I’m Definitely Taking This Power-Fantasy Protagonist Role! Chapter 96

The messenger from the Celestial Court remained as arrogant as ever.

Lie Qinggao smiled and said, “Jiaojiao, come and greet the esteemed messenger.”

He then turned to the Celestial Court messenger and added, “My daughter has been spoiled to the point of not knowing the heights of heaven and the depths of the earth. I truly have no way to handle her, so I ask for your forgiveness, esteemed messenger.”

The beautiful and gentle princess gracefully stepped forward, bowing to the Celestial Court messenger, “Jiaojiao pays her respects to the esteemed messenger.”

As she lifted her head, her eyes sparkled with a watery glimmer, as if they could speak.

The Celestial Court messenger didn’t say a word, merely glanced over, drank the wine placed before him, and set the empty cup down. The princess immediately understood and respectfully stepped forward to pour more wine.

The banquet, meant to welcome and wash away the dust, was extravagantly lavish. Any dish laid out could cause a frenzy among countless people, but here, it was just one of many ordinary dishes, all to please the Celestial Court messenger.

The best dancers, the finest musicians, all meticulously crafted the most beautiful performances, pouring their hearts into the show. The atmosphere was intoxicating, with a fragrant aroma wafting through the air, making one feel as if they were floating in the clouds.

After drinking a couple of cups, the messenger’s gaze became slightly tipsy. He didn’t spare a glance for the dancers who were working hard to perform; instead, he got straight to the point: “This messenger is busy with affairs and has no time to linger in the lower realm. Those who resist must be killed without mercy; they must all be suppressed.”

Lie Qinggao was taken aback. He had some understanding of the Celestial Court and had once foolishly dreamed of using its power to ascend to the upper realm and open up new territories. However, various experiences had proven that it was just a pipe dream. The Celestial Court didn’t regard the people of the lower realm at all, treating them like a pet dog—playing with it when it was convenient and giving it a kind face. If that dog foolishly thought of itself as a human and couldn’t recognize its place, it shouldn’t blame the Celestial Court for teaching it a lesson.

Such humiliation was etched in his heart.

The situation in the upper realm was complex; the Celestial Court didn’t have absolute power, but dealing with the mere lower realm was a piece of cake. The best proof was the various sects of the Celestial Gate that had been toyed with in the past.

In Lie Qinggao’s understanding, the Celestial Court had always dealt with the lower realm with ease, exuding an inherent sense of superiority and pride from the upper realm. But now, these few short sentences seemed to carry a different air.

Lie Qinggao’s thoughts shifted slightly, but his face remained smiling. “It is truly my honor that the esteemed messenger is willing to take time out of your busy schedule to handle such trivial matters.” He paused, cautiously probing, “May I ask if there is any way I can assist?”

The Celestial Court messenger scoffed, downing the wine in his cup, the alcohol’s effect becoming more pronounced. “The lower realm has been sending talents and resources to the Celestial Court for many years; you have indeed worked hard. But this matter is not something you can interfere with. Just do your own job well and don’t think too much.”

Lie Qinggao smiled in agreement.

The Celestial Court messenger continued, “What kind of people are these rebels that even you are at a loss and have to seek help from the Celestial Court?”

Lie Qinggao replied, “The leader is a headmaster of an academy. I thought of her many years of dedication to cultivating talents for the lower realm, which could be seen as loyalty to the Celestial Court. There’s no merit, but there’s always hard work, so I was quite lenient with her and never suspected her. Who would have thought that this wretched woman would take advantage of this favor to act recklessly, secretly cultivating talents for herself while stirring up trouble and challenging the authority of the dynasty? Now she has even boldly raised the banner of rebellion, openly defying the dynasty. It’s truly infuriating!”

“It was my oversight; I never expected a teaching woman would have such great ambitions and become a threat.”

The Celestial Court messenger, slightly relaxed from the alcohol, suddenly sat up straight, the tipsy look in his eyes dissipating like thin mist. “You say she is a teacher and has cultivated many talents for the lower realm?”

Lie Qinggao remained calm, “That’s right. That wretched woman established the Ascending Immortals Academy, widely recruiting students and teaching various basic knowledge, giving many ordinary people who couldn’t enter the Celestial Gate a chance to touch cultivation. Although they are all low-level cultivators, there are indeed outstanding individuals among them, favored by various sects and families.”

