Chapter 123: Declaration of War
Chapter 123: Declaration of War
The act of regicide had existed since ancient times.
Once such a thing happened, the world would be turned upside down.
It was certain that rivers of blood would flow and countless heads would roll.
The timing Lu Qingming chose to strike was completely beyond Chu Yanyu’s expectations.
In the current situation where the Beast Tide could invade again at any moment, the political climate in every state was extremely tense.
Facing the surging Beast Tide, even those top sects dared not let their guard down.
Under such circumstances, she truly could not believe Lu Qingming would be so insane.
A position obtained through such means could never be held for long.
It wasn’t until she received concrete news, learning that her father was dead, that the royal clan members had been slaughtered cleanly, and that the other party had pinned all the blame squarely on her, that she finally understood why Lu Qingming dared to launch his attack so brazenly, and why, after killing everyone else, he had never moved against her.
It turned out she was the scapegoat Lu Qingming had selected long ago…
And of course, there was also Ling Yi.
The vast expanse of Blue Light that appeared in the Imperial Palace, combined with the rapid dissemination of news through the mouthpiece of Great Chu controlled by Lu Qingming, almost instantly nailed her and Ling Yi firmly to the pillar of shame as the murderers.
The evidence Lu Qingming presented was reasonable, well-founded, and logically perfect.
Even if some people might doubt it, so what?
The political, economic, propaganda… almost all the important departments of Chu State had already been taken over by Lu Qingming and were firmly under his control.
That banquet at the State Preceptor’s Mansion, where Lu Qingming deliberately allowed her to contact Ling Yi, was all for this moment.
Facing such an opponent, Chu Yanyu felt only despair.
At this moment, she even thought of death.
The father who doted on her most was gone. The brother with whom she had misunderstandings would never get a chance to clear them up. The entire Chu imperial clan had been slaughtered, with rivers of blood and countless heads rolling.
How many innocent wronged souls did that create?
Now, she alone remained!
Carrying endless infamy, with the whole world as her enemy.
What was the point of living anymore?
Sitting dazedly on the sofa in the presidential suite, Chu Yanyu’s eyes revealed a thick sense of despair.
She couldn’t even shed tears.
After a long time, she finally looked at Ling Yi, her voice hoarse as she said, “Ling Yi, you should leave quickly. You’ve seen it yourself, Lu Qingming has pinned all the crimes on you and me. The vast expanse of Blue Light that appeared in the Imperial Palace will leave you unable to explain yourself even if you tried.”
“The Chu imperial clan is finished. The Qin State is finished too.”
“But you can definitely survive. So, go.”
Diwu Qianqian watched the emergency news on TV. Her face, which had always been full of smiles, was now written with shock.
“How could they do this?”
“Why would they do this?”
The simple worldview of the young girl was shattered into pieces at this moment.
Chu Yanyu glanced at Diwu Qianqian and said softly, “Do you know that when the Carefree Sect attacked the Mount Taiyue Sect, they killed hundreds of thousands of people within a week?”
Diwu Qianqian stiffened on the spot, disbelief flashing in her eyes as she shook her head forcefully. “Impossible! Such a thing could never happen! How could the people of my Sect do something so inhuman?”
Chu Yanyu looked at her. “I have no evidence, but what I said is true. If you don’t believe me, go back one day and ask your Sect Leader Master.”
Diwu Qianqian shook her head and whispered, “It’s impossible… It can’t be like this…”
Chu Yanyu looked at her expressionlessly. “The cultivation resources you use have always been stained with blood. It’s just that you didn’t know…”
Diwu Qianqian wore an expression as if she was about to cry. “Sister, please don’t say anymore…”
If she continued, her Dao Heart might completely collapse.
Chu Yanyu stopped looking at her and raised her head to look at Ling Yi. “Sorry for bringing you such a big trouble.”
“But I suppose you don’t care too much anyway. After all, you were sworn enemies to begin with.”
“I don’t want anything now. Go. While their hands are still tied, and with the power behind you, you should be able to leave the Chu State.”
Chu Yanyu looked at Ling Yi. “One last piece of advice for you: don’t return to the Qin State.”
Ling Yi looked at Chu Yanyu and sighed softly. “My condolences.”
Chu Yanyu gave a faint smile and whispered with no desire to live, “Go, go quickly.”
