Chen Qiu, before the eyes of thousands of cultivators, knelt with a resounding thud before Li Bai. This act sent shockwaves across the land. Chen Qiu, a Sword Saint already renowned throughout the realm, had not been subdued even by the two Integration Heaven realm experts of the Holy Origin Dynasty. Yet today, before Li Bai, a Minister of Rites from the Great Han, had even drawn his three-foot Qingfeng sword, Chen Qiu was on the verge of death.
Li Bai descended from the void and helped Chen Qiu up, giving him a deep look. To have a Integration Heaven realm expert under the banner of the Great Han was indeed a significant asset.
"Heh heh, congratulations, Lord Li, on acquiring a capable sword cultivator. Truly commendable!" Sun Simiao stepped forward and directly produced a fourth-grade pill for Chen Qiu. This display caused Chen Qiu's eyes to bulge. How precious was a fourth-grade pill? Sun Simiao, with a single gesture, offered a fourth-grade pill for restoring vital energy.
"Hahaha, excellent, excellent!" Xu Chu's broad arm landed squarely on Chen Qiu's shoulder. The currently weakened Chen Qiu winced in pain, but at the moment Xu Chu's hand touched him, he felt the immense strength of this Great Han expert, even though he was only in the Spirit Venerable realm.
"Since that is the case, let us proceed to the Danqing Pavilion!" Li Bai said, looking ahead. Since the matter entrusted by Ling Xuan had been successfully concluded, a visit to the Danqing Pavilion was in order.
"Lord Li, you are going to the Danqing Pavilion?" Ling Mu's face was filled with astonishment. Sword Saint Chen Qiu, who was he? He was the foremost sword cultivator in the Southwest Region, yet today he was defeated by a Great Han official with a single sword strike.
The Great Han was terrifying indeed!
"Indeed!" Sun Simiao stroked his beard and said softly.
"I have no way to repay your life-saving grace, Lord Li. My Ling family has always cooperated with the Danqing Pavilion. I can introduce you all there and lead the way. This will be my way of thanking you for saving my life and for your immense kindness in looking after my daughter!" Ling Mu bowed deeply, his tone sincere.
"If that is the case, we would be most pleased!" Sun Simiao, Li Bai, and Xu Chu spoke in unison.
"Go! Quickly report to the Human Emperor! Sword Saint Chen Qiu has actually defected to the Great Han! We cannot let him go!" A Holy Origin Dynasty official, his face ashen, watched the Great Han group disappear into the distance, his eyes flashing with icy killing intent.
...
"What?"
"Impossible! How powerful is the Sword Saint? Even the Holy Origin Dynasty's宗人府 (Zongren Fu) could only exhaust and capture him!"
"How could he be defeated by the Great Han!"
Inside a tavern in the Cangmu Dynasty, a group of martial cultivators were arguing fiercely. The news of Li Bai defeating the Sword Saint with a single sword strike had spread like wildfire across the Ten Great Dynasties overnight. This event exploded like a seismic rupture across the entire human territory.
"Hahahaha!"
"Why is it impossible? That Li Bai is the one who obliterated Purple Mountain Marquis, one of the Four Great Marquises of the Blood Sun Dynasty, with a single sword strike!"
"Now the supreme title of Sword Saint has vanished like smoke. Li Bai is now known as the Green Lotus Sword Immortal, becoming the new pinnacle for countless sword cultivators in our human race!"
A young master with a long sword on his back and a delicate appearance sneered, his tone filled with reverence for Li Bai.
"Everyone, have you heard of Li Shang?" a burly man said in a deep voice.
"You don't mean Li Shang of the Holy Origin Dynasty who challenged Chen Qiu a few years ago and had an arm severed because of it?"
"That's right, it's him. He has now been taken in as a disciple by the Green Lotus Sword Immortal, and he has Li Bai as his master. Look at his treatment! With guidance from a Sword Immortal, even Chen Qiu, who had his own arm severed, now addresses him as a brother!"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk!"