The Celestial Court messenger’s gaze sharpened, “Among the talents you selected for the Celestial Court, are there any from the Ascending Immortals Academy?”

Lie Qinggao suddenly stopped, gradually showing a troubled expression. “There are too many students from the academy; it would be difficult to completely avoid…”

The Celestial Court messenger slammed his palm heavily on the table, shouting, “Wretched woman!”

Lie Qinggao’s heart twisted in a mix of joy and fear.

He was secretly pleased that Chāng Huá Yuánjūn had gotten herself into big trouble this time. Looking at the Celestial Court messenger’s reaction, she even dared to scheme against the Celestial Court. With so many students graduating from the Ascending Immortals Academy, it was inevitable that some would be selected to meet the Celestial Court’s requirements. The various sects of the Celestial Gate claimed loyalty to the Celestial Court, but over the years, the talents sent up had never returned; who would still be willing to send their carefully nurtured disciples away for nothing?

What frightened him was that these candidates were all on the list he had personally approved. If the Celestial Court suffered a loss, it would be hard not to blame him.

Lie Qinggao recalled that at the beginning, he had personally reviewed and confirmed that each candidate was fine, but gradually he became negligent, handing the matter over to those around him, only reviewing the list once at the end and listening to the person in charge’s introduction.

His expression changed slightly, twisting in discomfort.

Those useless people were incredibly easy to bribe.

The oversight had already been exposed; the most important thing now was how to clear himself of blame.

Lie Qinggao immediately said seriously, “Esteemed messenger, that wretched woman must have obtained some powerful treasure. Not only has she severely injured me, but she has also concealed her subordinates, making them extremely difficult to track. The dynasty’s cultivators have repeatedly failed and can only ask the Celestial Court for help.”

He angrily said, “The Celestial Court has protected the lower realm for many years, yet she is so ungrateful. I implore the esteemed messenger to ensure that the mastermind behind this is suppressed…”

Boom—

The ground shook violently, leaving everyone stunned.

Boom—

Another violent tremor, shaking the earth and mountains.

A familiar voice, a familiar provocation, deafening.

“Celestial Court scoundrel, come out and fight me!”

The towering pillar of heaven was struck with the most severe impact in history, surrounded by the rebel army. The living quarters beneath the palace were as quiet as a chicken, all opening their defensive barriers and looking up.

The topmost palace suddenly became an isolated island, surrounded on all sides.

With this formation and position, it felt incomplete without a collision.

The stars in the sky sparkled more brightly than usual, as if each one had come to life, pressing down towards the earth.

The Celestial Court messenger was already angry, and the person who provoked him just happened to hit the mark; how could he hold back?

“Wretched woman, don’t be arrogant!!”

Like a cannonball suddenly crashing through the roof and soaring into the sky, he unleashed a powerful attack without any hesitation.

Countless meteor-like fire rains poured down, aiming to turn the rebels to ashes.

Chāng Huá Yuánjūn bravely faced the challenge.

Others were not idle either, battling fiercely with the dynasty’s cultivated cultivators, with people continuously falling from the sky.

The palace was heavily guarded, not only equipped with extremely complex and tight formations but also with powerful defensive weapons capable of easily destroying everything around it, flattening it to the ground. The rebel army’s warships were also equipped with powerful weapons, all used to break through the defensive formations and target the positions of the defensive weapons.

The palace was as leaky as a sieve; even such an important defensive layout had been leaked.

Three cannon blasts broke through the defensive formation, destroying the weapons, and then it was a direct confrontation, soldiers against soldiers.

Jiang Bai Yu transformed into a ball of starlight, skillfully moving through the intense battlefield like a ghost unnoticed by anyone, silently crossing the fire line and falling through the large hole in the roof created by the Celestial Court messenger.

“Good night.” Jiang Bai Yu greeted, his tone friendly and gentle.

However, the people present didn’t give him any face.

“Ahhh!!” Princess Jiaojiao exclaimed in panic, “Who? Who dares to intrude into the palace! Imperial Guards! Where are the Imperial Guards? Quickly kill him!”

