At this time, within the Imperial City, during the court assembly held once every eighteen days.
The assembled court officials were in a clamor.
"News has arrived from the Azure Cloud region border! Those cultivators who evacuated the Azure Cloud region have all returned! Moreover, under the leadership of Li Yunbing of the Li family, they executed a beautiful ambush, killing 430,000 enemies!"
"Unexpected! Not a single one of them obeyed the order to retreat; a mere region actually resisted six divisions. That Azure Cloud region Li clan is also formidable! Li Dalong passed the Nine-Nine Thunder Tribulation and single-handedly resisted the Wu Clan Apostle. According to intelligence reports, there's also a Li Yaoqing in the Azure Cloud region Li clan who is about to face the Nine-Nine Thunder Tribulation."
"I heard that the Wu Clan even mobilized Elders this time; the last time was thirty thousand years ago. The Li family used their trump card and killed the Moon God!"
"Hiss~"
They couldn't help but be in an uproar. During the last court assembly, in the eyes of these officials, the Azure Cloud region had already been abandoned. But gathering again this time, Azure Cloud region had held out, exceeding everyone's expectations!
Some even inwardly rejoiced secretly; the cession of the twelve border counties had made many high officials present feel humiliated. How could this great victory not lift their spirits?
But among the assembled officials, the one with the ugliest expression was undoubtedly the Imperial Preceptor, Min Youguo.
The Li family's great victory brought no joy whatsoever to this Imperial Preceptor. Ceding twelve counties in exchange for ten thousand years of peace had been, in his view, a very worthwhile transaction, and in his plans, it would become a praiseworthy political achievement. But the Li family holding the border disrupted all his plans and had even caused the officials to question his decision.
A Region and family that had been originally abandoned had survived, which was like a resounding slap in his face, announcing his foolishness to everyone.
"Your Majesty!"
Imperial Preceptor Min Youguo bowed towards the Emperor behind the hanging screen, his brows knitted angrily, "General Wang Jinhu disobeyed Your Majesty's command, battling Wu Clan Elders in Azure Cloud region! He is undoubtedly destroying the treaty between Your Majesty and the Wu Clan! This is the crime of deceiving the sovereign! I request Your Majesty issue an order; this subject will immediately dispatch men to bring Wang Jinhu back for punishment!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the military officials' side erupted in angry curses. For a moment, the court was filled with the spittle of arguing civil and military officials.
Numerous military officials repeatedly petitioned, wanting to lead troops from all regions to reinforce the Azure Cloud region. Some even requested that experts who had been in seclusion for many years lead troops, imitating Grand Tutor Lin Jiu's expedition to the Northern Territory, wanting to incorporate the lands of the southern barbarian Wu Clan into the Azure Dynasty's territory. Even some stubborn old civil officials in the court were quite supportive of this proposal.
Seemingly noticing the increasing number of petitioning officials, the Emperor's voice sounded, "Regarding this matter, wait until the Grand Tutor returns victorious to court before raising it again."
These words silenced the court officials. Grand Tutor Lin Jiu had been fighting in the Northern Territory for several thousand years. By the time he returned victorious, the Azure Cloud region would be filled with the totems of the Wu Clan people.
"Imperial Preceptor."
Hearing the Emperor call his name, Min Youguo hastily bowed, "This subject is here!"
"Transmit Our decree! Order Wang Jinhu to return to court immediately..."
The corners of Min Youguo's mouth were just turning upwards when, before the Emperor's voice could fall, everyone sensed a token arriving from outside the court hall. It was the Region Prince Token!
All enfeoffed official positions of the Azure Dynasty receive the recognition of Heaven and Earth's destiny and are bestowed by the Emperor. And engraved upon this Region Prince Token was the name: Li Kuangren of the Li clan!
As the Azure Cloud Region Prince Token appeared floating above the palace hall, everyone's expression changed.
The Emperor's meaning just now clearly showed his intention to stubbornly stick to his opinion and abandon the Azure Cloud region, abandoning the Li family. But on the day Li Kuangren left, everyone, including the Emperor, had firmly believed that Azure Cloud region would definitely perish and the Li clan would certainly fall. That was why the Emperor had granted the position of Azure Cloud Region Prince to Li Kuangren.
Now...
With the appearance of this token, if the Emperor permitted it—acknowledging that the Azure Cloud region Li clan had retaken Azure Cloud region—wouldn't that indicate he had torn up the treaty with the Wu Clan? But if he didn't permit it, wouldn't that mean he, the Emperor, was going back on his word?
"Such audacity!"
Min Youguo glared furiously, his eyes wide. For the Azure Cloud region Li family to pull this move while the assembled officials were in court discussion was undoubtedly a slap in the Emperor's face!
