"So, my thanks to you, Great Hero!"
Cao Fan's face lit up with joy.
The heavy shadow in his heart was finally going to be removed!
Chen Sanshi didn't bother saying anything more. He gathered up everything, left the Mountain God Temple, and on the way, stopped in a deserted area. There, he absorbed all the incense energy from the burner before tossing it away casually.
That Cao Fan…
He actually tried to hire someone to assassinate him.
How truly sinister.
After everything was done, Chen Sanshi took out the jade pendant in the wilderness and studied it in his hand.
It was called a jade pendant, but its shape was perfectly square, lacking any beauty. It looked old, covered with seven or eight cracks, and the only mysterious thing about it were the tiny, intricate runes carved across its surface—so fine they were barely visible.
So then… how was it supposed to be used?
Perhaps the Incense God Sect had truly mistaken Zhang Laizitou the Scabby-Headed Knight for a powerful expert, so they hadn't bothered to teach any ordinary spell techniques. Even the way to activate this jade pendant hadn't been mentioned.
He had no choice but to figure it out himself.
"Buzz!"
Chen Sanshi guided his incense power into the pendant. As expected, it reacted—absorbing the incense qi, then radiating a purple glow. Under his control, the pendant began to emit bursts of light, like a dragon spitting pearls, releasing the incense qi as a form of attack.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
A series of explosions erupted across a small stream in front of him, sending sprays of water everywhere.
But the power was rather mediocre.
Not even as strong as the Sword Qi Technique at Minor Achievement.
"This thing can absorb energy and release it again."
Chen Sanshi quickly grasped its general use.
He then tried to see if it could store Sword Qi Technique energy—perhaps that could solve the spell's one-shot limitation. Unfortunately, it failed.
The jade pendant could only absorb raw energy, not fully formed spells.
Which made sense. If it could absorb spell attacks, it would be a perfect defense artifact.
"What else can it absorb…"
Chen Sanshi decided to keep experimenting.
After a few repeated attempts, he discovered something surprising—
It could absorb fire!
And even spiritual qi!
He just didn't have any spiritual qi at hand to test further.
But fire…
'Could it absorb strange flames too?'
Chen Sanshi went to a barren mountain outside Taihu Prefecture and found a tiger's den. He punched the tiger dead, chopped up wood inside, and rubbed it with oil before carefully lighting it.
A crimson flame rose up, illuminating the dark cave.
"Buzz!"
Sure enough, under Chen Sanshi's control, the jade pendant acted like a dragon inhaling water, greedily sucking in the flames.
But its capacity seemed limited.
Before long, more cracks began spreading across its surface, and Chen Sanshi quickly stopped.
He estimated that this pendant could probably only be used once before it broke.
Reasonable, though.
Cao Fan didn't even cultivate incense techniques. Giving him a better treasure would've been a waste.
Chen Sanshi focused his intent.
A bright red fireball shot out from the pendant and smashed into the cave wall, melting the stone on contact.
"Good stuff!"
Finally, he wouldn't have to rely on makeshift "fire arrows" anymore. Those were troublesome—he always had to ignite them first.
With this jade pendant, he had a real killing weapon now.
"That bastard Cao really spared no cost trying to kill me!"
"Next, I need to push Sword Qi Technique to breakthrough."
With that thought, Chen Sanshi sat down and began cultivating using the incense energy he had just gathered.
[Technique: Sword Qi Technique (Minor Achievement)]
[Progress: 1508/2000]
In truth, when incense energy was plentiful, training spells was far faster than martial arts.
Over the past two months, he had quietly collected incense from nearby temples to aid his practice. The Sword Qi Technique breakthrough was not far off.
With both the strange flame and the Sword Qi Technique at his command, Chen Sanshi finally had enough confidence to deal with the Seeking Immortals Tower—without worrying about being backstabbed helplessly.
Once everything was handled, he changed back to his true appearance and returned to Taihu Prefecture City.
The next morning—
A new imperial decree arrived.
The Emperor himself was coming.
That day, Taihu Prefecture went into maximum lockdown. The main roads were swept spotless, and any beggars, vagrants, or poorly dressed citizens were driven out of the city.
The imperial procession was vast and grand.
The ceremonial guards at the front entered the city in the morning, and only by noon did the Emperor's dragon carriage finally arrive. Despite the staggering scale of the escort, the dragon carriage itself was surprisingly simple. Its canopy was gray silk, embroidered with a Taiji yin-yang fish pattern. Through it, one could vaguely see a figure seated cross-legged in meditation—his presence serene and transcendent.