“The Imperial Guards are busy right now.” Jiang Bai Yu kindly replied.

Princess Jiaojiao was even more frightened, taking two steps at once, lifting her skirt to hide behind Lie Qinggao, seeking protection, “Father, save me!”

In contrast, Lie Qinggao’s reaction was much calmer.

Lie Qinggao narrowed his eyes, “Even if I am injured, Chāng Huá Yuánjūn wouldn’t think that someone like you could do anything to me?”

Jiang Bai Yu didn’t care at all, “Whether you can or not, the truth will be revealed in your hands.”

While observing the other’s condition without showing any signs, his starry eyes saw clearly that, as expected, someone had taken the backlash for the Emperor. As long as the Emperor rested well, he would soon recover and regain his strength.

Lie Qinggao sneered, about to explode, when suddenly his body stiffened. He forcefully swung his palm, sending the hiding Princess Jiaojiao flying.

The beautiful and gentle princess crashed heavily against the wall, sliding down in a disheveled state, but she didn’t die.

Lie Qinggao had a hairpin stabbed into the spot where his heart was, the curse seeping into his warm flesh like a venomous snake, eroding his life force. The intense pain twisted Lie Qinggao’s face, and the rapid loss of strength made him look even more ferocious, his anger accelerating the curse’s effect, creating a vicious cycle.

He spat out a mouthful of blood, “You!”

As the Emperor, he had many children, each of whom was obedient and respectful in front of him. He never expected that his seemingly weak daughter, who looked like a rabbit in his eyes, would dare to attempt to assassinate him.

This hairpin was no ordinary artifact; it was like a nemesis specifically targeting him, and the curse acted especially quickly and violently.

The sudden change stunned Jiang Bai Yu. Although he had calculated that this trip would go very smoothly, was it really going too smoothly?

“Who? Who else is colluding with you!?” Lie Qinggao shouted angrily.

Princess Jiaojiao trembled, her eyes filled with fear, tears soaking her entire face, but she didn’t betray her accomplices.

“Could it be…” Lie Qinggao spat out a mouthful of blood, gritting his teeth, “Could it be Chāng Huá Yuánjūn again…”

“Your Majesty, why suspect others?” A voice came, “It’s me.”

The blindfolded High Priest walked over shakily, each step seeming to tread on a knife’s edge, weaker than the princess who had just taken a hit from Lie Qinggao.

Lie Qinggao immediately understood what was happening, “It’s you! You took that hit for her!”

His eyes were bloodshot, the pain of losing his life force and the anger crashing against his spirit made him want to tear apart, “You dare to betray me!! You beast!”

The High Priest mocked, “As for beasts, they all owe it to Your Majesty’s favor.”

Princess Jiaojiao hurriedly got up, stumbling to the High Priest’s side, supporting him with all her strength, tears streaming down her face, “Father, you forced me into this.” The beautiful princess had eyes that could speak, easily softening hearts, and it was precisely because of this that Lie Qinggao had chosen her.

“My mother was forcibly taken into the palace by you, and those humiliating and abusive deeds are still quietly circulating in the palace! You treat me and my sisters like pets, but when it comes to your sons, as soon as you feel threatened or offended, even your own sons must die!”

“Do you still remember Jiaojiao?” Princess Jiaojiao asked, her face covered in tears.

Lie Qinggao had no recollection, gritting his teeth, his eyes filled with disgust.

Princess Jiaojiao was not surprised at all, “It’s okay if you don’t remember; I do. She was also your daughter, sent to the upper realm by you personally.”

“Before leaving, Jiaojiao said to me with great anticipation that the upper realm must be more prosperous than the lower realm. Once she learned the true skills in the upper realm, she would come back to take me away, and we would leave this cage together. At that time, the sky would be high for birds to fly, and the sea would be wide for fish to leap, and we wouldn’t have to endure humiliation, living in your shadow.”

“But after she left, she never returned, not even a word!”

“The High Priest said… Jiaojiao died. Anyone sent from the lower realm becomes a slave of the Celestial Court. With her beauty… her fate must have been particularly tragic, all because Your Majesty wanted to obtain more bloodlines from the Celestial Court!”

Tears streamed down Princess Jiaojiao’s face like a broken string of pearls, “You knew what she might encounter, yet you still sent your own daughter over!”

