I just became the Pirate King, and you're telling me I also time-traveled at the same time.

Chapter 199: Possession by Demons! Slaying the Demon!

Zhu ignored Zhu's impassioned speech, which left the officials deep in thought.

To be fair, the wise prince has done many absurd things over the years, and it is no exaggeration to say that he has a bad reputation. If he were to become emperor, he would indeed find it difficult to win the hearts of the people.

To put it bluntly, it's a bit embarrassing.

Officials felt ashamed, and the common people felt even more ashamed.

If you were to ask who has a suitable candidate for the new emperor, it would be difficult to reach a consensus immediately. However, if you were to ask who absolutely cannot become the emperor, the answer would likely be unanimous.

Yan Song suddenly said, "What you say is right, Lord Marquis. If the Prince Xian were to become emperor, wouldn't the Ming Dynasty become a laughing stock, and the efforts of several generations of emperors would be in vain? I swear I will never agree to the Prince Xian succeeding to the throne."

Chu Yang's gaze lingered on Yan Song's neck. After thinking it over, he still didn't make a move. He still had a blood feud with Li Gexiao to settle with him.

You can't easily break a promise you made to a good friend.

However, the fleeting killing intent emanating from Chu Yang startled the over-sixty-year-old Elder Yan, sending a chill straight to the top of his head, and all the words he was about to say were stuck in his throat.

"I advise Grand Secretary Yan to say less. It's really putting me in a difficult position to keep quiet, rather than kill you..."

Chu Yang kindly reminded Yan Song.

Boom!

The elderly Grand Secretary Yan was so frightened that his legs went weak and he sat on the ground, his white beard trembling uncontrollably. He didn't even dare to look up at Chu Yang.

"Your Highness, what do you intend to do?"

"You're going to kill me just because Grand Secretary Yan was telling the truth?"

"How many of the civil and military officials truly submit to you? Are you really going to slaughter them all here in one fell swoop?"

"With such a cruel nature, even if you become emperor, you will only be a tyrant!"

Zhu Wushi seized the opportunity and began to frantically incite the emotions of the officials, attempting to exploit their fear and anger towards Chu Yang.

On the officials' side, whether civil or military, they were indeed annoyed by Chu Yang's behavior.

As the saying goes, "the rabbit dies and the fox grieves," if even Grand Secretary Yan is threatened, then they are even less likely to be threatened.

"This is really troublesome." Chu Yang shook his head, stood up, pointed to the empty dragon throne, and said, "How about this, I saw that my uncle said he must be tired after all this time, why don't we sit down and rest for a while, and then continue our conversation?"

All the civil and military officials stared at Zhu Wushi, whose face turned ashen.

"I have no idea what nonsense you're spouting!"

"Doesn't the Imperial Uncle want to be this chair?"

"I don't……"

Zhu Wushi became embarrassed halfway through his sentence. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he simply couldn't bring himself to say that he didn't want to sit on the dragon throne. If he were to actually agree, how could he ever have the face to compete for it again?

"Zhu Wushi, aren't you tired of living like this?"

"Back then, you didn't hesitate to frame your close friend Gu Santong in order to steal his wife. The eight major sects and the four chief constables of the Ministry of Justice all died because of you."

"It was clearly you who used the Absorption Technique to drain their power."

Chu Yang looked at Zhu Wushi with a mocking expression and said, "At the summit of Tianshan, you won half a palm strike from Gu Santong by relying on your beloved woman, turning her into a living dead. What right do you have to stand here and point fingers at others for their immoral conduct?"

Zhu Wushi's expression changed repeatedly, and he was almost losing his composure. Chu Yang had actually revealed the biggest secret he had ever kept hidden in his life in front of everyone.

Everyone in the Hall of Supreme Harmony stared at Zhu Wushi in astonishment, and then their gazes, filled with all sorts of strange meanings, focused on him.

"Shameless brat, spouting nonsense!"

If Chu Yang continued talking, he would probably reveal all his secrets. Enraged, Zhu Wuwei made a sudden move, raising his right hand into a claw shape, his body emitting a strange, pale purple light.

A terrifying suction force followed, causing the entire Hall of Supreme Harmony to tremble.

Seeing this, the civil and military officials disregarded their discussions about choosing a new emperor and rushed out one after another, fearing that if they were a step too slow, they would be drawn into the battle between the two.

"It really is the Absorption Technique!"

Zhuge Shenhou's deep eyes gleamed with a sharp light. This was the first time he had seen this legendary divine skill, and he couldn't help but feel a little dazed.

In the past, the Strange Hero of Tianchi and his master Wei Qingqing were known as the two most "strange" heroes in the world. Wei Qingqing was called "Strange" and the Strange Hero of Tianchi was called "Strange".

Both were among the first martial arts masters to undergo a blood transfusion and cultivate true essence after the great changes in the world.

They pioneered the martial arts tradition we know today.

Zhuge Shenhou always held the strange swordsman of Tianchi in high esteem and had a strong curiosity about his two unique skills, the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill and the Absorption Technique.

What kind of martial arts can compare to the many unique skills of the Zizai Sect?