He looked less like an emperor and more like the head of a Daoist sect on a spiritual journey.
Emperor Longqing went straight to the Mount Ziwei palace, sending word for all civil and military officials to gather there five days later at dawn in the Hall of Nurtured Heart for a grand court assembly. Chen Sanshi was also ordered to attend.
It was clear the event was meant to formally declare the recovery of Mount Ziwei. The rewards for everyone involved would be announced only after the Heaven-Sealing Ceremony.
Chen Sanshi was worried.
Would the old emperor take the secret treasure from the sealed chamber as soon as he arrived?
Luckily, Emperor Longqing didn't go himself. Instead, he dispatched dozens of eunuchs to search the area—but their range was much smaller this time, focusing near the rear mountain's deep pool. Clearly, he had already found clues.
It had to be soon—before the emperor did.
That night, Chen Sanshi changed his face once more.
"Who's there?!"
Eunuch Liao, exhausted from a day's work, was just heading back to rest when he caught sight of a flickering shadow ahead.
He immediately pursued.
The chase led to a quiet bamboo grove, where he finally saw a lone figure standing with his back to him.
The man wore a deep indigo robe and a long blade at his waist. In the night wind, he looked calm and composed—like a true master.
"Who are you?!"
Eunuch Liao had spent years navigating palace intrigues; he could tell instantly this man had lured him here intentionally.
With one hand behind his back, he held a poisoned dart hidden in his palm and narrowed his eyes. "This is the Imperial Palace of His Majesty. To trespass here is treason of the highest order—punishable by execution of nine generations!"
"The humble one is Zhang Laizitou!"
The robed man turned around, revealing a face as ugly as it was mismatched with his lofty demeanor.
"Zhang Laizitou?"
Eunuch Liao frowned, trying to recall the name.
It did sound familiar…
This Zhang Laizitou had apparently been clashing with the Incense God Sect lately. The fact that he was still alive showed he wasn't ordinary.
Eunuch Liao demanded coldly, "No matter who you are, this is not a place you should be. If you can't give me a proper explanation, I'm afraid you won't be leaving here alive."
"Heh."
Chen Sanshi smiled faintly. "If your identity as a member of the Seeking Immortals Tower were exposed, wouldn't you be the one unable to leave?"
"You—who the hell are you?!"
Eunuch Liao's expression changed drastically.
This Zhang Laizitou not only knew about the Incense God Sect, he also knew about their identities. If that got out…
He tensed immediately. "Say it—what's your purpose?"
"No need to be nervous, Eunuch," Chen Sanshi said calmly. "I called you here to share a grand immortal opportunity hidden within Mount Ziwei."
"An… immortal opportunity?"
Eunuch Liao's eyes flickered. "You even know that? And judging by your tone—you've found something?"
"Indeed."
Chen Sanshi nodded. "I wonder if Eunuch would be willing to form an alliance with me. Whatever we obtain, we split fifty-fifty."
If he acted under his true name and anything went wrong, the Seeking Immortals Tower would hound him endlessly.
So it was better to use a false identity. Whether the deal succeeded or not was secondary.
Eunuch Liao hesitated for a while, then nodded. "Heh… if you truly have a discovery, this humble servant will give you my full support."
"Follow me."
Chen Sanshi led the way ahead.
Soon, the two of them reached the deep pool.
"I've searched this pool long ago," Eunuch Liao said suspiciously. "Never found a thing. Are you trying to trick me?"
"Just go down there—you'll see."
"If you're lying to me—"
"You're already here, and you still want to leave? Or are you planning to call others to kill me?"
Faced with Chen Sanshi's firm tone, Eunuch Liao's suspicion eased slightly.
He couldn't tell what tricks this man might have, but the temptation was too great.
He dove into the water.
Chen Sanshi followed closely behind, one hand gripping his blade, the other pointing the way.
After several twists and turns underwater, they finally emerged into a cavern.
"There's actually such a hidden place beneath this deep pool!"
Eunuch Liao looked around in disbelief. "Hero Zhang, how did you find this?"
"No need for nonsense."
Chen Sanshi brought him before a massive stone door. "Open this."
"Oh?"
Eunuch Liao, just like Chen Sanshi before, began to test the door from every angle before approaching it carefully. "There's a restriction on this door—an ordinary person can't open it."
"Can you open it or not?" Chen Sanshi pressed.
"I'll try."
Eunuch Liao stepped forward, positioning himself to block Chen Sanshi's view.
