Rumble!
Thunder crashed above the imperial city, followed by golden lights rising like ripples, forming a sky screen that enveloped the entire city.
"This commotion—it's the Demon-Sealing Great Array!"
"What's happening? Why has the array protecting the imperial city activated on its own?"
"Protect His Majesty! The array's activation means a powerful enemy is approaching!"
As the golden sky screen descended, the Imperial Garden erupted in chaos. Royal attendants surrounded the Han Emperor.
Li He frowned at the screen. "Is this how Great Han tries to change the subject? Rumors are true—Great Han's Myriad Transformations experts are just boasts, nonexistent!"
"Your Majesty, look!" Suddenly, Attendant Xu pointed to the sky in horror. A cyan light划破天际 (sliced through the sky), hurtling straight for the imperial city.
This cyan light moved at极致 (extreme) speed, appearing above the city in a blink. It crashed down, easily piercing the golden sky screen before everyone's disbelieving eyes, materializing in their view.
"Sword—this is a flying sword...!"
"What powerful expert wields a flying sword? The Demon-Sealing Array was powerless!"
"Protect His Majesty—ensure he isn't harmed!"
At the sight of the flying sword, everyone in the Imperial Garden panicked, even Li He freezing in place.
The flying sword streaked past Li He like a shooting star, then soared upward, piercing the array again and vanishing in an instant.
The Imperial Garden fell deathly silent. All stared at where the sword had disappeared, wondering why it had flashed through the garden.
Thump!
A dull sound jolted everyone back.
Li He, standing in the garden, suddenly collapsed to his knees uncontrollably, then let out a bloodcurdling scream: "My hands! My knees! And my Dantian Qi Sea...!"
Kneeling on the ground, blood gushed from his knees. His wrists hung limply, blood trickling from them. Most shockingly, his Dantian Qi Sea—blood spread from his Dantian, and his cultivation weakened visibly. His face paled rapidly, transforming from a Third Rank Innate prodigy to a martial artist barely maintaining Third Rank.
"Senior Brother Feng, save me! Help me..." Li He looked at Elder Feng desperately, unable to move with his hands, feet, and Dantian destroyed.
Great Qi's envoy group crowded around, gasping at Li He's惨状 (horrific state).
"Wait—did the flying sword cripple Li He?"
"What else could turn him into a cripple in an instant?"
"The flying sword was too fast—I saw nothing. What happened?"
In the Imperial Garden, all were shocked by Li He's plight. Recalling how the flying sword had reduced a prodigy to this, they silently thanked their luck it hadn't targeted them.
"Ninth Uncle—it must be Ninth Uncle who acted!" The Han Emperor pushed past Attendant Xu and others, laughing triumphantly. He looked down at the pale, kneeling Li He. "You wanted to see Great Han's Myriad Transformations expert? Now you have—what do you say?"
Attendant Xu and others恍然大悟 (suddenly realized).
Who else but Prince Su could wield a flying sword to teach Li He a lesson? Moreover, the cyan light on the sword clearly contained Wind Sword Intent—Prince Su's signature move.
"No wonder Prince Su took all Myriad Transformations flying swords from the armory recently—he's mastered sword control!" Attendant Xu murmured, deeply shocked. Legends said sword control could take heads from a thousand li. Today, Prince Su hadn't even appeared, yet his flying sword had crippled Great Qi's prodigy prince—confirming the legends.
Chu Chu remained calm. She alone knew the flying sword wasn't wielded by Prince Su but by Third Uncle. Because Third Uncle was best to her and kept his word, he would surely help.
Great Qi's envoy group hurriedly bandaged Li He's wounds, but he looked up at the Han Emperor and Chu Chu with venomous eyes. "Senior Brother Feng, Great Han sent someone to ambush me and cripple my cultivation! You must avenge me!"
Elder Feng looked calm. "Junior Brother Li, how do you want me to avenge you?"
"Return to the sect and ask Grandmaster to emerge from seclusion to massacre Great Han's capital! Only then can I vent my anger!" Li He's face contorted—if he couldn't cultivate, he would drag everyone in the capital down with him.
"Junior Brother Li, who do you think you are? Grandmaster has secluded himself for years, ignoring worldly affairs. Do you think he'll emerge to avenge you? If you were still a prodigy and Inner Sect Saint Son, maybe. But now you're a cripple—why would Supreme Sword Sect avenge you?" Elder Feng snorted, stepping back to bow respectfully to the Han Emperor. "Your Majesty, Supreme Sword Sect has no ties to Great Qi's royal family. Our Myriad Transformations experts will not aid Great Qi."
"Senior Brother Feng, you...!" Li He was devastated, unable to believe Elder Feng had turned on him so quickly.
Elder Feng ignored Li He, smiling. "I've long heard Prince Su of Great Han is a peerless sword cultivator. Witnessing his flying sword today is an honor. Supreme Sword Sect wishes to stand with Great Han's royal family."
No one paid Li He any mind now. A prodigy without cultivation was no longer a prodigy. Not even Supreme Sword Sect would help him, and even if he returned to Great Qi, he would likely become an idle prince at best—his ambitions dashed.
After seeing off the Great Qi and Supreme Sword Sect envoys, the Han Emperor laughed heartily. "Excellent! I knew Ninth Uncle would protect Great Han in secret. Now who dares doubt we have a Myriad Transformations sword cultivator guarding our destiny?"
"Your Majesty, today's events should be announced to the world so all know Great Han's strength!"
"Second Prince has been detained in Great Zhou. Once news spreads, they'll surely release him!"
"Prince Su mastering sword control is a blessing for Great Han. Long live Your Majesty, blessed with boundless气运 (fortune)!"
...
In the Imperial Garden, the Chief Minister and others congratulated the Han Emperor, who glowed with joy.