Li Baiyang had never expected that the three Dung Beetles were actually still alive and had even managed to return after their departure!

He had no idea about the existence of players. He thought everything was over and was considering how to deal with the Seventh Prince next.

Then, a heavy blow landed.

BANG!

Li Baiyang grunted, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

The three Dung Beetles quickly tied up Li Baiyang and sneakily carried him away from the Li Mansion. They evaded the patrolling Brocade Guard along the way and successfully brought Li Baiyang to Xiaoxiang Villa.

Xu Nian was just about to rest when he heard the three Dung Beetles shouting. He turned his head to look...

Goodness! All three had changed their appearances. It looked like they had all died once.

"Sect Leader, we've brought Li Baiyang back!"

"We guarantee he's alive; we just knocked him out."

"Check him yourself. We definitely didn't get the wrong person."

Xu Nian looked at the three vying for credit, then at the bound and unconscious Li Baiyang...

HISS—

A Turtle Shell Bind, huh?

The ropes on Li Baiyang were tied in a very particular way, a feat not even Xu Nian could replicate; at most, he had only seen it in certain movies. These guys actually know this skill? He had truly underestimated them.

"Alright, you three go back and rest," Xu Nian nodded lightly.

With his words, the trio's Task was officially complete, and each received One Thousand Contribution Points.

Perfect!

The three happily returned to the Middle Courtyard to log off and sleep.

Xu Nian then untied Li Baiyang and placed him in the Pavilion. He fetched half a basin of cold water and splashed it directly onto Li Baiyang.

SPUTTER!

Stimulated by the cold water, the unconscious Li Baiyang jolted awake. He rubbed the sore back of his head while surveying his surroundings. It wasn't until he saw Xu Nian's face before him that he fully regained his senses.

The Seventh Prince?! Why is he here?

Wait! This isn't the Li Mansion, it's... Xiaoxiang Villa!

Suddenly, Li Baiyang's heart sank. Before Xu Nian could speak, he launched into a preemptive tirade.

"Luo Yushu, what is the meaning of this? I have never offended you, yet you repeatedly send people to disturb my peace! If you hold a grudge against me, come for me directly! Why target my granddaughter? She's just a child! Do you have any idea how damaging a slap is to a child? You beast who humiliated the Imperial Consort! If I hadn't resigned, I would definitely impeach you!"

The more Li Baiyang cursed, the angrier he became, jabbing a finger at Xu Nian's nose as he raged.

What is a Sprayer? This is a Sprayer!

Xu Nian was dumbfounded by the cursing. What on earth has this old man been through? For an esteemed Grandmaster to abandon all decorum, resembling a street-cursing shrew, with none of the dignity of a Grandmaster. What did those three Dung Beetles do to him?

Xu Nian's face turned cold. "Li Baiyang, if you utter one more word, I will ensure your Li Family knows no peace. Do you believe me?"

A single sentence was all it took. Li Baiyang, who had transformed into a Sprayer, instantly fell silent.

You're ruthless! You are a prince. You are formidable, you are noble. I will not stoop to your level!

"Hmph!" He snorted coldly and sat down beside the Pavilion in silence.

Xu Nian didn't bother wasting any more words. He raised his hand and pulled the Historical Text, which had been submerged in the Lake, up onto the bank just Outside the Pavilion.

"I brought you here to help me with something!"

Before Xu Nian could finish, Li Baiyang stood up proudly. "And why should I help you?"

Seeing his attitude, Xu Nian was amused. This old man really won't shed a tear until he sees his coffin.

"Your granddaughter is home alone, isn't she? It would be unfortunate if something were to happen to her, don't you think?" Xu Nian sneered. He had little fondness for the Aristocratic Families and couldn't be bothered with their posturing. After all, the eradication of the Aristocratic Families was one of his Tasks. When the time came, the Li Family, the largest of them, wouldn't escape the Profound Yellow Sect's cleansing.

"You dare!"

Li Rou'er was Li Baiyang's weakness. He bristled like an enraged lion, glaring fiercely at Xu Nian.

"I even dared to sleep with the Imperial Consort. What wouldn't I dare to do?" Xu Nian said with a playful smirk.

This time, Li Baiyang completely shut his mouth. Indeed, he was truly helpless against Xu Nian.

"What is it you want my help with?" Li Baiyang asked coldly.

"I hear that aside from your unparalleled skill in chess, you've also researched the scripts of the world. That's precisely why I've sought you out!" Xu Nian stepped back, revealing the Historical Text behind him, and said gravely, "I want to know what is written on this Stone Stele!"

A Stone Stele?!

Li Baiyang glanced at it by the light of the lanterns. Just one look, and he froze as if struck by lightning.

Historical Text?! This was actually a complete Historical Text! And judging by the marks on it, it seemed to have been discovered very recently.

"Where... where did you get this?" Li Baiyang asked in horror. "Do you realize this thing can bring about a cataclysmic disaster? I don't want to be involved. Seventh Prince, please find someone else."

"Is this Historical Text more important than your granddaughter's life?" Xu Nian mused. "Help me decipher the contents of this Historical Text, and I can promise to spare your Li Family line."

