White Lotus Mother vs. the Emperor

"Your Majesty, isn't this reward a little too generous?"

Prince Qing was shocked when he heard that the Emperor intended to bestow a Flying Fish Uniform and an Embroidered Spring Blade.

One had to know that if Lin Xiao received an imperial-bestowed Flying Fish Uniform and Embroidered Spring Blade, then despite being merely a low-ranking Jinyiwei guard, even a Thousand-Household Commander would have to treat him politely.

Because this represented that Lin Xiao had become someone valued by the Emperor.

Barring any surprises, he was destined to enter the center of power in the future and become an important minister.

The Emperor smiled faintly. "There is nothing wrong with being a little generous. He has rendered a service to the imperial clan, and it is time for the Jinyiwei to receive some fresh blood."

"Ever since Qilin, Azure Dragon, and the other three, the Jinyiwei has been suffering from a shortage of successors."

"If something were to happen to any of those five one day, I would not even know whom to choose as their successor. I have investigated the Jinyiwei. Should the five of them meet with an accident, there simply are no suitable candidates for the next generation. Though some have the necessary seniority, their abilities are somewhat lacking."

"If this Lin Xiao also satisfies me in terms of ability, I may as well give him an opportunity. It would not be impossible for him to take over Azure Dragon's position and the others' in the future."

"Stability Prefecture has been rather unsettled lately. Let him go down there and test himself. If he can handle Stability Prefecture's affairs properly, it will prove that I have not misjudged him."

"Stability Prefecture?"

Prince Qing was mildly surprised.

One had to know that Stability Prefecture was the most chaotic prefecture in the Wu Kingdom.

There, great clans and sects stood thick as forests, while the local court's power was far from strong.

The Jinyiwei branch established there was practically useless, utterly unable to call the shots.

If not for the court's authority keeping them in check, the court's forces in Stability Prefecture would likely have been squeezed out long ago.

"Your Majesty, Lin Xiao is only seventeen or eighteen. At such an age, neither his scheming nor his judgment has fully matured. Can he truly shoulder such an important responsibility? Besides, he is only a Banner Commander. Even if he has the will, I fear he would be powerless after going there."

Prince Qing asked with some concern.

The Emperor said calmly, "The strong emerge from adversity. His official rank may be low, but he has the Flying Fish Uniform and Embroidered Spring Blade bestowed by me. If he does not know how to make use of such an innate advantage, then there is no need to promote him."

Prince Qing said nothing more.

The Emperor casually tossed a sealed secret letter to Prince Qing.

"Take a look. This was the news I received before you entered the palace."

After Prince Qing opened it and read its contents, surprise filled his face. "Lin Xiao actually defeated Li Yue in a direct confrontation."

"If I recall correctly, Li Yue is the Divine Constable's disciple. His strength has reached the peak of the Acquired Realm."

"He is the Divine Constable's successor."

"For Lin Xiao to defeat Li Yue, it seems I underestimated him."

The Emperor smiled faintly. "That is why I have confidence in him. Though he has some secrets, so long as he remains loyal to me, none of it will be a problem."

"I hope he does not disappoint me."

Just as the Emperor and Prince Qing were speaking within the palace,

a civilian residence in the capital suddenly caught fire, followed by chaos erupting in every corner.

The sudden upheaval shook the entire capital.

Countless soldiers rushed to various locations to bring the situation under control.

Many black-clad men wielding long blades slaughtered people in the streets, turning the roads into rivers of blood in the blink of an eye.

Within the imperial palace,

the Emperor and Prince Qing received the news.

Prince Qing immediately said, "Your Majesty, I will go deal with it at once."

The Emperor nodded. "Go. Tonight will be lively. If anything happens in the palace, you need not concern yourself with it. Just maintain order in the capital."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Prince Qing turned and departed.

The Emperor, meanwhile, leaned back against the Dragon Throne, propping his head up with one hand as he waited quietly.

Though the chaos had erupted suddenly, the various martial departments responded quickly as well.

The black-clad men who had been slaughtering wantonly were surrounded and killed by the arriving experts of the Jinyiwei, Six Doors, and the Eastern and Western Depots.

At that moment, a terrifying aura descended over the imperial palace.

