"The Nine Heavens Dynasty has two armies advancing towards the White Dragon Dynasty!"
Prince Shangguan stated directly, "As long as Brother Baihu raises his banner, he will surely rally a hundred responses and take the royal family!"
Baihu trembled slightly. He hadn't expected the Nine Heavens Dynasty to be so swift.
"Brother Shangguan, this is our internal affair. The actions of the Nine Heavens Dynasty are rather perplexing to me!" Baihu chuckled lightly.
"Brother Bai need not worry. After defeating the royal family, the White Dragon Dynasty will be under Brother Bai's control!" Prince Shangguan smiled. "My personal visit is enough to show the attitude of the Nine Heavens royal family!"
"The Nine Heavens Dynasty has numerous soldiers and generals. If they truly seize the White Dragon Dynasty, would they hand it over to me!"
Baihu smiled faintly. "Is Prince Shangguan not joking with me!"
"As long as Brother Bai agrees to pay tribute to the Nine Heavens Dynasty annually, this matter can be accomplished!"
Prince Shangguan stated directly, "As the Crown Prince of the Nine Heavens Dynasty, I will never deceive the Heir Apparent. This has also been discussed and agreed upon with the Eighth Prince!"
"So, the Nine Heavens Dynasty has long colluded with my father, the Emperor!" Baihu sneered coldly, a hint of joy in his eyes.
If this were truly the case, it would be acceptable, as long as he could successfully ascend to the throne.
"The Eighth Prince's foresight has likely anticipated this day!"
Prince Shangguan stated directly, "As long as Brother Bai raises his banner, the Nine Heavens Dynasty will respond simultaneously, and the imperial city can be breached!"
"I fear it is not that simple!"
Baihu frowned. "Within the White Dragon Dynasty, there are many vassal kings. If they intervene, this matter may not succeed!"
"They even kill their own brothers. The various vassal kings are likely already dissatisfied!"
Prince Shangguan chuckled. "At that time, the royal family will surely have reinforcements!"
"Since that is the case, then it shall be as the Prince wishes!"
Baihu spoke out abruptly, with a killing intent. He had long harbored ambitions, and now that everything was in place, why would he retreat.
Before long, within the White Dragon Dynasty, two armies from the Nine Heavens Dynasty advanced towards the imperial city. The Eighth Prince's mansion also gathered numerous troops and marched directly towards the imperial city.
In an instant, the White Dragon Dynasty was shaken, and many immortal cultivation sects were thrown into a panic. Dynastic wars, even for the major sects, would inevitably be affected.
And within the imperial city, many noble scions fled, not daring to delay in the slightest.
The Eighth Prince's mansion colluding with the Nine Heavens Dynasty meant that the imperial city would likely be breached soon. For these minor families, self-preservation was paramount.
Inside the imperial palace hall, Emperor Long frowned slightly. He had ultimately underestimated the Eighth Prince's mansion.
Just now, reports indicated that the Eighth Prince's mansion, with a million elite soldiers, was attacking the royal family, cutting through defenses and advancing directly towards the imperial city.
And from the east and west, Prince Shangguan and Grand Tutor Wen, each leading an army, were coordinating their efforts.
"A million soldiers!"
Emperor Long sneered. "A vassal king possesses a million soldiers, and I was completely unaware!"
"My Lord, the Eighth Prince's mansion likely harbored rebellious intentions long ago!"
The Li family head stated, "These soldiers must have been secretly trained by him!"
"Hmph, the Eighth Prince's mansion has raised an army in rebellion. Do you all have any good strategies?" Emperor Long surveyed the room.
"The three great families have followed Your Lord through countless campaigns, earning their current status. The royal family is fraught with danger, and the three great families will defend it to the death!"
The heads of the Zhao, Lin, and Li families rose one after another, exuding an imposing aura. In this time of royal crisis, how could they stand idly by.
The three great families and the royal family were interdependent. If the royal family were to perish, the three great families would also cease to exist.
