The leading cultivator was precisely Liu Kun’s trusted advisor. He sneered, “Your Highness the Princess, stop pretending. Don’t you know in your heart who we are?”
Wu Yue’s heart sank, “It was Liu Kun who sent you? What does he want?”
“The Prime Minister’s purpose, Your Highness will naturally learn in due time.”
The advisor said indifferently, “Before that, please endure a few days of discomfort, Your Highness. Once the Prime Minister obtains the Sacrificial Treasure Canon, he will naturally release you.” After saying that, he led his subordinates out of the cave, leaving only two cultivators to guard her.
Wu Yue sat in the cave, her heart filled with doubt and unease.
Liu Kun had kidnapped her and demanded that her father exchange the Sacrificial Treasure Canon for her. Clearly, this was premeditated.
The Sacrificial Treasure Canon recorded methods for reinforcing and destroying the Demon Soul Seal. Could Liu Kun’s target be the Demon Soul Seal?
Thinking of this, Wu Yue could not help but shiver. She must find a way to inform her father of this news as soon as possible.
Liu Kun returned to the Divine Capital with his battered troops in a dishevelled state, heading straight for the imperial palace.
At that moment in the Taihe Hall, Wu Hao was anxiously awaiting news from the ceremonial guard. Seeing Liu Kun enter covered in wounds, his heart skipped a beat.
“Prime Minister, what happened? Why are you in such a sorry state?” Wu Hao asked urgently.
Liu Kun knelt down with a thud, weeping bitterly as he said, “Sovereign! This minister is guilty! This minister failed to protect Her Highness the Princess!”
“What? What happened to Yue’er?” Wu Hao stood up abruptly, his face changing drastically.
“When we reached Soul-Breaking Valley, we were suddenly ambushed by bandits from the Evil Path Hall.”
Liu Kun sobbed, “Those bandits were extremely powerful. This minister fought desperately to resist, but they still abducted Her Highness the Princess.
Before leaving, they said that the Sovereign must bring the Sacrificial Treasure Canon to exchange for the princess, or else… or else they would kill her!”
“The Evil Path Hall! It’s the Evil Path Hall again!”
Wu Hao trembled with rage, slamming his palm on the imperial desk and shattering it, “They first stole the Thunder Sound Bell, and now they’ve abducted the princess. This is simply going too far!”
“Sovereign, please calm your anger.”
Liu Kun advised, “The urgent matter now is to rescue Her Highness the Princess.
Since the Evil Path Hall wants the Sacrificial Treasure Canon, why not first agree to their terms, use the Sacrificial Treasure Canon to exchange for the princess, and then unite with the Divine Hall to crusade against the Evil Path Hall, avenging the princess.”
“No!”
Wu Hao refused flatly, “The Sacrificial Treasure Canon concerns the safety of the Demon Soul Seal. If it falls into the hands of the Evil Path Hall, they will surely open the seal and release the Demon Soul. At that time, the entire Sixth Heaven will fall into chaos, with unimaginable consequences!
Yue’er is my daughter, how could I not be heartbroken? But I am the sovereign of the Divine Kingdom, I cannot disregard the safety of the entire Sixth Heaven for personal reasons!”
“Sovereign, but Her Highness the Princess’s life is in imminent danger!”
Liu Kun said urgently, “The Evil Path Hall acts ruthlessly. If we do not agree to their terms, they will truly harm the princess.
Moreover, we can pretend to agree to them, set up an ambush during the exchange, seize back the princess and the Sacrificial Treasure Canon, and eliminate the bandits from the Evil Path Hall at the same time. Wouldn’t that achieve two goals at once?”
Wu Hao frowned deeply, falling into contemplation. Liu Kun’s words seemed reasonable, but he always felt something was amiss.
If the Evil Path Hall truly wanted the Sacrificial Treasure Canon, why not directly send someone to infiltrate the palace and steal it, instead of going to great lengths to kidnap the princess?
Moreover, Liu Kun’s performance today always made him feel somewhat deliberate.
At that moment, a guard hurried in to report, “Sovereign, outside the palace there is a black-clothed cultivator seeking an audience, claiming to be a messenger from the Evil Path Hall, with a letter to deliver to the Sovereign.”
“Let him in!” Wu Hao said in a deep voice.
Soon, a black-clothed cultivator followed the eunuch into the Taihe Hall, handed a letter to Wu Hao, and then turned to leave without saying a word throughout.
