The attentive Qin Shi immediately noticed the bleakness on Zhou Qin's face and asked, "That's right, what is Little Yu's situation like in the Empire?"
"Not very optimistic."
Zhou Qin did not hide anything from Qin Shi and directly sighed, "In the early years, when the late king was still alive, Empress Xiao Chong had already taken over the imperial power. Otherwise, there would not have been a situation where Yuzi, the crown prince, was unable to register for the throne and had to participate in the election of the new king."
"Take over the imperial power?"
Qin Shi frowned and asked in confusion, "From what I remember, the late Emperor Chi Yan should have been close to the Four Heavens Realm, right?
Why did Empress Xiao Chong take over his position? "
In the Chi Yan Empire, aside from Dongfang Hualing, no one was a match for him. However, 50 years ago, a mysterious wizard suddenly appeared in the empire. This wizard claimed to have a spell that could extend one's lifespan. Fifty years ago, the king had been stuck in a bottleneck for dozens of years. After being unable to break through for a long time, he felt that his lifespan was about to run out. In this world, there was no one who wasn't afraid of death. Even the king was no exception. Hoping that he would be lucky, he invited this wizard into the Imperial City. However, the problem was with this wizard. "
As Zhou Qin spoke up to here, her whole body shivered and she gritted her teeth, "Later on, I found out that this shaman was someone that Empress Xiao Chong had found. His expertise wasn't in extending one's life, but in bewitching people. After fifty years of bewitching the late Emperor, not only did the late Emperor's spiritual power gradually decline, his mind became more and more muddled. Until a year ago, the late Emperor completely lost consciousness. This year, Empress Xiao Chong has been holding the imperial power. Now, most of the people in the Imperial City are Empress Xiao Chong's trusted aides. The old ministers that fought with the late Emperor have either died or retired."
"There's such a thing?"
Qin Shi frowned and berated, "Haha, this Xiao Chong is really vicious. He doesn't even let off his own husband!"
"Yes, Empress Xiao Chong's methods are extremely sinister. If it weren't for the few people that Lin Concubine had managed over the years and the support from the Lin Clan, Lin Concubine and Yuzi would have been long dead, let alone the opportunity to elect a new King." Zhou Qin shook her head in distress.
Knowing this, Qin Shi pondered for a moment. He smiled and patted Zhou Qin's shoulder. "Don't worry. The election for the new King hasn't started yet. Little Yu still has a chance."
"Opportunity?
In fact, Yuzi and I both know that this election is just a formality. Right now, Empress Xiao Chong can be said to be covering the sky with one hand. Empress Xiao Chong's supporters are everywhere in the East, West, North, and West. Let's not talk about the Qing Luan Sect in the West, the Laoshan Sect in the South and the Burning Sky Sect in the North are both under Empress Xiao Chong's banner. Only the Mystical Hall in the East has yet to respond. But even if the Mystical Hall in the East votes for Yuzi, it will only be three to one. This election has already been decided. "
"Hehe, that's not necessarily true."
Qin Shi smirked and sneered. "I don't know how capable this Empress Xiao Chong is, but it's not up to her to decide what to do in the North."
"En?"
Zhou Qin frowned. She had been trapped in the Bejeweled Lava Volcano for more than half a month. She didn't know anything about the change of ownership in the North. "Shi Tou, what do you mean?"
"I mean …!"
Qin Shi had just opened his mouth, but before he could finish his sentence, a sound of breaking wind flashed past. Lin Yu stepped on the air and landed in front of the two of them.
As soon as he stopped, Lin Yu continued what he had just said. "Shi Tou means that the current North is already under his control. Am I right?
Sect Master Qin! "
Lin Yu's sudden appearance stunned Qin Shi. He smiled in a relaxed manner. "Hehe, you're back?"
"Yu, what did you just say?" Zhou Qin held onto Lin Yu in confusion and quickly asked.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Yu stared at Qin Shi with blazing eyes. He still couldn't calm down from the news he had received during this trip. He said dryly, "The Northern Burning Sky Sect was wiped out by the Qin Sect half a month ago. Now, the overlord of the North is no longer the Burning Sky Sect, but the Qin Sect. Shi Tou is the Sect Master of the Qin Sect!"
"What?"
Zhou Qin's beautiful eyes froze. She turned around abruptly and stared at Qin Shi in surprise. "Shi Tou, is this true?"
"Hehe, we haven't seen each other for three years. If I didn't bring a big gift, how could I have the nerve to meet the two of you?"
Qin Shi nodded his head with a smile, tacitly agreeing to Zhou Qin's words. Shortly after, he said, "Furthermore, I have also helped Little Yu to get the votes for the Dongfang Profound Hall. The current situation is two to two, so don't you think there's still a chance?
Miss Zhou? "
"Shi Tou …!"
Zhou Qin clenched her jade-like fingers and her beautiful eyes became moist. Girls were easily touched. Moreover, Qin Shi's actions were like charcoal in snowy weather to her.
She didn't care about the Empire's throne, nor did she care about being the Empress. She only cared about Lin Yu. In the past three years, she had never seen Lin Yu smile from the bottom of his heart like today. This was all thanks to Qin Shi.