Luo Xue looked at Chu Yanyu. “If we go, we go together. If Lu Qingming wants to substantiate the charges against you, he won’t kill you now. He’s waiting for you to flee.”
Chu Yanyu shook her head. “If I leave, who will collect my father’s body? Who will observe mourning for him? Who will take care of my brother? Who will take care of the other imperial clan relatives? If I leave, the charges against me will be completely substantiated!”
Luo Xue said, “You haven’t left this place since you arrived last night. I’ve already gotten the surveillance videos from here…”
Chu Yanyu was slightly surprised and glanced at Luo Xue. “Little sister, it’s meaningless. Do you think people care about the truth?”
Ling Yi looked at her. “What if Lu Qingming dies?”
Chu Yanyu raised her head and looked at Ling Yi. “If he dies, there’s still the Carefree Sect. Within the Carefree Sect, there are not only Primordial Spirit experts but also the Patriarch of Unity. Replacing the Chu imperial clan is the Carefree Sect’s objective. Lu Qingming… he is just a tool.”
“So, even if he dies, the Carefree Sect will push someone else forward.”
“At the same time, they will never let go of you, the one who killed Lu Qingming.”
As Chu Yanyu spoke, she glanced at Diwu Qianqian. “This girl is the apple of the Carefree Sect Leader’s eye. If you can keep her by your side, it might make them hesitate. But relying on you and the people behind you, you ultimately still won’t be able to stop the overwhelming tide brought by the Carefree Sect.”
Diwu Qianqian murmured, “Sects don’t interfere in worldly affairs… Why would they do this?”
Chu Yanyu looked at her. “Silly girl, what do you mean by ‘Sects don’t interfere in worldly affairs’? Without benefits or advantages, of course they don’t. If it weren’t for profit, why would they attack the Mount Taiyue Sect? It’s just a pity that by the time I learned about this, it was already too late, and the Carefree Sect acted too quickly.”
Diwu Qianqian’s eyes were misty with tears as she looked at Chu Yanyu. “Sister, I’m sorry…”
Chu Yanyu shook her head. “You don’t need to say sorry. This matter has nothing to do with you at all.”
“How could it not?” Diwu Qianqian finally couldn’t hold back her tears. “You said it yourself, all the cultivation resources I use… are all stained with blood. What’s the point of cultivating this Dao anymore?”
“I was just thinking of using you. Aren’t you angry?” Chu Yanyu asked.
“I’m not angry. If I can protect you all, I’d do anything!” Diwu Qianqian said earnestly.
“Forget it. The Carefree Sect might kill Ling Yi alone for Lu Qingming, but they could wipe out an entire nation’s people because of you!” Chu Yanyu said indifferently.
Diwu Qianqian froze in place again, gently biting her lip as tears streamed down her face.
Seeing that Diwu Qianqian was on the verge of a Dao Heart collapse, Chu Yanyu turned her face away expressionlessly.
The Carefree Sect destroyed my Chu imperial clan and killed my father and brother. I will destroy the disciple you value most.
That’s fair.
She no longer wanted to live.
She didn’t even think about revenge anymore.
She didn’t even pin her hopes on Ling Yi.
So she told Ling Yi the current situation unreservedly, just to tell him: Don’t struggle anymore. Run if you can. Killing Lu Qingming would indeed be revenge and venting your anger, but the Carefree Sect… will never let you go, and it’s not something you can deal with!
“Enchantress, can you kill Lu Qingming?” Ling Yi confirmed with the Enchantress.
“Zhou Tang will kill him,” the Enchantress said flatly.
“What about the Carefree Sect? Those Primordial Spirit, Unity Realm… what about them?” Ling Yi asked again.
The Enchantress was silent for a while before saying, somewhat gloomily, “Based on the current energy accumulation, killing a Primordial Spirit might not be a big problem. But if someone from the Unity Realm comes… we can only run.”
Then, she added, “But cultivators at the Unity Realm level almost never appear in the Mortal World. If one really showed up, we would be bad luck.”
“Don’t worry, Sects like the Demon Sect don’t last long.”
Ling Yi said, “Justice that comes late isn’t justice.”
The Demoness said, “It won’t be too late. Zhou Tang already knows; she’s going to take action.”
At this moment, the people of the Capital of Chu were so shocked by the sudden news that they couldn’t speak.
It was like a massive earthquake that shook the heavens!
