Chapter 1229: Female Emperor of the Great Tang!
Translator: Lordbluefire
“Don’t panic!”
Sun Mo patted Li Ziqi’s shoulder and stared at Li Xuan before speaking to Han Cangshui. “The pill you concocted is named Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Replacement Pill. Its concoction process is very complicated and dangerous. Not only does one require an extremely high mastery of alchemy, but they also need to master a grandmaster-level puppeteer technique.”
“Nonsense!”
Han Cangshui had a look of mockery on his face, but his heart was thumping wildly because what Sun Mo had said was correct.
This pill prescription was something Han Cangshui had found by chance when he had been adventuring in a bazaar at the Darkness Continent.
“The creator of this pill named it so because he wanted to indicate that as long as one consumed this pill, they would be able to s.h.i.+ft their soul to another body and live for another ten thousand years!”
Sun Mo explained. “Although the creator of this pill was a grandmaster of alchemy and was surrounded by many lifespan-extension pills, his body had been corroded by pill toxin and he was no longer healthy. And the longer he lived, the worse his body became. This was why he decided to create a pill like this.”
The night wind was cold, and everyone was listening attentively.
“Do you know that this alchemy pill has a very great side effect? Otherwise, why didn’t the creator of this pill continue to live up until now?”
Sun Mo laughed and intentionally whetted Han Cangshui’s appet.i.te.
“What side effect?”
A female voice rang out.
“Aunt Mei, I’m waiting for Han Cangshui to ask me the question!”
Sun Mo bitterly smiled.
“There’s no solution, I’m very curious too!”
Mei Yazhi walked out of the shadows.
“Mei Yazhi!” Li Xuan was shocked. “Why did you come?”
She was the most dazzling major character among the youngest generation in the alchemy world. She was only 30+ years old and was already at the near-ancestor level.
“Sun Mo is my friend!”
Mei Yazhi rolled her eyes and mentally mused that Sun Mo was very naughty at times. (I no longer have time to concoct alchemy pills, but I might soon have to raise kids for my daughter. Sigh, Ziyu didn’t put in enough effort.)
She had been by Sun Mo’s side for over a year but hadn’t captured his heart yet. (How slow, can’t you just use alchemy pills? You are from an alchemy clan!)
“This pill is too perfect to the extent where it can perfectly transfer a part of your soul into the body of the victim to control it!”
Sun Mo glanced at Li Xuan. “For example, right now, you can control Li Xuan’s body at will and do whatever you want to do. Since you have the prescription, you should know that as time pa.s.sed, the remnant soul you sent out would grow stronger and stronger. But sadly, this soul isn’t the original soul of Li Xuan’s body and when you encounter powerful professions that are capable of controlling souls, like spiritual controllers, witches, soul puppet artisans, etc, your soul would face the risk of being imprisoned.
“And because your soul is very powerful, after they imprison your remnant soul, they can use it to greatly affect your original self.”
Han Cangshui’s expression grew extremely unsightly. Although he didn’t know the art of spiritual control and witchcraft, he was a puppeteer. Hence, he could understand that the theoretical hypothesis brought forth by Sun Mo was true.
“You should know that I’m a spiritual controller that possesses four divine languages of spiritual control, right?”
Sun Mo smiled. “If it wasn’t for the fact that I’m worried Li Xuan’s soul would be injured, I would have acted!”
“I understand. All of these are your schemes, right?”
Han Cangshui finally saw through it.
Sun Mo shrugged and suddenly waved his hand.
Divine language of spiritual control: Land Proof, activated!
As an 8-stars great teacher, although Han Cangshui was still a level away from becoming a secondary saint, he was already considered a major character in the great teacher world where he could call the wind and summon the rain.
He naturally had numerous students and because Han Cangshui was an alchemist, he could make use of his alchemy pills to build a spider web-like network.
Any emperor would face huge trouble if they killed an 8-stars great teacher without a reasonable reason.
