Wipe them out to the last

The imperial court was thrown into an uproar by the Emperor Yan's sudden announcement of abdication.

The prime minister stepped forward first. His hair and beard were all white, and his face was dignified. He was a veteran of three reigns, with disciples and old friends all over the court, and his power was deeply rooted.

His words were forceful and eloquent, citing classical texts to directly condemn the abdication as "utterly absurd, contrary to ancestral rules, and shaking the foundations of the nation."

"I also agree with Your Excellency the Prime Minister!" The Vice Minister of War followed closely behind, his voice booming.

"Your Majesty is in the prime of your life, why would you take such an extraordinary action? We, your subjects, cannot understand even if we die a thousand deaths!" the Minister of Rites cried out in a trembling voice.

"I second that proposal!"

We all second that proposal!

In an instant, voices of agreement rose and fell, and most of the court officials stepped forward and knelt on the ground, creating immense pressure, as if they wanted to crush the already fragile decision of the Emperor Yan with the will of the people.

The Emperor Yan, seated on the dragon throne, looked embarrassed, his gaze darting around as he looked out of the hall, a hint of expectation in his eyes.

Just as this clamor of opposition reached its peak...

Laugh!

A faint yet extremely sharp sound of air being torn apart suddenly rang out and then vanished just as quickly, at a speed that would be impossible for an ordinary person to react to.

The prime minister's impassioned expression suddenly froze, his pupils dilated instantly, and a tiny, almost invisible red dot quietly appeared between his brows.

He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but no sound came out. His body swayed, and then he collapsed to the ground like a wooden stake that had lost its support.

Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!

Almost simultaneously, several more equally subtle and indistinguishable Sword Qi shot in from outside the hall, precisely piercing the foreheads or backs of the heads of the ministers who had just been the most vocal and clamorous.

Thump!

Several more muffled thuds followed, and several more bodies fell to the ground.

Blood then slowly seeped from the tiny wounds on their heads.

The whole process was breathtakingly fast. It wasn't until these people fell to the ground that most of the courtiers belatedly Consciousness what had happened, their horrified screams being choked back.

The entire hall fell into a deathly silence, broken only by heavy, uneasy breathing and the faint chattering of a few people's teeth.

Tap, tap, tap.

Clear footsteps came from outside the hall, neither hurried nor slow.

Su Bai stood at the foot of the imperial steps, his gaze calmly sweeping over the kneeling and standing officials, their faces ashen, before finally settling on the pale-faced Emperor Yan on the dragon throne. He spoke softly, his voice not loud, yet clearly reaching everyone's ears. "Because this is my will."

As soon as he finished speaking, he closed his eyes slightly, then opened them again.

In that instant, a strange, tiny, semi-transparent, dark gold-patterned sword phantom, about an inch long, flashed and disappeared in his eyes!

An indescribable, sharp will swept across the entire arena as if it were a tangible force.

"Ugh--!"

"Thump!"

"I... I..."

The courtiers who met the gaze of that phantom figure reacted in various ways.

Those with weak wills will have their eyes roll back and faint instantly. The timid will find their crotches soaked with sweat and collapse to the ground.

Even some resolute military generals and veterans felt as if their souls were being pricked by needles, their Qi and Blood churning, and they hurriedly lowered their heads, not daring to look a second time.

Su Bai frowned slightly, the illusory Sword Phantasm in his eyes vanished, and his tone was filled with undisguised disgust. "With such a mindset, with such a piece of trash, how can one stand in the imperial court and make decisions on the military and political affairs of a nation?"

He casually pointed to the several officials who had lost control of their bladder and fainted, "Drag these useless people out and never use them again. Clean the main hall and prepare to welcome the new emperor's ascension to the throne."

His command carried more weight than an imperial edict at that moment.

The guards outside the palace, many of whom had been secretly informed by Hua Rong or Su Yao's former subordinates, immediately rushed in, silently and swiftly dragging away the corpses and those who had fainted or lost control of their bladders, and wiping away the bloodstains.

