Chapter 185: Killing Intent
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The royal palace was ma.s.sive. Jiang Yi didn’t know specifically how big it was, but the plaza at the front of the royal palace was already the same size as Jiang’s Residence in Skyplume City. The plaza was now filled with people—no less than 100,000.
“This Kingdom War is obviously a place to find death. Why are there so many people partic.i.p.ating? And they are even so excited?” Jiang Yi looked around and saw a mult.i.tude of figures; he sighed along with Zhan Wushuang who stood beside him.
Zhan Wushuang laughed lightly and explained: “All these poor martial artists want an opportunity to be exceptional. They would either join the military or an aristocratic clan. In recent years, the six va.s.sal states had been restraining themselves from a battle, leaving lesser opportunities to excel in the military. Hence, they are left with the option to join the aristocratic great clans. The Kingdom War is a great way and opportunity to stand out in these great clans! If you are able to survive the Kingdom War and have some performance, not only will the kingdom offer you the official’s role, but many of the great clans will also compete to recruit you. Thus, everyone is using their lives to take a risk for glory and great wealth!”
“Huh…”
Jiang Yi let out a slight sigh when he once again felt how brutal this world was!
This minor Kingdom War was an individual’s fight. In other words, once one was inside, it didn’t matter which martial artist belonged to which kingdom. They just had to kill one another and obtain the enemies’ medal; that would mean obtaining military merits, and that would be acc.u.mulating points! This was precisely why this Kingdom War would be even more desperate. With more than ten thousand partic.i.p.ants, the final survivors might only be less than a tenth.
Jiang Yi thought of a problem and asked in a soft voice, “In this Kingdom War, would the Seven Great Clans be killing one another?”
“Hehe!”
There was a flash of cold intent in Qian w.a.n.guan’s eyes as he replied while whispering, “Looking at the situation—if there is an opportunity for a certain kill, they will not think twice! Of course, the Zhan and the Qian Clan agreed to not kill each other. I have made this agreement with Brother Wushuang! But… Boss. When you go in, do not trust anyone apart from Brother Wushuang. Do not even trust the members of my clan and avoid them as soon as you meet them! I am afraid they will be bought over if I am not in there…”
“En!”
Jiang Yi nodded and turned around to speak firmly to Zhan Wushuang, “Wushuang, you will go along with your clansmen; I will go by myself! This is much safer for either of us.”
Zhan Wushuang nodded. He already knew that Jiang Yi would not go along with them. Jiang Yi had the Silver-Moon Demon Wolf, and they couldn’t catch up with it—which might be a burden to Jiang Yi instead.
“Shh-shh-shh!”
Footsteps came from within the royal palace. The imposing Gate of Declaration opened while two squads of Royal Military swiftly emerged and fanned out. The surrounding Royal Military began to circulate their essence force and had the G.o.d-Exterminating Crossbows in their hands while they scanned the place with their ferocious eyes. If anyone behaved recklessly, they might be immediately turned into a hornet’s nest.
Jiang Yi immediate hanged his head down after a quick glance while having this grave expression. He knew that the notable figures of the Divine Martial Kingdom would be coming out right away. The Divine Martial Kingdom’s Lord should be arriving soon, and most importantly—Jiang Bieli might appear!
Soon enough, two groups of people flowed out like fish, with all the generals on the left who wore the general’s battle armor. On the right were all the royal officials who wore black official’s robe. It was an awe-inspiring sight as the two of them walked on two clearly separate sides to the left and to the right.
The one who led the left group was this small-statured general while the one that led the left group was this middle-aged man with grizzled hair.
Qian w.a.n.guan used a soft voice to explain to Jiang Yi: “That small-statured general is Long Xiaotian and Long Xiang’s old man, the military’s no.1 man, Long Qinian. Don’t just a.s.sume from his size—he is a solid Vajra Realm martial expert. A third of the Divine Martial Kingdom’s military is under his grasp, and all the soldiers in the Divine Martial Kingdom have to listen to his orders.
