The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS
Chapter 354 - 166: Imperial Prince

Chapter 354: Chapter 166: Imperial Prince

Xin Wen was suddenly stabbed, and everyone in the Great Zen Temple grieved deeply. However, painful as it was, Spirit Sect had no choice but to first attend to Feng Tianming’s injuries.

After all, this time the price paid was hefty. If Mahayana Institute’s leader Xin Wen died, then the fruits of this costly endeavor absolutely could not be abandoned.

Yet, the look in Spirit Sect’s eyes as they regarded Meng Shanhe’s avatar was somewhat off.

The assassins of Doomed Hall at the Divinity Realm could be said to have reached the pinnacle of assassination techniques. It was natural that Spirit Sect, Xin Zhu, and Xin Zhou had just ended a great battle and due to their relaxed vigilance had not detected the threat; however, Meng Shanhe was different.

As one of the strongest on the Heavenly List, even an avatar of his had blocked the aftermath of the battle involving seven Divinity Realm warriors using Forbidden Techniques. To say that he hadn’t detected any signs beforehand, Spirit Sect did not believe that at all.

But what could Spirit Sect do? To accuse Meng Shanhe of scheming against their Great Zen Temple wasn’t exactly scheming. Besides, which side wasn’t scheming? Wasn’t Zen Sect always scheming against all parties?

"Sinful, sinful!" Spirit Sect sighed in their heart, and outwardly they straightened their robes and entered the Imperial City.

Inside the Imperial City, because the Nine Dragon Sky Array was broken, it had been affected by a considerable amount of the battle’s impact; wreckage and disorder were visible everywhere.

Fortunately, the Imperial City was large enough that only the front part had been damaged by the remnants of the battle. The Great Ming Hall where Feng Tianming was located was still far from the front.

Inside the Great Ming Hall.

Feng Tianming was sitting breathlessly on the Dragon Throne, appearing unharmed on the surface, but given his declining complexion, even someone just beginning to learn medicine could tell that he was indeed on the brink of death.

And by his side, Feng Mingxiao was pressing her hand on Feng Tianming’s chest, channeling True Qi into him in an attempt to extend his life.

The Phoenix Sky Strategy of the Feng Family contained the immortal will of a phoenix and shared the same source as Feng Tianming’s True Qi. It was extremely effective in extending his life, but the prospects of a full recovery were incredibly slim.

At that moment, a cloud of mist flew into the hall from outside, taking on human form, followed by an old monk who leapt in.

"Mountain Master Meng," Feng Mingxiao called out excitedly.

Meng Shanhe was the Divine Needle that stabilized Northern Zhou, even merely standing there brought a sense of peace of mind. It was because of Meng Shanhe’s presence that, even if Feng Tianming were to pass away right now, Northern Zhou would not collapse.

"Princess, please withdraw your True Qi for now and let this old man take over."

As he spoke, a cloud formed of Vast Righteous Qi spilled out, enveloping Feng Tianming and aiding in suppressing his internal injuries.

The Vast Righteous Qi was extremely domineering and had no healing effect, but it was very effective in suppressing this kind of injury caused by involvement. Seeing this, Feng Mingxiao slowly retracted her True Qi and began to heal herself.

"Master, how is His Majesty’s condition?" As the Vast Righteous Qi automatically suppressed the injuries, Meng Shanhe turned back to Spirit Sect and asked.

Spirit Sect had practiced medicine for hundreds of years and was one of the few renowned experts in medical arts at that time. Just by looking at Feng Tianming’s complexion they could almost guess the severity of his injuries accurately and immediately said, "Amitabha. His Majesty previously controlled the Nine Dragon Sky Array and bonded too deeply with the Dragon Vein. Yagyu Munenori’s strike that severed the Dragon Vein was like a strike severing His Majesty. Eight of the nine dragons transformed from the Dragon Vein were slain, therefore His Majesty also..."

Spirit Sect didn’t finish the sentence, but Meng Shanhe guessed the remainder. Eight of the nine dragons had been slain, and eight-ninths of Feng Tianming’s life had also been severed.

"How long does His Majesty have to live?" Meng Shanhe asked directly.

