The next day.
As dawn broke, Zhang Yang and his group set out in four different directions.
For the sake of safety,
Zhang Yang specifically used the disguise technique, giving everyone a fabricated face to prevent them from being discovered.
Huo Zhu and Hu Tiantian, along with two old ancestors from the maternal uncle's family, headed north.
He Ao, accompanied by Hong Tao and two old ancestors, went east.
The Western Frontier Beast King and an old ancestor secretly returned to the Western Frontier.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yang himself, along with Old Ancestor Shangguan, returned to Jiangnan City.
Jiangnan City.
It was the center of the southern region.
Zhang Yang planned to start here and persuade several major powers in the vicinity first.
Looking at the long-unseen Jiangnan City.
Memories of the past flooded Zhang Yang's mind.
This was the place where he grew up, yet now he was forced to leave his home by the Emperor, unable to survive here.
"We'll be back once this fake Emperor is dealt with sooner!" Zhang Yang vowed silently.
Afterward.
He led Old Ancestor Shangguan to the Blood Kill Sect, not far from Jiangnan City.
The Blood Kill Sect had a considerable strength and scale.
The sect had three Hunyuan Realm experts guarding it.
It could be considered one of the leading powers in the southern martial arts world.
When Zhang Yang and Old Ancestor Shangguan arrived at the Blood Kill Sect, the guards stationed outside the sect stopped them and shouted.
"Halt! This is the territory of the Blood Kill Sect. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed to approach."
"Hmph!" Old Ancestor Shangguan snorted coldly.
"The Blood Kill Sect puts on quite an air. Immediately send word to your sect. I am Old Ancestor Shangguan from the Imperial City. Tell him to come out and greet me quickly."
Zhang Yang chuckled. He knew Old Ancestor Shangguan was better at handling such situations than he was.
What!
Upon hearing that it was Old Ancestor Shangguan from the Imperial City, the guards were instantly startled.
This was a maternal uncle's family!
"Old Ancestor Shangguan, please wait a moment. I will report this immediately."
The guards, in a panic, quickly turned to report the matter.
Not long after.
Three white-haired old men rushed out in a state of disarray.
However, as they looked at Zhang Yang and Old Ancestor Shangguan, they frowned.
"Are you Old Ancestor Shangguan?" the Blood Kill Sect Master asked doubtfully.
The person in front of him.
Seemed different from his impression of Old Ancestor Shangguan.
Although their builds were somewhat similar, their appearances were completely different.
He had seen Old Ancestor Shangguan three years ago. It was unlikely that he would have changed his face in three years, right?
"What? Are you doubting my identity?" Old Ancestor Shangguan said sternly.
"I dare not. It's just, why do you look like this, Old Ancestor?" the Blood Kill Sect Master probed.
As he spoke, his hand behind his back was secretly making gestures.
He signaled his two Hunyuan Realm companions to spread out, ready to apprehend Zhang Yang and the other.
A few days ago.
They had also heard about the incident involving the six maternal uncle's families.
It was said that the six maternal uncle's families had mobilized their entire forces to capture Linhai City.
However, in the end, the six maternal uncle's families disappeared overnight as they approached Linhai City.
The rumors circulating outside were that they were dealt with by the descendants of King Ming.
But now, someone suddenly appeared.
Claiming to be Old Ancestor Shangguan, which made them suspicious.
Hmph!
What a bold imposter, daring to deceive their Blood Kill Sect.
Were they tired of living!
However.
The Blood Kill Sect Master's subtle movements were completely hidden from Zhang Yang and the other two.
Seeing the three Hunyuan Realm experts of the Blood Kill Sect spread out, Zhang Yang and Old Ancestor Shangguan sneered disdainfully.
The two of them were straightforward. They directly removed the human skin masks from their faces and revealed their true appearances.
"Sect Master Blood Kill, take another look. Do we look like imposters?" Zhang Yang asked with a smile.
When the two removed their masks.
The three from the Blood Kill Sect instantly changed their expressions!
"King of Jiangnan, why are you here? This..."
"It really is Old Ancestor Shangguan. We apologize!"
Seeing Zhang Yang and Old Ancestor Shangguan reveal their true faces, the three immediately bowed respectfully.
However.
Their minds were filled with questions.
Why was Zhang Yang with an old ancestor from a maternal uncle's family?
Hadn't Zhang Yang fallen out with the Emperor?
Were the maternal uncle's families not the Emperor's closest allies?
These two should be enemies, shouldn't they?
"Heh, this is not a place to talk," Zhang Yang shook his head and then asked with a smile.
"What? Do you still want us to stand here? Aren't you going to invite us in for a seat?"
"Please, please come in quickly." The Blood Kill Sect Master quickly stepped aside and led Zhang Yang and the others inside.
Afterward.
He sternly addressed the guards at the entrance.
"Remember. No one has come to the Blood Kill Sect just now. You saw nothing."
"Yes, subordinate understands." The guards also knew that something was wrong and quickly assured him.
Five minutes later.
The Blood Kill Sect Master led Zhang Yang and the other two to a reception room.