Han Cangshui’s plot to seize the throne was too bizarre. Sun Mo had to wait for him to possess Li Xuan and mobilized a large number of troops first because Sun Mo could expose him.
Swish~
Li Xuan pulled his sword and slashed out with a roar of rage. He also jumped down from his war horse. However, the beam of light from Sun Mo was too quick, and it slammed into Li Xuan’s body in the blink of an eye.
Boom!
A bright light flashed from Li Xuan’s body. He coughed out a mouthful of blood as a human-shaped illusory shadow drifted out of him.
“It failed?”
Li Xiu frowned.
“Don’t be anxious, I still have contingency plans!”
Sun Mo threw out a withered-looking little doll weaved from straw. His hands then swiftly formed hand seals and a while later, the straw person started to breathe.
This was the puppet soul absorption technique, and it was specially used to capture souls.
This time around, Sun Mo succeeded.
The soul that resisted the divine language of spiritual control earlier had been successfully captured.
“Alright, we have proof now. We can arrest Han Cangshui!”
Sun Mo heaved a sigh of relief.
The main situation was already set.
Even if Han Cangshui fled today, he would still fall into the net because he could no longer show his face in the Nine Provinces. However, he wouldn’t be able to flee.
Since Sun Mo wanted to capture him, Sun Mo naturally had taken the necessary measures that could lock him down.
…
“Sun Mo, f*** you!”
Han Cangshui, who was still outside the city, tugged on his horse reins and turned to leave. He truly felt so much regret that he could die.
(How good would it be if ambitions didn’t surge in my heart!)
(No, this can’t be blamed on me. If it wasn’t for Sun Mo, I would have succeeded. Just think about it, if it wasn’t for Sun Mo saving Li Ziqi, a trash like her that was abandoned by a secondary saint wouldn’t be qualified to contend with Li Xuan.)
After waiting 20 years for Li Yingqi to die, Han Cangshui could start his soul transfer plan and marry his daughter to Li Xuan. He could then be the imperial preceptor and might also be a secondary saint. After Li Xuan became the emperor, he would stealthily change the royal descendants of the Li Clan and replace them with the Han Clan.
And if he succeeded, his bloodline would become the new owner of the Great Tang!
“It’s all Sun Mo’s fault!”
Han Cangshui was so angry that he almost became crazy. All of a sudden, he tugged his horse reins and lifted his head to stare in the distance ahead.
An old man had teleported before him with a single step.
“Secondary Saint s.h.i.+?”
Han Cangshui inhaled a breath of cold air.
d.a.m.n, in order to capture him, Sun Mo had gone all out and invited a secondary saint.
“Han Cangshui, I didn’t expect you to be someone like this!”
s.h.i.+ Sheng felt very regretful. “If you want to be a great teacher, you should learn how to be a human first. Why do you grow less and less like a human the longer you live?”
“Is there something wrong with my actions?”
When Han Cangshui heard this, he was directly enraged. “I’ve always felt that the position of the emperor should belong to those who are capable. Li Yingqi, Li Xuan, and the Qi Emperor are useless fools. Just because of their bloodline, they can become emperors forever and enjoy the wors.h.i.+p of millions of people? Based on what?!
“I always felt that the descendants of the Han Clan are in no way inferior to them!”
s.h.i.+ Sheng shook his head. “It was their ancestors who acc.u.mulated good karma so they as the latter generations would benefit!”
“So, what’s wrong with me doing the same thing now? I’m acc.u.mulating good karma so my descendants can be the emperor.”
Han Cangshui mocked.
“Disgraceful!” Li Xiu berated. “Men, capture him!”
“Han Cangshui, think on behalf of your clan. Why don’t you just surrender?”
Sun Mo rode on his war horse. Upon hearing this, he felt very rueful. If there was a chance to, who wouldn’t want to become an emperor?
The royal clans could be considered the most prestigious clans in the world.