Chen couldn't see what method he used, only that faint streams of spiritual qi started to flow over the eunuch's body.
A rumbling "boom" followed, and the stone door slowly began to open.
So the Seeking Immortals Tower truly had some skill.
If this trip yielded something, that would be ideal—it'd mean he could stop dealing with Cao Fan and his lot. But he worried that whatever the Great Sheng Founding Emperor had left behind wouldn't be easily taken by outsiders.
As the door opened, a passage appeared before them.
Torches on both sides flared to life, illuminating the darkness.
"Hero Zhang! Quickly, let's go in!"
Eunuch Liao's eyes shone with excitement.
"Eunuch, do you have a death wish?"
Chen Sanshi snapped coldly.
"Oh—yes, yes."
Eunuch Liao came back to his senses. "I was overwhelmed seeing this long-sought immortal chance. I nearly forgot there could be danger inside. How about this—we go out and grab a few living people to scout the way first?"
"Hmph!"
Chen Sanshi barked, "I, Zhang Laizitou, act openly and righteously! How could I resort to such vile methods to seek immortality?"
"Didn't expect that. Hero Zhang truly has a chivalrous heart," Eunuch Liao said, half-admiring, half-mocking. "No wonder you burned down the Incense God Sect's Dragon King Temple by the Tongtian River."
"But still, we can't just rush in blindly, can we?"
A faint squeak echoed.
Chen Sanshi's ears twitched. "Wait here for me."
With that, he dove back into the pool.
Moments later, he returned—holding a large, rabbit-sized rodent with fan-shaped ears.
"A Water-Avoiding Rat?"
Eunuch Liao's eyes widened. "Though it's a rat, it lives by the water and hunts fish. It's quite intelligent. Perfect for scouting ahead."
"Go."
Chen Sanshi tossed the creature into the passage.
The Water-Avoiding Rat trembled but had no escape, so it cautiously crept deeper inside.
The two men exchanged a glance and followed behind.
There were no traps along the way.
After passing through the narrow corridor, they entered a vast hall lined with statues—one every 100 paces, each accompanied by a stone stele engraved with words.
The first statue depicted a boy of about 13 or 14, feeding a horse.
"The Great Sheng Founding Emperor!"
Eunuch Liao exclaimed. "Friend, look—these statues seem to depict the life of Cao Xie!"
"Friend?"
Chen Sanshi frowned. "Why call me that?"
"When one seeks the Dao and pursues immortality, we are all travelers on the same great path," Eunuch Liao explained, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "That's how the immortal scrolls record it—Dao Friends, walking side by side toward eternal life!"
Chen Sanshi said nothing more, instead turning to read the inscriptions beside the statue.
"When I, Cao, was young, my family lived well enough. One day, I saw the Emperor of the Former Yan visiting in procession, high above all, revered by thousands. I blurted out—'He can be replaced.'"
"At 12 years old, my family fell from grace. My father was framed and executed, our clan exiled, and I was sold into slavery as a stable boy for an official named Zhou."
"At 15, I caught the attention of the Zhou family's guards, who taught me some martial skills. That was my first step onto the martial path."
The second statue showed Cao Xie in disciple robes, holding a wooden sword, his face filled with determination.
"At 20, I broke free from slavery and entered Jiuyuan Sect. By fortune, I gained the favor of the sect master's daughter. After much struggle, I became his personal disciple."
"At 22, I was already unrivaled among my peers. From then, I began to build influence—making allies, gathering fame. Within two years, my name shook the martial world."
"At 25, as chaos engulfed the land, I slew officials and rose in rebellion."
The third statue—
Cao Xie was clad in full armor, seated upon his horse, sword pointed to the heavens.
"At 28, I, Cao, carved out my own domain and became a warlord."
"At 30, I led a northern campaign that failed and found myself trapped in one corner of the land. From that point on, I began to seek the Dao and pursue immortality."
The fourth statue.
Cao Xie was dressed as a wandering swordsman, carrying a travel pack on his back.
"At 35, I met an immortal and obtained the blessed land of Ziwei."
"At 38, I became invincible beneath the heavens."
The fifth statue.
Cao Xie stood tall, holding a wine cup high toward the sky.
"At 40, I restored the land and set out once again."
"At 45, I unified the world."
"At 48, I performed the Heaven-Sealing Ceremony upon Mount Ziwei and ascended as Emperor."
"After 50, I personally forged the prosperous Kaiyuan Era and laid the foundation for an eternal empire."
The sixth and final statue.
