CHAPTER 252: CHAPTER252-REBELLION

"Seize her, take that witch to the death cell," commanded the king, his voice thundering across the plaza.

At his word, the imperial guards, warriors of the capital, dismounted and surrounded everyone present, then took the stunned Alison into custody.

The king glared at the assembly, decreeing, "No one here is to leave without my express permission. Anyone who dares to act rashly, regardless of their status, shall be executed on the spot."

Three thousand golden-armored sacred warriors, wielding golden swords, sealed off the entire Heaven Altar.

"How is he?" the king inquired urgently.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince’s life force is rapidly diminishing. He may not last two more hours," was the grave report.

"What, insolence!" roared the king.

"Is there truly no remedy?"

The royal physicians, trembling, dared not meet the king’s gaze, admitting their helplessness.

The king’s fingers clenched audibly, his gaze sweeping over those present: "Whoever can cure Armando’s ailment will be rewarded with a thousand miles of land and a dukedom!"

Hearing the king’s offer, everyone bowed their heads, none daring to meet his eye.

As the king was frantically dealing with Armando’s sudden plight, a warrior’s voice reached them from outside, "Your Majesty, the national preceptor from the Heaven Altar requests an audience. He claims he can temporarily preserve the Crown Prince’s life."

Overjoyed, the king exclaimed, "Quick, bring Blois to me at once!"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Amidst the encircled nobility at the Heaven Altar, the Second Prince whispered to his uncle at his side, "Uncle, now that your plan has succeeded, and everyone present can be convinced that Alison intended to murder the heir apparent, and given that Armando will inevitably perish from the Immortal Corpse Emperor draining his essence blood, why do you still intend to save him now?"

Blois, hearing his nephew’s question, smirked coldly.

"No one would suspect me, but they would certainly suspect you, as you stand to gain the most from Armando’s death. But he cannot die yet. We must wait until our allies from the Snow Realm create further troubles for the king. Let’s wait and see how this tyrant’s reign ends."

Impressed, the Second Prince praised his uncle’s cunning.

Shortly after, Blois was summoned to the king’s presence.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," Blois said, bowing.

"Rise, Blois. No need for formalities. Come quickly and see what ails Armando," the king urged.

Approaching the ailing Armando, Blois concealed his inner scorn, feigning concern as he examined the prince.

After an anxious wait, Blois, aware that the Immortal Corpse Emperor’s consumption would soon end Armando’s life, chanted a spell to temporarily seal the malevolent force within Armando.

However, he knew this reprieve would be short-lived.

Seeing Armando’s condition slightly improve, the king rejoiced, promising Blois great rewards.

Blois, hiding his amusement at the king’s gratitude, warned, "Thank you, Your Majesty, but this is only a temporary measure. Without a true cure, the prince’s life remains in peril."

"What? You mean Armando’s life is still at risk?" the king asked, alarmed.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Blois confirmed.

The king’s heart sank with despair.

"Then, is there truly no way to cure Armando?"

"There is a way, but..."

Upon hearing National Preceptor Blois mention a glimmer of hope, the king eagerly grasped Blois’s hand, pressing him for details.

"What is it? Speak quickly! Whatever you need, I shall have it fetched for you."

Just as hope was rekindled in the king’s heart, the solemn voice of an imperial guard from outside disrupted the moment.

"Report! Your Majesty, Norton of the Snow Realm has raised an army in rebellion."

A shiver ran through the king at such timing...

...

Silence pervaded the great hall, with officials awaiting the king’s decree.

It was then that Korri, breathless, arrived.

"Your Majesty, the National Preceptor has managed to stabilize the prince’s condition using a millennium Ganoderma."

Hearing Korri’s words, the king’s expression softened, though he sounded exhausted, "Reward... give National Preceptor Blois a great reward."

"But, Your Majesty..." Korri’s expression was grave.

Seeing Korri’s troubled face, the king sensed ominous news, fearing the worst for Armando.

Sigh.

"What is it? Out with it and stop dawdling," the king demanded.

Frightened by the king’s scolding, Korri knelt down in the hall, tears and snot mingling on his face, "Your Majesty, the National Preceptor said that saving the prince’s life requires... requires your essence blood to extend his life. But it’s only a temporary solution. To fully cure the prince, we must use the Millennium Snow Lotus that grows in the Snow Realm."