He personally poured tea for them.
Apart from the other two Hunyuan Realm elders, all other irrelevant personnel were driven away more than a hundred meters.
"King of Jiangnan, Old Ancestor Shangguan, you are... why have you come to my place today?"
The Blood Kill Sect Master had at least a hundred questions in his mind.
For a moment.
He didn't know where to begin asking.
"Heh, it's just a matter of circumstance. We've come to your place today because there's something we want to remind you of," Zhang Yang smiled, without explaining too much.
"King of Jiangnan, please speak freely. As long as I can do it," the Blood Kill Sect Master immediately agreed.
"Heh, I'm no longer the King of Jiangnan. Just call me Zhang Yang," Zhang Yang waved his hand with a smile.
But the Blood Kill Sect Master shook his head and didn't listen.
They still had to show the utmost respect to Zhang Yang.
After all.
This was a Yuanfu Realm expert!
Even without the title of King of Jiangnan, such a person was not someone their humble Blood Kill Sect could afford to offend.
Moreover, Zhang Yang had treated them well when he was the King of Jiangnan.
He had not suppressed them excessively, and even exempted their regular tributes.
"Sect Master Blood Kill, we are pressed for time, so we won't waste your time. Today, we are here to remind you that from now on, whatever the Emperor asks you to do, you must not obey," Zhang Yang said directly.
This!
The Blood Kill Sect Master was stunned and very confused.
They were not to obey the Emperor's orders?
Wouldn't that be considered rebellion?
"King of Jiangnan, I don't quite understand. Please enlighten me," the Blood Kill Sect Master asked.
"The current Emperor in the Imperial City is a fake. If you obey him, you are aiding and abetting evil!" Old Ancestor Shangguan said sternly.
What!
As soon as these words were spoken.
The three Hunyuan Realm experts of the Blood Kill Sect were immediately unsettled!
The current Emperor is a fake?
This news was too explosive!
"Old Ancestor Shangguan, do you have any evidence? This is a capital offense, and you cannot joke about it," the Blood Kill Sect Master said seriously.
At the same time.
He was also silently on guard.
He suspected that Old Ancestor Shangguan had been misled by Zhang Yang and wanted to rebel with Zhang Yang!
If that were the case, then they could not do anything that would betray the Emperor.
"Hmph!"
Old Ancestor Shangguan snorted disdainfully. "Do you think I would be deceived and tricked by Zhang Yang based on your expressions? Let me tell you, if the Emperor weren't fake, why would I be with Zhang Yang?"
"Would the status of a maternal uncle's family be higher than rebelling with Zhang Yang? Why would I take such a risk?"
This...
The three from the Blood Kill Sect felt a bit awkward.
Old Ancestor Shangguan's bluntness had revealed their thoughts.
However, upon closer consideration, it was indeed true.
The status of a maternal uncle's family was essentially second only to the Emperor, commanding immense power.
If they followed Zhang Yang in rebellion, there would be no point.
Moreover, rebelling with Zhang Yang carried an extraordinary risk, with a high probability of facing the disaster of sect annihilation.
"May I ask Old Ancestor Shangguan, do you have any evidence?"
After a moment of contemplation, the Blood Kill Sect Master asked sheepishly.
Evidence?
The other party had hit the nail on the head.
Zhang Yang and the others had no evidence in their hands.
The fact that the current Emperor was a fake was entirely based on their deductions from various incidents.
It was impossible to produce tangible evidence.
For example, the attack on the Western Frontier by the Gu Ma Kingdom. If they said it was the Emperor's collusion, no one would believe it.
The Emperor's order for the six maternal uncle's families to mobilize their entire forces and attack Linhai City, intending to use them as a tool to eliminate the descendants of King Ming, was also without evidence.
Not to mention the matter with Sakura Country, the news had not yet spread, and too few people knew about it.
However.
This was not a problem for Zhang Yang and the others.
Before coming.
Zhang Yang and the others had already planned a complete set of explanations.
If there was no evidence, then the six maternal uncle's families would create evidence.
"Hmph! Truly ignorant."
Old Ancestor Shangguan continued to snort coldly. "Don't you understand the implications when our six maternal uncle's families left the Imperial City with their families?
"Let me tell you the truth today, it's because we discovered that the Emperor was a fake. To protect the safety of our families, we found an excuse to say we were going to capture Linhai City, and thus leave the Imperial City!"
"Otherwise, why would we disappear together after leaving the Imperial City?"
"You also know the relationship between our six maternal uncle's families and the Emperor, right? We fought alongside the Emperor in all directions when he had not yet obtained the throne."
"Through years of observation, we have found the Emperor's behavior to be strange more than once."
"His living habits, including his daily routines. Even his nonsensical speech and forgetfulness of past events are full of problems."
"These scattered incidents have no evidence, and because you do not understand the Emperor well, even if I tell you one by one now, you will not be able to judge the truth."
This...
After Old Ancestor Shangguan finished speaking, the three from the Blood Kill Sect fell into deep thought.