"At 80, I passed the throne to my eldest grandson."
According to the official histories—
In the 32nd year of the Kaiyuan Era, Emperor Founding Emperor Cao Xie of the Great Sheng Dynasty passed away and was buried in the imperial mausoleum in the capital.
"I, Cao, lived a life with no regrets. My only concern is whether my descendants can guard the glorious mountains and rivers I personally won."
"Therefore, I leave behind the Nation-Suppressing Treasure and this immortal opportunity here."
Reading to that point, Chen Sanshi frowned slightly.
The writing on the stele didn't feel like something left for his descendants—it read more like a message to outsiders.
When he looked up, the final statue came into view.
It was the elderly Cao Xie, seated solemnly on a dragon throne, wearing a nine-clawed dragon robe. Though carved from wood, the statue's eyes suddenly seemed alive, exuding an unspeakable pressure that pressed down like invisible dragon claws clutching the neck of every living being, suffocating all who stood before it.
Then—
The words on the stele began to vanish one by one, until only a single line of scarlet script remained, carved deep into the stone as if with a sword.
"You lowly peasants and slaves—before your lord and emperor, how dare you not kneel?!"
"Ah! Th-The Founding Emperor above! This servant—this slave—deserves death, deserves death!"
Eunuch Liao, who had been completely entranced a moment before, fell to his knees with a loud thud, knocking his forehead against the ground repeatedly in terror.
"Boom!"
Cao Xie moved.
The wooden statue's eyes snapped open like a dragon awakening, glaring straight at the man still standing before him.
"Commoner!"
"Why do you not bow?!"
"Clang—"
A flash of cold steel.
Cao Xie's head flew from his shoulders.
Chen Sanshi sheathed his blade slowly, looking down at the wooden head beneath his feet, and his voice thundered like rolling clouds. "You're but a corpse from the tomb—how dare you act out of turn before me?"
"Ah?"
Beside him, Eunuch Liao collapsed onto the ground in shock, screaming uncontrollably at the sight of the beheaded emperor's head.
"Eunuch!"
Chen Sanshi barked sharply. "A mere old emperor's ghost scares you like this? And you call yourself a seeker of immortality?!"
"Huff…"
Eunuch Liao finally came to his senses, patting his chest, still trembling. "Forgive me, Dao Friend… no, truly forgive me! There was some kind of spell upon that statue—it's not just me being cowardly!
"Strange…
"Why didn't it affect you?
"The wrath of an emperor—are you really not afraid at all?"
"Afraid?"
Chen Sanshi pressed his palm against the hilt of his blade and said calmly, "He should fear my wrath instead."
"A true master!"
Eunuch Liao's face filled with admiration. "Hero Zhang, you are indeed extraordinary. Let's keep going, keep going!"
Ahead, there were no more statues—only a stone platform.
On it rested a small chest, and beside it—
A sword.
The sword's blade was embedded deep within the stone, leaving only the dragon-headed hilt visible. It hummed with a low vibration, resonating with the Mystic Pearl hidden within Chen Sanshi's chest.
That sword—
It was calling to him.
"Eunuch," Chen Sanshi asked, "do you know what sword this is?"
"Could it be…"
Eunuch Liao's eyes widened. "The legendary Dragon Abyss Sword? It was said the Founding Emperor used this very blade to conquer the world! But the sword later passed down was the Dragon Spring Sword—this one vanished from history. So, it's been hidden here on Mount Ziwei all along!"
"Dragon Abyss Sword…"
Chen Sanshi frowned slightly. The resonance between the sword and the Mystic Pearl puzzled him.
When he tried to use the pearl's power to control the sword, he met great resistance—as if a thick, unseen rope bound the sword, connecting it to someone else's will.
They stood roughly 100 steps away from the stone platform.
"The Dragon Abyss Sword isn't the key!"
Eunuch Liao said urgently, "Dao Friend, you saw the inscription earlier, didn't you? The real immortal opportunity lies within that chest beside it!"
Before Chen Sanshi could answer, Eunuch Liao hurried toward the platform.
But just then—
Streams of transparent spiritual qi surged out of the Dragon Abyss Sword, spreading through the air before landing upon each of the Cao Xie statues along the corridor.
Not good!
"Run!"
Chen Sanshi reacted instantly, leaping back toward the stone gate.
At the same time, the statues—from the horse-feeding boy onward—began to move.
One by one, they came alive!
Each radiated a powerful aura, all turning their gaze toward the terrified eunuch.
