The Imperial Palace, Hall of Mental Cultivation.
A group of imperial guards clad in golden armor stood watch around the great hall. News of the battle at the Imperial Censorate's mansion seemed to have already reached this place via swift messenger birds, and thus the emperor Xu Chen's sleeping quarters were heavily guarded. Unfortunately, this small contingent of soldiers meant little to three Sword Cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage.
Outside the great hall, three figures approached in a triangular formation. At the forefront was a white-robed Sword Cultivator, his body riddled with wounds, carrying a dark, shapeless mass in his hand. Flanking him were a male and a female Sword Cultivator.
"Who goes there?!"
The commanding officer on duty drew his sword and barked, "Do you not know this is His Majesty's sleeping quarters?"
Chi Zhongyu cupped his fists. "I am Chi Zhongyu, young master of the Lingnan Sword Sect. I seek an audience with His Majesty."
"Young Master Chi!"
The commanding officer frowned. "It is so late, what pressing matter brings you to see His Majesty?"
"Do you have the right to know?"
Blood still stained the long sword in Chi Zhongyu's hand. He sneered, "Or perhaps, you'd like to ask my sword?"
The imperial guards were struck with terror.
"Make way!"
Chu Xiantong raised his sword blade. "I am Chu Xiantong, Sect Master of the Cheng Huang Sect. Those who block me shall die. Fetch Xu Chen to see us at once!"
"???"
The imperial guards were aghast. When Chu Xiantong had an audience with His Majesty before, her attitude was not like this at all; she had been exceedingly respectful. How could she now appear as if she intended to usurp the throne?
Just then, an imperial eunuch carrying a lantern approached. He shone the lantern on the object in Lin Zhao's hand. Instantly, the eunuch, terrified, dropped the lantern and scrambled towards the great hall, as if he had seen a ghost. "The Grand Preceptor... the Grand Preceptor's head! They've killed the Grand Preceptor! It's the Grand Preceptor's head..."
The imperial guards were struck with horror. Grand Preceptor Zhao Qian enjoyed immense prestige in the Xu Dynasty, known as "Immortal Zhao." Furthermore, Zhao Qian had made significant contributions in military strategy and governance, earning him the title of Imperial Tutor. Coupled with his long tenure leading the Prime Minister's Office, he was the true prime minister of all officials. Now, Zhao Qian's head was held in the hand of the white-robed Sword Cultivator. The implications were dire.
...
"Desist!"
An imperial guard centurion shouted, but before his cry could finish, he was severed by a flash of sword light. Although Chu Xiantong possessed a beautiful countenance, her attacks were exceptionally ruthless. With a single strike, she decapitated the centurion. Immediately after, she swept her sword outwards, and dozens of imperial guards holding heavy shields were bisected, their bodies and shields alike cleaved in two.
These ordinary soldiers, facing Sword Immortals at the Nascent Soul stage, were merely seeking their own demise.
"None of you seek death!"
Chi Zhongyu frowned. "We merely wish to see Emperor Xu Chen. We will not kill him!"
At that moment, a voice echoed from within the great hall: "Who seeks an audience with me?"
The doors opened, and a middle-aged man clad in golden armor strode out. It was Emperor Xu Chen, who seemed to have anticipated what was about to happen. He had already changed into battle armor and held a golden sword in his hand. He said calmly, "Chu Xiantong, Chi Zhongyu, and that legendary reclusive immortal. Hmph, do you intend to assassinate the emperor and usurp the throne?"
"Hmph!"
Lin Zhao paid no heed to his words. He simply raised his hand and tossed Zhao Qian's head out. "Your Grand Preceptor of the Star River realm is returned to you, though only his head."
Xu Chen suppressed his rage. "Why... why did you kill the Grand Preceptor?"
"Consider it for the sake of a Hundred Flower Realm."
Lin Zhao frowned, looking at Xu Chen. "Zhao Qian was a pawn of Wu Yuanzi, and you, Xu Chen, are Zhao Qian's pawn. You believe whatever Zhao Qian says. Don't you find it laughable that you are an emperor? Do you truly believe you command the empire's forces? I think not. It is Zhao Qian who does, for he could take your head as easily as plucking a flower."
He continued calmly, "As the ruler of a nation, you are unable to control the affairs of your realm. This is your first offense."
"Hmph..."
Xu Chen sneered. "Continue. I wish to hear how many offenses this so-called reclusive immortal can list for me."
"Very well."
Lin Zhao smiled. "At the Green Hut Inn, I personally witnessed the character of your second son, Xu Beiwei. Arrogant, lawless, treating human lives as trivial, lecherous and cruel. And such a person is allowed to command the Dragon String Cavalry? You, as emperor, cannot even discipline your son, and yet you delegate authority to him without restraint. This is your second offense."
A eunuch brought a chair for Xu Chen, who sat down and sneered, "Continue."
Lin Zhao said, "The dragon lineage ultimately belongs to the demon race. It has always been said that those not of our kind harbor ill intentions. The Xu Dynasty also has a rule against associating with demons. Yet, you, Xu Chen, deliberately broke this rule. You placed a ninth-realm elder蛟 behind Xu Beiwei. In Jiangzhou, there was also an eighth-realm black蛟 and a ninth-realm green蛟 attempting to assassinate Lu Huaining, likely orchestrated by Zhao Qian. You, as ruler, not only associated with demons but even allowed them to infiltrate the court. This is your third offense!"
Xu Chen's gaze turned icy. "Anything else?"
"Yes."
