Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Chapter 353: 353 With the Empress Dowager around, no one can bully you!

”Crown Prince, stop making excuses!”

Seeing Xuan Haoran’s silence, Consort Su could no longer hold back. It seemed she had been holding back for a long time, and finally, she burst out at this moment, her cold voice echoing, ”Everyone witnessed in broad daylight how close your relationship with Ran Xing was. Now you want to deny any connection? How can anyone believe that?”

As Consort Su spoke, Xuan Haoran’s expression changed slightly. It seemed he could sense the King’s aura. A flash of resentment sparked in Xuan Jiuding’s eyes but quickly disappeared; he knew this was not the time to argue with Consort Su.

”Your Majesty, I admit, I did invite Ran Xing here, but I only sought him to cure my younger brother’s illness. I had no idea that the old man had ulterior motives, plotting to murder my brother. I truly misjudged him!”

It must be said that Xuan Jiuding was quick-witted. He knew it was impossible to completely dissociate himself from Ran Xing, especially since so many had seen them enter the chamber together during the day.

”Ran Xing is so vicious, it’s possible that my brother’s illness was also caused by his covert actions. I earnestly request Your Majesty to issue the ’Xuan Kill Order’ to apprehend this criminal throughout the Empire!”

Xuan Jiuding grew more agitated as he spoke, even implying that the illness Xuan Jing suffered previously was Ran Xing’s doing. Although his words were not wrong, he cleverly extricated himself from blame.

”Ha, Crown Prince, you truly have a sharp tongue, eloquent and convincing; I am thoroughly impressed!”

Just as Xuan Jiuding was filled with righteous indignation, a light laughter suddenly came from an angle, causing the Crown Prince’s face to change instantly. He didn’t need to look to know that the detestable Bo Ku had spoken.

Truth be told, Xuan Jiuding harbored deep hatred for Bo Ku. This man not only thwarted his attempt to harm Xuan Jing but also caused him to lose Ran Xing, his right-hand man, and now he must face the King’s judgment.

And the instigator of it all was none other than Bo Ku standing before him.

”The truth is evident, do not slander others!”

Lifting his head, killing intent flickered in Xuan Jiuding’s eyes. If there was a chance, he would spare no effort in eliminating this detestable man right here and now.

However, at this moment, Xuan Jiuding urgently needed to clear himself and found it inconvenient to argue further with Yun Xiao, so he merely stated that sentence. In his view, although Ran Xing was exposed, there was no solid evidence proving that he was instigated by Xuan Jiuding for this attack.

”Slandering?”

Upon hearing this, Yun Xiao scoffed, his voice gradually growing colder, ”I wonder if the Crown Prince can still be so confident before undeniable evidence?”

”Undeniable evidence?”

Upon hearing this, Xuan Jiuding slightly furrowed his brow. In contrast, Consort Su showed delight; she had always disliked Xuan Jiuding and hoped to pull him down from his position as Crown Prince but had lacked the opportunity.

Yun Xiao didn’t bother about Xuan Jiuding’s increasingly gloomy gaze. Seeing him stroke a black object from his storage bag tied around his waist, the object appeared in his hand.

”This is...”

Both Xuan Jiuding and Xuan Haoran felt vaguely familiar with this black object because it was the special bag Yun Xiao used to collect the Yin Light Devouring Energy Worm during the day.

Yun Xiao’s smirk remained on his face while the next moment, he opened the mouth of the dark bag. A transparent little worm emerged, fluttering headlessly.

But in just a few moments, this headless fly-like Yin Light Devouring Energy Worm seemed to sense a particular scent and immediately turned around, flying swiftly towards Xuan Jiuding.

Seeing this, both Xuan Haoran and Consort Su seemed thoughtful. In contrast, Xuan Jiuding’s face drastically changed, and he could no longer kneel still. Taking advantage of the Yin Light Devouring Energy Worm not yet reaching him, he started running around the chamber, seemingly terrified of the worm touching him.

”Your Majesty, this Yin Light Devouring Energy Worm was specially nurtured with a unique bloodline which then entered Crown Prince Xuan Jing’s body. If I’m not mistaken, this special bloodline belongs to the genuine Xuanyue Imperial Family!”

Yun Xiao glanced at the fleeing Xuan Jiuding, speaking calmly. Upon seeing a hint of perplexion in Xuan Haoran’s eyes, he continued to explain.

”Your Majesty might be wondering why the Yin Light Devouring Energy Worm is only chasing the Crown Prince and ignoring you and Crown Prince Xuan Jing, right?”

A smile appeared on Yun Xiao’s face as he explained, ”That is because Your Majesty’s aura is too strong; the Yin Light Devouring Energy Worm is not foolish enough to seek its death. As for Crown Prince Xuan Jing, it’s the opposite; his qi and blood have been mostly devoured by the Yin Light Devouring Energy Worm, hence it finds him uninteresting.”

”I see!”