"T-This—this…"
Eunuch Liao realized something was terribly wrong. Though his mind was clouded by greed, he hadn't completely lost it. He made a quick decision and tried to retreat like a shadow skipping over water. But he was half a step too slow.
The statue of the young horse slave lunged forward, punching straight at him.
"Boom!"
Eunuch Liao countered with a palm strike.
Fist met palm—
And the eunuch was blasted backward, slamming into the corridor wall.
In a flash, he brought his hands together in a strange seal. Frost bloomed before him, condensing into an icy blade that slashed through the air, slicing off the horse slave's arm.
Before he could recover or flee, another statue—the version of Cao Xie during his sect disciple years—followed up, slashing down with a wooden sword aimed right for his face.
This time, he had no chance to strike back.
"Buzz!"
The Rice-Seed Knife left its sheath.
Chen Sanshi also found himself unable to withstand the force. He stumbled backward and, in the same motion, unleashed a Sword Qi Technique.
"Boom!"
A flash of violet light streaked across the air. The tiny purple sword detonated, blasting apart the head of the Sect Disciple-era Cao Xie statue.
Taking advantage of the opening, Chen Sanshi and Eunuch Liao withdrew together.
Behind that statue stood three more wooden figures.
Each represented a different stage of Cao Xie's life, their power increasing with each one.
The final three were far stronger.
Fortunately, the elderly Emperor Cao Xie statue had been the first one Chen Sanshi decapitated—otherwise, they might never have escaped alive.
"Buzz—"
As the last three wooden figures gave chase, a surge of spiritual light flared around Eunuch Liao. He repeated some unknown technique, and the stone door began closing again.
The Water-Avoiding Rat also tried to flee, but it was one step too late. The mounted Cao Xie statue crushed it underfoot, reducing it to pulp.
Just before the three pursuing figures could break through, the stone door slammed shut completely with two deep, echoing thuds. The rumbling faded into silence.
"Huff…"
Eunuch Liao gasped for air, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He stomped the ground furiously. "Just one step—just one damn step! The immortal chance was right there within reach! Those wooden figures… such terrifying power! How far did Cao Xie actually reach on the path of cultivation?"
Chen Sanshi was equally curious. Judging from the techniques those wooden statues displayed, the real Cao Xie's strength must have been no weaker—likely even greater—than what history recorded. But how could someone that powerful have lived only into his 80s?
Even Emperor Longqing was already 98, still alive and well.
In any case… things had gone exactly as he'd expected.
Whatever lay inside wasn't something that could be taken easily.
It seemed he'd have to drag Cao Fan into this after all.
Those mechanisms clearly recognized outsiders.
"Dao Friend!"
Eunuch Liao bowed deeply. "I owe you my life. Without you, I'd have perished here today."
"Just remember the great hero's kindness," Chen Sanshi replied, keeping his tone deliberately different from his true voice.
Since he had chosen to cooperate with the eunuch, helping him now was only natural—especially since he still needed the Seeking Immortals Tower later on.
"I'll remember," Eunuch Liao said, wiping the blood from his lips with a silk handkerchief. "But that immortal opportunity inside—how can we get it?"
"We can't rush back in," Chen Sanshi said after a pause, his mind lingering on the Dragon Abyss Sword. He couldn't shake the feeling of danger it gave him.
The energy that animated those wooden figures was unusual. It wasn't spiritual qi, nor the power stored in the Mystic Pearl, nor incense power—it was something entirely different, something he'd never seen before.
'Is this what Cao Xie left for his descendants?'
The Dragon Abyss Sword…
It was linked to another person's will.
The old emperor?
Then why hadn't Emperor Longqing simply come here himself?
If that sword truly resonated with him, wouldn't he sense this disturbance?
"Let's go!"
Chen Sanshi decided without hesitation.
They dove back into the pool and quickly swam away.
Fortunately, no further dangers appeared.
He didn't know whether their intrusion had been noticed—but it was better not to stay.
"Dao Friend," Eunuch Liao called out as they surfaced, "when do you think we should return?"
"I'll come find you when it's time. Farewell."
Chen Sanshi didn't linger. With a few swift movements, he vanished into the darkness.
He would only return when chaos broke out across the empire—when the Crown Prince finally rebelled.
That would be when the old emperor and his strongest forces were fully distracted. Only then would it be truly safe.
Changing back to his real face, Chen Sanshi didn't go home. Instead, he went directly to his senior brother's residence. He brewed two bowls of medicine by hand, taking the chance to improve his Medicine (Mortal) proficiency as well.
"Sixth Brother."