Throughout the entire process, no one dared to utter a word of questioning; only the sounds of rubbing and dragging armor echoed in the hall, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.

The remaining ministers remained silent, trembling with fear.

Many people have recognized that this jinx is none other than the Third Prince Su Bai, who left the palace eight years ago to cultivate immortality.

Recalling the recent rumors of unrest circulating in the palace, Empress Zhang's faction suddenly fell silent. Seeing the ruthless Slaughter and oppressive force that treated high-ranking officials like dirt, how could they not understand what had happened?

Cultivators... this is the power of cultivators!

They usually remain aloof and disdainful of worldly affairs, but once they truly intervene, how laughable and fragile are the mundane schemes, power, and laws in their eyes!

The seeds of fear have been sown deep.

But Su Bai knew that deterrence alone was not enough.

His gaze swept over the assembled officials once more, and he raised his hand in a gesture of apology.

A gentle yet vibrant emerald-green aura emanated from his palm, showering down like a spring drizzle and enveloping the entire hall.

This is a group application of the [Spring Return Spell]. Although it is not as effective as when applied to an individual, it is remarkably effective in clearing away hidden ailments, regulating the body, and invigorating the spirit.

The courtiers felt a warm current flow into their limbs and bones, and their years-long aches and pains, dizziness, and old injuries were quickly relieved or even disappeared under the nourishment of this spiritual light.

The most shocking thing was that the Senior Censor, who was known for his integrity and whose legs had been paralyzed for many years due to war wounds in his early years and who could only go to court by sedan chair, suddenly felt a long-lost tingling sensation in his withered lower limbs.

He tried to move his toes in disbelief, and then, under the dumbfounded gazes of the entire court, he shakily tried to stand up, supporting himself with his hands. His colleagues Consciousness reached out to help him, only to see him slowly and unsteadily stand up!

"I... I can feel my legs again! I can stand up!"

The Senior Censor, tears streaming down his face, tried to take a step. Though he stumbled, he truly managed to walk on his own!

"A miracle! This is a miracle from the immortals!"

"His Highness the Third Prince is truly a divine being!"

"Heaven blesses Great Yan! Our ancestors have shown their power, bestowing upon Great Yan such a blessed destiny!"

The atmosphere in the court instantly shifted from deathly silence and fear to a new emotion mixed with awe, gratitude, and fervor.

Cultivators can not only kill, but also save lives!

This kind of favor, which touches upon one's own fundamental interests, is more effective in winning people's hearts than mere Slaughter.

Su Bai spoke at the opportune moment, his voice much calmer, yet still carrying an undeniable authority. "I know that you may have doubts and even resentment about letting my sister Su Yao inherit the throne."

He paused, then continued, "Whether you submit or not is irrelevant. This is my will. I hope you will remember the consequences of disobeying me, as we have already seen."

He released a slight Life Qi of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and the long and profound Spiritual Pressure made everyone feel their own insignificance once again.

"I have cultivated immortality for eight years and have achieved some success. My Lifespan is now two hundred years. You, your descendants, and even the descendants of your descendants."

His gaze slowly swept over the faces, young and old alike. "As long as the Yan Kingdom still exists, I will see it all with my own eyes."

These words struck like a thunderbolt, resounding in everyone's hearts.

Two hundred years! For mortals, that's an almost unimaginably long period of time.

This means that the will of the Third Prince before us will be like a sword hanging over the Yan Kingdom for two hundred years, and no one can truly defy it; they can only obey it!

"Your Highness is wise! Empress ruling as rulers are not uncommon; they are a sign of a prosperous era!"

"May the Third Prince enjoy eternal bliss and bring blessings to all people! Princess Su Yao... no, Your Majesty is wise and insightful, and will surely establish an immortal dynasty for our Great Yan!"

