Chapter 262: Co-conspirator?

The King was appalled by this information and doubted it at first. But then after thinking over it he realized that there literally was no reason for Shirong to fabricate this information.

If Shirong really wanted to go against the Ling kingdom, there were many easier ways to do it rather than this. He looked at his remaining ministers who were still sitting in the hall showing anxious expressions.

"I see… we'll look into it right away." King Huo said.

"Actually King Huo, you won't have to look far. I believe one of the co-conspirators should be right here." Shirong said with a toothy smile.

Beads of sweat dripped down Du Yang's forehead as his hands trembled. King Huo gritted his teeth and looked around the hall once again. But right now nearly every minister was in a similar condition to that of Du Yang, making it hard for him to assume.

"Do you want me to tell you who that person is?" Shirong teased.

"Please do, young master…" King Huo said in a tired tone.

Shirong did not speak but simply turned to face Du Yang.

"Would you like to say it yourself or should I do it now," Shirong said.

The thing was, Shirong didn't even know if Minister Du Yang was part of this or not. As from what he knew, the Shadow dagger pavilion had likely cooperated with the Nian Yue sect under the direction of his sister. 

While Minster Du Yang and Elder Pei were under the direction of his brothers. Shirong knew that they would not cooperate on matters such as this, as they had rivalry between them anyway.

But Shirong didn't care for this. Since his sister and brothers had decided to fight for the position of the Heir this way, he may as well pool them together. As for what came out of this, it didn't matter to him.

The mess would be his sister and brothers to deal with. In fact, he hoped they would do more of this so that he could pull them deeper into his net.

'The more you struggle the more you will fall, I won't let the position of the Heir be taken from me.' Shirong thought to himself with determination.

Everyone could understand the implication in Shirong's voice and knew that the conspirator Shirong was talking about was none other than Minster Du Yang. The other ministers secretly took breaths of relief upon seeing that it was not them. Though not all of them were sure yet.

"Lies! I did no such thing, I'm being slandered, your majesty!" Du Yang protested.

He didn't know why this was being put on him. He knew about the existence of the Shadow Dagger pavilion and even had some dealings with them. But he didn't ask them to target Shirong. He was not that stupid. Sure, he had put Elder Pei on him, but not the bandits.

"Is that so?" Shirong said before flicking his finger.

~Kaboom!~

"ARGH!" Du Yang yelled in pain, as his arm was blasted apart.

Shirong had used just a sliver of his lighting attribute spirit Qi, and the result was this. Even since he had undergone the heavenly tribulation, his Dantian had a qualitative change. His affinity with the lightning attribute was now greatly increased than before.

Not only that, but there were even traces of tribulation lightning within his own, which made it leagues better than any normal lightning that a cultivator would use.

Seeing the action of Shirong, everyone in the hall was shocked. King Huo stood up and nearly shouted, but then controlled himself.

"Ah, don't worry King Huo. I have proof too, I won't just act without it. That would be quite disrespectful don't you think." Shirong said.

"You have proof? What is it show me!" King Huo said urgently.

"Here, take this," Shirong said, handing the king a jade slip.

"The king took the jade slip and used his spirit sense to check it. But just as he sensed the consents he opened his eyes.

"These are memories! How did you get it?" King Huo questioned.

"I think King Huo is erudite enough to not need an answer from me and can guess for himself," Shirong replied.

King Huo went silent for a few seconds before silently muttering, "Soul search…" 

Soul searching was a forbidden technique, but its use was still permitted in certain cases. It could be said that this was one of them, and King Huo couldn't really reprimand Shirong for this either. Even if he did, no sect or power was going to take action against Shirong for using such a technique on bandits, of all people.

King Huo closed his eyes again and looked over the rest of the memories before looking at Du Yang. But now, his eyes were filled with rage and it was as if embers could be seen in them.

"YOU TRAITOROUS FOOL!" King Huo Shouted as he whipped his hand at Du Yang.

His cultivation base was at full display and now one could tell that he was no weak man. King Huo of the Ling Kingdom was at the Adolescent Soul stage of the Nascent Soul realm. 

~Shua~ Shua~

Two beams of energy shot out from his arms as they hit the legs of Du Yang. Making him fall to the ground, his legs crippled.

"Your majesty, believe me I didn't do it. I would never get the shadow Dagger pavilion to do something like this." Du Yang protested between pain-filled grunts.

"MEN! Take him away for interrogation and bring in the rest of his clan, too. Then get all of his underlings and subordinates for the same." King Huo ordered.

The other ministers who were involved in law enforcement all stood up to act. These were no weak people either and were at the peak stage of the core condensation realm. While one of them was even at the Infant soul Stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

But just as they were about to reach Du Yang, a square plate appeared in his hands.