Zhuge Shenhou chose to observe from the sidelines, curious about the unique skills of the Eccentric Swordsman of Tianchi, and even more curious about Chu Yang's martial arts prowess.

Seeing that Zhu Wushi was about to attack Chu Yang, Guo Bujing, Cao Zhengchun, and others immediately stepped forward to stop him, but were stopped by Zhuge Shenhou.

"Stay calm and see how the prince handles it. Ultimately, the world will be handed over to him."

Upon hearing this, Guo Bujing frowned slightly, but still chose to stop. Cao Zhengchun and Yu Huatian also stopped.

Chu Yang did indeed deliberately force Zhu Wushi to take action. He didn't have the patience to play tricks with the old fox, so he might as well teach him a lesson and make him shut up.

Zhu Wushi, whose body was wrapped in light purple true essence, exuded a kind of "demonic" aura, and even seemed somewhat unlike a righteous person. Chu Yang could see that his true essence contained strong demonic energy, as well as an even more filthy power.

"In order to improve your skills, you not only absorbed the power of human experts, but also those of demons, and even the aura of demons."

"Zhu Wushi, you have fallen into the demonic path."

Chu Yang looked at the Iron-Blooded Marquis with pity. Perhaps when Gu Santong was ahead of him, he had already gone astray.

When these words reached the ears of others, they shocked everyone present.

"Zhu Wushi, are you insane?!"

Zhuge Shenhou finally lost his composure, cursing in shock and anger.

"Hahaha, demons can eat humans, but humans can't eat demons? I not only want to eat demons, I want to eat great demons, I want to eat demon kings! I want to devour every single one of those wicked creatures, turning them into my power to cleanse the world!"

Zhu ignored the maniacal pronouncements of his lofty ambitions, and his demeanor became increasingly similar to that of a "demon."

The power of the Absorption Technique suddenly increased dramatically, causing the entire Taihe Hall to sway precariously, and even Zhuge Shenhou's side was affected.

A strange power, not belonging to martial artists, suppressed everyone's bodies. Except for Zhuge Shenhou, the other four were unable to move.

"Oh no! Zhu Wushi has fallen into demonic possession and his martial arts cultivation has broken through to the Grandmaster realm! You all must leave this place immediately!"

Realizing something was wrong, Zhuge Zhengwo spread his arms wide, using his entire upper arm as a spear, and unleashed his unique skill, "Stunning Shot".

With a punch, true energy surged forth like a torrent, merging with the fist's edge, and exploded in front of Zhuge Zhengwo. The [Stunning Shot] was extremely powerful. Although it was not wielded with a weapon, the resulting explosion temporarily halted the terrifying suction force around them.

As the suction suddenly decreased, Yu Huatian felt that he could move his body again. His first reaction was to draw his sword and kill. Just as his eyes were fixed on Zhu Wushi's vital points, Zheng Dongliu's warning rang in his ears.

"Don't get close to Zhu Wushi. His Absorption Technique can absorb other people's power from a distance. Before your sword even touches him, he'll already be drained dry. Listen to Shenhou first."

After saying this, Zheng Dongliu and Cao Zhengchun left the Hall of Supreme Harmony at the same time.

After a slight hesitation, Guo Bujing and Yu Huatian also withdrew. Both of them understood that the gap between Grandmasters and Grandmasters was like an insurmountable chasm.

If it weren't for Zhuge Zhengwo, Zhu Wushi could have killed all four of them instantly.

In the blink of an eye, only three people remained in the hall.

Although Zhu Wushi was furious that Zhuge Zhengwo had interrupted the Absorption Technique, he didn't have time to deal with him right now, as Chu Yang was a much more troublesome opponent.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony was on the verge of collapse, but Chu Yang, standing beside the dragon throne, remained calm and composed, seemingly unaffected.

Even Zhuge Shenhou couldn't escape the effects of the Absorption Technique, so why can Chu Yang?

Zhu Wushi felt a sense of unease rising within him, but it was quickly overwhelmed by a surging frenzy. The "demonic nature" was rapidly affecting his mind, and if the important matter could not be quelled quickly, he feared he might truly become a demon.

His arrogance was not unfounded; after absorbing the power of demons using the Absorption Technique, he could indeed achieve a certain degree of self-control.

As long as Zhu Wushi actively withdraws from the current state before a certain limit is reached, he will not be affected too much; at most, his temperament will be a bit more violent than before.

In his view, this was not a major negative factor.

However, in reality, if it were the old Zhu Wushi, he would most likely have been more composed and argued with Chu Yang based on reason in the situation just now.

The wise king did not have a good reputation, and in the end, the officials were more likely to believe him.

But none of that matters now. Zhu Wushi's reaction has confirmed the truth revealed by Chu Yang. He has no other choice but to kill him.

Therefore, he disregarded Zhuge Zhengwo, who was lurking around him and could attack at any moment. While fully activating the Absorption Technique, he also moved closer to Chu Yang.

As Zhu Wushi approached Chu Yang, Chu Yang finally moved and walked down the steps one by one.

"The Heavenly Pool Eccentric Hero's Absorption Technique is truly amazing. I never imagined that this martial art could even absorb the power of the demon race."