Wang Zhi came over, grinning as he sniffed the air. "What's that smell? You cooking up some treasure?"
Chen Sanshi smirked. "I've got something good—want it?"
"Treasure? You, my ass."
Wang Zhi laughed. "Speaking of which, you've had quite a few people inviting you over lately, haven't you? If you keep hiding, that's just stupid. Why not accept every invitation? We'll go together—make the rounds, take their gifts, and stay neutral. That way, we don't pick sides, and we can still bleed them for some real treasures. No losses, eh, bastard?"
Chen Sanshi didn't respond. Instead, he tossed him a small porcelain bottle. "I really do have something good. Take a look."
He'd identified only half of the ingredients inside. Two of them were clearly rare treasures.
"What's this?"
Wang Zhi uncorked it and sniffed. His eyes went wide. "Medicine… wait, no way—where the hell did you get this?!"
"Don't ask," Chen Sanshi said flatly. "Give it to Fourth Brother and have him check it for you. If it's safe, you might finally be able to practice martial arts again."
"I…"
Wang Zhi stammered, too excited to speak clearly. "O-Old Fourth, is this real?"
"How would I know?"
Fang Qingyun shrugged. "But damn, you lucky bastard."
"If it's real, just give me a year—no, maybe not even that long!"
Wang Zhi clenched the bottle tightly. "I could return to the Profound Manifestation Realm at Major Achievement!"
"That fast?" Chen Sanshi asked, surprised.
"Of course."
Wang Zhi nodded eagerly. "I've already mastered those techniques—they're ingrained in my mind. It's only my meridians and organs holding me back. If this really heals me, I could climb a whole realm every month!"
"Old Six," Fang Qingyun said seriously, "once your strength returns, keep quiet about it."
"Why?"
Wang Zhi frowned. "I've been holding back for years. Don't tell me I can't finally show off a bit?"
"The army expansion is ending," Fang Qingyun replied, meeting his eyes. "When we return to Liangzhou from Lingzhou, we'll face another northern reorganization. You understand what that means."
"Ah…"
Wang Zhi nodded slowly. "Yeah. I get it."
"Also," Fang Qingyun continued, "our senior brother earned great merit in the Battle of Mingzhou. He's on his way here. When he arrives, make sure you go greet him—you remember, he's our eldest brother."
He pushed his wheelchair forward. "Alright, enough. Get some rest. Tomorrow morning, all officials are to attend the court assembly in the Hall of Nurtured Heart. Don't you dare be late."
Attending court—
That would be Chen Sanshi's first time.
Even his official robe had only just been delivered a few days ago.
He wasn't interested in the least.
Who in their right mind enjoyed kneeling before others?
But still, tomorrow's court would definitely be a show worth watching.
He just wondered—how would Prince Qin and Prince Qi launch their impeachment?
Just relying on petitions and eloquent arguments wouldn't be enough to topple the Crown Prince, who had ruled as regent for 40 years. Some real, heavy-hitting scandal would be needed—but what that might be, no one could guess.
That night, Chen Sanshi cultivated quietly in his courtyard.
He couldn't let his martial training lag behind while improving his spell techniques.
After all, as things stood, even against ordinary cultivators, a Martial Saint still had the power to fight on equal footing.
[Technique: Dragon Spear of Nation-Suppression — Meridian Connecting (Minor Achievement)]
[Progress: 1,650/2,000]
The next morning.
He woke early and spent quite a while wrestling with his official robe before he finally managed to get it on properly.
Chen Sanshi now held the title of General of Distant Loyalty, a third-rank official. His crimson robe was embroidered with a tiger badge—marking his formal entry into the ranks of the "feather-robed beasts" of the court.
His Fourth Senior Brother, Fang Qingyun, wore a robe embroidered with a lion—the shared insignia of first and second-rank officials. Somehow, it didn't quite match his calm, scholarly demeanor.
At the foot of Mount Ziwei, the officials had already gathered.
Today, His Majesty the Emperor would personally ascend the mountain on foot to reenact the ancient Fengshan ceremony.
On such a momentous day, no one dared be late.
"Lord Chen!"
"Lord Fang!"
"Ah, I've long admired your names!"
"Breaking through three thousand to crush one hundred thousand—an unheard-of feat!"
"I hear in private that once the ceremony is over, General Fang will be granted a marquisate!"
Before the formal assembly began, officials took the chance to exchange greetings and curry favor.
"Lord Chen!"
A crimson-robed civil official approached. "Do you recognize me?"