"We, your subjects, swear to serve the new emperor and Your Highness to the death!"

Voices of support rose and fell, with no more hesitation or discord.

Su Bai nodded slightly and said no more.

That's the attitude he wants.

In the following days, the imperial court underwent a swift and unexpected purge.

The power of the prime minister's faction was eradicated, and the key positions vacated were quickly filled by the Emperor Yan (the Grand Supreme Emperor) and Su Yao (the new emperor) with Su Bai's tacit approval, with relatively reliable or easily controllable people installed.

The entire power transfer process proceeded remarkably smoothly under Su Bai's absolute military intimidation.

On the day of her Enthronement Ceremony, Su Yao wore Black Empress Robes that was hastily made overnight and fit her perfectly, and Twelve-Tassel Crown. Amidst the solemn music and the complex gazes of the officials, she walked step by step toward the supreme dragon throne.

Her face still held a trace of lingering bewilderment, but deep in her eyes lay the unwavering resolve of a soldier.

Su Bai watched the entire ceremony from the sidelines, enduring the tedious rituals, until Su Yao finally sat firmly on the throne and received the homage of the officials. Only then did he breathe a barely perceptible sigh of relief.

After the ceremony, the former Emperor Yan, now the Grand Supreme Emperor, happily moved to the luxurious palace that had been prepared for him, far away from the affairs of the previous dynasty, to continue his life of pleasure, as if he had gotten rid of a huge burden.

Consort Ling Grand Empress Dowager was honored as Empress Dowager and moved to the most suitable palace for recuperation.

Su Bai summoned Hua Rong to his side and not only used his pure Spiritual Power to help her refine her Innate True Qi, making her martial arts even better and enough to intimidate most of the villains in the palace, but also quietly planted a hidden Sword Qi mark in her Sea of Consciousness.

This mark is harmless under normal circumstances, but if Hua Rong harbors any ulterior motives, or if the Grand Empress Dowager or the Empress encounters an insurmountable danger, Su Bai can activate it instantly, even if he is Ten Thousand Li away, to take their lives or hold off the enemy for a moment.

In addition, Su Bai took out several pieces of uniformly textured spirit jade, sealed them with the pure Sword Qi Nourishing by his own Sword Phantasm, and made a simple "Sword Qi Jade Talisman". He gave it to the Grand Empress Dowager and Su Yao to carry with them and told them how to activate it.

Once activated, this talisman can unleash Sword Qi equivalent to a casual strike from Su Bai. Cultivator below the Foundation Establishment or ordinary martial artist who touches it will either die or be crippled, making it sufficient to handle most sudden crises.

To eliminate any future troubles, Su Bai personally took action to completely eliminate the four Prince born to Empress Zhang who were still within the territory of the Yan Kingdom, under the pretext of "sudden onset of a serious illness" or "accident."

Finally, his gaze turned towards the distant Profound Yin Sect, where there was one last problem: the Eighth Prince, Su Chan.

With all matters temporarily concluded, in front of all the civil and military officials, Su Bai rode his Sword Flight into the air, transforming into a streak of sword Sword Light that shot into the sky and disappeared into the clouds, leaving behind a legendary figure in Yan Capital.

He didn't really go away.

For the next three days, he concealed himself and lay in wait deep within the Imperial Palace. His powerful Divine Sense, like an invisible spider web, quietly enveloped the court and palace where the old and new dynasties were changing.

Sure enough, the tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease.

There are always people who are unwilling to lose power, or are lucky enough to secretly conspire to overthrow the empress whose foundation is not stable, and even use rude words to insult Su Bai and his family.

"This boy (Su Bai) acts tyrannically; he won't last long..."

"How can a woman occupy the throne for long? Wait until the Immortal Master departs..."

"Su Yao is just a military man, what does he know about governing a country? Perhaps..."

These secret whispers were all exposed to Su Bai's Divine Sense.

"This scoundrel must not be allowed to live."