That Li Kuangren didn't come earlier, didn't come later, but insisted on coming right when the entire court, civil and military, was assembled!
.....
Azure Cloud Region Border.
Everyone was gazing at the scene in the sky. Winds and clouds surged over Azure Cloud region as the blessing of Heaven and Earth's destiny was conferred—this was the moment the position of Region Prince was bestowed, a scene few people ever get to witness!
Looks of anticipation showed on their faces.
The Li family had led them to resist the Wu Clan; they earnestly hoped the Li family could ascend to the position of Region Prince. This way, their position would be legitimate and justified!
But soon, anxious expressions appeared on everyone's faces; the blessing of Heaven and Earth's destiny was delayed in being conferred upon Li Kuangren!
The members of the Li family frowned.
Instead, Li Kuangren on the throne remained calm. He had learned everything about the bestowment of the Region Prince position from Feng Chunlin. "I suppose the Region Prince token has reached the palace hall by now?"
Suddenly, he grinned and shouted loudly, "I request His Imperial Majesty fulfill the promise made in court that day and grant me, Kuangren of the Li clan, the position of Azure Cloud Region Prince!"
As his voice fell.
All the cultivators of the Azure Cloud region border shouted towards the sky in unison.
"We request the Emperor fulfill his promise!"
The sound rose, wave after wave. They believed their voices would definitely reach the Emperor's ears!
The first shout, the second shout... but still there was no response. The shouts of the Azure Cloud region cultivators grew increasingly agitated.
Then.
On this day after the war with the Wu Clan, before they even had time to celebrate, all the Azure Cloud region cultivators fell silent. Even though it was a bright sunny day, their faces were still covered in gloom.
The Emperor's grace did not descend, the diagram array in the sky vanished, and the pillar of light that had fallen from the sky disappeared without a trace!
Only Li Kuangren remained calmly seated upon the throne in mid-air.
That bastard sitting on the imperial throne, favored by heaven, had not fulfilled his promise, and had not bestowed the position of Region Prince upon Li Kuangren! His words were like bullshit; he had played the people of Azure Cloud region once again!
Just as all the people of Azure Cloud region had nowhere to vent the rage filling their hearts.
Li Kuangren's voice echoed in the sky.
"It seems His Majesty the Emperor does not approve of me. But even without this Region Prince title, so what?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the Azure Cloud region was stunned.
That's right, they thought, the Emperor doesn't approve, but does that mean Li Kuangren of the Li family isn't the Region Prince?
"The twelve border counties were ceded; this Azure Cloud region is no longer Dynasty territory! Does that mean we cultivators cannot fight to reclaim what belongs to us? Today, we still stand upon the land that belongs to us! We resist the Wu Clan!"
"It was thus thirty years ago, and now..."
"It is thus again!"
As Li Kuangren's voice echoed again.
Everyone in the border city stared wide-eyed.
Feng Chunlin, with the five ancestors, looked at Li Kuangren. He suddenly smiled, and his voice sent out with Heaven and Earth Spirit Qi, reached everyone's ears, "The Emperor does not permit it, but I, this Region Prince, recognize him! What do all of you in Azure Cloud region think?"
"Hahaha, Region Prince Li Kuangren!"
"Region Prince Li Kuangren!"
Shouts from the people of Azure Cloud region rose and fell one after another throughout the border city once more.
To hell with the Emperor, [they thought], he doesn't help when we're fighting, and now we're just claiming a Region Prince, why do we need his approval?
"Stinky brat, planning a rebellion, are we?"
Amidst the crowd, Li Wei murmured. These kids at home are really asking for it.
Just as his voice fell, the light blue panel before his eyes became glaringly bright.
[Your descendant Li Kuangren deliberately petitioned to become Region Prince on the day of the court assembly in the Imperial City. He was certain the Emperor had no grounds to condemn the Li family and deliberately made the Emperor lose face completely. He holds a grudge over the Emperor's abandonment in court that day and has decided to weaken the Emperor's prestige bit by bit, inciting dissatisfaction with the Emperor among the people of the Azure Cloud region and even the citizens of the Azure Dynasty. Acquired trait: Heart of Rebellion]
[He is gradually becoming a rebel. The success rate of inciting defection increased by 20%, psychological damage to the Emperor increased by 20%, and true damage increased by 10%]
"..."
Li Wei stared at Li Kuangren, who had a faint smile on his face, listening to the cheers of the surrounding cultivators. He feared that right now, if Li Kuangren gave a single command, these cultivators would dare to follow him to storm the Heavenly Palace.
Then, he dazedly scratched his head.
"Sigh, this kid has the aptitude to get the entire extended family executed."
---
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