Blue Light appeared in the Imperial Palace, just like in Spring City… could it be enemies breaking in… killing?
The Monarch was killed by someone using Blue Light?
The Eldest Princess actually conspired with enemies to rebel?
Oh my!
What on earth was happening?
Almost instantly, the entire Great Chu was stirred with intense emotions.
Eldest Princess Chu Yanyu’s reputation was also completely ruined at this moment.
On television,
State Preceptor Lu Qingming wore a pained and sorrowful expression, fiercely denouncing Eldest Princess Chu Yanyu, denouncing Ling Yi, and denouncing the Qin State.
He even shed a few tears in the end, his face filled with grief and anger as he swore to avenge the Monarch, avenge the princes, and avenge the deceased royal family members…
“The blood of all will not be shed in vain!”
“Blood debts must be repaid in blood!”
“No matter who our enemy is, no matter how powerful they are, we will never give up seeking revenge!”
“We will make all those covered in sin… repay blood debts with blood!”
“As the Grand State Preceptor of Chu, I swear here that we will definitely destroy the Qin State! We will definitely execute Ling Yi!”
“From now on, we formally declare war on the Qin State!”
…
At this moment, in the hotel where members of the diplomatic missions from various countries were staying, everyone was extremely busy.
They were all frantically communicating with their respective countries.
Continuously sending back first-hand information from here.
No one expected such a shocking change to occur in the Chu State.
The Aged Monarch, who had just appeared at the banquet at the State Preceptor’s Mansion last night and drank two cups of wine, actually died just like that?
And was killed by his own daughter?
To the members of the diplomatic missions from various countries, no one would believe such nonsense.
Even if the Eldest Princess really wanted to rebel, and even if she was so insane as to disregard all family ties, she wouldn’t choose to act at this time!
Who didn’t know that the Seven Free Swords had arrived?
What difference was there between acting now and seeking death?
But that didn’t matter.
What mattered was that Lu Qingming had taken power, and the Qin State’s destruction, in everyone’s eyes, was basically a foregone conclusion!
In the current situation, how to maximize interests was what people cared about most.
8:30 a.m.
Zhao Country declared war on the Qin State.
8:40 a.m.
Yan State expressed strong condemnation of the Qin State.
9:00 a.m.
The State of Wei declared war on the Qin State.
9:10 a.m.
Han State expressed strong condemnation of the Qin State.
9:15 a.m.
Qi State urgently recalled its diplomatic mission members and did not express any opinion on the matter.
Apart from the Qin State itself, among the remaining six countries, three declared war on Qin, two expressed condemnation, and one remained silent.
The Qin State’s situation became extremely precarious.
The three countries that declared war on Qin—Chu, Zhao, and Wei—immediately mobilized armies that had been prepared at the border for many days, crossed the Great Qin border, and boldly invaded.
Around noon, three battles unfolded near the Qin State’s border.
The Qin State suffered heavy casualties, and Chu, Zhao, and Wei also had countless dead and wounded!
This battle… was evenly matched!
This was quite unexpected.
In the eyes of many, if the Qin army didn’t collapse at the first touch, they were considered tough!
But surprisingly, on the eastern front, facing the aggressive armies of Chu and Zhao, the Divine Dragon Legion garrisoning the east split into two routes. Together with the elites of the rapidly arriving Vermilion Bird Legion, they fearlessly engaged in a bloody battle with the enemy.
Not only did the Qin army not quickly collapse as imagined, but they also successfully withstood the enemy’s attacks and launched a series of fierce counterattacks!
On the western front, the invading army of the State of Wei was blocked by the Tiger Roar Legion.
The two sides also erupted into an earth-shattering battle.
The outcome of this battle was equally extremely brutal.
Both sides suffered heavy casualties!
Three great battles in just a few hours within a single day!
The weak country in people’s minds actually displayed an incredibly fierce and iron-blooded spirit!
This was something no one had anticipated.
Yan State and Han State, which had not declared war on Qin earlier and only voiced condemnation, publicly announced one after another at 3:00 p.m.—
They declared war on Qin!
The weak Qin State made them want to tear it apart and feast on it from the bottom of their hearts.
But a strong Qin made their spines chill with fear!
They only wanted to destroy it.
At 6:00 p.m., Luo Xue, busy all day, provided Ling Yi with an important piece of information—
The Aged Monarch of Great Chu was most likely still alive.