Divine & Bizarre: Increasing Points to Invincibility-Chapter 1037 - 292: Shocking! Beheading Fan Wu!_2

"Yes, what Minister Li and Minister Wu said is correct! Crown Prince, could it be that someone is scheming and wants to use this opportunity to pin such a black pot on Qiulong Temple’s Fan Wu?"

"It’s also possible that the murderer is at a much higher level and wants to pin the blame on the National Master. After all, the idea that Qiulong Temple’s Fan Wu is the murderer is extremely far-fetched. When we start to doubt the National Master, it will play right into the hands of the real culprit."

"Crown Prince... may we take a look at His Majesty’s body? The Emperor’s sudden death is no small matter. We can’t just accept a simple explanation for his death."

"..."

Listening to these civil and military Ministers chattering on in his presence, the Crown Prince of the Shangwu Dynasty felt extremely annoyed by them.

Doesn’t he know that such a cause of death is extremely far-fetched?

But he felt that if he didn’t attribute such a cause of death to his father the Emperor, then he may be the next one to die!

The Crown Prince of the Shangwu Dynasty glanced coldly at the civil and military Ministers before him and silently uttered, "The Emperor died at the hands of Qiulong Temple’s Fan Wu, and it was not without reason. This conclusion was the result of a lengthy investigation by the people in the palace."

"Before the Emperor died, he even wrote a blood letter on the ground with his own blood. The murderer referred to in the blood letter is naturally Qiulong Temple’s Fan Wu. The handwriting is still there; if you want to see it, go and look."

"However, you can only see the handwriting on the ground, not the Emperor’s body. The Emperor has just passed away recently; his body must not be disturbed. Looking at the handwriting should suffice; all of you have been serving in the Imperial Court for hundreds of years as senior civil and military officials."

"The handwriting of the Emperor’s blood letter, you should be able to see whether or not it was personally written by him."

At the end, the Crown Prince of the Shangwu Dynasty pulled up the tiger skin that belonged to Shi Wangdao and spoke to the crowd before him, "I have already informed the National Master about this matter. Apart from myself, he was the first to know. He too believes that the culprit is Qiulong Temple’s Fan Wu."

"You may feel that I am telling lies, which I can understand. After all, in the Imperial family, such things often happen in other Dynasties. But do you think the National Master would tell lies?"

"The National Master’s viewpoint and mine are identical; the Emperor was killed by Qiulong Temple’s Fan Wu!"

When such words were spoken by the current Crown Prince of the Shangwu Dynasty, those Ministers who had opposing views gradually quieted down.

One by one, they looked at each other with expressions of struggle on their faces, but ultimately chose silence.

Clearly, the words ’National Master’ carried great weight in their hearts, a weight perhaps even greater than that of the late Emperor of the Shangwu Dynasty, perhaps even surpassing him.

Seeing this scene, the heart of the current Crown Prince of the Shangwu Dynasty turned cold. He had hoped someone obstinate would challenge him.

Because if there were such a person, it meant they did not fear the authority of the National Master and were not controlled by him.

Yet, the scene in front of him indicated there was no such person. Perhaps there once was such a person, but they might have been eliminated by the National Master.

It’s over now.

So, even if he successfully succeeded his father the Emperor and became the new Emperor of the Shangwu Dynasty, what then?

In the end, wouldn’t he still be the puppet of the National Master?

For an Emperor to be a puppet of the National Master was an absolute joke.

If other Dynasties found out... they would probably mock the Shangwu Dynasty for a lifetime.

Alas, in the end, as the Crown Prince, he had no choice but to follow his heart, issuing command after command: "Announce the Emperor’s death to the world, and spread the news throughout the entire Dynasty with the utmost urgency."

"And at the same time... begin preparations for the Emperor’s funeral, to inter him with the highest honors in the Imperial Mausoleum he had built while alive. Also, erect temples for the Emperor; every county in the Shangwu Dynasty must build one."