"My lord…" Chen Sanshi returned the bow politely. "Forgive me, you are…?"
"My surname is Tang, given name Ran," the man said with an affable smile. "I currently serve as Minister of Rites."
"Lord Chen, I must thank you for looking after my son during the martial selection. If ever you have need of assistance within the court, and it's within my power to help—just say the word."
"So you're Lord Tang's father."
Chen Sanshi nodded. "Your son didn't come today?"
"No." Tang Ran sighed. "He…"
"The Emperor arrives—!"
Thud!
A high-pitched announcement echoed through the air.
At last, His Majesty, long awaited by the assembled officials, appeared in view.
This was the first time Chen Sanshi had seen the emperor—a man who somehow felt both familiar and distant.
The 98-year-old monarch, his silver hair streaked with faint traces of black, appeared remarkably energetic. Instead of a dragon robe, he wore a black-and-white Daoist robe, a horsetail whisk draped over one arm. His steps were light, and his presence commanded attention.
Behind him trailed the Crown Prince, red-faced and panting as he leaned on a cane, followed by Prince Qin, Prince Qi, and several other royal sons.
"This…"
"This is hardly proper…"
"How can His Majesty appear in a Daoist robe?"
"The sovereign of all under heaven, dressed like that…"
The murmuring spread among the officials, especially those of the Ministry of Rites. Tang Ran nearly rushed forward to protest, but two fellow ministers restrained him with force.
"We humbly greet Your Majesty!"
The assembled officials dropped to their knees in unison, their voices booming like thunder.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live, long live, long live—!"
Emperor Longqing ignored the formalities and walked straight past them.
The eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonies hurried to organize the procession.
"His Majesty is in high spirits!"
"He wishes to climb first and enjoy the mountain scenery before holding court!"
"Everyone, follow quickly—keep up!"
The Hall of Nurtured Heart was halfway up the mountain, reachable within an hour or so.
But the summit grew steep, and the full climb would take half a day. Still, since the emperor was pleased, no one dared complain.
And so, the entire court—civil and military—followed him up the mountain, step by step.
The martial officials moved easily, but many civil officials had never trained a day in their lives. The older ones suffered the most. A few nearly fainted along the way, including the Crown Prince, who barely held on through sheer willpower.
At last, by midday, they reached the summit.
Emperor Longqing stood before a cliff edge, gazing over the vast, cloud-covered peaks. Spreading his arms wide, he seemed to embrace the entire land before him, silent for a long while.
The officials stood behind him with bowed heads, waiting quietly.
Then, the emperor spoke in a low, resonant voice, reciting:
"Upon these towering peaks, clouds meet the edge of heaven.
Ancient pines guard for a thousand years, springs wind round the jade-green stones.
The mountains wear cloaks of emerald, ten thousand valleys breathe out mist.
Winds stir the pine waves, sunlight blesses the world.
With sight unbound, I see infinity—heaven and earth vast, the heart at ease.
From this height, I behold all peaks below, and my soul soars unconfined."
When he finished, the ministers erupted into praise.
"What magnificent verse, Your Majesty!"
"Quickly—record this poem at once! It should be carved upon a stele here for future generations!"
"A century has passed!"
Emperor Longqing raised his whisk, his voice clear. "For a hundred years, the lands of three prefectures were lost. Now, they are restored. I can finally face the ancestors and the people of this realm!"
"All credit belongs to Your Majesty's brilliance!"
"Your Majesty's reclaiming of Mount Ziwei surpasses even the deeds of your forebears!"
"May your virtue shine through the ages!"
The emperor listened quietly to their flattery before replying with calm grace. "This was not mine alone. Meng Quji has merit. Chen Sanshi has merit. Fang Qingyun has merit. Every soldier who fought in that battle has merit."
He turned, smiling faintly. "Enough. The mountain's climbed, the view's admired. Let's head to the Hall of Nurtured Heart."
A collective sigh of relief spread among the exhausted old officials.
"Chen Sanshi."
As the emperor descended the path, he suddenly beckoned. "You there—come walk beside me."
"Your Majesty."
Chen Sanshi stepped forward. "What does Your Majesty command?"
"Impressive," the emperor said softly, his gaze unreadable.
Emperor Longqing studied him with a faint smile. "A hero in his youth, indeed. When I was your age, I was still calling Sun Xiangzong to crack people's heads over petty grudges. All I thought about then was how to have fun. But you—crossing the Hongze River four times, leading three thousand men to crush one hundred thousand. Even that old bastard Fan Shuzhen said, 'If I don't come today, you'll have to drag me from afar.' You've outdone even me."
