In the beginning, he was ranked alongside An Shigeng as a spoiled brat.

The Zhang family's reputation would not allow them to do such a thing.

"The Dragon Emperor cannot die!"

The Dragon Emperor cannot die?

This represents the Zhang family's attitude.

It's only because they didn't threaten the Dragon Emperor's life that someone from the Zhang family would have made a move.

For a moment, everyone looked at Zhang Sheng with confusion.

However, Zhang Sheng had already anticipated this, since he had already said these things, how could he not make his own explanation?

"Don't be surprised, everyone. Zi'an has asked this question as well."

He said that although the Zhang family did not interfere in the affairs of the martial arts world, they had always been committed to stabilizing the interests and stability of the people at the bottom of the Kyushu region, allowing them to live and work in peace and contentment.

Your motives for assassinating the Dragon Emperor may be either a blood feud or you have witnessed his tyranny.

But none of the Zhang family members thought this was a good thing.

With the death of the Dragon Emperor, the Nine Provinces will inevitably descend into chaos, with heroes vying for supremacy.

For ordinary people, it's better to be a dog in times of peace than a human in times of chaos!

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.

This is the Zhang family's style; the Zhang family represents the interests of ordinary people.

This is one of the reasons why the Zhang family has always been able to stand out and enjoy a prestigious position in the Nine Provinces.

The Zhang family's prestige in Kyushu was so great that they were considered living Buddhas to all.

Even though they couldn't establish temples everywhere in Japan, many families still enshrined the Zhang family's longevity tablets.

In contrast, the doctrines of the various schools of thought, while seemingly aimed at ending the Dragon Emperor's tyranny, actually represented their own respective interests.

Chapter 789 The Land of Trapped Dragons: The Dragon Emperor Falls Severely Ill

The next day, news of the assassination attempt on the Dragon Emperor by the various schools of thought spread throughout the entire Nine Provinces.

The sheer scale of the battle shook the entire Nine Provinces. The chaotic battle involving two massive mechanical beasts, eight grandmasters, and over thirty top experts was unprecedented in its power.

Even the 1,000 Dragon Elephant Iron Cavalry and 10,000 Armored Imperial Guards of the Empire perished on the spot; the horrific scene can be imagined.

This battle also allowed the major forces of the martial arts world in Kyushu to witness the empire's true strength.

Equivalent to the Celestial-level Wu An Jun, the Grandmaster-level Zhuge Zhengwo, and peerless masters Meng Yi, Zhao Gao, Yan Ri, and the Black Ice Platform Commander, as well as top-tier Yue King Eight Swords and Black Ice Platform assassins...

Moreover, according to legend, even the Dragon Emperor was a peerless master who cultivated a Taoist protective technique—

Innate Qi!

Even with this lineup, including the Yin-Yang School, Shangguan Jin Hong, the Taoist Xiao Meng, ten thousand Imperial Guards, and one thousand Dragon Elephant Iron Cavalry, it still ended in a 'crushing defeat'.

In particular, the decisive battle between Lord Wu'an and the Six Sages of the Farmer's School broke through the void on the spot, becoming a local legend.

But everyone understood that Lord Wu'an and the Six Sages of the Farming School were destined to perish together.

In a single day, the Nine Provinces lost seven Grandmasters, causing all the major powers to tremble with fear.

It should be noted that these were Grandmasters, and the first Grandmaster-level experts to fall in the Kyushu in the last ten years, and there were seven Grandmasters at that time.

Such a loss would have been a major blow to the entire Central Plains' vital energy in the past.

But now, after a period of shock, things have quickly reached a bottleneck.

Of the five supreme Celestial Beings and ten top Grandmasters, seven are not included, therefore the Celestial Being Ranking and the Heavenly Gang Ranking remain unchanged.

Instead, it was the blacklist that changed.

Because of Zhang Sheng's outstanding performance, he ranked fourth on the blacklist, pushing Zhang Wuji, the leader of the Zoroastrian sect, down the list.

