Chapter 2782: The Crown Prince
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
It was obvious to anyone with a discerning eye to see that Tie Hai He had asked Duan Ling Tian to officially join the Tai Yi Celestial Sect so Tie Tai He would have a valid and justified reason to kill Teng Qing, the elder from the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect, and Xue Lang, and the Guardian of the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect.
Naturally, Tie Tai He did not need an excuse to kill Huang Chao since they were members of the same sect. Even if the Sect Leader of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect, the sect leader would likely just lightly chide him. After all, not only was he a Left Guardian of the Tai Yi Sect, but he was an a.s.set as Seven Star Celestial Duke. His value was, naturally, much higher than Huang Chao.
On the other hand, Teng Qing and Xue Lang were different since they were not from the Tai Yi Celestial Sect. Moreover, they were from two out of the Three Major Celestial Sects in the Wasteland. Therefore, Tie Tai He needed a valid reason to kill both of them. Otherwise, he would risk offending the other two major Celestial Sects and cause unnecessary trouble to the Tai Yi Celestial Sect.
Hence, he found a reason to kill Teng Qing and Teng Qing on the basis that they had offended the Tai Yi Celestial Sect’s Chief Celestial Alchemist. Even if the other two major Celestial Sect intended to make a fuss over this matter, they would not be able to do so.
‘Duan Ling Tian…’ Qin Yu looked at the purple-clad young man next to him with an expression of shock and incredulity. Prior to this, he had a.s.sumed Duan Ling Tian was only a primitive Celestial Alchemist. However, after witnessing what had just transpired, it was obvious Duan Ling Tian was a prominent Celestial Alchemist. Apart from that, after Duan Ling Tian had agreed to join the Tai Yi Celestial Sect, the sect’s Left Guardian who was a Seven Star Celestial Duke had killed the three Celestial Dukes on Duan Ling Tian’s behalf. How could he not be shocked?
Everyone still had not recovered from the shock of Huang Chao, Teng Qing, and Xue Lang’s deaths when Tie Tai He looked at Duan Ling Tian and asked with a smile, “Celestial Alchemist Duan, are you satisfied with the way I dealt with the matter?”
“En.” Duan Ling Tian nodded. Then, he pointed at Qin Yu and asked, “Guardian Tie, this is my friend. Is it possible for him to join the Tai Yi Celestial Sect as well?”
“Duan Ling Tian!” Qin Yu was rather shocked by Duan Ling Tian’s words. When he regained his composure, he could not help the happiness and excitement that welled up in his heart. He looked at Duan Ling Tian with an expression of grat.i.tude on his face. After all, he was just someone from a Mansion in the Cloudy Rock Celestial Kingdom, an intermediate-rank Celestial Kingdom. He was not even qualified to join the Wasteland Grand Contest. It was certain that he would not be able to join any of the Three Major Celestial Sects of the Wasteland with his qualifications. Even then, it did not stop his yearning to join one of the three major Celestial Sects. How could he not be excited upon hearing Duan Ling Tian’s words? After looking at Duan Ling Tian with an expression of grat.i.tude again, he turned to look at Tie Tai He hopefully. As long as Tie Tai nodded, he would be able to join the Tai Yi Celestial Sect! With Tie Tai He’s status as the Left Guardian of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect and a Seven Star Celestial Duke, anything was possible. Apart from Tie Tai He, the Tai Yi Celestial Sect only had another two Seven Star Celestial Dukes, and one of them was the sect leader. Even if Tie Tai He was not a Seven Star Celestial Duke, he would still be able to easily let someone join the sect even if he was still a Six Combination Celestial Duke.
“This is not a problem.” Tie Tai He glanced at Qin Yu before he said to Duan Ling Tian with a smile, “Celestial Alchemist Duan, since you’ve decided to join our Tai Yi Celestial Sect, should I bring you to meet the sect leader? Your friend can come with us as well, and I’ll arrange for him to join our sect.” It seemed as though he was eager to bring Duan Ling Tian back to the sect with him because he was afraid Duan Ling Tian would suddenly change his mind. Therefore, he added Qin Yu in the conversation as an added incentive.
“Sure.” Duan Ling Tian nodded. He bade farewell to Long Fei Yun and Qiu Ling before he left with Tie Tai He with Huan’er and Qin Yu in tow. He did not spare anyone from the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom, including Long Dong Ping, the Emperor of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom. Nevertheless, none of them felt dissatisfied. They only looked on respectfully as Duan Ling Tian left. All of them knew Duan Ling Tian was destined to be someone they would have to look up to for the rest of their lives. Even if he was not made the Chief Celestial Alchemist in the Tai Yi Celestial Sect, even as a prominent Celestial Alchemist in the Tai Yi Sect, his station was far above them.
