Chapter 13: Wishful Thinking
At this moment, the Third and Fourth Princes stood by the banks of the River of Time, where the air was thick with mist condensed from time itself. Even with their cultivation levels, standing here was a challenge.
Together, they walked upstream. The vast River of Time surged endlessly, with each droplet representing a segment of time from a specific region. Trying to locate a single droplet in this boundless river was like chasing a fool’s dream. Fortunately, they were in Qing City, and the regional resonance reduced the difficulty of pinpointing the right moment. Eventually, they locked onto a droplet from ten days ago and saw Clan Leader Jiang and former City Lord Zeng conspiring under the cover of night to send men to destroy a spatial node.
Continuing further upstream, they found the moment when Jiang Yixing performed a blood sacrifice on a child. However, their magical power was limited, allowing them only to see events from up to three years ago—anything beyond that became too blurry to discern.
Over these past three years, Jiang Yixing had conducted blood sacrifices on children annually, pushing his cultivation from late Nascent Soul Stage to its peak. The accumulated remains beside the altar left no room for doubt.
The truth was evident—Jiang Yixing had delved into demonic cultivation, and after his crimes were exposed, Clan Leader Jiang and City Lord Zeng had worked together to cover up the evidence.
From the moment the two princes entered the River of Time, time outside had remained frozen for them. Thus, to the onlookers, the princes vanished and reappeared instantly, without even a breath’s pause.
“I have investigated this matter thoroughly. Jiang Yixing has not practiced demonic cultivation, and City Lord Zeng did not destroy any evidence. Are you two satisfied with this conclusion?”
Hovering in the air, the Third Prince looked down at Jiang Li and Yuan Wuxing with a condescending gaze. The Fourth Prince stood beside him, silent.
As the official overseer, his silence signified his agreement with the Third Prince’s statement.
Upon hearing these words, Clan Leader Jiang and his people knew the verdict was set. They immediately began plotting revenge against Jiang Li and Yuan Wuxing. These two had nearly driven them to ruin—how could they not make them suffer before taking their lives?
Jiang Li casually pointed at the black-robed figure, who was trembling slightly. “Whether we are satisfied or not doesn’t matter. But I doubt this brother here agrees with your conclusion.”
Sensing the black-robed figure’s growing fury, Yuan Wuxing quickly hid behind Jiang Li.
Clinging to a strong backer wasn’t shameful.
“You two disgraceful fools! Get down here this instant!”
A powerful, domineering aura erupted from the black-robed figure, sweeping in all directions. Among those present, many were at the Soul Formation Stage, yet not a single one could gauge the depth of this person’s cultivation.
The familiar voice struck the two princes’ ears like a sudden thunderclap, sending a shiver down their spines. They nearly lost control of their spiritual energy and crashed to the ground.
Fortunately, their reactions were quick—they immediately descended and knelt before the black-robed figure without hesitation.
“Your son greets the Father Emperor!”
With a cold smile, the Zhou Emperor, Ji Zhi, pulled down his hood. “So, you do still recognize me as your father.”
Upon realizing who he was, everyone else immediately dropped to their knees, shouting praises for His Majesty. After a moment of hesitation, Yuan Wuxing also knelt.
Clan Leader Jiang and his people, already kneeling, trembled uncontrollably. Their backs turned cold with fear.
Why was His Majesty here?
Why was he standing with Zhang Li?
Why did his tone carry such hostility?
All signs pointed to the situation turning against them.
Aside from Ji Zhi, the only person still standing was Jiang Li. Though many were curious, no one dared to question it. The Third Prince, feeling guilty, decided to seize the initiative and shift the emperor’s focus elsewhere.
“How dare you, Zhang Li! You meet the Father Emperor and yet do not kneel?”
“Shut up! Haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough?!” Ji Zhi bellowed, silencing the Third Prince instantly. Then, he turned to the crowd. “Rise.”
He looked at the two princes and asked sternly, “Tell me—what exactly did you see in the River of Time?”
