Chapter Thirty-Six: Declaring War Before the Palace
Yu Chi's stern accusation, tearing through all pretense, exploded like a thunderclap within the Daqing Hall.
If it were the Shang Jiuya of the past, she would probably have been so overwhelmed by this powerful demonic pressure that she would have lost her composure and might even have collapsed to the ground.
However, the instant the sound wave struck, several previously formless and intangible runes suddenly lit up in the void surrounding the throne, precisely intercepting and neutralizing the most impactful part of You Chi's demonic pressure. At the same time, the magic crystals embedded in the throne itself and Shang Jiuya's robes also flickered, forming a second layer of protection.
It was the defensive magic artifact that Qingcheng had secretly set up beforehand that took effect; Shang Jiuya's figure didn't even sway. Only the slight flutter of her robe sleeves showed the extent of the impact she had just endured.
But this is just the beginning!
Almost at the same time that You Chi launched his attack, Guan Shanyue, who was standing beside him, moved his hands, which were folded in front of his abdomen. A wisp of light purple mist quietly escaped from his sleeve, splitting into several streams, and silently shot towards Shang Jiuya and her supporters Xing Yuan, Mo Luo, and others who were not far away.
This is her carefully crafted "Soul-Eating Incense," which can silently erode the soul, making people sluggish, hindering the flow of demonic energy, and even causing hallucinations, leaving them at the mercy of others.
At this moment, a faint golden halo shone from the main load-bearing magic pillars of the hall and certain specific magic patterns on the ground.
The few wisps of pale purple poisonous mist seemed to have met their nemesis, instantly emitting extremely faint "hissing" sounds as they were swiftly neutralized by the halo and dissipated without a trace. Only a few of You Chi's closest trusted guards accidentally inhaled a trace of the remaining mist, immediately feeling dizzy and hastily retreating.
Guan Shanyue's charming smile froze instantly. Her poison had been neutralized so easily?!
From the moment Youchi roared and launched his attack to the moment the demonic pressure was blocked and the poisonous fog was purified, it only took a short time, just one or two breaths.
Shang Jiuya slowly stood up from the throne that symbolized supreme power.
The pure demonic energy cultivated through the "Burning Marrow and Corroding Heart Technique" no longer needed to be deliberately restrained; it naturally spread out, becoming able to rival You Chi's demonic pressure and even causing people to feel more apprehensive.
Her gaze locked precisely on Youchi's face, which was slightly distorted with shock and anger:
"Elder, have you all finally reached your limit?"
Yu Chi's pupils contracted, and the ominous premonition in his heart suddenly intensified.
Before Shang Jiuya could continue speaking, he said sternly, "Stop trying to deny it! The evidence of your harming the Sixth Prince Qi Mu and the Twelfth Prince Eleventh Lady is irrefutable! You..."
"Ironclad evidence?" Shang Jiuya abruptly interrupted him. "When you colluded with the Seven Mu and allowed them to slaughter over a thousand members of the Shifu tribe on the border, did you ever mention any ironclad evidence?!"
Her gaze swept over Ao Li and Guan Shanyue: "When you two secretly poisoned and plotted to harm our father for your own selfish interests, and repeatedly tried to poison me, did you ever provide any irrefutable evidence?!"
Her gaze finally settled on Jiang Zheng: "When you abused the law, fabricated charges, trampled on the moral order of the demon realm for your own selfish desires, and attempted to distort the truth, did you ever mention the 'ironclad evidence' you spoke of?!"
A barrage of questions shook the rebels to their core.
"You're spouting nonsense!" Gong Liang screamed, his face deathly pale.
"Whether it's slander or not, you can tell at a glance!" Shang Jiuya sneered and suddenly waved her hand.
Elder Xing Yuan immediately stepped forward, and the image-recording magic crystal lit up, revealing the hellish scene of the Black Prison Mine, the despair of the Stone-Skinned Clan's elderly and weak, and the Rhinoceros King's maniacal laughter... The shocking images assaulted the nerves of everyone present. Some veteran ministers who had lived through the era of the previous Demon Lord and knew that although his harem was decadent, he was still quite diligent and responsible in the affairs of the Demon Realm, showed indignation on their faces upon seeing this atrocity of wantonly slaughtering his people.
