The Emperor's Dominance

Back at his residence, Lin Xiao could not wait to claim the mission reward.

"Ding. Mission complete. Would you like to claim the reward?"

"Claim it."

"Ding. Reward successfully claimed. The item has been placed in the system space. The host may retrieve it at any time."

A pill emanating a medicinal fragrance appeared in Lin Xiao's hand.

Just smelling its fragrance made Lin Xiao feel incomparably refreshed from head to toe.

As expected of a top-grade pill from Shaolin Temple. If this pill appeared in the martial world, who knew how great a storm it would stir up.

A pill that could grant ten years of cultivation out of thin air would tempt even Grandmaster Realm experts.

One had to know that martial artists below the Great Grandmaster Realm all needed to accumulate cultivation.

Only after breaking through to the Great Grandmaster Realm and comprehending the Heavenly Dao would one no longer need to cultivate inner power.

Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Xiao swallowed the pill and began absorbing it.

Elsewhere, inside a common residence in the capital.

Three figures had gathered.

One was a woman, while the other two were men.

Both men deferred to the woman.

The woman wore white robes and a light veil over her face. Her entire body radiated a cold, lofty aura. Judging by her figure, she was surely a peerless beauty.

"Reporting to the Holy Maiden, we have just received news that Wu Zhengfeng is dead."

"Oh?"

"Dead is dead. He was merely trash; there was no use in keeping him alive. His only value was helping us enter the capital of the Wu Kingdom."

"I have just exchanged messages with the Sect Master. This operation is only a probe, to see whether the Emperor suffered severe injuries in his battle with Yan Ying all those years ago."

"If the Emperor is seriously injured, the subsequent plan can be carried out. If he is not injured, the plan may need to be redefined."

"Your Highness, Holy Maiden, our sect has sent two Protectors and one Elder this time."

"According to our investigation, there are no more than three Great Grandmasters stationed in the capital. The rest have gone out to carry out missions. Though this is somewhat unusual, it is also the best opportunity for our sect to act. As for the experts of the Hall of Offerings, they likely will not intervene this time. Their primary duty is to guard that item within the Hall of Offerings."

"The two Protectors and that Elder only need to hold off the Great Grandmasters currently in the city for half an incense stick's time, giving the Sect Master and the Emperor an opportunity to fight one-on-one."

"Mhm. Then begin."

"Our White Lotus Sect has, generation after generation, taken it upon ourselves to choose the rightful ruler on Heaven's behalf."

"The Wu Kingdom has stood for five hundred years. It is time for them to step down and yield their place to the worthy."

"If the Ji Family of the imperial clan had not broken their promise back then, our White Lotus Sect would not have fallen to such a state today."

"The Ji Family must be destroyed."

"Yes, Your Highness, Holy Maiden."

The imperial palace of the Wu Kingdom.

A middle-aged man with a majestic face and the aura of an overlord sat upon the Dragon Throne.

In the middle of the great hall stood a man who resembled him somewhat.

The man on the Dragon Throne was none other than the current Emperor of the Wu Kingdom, Ji Wudao.

The man standing in the hall was Prince Qing.

"Royal Brother, what happened at your residence this time may draw out quite a few restless people."

Prince Qing cupped his hands with a bitter smile. "It was my poor management that made a laughingstock of me. I ask Your Majesty to punish me."

The Emperor smiled and waved his hand. "What crime has Royal Brother committed? No man is a sage; who can be without fault? Such is the human heart. It is not something you can control."

"Fine. I can use this matter of yours to see what tricks those restless people can play."

Hearing that the Emperor had no intention of punishing him, Prince Qing said admiringly, "Your Majesty, this subject finally understands why you sent so many experts away. You intended to force those rebel factions to reveal themselves."

"The capital's military strength is at its weakest now. Those rebels will certainly be unable to hold themselves back and will make their move. After all, such an opportunity is hard to come by."

"But Your Majesty has dispatched the Jinyiwei Qilin, the four Pacification Envoys, and Zhuge Shenji of the Six Doors. Of the Great Grandmasters, only Liu Jin and Yu Lingchen of the Eastern and Western Depots remain. If trouble breaks out, it may be difficult to suppress."

"You must know that while our Wu Kingdom is now immensely powerful, there are other nations beyond our borders and aristocratic families and sects within the martial world. Should anything happen in the imperial city, it could bring uncontrollable danger."

