"Respectfully seeing off Your Highness."

Watching Li Jing leave, Chu Batian called out with utmost respect.

Shortly after, Chu Batian disappeared from the Black Wind Stronghold's main hall, eager to begin cultivating the Mingwang Zhenshi Jing.

After revising the Mingwang Zhenshi Jing, he planned to lead all the brothers of the Black Wind Stronghold to the Ninth Prince's residence in Yanjing City to seek refuge with Li Jing.

At dusk.

The main hall of the Third Prince's residence in Yanjing City.

The Third Prince Li Cheng sat in the main seat, while the Fourth Prince Li Hong, the Fifth Prince Li Yan, the Sixth Prince Li Yang, and the Eighth Prince Li Si sat in the guest seats on either side.

Behind each of them stood the steward of the prince's residence, an old eunuch at the peak of the Innate Realm.

"Third Brother, can't Second Brother get in touch with Xiao Qi?"

The Fourth Prince, Li Hong, said with a frown.

The Fifth Prince Li Yan and the others all turned their gazes toward the Third Prince Li Cheng.

"Xiao Qi disappeared, while Second Brother visited Xiao Jiu's residence once."

"After going there, he never came out again..."

The Third Prince, Li Cheng, said quietly.

"You mean, Xiao Jiu killed both Second Brother and Xiao Qi?"

The Eighth Prince Li Si's pupils shrank, and he said with a look of horror.

The fourth prince, Li Hong, and the others also changed their expressions drastically. Their brothers' struggle for the throne had always been a civil contest, not a military one, and they dared not harbor any murderous intentions towards the other princes.

It's not that they have a deep brotherly bond, it's that they dare not.

They never imagined that the Ninth Prince, Li Jing, would be so audacious.

"What else wouldn't he dare to do?"

The Third Prince Li Cheng sneered and said, "Haven't you noticed? Those officials who used to pledge allegiance to us, when we sent people to ask them what happened, they all kept silent and became mute."

They even kicked our people out, trying to distance themselves from us!

"Third Brother makes it sound so easy; it's not just them!"

“Even my dear maternal grandfather, who always vowed to help me ascend the throne, was like that.”

"They didn't just kick me out, they kicked out the people I sent to inquire!"

The Fourth Prince, Li Hong, said angrily.

The faces of the Third Prince Li Cheng and the Eighth Prince Li Si also turned extremely gloomy, as did their maternal grandfather.

The sixth prince, Li Yang, frowned and remained silent. He hadn't experienced this problem, but his maternal grandfather, the dignified Grand Elder of the Imperial Household Department, was unreachable, as if he had vanished in an instant.

The Fifth Prince, Li Yan, was alright; his maternal grandfather was the military governor of Jiangzhou, and he wasn't even in Yanjing City.

"Alright, let's not talk about that anymore. Our most urgent task now is to discuss countermeasures."

"I've figured it out. Xiao Jiu has somehow gained the support of the civil and military officials. If we don't have a countermeasure, I'm afraid we'll really have no chance of getting the throne."

The Third Prince, Li Cheng, remained silent for a moment before looking at the Fourth Prince, Li Hong, and the others.

"Third Brother, you called us over, so you must already have a plan, right?"

"Sixth Prince Li Yang said."

"That's right, Third Brother. If you have any solutions, please feel free to tell us. We will all support you!"

"That's right, Third Brother, you are the most famous strategist among us brothers, and you have always been known for your wisdom and resourcefulness."

"Me too. I'll do whatever Third Brother says. I trust Third Brother!"

The Fourth Prince Li Hong and others spoke up one after another.

The Third Prince Li Cheng naturally knew that the Fourth Prince Li Hong and others' willingness to support him was only temporary, because they now all had a common enemy.

He looked out of the hall and said, "It's getting dark."

Fourth Prince Li Hong and the others were stunned for a moment, looking at Third Prince Li Cheng with confusion.

The Fifth Prince, Li Yan, suddenly realized something. His expression changed drastically as he said, "Third Brother, you don't mean we should join forces to attack Xiao Jiu's Ninth Prince's residence after dark and kill him, do you?"

The expressions of the Fourth Prince Li Hong and the others changed slightly, but none of them spoke; they simply looked at the Third Prince Li Cheng.

Do you think we have any other options now?

"Hesitation only leads to trouble!"

"If Xiao Jiu ascends the throne, will we have a good life?"

"Judging from what happened to Second Brother and Xiao Qi, I don't think we'll be any better off than them!"

The Third Prince, Li Cheng, said coldly.

"Third Brother, it's not impossible for us to join forces to attack the Ninth Prince's residence."

"If the five of us brothers join forces, each family will have five thousand guards for the Prince's residence, which adds up to twenty-five thousand."

"Although Xiao Jiu's mansion has increased its guards, the advantage still lies with us."

A glint of light flashed in the eyes of the Fifth Prince Li Yan, and he said, "But I think, shouldn't we be a little more cautious?"

Let's just bring the boss in too.

The eldest son's maternal grandfather was a steward of the Xuantian Sect.

If the six of us brothers join forces, we will have an army of 30,000, which is enough to wipe out the Ninth Prince's mansion and completely kill Xiao Jiu!

Even if something unexpected happens in the end, with the boss around, Xiao Jiu will definitely be wary and won't dare to touch us!

"I agree!"

"I agree. After we kill Xiao Jiu, it won't be too late for us brothers to slowly fight for the throne!"

"Fifth Brother's suggestion is good. If we invite Boss, he can't possibly refuse!"

The Fourth Prince Li Hong and others said with expressions of agreement.

"It's too late. If the five of us join forces, we will succeed. If we can't, even bringing in the boss won't change anything."

"Don't forget, even if things don't work out, Xiao Jiu is only afraid of the boss, not us."

"We're still headed for death!"

The Third Prince, Li Cheng, shook his head and said.

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Prince Li Hong and the others were speechless. Indeed, they were truly afraid, but they dared not touch the First Prince Li Hao; they would still die.

"There's no time to lose. Brothers, return to your residence immediately. Once it gets dark, each of you will personally lead your guards to the Ninth Prince's residence in Xiao Jiu's mansion. We'll meet up outside Xiao Jiu's residence and launch the attack together!"

The Third Prince, Li Cheng, said menacingly.

"good!"

The Fourth Prince Li Hong and others stood up and spoke.

"Third Prince Li Cheng, Fourth Prince Li Hong, Fifth Prince Li Yan, Sixth Prince Li Yang, and Eighth Prince Li Si are plotting a rebellion. By order of the Ninth Prince, surround the entire Third Prince's residence and kill them without mercy!"

Suddenly, an extremely cold voice rang out.

"..."

Upon hearing this voice, the Third Prince Li Cheng and the others looked bewildered. They hadn't even made a move yet, so how did Xiao Jiu's people arrive?

Although they really wanted to kill Xiao Jiu, how could Xiao Jiu have found out so quickly?

"Damn it, Xiao Jiu is trying to take this opportunity to wipe us out!"

The Third Prince, Li Cheng, realized what was happening and said angrily, "Brothers, we must fight our way out, or we'll all die at Xiao Jiu's hands!"

"kill!"

Guo Jingfei stood at the gate of the Third Prince's residence, brandishing his halberd with his right hand, and fiercely attacked the gate, shouting with murderous intent.