The Third Prince hesitated, unwilling to speak. The Fourth Prince, slightly less afraid, answered, “Father Emperor, there are too many people here. May we report to you privately later?”
“There is nothing that cannot be said in front of everyone. Speak now! Every time you talk, you dance around the truth with hidden meanings. Did I ever teach you to behave this way?!”
After a brief hesitation, the Fourth Prince confessed, “We saw Jiang Yixing performing blood sacrifices on children to cultivate demonic arts. Clan Leader Jiang and City Lord Zeng colluded to cover up the evidence.”
“And why did you lie?” Ji Zhi’s expression darkened. “Do you realize that if you let Jiang Yixing go free, these two men would suffer relentless retaliation? There wouldn’t even be bones left to bury!”
He pointed at Yuan Wuxing, who was kneeling, and Jiang Li, who was casually watching the scene unfold. He treated Jiang Li as though he were just another Nascent Soul cultivator.
The Fourth Prince tried to justify himself, “I feared this matter would implicate the Human Sovereign, which would be detrimental to the nation and to him. For the greater good, I chose to conceal the truth.”
“Oh? The greater good? So now my Fourth Son has a grander vision than I do?” Ji Zhi sneered. “Tell me, what kind of ‘greater good’ led you to harm the nation’s fortune?”
The Fourth Prince laid everything he knew and suspected bare.
“You suspect the Human Sovereign of practicing demonic cultivation? You pieced this together from mere speculation? Your imagined version of Jiang Li’s character is completely detached from reality!”
The Fourth Prince, at this point resigned to his fate, finally voiced what he would never have dared say otherwise. “Father Emperor, how can you be so sure that Jiang Li has not practiced demonic cultivation?”
Knowing they had falsified the time-tracing results, the Third Prince realized that his dream of ascending the throne was now shattered. He joined in, saying, “Jiang Yixing is the Human Sovereign’s cousin. Would he dare cultivate demonic arts without Jiang Li’s approval?”
“How can I be so sure?” Ji Zhi let out a mocking laugh. “Because Jiang Li personally captured Jiang Yixing and handed him over to us for trial!”
The sheer absurdity of his two sons’ reasoning left him fuming.
If they had simply asked him, the truth would have been crystal clear. Yet they insisted on making reckless decisions in an area where they had no expertise.
“Jiang Li believes that Great Zhou is a nation ruled by law, where every crime will be judged fairly. But what did you do? You deceived your superiors, formed factions, and pulled every trick to cover up Jiang Yixing’s crimes. Do you realize that Jiang Li has spent the past ten days watching us put on a monkey show?!”
Ji Zhi roared these last words in fury. The Celestial Beast Xiezhi, a manifestation of national fortune, flickered into existence, silently baring its fangs. The Third and Fourth Princes had never seen their father this angry before.
Wait… Jiang Li personally captured Jiang Yixing?
Realization dawned on the crowd—Ji Zhi’s words carried a shocking amount of information.
“Ji Brother, calm down,” Jiang Li interjected, his tone reflective. “These past days have been enlightening. I wasn’t simply watching a show. If someone other than me had applied for time-tracing, would they have received the same treatment? Ji Brother, the road to governing by law is still a long one.”
As he spoke, his true appearance was revealed, triggering gasps from the crowd.
People feared Zhou Emperor Ji Zhi.
But they revered Human Sovereign Jiang Li.
To the people of Qing City, his face was beyond familiar—it was the very face etched into the bronze statue at the city’s entrance.
The Third Prince stood frozen, all the rebuttals he had prepared dissolving into nothing.
With Yuan Wuxing’s limited abilities, there was no way he could have discovered Jiang Yixing. The fact that Jiang Li had personally captured him and turned him over to the authorities proved that Jiang Li had no prior knowledge of his cousin’s crimes—and had never practiced demonic cultivation.
So, in the end, all their efforts to “protect” the Human Sovereign…
Had been nothing more than their own wishful thinking.