After hearing Yun Xiao’s explanation, both Xuan Haoran and Su Fei instantly understood. The Yin Light Devouring Energy Worm chooses its host based on the individual, and both Xuan Haoran and Xuan Jing were unsuitable, one being too strong and the other too weak, hence it went straight for Xuan Jiuding, the middle ground.

After realizing all this, both Xuan Haoran and Su Fei showed a hint of anger on their faces because if it was true as Yun Xiao just said, that the Yin Light Devouring Energy Worm was nourished by the bloodline of the Xuanyue Imperial Family and thus targeted Xuan Jing, then this matter indeed closely involved Xuan Jiuding.

Given that Ran Xing had close ties with Xuan Jiuding, obtaining some bloodline nourishment for the Yin Light Devouring Energy Worm from him probably wasn’t difficult. And if this was confirmed, even if Xuan Jiuding threw himself into a large river, he would not be able to cleanse himself of this affair.

”What do you say? Crown Prince, if you continue to deny it, once the Yin Light Devouring Energy Worm enters your body, even if I help you immediately, your cultivation might still be in jeopardy!”

Seeing that Xuan Haoran had understood his point, Yun Xiao felt better, and although his words contained a hint of a smile, they carried a deep threat.

How could Xuan Jiuding not know the danger of the Yin Light Devouring Energy Worm, but how could he admit in front of Xuan Haoran that he had cruelly harmed his own brother, Xuan Jing?

Once this matter was confirmed, he might even lose his position as Crown Prince. Having held power for so long, he was absolutely unwilling to just hand it over.

However, the Yin Light Devouring Energy Worm seemed fixated on Xuan Jiuding, and no matter how he dodged, he couldn’t dissuade the worm from coveting him.

In times like these, only a cultivator at the Spirit Vein Realm might instill fear in the Yin Light Devouring Energy Worm through intervention.

But in this hall, besides Xuan Haoran, there was no other Spirit Vein Realm powerhouse. And at this moment, the King seemed to be caught in some dilemma, and he did not readily assist his son.

Perhaps in Xuan Haoran’s heart, he was also waiting for an answer, the answer Yun Xiao had just questioned—an excellent opportunity for Xuan Jiuding to reveal the truth himself.

”Hmph!”

However, at this critical moment, a deep and cold snort suddenly sounded from outside the hall. Then a figure in luxurious attire flashed beside Xuan Jiuding in an instant, and with a swift palm strike, the Yin Light Devouring Energy Worm was sent flying several meters away.

”Empress?!”

Having narrowly escaped death, Xuan Jiuding glanced sideways and immediately recognized the familiar figure beside him. He felt greatly relieved, and the usually dignified Crown Prince almost threw himself into her arms, nearly breaking into tears.

”Jiuding, don’t worry. With your mother here, no one can bully you!”

The newcomer had a noble and dignified appearance, but her almond-shaped eyes were filled with unusual fury, seemingly extremely displeased with the scene before her. Her words carried pointed implications.

”Empress, why have you come?”

Having remained silent until now, King Xuan Haoran’s eyes flickered, and from his words, Yun Xiao immediately knew who this noblewoman was—the current mother of the Xuanyue Empire, the majestic Empress.

”Hmph, why have I come? If I hadn’t come, Jiuding might have been killed by that detestable worm!”

The Empress glanced at the Yin Light Devouring Energy Worm that Yun Xiao had just put back into a black storage bag. The anger was still evident in her words, and when dealing with Xuan Haoran, she did not show any submissiveness, a fact that surprised Yun Xiao.

What Yun Xiao did not know was that this Empress had a remarkable background and had been with Xuan Haoran since his humble beginnings. Over the decades, Xuan Haoran had become a wise ruler, and the Empress had played an indispensable role.

It could be said that half of the Xuanyue Empire was owned by the Empress. This also meant that her two sons, Xuan Jiuding and Xuan Zhi, held much higher statuses and positions compared to other princes, barely anyone daring to provoke them.

Regarding the Empress, Xuan Haoran had always shown great respect, but if Xuan Jiuding really did what he did today, how could he continue to be a wise ruler without imposing strict punishment?

”Empress, you may not be aware, the Crown Prince, in collusion with outsiders, has harmed his own brother. We must have an explanation for this matter!”

Seeing the Empress’s arrival possibly turning the situation around, Su Fei, distressed for her son, immediately intervened, but no sooner had she spoken than a sharp glare was directed at her.

”Who gave you the right to speak when I’m speaking with the King? Have you forgotten your place?”

The cold and dignified voice of the Empress echoed, her authority clear and unchallenged. In her commanding presence, despite Su Fei’s reluctance, she dared not speak further.

”Empress, in everything there is the principle of reason. Evidence today is concrete. If you insist on distorting the truth, perhaps the title of a virtuous Empress needs to be reconsidered!”

As Su Fei retreated and the Empress showed a victorious expression, a calm voice suddenly rang out, drawing the attention of everyone in the hall to its speaker.