Back then, Han Cangshui was also cautious and conscientious and seriously taught Li Xuan. But after he finished concocting the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Replacement Pill successfully, he started to have other thoughts in his mind.
Li Xiu and Sun Mo were both people whose thoughts were meticulous. Now that they had crafted this plan together, they naturally wouldn’t give Han Cangshui any chance to overturn the situation.
“To the victor goes the spoils. I have no complaints. If you guys guarantee to spare my family, I can surrender!”
Han Cangshui could tell that he couldn’t escape. Hence, he started to negotiate some conditions.
Harming the emperor and plotting to seize the throne. This was definitely a major crime in all countries where the offender’s clan would be thoroughly exterminated. There would be no mercy.
“Impossible!”
Li Xiu didn’t agree. From her point of view, Han Cangshui was like a trapped beast. At most, she would sacrifice some soldiers to deal with him. If she didn’t kill his entire clan, how would she be able to show the prestige of the Great Tang’s royalty?
The battle began.
Sun Mo also prepared to act, but he was stopped by Li Xiu.
“You are too valuable, don’t risk it!”
Mei Yazhi didn’t come alone this time around. She had brought many helpers with her. Hence, Han Cangshui was captured 16 minutes later.
On the second day, Li Xiu organized a meeting and all 6th-grade officials and above were in attendance.
Li Xiu announced that Han Cangshui had made use of alchemy pills to poison Li Yingqi and seize Li Xuan’s soul, and his conspiracy was to become the emperor.
After hearing it, all the officials were shocked.
A country couldn’t do for a day without an emperor. Because Li Yingqi suffered a stroke due to Han Cangshui’s pills, there was almost no hope for him to recover fully. Moreover, Li Xuan had been crippled by eating the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Replacement Pill for so many years; hence, Li Xiu and Zheng Qingfang had suggested for Li Ziqi to take the throne.
An eldest princess with authority and a doyen-level figure that had served the empire for three generations. Both of them were supporting Li Ziqi, so even if someone was unhappy with this arrangement, no one dared to voice out any objections.
For officials, their true capabilities could be lacking, but they couldn’t choose the wrong camp to stand in.
Hence, those officials under Zheng Qingfang decided to voice their support for Li Ziqi in unison.
The time of throne ascension was set a month later.
…
“Eldest Martial Sister, what are you thinking of?”
Some forbidden places in the palace, for example the emperor’s chamber, would not be off-limits to her now. No one would dare to block the papaya girl anymore.
“Nothing much!”
Li Ziqi squeezed out a smile.
Honestly speaking, she had no interest in becoming the emperor. She only wanted to follow and learn from her teacher.
And during these few days, she had been thinking of a matter.
Given the intellect of her teacher and her aunt, they must have seen through the fact that Han Cangshui had been planning something. But why didn’t they do something in advance to stop him so her royal father and brother would be fine?
They didn’t do it…so that left only one possibility. They intentionally allowed Han Cangshui to do this because they wanted to sweep aside all obstructions and help her ascend to the throne.
“No, I can’t think of it this way. My aunt and teacher did this for my sake. I should be thankful to them instead.”
Li Ziqi decided not to think of this matter anymore.
…
In the Qi Emperor Palace.
“Yuzhen, make your preparations and follow this emperor to Chang`an to congratulate Li Ziqi on her ascension!”
The Qi Emperor was coincidentally trying to think of a reason to meet Sun Mo and in the end, an excuse fell onto his lap. “Hurry up and select a troop of 100 powerful soldiers for me. No matter what, I have to build a flying soldier troop.”
“Li Ziqi became the emperor?” Jiang Yuzhen was truly astonished. “What about her royal father and brothers?”
“Why are you caring about them so much? The matters of royalty are the same everywhere!”
The Qi Emperor didn’t care if Li Ziqi had murdered her royal father and brother to seize the throne. After all, from ancient times until now, any tactics could be used for the fight for the throne.
