Langya Xing

Inside the cave, the light was dim, with only a sliver of light from the entrance barely illuminating Mu Bai's training figure.

Mu Bai sat cross-legged on the ground, his aura completely restrained, fully immersed in the cultivation of the Eight Swords of Lightness.

His hands moved swiftly before him, like two agile butterflies, each gesture carrying a unique rhythm, as if conversing with the mysterious forces of heaven and earth.

Time slipped by quietly, about the span of a single incense stick.

Suddenly, the air inside the cave stirred as if churned by an invisible hand, a faint ripple of airflow passing through.

Then, a wisp of Sword Qi emerged faintly, like a gentle breeze, sweeping slowly across the ground. The fine gravel on the floor was nudged by the Sword Qi, trembling slightly before settling back into stillness.

At that moment, Mu Bai slowly opened his eyes, a glimmer of barely concealed surprise flashing within them.

"Did I really master it this easily?" he murmured to himself, his voice filled with astonishment at the unexpectedly fast pace of his training.

In that short span of an incense stick, he had successfully conquered the first sword of the Eight Swords of Lightness. Such efficiency, even for someone of his talent, was quite surprising.

Recalling his experiences since stepping onto the path of martial arts, Mu Bai felt a surge of emotion stir within him.

From an ordinary person at the start to reaching the Houtian Limit in just a few short years, every breakthrough had felt like sailing with the current—effortlessly smooth.

And he had achieved all this without a single teacher guiding him!

Mu Bai knew well that his talent in cultivation was extraordinary, even ranking high among the protagonists of the novels from his past life.

Of course, excluding those cheaters who activated cheats in Tomato Novels...

After the initial surprise, Mu Bai wasted no time in idleness, immediately throwing himself into the practice of the subsequent sword techniques.

Time seemed to lose meaning inside the cave as he immersed himself in the dismantling and integration of the sword moves, forgetting everything else.

Half a day passed in the blink of an eye. When the last rays of the setting sun filtered through the cave entrance and fell upon him, Mu Bai opened his eyes.

His brow furrowed slightly.

By now, he had astonishingly and successfully mastered the first four swords of the Eight Swords of Lightness!

Yet, when he tried to comprehend the Fifth Sword, he hit an obstacle.

The sword intent of the Fifth Sword already touched upon the Xiantian Level, its complexity far surpassing the previous four.

Mu Bai's brows knitted tightly as he repeatedly pondered every detail of the sword technique, attempting to infuse his own insights into it, but he could never achieve it in one go.

Still, fortunately, a spark of inspiration flickered in his mind.

"This Fifth Sword... it seems I won't be able to learn it in a short while," Mu Bai sighed to himself.

He looked up at the faint sunlight filtering through the cave's ceiling.

It was then that Mu Bai suddenly realized he had been away from home for two days.

Thinking of the unresolved dangers lurking in the Prince's residence, a wave of worry surged in his heart.

"I can't delay any longer. The Great Yan Emperor might strike again if his first attempt failed."

"It looks like I'll have to practice this Fifth Sword after returning to the Prince's residence..."

He stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, cast one last glance at the cave, and strode resolutely toward the exit.

The capital of the Great Yan Kingdom, Yanjing.

Yanjing was the most prosperous city in all of the Great Yan Kingdom.

Stepping into Yanjing, a bustling and lively atmosphere rushed forth.

On the wide main streets, carriages and horses flowed like a river, with people coming and going in an endless stream.

Shops lined the streets in close succession—from silk and satin stores to dazzling treasure pavilions, from fragrant taverns and restaurants to sundry shops filled with exquisite trinkets—everything one could imagine, overwhelming the eyes.

In the alleys and lanes, vendors' cries rose and fell. A hawker of candied hawthorns held up a pole bristling with bright red fruits, shouting loudly, drawing the sparkling eyes of children who tugged at their parents' sleeves, clamoring to buy.

At a calligraphy and painting stall, scholars paused to admire, occasionally nodding in praise at fine works and exchanging insights on appreciation.

Street performers were not to be outdone. Some put on acrobatics, their thrilling and dangerous moves drawing rounds of cheers from the crowd; others played melodious strings and winds, the soothing music flowing through the air, making passersby slow their steps and lose themselves in the sound.

At the heart of Yan Capital stood the solemn and majestic Great Yan Imperial Palace.

The palace walls were tall and thick, their vermilion surface gleaming like ignited flames under the sunlight, exuding an aura of authority.

Along the walls, watchtowers were spaced at intervals, where guards stood tall and erect, their eyes sharp as torches, vigilantly scanning the surroundings to protect the palace's safety.

At the top of the walls, golden glazed tiles were arranged in neat rows, shining brilliantly under the sun, like a golden dragon coiled atop the walls, showcasing the royal family's dignity and luxury.

And at this moment, inside the Imperial Study of Yan Capital.

Wreaths of Dragon Saliva Incense curled upward, yet they could not suppress the murderous aura permeating the air.

The Great Yan Emperor, in dark robes with wide sleeves, stood with his hands behind his back beneath the Gilded Coiled Dragon Pillar. The candlelight cast his shadow onto the screen painted with the Nine Provinces Landscape, flickering as if thunder and lightning lurked within.

Kneeling at the foot of the steps, the old Eunuch's neck was buried in wrinkles like a tortoise's shell, his hands trembling slightly as he held the secret memorial.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the thirteen assassination attempts..." the Eunuch's shrill voice was torn apart by the wind outside the window, "Eleven Princes have been executed. Although Prince Zhouyou did not die on the spot, he was severely wounded and has gone missing. Only..."

"Only what?" The Emperor spun around abruptly, the jade belt at his waist striking the Coiled Dragon Pillar with a crisp sound.

"Only the Carefree Prince, Murong Che, escaped unscathed." The old eunuch's forehead struck heavily against the blue brick floor. "The two Houtian Realm guardians dispatched by the Langya Aristocratic Family... have yet to be found."

Deathly silence instantly engulfed the entire study.

The emperor's slender fingers dug deep into his palms, his knuckles turning pale white.

Though the Carefree Prince's fief was small, he held the Jiangnan Salt Route.

If allowed to grow his strength, he would sooner or later become a grave threat to the new emperor.

His time was running out; he had to crush every dangerous enemy in the cradle.

"Useless! All of you are useless!" The emperor kicked over the bronze incense burner on his desk. Ashen embers mixed with sparks splattered onto the tribute-woven gold carpet from a minor kingdom, scorching black holes into it. "Just one Carefree Prince, and yet two Houtian Realm masters fall to him?"

In stark contrast to the emperor's raging fury sat a handsome young man in the guest seat of honor.

This young master, clad in a moon-white brocade robe, was leisurely swirling a sheep-fat jade cup, the Biluochun tea inside rippling in concentric circles.

He was none other than the young master of the Langya Aristocratic Family—Langya Xing!