Chapter 876: Fortunes Twist Unexpectedly

“Brother Li, where are we going?” Han Dong asked, helping the blood-soaked, hemp-robed youth as they gradually moved away from Zhu Chong’s main force.

“To the Imperial Palace,” the hemp-robed youth said, looking firmly in one direction. “But not the palace of this dynasty… it’s on the other side, not far from here.”

“Oh…”

“Brother Li, what exactly is going on with that Actor Emperor?” someone behind the hemp-robed youth couldn’t help but ask.

The appearance of the Actor Emperor had become a nightmare for almost everyone here. His large red opera robe in the snow was like a death-summoning demon; just thinking about it now sent shivers down their spines. Everyone was wondering why the Actor Emperor was hunting the hemp-robed youth.

“If I told you I didn’t know either, would you believe me?”

Everyone exchanged glances.

“Then… will he come back to kill us?”

Recalling the scene where Chen Ling and the other two shattered the imperial aura, the hemp-robed youth remained silent for a long time before truthfully replying:

“I don’t know, but if you’re afraid of being implicated, it’s still not too late to turn back now…”

Everyone had now left the dynasty where Zhu Chong was, but they weren’t too far away, so returning wasn’t impossible. However, most who chose to follow the hemp-robed youth were dissatisfied with Zhu Chong. Plus, since the Actor Emperor seemed to be trapped on the first level, they weren’t as afraid.

“It’s fine, so what if it’s the Actor Emperor? I believe Brother Li can definitely become an ‘Emperor.’ By then, we might even be able to defeat him!”

“Exactly, I believe in Brother Li too!”

Led by Han Dong, everyone was full of confidence in the hemp-robed youth.

Seeing this, the hemp-robed youth said no more. Instead, he led everyone through the chaotic battlefield edge of “Huo Yue Zai Yuan,” where the silhouette of an imperial palace faintly appeared in the distance.

Outside this palace, there was no chaotic siege; instead, it was enveloped in an extremely oppressive calm.

Under the lead-grey clouds, figures scurried about, and the sharp, piercing voices of eunuchs echoed over the palace:

“The Emperor has died!”

“The Emperor has died!!”

In the oppressive atmosphere, historical shadows seemed to play silently. They saw illusory figures hurrying through the palace, saw the blatant ambition of various princes, and saw different factions, like invisible hands, manipulating the chessboard within the palace…

There were even large numbers of royal guards, weapons in hand, moving through the long palace courtyards.

It was also a new emperor’s ascension and a dynastic change, but the method was vastly different from Zhu Chong’s rebel army siege.

In this silent atmosphere, guided by the hemp-robed youth’s senses, they passed through various parts of the palace. When they reached a grand hall, they even clearly heard curses from inside:

“Third Brother!! You actually altered Father Emperor’s imperial edict?!”

“Second Brother, I don’t understand what you’re saying… Father Emperor’s imperial edict was always this way. How could it be altered? Not only me, but the Prime Minister also heard it.”

“No… Impossible!! I am the Crown Prince! I am the Crown Prince!!!”

Everyone proceeded cautiously, startled by the voices inside. The hemp-robed youth peeked in and said in a low voice:

“Don’t be afraid, these seem to be historical reenactments; there are no real people.”

“This place is really creepy…”

“Where are we going?”

The hemp-robed youth bypassed this hall and, guided by his senses, arrived before another magnificent hall. There was no sound or image inside this hall. In the empty hall, only a grand dragon throne, seemingly made of gold, stood silently.

All the arrangements and furnishings spanned across ancient and modern times; standing before the hall, it felt as if one were truly immersed in history.

And on the dragon throne at this moment, a golden light cluster was silently swirling.

“It’s right here,” the hemp-robed youth murmured.

The hemp-robed youth could feel that the light cluster contained the so-called “prospective emperor status.” He stepped into the hall and approached the light cluster… His footsteps echoed in the empty hall, and the others followed closely behind.

Except for the hemp-robed youth, no one else had gained the emperor’s attention or possessed the qualification to become a prospective emperor. After approaching a certain distance, they were as if blocked by something, unable to proceed.

“Go, Brother Li!”

“Yeah, we’re all waiting for you to beat Zhu Chong and lead us out!”

Everyone looked at the hemp-robed youth, a mix of envy and expectation in their eyes.

The hemp-robed youth took a deep breath, walked onto the dragon throne, and decisively reached out to grasp the light cluster…

As his hand disappeared into the light cluster, golden power climbed up his fingertips. Just as the hemp-robed youth anxiously awaited the prospective emperor status to enter his body, a sudden change occurred!

The swirling light cluster seemed to sense something. After a brief pause, it withdrew from the hemp-robed youth’s body and floated in the air as if nothing had happened.

At the same time, several lines of golden text appeared before him:

*Born with a weak constitution, unable to bear the imperial destiny**Nineteen emperors no longer pay attention to your actions**The emperors are disappointed in you*

The hemp-robed youth froze on the spot.

He stared blankly at the lines of text before him. After an unknown amount of time, he came back to his senses and forcefully tried to grasp the golden cluster again!

But no matter how hard he tried, the light cluster could at most extend to his arm, unable to enter his body at all…

After three consecutive attempts, the hemp-robed youth was drenched in sweat.

Already severely wounded and covered in blood, his vision began to darken, and he weakly slumped to the ground, staring blankly at the prospective emperor status, so close yet seemingly as distant as the sky, lost in thought.

Seeing this scene, those who were blocked outside had deep confusion in their eyes. Han Dong, seeing the hemp-robed youth’s weak state, couldn’t help but ask:

“Brother Li, what’s wrong? Have you become the Emperor?”

“Yeah, Brother Li… why isn’t the light cluster reacting?”

“His injuries must be too severe. Let him rest a bit, he’ll definitely be able to do it!”

“Exactly, Brother Li will definitely lead us out of here.”

Voices filled with expectation continuously came from behind him, yet they felt like sharp blades piercing the hemp-robed youth’s heart.

Besides him, no one could see the golden text before his eyes, nor did anyone know that he had been abandoned by the “emperors” here… He did not possess the qualification to become king.

The hemp-robed youth sat there blankly for a long time, then gave a bitter smile. He pushed himself up with his hands, then staggered stiffly back, one step at a time…

“Brother Li…?” Everyone froze, seeing this scene.

The hemp-robed youth walked through the crowd with his head lowered, step by step. The crowd instinctively stepped back, parting to make a path for him…

The hemp-robed youth slowly stopped at the entrance of the grand hall.

The next moment, several beams of light, imbued with imperial power, suddenly rose from various corners of “Huo Yue Zai Yuan”!

The other “prospective emperors,” who had parted ways not long ago, seemed to have already gained their respective powers, emitting vibrant and proud light pillars that seemed to leap over the abyss, transforming into dragons and transcending the mortal realm!

The hemp-robed youth stared blankly at this scene, clenching his fists tightly…

He let out a bitter laugh:

“Truly… fate plays cruel tricks.”