"Xiao Dezi, clean up these corpses." Su Changqing rose to his feet and looked directly at the young eunuch sprawled on the ground.
Xiao Dezi's hand was still bleeding, but he had long since been scared numb. His lips trembled, and he did not dare make a move against Su Changqing.
"Yes, sir... But if Eunuch Li asks, I..." Xiao Dezi said shakily.
"The killer was Imperial Guard Li Kongxiang." After a moment of silence, Su Changqing spoke coldly.
He hoped that Li Kongxiang, that lowly sweeper, could hold off the West Factory for a few days.
Once he became an Imperial Guard, clad in the flying-fish uniform with a Spring Embroidered Saber at his waist, everything would be different.
Su Changqing put away the broken blade and turned to leave the Cold Palace. Xiao Dezi remained rooted to the spot, like a clay statue, staring blankly at Su Changqing's retreating back.
This man truly possessed peerless bearing. He was ruthless to the extreme, both bold and cunning. With sheer strength, he had slaughtered four opponents of the same realm and fought Li Yuanying, who cultivated the Heavenly Gang Virginity Art.
Ji Xingyue hurriedly opened her eyes, but all she saw was the back of a man in black leaving the Cold Palace.
"His name is Li Kongxiang?" Ji Xingyue's features were as lovely as a painting, her eyes bright as she silently repeated the name in her heart.
Su Changqing buried the broken blade and his bloodstained clothes beneath a large tree, then returned to the Imperial Guard Enforcement Agency.
This battle gave Su Changqing a clear understanding of his own strength.
No matter how strong an enemy was, they still feared underhanded tricks.
Li Yuanying clearly possessed more combat experience than him, yet lime powder had blinded him, leaving him unable to use even thirty percent of his strength.
Su Changqing had shattered his protective aura through sheer force.
Ji Xingyue was the Destined Empress. In the future, she would soar like a golden phoenix and rise like a hidden dragon emerging from the abyss.
Even with an affinity of 85, she was currently of no help to him.
"I need to find a good saber." Su Changqing's eyes narrowed slightly.
He had consumed three Enlightenment Tea Leaves, giving him a deep foundation. He was more than qualified to become a true Imperial Guard!
At that point, he could leave the capital in search of abundant opportunities and be issued a Spring Embroidered Saber.
The Spring Embroidered Saber was modeled after the Tang saber. Sharp and fierce, it was forged from hundredfold steel tempered in blazing fire, indestructibly tough.
"In a few days, the result will be decided. I'll enter the Imperial Guard."
Before long, Eunuch Li, a favored attendant by the Empress's side, sensed that something was wrong and sent men to inspect the Cold Palace. They found only Xiao Dezi and learned Li Kongxiang's identity.
A large force from the West Factory arrived, demanding that the Imperial Guard hand over Li Kongxiang. They nearly scared him to death while he was in the midst of breaking through to Body Refinement Stage Eight.
He had fought four opponents of the same realm, challenged someone above his realm, and killed Eunuch Li's god-grandson?
Who had done it? Why had it been pinned on him?
This was practically a sky-high scapegoat charge!
Li Kongxiang had nearly failed to stabilize the realm he had just broken through to.
The conflict between the West Factory and the Imperial Guard caused quite a stir. Even the Great Shang Emperor questioned the matter.
However, Ji Xingyue was not favored. He had even forgotten he had such a daughter, and she remained assigned to the Cold Palace.
In the deepest part of the Great Shang Imperial Palace, an elderly eunuch in a crimson robe sat slowly in a pearwood grandmaster chair. He was tall and imposing, his brow tightly furrowed.
"That brat is merely a lowly Imperial Guard servant, yet he dared ruin my great plans. He is truly hateful!"
"Now that the Emperor has asked about the matter, Ji Xingyue cannot be touched for the time being. It has enraged Her Majesty the Empress, who even reprimanded me. That man truly deserves to die!"
The struggle between the Imperial Guard and the East and West Factories had involved decades of factional conflict.
Eunuch Li was not certain whether an Imperial Guard Thousand-Household Officer had intervened behind the scenes.
"I heard that when our West Factory men went there, Li Kongxiang was so frightened he wet himself. It probably wasn't him."