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Having eight of nine parts of one’s life severed is virtually no different from being dead. Have you ever seen someone survive with only their head left after having everything below their neck chopped off?

If one in the Divinity Realm had eight of nine parts severed, there might still be a chance of survival. But for those in the True Pill Realm, better not to bother. Although there is only one Realm’s difference between the True Pill Realm and the Divinity Realm, this one Realm represents the difference between heaven and earth.

"With the healing powers of my Medicine Master Glaze True Qi and the Imperial Family’s secret ’Phoenix Sky Strategy’ to prolong life, His Majesty should have four more years to live," Spirit Sect secretly estimated and replied.

"Four years, huh? That’s enough," Meng Shanhe said.

Four years was plenty of time to select the next Emperor of Northern Zhou. To be honest, Meng Shanhe was also a bit tired of Feng Tianming’s constant troublemaking.

Meng Shanhe sought to protect the Northern Zhou Imperial Family, but being loyal to Feng Tianming was out of the question. As the Strongest, if Meng Shanhe were truly die-hard loyal to a person, he would not have reached his current level. Three hundred years ago, when he protected the Northern Zhou Imperial Family, apart from his differing ideals with Ji Muqing, he did it more for the sake of preserving the Confucian lineage.

All dynasties eventually come to an end, and Daqian could not exist forever. A few hundred years later, it might be a new era. But would that dynasty employ a faction known for plotting to seize the throne?

The Confucian reveres Heaven, Earth, the sovereign, kin, and teachers; the sovereign comes before kin, which is also the main reason Confucianism is favored by the kings. Ji Muqing’s plotting to seize the throne trampled on this reason.

Furthermore, Ji Muqing was also the master of the Confucian Humanity Lineage at that time.

So, in the end, the life and death of Feng Tianming really had little to do with Meng Shanhe. Actually, it would be even better if Feng Tianming, who made a fuss over everything, died and was replaced by a more stable emperor.

"Umm...uh..." Feng Tianming, who had been slumped over the dragon throne like a corpse, suddenly let out a faint groan and slowly opened his eyes.

Meng Shanhe’s Vast Righteous Qi was indeed powerful, managing to suppress the injury by eight or nine parts, allowing Feng Tianming to regain consciousness.

"Imperial Sister..." Feng Tianming strained to move his eyeballs, looking toward Feng Mingxiao.

After seeing Feng Mingxiao silently nodding her head, for some reason, Feng Tianming felt a sense of relief.

"Mountain Master Meng, you have my thanks," said Feng Tianming, acknowledging the white True Qi around him and expressing his gratitude to Meng Shanhe.

"Your Majesty, it’s within my duty," Meng Shanhe replied indifferently.

"I heard what Mountain Master Meng and the master were discussing just now. Four years, huh? It seems a bit rushed to select a Crown Prince!" As he spoke, a strong unwillingness flashed in Feng Tianming’s turbid eyes.

Feng Tianming had used every means at his disposal to align and connect forces, but for what? For Northern Zhou, and for himself. To reclaim Northern Zhou’s territories, to return to his homeland in the south, and to ascend to the Divinity Realm as a warrior, gaining longevity, and leaving his mark in history as a legendary Emperor.

Unfortunately, all of this had now turned into mere dreams and illusions, unattainable anymore. Four years—these four years, he would be merely clinging to life, which was essentially no different from being dead.

"Imperial Sister..."

Feng Tianming summoned the strength to call out: "Convey my imperial decree, draft the edict: ’As I am burdened by illness and unable to tend to state affairs, I hereby appoint the Eldest Prince Feng Guanyu, the Eighth Prince Feng Qiwu, and the Ninth Prince Feng Jiu as Imperial Princes, to oversee the state affairs. Princess Feng Mingxiao will supervise the government.’"

Then, Feng Tianming turned to Spirit Sect and said, "Master, the matter of spreading the Zen Sect’s teachings has already been drafted in my edict, which will be announced tomorrow."

"Amitabha, on behalf of the Zen Sect, I thank Your Majesty," the Spirit Sect responded with hands clasped in prayer.

"Before I ascend to heaven, among the three Imperial Princes, the most outstanding one will become the Crown Prince."

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