"What?"
"Xuu Manzi, that Martial Arts Prodigy, led a squad from the Border Army to attack the Library Pavilion? Are you sure you saw that correctly? He's a Double Peak Fourth Grade expert..."
When he heard that an elite squad from the Border Army was storming the Library Pavilion, Xu Xiaohan panicked. He immediately grabbed several of his trusted men and rushed over.
If something happened to Master Su, heaven knows what his godfather, the current Chief Eunuch of the Eastern Depot, Zhang Gui, would do.
However, what he saw was an empty Library Pavilion and a figure in a green robe loosening the soil in the courtyard. Who else could it be but Su Chen?
"Su Chen, what are you..."
Xu Xiaohan was dumbfounded, his face pale with shock. He glanced all around. The Library Pavilion was deserted, giving him a clear view of everything. There was no sign of an elite Border Army squad, not even the slightest trace of a fight.
'Could the report have been wrong? It must have been.'
For some reason, though, Xu Xiaohan's eyelid twitched. As he surveyed the herb garden, he had a nagging feeling that the soil was piled much higher than before. The garden itself had also been expanded by more than a full ring.
'Could it be... Impossible! It must be an illusion.'
That was a Double Peak Fourth Grade Martial Arts Prodigy, one of the absolute top-tier experts below the Third Grade. Even if Master Su had some tricks up his sleeve, he was so young. How could he possibly have killed Xuu Manzi? And that's not to mention the entire squad of elite Border Army soldiers with him.
"What's with all the panic?"
Su Chen chided.
Afterward, his gaze shifted to the distant palace, toward the two First-Grade figures locked in ceaseless battle, but he showed little interest.
From the top of the Library Pavilion, Su Chen had watched for a while and realized the two were just putting on a show. They had no real intention of fighting to the death.
First-Grade Experts were considered invincible in this age. Those who reached the First Grade were all in their seventies or eighties; their lifespans were precious, and they always cherished their lives dearly.
"Master Su, two First-Grade Minor Grandmasters are fighting. Should we retreat to the Underground Palace to take temporary shelter...?" Xu Xiaohan asked with utmost loyalty.
Master Su, however, was unconcerned. Pointing at the two Minor Grandmasters in the distance, he let out a cold laugh and said as a reminder,
"Half a year ago, when that Purple-robed figure known as Nine Thousand Years slew the Celestial Master's Mansion's First-Grade Purple Star Daoist in battle, what did it look like? It's not like you didn't see it."
"Haven't you noticed?"
"They've been fighting for so long, yet they haven't even shattered a single corner of the palace. There won't be any real danger tonight."
In response, Xu Xiaohan gave an awkward laugh, though in his heart, he was completely unconvinced. 'A dignified First-Grade Minor Grandmaster, the Northern Garrison Marquis himself, is openly rebelling and storming the Imperial Palace. How could there be no danger? A single misstep could lead to the fall of a dynasty!'
"This Northern Garrison Marquis is as cunning as they come with age, leveraging his strategic value to the absolute fullest."
"A First-Grade expert in this day and age is someone no one can control. That's the reality of it."
As if to prove Su Chen's words, the very next moment, the Prince Northern Garrison—hale and hearty, full of vigor, and clad in Golden Armor—charged into a palace. After snatching the former Empress, who was his own granddaughter, he immediately began his retreat.
The elite Border Army soldiers who had charged in retreated like a receding tide, surging out of the Imperial City in a great torrent.
"Great Liang has lost its virtue! Three changes of imperial power in a row... it's a joke! Sooner or later, you'll be destroyed by another kingdom. I'm done with this Great Liang!"
The mighty voice, empowered by True Essence, echoed across almost the entire Capital City.
「In Jinluan Hall.」
Surrounded by thousands of Imperial Guards, Emperor Jianwu's expression was as dark as a thundercloud.
During the Tianwu Dynasty, the common people's lives were miserable. Displaced peasants frequently rose up in rebellion, killing officials and defying the government...
But they could never gain much traction.
With the deep cultivation heritage of the Tianwu Tower, even if a real crisis arose, a First-Grade Minor Grandmaster could emerge from the Treasure Tower and single-handedly defeat an army of ten thousand.
The lives of the common folk were as cheap as weeds, and they were ignorant of the Tianwu Tower's formidable power. But the Noble Families knew, so they never dared to entertain any fantasies about seizing imperial authority.
However, Old Emperor Tianwu was successfully assassinated.
His successor, the Seventh Prince, was deposed and became a mere Puppet in the hands of the Purple-robed First Supervisor—that figure known as Nine Thousand Years—in less than half a year...
The prestige of the Royal Race was completely shattered.
However, the Purple-robed First Supervisor had successfully intimidated the lesser villains by slaying the Peak First-Grade Purple Star Daoist of the Celestial Master's Mansion, one of the Major Sects of the Martial World.
'But now the imperial authority has changed hands for a third time. Not only has a First-Grade Marquis of this era defected, but he also stormed the Imperial Palace as if it were completely undefended, achieving his goal and retreating unscathed...'
Emperor Jianwu gritted his teeth, his cold eyes practically spitting fire.
And that damnable Purple-robed First Supervisor—the current one, who had also held the post two reigns ago, with his youthful, white-haired appearance. He was just going through the motions, allowing the imperial authority to be utterly humiliated.
Under a normal transition of power, such a humiliating scene would never have occurred.
Every Crown Prince would have loyal Peak Second-Grade experts cultivated to serve them. Then, upon ascending the throne and receiving the Tianwu Tower's recognition, they could use certain methods to create a Purple-robed First Supervisor who would be completely subservient to the Emperor.
Unfortunately.
Old Emperor Tianwu had delayed naming a Crown Prince for far too long. He had even bestowed three sets of White Dragon Robes, allowing three Princes to fight endlessly amongst themselves, leaving behind all these latent disasters.
Emperor Jianwu was keenly aware that after tonight, the number of Cultivators who disrespected imperial authority would only increase. Moreover, those ancient Noble Clans, who previously hadn't dared to entertain any seditious ideas, would now begin to stir.
It was all because tonight, they had witnessed the weakness of imperial authority and seen the hope of usurping it...
"I remember... that night, someone clearly predicted that the Purple Star Daoist would die, correct?"
Emperor Jianwu suddenly spoke.
Having escaped death, turned the tables, and ascended to the throne, even the deeply scheming Zhang Gui had to tread carefully in his presence.