Deep within the Imperial Palace of Dragon Sun Empire.
"The inheritor of the Heaven-Breaking Thunder King's legacy, it seems the plan must be accelerated."
Long Baye, seated at the head of the hall, watched Ye Xuan and his party depart, his eyes gleaming with unspoken thoughts.
Swish~
As Long Baye pondered, a figure appeared in the hall. This was none other than Long Baye's younger brother, Long Bayu, also at the peak of the Eighth-tier Venerable realm. Moreover, Long Bayu held the esteemed position of the foremost among the twelve thrones of the Dragon Sun Empire.
Long Baye's ability to maintain his imperial throne owed much to Long Bayu. As the head of the twelve kings, his strength and prestige spoke volumes.
However, Long Bayu's power was still leagues away from the Heaven-Breaking Thunder King from a hundred thousand years ago.
It could be said that Long Bayu would not last a single move against him!
After all, although the Heaven-Breaking Thunder King was only at the peak of the Eighth-tier Venerable realm, he had once slain Ninth-tier Venerables. Such a prodigiously talented existence possessed a combat power comparable to, or even exceeding, a Ninth-tier Venerable at their peak.
"Big Brother."
Long Bayu's gaze followed Ye Xuan's receding figure. "Ten thousand years have passed, and even our ancestors dared not change the lineage of the Thunder King's Mansion. Now, it has been given to this mere junior, who isn't even a Second-tier Venerable, and who has inextricable ties to the Heaven-Breaking Thunder King. Is this arrangement truly wise?"
"I fear... many will find it difficult to remain calm."
Long Bayu harbored a subtle worry, but he quickly realized something and looked at his elder brother, the Emperor of the Dragon Sun Empire, in astonishment. "Big Brother, you aren't considering..."
"Indeed."
Upon hearing Long Bayu's words, a determined, resolute gleam flashed in Long Baye's eyes. "The Dragon Sun Empire has been stable for far too long; it's time for some upheaval."
"This young man named Ye Xuan is the most crucial piece in my strategy to break this stalemate!"
"If he can become the current Heaven-Breaking Thunder King of our Dragon Sun Empire in the near future, the scene... is truly something to anticipate."
As Long Baye spoke, Long Bayu listened in stunned silence. He understood his elder brother's intention, knowing that in the coming period, countless people would meet their demise.
"However... Big Brother, what if Zhao Lingyun intervenes?"
Long Bayu pondered for a moment. "After all, she is the current Empress of the Dragon Sun Empire!"
"Furthermore, she has the Zhao family backing her, and she is the mother of the First Prince."
"Zhao Lingyun?"
Upon hearing the name, a murderous intent surged in Long Baye's eyes. "If not for Father stabilizing the situation by forging a marriage alliance with the Zhao family back then, how could Zhao Lingyun have become Empress?"
"Moreover, Bayu, do you know that since Zhao Lingyun married me, we have never shared a bed? As for the First Prince..."
At this point, Long Baye snorted coldly. "He is not of the Long family bloodline; he was born from Zhao Lingyun's illicit affair with the current Emperor of the Lanling Empire."
"She intends to use him to overthrow the foundation of my Dragon Sun Empire!"
What!
Hearing Long Baye's words, Long Bayu broke into a cold sweat. "Big Brother, you... you are..."
"Heh, Bayu, it's been hundreds of years."
"I have never revealed this secret to anyone outside. Not only I know it, but Zhao Lingyun is also aware, and even the Eldest Prince has always known. They merely calculated that I would not dare to depose the Eldest Prince, thus causing the Zhao family to stir, and that is why they have been so brazen."
Long Bayu was utterly shocked to hear this. In that case, had his elder brother endured this for hundreds of years because of this matter?
"Bastard!"
"That Zhao Lingyun, that Zhao family, they are courting death!!"
Long Bayu was furious. "Big Brother, I will immediately kill that bastard and Zhao Lingyun!!"
"Stop!!"
Long Baye immediately shouted to halt him. "This is the greatest secret; we cannot afford a rash breakdown."
"The Zhao family holds significant power and authority in various official domains. They have become increasingly reckless in recent years."
"I have endured and repressed myself for hundreds of years, all for the day when I can uproot the greatest threat to the Dragon Sun Empire, the Zhao family!"
Long Baye clearly had a detailed plan. He continued, "I've endured for hundreds of years; a little longer won't make a difference."
"Bayu, you are my own brother, and you are the person I trust the most."
"From today onwards, you will remain in the shadows. Your sole mission is... to protect Ye Xuan, who is the most important piece in the subsequent reconstruction of the Dragon Sun Empire."
It could be said that Long Baye had utilized the art of rulership to its absolute limit.
Creak~
Long Bayu clenched his fists, bulging veins like coiled dragons appearing on his arms. "The Zhao family, they are truly seeking death!!"
"The Zhao family, is it."
Long Baye's gaze swept towards the Zhao family's direction in the Dragon Sun Imperial Capital. "Ever since I became Crown Prince, I have never stopped wanting to eradicate the greatest parasite of my Dragon Sun Empire. Fortunately, that moment has finally arrived."
" this time at the Thunder King's Mansion, Bayu, no matter who makes a move, one word: kill!!"
Terrifying killing intent surged forth, clearly indicating that Long Baye had begun his counterattack. After hibernating for hundreds of years, it was time for the ordeal to end.
"Yes, Big Brother!!"
Long Bayu's expression also turned chilling. He knew that the Zhao family and many other factions would soon become restless due to the young man named Ye Xuan taking up residence in the Thunder King's Mansion.
............
The Aristocratic Clan, the Zhao Family.
In the Patriarch's Hall.
Crack~
Upon hearing the news from the Imperial Palace, a figure was filled with icy rage. This person was Zhao Tianchou, the current Patriarch of the Zhao family, and also the father of the current Empress, making him Long Baye's nominal father-in-law.
"The Emperor has actually arranged for the person who offended our Zhao family to enter the Thunder King's Mansion!"
"Long Baye, you have truly grown bold!!"
A terrifying aura permeated the air, the peak aura of a Ninth-tier Venerable surging forth in escalating anger. "Truly, like father, like son. Yet, even his father, Long Zetian, dared not act like this. Does this brat truly believe that his realm is comparable to mine and he can suppress our Zhao lineage!"
"Hmph~"
"Without our Zhao family, the Dragon Sun Empire is nothing."
Zhao Tianchou looked towards the Imperial Palace. "If I had known this day would come, I should have had Lingyun marry the Lanling Emperor and then attacked and conquered the Dragon Sun Empire in one fell swoop."
"Since that brat wants to break free from the Zhao family's shackles, then I shall see how much ability he possesses."
"If the young man who entered the Thunder King's Mansion dies, what waves can he possibly stir up~~"
As Zhao Tianchou muttered to himself, he quickly made a decision and issued an order, directly dispatching a kill order for Ye Xuan at the Thunder King's Mansion.
Not only the Zhao family, but the Second Prince's palace also received the news. After all, Ye Xuan had previously killed the son of one of the four marquis of the Loulan Empire, and the Marquis of Nanyang had died because of him. Consequently, they immediately dispatched powerful figures from their maternal clan, the Ji family.
Only the Third Prince and the Changsun lineage remained eerily calm, making no move. No, to be precise, they dispatched people to monitor the Thunder King's Mansion. Once Ye Xuan's life was in danger, they would intervene with lightning-fast means.
In an instant, at the Thunder King's Mansion in the Dragon Sun Imperial Capital, an unprecedentedly complex situation began to unfold. As for who would ultimately emerge victorious, no one knew.