"With your words, I am reassured!"
Emperor Long nodded. "The three family heads will divide into three routes to meet the enemy!"
"Father, I also wish to lead troops into battle!" Su Dan Novel Network
Princess Linglong stepped forward, her gaze firm. With matters having reached this point, as a princess of the dynasty, she naturally would not stand by.
"This time, you and the驸马 will defend the imperial city. I will personally purge the traitors!"
Emperor Long stated directly, with endless killing intent. He would never allow members of the royal family to collude with foreign enemies.
"My Lord intends to lead the expedition personally!"
The three family heads were startled, and a sense of unease settled in their hearts.
Throughout history, for an emperor to personally lead an expedition, it invariably signified a moment of life and death for the dynasty.
"Indeed!"
Emperor Long nodded. "I would like to see if these vassal kings dare to make any moves!"
The elder officials wanted to step forward to dissuade him, but they felt that Emperor Long's action was feasible. This would serve to deter the various kings.
Lu Fan stood to the side, a look of joy on his face. If Emperor Long were to personally lead the expedition, Steward Li would surely accompany him. At that time, the imperial city would be left vulnerable, and it would be easy for him to obtain the Spirit Gathering Bottle.
A few days later, Emperor Long departed the imperial city with numerous experts, accompanied by the three family heads and tens of thousands of powerful individuals.
Princess Linglong stood on the city wall, her eyes filled with worry.
The current peril for the royal family was greater than ever before. A single misstep could lead to their downfall.
"Rest assured, Emperor Long's strength is formidable. With him personally taking action now, it is bound to be foolproof!"
Lu Fan comforted her. "Moreover, Steward Li is accompanying him!"
"The Nine Heavens Dynasty's deployment this time must be filled with experts. The situation is by no means that simple!"
Princess Linglong shook her head, her expression growing more solemn.
Lu Fan felt a slight awkwardness, unsure how to comfort her.
Within the imperial city, tens of thousands of guards remained, but compared to the past, they seemed somewhat desolate.
As night fell, Lu Fan made his way to the Imperial Palace's Treasure Hall and directly broke in.
He had come to the imperial city for the sole purpose of obtaining the Spirit Gathering Bottle. Now that the opportunity presented itself, how could he miss it.
Upon entering the hall, Lu Fan saw that the entire Treasure Hall was filled with dazzling treasures of all kinds, be it flying swords or elixirs, countless items.
After searching for a long time within the hall, he still had not found the Spirit Gathering Bottle. However, he discovered a mechanism within the Spirit Gathering Hall.
Lu Fan followed the mechanism towards a secret chamber, and after a while, he arrived at an underground palace.
Within the palace, numerous rare treasures were displayed. And in the very center, there was a strangely shaped bottle, emitting a faint blue light.
Lu Fan did not hesitate. He took the Spirit Gathering Bottle into his hands and simultaneously guided the spiritual consciousness of Lin Ke and the elder Hong Meng into it.
Nourished by the Spirit Gathering Bottle, their spiritual consciousness gradually recovered, even strengthening at a visible pace.
"This Spirit Gathering Bottle is indeed effective!"
Lu Fan revealed his joy. With such a divine artifact, it was likely that within a short period, elder Hong Meng and Lin Ke would recover completely.
Just as Lu Fan was preparing to leave, he noticed a spring eye within the hall, emitting wisps of spiritual energy.
"This is indeed a good place for cultivation!"
Lu Fan muttered to himself and then leaped into the spring eye.
The spring eye was bottomless. Lu Fan floated on the surface of the water and slowly closed his eyes. Suddenly, a continuous stream of spiritual energy surged towards him.
Meanwhile, within the imperial city, Princess Linglong, not seeing Lu Fan, had Xiao Qing search for him. However, after several days, Lu Fan's whereabouts remained unknown.
"Princess, could the驸马 have run away?"
Xiao Qing stated, "The royal family is in peril. Leaving at this time is rather ungentlemanly!"