Chapter 60: The Crimson Purge
The royal court of Dawnriver shimmered with a tense grandeur, its marble floors reflecting the soft light of the late afternoon sun streaming through high windows, the air heavy with the rich scent of burning incense and the undercurrent of whispered judgments. The hall buzzed with the rustle of silk robes as guards escorted trembling nobles, the atmosphere charged with the weight of a purge against Prime Minister Zhao Heng's allies. Lin Xuan stood at the forefront, his crimson eyes blazing with triumphant resolve, the power of his newly advanced 9th Layer Qi Transformation surging through him after a grueling breakthrough with Battle Soul Unity in the war's aftermath. The Celestial Unity Crest on his back pulsed with a steady rhythm, a quiet guide as he raised his voice. "This ends the shadow—justice begins now!"
He led the purge with precision, his qi weaving through the court to subdue a resisting 6th Layer Qi Transformation noble, the man collapsing with a cry as Lin Xuan's energy pinned him to the floor. "Your corruption dies here," Lin Xuan said, his tone cold, wiping sweat from his brow as he surveyed the hall. Liu Yue, having advanced to the 6th Layer Qi Transformation, solidified her leadership, her snowflake mark glowing as she commanded Soul Lamp Hall recruits with Frost Phoenix Cry, freezing escape routes with icy precision. "Secure the exits—don't let anyone slip away!" she called, her moonlight eyes alight with authority, her raven hair swaying as she moved with confidence.
Liu Yang, his 2nd Layer Qi Gathering qi advancing to the 3rd Layer in the heat of the purge, faced a deepening identity crisis, the Human Emperor's bloodline a heavy mantle that made his chest tighten. His blood-forged glaive flashed as he struck down a fleeing guard, his young face etched with determination. "I'll hold the line—who am I to falter?" he muttered, his voice gruff, the glaive's weight a grounding force. Bai Ningxue, her 7th Layer Qi Transformation aura blossoming to the 8th Layer, stood against her clan's neutrality, her Thousand Lotus Seal Art shimmering as she purified traitor qi, her resolve firm. "I protect Dawnriver—no more standing aside," she said, her spirited laugh a brief respite as she worked.
Ji Yunjing, at the peak of the 3rd Layer Profound Heavenly Realm, advanced to the early 4th Layer amidst the purge's chaos, his leadership peaking as he ordered arrests, his silk robes fluttering. "Take them all—our kingdom rises anew!" he declared, his voice resonant, though his eyes flickered with the burden of command. Zhao Heng, sensing the tide turn, fled the court, his escape intensifying the war's escalation, the air thickening with the clink of chains and the murmur of victory. Lin Xuan gathered his team later, his breath heavy but his spirit high. "We've cleared the rot—now we face Ironfang head-on," he said, his tone proud. Liu Yue nodded, her hand on his shoulder. "Together, Senior Brother—we're unstoppable," she replied, the court a testament to their growing strength.