...
"Bang!"
"Did Chen Qiu truly defect to the Great Han?" Emperor Ying Zhong of the Holy Origin Dynasty, his face grim, looked at the assembled court officials and slammed the memorial directly onto the table before him.
"Your Majesty, Chen Qiu possesses unparalleled sword intent and an even fiercer battle spirit. Even dispatching two experts from our Holy Origin Dynasty's宗人府 only barely subdued him. This person cannot be allowed to remain!" The Grand Tutor stepped forward, cupping his hands and speaking softly.
"Your Majesty, the Grand Tutor is correct. Chen Qiu, as a subject of our Holy Origin Dynasty, has defected to the Great Han. This is treason and should be punishable by death!" a general stated in a rough voice.
"Great General, what do you think?" Ying Zhong rested his face on his hand. He had just assumed control of the Holy Origin Dynasty, consolidated power by subjugating various sects and forces, and even brought Sword Saint Chen Qiu into his court. His prestige had momentarily echoed throughout the Southwest Region, making those outside the Holy Origin Dynasty remember him, the new Emperor of the Holy Origin Dynasty.
"Your Majesty, this humble general suggests we wait until after the Imperial Ceremony. The Great Han's foundation is strong. Even now, we cannot penetrate deep into the Great Han, and we are completely unaware of the true depth of their foundation."
"Your Majesty, the Blood Sun Emperor is notoriously short-tempered. After Purple Mountain Marquis's death at the hands of the Great Han, he didn't utter a single complaint, directly initiating the Imperial Ceremony, intending to use the powers of the realm to destroy the Great Han. Even the Blood Sun Emperor is so cautious, this general suggests we proceed with caution!" The Great General was the seventh prince at that time. He had dedicated his life to the military and was deeply respected among the Holy Origin Dynasty's generals.
After Ying Zhong eliminated the eighth prince, Ying Jia, he promoted the seventh prince to the position of Great General to stabilize the nation and win over most of the military.
This seventh prince was indeed capable of letting go. His ambition for the imperial throne had been a fleeting impulse. After his failure, he dedicated himself to the development of the dynasty and was loyal to Ying Zhong. As soon as Ying Zhong ascended the throne, he immediately relinquished his military power, a move that earned him significant favor from Ying Zhong.
"Your Majesty, the Great General is correct. In a few more days, after the Emperor's enthronement ceremony, the Imperial Ceremony will commence. At that time, Your Majesty merely needs to add fuel to the fire, making the spark ignited by the Blood Sun Emperor burn even brighter, and use the hands of all the dynasties to destroy this powerful Great Han, thereby winning the hearts of all under heaven!" An old minister said, cupping his hands.
Ying Zhong looked at the suggestions from the officials below and gradually calmed his heart. "Since that is the case, expedite the preparations for the enthronement ceremony!"
...
Blood Sun Dynasty.
"Hahaha!"
"Hahaha!"
"This is truly excellent news! With Sword Saint Chen Qiu defecting to the Great Han, the newly revealed fangs of the Holy Origin Dynasty have been blunted by three parts. Excellent, excellent, excellent!" The Blood Sun Emperor laughed heartily, having long forgotten about the death of Purple Mountain Marquis.
"Your Majesty, news from the various dynasties has already been received. Only Empress Weiyang claims to be unwell and unable to attend the ceremony!" Marquis Liefeng said softly, looking at the letter in his hand.
"Hmph, a mere woman. If it weren't for the distance between my Blood Sun Dynasty and the Weiyang Dynasty, I would have captured her long ago to warm my bed!"
"Hmph!"
"Marquis Liefeng, you will represent me at the Holy Origin Emperor's enthronement ceremony. Afterwards, you will accompany me to the Imperial Hall to commence the Imperial Ceremony and jointly discuss the annihilation of the Great Han!"
The Blood Sun Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, a ferocious glint flashing in his narrow slits!