After Duan Ling Tian left with the others, Long Dong Ping looked at Long Fei Yun asked with a slight frown on his face, “Thirteenth son, why didn’t you inform me that Duan Ling Tian is also a prominent Celestial Alchemist?”
Long Fei Yun looked at Long Dong Ping and said with a self-mocking smile, “Father, would you have believed me if I informed you about it? Wouldn’t you just think I was trying to cheat a prominent Celestial Pill Cauldron from you?”
Long Dong Ping said self-righteously, “Well, even if I don’t believe you… As long as you get him to conjure up his prominent Celestial Fire to prove he’s a prominent Celestial Alchemist, I’d definitely believe it.”
“Prove his ident.i.ty as a prominent Celestial Alchemist?” Long Fei Yun laughed. “Father, do you think that he cares if you know he’s a prominent Celestial Alchemist or not? Why would he prove himself to you just because you want him to?” His laughter was tinged with a hint of ridicule.
After Long Fei Yun, the thirteenth prince, finished speaking, Long Xiang Yun, the fourth prince, and Long Qing Yun, the seventh prince, glared at Long Fei Yun. They were clearly trying to add fuel to the fire as they both cried out in unison.
“Thirteenth Brother, how dare you!”
“Thirteenth Brother, do you really think that you can be rude to father just because you have that man’s support?”
Long Xiang Yun and Long Qing Yun wanted this matter to blow up. They hoped their father would be so infuriated that he would kick Long Fei Yun out of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom’s Imperial family. At that time, even if Duan Ling Tian supported Long Fei Yun’s bid to the throne, Long Fei Yun would no longer be qualified to inherit the throne.
Alas, their plans were destined to fail. How could Long Dong Ping not know the thoughts in Long Xiang Yun and Long Qing Yun’s mind? Not only was he the Emperor of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom, but he was also their father. In the end, he said, “Fei Yun is right. A prominent Celestial Alchemist doesn’t need to care whether I know of his ident.i.ty..”
Long Dong Ping’s words that seem to agree with Long Fei Yun made Long Xiang Yun and Long Qing Yun’s expression darkened. They were well aware now that they had lost to Long Fei Yun.
n.o.body saw it coming when Long Dong Ping made a sudden and shocking announcement. “I, Long Dong Ping, the Emperor of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom, declares that from today onward, Long Fei Yun, the Thirteenth Prince of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom, is the Crown Prince. Once I abdicate, he’ll be the next Emperor of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom!” His voice was loud and clear.
When everyone heard it, an uproar broke out instantly.
“Father…” Long Xiang Yun and Long Qing Yun cried out in unison, their expressions had changed drastically. Although they had always known Long Fei Yun was superior to them in many aspects, they did not expect in their wildest dreams that their father would make Long Fei Yun the Crown Prince and the next Emperor of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom.
They would have been more willing to accept their defeat if Long Fei Yun ascended the throne solely with Duan Ling Tian’s support. However, they felt it difficult to swallow the indignity when their father was the one who willingly put Long Fei Yun on their throne. Both of their expressions were extremely unsightly at this moment. Did their father not have a prejudice against Long Fei Yun? Their father even suspected that Long Fei Yun was not his biological son! Why would their father make a sudden 180- turn and make Long Fei Yun the Crown Prince and the next Emperor of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom?
“Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince!”
“Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince!”
Meanwhile, the people of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom knew how to act now that the wind had changed. They bowed to Long Fei Yun respectfully. After seeing Long Fei Yun’s relations.h.i.+p with Duan Ling Tian and hearing Long Dong Ping’s words, they knew Long Fei Yun would only rise in ranks.
“Crown Prince?” Long Fei Yun was startled when Long Dong Ping declared him as the crown prince. He only regained his senses when the people bowed to him and addressed him as the crown prince. Then, he looked at Long Dong Ping. He wondered why his father would suddenly support him.
At the same time, Long Dong Ping regarded Long Fei Yun with a complicated gaze. He had never treated this son of his well since he was not certain if this son was his biological son. Nevertheless, due to the incident today, he knew he had to take the initiative to declare this son as the Crown Prince of their Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom. Otherwise, he might not be able to hold onto his position as the Emperor of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom for long.
Although the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom was not under the governance of the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect and not the Tai Yi Celestial Sect, with the support of an extraordinary prominent Celestial Alchemist and the Left Guardian of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect, they could easily support Long Fei Yun, his son, and make his son the next emperor. After all, the Left Guardian of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect was a Seven Star Celestial Duke! As long as it did not cross the bottom line, the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect would certainly show respect to Seven Star Celestial Duke and do him a small favor like the selection of a candidate for the throne of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom. At that time, he might even be forced to abdicate. If he made Long Fei Yun a crown prince now, perhaps, he might be able to stay as an emperor for a little while longer.