Duskwild Prefecture.
Fourth Prince Yu was fishing, resembling an old man wearing a straw rain cape.
The old general of the Eastern Frontier, Dongfang Liancheng, was surprisingly fishing together with Fourth Prince Yu.
And Li Kuangren was actually here as well. The light rain of the Eastern Frontier fell upon the lake's surface, creating layers of ripples.
Li Changsheng hadn't come to Duskwild Prefecture; Li Kuangren came instead.
He and Fourth Prince Yu could be considered old friends.
Over these centuries, whenever Li Kuangren had free time, he would come to Duskwild Prefecture to converse with this deeply calculating old fox, Fourth Prince Yu; he could always learn something new.
"I heard your son, Li Changsheng, went all over the world asking for help, only to completely hit a wall?" Fourth Prince Yu asked without turning his head.
"Yes." Li Kuangren said expressionlessly,
"Actually, I understood many years ago that obeying the Imperial Dynasty is absolutely useless. But the people of our family are different.
Outsiders all say that the people of our Azure Cloud Prefecture are barbarians, but in truth, the ones who most devoutly believe in 'benevolence, wisdom, propriety, righteousness, and trust' in the entire Imperial Dynasty are actually us."
"Our High Ancestor addressed the Human Emperor, always respectfully calling him 'Your Majesty'.
My great-grandaunt treated the Human Emperor in the Imperial Dynasty. My great-grandfather received his legacy from the Heavenly Light Sect."
"My son Changsheng revered the Human Emperor. As for Chang, Chang always believed that serving under the Imperial Dynasty was a blessing for our family."
Li Kuangren's gaze softened. "My clansmen, who appear ruthless and insidious in the eyes of the world, are actually terrifyingly naive."
"I am also terrifyingly naive."
Dongfang Liancheng sighed. Now, he looked even more aged.
Over these centuries, the news of Li Tianyue losing her life in the Western Frontier, and the news of Crown Prince Fei Heng using living humans for the Corpse-Stitching Art gradually reaching his ears, had constantly shattered his traditional concepts and the final bottom line in his heart.
Until the immortals emerged and Wenren Xianyi collaborated with the immortals, his bottom line completely collapsed.
Otherwise, upon seeing Fourth Prince Yu, he would have slapped him across the face long ago.
"It's not naivety; we actually understand all the principles," Fourth Prince Yu smiled.
"But we are all human. The meaning of human life involves pursuits and beliefs. Perhaps, when faced with massive benefits, we too would abandon our bottom lines."
"You all could actually be a bit less naive. It's very simple: abandon the commoners and homes of Azure Cloud Prefecture and leave a path of survival for yourselves.
After all, there are millions of commoners in Azure Cloud Prefecture, and you don't even know them."
Li Kuangren frowned, and his face gradually turned dark.
It seemed he was also a bit naive.
This old geezer really knew how to curse people out.
Suppressing the anger in his heart, Li Kuangren said, "So, Your Highness Prince Yu, are you willing to lend our Azure Cloud Prefecture a helping hand?"
"Keep talking," Fourth Prince Yu continued to fish calmly.
Li Kuangren said, "Wenren Xianyi is currently relying on Min Youguo and Lin Jiu to achieve total victory over the Demon Race in the Northern Frontier.
The Blood Moon in the Western Frontier is also continuously sending experts to her, and the Wu Tribe is steadily retreating.
Once our Southern Frontier is damaged, it will be Duskwild Prefecture's turn."
"Keep talking."
Li Kuangren said patiently: "Therefore, I have brought Old General Dongfang here.
Old General Dongfang will persuade the grand army of the Eastern Frontier to let Your Highness pass the borders.
Afterwards, our Azure Cloud Prefecture will assist Your Highness in purging the Emperor's entourage."
This time, Fourth Prince Yu finally set down his fishing rod and looked at the deeply frowning Dongfang Liancheng.
"Old General Dongfang has fought against this Prince for centuries; can you truly make this decision?"
Dongfang Liancheng's bottom line was collapsing, one thread after another, leaving only the thinnest thread remaining.
Li Kuangren said, "Old General, Aunt Tianyue staying in your Eastern Frontier meant death, and going to the Western Frontier still meant death.
Even if those soldiers leave the Eastern Frontier, they would still be serving the Imperial Dynasty, but now..."
"They don't even have a decent tomb. My aunt... still hasn't returned home. She is still in the Western Frontier."
Having spoken, Li Kuangren took a deep breath, walked into the distance, and gazed toward the direction of Azure Cloud Prefecture.
The Imperial Dynasty had repeatedly shattered his already fragile bottom line. This time, he didn't want to endure it anymore!
He also didn't want to hold onto a single shred of hope for the decaying Imperial Dynasty!
Behind him, Fourth Prince Yu stood up, looking at Dongfang Liancheng with great interest.
At this moment, Dongfang Liancheng seemed to have aged significantly; his white hair blowing in the wind and his otherwise robust body both appeared desolate.
Finally, Dongfang Liancheng nodded. "I will open the borders. I have one condition."
"Speak."
"I want Wenren Xianyi's head spiked in front of the gates of the Heavenly Palace."
The corners of Fourth Prince Yu's mouth curled up. He glanced at the departing Li Kuangren. "Aren't you afraid that once I enter the Imperial Capital, I won't help your Li Clan?"
Li Kuangren didn't stop for a moment, leaving without saying a word.
Dongfang Liancheng and Fourth Prince Yu frowned as they watched Li Kuangren leave so rudely.
In the storm-gathering Imperial Dynasty, a wild beast had broken free from its final chains.
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