Lin Zhao smiled faintly. "Lu Huaining was indeed impudent and defiant, but he pleaded for the welfare of the people. Yet you, as ruler, blindly heeded Zhao Qian's deceitful words, disregarding the lives of the people in Jiangzhou and Longzhou. You even stripped Lu Huaining of his title as Grand Scholar and dismissed him from his post as Imperial Censor. In my view, Lu Huaining is a pillar of the state, a suitable candidate for Prime Minister. Your eyes are truly blind. This is your fourth offense!"
"Anything more?"
Xu Chen sneered.
Lin Zhao laughed. "Is that not enough?"
"Not enough!"
Xu Chen suddenly stood up, as if he had gone mad. He swung his sword and struck a pillar in front of the hall, his helmet falling off. In an instant, his hair was disheveled, and he pointed his sword blade at Lin Zhao, roaring, "No matter how much you say, I am the ruler of this land! This entire empire recognizes only one emperor, and that is I, Xu Chen! I am the Son of Heaven. What is the Son of Heaven? The son of Heaven. I have received the mandate of Heaven. I am above all others. My throne was bestowed by Heaven. How dare you, a mere mountain cultivator, demand that I abdicate?!"
"Received the mandate of Heaven?"
Lin Zhao could not help but laugh. "The common folk believe this rhetoric, but you, the emperor, also believe it?"
"What can you do?!"
Xu Chen's eyes were bloodshot. Spittle flew from his mouth as he roared, "In the end, you are still just a mountain cultivator, and I am the emperor, the Son of Heaven! What can you do to me?!"
Lin Zhao frowned. "When I came, I promised Lu Huaining that I would spare your life. However, I still feel you are utterly unworthy of being emperor. Since that is the case, let us have a new emperor. Young Master Chi, you are more familiar with the Xu Dynasty. Among the princes, who is most suitable to be emperor?"
"The Fifth Prince."
Chi Zhongyu said, "The Fifth Prince once studied swordplay at our Lingnan Sword Sect. He is kind-hearted and has a simple nature, lacking the arrogance of the First and Second Princes. With the guidance of wise ministers, he will undoubtedly become a wise ruler."
"Mmm."
Lin Zhao nodded. "Chu Xiantong, Young Master Chi, immediately send messages back to your sects. Dispatch cultivators from the Cheng Huang Sect and the Lingnan Sword Sect to guard the capital. Bestow the title of Prime Minister upon Lu Huaining. All matters of the court, large and small, shall be decided by Lu Huaining. And place the Fifth Prince on the emperor's throne."
"Yes."
Chu Xiantong looked at the emperor before her and asked with a smile, "And what about Xu Chen?"
"I promised not to kill him. Does your Cheng Huang Sect have a rear mountain? Confine him there until death. If he persistently seeks death, you may kill him, as it was only I who promised not to kill him, not you. If you kill him, it does not count against my promise."
"Alright."
Chu Xiantong smiled and nodded. This reclusive immortal was truly an interesting person!
"How dare you?!"
Xu Chen roared. "My throne is legitimate, and all the citizens of this land recognize it. Will the emperor you install be recognized by the world? I am the Son of Heaven! I am the Son of Heaven who received the mandate of Heaven!"
"Enough."
Lin Zhao lunged forward, grabbed Xu Chen by the back of his head, and threw him to the ground. He then placed his foot on Xu Chen's head and said with a faint smile, "You are now groveling beneath my feet, and you still believe you are supreme?"
He bent down, placed a hand on Xu Chen's head, and pressed his face against the ground. Looking into his eyes, he sneered, "As for legitimacy, is that something you should be concerned about? Tomorrow at dawn, we will announce to the public that Emperor Xu Chen has seen through the heavens and decided to retreat into the mountains to cultivate, abdicating the throne to the Fifth Prince. Upon his ascension, the Fifth Prince will declare a general amnesty and appoint officials. With the backing of the Lingnan Sword Sect and the Cheng Huang Sect from the mountains, who do you think will still care about you, this foolish and incompetent emperor?"
Xu Chen was enraged.
Immediately after, Chu Xiantong's subordinate, a hall master, grabbed Xu Chen under his arm and flew away on his sword, taking him back to the Cheng Huang Sect.
Overnight, Chu Xiantong and Chi Zhongyu traversed nearly all of the capital and its surroundings, having spoken with officials from various departments. The major generals wielding military power within and outside the city had also all been "met." Thus, at the morning court the next day, the capital city of Ning'an remained as peaceful as usual. However, the emperor had been replaced by a young emperor, and the regents were now Lu Huaining and two Sword Immortals from the mountains at the Nascent Soul stage.
...
In the afternoon.
Lu Huaining received a swift messenger bird from Wu Yuanzi, which was then forwarded to Lin Zhao. The message contained only a simple phrase: "To save Liu Liying, be among the top three at the Ascension Platform."
Clearly, Wu Yuanzi was once again making arrangements, and this time he was ensuring that Lin Zhao would actively participate, no longer acting as a reclusive immortal. After all, those among the top three at the Ascension Platform could ascend. As for the world they would arrive in after ascending, that was unknown before, as the Stone of Destiny had previously been in the hands of the Human Emperor Wang Chong. However, from now on, those who ascended would likely arrive in the human realm, Lin Zhao's world.
Two days later was the grand competition at the Ascension Platform. Chi Zhongyu, Chu Xiantong, Yu Wanning, and others would all be attending, as it was a momentous event that occurred only once a decade. As for Lin Zhao, he would naturally have to make the journey as well. Without going to the Ascension Platform, he could not break free from this predicament. To leave the Hundred Flower Realm and return to his own world, he had no choice but to embark on this path.
In the afternoon, he mounted a flying sword and soared upwards, leaving the capital and heading directly towards the direction of Lingze Mountain.