If it weren't for Juzi, his head would have already been blown apart by the assassins.
It was precisely because of this life-saving grace that Xu Tiannan regarded Juzi as his most trusted confidant.
After entering the study, Juzi respectfully saluted Xu Tiannan.
"Your Highness."
Xu Tiannan said, "Juzi, you saved my life. There's no need to be so formal."
Juzi still maintained a respectful posture. She understood Xu Tiannan very well. She knew that although he said such things, in his heart he cared deeply about whether others treated him with respect—especially now, when his position as Crown Prince was precarious, this was even more the case.
Juzi feigned a grateful expression and said to Xu Tiannan, "Your Highness, Juzi is unworthy of such favor."
Xu Tiannan's lips curved into a faint smile, and then he began to discuss business.
"Juzi, how about that doctor?"
Juzi replied seriously, "The doctor has been silenced."
Xu Tiannan nodded.
After the doctor treated him, it was possible that during the treatment, he discovered that Xu Tiannan was impotent and physically disabled. Therefore, he had to be silenced.
Otherwise, if such a matter were to spread, his title as Crown Prince would undoubtedly be stripped away by his father, the Emperor.
Immediately after, Xu Tiannan continued, "Did you meet with the leader of the Xishui Alliance?"
Juzi nodded. "After meeting the Xishui Alliance leader and having a detailed conversation, I handed him the letter you gave me. After reading it, he said he would give you an answer in three days."
Upon hearing that the reply would come in three days, Xu Tiannan couldn't help feeling slightly nervous.
He knew clearly that if he wanted to keep his position as Crown Prince, it would be absolutely impossible to rely on himself alone.
This assassination had cost him dearly—not only were his legs crippled, but the power in his hands had also suffered a great loss. Two Soul Douluo-level experts had perished.
When he reflected on his current state, Xu Tiannan realized he had no confidence in defending his position as Crown Prince from his wolfish, tiger-like brothers.
Therefore, he had to seek outside support!
And the force behind the Xishui Alliance—the Holy Spirit Cult—was his first choice.
Xu Tiannan knew that when his father, the current Emperor Xu Jing, had plotted to seize the throne, although his own strength and influence were already great and he had the secret support of Kong Lao, he had also relied heavily on the help of the Holy Spirit Cult.
However, after ascending the throne, the Emperor became deeply wary of the Holy Spirit Cult. He had been secretly suppressing them ever since, preventing their power from expanding too much and threatening the Sun Moon Empire's rule.
Because of this, the Holy Spirit Cult could only exist as an underground organization—most people didn't even know what it was.
Xu Tiannan stroked his chin and thought to himself,
"Now that the Holy Spirit Cult is being suppressed by Father, they must also need some external assistance.
If that's the case, there's no reason I can't strike a deal with them.
With the help of the Holy Spirit Cult, my position as Crown Prince will surely become unshakable."
Xu Tiannan said with satisfaction,
"Juzi, you've done well. Push me outside for some fresh air."
Juzi came behind Xu Tiannan, pushed his chair, and guided him toward the garden of the Crown Prince's residence.
At the same time.
In the underground outskirts of the Evil Forest, where the Holy Spirit Cult's headquarters was located.
The leader of the Xishui Alliance and the Holy Spirit Cult's Second Elder, Nangong Wan, returned to headquarters immediately after reading Xu Tiannan's letter.
The contents of the letter were that the Crown Prince wished to cooperate with the Holy Spirit Cult.
Even for Nangong Wan, this was not a decision he dared make on his own.
Although he was the Second Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult and the leader of the Xishui Alliance—a Titled Douluo-level powerhouse—
within the Holy Spirit Cult, he did not even rank among the top ten.
The highest-ranking figures in the entire Holy Spirit Cult were Supreme Pontiff Ye Xishui and Worship Hall Master Long Xiaoyao.
Both of them possessed the cultivation of Rank 99 Ultimate Douluos.
Below them was the Cult Master Zhongli Wu and his wife, the Vice-Cult Master Feng Ling.
After that came the Worship Hall under Long Xiaoyao, whose members only obeyed Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui.
They did not need to follow the orders of the Cult Master Zhongli Wu or Vice-Cult Master Feng Ling.
Below all these figures came the Elders of the Holy Spirit Cult.
The reason Nangong Wan could serve as the leader of the Xishui Alliance was because he was skilled in management, a Rank 9 Soul Engineer, and—most importantly—he maintained his sanity, never succumbing to the corruption of evil thoughts or the lust for slaughter.
His appearance was refined and dignified, with long white hair neatly tied behind him and a kind, gentle smile that made him look like a benevolent man.
Only someone like him could interact with the various major forces of Mingdu.
Otherwise, if it were one of those other Evil Soul Masters, with faces full of murderous and sinister aura,
the powers of Mingdu would be too terrified to even speak with them—making any negotiations impossible.
Soon, Xu Tiannan's letter was delivered into the hands of the Holy Spirit Cult's Supreme Pontiff Ye Xishui.
As for the Cult Master Zhongli Wu, well… although he bore the title of "Cult Master," he had no real say in the Holy Spirit Cult.
He couldn't command its top powerhouses.
It was like Emperor Qianlong and Emperor Jiaqing—
as long as Qianlong was still alive, Jiaqing was nothing more than a figurehead.
Ye Xishui opened the letter, read through it, and said coldly,
"This Xu Tiannan is quite similar to his father Xu Jing.
Truly like father, like son—both seek to use my Holy Spirit Cult."
Ye Xishui harbored a poor impression of the current Emperor Xu Jing.
Back then, she had helped him only because the previous Emperor had been suppressing the Holy Spirit Cult.
However, regardless of her motives, without the Holy Spirit Cult's assistance, Xu Jing might never have secured the throne.
After ascending to power, Xu Jing would nod and agree to minor matters—he even let Kong Deming help her build the Reaper Tower (mentioned in the original story).
But when it came to major issues concerning the Holy Spirit Cult as a whole, he refused every single time, showing no sincerity whatsoever.
If it weren't for his fear of Kong Deming's overwhelming power, and the terrifying might of the five Sun Moon Empire Guardian Soul Engineer Legions and their combined fixed-installed soul-guided cannons,
Ye Xishui would have already taught Xu Jing a painful lesson.
At that moment, Ye Xishui's adopted son Zhongli Wu asked curiously,
"Mother, what does the letter say?"
Ye Xishui waved her hand and tossed the letter to her son.
Zhongli Wu took the letter, read it carefully, and after a moment of thought, said,
"Mother, our Holy Spirit Cult has only recently established itself within the Sun Moon Empire, and our foundation is still weak.
Moreover, we are being secretly suppressed by Emperor Xu Jing, which hinders our development.
If we support Xu Tiannan in seizing the throne and have him establish our Holy Spirit Cult as the state religion,
our cult will surely grow rapidly in power and influence."
Ye Xishui pondered for a moment, then nodded.
"Hmm. In that case, Wu'er, I'll entrust this matter to you."
"Yes, Mother."
Just as the Holy Spirit Cult was preparing to form an alliance with Crown Prince Xu Tiannan—
a rumor quietly began spreading throughout Mingdu, at a horrifyingly fast speed that no one could have imagined...