“In any case, prepare quicker!”
The Qi Emperor instructed. “I estimate that there will be many diplomatic groups heading over to congratulate Li Ziqi!”
The Qi Emperor had guessed correctly. Firstly, it was because the Great Tang Empire was powerful enough to be ranked within the top five of the Nine Provinces. Now that the Xia Emperor had died, it caused the standing of the Great Tang to surge in the hearts of many. Hence, they naturally wished to build a better relations.h.i.+p with such a powerful empire.
Next, Li Ziqi’s personal teacher was Sun Mo. Everyone coveted his G.o.d Hands and his Skyward Spirit Rune. Usually, other countries would just send envoys over for such matters, but this time around, the crown princes took the initiative to head over.
After the Five Empires War Discussion, Sun Mo’s fame in the commoner’s world might be a little lacking, but among the royalty and the great teacher world, everyone knew his name.
Many people wanted to take him on as a personal teacher.
…
In the large mansion of the Jiang Clan.
Jiang Zhitong locked himself in his room and had not eaten for three days.
“What’s the matter? Have you not thought through things yet?”
Jiang Wei pushed the door open and entered.
“Father!” Jiang Zhitong was depressed. “Sun Mo is going to become an imperial preceptor!”
“So what?” Jiang Wei counter-asked.
“…”
Jiang Zhitong regretted things. (If I had known about this, I wouldn’t have offended him.)
“I’ve told you many times before. The prestige of great teacher clans is slowly established by the guidance we provide to juniors. I’ve always told you to treat everyone politely with respect, but you never wanted to listen and felt that our Jiang Clan must not suffer the slightest insult. Actually, the truth is that you’ve overestimated yourself.”
Jiang Wei sat down and persuaded earnestly.
“What should we do now?”
Jiang Zhitong felt a headache. Ever since Sun Mo had become a spirit runist ancestor, he couldn’t afford to offend him anymore. Let alone now that he had gained the t.i.tle ‘Great Tang Imperial Preceptor’.
“Go and apologize!”
Jiang Wei sighed.
Jiang Zhitong hesitated for a few seconds before lowering his head. “Your child obeys!”
“Truthfully, the Zhou Clan feels even worse than you!”
Jiang Wei teased.
“Haha!”
The moment he thought of the Zhou Clan, Jiang Zhitong’s mood became better.
…
Indeed, after Li Ziqi became the Great Tang Emperor, Secondary Saint Zhou became the b.u.t.t of shameful jokes in the great teacher world.
In a villa of the Zhou Clan.
Secondary Saint Zhou sat in a pavilion and stared at the swimming fishes in silence.
What a farce, he didn’t expect that as he grew older, he would actually make a wrong judgment.
“How did Li Ziqi rise?”
Secondary Saint Zhou couldn’t understand. What method did Sun Mo use to nurture her into such a talent?
“Grandpa, should we send a congratulatory gift?”
Zhou Kebin cautiously asked.
“…”
Secondary Saint Zhou also found it difficult to do so.
Who would have expected that a princess with trash apt.i.tude could become the emperor?
Back then, if the Tang Emperor had brought Li Ziqi to him a second time, Secondary Saint Zhou would have accepted her. After all, no great teachers would accept someone he rejected before. But who would have thought that a Sun Mo would suddenly appear?
Zhou Kebin had never seen his grandfather being so frustrated ever since he was born. But then again, it made sense. For other clans, it was their descendants who spoiled the clan’s reputation, but his grandfather had become the b.u.t.t of jokes in the great teacher world.
Luckily enough, his grandfather was a secondary saint. If it was some other great teachers in his place, they probably wouldn’t be able to be great teachers anymore.
“Get your master-uncle to send a congratulatory gift!”
Secondary Saint Zhou decided. “Congratulate Li Ziqi on becoming the Female Emperor of the Great Tang!”