The Emperor smiled unconcernedly. "Trouble?"

"How great could this trouble possibly be? Could it be greater than the trouble Yan Ying caused ten years ago?"

"Ten years ago, Yan Ying challenged me atop Tianshan. While we fought a decisive battle at its summit, the White Lotus Sect took the chance to stir rebellion and attempted to establish a new king. The aristocratic families and sects also stirred restlessly. Yet did I not press them all down with one hand? What can these minor disturbances do now?"

Hearing the Emperor's words, Prince Qing quickly nodded. "Your Majesty is a peerless talent of great strategy and vision. These petty vermin truly are beneath notice."

"Your Majesty, this subject has always had a question in his heart."

Ji Wudao said with a smile, "You wish to ask what realm Yan Ying had truly reached back then, do you not?"

Prince Qing did not conceal it in the slightest and nodded. "Back then, there were rumors that Yan Ying was the number one man in martial arts, that his strength had already reached the peak of the Void Shattering Realm. Was that true?"

This question caused Ji Wudao's expression to turn solemn.

"The rumors were true. When he fought me back then, Yan Ying had indeed reached the peak of the Void Shattering Realm."

"Ah?"

"He was truly that terrifying?"

Prince Qing looked shocked, then admiration surfaced in his eyes.

"Yan Ying reached the peak of the Void Shattering Realm, yet Your Majesty still beat him until he fled with grave injuries. It seems Your Majesty's cultivation has already touched the realm of creation itself."

Ji Wudao threw back his head and laughed.

"That would not be wrong to say. But Void Shattering is not the end of martial arts. The Martial Saint Realm is my ultimate goal."

"In the final battle of the previous dynasty, the old Emperor reached the Half-Step Martial Saint realm. It took more than ten Void Shattering experts joining forces merely to kill him. Though I was unable to take part in that battle, I could still sense how tragic it was."

"Of the eleven Void Shattering experts, seven died. And the old Emperor of the previous dynasty had only reached Half-Step Martial Saint, yet possessed such terrifying strength. The Martial Saint Realm is truly frightening."

"If I can break through to the Martial Saint Realm, I can suppress the entire world with a turn of my hand, allowing my Ji Family imperial clan to truly reign over all under Heaven and bring about grand unification."

"Your Majesty is an unparalleled genius of our clan. You will surely fulfill your wish."

"Enough. I still have no clue how to break through to the Martial Saint Realm. We will take it one step at a time."

"By the way, I heard that girl Mingyue was frightened somewhat. How is she now?"

Prince Qing quickly replied, "That girl is as mischievous as ever. It was only a false alarm; she is fine. Thank you for Your Majesty's concern."

The Emperor nodded. "It is good that she is fine. I watched Mingyue grow up. Though she is not my biological daughter, I am quite fond of that girl."

"I heard a young Jinyiwei saved Mingyue. We must not forget his reward. Do not let people think that our Ji imperial family is heartless and chill others' hearts."

"Your Majesty handles countless affairs every day and worries for the nation and its people. There is no need to concern yourself with such a minor matter. I will simply give him some reward when the time comes."

Prince Qing hurriedly said with a bow.

"A monetary reward is only one part. I also wish to grant him an official promotion and noble rank."

"But he cannot be promoted too quickly, lest it provoke dissatisfaction from some people."

"Promote him to Little Banner first, and bestow upon him a Flying Fish Uniform and an Embroidered Spring Blade. Once he accumulates some seniority, I will promote him further. A year should be enough. By then, no one will have anything to say if I promote him to Thousand-Household Commander."

The Jinyiwei's Flying Fish Uniforms and Embroidered Spring Blades were not things just anyone could wear.

To receive them, one had to have the Emperor personally issue an order.

Moreover, Flying Fish Uniforms and Embroidered Spring Blades were no ordinary items.

Flying Fish Uniforms were woven from Tianshan silkworm silk. Their defensive power rivaled fine steel armor, and ordinary blades could scarcely harm them.

Embroidered Spring Blades were forged from thousand-year cold-pool iron, their sharpness not the least inferior to divine weapons.

Every Embroidered Spring Blade had to undergo a thousand hammerings and a hundred refinements, taking a full year to forge.

Since the Jinyiwei was established, fewer than twenty had been issued.

Only high-ranking Jinyiwei officials at the Thousand-Household Commander rank or above were qualified to receive them as rewards.