"Before you die, let me witness the true power of the Absorption Technique."

Zhu Wushi sneered. He was extremely confident in his Absorption Technique, and believed that Chu Yang was simply courting death.

The two met on the steps. At such close range, even a god would not be able to escape the control of the Absorption Technique. Zhu Wushi pushed his power to the limit and reached out to grab Chu Yang.

Chu Yang was even faster, grabbing Zhu Wushi's wrist with a backhand and smiling, "If you want it, you can have it!"

Power systems from countless worlds, each different, were brutally poured into Zhu Wushi's body by Chu Yang in an instant, and then the suction power of the Absorption Technique surged into his limbs and bones.

The first thing to enter Zhu Wushi's body was Chu Yang's true essence.

In the world of Legend of Sword and Fairy, Chu Yang attained enlightenment through martial arts, reaching the pinnacle of the Qi Refining and Spirit Transformation stage. His true essence was fundamentally different from that of martial artists in the Ming Dynasty world.

It contained a divine aura that Zhu Wushi had never experienced before.

This one inhalation was quite something; it almost made Zhu Wushi faint with pleasure. His skull felt like it was about to melt. The true essence containing immortal spiritual energy was an unimaginably nourishing substance. If he could absorb it all, he might even have the chance to reach a new peak he had never reached before.

The unprecedented experience left Zhu Wushi with nothing but greed in his eyes. His last shred of reason vanished, and all he wanted to do was drain Chu Yang's true essence.

"Don't rush, take your time, the best is yet to come."

Chu Yang's tone was gentle, but it sent chills down the spine of Zhuge Shenhou, who was not far away. His composure was frightening, and he didn't even dare to step forward to help.

Zhu Wushi's pupils were bloodshot, like a mad beast, the Absorption Technique operating at an intensity beyond his capacity.

The true essence containing immortal energy seemed inexhaustible. Before he could digest it, new true essence surged into his body. The feeling of being "overfed" appeared in Zhu Wushi's heart for the first time.

Zhu Wushi was trembling, instinctively trying to break free, but Chu Yang's hand gripped his wrist, and he couldn't break free.

"Are you full already?"

"Eat more, or people will think I can't afford to treat you to a meal."

Power systems from countless worlds, each different, were brutally poured into Zhu Wushi's body by Chu Yang in an instant, and then the suction power of the Absorption Technique surged into his limbs and bones.

Cursed power, spiritual power, chakra, magic—all sorts of incredible powers bloomed within Zhu Wushi's body.

Zhu Wushi, who craves power, is being tormented by it; the pain is unimaginable to ordinary people and is destroying his will.

In the face of life and death, demonic power completely took over Zhu Wushi's body. His normal-sized body swelled to a height of over ten meters in an instant, and his appearance also began to turn demonic.

This was the first time Chu Yang had ever witnessed a human being demonized. The process was far from pleasant; it was downright disgusting. The process of tearing apart and reassembling the human body was filled with primal bloodshed.

Furthermore, the spread of filth impacts people's spirits, posing a significant test to their willpower.

As his body continued to expand, Zhu Wushi finally crashed into the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and the already crumbling hall suddenly collapsed, turning into ruins.

The officials, who were already far from the main hall, watched this scene in horror. Especially when they saw Zhu Wushi transformed into a demon, they were terrified and ran away without looking back.

After a period of chaos, only two civil officials remained.

Zhang Juzheng.

The other person had a resolute face and piercing eyes that seemed to see right into people's hearts.

Having witnessed Zhang Juzheng's strong character before, Zheng Dongliu fully understood why the latter chose to stay, but the other person piqued his curiosity.

"How should I address this gentleman?"

"Your humble servant Hai Rui greets Lord Zheng."

"Oh? You are the Hai Qingtian that the people speak of so highly?"

"I dare not accept the title of 'Upright Official'."

Upon hearing the name Hai Rui, even Cao Zhengchun and Yu Huatian had to treat him with respect. His reputation was too great, his temper too foul, and even they didn't want to provoke him.

I've only ever heard of him, never actually seen him.

Guo Bujing asked, "Is this Lord Hai's first time encountering demons?"

Hai Rui shook his head and said, "I am from the South."

Guo Bujing nodded. Since he was from the South, he must have seen demons.

Hai Rui stared intently at the enormous demon that Zhu Wushi had transformed into, and asked calmly, "Can Zhuge Shenhou defeat this demon?"

Zheng Dongliu sighed, "This demon is an incarnation of the Iron-Blooded Marquis, and cannot be compared to ordinary demons. It's difficult..."

"Is that so?" Hai Rui looked disappointed, but then laughed nonchalantly, "It is only right that scholar-officials die for their country."

Guo Bujing said decisively, "Zhuge Shenhou may not be able to, but Your Highness will definitely be able to kill this scoundrel."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a figure emerged from the ruins.

Shouldering the sun and moon.

Stepping on starlight.

Holding a black ancient sword.

To Hai Rui's astonishment, a flash of sword light illuminated the entire world.

The sword light dissipated.

No more demons or monsters were seen! (End of Chapter)