Chapter 440 Imperial Intrigues and Throne Trials
Chapter 440 Imperial Intrigues and Throne Trials
A week passed away in a blink of an eye;
During this time, Mark was busy implementing his plans for the store and it was going rather well.
He couldn't help but look forward to the day when it reopens.
In the meantime, he won a new type of battle tank from the lottery wheel to sell. The battle tank was based on Merkava-IV from Mark's past world.
With each unit costing just about 7500 gold coins, the main battle tank is something that can destroy any spirit warrior below the high-6-circle realm and is durable enough to block the attacks below the 6-circle realm. Perhaps, the only disadvantage it has, like any other battle tank, is the speed. 𝑓𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸𝑒𝑏𝘯𝑜𝑣𝑒𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮
But then again, the smoothbore gun (120mm) of the battle tank could attack enemies from as far away as 3-4 km. So, it shouldn't be an issue.
Another disadvantage is that these are too heavy and it will be challenging to navigate in certain terrains, such as soft or uneven ground, forests, or urban areas. This can make them more vulnerable to ambushes and restrict their operational flexibility.
There is also high fuel consumption due to their large engines but since Mark planned on using his oil attribute to sell even the gasoline and all other types of fuel, it is cool.
Meanwhile, peace returned to Western Yan. Feng Wu's nephew and the only remaining heir of the past king, Feng Chun ascended to the throne at the tender age of 8.
Obviously, that means Feng Wu will be ruling in Feng Chun's place until the latter grew up into an adult.
The coronation ceremony went quite well with the attendance of the crown prince Shang Wei from the Phoenix Empire, King Shen Niu from Western Moon, King Ouyang Zen from Eastern Sun, respective envoys from the Dwarven Kingdom, Qilin Empire, and Kun Empire.
The Leon Empire even sent one of the princes with a general to the ceremony. Everyone formally acknowledged the ruling of the Feng Dynasty once again at Western Yan.
There, Shen Niu proposed the embassy system to fellow representatives. Only Ouyang Zen and Feng Chun gave their assent. The remaining could only take the proposal to their rulers.
As agreed on beforehand, the hostages were released by the Western Yan. The Ji family, General Hu, and his soldiers; everyone except for the experts of the Church of Nuwa were released.
Shang Wei also demanded Ouyang Zen to his release sister from captivity. However, Lan Jing replied that he cannot control the zheng. He merely was contracted to it.
According to the newspapers, the zheng was contracted to Ouyang Zen's Prime Minister, Lan Jing. And he abducted the daughter of the Emperor to force him into making peace with Feng Wu.
It is what Mark wanted to happen so that his name don't be attached to Western Yan as a key ally, and Lan Jing also cooperated with him, just like several other things, as he wanted to go back home with the heir of the Ancient Lan sect.
Shang Wei could only return empty-handed, disappointing his parents. Lan Jingyi swore in her heart that she brings back her child.
And within two days of the coronation ceremony, there was a huge battle in the Kunyu mountain range. Forests were destroyed, hills were razed to the ground, and several indigenous tribes living in the mountains without any contact with the outside world were wiped out, but Lan Jingyi couldn't achieve victory against the five-tailed scarlet leopard.
She lost her challenge and can no longer demand her daughter from the zheng. Hence, she can only try an emotional angle.
She would visit him daily and request for her daughter's release. As time passed, zheng's attachment to her and her late father affected him and made him softer.
***
Meanwhile, at the Imperial City, the trial for the imperial throne has started. About 5 contestants ended up in the race but unfortunately, Shang Wei didn't appear to be the favorite as the clan lords had expected.
From the imperial family, there are only two" Shang Wei (third prince), and Shang Zexi (crown prince).
The second prince isn't interested in the throne and he would have to leave very soon while the fourth prince prefers to stay in the shadows.
As for the remaining three, one is the Emperor's younger brother from a different mother. Shang Xing, aged 51, is the son of the Queen consort of Shang Fu's predecessor.
He and Shang Fu fought for the throne but the latter won with more support as he was not only the crown prince but also awakened the bloodline of the phoenix. Since then, the Grand Prince stayed out of politics.
Now that an opportunity came before him, Shang Xing jumped into the race.
The fourth contender, named Shang Hao, is a distant relative of the imperial family but still bears the surname as he was a direct descendant of Shang Fu's predecessor's predecessor's brother.
Shang Hao is currently working as the vice secretary of the Department of State Affairs. He isn't exactly what you call a key figure but still holds connections with the major noble clans.
And the final contender is surprisingly Shang Xiang's eldest son, Shang Jun. Aged only 27 years old, this young man was once touted as a genius who has the highest chance to become a supreme realm expert.
Born from Shang Xiang's concubine who hailed from Dragon Empire, Shang Jun was not only blessed with the phoenix bloodline but he also became a spirit warrior at the age of 5. When he was 8, he was already in the 2-circle realm.
However, in a suspicious incident in the past, when he and his mother were ambushed in the wild zone, his mother was killed along with the guards while one of them grabbed and escaped.
A timely save from a wandering spirit warrior saved his life but by that time, the kid has lost his cultivation. Since then, he was looked down on by family members and relatives. He faced a lot of bullying in the young but his father turned a blind eye.
After seven years, the 15-year-old coincidentally met the same wandering spirit warriors, who took him as a disciple. And together, they embarked on a journey.
No one knows where they have been or what Shang Jun was doing, but as he returned home a week ago after being away for 14 years, he somehow gained the cultivation and entered the 7-circle realm while still having the abilities given by the phoenix bloodline.