"Don't worry, the Crimson Flame Throne belongs to my brother, Qin Shi. The future Empress of Crimson Flame Throne will definitely be my brother's daughter-in-law. No one else should even think about getting it!"
When Qin Shi said this, there was a touch of domineering aura that made Lin Yu, who was a prince, feel a chill run down his spine.
Lin Yu and Zhou Qin smiled in gratification as they stared at the young and tender face.
The two of them knew that after three years of tempering, Qin Shi had undergone earth-shattering changes. The only thing that didn't change was the friendship between them.
Qin Shi smiled. Through Zhou Qin's words, he also roughly understood the current situation of the Empire. To be honest, Lin Yu's situation wasn't very optimistic.
In the case of two against two, the regional election was equivalent to an action in name only. In the end, it would still depend on whose fist was harder to decide who would be the new Emperor.
But in any case, since Qin Shi had already intervened, he definitely wouldn't let Lin Yu fail. After all, the Qin Sect's Sect Master's reputation of being a man of his word was not undeserved.
Now, he only wanted to know more information to plan for the next step. For this reason, he said, "Oh right, Little Yu, this time you went out to gather information, did you get any new information?"
Lin Yu nodded, "Yes, three days ago, Qing Luan Sect's Sect Master Mu Xin left for the Empire. Together with him was Laoshan Sect's Sect Master, Demonic Crane Old Ghost. Moreover, the two of them brought along all the core forces of the sect."
Qin Shi frowned, "It seems that Xiao Chong has already made up his mind to fight to the death."
"Not only that, there's one thing that I'm most concerned about," at this point, Lin Yu's expression suddenly became horrified, causing the two people beside him to be stunned.
"What is it?"
Clenching his fists tightly, Lin Yu said powerlessly, "Seven days ago, Fang Heng attracted the lightning tribulation and successfully entered the Heaven's Equal Stage!"
"What?" Indifferently, Qin Shi also couldn't help but straighten up, "Fang Heng broke through?"
This news was definitely a nightmare for the current Lin Yu.
Although the Heaven's Equal Stage was only one level away from the Three Heavens Stage, it was an existence that not even Qin Shi had the slightest confidence in facing.
The Heaven's Equal Stage was at the same level as the heavens. Even a pinnacle expert of the Three Heavens Stage would be as insignificant as an ant before it.
Just like the battle between Hua Ling and Yu Qing in the Mystical Hall.
"What are your plans for the Four Heavens Stage?" Helpless, Qin Shi asked for Lin Yu's opinion.
After a moment of silence, Lin Yu said decisively, "I promised Mother that I wouldn't let the throne fall into someone else's hands no matter what. At worst, I'll fight to the death with Fang Heng. I'm not afraid of death."
Qin Shi's clear eyes lit up with satisfaction, "Good, I was waiting for you to say that. That's more like a brother of mine. Let's fight to the death with him."
"No!"
Unexpectedly, at this moment, Lin Yu suddenly grabbed Qin Shi and said seriously, "If it really comes to that, Shi Tou, you have to promise me that you'll protect Qin 'er and my mother, and not sacrifice yourself blindly for me!"
Stunned, Qin Shi was about to speak when Zhou Qin stepped forward angrily and panted, "No, I don't want it. You told me that we'll stick together in life and death. I've even accompanied you to the Bejeweled Lava Volcano. Do you think I'll be afraid of death?
Do you think I'll want to live alone? "
"Qin 'er, listen to me!" Lin Yu said through gritted teeth.
"Listen to your head. I, Zhou Qin, have said that the man I choose, I'll be with him no matter what!" Zhou Qin said angrily.
Lin Yu opened his mouth but was speechless for a moment.
Seeing the couple quarreling, Qin Shi stepped forward and said, "Enough, can you not be so unafraid of death?
Things aren't as bad as you think. Have you forgotten that Fang Heng isn't the only Four Heavens cultivator in the Crimson Flame Empire? "
The two turned around and asked, "You mean Hua Ling?"
"Yes, let's go and see. There's always a way out, isn't there?" Qin Shi smiled. If it really came to that, he would put down his pride and ask Hua Ling.
He only hoped that Hua Ling wouldn't refuse when the time came.
The two of them looked at each other and nodded helplessly. Right now, they really had no other choice.
"Then let's leave this place. We've been here for more than half a month and I'm about to shed my skin." Lin Yu stretched his muscles and looked around in the raging flames. He had a bored expression on his face.
At this moment, the corners of Qin Shi's mouth curled up. "Don't worry, I actually came to the Bejeweled Lava Volcano for something else."
"What is it?"
"To find a treasure." Qin Shi didn't hide anything and shifted his gaze to the top of the mountain.
The two hesitated for a moment but didn't ask any more questions. The three of them rose into the air and leaped toward the peak of the Bejeweled Lava Volcano.
The closer they got to the mouth of the volcano, the stronger the heat. By the time they were halfway up the mountain, they were already drenched in sweat. If it wasn't for Lin Yu's Three Heavens protecting Zhou Qin, she would have collapsed long ago.