A feminine-looking eunuch stood beside him, fair-skinned and handsome. He gently shook his head as he spoke.
"Investigate! No matter who it is, I'll stuff him into a jar! Grind his bones to ash!" Eunuch Li narrowed his eyes and lightly tapped the armrest of his grandmaster chair. A flicker of killing intent flashed through his gaze.
"Though that person was extremely clever and gave a false name, killing Li Yuanying was still so difficult for him. His combat strength must be lacking. He is likely just another servant, or an ordinary Imperial Guard."
The pale-faced eunuch cupped his hands and gave his analysis, nodding with a faint smile.
"He will not interfere with our great plans. Within ten days, this subordinate will uncover everything about him."
At the Imperial Guard servants' quarters.
Beneath a willow tree by the river, emerald branches swayed in the wind and dipped into the water. Ripples spread across the glittering surface.
"Before the final day, I'll reach the Body Refinement Ninth Layer!"
Su Changqing sat cross-legged beneath the tree.
He exhaled a breath of stale air and slowly opened his eyes. Within ten days, all of his techniques had reached minor mastery.
Though Tyrant Saber was still only at the first level, its power had increased by several times!
"Whoever made me take the blame and offend the West Factory, as well as a Deputy Hundred-Household Officer—if I find out who he is, I'll definitely kill him."
At the servants' quarters, Li Kongxiang's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.
A few days ago, groups from both sides had come looking for him in great numbers, nearly scaring him to death.
Fortunately, he had now stabilized his Body Refinement Stage Eight cultivation. This time, he would definitely enter the Imperial Guard.
Countless servant disciples had gathered at the Imperial Guard's main hall.
A massive stone monument stood there. It had been erected when the Iron Guts God-Marquis founded the Imperial Guard!
By imperial authority, they could execute first and report afterward!
This was the Imperial Guard Enforcement Agency!
It had been bestowed by the Former Emperor!
Su Changqing held a Steel Saber and wore black from head to toe, dark as ink. He slowly arrived and glanced at the enormous stone monument.
It was said that the East and West Factories also possessed such a monument, erected by the current Emperor!
Though the current Emperor appeared frail, he was in truth exceptionally shrewd, well versed in the arts of rulership and balance.
The Suppression Bureau possessed thirty thousand Imperial Guards. Nearly a thousand had arrived today. Anyone at Body Refinement Stage Eight or above would enter the Imperial Guard.
In addition, there would be matches to determine the top three, all of whom would receive the position of Deputy Hundred-Household Officer!
A figure strode inside with the gait of a dragon and tiger, carrying himself with extraordinary bearing. He dragged a long saber in his hand, its entire body snow-white.
"My name is Jin Yichuan, an Imperial Guard Thousand-Household Officer. By the God-Marquis's order, the first-place winner of this competition will receive the Frost Snow Saber!"
He suddenly drew the long saber from its sheath.
It was a Tang saber, cold as snow from hilt to tip.
It was the height of summer, with the blazing sun hanging overhead, yet the blade was bone-chillingly cold and pure white. A layer of ice crystals had actually formed upon it.
"This saber was forged from extraterrestrial cold iron. Even I would be tempted by it. But whoever takes first place this time, it will be his." Jin Yichuan smiled lightly.
The Frost Snow Saber—autumn frost, winter snow, cold as ice crystals.
Every Imperial Guard present at Body Refinement Stage Eight and above had blazing eyes.
This saber was far stronger than a Spring Embroidered Saber forged from hundredfold steel.
"After today, I'll rise above the rest. I'll no longer be a servant disciple whom anyone can trample on." Li Kongxiang drew a deep breath, looked over everyone present, and slowly took a step forward.
His original plan had been simply to become an Imperial Guard, but upon seeing this saber, he could not help feeling tempted.
But competing for first place would be seeking death. It was enough just to think about it.
"Among the servant disciples responsible for cleaning, I should be the only one participating, right?"
He swept his gaze across the crowd, smiling lightly with arrogant eyes. Then he took a step forward and leaped onto the platform.
Suddenly, he spotted Su Changqing amid the crowd. His eyes widened, and he was utterly dumbfounded.
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