"Your Majesty's words terrify this humble subject," Chen Sanshi said quickly. "How could I possibly compare myself to Your Majesty—or to my master?"
"Why not compare?" Emperor Longqing chuckled. "I'm just speaking the truth. Sun Xiangzong always pretended to be so proper, didn't he? I bet he often bragged to you lot about how he was obsessed with training, how diligent and pure he was. Let me tell you—when he was young, he spent half his days fighting over women. Every time he needed silver to court a girl, he came to me to ask for it."
He sighed softly. "Time flies. In the blink of an eye, more than 60 years have passed. We've all gotten old… truly old."
"Your Majesty is still in the prime of life—why speak so?"
Chen Sanshi spoke sincerely.
This old emperor's body contained spiritual energy as dense as his master's.
"Speaking of that…"
Emperor Longqing asked casually, "Tell me, my dear Chen, do you know where your master is now?"
The question cut straight to the heart.
Chen Sanshi answered truthfully, "I do not, Your Majesty."
"Your master won't last much longer," Emperor Longqing said bluntly. "Within two years at most. I've wanted to help him, but he's kept his distance all these years—too proud to ask for aid. If anything happens, you must tell me. I need to know how to help him. After all, in this world, he's the only old brother I have left."
"I understand, Your Majesty," Chen Sanshi replied respectfully.
As they spoke, they had begun descending the mountain.
Then—
"Rustle, rustle…"
From both sides of the forest came faint footsteps. Before anyone could react, several powerful auras surged forward—dense, violent.
Figures burst from the trees.
Four assassins in total.
Judging by their qi, three were at the Profound Elephant Realm, and one was a Martial Saint!
Four high-realm experts—attacking at once.
Their blades flashed cold as all four lunged straight at the emperor.
Everything happened too suddenly—too fast.
Chen Sanshi cursed inwardly.
'So this is Prince Qin and Prince Qi's plan?'
Send in a few dead men. Let them die while leaving clues pointing toward the Crown Prince. Then, accuse the prince of plotting to assassinate the emperor and usurp the throne.
Simple. Brutal.
Would it work? Hard to say.
No—something didn't add up.
Did Prince Qin and Prince Qi even have a Martial Saint under them?
Impossible. They didn't have that kind of power.
Then… could it really be the Crown Prince's doing?
'No way.'
The old emperor's cultivation wasn't a secret—the Crown Prince knew he practiced the immortal path. Even if he sent a Martial Saint, what difference would it make?
In that split second, Chen Sanshi pieced it together.
He could sense the emperor's spiritual power—no weaker than his master's. A Martial Saint eunuch stood beside him, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard (Imperial Guards) were stationed nearby.
Chen Sanshi drew a sharp breath and shouted, "Your Majesty, beware—assassins!"
He charged forward toward the weakest of the four, a Profound Elephant Realm assassin.
Steel clashed. His blade met the assassin's, halting the strike—but the sheer force sent him flying. He crashed to the ground, blood rising in his throat. Forcing it out in a spatter, he roared, "Protect His Majesty—!"
The masked Martial Saint was already upon the emperor.
Grand Eunuch Huang Hong, head of the Directorate of Ceremonies, stepped forward and clashed palms with him.
Two Martial Saints collided.
The shockwave alone killed two elderly civil ministers instantly.
The assassin was sent flying.
But before anyone could breathe, more high-level experts arrived.
For an assassin, one failed strike meant death—but this Martial Saint wasn't retreating.
Perhaps enraged by failure, he turned to slaughter indiscriminately. Within seconds, 10 eunuchs and 7 or 8 officials were dead, their blood painting the stones.
Then his blade flashed again—this time, toward Prince Qi and Prince Qin.
"Boom!"
A crimson-robed figure moved.
An elderly Martial Saint with snow-white hair blocked the strike in time.
Meanwhile, the other three Profound Elephant assassins lunged toward the Crown Prince.
Captain Fan Tianfa of the Tiger Guard intercepted them, his qi erupting like thunder.
But not everyone was so lucky.
The Seventh Prince's head flew, blood spraying across the stones.
The Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard also fell, his body shredded apart in his duel with the masked Martial Saint.
Huang Hong and Fan Tianfa attacked in unison.
Their combined force finally broke the assassin's defense—and his mask shattered, revealing his true face.
It was Prince Tang of the Qing Kingdom—Li Gong.
A prince.
A traitor.
And a Martial Saint.