CHAPTER 504: CHAPTER 417: TREASON_4

Everyone present saw clearly that a bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking the Emperor directly. Seeing the Emperor’s body emitting smoke and remaining motionless, it was likely that he had been struck dead by the lightning.

Even the tens of thousands of onlookers on the hillside witnessed this scene. Although they couldn’t see clearly, they could roughly understand what had happened.

For a moment, everyone was dumbfounded.

Sun Shangdao, as a Martial Saint, reacted the fastest and had the keenest perception. He immediately realized that the Emperor had been struck dead by lightning. His face turned exceptionally grim!

Zuo Bubei and the Mother of Non-Birth were so audacious as to openly use Thunder Skill to kill the Emperor in front of thousands, even in the presence of numerous foreign delegations.

However, Zuo Bubei had clearly advanced to Martial God; just releasing his Martial Arts Divine Intent was enough to suppress all present, leaving no one able to oppose him. Even Qi Donglai betrayed the Emperor, evidently not daring to confront Zuo Bubei.

Sun Shangdao felt both furious and bewildered, wondering what he should do in such a situation.

Zuo Bubei was already on the high platform, declaring loudly with a Buddhist chant, "Heavenly lightning descends, sending His Majesty to ascend to the heavens. This is the will of heaven."

Upon hearing this, an uproar ensued below. What heavenly lightning, what will of heaven? Who are you fooling!

To publicly murder the Emperor in front of the whole nation, such outrageous rebelliousness, yet daring to speak of the will of heaven, such arrogance has never been seen throughout history.

Zuo Bubei offered no explanation, merely releasing a giant golden Buddha several dozen feet tall, instantly silencing all voices.

Luo Tiangang gracefully landed on the high platform and said in a loud voice, "His Majesty banned Buddhism and suppressed Daoist practices, hence he suffered the wrath of heaven. This is the cycle of cause and effect, all predestined."

Of the Six Paths and Eight Sects, apart from the Ten Directions Dao, Taiyi Dao, Path of Non-Birth, and Divine Martial Sect, the remaining ten sects were completely unprepared for this event. Many masters were both shocked and furious at the words of Luo Tiangang and Zuo Bubei.

Many members of the royal family were either terrified, grief-stricken, or lost in thought, each reacting differently. The civil and military officials also wore complex expressions.

Yet, under the suppression of Zuo Bubei’s unparalleled Martial Arts Divine Intent, no one dared to stand up and argue against it.

The foreign delegations were also extremely shocked. To brazenly murder an Emperor, such an event was utterly astounding.

Even a strong figure like Mengtu bore an expression of disbelief. Liu Sheng Wu Jian couldn’t hide his shock.

Among the masses below the Xingtian Altar, only Gao Xuan remained truly calm and composed. From the moment Zuo Bubei exhibited the Ten Directions Buddha of Martial Arts Divine Intent, Gao Xuan knew the Emperor was doomed.

Even if he exerted all his strength, he couldn’t save this guy. One could only say this was a fated calamity for the Emperor.

Gao Xuan actually supported the Emperor; sects like Ten Directions Dao and Taiyi Dao that don’t produce but exploit countless believers to amass wealth are great harms to the country and its people.

Unfortunately, the Emperor had a harsh fate, encountering Martial God Zuo Bubei. The opponent directly clashed head-on, rendering any tactics or strategies by the Emperor useless, resulting only in his death.

Gao Xuan whispered to Sun Shangdao, "Senior Brother, which Prince should we back?"

"Huh, what?" Sun Shangdao, a dignified Martial Saint, was utterly dumbfounded by the question; he couldn’t comprehend what Gao Xuan meant.

"I mean, which Prince should we support to take the throne."

Seeing Sun Shangdao still not understanding the situation, Gao Xuan patiently explained, "The Emperor is dead. Whichever Prince is most aligned with us, we should have him ascend the throne."

This was a simple logic that Sun Shangdao surely couldn’t fail to grasp.

Sun Shangdao looked deeply at Gao Xuan, suspecting he might have lost his mind. Now it was Zuo Bubei and Luo Tiangang who were in charge; there was no room for them to speak.

Moreover, Zuo Bubei and Luo Tiangang might not tolerate him and Gao Xuan, the two Martial Saints!

To be considering the line of succession at this moment, Gao Xuan was truly a talent of unparalleled foresight, seeing hundreds of steps ahead from just one...