Divine & Bizarre: Increasing Points to Invincibility-Chapter 1034 - 290: A Slap on the Crown Prince’s Face

In the Imperial City of the Shangwu Dynasty, within the National Teacher’s Mansion, a middle-aged man with slightly graying temples sat face-to-face with another middle-aged man, whose head was full of black hair and who was dressed in a plain Daoist robe.

A table made of pear wood stood between the two men, bearing two tea cups, a pot of hot tea, and a few pastries.

"State Preceptor, I cannot help but be anxious," the man with graying temples, dressed in a golden python robe, his face showing a hint of sorrow and a trace of murderous intent, said. "It’s too similar, too much of a coincidence. How could it be such a coincidence?"

This man was none other than the Crown Prince of the Shangwu Dynasty, and he was looking intently at the person opposite him, who was clearly the current State Preceptor of the Shangwu Dynasty.

The Crown Prince of the Shangwu Dynasty continued, "Fan Wu, Fan... Isn’t this surname exactly the same as mine? The same as my father the Emperor’s? And the same as that brother of mine who died over twenty years ago?"

Shi Wangdao picked up a tea cup from the table, gently blew on the tea inside, and then slowly drank it all in one sip.

Having moistened his throat with the tea, he responded to the Crown Prince, "Your Highness, why worry so much? There are many people surnamed Fan in the world, and moreover, that person is from the Great Zhou Dynasty, not our Shangwu Dynasty. How could it be the same person?"

"If all the people in the world named Fan were related to the person Your Highness is thinking of... I’m afraid Your Highness would have to kill tens of millions, even hundreds of millions, to be at peace."

The Crown Prince of the Shangwu Dynasty countered, "My worries do not stem from the mere coincidence of our surnames. There’s also his age. My people have checked; that Fan Wu from Qiu Long Temple claimed to be only twenty-three years old this year. Twenty-three years ago..."

"That year, my older brother had a son, a late-in-life firstborn, and he disappeared! The entire dynasty searched for that child for over a year to no avail. And now, this Fan Wu of Qiu Long Temple matches perfectly in age."

Setting down his tea cup with a light smile, Shi Wangdao spoke calmly, "Even if the missing heir of the former Crown Prince were to return, what of it? Even if that heir is indeed Fan Wu from Qiu Long Temple, what then? Your Highness, please voice your concerns."

"What then? State Preceptor, have you forgotten how you helped me back then? Have you forgotten how my older brother died? Everyone in the world, even the Emperor himself, thought my brother succumbed to an incurable disease," the Crown Prince said through gritted teeth.

He continued, "They all believed it was a disease that neither cultivators nor immortals could remedy, and my brother ultimately died of it. But only the two of us know how he truly died."

"It was because of a curse you cast back then! An evil spell that inflicted my brother with an untreatable disease."

Revealing such disgraceful past events, Shi Wangdao’s face remained composed as he said, "It seems that Your Highness does not remember the past very clearly. It appears you have also forgotten who exactly pleaded with me to intervene."

"I remember that back then a Second Prince, seeing his older brother without an heir, was quite eager to take his place. Learning that his older brother suddenly had a son, the Second Prince’s hopes were completely shattered."

"Having a child at such an old age truly was a peculiar event. So, that Second Prince quietly approached me, pleading for my help to ascend to power, and even promised me various benefits."

At this point, looking at the unpleasant expression on the face of the current Crown Prince of the Shangwu Dynasty, Shi Wangdao’s smile became even more mocking and teasing, "Have you recalled it yet, Crown Prince? Do you need me to explain it in more detail?"

"...Then, aren’t you afraid that if that orphan returns, the things we’ve collaborated on will be exposed? Once those matters are revealed, Father Emperor will definitely be furious!" The Crown Prince of the Shangwu Dynasty panicked slightly, "What if Father Emperor strips me of my position as Crown Prince and passes the throne to my third brother? What if he passes it to my fourth brother? What if it becomes my fifth brother’s?"

"Or... what if he passes it to that orphan? You must know this is an act of avenging one’s father, that orphan will definitely not spare me, nor will he spare you, State Preceptor!"

Shi Wangdao said teasingly, "Since the Crown Prince is so troubled, why not throw caution to the wind and rise up with this State Preceptor? Why don’t you overthrow the current Emperor above us and take the throne for yourself?"

This daring and reckless statement, coming from the mouth of a State Preceptor, truly gave the present Crown Prince a great shock.

The Crown Prince of the Shangwu Dynasty hurriedly looked around and even extended his spiritual sense to see if there were any bystanders eavesdropping.

After confirming that no one was eavesdropping, he heaved a deep sigh of relief, his expression extremely unsightly, "State Preceptor, do you realize the treasonous nature of what you’re saying? If Six Ears heard these words, both you and I would be executed! This is plotting rebellion!"

"Just... even if we overthrow Father Emperor, who below could possibly support me? Bah! Bah, bah, bah! Impossible! Such a thing is absolutely not possible." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Casting aside all the reckless thoughts in his mind, the Crown Prince of the Shangwu Dynasty said with utmost seriousness, "No matter how isolated, making sure that Fan Wu of Qiulong Temple dies and never appears before Father Emperor is imperative."

"Oh?" Shi Wangdao asked curiously with a smile, "So, Crown Prince, are you here at this moment to ask me to eliminate Fan Wu from Qiulong Temple?"

The Crown Prince of the Shangwu Dynasty nodded, "I need you to take immediate action to eliminate him, there absolutely should not be any occurrence that worries me."

Shi Wangdao was taken aback and asked, "Is the Crown Prince requesting my help? Or commanding me?"

The Crown Prince of the Shangwu Dynasty furrowed his brows, "I am no longer the powerless Second Prince. You are merely the State Preceptor of the Shangwu Dynasty, while I am the current Crown Prince, destined to ascend to the highest position someday. Do I not have the qualifications to command you?"

Shi Wangdao smiled once again.

Suddenly, his smiling face turned stern, and with a raised hand, he swiftly swung it forward.

This slap landed solidly on the face of the current Crown Prince of the Shangwu Dynasty.

Accompanied by it... was Shi Wangdao’s chilling voice, "Even your father Emperor dares not command me, who do you think you are?"

"..."