Seeing Crown Prince Xue Ye still hesitant, General Ge Long lifted his head and looked him straight in the eye, his voice unwavering.
"Your Highness, we, your loyal soldiers, are ready to give our lives for you without hesitation."
"The three thousand elite troops and five thousand palace guards we have are all battle-hardened and disciplined. Though we're unsure how many Soul Masters Xue Xing has recruited, our forces are far from powerless."
"Besides, if we don't take the risk, His Majesty's fate may be sealed, and Heaven Dou City could descend into chaos."
"Your Highness, I urge you—make your decision quickly before this chance slips away!"
Ge Long was a veteran statesman. In his youth, he had joined the Heaven Dou Empire and faithfully served it for decades. Now that the emperor was critically ill and the empire stood on the brink of collapse, his heart burned with urgency.
If Xue Xing—an indulgent prince skilled only in surface-level diplomacy—were to ascend the throne, the future of the Heaven Dou Empire would be one of unending turmoil.
And with Star Luo watching like a tiger waiting to pounce, Ge Long couldn't bear to see the empire plunge into ruin.
Suddenly, a thought struck him. His tone shifted, and a spark of hope lit in his eyes.
"Your Highness, don't forget—there are still three members of the Education Committee at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Each of them is a Soul Sage above Rank 75."
"They've always been staunchly loyal to the royal family. If Your Highness goes to them personally and explains the current crisis, I believe they'll be willing to lend their strength."
"With three Soul Sages on our side, our forces would become a spearhead that could break through any obstruction Xue Xing throws our way."
"Once the truth comes to light, not only will it secure His Majesty's safety, but it will also restore peace to Heaven Dou City."
"Your Highness, opportunities like this are fleeting. You must act now!"
Ge Long's words were impassioned—each one like a heavy hammer pounding against Xue Ye's heart.
To the prince, it was like a ray of light breaking through the darkness, giving him a renewed sense of purpose.
"Very well. General Ge Long, come with me!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Without waiting for attendants to bring their horses, the two rushed straight to the stables, mounted up, and galloped toward Heaven Dou Royal Academy like the wind.
"Hyah!!"
With a sharp snap of the reins, the horses charged forth like a pair of arrows.
Along the way, Xue Ye's heart was pounding with anxiety, urging the horses faster and faster. Before long, they arrived at the academy gates.
Dismounting in haste, the two made straight for the council courtyard where the three Education Committee members usually held meetings.
As soon as they stepped into the familiar courtyard, they saw Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin sitting together in discussion.
Seeing the prince and Ge Long rush in with such urgency and grim expressions, the three were visibly startled. They rose quickly to greet them.
"Your Highness, General Ge Long, what happened to cause such haste?" asked Meng Shenji.
Xue Ye didn't even bother wiping the sweat from his brow. In a rapid tone, he recounted everything—how he had been barred from his father's chambers by the palace guards, his growing suspicions that Xue Xing had colluded with Soul Masters, and his fears of a potential coup.
Then—with a thud—he fell to his knees, cupped his fists, and pleaded:
"Honored elders, the royal family is hanging by a thread! My father's fate is uncertain, and that traitor Xue Xing seeks to usurp the throne and overthrow the empire!"
"I beg of you, lend me your aid! With your strength as powerful Soul Sages, you can help expose Xue Xing's treachery and save Heaven Dou from falling into chaos!"
The sudden kneeling stunned the three elders. They hurried forward to lift him up.
Meng Shenji furrowed his brows, his expression grim.
"Your Highness, what are you doing? The safety of the royal family concerns us all. For Xue Xing to even contemplate such betrayal… it is utterly unforgivable!"
Bai Baoshan slammed the table in outrage.
"Your Highness, rest assured! We've long benefited from the royal family's kindness. Now that the throne is threatened, how could we sit back and do nothing? We will follow you and expose that despicable villain for who he truly is!"
Zhi Lin stroked his chin, a resolute glint in his eyes.
"Indeed. Xue Xing's actions have shaken the foundation of the empire. As members of the Royal Academy's Board of Education, it is our duty to stand with the throne in its hour of need."
The three elders had made their stance clear.
With their firm support, joy surged through Xue Ye and Ge Long. A rare smile appeared on the prince's face as he sat down with them to begin formulating a plan to storm the palace.
Ge Long retrieved a simple palace map from his soul tool and laid it on the table.
"Honored elders, Your Highness—on the surface, the palace guards answer to His Majesty. But I fear that many of them are already under Xue Xing's control. A direct assault would likely lead to unnecessary casualties."
Meng Shenji nodded as he stroked his beard.
"Agreed. Soul Masters are not to be underestimated. If Xue Xing has truly made his move, then he's likely enlisted many to his cause. We must avoid clashing head-on and instead seek a strategic weakness."
Bai Baoshan studied the map with a deep gaze and proposed:
"How about we split into two forces? I'll lead part of the guards and launch a frontal assault to divert attention. Meanwhile, His Highness, General Ge Long, and the other two elders can infiltrate the palace from the shadows and strike directly at the heart of the conspiracy."
Zhi Lin rubbed his chin and nodded after a moment's thought.
"A sound plan. But timing will be critical."
"The diversionary force must be precise. Exposing our true intentions too early would ruin everything—but acting too late would trap the infiltrators in a dangerous position."
"Also, we must gather intel on how Xue Xing has deployed his Soul Masters within the palace. Knowing the enemy's movements is half the battle."
Xue Ye frowned slightly.
"I have some guesses about their distribution, but nothing concrete. It seems we'll need to send someone to investigate again."
"And we must mobilize the fifty-thousand troops stationed outside the city. Once they arrive, the tide will turn decisively in our favor."
With the help of the three elders, Xue Ye's anxiety eased. His mind cleared, and he regained his composure.
"Leave it to me, Your Highness," Ge Long said solemnly. "I'll dispatch our most trusted agents to gather intel inside the palace and coordinate with our forces outside the city."
Everyone chimed in, discussing and refining the plan. Every detail was carefully considered and adjusted.
As the strategy took shape, a precise, coordinated operation to reclaim the palace was finally ready—just waiting for the perfect moment to strike and crush Xue Xing's treacherous ambitions.
---
Meanwhile, deep inside the royal palace, Gu Han wore a confident, sly smile—like a predator lurking silently in the dark, watching Xue Ye and the others' every move.
Nearby, Ning Fengzhi and the others sat with their eyes closed, quietly conserving their energy. Bibi Dong, however, was anxiously fidgeting with a pen on the table, her eyes drifting toward the window, unable to calm down.
Gu Han gently placed his hand over hers, offering silent reassurance.
Bibi Dong pursed her lips. Though she had been fired up at the start of the plan, now that things had reached this point, a wave of nervousness was inevitable.
Gu Han understood.
After all, this Bibi Dong was not yet the ruthless future Supreme Pontiff from the original story.
She was still just a girl.
~~~
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