Chapter 1787 Truth

Chapter 1787 Truth

Even as war raged right next to them, another smaller and verbal war was erupting where the newly arrived cultivators had gathered.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

Long Huogang, the Empire's only working Head in the war, was speaking against Yan Yating, who was once the Head of War himself.

The two of them spoke, trying to convince the cultivators to come to their aid, but none could successfully persuade the cultivators.

Long Huan arrived a moment later, leaving his brother, who had been trying to convert the soldiers into fighting against their father.

The gathered cultivators looked at the prince, and one ancestor moved forward. She brought out a talisman and spoke, "This is a talisman to remove all illusions and lies. May I use it on you?"

"Go ahead," Long Huan said.

The old woman threw the talisman at Long Huan and activated it. Instantly, the talisman burned away as it left an aura behind that gathered around Long Huan.

Long Huan felt the aura move around him and seemingly settle on his surface before rapidly fading.

"No, that is the prince alright," the woman said. "Second prince, are you any sort of compulsion to speak what you speak?"

"I am my own man. No one is compelling me to say what I am saying," Long Huan said. He could feel the energy of the talisman somewhat take away his ability to lie, which he fortunately didn't have to do.

"Then your words regarding what your father did is correct?" someone else asked. "Did the Emperor kill the Azure Dragon?"

"He did," Long Huan said.

Several of the cultivators gasped in surprise as they realized that what was being said was true. They all then looked toward Yan Yating and Long Huogang.

"Senior Huogang," one of the senior cultivators spoke. "Would you mind telling us what reason the Emperor might have had to do what he did?"

"What he did is already bad enough that he will have to immediately abdicate his throne," someone else said. "We cannot stand the murder of our true ruler and let his murderer sit on the throne."

"Yes," someone else shouted, and soon enough many of the people that had gathered there were of one tone.

"That is true," the senior cultivator that had first asked the question said. "However, if there was a reason why he did it, a good one, then maybe we can stop at just abdication. There won't be any need to punish him."

At those words, many of the people slowly nodded their heads as they understood the purpose of the question.

"I..." Yan Yating began to speak but a look of pain flashed through his face. "I cannot tell you. I am bound by the oath that the Emperor forced upon me that day."

"That I might have received knowledge from someone," Long Huan said. "But do you doubt when I say that my Father tried to kill me?"

"He didn't try to kill you, Your Highness," Long Huogang said. "He simply wanted to stop you from running away."

"And he nearly killed me back then."

Long Huogang sighed. "He merely sought to get back the Empire's treasure that you ran away with."

"He nearly killed my wife," Long Huan shouted back.

"That was because she was killing our soldiers," the old man said. "His Majesty merely tried to stop her."

"You know damn well that is not true," Long Huan said as he looked ready to kill the old man.

"And what of me?" Yan Yating spoke as he turned toward Long Huogang. "Do you claim that I and my fellow soldiers turned against the Emperor for no reason as well."

"Stop your squabbling!"

A drowning voice covered the entire battlefield as the Emperor flew high in the distance and spoke from there.

"Long Huan, I'm disappointed in you," the Emperor said before looking at Yan Yating. "And I expected better than this from you, old friend."

Yan Yating could only growl in response.

"The rest of you," the Emperor addressed the gathered cultivators. "Since you are here, come assist us in this war. Help us drive the foreign army from this land."

Many of the cultivators looked at each other, unsure what to say or do. The leader of the Immortal Saint Pavillion stepped forward and bowed toward the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, we apologize but we cannot aid you just yet," he said. "The accusations made against you are severe enough that we cannot just look past it. If you wouldn't mind, please enlighten us to the truth."

"The truth?" the Dragon Emperor asked. "The truth is simple. I shall prove it to you all at once."

The Emperor took a single second to take in a deep breath and spoke out loud.

"I, Long Tiankong, Emperor of the Azure Empire, did not kill the Azure Dragon, Qing Tianchui. If I am lying, may the heavens strike me down."

The war seemed to pause after the Emperor's words as silence filled the earth.

And just as well, it filled the sky and the heavens as well, for they did not rumble, and they did not strike him down.