An elderly man with white hair and beard, his entire body exuding a dreadful pressure, shouted, "Does the Emperor dare to fight?"

That old man was a late-stage Great Grandmaster Realm expert.

One of the White Lotus Sect's Ten Grand Elders.

He was known as the Ruthless Old Man.

In the past, even a Great Grandmaster would not have dared cause trouble in the capital.

But according to intelligence, the capital was currently at its weakest, and there were rumors that the Emperor had suffered severe injuries in his battle with Yan Ying years ago. He had not made a move for ten years, silently recuperating all the while.

If the rumors were true, then the severely injured Emperor would not be so terrifying.

"Presumptuous! What thief dares behave so outrageously? Die!"

A shrill voice rang out from within the imperial palace.

It was Liu Jin, the chief eunuch of the Eastern Depot and one of the Wu Kingdom's Great Grandmaster experts.

Before he even arrived, a yin and supple force had already struck out.

Like a shooting star, it flew from the depths of the imperial palace toward the Ruthless Old Man in the sky.

"Haha, Liu Jin, you old eunuch, you are still alive?"

"Very well. Today, I shall have a bout with you."

The first exchange between the two Great Grandmasters made the winds and clouds over the imperial palace churn.

Great Grandmasters had already attained the ability to alter celestial phenomena to some extent.

As the battle began here, two more figures appeared above the imperial palace.

They were a pair of twins, both middle-aged men with cold eyes.

The moment they appeared, they pressed their palms together. At last, they struck a palm toward the ground.

Their true energy took form, and the enormous palm shadow seemed intent on destroying the entire imperial palace.

"Two ants dare to act so wildly?"

Another voice rose from the imperial palace. It belonged to a fair-faced, beardless man of exquisitely feminine beauty.

He was Yu Lingchen, the chief eunuch of the Western Depot.

The two men who had just attacked were not Great Grandmasters, merely peak Grandmasters.

Yet they were twin brothers. From birth until now, they had eaten, slept, and cultivated together.

The cultivation arts they practiced also complemented each other.

Though they were not true Great Grandmasters, together they could unleash strength comparable to a Great Grandmaster.

They were not simply two ordinary Grandmasters joining forces, but peak Grandmasters whose hearts and minds were truly linked.

One plus one was far greater than two.

The two battlefields raged fiercely.

Meanwhile, within the imperial palace's grand hall,

a dignified and luxurious middle-aged woman stepped out from a water mirror.

This woman was a martial arts powerhouse of the current era, the White Lotus Sect's leader, the White Lotus Mother.

A supreme expert of the Void Shattering Realm.

Upon seeing the White Lotus Mother, the Emperor's expression did not change.

"A mere Avatar dares come before me? Do you no longer want this Avatar?"

"As far as I know, even with your Void Shattering Realm strength, refining this Avatar must have consumed thirty percent of your power. Once it is destroyed, you will need at least five years to recover, and you will be unable to refine another Avatar. Is it worth it?"

The White Lotus Mother's voice rang out, lofty and ethereal, like a spirit in an empty valley, like a deity.

"Ji Wudao, if the price of one Avatar can reveal the truth of your condition, then it is worth it. If you have truly suffered injuries beyond recovery, as the rumors claim, then the Wu Kingdom's fate has run out."

"Heh, do you know that rumors are merely rumors? They cannot be taken as truth."

The Emperor smiled disdainfully and slowly raised his hand. A strand of true energy coiled around his fingertip like a true dragon.

"Imperial Dragon Qi?"

The White Lotus Mother's Avatar changed expression.

Without hesitation, the White Lotus Mother formed seals with both hands, and an invisible barrier appeared before her.

At that moment, the Emperor flicked out the strand of Imperial Dragon Qi.

The two forces collided, yet no earth-shattering explosion sounded as imagined. Instead, they vanished into nothingness in an instant.

But the White Lotus Mother's Avatar began to grow increasingly illusory. It was a sign that too much power had been consumed.

"I told you that bringing this Avatar before me was nothing more than courting death."

"Ji Wudao, it seems we were all deceived by you. You were never gravely wounded in your battle with Yan Ying. All these years, you have been misleading the outside world."