required to participate in the succession battle.
The rules of the succession battle were simple: the nine heirs would set out from designated locations to return to Junlin City.
The first three to return would have the right to inherit the throne and would be evaluated together by the Heaven-Soaring Sword Saint.
The first one to pass the evaluation would be named Crown Prince and would receive the full inheritance of the Heaven-Soaring Sword Saint, thus inheriting the rule of the Junyan Empire.
Other heirs who returned to Junlin City by the end of the month would be granted territories and ennobled in a ceremony before the throne.
Those who failed to return by the end of the month would be given a fief elsewhere and would never be allowed to return to Junlin City.
During the period of the succession battle, all the Junyan Empire’s transmission arrays were closed to prevent anyone from cheating.
The heirs were allowed to use any means necessary to compete, including combat, and death was permitted.
Jun Yunshang, who was the youngest, had the weakest foundation, and had no interest in the throne, initially wanted to withdraw.
However, the Heaven-Soaring Sword Saint had set a rule that no heir could withdraw before returning to Junlin City.
If someone was truly afraid of death and wanted to withdraw, it was not impossible to negotiate.
After all, the Heaven-Soaring Sword Saint was not a demon.
Those who withdrew would be expelled from the royal family, reduced to commoners, and banned from entering the Junyan Empire forever.
The Heaven-Soaring Sword Saint had founded the empire through martial prowess and was an undefeated war god.
His children were expected to die in battle, not surrender without a fight.
The severe consequences of retreating immediately made the other heirs reconsider.
When Jun Yunshang described this rule, she did so with a touch of resentment that almost made Lin Fengmian burst out laughing.
The old man Ling Tian was indeed an interesting character.
Under this edict, Jun Yunshang was forced to leave the designated place with her meager forces.
However, for some reason, the Heaven-Soaring Sword Saint had placed Jun Yunshang at the farthest point from Junlin City.
Meanwhile, the strongest Fourth Prince was positioned closest to Junlin City, making him a target for everyone.
It was said that the Fourth Prince was now trapped in a ceasefire zone by the other heirs, unable to move an inch.
The so-called ceasefire zones were several cities designated by the Heaven-Soaring Sword Saint.
Once inside these cities, no one was allowed to engage in combat, and violators would be mercilessly executed.