"Speak, man! Don’t dither, or I’ll have your head," the king roared, his patience wearing thin.

Kneeling, Korri wept, "Your Majesty, National Preceptor Blois says we need Your Majesty’s essence blood to sustain Prince Armando’s life. However, it will only ease the immediate crisis. A complete cure requires the Millennium Snow Lotus from the Snow Realm."

Upon hearing Korri’s words, the king remarked, "So it requires my essence blood! I thought it was something far more grave!"

"Very well, lead me to Armando so I may donate my blood."

Blois awaited the king’s arrival.

Seeing the king approach, escorted by the imperial guards, a sinister smile crept across his face.

"Blois pays his respects to the great king."

"National Preceptor, rise quickly. How can we save my Armando? Begin immediately!"

Blois, pleased by the king’s urgency, thought to himself with glee.

Ha! I don’t need your essence blood at all; I’m after your life.

He had the king sit down and then began the ritual.

During the ceremony, the king distinctly felt something invade his body.

However, driven by a desperate desire to save his son, he did not resist and allowed National Preceptor Blois to proceed with his magic.

"It is done, Your Majesty."

Upon hearing National Preceptor Blois’s voice, the king opened his eyes, "How did it go? Was it successful?"

"Your Majesty, it was exceedingly successful. With your essence blood, the crown prince can survive for another month at least. However, I urge Your Majesty to quickly dispatch someone to retrieve the Millennium Snow Lotus to save the prince’s life definitively."

"Rest assured, National Preceptor. I shall personally lead an expedition to the Snow Realm to find the Millennium Snow Lotus and save my Armando’s life. Blois, proceed to the palace and tend to Armando. I must now head to the grand hall to discuss how to quell Norton, the traitor who bites the hand that feeds."

After uttering these words, the king departed briskly.

Blois, watching the king leave, bowed low and murmured under his breath, "Farewell, my king."

In the grand hall, ministers passionately contested the king’s decision to personally lead an expedition against the rebel Norton in the Snow Realm.

"My mind is made up, my ministers. Speak no more of this. In ten days, we shall muster an army of two hundred thousand to march on the Snow Realm. Each division must ready the necessary arms, provisions, and supplies within ten days. Any delay will be met with death!"

Meanwhile, in the Snow Realm, Norton and his band of rebels were also in discussion.

"Father, can we really trust that National Preceptor Blois?" one of them questioned, skepticism in his tone.

Norton, with an air of solitary arrogance, reassured, "Rest assured. That lad Blois will not disappoint us."

"Father, father, I just don’t understand why we don’t launch a surprise attack on the capital," stuttered Norton’s eldest son, bewildered.

Norton, seated in his military tent, grew infuriated by his son’s stuttering query.

"Silence, you fool! What do you know? It’s early spring, and after a winter’s depletion, our supplies are insufficient for my three hundred thousand-strong army to march on the capital. We must defend and wait for the king’s forces to come to us."

His younger son, thoughtful, then asked, "But father, I’ve witnessed the king’s royal army’s might firsthand during the suppression of the Balder rebellion. It was effortlessly done! I doubt my men could achieve such a thunderous and effortless victory against Balder’s hundred thousand troops."

Hearing his younger son’s analysis, Norton’s face grew somber, having always hesitated to rebel for fear of the king’s elite force of five hundred thousand.

"Don’t worry. If I dared to rebel, I have full confidence. The king’s royal troops are formidable, but what if they lack the king’s command?"

"Could it be...?" his son began to understand.

"Exactly," Norton sneered with pride.

"National Preceptor Blois will take care of this problem for us."

Father and son exchanged knowing smiles, while the eldest son, listening to the conversation, looked utterly lost.

A grand army set forth from the capital toward the Snow Realm.

In the heart of the army, the king sat in a splendid carriage, eyes closed, expressionless.

"Your Majesty, Norton’s forces are fifty li ahead," reported an officer.

"Have the army halt and make camp here. We’ll rest for five days before the decisive battle," the king commanded somberly.

"Yes, Your Majesty. The entire army, halt and make camp here," relayed the command throughout the ranks.

The vast army stopped its advance and began setting up camp on the spot.

Within half a day, a military encampment, surrounded by a fence made from thousands of wooden stakes, rose from the ground.