“The prematurely-aged elder with the white hair is Zhangsun Wuji’s old man, Grand Marshal Zhangsun Yan. He is the no.1 person under the Kingdom’s Lord. The one beside Long Qinian is Tais.h.i.+ Rong, Tais.h.i.+ Clan’s current Clan Head…”
Jiang Yi took a few glances and didn’t really pay too much attention. He let out a breath of relief in his heart when he saw the Clan Head of Zhangsun Clan, but Jiang Bieli was still nowhere to be seen. It seemed like he wasn’t in the royal capital.
He was quickly puzzled. The Kingdom War was a significant event, and almost all the notable figures of the kingdom were here. There wasn’t any war in the west either—why didn’t Jiang Bieli appear?
“His Highness the Crown Prince is here to announce the royal decree on behalf of the King!”
A sharp voice echoed. Dressed in an official’s robe, Xia Wuhui—who wore a purple-gold crown—walked out in a majestic and elevated manner, escorted by the palace eunuchs and the Royal Military.
“Swis.h.!.+ Swis.h.!.+ Swis.h.!.+”
Countless people promptly knelt on both knees and shouted out, “Greetings to the Crown Prince!”
Jiang Yi and the rest also bowed to salute. They might be the cadets of the Mt. Spirit Beast College, but they were still the citizens of the Divine Martial Kingdom. It was fine if they didn’t bow in private, but if they didn’t bow in such an occasion, it would be a provocation to the royal clan.
“The King didn’t appear, too?”
Jiang Yi, Zhan Wushuang, and Qian w.a.n.guan looked at one another with suspicion. Normally, the King would always be present in such occasions to boost the morale of the troops and to draw everyone’s heart. This time, the Divine Martial Kingdom was offering such generous rewards; and the King was actually absent from such a crucial moment?
“What are the King and Jiang Bieli doing?”
It wasn’t only Jiang Yi’s group. Everyone present was suspicious, but no one dared to ask. Xia Wuhui read the royal decree on behalf of the King—which was long-winded. It was a speech that stated nonsense: for the partic.i.p.ants to strive and kill the enemies, win honor for the kingdom… to be united and not have any internal strife.
Jiang Yi listened for a while and felt that it was insipid. His mouth was revealing this mocking smile as he thought if anyone from the royal clan was to partic.i.p.ate, even they would be the victims of a.s.sa.s.sinations from the citizens of the Divine Martial Kingdom, right?
Just as he was thinking about it…!
As the Crown Prince read the royal decree, a group of individuals walked out from the royal palace; and they were surprisingly led by Xia Tian. He brought along at least 30 Soul Travel Realm martial artists who looked unfamiliar to Qian w.a.n.guan and Zhan Wushuang. It was obvious the royal clan had secretly recruited and nurtured martial experts.
Xia Tian brought this group of people and quietly entered the partic.i.p.ating army. It was apparent that they were going to partic.i.p.ate in this Kingdom War, too. What kind of person was Xia Tian? A hedonistic prince was going to partic.i.p.ate in the Kingdom War? Was he truly partic.i.p.ating to gain glory for the Divine Martial Kingdom? Or was it too boring in the royal capital, and he wanted to go find some stimulant?
It was evident that it wasn’t so!
Jiang Yi’s brows lifted slightly while the edges of his mouth were mocking. Xia Tian was undoubtedly targeting him. Jiang Yi looked to the other side and saw Zhangsun Wuji. There were almost a hundred men by his side—30 or 40 of them were Soul Travel Realm experts. In this Kingdom War, the Zhangsun Clan probably brought in all the elites of their youth generation? They really put in all their effort to fight for Divine Martial Kingdom’s glory, huh? Why didn’t the rest of the clans put in as much effort?
“Partic.i.p.ants, set off! Royal Military, activate the teleportation array and escort our brave warriors to the imperial capital! I offer my best wishes for everyone to be successful. This Crown Prince shall wait for your triumphant return in the royal capital!”
As Xia Wuhui gave the orders, three of the rarely-utilized teleportation arrays lit up in the plaza. Groups of people were constantly teleported to the imperial capital, Stellarsky City. Jiang Yi lifted his head to see Xia Tian and Zhangsun Wuji glaring at him from afar.
The three of them could see the undisguised killing intent in their eyes!