Elder Moro then presented the tattered scroll of the secret letter and fragments of utensils: "These are records of poison transactions found in the palace of Eleventh Sister, as well as copies of unusual accounts related to resource exchanges with the Third Elder Gongliang's residence. After comparison by the stewards of the Machinery Hall, they are highly consistent with the components of the deadly poison that poisoned our late sage."
These words were like throwing boiling oil into a raging fire.
"What?!"
"It really is... poison?!"
"Although our late sage had some oversights in family matters, his reign of a thousand years, his defense against foreign enemies, and his management of the earth's veins have undoubtedly contributed to the overall development of the Demon Realm!"
"Killing the king! This is a heinous crime!"
The officials who had initially remained neutral within the hall, especially those who still held some lingering affection for the former Demon Lord or acknowledged his achievements, were suddenly filled with righteous indignation. Their previous anger at the Seven Mu's atrocities had now completely transformed into a boundless rage against the regicide.
Finally, an officer under Ao Li who had been turned was brought to the palace and, trembling, pointed out Ao Li's secret mobilization of troops and his plan to control the palace gates by meeting with You Chi's confidants.
The chain of evidence was tightly linked, especially the charge of regicide, which ignited the fury of most of the people present.
Jiang Zheng's face turned ashen. He took a sudden step forward, brandishing the "legal document" in his hand in a final struggle, his voice shrill: "Even if... even if there are some doubts, it still needs to be discussed by the Elder Council! The Demon Realm is in turmoil and urgently needs a powerful figure with pure blood and great strength to stabilize the situation! Fourth Prince Ao Li is the eldest son of the late Venerable One and is fully capable of undertaking this great responsibility! This is for the long-term peace and stability of the Demon Realm!"
"For the long-term peace and stability of the Demon Realm?" Shang Jiuya retorted sharply, "Jiang Zheng! You have distorted the law, protected the true culprit who murdered the king, and framed the Venerable One! The first article of the first chapter of the Demon Realm's law states: Loyalty to the monarch and love for the country, protection of all living beings! Which of these articles do you conform to?! It's all for your filthy selfish desires!"
"Investigate according to the law?" Shang Jiuya raised her hand and pointed directly at You Chi, Ao Li, and the others. "This group of people before us colluded with foreign generals, slaughtered their own kind, plotted to assassinate the emperor, and committed treason! The evidence is conclusive and the crimes are undeniable! According to the ancestral rules of the Demon Realm, treason is a capital offense, and everyone has the right to kill them! Why is there any need for further discussion?"
You Chi, Gong Liang, Jiang Zheng, and the others turned pale, realizing that the situation was hopeless, and their words were weak and powerless.
And Ao Li and Guan Shanyue—
The initial shock, anger, and panic on Ao Li's face quickly faded, replaced by an extreme gloom and madness. He knew he had no way out, and any explanation would be meaningless.
He suddenly raised his head, "Jiuya! So what if you're eloquent and fabricate charges?! The victor is king, the loser is villain! This position of Demon Lord has never been held by mere words! Today, even if you bear a thousand curses, I will make sure you die without a burial place!"
His demonic energy suddenly erupted, no longer suppressed.
Guan Shanyue was the same; her alluring voice remained steady, "That's right! Father is old! Confused! He should have abdicated long ago! This Demon Realm should have been ours! You, a lowly bastard of unknown origin, dare to judge us?! Kill her! Kill everyone here who supports her! Let's see who dares to utter a single word of dissent!"
Yu Chi's wrinkled old face twisted completely. "Witch! You're all cunning and deceitful, twisting the truth!" He took a step forward, pointing directly at Jiu Ya on the throne, his voice sharp and piercing with extreme anger, "You murdered your brother and sister, slaughtered the elders, what right do you have to sit in this high position? Today, I will cleanse the Demon Realm of its evil ways and set things right!"
"Attack!" Ao Li shouted almost simultaneously, drawing his sword from his waist and pointing it directly at Jiu Ya.
More than a third of the guards who had been standing respectfully with their heads bowed suddenly turned fierce, their demonic energy surging, and the ear-piercing scraping sound of weapons being drawn instantly filled the air. They charged headlong toward the throne and toward Xing Yuan, Mo Luo, and the others standing to Jiu Ya's side.
At the palace gate, the assassins raised by the You and Gong families also tore off their disguises, roaring as they smashed through the loyal guards who tried to stop them, attempting to completely control the exit of the palace and trap them like turtles in a jar.
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