Lie Qinggao shouted angrily, “I raised you all, providing you with a life of luxury. You should sacrifice and contribute for me! If it weren’t for that wretched child’s incompetence, how could she have died so tragically? Useless things!”

“The grace of parents is greater than the heavens. If you are unwilling, you can simply abandon this body!”

Princess Jiaojiao trembled all over.

Lie Qinggao sneered, “Crying and wailing, in the end, it’s just fear of death. Your lives are given by me; if you don’t want them, you can return them. You enjoy the grace of your parents but don’t want to bear the responsibilities of your parents. What a ridiculous thing!”

Princess Jiaojiao’s complexion turned gray, as if her essence had been drained.

Lie Qinggao turned to the High Priest, speaking with hatred, “I have never treated you poorly, giving you a position just below one and above ten thousand, yet you would betray me!” He mocked, “What reason does my High Priest have for this? Why not bring it out and discuss it?”

Having taken the backlash of the secret technique for Lie Qinggao and also taking a fatal blow for Princess Jiaojiao, the High Priest appeared so thin and weak that a gust of wind could blow him away.

He remained silent for a moment, then calmly said, “I have nothing to say.”

The High Priest didn’t want to speak, but Lie Qinggao had plenty to say, “Considering you are the only blood relative of my sister, I have always regarded you as my own child… but even a true child cannot compare to you. For many years, you have lived in luxury and held a high position, yet unexpectedly, you have nurtured thoughts against me.”

The High Priest coldly replied, “Your Majesty is either pained for your sister’s blood or excited that you have another chip in your hand; you know in your heart. I have contributed a lot to the dynasty over the years, and now that I am no longer useful, you are immediately ready to abandon me for a new High Priest.”

“You once told me to endure humiliation and bear heavy burdens, that a small tolerance would lead to great plans, and that one day you would overthrow the Celestial Court to avenge your mother. But now, you are servile and disgraceful, having long thrown your vows to the back of your mind.” The High Priest’s voice was icy, “Those sent to the upper realm who encounter misfortune can be blamed on the Celestial Court, but now you personally pushed your daughter in front of the Celestial Court messenger, hoping for a fleeting moment of favor, trying to leave behind the bloodline of the Celestial Court. I can’t help but doubt whether your earlier claims of being forced were true.”

“For power, for the support of the Celestial Court, you personally sent your mother to the Celestial Court messenger. To be a dog to this extent, it’s no wonder you stood out among the various sects and families in the lower realm, becoming the Celestial Court’s chosen representative, soaring to great heights.”

The High Priest’s chest heaved violently, on the verge of collapse. After a few violent coughs, he gasped, “Though I am useless, I still have this worthless life!”

Lie Qinggao was furious, the curse he had been trying to suppress almost spiraling out of control again.

Having witnessed the scene, Jiang Bai Yu didn’t forget to keep an eye on Lie Qinggao, “Your Majesty, are you trying to use this opportunity to buy time and secretly heal yourself?”

With his intentions exposed, Lie Qinggao became highly alert, “The upper realm has many forces and a complex situation. It is precisely because of the protection of the Celestial Court that we have maintained stability for many years. You do not know the dangers of the upper realm; blindly opposing the Celestial Court will only lead the lower realm into an endless abyss!”

“For your own selfishness, dragging countless beings in the lower realm down with you, one day becoming a hunting ground for the upper realm, where lives are in turmoil. Can the Ascending Immortals Academy bear this sin?”

Boom—

The ground shook violently, and Jiang Bai Yu felt the ground beginning to tilt.

“We will resist what the dynasty dares not resist.”

“We will bear what the dynasty dares not bear.”

“In a word, you can’t do it because you’re too weak!”

The curse piercing his heart expanded violently, Lie Qinggao’s complexion turned gray, and the High Priest looked like he was about to die at any moment, clearly exchanging one life for another, sharing the same fate.

Seeing that the High Priest seemed to be running out of stamina, the outcome could be one death and one injury. Jiang Bai Yu decisively helped to level the playing field.

Unable to help himself, he summarized for the Emperor, “Your Majesty, you’re so flashy.”

Lie Qinggao immediately spat blood.

The High Priest laughed until he cried.

Both died.