Even though Zhang Xiaoshan didn't say anything, the one in charge of the Black List at this time was the Demonic Sect, or you could say the Demonic Path.

Moreover, Zhang Sheng and 'Zhang Sheng' are actually two different people.

Three days later, news spread within the empire that the Dragon Emperor had fallen ill from worry over the death of Lord Wu'an.

It's hard to say how much of this news is true and how much is false.

But without a doubt, the blow to the empire was absolutely fatal; the empire suffered a huge loss this time.

Similarly, the various schools of thought in the Hundred Schools of Thought were in similar straits. The Xiang family was reduced to a lone commander, Xiang Liang, and Xiang Shaoyu, though they still had a foothold in Jiangdong; the Mohist school was reduced to Jing Tianming, Master Ban, and Xue Nu, while Duanmu Rong had already eloped with Gai Nie; the Agricultural school had become a wanted criminal of the empire, and its 100,000 disciples were about to vanish...

The Zhang family, who benefited from this arrangement, were granted an extension of their three-year tax exemption by the empire.

The Zhang family's ten-year tax exemption privilege has just ended this year.

Although the Zhang family's tax revenue was enormous, the cost to the Dragon Emperor's information channels was even greater.

Over the years, the Zhang family has used the profits from the Ghost Street in secret to subsidize the Zhang family's open losses.

Moreover, all of these are beneficial to the empire.

Moreover, the annual toll fees from the imperial passes alone constitute a huge subsidy to the empire's finances.

These were divided equally between the Zhang family and the empire.

···

The Land of Trapped Dragons—Sand Dunes!

This place is called the Land of Trapped Dragons because three once brilliant and ambitious emperors were trapped or perished here.

King Zhou of Shang built a wine pool and meat forest, King Wuling of Zhao was trapped in the Sand Dune Palace and starved to death, and the last one was the Dragon Emperor, the emperor of all ages.

All three emperors were extraordinary figures, even King Zhou of Shang was only average.

For thousands of years thereafter, the emperors who encountered this once auspicious place would detour to show their respect.

Even emperors believed in feng shui; at least in terms of regulations, feng shui was one of them.

Therefore, who dares to walk through this place where the dragon is trapped?

After being assassinated, the Dragon Emperor went to the Sand Dune Palace that very night to rest and wait for the arrival of the Empire's reinforcements to cover his return to the capital.

Just as Zhang Xiaoshan had predicted, the Dragon Emperor, who had moved into the Sand Dune Palace, fell seriously ill the very next day.

The imperial physician diagnosed him with anger and distress, which led to injury.

This gave Zhao Gao an opportunity.

Even with Meng Yi guarding one side, Li Si was also close by.

Compared to Zhao Gao and Meng Yi, Li Si, who had no martial arts skills, was undoubtedly the least guarded against, and Li Si was also Zhao Gao's superior.

Three days later, the Dragon Emperor was bedridden.

At this moment, the Dragon Emperor was truly extremely weak, and even possessing top-tier internal energy was of no use.

Illness strikes like a landslide, but this is not a 'highly toxic' poison; one's internal strength can withstand it.

···

"Young Master, news has just arrived that the Dragon Emperor has been overcome with anger and is now bedridden!"

Beyond the sand dunes, Zhang Xiaoshan's eyes flickered, knowing that the Dragon Emperor's story was essentially over, and he couldn't help but sigh:

·········Requesting flowers·· 0

"This is the place where dragons are trapped; this is the fate of the Dragon Emperor!"

"Could it be..."

Liu Sheng Piaoxu looked at Zhang Xiaoshan in disbelief.

A deadly assassination attempt failed to kill the Dragon Emperor, but a so-called "trapped dragon" place, a matter of feng shui, could cost him his life.

If these words hadn't come from Zhang Xiaoshan, Liu Sheng Piaoxu would never have believed it.

"The concept of feng shui is vague and ethereal."