Spare the Li Family line? What did that mean?

"I won't hide it from you; you'll find out in a few days anyway. I intend to move against the Ten Great Clans, and my first target is the Cai Family!" Xu Nian's words were astonishing.

Nearby, Li Baiyang's eyes widened as if he had heard an absurd joke. A mere prince, where did he get the audacity to target the Ten Great Clans?

"Ridiculous! You clearly don't understand the Power of the Aristocratic Families!" Li Baiyang scoffed, flicking his sleeve. "Seventh Prince, I admit you have some courage, but challenging the Aristocratic Families is like an egg striking a stone."

"I've already made my move!" Xu Nian said with a smile. "You probably don't know, do you? I also have a force in the Jianghu, with about three hundred Disciples. The weakest among them are Second-Grade Martial Artists, and there are even Grandmaster Realm Disciples. Do you think such a force, suddenly striking the Cai Family and leaving no one alive, is possible? By the way, there aren't many left in the Jianghu who dare to provoke my Profound Yellow Sect."

Upon hearing this, Li Baiyang's expression turned even uglier. He knew Xu Nian was a Disciple of the Profound Yellow Sect, but he hadn't realized the sect was so formidable. The Aristocratic Families are indeed difficult to topple. But what if a Jianghu power makes a move? Ordinary Jianghu forces might be wary of the Imperial Court. But what if this Jianghu power is backed by a prince, and a highly skilled one at that? Could the Aristocratic Families withstand it?

The Cai Family is the first. Who will be next? And what about their Li Family? What stance will the Imperial Court take on such matters?

"Think about it carefully. I'm not forcing you. You can wait for news; it should arrive in a day or two," Xu Nian said with a smile. "News will definitely come from the Cai Family. Then you'll know if I'm telling the truth or not."

With that, he kicked the Historical Text back into the Lake.

"When you've thought it through, you can come find me. Remember, come alone. Don't let anyone else know, especially not the Crown Prince or the Eighth Prince!" Xu Nian added pointedly.

At that moment, cold sweat dripped down Li Baiyang's back. He suddenly found that he couldn't quite understand this young Seventh Prince. He even felt an unspeakable fear spreading throughout the Capital City. This Seventh Prince's return to the Capital City was definitely not simple. Moreover, the appearance of the Historical Text was surely no coincidence; it seemed someone was pulling the strings from behind. If all of this were true, then the drama of the Nine Dragons Struggle for Succession would take a drastically different turn.

「Crown Prince's Mansion.」

The steward immediately sent the letter Li Baiyang had written to the palace. Normally, the Crown Prince stayed within the palace, unlike other princes who resided Outside the Imperial Palace. However, during this period, quite a few princes were staying inside, including the Crown Prince, Fifth Prince, Eighth Prince, and Ninth Prince. All four were In the Palace, unwilling to take even a step Outside.

「Eastern Palace!」

At this moment, Crown Prince Luo Jingqing had not yet slept. He was engrossed in studying some books from his collection. Having received Li Baiyang's letter earlier, he had followed its advice and not left the palace. He trusted this mentor implicitly, even viewing him as a crucial aide for his ascension to the throne.

"Your Highness, Mister Li has sent a letter," a Young Eunuch announced softly from Outside.

Hearing it was a letter from Li Baiyang, Luo Jingqing quickly put down his book, rose, opened the door, and took the letter. He skimmed it, and his expression immediately darkened.

Seventh Brother has made a move against the Li Family? What does that mean? Does he intend to use Li Baiyang to warn me, the Crown Prince?

Reading on, the content detailed Li Baiyang's suggestions for countermeasures, urging Luo Jingqing to begin preparations.

Use Fifth Brother?

Luo Jingqing's face was grim. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "What has Fifth Brother been up to recently?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, the Fifth Prince has recently been spending a lot of time with the Ninth Prince. The two are now frequently seen together," the Young Eunuch replied respectfully. He seemed well-informed about palace affairs and the current situation of the princes.

However, hearing that the Fifth Prince and the Ninth Prince had allied, the Crown Prince's expression became grave.

In his view, there were not many who could truly be considered rivals. The Fifth Prince and the Ninth Prince were definitely the biggest obstacles. Though he was the Crown Prince, this title was not exclusively his—anyone could hold it, not just Luo Jingqing. Now, with Seventh Brother's return to the Capital City, it seems he too intends to intervene. That means he has yet another enemy.

Right now, the most troublesome isn't Seventh Brother; a mere Martial Artist isn't enough to demand his full attention. Rather, the alliance between the Ninth Prince and Fifth Brother is certainly not good news. If these two were to join forces, he would indeed have a headache.

"What about the Eighth Prince? Isn't he also In the Palace? What has he been doing recently?" Luo Jingqing asked gravely.

The Young Eunuch answered respectfully, "The Eighth Prince has been frequently summoned by His Majesty recently. He spends most of his time discussing matters with His Majesty in the Imperial Study!"

Hmm? Luo Qingbei summoned by Father Emperor, discussing matters in the Imperial Study?

Luo Jingqing immediately sensed something was amiss. It seems this inconspicuous Eighth Brother has also become his rival...

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