The six maternal uncle's families would definitely know the most about the Emperor.
They lived in the Imperial City, and it was indeed true that they would discover the Emperor's peculiarities.
So it seems...
The Emperor might indeed be a fake.
Otherwise, the six maternal uncle's families would have no reason to give up their lives in the Imperial City and leave with their families.
"Old Ancestor Shangguan, since you know the Emperor is fake, why don't you directly publicize this matter? Instead, you secretly approach us?" the Blood Kill Sect Master asked.
"Foolish!"
Old Ancestor Shangguan said coldly. "It's easy for us to declare the Emperor's identity as fake. But what about the real Emperor? What if the real Emperor is now in the hands of the fake Emperor? Wouldn't that be dangerous?"
"The reason Old Ancestor and I are here to inform you today is not because we hope you can help us. It's to remind you not to become lackeys of the fake Emperor and turn against us, making it more difficult for us to find the real Emperor."
Instantly.
The three from the Blood Kill Sect understood.
And Zhang Yang, seeing this, struck while the iron was hot.
"Everyone, in fact, when I resigned as the King of Jiangnan to the Emperor in the Imperial City, it was precisely because I discovered something was wrong with the Emperor."
"Don't forget, what is the power behind me? The Five Dragons of Huaxia, once a top power in the Imperial City, they also understood the Emperor very well."
"That's why I chose to resign directly, so as not to become the Emperor's lackey!"
So that's how it is.
Now, all three from the Blood Kill Sect understood.
No wonder Zhang Yang chose to resign from his position as the King of Jiangnan.
It turned out that through the Five Dragons of Huaxia, he had discovered that the Emperor's identity was suspicious.
"We only need to not obey the Emperor's orders, and we don't need to do anything else?" the Blood Kill Sect Master asked.
"Mmm," Zhang Yang nodded.
"Your martial sects are not enough to fight on our side. Asking for your help would only make you cannon fodder."
"Your purpose is to stabilize the situation in various regions and prevent infiltration and sabotage by enemy spies."
"Therefore, we also need to preserve your strength. We will deal with the fake Emperor ourselves. You don't need to cause trouble."
Zhang Yang explained.
His consideration for the martial sects touched the three from the Blood Kill Sect greatly.
Zhang Yang and the others did not want them to be cannon fodder, but only to remain neutral.
The three from the Blood Kill Sect exchanged glances.
After a long period of quiet discussion, they finally said,
"Alright. If it's just about not obeying the Emperor's orders to deal with you, then we can completely do that. And it's easy to find a reason."
"However, beyond that, we cannot listen to you. After all, we also need to consider our sect."
Obviously.
The Blood Kill Sect Master believed them and was willing to follow Zhang Yang's wishes.
Zhang Yang and the other two smiled. Fortunately, it wasn't too troublesome.
"Heh, thank you for your understanding. Only the three of you need to know about this. Don't let the people below the sect know."
"Otherwise, it will cause panic, which will indirectly affect our actions," Zhang Yang instructed.
"No problem," the Blood Kill Sect Master nodded and assured him.
The matter of the current Emperor being a fake was too shocking for them.
Even with the testimony of the maternal uncle's family old ancestor, and Zhang Yang and the others offering reasons without evidence.
The three from the Blood Kill Sect still found it somewhat unbelievable.
However, agreeing to Zhang Yang's conditions was not difficult, and they could accept it.
This way, in the end, they could avoid offending either side.
"Then we won't disturb you any further. We still need to rush to the next location."
Having persuaded the Blood Kill Sect, Zhang Yang did not linger and prepared to leave with Old Ancestor Shangguan.
But!
At this moment.
A guard from the Blood Kill Sect hurriedly shouted from outside.
"Sect Master, the Second Prince is here. He says he wants to see you."
What?
The Second Prince is here?
The Blood Kill Sect Master was startled and looked at Zhang Yang and Old Ancestor Shangguan.
"Two esteemed guests, does the Second Prince know about the suspicious identity of the Emperor?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yang and Old Ancestor Shangguan both shook their heads.
They were also puzzled as to why such a coincidence had occurred.
They had just started their actions, and the Second Prince and his entourage had arrived?
Didn't Zhu Zhi say that the descendants of King Ming had informants in the Imperial City?
Why was there no news from the informants about the Second Prince's movements?
"Let's hide in the shadows and see what the Second Prince wants to say," Zhang Yang suggested.
The Blood Kill Sect Master also agreed to this request.
However.
Their mindset, which had just been persuaded by Zhang Yang, silently shifted, and they began to doubt again.
"Let's go, we'll go and welcome the Second Prince first."
The three dared not delay and also got up to greet him.
After a while.
The three invited the Second Prince to the reception hall.
"Heh, your Highness the Second Prince's visit truly brings glory to our Blood Kill Sect," the Blood Kill Sect Master said politely.
The Second Prince chuckled.
He had heard too many such flattering words from the Blood Kill Sect Master.
"Sect Master Blood Kill, my schedule is rather busy today, so I won't exchange pleasantries with you."