"Furthermore," he commanded, "mobilize all the great armies and the Imperial Court Cultivators to hunt down Fan Wu of Qiulong Temple with all their might! Under no circumstances must this man be allowed to continue wreaking havoc within the Imperial City! And ensure the Imperial City is thoroughly sealed off, to prevent this man from escaping."

The Crown Prince of the Shangwu Dynasty knew... that the National Master intended to plunge the dynasty into chaos.

He did not know why the other wished to do so.

But all he could do was grit his teeth and cooperate.

After all... in the end, it wasn’t the nobility who would die, it was merely a few commoners, merely a few soldiers.

Such people were a dime a dozen throughout the Shangwu Dynasty, even if millions or tens of millions were to be lost, it wouldn’t matter.

Once this thought surfaced in his mind, the pressure in his heart lightened, and the sense of guilt diminished.

As for whether future generations would call him a doltish ruler?

To hell with it, preserving his own life was what mattered most. At least until he gained complete control over the Dynasty’s power, he had absolutely no ability to contend with that National Master. He could only obey.

The Crown Prince of the Shangwu Dynasty even added, "Spread my words throughout the land—whether they be common folk, Cultivators, demons and ghosts, or soldiers. Anyone who brings Fan Wu of Qiulong Temple’s head to my presence will be rewarded by the Imperial Court... with ten million taels of silver!"

"Moreover, they will be graced with a hereditary title, allowing their descendants to enjoy wealth and honor. Additionally, they may freely copy the cultivation manuals and Elixir recipes treasured in the Imperial Palace! The Imperial Court will even erect a temple and statue in his honor, compelling countless millions within the Dynasty to worship him!"

"I will even lead the Ministers and Generals to personally worship the Immortal Gods and proclaim his achievements before the master, requesting the Immortal Gods to issue a decree to enshrine him as a Heavenly Court Immortal, granting him the opportunity to join the ranks of the Immortals!"

As these words fell, even the Ministers and Generals before him were utterly astonished.

To be honest, even these Ministers and Generals were moved; such promises were indeed hard to resist.

Because, if everything the Crown Prince had promised were to come true, then it could easily found a top-tier noble family on its own.

But in such times, one could only proceed as the Crown Prince had dictated.

After all, if the one who had killed the Emperor was truly Fan Wu of Qiulong Temple, then no matter how outrageous the promised rewards, it wouldn’t be too much to offer.

And so, under the issuance of command after command, the Imperial Court of the Shangwu Dynasty started up like a terrifying war machine, thoroughly activated and spinning rapidly at an alarming rate.

The news spread like a hurricane, instantly sweeping through the entire Imperial City, plunging it into a state of shock and disbelief.

Whether it was the various noble families, ordinary citizens, or itinerant merchants... at this moment, their expressions were identical—all of them shocked and full of disbelief.

"What... What did you say? His Majesty has passed away? How could that be? He was Emperor for over five hundred years, wasn’t he? Why would he suddenly pass away now? Didn’t they say... that His Majesty was expected to live to a thousand? He must still have several decades left until he reaches a thousand years!"

"Hiss! The one who killed the current Emperor is that Fan Wu of Qiulong Temple, who associated with Yan Dalong and Yan Dahu? Damn it! That outsider who snuck into the Imperial Palace and killed the Emperor? Unforgivable! Completely unforgivable!"

"The Emperor has passed away? And it wasn’t a natural death, but an assassination? Even the National Master has declared the murderer to be Fan Wu of Qiulong Temple? Is this... is this true?"

"Damn it all! That Fan Wu of Qiulong Temple, not only did he consort with Yan Dalong and Yan Dahu with designs against the National Master, now he even laid hands on the Emperor, and succeeded! He’s declaring war against the entire Shangwu Dynasty, against the sixty million people!"

"Is the reward promised by the Imperial Court for real? That anyone who takes down Fan Wu of Qiulong Temple’s head will receive those rewards?"

"..."