However, some things have been passed down for thousands of years in the land of Kyushu, and they are not without basis. The Dragon Emperor's eastern tour this time was a mistake.

And do you think this assassination attempt was a coincidence?

There's someone pulling the strings behind the scenes, and they're right there within the empire.

... ...

"Zhao Gao!"

Upon hearing Zhang Xiaoshan's suggestion, Liu Sheng Piaoxu quickly realized who it was.

Zhao Gao's actions were very secretive, but the Zhang family's intelligence network was not weak either, and they knew about Zhao Gao's continuous actions during this period.

If that's true, then...

Thinking of the impending upheaval in the empire, Zhao Gao knew that once the Dragon Emperor died, Zhao Gao would inevitably support Huhai to ascend the throne.

Zhao Gao's methods and Hu Hai's temperament reminded Liu Sheng Piaoxu of Zhang Xiaoshan's old critique of the empire—

The one who will destroy Qin is Hu!

Every step seemed meticulously planned, and even the Grandmaster Liu Sheng Piaoxu felt a chill run down his spine.

"Piaoxu, stay here and observe for the time being. Do not go near the imperial palace."

If you discover that the Dragon Emperor has fallen, or that Meng Yi is in trouble, notify me immediately.

Furthermore, if Meng Yi is not dead, we should try to save him without alerting the Luo Wang organization.

Meng Yi and Meng Tian were obstacles to Zhao Gao's efforts to help Huhai ascend the throne, but they held considerable influence in the imperial court!

"Yes, son!"

Liu Sheng Piaoxu knew that Zhang Xiaoshan's plan was not small; the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

Zhao Gao was undoubtedly a clown.

He appeared to be in control of the empire, but in reality, the eunuchs' misrule directly brought the once-powerful empire to its knees.

Moreover, once Zhao Gao gained power, as Zhang Xiaoshan predicted, he would inevitably deal with Meng Yi and Meng Tian, ​​who were the two pillars of the empire. Their inner court was no less powerful than Li Si's, and their military power was unparalleled.

Zhang Xiaoshan's efforts to win over these two cornerstones of the empire will greatly influence the Zhang family's future uprising.

Chapter 790 The Palace Incident: Reunion with Meng Tian

puff!

The moment the sword pierced Li Si's body, the commander of the Black Ice Platform looked at him in disbelief.

As the Left Chancellor of the Empire, Li Si was second only to the emperor, so the Black Ice Guard had not taken much precautions against him.

Moreover, Li Si was just an ordinary person, and his behavior was also very proper.

Therefore, they did not list Li Si as a key target for defense, and even considered him a trustworthy regent.

Unexpectedly, this slight relaxation and carelessness gave Li Si an opportunity, allowing Luo Wang to find a chance to strike.

The Black Ice Platform commander was so overwhelmed by the strength of the Six Sword Slaves of Luo Wang that he didn't even have a chance to struggle before he died instantly.

At the same time, the top assassins of the Black Ice Guard hidden within the Imperial Guard were also silently replaced by assassins from the Hidden Sun.

Even the high-ranking official Meng Yi was no exception.

Moreover, the "733" technique of the net's hand gave Liu Sheng Piaoxu no chance to rescue him.

When Liu Sheng Piaoxu discovered Meng Yi's body, he had already been dead for some time.

"Just as you predicted, young master, the Dragon Emperor perished in this place where dragons are trapped!"

With even Meng Yi and the Black Ice Guard commander dead, one can imagine the Dragon Emperor's predicament.

One was the Dragon Emperor's most trusted close minister, Shangqing, and the other was the Dragon Emperor's most secret commander of the Black Ice Guard.

Both of them are in trouble, so you can imagine the Dragon Emperor's predicament.

Given Zhao Gao's methods, it would be strange if he didn't eliminate the threat completely.

Thinking of this, Liu Sheng Piaoxu quickly sent a message to Zhang Xiaoshan's divine eagle, reporting her discovery.

As for interfering in the affairs of the empire?