"Hmph, a wolf in sheep's clothing, quite the actor."

Su Bai sneered, not revealing himself openly again, but striking silently once more.

Within three days, several officials, nobles, and eunuchs, some of whom held high positions and others who harbored malicious intentions, died suddenly in various plausible ways.

The nerves that had just relaxed slightly tightened again throughout the court and the public. Everyone knew perfectly well that although the Immortal Master seemed to have left, his gaze and methods had never truly gone away.

At this point, all sparks of resistance, both overt and covert, were completely extinguished.

Ten days later, in the Yunhai Spirit Plain, a bustling Market teeming with all sorts of cultivators.

Su Bai had changed out of his conspicuous Jade Mist Sect robe from the Jade Cloud Sect and was now wearing an inconspicuous Gray Veiled Hat and Robe. He sat in a corner of a popular Spirit Tea, slowly sipping a cup of Heart-Cleansing Tea filled with Spiritual Qi.

About half a cup of tea later, steady footsteps came from the stairwell.

A figure appeared there. This person was dressed in ordinary clothes of a rogue cultivator, his face was slightly weathered, his eyes were sharp as a hawk, and a lingering bloody Sha Qi surrounded him. It was Jiang Han, whom we had not seen for three years.

Thanks to the abundant resources he obtained from his plunder and his own ruthless cultivation, he has already reached the Qi Refining Layer Nine, just one step away from the Great Perfection.

This kind of progress is astonishing among Cultivator of the same age with Four Spirit Roots.

Jiang Han gaze swept across the Grand Hall and quickly locked onto Su Bai in the corner, even though Su Bai had concealed his aura to the extreme.

He strode over and sat down opposite Su Bai. The Sha Qi surrounding him, which usually kept strangers at bay, surprisingly softened a bit when he saw Su Bai, and a barely perceptible relaxation flashed in his sharp eyes.

"Su Bai," Jiang Han said, his voice somewhat hoarse, as if he hadn't had a normal conversation with anyone in a long time.

"You specifically arranged to meet here, is there some way to earn Spirit Stone?"

For him now, there are very few people he can talk to calmly and rationally.

Su Bai was one of them, not only because of their old friendship, but also because Su Bai was one of the very few people he couldn't see through and had genuinely cooperated with.

Su Bai smiled slightly, raised her hand to pour him a cup of Spirit Tea, and pushed it towards him. "It's been many years, no rush, have a cup of tea first, and let's chat."

Jiang Han glanced at the cup of tea, which was brimming with Spiritual Qi, then at Su Bai's half-face hidden under her Veil Hat, nodded, picked up the teacup, and drank it all in one gulp.

The warm Spirit Tea slid down his throat, soothing his perpetually tense nerves. "Alright."

He put down his teacup.

In that moment of relaxation, Jiang Han's keen intuition, honed from years of walking the line between life and death, suddenly made him sense something amiss.

His gaze refocused on Su Bai, trying to sense the other's Spiritual Power fluctuations.

This is the most direct way for Cultivator to judge each other's cultivation level.

But... it was completely empty! It wasn't a blur caused by the other party deliberately concealing themselves, but rather a natural state that was almost nothingness, as if the person sitting opposite them was just an ordinary person with no cultivation.

But how is that possible?

He knew a little about Su Bai's Talent; it was impossible for him to have made no progress in three years, let alone lose his power and become an ordinary person.

Jiang Han's pupils suddenly contracted. An absurd yet only plausible guess surged into his mind, causing his fingers gripping the empty teacup slightly to tighten, his voice dry with disbelief:

"Wait... I can't sense even a trace of Spiritual Qi from you... If we were both at the Qi Refining Stage, even at the Great Perfection, there's no way I wouldn't be able to sense you at all..."

He raised his head, staring intently at the shadow beneath Su Bai's Veil Hat, and said with difficulty, word by word:

"Could it be that you... have already... Foundation Establishment?"